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Chuang SY, Hsu YC, Chou KW, Chang KS, Wong CH, Hsu YH, Cheng HM, Chen CW, Chen PY. Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in a Geriatric Community: The I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1087. [PMID: 37509017 PMCID: PMC10377025 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13071087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD) frequently affects the elderly, with inflammation playing a crucial role in related health complications, including dementia, stroke, and SVD. Studies, including animal experiments, indicate a strong link between inflammation and SVD progression. The Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) serves as a possible biomarker for ongoing inflammatory risks. A total of 720 adults aged 50 years or older from the community-based I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study were included in this study. General linear regression and ordinally logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between NLR and CSVD. We further examined the presence of lacune, microbleed, and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on brain MRI, which were used to construct a combined CSVD score. The NLR was positively associated with WMH (adjusted r = 0.109, p = 0.003), microbleed (adjusted r = 0.102, p = 0.006), and lacune (adjusted r = 0.100, p = 0.008). After adjustments for smoking, drinking, and physical activity in the ordinal logistic regression analysis, age, gender, brachial Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), fasting glucose, LDL-cholesterol, and Hs-CRP were compared among subjects with low tertile (T1), medium tertile (T2) and high tertile (T3) NLR. The results showed that T2 vs. T1 had an odds ratio of 1.23 (0.86-1.77); and T3 vs. T1 had an odds ratio of 1.87 (1.29-2.71) of CSVD scores in four groups (zero (reference group), one, two, and three or more). NLR could be used to assess the state of inflammation in cerebral vessels. A significant and positive correlation between NLR and CSVD was verified in this study. However, the practical clinical application of NLR in CSVD patients and prognosis prediction should be validated through more scientific attempts.
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Chi CC, Wu YW, Chao TH, Chen CC, Chen YJ, Cheng HM, Chiu HY, Chiu YW, Chung WH, Hsieh TY, Huang PH, Huang YH, Lin SH, Lin TH, Ueng KC, Wang CC, Wang YC, Wu NL, Jia-Yin Hou C, Tsai TF. 2022 Taiwanese Dermatological Association (TDA), Taiwanese Association for Psoriasis and Skin Immunology (TAPSI), and Taiwan Society of cardiology (TSOC) joint consensus recommendations for the management of psoriatic disease with attention to cardiovascular comorbidities. J Formos Med Assoc 2023; 122:442-457. [PMID: 36347733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2022.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Psoriatic disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder with skin and joint manifestations. Due to the persistent inflammatory state exhibited by patients with psoriasis, multiple systemic comorbidities occur more frequently in patients with psoriasis than in the general population, and the risk of cardiovascular (CV) diseases is significantly increased. As the pathophysiology of psoriatic disease is becoming better understood, the sharing of underlying pathogenic mechanisms between psoriatic and CV diseases is becoming increasingly apparent. Consequently, careful attention to CV comorbidities that already exist or may potentially develop is needed in the management of patients with psoriasis, particularly in the screening and primary prevention of CV disease and in treatment selection due to potential drug-drug and drug-disease interactions. Furthermore, as the use of effective biologic therapy and more aggressive oral systemic treatment for psoriatic disease is increasing, consideration of the potential positive and negative effects of oral and biologic treatment on CV disease is warranted. To improve outcomes and quality of care for patients with psoriasis, the Taiwanese Dermatological Association, the Taiwanese Association for Psoriasis and Skin Immunology, and the Taiwan Society of Cardiology established a Task Force of 20 clinicians from the fields of dermatology, cardiology, and rheumatology to jointly develop consensus expert recommendations for the management of patients with psoriatic disease with attention to CV comorbidities.
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Huang WC, Chen YY, Yang SY, Lai CF, Lai TS, Chen HY, Chen L, Wang YJ, Cheng YL, Lang CL, Chen CF, Chang HF, Peng JK, Lin LY, Cheng HM, Hwu CM, Lu TM, Chueh JS, Lin YH, Wu VC. Fat mass as an important predictor of persistent hypertension in patients with primary aldosteronism after adrenalectomy. Hypertens Res 2023; 46:1375-1384. [PMID: 36759661 DOI: 10.1038/s41440-023-01203-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Aldosterone excess is present in obesity and is associated with involvement in the pathogenesis of obesity. We evaluate the impact of body obesity as measured by body composition monitor (BCM) on clinical outcomes in patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism (uPA) after adrenalectomy. The BCM device was used to assess body composition before and after adrenalectomy. We used fat mass (FM) and body mass index (BMI) to classify obesity and divided obesity into three groups: clinical overweight (BMI (kg/m2) ≥25); normal weight obesity (NWO, FM (%) ≥ 35 for women, >25 for men & BMI < 25); and no obesity (FM < 35 for women, <25 for men & BMI < 25). A total of 130 unilateral PA (uPA) patients received adrenalectomy, and 27 EH patients were identified; uPA patients with hypertension remission were found to have lower FM (p = 0.046), BMI (p < 0.001), and lower prevalence of overweight (p = 0.001). In the logistic regression model, patients with clinical overweight (OR = 2.9, p = 0.007), NWO (OR = 3.04, p = 0.041) and longer HTN duration (years, OR = 1.065, p = 0.013) were at the risk of persistent hypertension after adrenalectomy. Obesity status was strongly associated with persistent hypertension in uPA patients after adrenalectomy. However, patients in the NWO group also carried higher risk of persistent hypertension. Therefore, assessment of pre-obesity and overweight in uPA patients are extremely important, especially in those who have normal BMI.
