Determinants of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients / Factores Asociados a la Disfunción Diastólica del Ventrículo Izquierdo en Pacientes con Hipertensión Arterial

Introduction: The progression of hypertensive heart disease leads to the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), which is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this analysis is to explore the determinants for LVDD in patients with hypertension. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data of Impedance Cardiography in the Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Arterial Hypertension (IMPEDDANS) Study. Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests were used for univariable analysis. Multiple logistic regression was used to model for LVDD occurrence and discriminative capacity of the model assessed by the value of the area under the curve given by the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Results: Older age (65 vs. 58 years, p < 0.001), longer duration of hypertension (160 vs. 48 months, p < 0.001), uncontrolled hypertension (59.8 vs. 15.9%, p < 0.001), tobacco smoking (17.8 vs. 3.8%, p = 0.016), higher systolic blood pressure (133 vs. 124 mmHg, p = 0.001) and slower heart rate (62 vs. 66 bpm, p = 0.023) were associated with LVDD. Multivariate model identified uncontrolled hypertension (AdjOR 36.90; 95% CI 7.94-171.58; p < 0.001), smoking (AdjOR 6.66; 95% CI 1.63-27.26; p = 0.008), eccentric hypertrophy (AdjOR 3.59; 95% CI 0.89-14.39; p = 0.072), duration of hypertension (AdjOR 1.03; 95% CI 1.02-1.05; p < 0.001) and concentric remodeling (AdjOR 0.19; 95% CI 0.04-0.93; p = 0.041) as the more determinant for occurrence of LVDD. The discriminative capacity of the model was AUC = 0.95 (95% CI 0.91-0.98). Conclusion: The occurrence of LVDD in hypertensive patients was strongly associated to long-lasting, uncontrolled hypertension, tobacco smoking, concentric remodeling and eccentric hypertrophy

Introducción: La progresión de la enfermedad cardiaca hipertensiva produce disfunción diastólica del ventrículo izquierdo (DDVI) y aumento de morbilidad y mortalidad. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar los factores que se asocian a la DDVI en pacientes con hipertensión arterial. Métodos: Se trata de un análisis secundario del estudio IMPEDDANS. Se utilizaron las pruebas de la U de Mann-Whitney y la Chi-cuadrado para el análisis univariado, y posteriormente se realizó un análisis de regresión logística multivariado. La capacidad discriminativa del modelo fue evaluada por el valor del área bajo la curva (ABC) dada por la curva característica de funcionamiento del receptor. Resultados: Los pacientes con DDVI eran mayores (65 vs. 58 años; p < 0,001), tenían historia previa de hipertensión arterial más larga (160 vs. 48 meses; p < 0,001), presentaban frecuentemente hipertensión arterial no controlada (59,8 vs. 15,9%; p < 0,001), fumaban más (17,8 vs 3,8%; p = 0,016), presentaban presión arterial sistólica más alta (133 vs. 124 mmHg; p = 0,001) y frecuencia cardiaca más lenta (62 vs. 66 pm; p = 0,023). En el modelo multivariado se objetivó hipertensión no controlada (OR 36,90; IC 95% 7,94-171,58; p < 0,001), hábito tabáquico (OR 6,66; IC 95% 1,63-27,26; p = 0,008), hipertrofia excéntrica (OR 3,59; IC 95% 0,89-14,39; p = 0,072), la duración de la hipertensión (OR 1,03; IC 95% 1,02-1,05; p < 0,001) y remodelado concéntrico (OR 0,19; IC 95% 0,04-0,93; p = 0,041) eran factores asociados a la DDVI. La capacidad discriminativa del modelo se correspondió con un ABC = 0,95 (IC 95% 0,91-0,98). Conclusión: El desarrollo de la DDVI en pacientes con hipertensión arterial se asoció a la duración de la hipertensión, la hipertensión no controlada, el hábito tabáquico, el remodelado concéntrico y la hipertrofia excéntrica

Persistent lipid abnormalities in patients treated with statins: Portuguese results of the Dyslipidemia International Study (DYSIS).

