Renin angiotensin system inhibitors and outcome in patients with takotsubo syndrome: A propensity score analysis of the GEIST registry.

BACKGROUND: Few data are available on long-term drug therapy and its potential prognostic impact after Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Aim of the study is to evaluate clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of TTS patients on Renin Angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi). METHODS: TTS patients were enrolled in the international multicenter GEIST (GErman Italian Spanish Takotsubo) registry. Median follow-up was 31 (Interquartile range 12-56) months. Comparison of RASi treated vs. untreated patients was performed within the overall population and after 1:1 propensity score matching for age, sex, comorbidities, type of trigger and in-hospital complications. REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04361994, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04361994 RESULTS: Of the 2453 TTS patients discharged alive, 1683 (68%) received RASi therapy. Patients with RASi were older (age 71 ± 11 vs 69 ± 13 years, P = .01), with higher prevalence of hypertension (74% vs 53%, P < .01) and diabetes (19% v s15%, P = .01), higher admission left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (41 ± 11% vs 39 ± 12%, P < .01) and lower rates of in-hospital complications (18.9% vs 29.6%, P < .01). At multivariable analysis, RASi therapy at discharge was independently associated with lower mortality (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.45-0.87, P < .01). Survival analysis showed that at long term, patients treated with RASi had lower mortality rates in the overall cohort (log-rank P = .001). However, this benefit was not found among patients treated with RASi in the matched cohort (log-rank P = .168). Potential survival benefit of RASi were present, both in the overall and matched cohort, in 2 subgroups: patients with admission LVEF ≤ 40% (HR 0.54 95% CI 0.38-0.78, P = .001; HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.37-0.95, P = .030) and diabetes (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23-0.73, P = .002; HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.21-0.82, P = .011). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term therapy with RASi after a TTS episode was not associated with lower mortality rates at propensity score analysis. However, potential survival benefit can be found among patients with admission LVEF ≤ 40% or diabetes.

Uncovering a hidden danger: a case report of diffuse coronary spasm concealing spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

BACKGROUND: Over recent years, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) has emerged as a no longer rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). On the other hand, coronary artery spasm (CAS) is the main cause of ischemic heart disease with non-obstructive coronary lesions. Clinical manifestations of both vary from stable angina to ACS or, rarely, sudden cardiac death. These entities may be underdiagnosed on a coronary angiography. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a young woman presenting with acute chest pain and no coronary risk factors. Angiography revealed a focal subcritical stenosis of the right coronary artery. Coronary wiring resulted in diffuse and critical spasm. However, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) showed extensive SCAD. She was therefore treated conservatively. On the fourth day, cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) excluded disease progression, and then she was discharged on medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Combined IVI plays a vital role in providing accurate and detailed visualization of the coronary anatomy and thus allowing for more precise diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment planning. CCTA can be considered a valuable tool in the noninvasive follow-up of SCAD.

Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists Position Paper 'Gender discrepancy: time to implement gender-based clinical management'.

It has been well assessed that women have been widely under-represented in cardiovascular clinical trials. Moreover, a significant discrepancy in pharmacological and interventional strategies has been reported. Therefore, poor outcomes and more significant mortality have been shown in many diseases. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences in drug metabolism have also been described so that effectiveness could be different according to sex. However, awareness about the gender gap remains too scarce. Consequently, gender-specific guidelines are lacking, and the need for a sex-specific approach has become more evident in the last few years. This paper aims to evaluate different therapeutic approaches to managing the most common women's diseases.

[Optimizing the care management pathway of patients with ischemia and non-obstructive coronary arteries]. / Ottimizzazione del percorso clinico-gestionale del paziente con ischemia in assenza di malattia coronarica ostruttiva.

Ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) is defined by the coexistence of anginal symptoms and demonstrable ischemia, with no evidence of obstructive coronary arteries. The underlying mechanism of INOCA is coronary microvascular dysfunction with or without associated vasospasm. INOCA patients have recurrent symptoms, functional limitations, repeated access to the emergency department, impaired quality of life and a higher incidence of cardiovascular events than the general population. Although well described in chronic coronary syndrome guidelines, INOCA remains underdiagnosed in clinical practice because of insufficient awareness, lack of accurate diagnostic tools, and poorly standardized and consistent definitions to diagnose, both invasively and non-invasively, coronary microvascular dysfunction.To disseminate current scientific evidence on INOCA as a distinct clinical entity, during 2022 we conducted at 30 cardiology units all over the country a clinical practice improvement initiative, with the aim of developing uniform and shared management pathways for INOCA patients across different operational settings. The present document highlights the outcomes of this multidisciplinary initiative.

Age-Related Differences in Takotsubo Syndrome: Results From the Multicenter GEIST Registry.

BACKGROUND: The role of age in the short- and long-term prognosis of takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate age-related differences and prognostic implications among patients with TTS. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, 2492 consecutive patients with TTS enrolled in an international registry were stratified into 4 groups (<45, 45-64, 65-74, and ≥75 years). The median long-term follow-up was 480 days (interquartile range, 83-1510 days). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality (in-hospital and out-of-hospital mortality). The secondary end point was TTS-related in-hospital complications. Among the 2479 patients, 58 (2.3%) were aged <45 years, 625 (25.1%) were aged 45 to 64 years, 733 (29.4%) were aged 65 to 74 years, and 1063 (42.6%) were aged ≥75 years. Young patients (<45 years) had a higher prevalence of men (from youngest to oldest, 24.1% versus 12.6% versus 9.7% versus 11.4%; P<0.01), physical triggers (46.6% versus 27.5%, 33.9%, and 38.4%; P<0.01), and non-apical forms of TTS (25.9% versus 23.7%, 12.7%, and 9%; P<0.01) than those aged 45 to 64, 65 to 74, and ≥75 years. During hospitalization, young patients experienced a higher rate of in-hospital complications (32.8% versus 23.4%, 27.4%, and 31.9%; P=0.01), but in-hospital mortality was higher in the older group (0%, 1.6%, 2.9%, and 5%; P=0.001). Long-term all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the older cohort (5.6%, 6.4%, 11.3%, and 22.3%; log-rank P<0.001), as was long-term cardiovascular mortality (0%, 0.9%, 1.9%, and 3.2%; log-rank P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Young patients with TTS have a typical phenotype characterized by a higher prevalence of male sex, non-apical ballooning patterns, and in-hospital complications. However, in-hospital and long-term mortality are significantly lower in young patients with TTS. REGISTRATION: URL: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04361994. Unique identifier: NCT04361994.

Neurological Disorders in Takotsubo Syndrome: Clinical Phenotypes and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Neurological disorders as a risk factor for Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) are not well characterized. The aim of the study was to evaluate TTS-associated neurological phenotypes and outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with TTS enrolled in the international multicenter GEIST (German Italian Spanish Takotsubo) registry were analyzed. Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and short- and long-term outcomes of patients with TTS were recorded. A subgroup analysis of the 5 most represented neurological disorders was performed. In total, 400 (17%) of 2301 patients had neurological disorders. The most represented neurological conditions were previous cerebrovascular events (39%), followed by neurodegenerative disorders (30.7%), migraine (10%), epilepsy (9.5%), and brain tumors (5%). During hospitalization, patients with neurological disorders had longer in-hospital stay (8 [interquartile range, 5-12] versus 6 [interquartile range, 5-9] days; P<0.01) and more often experienced in-hospital complications (27% versus 16%; P=0.01) mainly driven by cardiogenic shock and in-hospital death (12% versus 7.6% and 6.5% versus 2.8%, respectively; both P<0.01). Survival analysis showed a higher mortality rate in neurological patients both at 60 days and long-term (8.8% versus 3.4% and 23.5% versus 10.1%, respectively; both P<0.01). Neurological disorder was an independent predictor of both the 60-day and long-term mortality rate (odds ratio, 1.78 [95% CI, 1.07-2.97]; P=0.02; hazard ratio, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.33-2.22]; both P<0.001). Patients with neurodegenerative disorders had the worst prognosis among the neurological disease subgroups, whereas patients with TTS with migraine had a favorable prognosis (long-term mortality rates, 29.2% and 9.7%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Neurological disorders identify a high-risk TTS subgroup for enhanced short- and long-term mortality rate. Careful recognition of neurological disorders and phenotype is therefore needed.