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Chori BS, An DW, Martens DS, Yu YL, Gilis-Malinowska N, Abubakar SM, Ibrahim EA, Ajanya O, Abiodun OO, Anya T, Tobechukwu I, Isiguzo G, Cheng HM, Chen CH, Liao CT, Mokwatsi G, Stolarz-Skrzypek K, Wojciechowska W, Narkiewicz K, Rajzer M, Brguljan-Hitij J, Nawrot TS, Asayama K, Reyskens P, Mischak H, Odili AN, Staessen JA. Urinary proteomics combined with home blood pressure telemonitoring for health care reform trial-First progress report. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2023. [PMID: 37147930 DOI: 10.1111/jch.14664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
High blood pressure (BP) and type-2 diabetes (T2DM) are forerunners of chronic kidney disease and left ventricular dysfunction. Home BP telemonitoring (HTM) and urinary peptidomic profiling (UPP) are technologies enabling risk stratification and personalized prevention. UPRIGHT-HTM (NCT04299529) is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, open-label, randomized trial with blinded endpoint evaluation designed to assess the efficacy of HTM plus UPP (experimental group) over HTM alone (control group) in guiding treatment in asymptomatic patients, aged 55-75 years, with ≥5 cardiovascular risk factors. From screening onwards, HTM data can be freely accessed by all patients and their caregivers; UPP results are communicated early during follow-up to patients and caregivers in the intervention group, but at trial closure in the control group. From May 2021 until January 2023, 235 patients were screened, of whom 53 were still progressing through the run-in period and 144 were randomized. Both groups had similar characteristics, including average age (62.0 years) and the proportions of African Blacks (81.9%), White Europeans (16.7%), women 56.2%, home (31.2%), and office (50.0%) hypertension, T2DM (36.4%), micro-albuminuria (29.4%), and ECG (9.7%) and echocardiographic (11.5%) left ventricular hypertrophy. Home and office BP were 128.8/79.2 mm Hg and 137.1/82.7 mm Hg, respectively, resulting in a prevalence of white-coat, masked and sustained hypertension of 40.3%, 11.1%, and 25.7%. HTM persisted after randomization (48 681 readings up to 15 January 2023). In conclusion, results predominantly from low-resource sub-Saharan centers proved the feasibility of this multi-ethnic trial. The COVID-19 pandemic caused delays and differential recruitment rates across centers.
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Chiang CE, Hung CL, Wu YW, Lin TH, Ueng KC, Sung SH, Wu CK, Chao TH, Lin HJ, Lin YH, Huang JL, Chen MYC, Lin PL, Chao TF, Cheng HM, Liu ME, Wang TD, Yeh HI, Li YH, Liu PY, Yin WH, Hsieh IC, Wang CC, Chen CH, Chu PH, Lin SJ, Yeh SJ, Lin JL, Hwang JJ, Hung HF, Chen WJ, Hou CJY. 2023 Consensus of Taiwan Society of Cardiology on the Pharmacological Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure. ACTA CARDIOLOGICA SINICA 2023; 39:361-390. [PMID: 37229331 PMCID: PMC10203721 DOI: 10.6515/acs.202305_39(3).20230301a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of heart failure is increasing, causing a tremendous burden on health care systems around the world. Although mortality rate of heart failure has been significantly reduced by several effective agents in the past 3 decades, yet it remains high in observational studies. More recently, several new classes of drugs emerged with significant efficacy in reducing mortality and hospitalization in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). To integrate these effective therapies and prioritize them in the management of Asian patients, Taiwan Society of Cardiology has recently appointed a working group to formulate a consensus of pharmacological treatment in patients with chronic heart failure. Based on most updated information, this consensus provides rationales for prioritization, rapid sequencing, and in-hospital initiation of both foundational and additional therapies for patients with chronic heart failure.
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Liang JF, Cheng HM, Huang CC, Yang YY, Chen CH. Lessons Learned from a Novel Three-year Longitudinal Stepwise "Residents-as-Teachers" Program. J Chin Med Assoc 2023:02118582-990000000-00206. [PMID: 37055911 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000000928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most residents-as-teachers (RaT) programs are delivered over days to weeks without comprehensive evaluation, and stepwise approaches have rarely been applied to RaT activities. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to depict the implementation experience and evaluate the effectiveness of a novel longitudinal three-year, stepwise RaT program. METHODS The longitudinal RaT program included three once yearly face-to-face courses according to the different teaching roles of the residents. To evaluate the effectiveness of the new longitudinal program, we designed a randomized controlled study for first-year residents of all specialties in one medical center. The effectiveness was evaluated by the objective structured teaching exercise (OSTE), feedback from participants and medical students, and evaluation of clinical practice performance by program directors. RESULTS A total of 35 (37.6%) of 93 residents participated in this study, and 13 (37.1%) of all enrolled residents completed all three-year courses, including seven for the longitudinal program and six for the traditional. The serial OSTE revealed significantly higher scores in the longitudinal group in the second and third years (13.43 vs. 9.50, p=0.001 and 14.29 vs. 10.33, p=0.015). Satisfaction was higher when advanced topics were taught in the second and third years compared with those taught in the first year (4.43 vs. 3.89, p=0.02). The feedback from medical students was similar between the two groups, and the evaluation from program directors revealed insignificantly better clinical performance among the longitudinal course participants. CONCLUSION It is challenging to conduct a multi-year longitudinal RaT program on young residents. Nevertheless, this longitudinal program was potentially associated with better learning retention and higher satisfaction and worthy to be promoted.
