Spanish adaptation of the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. / Adaptación española de las guías europeas de 2016 sobre prevención de la enfermedad cardiovascular en la práctica clínica.

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions as women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than <10 years of evolution, without other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and the cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines don't recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased bleeding risk. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and to identify and combat its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to take an active role in advocating evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse.

Alcoholic beverage preference and diabetes incidence across Europe: the Consortium on Health and Ageing Network of Cohorts in Europe and the United States (CHANCES) project.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It is unknown if wine, beer and spirit intake lead to a similar association with diabetes. We studied the association between alcoholic beverage preference and type 2 diabetes incidence in persons who reported to consume alcohol. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Ten European cohort studies from the Consortium on Health and Ageing: Network of Cohorts in Europe and the United States were included, comprising participant data of 62 458 adults who reported alcohol consumption at baseline. Diabetes incidence was based on documented and/or self-reported diagnosis during follow-up. Preference was defined when ⩾70% of total alcohol consumed was either beer, wine or spirits. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were computed using Cox proportional hazard regression. Single-cohort HRs were pooled by random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Beer, wine or spirit preference was not related to diabetes risk compared with having no preference. The pooled HRs were HR 1.06 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93, 1.20) for beer, HR 0.99 (95% CI 0.88, 1.11) for wine, and HR 1.19 (95% CI 0.97, 1.46) for spirit preference. Absolute wine intake, adjusted for total alcohol, was associated with a lower diabetes risk: pooled HR per 6 g/day was 0.96 (95% CI 0.93, 0.99). A spirit preference was related to a higher diabetes risk in those with a higher body mass index, in men and women separately, but not after excluding persons with prevalent diseases. CONCLUSIONS: This large individual-level meta-analysis among persons who reported alcohol consumption revealed that the preference for beer, wine, and spirits was similarly associated with diabetes incidence compared with having no preference.

[Spanish adaptation of the 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice]. / Adaptación española de las guías europeas de 2016 sobre prevención de la enfermedad cardiovascular en la práctica clínica.

The VI European Guidelines for Cardiovascular Prevention recommend combining population and high-risk strategies with lifestyle changes as a cornerstone of prevention, and propose the SCORE function to quantify cardiovascular risk. The guidelines highlight disease specific interventions, and conditions as women, young people and ethnic minorities. Screening for subclinical atherosclerosis with noninvasive imaging techniques is not recommended. The guidelines distinguish four risk levels (very high, high, moderate and low) with therapeutic objectives for lipid control according to risk. Diabetes mellitus confers a high risk, except for subjects with type 2 diabetes with less than <10 years of evolution, without other risk factors or complications, or type 1 diabetes of short evolution without complications. The decision to start pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension will depend on the blood pressure level and the cardiovascular risk, taking into account the lesion of target organs. The guidelines don't recommend antiplatelet drugs in primary prevention because of the increased bleeding risk. The low adherence to the medication requires simplified therapeutic regimes and to identify and combat its causes. The guidelines highlight the responsibility of health professionals to take an active role in advocating evidence-based interventions at the population level, and propose effective interventions, at individual and population level, to promote a healthy diet, the practice of physical activity, the cessation of smoking and the protection against alcohol abuse.

Statement of the Spanish Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Prevention Committee (CEIPC for its Spanish acronym) on the 2012 European Cardiovascular Prevention Guidelines.

Based on the two main frameworks for evaluating scientific evidence (SEC and GRADE) European cardiovascular prevention guidelines recommend interventions across all life stages using a combination of population-based and high-risk strategies with diet as the cornerstone of prevention. The evaluation of cardiovascular risk (CVR) incorporates HDL levels and psychosocial factors, a very high risk category, and the concept of age-risk. They also recommend cognitive-behavioural methods (e.g., motivational interviewing, psychological interventions) led by health professionals and with the participation of the patient's family, to counterbalance psychosocial stress and reduce CVR through the institution of positive habits such as a healthy diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and adherence to treatment. Additionally, public health interventions - such as smoking ban in public areas or the elimination of trans fatty acids from the food chain - are also essential. Other innovations include abandoning antiplatelet therapy in primary prevention and the recommendation of maintaining blood pressure within the 130-139/80-85 mmHg range in diabetic patients and individuals with high CVR. Finally, due to the significant impact on patient progress and medical costs, special emphasis is given to the low therapeutic adherence levels observed. In sum, improving cardiovascular prevention requires a true partnership among the political class, public administrations, scientific and professional associations, health foundations, consumer associations, patients and their families. Such partnership would promote population-based and individual strategies by taking advantage of the broad spectrum of scientific evidence available, from clinical trials to observational studies and mathematical models to evaluate population-based interventions, including cost-effectiveness analyses.