[Gender discrepancy: time to implement gender-based clinical management]. / Position paper ANMCO: Differenze di genere nell'approccio farmacologico cardiovascolare.

It is well established that gender strongly influences cardiovascular risk factors, playing a crucial role in cardiovascular prevention, clinical pathways, diagnostic approach and treatment. Beyond the sex, which is a biological factor, gender entails a socio-cultural condition that impacts access and quality of care due to structural and institutional barriers. However, despite its great importance, this issue has not been adequately covered. Indeed sex and gender differences scarcely impact the clinical approach, creating a lot of disparities in care and outcomes of patients. Therefore, it becomes essential to increase the awareness of the importance of sex and gender influences on cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, new strategies for reducing disparities should be developed. Importantly, these differences should be taken into account in guideline recommendations. In this regard, it is crucial to include a greater number of women in clinical trials, since they are currently underrepresented. Furthermore, more women should be involved as member of international boards in order to develop recommendations and guidelines with more attention to this important topic.The aim of this ANMCO position paper is to shed light on gender differences concerning many cardiovascular drugs in order to encourage a more personalized therapeutic approach.

[ANMCO Position paper - 2023 ANMCO States General: Towards a modern Cardiological Community Care]. / Position paper ANMCO ­ Stati Generali ANMCO 2023: Verso una moderna Cardiologia Territoriale.

Over the last two decades, cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of chronic disease morbidity and mortality in Italy. Therefore, the chronic cardiovascular care landscape has evolved rapidly in an era of unprecedented demand. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant deficiencies in existing health and social care systems, especially in the management of chronic cardiovascular disease. In this scenario, the National Reform for Recovery and Resilience (PNRR) may represent a unique opportunity for the development of a new integrated care system between hospital and community. The Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO) recognizes the need for a statement on the integrated cardiological community care to guide health professionals caring for people with chronic cardiovascular conditions. The aim of the present statement is to outline the evidence for a modern integrated cardiological community care identifying challenges and offering advice for a future transdisciplinary and multi-organizational approach to ensure best practice in the management of chronic cardiovascular disease.

Smoking influence in Takotsubo syndrome: insights from an international cohort.

Aims: To assess the influence of tobacco on acute and long-term outcomes in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Methods: Patients with TTS from the international multicenter German Italian Spanish Takotsubo registry (GEIST) were analyzed. Comparisons between groups were performed within the overall cohort, and an adjusted analysis with 1:1 propensity score matching was conducted. Results: Out of 3,152 patients with TTS, 534 (17%) were current smokers. Smoker TTS patients were younger (63 ± 11 vs. 72 ± 11 years, p < 0.001), less frequently women (78% vs. 90%, p < 0.001), and had a lower prevalence of hypertension (59% vs. 69%, p < 0.01) and diabetes mellitus (16% vs. 20%, p = 0.04), but had a higher prevalence of pulmonary (21% vs. 15%, p < 0.01) and/or psychiatric diseases (17% vs. 12%, p < 0.01). On multivariable analysis, age less than 65 years [OR 3.85, 95% CI (2.86-5)], male gender [OR 2.52, 95% CI (1.75-3.64)], history of pulmonary disease [OR 2.56, 95% CI (1.81-3.61)], coronary artery disease [OR 2.35, 95% CI (1.60-3.46)], and non-apical ballooning form [OR 1.47, 95% CI (1.02-2.13)] were associated with smoking status. Propensity score matching (PSM) 1:1 yielded 329 patients from each group. Smokers had a similar rate of in-hospital complications but longer in-hospital stays (10 vs. 9 days, p = 0.01). During long-term follow-up, there were no differences in mortality rates between smokers and non-smokers (5.6% vs. 6.9% yearly in the overall, p = 0.02, and 6.6%, vs. 7.2% yearly in the matched cohort, p = 0.97). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that smoking may influence the clinical presentation and course of TTS with longer in-hospital stays, but does not independently impact mortality.

