Effectiveness of treatment of arterial hypertension in Central Europe from 1972 to 2022.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. This review examines the literature on hypertension control in the Czech Republic from 1972 to 2022 addressing limited data on its effectiveness. METHODS: A literature review was conducted covering the period from 1972 to 2022, utilizing MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Articles were selected based on title and abstract evaluations, with full-text reviews performed as needed. Thirteen studies involving 44,990 participants were included in this review. RESULTS: Control rates increased from 2.8% (men) and 5.2% (women) in 1985 to 32.3% (men) and 37.4% (women) from 2015 to 2018. Women showed better blood pressure control. Specialised centres achieved higher success (48%) than general practitioners (18.4%). Diabetic patients had a lower percentage (29.1%) of patients meeting their target values (<130/80 mmHg) compared to non-diabetic patients, who had a higher percentage (60.6%) meeting their target values (<140/90 mmHg). CONCLUSION: Hypertension treatment success rate in the Czech Republic improved significantly over the last 50 years and is currently comparable to that of other European countries with similar healthcare resources. However, it still remains suboptimal and lags behind the countries with the most successful treatment outcomes (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 37). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: hypertension, treatment, effectiveness, Czech Republic, blood pressure.

Revised Case Finding Protocol for Dysglycemia in Chile: A Call for Action in Other Populations.

OBJECTIVE: Guidelines recommend case finding for dysglycemia (prediabetes and type 2 diabetes [T2D]) in adults or youth older than 10 years with overweight/obesity, but increased adiposity has not been associated with dysglycemia in some Hispanic populations. This study aims to determine the prevalence of dysglycemia in this population using simplified criteria independent of body mass index and age to request an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). METHODS: Cross-sectional retrospective analysis of medical records from a clinical center in Chile (2000-2007). OGTT was obtained from any patient with 1 cardiometabolic risk factor (CMRF) independent of age and body mass index. RESULTS: In total, 4969 adults (mean age ± SD) 45.7 ± 15.9 years and 509 youths 16.6 ± 3.0 years were included. The prevalence (%, 95% CI) of prediabetes doubled that of T2D in youths (14.1%, 1.4-17.4 vs 6.3%, 4.5-8.7) and tripled it in adults (36.0%, 34.7-37.4 vs 10.7%, 9.8-11.5). In underweight and normal-weight adults, 22% (12.0-36.7) and 29.2% (26.4-32.1) had prediabetes, whereas 4.9% (1.3-16.1) and 8.8% (7.2-10.7) had T2D, respectively. In normal weight youths, 10.5% (6.7-15.9) and 2.9% (1.2-6.6) had prediabetes and T2D, respectively. In adults, but not in youths, most dysglycemia categories were related to overweight/obesity. CONCLUSION: This study supports a public health policy to identify more people at risk for cardiovascular disease by implementing a revised case finding protocol for dysglycemia using OGTT in even normal weight patients over 6 years of age when there is at least 1 CMRF. Reanalysis of case finding protocols for cardiometabolic risk in other populations is warranted.

Sugar-sweetened beverages and childhood abnormal adiposity in the Czech Republic - narrative literature review.

OBJECTIVES: In Czech children, the burden related to the high body-mass index is rising. In the last three decades, Western eating patterns have influenced Czech children's diet, including the high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. This narrative review aims to evaluate evidence of the trend of sugar-sweetened beverages consumption in Czech children and its impact on the prevalence of childhood abnormal adiposity. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review in MEDLINE (PubMed) and a hand search using references in identified articles were performed. The inclusion criteria were population-based studies of randomly selected samples of children from 0 to 18 years old, data involving the Czech population, published from 1990 to 2021. The results were organized into three sections - childhood abnormal adiposity, SSBs consumption, and the association between SSBs consumption and abnormal adiposity. RESULTS: The studies showed a significant increase in abnormal adiposity in both genders and all age categories. The highest prevalence of abnormal adiposity was observed in boys and younger children. On the contrary, sugar-sweetened beverages showed a significant decline in daily consumption among Czech children of both genders and all age categories. No results were found for consequences of abnormal adiposity concerning sugar-sweetened beverages consumption. CONCLUSION: Findings from this review could serve public health experts to detect the areas of a gap in research and establish potential interventions in vulnerable groups. Observation of potential obesogenic contributors - including sugar-sweetened beverages - should be an integral part of effective action against the obesity pandemic.

