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BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular health literacy (CVHL) and social determinants of health (SDoH) play interconnected and critical roles in shaping cardiovascular health (CVH) outcomes. However, awareness of CVH risk has declined markedly, from 65% of women being aware that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for women in 2009 to just 44% being aware in 2019. The American Heart Association Research Goes Red (RGR) initiative seeks to develop an open-source, longitudinal, dynamic registry that will help women to be aware of and participate in research studies, and to learn about CVD prevention. We proposed to leverage this platform, particularly among Black and Hispanic women of reproductive age, to address CVHL gaps and advance health equity. METHODS: The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the cross-sectional association of cardiovascular health literacy (CVHL), SDoH using a polysocial score, and CVH in women of reproductive age at increased risk of developing hypertension (HTN). To achieve this we will use a cross-sectional study design, that engages women already enrolled in the RGR registry (registry-enrolled). To enhance the racial and ethnic/social economic diversity of the cohort, we will additionally enroll 300 women from the Baltimore and Washington D.C. community into the Social Determinants of the Risk of Hypertension in Women of Reproductive Age (SAFE HEART) Study. Community-enrolled and registry-enrolled women will undergo baseline social phenotyping including detailed SDoH questionnaire, CVH metrics assessment, and CVHL assessment. The secondary objective is to assess whether a 4-month active health education intervention will result in a change in CVHL in the 300 community-enrolled women. DISCUSSION: The SAFE HEART study examines the association between CVHL, SDoH, and CVH, with a focus on racial and ethnic minority groups and socioeconomically disadvantaged women of reproductive age, and the ability to improve these parameters by an educational intervention. These findings will inform the future development of community-engaged strategies that address CVHL and SDoH among women of reproductive age.
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Introduction: Intravenous (IV) therapy is a crucial aspect of care for the critically ill patient. Barriers to IV infusion pumps in low-resource settings include high costs, lack of access to electricity, and insufficient technical support. Inaccuracy of traditional drop-counting practices places patients at risk. By conducting a comparative assessment of IV infusion methods, we analyzed the efficacy of different devices and identified one that most effectively bridges the gap between accuracy, cost, and electricity reliance in low-resource environments. Methods: In this prospective mixed methods study, nurses, residents, and medical students used drop counting, a manual flow regulator, an infusion pump, a DripAssist, and a DripAssist with manual flow regulator to collect normal saline at goal rates of 240, 120, and 60 mL/h. Participants' station setup time was recorded, and the amount of fluid collected in 10 min was recorded (in milliliters). Participants then filled out a post-trial survey to rate each method (on a scale of 1 to 5) in terms of understandability, time consumption, and operability. Cost-effectiveness for use in low-resource settings was also evaluated. Results: The manual flow regulator had the fastest setup time, was the most cost effective, and was rated as the least time consuming to use and the easiest to understand and operate. In contrast, the combination of the DripAssist and manual flow regulator was the most time consuming to use and the hardest to understand and operate. Conclusion: The manual flow regulator alone was the least time consuming and easiest to operate. The DripAssist/Manual flow regulator combination increases accuracy, but this combination was the most difficult to operate. In addition, the manual flow regulator was the most cost-effective. Healthcare providers can adapt these devices to their practice environments and improve the safety of rate-sensitive IV medications without significant strain on electricity, time, or personnel resources.
RESUMO
The marked rise in rates of obesity, which is most prominent among individuals from socio-economically disadvantaged circumstances, has been a powerful contributor to the rising prevalence of heart failure (HF). Obesity has indirect effects on HF through the development of several metabolic risk factors, but also direct adverse effects on the myocardium. Obesity contributes to myocardial dysfunction and HF risk through multiple mechanisms, including hemodynamic changes, neurohormonal activation, endocrine and paracrine effects of adipose tissue, ectopic fat deposition and lipotoxicity. These processes principally result in concentric left ventricular (LV) remodeling and predominant increase in the risk for HF with preserved LV ejection fraction (HFpEF). Despite the excess risk for HF associated with obesity, there is a well described obesity paradox in which individuals with overweight and grade I obesity have better survival than those with normal weight and underweight. Despite the obesity paradox among individuals with prevalent HF, intentional weight loss is associated with improvements in metabolic risk factors, myocardial dysfunction and quality of life, in a dose-response fashion. In matched observational studies of bariatric surgery patients, marked weight loss is associated with decreased risk for developing HF, as well as improved cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in those with existing HF. Ongoing clinical trials using powerful new obesity pharmacotherapies in individuals with obesity and CVD may provide definitive information regarding the cardiovascular impact of weight loss. Given the powerful contribution of rising obesity prevalence to rates of HF, addressing these intertwined epidemics is a clinical and public health priority.