[ANMCO Position paper: Ionizing radiation exposure and radioprotection in the cath-lab]. / Position paper ANMCO: Radioesposizione e radioprotezione nei laboratori di cardiologia interventistica.

In the last decades, because of the improvements in the percutaneous treatment of coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease, congenital heart defects, and the increasing number of cardiac resynchronization therapy and cardioverter-defibrillator implantations, the interventional cardiologists' radio-exposure has importantly risen, causing concerns for ionizing radiation-associated diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Consequently, the radiation exposure issue importantly affects operators' safety. However, our knowledge of this field is poor and most operators are unaware to be at risk, especially because of the absence of effective preventive measures. The aim of this ANMCO position paper is to improve the awareness of operators and identify new ways of reducing operator ionizing radiation dose and minimizing the risk.

[ANMCO Position paper: Choosing Wisely - ANMCO proposals for 2023]. / Position paper ANMCO: Choosing Wisely ­ le proposte dell'ANMCO nel 2023.

Nowadays, a progressive and exponential increase in the use of invasive and non-invasive instrumental diagnostics and therapeutic services has been shown. Although unnecessary, instrumental examinations are often largely prescribed, replacing clinical evaluation. Their correct use, on the contrary, would address precise epidemiological and clinical contexts. Therefore identifying whether a test or procedure is appropriate or not plays a crucial role in clinical practice. Several documents from scientific societies and expert groups indicate the most appropriate cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The international Choosing Wisely campaign invited the main scientific societies to identify five techniques or treatments used in their field that are often unnecessary and may potentially damage patients. The Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO) joined the project identifying the five cardiological practices in our country at greater risk of inappropriateness in 2014. This list has recently been updated. Moreover, possible solutions to this problem have been proposed.

[ANMCO Position paper in collaboration with ITACARE-P: Anti-ischemic treatment in patients with chronic coronary syndrome]. / Position paper ANMCO in collaborazione con ITACARE-P: Terapia anti-ischemica nei pazienti con sindrome coronarica cronica.

Over the last decade, pharmacological therapies for primary and secondary prevention of chronic coronary syndromes enriched with new agents have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing cardiovascular adverse events. However, currently available evidence on treatment for anginal symptom control is weaker. This position paper of the Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO) aims to briefly report evidence that supports the use of anti-ischemic drugs for chronic coronary syndromes. Furthermore, we propose a therapeutic algorithm for the choice of the most appropriate drug on the basis of the clinical characteristics of the individual patient.

[ANMCO Position paper: Inclisiran: an innovative therapeutic approach for the clinical management of hypercholesterolemia]. / Position paper ANMCO: Inclisiran: un approccio terapeutico innovativo per la gestione dell'ipercolesterolemia.

Research focused on lipid-lowering treatments has led to the development of new therapeutic options aimed at cardiovascular risk reduction. Gene silencing represents one of the most innovative approaches to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Inclisiran is a small interfering RNA that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 synthesis and promotes LDL-C clearance by enhancing LDL-C receptor expression on hepatocyte cell surface. Several clinical studies have demonstrated inclisiran efficacy in terms of LDL-C reduction (~50%) with a dosage regimen of 300 mg administered twice a year after the first two doses administered at time 0 and after 90 days. Inclisiran use has recently been approved by the European and American drug regulatory agencies as a therapeutic option in addition to the maximum tolerated statin therapy in adults with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia who need further LDL-C reduction.

[ANMCO Position paper: Colchicine as a therapeutic agent in coronary syndromes]. / Position paper ANMCO: La colchicina come agente terapeutico nelle sindromi coronariche.

