Effect of Hypertension on Vascular Age

Background: Cardiovascular disease which is an outcome measure have several conventional risk factors which include older age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, alcohol intake, smoking, decreased physical activity, abdominal obesity, high risk diet and psychosocial stress. Stiffening of large arteries known as arterial stiffness (arteriosclerosis) has been shown to be an important risk marker for future cardiovascular events and mortality beyond well-known cardiovascular risk factors. Aim of study: To determine the effect of Hypertension on arterial stiffness and so the cardiovascular disease. Therefore in this study, we attempted to find the effect of hypertension on vascular stiffness. Material and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Department of Medicine, Dhiraj Hospital affiliated with SBKS MI & RC Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University to measure and analyse the vascular age in hypertensive patients. Total of 90 hypertensive patients were enrolled for the study after taking informed written consent. Vascular age is calculated in all patients using MOBILO-OGRAPH, after taking into consideration the various vascular parameters. Results: Vascular aging become faster in older patients (>60 years) than in younger patients (p=0.011). Also Male hypertensives had worse vessels compared to their female counterpart (p=0.001). Also the presence of dyslipidaemia had highly significant effect on vascular age of hypertensive patients (p<0.001). We had also seen that greater the duration of hypertension, more the effect on arterial stiffness. Conclusion: Though prediction of exact cardiovascular risk is not possible by measuring vascular age of the hypertensive patients but such information is very useful for mass sensitization and education.

Efectos tempranos de un programa integral de prevención cardiovascular guiado por el riesgo de aterosclerosis sobre la edad vascular / Short-term effects on vascular age of an integrated atherosclerosis risk-guided cardiovascular prevention program

Resumen Objetivo: evaluar a corto plazo el efecto de un programa integral de prevención cardiovascular guiado por el riesgo de aterosclerosis sobre la edad vascular y factores de riesgo mayores. Métodos: estudio de intervención cuasi-experimental que incluyó 190 pacientes con múltiples comorbilidades y dos o más factores de riesgo cardiovascular, entre 2013 y 2015. Los casos analizados (n = 177) presentaban múltiples factores de riesgo o síndrome metabólico, razón por la cual recibieron un programa integral de tratamiento guiado por una estratificación clínica de aterosclerosis. Se hizo un seguimiento durante tres meses y se compararon: presión arterial, perfil lipídico, HbA1c, medidas antropométricas, riesgo cardiovascular global a 10 años y edad vascular, antes y después de la intervención. Resultados: se observó disminución en la presión arterial sistólica de 6,9 mm Hg (IC 95%; 4,6- 9,3; p < 0,001), presión arterial diastólica de 2,8 mm Hg (IC 95%; 1,3-4,3; p < 0,001), colesterol total de 10,1 mg/dl (IC 95%; 2,5-17,7; p = 0,010), colesterol LDL de 9,9 mg/dl (IC 95%; 2,1- 17,6; p = 0,013) y HbA1c de 0,4% (IC 95%; 0,2-0,6; p < 0,001). Además, reducción del riesgo cardiovascular global a 10 años del 4,8% (IC 95%; 3,2-6,5; p < 0,001), así como de la edad vascular de 1,4 años (IC 95%; 0,6-2,3; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: a corto plazo, en pacientes con múltiples comorbilidades, el programa integral de prevención cardiovascular implementado, guiado por el riesgo de aterosclerosis, mostró una reducción en las cifras de presión arterial, colesterol total, colesterol LDL, HbA1c, puntaje de riesgo cardiovascular global a 10 años y edad vascular.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the short-term effects on vascular age and other major risk factors of an integrated atherosclerosis risk-guided cardiovascular prevention program. Methods: A quasi-experimental intervention study was conducted between the years 2013 to 2015 on 190 patients with multiple comorbidities and two or more cardiovascular risk factors. Of the cases analysed, the 177 patients that had multiple risk factors or metabolic síndrome entered the integrated atherosclerosis clinical stratification-guided program. The variables measured before and after the intervention during a three months follow-up, included blood pressure, lipid profile, HbA1c, anthropometric measurements, overall 10-year cardiovascular risk, and vascular age. Results: Decreases were observed in, the mean systolic blood pressure (6.9 mmHg, 95% CI; 4.6-9.3, P<.001), diastolic blood pressure (2.8 mmHg, 95% CI; 1.3-4.3, P<.001), Total Cholesterol (10.1 mg/dl, 95% CI; 2.5-17.7; P=.010), LDL Cholesterol (9.9 mg/dl, 95% CI; 2.1-17.6; P=.013), and HbA1c (0.4%, 95% CI; 0.2-0.6, P<.001). There was also a reduction in the overall 10-year cardiovascular risk (4.8%, 95% CI; 3.2-6.5, P<.001)), as well as vascular age (1.4 years, 95% CI; 0.6-2.3, P<.001)). Conclusions: In the short-term, the integrated atherosclerosis risk-guided cardiovascular prevention program implemented in patients with multiple comorbidities showed a reduction in blood pressure levels, as well as those for Total Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, HbA1c, the overall 10-year cardiovascular risk score, and vascular age.

