No healthcare coverage, big problem: lack of insurance for older population associated with worse emergency general surgery outcomes.

Introduction: Older populations, being a unique subset of patients, have poor outcomes for emergency general surgery (EGS). In regions lacking specialized medical coverage for older patients, disparities in healthcare provision lead to poor clinical outcomes. We aimed to identify factors predicting index admission inpatient mortality from EGS among sexagenarians, septuagenarians, and octogenarians. Methods: Data of patients aged >60 years with EGS conditions defined by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma at primary index admission from 2010 to 2019 operated and non-operated at a large South Asian tertiary care hospital were analyzed. The primary outcome was primary index admission inpatient 30-day mortality. Parametric survival regression using Weibull distribution was performed. Factors such as patients' insurance status and surgical intervention were assessed using adjusted HR and 95% CI with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: We included 9551 primary index admissions of patients diagnosed with the nine most common primary EGS conditions. The mean patient age was 69.55±7.59 years. Overall mortality and complication rates were 3.94% and 42.29%, respectively. Primary index admission inpatient mortality was associated with complications including cardiac arrest and septic shock. Multivariable survival analysis showed that insurance status was not associated with mortality (HR 1.13; 95% CI 0.79, 1.61) after adjusting for other variables. The odds of developing complications among self-paid individuals were higher (adjusted OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.02, 1.35). Conclusion: Lack of healthcare coverage for older adults can result in delayed presentation, leading to increased morbidity. Close attention should be paid to such patients for timely provision of treatment. There is a need to expand primary care access and proper management of comorbidities for overall patient well-being. Government initiatives for expanding insurance coverage for older population can further enhance their healthcare access, mitigating the risk of essential treatments being withheld due to financial limitations. Level of evidence: III.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Coronary Heart Disease: the Next Surge.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this narrative review, we highlight different ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted coronary heart disease (CHD) burden and how a surge in morbidity and mortality may be expected in the near future. We also discuss potential solutions, and the direction subsequent research and corrective actions should take. RECENT FINDINGS: COVID-19 has been implicated in the development and worsening of CHD via acute and chronic mechanisms in the form of plaque rupture, destabilization, and sustenance of a chronic inflammatory state leading to long COVID syndrome and increased rates of myocardial infarction. However, indirectly the pandemic is likely to further escalate the CHD burden through poor health behaviors such as tobacco consumption, reduced physical activity, economic devastation and its associated sequelae, and regular cardiac care interruptions and delays. COVID-19 has increased the total CHD burden and will require extensive resource allocation and multifaceted strategies to curb future rise.

Prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia in a country-wide laboratory network in Pakistan: 10-year data from 988, 306 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a modifiable risk factor for premature coronary heart disease but is poorly diagnosed and treated. We leveraged a large laboratory network in Pakistan to study the prevalence, gender and geographic distribution of FH. METHODOLOGY: Data were curated from the Aga Khan University Hospital clinical laboratories, which comprises of 289 laboratories and collection points spread over 94 districts. Clinically ordered lipid profiles from 1st January 2009 to 30th June 2018 were included and data on 1,542,281 LDL-C values was extracted. We used the Make Early Diagnosis to Prevent Early Death (MEDPED) criteria to classify patients as FH and reported data on patients with low-density liporotein -cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 190 mg/dL. FH cases were also examined by their spatial distribution. RESULTS: After applying exclusions, the final sample included 988,306 unique individuals, of which 24,273 individuals (1:40) had LDL-C values of ≥190 mg/dL. Based on the MEDPED criteria, 2416 individuals (1:409) had FH. FH prevalence was highest in individuals 10-19 years (1:40) and decreased as the patient age increased. Among individuals ≥40 years, the prevalence of FH was higher for females compared with males (1:755 vs 1:1037, p < 0.001). Median LDL-C for the overall population was 112 mg/dL (IQR = 88-136 mg/dL). The highest prevalence after removing outliers was observed in Rajan Pur district (1.23% [0.70-2.10%]) in Punjab province, followed by Mardan (1.18% [0.80-1.70%]) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and Okara (0.99% [0.50-1.80%]) in Punjab province. CONCLUSION: There is high prevalence of actionable LDL-C values in lipid samples across a large network of laboratories in Pakistan. Variable FH prevalence across geographic locations in Pakistan may need to be explored at the population level for intervention and management of contributory factors. Efforts at early diagnosis and treatment of FH are urgently needed.

