High Cardiorespiratory Optimal Point Values Are Related to Cardiovascular Mortality in Men Aged 46 to 70 Years: a Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract Background: Several hemodynamic and respiratory variables measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) have been shown to predict survival. One such measure is the cardiorespiratory optimal point (COP) that reflects the best possible circulation-respiration interaction, but there are still limited data on its relationship with adverse outcomes. Objective: To assess the association between COP and cardiovascular mortality in men aged 46 to 70 years. Methods: A sample of 2201 men who had anthropometric, clinical, and COP data obtained during cycling CPX between 1995 and 2022 was extracted from the CLINIMEX Exercise cohort. COP was identified as the minimal minute-to-minute VE/VO2 during CPX. Vital data were censored on October 31, 2022 for ICD-10-identified cardiovascular deaths. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: The mean ± standard deviation age was 57 ± 6 years and the median COP value was 24 (interquartile range = 21.2 to 27.4). During a mean follow-up of 4688 ± 2416 days, 129 (5.6%) patients died from cardiovascular causes. The death rates for low (< 28), high (28 to 30), and very high (> 30) categories of COP were 3.2%, 9.6%, and 18.7%, respectively. Following adjustment for age, history of myocardial infarction, diagnosis of coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, the HR (95% CI) for cardiovascular mortality comparing very high versus low COP was 2.76 (1.87 to 4.07; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our data indicate that, for a general population-based sample of men, COP > 30 represents a considerably higher risk for cardiovascular death. Information on COP could assist cardiovascular risk assessment in men.

Up to 15-Year Survival of Men and Women after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Paid by the Brazilian Public Healthcare System in the State of Rio de Janeiro, 1999-2010 / Sobrevida em até 15 Anos de Homens e Mulheres após Intervenção Coronariana Percutânea Paga pelo Sistema Único de Saúde no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, 1999-2010

Abstract Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the most frequently used invasive therapy for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Studies able to provide information about PCI's effectiveness should be conducted in a population of real-world patients. Objectives: To assess the survival rate of IHD patients treated with PCI in the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Methods: Administrative (1999-2010) and death (1999-2014) databases of dwellers aged ≥ 20 years old in the state of RJ submitted to one single PCI paid by the Brazilian public healthcare system (SUS) between 1999 and 2010 were linked. Patients were grouped as follows: 20-49 years old, 50-69 years old and ≥ 70 years old, and PCI in primary PCI, with stent and without stent placement (bare metal stent). Survival probabilities in 30 days, one year and 15 years were estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox hazards regression models were used to compare risks among sex, age groups and types of PCI. Test results with a p-value < 0.05 were deemed statistically significant. Results: Data of 19,263 patients (61 ± 11 years old, 63.6% men) were analyzed. Survival rates of men vs. women in 30 days, one year and 15 years were: 97.3% (97.0-97.6%) vs. 97.1% (96.6-97.4%), 93.6% (93.2-94.1%) vs. 93.4% (92.8-94.0%), and 55.7% (54.0-57.4%) vs. 58.1% (55.8-60.3%), respectively. The oldest age group was associated with lower survival rates in all periods. PCI with stent placement had higher survival rates than those without stent placement during a two-year follow-up. After that, both procedures had similar survival rates (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.82-1.00). Conclusions: In a population of real-world patients, women had a higher survival rate than men within 15 years after PCI. Moreover, using a bare-metal stent failed to improve survival rates after a two-year follow-up compared to simple balloon angioplasty.

Resumo Fundamento: A intervenção coronariana percutânea (ICP) é o tratamento invasivo mais frequentemente realizado na doença isquêmica do coração (DIC). Estudos capazes de prover informação sobre a sua efetividade são importantes. Objetivo: Avaliar a sobrevida em até 15 anos de pacientes submetidos a ICP no estado do Rio de Janeiro (ERJ). Métodos: Bases de dados administrativas (1999-2010) e de óbitos (1999-2014) dos residentes com idade ≥ 20 anos do ERJ submetidos a uma única ICP paga pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) entre 1999-2010 foram relacionadas. Os pacientes foram agrupados em 20-49, 50-69 ou ≥ 70 anos, e as ICP em primária (ICP-P), sem stent (ICP-SS) e com stent convencional (ICP-CS). As probabilidades de sobrevida em 30 dias, um ano e 15 anos foram estimadas pelo método de Kaplan-Meier. Modelos de regressão de risco de Cox foram utilizados para comparar riscos entre sexo, faixas etárias e tipos de ICP. Resultados dos testes com um valor de p < 0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significativos. Resultados: Foram analisados os dados de 19.263 pacientes (61±11 anos, 63,6% homens). A sobrevida de homens vs. mulheres em 30 dias, um ano e 15 anos foram: 97,3% (97,0-97,6%) vs. 97,1% (96,6-97,4%), 93,6% (93,2-94,1%) vs. 93,4% (92,8-94,0%), e 55,7% (54,0-57,4%) vs. 58,1% (55,8-60,3%), respectivamente. Idade ≥ 70 anos foi associada à menor taxa de sobrevida em todos os períodos. A ICP-CS foi associada a uma sobrevida maior do que a ICP-SS até dois anos de acompanhamento, e após este período ambos os procedimentos apresentaram taxas de sobrevida semelhantes (HR 0,91, IC 95% 0,82-1,00). Conclusões: Mulheres apresentaram maiores taxas de sobrevida em 15 anos após ICP, e o uso de stent convencional não esteve associado a um aumento de sobrevida em longo prazo.

