Association of the triglyceride glucose index with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a general population of Iranian adults.

BACKGROUND: The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a new and low-cost marker to determine insulin resistant which may be a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although available evidence showed that its association with CVD mortality (CVM) and all-cause mortality (ACM) may differ in different populations, scarce data are available in this regard specially in low and middle-income countries. PURPOSE: To examine the association between TyG index and risk of CVM and ACM in Iranians. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 5432 adults (age ≥ 35 years) with no history of CVD events. Fasting glucose and triglyceride were measured at baseline in all participants and TyG index was calculated. Cox frailty model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for CVM and ACM across the tertiles of TyG index. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 11.25 years, a total number of 191 cardiovascular deaths, and 487 all-cause mortality was recorded. The risk of both CVM and ACM increased across the tertiles of TyG index. In the adjusted model for lifestyle and metabolic variables, the risks of ACM and CVM increased by 41% (95% CI 1.11, 1.81; P for trend = 0.005) and 64% (95% CI 1.07, 2.50; P for trend = 0.024), respectively. However, adjustment for diabetes mellitus disappeared the significance for both ACM and CVM. These associations may vary by sex. TyG was not related to the risk of non-CVD mortality. CONCLUSION: The predicting value of TyG index for ACM and CVM might be mediated by diabetes status. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.

Self-rated health and its determinants in patients with hypertension in Isfahan in 2019.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Self-rated health (SRH) serves as an assessment of contentment regarding one's social, mental, and physical well-being and has been linked to both cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Nonetheless, the relationship between SRH and medical outcomes in individuals with hypertension unsettled. This research endeavors to pinpoint the determinants that affect SRH in Iranian patients with hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study took place in Isfahan, Iran, from November 2018 to August 2019 and involved 886 patients with essential HTN. The data collection methods included a checklist for demographic information and risk factors, blood pressure measurements (systolic and diastolic), the Persian version of the 8-Item Morisky Medication Adherence scale, and a self-rated health questionnaire recommended by the World Health Organization. Independent sample T-test and chi squared test were used for comparison of variables between two groups of SRH. Additionally, multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing self-rated health status. RESULTS: Among 886 participants (mean age 57.8 ± 8.8 years, 71.9% women), 89.62% reported good SRH. Comorbid conditions were significantly associated with poorer SRH (p < 0.05). Notably, higher education (odd ratio (OR) = 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13-3.11, p = 0.015) and increased income (OR = 4.34, 95% CI = 1.43-13.18, p = 0.010) were identified as positive determinants of good SRH. CONCLUSION: We concluded that socioeconomic factors (education and income) and comorbid conditions (diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and pulmonary diseases) are risk factors for poor SRH among hypertensive patients. These findings could help planning of health enhancement initiative.

Impact of cardiac rehabilitation on erectile dysfunction in cardiovascular patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and erectile dysfunction (ED) frequently co-occur, significantly affecting the quality of life of individuals. Aim: To assess the impact of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on ED in patients with CVD through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: This study analyzed randomized controlled trials and other studies comparing CR with usual care for adult males (≥18 years) with any cardiac disease. Literature searches were extensive, and the risk of bias was evaluated by the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Data from 6 studies involving 668 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Outcomes: The primary outcome was the improvement in ED, as measured with the International Index of Erectile Function. Results: A statistically significant improvement in erectile function was observed across 6 studies, with a Morris dppc2 effect size of 0.38 (95% CI, 0.17-0.59). Despite initial high heterogeneity (I 2 = 95.7%), identification and correction for selective outcome reporting bias mitigated this issue. Clinical Translation: CR has a modest but statistically significant impact on improving ED in patients with CVD, indicating its potential positive contribution to the quality of life of this group. Strengths and Limitations: The study's strengths include a comprehensive literature search and a rigorous methodological approach. Limitations involve high heterogeneity among studies and a low level of evidence due to small sample sizes and study quality; however, the source of heterogeneity was identified and mitigated following risk-of-bias assessment. Conclusion: The results suggest that CR has a statistically significant but modest impact on improving ED in patients with CVD. Clinicians should consider the integration of CR into the clinical management of these individuals. This study underscores the potential for CR to contribute positively to the quality of life for patients with CVD by addressing associated ED (PROSPERO: CRD42022374625).

A 30-year trend of dairy consumption and its determinants among income groups in Iranian households.