World Congress of Epidemiology 2011: themes and highlights.

Modern-day epidemiologists are confronted with huge changes, such as the rise in the global population due to reduced mortality, migration within and across countries, massive shifts in economic standing and lifestyles, and environmental degradation. With over 1000 posters, more than 100 oral presentations, 16 workshops, four lunchtime symposia, many exhibitions and immeasurable discussions, the task of capturing all highlights of the International Epidemiology Association (IEA) World Congress of Epidemiology 2011 is impossible, but this article has provided a sample. Many presenters showed that the challenges facing global health are complex, changing and in demand of measurement, and they demonstrated the central role of epidemiology. The cutting-edge methodologies theme promised the emergence of a more transparent, better balanced, but also more critical approach to dealing with bias. Preceding the United Nations high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases (New York, 19th-20th September 2011), the Congress's chronic diseases stream was especially timely. The neglected conditions theme illustrated inspiring work battling against apathy, inertia and ignorance; perhaps the special challenge of the 'neglected conditions epidemiologist'. Translating epidemiology's insights into effective policies and programmes to prevent diseases or reduce their impact is not easy. Speakers highlighted the common failure of epidemiologists to contribute actively to improving the health of the populations they serve, especially the poor and disadvantaged, but also provided many examples where they had done so. The 'other' theme ensured that important studies were not lost from the programme just because they did not fit easily into the specific themes. The studies focused on identified risk factors throughout the life course. A variety of methods were used to identify factors that altered the rate of birth, disease and death. Ongoing epidemiology is not only broad but is also deep, and ever more so as collaborative pooling of expertise, data, populations and ideas has emerged, accelerated by modern-day communication technologies. Epidemiology, and epidemiologists, seem poised for tomorrow's world.

[Population-level changes to promote cardiovascular health]. / Zmeny na úrovni populace zamerené na podporu kardiovaskulárního zdraví

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cause 1.8 million premature (<75 years) death annually in Europe. The majority of these deaths are preventable with the most efficient and cost-effective approach being on the population level. The aim of this position paper is to assist authorities in selecting the most adequate management strategies to prevent CVD. DESIGN AND METHODS: Experts reviewed and summarized the published evidence on the major modifiable CVD risk factors: food, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol. Population-based preventive strategies focus on fiscal measures (e.g. taxation), national and regional policies (e.g. smoke-free legislation), and environmental changes (e.g. availability of alcohol). RESULTS: Food is a complex area, but several strategies can be effective in increasing fruit and vegetables and lowering intake of salt, saturated fat, trans-fats, and free sugars. Tobacco and alcohol can be regulated mainly by fiscal measures and national policies, but local availability also plays a role. Changes in national policies and the built environment will integrate physical activity into daily life. CONCLUSION: Societal changes and commercial influences have led to the present unhealthy environment, in which default option in life style increases CVD risk. A challenge for both central and local authorities is, therefore, to ensure healthier defaults. This position paper summarizes the evidence and recommends a number of structural strategies at international, national, and regional levels that in combination can substantially reduce CVD.

[European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice. Spanish adaptation of the CEIPC 2008]. / Guía Europea de Prevención Cardiovascular en la Práctica Clínica. Adaptación Española del Comité Español Interdisciplinario para la Prevención Cardiovascular (CEIPC) 2008.

We present the Spanish adaptation made by the CEIPC of the European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention (CVD) in Clinical Practice 2008. This guide recommends the SCORE model for risk evaluation. The aim is to prevent premature mortality and morbidity due to CVD through the management of its related risk factors in clinical practice. The guide focuses on primary prevention and emphasizes the role of the nurses and primary care medical doctors in promoting a healthy life style, based on increasing physical activity, change dietary habits, and non smoking. The therapeutic goal is to achieve a Blood Pressure < 140/90 mmHg, but among patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or definite CVD, the objective is <130/80 mmHg. Serum cholesterol should be < 200 mg/dl and cLDL<130 mg/dl, although among patients with CVD or diabetes, the objective is <100 mg/dl (80 mg/dl if feasible in very high-risk patients). Patients with type 2 diabetes and those with metabolic syndrome must lose weight and increase their physical activity, and drugs must be administered whenever applicable, to reach body mass index (BMI) guided and waist circumference objectives. In diabetic type 2 patients, the objective is glycated haemoglobin <7%. Allowing people to know the guides and developing implementation programs, identifying barriers and seeking solutions for them, are priorities for the CEIPC in order to transfer the recommendations established into the daily clinical practice.

