Comparing the efficacy and safety of endovascular therapy versus surgical revascularization for critical limb-threatening ischemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is a severe manifestation of peripheral artery disease (PAD) that can lead to limb amputation and significantly reduce the quality of life. In addition to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), endovascular therapy and surgical revascularization are the two revascularization options for CLTI. In recent years, there has been an ongoing debate about the best approach for CLTI patients. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to examine the current evidence and compare the clinical outcomes of endovascular therapy and surgical revascularization for CLTI. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) for studies comparing the outcomes of endovascular therapy versus surgery in patients with CLTI. The primary outcomes were major adverse limb events (MALE) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), while secondary outcomes included risk of bleeding, wound complications, readmission, unplanned reoperation, acute renal failure, and length of hospital stay. Pooled data was analyzed using the fixed-effect model or the random-effect model in Review Manager 5.3. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool were used to assess the bias of included studies. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies (47,609 patients) were included in this meta-analysis. The overall effect favors surgery over endovascular intervention in terms of MALE [odds ratio (OR) 1.13, 95% CI (1.01-1.28), P = 0.04]. Endovascular therapy is associated with lower MACE rates compared to surgery [OR 0.62, 95% CI (0.51-0.76), P < 0.00001]. Furthermore, the risk of bleeding, wound complications, readmission, unplanned reoperation, acute renal failure as well as the length of hospital stay was lower for endovascular intervention. Finally, there was no statistically significant difference in 30-day mortality between the two groups [OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.79-1.12, P = 0.52; Fig. 3i], and the pooled studies were homogeneous [P = 0.39; I2 = 5%]. CONCLUSION: Surgery may be the preferred treatment option for CLTI patients, as it is associated with a lower risk of MALE than endovascular therapy. However, endovascular therapy may be associated with a lower risk of MACE and lower rates of bleeding, wound complications, readmission, unplanned reoperation, acute renal failure, and shorter hospital stays. There was no statistically significant difference in 30-day mortality between the two groups. Ultimately, the decision to use endovascular therapy or surgery as the primary treatment strategy should be based on a multi-disciplinary team approach with careful consideration of patient characteristics and anatomy.

Associations of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Muscular Endurance Fitness With Pulmonary Function in Physically Active Young Adults.

RATIONALE: While the beneficial effects of physical fitness on general health are well-documented, the specific relationship between different types of physical fitness, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular endurance fitness (MEF), and lung function in physically active young adults remains less explored. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the relationship between CRF and MEF, and their correlation with lung function in physically active young adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved a cohort of 1227 physically active young adults without lung diseases. Lung function was assessed using FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC measurements. The 3000-m run was used to assess CRF, and the 2-min push-up and sit-up tests were used to assess MEF. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between these fitness measures and lung function, adjusting for potential covariates. RESULTS: Enhanced CRF was associated with superior FEV1 and FVC after adjusting for covariates (ß=-.078, p=.015 for FEV1; ß=-.086, p=.009 for FVC). Push-ups were positively associated with FEV1 (ß=.102, p=.014), but not with FVC. In contrast, sit-ups showed no significant correlation with lung function in the fully adjusted model. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated a clear association between improved physical fitness and better lung function in physically active young adults, with various exercises showing distinct associations with lung metrics. Notably, push-ups were particularly associated with higher FEV1. A future prospective study is necessary to determine whether routine exercises, such as push-ups, might lead to greater lung function.

The combined effect of cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness on the incidence of metabolic syndrome before midlife.

