[Dyslipemia in diabetics treated with statins. Results of the DYSIS study in Spian]. / Dislipemia en población diabética tratada con estatinas. Resultados del estudio DYSIS en España.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is characterized by carrying a high cardiovascular risk. This situation underscores the importance of intensively treating the risk factors present in diabetic patients, notably dyslipemia. The treatment with cholesterol-lowering drugs may be especially effective to reduce the cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients. Therefore, LDL-cholesterol is a priority target in the lipid management of these patients. This study analyzes the alterations in the lipid profile of diabetic patients receiving treatment with statins, which therefore may contribute to persistent cardiovascular risk in such individuals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The DYSIS (Dyslipidemia International Study) is an international, observational trial analyzing the lipid profile of patients treated with statins and followed-up on in outpatient clinics by primary care physicians and specialists. This study is referred to the data on the diabetic patients. RESULTS: Of the total patients enrolled in the DYSIS, the present study included 3703 patients, 39% being diabetics. A total of 59.2% of diabetics showed LDL-C out of goal; triglyceride elevation was observed in 43.6% and 36.4% showed low HDL-C. In diabetics patients with coronary heart disease, 31% had uncontrolled levels of all three lipid parameters. The prevalence of out of goal LDL-C in diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome was close to 60%; 39.8% had low levels of HDL-C and 46,6% high levels of triglycerides. In addition, 57% of diabetic patients with obesity showed LDL-C out of control, despite statins treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular diseases remain the main cause of morbidity-mortality in patients with DM2. The results of the present study show that in diabetic patients the degree of control is very limited with regard to LDL-cholesterol. More than half of diabetic patients treated with statins had LDL-cholesterol out of goal. The level of dyslipidemia control was low, despite statins treatment. Therefore, the detection of atherogenic dyslipidemia may point to the advisability of using combination therapy for dyslipidemia in diabetic patients.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiovascular disease in Spanish hypertensive women. The RIMHA study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration in 11,042 hypertensive Spanish women aged >or=55 years, to identify factors associated with a low concentration, and to evaluate its relationship with cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: Analysis of RIMHA cross-sectional study findings. Data on demographic, biochemical and clinical variables were obtained. Relationships between a low HDL-C concentration (<46 mg/dL) and CVD and between the HDL-C concentration (in quintiles) and CVD were studied by multivariate logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: The prevalence of a low HDL-C concentration was 24.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.5-25.1%), and was higher in women with diabetes or CVD. A low HDL-C concentration was independently associated with excess weight, smoking, diabetes and the presence of CVD, and inversely with age. The prevalence of CVD was higher in women with a low HDL-C concentration (24.7% vs. 18.4% in those with a normal concentration; P< .001). There was an independent association between a low HDL-C concentration and CVD after adjustment for other risk factors (odds ratio [OR]=1.42; 95% CI, 1.26-1.60; P< .001) and with silent target organ damage (OR=1.31; 95% CI, 1.15-1.49; P< .001). Similarly, there was an independent inverse association between the HDL-C concentration (in quintiles) and the prevalence of CVD, particularly for HDL-C concentrations <58 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS: One in four hypertensive women aged >or=55 years had a low HDL-C concentration, which was independently associated with the presence of CVD. Moreover, there was an inverse association between the HDL-C concentration and the prevalence of CVD, even at normal HDL-C concentrations.