National cervical cancer burden estimation through systematic review and analysis of publicly available data in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Paucity of data on cervical cancer burden in countries like Pakistan hamper requisite resource allocation. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the burden of cervical cancer in Pakistan using available data sources. METHODS: We performed a systematic review to identify relevant data on Pakistan between 1995 to 2022. Study data identified through the systematic review that provided enough information to allow age specific incidence rates and age standardized incidence rates (ASIR) calculations for cervical cancer were merged. Population at risk estimates were derived and adjusted for important variables in the care-seeking pathway. The calculated ASIRs were applied to 2020 population estimates to estimate the number of cervical cancer cases in Pakistan. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies reported ASIRs for cervical cancer for Pakistan. Among the studies selected, the Karachi Cancer Registry reported the highest disease burden estimates for all reported time periods: 1995-1997 ASIR = 6.81, 1998-2002 ASIR = 7.47, and 2017-2019 ASIR = 6.02 per 100,000 women. Using data from Karachi, Punjab and Pakistan Atomic Energy Cancer Registries from 2015-2019, we derived an unadjusted ASIR for cervical cancer of 4.16 per 100,000 women (95% UI 3.28, 5.28). Varying model assumptions produced adjusted ASIRs ranging from 5.2 to 8.4 per 100,000 women. We derived an adjusted ASIR of 7.60, (95% UI 5.98, 10.01) and estimated 6166 (95% UI 4833, 8305) new cases of cervical cancer per year. CONCLUSION: The estimated cervical cancer burden in Pakistan is higher than the WHO target. Estimates are sensitive to health seeking behavior, and appropriate physician diagnostic intervention, factors that are relevant to the case of cervical cancer, a stigmatized disease in a low-lower middle income country setting. These estimates make the case for approaching cervical cancer elimination through a multi-pronged strategy.

Variation in resource utilization and mortality among patients with varying MR type and severity.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exists regarding the relationships between resource use and outcomes in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR). We examined resource utilization and outcomes across MR type and severity. METHODS: Using the Duke Echocardiography Laboratory Database, we identified patients with an index echo demonstrating moderate or severe MR (2000-2016) and examined 5-year cumulative rates of resources (ie, TTE, TEE, cardiac catheterization, cardiology/CTS referral, MV surgery/TEER, hospitalizations) by severity and type. We performed a multivariable landmark analysis of resource use during a 6 to 12 month period and 5-year mortality; and a multivariable analysis of the association between MR type and 5-year hospitalization costs. RESULTS: Among 4,511 patients with moderate or severe MR, 84.7% had moderate MR and 42.2% had secondary ischemic MR. The median age was 70 years-moderate, 66 years-severe. The mean 5-year cumulative resource utilization rate was 11.1 encounters/patients. Among patients with moderate or severe MR, there was significant variation in utilization of each resource by MR type (all P < .05). For severe MR, the performance of cardiac catheterization or MV surgery during the landmark period was associated with significantly lower mortality; for moderate MR, CTS referral during the landmark was associated with significantly lower mortality (P < .05). Patients with secondary ischemic and non-ischemic MR had significantly higher 5-year hospitalization costs compared with primary myxomatous MR (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Resource utilization and outcomes vary by MR type and severity. Utilization of resources, such as TTE, during guideline-recommended surveillance periods was not associated with a reduction in mortality while other care (catheterization or surgery) was associated with improved survival.

Time for Reintroducing HPV Vaccine in Pakistan for Primary Prevention of Cervical Cancer.

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Heterogeneity in the prevalence of premature hypertension among Asian American populations compared with white individuals: A National Health Interview Survey study.

Background: Differences in prevalence of risk factors such as hypertension may explain heterogeneity in cardiovascular risk across Asian American populations. Methods: We used National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data from 2006 to 2018 among White, Chinese, Asian Indian, Filipino, and 'other Asians' (Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals were reported using logistic regression models for the association between race and self-reported premature hypertension (age <50 years old). Models were adjusted for sex, education, body mass index, smoking status, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Results: We studied 99,864 participants with history of hypertension (mean age, 59.3 ± 0.1; 50% women, 90% US born). Asian Indians had higher prevalence of premature hypertension (37%) compared with Filipinos (27%), 'other Asians' (26%), Whites (25%), and Chinese (21%). Compared with Whites, Chinese individuals had lower odds of premature hypertension (aOR = 0.79, 0.63-0.98), but Asian Indians had higher odds (aOR = 1.85, 1.48-2.31). Compared with Chinese, odds of premature hypertension was higher for Asian Indians (aOR = 2.39, 1.74-3.27), Filipinos (aOR = 1.53, 1.16-2.04), and 'other Asians' (OR = 1.32, 1.03-1.70; aOR = 1.59, 1.20-2.10). Overall prevalence of hypertension was lower among Asian Indians (aOR = 0.52, 0.46-0.58) and 'other Asians' (aOR = 0.74, 0.68-0.79) compared with Whites. Conclusions: There is heterogeneity in the risk of hypertension across Asian Americans by age. Asian Indians and 'other Asians' had higher prevalence of premature hypertension and lower prevalence of overall hypertension, which may call for earlier screening for risk factors among these populations.