The Prevalence of Dysglycemia-Based Chronic Disease in a European Population - a New Paradigm to Address Diabetes Burden: A Kardiovize Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence rate and associated risk factors for each stage of the Dysglycemia-Based Chronic Disease (DBCD) model, which 4 distinct stages and prompts early prevention to avert Diabetes and cardiometabolic complications. METHODS: Subjects between 25 and 64 years old from a random population-based sample were evaluated in Czechia from 2013 to 2014 using a cross-sectional design. DBCD stages were: stage 1 "insulin resistance" (inferred risk from abdominal obesity or a family history of diabetes); stage 2 "prediabetes"(fasting glucose between 5.6 and 6.9 mmol/L); stage 3 "type 2 diabetes (T2D)" (self-report of T2D or fasting glucose ≥7 mmol/L); and stage 4 "vascular complications" (T2D with cardiovascular disease). RESULTS: A total of 2147 subjects were included (57.8% women) with a median age of 48 years. The prevalence of each DBCD stage were as follows: 54.2% (stage 1); 10.3% (stage 2), 3.7% (stage 3); and 1.2% (stage 4). Stages 2 to 4 were more frequent in men and stage 1 in women (P < .001). Using binary logistic regression analysis adjusting by age/sex, all DBCD stages were strongly associated with abnormal adiposity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking status. Subjects with lower educational levels and lower income were more likely to present DBCD. CONCLUSION: Using the new DBCD framework and available metrics, 69.4% of the population had DBCD, identifying far more people at risk than a simple prevalence rate for T2D (9.2% in Czechia, 2013-2014). All stages were associated with traditional cardiometabolic risk factors, implicating common pathophysiologic mechanisms and a potential for early preventive care. The social determinants of health were related with all DBCD stages in alarming proportions and will need to be further studied.

Arterial Stiffness and Cardiometabolic-Based Chronic Disease: The Kardiovize Study.

OBJECTIVE: Arterial stiffness (ArSt) describes a loss of arterial wall elasticity and is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. A cardiometabolic-based chronic disease model integrates concepts of adiposity-based chronic disease (ABCD), dysglycemia-based chronic disease (DBCD), and cardiovascular disease. We assessed if ABCD and DBCD models detect more people with high ArSt compared with traditional adiposity and dysglycemia classifiers using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). METHODS: We evaluated 2070 subjects aged 25 to 64 years from a random population-based sample. Those with type 1 diabetes were excluded. ABCD and DBCD were defined, and ArSt risk was stratified based on the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists criteria. RESULTS: The highest prevalence of a high CAVI was in stage 2 ABCD (18.5%) and stage 4 DBCD (31.8%), and the lowest prevalence was in stage 0 ABCD (2.2%). In univariate analysis, stage 2 ABCD and all DBCD stages increased the risk of having a high CAVI compared with traditional classifiers. After adjusting for age and gender, only an inverse association between obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) and CAVI remained significant. Nevertheless, body mass index was responsible for only 0.3% of CAVI variability. CONCLUSION: The ABCD and DBCD models showed better performance than traditional classifiers to detect subjects with ArSt; however, the variables were not independently associated with age and gender, which might be explained by the complexity and multifactoriality of the relationship of CAVI with the ABCD and DBCD models, mediated by insulin resistance.

Associations between high triglycerides and arterial stiffness in a population-based sample: Kardiovize Brno 2030 study.

