Exercise Testing, Family History, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis Markers for Cardiovascular Risk Reclassification in Middle-Aged Women

Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in women and the accuracy of currently available risk scores is questionable. Objective To reclassify the risk estimated by the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in asymptomatic middle-aged women by incorporating family history, exercise testing variables, and subclinical atherosclerosis markers. Methods This cross-sectional study included 509 women (age range, 46-65 years) without cardiovascular symptoms. Those at low or intermediate risk by the FRS were reclassified to a higher level considering premature family history of acute myocardial infarction and/or sudden death; four variables from exercise testing; and two variables related to subclinical atherosclerosis markers. The homogeneity of these variables according to the FRS was verified by Pearson chi-square test (p<0.05). Results According to the FRS, 80.2%, 6.2%, and 13.6% of the women were classified as low (<5%), intermediate (5-10%), and high (>10%) risks, respectively. The intermediate-risk stratum showed the highest increase (from 6.2% to 33.3%) with addition of family history; followed by addition of chronotropic index <80% (to 24.2%); functional capacity <85% (22.2%), coronary calcium score >0 (20.6%); decreased one-minute heart rate recovery ≤12 bpm (15.2%); carotid intima-media thickness >1 mm and/or carotid plaque (13.8%) and ST-segment depression (9.0%). The high-risk stratum increased to 14.4% with the addition of reduced heart rate recovery and to 17.1% with the coronary calcium score. Conclusion Incorporation of premature family history of cardiovascular events, exercise testing abnormal parameters, and subclinical atherosclerosis markers into the FRS led to risk reclassification in 3.0-29.7% of asymptomatic middle-aged women, mainly by an increase from low to intermediate risk.

Non Electrocardiographic alterations in exercise testing in asymptomatic women. Associations with cardiovascular risk factors

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of exercise testing alterations in middle-aged women without symptoms of heart disease and to verify the associations of functional capacity and heart rate behavior during and after exercise with cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 509 asymptomatic women aged between 46 and 65 years who underwent clinical evaluations and exercise testing (Bruce protocol). The heart rate behavior was evaluated by the maximal predicted heart rate achieved, chronotropic index and recovery heart rate. RESULTS: The mean age was 56.4±4.8 years, and 13.4% of the patients had a Framingham risk score above 10%. In the exercise treadmill testing, 58.0% presented one or more of the following alterations (listed in order of ascending prevalence): symptoms (angina, dyspnea, and dizziness), ST-segment depression, arrhythmia, reduction in recovery heart rate of ≤12 bpm at 1 minute, altered maximal predicted heart rate achieved, abnormal blood pressure, functional capacity deficiency, and altered chronotropic index. In the multivariate analysis, the following associations (odds ratio) were observed for these alterations: chronotropic index was associated with obesity (2.08) and smoking (4.47); maximal predicted heart rate achieved was associated with smoking (6.45); reduction in the recovery heart rate at 1 minute was associated with age (1.09) and obesity (2.78); functional capacity was associated with age (0.92), an overweight status (2.29) and obesity (6.51). CONCLUSIONS: More than half of middle-aged women without cardiovascular symptoms present alterations in one or more exercise testing parameters. Alterations in the functional capacity or heart rate behavior, as verified by exercise testing, are associated with age, smoking, an overweight status and obesity.

Percepção dos usuários sobre acolhimento na adesão à terapia antirretroviral de alta atividade / Perception of users on host adherence in high activity antiretroviral therapy

O sucesso da terapia antirretroviral depende da manutenção de altas taxas de adesão ao tratamento. O presente artigo tem por objetivo avaliar a percepção dos usuários da terapia antirretroviral de alta atividade com relação ao acolhimento propiciado pelos profissionais de saúde, procurando verificar as dificuldades na adesão entre pacientes com histórico de abandono da mesma. A metodologia utilizada é o estudo qualitativo em uma amostra aleatória de treze indivíduos. Os dados foram analisados a partir dos discursos coletados por meio de entrevistas, utilizando-se a análise de conteúdo. Os resultados indicam que os fatores contribuintes para a interrupção do tratamento foram: a ausência de estrutura para o atendimento em saúde, voltada para a adesão e o acolhimento dos pacientes, deficiências de apoio social aos pacientes e familiares, atitudes de preconceito relacionadas à doença, intolerância gastrointestinal e condições socioeconômicas. A conclusão a que se chega é a de que a organização da assistência e o atendimento acolhedor podem contribuir para a melhoria da adesão ao tratamento de pessoas vivendo com Aids.

The success of antiretroviral therapy depends on maintaining high rates of adherence to treatment. This article aims to assess the perception of users in high activity antiretroviral therapy in relation to the partnership afforded by health professionals, seeking to ascertain the difficulties in adherence among patients with a history of abandoning it. The methodology used is the qualitative study on a random sample of thirteen individuals. Data were analyzed from the discourse collected through interviews, using content analysis. The results indicate that the factors contributing to discontinuing treatment were the lack of healthcare infrastructure focused on adherence and care for patients, deficiencies in social support to patients and family members, prejudiced attitudes toward the disease, gastrointestinal intolerance, and socioeconomic conditions. The conclusion obtained is that the organization of care and service in partnership with the patient can help improve adherence to treatment for people living with AIDS.