BACKGROUND: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) could reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) while the association between muscular endurance capacity (MEC) and incident MetS has rarely been investigated in young adults. METHODS: A total of 2890 military men and women, aged 18-39 years, free of baseline MetS in Taiwan, were followed for incident MetS from baseline (2014) until the end of 2020. All subjects received annual health examinations for assessment of MetS. Physical fitness was assessed by CRF (estimated maximal oxygen uptake, VO2 max [mL/kg/min], in a 3000-m run) and MEC (numbers of 2-min push-ups). MetS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Multiple Cox regression analysis was conducted with adjustments for baseline age, sex, substance use status and physical activity to determine the associations of CRF and MEC with incidences of new-onset MetS and related features, for example, central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and prediabetes or diabetes. To examine the combined effects of CRF and MEC status on incidence of MetS, high and low levels of CRF and MEC were separately defined by over and under the sex-specific median in each exercise test. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 5.8 years, there were 673 (23.3%) new-onset MetS. Higher CRF was associated with a lower incidence of MetS (hazard ratio [HR] and 95% confidence interval: 0.905 [0.877-0.933]), and its components separately, except hypertension. No association was observed between MEC and incident MetS, and its components separately, except hypertension. When evaluating the combined effects of MEC and CRF status on the incidence of MetS, it was observed that compared with the low CRF/low MEC, the high CRF/high MEC (HR: 0.553 [0.439-0.697]) and the high CRF/low MEC (HR: 0.730 [0.580-0.918]) had a lower incidence of new-onset MetS (P value for the intergroup difference = 0.04). There was no significant result for the low CRF/high MEC. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that although the protective effects of MEC to reduce the incidence of MetS and most of its related features were mainly driven by CRF in young adults, there was an addictive effect of greater MEC on CRF to prevent the development of new-onset MetS before midlife.

More than just teeth: How oral health can affect the heart.

Epidemiological evidence has revealed a potential relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Consensus regarding a link between these pathologies remains elusive, however, largely secondary to the considerable overlap between risk factors and comorbidities common to both disease processes. This review article aims to update the evidence for an association by summarizing the evidence for causality between periodontitis and comorbidities linked to CVD, including endocarditis, hypertension (HTN), atrial fibrillation (AF), coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperlipidemia (HLD). This article additionally discusses the role for periodontal therapy to improved management of the comorbidities, with the larger goal of examining the value of periodontal therapy on reduction of CVD risk. In doing so, we endeavor to further the understanding of the commonality between periodontitis, and CVD.

Obesity, Challenges, and Weight-Loss Strategies for Patients With Ventricular Assist Devices.

For adults with advanced heart failure, class II/III obesity (body mass index ≥35 kg/m2) represents major challenges, and it is even considered a contraindication for heart transplantation (HT) at many centers. This has led to growing interest in preventing and treating obesity to help patients with advanced heart failure become HT candidates. Among all weight-loss strategies, bariatric surgery (BSx) has the greatest weight loss efficacy and has shown value in enabling select patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and obesity to lose sufficient weight to access HT. Nevertheless, both BSx and antiobesity medications warrant caution in the LVAD population. In this review, the authors describe and interpret the available published reports on the impact of obesity and weight-loss strategies for patients with LVADs from general and HT candidacy standpoints. The authors also provide an overview of the journey of LVAD recipients who undergo BSx and review major aspects of perioperative protocols.

Evaluating current assessment techniques of cardiorespiratory fitness.

INTRODUCTION: Considerable and convincing global data from cohorts across the health spectrum (i.e. apparently healthy to known disease) indicate that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a major predictor of overall and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-survival, seemingly with greater prognostic resolution compared to other traditional CVD risk factors. Therefore, the assessment of CRF in research and clinical settings is of major importance. AREAS COVERED: In this manuscript, we review the technology of measuring CRF assessed by the 'gold standard,' cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), as well as with various other methods (e.g. estimated metabolic equivalents, 6-minute walk tests, shuttle tests, and non-exercise equations that estimate CRF), all of which provide significant prognostic information for CVD- and all-cause survival. The literature through May 2024 has been cited. EXPERT OPINION: The promotion of physical activity in efforts to improve levels of CRF is needed throughout the world to improve lifespan and, more importantly, healthspan. The routine assessment of CRF should be considered a vital sign that is routinely assessed in clinical practice.

Pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of right ventricular failure: A state of the art review of mechanical support devices.