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Tsoi K, Lam A, Tran J, Hao Z, Yiu K, Chia YC, Turana Y, Siddique S, Zhang Y, Cheng HM, Wang JG, Kario K. The Western and Chinese exercise training for blood pressure reduction among hypertensive patients: An overview of systematic reviews. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2023. [PMID: 36946438 DOI: 10.1111/jch.14610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Hypertension remains the world's leading cause of premature death. Interventions such as exercise, diet modification, and pharmacological therapy remain the mainstay of hypertension treatment. Numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses demonstrated the effectiveness of western exercises, such as aerobic exercise and resistance exercise, in reducing blood pressure in hypertensive patients. There is recently emerging evidence of blood pressure reduction with Chinese exercises, such as Tai Chi, Baduanjin, and Qigong. The current overview of systematic reviews aims to evaluate the quality and descriptively summarize the evidence for the effectiveness of western and Chinese exercises for hypertension management. Thirty-nine systematic reviews were included in this overview, with 15 of those being on Chinese exercise. Evidence suggests that exercise training, regardless of Western or Chinese exercise, generally reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. High-intensity intermittent training did not further reduce blood pressure when compared to moderate-intensity continuous training. Conflicting results on the effectiveness of blood pressure reduction when comparing Chinese and Western exercise training were observed. This suggests the comparable effectiveness of Chinese exercise training, in particularly Tai Chi, to general or aerobic exercise training in terms of blood pressure reduction. The Chinese exercise modality and intensity may be more suitable for the middle-aged and elderly population.
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Huang JT, Chiang CE, Yu WC, Cheng HM, Sung SH. SIGNIFICANCE OF TIMP-1 IN PROGNOSIS AND LEFT VENTRICLE REMODELING OF PATIENTS UNDERGONE CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS SURGERY, A 12-YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY. J Am Coll Cardiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(23)04449-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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Chuang SY, Cheng HM, Chang WL, Yeh WY, Huang CJ, Chen CH. 130/80 mmHg as a unifying hypertension threshold for office brachial, office central, and ambulatory daytime brachial blood pressure. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2023; 25:266-274. [PMID: 36748892 PMCID: PMC9994170 DOI: 10.1111/jch.14637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigated the prognostic values for office brachial (OB), office central (OC), and ambulatory daytime brachial (AmDB) hypertension, as defined by a unifying threshold of 130/80 mmHg, and the incremental value of either OC or AmDB hypertension to OB hypertension. A total of 1219 community residents without receiving anti-hypertensive treatment (671 men and 548 women, aged ≥ 30 years old) from central Taiwan and Kinmen islands had OB, OC, and AmDB blood pressure measurements during a cardiovascular survey conducted in 1992-1993. OB hypertension, OC hypertension, and AmDB hypertension were all defined in retrospect at the threshold of 130/80 mmHg. They were followed up for nonfatal and fatal cardiovascular events until December 31, 2017, by linking the baseline database to the National Health Insurance Research dataset and the National Death Registry. During a follow-up of 25 612.5 person-years (Average event-free time: 21.0 years), there were 368 fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events. In multivariable analyses, OB hypertension, OC hypertension, and AmDB hypertension had similar hazard ratios for cardiovascular events [2.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.47-2.80]; 1.92 (1.47-2.51); and 1.79 (1.41-2.29), respectively. Using OB normotension as the reference, either the concordant OB and OC hypertension [2.24 (1.61-3.12)], or the concordant OB and AmDB hypertension [2.52 (1.80-3.54)] was significantly associated with cardiovascular events. Moreover, OB hypertension plus AmDB normotension was also significantly associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events. We concluded that OB hypertension, OC hypertension, and AmDB hypertension defined by a unifying threshold of 130/80 mmHg may provide similar estimates of long-term risk for cardiovascular events. Cross-classification analyses suggest that addition of OC hypertension or AmDB hypertension may improve the prognostic value of OB hypertension.