BACKGROUND: The term arterial stiffness (ArSt) describes structural changes in arterial wall related to the loss of elasticity and is known as an independent predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The evidence relating to ArSt and triglycerides (TG) shows contradictory results. This paper means to survey the association between high TG and ArSt, utilizing the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). METHODS: Subjects aged between 25 and 64 years from a random population-based sample were evaluated between 2013 and 2016. Data from questionnaires, blood pressure, anthropometric measures, and blood samples were collected and analyzed. CAVI was measured using VaSera VS-1500 N devise. Subjects with a history of CVD or chronic renal disease were excluded. RESULTS: One thousand nine hundred thirty-four participants, 44.7% of males, were included. The median age was 48 (Interquartile Range [IQR] 19) years, TG levels were 1.05 (0.793) mmol/L, and CAVI 7.24 (1.43) points. Prevalence of high CAVI was 10.0% (14.5% in males and 6.4% in females; P <  0.001) and prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was 20.2% (29.2% in males and 13% in females, P <  0.001). The correlation between TG and CAVI was 0.136 (P <  0.001). High CAVI values were more prevalent among participants with metabolic syndrome (MetS), high blood pressure, dysglycemia, abdominal obesity, high LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c), and high total cholesterol. Using binary regression analysis, high TG were associated with high CAVI, even after adjustment for other MetS components, age, gender, smoking status, LDL-c, and statin treatment (ß = 0.474, OR = 1.607, 95% CI = 1.063-2.429, P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: TG levels were correlated with ArSt, measured as CAVI. High TG was associated with high CAVI independent of multiple cardiometabolic risk factors. Awareness of the risks and targeted treatment of hypertriglyceridemia could further benefit in reducing the prevalence of CVD and events.

APPLICATION OF THE AACE/ACE ADVANCED FRAMEWORK FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF OBESITY AND CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASE STAGING IN A GENERAL POPULATION FROM 3 REGIONS OF VENEZUELA: THE VEMSOLS STUDY RESULTS.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of obesity according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology (AACE/ACE) framework based on a complications-centric model with further application of the Cardiometabolic Disease Staging (CMDS) system in a Venezuelan population. METHODS: A total of 1,320 adults were randomly selected from 3 regions. The AACE/ACE framework definitions were as follows: overweight, body mass index (BMI) 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 and no obesity-related complications (ORC); obesity stage 0, BMI ≥30 and no ORC; stage 1, BMI ≥25 and 1 or more mild-to-moderate ORC; and stage 2, BMI ≥25 and 1 or more severe ORC. CMDS definitions were as follows: stage 0, no metabolic syndrome (MS) components; stage 1, 1 to 2 MS components without impaired fasting glucose (IFG); stage 2, IFG or ≥3 MS components but without IFG; stage 3, IFG and MS; and stage 4, type 2 diabetes (T2D) or cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: The mean age was 44.8 ± 0.4 years, and 68.5% were female. The prevalence of obesity according to the AACE/ACE framework was 63.1%: overweight 3.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1-3.9); obesity stage 0: 0.1% (0.07-0.27); obesity stage 1: 26.6% (24.2-29.0); and obesity stage 2: 36.4% (33.8-39.0). Most subjects with a BMI <25 were CMDS 0 or 1. In those with BMI ≥ 25, only 4.6% were CMDS 0. The prevalence of obesity according to the World Health Organization (WHO, BMI ≥30) was 29.3% (24.7-33.7). CONCLUSION: In a general population study, applying the AACE/ACE framework for obesity and CMDS increased the detection of ORC and therefore higher risk subjects compared to classic anthropometric measurements. ABBREVIATIONS: AACE = American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists; ACE = American College of Endocrinology; BMI = body mass index; CMDS = Cardiometabolic Disease Staging; DALY = disability-adjusted life years; LA = Latin America; MS = metabolic syndrome; ORC = obesity-related complications; WC = waist circumference; WHO = World Health Organization.

Are Eating Disorders Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

RECENT FINDINGS: Eating disorders (ED) affect energy intake modifying body fat depots. Prior evidence suggests that binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN) could increase the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D), while anorexia nervosa (AN) could reduce it. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate if ED are risk factors for T2D. Ten studies were selected out of 1057 screened. Meta-analysis of six studies with T2D as outcome is reported. Among cross-sectional studies, both BED (OR 3.69, 95% CI [1.12-12.12]) and BN (OR 3.45 [1.92-6.1]) increased the risk of T2D, while AN was not associated with lower risk (OR 0.87 [0.40-1.88]). Cohort studies showed increased risk of T2D with BN (RR 1.7 [1.2-2.5]), and decreased risk with AN (RR 0.71 [0.52-0.98]), but for BED the association was less clear (OR 3.34 [0.85-13.12]). Limitations of studies and recommendations for future research are presented.

Cardio-Metabolic Health Venezuelan Study (EVESCAM): Design and Implementation.

