Clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a Latin American country: Results from the ECCOVID multicenter prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical features and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections diverge in different countries. The aim of this study was to describe clinical characteristics and outcomes in a cohort of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in Argentina. METHODS: Multicenter prospective cohort study of ≥18 years-old patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection consecutively admitted to 19 hospitals in Argentina. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify variables associated with 30-day mortality and admission to intensive care unit (ICU). RESULTS: A total of 809 patients were analyzed. Median age was 53 years, 56% were males and 71% had at least one comorbidity. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (32%), obesity (23%) and diabetes (17%). Disease severity at admission was classified as mild 25%, moderate 51%, severe 17%, and critical 7%. Almost half of patients (49%) required supplemental oxygen, 18% ICU, and 12% invasive ventilation. Overall, 30-day mortality was 11%. Factors independently associated with ICU admission were male gender (OR 1.81; 95%CI 1.16-2.81), hypertension (OR 3.21; 95%CI 2.08-4.95), obesity (OR 2.38; 95%CI 1.51-3.7), oxygen saturation ≤93% (OR 6.45; 95%CI 4.20-9.92) and lymphopenia (OR 3.21; 95%CI 2.08-4.95). Factors independently associated with 30-day mortality included age ≥60 years-old (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.63-4.43), oxygen saturation ≤93% (OR 3.19; 95%CI 1.97-5.16) and lymphopenia (OR 2.65; 95%CI 1.64-4.27). CONCLUSIONS: This cohort validates crucial clinical data on patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in Argentina.

Triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and atherogenic dyslipidaemia in the 2019 European guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. / Triglicéridos, colesterol HDL y dislipidemia aterogénica en la guía europea para el control de las dislipidemias 2019.

In general, both European and American clinical guidelines have addressed the management of atherogenic dyslipidaemia in an unconvincing and even superficial way, largely because of the available therapeutic limitations. Consequently, this type of dyslipidaemia is underdiagnosed, under-treated, and under-controlled. Given the recent presentation of the 2019 guidelines of the European Atherosclerosis Society and the European Society of Cardiology on the management of dyslipidaemias, it seems appropriate to examine its position with respect to atherogenic dyslipidaemia and/or its main components, the increase in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and the decrease of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Non-HDL cholesterol as a therapeutic goal. / Colesterol-no HDL como objetivo terapéutico.

Although cholesterol linked to low-density lipoproteins (c-LDL) is well established as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, there is often a more complex dyslipidaemia pattern that contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Non-HDL cholesterol (c-NO-HDL) is used to estimate the total amount of atherogenic lipoproteins in plasma, some of which are not usually determined in daily clinical practice. c-NO-HDL is easily calculated from the subtraction of total plasma cholesterol from the cholesterol content carried by high density lipoproteins. The c-NO-HDL has a predictive value superior to that of C-LDL to estimate the risk of major cardiovascular events in epidemiological studies. Genetic studies by analysis of the complete genome, together with those based on Mendelian randomisation, point to the aetiological character of c-NO-HDL on ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Intervention studies, and the meta-analyses derived from them, close the causal circle between c-NO-HDL and IHD, by demonstrating that any intervention that decreases the concentrations of the former reduces the incidence of arteriosclerotic heart disease. The European ESC/EAS 2016 guide for the management of dyslipidaemia considers c-NO-HDL as a therapeutic target with a Class IIa recommendation (should be performed) Level B (data from a single randomised clinical trial [RCT]) or from several non-RCTs), and sets its target at less than 100 or 130mg/dL for those patients with very high risk or high risk, respectively. These achievable c-NO-HDL values are easily calculated by adding 30mg/dL to the c-LDL targets.

Control of the overall lipid profile. / Control del perfil lipídico global.

The importance of overall lipid control in cardiovascular prevention is reviewed. Several studies and meta-analyses show that the control of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) still maintains a high cardiovascular risk, which is related to the presence of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and therefore with an increase in plasma triglycerides and the values of apolipoprotein B (apoB) containing these lipoproteins. The importance of this relationship is due to the change in the lipid profile of our population in recent years. This is related to the increase in obesity and insulin resistance, and is called atherogenic dyslipidaemia. Thus, hypertriglyceridaemia should be considered a cardiovascular risk factor, especially when the desirable objectives of LDL-C have been achieved. The indications for treatment with fibrates in primary and secondary prevention, using the medical evidence-based recommendations, are described, along with its importance in the reduction of cardiovascular risk. Finally, the established indications of the combined statin-fibrate treatment are presented, always after changes in lifestyle.

Residual cardiovascular risk of lipid origin. Components and pathophysiological aspects. / Riesgo cardiovascular residual de origen lipídico. Componentes y aspectos fisiopatológicos.

