Quality of life and health status of hospitalized adults with congenital heart disease in Vietnam: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the quality of life (QOL) and health status of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the QOL and health status of hospitalized adults with CHD in Vietnam and investigate the association between QOL and their biological-social characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 109 adults with CHD, hospitalized in the Vietnam National Heart Institute, between June and December 2019. Validated instruments to assess QOL and health status describing patient-reported outcomes were used, including the EuroQOL-5 Dimensions-5 Level, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: The mean scores on the EuroQOL-descriptive system (EQ-DS) and EuroQOL visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) were 0.792 (SD = 0.122, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.769-0.815) and 66.3 (SD = 12.5, 95% CI 63.9-68.7), respectively. A total of 9.2% (n = 9) patients experienced life dissatisfaction. The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 18.7% (n = 20) and 11% (n = 12), respectively. Scores of QOL in patients aged > 30 years were lower than in those aged ≤ 30 years. Stratified multivariate logistic regression revealed that poor QOL related to being unemployed/unstable employment (OR 4.43, 95% CI 1.71-11.47, p = 0.002), life dissatisfaction associated with unmarried status (OR 4.63, 95% CI 1.2-17.86, p = 0.026), anxiety regarding unemployment/unstable employment (OR 3.88, 95% CI 1.27-11.84, p = 0.017) and complex CHD/PAH (OR 4.84, 95% CI 1.33-17.54, p = 0.016), and depression regarding unemployment/unstable employment (OR 4.63, 95% CI 1.22-17.59, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Reduced QOL and elevated psychological problems were common experiences among hospitalized adults with CHD in Vietnam. Biological-social characteristics such as unmarried status, unemployment/unstable employment, and complex CHD/PAH related to poor QOL, life dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression.

Clinical features of patients with acute coronary syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although a reduction in hospital admissions of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) patients has been observed globally during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, clinical features of those patients have not been fully investigated. The aim of the present analysis is to investigate the incidence, clinical presentation, and outcomes of patients with ACS during the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients who were admitted for ACS at our institution between March 1 and April 20, 2020 and compared with the equivalent period in 2019. Admissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) reduced by 39.5% in 2020 compared with the equivalent period in 2019. Owing to the emergency medical services (EMS) of our region, all time components of ST-elevated myocardial infarction care were similar during the COVID-19 outbreak as compared with the previous year's dataset. Among the 106 ACS patients in 2020, 7 patients tested positive for COVID-19. Higher incidence of type 2 myocardial infarction (29% vs. 4%, p = 0.0497) and elevated D-dimer levels (5650 µg/l [interquartile range (IQR) 1905-13,625 µg/l] vs. 400 µg/l [IQR 270-1050 µg/l], p = 0.02) were observed in COVID-19 patients. In sum, a significant reduction in admission for AMI was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 patients were characterized by elevated D-dimer levels on admission, reflecting enhanced COVID-19 related thrombogenicity. The prehospital evaluation by EMS may have played an important role for the timely revascularization for STEMI patients.

Sex Differences in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Importance: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare genetic condition characterized by extremely increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) is more common than HoFH, and women with HeFH are diagnosed later and undertreated compared to men; it is unknown whether these sex differences also apply to HoFH. Objective: To investigate sex differences in age at diagnosis, risk factors, lipid-lowering treatment, and ASCVD morbidity and mortality in patients with HoFH. Design, Setting, and Participants: Sex-specific analyses for this retrospective cohort study were performed using data from the HoFH International Clinical Collaborators (HICC) registry, the largest global dataset of patients with HoFH, spanning 88 institutions across 38 countries. Patients with HoFH who were alive during or after 2010 were eligible for inclusion. Data entry occurred between February 2016 and December 2020. Data were analyzed from June 2022 to June 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: Comparison between women and men with HoFH regarding age at diagnosis, presence of risk factors, lipid-lowering treatment, prevalence, and onset and incidence of ASCVD morbidity (myocardial infarction [MI], aortic stenosis, and combined ASCVD outcomes) and mortality. Results: Data from 389 women and 362 men with HoFH from 38 countries were included. Women and men had similar age at diagnosis (median [IQR], 13 [6-26] years vs 11 [5-27] years, respectively), untreated LDL cholesterol levels (mean [SD], 579 [203] vs 596 [186] mg/dL, respectively), and cardiovascular risk factor prevalence, except smoking (38 of 266 women [14.3%] vs 59 of 217 men [27.2%], respectively). Prevalence of MI was lower in women (31 of 389 [8.0%]) than men (59 of 362 [16.3%]), but age at first MI was similar (mean [SD], 39 [13] years in women vs 38 [13] years in men). Treated LDL cholesterol levels and lipid-lowering therapy were similar in both sexes, in particular statins (248 of 276 women [89.9%] vs 235 of 258 men [91.1%]) and lipoprotein apheresis (115 of 317 women [36.3%] vs 118 of 304 men [38.8%]). Sixteen years after HoFH diagnosis, women had statistically significant lower cumulative incidence of MI (5.0% in women vs 13.7% in men; subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 0.37; 95% CI, 0.21-0.66) and nonsignificantly lower all-cause mortality (3.0% in women vs 4.1% in men; HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.40-1.45) and cardiovascular mortality (2.6% in women vs 4.1% in men; SHR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.44-1.75). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of individuals with known HoFH, MI was higher in men compared with women yet age at diagnosis and at first ASCVD event were similar. These findings suggest that early diagnosis and treatment are important in attenuating the excessive cardiovascular risk in both sexes.