The function of the right ventricle (RV) is to drive the forward flow of blood to the pulmonary system for oxygenation before returning to the left ventricle. Due to the thin myocardium of the RV, its function is easily affected by decreased preload, contractile motion abnormalities, or increased afterload. While various etiologies can lead to changes in RV structure and function, sudden changes in RV afterload can cause acute RV failure which is associated with high mortality. Early detection and diagnosis of RV failure is imperative for guiding initial medical management. Echocardiographic findings of reduced tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (<1.7) and RV wall motion (RV S' <10 cm/s) are quantitatively supportive of RV systolic dysfunction. Medical management commonly involves utilizing diuretics or fluids to optimize RV preload, while correcting the underlying insult to RV function. When medical management alone is insufficient, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) may be necessary. However, the utility of MCS for isolated RV failure remains poorly understood. This review outlines the differences in flow rates, effects on hemodynamics, and advantages/disadvantages of MCS devices such as intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella, centrifugal-flow right ventricular assist devices, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and includes a detailed review of the latest clinical trials and studies analyzing the effects of MCS devices in acute RV failure.

Stroke Incidence in Patients With Hypertension According to Cardiorespiratory Fitness.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and physical inactivity are risk factors for stroke. The effect of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on stroke risk in patients with hypertension has not been assessed. We evaluated stroke incidence in patients with hypertension according to CRF and changes in CRF. METHODS: We included 483 379 patients with hypertension (mean age±SD; 59.4±9.0 years) and no evidence of unstable cardiovascular disease as indicated by a standardized exercise treadmill test. Patients were assigned to 5 age- and sex-specific CRF categories based on peak metabolic equivalents achieved at the initial exercise treadmill test and in 4 categories based on metabolic equivalent changes over time (n=110 576). Multivariable Cox models, adjusted for age, and comorbidities were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% CIs for stroke risk. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 10.6 (interquartile range, 6.6-14.6) years, 15 925 patients developed stroke with an average yearly rate of 3.1 events/1000 person-years. Stroke risk declined progressively with higher CRF and was 55% lower for the High-fit individuals (hazard ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.42-0.48]) compared with the Least-fit. Similar associations were observed across the race, sex, and age spectra. Poor CRF was the strongest predictor of stroke risk of all comorbidities studied (hazard ratio, 2.24 [95% CI, 2.10-2.40]). Changes in CRF reflected inverse and proportional changes in stroke risk. CONCLUSIONS: Poor CRF carried a greater risk than any of the cardiac risk factors in patients with hypertension, regardless of age, race, or sex. The lower stroke risk associated with improved CRF suggests that increasing physical activity, even later in life, may reduce stroke risk.

Type of Alcohol and Blood Pressure: The Copenhagen General Population Study.

BACKGROUND: Most adults ingest alcoholic beverages. Alcohol shows strong and positive associations with blood pressure (BP). We hypothesized that intake of red wine, white wine, beer, and spirits and dessert wine show similar associations with BP in the general population. METHODS: We included 104,467 males and females aged 20-100 years in the analysis of the Danish general population. Alcohol use and type of alcohol were assessed by questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured by automated digital BP manometer. Multivariable linear regression models were used when analyzing the association between number of drinks per week and BP, stratified by sex and adjusted for relevant confounders. Each alcohol type (red wine, white wine, beer, and spirits and dessert wine) was analyzed in similar models including adjustment for other alcohol types. RESULTS: Most of the subjects (76,943 [73.7%]) drank more than 1 type of alcohol. However, 12,093 (12.6%) consumed red wine only, 4288 (4.5%) beer only, 1815 (1.9%) white wine only, and 926 (1.0%) spirits and dessert wine only. There was a dose-response association between total drinks per week and systolic and diastolic BP (SBP, DBP) (P < .001). The crude difference was 11 mmHg SBP and 7 mmHg DBP between high (>35 drinks per week) and low (1-2 drinks per week) alcohol intake. Overall, SBP was increased by 0.15-0.17 mmHG, and DBP was increased by 0.08-0.15 mmHg per weekly drink. After stratification for age and sex, effects were slightly higher among females and among individuals aged less than 60 years. CONCLUSION: Alcohol intake is associated with highly significant increased SPB and DBP. The effect is similar for red wine, white wine, beer, and spirits.

