The CNIC-polypill improves atherogenic dyslipidemia markers in patients at high risk or with cardiovascular disease: Results from a real-world setting in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: In many patients, the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events persists despite statin treatment and attaining target LDL-c levels. This residual risk is in part attributed to atherogenic dyslipidemia (AD). We studied the clinical effectiveness of the CNIC-polypill in improving the lipid profile, and lipid ratios and indices indicative of AD that are more accurate in predicting lipid-related CV risk. METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, observational, non-comparative, prospective registry in 533 patients in Mexico. We evaluated blood lipids at baseline (usual care) and after 12 months of treatment with the CNIC-polypill (Sincronium®), including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol low-density lipoproteins (LDL-c), cholesterol high-density lipoproteins (HDL-c), and cholesterol non-high-density lipoproteins (non-HDL-c). We also calculated and compared AD-related lipid ratios and indices, including remnant cholesterol (RC), Castelli's risk index-I (CRI-I), atherogenic index (AI), atherogenic coefficient (AC), a surrogate of insulin resistance (IRS), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and lipoprotein combined index (LCI). RESULTS: At 1 year of treatment, there was a significant reduction in the levels of TC (-22.6%), TG (-29.2%), LDL-c (-13.8%), and non-HDL-c (-29.2%) (all p < 0.001). The likelihood that patients attained their corresponding target LDL-c and TG levels was almost three-fold and seven-fold higher, respectively (p < 0.001). The values of the AD-related ratios RC, CRI-I, AI, AC, AIP, and LCI were all significantly lower (p < 0.001) after one year of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with or at high risk of CVD, one-year treatment with the CNIC-polypill significantly lowered lipid ratios indicative of AD compared to baseline.

Reaching blood pressure guideline targets with the CNIC polypill in patients with a previous cardiovascular event in Mexico: a post hoc analysis of the SORS study.

Aim: To determine the effectiveness of Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC)-polypill (acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg, ramipril 5/10 mg, simvastatin 40 mg) in achieving blood pressure (BP) goals. Patients & methods: A multicenter, observational, one cohort, prospective study. BP targets were analyzed in patients with cardiovascular disease after 12-months treatment with the CNIC polypill. Results: A total of 572 patients (59.4 ± 13.9 years, 57.3% men) were analyzed. At baseline, BP was 147.1 ± 18.1/88.3 ± 10.6 mmHg, 97.1% of patients were taken renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, 5.4% calcium antagonists, 1.9% diuretics and 13.1% ß-blockers. The proportion of patients who achieved BP targets increased from 20.1 to 55.4% (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In routine practice, switching from usual care to the CNIC-polypill in patients with cardiovascular disease could facilitate achieving BP goals.

Clinical Effectiveness of the Cardiovascular Polypill in a Real-Life Setting in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk: The SORS Study.

BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular disease pandemic has promoted the cardiovascular polypill as one of the most scalable public health strategies to improve cardiovascular risk by increasing accessibility and adherence to treatments. Data from randomized clinical trials has shown that the polypill strategy significantly improves adherence as well as risk factor control (cholesterol and blood pressure), however, to date, no information from phase IV registries has been available. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre, observational and prospective registry of a polypill-based treatment strategy. A total of 1193 patients in Mexico were included. Patient demographics, clinical history, blood pressure, analysis of blood lipids and the Framingham risk score were measured at baseline and after 12 months of treatment with the CNIC-Ferrer polypill. RESULTS: At one year with the polypill, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels changed from mean 146.9 mmHg to 128 mmHg (p <0.001), and from 89.1 mmHg to 80.4 mmHg (p <0.001) respectively. LDLc levels were significantly reduced 132.5-107.6 mg/dL (p <0.001). The 10 year Framingham cardiovascular disease risk was also reduced in the high-risk group (33.7 + 22.0 vs. 21.2 + 14.8; p <0.001) and in the intermediate risk group (23.7 + 14.8 vs. 12.7 + 11.4; p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, the results of the current study constitute the first real life data on the impact of a polypill therapy on cardiovascular risk factor control. The results show major improvements on the primary outcome, above and beyond those presented previously in the setting of randomized clinical trials.

