Analyzing Sex Differences in Intensity of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Medications in Patients With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms-A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are at a significant risk of cardiovascular events, similar to that of patients who have already experienced a major cardiac event. The European Society for Vascular Society AAA guidelines suggest that antiplatelet therapy and lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) should be considered in all patients with AAA. This study explores the overall prevalence and intensity of antithrombotic therapy and LLT, and lipid profile monitoring in a single center AAA surveillance cohort alongside any sex differences. METHODS: This was a retrospective, single center, cross-sectional study of 614 patients enrolled in the AAA surveillance program of a tertiary vascular surgery unit. All patients undergoing at least 1 surveillance scan from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020, were assessed. Electronic hospital records linked to real-time primary care records were interrogated for data on demographics, comorbidities, antiplatelet and LLT prescriptions, and serum cholesterol laboratory results. An analysis of covariance test was used to account for the effects of confounding comorbidities. RESULTS: Twenty-one percent of patients were not on antithrombotic therapy, and 20% of patients were not on LLT which reflects a group of patients receiving sub-optimal clinical care. In total, 47% of the cohort were on low/moderate intensity statin therapy which reflects a group of patients where care can be improved upon. Female sex was independently associated with a reduced likelihood of being prescribed LLT (P = 0.008, eta squared (ηp2) = 0.012, small effect size) but not antithrombotic therapy (P = 0.202). Fewer women underwent low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) monitoring (mean difference 9%, P = 0.040) and achieved the European Society of Cardiology-European Atherosclerosis Society- LDL-C target of <1.4 mmol/L (mean difference 9%, P = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there is room for improvement in these aspects of cardiovascular risk prevention for both sexes. Sex differences in the prescription of LLT, the prevalence of lipid profile monitoring, and likelihood of achieving LDL-C targets exist among patients with AAA, with a lower prevalence in women.

Lipid Optimization in Lower Extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease.

AIMS: This review aims to explore the current guidance and issues surrounding lipid optimisation of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS: A narrative review of the global PAD guidance, specifically focusing on low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction methods including; 'treating to target', 'fire and forget' and LDL-C percentage reduction. Advanced literature searches were carried out in Pubmed and Google Scholar databases comparing most recent PAD lipid guidance. RESULTS: PAD lipid guidance could be improved internationally to help clinicians implement the best lipid-reduction strategies for their patients and challenge the arbitrary 1.4 mmol/L LDL-C target in line with novel proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors trials. By educating primary and secondary care staff on the benefits of maximal lipid-reduction therapies, we can reduce major adverse cardiovascular events and major adverse limb events. Championing PAD community clinics may lead to earlier prevention. Research comparing lipid-reduction strategies in practice is needed to improve outcomes internationally, and ongoing practice audited to understand the extent of under-prescribing in PAD. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights the current PAD lipid-reduction treatments and the clarity issues of global guidance. Further research is needed to tackle ongoing mortality and morbidity rates in PAD patients against their better off cardiovascular disease (CVD) peers. MESH KEY TERMS: "Cholesterol", "Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors", "Ezetimibe", "Evolocumab", "Alirocumab", "Peripheral Arterial Disease", "Vascular Disease", "Atherosclerosis", "Secondary Prevention", "Lipoprotein, LDL".

The abdominal waist circumference and 4-year outcomes following peripheral bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Current literature evaluating the relationship between obesity, utilizing measures other than the Body Mass Index (BMI), and postoperative outcomes following vascular surgery are sparse. This study aimed to investigate any association between abdominal waist circumference (AWC) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) in relation to postoperative morbidity and mortality following peripheral artery bypass graft (PABG) surgery. METHODS: AWC and hip circumference (HC) were measured from pre-intervention magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) scans of patients undergoing elective and nonelective PABG. The AWC and WHR were assessed in relation to: the need for higher level care (i.e. level 2/3), the duration of higher level care, postoperative limb ischemia, postoperative hospital stay, graft patency on discharge and 30 day readmission, using logistic and linear regression analysis. Mortality was assessed using cox-regression analysis with calculation of hazard ratios at 30 days and 4 years. RESULTS: In total, 177 patient images performed between January 2014 to January 2017 were analyzed. There were no significant intra-observer and interobserver differences in measurements of AWC and HC. Pre-intervention AWC was predictive of the need for higher level care following non-elective PABG (adjusted OR 1.1 [95% CI: 1.0-1.1, P=0.026]). An inverse relationship between AWC and mortality at 4 years was also observed (adjusted HR=0.9, 95% CI: 0.9-1.0, P=0.028). However, pre-intervention WHR failed to predict mortality and morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: AWC may potentially be a suitable risk stratification tool in patients undergoing non-elective PABG. The association of AWC with long-term mortality outcomes require further investigation so that suitable cut-off values may be determined.

