Therapeutic Adherence According to the Morisky Scale in Patients with Hypertension

Abstract Background In view of the high prevalence of hypertension and the importance of adequate drug therapy in the prevention of complications, it is necessary to know the adherence to drug treatment in this population. Objective To verify adherence to antihypertensive drug treatment in Brazilian patients with hypertension using the Morisky-Green Test (MGT), relating it with demographic data. Methods Prospective, observational, multicenter, national registry study, with 2,578 hypertensive patients participating in study I, the Brazilian Cardiovascular Registry of Arterial Hypertension (I-RBH), recruited in the five regions of Brazil. The analyses carried out on the data were descriptive statistics, qui-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression, adopting 5% as the significance level for the tests. Results The research shows that 56.13% of patients in the sample were female; 56.71% were elderly (≥ 65 years); 55.86% were White; 52.37% were from the Southeast Region; and 59.74% were non-adherent. Logistic regression showed an independent relationship between patients' age, ethnicity, and region with medication adherence. Conclusion Adherence to treatment is the key to reducing high rates of cardiovascular complications. The study brings a successful outcome in the relationship between the factors ethnicity, age, and region of patients with hypertension and medication adherence. To this end, it is necessary to understand these factors, considering systematic evaluation in the care of patients with hypertension and other chronic non-communicable diseases. This study is a significant contribution to multidisciplinary teams, as it highlights which risk factors interfere with medication adherence, incorporating better strategies in health education.

2023 UPDATE: Luso-Brazilian evidence-based guideline for the management of antidiabetic therapy in type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The management of antidiabetic therapy in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has evolved beyond glycemic control. In this context, Brazil and Portugal defined a joint panel of four leading diabetes societies to update the guideline published in 2020. METHODS: The panelists searched MEDLINE (via PubMed) for the best evidence from clinical studies on treating T2D and its cardiorenal complications. The panel searched for evidence on antidiabetic therapy in people with T2D without cardiorenal disease and in patients with T2D and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), heart failure (HF), or diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The degree of recommendation and the level of evidence were determined using predefined criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: All people with T2D need to have their cardiovascular (CV) risk status stratified and HbA1c, BMI, and eGFR assessed before defining therapy. An HbA1c target of less than 7% is adequate for most adults, and a more flexible target (up to 8%) should be considered in frail older people. Non-pharmacological approaches are recommended during all phases of treatment. In treatment naïve T2D individuals without cardiorenal complications, metformin is the agent of choice when HbA1c is 7.5% or below. When HbA1c is above 7.5% to 9%, starting with dual therapy is recommended, and triple therapy may be considered. When HbA1c is above 9%, starting with dual therapyt is recommended, and triple therapy should be considered. Antidiabetic drugs with proven CV benefit (AD1) are recommended to reduce CV events if the patient is at high or very high CV risk, and antidiabetic agents with proven efficacy in weight reduction should be considered when obesity is present. If HbA1c remains above target, intensification is recommended with triple, quadruple therapy, or even insulin-based therapy. In people with T2D and established ASCVD, AD1 agents (SGLT2 inhibitors or GLP-1 RA with proven CV benefit) are initially recommended to reduce CV outcomes, and metformin or a second AD1 may be necessary to improve glycemic control if HbA1c is above the target. In T2D with HF, SGLT2 inhibitors are recommended to reduce HF hospitalizations and mortality and to improve HbA1c. In patients with DKD, SGLT2 inhibitors in combination with metformin are recommended when eGFR is above 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. SGLT2 inhibitors can be continued until end-stage kidney disease.

Quantifying and Interpreting the Prediction Accuracy of Models for the Time of a Cardiovascular Event-Moving Beyond C Statistic: A Review.