Levels of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol are Associated With Biomarkers of Inflammation in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Pathologic conditions associated with inflammation show an inverse correlation between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and inflammatory biomarker levels. Our aim was to investigate, in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), whether very low HDL-C levels are associated with inflammatory biomarkers. In a cross-sectional study, we included 6,134 patients with ACS; they were classified as having very low (<30 mg/dl), low (30 to 39.9 mg/dl), and normal HDL-C (≥ 40 mg/dl) levels. We analyzed the association of different categories of HDL-C levels with serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), albumin, and white blood cell count at admission. Overall, 18.5% of patients had very low HDL-C levels. Patients with very low HDL-C levels, compared to patients with low or normal HDL-C levels, had the highest hs-CRP (median 17.8 [interquartile range 7.2 to 54.5] vs 12.6 [5.6 to 33.9] vs 12.0 [5.4 to 36.9] mg/L, respectively, p <0.001) and the lowest albumin levels (median 3.6 [IQR 3.3 to 4.0] vs 3.8 [3.5 to 4.0] vs 3.8 [3.5 to 4.1] g/dl, respectively, p <0.001). White blood cell count did not differ significantly (p = 0.40). The multivariate analysis showed that albumin ≤ 3.5 g/dl (odds ratio 2.16, 95% confidence interval 1.88 to 2.49, p <0.001) and hs-CRP ≥ 10 mg/L (odds ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 1.55, p <0.001) were independent predictors of very low HDL-C levels. Patients with very low HDL-C levels had the highest inhospital mortality rates compared with the other groups. In conclusion, in patients with ACS, hs-CRP and serum albumin were associated independently with very low HDL-C levels.

Lipid goals among patients with diabetes or metabolic syndrome: Lipid Treatment Assessment Project (L-TAP) 2.

OBJECTIVE: This analysis of the Lipid Treatment Assessment Project 2 population compared lipid goal attainment by diabetes and metabolic syndrome status. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Dyslipidaemic patients aged ≥ 20 years on stable lipid lowering therapy had their lipid levels determined once during enrolment at investigation sites in nine countries between September 2006 and April 2007. Achievement of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol success, triglycerides < 150 mg/dl (1.7 mmol/l), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol success (> 40 mg/dl [1.0 mmol/l] in men or > 50 mg/dl [1.3 mmol/l] in women) was compared using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 9955 patients were evaluated. Patients with diabetes, compared with those without diabetes, had lower achievement of LDL cholesterol goals (according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel [NCEP ATP] III guidelines; 67% vs. 75%), triglycerides < 150 mg/dl (55% vs. 64%), and HDL cholesterol success (61% vs. 74%; p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). The significantly lower lipid goal attainment in patients with diabetes was consistent across participating world regions. Patients with metabolic syndrome, compared with those without metabolic syndrome, had lower achievement of NCEP ATP III LDL cholesterol goals (69% vs. 76%), triglycerides < 150 mg/dl (36% vs. 83%), and HDL cholesterol success (49% vs. 89%; p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). As the number of metabolic syndrome components increased, lipid success rates progressively decreased (p < 0.0001 for LDL cholesterol success, triglycerides < 150 mg/dl, and HDL cholesterol success). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis indicates that despite their increased cardiovascular risk, patients with diabetes or metabolic syndrome remain undertreated.

Low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal attainment in dyslipidemic women: The Lipid Treatment Assessment Project (L-TAP) 2.

BACKGROUND: Differences between women and men have been documented for both diagnostic testing and treatment in cardiology. This analysis evaluates whether low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) success rates according to current guidelines and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels differ by gender in the L-TAP 2 population. METHODS: Patients aged > or =20 years with dyslipidemia on stable lipid-lowering therapy were assessed in 9 countries between September 2006 and April 2007. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal attainment by cardiovascular risk level and region and determinants of low HDL-C were compared between genders. RESULTS: Of 9,955 patients (45.3% women) evaluated, women had a significantly lower overall LDL-C success rate than men (71.5% vs 73.7%, P = .014), due entirely to the difference in the high-risk/coronary heart disease (CHD) group (LDL-C goal <100 mg/dL, 62.6% vs 70.6%, P < .0001) Among CHD patients with > or =2 additional risk factors, only 26.7% of women and 31.5% of men (P = .021) attained the optional LDL-C goal of <70 mg/dL. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was <50 mg/dL in 32.2% of women and <40 mg/dL in 26.8% of men (P < .0001), including 38.2% of women and 29.8% of men in the high risk/CHD group (P < .0001). Predictors of low HDL-C in women included diabetes, smoking, waist circumference, and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Cholesterol treatment has improved substantially since the original L-TAP a decade ago, when only 39% of women attained their LDL-C goal. However, high-risk women are undertreated compared to men, and a substantial opportunity remains to reduce their cardiovascular risk.