There is no doubt about the relationship between LDL-c and cardiovascular risk, as well as about the benefits of statin treatment. Once the objective of LDL-c has been achieved, the evidences that demonstrate the persistence of a high cardiovascular risk, a concept called residual risk, are notable. The residual risk of lipid origin is based on atherogenic dyslipidemia, characterized by an increase in triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, a decrease in HDL-c and qualitative alterations in LDL particles. The most commonly used measures to identify this dyslipidemia are based on the determination of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, non-HDL cholesterol and remaining cholesterol, as well as apolipoprotein B100 and lipoprotein (a) in certain cases. The treatment of atherogenic dyslipidemia is based on weight loss and physical exercise. Regarding pharmacological treatment, we have no evidence of cardiovascular benefit with drugs aimed at lowering triglycerides and HDL-c, fenofibrate seems to be effective in situations of atherogenic dyslipidemia.

Fibrates in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Comments on the results of a systematic review of the Cochrane Collaboration. / Los fibratos en la prevención primaria de la enfermedad cardiovascular. Comentarios a los resultados de una revisión sistemática de la Colaboración Cochrane.

Fibrates are drugs that reduce triglycerides, elevate high-density lipoproteins, as well as decrease small, dense LDL particles. The results of a study have recently been published by the Cochrane Collaboration on fibrates efficacy and safety in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. This study includes a systematic review and a meta-analysis of 6 studies (16,135 patients) that evaluated the clinical benefits of fibrates compared to placebo use or other lipid-lowering drugs. This review showed evidence of a protective effect of the fibrates compared with placebo as regards a reduction 16% of a compound objective of death due to cardiovascular disease, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal cerebrovascular accident (NNT: 112), and that reduce coronary morbidity and mortality by 21% (NNT: 125). In addition, fibrates could reduce previously established diabetic retinopathy. However, fibrates do not influence total mortality, or non-cardiovascular mortality. Its joint use with statins does not benefit patients without established cardiovascular disease, compared to the use of statins in monotherapy. Fibrates are safe, although they can elevate serum creatinine levels.

Fibrates in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (infarction and stroke). Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis of the Cochrane collaboration. / Los fibratos en la prevención secundaria de la enfermedad cardiovascular (infarto e ictus). Resultados de una revisión sistemática y metaanálisis de la colaboración Cochrane.

Fibrates are a group of drugs that are known mainly for reducing triglycerides, increasing high density lipoproteins (HDL), and reducing the fraction of small, dense LDL particles. The results of a Cochrane Collaboration study have recently been published on their efficacy and safety in the secondary prevention of severe cardiovascular accidents, including coronary and cerebrovascular disease. The study included randomised clinical trials in which the fibrate was compared with placebo or with no treatment. Clinical trials comparing two different fibrates were excluded. The clinical trials evaluated included a total of 16,112 patients (13 trials). The meta-analysis (including all the trials with fibrates) showed evidence of a protective effect of the fibrates compared with placebo as regards a compound objective of non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and death of cardiovascular origin (hazard ration of 0.88, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.83 to 0.94; in 16,064 individuals included in 12 studies). Thus, the results showed, with a moderate level of evidence, that fibrates could be effective in secondary prevention considering a compound objective of non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and death of cardiovascular origin.

Decalogue of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis to reduce therapeutic inertia. / Decálogo de la Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis para disminuir la inercia terapéutica.

Therapeutic inertia (TI) is defined as the failure of the physician to initiate or intensify a treatment when the therapeutic goal has not been achieved. TI can be of 2types: inertia due to lack of prescription of drugs and inertia in the absence of control of a risk factor. The consequences of TI are poor control of risk factors, an increase in potentially preventable events and an increase in costs. There are factors of the doctor himself, the patient and the care organization that determine the presence of TI. Ten measures are proposed to reduce TI: to promote continuing education, to define clearly therapeutic objectives, to establish audits, to implement computerized medical records with alerts, to encourage research in this field, to disseminate clinical practice guidelines, to create motivational incentives, to organize care, to improve the doctor-patient relationship and to involve other health care providers.

Consensus document on the management of the atherogenic dyslipidaemia of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis. / Documento de consenso sobre el manejo de la dislipemia aterogénica de la Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis.

Positioning document and summary of recommendations recently published by the Working Group on Atherogenic Dyslipemia of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis and by the European Society of Arteriosclerosis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, association with cardiovascular disease and treatment (II). The treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. / Enfermedad del hígado graso no alcohólico, asociación con la enfermedad cardiovascular y tratamiento (II). Tratamiento de la enfermedad del hígado graso no alcohólico.

