Transitioning to GLP-1 RAs and SGLT2 Inhibitors as the First Choice for Managing Cardiometabolic Risk in Type 2 Diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This forward-looking review summarizes existing evidence from cardiovascular outcome trials on cardiometabolic risk-reduction in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) management, with attention to updating and personalizing recommendations from recent diabetes practice guidelines issued by cardiology societies. RECENT FINDINGS: T2DM management has shifted towards cardiometabolic outcome improvement rather than purely glycemic control. According to large clinical trials, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors showed robust results in reducing heart failure (HF) hospitalization and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, while glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists demonstrated the largest effects on HbA1c reduction, weight loss, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease outcomes prevention, including stroke. Considering the distinct features of these new cardiometabolic agents, initial selection of therapy should be targeted to each individual patient, with consideration of combination therapy for the highest risk patients. Moreover, future studies should investigate the addition of obesity-predominant risk, in conjunction with coronary artery disease, stroke, CKD, and HF, as a new influential indicator for choosing the optimal cardiometabolic agent.

Decreased public pursuit of cancer-related information during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

BACKGROUND: In response to the prioritization of healthcare resources towards the COVID-19 pandemic, routine cancer screening and diagnostic have been disrupted, potentially explaining the apparent COVID-era decline in cancer cases and mortality. In this study, we identified temporal trends in public interest in cancer-related health information using the nowcasting tool Google Trends. METHODS: We used Google Trends to query search terms related to cancer types for short-term (September 2019-September 2020) and long-term (September 2016-September 2020) trends in the US. We compared average relative search volumes (RSV) for specified time ranges to detect recent and seasonal variation. RESULTS: General search interest declined for all cancer types beginning in March 2020, with changes in search interest for "Breast cancer," "Colorectal cancer," and "Melanoma" of - 30.6%, - 28.2%, and - 26.7%, respectively, and compared with the mean RSV of the two previous months. In the same time range, search interest for "Telemedicine" has increased by + 907.1% and has reached a 4-year peak with a sustained increased level of search interest. Absolute cancer mortality has declined and is presently at a 4-year low; however, search interest in cancer has been recuperating since July 2020. CONCLUSION: We observed a marked decline in searches for cancer-related health information that mirrors the reduction in new cancer diagnoses and cancer mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health professions need to be prepared for the coming demand for cancer-related healthcare, foreshadowed by recovering interest in cancer-related information on Google Trends.

Increasing the Availability of Automated External Defibrillators at Sporting Events: A Call to Action from the American College of Sports Medicine.

ABSTRACT: Given that most sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs) occur outside of a medical facility, often in association with exercise and sporting events, and given that early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) plus defibrillation is the strongest predictor of survival from SCA, this Call to Action from the American College of Sports Medicine recommends increasing the availability and effectiveness of early CPR plus defibrillation so that the time from collapse-to-first automated external defibrillator shock is less than 3 min.

New and Emerging Tobacco Products and the Nicotine Endgame: The Role of Robust Regulation and Comprehensive Tobacco Control and Prevention: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association.

The advent of new tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes and the dramatic rise in their use, especially by adolescents and young adults, are significant public health concerns. Electronic cigarettes have become the most popular tobacco products for youth and adolescents in the United States and are attracting youth to new avenues for nicotine addiction. Although these products may have benefit by helping some smokers quit or to move to a less harmful product, the long-term health effects of these products and the net public health effect associated with their use remain unclear and widely debated. There is increasing concern that the use of newer tobacco products may catalyze transition to the use of other tobacco products or recreational drugs, particularly in young adults. Therefore, there is urgent need for robust US Food and Drug Administration regulation of all tobacco products to avoid the significant economic and population health consequences of continued tobacco use. Although the American Heart Association acknowledges that the ultimate endgame would be an end to all tobacco and nicotine addiction in the United States, it supports first minimizing the use of all combustible tobacco products while ensuring that other products do not addict the next generation of youth and adolescents. The endgame strategy needs to be coordinated with the long-standing, evidence-based tobacco control strategies that have significantly reduced tobacco use and initiation in the United States.