Importance: For personalized or stratified medicine, it is critical to establish a reliable and efficient prediction model for a clinical outcome of interest. The goal is to develop a parsimonious model with fewer predictors for broad future application without compromising predictability. A general approach is to construct various empirical models via individual patients' specific baseline characteristics/biomarkers and then evaluate their relative merits. When the outcome of interest is the timing of a cardiovascular event, a commonly used metric to assess the adequacy of the fitted models is based on C statistics. These measures quantify a model's ability to separate those who develop events earlier from those who develop them later or not at all (discrimination), but they do not measure how closely model estimates match observed outcomes (prediction accuracy). Metrics that provide clinically interpretable measures to quantify prediction accuracy are needed. Observations: C statistics measure the concordance between the risk scores derived from the model and the observed event time observations. However, C statistics do not quantify the model prediction accuracy. The integrated Brier Score, which calculates the mean squared distance between the empirical cumulative event-free curve and its individual patient's counterparts, estimates the prediction accuracy, but it is not clinically intuitive. A simple alternative measure is the average distance between the observed and predicted event times over the entire study population. This metric directly quantifies the model prediction accuracy and has often been used to evaluate the goodness of fit of the assumed models in settings other than survival data. This time-scale measure is easier to interpret than the C statistics or the Brier score. Conclusions and Relevance: This article enhances our understanding of the model selection/evaluation process with respect to prediction accuracy. A simple, intuitive measure for quantifying such accuracy beyond C statistics can improve the reliability and efficiency of the selected model for personalized and stratified medicine.

Factors associated with uncontrolled blood pressure in hypertensive Brazilians.

Uncontrolled hypertension has a high prevalence and is related to numerous negative health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the lack of blood pressure control in hypertensive Brazilians treated in public and private services. This is an analytical, multicentric, and national cross-sectional study, carried out with adult hypertensive patients, monitored in 45 outpatient clinics (September 2013 to October 2015) in a prospective record interview, clinical, and anthropometric assessment. Outcome variables included uncontrolled pressure (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg). Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Two thousand six hundred forty-three participants were assessed with a mean age of 61.6 ± 11.9 years, 55.7% of women, and 46.4% with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP). The following were associated with uncontrolled BP: age over 60 years (OR: 1.31 [1.11-1.55]); practice of irregular physical activity (OR: 1.28 [1.06-1.55]); attending the emergency room for hypertensive crises in the last six months (OR: 1.80 [1.46-2.22]); increased body mass index (OR: 1.02 [1.01-1.04]); low adherence to drug treatment (OR: 1.22 [1.04-1.44]) and menopause (OR: 1.36 [1.07-1.72]). The following were negatively associated: fruit consumption (OR: 0.90 [0.85-0.94]); presence of dyslipidemia (OR: 0.75 [0.64-0.89]), acute myocardial infarction (OR: 0.59 [0.46-0.76]), and peripheral arterial disease (OR: 0.52 [0.34-0.78]). Factors associated with difficult-to-control blood pressure are the same that increase the risk for hypertension, while the presence of atherosclerotic disease and its outcomes were associated with better control.

NT-proBNP as a predictor of death and cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Existing risk prediction scores based on clinical and laboratory variables have been considered inaccurate in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Circulating concentrations of natriuretic peptides have been used to aid in the diagnosis and to predict outcomes in heart failure. However, there is a growing body of evidence for the use of natriuretic peptides measurements, mainly N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), as a tool in risk stratification for individuals with T2DM. Studies have demonstrated the ability of NT-proBNP to improve outcomes prediction when incorporated into multivariate models. More recently, evidence has emerged of the discriminatory power of NT-proBNP, demonstrating, as a single variable, a similar and even superior ability to multivariate risk models for the prediction of death and cardiovascular events in individuals with T2DM. Natriuretic peptides are synthesized and released from the myocardium as a counter-regulatory response to increased cardiac wall stress, sympathetic tone, and vasoconstriction, acting on various systems and affecting different biological processes. In this article, we present a review of the accumulated knowledge about these biomarkers, underscoring the strength of the evidence of their predictive ability for fatal and non-fatal outcomes. It is likely that, by influencing the functioning of many organs, these biomarkers integrate information from different systems. Although not yet recommended by guidelines, measurement of natriuretic peptides, and particularly NT-proBNP, should be strongly considered in the risk stratification of individuals with T2DM.