Association of U.S. birth, duration of residence in the U.S., and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors among Asian adults.

Introduction: Prior studies have shown a direct association between U.S. birth and duration of residence with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) though, few have specifically focused on Asian Americans. Methods: We utilized cross-sectional data from the 2006 to 2015 National Health Interview Survey. We compared prevalent cardiovascular risk factors and ASCVD among Asian American individuals by U.S. birth and duration of time spent in the U.S. Results: The study sample consisted of 18,150 Asian individuals of whom 20.5 % were Asian Indian, 20.5 % were Chinese, 23.4 % were Filipino, and 35.6 % were of other Asian ethnic groups. The mean (standard error) age was 43.8 (0.21) years and 53 % were women. In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, U.S. birth was associated with a higher prevalence odds ratio (95 % confidence interval) of current smoking 1.31 (1.07,1.60), physical inactivity 0.62 (0.54,0.72), obesity 2.26 (1.91,2.69), hypertension 1.33 (1.12,1.58), and CAD 1.96 (1.24,3.11), but lower prevalence of stroke 0.28 (0.11,0.71). Spending greater than 15 years in the U.S. was associated with a higher prevalence of current smoking 1.65 (1.24,2.21), obesity 2.33 (1.57,3.47), diabetes 2.68 (1.17,6.15), and hyperlipidemia 1.72 (1.09,2.71). Conclusion: Heterogeneity exists in cardiovascular risk factor burden among Asian Americans according to Asian ethnicity, U.S. birth, and duration of time living in the U.S.

Association Between Social Vulnerability Index and Cardiovascular Disease: A Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Study.

Background Social and environmental factors play an important role in the rising health care burden of cardiovascular disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) from US census data as a tool for public health officials to identify communities in need of support in the setting of a hazardous event. SVI (ranging from a least vulnerable score of 0 to a most vulnerable score of 1) ranks communities on 15 social factors including unemployment, minoritized groups status, and disability, and groups them under 4 broad themes: socioeconomic status, housing and transportation, minoritized groups, and household composition. We sought to assess the association of SVI with self-reported prevalent cardiovascular comorbidities and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Methods and Results We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of adults (≥18 years) in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2016 to 2019. Data regarding self-reported prevalent cardiovascular comorbidities (including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, substance use), and ASCVD was captured using participants' response to a structured telephonic interview. We divided states on the basis of the tertile of SVI (first-participant lives in the least vulnerable group of states, 0-0.32; to third-participant lives in the most vulnerable group of states, 0.54-1.0). Multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for age, race and ethnicity, sex, employment, income, health care coverage, and association with federal poverty line were constructed to assess the association of SVI with cardiovascular comorbidities. Our study sample consisted of 1 745 999 participants ≥18 years of age. States in the highest (third) tertile of social vulnerability had predominantly Black and Hispanic adults, lower levels of education, lower income, higher rates of unemployment, and higher rates of prevalent comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hyperlipidemia, substance use, and ASCVD. In multivariable logistic regression models, individuals living in states in the third tertile of SVI had higher odds of having hypertension (odds ratio (OR), 1.14 [95% CI, 1.11-1.17]), diabetes (OR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.09-1.15]), hyperlipidemia (OR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.06-1.12]), chronic kidney disease (OR, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.12-1.23]), smoking (OR, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.03-1.07]), and ASCVD (OR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.12-1.19]), compared with those living in the first tertile of SVI. Conclusions SVI varies across the US states and is associated with prevalent cardiovascular comorbidities and ASCVD, independent of age, race and ethnicity, sex, employment, income, and health care coverage. SVI may be a useful assessment tool for health policy makers and health systems researchers examining multilevel influences on cardiovascular-related health behaviors and identifying communities for targeted interventions pertaining to social determinants of health.

