Pulmonary Hypertension in Underrepresented Minorities: A Narrative Review.

Minoritized racial and ethnic groups suffer disproportionately from the incidence and morbidity of pulmonary hypertension (PH), as well as its associated cardiovascular, pulmonary, and systemic conditions. These disparities are largely explained by social determinants of health, including access to care, systemic biases, socioeconomic status, and environment. Despite this undue burden, minority patients remain underrepresented in PH research. Steps should be taken to mitigate these disparities, including initiatives to increase research participation, combat inequities in access to care, and improve the treatment of the conditions associated with PH.

Addressing Barriers for Women with Advanced Heart Failure.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Describe disparities in diagnosis and management between men and women with advanced heart failure (HF). Our goal is to identify barriers and suggest solutions. RECENT FINDINGS: Women with advanced HF are less likely to undergo diagnostic testing and procedures (i.e., revascularization, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization therapy, mechanical circulatory support, and orthotopic heart transplantation). Disparities related to gender create less favorable outcomes for women with advanced HF. The issues arise from access to care, paucity of knowledge, enrollment in clinical trials, and eligibility for advanced therapies. In this review, we propose a call to action to level the playing field in order to improve survival in women with advanced HF.

Age Alters Prevalence of Left Atrial Enlargement and Nonstenotic Carotid Plaque in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source.

BACKGROUND: Nonstenotic carotid plaque and undetected atrial fibrillation are potential mechanisms of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), but it is unclear which is more likely to be the contributing stroke mechanism. We explored the relationship between left atrial enlargement (LAE) and nonstenotic carotid plaque across age ranges in an ESUS population. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter cohort of consecutive patients with unilateral, anterior circulation ESUS was queried (2015 to 2021). LAE and plaque thickness were determined by transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography angiography, respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to compare plaque features in relation to age and left atrial dimensions. RESULTS: Among the 4155 patients screened, 273 (7%) met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 65 years (interquartile range [IQR] 54-74), 133 (48.7%) were female, and the median left atrial diameter was 3.5 cm (IQR 3.1-4.1). Patients with any LAE more frequently had hypertension (85.9% versus 67.2%, P<0.01), diabetes (41.0% versus 25.6%, P=0.01), dyslipidemia (56.4% versus 40.0%, P=0.01), and coronary artery disease (22.8% versus 11.3%, P=0.02). Carotid plaque thickness was greater ipsilateral versus contralateral to the stroke hemisphere in the overall cohort (median 1.9 mm [IQR 0-3] versus 1.5 mm [IQR 0-2.6], P<0.01); however, this was largely driven by the subgroup of patients without any LAE (median 1.8 mm [IQR 0-2.9] versus 1.5 mm [IQR 0-2.5], P<0.01). Compared with patients ≥70 years, younger patients had more carotid plaque ipsilateral versus contralateral (mean difference 0.42 mm±1.24 versus 0.08 mm±1.54, P=0.047) and less moderate-to-severe LAE (6.3% versus 15.3%, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients with ESUS had greater prevalence of ipsilateral nonstenotic plaque, while the elderly had more LAE. The differential effect of age on the probability of specific mechanisms underlying ESUS should be considered in future studies.

Association Between Obesity and Cancer Mortality: An Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is one of the leading preventable causes of cancer that has a causal relationship with cancers of esophagus, breast and colon. Paradoxically, there are studies demonstrating that obesity is associated with improved survival in cancer patients. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of obesity and cancer mortality in adult patients. METHODS: Retrospective medical record review of 784 adult patients was performed who had a diagnosis of cancer and who were seen in our outpatient Internal Medicine Clinic between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. RESULTS: Forty-three (5.2%) patients were cancer non-survivors and 741 (94.8%) were cancer survivors. The mean age of the cancer non-survivors group was significantly higher than that of the cancer survivors (78.7 vs. 68.0 years, respectively; P < 0.001). For every unit increase in age, there was 7.6% increased odds of cancer death (95% confidence interval (CI): 3-12%) (P = 0.001). Average body mass index (BMI) of the patients in the cancer non-survivors group was significantly lower than that of the cancer survivors group (25.0 vs. 28.1 kg/m2; P = 0.008). Non-obese patients had 4.9 times greater odds of cancer death (95% CI: 1.51 - 15.81) (P = 0.008). The mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was significantly higher in the cancer non-survivors group compared to the cancer survivors group (7.1% vs. 6.0%; P < 0.001), and for every unit increase in HbA1c there was 1.6 times greater odds of cancer death (95% CI: 1.14 - 2.23) (P = 0.006). Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) had 3.5 times greater odds of cancer death compared to those without PAD (95% CI: 1.18 - 10.19) (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Non-obese patients with cancer had higher odds of cancer death. Rising HbA1c, increasing age, and presence of PAD were associated with increased cancer mortality.