Avaliação do Seguimento de 1 Ano dos Pacientes Incluídos no Registro da Prática Clínica em Pacientes de Alto Risco Cardiovascular (REACT) / Evaluation of 1-Year Follow-up of Patients Included in the Registry of Clinical Practice in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk (REACT)

Resumo Fundamento Na prática clínica, há evidências de falhas na prescrição de terapias baseadas em evidências para pacientes de alto risco cardiovascular. Entretanto, no Brasil, ainda são insuficientes os dados sobre a evolução ao longo de 1 ano desses pacientes. Objetivos Descrição no acompanhamento de 12 meses da utilização de terapias baseadas em evidência e da ocorrência de desfechos cardiovasculares maiores e seus principais preditores em um registro brasileiro multicêntrico de pacientes de alto risco cardiovascular. Métodos Estudo observacional prospectivo que documentou a prática clínica ambulatorial de indivíduos acima de 45 anos e de alto risco cardiovascular tanto em prevenção primária como secundária. Os pacientes foram seguidos por 1 ano e avaliou-se a prescrição de terapias baseadas em evidência e a ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares maiores (infarto agudo do miocárdio [IAM], acidente vascular cerebral [AVC], parada cardíaca e mortalidade por causa cardiovascular). Valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significantes. Resultados De julho de 2010 até agosto de 2014, 5.076 indivíduos foram incluídos em 48 centros, sendo 91% dos 4.975 pacientes elegíveis acompanhados em centros de cardiologia e 68,6% em prevenção secundária. Em 1 ano, o uso concomitante de antiplaquetários, estatinas e inibidores da enzima conversora de angiotensina (IECA) reduziu de 28,3% para 24,2% (valor de p < 0,001). A taxa de eventos cardiovasculares maiores foi de 5,46%, e os preditores identificados foram: idade, pacientes em prevenção secundária e nefropatia diabética. Conclusões Neste grande registro nacional de pacientes de alto risco cardiovascular, foram identificados preditores de risco semelhantes aos registros internacionais, porém a adesão da prescrição médica a terapias baseadas em evidência esteve abaixo dos dados da literatura internacional e apresentou piora significativa em 1 ano. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Abstract Background In clinical practice, there is evidence of failure to prescribe evidence-based therapies for patients at high cardiovascular risk. However, in Brazil, data on 1-year outcomes of these patients remain insufficient. Objectives To describe the use of evidence-based therapies and the occurrence of major cardiovascular outcomes and their major predictors in a 12-month follow-up of a Brazilian multicenter registry of patients at high cardiovascular risk. Methods This prospective observational study documented the outpatient clinical practice of managing patients over 45 years of age and of high cardiovascular risk in both primary and secondary prevention. Patients were followed-up for 1 year, and the prescription of evidence-based therapies and the occurrence of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac arrest, and cardiovascular death) were assessed. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results From July 2010 to August 2014, a total of 5076 individuals were enrolled in 48 centers, 91% of the 4975 eligible patients were followed-up in cardiology centers, and 68.6% were in secondary prevention. At 1 year, the concomitant use of antiplatelet agents, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors reduced from 28.3% to 24.2% (p < 0.001). Major cardiovascular event rate was 5.46%, and the identified predictors were age, patients in secondary prevention, and diabetic nephropathy. Conclusions In this large national registry of patients at high cardiovascular risk, risk predictors similar to those of international registries were identified, but medical prescription adherence to evidence-based therapies was inferior and significantly worsened at 1 year. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Evaluation of 1-Year Follow-up of Patients Included in the Registry of Clinical Practice in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk (REACT). / Avaliação do Seguimento de 1 Ano dos Pacientes Incluídos no Registro da Prática Clínica em Pacientes de Alto Risco Cardiovascular (REACT).