Genome-wide association study reveals novel genetic loci: a new polygenic risk score for mitral valve prolapse.

AIMS: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common valvular heart disease with a prevalence of >2% in the general adult population. Despite this high incidence, there is a limited understanding of the molecular mechanism of this disease, and no medical therapy is available for this disease. We aimed to elucidate the genetic basis of MVP in order to better understand this complex disorder. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a meta-analysis of six genome-wide association studies that included 4884 cases and 434 649 controls. We identified 14 loci associated with MVP in our primary analysis and 2 additional loci associated with a subset of the samples that additionally underwent mitral valve surgery. Integration of epigenetic, transcriptional, and proteomic data identified candidate MVP genes including LMCD1, SPTBN1, LTBP2, TGFB2, NMB, and ALPK3. We created a polygenic risk score (PRS) for MVP and showed an improved MVP risk prediction beyond age, sex, and clinical risk factors. CONCLUSION: We identified 14 genetic loci that are associated with MVP. Multiple analyses identified candidate genes including two transforming growth factor-ß signalling molecules and spectrin ß. We present the first PRS for MVP that could eventually aid risk stratification of patients for MVP screening in a clinical setting. These findings advance our understanding of this common valvular heart disease and may reveal novel therapeutic targets for intervention.

Performance and Determinants of Serum Creatinine and Cystatin C-Based GFR Estimating Equations in South Asians.

INTRODUCTION: The creatinine-based Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equation was calibrated for the general Pakistan population (eGFRcr-PK) to eliminate bias and improve accuracy. Cystatin C-based CKD-EPI equations (eGFRcys and eGFRcr-cys) have not been assessed in this population, and non-GFR determinants of cystatin C are unknown. METHODS: We assessed eGFRcys, eGFRcr-cys, and non-GFR determinants of cystatin C in a cross-sectional study of 557 participants (≥40 years of age) from Pakistan. We compared bias (median difference in measured GFR [mGFR] and eGFR), precision (interquartile range [IQR] of differences), accuracy (percentage of eGFR within 30% of mGFR), root mean square error (RMSE), and classification of mGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] and net reclassification index [NRI]) among eGFR equations. RESULTS: We found that eGFRcys underestimated mGFR (bias, 12.7 ml/min/1.73 m2 [95% confidence interval {CI} 10.7-15.2]). eGFRcr-cys did not improve performance over eGFRcr-PK in precision (P = 0.52), accuracy (P = 0.58), or RMSE (P = 0.49). Results were consistent among subgroups by age, sex, smoking, body mass index (BMI), and eGFR. NRI was 7.31% (95% CI 1.52%-13.1%; P < 0.001) for eGFRcr-cys versus eGFRcr-PK, but AUC was not improved (0.92 [95% CI 0.87-0.96] vs. 0.90 [95% CI 0.86-0.95]; P = 0.056). Non-GFR determinants of higher cystatin C included male sex, smoking, higher BMI and total body fat, and lower lean body mass. CONCLUSION: eGFRcys underestimated mGFR in South Asians and eGFRcr-cys did not offer substantial advantage compared with eGFRcr-PK. Future studies are warranted to better understand the large bias in eGFRcys and non-GFR determinants of cystatin C in South Asians.