The EVESCAM (EstudioVenezolano de Salud Cardio-Metabólica) is the first national, population survey in Venezuela, designed to examine the prevalence of diabetes and cardio-metabolic risk factors and its relationship with lifestyle. It is a cross-sectional, cluster sampling study, which recruited 4454 participants aged ≥ 20 years. The data were collected in community health-care centers by trained health professionals and medical students. The data collected from each subject included, after informed consent, structured questionnaires (clinical, demographic, physical activity, nutritional and psychological), anthropometric measurements (weight, height and waist circumference), body fat by bioelectrical impedance, hand grip, blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and biochemical measurements (standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides). The data will be used to estimate the prevalence of overweight, obesity, prediabetes, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemias, sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome; and to examine their relationships with lifestyle factors. The risk of coronary heart disease and impaired glucose regulation will be estimated using the Framingham Coronary Heart Disease Risk Score and the Latin America adaptation of the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (LA-FINDRISC), respectively. These results will guide national cardiovascular and diabetes prevention strategies, and will be available for government agencies to help in the implementation of public health policies.

High prevalence and poor control of hypertension in five venezuelan populations: the VEMSOLS study.

The prevalence of hypertension in multiple regions of Venezuela is unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hypertension in five populations from three regions. During 2006 to 2010, 1392 subjects aged 20 or older were selected by multistage stratified random sampling from all households in five municipalities from: Lara State (Western region), Merida State (Andean region), and Capital District (Capital region). Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and biochemical analysis were obtained from each participant. Mean age was 45.2 ± 0.4 years and 68% were females. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 31.3% (CI 95% 28.9 ­ 33.8), it was higher in men than women (38.1% [33.5 ­ 42.8] vs. 28.2% [25.4 ­ 31.2], respectively; p <0.001). The hypertensive participants were older, with higher body mass index (BMI), glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-c, and triglycerides; and lower values of HDL-c, than pre-hypertensive and normotensive participants (p < 0.05). In women, hypertension prevalence increased linearly for every decade of life and by category of BMI; whereas in men it increased until the fifth decade of life, and was similar in patients with overweight and obesity. The risk of hypertension increased with age, the presence of obesity, diabetes, overweight and family history of hypertension. Only 17.7% of the hypertensive subjects were both treated and controlled. In conclusion, about one third of the subjects evaluated had hypertension and about one fifth of them had their hypertension under control. In Venezuela, hypertension is a serious public health problem exacerbated by age and overweight.

The explanation of educational disparities in adiposity by lifestyle, socioeconomic and mental health mediators: a multiple mediation model.

BACKGROUND: The inverse association between education and obesity was previously found in numerous studies. This study aims to assess several possible mediators in the educational disparities in adiposity. We hypothesize the potential mediating role of lifestyle, socioeconomic, and mental health factors in the association between education and adiposity. METHODS: Cross-sectional population-based sample from Czechia included 2,154 25-64 years old subjects (54.6% women). Education was classified as high, middle, and low. Adiposity was assessed as a latent variable based on body fat percentage, BMI, waist circumference, and visceral fat. The mediation potential of unhealthy dietary behavior, alcohol intake, smoking, sedentary behaviors, income, stress, depression, and quality of life was assessed in age-adjusted sex-specific multiple mediation models. RESULTS: The negative direct effect of education on adiposity was statistically significant at 5% level of significance in both sexes. For men, the indirect effect was statistically significant via sedentary behavior (ß = 0.041; 95% CI [0.025-0.062]) with a mediation ratio of 23.7%. In women, the indirect effect was statistically significant via dietary risk (ß = -0.023, 95% CI [-0.037, -0.013]), alcohol intake (ß = -0.006; 95% CI [-0.014, -0.001]), sedentary behavior (ß = 0.012, 95% CI [0.004,0.023]), income (ß = -0.022; 95% CI [-0.041, -0.004]), and mental health (ß = -0.007; 95% CI [-0.019, -0.001]). The total mediation ratio in women was 30.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary behaviors had mediating role in the association between education and adiposity in both sexes, with more important role in men. In addition, unhealthy diet and lower income partially mediated the educational gradient in adiposity in women.

The diabetes care continuum in Venezuela: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses to evaluate engagement and retention in care.