With the growing knowledge about the role of inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic lesions, inflammation has been identified as a cardiovascular risk factor and therapeutic target to reduce the residual risk in patients with atherosclerotic disease. Several therapeutic agents with anti-inflammatory action have been tested to evaluate their efficacy and safety in the context of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Among these, colchicine, a drug with multiple therapeutic effects including anti-inflammatory action, in randomized clinical trials conducted in the setting of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease secondary prevention, significantly reduced the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.This position paper of the Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO) summarizes the main biological mechanisms through which colchicine contributes to the inhibition of inflammatory processes that increase the atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, the document reports the available evidence on clinical impact of colchicine treatment in the reduction of residual cardiovascular risk in chronic and acute coronary syndromes. Finally, practical information is provided regarding the use of this drug in this specific clinical setting, emphasizing precautions and possible side effects.

ANMCO-SIMEU consensus document: appropriate management of atrial fibrillation in the emergency department.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) accounts for 2% of the total presentations to the emergency department (ED) and represents the most frequent arrhythmic cause for hospitalization. It steadily increases the risk of thromboembolic events and is often associated with several comorbidities that negatively affect patient's quality of life and prognosis. AF has a considerable impact on healthcare resources, making the promotion of an adequate and coordinated management of this arrhythmia necessary in order to avoid clinical complications and to implement the adoption of appropriate technological and pharmacological treatment options. AF management varies across regions and hospitals and there is also heterogeneity in the use of anticoagulation and electric cardioversion, with limited use of direct oral anticoagulants. The ED represents the first access point for early management of patients with AF. The appropriate management of this arrhythmia in the acute setting has a great impact on improving patient's quality of life and outcomes as well as on rationalization of the financial resources related to the clinical course of AF. Therefore, physicians should provide a well-structured clinical and diagnostic pathway for patients with AF who are admitted to the ED. This should be based on a tight and propositional collaboration among several specialists, i.e. the ED physician, cardiologist, internal medicine physician, anesthesiologist. The aim of this ANMCO-SIMEU consensus document is to provide shared recommendations for promoting an integrated, accurate, and up-to-date management of patients with AF admitted to the ED or Cardiology Department, in order to make it homogeneous across the national territory.

ANMCO position paper on the management of hypercholesterolaemia in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome (ACS) present a high risk of recurrence and new adverse cardiovascular events after hospital discharge. Elevated plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels have been shown to be a causal factor for the development of coronary heart disease, and robust clinical evidence has documented that LDL-C levels decrease linearly correlates with a reduction in cardiovascular events. Recent studies have also demonstrated the safety and efficacy of an early and significant reduction in LDL-C levels in patients with ACS. In this position paper, Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists proposes a decision algorithm on early adoption of lipid-lowering strategies at hospital discharge and short-term follow-up of patients with ACS, in the light of the multiple evidence generated in recent years on the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia and the available therapeutic options, considering current reimbursement criteria.

[Substances of abuse and cardiovascular risk: cannabinoids]. / Sostanze d'abuso e rischio cardiovascolare: i cannabinoidi.

Progressive legalization for medical conditions or recreational use has led to an increased use of cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids over the past years. Most consumers are young and healthy, without cardiovascular risk factors; however, this population is expected to include older individuals. Thus, concerns have arisen about safety and short- and long-term potential adverse effects, with special emphasis on vulnerable groups. Studies show that cannabis might be linked with thrombosis, inflammation, and atherosclerosis, and many reports have associated cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids use with serious adverse cardiovascular complications, including myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, stroke, and cardiac arrest. A clearly defined causal role cannot be demonstrated, because of confounding variables. Physicians need to become aware of the possible spectrum of clinical presentations, not only for timely diagnosis and treatment, but also for effective counseling and prevention.In this review, we aim to provide a basic understanding of the physiological effects of cannabis, the role of the endocannabinoid system in cardiovascular disease, and the cardiovascular consequences of cannabis and synthetic cannabinoid use, including a comprehensive review of the studies and case reports that provide supportive evidence for cannabis as a trigger of adverse cardiovascular events according to the current literature.

[ANMCO Expert opinion: Bempedoic acid place in therapy for hypercholesterolemia management]. / ANMCO Expert opinion: Posizionamento terapeutico dell'acido bempedoico nel trattamento dell'ipercolesterolemia.