Riesgo cardiovascular global y edad vascular: herramientas claves en la prevención de enfermedades cardiovasculares / Global cardiovascular risk and vascular age: key tools in cardiovascular diseases prevention

Introducción: con el desarrollo de la sociedad y los cambios en el estilo de vida, las enfermedades cardiovasculares son la primera causa de muerte en el mundo y en Cuba. Son prevenibles si se actúa sobre sus factores de riesgo cardiovasculares, que se estratifican estimando el riesgo cardiovascular global. Se engloba los principales factores en tablas, que determinan la probabilidad de presentar una enfermedades cardiovasculares en 5 o 10 años. La edad vascular se calcula a partir del riesgo cardiovascular global. Es una herramienta útil para motivar a los pacientes a eliminar los factores de riesgo cardiovasculares. Por lo anterior, los autores se propusieron revisar referentes teóricos del riesgo cardiovascular global y la edad vascular. Materiales y métodos: se desarrolló una búsqueda en la Biblioteca Virtual de Infomed. Fueron revisados 231 trabajos científicos sin limitación de año y país, seleccionándose 49. Desarrollo: se caracterizaron 14 tablas que calculan el riesgo cardiovascular global, a partir del estudio de Framingham. En Cuba, fueron utilizadas las clásicas de Framingham, Organización Mundial de la Salud, Sociedad Internacional de Hipertensión y Gaziano sin laboratorio. La edad vascular de un individuo, es igual a la edad que tendría una persona con igual riesgo cardiovascular global, pero con todos los factores de riesgo cardiovasculares en niveles normales. Esto tiene una gran carga emocional que conlleva a que el paciente tome medidas preventivas. Conclusiones: las tablas que estratifican el riesgo cardiovascular global, deben ser ajustadas a la realidad epidemiológica de cada país. De las tablas utilizadas en Cuba, la de Gaziano sin laboratorio es la más factible de aplicar. La edad vascular es una forma fácil de comunicar el riesgo de sufrir unas enfermedades cardiovasculares.

Background: with the society development and changes in life style, cardiovascular diseases are the first cause of death in the world and in Cuba. They could be preventable if acting on their cardiovascular risk factors that are stratified estimating the global cardiovascular risk. The main factors are summed up in tables, determining the possibility of presenting a cardiovascular disease in 5 or 10 years. Cardiovascular age is calculated on the basis of the global cardiovascular risk. It is a useful tool for motivating patients to eliminate the cardiovascular risk factors. For all the before said, the authors planed to review theoretical referents of the global cardiovascular risk and the vascular age. Materials and Methods: it was carried out a search in the Virtual Library of Infomed. 231 works were reviewed without year or country limitation, selecting 49 of them. Development: there they were characterized 14 tables calculating the global cardiovascular risk factor, beginning from Framinghan study. In Cuba, it were used the classic ones of Framinghan, World Health Organization, International Society of Hypertension and Gaziano without laboratory teats. An individual’s vascular age is the same as it would be the age of a person with one and the same global vascular risk, but with all the cardiovascular risk factors at normal levels. This has a great emotional load leading the patient to take preventive measures. Conclusions: the tables stratifying the global cardiovascular risk should be adjusted to the epidemiologic reality of each country. Of all the tables used in Cuba, Gaziano´s without laboratory test is the most workable one. Vascular age is an easy form of communicating the risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases.

Prevención de la cardiopatía isquémica, un desafío de la atención primaria de salud / Prevention of the ischemic cardiopathy, a challenge of the primary health cares

Introducción: la cardiopatía isquémica es una enfermedad que afecta los vasos sanguíneos coronarios y provoca isquemia e infarto del miocardio. Constituyó en el 2013 la primera causa de muerte en el mundo, en Cuba y en la provincia de Matanzas, considerándose un problema de salud, por lo que los autores se propusieron revisar referentes teóricos de la cardiopatía isquémica. Materiales y métodos: se desarrolló una búsqueda en la Biblioteca Virtual de Salud de Infomed. Fueron revisados 483 trabajos sin limitación de año y país, seleccionándose 40 trabajos científicos. Desarrollo: la aterosclerosis como principal causa de cardiopatía isquémica, tiene origen multifactorial y es susceptible de empeorar por el estilo de vida de las personas. Los factores más importantes que contribuyen a su surgimiento, son tabaquismo, diabetes mellitus tipo 2, hipertensión arterial, dislipidemias, sedentarismo, obesidad, entre otros. Uno o más de estos factores pueden estar presentes en un mismo individuo, por lo que se estratifica el riesgo. Es el llamado riesgo cardiovascular global, estimado a través de diferentes tablas. Recientemente se utiliza la edad vascular para valorar dicho riesgo. Conclusiones: prevenir los factores de riesgo cardiovascular constituye un desafío para la atención primaria de salud, ya que es en este nivel de atención, donde se realiza la labor educativa a la población, se promueve salud y se previenen enfermedades. La detección y control de estos factores sigue siendo una estrategia preventiva esencial.