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Chao HL, Sung SH, Wu SH, Li BS, Huang WM, Cheng HM. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ASSISTED INTERPRETATION OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAM FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF LEFT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION. J Am Coll Cardiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(23)00738-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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Dhamotharan V, Chandrasekhar A, Cheng HM, Chen CH, Sung SH, Landry C, Hahn JO, Mahajan A, Shroff SG, Mukkamala R. Mathematical Modeling of Oscillometric Blood Pressure Measurement: A Complete, Reduced Oscillogram Model. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2023; 70:715-722. [PMID: 36006885 PMCID: PMC9958264 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2022.3201433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Oscillogram modeling is a powerful tool for understanding and advancing popular oscillometric blood pressure (BP) measurement. A reduced oscillogram model relating cuff pressure oscillation amplitude ( ∆O) to external cuff pressure of the artery ( Pe) is: [Formula: see text], where g(P) is the arterial compliance versus transmural pressure ( P) curve, Ps and Pd are systolic and diastolic BP, and k is the reciprocal of the cuff compliance. The objective was to determine an optimal functional form for the arterial compliance curve. METHODS Eight prospective, three-parameter functions of the brachial artery compliance curve were compared. The study data included oscillometric arm cuff pressure waveforms and invasive brachial BP from 122 patients covering a 20-120 mmHg pulse pressure range. The oscillogram measurements were constructed from the cuff pressure waveforms. Reduced oscillogram models, inputted with measured systolic and diastolic BP and each parametric brachial artery compliance curve function, were optimally fitted to the oscillogram measurements in the least squares sense. RESULTS An exponential-linear function yielded as good or better model fits compared to the other functions, with errors of 7.9±0.3 and 5.1±0.2% for tail-trimmed and lower half-trimmed oscillogram measurements. Importantly, this function was also the most tractable mathematically. CONCLUSION A three-parameter exponential-linear function is an optimal form for the arterial compliance curve in the reduced oscillogram model and may thus serve as the standard function for this model henceforth. SIGNIFICANCE The complete, reduced oscillogram model determined herein can potentially improve oscillometric BP measurement accuracy while advancing foundational knowledge.
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Lee DY, Huang CJ, Yeh WY, Sung SH, Chen CH, Cheng HM. Improvement of clinical outcomes in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis using hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Chin Med Assoc 2023; 86:155-165. [PMID: 36652565 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000000840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unclear whether hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) therapy decreases the risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). METHODS We performed a literature search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and other databases for research publications up to June 2022. The outcomes of interest were fatal and nonfatal CVDs, all-cause mortality, and changes in the biochemical profiles. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled and synthesized using a random-effects model. The certainty of the evidence was determined using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. RESULTS Nine studies, including 2,933 patients undergoing PD, were included. Among them, three studies, including 2,099 patients, reported all-cause mortality, and three, including 1,571 patients, reported CVDs. In these patients, pooling results of two observational studies (very low-certainty evidence) showed that statin therapy significantly reduced CVDs (HR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.54-0.84; p = 0.0004). Moreover, statin therapy was associated with significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and C-reactive protein levels (very low certainty of evidence). However, the effects of statin therapy on triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and albumin levels were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Although statin therapy was associated with significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and C-reactive protein levels, the probable beneficial effect of statins on CVD risk in patients undergoing PD could not be concluded firmly. Additional high-quality studies are required to assess the potential beneficial effects of statin therapy in PD patients.
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Picone DS, Stoneman E, Cremer A, Schultz MG, Otahal P, Hughes AD, Black JA, Bos WJ, Chen CH, Cheng HM, Dwyer N, Lacy P, Laugesen E, Liang F, Kim HL, Ohte N, Okada S, Omboni S, Ott C, Pereira T, Pucci G, Rajani R, Schmieder R, Sinha MD, Stewart R, Stouffer GA, Takazawa K, Wang J, Weber T, Westerhof BE, Williams B, Yamada H, Sharman JE. Sex Differences in Blood Pressure and Potential Implications for Cardiovascular Risk Management. Hypertension 2023; 80:316-324. [PMID: 35912678 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.122.19693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement is critical for optimal cardiovascular risk management. Age-related trajectories for cuff-measured BP accelerate faster in women compared with men, but whether cuff BP represents the intraarterial (invasive) aortic BP is unknown. This study aimed to determine the sex differences between cuff BP, invasive aortic BP, and the difference between the 2 measurements. METHODS Upper-arm cuff BP and invasive aortic BP were measured during coronary angiography in 1615 subjects from the Invasive Blood Pressure Consortium Database. This analysis comprised 22 different cuff BP devices from 28 studies. RESULTS Subjects were 64±11 years (range 40-89) and 32% women. For the same cuff systolic BP (SBP), invasive aortic SBP was 4.4 mm Hg higher in women compared with men. Cuff and invasive aortic SBP were higher in women compared with men, but the sex difference was more pronounced from invasive aortic SBP, was the lowest in younger ages, and the highest in older ages. Cuff diastolic blood pressure overestimated invasive diastolic blood pressure in both sexes. For cuff and invasive diastolic blood pressure separately, there were sex*age interactions in which diastolic blood pressure was higher in younger men and lower in older men, compared with women. Cuff pulse pressure underestimated invasive aortic pulse pressure in excess of 10 mm Hg for both sexes in older age. CONCLUSIONS For the same cuff SBP, invasive aortic SBP was higher in women compared with men. How this translates to cardiovascular risk prediction needs to be determined, but women may be at higher BP-related risk than estimated by cuff measurements.