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice, there is evidence of failure to prescribe evidence-based therapies for patients at high cardiovascular risk. However, in Brazil, data on 1-year outcomes of these patients remain insufficient. OBJECTIVES: To describe the use of evidence-based therapies and the occurrence of major cardiovascular outcomes and their major predictors in a 12-month follow-up of a Brazilian multicenter registry of patients at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS: This prospective observational study documented the outpatient clinical practice of managing patients over 45 years of age and of high cardiovascular risk in both primary and secondary prevention. Patients were followed-up for 1 year, and the prescription of evidence-based therapies and the occurrence of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac arrest, and cardiovascular death) were assessed. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: From July 2010 to August 2014, a total of 5076 individuals were enrolled in 48 centers, 91% of the 4975 eligible patients were followed-up in cardiology centers, and 68.6% were in secondary prevention. At 1 year, the concomitant use of antiplatelet agents, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors reduced from 28.3% to 24.2% (p < 0.001). Major cardiovascular event rate was 5.46%, and the identified predictors were age, patients in secondary prevention, and diabetic nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: In this large national registry of patients at high cardiovascular risk, risk predictors similar to those of international registries were identified, but medical prescription adherence to evidence-based therapies was inferior and significantly worsened at 1 year. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

FUNDAMENTO: Na prática clínica, há evidências de falhas na prescrição de terapias baseadas em evidências para pacientes de alto risco cardiovascular. Entretanto, no Brasil, ainda são insuficientes os dados sobre a evolução ao longo de 1 ano desses pacientes. OBJETIVOS: Descrição no acompanhamento de 12 meses da utilização de terapias baseadas em evidência e da ocorrência de desfechos cardiovasculares maiores e seus principais preditores em um registro brasileiro multicêntrico de pacientes de alto risco cardiovascular. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional prospectivo que documentou a prática clínica ambulatorial de indivíduos acima de 45 anos e de alto risco cardiovascular tanto em prevenção primária como secundária. Os pacientes foram seguidos por 1 ano e avaliou-se a prescrição de terapias baseadas em evidência e a ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares maiores (infarto agudo do miocárdio [IAM], acidente vascular cerebral [AVC], parada cardíaca e mortalidade por causa cardiovascular). Valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significantes. RESULTADOS: De julho de 2010 até agosto de 2014, 5.076 indivíduos foram incluídos em 48 centros, sendo 91% dos 4.975 pacientes elegíveis acompanhados em centros de cardiologia e 68,6% em prevenção secundária. Em 1 ano, o uso concomitante de antiplaquetários, estatinas e inibidores da enzima conversora de angiotensina (IECA) reduziu de 28,3% para 24,2% (valor de p < 0,001). A taxa de eventos cardiovasculares maiores foi de 5,46%, e os preditores identificados foram: idade, pacientes em prevenção secundária e nefropatia diabética. CONCLUSÕES: Neste grande registro nacional de pacientes de alto risco cardiovascular, foram identificados preditores de risco semelhantes aos registros internacionais, porém a adesão da prescrição médica a terapias baseadas em evidência esteve abaixo dos dados da literatura internacional e apresentou piora significativa em 1 ano. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

One year follow-up Assessment of Patients Included in the Brazilian Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACCEPT). / Avaliação do Seguimento de um Ano dos Pacientes Incluídos no Registro Brasileiro de Síndromes Coronárias Agudas (ACCEPT).

Background There is lack of prospective data on evolution within one year of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in a representative population of Brazilian patients. Objectives To assess the prescription of evidence-based therapies, the incidence of severe outcomes and the predictors for these outcomes in a multicenter Brazilian registry of ACS patients. Methods The ACCEPT is a prospective observational study, which included patients hospitalized with a diagnostic of ACS in 47 Brazilian hospitals. The patients were followed for a 1 year and data were collected on the medical prescription and the occurrence of major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular mortality, reinfarction and cerebrovascular accident - CVA). Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results A total of 5,047 patients were included in this registry from August 2010 to April 2014. The diagnosis of ACS was confirmed in 4,782 patients (94.7%) and, among those, the most frequent diagnosis was ACS with ST segment elevation (35.8%). The rate of major cardiovascular events was 13.6 % within 1 year. Adherence to prescription of evidence-based therapy at admission was of 62.1%. Age, public service, acute myocardial infarction, CVA, renal failure, diabetes and quality of therapy were associated independently with the occurrence of major cardiovascular events. Conclusions During the one-year follow-up of the ACCEPT registry, more than 10% of the patients had major cardiovascular events and this rate ranged according with the quality of therapy. Strategies must be elaborated to improve the use of evidence-based therapies to minimize the cardiovascular events among the Brazilian population. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(6):995-1003).