Background: ischemic cardiopathy is a disease affecting the coronary blood vessels and provoking ischemia and myocardial infarct. In 2013 it was the first cause of death in the world, in Cuba and in the province of Matanzas. It is considered a health problem; that is why the authors proposed to review theoretical referents of ischemic cardiopathy. Material and methods: we made a search in the Biblioteca Virtual de Salud (Health Virtual Library in English) of Infomed. We reviewed 483 titles without limits of year and country of publication, choosing 40 scientific works. Development: atherosclerosis, as a main cause of ischemic cardiopathy, has multifactorial origins and it is susceptible of worsening due to the life style of the persons. The most important factors contributing to its appearance are smoking, type II diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, sedentary life style, obesity, among others. One or more of these factors could be present in the same individual, so the risk is stratified. It is the so called global cardiovascular risk, estimated through different charts. Vascular age is currently used to assess that risk. Conclusions: preventing cardiovascular risk factors is a challenge for the primary health care, because it is at this health care level where the educative work, health promotion and disease prevention are carried out among the population. These factors detention and control is still an essential preventive strategy.

Determinación de riesgo cardiovascular y edad vascular según el score de Framingham en pacientes del Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza / Determination of cardiovascular risk and vascular age by the Framingham score in patients at the Arzobispo Loayza Hospital

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares ocupan el cuarto lugar de carga de enfermedad en Perú, y en los últimos 7 años, la población de alto riesgo cardiovascular se ha incrementado. OBJETIVO: Determinar el riesgo cardiovascular y edad vascular según el score de Framingham de los pacientes del Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza así como determinar su factor de riesgo más prevalente. Y las características clínicas de los pacientes con mediano y alto riesgo. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, observacional, transversal. Se encuestaron a 238 pacientes hospitalizados en el Servicio de Medicina Interna del hospital. Se consideró: edad, género, diabetes, tabaquismo, IMC y presión arterial. Los datos fueron analizados con el programa SPSS v.21. RESULTADOS: Se encontró que el mayor porcentaje de la población de estudio presentó mediano y alto riesgo, siendo el factor más prevalente la diabetes y la mayoría hombres. La diferencia entre la edad cronológica y la edad vascular fue en promedio 6,9 años. CONCLUSIÓN: La población estudiada tuvo mediano y alto riesgo por lo que se deberían tomar medidas de prevención primaria y secundaria.

Cardiovascular diseases rank fourth place of disease burden in Peru, and in the last 7 years, the population of high cardiovascular risk has increased. OBJECTIVE: Determine the cardiovascular risk and vascular age according to the Framingham score in patients attending the "Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza", as well as to determine the most prevalent factor. Furthermore, to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with mild and high risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study. 238 hospitalized patients in internal medicine wards were surveyed. Variables such as age, gender, diabetes, smoking, BMI and blood pressure were considered. The data were analyzed using SPSS v.21. RESULTS: The highest percentage of the population was found within the mild and high risk categories, with diabetes being the most prevalent factor. The average difference between chronological age and vascular age was 6.9 years. CONCLUSION: The majority of the population has mild and high risk, thus primary and secondary prevention measures should be taken. (Horiz Med 2015; 15(2): 27-34)

Impact of Kampo Therapy on the Second Derivative of the Photoplethysmogram (SDPTG) / 日本東洋医学雑誌

The effect of Kampo therapy (Japanese traditional herbal medicine) on the second derivative of the photoplethysmogram (SDPTG) was investigated. The SDPTG is the second derivative of the fingertip photoplethysmogram (PTG), which expresses the characteristics of the vascular system, the properties of peripheral vessels, and the state of blood flow. The subjects comprised 13 normal volunteers, 101 patients (21 males and 80 females; mean age 53±11 years) with 1 month of Kampo therapy, and 19 patients (4 males and 15 females; mean age 60±9 years) with 3 months of medication. Control subjects showed no significant changes in their vascular age after 1 month. Patients with a higher vascular age than expected before therapy showed improvement of their vascular age, after treatment for 1 month and 3 months. The difference between the vascular age and calendar age decreased from about 10 to 7 years after 1 month of therapy (n=65. p<0.001), and from about 9 to 4 years, after 3 months (n=11, p<0.01). Vascular age not only reflects organic vessel wall sclerosis due to arteriosclerosis, but also a vascular wall tone that is closely related to the autonomic nervous system. The change of vascular age within a relatively short period suggested a functional change rather than an organic change of the vessels.