12-year trends in cardiovascular risk factors (2002-2005 through 2011-2014) in patients with cardiovascular diseases: Tehran lipid and glucose study

A cost-effectiveness analysis of risk-based intervention for prevention of cardiovascular diseases in IraPEN program: A modeling study

Background

IraPEN, a program developed in Iran based on the World Health Organization (WHO) package of essential noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions for primary healthcare, was launched in 2015. Preventive interventions for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are based on the level of risk calculated using the WHO CVD risk chart.

Objective

The main objective of this study was to measure the potential cost-effectiveness (CE) of IraPEN preventive actions for CVD in comparison with the status quo.

Methods

A CE analysis from a healthcare perspective was conducted. Markov models were employed for individuals with and without diabetes separately. Based on the WHO CVD risk chart, four index cohorts were constructed as low (<10%), moderate (10%-19%), high (20%-29%), and very high risk (≥30%). Life years (LY) gained and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) were used as the outcome measures.

Results

The intervention yields an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $804, $551, and -$44 per QALY for moderate, high, and very high CVD risk in groups without diabetes, respectively. These groups gained 0.69, 0.96, and 1.45 LY, respectively, from the intervention. The results demonstrated an ICER of $711, $630, -$42, and -$71 for low, moderate, high, and very high-risk groups with diabetes, respectively, while they gained 0.46, 1.2, 2.04, and 2.29 years from the intervention.

Conclusion

The IraPEN program was highly cost-effective for all CVD risk groups in the individuals without diabetes except the low-risk group. The intervention was cost-effective for all patients with diabetes regardless of their CVD risk. The results demonstrated that the IraPEN program can likely provide substantial health benefits to Iranian individuals and cost savings to the national healthcare provider.

In-patient care trends in peripheral artery disease in the German healthcare system over the past decade

OBJECTIVES

To analyze trends of in-hospital treatment of patients admitted due to peripheral artery disease (PAD) from 2009 to 2018 with special focus on comorbidities, revascularization procedures, resulting costs, and outcome.

METHODS

Using data from the research data center of the German Federal Statistical Office, we included all hospitalizations due to PAD Fontaine stage IIb or higher from 2009 to 2018. To analyze comorbidities, Elixhauser diagnostic groups and linear van Walraven score (vWS) were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 1.8 million hospitalizations resulting in €10.3 billion in reimbursement costs were included. From 2009 to 2018, the absolute number of hospitalizations due to PAD increased by 13.3% (163,547 to 185,352). The average cost per hospitalization increased by 20.8% from €5,261 to €6,356. The overall in-hospital mortality decreased from 3.1 to 2.6%. Median vWS of all PAD cases increased by 3 points (2 to 5). The number of percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTA) increased by 43.9% while some surgical procedures such as bypasses and embolectomies decreased by 30.8% and 6.8%, respectively. Many revascularization procedures showed a disproportionate increase of those performed in vessels below the knee for example in PTA (+ 68.5%) or in endarterectomies (+ 38.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

This decade-long nationwide analysis shows a rising number of hospitalizations due to PAD with more comorbid patients resulting in increasing reimbursement costs. Interventions are shifting from surgical to endovascular approaches with a notable trend towards interventions in smaller vessels below the knee.

KEY POINTS

• The number of hospitalizations due to peripheral artery disease is rising and it is associated with increasing reimbursement costs. • Admitted patients are older and show an increasing number of comorbidities while overall in-hospital mortality is decreasing. • Revascularization procedures are shifting from surgical to endovascular approaches and show a trend towards intervention in smaller vessels below the knee. • Major amputations are decreasing while the number of minor amputations is increasing.

Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Residents of the Siberian Region (According to Epidemiological Studies)

Aim. To analyze prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the Kemerovo region based on the results of epidemiological studies (2013 and 2016).