Lipid treatment assessment project 2: a multinational survey to evaluate the proportion of patients achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals.

BACKGROUND: Information about physicians' adherence to cholesterol management guidelines remains scant. The present survey updates our knowledge of lipid management worldwide. METHODS AND RESULTS: Lipid levels were determined at enrollment in dyslipidemic adult patients on stable lipid-lowering therapy in 9 countries. The primary end point was the success rate, defined as the proportion of patients achieving appropriate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals for their given risk. The mean age of the 9955 evaluable patients was 62+/-12 years; 54% were male. Coronary disease and diabetes mellitus had been diagnosed in 30% and 31%, respectively, and 14% were current smokers. Current treatment consisted of a statin in 75%. The proportion of patients achieving LDL-C goals according to relevant national guidelines ranged from 47% to 84% across countries. In low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups, mean LDL-C was 119, 109, and 91 mg/dL and mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 62, 49, and 50 mg/dL, respectively. The success rate for LDL-C goal achievement was 86% in low-, 74% in moderate-, and 67% in high-risk patients (73% overall). However, among coronary heart disease patients with > or =2 risk factors, only 30% attained the optional LDL-C goal of <70 mg/dL. In the entire cohort, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was <40 mg/dL in 19%, 40 to 60 mg/dL in 55%, and >60 mg/dL in 26% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is room for improvement, particularly in very-high-risk patients, these results indicate that lipid-lowering therapy is being applied much more successfully than it was a decade ago.

[Clinical guidelines for detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of systemic arterial hypertension in Mexico (2008)]. / Guías clínicas para la detección, prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de hipertensión arterial sistémica en México (2008).

The multidisciplinary Institutional Committee of experts in Systemic Arterial Hypertension from the National Institute of Cardiology "Ignacio Chávez" presents its update (2008) of "Guidelines and Recommendations" for the early detection, control, treatment and prevention of Hypertension. The boarding tries to be simple and realistic for all that physicians whom have to face the hypertensive population in their clinical practice. The information is based in the most recent scientific evidence. These guides are principally directed to hypertensive population of emergent countries like Mexico. It is emphasized preventive health measures, the importance of the no pharmacological actions, such as good nutrition, exercise and changes in life style, (which ideally it must begin from very early ages). "We suggest that the changes in the style of life must be vigorous, continuous and systematized, with a real reinforcing by part of all the organisms related to the health education for all population (federal and private social organisms). It is the most important way to confront and prevent this pandemic of chronic diseases". In this new edition the authors amplifies the information and importance on the matter. The preventive cardiology must contribute in multidisciplinary entailment. Based mainly on national data and the international scientific publications, we developed our own system of classification and risk stratification for the carrying people with hypertension, Called HTM (Arterial Hypertension in Mexico) index. Its principal of purpose this index is to keep in mind that the current approach of hypertension must be always multidisciplinary. The institutional committee of experts reviewed with rigorous methodology under the principles of the evidence-based medicine, both, national and international medical literature, with the purpose of adapting the concepts and guidelines for a better control and treatment of hypertension in Mexico. This work group recognizes that hypertension is not an isolated disease; therefore its approach must be in the context of the prevalence and interaction with other cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, dislipidemia and smoking among others. The urgent necessity is emphasized to approach in a concatenated form the diverse cardiovascular risk factors, since independently of which they share common pathophysiological mechanisms, its suitable identification and control will affect without any doubt the natural history of the other concatenated risk factor. By all means that to greater participation of factors, greater it will be the global cardiovascular risk but never, however, the specific weight is due to avoid that each one has on the global cardiovascular risk. In this Second edition we try to amplify and give systematic forms for the clinical approach for the suspicion of secondary hypertension and we emphasizes that hypertension in the woman with or without menopause should be careful analyzed, and special recommendations are given for the hypertension in pregnancy. Also we have approached some aspects related to the hypertensive emergencies and other special situations. In this second version some recommendations are presented for boarding hypertension in children and adolescents.