The Promise and Peril of Vaping.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The increasing popularity and prevalence of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) use in the USA necessitates careful evaluation of their proposed benefits and potential public health harms. This report provides a detailed review of current scientific evidence on potential benefits and health risks associated with e-cigarette use. RECENT FINDINGS: E-cigarettes were introduced as a less harmful alternative to combustible cigarette smoking. However, evidence on their use as effective and safe smoking cessation aids remains inconclusive. Their rapid uptake among tobacco-naive individuals can lead to nicotine addiction and subsequent cigarette smoking. Although e-cigarettes appear to be relatively safer than combustible cigarettes, they expose users to known harmful constituents whose long-term health risks remain unknown. While e-cigarettes have the potential to aid in cessation of cigarette smoking when used as part of a structured cessation program, use among tobacco-naive youth and long-term dual use with combustible cigarettes should be strongly discouraged due to excess risk with dual use.

Prevalence of electronic cigarette use and its determinants in us persons of Hispanic/Latino background: The Hispanic community health study / study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

Objective: To determine the prevalence and determinants of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use among Hispanic/Latino adults from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Methods: Cross-sectional data collected between the years 2015-2017 were analyzed to assess ENDS use (ever (current: use ≤ past 30 days; former: use > past 30 days) and never) among 11,623 adults (mean age 47 years±0.3 years; 52% women). Weighted prevalence estimates were reported, and age-adjusted logistic regression models were used to examine associations between sociodemographic and clinical exposures with ENDS use. Results: The prevalence of current and former ENDS use was 2.0% and 10.4%, respectively. Having ever used ENDS was associated with prevalent coronary artery disease. Current ENDS use was higher in males and associated with higher education, English language preference, and Puerto Rican background compared with nonsmokers and cigarette-only smokers (all p<0.05). Conclusions: Hispanic/Latino individuals who are young adults, male, US-born, and have high acculturation were more likely to report current ENDS use. These findings could inform preventive and regulatory interventions targeted to Hispanics/Latinos.

Efficacy and safety for the achievement of guideline-recommended lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: The 2018 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Multi-Society Cholesterol Guidelines recommended the addition of non-statins to statin therapy for high-risk secondary prevention patients above a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) threshold of ≥70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L). We compared effectiveness and safety of treatment to achieve lower (<70) vs. higher (≥70 mg/dL) LDL-C among patients receiving intensive lipid-lowering therapy (statins alone or plus ezetimibe or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors). METHODS AND RESULTS: Eleven randomized controlled trials (130 070 patients), comparing intensive vs. less-intensive lipid-lowering therapy, with follow-up ≥6 months and sample size ≥1000 patients were selected. Meta-analysis was reported as random effects risk ratios (RRs) [95% confidence intervals] and absolute risk differences (ARDs) as incident cases per 1000 person-years. The median LDL-C levels achieved in lower LDL-C vs. higher LDL-C groups were 62 and 103 mg/dL, respectively. At median follow-up of 2 years, the lower LDL-C vs. higher LDL-C group was associated with significant reduction in all-cause mortality [ARD -1.56; RR 0.94 (0.89-1.00)], cardiovascular mortality [ARD -1.49; RR 0.90 (0.81-1.00)], and reduced risk of myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular events, revascularization, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). These benefits were achieved without increasing the risk of incident cancer, diabetes mellitus, or haemorrhagic stroke. All-cause mortality benefit in lower LDL-C group was limited to statin therapy and those with higher baseline LDL-C (≥100 mg/dL). However, the RR reduction in ischaemic and safety endpoints was independent of baseline LDL-C or drug therapy. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis showed that treatment to achieve LDL-C levels below 70 mg/dL using intensive lipid-lowering therapy can safely reduce the risk of mortality and MACE.