Growing evidence supporting the central role of hypercholesterolemia in atherosclerotic disease pathogenesis and progression has led to the development of new therapeutic approaches. Bempedoic acid has recently been approved for marketing following several studies that demonstrated its efficacy and safety. This drug represents a new therapeutic option that, like statins, acts on the enzymatic cascade that is involved in cholesterol synthesis. However, its hepatic selectivity of action reduces the risk of muscle adverse effects. This ANMCO document highlights clinical settings in which bempedoic acid represents a particularly useful therapeutic option. Furthermore, the document discusses the possibilities of use based on both international recommendations and current national regulations. Finally, we report practical guidance on hypercholesterolemia management in light of the available therapeutic armamentarium.

[Managing lipid risk in acute coronary syndrome patients in the real world: results from the BEST consensus]. / Il controllo del rischio lipidico nel paziente con malattia coronarica nella pratica clinica: i risultati della consensus BEST.

BACKGROUND: The gap between the targets recommended by current guidelines and the lipid values observed in the real world among patients at very high or extreme cardiovascular risk has called into question the effectiveness of the stepwise lipid-lowering strategy. The BEST (Best Evidence with Ezetimibe/statin Treatment) project supported an expert panel of Italian cardiologists to investigate the different clinical-therapeutic pathways in the management of the residual lipid risk of post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients at discharge and to analyze potential critical issues. METHODS: Among the members of the panel, 37 cardiologists were selected to participate in a consensus process using the mini-Delphi technique. A 9-statement questionnaire, focusing on the early use of combination lipid-lowering therapies in post-ACS patients, was built up based on a previous survey that involved all members of the BEST project. For each proposed statement, participants anonymously expressed their personal level of disagreement/agreement, according to a 7-point Likert scale. The relative degree of agreement and consensus was calculated based on the median and the 25th percentile values and the interquartile range (IQR). The administration of the questionnaire was repeated twice: the second one after general discussion and analysis of the answers given in the first round in order to obtain as much consensus as possible. RESULTS: With the exception of a single item, the responses of the participants were in agreement with a broad consensus already at the first round with a median value of 6, a 25th percentile of 5 and an IQR of 2. This trend resulted more evident at the second round (median 7, 25th percentile 6, IQR 1). In particular, there was unanimous agreement (median 7, IQR 0-1) on the statements in favor of a lipid-lowering therapy that guarantees the achievement of the targets as much and as soon as possible by the systematic early utilization of the high-dose/intensity statin + ezetimibe combination and, when needed, PCSK9 inhibitors. The percentage of the experts who changed their responses between the first and second round was 39% overall, ranging from 16% to 69%. CONCLUSIONS: According to the mini-Delphi results, there is a broad agreement and consensus to manage the lipid risk in post-ACS patients by lipid-lowering treatments that guarantee an early and "robust" lipid reduction which can be achieved only by the systematic use of combination therapies.

The Key Role of a Psychoactive Substance Use History in Comprehensive Cardiovascular Risk Assessment, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Psychoactive substances have toxic effects resulting different cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular organ damage. Through a variety of mechanisms, they can trigger the onset of various forms of cardiovascular disease: acute or chronic, transient or permanent, subclinical or symptomatic. Hence, a thorough knowledge of the patient's drug habits is essential for a more complete clinical-etiopathogenetic diagnosis and consequent therapeutic, preventive, and rehabilitative management. SUMMARY: The prime reason for taking a psychoactive substance use history in the cardiovascular context is to identify those people who use substances (whether habitual or occasional users, symptomatic or not) and adequately assess their overall cardiovascular risk profile in terms of "user status" and type of substance(s) used. A psychoactive substance history could also alert the physician to suspect, and eventually diagnose, cardiovascular disease related to the intake of psychoactive substances, so optimizing the medical management of users. This anamnesis could finally assess the likelihood of patients persisting in the habit as a user or relapse, while maintaining high their cardiovascular risk profile. Taking such a history should be mandatory when a causal connection is suspected between intake of psychoactive substances and the observed symptoms or pathology, regardless of whether the individual is a declared user or not. KEY MESSAGES: The purpose of this article was to provide practical information on when, how, and why to perform a psychoactive substance use history.