Psychological stress and cardiovascular risk among women in Brazilian communities: a cross-sectional study / Estresse psicológico e risco cardiovascular de mulheres em comunidades brasileiras: um estudo transversal / Estrés psicológico y riesgo cardiovascular entre mujeres en comunidades brasileñas: un estudio transversal

Abstract: Psychosocial evaluations are rarely conducted with community-dwelling individuals, especially those with higher risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to evaluate the perceptual stress and cardiovascular risk among women in a large cross-sectional study performed in Brazilian communities. Subjects aged over 18 years were included out of 500 public basic health units (BHU) in Brazil. All subjects were subjected to a clinical consultation and questionnaires application. Data were used to identify healthy lifestyle, smoking status, and self-perception of psychological stress. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) risk score (NRS) was used to estimate cardiovascular risk. Ethnicity information was self-reported, considering white versus non-white (black, brown, and mixed-race) women. A total of 93,605 patients were recruited from a primary care setting, of which 62,200 (66.4%) were women. Intense and severe auto-perception of stress was higher within non-white women at home (p < 0.001), at work (p = 0.008), socially (p < 0.001), and financially (p < 0.001) compared to white women. Therefore, the NRS indicates that non-white women had higher cardiovascular risk, lower physical activity, and lower daily vegetables/fruits consumption compared to white women (p < 0.001). Non-white women in Brazilian communities are susceptible to increased stress and cardiovascular disease risk, which adds up to disparities in access to the public health system.

Resumo: Avaliações psicossociais raramente são realizadas com indivíduos residentes na comunidade, especialmente aqueles com maior risco de doença cardiovascular. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o estresse perceptivo e o risco cardiovascular entre mulheres em um grande estudo transversal realizado em comunidades brasileiras. Foram incluídas mulheres com idade superior a 18 anos de 500 unidades básicas de saúde (UBS) públicas do Brasil. Todas as participantes foram submetidas a consulta clínica e aplicação de questionários. Os dados foram utilizados para identificar estilo de vida saudável, tabagismo e autopercepção de estresse psicológico. O índice de risco (NRS) do National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) foi utilizado para estimar o risco cardiovascular. As informações de etnia foram autorreferidas, considerando mulheres brancas versus não brancas (negras, pardas e pardas). Um total de 93.605 pacientes foram recrutados em um ambiente de atenção primária, dos quais 62.200 (66,4%) eram mulheres. A autopercepção intensa e grave de estresse foi maior em mulheres não brancas em casa (p < 0,001), no trabalho (p = 0,008), socialmente (p < 0,001) e financeiramente (p < 0,001) em comparação com mulheres brancas. Portanto, a NRS indica que as mulheres não brancas apresentaram maior risco cardiovascular, menor atividade física e menor consumo diário de vegetais/frutas em comparação às mulheres brancas (p < 0,001). As mulheres não brancas nas comunidades brasileiras são suscetíveis ao aumento do estresse e do risco de doenças cardiovasculares, o que aumenta as disparidades no acesso ao sistema público de saúde.

Resumen: Raramente se realizan evaluaciones psicosociales con personas que viven en la comunidad, especialmente aquellas con mayor riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar el estrés perceptivo y el riesgo cardiovascular entre las mujeres en un gran estudio transversal realizado en comunidades brasileñas. Se incluyeron mujeres mayores de 18 años de 500 unidades básicas de salud (UBS) públicas de Brasil. Todas las participantes fueron sometidas a una consulta clínica y aplicación de cuestionarios. Los datos se utilizaron para identificar el estilo de vida saludable, el tabaquismo y la autopercepción del estrés psicológico. Se utilizó la puntuación de riesgo (NRS) de la Encuesta Nacional de Examen de Salud y Nutrición (NHANES) para estimar el riesgo cardiovascular. La información étnica fue autoinformada, considerando mujeres blancas versus no blancas (negras, marrones y mestizas). Se reclutó a un total de 93.605 pacientes en un entorno de atención primaria, de los cuales 62.200 (66,4%) eran mujeres. La autopercepción intensa y severa del estrés fue mayor entre las mujeres no blancas en el hogar (p < 0,001), en el trabajo (p = 0,008), socialmente (p < 0,001) y financieramente (p < 0,001) en comparación con las mujeres blancas. Por lo tanto, el NRS indica que las mujeres no blancas tenían mayor riesgo cardiovascular, menor actividad física y menor consumo diario de verduras y frutas en comparación con las mujeres blancas (p < 0,001). Las mujeres no blancas en las comunidades brasileñas son susceptibles a un mayor estrés y riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares, lo que se suma a las disparidades en el acceso al sistema de salud pública.

Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease at community clinics in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil: results from the epidemiological information study of communities

BACKGROUND: Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major challenge, especially in communities of low- and middle-income countries with poor medical assistance influenced by distinct local, financial, infrastructural, and resource-related factors. OBJECTIVE: This a community-based study aimed to determine the proportion and prevalence of uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) in Brazilian communities. METHODS: The EPICO study was an observational, cross-sectional, and community clinic-based study. Subjects were living in Brazilian communities and were of both sexes and ≥18 years old, without a history of a stroke or myocardial infarction but presenting at least one of the following cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia. The study was carried out in Brazil, including 322 basic health units (BHU) in 32 cities. RESULTS: A total of 7,724 subjects with at least one CRF were evaluated, and one clinical visit was performed. Mean age was 59.2 years-old (53.7% were >60 years old). A total of 66.7% were women. Of the total, 96.2% had hypertension, 78.8% had diabetes mellitus type II, 71.1% had dyslipidemia, and 76.6% of patients were overweight/obese. Controlled hypertension (defined by <130/80 mmHg or <140/90 mmHg) was observed in 34.9% and 55.5% patients among respective criteria, the rates of controlled blood glucose in patients taking antidiabetic medications was 29.5%, and among those with documented dyslipidemia who received any lipid-lowering medication, only 13.9% had LDL-c on target. For patients presenting three CRF less than 1.9% had LDL-c < 100 mg/dL once their BP and blood glucose were on target. High education level as associated with blood pressure (BP) target of less than 130 / 80mm Hg. The glucose and LDL-c levels on target were associated with the presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: In Brazilian community clinics, regarding most patients in primary prevention, the CRF such as BP, blood glucose, and lipid levels are poorly controlled, with a majority of patients not achieving guidelines/recommendations.

Circulating microparticles and central blood pressure according to antihypertensive strategy

OBJECTIVES: This prospective, randomized, open-label study aimed to compare the effects of antihypertensive treatment based on amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide on the circulating microparticles and central blood pressure values of hypertensive patients. METHODS: The effects of treatments on circulating microparticles were assessed during monotherapy and after the consecutive addition of valsartan and rosuvastatin followed by the withdrawal of rosuvastatin. Each treatment period lasted for 30 days. Central blood pressure and pulse wave velocity were measured at the end of each period. Endothelial, monocyte, and platelet circulating microparticles were determined by flow cytometry. Central blood pressure values and pulse wave velocity were recorded at the end of each treatment period. RESULTS: No differences in brachial blood pressure were observed between the treatment groups throughout the study. Although similar central blood pressure values were observed during monotherapy, lower systolic and diastolic central blood pressure values and early and late blood pressure peaks were observed in the amlodipine arm after the addition of valsartan alone or combined with rosuvastatin. Hydrochlorothiazide-based therapy was associated with a lower number of endothelial microparticles throughout the study, whereas a higher number of platelet microparticles was observed after rosuvastatin withdrawal in the amlodipine arm. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar brachial blood pressure values between groups throughout the study, exposure to amlodipine was associated with lower central blood pressure values after combination with valsartan, indicating a beneficial interaction. Differences between circulating microparticles were modest and were mainly influenced by rosuvastatin withdrawal in the amlodipine arm.

Podem as estatinas deter o agravamento das estenoses valvares aórticas? / Can statins delay the progression of the aortic stenosis?

As estatinas são drogas que inibem a 3-hidroxi-3-metilglutaril coenzima A (HMG CoA) redutase...

Como prevenir os novos eventos isquêmicos miocárdicos / How to prevent new coronary events

A aterosclerose é a principal causa de síndromes coronarianas agudas, como a angina instável e o infarto do miocárdio. A despeito de considerável avanço no tratamento agudo e também em relação a sua estratificação, as síndromes coronarianas agudas permanecem como a causa mais comum de morte no mundo industrializado. Recentemente, o uso de estatinas foi capaz de modificar a evolução de eventos coronarianos se iniciado precocemente após a síndrome coronariana aguda. A despeito da riqueza de evidências a partir dos clássicos estudos de prevenção secundária, como 4S, LIPID e CARE, demonstrando a eficiência das estatinas, essas drogas são ainda subutilizadas. Atualmente, considerável quantidade de evidência em relação a efeitos pleiotrópicos tem sido relatada, estendendo o uso dessas drogas além da redução lipídica. Assim, reduzindo o risco trombótico, melhorando a função endotelial e diminuindo a inflamação, as estatinas são capazes de modificar a história natural da doença arterial coronariana.