Guías clínicas para la detección, prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento de hipertensión arterial sistémica en México (2008) / Clinical guidelines for detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of systemic arterial hypertension in Mexico (2008)

The multidisciplinary Institutional Committee of experts in Systemic Arterial Hypertension from the National Institute of Cardiology [quot ]Ignacio Chávez[quot ] presents its update (2008) of [quot ]Guidelines and Recommendations[quot ] for the early detection, control, treatment and prevention of Hypertension. The boarding tries to be simple and realistic for all that physicians whom have to face the hypertensive population in their clinical practice. The information is based in the most recent scientific evidence. These guides are principally directed to hypertensive population of emergent countries like Mexico. It is emphasized preventive health measures, the importance of the no pharmacological actions, such as good nutrition, exercise and changes in life style, (which ideally it must begin from very early ages). [quot ]We suggest that the changes in the style of life must be vigorous, continuous and systematized, with a real reinforcing by part of all the organisms related to the health education for all population (federal and private social organisms). It is the most important way to confront and prevent this pandemic of chronic diseases[quot ]. In this new edition the authors amplifies the information and importance on the matter. The preventive cardiology must contribute in multidisciplinary entailment. Based mainly on national data and the international scientific publications, we developed our own system of classification and risk stratification for the carrying people with hypertension, Called HTM (Arterial Hypertension in Mexico) index. Its principal of purpose this index is to keep in mind that the current approach of hypertension must be always multidisciplinary. The institutional committee of experts reviewed with rigorous methodology under the principles of the evidence-based medicine, both, national and international medical literature, with the purpose of adapting the concepts and guidelines for a better control and treatment of hypertension in Mexico. This work group recognizes that hypertension is not an isolated disease; therefore its approach must be in the context of the prevalence and interaction with other cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, dislipidemia and smoking among others. The urgent necessity is emphasized to approach in a concatenated form the diverse cardiovascular risk factors, since independently of which they share common pathophysiological mechanisms, its suitable identification and cont

[Morbidity and mortality by ischemic heart disease and stroke in Mexico. 2005]. / Morbilidad y mortalidad de la enfermedad isquémica del corazón y cerebrovascular en México, 2005.

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death and disability in México. 25% of deaths under 60 years of age are related to chronic degenerative diseases. These disorders are more common in developing countries and are caused by an excessive intake of fatty acids, sodium, alcohol, tobacco consumption and decrease in physical activity. The prevalence of risk factors is increasing not only in adult population but also in youth and children. Data from the Department of Epidemiology from the Mexican Ministry of Health in the period between 1998 and 2000 showed that the death caused by coronary artery disease was more frequent in men (55%) than women (45%) and acute coronary syndrome was responsible for deaths in 83.5% of men and 76.8% in women. Primary Prevention Programs are necessary to decrease the impact of cardiovascular diseases.

Morbilidad y mortalidad de la enfermedad isquémica del corazón y cerebrovascular en México, 2005 / Morbidity and mortality by ischemic heart disease and stroke in Mexico. 2005

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death and disability in México. 25% of deaths under 60 years of age are related to chronic degenerative diseases. These disorders are more common in developing countries and are caused by an excessive intake of fatty acids, sodium, alcohol, tobacco consumption and decrease in physical activity. The prevalence of risk factors is increasing not only in adult population but also in youth and children. Data from the Department of Epidemiology from the Mexican Ministry of Health in the period between 1998 and 2000 showed that the death caused by coronary artery disease was more frequent in men (55%) than women (45%) and acute coronary syndrome was responsible for deaths in 83.5% of men and 76.8% in women. Primary Prevention Programs are necessary to decrease the impact of cardiovascular diseases.

Hallazgo incidental de timoma paracardiaco derecho en enferma con infarto del miocardio / Incidental finding of a right paracardiac thymoma in a woman with a myocardial infarction

Los timomas son tumores primarios que provienen de células epiteliales del timo. Es frecuente encontrarlos en el mediastino anterior y asociados a un síndrome paratímico. Aunque pueden ser asintomáticos, es posible que cursen con manifestaciones clínicas inespecíficas como dolor precordial, disnea y tos, que habitualmente desaparecen con la extirpación quirúrgica. En estas condiciones, el diagnóstico es incidental y habitualmente se establece por varios métodos de imagen como la radiografía de tórax, tomografía axial computada o la resonancia magnética, y se confirma por biopsia tumoral. La sobrevida depende del estadio clínico de Masaoka, tamaño tumoral, tipo de resección y el subtipo histológico. La extirpación quirúrgica completa es el objetivo principal. El uso de quimioterapia y/o radioterapia pre y/o posquirúrgica es aún controversial. Presentamos el caso clínico de una mujer quien, después de sufrir un infarto al miocardio, durante su estudio se encontró de manera incidental una masa paracardiaca derecha que correspondió a un timoma.