Outcomes of pregnant women hospitalized with unrepaired congenital heart disease: Insights from a multidisciplinary center in Vietnam.

Background: In developing countries, fewer women have access to multidisciplinary congenital heart disease and reproductive programs staffed by experts. We report pregnancy outcomes of a multidisciplinary healthcare strategy utilizing an in-hospital teamwork approach in Vietnam. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included pregnant women with unrepaired congenital heart disease managed at a referral cardiovascular center. Results: Undiagnosed congenital heart disease before pregnancy, a lack of pre-pregnancy cardiology counseling, and modified World Health Organization class III/IV were common. Under the multispecialty healthcare strategy, although the rate of maternal death was 8.2% in the modified World Health Organization class IV group, no deaths occurred in any other group. Fetal/neonatal complications occurred in 54% of pregnancies, and 49.4% of neonates survived. Poor pregnancy outcomes were associated with admission during the first/seconde trimester for fetus/neonates, third trimester for mother, modified World Health Organization class III/IV, cyanosis, and heart failure. Conclusion: The outcomes of pregnant women with unrepaired congenital heart disease were poor but seemed to improve with a multidisciplinary in-hospital healthcare teamwork strategy.

Low bone mineral density and its related factors in adults with congenital heart disease in Vietnam: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Recent studies have highlighted the increased risk of low bone mineral density (BMD) in adults with cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about BMD in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), particularly in developing countries. We hypothesized that factors related to BMD would lead to a high prevalence of low BMD in adults with CHD. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of low BMD and its related factors in Vietnamese adults with CHD. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 73 adults diagnosed with CHD in Vietnam. Low BMD was classified based on their site-specific Z-scores and T-scores at the posteroanterior lumbar spine and left proximal femur. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors related to low BMD. Results: Low BMD was confirmed in one-third of the adults with CHD. There were trends of more bone loss in certain parts of the body than in others, with the prevalence of low BMD at the sites of the lumbar vertebrae (L1‒L4) and left proximal femur (femoral neck, trochanteric femur, and intertrochanteric area) of 43.9%, 31.8%, 28.8%, 33.3%, 8.8%, 1.5%, and 6.1%, respectively. The prevalence of low BMD in the lumbar spine was significantly higher than that in the left proximal femur (34.3% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.001). Moreover, the prevalence of low BMD was significantly higher in adults with CHD than in those without polycythemia and vitamin D deficiency (55.6% vs. 20.9%, p = 0.001 and 46.2% vs. 19.4%, p = 0.002, respectively). A stratified multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that low BMD was associated with polycythemia (odds ratio: 4.72; 95% confidence interval: 1.64-13.58, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Low BMD is common among adults with CHD in Vietnam and related to polycythemia.