The impact of the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela on care for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes is unknown. This study aims to document health system performance for diabetes management in Venezuela during the humanitarian crisis. This longitudinal study on NCDs is nationally representative at baseline (2014-2017) and has follow-up (2018-2020) data on 35% of participants. Separate analyses of the baseline population with diabetes (n = 585) and the longitudinal population with diabetes (n = 210) were conducted. Baseline analyses constructed a weighted care continuum: all diabetes; diagnosed; treated; achieved glycaemic control; achieved blood pressure, cholesterol, and glycaemic control; and achieved aforementioned control plus non-smoking. Weighted multinomial regression models controlling for region were used to estimate the association between socio-demographic characteristics and care continuum stage. Longitudinal analyses constructed an unweighted care continuum: all diabetes; diagnosed; treated; and achieved glycaemic control. Unweighted multinomial regression models controlling for region were used to estimate the association between socio-demographic characteristics and changes in care continuum stage. Among 585 participants with diabetes at baseline, 71% were diagnosed, 51% were on treatment, and 32% had achieved glycaemic control. Among 210 participants with diabetes in the longitudinal population, 50 (24%) participants' diabetes management worsened, while 40 (19%) participants improved. Specifically, the proportion of those treated decreased (60% in 2014-2017 to 51% in 2018-2020), while the proportion of participants achieving glycaemic control did not change. Although treatment rates have declined substantially among people with diabetes in Venezuela, management changed less than expected during the crisis.

Cascade of care for hypertension among apparently healthy and unhealthy individuals of 25-64 years in the Czech Republic.

BACKGROUND: Despite accessible diagnostics and treatment of hypertension, a high proportion of patients worldwide remain unaware of their diagnosis, and even more remain untreated. Several studies suggest that absence of comorbidities is a predictive factor for unawareness and consequently non-treatment of hypertension. There are only a few studies that have assessed the hypertension prevalence and management among apparently healthy individuals. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess and compare hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control among apparently healthy individuals, patients with internal diseases, and patients with non-internal diseases. METHODS: Data from standardised blood pressure measurements conducted during the Czech European Health Examination Survey 2014 and information on health status and health care use collected during the Czech European Health Interview Survey 2014 were analyzed. We focused on participants aged 25-64. Data were weighted on sex and age to ensure an appropriate sex and age structure of the population. The χ2-test and binary logistic regression analyses were used to compare distribution of cascade of care for hypertension between the health-status groups of respondents. RESULTS: The final eligible sample consisted of 1121 participants. The prevalence of hypertension was 32.8% in the healthy group, 29.8% in the non-internal disease group and 52.4% in the internal disease group, (p < 0.001). Awareness was 54.1%, 59.1% and 85.2% respectively, (p < 0.001). Treatment was 44.2%, 52.6% and 86.4%, respectively, (p < 0.001). Among apparently healthy respondents 62.6% had their blood pressure measured by a medical professional in the last year, compared to 71.1% in the non-internal disease group and 91.7% in the internal disease group, (p < 0.001). Differences in hypertension control were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, our data show a discordance in hypertension management within the Czech population. Apparently healthy individuals are the least aware of their diagnosis and the highest proportion of them remain untreated.

The Influence of Adiposity Levels on the Relation between Perfluoroalkyl Substances and High Depressive Symptom Scores in Czech Adults.

The extensive use and bioaccumulation of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) over time raise concerns about their impact on health, including mental issues such as depression. This study aims to evaluate the association between PFAS and depression. In addition, considering the importance of PFAS as an endocrine disruptor and in adipogenesis, the analyses will also be stratified by body fat status. A cross-sectional study with 479 subjects (56.4% women, 25-89 years) was conducted. Four PFAS were measured: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The Poisson regression model was applied using robust error variances. The fully adjusted model included age, sex, educational level, income, smoking, physical activity, body fat percentage, and the questionnaire to assess depression. The prevalence of depression and high body fat was 7.9% and 41.1%, respectively. Only PFOA was significantly associated with depression in the entire sample (prevalence rate (PR): 1.91; confidence interval (CI95%): 1.01-3.65). However, in the group with normal adiposity, PFOA (3.20, CI95%: 1.46-7.01), PFNA (2.54, CI95%: 1.29-5.00), and PFDA (2.09, CI95%: 1.09-4.00) were also significant. Future research should investigate the role of obesity as well as the biological plausibility and possible mechanisms increasing the limited number of evidences between PFAS and depression.