Declining interest in clinical imaging during the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of Google Trends data.

OBJECTIVE: Current evidence suggests a decrease in elective diagnostic imaging procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic with potentially severe long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to quantify recent trends in public interest and related online search behavior for a range of imaging modalities, and "nowcast" future scenarios with respect to imaging use. METHODS: We used Google Trends, a publicly available database to access search query data in systematic and quantitative fashion, to search for key terms related to clinical imaging. We queried the search volume for multiple imaging modalities, identified the most common terms, extracted data for the United States over the time range from August 1, 2016 to August 1, 2020. Results were given in relative terms, using the Google metric 'search volume index'. RESULTS: We report a decrease in public interest across all imaging modalities since March 2020 with a subsequent slow increase starting in May 2020. Mean relative search volume (RSV) has changed by -19.4%, -38.3%, and -51.0% for the search terms "Computed tomography", "Magnetic resonance imaging", and "Mammography", respectively, and comparing the two months prior to and following March 1, 2020. RSV has since steadily recuperated reaching all-year highs. CONCLUSION: Decrease in public interest coupled with delays and deferrals of diagnostic imaging will likely result in a high demand for healthcare in the coming months. To respond to this challenge, measures such as risk-stratification algorithms must be developed to allocate resources and avoid the risk of overstraining the healthcare system.

Communication approaches to enhance patient motivation and adherence in cardiovascular disease prevention.

Preventive cardiology visits have traditionally focused on educating patients about disease risk factors and the need to avoid and manage them through lifestyle changes and medications. However, long-term patient adherence to the recommended interventions remains a key unmet need. In this review we discuss the rationale and potential benefits of a paradigm shift in the clinician-patient encounter, from focusing on education to explicitly discussing key drivers of individual motivation. This includes the emotional, psychological, and economic mindset that patients bring to their health decisions. Five communication approaches are proposed that progress clinician-patient preventive cardiology conversations, from provision of information to addressing values and priorities such as common health concerns, love for the family, desire of social recognition, financial stressors, and desire to receive personalized advice. Although further research is needed, these approaches may facilitate developing deeper, more effective bonds with patients, enhance adherence to recommendations and ultimately, improve cardiovascular outcomes.

Sociodemographic Disparities in Influenza Vaccination Among Adults With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the United States.

Importance: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains a leading cause of death and disability in the US and worldwide. Influenza vaccination has shown to decrease overall morbidity, mortality, severity of infection, and hospital readmissions among these individuals. However, national estimates of influenza vaccination among individuals with ASCVD in the US are not well studied. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of and sociodemographic disparities in influenza vaccination among a nationally representative sample of individuals with ASCVD. Design, Setting, and Participants: Pooled Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from 2008 to 2016 were used and included adults 40 years or older with ASCVD. Participants' ASCVD status was ascertained via self-report and/or International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis of coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and/or cerebrovascular disease. Analysis began April 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: Prevalence and characteristics of adults with ASCVD who lacked influenza vaccination during the past year. Covariates including age, sex, race/ethnicity, family income, insurance status, education level, and usual source of care were assessed. Results: Of 131 881 adults, 19 793 (15.7%) had ASCVD, corresponding to 22.8 million US adults annually. A total of 7028 adults with ASCVD (32.7%), representing 7.4 million adults, lacked influenza vaccination. The highest odds of lacking vaccination were observed among individuals aged 40 to 64 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% CI, 2.06-2.62), without a usual source of care (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.71-2.33), without insurance (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.63-2.58), with a lower education level (OR, 1. 25; 95% CI, 1.12-1.40), with a lower income level (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.01-1.27), and of non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity (OR, 1.24, 95% CI, 1.10-1.41). A stepwise increase was found in the prevalence and odds of lacking influenza vaccination among individuals with increase in high-risk characteristics. Overall, 1171 individuals (59.7%; 95% CI, 55.8%-63.5%) with 4 or more high-risk characteristics and ASCVD (representing 732 524 US adults annually) reported lack of influenza vaccination (OR, 6.06; 95% CI, 4.88-7.53). Conclusion and Relevance: Despite current recommendations, a large proportion of US adults with established ASCVD lack influenza vaccination, with several sociodemographic subgroups having greater risk. Focused public health initiatives are needed to increase access to influenza vaccinations for high-risk and underserved populations.

