Effect of Optimized Versus Guidelines-Based Automated External Defibrillator Placement on Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Coverage: An In Silico Trial.

Background Mathematical optimization of automated external defibrillator (AED) placement may improve AED accessibility and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes compared with American Heart Association (AHA) and European Resuscitation Council (ERC) placement guidelines. We conducted an in silico trial (simulated prospective cohort study) comparing mathematically optimized placements with placements derived from current AHA and ERC guidelines, which recommend placement in locations where OHCAs are usually witnessed. Methods and Results We identified all public OHCAs of presumed cardiac cause from 2008 to 2016 in Copenhagen, Denmark. For the control, we computationally simulated placing 24/7-accessible AEDs at every unique, public, witnessed OHCA location at monthly intervals over the study period. The intervention consisted of an equal number of simulated AEDs placements, deployed monthly, at mathematically optimized locations, using a model that analyzed historical OHCAs before that month. For each approach, we calculated the number of OHCAs in the study period that occurred within a 100-m route distance based on Copenhagen's road network of an available AED after it was placed ("OHCA coverage"). Estimated impact on bystander defibrillation and 30-day survival was calculated by multivariate logistic regression. The control scenario involved 393 AEDs at historical, public, witnessed OHCA locations, covering 15.8% of the 653 public OHCAs from 2008 to 2016. The optimized locations provided significantly higher coverage (24.2%; P<0.001). Estimated bystander defibrillation and 30-day survival rates increased from 15.6% to 18.2% (P<0.05) and from 32.6% to 34.0% (P<0.05), respectively. As a baseline, the 1573 real AEDs in Copenhagen covered 14.4% of the OHCAs. Conclusions Mathematical optimization can significantly improve OHCA coverage and estimated clinical outcomes compared with a guidelines-based approach to AED placement.

Associations between ideal blood pressure based on different BMI categories and stroke incidence.

OBJECTIVES: The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guideline for high blood pressure (BP) in adults redefined hypertension as SBP at least 130 mmHg or DBP at least 80 mmHg. However, the optimal BP for different BMI population to reduce stroke incidence is uncertain. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was designed by four examinations: baseline (2004-2006), 2008, 2010 and 2017 follow-up. The study group composed of 36 352 individuals, to determine the ideal BP range to reduce stroke incidence of two BMI level, adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to establish the associations between SBP/DBP and the risk of stroke incident. Then, the restricted cubic spline regression was applied to find the ideal range of SBP/DBP values for two kinds of BMI categories definitions. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 12.5 years, 2548 (7.0%) nonstroke individuals at baseline developed incident stroke. After fully adjusting confounding factors, SBP (per 20 mmHg increase) and DBP (per 10 mmHg increase) are independently associated with the risk of stroke incidence [SBP, hazard ratio = 1.277, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.217-1.340, P < 0.001; DBP, hazard ratio = 1.138, 95% CI, 1.090-1.189, P < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that the ideal BP for a population with BMI less than 24 kg/m was less than 130/80 mmHg, whereas the ideal BP for BMI at least 24 kg/m was less than 120/80 mmHg. The sensitivity analyses between BMI less than 25 kg/m and BMI at least 25 kg/m showed similar findings. This finding provides more accurate primary prevention strategies based on various BMI populations.

Clinical outcomes and economic impact of the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines on hypertension in China.

The 2017 guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure in adults were published by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. The impact on clinical outcomes and costs needs to be estimated prior to adopting these guidelines in China. Data from a nationally representative sample in China were analyzed. The prevalence and treatment were calculated based on the criteria of the 2017 guidelines and 2018 Chinese guidelines among participants aged ≥35 years old. Direct medical costs, as well as the averted disability adjusted of life years and cost saving from cardiovascular disease events prevented by controlling hypertension, were also estimated. The prevalence and treatment rate of hypertension were 32.0% and 43.4% according to the 2018 Chinese guidelines. Based on the 2017 guidelines, another 24.5% of the adult population (estimated 168.1 million) would be classified as having hypertension; of whom, about 32.1 million would need to be pharmaceutically treated to reach the current treatment rate of 43.4%. As a result, an estimated additional 42.7 billion US dollars  of the direct medical cost would be required for lifetime therapy. By preventing cardiovascular events, the new guidelines would reduce lifetime costs by 3.77 billion US dollars, while preventing 1.41 million disability adjusted of life years lost. Application of the 2017 guidelines in China will substantially increase the prevalence of hypertension and produce a large increase in therapy costs, although it would prevent cardiovascular disease events and save disability adjusted of life years.

Updated hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control rates based on the 2017ACC/AHA high blood pressure guideline.

In 2017, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) updated the Guideline of Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management and Management of High Blood Pressure (HBP) in Adults. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the potential impact of the 2017ACC/AHA HBP guideline on hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control rates. The data were collected from Physical Examination Center of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2012 to December 2017 (N = 66 977), including demographic information and risk factors of hypertension. The hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control rates of people were evaluated according to the new guideline. Additionally, the factors related to hypertension prevalence were also assessed. According to previous HBP guideline, hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control rate were 30.54%, 44.33%, and 13.04%, respectively. However, when the 2017 ACC/AHA HBP guideline was introduced, the population with hypertension increased from 20 453 to 34 460, the hypertension prevalence rate increased from 30.54% to 51.45%, the awareness rate decreased from 44.33% to 26.31%, and the control rate declined from 13.04% to 2.72%. The most newly diagnosed hypertension patients were from the low-risk population with young age and without the above histories. The 2017ACC/AHA HBP guideline indicated that high hypertension prevalence rate still existed with a substantial increase, while the awareness and control rates were relatively lowered.