[European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice. CEIPC 2008 Spanish adaptation]. / Guía Europea de Prevención Cardiovascular en la Práctica Clínica. Adaptación española del CEIPC 2008.

The present CEIPC Spanish adaptation of the European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice 2008. This guide recommends the SCORE model for risk evaluation. The aim is to prevent premature mortality and morbidity due to CVD by means of dealing with its related risk factors in clinical practice. The guide focuses on primary prevention and emphasizes the role of the nurses and primary care doctors in promoting a healthy life style, based on increasing physical activity, changing dietary habits, and not smoking. The therapeutic goal is to achieve a Blood Pressure < 140/90 mmHg, but in patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or definite CVD, the objective is < 130/80 mmHg. Serum cholesterol should be < 200 mg/dl and cLDL < 130 mg/dl, although in patients with CVD or diabetes, the objective is < 100 mg/dl (80 mg/dl if feasible in very high-risk patients). Patients with type 2 diabetes and those with metabolic syndrome must lose weight and increase their physical activity, and drugs must be administered whenever applicable, with the objective guided by body mass index and waist circumference. In diabetic type 2 patients, the objective is glycated haemoglobin < 7%. Allowing people to know the guides and developing implementation programs, identifying barriers and seeking solutions for them, are priorities for the CEIPC in order to put the recommendations into practice.

HDL cholesterol protects against cardiovascular disease in both genders, at all ages and at all levels of risk.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to clarify some previous inconsistencies regarding the role of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as a CVD protective factor. METHODS: The SCORE dataset contained data on HDL-C for 104,961 individuals (45% women) without pre-existing coronary heart disease (CHD). These were from 7 pooled European prospective studies. The effect of HDL-C, both in quintiles and as a continuous variable, on risk of CVD and CHD mortality was examined, using Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted for age, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and body mass index and stratified by gender, age group, country and category of SCORE CVD risk. RESULTS: A strong, graded, independent, inverse relationship between HDL-C and both CVD and CHD mortality was demonstrated. Adjusted hazard ratios per 0.5mmol/l increase in HDL-C were 0.60 (0.51, 0.69) and 0.76 (0.70, 0.83) in women and men, respectively for the CVD mortality endpoint. The corresponding hazard ratios were 0.53 (0.42, 0.68) and 0.79 (0.64, 0.98) in elderly women and men, respectively. The relationship was significant in all SCORE CVD risk strata and age groups. CONCLUSIONS: This multivariable analysis, the largest of its kind to date, has confirmed the inverse, independent, strong and graded relationship between HDL-C and both CVD and CHD mortality. We have clarified previous suggestions that the relationship is stronger in women and that it applies in all age groups. This is the first prospective study to demonstrate the independent relationship specifically in healthy elderly women and to show that the relationship holds at all levels of total CVD risk.

Regional variability in the prevalence of cerebral white matter lesions: an MRI study in 9 European countries (CASCADE).

White matter lesions (WML) on MRI of the brain are common in both demented and nondemented older persons. They may be due to ischemic events and are associated with cognitive and physical impairments. It is not known whether the prevalence of these WML in the general population differs across European countries in a pattern similar to that seen for coronary heart disease. Here we report the prevalence of WML in 1,805 men and women drawn from population-based samples of 65- to 75-year-olds in ten European cohorts. Data were collected using standardized methods as a part of the multicenter study CASCADE (Cardiovascular Determinants of Dementia). Centers were grouped by region: south (Italy, Spain, France), north (Netherlands, UK, Sweden), and central (Austria, Germany, Poland). In this 10-year age stratum, 92% of the sample had some lesions, and the prevalence increased with age. The prevalence of WML was highest in the southern region, even after adjusting for differences in demographic and selected cardiovascular risk factors. Brain aging leading to disabilities will increase in the future. As a means of hypothesis generation and for health planning, further research on the geographic distribution of WML may lead to the identification of new risk factors for these lesions.

Gender and regional differences in perceived job stress across Europe.