Genetics, Screening, and Treatment of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Experience Gained From the Implementation of the Vietnam Familial Hypercholesterolemia Registry.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is underdiagnosed and undertreated in a majority of the low- and middle-income countries. FH registries could prove useful in bridging the knowledge gaps, supporting genetic and clinical research, and improving health-care planning and patient care. Here, we report the first usage experience of the Vietnam FH (VINAFH) Registry. The VINAFH Registry was established in 2016 as a long-term database for prospective cohorts. FH patients were detected based on the opportunistic and cascade screening. Diagnosis of FH was assessed using the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network criteria, plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and genetic testing. To date, a total of 130 patients with FH have been registered, with 48 index cases and 82 relatives. Of the 130 patients, 8 were homozygous FH patients and 38 were children. Of FH individuals, 46.7% was confirmed by genetic testing: 61 patients (96.8%) carried the LDLR mutation (c.681C > G, c.1427C > G, c.1187-?_2140 ± ?del, c.2529_2530delinsA), and two patients (3.2%) carried the PCSK9 (protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) mutation (c.42_43insTG). The c.2529_2530delinsA mutation detected in this study is novel and reported only in the Vietnamese population. However, only 53.8% of FH patients were followed up post diagnosis, and only 15.3% of these were approved for lipid-lowering therapy and specialized care. Notably, factors such as knowledge about FH in patients and/or guardians of FH children and support of primary care physicians affected patient participation with respect to treatment strategies and follow-up. Genetic identification, screening, and treatment of FH were feasible in Vietnam. The VINAFH Registry significantly contributed to the formation of the government agencies legislative acts that established the importance of FH as a socially and medically important disease requiring appropriate management strategies. Other low- and middle-income countries could, thus, use the VINAFH Registry model as a reference to establish programs for FH management according to the current status.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia in Vietnam: Case series, genetics and cascade testing of families.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Familial hypercholesterolaemia has not been previously described in the Vietnamese population. We aimed to describe the features of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (hoFH) in Vietnam and the outcomes of screening family members using genetic and cholesterol testing. METHODS: Mutation testing by massively parallel sequencing for genes causative of FH was undertaken in five index cases presenting to a single cardiac center with a presumptive diagnosis of hoFH. Cascade testing of all available family members was subsequently undertaken. The number of new cases of FH detected and commenced on lipid-lowering treatment was evaluated. RESULTS: All five index cases had true homozygous mutations in the LDL receptor gene (LDLR). Cascade screening was undertaken in four families. 107 relatives were screened and FH was identified in 56 relatives (52%), including 3 new cases of hoFH. Only 5 FH relatives (9%) were subsequently treated owing to the adverse perceptions and comparative high cost of drug treatment, and lack of awareness of FH among patients and local doctors. CONCLUSIONS: HoFH due to LDLR mutations is a severe disorder in Vietnam that needs early detection and treatment with LDL-cholesterol lowering drugs. Cascade testing of families allows effective detection of new cases of FH that may also benefit from early treatment. However, convincing patients to commence statin treatment is a challenge. Extended education and awareness programs and treatment subsidies are imperative to improve the care of patients and families suffering from FH in Vietnam.

An enquiry based on a standardised questionnaire into knowledge, awareness and preferences concerning the care of familial hypercholesterolaemia among primary care physicians in the Asia-Pacific region: the "Ten Countries Study".

OBJECTIVE: To determine physicians' knowledge, awareness and preferences regarding the care of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in the Asia-Pacific region. SETTING: A formal questionnaire was anonymously completed by physicians from different countries/regions in the Asia-Pacific. The survey sought responses relating to general familiarity, awareness of management guidelines, identification (clinical characteristics and lipid profile), prevalence and inheritance, extent of elevation in risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and practice on screening and treatment. PARTICIPANTS: Practising community physicians from Australia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam and Taiwan were recruited to complete the questionnaire, with the UK as the international benchmark. PRIMARY OUTCOME: An assessment and comparison of the knowledge, awareness and preferences of FH among physicians in 10 different countries/regions. RESULTS: 1078 physicians completed the questionnaire from the Asia-Pacific region; only 34% considered themselves to be familiar with FH. 72% correctly described FH and 65% identified the typical lipid profile, with a higher proportion of physicians from Japan and China selecting the correct FH definition and lipid profile compared with those from Vietnam and Philippines. However, less than half of the physician were aware of national or international management guidelines; this was significantly worse than physicians from the UK (35% vs 61%, p<0.001). Knowledge of prevalence (24%), inheritability (41%) and CVD risk (9%) of FH were also suboptimal. The majority of the physicians considered laboratory interpretative commenting as being useful (81%) and statin therapy as an appropriate cholesterol-lowering therapy (89%) for FH management. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified important gaps, which are readily addressable, in the awareness and knowledge of FH among physicians in the region. Implementation of country-specific guidelines and extensive work in FH education and awareness programmes are imperative to improve the care of FH in the region.