Material and methods. The study was based on two large epidemiological studies of the Kemerovo region: on 2013, «The epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors in the Russian Federation» and on 2016, «The prospective study of urban and rural epidemiology: study of the influence of social factors on chronic non-infectious diseases in low, middle and high income countries». In the study we analyzed cardiovascular risk factors using identical questionnaires, functional, anthropometric, biochemical means and measured on identical scales. As a result, we analyzed the prevalence of smoking, diabetes mellitus, overweight and obesity, abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

Results. Univariate analysis indicates that in the sample of 2016, compared to the sample of 2013, the prevalence of smoking is statistically significantly lower, as well as the proportion of participants with high cholesterol levels, but not taking lipid-lowering drugs. In contrast, the prevalence of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia is higher. In women, the frequency of abdominal obesity on 2016 is lower than on 2013: at 35-44 age group odds ratio (OR) =0.67 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44-1.03, at 45-54 age group OR =0.47 with 95% CI 0.31-0.72, 55-65 age group OR =0.49 with 95% CI 0.30-0.79. A high incidence of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia is characteristic mainly of older women (55-65 age group): accordingly, OR =1.96 with 95% CI 1.19-3.22, OR =1.42 with 95% CI 1,02-1.97, OR =1.51 at 95% CI 1.08-2.12. In the 45-54 age group of men, they smoked statistically significantly less often on 2016 compared to 2013, OR =0.59 with 95% CI 0.36-0.96. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in both samples is the same: for women, the OR for overweight in different age groups is within 0.74-0.87, for men - within 0.95-1.78; for obesity OR in women is from 0.70 to 0.79, in men - from 1.03 to 1.34.

Conclusion. A significant advantage of the study is the analysis of changes in prevalence in age and gender groups, which showed significant differences in the dynamics of men and women in different age categories for a number of risk factors. Analysis of the dynamics of the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors makes it possible to assess the effectiveness of state and regional policies in the field of health protection and, first of all, "risk groups” that require closer attention, development and implementation of targeted health-saving technologies.

15-Year lipid profile effects on cardiovascular events adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors: a cohort study from Middle-East

BACKGROUND

Dyslipidaemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, there are only a few long-term cohort studies. The aim of this unique study is to evaluate the effects of several lipid markers on cardiovascular outcomes during a 15-year follow-up from the Isfahan cohort study (ICS).

METHODS

This ongoing cohort study was started in 2001 in three cities of Iran. The study population includes 5432 individuals older than 35 years and with Iranian citizenship. All of the patients were evaluated every 2 years by telephone and a full medical examination with blood sampling was conducted every 5 years. The data were recorded in our checklists. Dyslipidaemia was defined according to the ATPIII criteria. Our endpoints in this study were any cardiovascular events such as stroke, sudden cardiac death, unstable angina or myocardial infarction (MI).

RESULTS

cardiovascular events were significantly higher in males, older people, diabetics, smokers, patients with higher BMIs, higher blood pressure, dyslipidaemia and less educational level, physical activity index and global dietary index. Our adjusted multivariable analysis (for cardiovascular risk factors and demographic factors) revealed that dyslipidaemia could increase the risk of 15-year cardiovascular events by 1.59 times (HR = 1.59 [1.23-2.06], p value  < .001) adjusted for demographic factors and baseline cardiovascular risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Dyslipidaemia, as an independent risk factor, was associated with future cardiovascular events. In this regard, serum lipid screening can help to decrease the risk of long-term cardiovascular events.

Assessment of the Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Cardiac Self-Blame Attribution (CSBA-P) Scale in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

According to the studies done in Iran, there has been no study investigating self-blame attributions in patients with cardiovascular disease. Moreover, there has been no standard scale for assessing self-blame attributions available in Persian. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of Cardiac Self-Blame Attribution (CSBA-P) Scale in patients with cardiovascular disease. In this 2019 methodological study, 400 patients with cardiovascular disease completed the Persian version of the Cardiac Self-Blame Attribution scale. We evaluated the face, content, and construct validity (both exploratory and confirmatory) of the measure. The results of the confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis extracted a separate factor explained 56.249% of the variance. One factor fit model was confirmed according to standard measures such as RMSEA = 0.074, CMIN/DF = 2.454. The reliability of the scale was calculated and confirmed with a Cronbach coefficient of 0.938, construct reliability of 0.938, and ICC of 0.895. The Persian version of the Cardiac Self-Blame Attribution scale (CSBA-P) yielded acceptable validity and reliability. Thus, this scale can be used in future research to assess self-blame attributions among cardiac populations who speak Persian.

Trends of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Soroka Acute Myocardial Infarction II (SAMI II) Project

CONCLUSIONS

The last decade, patients with AMI became older with increased burden of CVRFs. Framingham risk score increased among patients with NSTEMI and decreased in patients with STEMI. These trends impact on risk stratification and secondary prevention programs.