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Background and Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with high-risk patients requiring effective management to reduce their risk of cardiovascular events. Bempedoic acid is a novel therapeutic agent recently approved as an add-on therapy to statins in patients with uncontrolled LDL-c. Bempedoic acid inhibits cholesterol synthesis in the liver, which ultimately reduces the risk of cardiovascular events. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of bempedoic acid in patients with uncontrolled LDL-c (Previously on moderate or high-intensity statins) with a high risk of CVD in real-world settings. Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective, observational study on the data of high-risk-CVD patients collected from Bempedoic Acid on Efficacy and Safety in patients (BEST) Registry. The clinical data of 140 patients who were already on statin therapy and were receiving Bempedoic acid at a dose of 180 mg, along with measurements of the level of LDL-c, HbA1c, HDL, TG, TC, PPPG, FPG, AST, ALT, serum creatinine was taken into consideration. The primary outcome includes a change in LDL-c level, and secondary outcomes involve a change in the level of HbA1c, HDL, TG, TC, PPPG, FPG, AST, ALT, and serum creatinine at week 12 and 24. Adverse events were reported at both time points. Results: A total of 140 patients were included in the present study with a mean age of 51.8 ± 9.2 years and had primary confirmed diagnosis of dyslipidemia with uncontrolled LDL-c. The mean levels of LDL-c decreased from the mean baseline value of 142.67 ± 46.49 mg/dL, to 106.78 ±33.92 mg/d; a statistically significant reduction by 23.23% (p < 0.01) at week 12. Similarly, at week 24, the mean LDL-c value reduced to 90.39 ± 38.89 mg/dL. A 33.38 % decrease was observed (p < 0.01). Other parameters such as non-HDL, FPG, PPPG, AST and serum creatinine also showed statistically significant reduction at week 12 and week 24. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that bempedoic acid is an effective add-on medication in lowering LDL-c levels in high-risk CVD patients with uncontrolled LDL-c.
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Background: COVID-19 infection is a disease that remains the main concern globally due to high admissions and fatality rates among patients. Clinical manifestation and choice of treatment are various. Therefore, this study was developed to explore the physicians’ perceptions in this regard in a semi-governmental hospital in Sharjah. Aims and Objectives: The objective of this research is to (1) to outline physicians’ descriptions of the clinical presentation of COVID-19, (2) to explore the physicians’ perceptions regarding the different aspects of COVID-19 and its complications, and (3) explore the physicians’ experiences regarding the treatment of COVID-19 cases. Materials and Methods: A descriptive qualitative design was approached. A semi-structured interview guide was developed, validated and used for data collection. Ten in-depth individual interviews with physicians were conducted. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Results: After analysis, three main themes with their sub-themes emerged to describe physicians’ experience regarding COVID-19’s clinical presentation, complications, and management. Sub-themes cleared-up COVID-19’s signs, symptoms, and risk factors along with admission’s requirements. Furthermore, it showed COVID-19’s complication in main organs. Moreover, COVID-19’s treatment was clarified for both home-quarantine and admitted patients along with instructions for discharged patients. Conclusion: Cases varied in severity and classified from asymptomatic to severe. It showed the requirements for hospitalization and risk factors associated with severity. The management of COVID-19 disease followed by MOHAP protocol and provided adequate outcomes from physicians. Vaccination was one of physicians’ recommendations.
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Background: To assess effect and safety of beta blockers in hypertensive patients.Material & Methods:One hundred twelve adult patients who were diagnosed cases of hypertension of either gender were divided into 2 groups. Each group contained 56 patients. Group I received 25 mg atenolol twice daily and group II received 25 mg metoprolol tartrate twice daily. History of diabetes, kidney disease, lipid disorder, incident cardiovascular (CV) events etc. was recorded. Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) was recorded before starting and after starting the drug therapy.Results:Age group 20-40 years had 12 in group I and 11 in group II, 41-60 years had 14 in group I and 17 in group II and >60 years had 30 in group I and 28 in group II. There were 40 males and 16 females in group I and 38 males and 18 females in group II. A significant difference in males and females within the group (P< 0.05) and non- significant intergroup difference was observed (P> 0.05). The mean SBP found to be 149.4 mm Hg in group I and 146.7 mm Hg in group II and DBP was 85.4 mm Hg in group I and 83.6 mm Hg in group II at baseline and SBP was 135.4 mm Hg in group I and 134.6 mm Hg in group II and 78.2 mm Hg in group I and 78.0 mm Hg in group II at 6 months. Diabetes mellitus was seen in 12 in group I and 19 in group II, lipid disorders 17 in group I and 28 in group II, chronic kidney disease 11 in group I and 16 in group II and CV event 2 in group I and 4 in group II. Conclusions:Both beta blockers found to be equally effective in management of patients with hypertension.
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@#Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are major disease burdens with high mortality worldwide. Early prediction of cardiovascular events can reduce the incidence of acute myocardial infarction and decrease the mortality rates of patients with CVDs. The pathological mechanisms and multiple factors involved in CVDs are complex; thus, traditional data analysis is insufficient and inefficient to manage multidimensional data for the risk prediction of CVDs and heart attacks, medical image interpretations, therapeutic decision-making, and disease prognosis prediction. Meanwhile, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used for treating CVDs. TCM offers unique theoretical and practical applications in the diagnosis and treatment of CVDs. Big data have been generated to investigate the scientific basis of TCM diagnostic methods. TCM formulae contain multiple herbal items. Elucidating the complicated interactions between the active compounds and network modulations requires advanced data-analysis capability. Recent progress in artificial intelligence (AI) technology has allowed these challenges to be resolved, which significantly facilitates the development of integrative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for CVDs and the understanding of the therapeutic principles of TCM formulae. Herein, we briefly introduce the basic concept and current progress of AI and machine learning (ML) technology, and summarize the applications of advanced AI and ML for the diagnosis and treatment of CVDs. Furthermore, we review the progress of AI and ML technology for investigating the scientific basis of TCM diagnosis and treatment for CVDs. We expect the application of AI and ML technology to promote synergy between western medicine and TCM, which can then boost the development of integrative medicine for the diagnosis and treatment of CVDs.
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Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are defined as diseases of long duration, and are generally slow in progression. NCDs are replacing communicable diseases, maternal and child health as well as malnutrition as the leading cause of death. Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death in the world, responsible for 63% deaths worldwide in 2008. NCDs accounts for 53 percent of deaths in India. Based on available evidence cardiovascular diseases (24 percent), chronic respiratory diseases (11 percent), cancer (6 percent) and diabetes (2 percent) are the leading cause of mortality in India. Treatment cost is almost double for NCDs as compared to other conditions and illnesses. Burden of non-communicable diseases and resultants mortality is expected to increase unless massive efforts are made to prevent and control NCDs and their risk factors. India could develop a strategy for reducing out of pocket expenditure. Underlying determinants of NCDs mainly exist in non-health sectors, such as agriculture, urban development, education and trade. Inter-sectoral collaboration is therefore essential to create an enabling environment. Government of India had launched various vertical programmes such as National Cancer Control Programmes, National Tobacco Control Programme, National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD and Stroke (NPCDCS) etc. Strong surveillance, monitoring and evaluation system is required for successful implementation of the programmes. Public health facilities should be strengthened for providing services of screening; early diagnosis and treatment within the public health care delivery system. Efforts need to be done on implementing the clinical standards and guidelines developed under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), and integrating NCD training into training curricula of health workforce.