A practical approach to the metabolic syndrome: review of current concepts and management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Novel research over the past 2 years has necessitated an update of our 'ABCDE' approach to the metabolic syndrome. RECENT FINDINGS: Clinical trials investigating the role of aspirin in primary prevention have led to an adjustment in the indication for aspirin in metabolic syndrome patients at intermediate risk of a cardiovascular event. There has been renewed enthusiasm for the use of niacin as second-line treatment for atherogenic dyslipidemia, with fibrates reserved for those with severe residual dyslipidemia. In light of the noteworthy findings of the Justification for the Use of statins in Primary Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin trial, the 'C' category representing 'cholesterol' has been expanded to include the use of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein for guiding statin use and perhaps monitoring statin therapy. Recent evidence confirms that diet and exercise continue to be the cornerstone of any metabolic syndrome treatment strategy. SUMMARY: The revised 'ABCDE' approach incorporates the most recent influential studies into a simple yet thorough algorithm for management of the metabolic syndrome.

Coronary Artery Calcium: Recommendations for Risk Assessment in Cardiovascular Prevention Guidelines.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this review, we evaluate the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score as a biomarker for advanced atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk assessment. RECENT FINDINGS: We summarize the evidence from multiple epidemiological studies, which show a clear advantage of CAC compared to traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors. We then compare the recommendations included in the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) and in the 2017 Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) guidelines for the use of CAC in ASCVD risk assessment, and examine the recent 2018 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) document. Finally, based on the currently available evidence, we provide constructive input for the upcoming ACC/AHA guidelines, regarding the population in whom CAC is most likely to be informative, the level of evidence that we believe should be assigned to CAC as an advanced ASCVD risk assessment tool, and the special populations in whom CAC might be beneficial for further risk assessment. We support a pragmatic approach that combines the pooled cohort equations (PCE) for initial ASCVD risk stratification, followed by CAC for refining ASCVD risk assessment among a broad range of intermediate risk patients and other special groups.

Harnessing mHealth technologies to increase physical activity and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Research into prevention of cardiovascular disease has increasingly focused on mobile health (mHealth) technologies and their efficacy in helping individuals adhere to heart-healthy recommendations, including daily physical activity levels. By including the use of mHealth technologies in the discussion of physical activity recommendations, clinicians empower patients to play an active daily role in modifying their cardiovascular risk-factor profile. In this review, we critically evaluate the mHealth and physical activity literature to determine how these tools may lower cardiovascular risk while providing real-time tracking, feedback, and motivation on physical activity levels. We analyze the various domains-including user knowledge, social support, behavioral change theory, and self-motivation-that potentially influence the effectiveness of smartphone applications to impact individual physical activity levels. In doing so, we hope to provide a thorough overview of the mHealth landscape, in addition to highlighting many of the administrative, reimbursement, and patient-privacy challenges of using these technologies in patient care. Finally, we propose a behavioral change model and checklist for clinicians to assist patients in utilizing mHealth technology to best achieve meaningful changes in daily physical activity levels.

Use of the Coronary Artery Calcium Score in Discussion of Initiation of Statin Therapy in Primary Prevention.