Thymomas are primary tumors that arise from the epithelial cells of the thymus. Frequently, they are found in the anterior mediastinum, associated to a parathymic syndrome. Although they may stay asymptomatic, they may also give rise to unspecific clinical manifestations, which include chest pain, dyspnea, and cough, symptoms that generally disappear with surgical resection of the thy moma. In these cases, incidental diagnosis is usually established by using various image methods that may include chest X-ray, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance, and it is confirmed by tumor biopsy. Survival depends on Masaoka's clinical stage, the size of the tumor, the type of resection performed and the histológical subtype. Complete surgical resection is the main objective. The use of pre and/or postoperatory chemo and/or radiotherapy is still controversial. We present the case of a woman who suffered from a myocardial infarction. She was later incidentally diagnosed with a right paracardiac tumor that came out to be a thymoma.

Isquemia cerebral secundaria a embolia de un injerto a orto-coronario: evidencia angiográfica / Ischemic embolic stroke from venous aortocoronary bypass graft. Angiographic evidence

El infarto cerebral, durante o después del cateterismo cardiaco, puede ser secundario a diversos mecanismos. La formación y el desprendimiento de coágulos a partir de la pared del catéter y la ruptura de lesiones ateromatosas son las causas más frecuentes. La visualización de coágulos libres en el interior de un injerto aortocoronario es una condición extremadamente rara y escasamente documentada. Con evidencia angiográfica, presentamos un caso de isquemia cerebral aguda precipitada durante el cateterismo cardiaco por la migración de coágulos libres a partir de un injerto aortocoronario. Este caso ilustra uno más de los diversos mecanismos en la patogénesis de la isquemia cerebral.

Recurrencia de mixoma de atrio derecho. A propósito de un caso / Recurrent heart myxoma. Case inform

Los mixomas son los tumores cardiacos primarios de presentación más frecuente, y tienen como características el recidivar en forma muy ocasional. Esta particularidad de poder recidivar que tienen los mixomas se ha intentado explicar por diferentes mecanismos; las recidivas tienen una incidencia del 7 por ciento al 14 por ciento, incluso se pueden dar segundas recidivas. Recientemente se revisó la serie del Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez" (INCICH), en la que no se encontró ningún caso de recidiva. Informamos de un caso de mixoma de atrio derecho (AD), que recidivó a los 4 años después de haber sido extirpado de manera exitosa. La recurrencia se presentó en forma múltiple, con dos masas de diferente tamaño e implantación, ambas en AD. Después de haber revisado el tema, creemos que se trata del primer caso con estas características no solamente del INCICH sino también de la literatura mundial habitualmente consultada

Efectos de la nifedipina en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica inestable / Effects of nifedipine in patients with untable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Se estudiaron los efectos sobre la hemodinamia e intercambio gaseoso de 20 mg de nifedipina (NFD) en 7 pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) de tipo inestable y con hipertensión arterial pulmonar. La causa de la descompensación fué infección respiratoria (n = 6) y embolia pulmonar (n = 1). Durante el reposo se documentaron hipertensión arterial pulmonar (Pp = 40 ñ 3 mmHg), hipoxemia severa (Pa02 = 43 ñ 2 mmHg) y elevación de la resistencia vascular pulmonar (Rp = 9 ñ 6u/m2). Durante el ejercicio la Pp se elevó 52 ñ 5 mmHg sin cambio significativo en el índice cardíaco (IC), Rp o intercambio gaseoso. Después de NFD en reposo se observaron incrementos significativos (p <0.05) en IC, transporte tisular de oxígeno y aporte de sangre venosa a la circulación sistémica. Tanto la Rp como la presión arterial y resistencia sistémicas disminuyeron significativamente. No cambiaron la Pp ni el intercambio gaseoso. Durante jercicio, las Rp y Rs fueron menores después de nifedipina, sin cambios en el intercambio gaseoso. La relación flujo-presión de la vasculatura pulmonar mostró un desplazamiento paralelo de la pendiente hacia la derecha, tanto en reposo como en ejercicio. Concluímos que la nifedipina puede ser de valor para el tratamiento de los incrementos en la resistencia vascular pulmonar que ocurren como consecuencia de complicaciones frecuentes en pacientes con neumonía obstructiva difusa crónica