Trends of global burden of atrial fibrillation/flutter from Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the global burden of atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (AF/AFL). METHODS: We retrieved data from the Global Health Data Exchange query tool and estimated the age-standardised rates (ASRs) of prevalence, incidence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of AF/AFL, as well as the population attributable fraction (PAF) of risk factors contributing to DALYs. ASRs and sociodemographic index (SDI) were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: In 2017, there were 37.6 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 32.5 to 42.6 million) individuals with AF/AFL globally. The prevalence rates increased with increased SDI values in most regions for all years. Men had a higher prevalence than women across all regions except for China. From 1990 to 2017, global prevalence rate decreased by 5.08% (95% UI -6.24% to -3.82%), with the largest decrease noted in the region with high SDI values. The global DALYs rate declined by 2.53% (95% UI -4.16 to -0.29). PAF of elevated systolic blood pressure for attributable DALYs accounted for the highest percentage, followed by high body mass index, alcohol use, high-sodium diet, smoking and lead exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Although the ASRs of prevalence, incidence and DALYs decreased from 1990 to 2017, the absolute number of patients with AF/AFL, annual number of new AF/AFL cases and DALYs lost due to AF/AFL increased. This indicates that the burden of AF/AFL is likely to remain high. Systematic surveillance is needed to better identify and manage AF/AFL so as to prevent its various risk factors and complications.

Risk assessment of trace metal-polluted coastal sediments on Hainan Island: A full-scale set of 474 geographical locations covering the entire island.

Hainan Island is the second largest island and one of the most famous tourist destinations in China, but sediment contamination by trace metals in coastal areas is a major issue. However, full-scale risk assessments of trace metal-polluted coastal sediments are lacking. In this study, coastal surface sediments from 474 geographical locations covering almost the entire island were collected to identify risk-related variables. Controlling factors and possible sources of trace metals were identified, and the toxicity effects were carefully evaluated. Our results suggest that trace-metal pollution in coastal sediments, which was mainly caused by Pb, Zn and Cu emissions, has primarily resulted from industrial sewage and shipping activities and has threatened the offshore ecosystem of Hainan Island and warrants extensive consideration. This is the first study that has systematically investigated trace metal-polluted coastal sediments throughout the entirety of Hainan Island and provides solid evidence for sustainable marine management in the region.

Study on method for assessment of the physical structure integrity in Chagan lake in China based on remote sensing.

This paper, taking Chagan lake as the study area, uses and improves MWR V1.0 (Rivers (Lake) Health Assessment Indicators, Standards and Methods V1.0) relating to the theory and method of physical structure integrity assessment. A 500 m × 1000 m grid on the lakeshore zone is a basic evaluation unit, and then a lakeshore physical structural integrity evaluation system using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) technology is established, which contains a target layer, criterion layer and indicator layer. The criterion layer consists of lakeshore condition, shoreline development rate and lake atrophy rate, and the index layer is composed of slope, vegetation cover rate and water level change rate, and another eight indicators. The results showed that for the 23 monitoring points in Chagan lake and the 15 monitoring points in Xinmiao lake, the evaluation results based on RS were 0.60-0.74 and 0.35-0.52, respectively, and the field evaluation results were 0.64-0.77 and 0.35-0.55, respectively. The evaluation results of the two methods consistently indicated that the physical structure of the lakeshore of Chagan lake was healthy and the Xinmiao's lakeshore was sub-health. On this basis, a piecewise evaluation method of physical structure integrity based on the division of the nature reserve function was proposed in this paper.

[Assessment of quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease with Seattle angina questionnaire].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate quality of life (QOL) of patients with different severity of coronary artery disease using Seattle angina questionnaire (SAQ). METHODS: A total of 513 hospitalized patients undergoing coronary angiography from December 2007 to December 2008 were included. QOL of these patients was measured with SAQ and their demographic and clinical data were collected. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the severity of coronary artery disease by coronary angiography. And comparisons of traditional risk factors and QOL were made among these groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the variables associated with QOL. RESULTS: The scores of physical limitation were significantly different among 3 groups according to the severity of coronary artery disease by coronary angiography (80 +/- 16, 79 +/- 19 and 71 +/- 22, P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that physical limitation of the patients was affected by age (P < 0.01), gender (P < 0.01) and severity of coronary artery disease (P < 0.01). Angina stability was affected by the history of myocardial infarction (P = 0.03). Angina frequency was affected by the history of myocardial infarction (P = 0.01) and gender (P = 0.04). Treatment satisfaction was affected by the severity of coronary artery disease (P = 0.03) and disease perception by the history of DM (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Age, gender, history of myocardial infarction, history of DM and severity of coronary artery disease are independent predictors of QOL in patients with coronary artery disease.

[Assessment of life quality in patients with chronic heart failure].

OBJECTIVE: Using Kansas city cardiomyopathy questionnaire (KCCQ) to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of the patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS: A total of 271 hospitalized patients with heart failure symptoms in cardiology department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, who undergone coronary angiography from December 2007 to December 2008, were included in this study. QOL of the subjects was measured, and their demographic and clinical data were collected. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to heart function and they were compared by QOL.Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the variables associated with the quality of life. RESULTS: KCCQ physical limitation scores of the patients of left ventricular elective fraction (LVEF) < 50% (n = 50) and LVEF > or = 50% (n = 221) were (66 +/- 22) points and (73 +/- 22) points (P < 0.05). In the patients of NYHA I/II (n = 227) vs NYHA III/IV (n = 44), KCCQ scores of physical limitation, symptoms and QOL were (74 +/- 20) vs (60 +/- 27) points, (62 +/- 22) vs (49 +/- 25) points and (61 +/- 16) vs (53 +/- 18) points (all P < 0.05). In the patients of heart failure grade A/B (n = 197) vs grade C/D (n = 74), KCCQ scores of physical limitation, symptoms and QOL were (75 +/- 19) vs (61 +/- 26) points, (63 +/- 22) vs (52 +/- 24) points, (61 +/- 16) vs (56 +/- 18) points (all P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis of QOL KCCQ showed that, age, NYHA cardiac function classification, gender and Judkins score were the risk factors of patients' physical limitation (P < 0.01); gender and stages of heart failure were the risk factors of patients'symptoms (P < 0.01); gender was the risk factors of patients'social function (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The patients with poor cardiac function have a poor QOL. KCCQ is more sensitive for the evaluation of heart function. Age, NYHA, gender, Judkins score and stages of heart failure can change QOL for the patients with chronic heart failure.