Pre-Participation Physical Fitness does not Influence Adherence to a Supervised Exercise Program / Aptidão Física Pré-Participação não Influencia a Aderência a um Programa de Exercício Supervisionado

Abstract Background: Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation tends to reduce mortality. However, it requires medium/long-term adherence to regular physical exercise. It is relevant to identify the variables that affect adherence to an supervised exercise program (SEP). Objective: To evaluate the influence of pre-participation levels of aerobic and non-aerobic physical fitness components in medium-term adherence to SEP. Methods: A total of 567 SEP participants (65 ± 12 years) (68% men) were studied. Participants adherent to the program for less than 6 months (48%) (non-adherent - NAD) were compared with 52% of participants who were adherent for 6 months or more (adherents - AD). In the non-aerobic fitness, flexibility (FLX) (Flexitest) and muscle power (MPW)/body weight in standing rowing (watts/kg) were evaluated while aerobic fitness was obtained by direct measure of VO2max/body weight (VO2). These measurements were normatized for sex and age based on percentiles (P) (P-FLX/P-MPW) of reference data or percentages of predicted (P-VO2). Additionally, AD and NAD with extreme results (tertiles) were simultaneously compared for the three variables. Results: There was no difference between AD and NAD for non-aerobic results, in median [P25-P75], P-FLX: 30 [13-56] and 31 [9-52], respectively, (p = 0.69) and P-MPW: 34 [17-58] and 36 [16-62], respectively (p = 0.96), and for aerobic results (mean ± standard error) P-VO2 (75.9 ± 1.3% and 75.0 ± 1.3%, respectively) (p = 0.83). When comparing extreme tertiles, a difference was found for P-MPW in the lower tertile only, with a slight advantage of AD over NAD- 9 [5-16] versus 4 [1-11] (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Although awareness of the pre-participation levels of aerobic and non-aerobic physical fitness components is useful for individualized exercise prescription, these variables do not seem to influence medium-term adherence to SEP.

Resumo Fundamento: Reabilitação cardíaca com ênfase em exercício tende a reduzir a mortalidade. Contudo, é necessário que haja aderência de médio/longo prazo ao exercício físico regular. Identificar variáveis influenciadoras da aderência a programas de exercício supervisionado (PES) é relevante. Objetivo: Avaliar a influência dos componentes da aptidão física aeróbica e não-aeróbica pré-participação na aderência de médio prazo a PES. Métodos: Foram estudados 567 participantes (65 ± 12 anos) (68% homens) de um PES. Os participantes aderentes por menos de 6 meses (48%) (não-aderentes - NAD) foram comparados aos 52% dos participantes aderentes por 6 meses ou mais (aderentes - AD). Na aptidão não-aeróbica avaliou-se flexibilidade (FLX) (Flexiteste) e potência muscular (PTO)/peso corporal na remada em pé (watts/kg). Na aeróbica foi medido o consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2 máx)/peso corporal. Essas medidas foram normalizadas para sexo e idade usando percentis (P) (P-FLX/P-PTO) de dados de referência ou percentuais do previsto (P-VO2). Adicionalmente, foram comparados AD e NAD com resultados extremos (tercis) simultaneamente para as três variáveis. Resultados: Não houve diferença entre AD e NAD para os resultados não-aeróbicos, em mediana [P25-P75], de P-FLX: 30[13-56] e 31[9-52], respectivamente (p = 0,69), e P-PTO: 34[17-58] e 36[16-62] (p = 0,96), respectivamente, e para resultados aeróbicos (média ± erro padrão) P-VO2 (75,9 ± 1,3% e 75,0 ± 1,3%), respectivamente (p = 0,83). Nos extremos, houve diferença apenas para P-PTO no tercil inferior com discreta vantagem dos AD sobre NAD - 9[5-16] versus 4[1-11] (p = 0,04). Conclusão: Embora seja útil conhecer os níveis pré-participação dos componentes de aptidão física aeróbica e não-aeróbica para a prescrição individualizada de exercício, essas variáveis não parecem influenciar a aderência de médio prazo a PES.