Clinical guidelines for instituting pharmacotherapy for the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), specifically lipid management and aspirin, have long been based on absolute risk. However, lipid management in the current era remains challenging to both patients and clinicians in the setting of somewhat discordant recommendations from various organizations. All guidelines endorse the use of statins for primary prevention for those at sufficient absolute risk, and treatment recommendations are generally "risk-based" rather than exclusively targeting specific low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Nonetheless, guidelines differ in relation to the risk threshold for initiation and the intensity of statin treatment. The key concept of the clinician-patient risk discussion introduced in the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association cholesterol guidelines is a process that addresses the potential for ASCVD risk reduction with statin treatment, potential for adverse treatment effects, patient preferences, encouragement of heart-healthy lifestyle, and management of other risk factors. However, operationalizing the clinician-patient risk discussion requires effective communication of the most accurate and personalized risk information. In this article, we review our treatment approach for the appropriate use of coronary artery calcium testing in the intermediate-risk patient to guide shared decision making. The decision to initiate or intensify statin therapy may be uncertain across a broad range of estimated 10-year ASCVD risk of 5% to 20%, and coronary artery calcium testing can reclassify risk upward or downward in approximately 50% of this group to inform the risk discussion. We conclude with 2 case-based examples of uncertain risk and uncertain statin therapeutic benefit to illustrate execution of the clinician-patient risk discussion.

Smoking intensity and duration is associated with cardiac structure and function: the ECHOcardiographic Study of Hispanics/Latinos.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in smokers and this relationship is complicated by the multiplicity of cardiovascular effects of smoking. However, the relationship between intensity and duration of cigarette smoking and echocardiographic measures of right and left ventricular structure and function has been poorly studied. METHODS: We examined ECHO-SOL (Echocardiographic Study of Hispanics/Latinos) participants, a subset of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Participants were administered a detailed tobacco exposure questionnaire and a comprehensive echocardiography exam. Multivariable linear regression models (adjusted for age, sex, obesity, hypertension and diabetes statuses) were performed using sampling weights. Statistical significance was defined at p<0.01. RESULTS: There were 1818 ECHO-SOL participants (57.4% women, mean age 56.4 years). Among current smokers (n=304), increased duration of smoking, as measured by a younger age of smoking initiation, was significantly associated with higher mean left ventricular mass (LVM) and lower right ventricular (RV) function (lower right ventricular stroke volumes). More cigarettes smoked per day was significantly associated with higher mean LVM, worse diastolic function (higher E/e' ratio), worse LV geometry (increased relative wall thickness) and worse RV function (decreasing right ventricular stroke volume). Among current smokers, higher mean lifetime pack-years (a combined measure of smoking intensity and duration) was associated with higher LVM, worse LV geometry, worse diastolic function, greater RV dilatation and worse RV function. CONCLUSIONS: There is a dose-response relationship between intensity and duration of cigarette tobacco smoking with unfavourable changes of multiple measures of right-sided and left-sided cardiac structure and function.

Pathways Forward in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention One and a Half Years After Publication of the 2013 ACC/AHA Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Guidelines.

The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines represent an important step forward in the risk assessment and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in clinical practice. Differentiated risk prediction equations for women and black individuals were developed, and convenient 10-year and lifetime risk assessment tools were provided, facilitating their implementation. Lifestyle modification was portrayed as the foundation of preventive therapy. In addition, based on high-quality evidence from randomized controlled trials, statins were prioritized as the first lipid-lowering pharmacologic treatment, and a shared decision-making model between the physician and the patient was emphasized as a key feature of personalized care. After publication of the guidelines, however, important limitations were also identified. This resulted in a constructive scientific debate yielding valuable insights into potential opportunities to refine recommendations, fill gaps in guidance, and better harmonize recommendations within and outside the United States. The latter point deserves emphasis because when guidelines are in disagreement, this may result in nonaction on the part of professional caregivers or nonadherence by patients. In this review, we discuss the key scientific literature relevant to the guidelines published in the year and a half after their release. We aim to provide cohesive, evidence-based views that may offer pathways forward in cardiovascular disease prevention toward greater consensus and benefit the practice of clinical medicine.