Disease nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) comprises a series of histologically similar to those induced by alcohol consumption in people with very little or no liver damage same. The importance of NAFLD is its high prevalence in our Western societies, from the point of view liver in its progressive evolution from steatosis to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. During the last decade it has been observed that NAFLD leads to an increased cardiovascular risk with accelerated atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. This updated January 2016 revision consists of two parts. In this second part, the treatment of NAFLD and its influence on cardiovascular disease and drugs used in the control of cardiovascular risk factors showing a beneficial effect on the liver disease will be reviewed.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, association with cardiovascular disease and treatment. (I). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its association with cardiovascular disease. / Enfermedad del hígado graso no alcohólico, asociación con la enfermedad cardiovascular y tratamiento (I). Enfermedad del hígado graso no alcohólico y su asociación con la enfermedad cardiovascular.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) comprises a series of histologically lesions similar to those induced by alcohol consumption in people with very little or no liver damage. The importance of NAFLD is its high prevalence in the Western world and, from the point of view of the liver, in its gradual progression from steatosis to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. During the last decade it has been observed that NAFLD leads to an increased cardiovascular risk with acceleration of arteriosclerosis and events related to it, being the main cause of its morbidity and mortality. This review, updated to January 2016, consists of two parts, with the first part analysing the association of NAFLD with cardiovascular disease.

[Fibrates therapy: Rational use fenofibrate 2016. Executive summary]. / Terapia con fibratos: uso racional del fenofibrato 2016. Resumen ejecutivo.

To control lipid factors risk, beyond proper management of LDL cholesterol according to individual risk, detection and treatment of atherogenic dyslipidemia and abnormal levels of triglycerides or HDL cholesterol it should be considered for address a global cardiovascular protection, both in primary and secondary prevention. In this sense, these recommendations collect data on efficacy and safety about the combination statin with fibrates, often necessary for total control of dyslipidemia, particularly in patients with metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome or visceral obesity. Reference to control and monitoring of treatment is also done, as well as benefits of fenofibrate not linked directly to their lipid-lowering effect.

[The real measurement of non-HDL-cholesterol: Atherogenic cholesterol]. / La auténtica dimensión del colesterol-no-HDL: colesterol aterogénico.

Lowe density lipoproteins (LDL) are the causal agent of cardiovascular diseases. In practice, we identify LDL with cholesterol transported in LDL (cLDL). So, cLDL has become the major target for cardiovascular prevention. Howewer, we have progressive evidences about the role of triglycerides rich lipoproteins, particularly those very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) in promotion and progression of atherosclerosis, that leads cholesterol in VLDL and its remanents as a potential therapeutic target. This feature is particularly important and of a great magnitude, in patients with hypertiglyceridemia. We can to considere, that the non-HDL cholesterol -cLDL+cVLDL+c-remmants+Lp(a)- is the real measurement of atherogenic cholesterol. In addition, non-HDL-cholesterol do not show any variations between postprandial states. In fact, non-HDL-cholesterol should be an excellent marker of atherogenic cholesterol, and an major therapeutic target in patients with atherogenic dyslipidaemia. According with different clinical trials and with the epidemiological and mendelian studies, in patients with high cardiovascular risk, optimal level of cLDL will be under 70mg/dl, and under 100 ng/dl for non-HDL-cholesterol; and in high risk patients, 100mg/dl and 130mg/dl, respectively.

Utilization of evidence-based cardiovascular therapies and achievement of therapeutic goals in patients with peripheral artery disease.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with peripheral artery disease have a high risk of cardiovascular events and death. The rate of prescription of evidence-based cardiovascular therapies and the attainment of therapeutic goals in this population is suboptimal. There are no previous studies evaluating the rate of prescription of these therapies in our country. METHODS: PERIFERICA is a cross-sectional study conducted from May to December 2009 in 440 outpatient clinics of general practitioners, internal medicine, cardiology, vascular surgery, endocrinology, and nephrology specialists throughout Spain. Subjects were included if they were aged ≥45 years and had peripheral artery disease and a blood sample obtained during the previous 6 months. Patients were excluded if they had coronary or cerebrovascular diseases. Clinical and anthropometric variables and blood analysis were obtained in all participants. RESULTS: In total, 4087 patients were included in the study (mean age, 68 years; 74% men). There was a high prevalence of diabetes (50%) and hypertension (90%); 79% of participants received lipid-lowering drugs (76% statins), 85.5% antihypertensive drugs (66% renin-angiotensin blockers) and 83% antithrombotics (75% antiplatelet drugs and 11% anticoagulants). In addition, 30% of subjects had a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration n<100 mg/dL, 29.5% had optimal control of blood pressure, and 74.5% did not smoke. Only 8% had a good control of all of their cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Although a high percentage of subjects with peripheral artery disease receives adequate treatment with evidence-based preventive therapies, the percentage of subjects with good control of all their risk factors is low.