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Chang HC, Cheng HM, Kuo L, Lee DY, Sung SH, Chen CH, Yu WC. Risk stratification in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Looking beyond the left side myocardial function. J Chin Med Assoc 2023; 86:19-25. [PMID: 36250900 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000000825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have heterogeneous outcomes. As risk stratification mostly focuses on left-side myocardial function, we sought to investigate the prognostic value of right ventricular (RV) function in patients with HCM. METHODS This retrospective cohort study included patients with HCM. Conventional ventricular functional parameters, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and fractional area change were obtained. The longitudinal strain was analyzed using the speckle tracking method. The primary endpoint was defined as a composite of hospitalization for heart failure, sustained ventricular tachycardia, or all-cause death. RESULTS A total of 56 patients with HCM (aged 58.0 ± 14.9 years, 64.3% male) were included. After a mean follow-up duration of 30.1 ± 17.4 months, primary endpoints developed in 10 (20%) of 50 patients who were treated medically. Patients with cardiovascular events had a more reduced LV thickest segmental strain, worse TAPSE, and more impaired RV free wall strain. After adjusting for age, sex, and LVEF, TAPSE (hazard ratio [HR], 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 0.24, 0.06-0.93) and RV free wall strain (HR, 95% CIs:1.12, 1.03-1.21) remained independent prognostic predictors. Incorporating either TAPSE or RV free wall strain provides incremental prognostic value to the LV strain alone (net reclassification improvement by 31.4% and 34.1%, respectively, both p < 0.05). CONCLUSION RV function assessed by TAPSE or RV free wall strain is predictive of subsequent cardiac events, suggesting that a comprehensive evaluation of RV function is useful for risk stratification in patients with HCM.
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Lee KH, Chen YF, Yeh WY, Yeh JT, Yang TH, Chou CY, Chang YL, Wang WT, Chiang CE, Chen CH, Cheng HM. Optimal stroke preventive strategy for patients aged 80 years or older with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review with traditional and network meta-analysis. Age Ageing 2022; 51:6931851. [PMID: 36571776 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afac292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An optimal antithrombotic strategy for patients aged 80 years or older with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains elusive. OBJECTIVE Using a systematic review with traditional and network meta-analysis, we investigated outcomes in AF patients ≥80 years treated with different antithrombotic strategies. METHODS We searched eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies from MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases from inception to 16 December 2021. Research comparing treatment outcomes of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs), aspirin, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or no oral anticoagulant/placebo therapy in patients ≥80 years with AF were included. Outcomes were stroke or systemic embolism (SSE), major bleeding, all-cause mortality, intracranial bleeding (ICH) and gastrointestinal bleeding. Traditional and network meta-analyses were performed. Net clinical benefit integrating SSE and major bleeding was calculated. RESULTS Fifty-three studies were identified for analysis. In the meta-analysis of RCTs, risk of SSE (risk ratio [RR]: 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-0.99) and ICH (RR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.28-0.52) was significantly reduced when NOACs were compared with VKAs. Network meta-analysis of RCTs demonstrated that edoxaban (P-score: 0.8976) and apixaban (P-score: 0.8528) outperformed other antithrombotic therapies by showing a lower major bleeding risk and better net clinical benefit. Both traditional and network meta-analyses from RCTs combining with observational studies showed consistent results. CONCLUSIONS In patients aged 80 years or older with AF, NOACs have better outcomes than VKAs regarding efficacy and safety profiles. Edoxaban and apixaban may be preferred treatment options since they are safer than other antithrombotic strategies.
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Tseng CH, Huang WM, Yu WC, Cheng HM, Chang HC, Hsu PF, Chiang CE, Chen CH, Sung SH. The fibrosis-4 score is associated with long-term mortality in different phenotypes of acute heart failure. Eur J Clin Invest 2022; 52:e13856. [PMID: 35975623 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibrosis-4 score (FIB4) was a non-invasive surrogate to estimate the amount of liver scarring in chronic hepatitis. Considering the presence of increased central venous pressure and congestive hepatopathy in patients with decompensated heart failure, we therefore investigated the prognostic values of FIB4 in acute heart failure (AHF) patients. METHOD Patients hospitalised primarily for HF were drawn from an intramural registry. FIB4 was calculated according to age, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and platelet count. All-cause mortality up to 5 years after discharge was obtained by linking to the national death registry. RESULTS Among a total of 1854 participants, 940 patients died during a mean follow-up of 28.3 ± 21.8 months. FIB4 score was related to mortality and the composite of cardiovascular death or HF rehospitalisation, independent of age, sex, left ventricular ejection fraction, left atrial dimension, sodium and haemoglobin levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate, comorbidities, and medications [hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval of mortality: 1.009 (1.002-1.015), and the composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalisation: 1.020 (1.010-1.031)]. The prognostic value of FIB4 was predominantly in the subjects with heart failure and preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF and HFmrEF), or coronary artery disease (CAD) than the counterparts [interaction p-value <0.001, and 0.004, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS FIB4 was an independent predictor of survival in AHF patients, irrespective of the phenotypes of HF. The higher predictive value of mortality of FIB4 was observed in the subjects with HFpEF, HFmrEF or CAD.
