Associations between hypertension with reproductive and menopausal factors: An integrated women's health programme (IWHP) study.

BACKGROUND: Women are less likely to have classic cardiovascular risk factors than men, and events during their reproductive and menopausal years may increase hypertension risk. The aim of this study is to examine woman-specific factors, including menstrual, reproductive and pregnancy complications, in relation to the prevalence of hypertension in mid-life Asian women. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 1146 healthy women aged 45-69 years, from a multi-ethnic Asian cohort. The women completed an extensive questionnaire that included their sociodemographic details, medical history, lifestyle and physical activity, and reproductive and menopausal history. They also underwent objectively measured physical performance tests and a dual X-ray absorptiometry scan. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 and/or diastolic BP ≥90mm Hg, past diagnosis by a physician, or use of antihypertensive medications. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the independent risk factors for hypertension. RESULTS: The average age of the 1146 women analysed was 56.3 (SD 6.2) years, and 55.2 percent of them were hypertensive. The prevalence of gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension was 12.6% and 9.4%, respectively. Besides age, abnormal menstrual cycle length at 25 years of age (OR:2.35, CI:1.34-4.13), preeclampsia (OR:2.46, CI:1.06-5.74), increased visceral adiposity (OR:4.21, CI:2.28-7.79) and reduced physical performance (OR:2.83, CI:1.46-5.47) were independently associated with hypertension in Asian women. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the necessity of including features of menstrual and reproductive history as possible indicators of hypertension risk in cardiovascular disease risk assessment and prevention among Asian women. Reducing visceral adiposity and exercise to improve physical performance may help women avoid developing hypertension.

Current frailty knowledge, awareness, and practices among physicians following the 2022 European consensus document on Frailty in Cardiology.

Aims: Aging-related cardiovascular disease and frailty burdens are anticipated to rise with global aging. In response to directions from major cardiovascular societies, we investigated frailty knowledge, awareness, and practices among cardiologists as key stakeholders in this emerging paradigm a year after the European Frailty in Cardiology consensus document was published. Methods and results: We launched a prospective multinational web-based survey via social networks to broad cardiology communities representing multiple World Health Organization regions, including Western Pacific and Southeast Asia regions. Overall, 578 respondents [38.2% female; ages 35-49 years (55.2%) and 50-64 years (34.4%)] across subspecialties, including interventionists (43.3%), general cardiologists (30.6%), and heart failure specialists (HFSs) (10.9%), were surveyed. Nearly half had read the consensus document (38.9%). Non-interventionists had better perceived knowledge of frailty assessment instruments (fully or vaguely aware, 57.2% vs. 45%, adj. P = 0.0002), exercise programmes (well aware, 12.9% vs. 6.0%, adj. P = 0.001), and engaged more in multidisciplinary team care (frequently or occasionally, 52.6% vs. 41%, adj. P = 0.002) than interventionists. Heart failure specialists more often addressed pre-procedural frailty (frequently or occasionally, 43.5% vs. 28.2%, P = 0.004) and polypharmacy (frequently or occasionally, 85.5% vs. 71%, adj. P = 0.014) and had consistently better composite knowledge (39.3% vs. 21.6%, adj. P = 0.001) and practice responses (21% vs. 11.1%, adj. P = 0.018) than non-HFSs. Respondents with better knowledge responses also had better frailty practices (40.3% vs. 3.6%, adj. P < 0.001). Conclusion: Distinct response differences suggest that future strategies strengthening frailty principles should address practices peculiar to subspecialties, such as pre-procedural frailty strategies for interventionists and rehabilitation interventions for HFSs.

Factors Associated with RANTES, EMMPIRIN, MMP2 and MMP9, and the Association of These Biomarkers with Cardiovascular Disease in a Multi-Ethnic Population.

BACKGROUND: The growing cardiovascular disease (CVD) epidemic calls for further research to identify novel biomarkers for earlier detection and as potential therapeutic targets. Biomarkers Regulated on Activation, Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES), extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, and MMP-9) are linked to proatherogenic and proinflammatory pathways of CVD development, the majority of which are coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. We evaluated potential factors affecting these four biomarkers and established their association with CVD. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis using a nested case-control design involving 580 participants aged 21-75 years from the prospective multi-ethnic cohort study. A total of 290 CVD cases and 290 age-and sex-matched controls were identified. All participants underwent interviews, health screenings, and provided blood samples, including biomarkers RANTES, EMMPRIN, and MMPs. CVD was defined based on previous medical history. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 55.7(SD = 10.3) years of age, and 34.6% were female. Arrhythmia history and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significant factors of logEMMPRIN (ß = -0.124 [-0.245, -0.003] and ß = 0.111 [0.0, 0.191], respectively). Only female sex (ß = 0.189 [0.078, 0.300]) for logRANTES and age (ß = 0.033 [0.010, 0.055]) for logMMP-2 and logMMP-9 were significant. The Indian ethnicity (ß = 0.192 [0.048, 0.335]) and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels (ß = 0.063 [0.011, 0.116]) were statistically significant for logMMP-9. No association was detected between biomarkers and CVD. CONCLUSIONS: In this multi-ethnic study cohort, RANTES was associated with sex, EMMPRIN was associated with a history of arrhythmia and LDL levels, MMP-2 with age, and MMP-9 with ethnicity and hs-CRP levels. The biomarker serum levels were not associated with CVD.

COVID-19 treatment with lopinavir-ritonavir resulting in sick sinus syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 infection is the most serious global public health crisis of the century. With no approved treatments against it, investigational treatments are being used despite limited safety data. Besides being at higher risk of complications of COVID-19 infection, patients with underlying cardiovascular disease are more likely to develop cardiac-related side effects of treatment. We present a case of sinus arrest with junctional escape related to lopinavir-ritonavir. CASE SUMMARY: A 67-year-old man, with underlying stable ischaemic heart disease, acquired COVID-19 infection. He had a prolonged duration of fever and cough. He subsequently developed acute respiratory distress and required intensive care unit (ICU) care. Given his severe infection, he was started on lopinavir-ritonavir. Hydroxychloroquine was not used as he had a prolonged QTc interval. During observation in the ICU, the patient developed recurrent episodes of sinus arrest with junctional escape. Initial concerns were of myocarditis, but he had no ST-segment changes on ECG, with mild elevations of highly sensitive troponin I and a normal transthoracic echocardiogram. A multidisciplinary team discussion involving the intensivist, infectious disease physicians, and cardiologist; the decision was made to stop treatment with lopinavir-ritonavir. Within 48 h, the bradyarrhythmia resolved. The patient did not require transvenous and permanent pacemaker insertion. CONCLUSION: Current efficacy and safety evidence of lopinavir-ritonavir as a treatment in COVID-19 patients is limited. Although uncommonly reported, those with underlying cardiovascular disease are at increased risk of bradyarrhythmia-related adverse effects of lopinavir-ritonavir. When initiating investigational therapies, especially in patients with cardiovascular conditions, adequate counselling and close monitoring are required.