Cardiovascular health and target end-organ damage and comorbidities in hypertensive patients from a Spanish primary care urban population / Salud cardiovascular y daño a órganos diana y comorbilidades en pacientes hipertensos procedentes de una población urbana de atención primaria en España

We hypothesized that a poorer cardiovascular health status is related to a higher risk of hypertension-mediated organ-damage (HMOD) or hypertension-related comorbidities (HRC). We assessed the relationship between cardiovascular health metrics (CVHM) and HMOD-HRC in 243 hypertensive patients from primary care center followed for two years. We recorded the baseline CVHM score (Life's Simple 7) plus clinical data, including prevalent and incident HMOD-HRC, hospitalization and mortality. The prevalence of ideal CVHM scores was very low in both men and women. The patients with healthier CVHM scores were younger, and had a lower prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. We recorded 264 cases of HMOD-HRC (225 at baseline and 39 during follow-up). Nine patients died and 64 had any-cause hospitalization during follow-up. A lower prevalence of HMOD-HRC and unfavorable outcomes was observed as the number of ideal CVHM increased (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for confounders showed a lower CVHM score (0–1) was associated with increased odds of HMOD-HRC (4.04, 95% CI 1.26–12.94; P=0.019) and composite endpoint (HMOD-HRC, death or all-cause hospitalization) (3.43, 95% CI 1.19–9.92; P=0.023). Individual components were less predictive than the cumulative CVHM score. Few hypertensive patients in this urban population had ideal CVHM scores. An inverse relationship between scores and outcomes (HMOD-HRC, death or hospitalizations) was observed. Interventions to increase this score may improve prognosis among community-based hypertensive patients (AU)

Nuestra hipótesis fue que un estado de peor salud cardiovascular está relacionado con un mayor riesgo de daño orgánico provocado por la hipertensión (DOP HTA) o de comorbilidades relacionadas con la hipertensión (CRHTA). Evaluamos la relación entre las métricas de la salud cardiovascular (MSCV) y el DOP HTA-CRHTA en 243 pacientes hipertensos procedentes de un centro de atención primaria, a quienes se realizó un seguimiento durante 2 años. Registramos la puntuación basal de MSCV (Life's Simple 7) y los datos clínicos, incluyendo DOP HTA-CRHTA prevalente e incidental, hospitalización y mortalidad. La prevalencia de puntuaciones MSCV ideales fue muy baja tanto en hombres como en mujeres. Los pacientes con puntuaciones MSCV más saludables fueron más jóvenes y tuvieron una menor prevalencia de diabetes, cardiopatías y enfermedad renal crónica. Registramos 264 casos de DOP HTA-CRHTA (225 al inicio y 39 durante el seguimiento). Nueve pacientes fallecieron y 64 fueron hospitalizados por cualquier causa durante el seguimiento. Se observó una menor prevalencia de DOP HTA-CRHTA y resultados no favorables a medida que aumentaba el MSCV ideal (p<0,05). La regresión logística multivariante ajustada a los factores de confusión reflejó una menor puntuación MSCV (0-1) asociada a un incremento de la odds ratio de DOP HTA-CRHTA (4,04, IC 95% 1,26-12,94; p=0,019) y un resultado compuesto (DOP HTA-CRHTA, muerte u hospitalización por cualquier causa) (3,43, IC 95% 1,19-9,92; p=0,023). Los componentes individuales fueron menos predictivos que la puntuación MSCV acumulada. Pocos pacientes hipertensos de esta población urbana tuvieron puntuaciones MSCV ideales. Se observó una relación inversa entre las puntuaciones y los resultados (DOP HTA-CRHTA, muerte u hospitalizaciones). Las intervenciones para incrementar esta puntuación pueden mejorar el pronóstico entre los pacientes hipertensos con base comunitaria (AU)

Cardiovascular health and target end-organ damage and comorbidities in hypertensive patients from a Spanish primary care urban population.

We hypothesized that a poorer cardiovascular health status is related to a higher risk of hypertension-mediated organ-damage (HMOD) or hypertension-related comorbidities (HRC). We assessed the relationship between cardiovascular health metrics (CVHM) and HMOD-HRC in 243 hypertensive patients from primary care center followed for two years. We recorded the baseline CVHM score (Life's Simple 7) plus clinical data, including prevalent and incident HMOD-HRC, hospitalization and mortality. The prevalence of ideal CVHM scores was very low in both men and women. The patients with healthier CVHM scores were younger, and had a lower prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. We recorded 264 cases of HMOD-HRC (225 at baseline and 39 during follow-up). Nine patients died and 64 had any-cause hospitalization during follow-up. A lower prevalence of HMOD-HRC and unfavorable outcomes was observed as the number of ideal CVHM increased (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for confounders showed a lower CVHM score (0-1) was associated with increased odds of HMOD-HRC (4.04, 95% CI 1.26-12.94; P=0.019) and composite endpoint (HMOD-HRC, death or all-cause hospitalization) (3.43, 95% CI 1.19-9.92; P=0.023). Individual components were less predictive than the cumulative CVHM score. Few hypertensive patients in this urban population had ideal CVHM scores. An inverse relationship between scores and outcomes (HMOD-HRC, death or hospitalizations) was observed. Interventions to increase this score may improve prognosis among community-based hypertensive patients.