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Park JB, Sharman JE, Li Y, Munakata M, Shirai K, Chen CH, Jae SY, Tomiyama H, Kosuge H, Bruno RM, Spronck B, Kario K, Lee HY, Cheng HM, Wang J, Budoff M, Townsend R, Avolio AP. Expert Consensus on the Clinical Use of Pulse Wave Velocity in Asia. Pulse (Basel) 2022; 10:1-18. [PMID: 36660436 PMCID: PMC9843646 DOI: 10.1159/000528208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Arterial stiffness is a progressive aging process that predicts cardiovascular disease. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) has emerged as a noninvasive, valid, and reliable measure of arterial stiffness and an independent risk predictor for adverse outcomes. However, up to now, PWV measurement has mostly been used as a tool for risk prediction and has not been widely used in clinical practice. This consensus paper aims to discuss multiple PWV measurements currently available in Asia and to provide evidence-based assessment together with recommendations on the clinical use of PWV. For the methodology, PWV measurement including the central elastic artery is essential and measurements including both the central elastic and peripheral muscular arteries, such as brachial-ankle PWV and cardio-ankle vascular index, can be a good alternative. As Asian populations are rapidly aging, timely detection and intervention of "early vascular aging" in terms of abnormally high PWV values are recommended. More evidence is needed to determine if a PWV-guided therapeutic approach will be beneficial to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases beyond current strategies. Large-scale randomized controlled intervention studies are needed to guide clinicians.
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Huang CJ, Wang WT, Sung SH, Chen CH, Lip GYH, Cheng HM, Chiang CE. Revisiting 'intensive' blood glucose control: A causal directed acyclic graph-guided systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Diabetes Obes Metab 2022; 24:2341-2352. [PMID: 35848464 DOI: 10.1111/dom.14819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM To clarify the importance of HbA1c reduction and antidiabetic drug use in preventing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted an updated systematic review of contemporary large randomized controlled trials assessing the relative efficacy and safety of antidiabetic drugs with less hypoglycaemia risk in adult T2D patients. Mixed-effects meta-regression was performed to examine the associations of HbA1c reduction with subsequent risk of macrovascular and microvascular events. We evaluated the potential mediating role of HbA1c reduction in the relationship between antidiabetic drugs and MACE. RESULTS Eighteen placebo-controlled trials comprising 155 610 participants were included. The effects of treatment differed among antidiabetic drug classes for most adverse outcomes with high heterogeneity (I2 : 63.7%-95.8%). Mean HbA1c reduction was lowest with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (0.30%), followed by sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (0.46%), and was highest with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (0.58%) and thiazolidinediones (0.60%). Lower relative risks of MACE were significantly associated with larger reductions in achieved HbA1c (β -0.3182; 95% CI: -0.5366 to -0.0998; P = .0043), even after adjusting for drug classes. When considering HbA1c lowering as a mediator to be controlled, beneficial effects owing to specific antidiabetic treatment for MACE were not observed (χ2 = 1.4494; P = .6940). The proportion mediated by HbA1c reduction was 50.0%-63.5% for these antidiabetic agents. CONCLUSIONS The main benefits of antidiabetic agents might result from the reduction in blood sugar levels and are generally independent of drugs used. Risk reduction in MACE was proportional to the magnitude of HbA1c decrease conferred by antidiabetic agents with less hypoglycaemic hazard.
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Wang WT, Chang WL, Cheng HM. The Relationship of Vascular Aging to Reduced Cognitive Function: Pulsatile and Steady State Arterial Hemodynamics. Pulse (Basel) 2022; 10:19-25. [PMID: 36704265 PMCID: PMC9872056 DOI: 10.1159/000528147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aortic stiffness increases with age and is a robust predictor of cerebrovascular events and cognitive decline including Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Recent clinical studies have investigated the association between proximal aortic stiffness and pulsatile energy transmission that has deleterious effects on the cerebrovascular network in order to identify potential therapeutic targets. Aging causes disproportionate stiffening of the aorta compared with the carotid arteries, reducing protective impedance mismatches at their interface, increasing the transmission of destructive pulsatile pressure and energy to the cerebral circulation, and leading to cerebral small vessel disease. Thus, aortic stiffening and high-flow pulsatility are associated with alterations in the microvasculature of the brain, vascular endothelial dysfunction, and white matter damage, which contribute to impaired memory function with advancing age. Previous studies have also shown that silent lacunar infarcts and white matter hyperintensities are strongly associated with arterial stiffness. More and more evidence suggests that vascular etiologies, including aortic stiffness, impedance match, and microvascular damage, are associated with cognitive impairment and the pathogenesis of dementia. The measurement of arterial flow and pressure can help understand pulsatile hemodynamics and its impact on vital organs. Interventions that reduce aortic stiffness, such as improvement of the living environment, management of risk factors, and innovation and development of novel drugs, may reduce the risk for dementia.