Avaliação do Seguimento de um Ano dos Pacientes Incluídos no Registro Brasileiro de Síndromes Coronárias Agudas (ACCEPT) / One year follow-up Assessment of Patients Included in the Brazilian Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACCEPT)

Resumo Fundamento Existe carência de informações prospectivas sobre a evolução em um ano após uma síndrome coronária aguda (SCA) em uma grande amostra de pacientes brasileiros. Objetivos Avaliar a prescrição de terapias baseadas em evidência, a ocorrência de desfechos graves e os preditores para estes desfechos em um registro brasileiro multicêntrico de pacientes com SCA. Métodos O ACCEPT é um estudo observacional prospectivo que incluiu pacientes internados com diagnóstico de SCA em 47 hospitais brasileiros. Os pacientes foram seguidos por 1 ano e coletou-se dados sobre prescrição médica e ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares maiores (mortalidade cardiovascular, reinfarto e acidente vascular encefálico - AVE). Valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significantes. Resultados Um total de 5.047 pacientes foram incluídos neste registro, de agosto de 2010 até abril de 2014. Foi confirmado o diagnóstico de SCA em 4.782 pacientes (94,7%) e, dentre os 3 diagnósticos possíveis, o mais comum foi SCA com elevação do segmento ST (35,8%). A taxa de eventos cardiovasculares maiores foi de 13,6 % em 1 ano. A prescrição completa de terapias baseadas em evidência na admissão hospitalar foi de 62,1%. Idade, atendimento público, infarto agudo do miocárdio, AVE, insuficiência renal, diabetes e qualidade da terapia estiveram associados de forma independente à ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares maiores. Conclusões No seguimento de 1 ano do registro ACCEPT, mais de 10% dos pacientes apresentaram eventos cardiovasculares maiores e esta taxa variou de acordo com a qualidade da terapia. Há necessidade da elaboração de estratégias para melhorar o uso de terapias baseadas em evidência no sentido de minimizar os eventos cardiovasculares na população brasileira. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(6):995-1003)

Abstract Background There is lack of prospective data on evolution within one year of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in a representative population of Brazilian patients. Objectives To assess the prescription of evidence-based therapies, the incidence of severe outcomes and the predictors for these outcomes in a multicenter Brazilian registry of ACS patients. Methods The ACCEPT is a prospective observational study, which included patients hospitalized with a diagnostic of ACS in 47 Brazilian hospitals. The patients were followed for a 1 year and data were collected on the medical prescription and the occurrence of major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular mortality, reinfarction and cerebrovascular accident - CVA). Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results A total of 5,047 patients were included in this registry from August 2010 to April 2014. The diagnosis of ACS was confirmed in 4,782 patients (94.7%) and, among those, the most frequent diagnosis was ACS with ST segment elevation (35.8%). The rate of major cardiovascular events was 13.6 % within 1 year. Adherence to prescription of evidence-based therapy at admission was of 62.1%. Age, public service, acute myocardial infarction, CVA, renal failure, diabetes and quality of therapy were associated independently with the occurrence of major cardiovascular events. Conclusions During the one-year follow-up of the ACCEPT registry, more than 10% of the patients had major cardiovascular events and this rate ranged according with the quality of therapy. Strategies must be elaborated to improve the use of evidence-based therapies to minimize the cardiovascular events among the Brazilian population. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(6):995-1003)