Association between Cardiovascular Health, C-Reactive Protein, and Comorbidities in Spanish Urban-Dwelling Overweight/Obese Hypertensive Patients.

The relationship between poorer cardiovascular health metrics (CVHM) plus low-grade inflammation (LGI) and hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) and hypertension-related comorbidities (HRC) in hypertensive populations with an overweight/obese (Ow/Ob) hypertension-related phenotype is understudied. We examined the relationship between the CVHM score and the presence of LGI and Ow/Ob hypertension-associated phenotype morbidities and mortality in 243 hypertensive patients from an urban primary care center. We recorded the baseline CVHM score plus clinical data, including hs-C-reactive protein (CRP) and prevalent and incident HMOD-HRC and death. A total of 26 (10.7%) had a body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2, 95 (31.1%) were overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2), and 122 (50.2%) were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). There were 264 cases of HMOD-HRC and 9 deaths. Higher hs-CRP levels were observed as BMI increased. Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between BMI and hs-CRP, adjusted for confounders. Additionally, individuals with a higher hs-CRP tertile had a significant increase in BMI. Significantly lower log hs-CRP levels were found as the number of ideal CVHM scores rose. Multivariate binary logistic regression found the risk of HMOD-HRC increased significantly as the ideal CVHM scores decreased, and hs-CRP levels also correlated with HMOD-HRC in the whole cohort and in the Ow and Ob subpopulations. These findings highlight the need for early intervention targeting ideal CVHMs among hypertensive individuals with an Ow/Ob phenotype in order to attenuate the inflammatory state and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Abnormal ankle-brachial index, cardiovascular risk factors and healthy lifestyle factors in hypertensive patients: prospective cohort study from a primary care urban population.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and arterial stiffness (AS) may be hypertension-mediated vascular lesions. Both are determined by an abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) and are predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. We assessed the relationship in urban hypertensive patients between an abnormal ABI and an ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) score, plus other healthy factors, with unfavourable outcomes. METHODS: We studied 243 hypertensive patients from a primary care urban population, followed for two years. Clinical data, comorbid conditions, including hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) and hypertension-related comorbidities (HRC), hospitalizations and mortality were also recorded. RESULTS: A low prevalence of ideal CVH was observed in urban hypertensive patients. The ABI ≤ 0.9 group (n = 16) showed a higher proportion of prior CVD other than PAD, mortality and hospitalizations than the ABI > 1.4 group (n = 41), and a poorer lipid, metabolic and renal profile. An inverse relationship between CVH score and ABI ≤ 0.9 and unfavourable outcomes (HMOD, HRC, death or hospitalization) was observed. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes were independently associated with an ABI ≤ 0.9. Age, sex, diabetes, CKD, ABI ≤ 0.9 and ideal cholesterol were also associated with outcomes, but not other CVH metrics. CONCLUSIONS: Besides a low prevalence of ideal CVH, an inverse relationship between CVH score and ABI ≤ 0.9 and unfavourable outcomes was observed in hypertensive patients from an urban population. Stronger efforts to promote ideal CVH may improve outcomes in this particular population.

Peripheral Vascular Disease and Kidney Transplant Outcomes: Rethinking an Important Ongoing Complication.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is highly prevalent in patients on the waiting list for kidney transplantation (KT) and after transplantation and is associated with impaired transplant outcomes. Multiple traditional and nontraditional risk factors, as well as uremia- and transplant-related factors, affect 2 processes that can coexist, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, leading to PVD. Some pathogenic mechanisms, such as inflammation-related endothelial dysfunction, mineral metabolism disorders, lipid alterations, or diabetic status, may contribute to the development and progression of PVD. Early detection of PVD before and after KT, better understanding of the mechanisms of vascular damage, and application of suitable therapeutic approaches could all minimize the impact of PVD on transplant outcomes. This review focuses on the following issues: (1) definition, epidemiological data, diagnosis, risk factors, and pathogenic mechanisms in KT candidates and recipients; (2) adverse clinical consequences and outcomes; and (3) classical and new therapeutic approaches.

Waiting List and Kidney Transplant Vascular Risk: An Ongoing Unmet Concern.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important independent risk factor for adverse cardiovascular events in patients waitlisted for kidney transplantation (KT). Although KT reduces cardiovascular risk, these patients still have a higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality than the general population. This concerning situation is due to a high burden of traditional and nontraditional risk factors as well as uremia-related factors and transplant-specific factors, leading to 2 differentiated processes under the framework of CKD, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. These can be initiated by insults to the vascular endothelial endothelium, leading to vascular calcification (VC) of the tunica media or the tunica intima, which may coexist. Several pathogenic mechanisms such as inflammation-related endothelial dysfunction, mineral metabolism disorders, activation of the renin-angiotensin system, reduction of nitric oxide, lipid disorders, and the fibroblast growth factor 23-klotho axis are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, including VC. SUMMARY: This review focuses on the current understanding of atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, both in patients on the waiting list as well as in kidney transplant recipients, emphasizing the cardiovascular risk factors in both populations and the inflammation-related pathogenic mechanisms. Key Message: The importance of cardiovascular risk factors and the pathogenic mechanisms related to inflammation in patients waitlisted for KT and kidney transplant recipients.