The Role of Sleep in Cardiovascular Disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sleep is an important component of cardiovascular (CV) health. This review summarizes the complex relationship between sleep and CV disease (CVD). Additionally, we describe the data supporting the treatment of sleep disturbances in preventing and treating CVD. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent guidelines recommend screening for obstructive sleep apnea in patients with atrial fibrillation. New data continues to demonstrate the importance of sleep quality and duration for CV health. There is a complex bidirectional relationship between sleep health and CVD. Sleep disturbances have systemic effects that contribute to the development of CVD, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Additionally, CVD contributes to the development of sleep disturbances. However, more data are needed to support the role of screening for and treatment of sleep disorders for the prevention of CVD.

Long-term hyperuricemia impact on atrial fibrillation outcomes.

BACKGROUND: No studies have been conducted to analyze the impact of serum uric acid (UA) levels on the outcome of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of hyperuricemia (HU) on the prognosis of AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients who consulted our emergency room for an episode of AF, already known or newly diagnosed, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015 (n=2017) were enrolled. After applying exclusion criteria, 1772 patients were included. Serum UA levels in the 6 months before or after the date of the episode were recorded and classified into quartiles: Q1 (n=443) serum UA levels <4.6 mg/dL; Q2 (n=430) 4.6-5.6 mg/dL; Q3 (n=435) 5.7-6.9 mg/dL; and Q4 (n=464) ≥7 mg/dL. Two groups were differentiated: patients without HU (Q1-Q3) and those with HU (Q4). The mean follow-up was 3.7 ± 1.4 years. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality during follow-up. Mortality during follow-up in the bivariate analysis was higher (p < 0.001) in patients with HU (52.1 %) compared to those without it (35.3 %), confirming multivariate Cox analysis of HU as an independent risk factor for death [hazard ratio 1.89 (1.59-2.25)]. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a shorter survival time in patients with HU (log-rank test, p<0.001). Cox analysis confirmed significant differences in the risk of heart failure (30 % vs. 22 %) in patients with HU. CONCLUSIONS: HU is independently associated with an increased risk for all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with AF.

Association between testosterone replacement therapy and cardiovascular outcomes: A meta-analysis of 30 randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The Cardiovascular safety of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) among men with hypogonadism is not well established to date. Hence, we sought to evaluate the cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes among patients receiving testosterone therapy by using all recently published randomized controlled trials. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search on PubMed, EMBASE, and Clinicaltrial.gov for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception until September 30th, 2023. RESULTS: A total of 30 randomized trials with 11,502 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean age was ranging from 61.61 to 61.82 years. Pooled analysis of primary and secondary outcomes showed that the incidence of any CVD events (OR, 1.12 (95%CI: 0.77-1.62), P = 0.55), stroke (OR, 1.01 (95%CI: 0.68-1.51), P = 0.94), myocardial infarction (OR, 1.05 (95%CI: 0.76-1.45), P = 0.77), all-cause mortality (OR, 0.94 (95%CI: 0.76-1.17), P = 0.57), and CVD mortality (OR, 0.87 (95%CI: 0.65-1.15), P = 0.31) was comparable between TRT and placebo groups. CONCLUSION: Our analysis indicates that for patients with hypogonadism, testosterone replacement therapy does not increase the CVD risk and all-cause mortality.

Oral health and physical performance in Asian military males: The cardiorespiratory fitness and health in armed forces.

Background/purpose: It is unclear about whether the oral health has impact on physical performance. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between oral health and physical performance in 300 military adults in Taiwan. Materials and methods: Oral health was assessed by the presence of periodontitis and dental caries. The status of cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance capacity was respectively assessed by tertiles of time for a 3000-m run and 2-min push-up numbers. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses with adjustments for age, smoking, alcohol drinking, blood pressure, anthropometric variables, lipid profile, fasting glucose and physical activity were used to determine the association. Results: Participants with periodontitis were more likely to have worse 3000-m running performance classified in the lowest tertile [odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval: 1.94 (1.03, 3.66)]. Participants with any dental caries were more likely to have worse push-ups performance classified in the lowest tertile [OR: 2.50 (1.27, 4.92)]. In linear regression analyses, dental caries numbers were inversely correlated with 2-min push-ups numbers [ß = -1.04 (-2.07, -0.01)]. Conclusion: This study suggests that oral health is crucial to maintain physical fitness, and dental caries and periodontitis may affect differently on aerobic and muscular endurance capacities.