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Yavarimanesh M, Cheng HM, Chen CH, Sung SH, Mahajan A, Chaer RA, Shroff SG, Hahn JO, Mukkamala R. Abdominal aortic aneurysm monitoring via arterial waveform analysis: towards a convenient point-of-care device. NPJ Digit Med 2022; 5:168. [PMID: 36329099 PMCID: PMC9633589 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-022-00717-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are lethal but treatable yet substantially under-diagnosed and under-monitored. Hence, new AAA monitoring devices that are convenient in use and cost are needed. Our hypothesis is that analysis of arterial waveforms, which could be obtained with such a device, can provide information about AAA size. We aim to initially test this hypothesis via tonometric waveforms. We study noninvasive carotid and femoral blood pressure (BP) waveforms and reference image-based maximal aortic diameter measurements from 50 AAA patients as well as the two noninvasive BP waveforms from these patients after endovascular repair (EVAR) and from 50 comparable control patients. We develop linear regression models for predicting the maximal aortic diameter from waveform or non-waveform features. We evaluate the models in out-of-training data in terms of predicting the maximal aortic diameter value and changes induced by EVAR. The best model includes the carotid area ratio (diastolic area divided by systolic area) and normalized carotid-femoral pulse transit time ((age·diastolic BP)/(height/PTT)) as input features with positive model coefficients. This model is explainable based on the early, negative wave reflection in AAA and the Moens-Korteweg equation for relating PTT to vessel diameter. The predicted maximal aortic diameters yield receiver operating characteristic area under the curves of 0.83 ± 0.04 in classifying AAA versus control patients and 0.72 ± 0.04 in classifying AAA patients before versus after EVAR. These results are significantly better than a baseline model excluding waveform features as input. Our findings could potentially translate to convenient devices that serve as an adjunct to imaging.
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Tsai TY, Leu HB, Hsu PF, Yang YL, Chen SC, Huang SS, Chan WL, Lin SJ, Chen JW, Pan JP, Charng MJ, Chen YH, Wu TC, Lu TM, Huang PH, Cheng HM, Huang CC, Sung SH, Lin YJ, Wu CH. Association between visit-to-visit blood pressure variability and adverse events in coronary artery disease patients after coronary intervention. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2022; 24:1327-1338. [PMID: 36094363 PMCID: PMC9581098 DOI: 10.1111/jch.14565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Blood pressure variability (BPV) is independently associated with higher cardiovascular risks. However, whether BPV is associated with poor outcomes for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remained undetermined. We aimed to investigate the relationship between BPV and the outcomes of CAD patients undergoing PCI. Two thousand seven hundred and sixty-two CAD patients (1938 males, mean age 69.6 ± 12.9) who received PCI at Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2006 to 2015 with multiple blood pressure measurements before and after the index PCI were enrolled. We calculated the standard deviation of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure as parameters of BPV. The primary endpoint was the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events [MACE comprising of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and non-fatal stroke] and heart failure hospitalization (HHF). The key secondary endpoint was MACE. Both pre-PCI and post-PCI BPV were associated with CV events even after adjusting for co-morbidities and mean blood pressure. In Cox analysis, for every 1 mmHg increase in systolic BPV, the hazard ratio for the MACE + HHF, MACE, HHF, and cardiovascular death was 1.04 (95%CI: 1.03-1.05), 1.04 (95%CI: 1.02-1.05), 1.05 (95%CI: 1.04-1.06), and 1.06 (95%CI: 1.03-1.09), respectively. The association between BPV and cardiovascular risk is independent of blood pressure control status. The prognostic value of BPV was superior to mean blood pressure in both pre-PCI and post-PCI period. BPV is independently associated with cardiovascular events after PCI and has a better prognostic value than mean blood pressure suggesting the importance of maintaining stable blood pressure for CAD patients.
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Cheng HM, Chuang SY, Ko YT, Liao CF, Pan WH, Liu WL, Hung CY, Chen CH. Education level may modify the association between cardiac index and cognitive function among elders with normal ejection function. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:844396. [PMID: 36172592 PMCID: PMC9510656 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.844396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lower cardiac index (CI) in elders has been associated with incident dementia, and higher CI has protectively effect with brain aging. In the present study, we investigated the modulating effects of education level and arterial stiffness on the association between CI and cognitive function among older adults. Methods A total of 723 elders (≥60 years, 50.1% women) with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (≥50%) were identified from the Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factor Two-Township Study. CI was calculated from the Doppler-derived stroke volume. We evaluated arterial stiffness by measuring carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) and global cognitive function by using the Mini-Mental Short Examination (MMSE). Education level was determined by years of formal education. Results In linear regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, formal years of education, and CFPWV, CI was significantly positively associated with MMSE (BETA=0.344±0.130, P = 0.0082). In logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, formal years of education, and CFPWV, subjects with a CI≥75 percentile had a significantly lower risk of low MMSE (<26) (OR = 0.495, 95% CI = 0.274–0.896, P = 0.02). In subgroup analysis, higher CI was significantly associated with higher MMSE and lower risk of low MMSE only in elders with ≤ 9 years of formal education. Causal mediation analysis suggests that higher CI maintains higher MMSE in elders with lower education levels whereas higher CFPWV causes lower MMSE in all the elders. Conclusion In elders with normal ejection fraction, a higher CI was associated with a lower risk of cognitive function impairment, independent of arterial stiffness, mainly in subjects with a lower education level and possibly a smaller cognitive reserve.