BACKGROUND: Over the last 20 years stress at work has been found to be predictive of several conditions such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and non-specific sick leave. The Karasek demand/control/strain concept has been the most widely used in prospective epidemiological studies. OBJECTIVES: To describe distribution in Karasek's demand/control (DC) dimensions as well as prevalence of strain in samples from different parts of Europe grouped into three regions (South, Middle, Sweden), adjusting for occupation. To describe gender differences in Karasek's DC dimensions along with strain prevalence and assess the regional stability of those differences in different occupational groups. DESIGN: The Job stress, Absenteeism and Coronary heart disease in Europe (JACE) study, a Concerted Action (Biomed I) of the European Union, is a multicentre prospective cohort epidemiological study: 38,019 subjects at work aged 35-59 years were surveyed at baseline. Standardised techniques were used for occupation coding (International Standardised Classification of Occupations) and for the DC model (Karasek scale): five items for the psychological demand and nine items for the control or decision latitude dimensions, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 34,972 subjects had a complete data set. There were important regional differences in the Karasek scales and in prevalence of strain even after adjustment for occupational class. Mean demand and control were higher in the Swedish centres when compared to two centres in Milano and Barcelona (Southern region) and values observed in four centres (Ghent, Brussels, Lille and Hoofddorp) in Middle Europe were closer to those observed in the Southern cities than to those obtained in the Swedish cities. Clerks (ISCO 4) and, more specifically, office clerks (ISCO 41) exhibited the smallest regional variation. In a multivariate model, the factor 'region' explained a small fraction of total variance. In the two Southern centres as well as in the four Middle European centres, men perceived marginally less job-demand as compared to women whereas the reverse was observed in the two Swedish centres. Differences were larger for control: men appeared to perceive more control at work than did women. In a multivariate model, gender explained a small fraction whereas occupational level explained a large fraction of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: In this standardised multicentre European study Karasek's DC model showed large gender and occupational differences whereas geographic region explained a small fraction of the total DC variance, notwithstanding large differences in labour market and working conditions as pointed out by the European Commission as recently as 2000.

[Psychosocial factors in coronary heart disease -- scientific evidence and recommendations for clinical practice]. / Psychosoziale Faktoren bei koronarer Herzkrankheit -- wissenschaftliche Evidenz und Empfehlungen für die klinische Praxis.

Psychosocial risk factors like low socio-economic status, lack of social support and social isolation, chronic work or family stress, as well as negative emotions, e. g. depression and hostility, contribute significantly to the development and adverse outcome of coronary heart disease (CHD). Negative effects of psychosocial risk factors are conveyed via behavioural pathways including unhealthy lifestyle, e. g. food choice, smoking, sedentary life, inadequate utilisation of medical resources, and psychobiological mechanisms like disturbed autonomic and hormonal regulation: all these factors contribute to metabolic dysfunction and inflammatory and haemostatic processes, which are directly involved in the pathogenesis of CHD. Interventions to improve pychosocial factors are available and have demonstrated positive effects on risk factors and - at least in part - on CHD morbidity and mortality. The prevention of CHD should therefore include screening for psychosocial risk factors and adequate interventions. Recommedations for the screening of risk factors, behavioural change and further management of psychosocial risk factors in clinical practice are pointed out.

Risk factor management in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with coronary heart disease. Findings from the EUROASPIRE I AND II surveys.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We examined risk factor management in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with CHD based on data from EUROASPIRE surveys. METHODS: Consecutive CHD patients aged 70 years or younger were interviewed and examined at least 6 months after hospitalisation for a revascularisation procedure or acute myocardial infarction or ischaemia. Of these patients, 3569 were from the EUROASPIRE I study, undertaken from 1995 to 1996 in nine countries, and 5556 were from the EUROASPIRE II study, conducted between 1999 and 2000 in 15 countries. RESULTS: In EUROASPIRE I and II 18% and 20% of CHD patients respectively had been previously diagnosed with diabetes. Fasting glucose screening raised the prevalence of diabetes in EUROASPIRE II to 28%. In EUROSPIRE II the prevalence of risk factors (known diabetic/non-diabetic) was: current smoking 17%/22 % ( p=0.25); obesity (BMI >/=30 kg/m(2)) 43%/29% ( p<0.001); raised blood pressure (>/=140/90 mm Hg) 57%/49% ( p<0.001); and elevated total cholesterol (>/=5.0 mmol/l) 55%/59% ( p<0.001). The proportion of users of cardiovascular medication was: antiplatelet drugs 83%/86% (NS); beta-blockers 62%/63% (NS); ACE inhibitors 49%/35% ( p<0.001); and lipid-lowering drugs 62%/61% (NS). A comparison of both studies showed that for diabetic and non-diabetic patients the prevalence of smoking had increased somewhat and that the prevalence of obesity had increased clearly. There was no improvement in blood pressure control, but cholesterol control had improved, mainly explained by the increased use of lipid-lowering drugs. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These European surveys show a high prevalence of adverse lifestyles and modifiable risk factors among diabetic and non-diabetic patients with CHD. The risk factor status was more adverse in diabetic patients.