Transcultural Lifestyle Medicine in Type 2 Diabetes Care: Narrative Review of the Literature.

Disparities in type 2 diabetes (T2D) care is a global problem across diverse cultures. The Dysglycemia-Based Chronic Disease (DBCD) model promotes early and sustainable interventions along the insulin resistance (stage 1), prediabetes (stage 2), T2D (stage 3), and complications (stage 4) spectrum. In this model, lifestyle medicine is the cornerstone of preventive care to reduce DBCD progression and the socioeconomic/biological burden of disease. A comprehensive literature review, spanning 2000 to 2021, was performed and 55 studies were included examining the effects of lifestyle medicine and their cultural adaptions with different prevention modalities. In stage 1, primordial prevention targets modifiable primary drivers (behavior and environment), unhealthy lifestyles, abnormal adiposity, and insulin resistance with educational and motivational health promotion activities at individual, group, community, and population-based scales. Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention targets individuals with mild hyperglycemia, severe hyperglycemia, and complications, respectively, using programs that incorporate structured lifestyle interventions. Culturally adapted lifestyle change in primary and secondary prevention improved quality of life and biomarkers, but with a limited impact of tertiary prevention on cardiovascular events. In conclusion, lifestyle medicine with cultural adaptations is an integral part of preventive care in patients with T2D. However, considerable research gaps exist, especially for tertiary prevention.

Telehealth and cardiometabolic-based chronic disease: optimizing preventive care in forcibly displaced migrant populations.

The number of migrants, which includes forcibly displaced refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented persons, is increasing worldwide. The global migrant population is heterogeneous in terms of medical conditions and vulnerability resulting from non-optimal metabolic risk factors in the country of origin (e.g., abnormal adiposity, dysglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia), adverse travel conditions and the resulting stress, poverty, and anxiety, and varying effects of acculturation and access to healthcare services in the country of destination. Therefore, many of these migrants develop a high risk for cardiovascular disease and face the significant challenge of overcoming economic and health system barriers to accessing quality healthcare. In the host countries, healthcare professionals experience difficulties providing care to migrants, including cultural and language barriers, and limited institutional capacities, especially for those with non-legal status. Telehealth is an effective strategy to mitigate cardiometabolic risk factors primarily by promoting healthy lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapeutic adjustments. In this descriptive review, the role of telehealth in preventing the development and progression of cardiometabolic disease is explored with a specific focus on type 2 diabetes and hypertension in forcibly displaced migrants. Until now, there are few studies showing that culturally adapted telehealth services can decrease the burden of T2D and HTN. Despite study limitations, telehealth outcomes are comparable to those of traditional health care with the advantages of having better accessibility for difficult-to-reach populations such as forcibly displaced migrants and reducing healthcare associated costs. More prospective studies implementing telemedicine strategies to treat cardiometabolic disease burden in migrant populations are needed.

Lifestyle Medicine in Diabetes Care: The Lifedoc Health Model.

Introduction: The relevance of lifestyle medicine in diabetes treatment is now incorporated in clinical practice guidelines but finding an exemplar for the creation of a Lifestyle Medicine Program (LMP) is a difficult task. Aim: To use Lifedoc Health (LDH) as a LMP exemplar by describing their multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to diabetes care along with tactics to address sustainability challenges. Results: The LDH model facilitates early activation of patients with diabetes and other cardiometabolic risk factors, MDT approaches, and protocols/policies that are able to overcome barriers to equitable healthcare in the community. Specific programmatic targets are clinical outcomes, effective dissemination, economic viability, and sustainability. Infrastructure centers on patient-driven problem-based visits, shared medical appointments, telemedicine, and patient tracking. Further discussions on program conceptualization and operationalization are provided. Conclusion: Even though strategic plans for LMPs that specialize in diabetes care are well represented in the literature, implementation protocols, and performance metrics are lacking. The LDH experience provides a starting point for those healthcare professionals interested in translating ideas into action.