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Wu JW, Cheng HM, Huang SS, Liang JF, Huang CC, Shulruf B, Yang YY, Chen CH, Hou MC, Huey-Herng Sheu W. Medical school grades may predict future clinical competence. J Chin Med Assoc 2022; 85:909-914. [PMID: 36150103 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000000782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In real-world medical education, there is a lack of reliable predictors of future clinical competencies. Hence, we aim to identify the factors associated with clinical competencies and construct a prediction model to identify "improvement required" trainees. METHODS We analyzed data from medical students who graduated from National Yang-Ming University with clerkship training and participated in the postgraduate year (PGY) interview at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Clinical competencies were evaluated using grades of national objective structured clinical examination (OSCEs). This study used data from medical students who graduated in July 2018 as the derivation cohort (N = 50) and those who graduated in July 2020 (n = 56) for validation. RESULTS Medical school grades were associated with the performance of national OSCEs (Pearson r = 0.34, p = 0.017), but the grades of the structured PGY interviews were marginally associated with the national OSCE (Pearson r = 0.268, p = 0.06). A prediction model was constructed to identify "improvement required" trainees, defined: trainees with the lowest 25% of scores in the national OSCEs. According to this model, trainees with the lowest 25% medical school grades predicted a higher risk of the "improvement required" clinical performance (Q1-Q3 vs Q4 = 15% vs 60%, odds ratio = 8.5 [95% confidence interval = 1.8-39.4], p = 0.029). In the validation cohort, our prediction model could accurately classify 76.7% "improvement required" and "nonimprovement required" students. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that interventions for students with unsatisfactory medical school grades are warranted to improve their clinical competencies.
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Huang WM, Chen CN, Chen YH, Yen JH, Tseng TY, Cheng HM, Yu WC, Chen CH, Sung SH. The feasibility and safety of stepwise protocol in cardiopulmonary exercise testing-exercise stress echocardiography for subjects with heart failure. J Chin Med Assoc 2022; 85:815-820. [PMID: 35696492 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000000763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exercise stress testing using a ramp protocol has been favored for cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the stepwise protocol for CPX was preferred for its possible combination with exercise stress echocardiography (ESE). We, therefore, investigated the feasibility and safety of using a stepwise protocol for CPX-ESE in patients with HF. METHODS Ambulatory outpatients with chronic HF were enrolled for a symptom-limited stepwise bicycle exercise test in the semi-supine position on a cycle ergometer. The test was started at a workload of 30 W and increased by 15 W every 3 minutes until maximal exertion. The echocardiographic and respiratory variables and any complications during the exercise were recorded. RESULTS Among a total of 36 participants (age 61.2 ± 12.4 years; 69.4% men), all subjects achieved anerobic threshold during CPX-ESE and reached 72.3% of the age-predicted peak heart rate. The peak oxygen consumption was 14.7 mL/kg/min, and the peak RER was 1.25. There were no severe adverse complications, and only two minor rhythmic events were reported: nonsustained supraventricular tachycardia and isolated ventricular premature beats. The echocardiographic images acquired at each stage were of good quality in 92.6% of all acquisitions, and the intra-observer and interobserver repeatability was >80%. CONCLUSION The stepwise protocol, with an initial workload of 30 W, followed by 15 W increments every 3 minutes, was feasible and provided an adequate stress load for patients with HF. This exercise stress modality was safe and well-tolerated.
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Wen YW, Wang IT, Hu YT, Cheng HM, Cheng KW, Shiu MN, Tsai YW. Duration of varenicline prescription and efficacy of smoking cessation treatment: an observational study in Taiwan. Prev Med 2022; 161:107091. [PMID: 35660554 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although varenicline has had a significant effect on smoking cessation in randomized clinical trials, the dose-effect of varenicline treatment for smoking cessation in real-world settings remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the duration of varenicline prescription and smoking cessation in Taiwan after adjusting for potential confounding effects and endogeneity bias. A total of 5106 Taiwanese participants received varenicline monotherapy for smoking cessation between March 2012 and September 2016. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) was used to analyze the association between varenicline prescription duration and smoking cessation, stratified by the frequency of smoking clinic visits and propensity scores of early stopping of smoking cessation treatment. Compared to the reference of nonquitting, longer durations of varenicline prescription were associated with the greater likelihood of immediate and complete quitting (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.02-1.14) and late quitting (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.07-1.20). Among those who were more likely to continue visiting smoking clinics, longer use of varenicline was significantly associated with an increase in immediate-and-complete quitting (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.15-1.23) and late quitting (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.20-1.28). Varenicline prescription duration was not associated with smoking cessation among smokers who visited smoking clinics once. The relationship between varenicline prescription duration and smoking cessation was modified by the frequency of smoking clinic visits and was dependent on quitting process patterns. Encouraging smokers to continue visiting the smoking cessation clinic and use medication will help smoking cessation efforts in Taiwan.
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