Life's Simple 7 and Peripheral Artery Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: In 2010, the American Heart Association initiated Life's Simple 7 with the goal of significantly improving cardiovascular health by the year 2020. The association of Life's Simple 7 with risk of peripheral artery disease has not been thoroughly explored. METHODS: Racially diverse individuals from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (2000-2012) were followed for incident peripheral artery disease (ankle brachial index ≤0.90) and decline in ankle brachial index (≥0.15) over approximately 10 years of follow-up. Cox and logistic regression were used to assess associations of individual Life's Simple 7 components (score 0-2) and overall Life's Simple 7 score (score 0-14) with incident peripheral artery disease and ankle brachial index decline, respectively, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and income. Analyses were performed in 2016-2018. RESULTS: Of 5,529 participants, 251 (4.5%) developed incident peripheral artery disease; 419 (9.8%) of 4,267 participants experienced a decline in ankle brachial index. Each point higher for the overall Life's Simple 7 score was associated with a 17% lower rate of incident peripheral artery disease (hazard ratio=0.83, 95% CI=0.78, 0.88, p<0.001). Additionally, each point higher in overall Life's Simple 7 was associated with a 0.94-fold lower odds of decline in ankle brachial index (OR=0.94, 95% CI=0.87, 0.97, p=0.003). Four components (smoking, physical activity, glucose, and blood pressure) were associated with incident peripheral artery disease and two (smoking and glucose) with decline in ankle brachial index. CONCLUSIONS: Better cardiovascular health as measured by Life's Simple 7 is associated with lower incidence of peripheral artery disease and less decline in ankle brachial index. Use of the Life's Simple 7 to target modifiable health behaviors may aid in decreasing the population burden of peripheral artery disease-related morbidity and mortality.

Implications of New Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines on Statin Utilization, Intensity, and Costs in Active Duty Service Members.

Background: The recommendations in the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) blood cholesterol guidelines expanded the indications and level of intensity of statin therapy for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. We assessed the treatment and cost implications of theseguidelines within a cohort of active duty service members. Methods: Using the military electronic medical record system, the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application, we randomly selected 1,000 active duty persons aged 40 yr or older and reviewed their lipid profiles and medical records to identify risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We compared the recommended cholesterol treatment under the new ACC/AHA guidelines versus the Third Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program. Findings: The mean age was 49 ± 7 yr, 36% were female, 22% were on baseline statin therapy (4% high intensity), and 13% were not at Third Adult Treatment Panel cholesterol goal. There was no difference in the proportion eligible for statin therapy between ACC/AHA and Third Adult Treatment Panel guidelines. Statin treatment under the ACC/AHA guideline resulted in a mean statin dose increase from 25 ± 20 mg to 36 ± 25 mg (p < 0.001) with an increase in those eligible for high-intensity statin therapy, 6% to 11% (p < 0.001). These changes translated to higher estimated yearly statin acquisition costs, $40,197 versus $52,527 per 1,000 patient-years of treatment (p < 0.001). Discussion: Within a low-risk active duty population over 40 yr, application of the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol treatment guidelines may not significantly increase those eligible for statins, but may increase statin treatment intensity and costs.

Home blood pressure monitoring among adults-American Heart Association Cardiovascular Health Consumer Survey, 2012.

Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) among hypertensive adults was assessed using the 2012 American Heart Association Cardiovascular Health Consumer Survey. The prevalence of hypertension was 25.5% and 53.8% of those reported HBPM. Approximately 63% of hypertensive adults 65 years and older reported HBPM followed by 51% and 34.6% (35-64 and 18-34 years, respectively; P=.001). Those who had seen a healthcare professional within a year reported HBPM compared with those who had not (54.8% vs 32.8%, P=.047). Those who believed that lowering blood pressure can reduce risk of heart attack and stroke had a higher percentage of HBPM compared with those who did not (55.5% vs 33.1%, P=.01). Age and the belief that lowering blood pressure could reduce cardiovascular disease risk were significant factors associated with HBPM. Half of the adult hypertensive patients reported HBPM and its use was greater among those who reported a positive attitude toward lowering blood pressure to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Measurement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in assessment and management of cardiovascular disease risk.

The deposition of cholesterol in the arterial wall by the infiltration of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) is a key step in the development of atherosclerosis. In this Commentary, we discuss recent recommendations for clinical laboratory measurement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and its utility both for assessing cardiovascular disease risk and as a tool in the management of patients receiving lipid-lowering therapy.

Cardiovascular research support by the American Heart Association in Louisiana.

The American Heart Association (AHA) was founded in 1924 by a group of physician-scientists to promote the exchange of research ideas in an era when the treatment of heart disease was extremely frustrating. The organization has evolved to include education and community service in its mission, but the support and promotion of quality research has remained at the AHA's core. Research support by the AHA has been responsible for major advances in cardiovascular medicine, including the development of diuretics, pacemakers, artificial heart valves, defibrillators, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, hypercholesterolemia therapy, and artificial surfactant. Working to ensure the efficient distribution of funds, the AHA has distributed nearly $1.4 billion in support of quality research for graduate and medical students, post-doctoral fellows, and beginning and established investigators. Such support has assisted in the career development of four Nobel Prize winners. While cardiovascular disease remains America's leading cause of death, the activities of the AHA continue to support advances in its diagnosis and treatment.