Working class role models in academic medicine - Professor Philip Quirke.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Representation of researchers from underprivileged backgrounds in unknown in academic medicine. We present the inspiring experiences of Professor Philip Quirke describing his humble beginnings in the East End of London to becoming an internationally acclaimed academic clinician. Importantly he offers his advice on what someone from a similar background should consider with similar aspirations.

Morphometric and traditional frailty assessment in transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

OBJECTIVES: Frailty is common amongst patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic relevance of newer objective and traditional measures of frailty after TAVI. METHODS: Consecutive patients were identified from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust TAVI database. Frailty was quantified objectively by measuring the total psoas muscle area (TPMA) on routine computer tomography scans and compared against Canadian Study of Health and Aging Clinical Frailty Score, Katz Index of independence in activities of daily living and Clinician Estimated Poor Mobility. Postintervention morbidity and mortality were examined between these scoring systems. RESULTS: The current study included 420 patients who had undergone TAVI between January 2013 and December 2015. Median clinical follow-up was 4.0 years (interquartile range 2.9-5.0). Standardized measurements of the TPMA were not associated with either postintervention morbidity or mortality. Only the Canadian Study of Health and Aging Clinical Frailty Score was associated with hospital stay (adjusted regression coefficient 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.04-1.36, P = 0.038) and overall all-cause mortality (adjusted regression coefficient 1.26, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.50, P = 0.013). There were no significant correlations between TPMA and any of the traditional frailty tools. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate TPMA to be a poor measure of patient frailty when compared with traditional methods of assessment which failed to predict postintervention outcomes. Furthermore, morphometric sarcopaenia correlated poorly with established measures of frailty.

Validation of two-dimensional vertebral body parameters in estimating patient height in elderly patients.

OBJECTIVES: Standardised comparison of abdominal muscle and adipose tissue is often utilised in morphometric clinical research. Whilst measurements are traditionally standardised against the patient's height, this may not be always practically feasible. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between measurements of the vertebral body and patient height. METHODS: We analysed cross-sectional CT scans. Measurements of the vertebral body area (VBA), anteroposterior vertebral body diameter (APVBD) and lateral vertebral body diameter (LVBD) were made by two independent investigators by manual tracing. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1 standardisation and Group 2 validation. We compared height and vertebral body parameters from patients in Group 1 and mathematically modelled this relationship. We then utilised the model to predict the height of patients in Group 2 and compared this with their actual height. Observer variability was assessed using Bland-Altman plots and t-tests of differences. RESULTS: CT scans from 382 patients were analysed. No significant intraobserver or interobserver differences were apparent when measuring vertebral body parameters. We describe models which enable the prediction of the patients' height using the measured VBA, APVBD and LVBD. No significant differences were observed between the patients predicted and actual heights in the validation group. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate an important relationship between measurements of the patient's height and the vertebral body. This can be utilised in future research when the patient's height has not been measured. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: In the absence of the patient's height, we demonstrate that two-dimensional vertebral body parameters may be reliably used to standardise morphometric measurements.

Twelve Tips for Applicants from a Disadvantaged Background Considering a Career in Medicine.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. A minority of medical school entrants draw from disadvantaged backgrounds, which remain significantly under-represented within the medical workforce. Whilst multifactorial, this may in part relate to relative lack of information about the admissions process amongst these groups. In this article, Mohammed Abdul Waduud and colleagues offer their twelve essential tips to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are considering applying to medical school. The authors, all of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds, have experience in applying to medical schools within the United Kingdom. The tips within this article should support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to decide whether a career in medicine is right for them and succeed in their applications to study medicine.