[Prevalence and related factors of overweight and obesity in Spanish population aged 60 years-old or older. The PREV-ICTUS study]. / Prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en población española de 60 años o más y factores relacionados. Estudio PREV-ICTUS.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Data on the prevalence of obesity in elderly population in Spain are scarce. The objective of this work was to describe the prevalence of obesity and the related factors in a random sample of Spanish population aged 60 years-old or more, stratified by autonomous communities. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We analyzed the PREV-ICTUS study, a population-based study carried out between September and December 2005 in a random sample stratified by autonomous communities according to the census of inhabitants and the habitat in each community. Subjects were classified as with normal weight (body mass index [BMI] < 25 kg), overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg). RESULTS: In 6,843 subjects -mean age (standard deviation): 71.9 (7.1) years-old; 53.3% women-, prevalence of obesity was 34.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 33.3-35.5%), higher in women (38.4%; 95% CI, 36.8-39.9%) than in men (30.0%; 95% CI, 28.4-31.6%; p < 0.001), with a tendency to decrease in the older population. In total, 81.7% of the population showed overweight (BMI > or = 25). Prevalence differed among communities from 46.4% to 20.7% (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, obesity was inversely related to age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.98 per each year increment), and directly to female gender (OR = 1.25), rural (OR = 1.50) or semi-urban habitat (OR = 1.38), sedentary lifestyle (OR = 1.86) and non-smoking history (OR = 1.19). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity was present in one out of 3 individuals of this reasonably representative sample of the Spanish population in an age range, 60 years-old or more, which concentrates a high cardiovascular risk. Differences in the prevalence among autonomus communities were detected.

[Left ventricular hypertrophy in the Spanish hypertensive population. The ERIC-HTA study]. / Hipertrofia ventricular izquierda en la población hipertensa española. Estudio ERIC-HTA.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is the earliest manifestation of cardiac damage in hypertension. Its appearance is associated with a poor cardiovascular prognosis. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of electrocardiographic LVH and to assess the epidemiological characteristics of hypertensive patients receiving primary care. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional multicenter study of hypertensive patients aged 55 years or more was carried out in a primary care setting. Blood pressure was measured using the standard method. Cardiovascular history was determined from medical records and LVH was assessed electrocardiographically using Cornell's criteria. RESULTS: In total, 15 798 patients (mean age 68.0 years, 55.3% women, and 30.4% with diabetes mellitus) were evaluated. Of these, 3207 (20.3%) had electrocardiographic signs of LVH. The prevalence was higher in males, diabetics, smokers, and patients with high blood pressure or renal or cardiovascular disease. Compared to patients without LVH, those with the condition were older, were more often male, and were more likely to have diabetes or renal or cardiovascular disease. Multivariate analysis showed that LVH was independently associated with advanced age, male gender, diabetes, smoking, poor blood pressure control, and the presence of cardiovascular or renal disease. Blood pressure control was poorer in patients with LVH than in those without it. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of electrocardiographic LVH is high, with affected patients being more likely to have diabetes or renal or cardiovascular disease. Moreover, blood pressure control is poor in these patients, and more aggressive pharmacological management is needed.

Kidney function and cardiovascular disease in the hypertensive population: the ERIC-HTA study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidemiological data on the incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease in chronic renal failure are scant The objective of the present study is to assess the relationship between renal function, measured by the estimated glomerular filtration rate, and the presence of early or established cardiovascular disease, in a population of hypertensives from primary care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, multicentre study carried out in primary care centres all over Spain. Hypertensive subjects, older than 55 years, were included. In all of them a structured interview including cardiovascular risk factors or disease was performed. Blood pressure was measured following a standard procedure, and serum biochemistry and an electrocardiogram were obtained. Renal function was estimated using the abbreviated MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Group) equation. For each glomerular filtration rate stratum the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) of left ventricular hypertrophy or cardiovascular disease were calculated, adjusted by confounding variables. RESULTS: A total of 13 687 patients (mean age 68.1 years, women 55.4%, diabetics 30.6%, body mass index 28.6 kg/m2) were included. Of these, 26.4% had established cardiovascular diseases and 20.3% electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy. The average serum creatinine was 1.01 mg/dl, creatinine clearance 70.0 ml/min, and glomerular filtration rate 74.0 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Thirty-three patients (0.24%) had glomerular filtration rate < 5 ml/min per 1.73 m2; 89 (0.65%) from 15 to 29; 3745 (27.36%) from 30 to 59; 7798 (56.97%) from 60 to 89; and 2019 (14.75%) higher than 89 ml/min per 1.73 m2. In a multiple regression analysis, after adjusting by age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and smoking, a lower glomerular filtration rate was associated with a higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy. Likewise, a reduction in the glomerular filtration rate was also associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive patients from primary care, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease is inversely proportional to the level of renal function. Estimated glomerular filtration is easy to determine and complements evaluation of the hypertensive patient.