Comparison of social gradient in cardiometabolic health in Czechia and Venezuela: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the relationships of social determinants with cardiometabolic risk in different socioeconomic contexts: sociopolitically unstable Venezuela (VE) and stable Czechia (CZ). DESIGN: cross-sectional analysis involving two population-based studies. SETTING: Brno, Czechia and 23 cities of Venezuela. PARTICIPANTS: 25-64 years old subjects from CZ (2013-2014, n=1579, 56% females) and VE (2014-2017, n=1652, 70% females). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The composite cardiometabolic risk score (CMRS) (scaled 0-8) was calculated using eight biomarkers (body mass index, waist circumference, blood glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides). Social characteristics included education in both countries, income in CZ and a composite measure of social position (SP) in VE. Sex stratified ordinal regression examined the social gradient in having less favourable CMRS. RESULTS: In CZ, men and women with low education and women with low income had higher odds of higher CMRS compared with those with high education and income with OR 1.45 (95% CI 1.01 to 2.21), 2.29 (95% CI 1.62 to 3.24) and 1.69 (95% CI 1.23 to 2.35). In VE, women with low education and low SP had higher odds to have higher CMRS OR 1.47 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.97) and 1.51 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.97), while men with low education and low SP had lower odds to have higher CMRS OR 0.64 (95% CI 0.41 to 1.00) and 0.61 (95% CI 0.40 to 0.97), compared with those with high education and high SP. Independently of age, sex and socioeconomic characteristics, Venezuelans had higher odds to have higher CMRS than Czechs (OR 2.70; 95% CI 2.37 to 3.08). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the associations of socioeconomic status indices and cardiometabolic risk differed between CZ and VE, likely reflecting differences in the social environment among countries. Further research is needed to confirm and quantify these differences.

Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Preventive Care Program during the Compound Humanitarian Crisis and COVID-19 Pandemic in Venezuela.

Effective preventive care programs are urgently needed during humanitarian crises, as has been especially obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pragmatic trial was designed: hybridized intervention (Diabetes Prevention Program [DPP] + medical nutrition therapy + liquid diet [LD]; LD group) vs. DPP only (DPP group). The participants were adults who were overweight/obese and at high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The LD consisted of a "homemade" milk- and fruit-juice-based beverage. Pandemic restrictions delayed the program by nine months, tripled the amount of time required for screening, and reduced the total sample to 60%. Eventually, 127 participants were randomized, and 94/127 participants (74.0%) completed the first phase. Participant dropout was influenced by migration, COVID-19 symptoms, education level, and socioeconomic status. In two months, the LD group lost 2.9 kg (p < 0.001) and the DPP group, 2.2 kg (p < 0.001) (between-group p = 0.170), with improvements in their cardiometabolic risk factors. At this stage, the DPP was shown to be feasible and effective, demonstrating weight loss with the improvement of cardiometabolic risk factors in a primary setting in Venezuela, a middle-income country with a chronic humanitarian crisis, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Natural Pattern of Cognitive Aging.

BACKGROUND: Considering the world's rapidly increasing life expectancy, with people working and maintaining active lifestyles longer than ever before, addressing the effects of aging on cognition is of utmost importance. A greater understanding of cognitive aging may also be critical in distinguishing natural cognitive aging from pre-clinical stages of Alzheimer's disease and related cognitive disorders. OBJECTIVE: To systematically examine the association between aging and cognitive performance in a cognitively and otherwise healthy probability population-based sample using a computer-based method. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 673 cognitively and otherwise healthy participants aged 25-89 years (mean age 52.3±14.2 years, 52.5% of whom were female) from the Kardiovize study cohort. Mild cognitive impairment and dementia cases were excluded, followed by measurement of cognitive performance with the computer-administered Cogstate Brief Battery. We used ANCOVA and Modified Signed-Likelihood Ratio tests to examine patterns of cognition across age groups. RESULTS: We found a gradual decrease in cognitive performance across the lifespan, which required two decades to demonstrate significant changes. In contrast to attention and learning, psychomotor speed and working memory showed the most significant age-related decrease and variability in performance. The established pattern of cognitive aging was not altered by sex or education. CONCLUSION: These findings corroborate, validate, and extend the current understanding of natural cognitive aging and pinpoint specific cognitive domains with the most extensive age-related interindividual differences. This will contribute to the development of strategies to preserve cognition with aging and may also serve to improve early diagnostics of cognitive disorders using computer-based methods.