Recreational substance use among patients with premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: Despite an upsurge in the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) among young adults, the attributable risk of recreational substance use among young patients has been incompletely evaluated. We evaluated the association of all recreational substances with premature and extremely premature ASCVD. METHODS: In a cross-sectional analysis using the 2014-2015 nationwide Veterans Affairs Healthcare database and the Veterans wIth premaTure AtheroscLerosis (VITAL) registry, patients were categorised as having premature, extremely premature or non-premature ASCVD. Premature ASCVD was defined as having first ASCVD event at age <55 years for men and <65 years for women. Extremely premature was defined as having first ASCVD event at age <40 years while non-premature ASCVD was defined as having first ASCVD event at age ≥55 years for men and ≥65 years for women. Patients with premature ASCVD (n=135 703) and those with extremely premature ASCVD (n=7716) were compared against patients with non-premature ASCVD (n=1 112 455). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to study the independent association of all recreational substances with premature and extremely premature ASCVD. RESULTS: Compared with patients with non-premature ASCVD, patients with premature ASCVD had a higher use of tobacco (62.9% vs 40.6%), alcohol (31.8% vs 14.8%), cocaine (12.9% vs 2.5%), amphetamine (2.9% vs 0.5%) and cannabis (12.5% vs 2.7%) (p<0.01 for all comparisons). In adjusted models, the use of tobacco (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.94 to 2.00), alcohol (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.47 to 1.52), cocaine (OR 2.44, 95% CI 2.38 to 2.50), amphetamine (OR 2.74, 95% CI 2.62 to 2.87), cannabis (OR 2.65, 95% CI 2.59 to 2.71) and other drugs (OR 2.53, 95% CI 2.47 to 2.59) was independently associated with premature ASCVD. Patients with polysubstance use had a graded response with the highest risk (~9-fold) of premature ASCVD among patients with use of ≥4 recreational substances. Similar trends were observed among patients with extremely premature ASCVD. Gender interactions with substance use were significant (p-interaction <0.05), with recreational substance use and premature ASCVD showing stronger associations among women than in men with premature ASCVD. CONCLUSIONS: All subgroups of recreational substances were independently associated with a higher likelihood of premature and extremely premature ASCVD. Recreational substance use confers a greater magnitude of risk for premature ASCVD among women. A graded response relationship exists between increasing number of recreational substances used and higher likelihood of early-onset ASCVD.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2021 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association.

BACKGROUND: The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs). METHODS: The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2021 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, adverse pregnancy outcomes, vascular contributions to brain health, the global burden of cardiovascular disease, and further evidence-based approaches to changing behaviors related to cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: Each of the 27 chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics. CONCLUSIONS: The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policy makers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

African American-Caucasian American differences in aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Among patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), there are limited data on aortic valve replacement (AVR), reasons for nonreceipt and mortality by race. METHODS: Utilizing the Duke Echocardiography Laboratory Database, we analyzed data from 110,711 patients who underwent echocardiography at Duke University Medical Center between 1999 and 2013. We identified 1,111 patients with severe AS who met ≥1 of 3 criteria for AVR: ejection fraction ≤50%, diagnosis of heart failure, or need for coronary artery bypass surgery. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between race, AVR and 1-year mortality. χ2 testing was used to assess potential racial differences in reasons for AVR nonreceipt. RESULTS: Among the 1,111 patients (143 AA and 968 CA) eligible for AVR, AA were more often women, had more diabetes, renal insufficiency, aortic regurgitation and left ventricular hypertrophy. CA were more often smokers, had more ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia and higher median income levels. There were no racial differences in surgical risk utilizing logistic euroSCORES. Relative to CA, AA had lower rates of AVR (adjusted odds ratio 0.46, 95% CI 0.3-0.71, P < .001) yet similar 1-year mortality (aHR 0.81, 95% CI 0.57-1.17, P = .262). There were no significant differences in reasons for AVR nonreceipt. CONCLUSIONS: We identified 143 African Americans (AA) and 968 Caucasian Americans(CA) with severe AS who met prespecified criteria for AVR.. AA relative to CA were more often women, had more diabetes, renal insufficiency, and left ventricular hypertrophy, however had less tobacco use, ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia and lower median income levels. Among patients with severe AS, AA relative to CA had lower rates of AVR (adjusted odds ratio 0.46, 95% CI 0.3-0.71, P < .001) without significant differences in reasons for AVR nonreceipt and similar 1-year mortality.

Premature Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: What Have We Learned Recently?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In contrast to patients with non-premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), patients with premature ASCVD have not observed a similar decline in cardiovascular mortality and recurrent adverse events. We sought to review the underlying risk factors, potential gaps in medical management, associated outcomes, and tools for risk prognostication among patients with premature ASCVD. RECENT FINDINGS: In addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors (i.e., diabetes, familial hypercholesterolemia), non-traditional risk factors such as chronic inflammatory conditions, recreational drug use, genetics, and pregnancy-related complications play a key role in development and progression of premature ASCVD. Patients with premature ASCVD, and especially women, receive less optimal medical management as compared to their non-premature counterparts. There is an increasing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among young adults. Hence, this population remains at an elevated risk for premature ASCVD and subsequent adverse cardiovascular events. Future studies evaluating different risk assessment tools and focusing on young patients across all three major domains of ASCVD are needed.

