Focus on the Most Common Paucisymptomatic Vasculopathic Population, from Diagnosis to Secondary Prevention of Complications

The Impact of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms on Cardiovascular Risk Factor Control in Patients Without a History of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Background

Anxiety and depression by affecting lifestyle interfere with preventive actions aimed at eliminating or reducing modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Purpose

The objective of the study was to assess the impact of anxiety and depression on the achievement of therapeutic goals regarding CVD risk factors in patients without a history of atherosclerotic CVD.

Patients and Methods

The study included 200 patients (median age 52.0 [IQR 43.0-60.5] years). Control of the basic risk factors was assessed: blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference, physical activity, smoking status, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose. The data analysis included a comparison of the number of controlled risk factors and the percentage of subjects who achieved the therapeutic goal for each of the cardiovascular risk factors. The risk of CVD was assessed with SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). On both subscales (HADS Anxiety and HADS Depression), subjects could achieve normal, borderline, and abnormal scores.

Results

The median number of controlled CVD risk factors was 4.0 (IQR 3.0-5.0), and the median CVD risk assessed with SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP was 3.0% (IQR 1.5-7.0%). Median scores for HADS Anxiety were 3.0 (IQR 2.0-6.0) and for HADS Depression 3.0 (1.0-5.0). Patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression had significantly fewer controlled risk factors (HADS Anxiety p=0.0014; HADS Depression p=0.0304). Among subjects with anxiety and depression, there was a significantly lower percentage of those with a normal waist circumference (HADS Anxiety p=0.0464; HADS Depression p=0.0200) and regular physical activity (HADS Anxiety p=0.0431; HADS Depression p=0.0055). Among subjects with anxiety, there was a significantly lower percentage of those with a normal BMI (p=0.0218) and normal triglyceride concentrations (p=0.0278).

Conclusion

The presence of anxiety and depression may affect the control of CVD risk factors in individuals without a history of atherosclerotic CVD. Assessment of anxiety and depression symptoms should be part of a comprehensive examination of patients with high CVD risk.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among First-Degree Relatives of Patients with Premature Cardiovascular Disease in Malta. Baseline Findings from the CRISO Project

Purpose

A family history of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) confers a greater risk of developing ASCVD. However, the prevalence of ASCVD risk factors among asymptomatic Maltese adults with parental or fraternal history of premature ASCVD is unknown. The study aimed to evaluate and compare their risk with the general population.

Patients and Methods

Posters to market the project were distributed in cardiac rehabilitation areas. Patients with premature cardiovascular disease facilitated recruitment by informing their relatives about the project. Medical doctors and cardiac rehabilitation nurses referred first-degree relatives. Posters were put up in community pharmacies, and an explanatory video clip was shared on social media for interested individuals to contact researchers. Those eligible were enrolled in a preventive cardiology lifestyle intervention. Their data were compared with the risk in the general population.

Results

Many first-degree relatives had a suboptimal risk profile, with 60% (N = 89) having a total cholesterol level of >5.0 mmol/L; 54% having a low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level of >3 mmol/L; 70.5% being overweight/obese, with 62% having a waist circumference greater than the recommended values; 34.8% having hypertension; 56.2% being inadequately adherent to the Mediterranean diet; 62% being underactive, with 18% being sedentary; and 25.8% being smokers. First-degree relatives had significantly higher proportions of underactive lifestyle (p = 0.00016), high body mass index (>25kg/m2) (p = 0.006), and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.001) than the general population, with 30% having metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion

This study determined the prevalence of lifestyle, biochemical, physiological, and anthropometric cardiovascular risk factors among asymptomatic first-degree relatives of Maltese patients with premature ASCVD. First-degree relatives had considerable prevalences of an underactive lifestyle, hypertension, and obesity, suggesting better screening and early risk factor intervention are needed to modify their risk of ASCVD.

Clinical recurrence and antiplatelet drug resistance among patients with lower limb ischemia

There is a high prevalence rate of peripheral artery disease worldwide, with estimated cases exceeding 200 million. Most patients are under-diagnosed and under-treated, and there is a lack of knowledge regarding the best therapeutic regimen and therapy duration, which leads to many cases of recurrence, complications, and amputations. This study aims to explore clinical recurrence, which was defined as the worsening of chronic peripheral artery disease requiring hospital admission, and its relationship with antiplatelet drug resistance among patients with lower limb ischemia. This cohort study includes both retrospective and prospective recruitment of patients with chronic lower limb ischemia. Platelet aggregation tests were offered to the patients. Between February 2018 and November 2020, 147 patients were recruited from King Abdullah University Hospital and followed up for at least 1 year. Platelet aggregation tests were done for 93 patients who agreed to participate in this part of the study. The prevalence of chronic lower limb ischemia was higher in young male patients who are current smokers with co-morbid diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and/or dyslipidemia. There was a significant association only of clinical recurrence with younger age (P = .011) and with low platelets count in severe stages of the disease (P = .047). No significant association was found in terms of laboratory resistance. The clinical recurrence rates of chronic lower limb ischemia were higher in younger patients and among those with low platelet counts in the severe stages of the disease. Despite the laboratory responsiveness to anti-platelet therapy, we observed significant clinical resistance and increased recurrence rates.

Trends in population-based incidence, diagnostics, and mortality of acute superior mesenteric artery occlusion

Acute occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) results in lethal intestinal ischemia. Results from two previous population-based studies in Malmö, Sweden, suggest a decreasing incidence of acute SMA occlusion. This study aimed to evaluate trends in the epidemiology of acute SMA occlusion in Malmö. The report was a retrospective population-based study conducted from 2014 to 2019 on patients with acute SMA occlusion residing in Malmö municipality. Patient data were retrieved from Skåne University Hospital and postmortem examinations. Epidemiological data were compared to those of the two earlier studies, in particular to the one conducted from 2000 to 2006. Sixteen patients with acute SMA occlusion resided in Malmö municipality. The incidence of acute SMA occlusion significantly decreased from 5.4/100,000 person-years to 0.8/100,000 person-years. The ratio of acute SMA occlusion to non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) decreased from 12.5:1 to 0.9:1 (p < 0.0001), the proportion of inhabitants aged 80 years or above in the population decreased from 6.0% to 4.3% (p < 0.0001), and the autopsy rate decreased from 25% to 14% (p < 0.0001). The in-hospital mortality rate decreased from 63% to 44% (p = 0.14). The incidence of acute SMA occlusion seems to have decreased significantly in Malmö, probably due to high-resolution computed tomography angiographies being available around the clock to distinguish acute SMA occlusion from NOMI, a reduced proportion of elderly individuals, improved control of medical risk factors, and a decrease in autopsy rates.