Trends in obesity and energy supply in the WHO MONICA Project.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between secular trends in energy supply and body mass index (BMI) among several countries. DESIGN: Aggregate level analyses of annually reported country food data against anthropometric data collected in independent cross-sectional samples from 34 populations in 21 countries from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. SUBJECTS: Population randomly selected participants aged 35-64 y. MEASUREMENTS: BMI data were obtained from the WHO MONICA Project. Food energy supply data were derived from the Food Balance Sheet of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. RESULTS: Mean BMI as well as the prevalence of overweight (BMI > or =25 kg/m2) increased in virtually all Western European countries, Australia, the USA, and China. Decreasing trends in BMI were seen in Central and Eastern European countries. Increasing trends in total energy supply per capita were found in most high-income countries and China while decreasing trends existed in Eastern European countries. Between country differences in temporal trends of total energy supply per capita explained 41% of the variation of trends in mean BMI; the effect was similar upon the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Trends in percent of energy supply from total fat per capita had a slight effect on the trends in mean BMI (+7% increment in R2) when the total energy supply per capita was adjusted for, while energy supply from total sweeteners per capita had no additional effect. CONCLUSION: Increasing energy supply is closely associated with the increase of overweight and obesity in western countries. This emphasizes the importance of dietary issues when coping with the obesity epidemic.

Estimation of ten-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease in Europe: the SCORE project.

AIMS: The SCORE project was initiated to develop a risk scoring system for use in the clinical management of cardiovascular risk in European clinical practice. METHODS AND RESULTS: The project assembled a pool of datasets from 12 European cohort studies, mainly carried out in general population settings. There were 20,5178 persons (88,080 women and 11,7098 men) representing 2.7 million person years of follow-up. There were 7934 cardiovascular deaths, of which 5652 were deaths from coronary heart disease. Ten-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease was calculated using a Weibull model in which age was used as a measure of exposure time to risk rather than as a risk factor. Separate estimation equations were calculated for coronary heart disease and for non-coronary cardiovascular disease. These were calculated for high-risk and low-risk regions of Europe. Two parallel estimation models were developed, one based on total cholesterol and the other on total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio. The risk estimations are displayed graphically in simple risk charts. Predictive value of the risk charts was examined by applying them to persons aged 45-64; areas under ROC curves ranged from 0.71 to 0.84. CONCLUSIONS: The SCORE risk estimation system offers direct estimation of total fatal cardiovascular risk in a format suited to the constraints of clinical practice.

Screening of family members of patients with premature coronary heart disease; results from the EUROASPIRE II family survey.

AIMS: To determine whether the Joint European Societies' recommendations that first degree blood relatives of patients with premature coronary heart disease (CHD) should be screened for coronary risk factors is being followed and, if so, how effectively these relatives are being managed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a postal questionnaire, 3322 relatives (siblings and children >/=18 years of age) of 1289 index patients in the EUROASPIRE II survey who had suffered from premature CHD (men under 55 years and women under 65 years) were asked whether screening for coronary risk factors had occurred and, if so, how they were being managed in terms of lifestyle advice and drug therapies. Overall, screening for coronary risk factors because of CHD in the family was only performed in 11.1% of siblings and 5.6% of children. However, prevalences of different cardiac risk factors were high both in relatives and offspring and a clear familial clustering could be documented. Less than 50% of siblings and 25% of children were given some general lifestyle advice regarding cardiac risk factors. Moreover, active interventions such as starting antihypertensive or lipid lowering drugs were rarely carried out, particularly in children of patients with premature CHD. CONCLUSIONS: European physicians rarely screen family members of patients with premature CHD for cardiac risk factors. General lifestyle style advice or active treatment for these risk factors are also rarely given. However, since these family members have a high prevalence and familial clustering of cardiac risk factors, they form an ideal target population for primary prevention of CHD in high-risk patients.