Introduction: Milk and dairy products provide essential nutrients and have the potential to prevent chronic diseases, thus reducing healthcare costs. However, there is a lack of consistent and updated data on dairy consumption trends in Iran. This study aims to analyze the trends in dairy consumption among Iranian households from 1991 to 2021, focusing on household-level determinants across different expense groups. Methods: The study uses data from the Iranian Household Expenditure and Income Survey conducted annually from 1991 to 2021 to analyze households' dairy consumption. The data includes values and expenses of food and non-food items purchased in the previous month, as well as demographic characteristics of household members. The households were categorized into 10 deciles based on their gross expense. The econometric model used weighted mean per capita milk, yogurt, cheese, and total dairy consumption based on milk equivalent for each decile. The model takes into account changes in income, prices, household composition, education level, occupation, and residency area using panel data. Data preparation and model estimation were performed using RStudio and STATA17 software. Results: Based on the findings, in 1991, per capita milk, yogurt, and cheese consumption were 26.77 kg, 16.63 kg, and 2.42 kg, respectively. By 2021, these figures changed to 22.68 kg, 11.06 kg, and 3.79 kg, reflecting a decrease in milk and yogurt consumption but an increase in cheese consumption. Family size was positively correlated with yogurt consumption and head of the household spouse's job score were positively correlated with milk, yogurt and cheese consumption. Also, the presence of under five-year-old children and older adults members (over the age of 60) in the household was inversely related with yogurt and cheese consumption. Female-headed households tended to purchase more cheese, while their milk purchase level was significantly lower. Residing in urban areas was negatively related to milk, while cheese and total dairy consumption was higher in urban areas. Discussion: The findings highlight the importance of targeted dairy subsidy interventions and educational programs to improve dairy consumption in Iranian households, especially among vulnerable groups. This will require urging policymakers and food system stakeholders for effective strategies that address macro-level factors to promote dairy consumption.

Medication Adherence With Polypill in Cardiovascular Disease and High-Risk Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Involving 7364 Participants.

Considering the worldwide mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the necessity of using multiple pills due to the chronicity of this condition, and the importance of medication adherence in these patients, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the polypill effect on adherence in patients with established CVD and at high risk. To accomplish this review, we searched various databases to access grey literature and several electronic databases to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing polypills compared to individual pills from January 2000 to October 2022. The outcomes were primarily medication adherence, secondarily systolic blood pressure (SBP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) serum level, and serious adverse events (SAEs). Ultimately, 2820 studies were detected and narrowed to 8 RCTs based on the eligibility criteria. In this study, involving 7364 patients, there was a significant improvement in medication adherence in the polypill group compared to the individual pills group (Risk Ratio [RR] = 1.29; [95%CI: 1.10; 1.50]). Out of secondary outcomes, SBP was significantly decreased (Mean Difference [MD] = -1.72 mmHg; [95%CI: -2.40; 1.03]), but LDL-C serum level (MD = -0.65 mg/dl; [95%CI: -4.47; 3.16]) and SAE (RR = 1.08; [95%CI: f0.98; 1.20]) did not have a notable difference in polypill compared to individual pills.

Association of triglyceride glucose index with cardiovascular events: insights from the Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS).

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence regarding the evaluation of the association between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, an indicator of insulin resistance, and the incident risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, we aimed to examine the relationship between the TyG index and CVD incidence in a cohort of Iranian adults. METHODS: This study was performed in the framework of the Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS). The study population included 5,432 individuals aged ≥ 35 years. CVD events, including acute myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and unstable angina (UA), were diagnosed by physicians. The TyG index was calculated as Ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The relationship between the TyG index and CVD events was investigated using Cox regression models. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the best cut-off for the TyG index for predicting CVD outcomes. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 11.2 years, a total number of 819 CVD, 164 MI, 172 stroke, and 384 UA were recorded. Following adjustment for multiple confounders, elevated TyG levels were associated with a higher risk of CVD (HR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.22-1.79; p < 0.001), MI (HR = 2.24; 95% CI 1.42-3.52; p < 0.001), stroke (HR = 1.45; 95% CI 0.96-2.19; p = 0.042), but not UA (HR = 1.28; 95% CI 0.96-1.69). The optimal TyG index cut-off was 8.91 for predicting CVD (sensitivity 58%; specificity 58%), 9.04 for predicting MI (sensitivity 57%; specificity 65%), 8.92 for predicting stroke (sensitivity 57%; specificity 57%), and 8.98 for predicting UA (sensitivity 53%; specificity 61%). CONCLUSION: We found a robust, direct association between the TyG index and the incidence of CVD events. This emphasizes the significance of observing the TyG index as an indicator of the occurrence of CVD events.

Risk factor profile and outcomes of premature acute coronary syndrome after percutaneous coronary intervention: A 1-year prospective design.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) among young adults (premature ACS) has dramatically increased in recent years, especially in developing countries. Yet, the data on these patients' attributed risk factors and outcomes are inconsistent. In this study, we aimed to investigate these data in a cohort of premature ACS cases who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to older patients. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesize that premature ACS patients undergoing PCI will exhibit different risk factor profiles and outcomes compared to non-premature patients. specifically, we anticipate that premature patients do not necessarily have better outcomes than non-premature. METHODS: Overall, 3142 and 10 399 patients were included in premature and non-premature groups, respectively. Patients' pre-operative, post-operative, and follow-up data were retrieved retrospectively from the Tehran Heart Center PCI databank. RESULTS: The mean age of premature and non-premature cohorts was 48.39 and 67 years, respectively. Patients were predominantly male in both groups. Family history of coronary artery disease (CAD), dyslipidemia, smoking, and opium addiction were more prevalent among the younger cohort. After adjustment, in-hospital mortality in younger patients was considerably higher, with all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) exhibiting no noticeable difference among the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factor profile is different in young patients, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, are more prevalent among older adults. Younger age is not equivalent to a better prognosis; hence, similar or even more caution should be taken into consideration regarding secondary prevention for these patients.