Group exercise can improve participants' mobility in an outpatient rehabilitation setting: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the effects of group exercise on mobility and strength. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Two public hospital outpatient rehabilitation services. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and seventy-three people (mean age 74.9 years, SD 10.8) with impaired mobility were randomized and 159 people (92%) completed the trial. INTERVENTIONS: Five-week, twice-weekly ;circuit-style' group exercise programme run by a physiotherapist (n = 85) and a no-intervention waiting list control group (n = 88). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three aspects of mobility: balance while standing and stepping (Step Test, semi-tandem and tandem stance times); sit-to-stand ability (rate and minimum height) and gait (6-metre and 6-minute walk tests). Lower limb muscle strength (knee flexion and extension). RESULTS: At retest, exercise participants had improved significantly more than their control counterparts on measures of balance while stepping, sit to stand and gait. Exercise participants averaged 1.6 more steps on the 15-second Step Test (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5 to 2.8, P=0.005), walked an average of 0.12 m/s faster (95% CI 0.05 to 0.2, P=0.002) and took 2.5 fewer steps in 6 metres (95% CI -4.2 to -0.8, P=0.004). Exercise participants also averaged 0.04 more sit-to-stands/second, (95% CI 0.003 to 0.08, P=0.037) and walked an average of 30.9 metres further in 6 minutes (95% CI 9.4 to 52.4, P=0.005). There were no clinically important or statistically significant between-group differences at retest for the measures of strength (knee extension and flexion), balance while standing or minimal sit-to-stand height. CONCLUSION: This short-duration circuit class programme improved mobility, but not strength.

Sitting training early after stroke improves sitting ability and quality and carries over to standing up but not to walking: a randomised trial.

QUESTION: What is the effect of a sitting training protocol in people early after stroke on sitting ability and quality, and does it carry over to mobility? DESIGN: Randomised placebo-controlled trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve individuals who had a stroke less than three months previously and were able to sit unsupported. INTERVENTION: The experimental group completed a 2-week sitting training protocol that involved practising reaching tasks beyond arm's length. The control group completed a 2-week sham sitting training protocol that involved practising cognitive-manipulative tasks within arm's length. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was sitting ability (maximum reach distance). Secondary outcomes were sitting quality (reach movement time and peak vertical force through affected foot during reaching) and carry over to mobility (peak vertical force through affected foot during standing up and walking speed during 10 m Walk Test). Outcome measures were taken before and after training and six months later. RESULTS: After 2 weeks' training, the experimental group had increased their maximum reach distance by 0.17 m (95% CI 0.12 to 0.21), decreased their movement time by 0.5 s (95% CI -0.8 to -0.2), increased their peak vertical force through the affected foot during reaching by 13% of body weight (95% CI 6 to 20) and increased their peak vertical force through the affected foot during standing up by 21% of body weight (95% CI 14 to 28) compared with the control group. After 6 months, significant between-group differences were maintained for maximum reach distance and peak vertical force through the affected foot during standing up. CONCLUSIONS: The sitting training protocol was both feasible and effective in improving sitting and standing up early after stroke and somewhat effective six months later.

A treadmill and overground walking program improves walking in persons residing in the community after stroke: a placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a treadmill and overground walking program in reducing the disability and handicap associated with poor walking performance after stroke. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a 3-month follow-up. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: A volunteer sample of 29 ambulatory individuals (less 2 dropouts) who were living in the community after having suffered a stroke more than 6 months previously. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group participated in a 30-minute treadmill and overground walking program, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The control group received a placebo consisting of a low-intensity, home exercise program and regular telephone contact. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Walking speed (over 10 m), walking capacity (distance over 6 min), and handicap (stroke-adapted 30-item version of the Sickness Impact Profile) measured by a blinded assessor. RESULTS: The 4-week treadmill and overground walking program significantly increased walking speed (P=.02) and walking capacity (P<.001), but did not decrease handicap (P=.85) compared with the placebo program. These gains were largely maintained 3 months after the cessation of training (P