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and one of the most important causes of morbidity in Western societies. Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for CVD and effective treatment significantly reduces cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and type of persistent lipid abnormalities in patients treated with statins. METHODS: The Dyslipidemia International Study (DYSIS) was a multicenter, epidemiologic cross-sectional study conducted in 12 European countries and Canada. Patients > or = 45 years old, treated with statins for at least three months during the enrolment period from April 2008 to February 2009, were sequentially enrolled. This study presents the results for the Portuguese population. RESULTS: In Portugal, 916 patients were recruited in 125 centers; mean age was 64.1 +/- 9.9 years and 47.1% were women. Most patients (66.7%) presented high cardiovascular risk. The most frequently used statin was simvastatin (55.9%; dose 21.3 +/- 6.2 mg/day) and only 15.3% of the patients were simultaneously taking other lipid-lowering agents. In most patients, LDL (62.9%; n = 883) and total cholesterol (68%; n = 883) were not at the target levels recommended by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). It was also found that 22% of patients presented lower HDL values than those recommended and that 39% presented high triglyceride levels. LDL outside the target range was the most common abnormality, both when assessed separately and when combined with low HDL and high triglycerides. CONCLUSION: The number of patients with lipid abnormalities was very significant, especially for LDL, considering that all were under statin therapy.

[Angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphisms and coronary risk in a Portuguese population].

BACKGROUND: A family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) is a strong risk marker for the disease, independently of classical risk factors. It could be decoded by recognizing the polymorphisms associated with increased risk. Renin-angiotensin system genes are candidate genes in CHD and the deletion allele of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) has been reported as deleterious. However, there is disagreement as to the role of the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene in coronary risk. AIM: To evaluate whether ACE gene polymorphisms constitute a CHD risk factor. METHODS: We conducted a population-based case-control study of 301 subjects with a history of myocardial infarction or angiographic evidence of coronary heart disease and 510 age- and gender-matched controls, without CHD, living in a region with high CHD mortality rates. Blood samples were taken, DNA extracted and genotypes determined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplification products were identified by agarose gel electrophoresis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Data were evaluated by SPSS for Windows, using the Student's t test, the chi-square test, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The prevalence of the DD, ID and II genotype was 41.2%, 46.3%, 12.5% in the cases and 28.1%, 55.2% and 16.7% in the control group. The frequency of the DD genotype was significantly higher in the cases than in the controls (41.2% vs. 28.1%, odds ratio 1.79, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.4, p < 0.0001). By contrast, the ID and II genotypes' prevalence was higher in the control group (55.2% vs. 46.3%, p = 0.002 and 16.7 vs. 12.5%, p = NS, respectively) compared to the case group. CONCLUSIONS: This study clearly shows that the ACE DD polymorphism is strongly linked to CHD, and if our data are confirmed in a larger population sample, more aggressive vascular prevention could be justified in patients carrying the DD genotype.

Polymorphism of the ACE gene is associated with extent and severity of coronary disease.

BACKGROUND: The progression and extent of coronary heart disease (CHD) are extremely variable and in many instances independent of conventional risk factors. The differences may be partly explained by less favorable genetic polymorphisms that are associated with them. The polymorphisms of the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene have been thoroughly evaluated, but the connection between them and the extent of CHD is unknown. AIMS: Our study is aimed at determining whether any or all of the polymorphisms of the ACE gene are markers of the extent and severity of CHD. METHODS: This was a descriptive study of 296 patients with a history of myocardial infarction or with coronary disease confirmed by coronary angiography. The severity of CHD was quantified according to Leaman's score (based on the number of arteries with more than 75% reduction in diameter and the number of affected coronary segments). The ACE genotypes were determined by specific polymerase chain reaction amplification and the segments were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The mean coronary score and standard deviation of the three polymorphisms were calculated and the values statistically compared using the Student's t test for independent samples. RESULTS: 296 patients with a mean age of 55.103 years, 234 male, were evaluated. CONCLUSION: The study clearly shows that the DD genotype is linked to the extent of CHD, with a high level of significance. If this is confirmed, careful secondary prevention is indicated in patients with this genotype.