Long-term outcomes of mitral regurgitation by type and severity.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the association of MR severity and type with all-cause death in a large, real-world, clinical setting. METHODS: We reviewed full echocardiography studies at Duke Echocardiography Laboratory (01/01/1995-12/31/2010), classifying MR based on valve morphology, presence of coronary artery disease, and left ventricular size and function. Survival was compared among patients stratified by MR type and baseline severity. RESULTS: Of 93,007 qualifying patients, 32,137 (34.6%) had ≥mild MR. A total of 8094 (8.7%) had moderate/severe MR, which was primary myxomatous (14.1%), primary non-myxomatous (6.2%), secondary non-ischemic (17.0%), and secondary ischemic (49.4%). At 10 years, patients with primary myxomatous MR or MR due to indeterminate cause had survival rates of >60%; primary non-myxomatous, secondary ischemic, and non-ischemic MR had survival rates <50%. While mild (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.09), moderate (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.27-1.37), and severe (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.46-1.65) MR were independently associated with all-cause death, the relationship of increasing MR severity with mortality varied across MR types (P ≤ .001 for interaction); the highest risk associated with worsening severity was seen in primary myxomatous MR followed by secondary ischemic MR and primary non-myxomatous MR. CONCLUSIONS: Although MR severity is independently associated with increased all-cause death risk for most forms of MR, the absolute mortality rates associated with worse MR severity are much higher for primary myxomatous, non-myxomatous, and secondary ischemic MR. The findings from this study support carefully defining MR by type and severity.

Stable ischemic heart disease in women: current perspectives.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women accounting for 1 in every 4 female deaths. Pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease in women includes epicardial coronary artery, endothelial dysfunction, coronary vasospasm, plaque erosion and spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Angina is the most common presentation of stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) in women. Risk factors for SIHD include traditional risks such as older age, obesity (body mass index [BMI] >25 kg/m2), smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease, sedentary lifestyle, family history of premature coronary artery disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus, and nontraditional risk factors, such as gestational diabetes, insulin resistance/polycystic ovarian disease, pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, menopause, mental stress and autoimmune diseases. Diagnostic testing can be used effectively to risk stratify women. Guidelines-directed medical therapy including aspirin, statins, beta-blocker therapy, calcium channel blockers and ranolazine should be instituted for symptom and ischemia management. Despite robust evidence regarding the adverse outcomes seen in women with ischemic heart disease, knowledge gaps exist in several areas. Future research needs to be directed toward a greater understanding of the role of nontraditional risk factors for SIHD in women, gaining deeper insights into the sex differences in therapeutic effects and formulating a sex-specific algorithm for the management of SIHD in women.

Prevalence and Outcomes of Left-Sided Valvular Heart Disease Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an adverse prognostic marker for valve intervention patients; however, the prevalence and related outcomes of valvular heart disease in CKD patients is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Included patients underwent echocardiography (1999-2013), had serum creatinine values within 6 months before index echocardiogram, and had no history of valve surgery. CKD was defined as diagnosis based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision or an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Qualitative assessment determined left heart stenotic and regurgitant valve lesions. Cox models assessed CKD and aortic stenosis (AS) interaction for subsequent mortality; analyses were repeated for mitral regurgitation (MR). Among 78 059 patients, 23 727 (30%) had CKD; of these, 1326 were on hemodialysis. CKD patients were older; female; had a higher prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, history of coronary artery bypass grafting/percutaneous coronary intervention, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure ≥mild AS; and ≥mild MR (all P<0.001). Five-year survival estimates of mild, moderate, and severe AS for CKD patients were 40%, 34%, and 42%, respectively, and 69%, 54%, and 67% for non-CKD patients. Five-year survival estimates of mild, moderate, and severe MR for CKD patients were 51%, 38%, and 37%, respectively, and 75%, 66%, and 65% for non-CKD patients. Significant interaction occurred among CKD, AS/MR severity, and mortality in adjusted analyses; the CKD hazard ratio increased from 1.8 (non-AS patients) to 2.0 (severe AS) and from 1.7 (non-MR patients) to 2.6 (severe MR). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of at least mild AS and MR is substantially higher and is associated with significantly lower survival among patients with versus without CKD. There is significant interaction among CKD, AS/MR severity, and mortality, with increasingly worse outcomes for CKD patients with increasing AS/MR severity.

Functional Mitral Regurgitation: Appraising the Evidence Behind Recommended Treatment Strategies.

Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common type of MR encountered in clinical practice. Because the disease arises from the ventricular aspect of the mitral valve apparatus, treatment therapies are less defined and outcomes are poor. In this review, the state of evidence for medical and surgical therapy in functional MR is appraised. Future directions for research in this area are also defined.