Registros en trasplante renal: ¿cómo optimizar su utilidad? / Kidney transplant registries: How to optimise their utility?

Los registros (RE) científicos en trasplante (Tx) renal son muy útiles dado que nos permiten identificar factores de riesgo en esta población y facilitan contrastar la información con otros registros nacionales e internacionales, pudiendo contribuir a establecer estrategias que mejoren los resultados en términos de supervivencia. Constituyen un sistema organizado y planificado que utiliza métodos observacionales y procesos sistemáticos estandarizados, incluyendo modelos ajustados de riesgo, para evaluar esencialmente resultados de supervivencia. Los RE científicos se complementan con los ensayos clínicos aportando evidencia científica, pero necesitan inexcusablemente análisis estadísticos adecuados para generar datos clínicos fehacientes que contribuyan a optimizar el pronóstico de la población trasplantada. Asimismo, los RE científicos proporcionan información valiosa sobre el rendimiento de los programas de Tx y ayudan a generar índices pronósticos, que redundarán en la mejoría de la supervivencia. Con estas premisas, esta revisión profundizará en los siguientes aspectos relacionados con los RE científicos en el Tx: 1) el concepto y la importancia de implementar los RE en Tx; 2) las medidas que se necesitan para la correcta ejecución de los RE científicos; 3) los beneficios, la calidad y las limitaciones de los RE; 4) las herramientas estadísticas para el adecuado análisis de la supervivencia, y 5) la utilidad de los RE en la evaluación de la calidad, el rendimiento y las expectativas de los programas de Tx y la generación de índices de comorbilidad

The scientific Registries (RE) in renal transplantation (Tx) are very useful since they allow us to identify risk factors in this population and facilitate contrasting the information with other national and international registries, contributing to establishing strategies which improve outcomes in terms of survival. They constitute an organised and planned system that uses observational methods and standardised systematic processes, including adjusted risk models, to essentially evaluate survival outcomes. The scientific RE are complemented with clinical trials providing scientific evidence, but inexcusably need adequate statistical analysis to generate reliable clinical data that contribute to optimising the prognosis of the transplant population. In addition, scientific RE provide valuable information on the performance of Tx programmes and help generate prognostic indexes, which could contribute to improving survival. Under these prerequisites, this review will assess the following aspects related to the scientific RE in the Tx: 1) the concept and importance of implementing RE in Tx; 2) the measures that are needed for the correct execution of the scientific RE; 3) the benefits, quality and limitations of RE; 4) the statistical tools for the adequate analysis of survival; and 5) utility of RE in the evaluation of performance, quality and surveillance of transplant programmes and the generation of comorbidity índices

The Error of Estimated GFR in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus represents 30-50% of the cases of end stage renal disease worldwide. Thus, a correct evaluation of renal function in patients with diabetes is crucial to prevent or ameliorate diabetes-associated kidney disease. The reliability of formulas to estimate renal function is still unclear, in particular, those new equations based on cystatin-C or the combination of creatinine and cystatin-C. We aimed to assess the error of the available formulas to estimate glomerular filtration rate in diabetic patients. We evaluated the error of creatinine and/or cystatin-C based formulas in reflecting real renal function over a wide range of glomerular filtration rate (from advanced chronic kidney disease to hyperfiltration). The error of estimated glomerular filtration rate by any equation was common and wide averaging 30% of real renal function, and larger in patients with measured glomerular filtration rate below 60 mL/min. This led to chronic kidney disease stages misclassification in about 30% of the individuals and failed to detect 25% of the cases with hyperfiltration. Cystatin-C based formulas did not outperform creatinine based equations, and the reliability of more modern algorithms proved to be as poor as older equations. Formulas failed in reflecting renal function in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Caution is needed with the use of these formulas in patients with diabetes, a population at high risk for kidney disease. Whenever possible, the use of a gold standard method to measure renal function is recommended.

Kidney transplant registries: How to optimise their utility? / Registros en trasplante renal: ¿cómo optimizar su utilidad?

The scientific Registries (RE) in renal transplantation (Tx) are very useful since they allow us to identify risk factors in this population and facilitate contrasting the information with other national and international registries, contributing to establishing strategies which improve outcomes in terms of survival. They constitute an organised and planned system that uses observational methods and standardised systematic processes, including adjusted risk models, to essentially evaluate survival outcomes. The scientific RE are complemented with clinical trials providing scientific evidence, but inexcusably need adequate statistical analysis to generate reliable clinical data that contribute to optimising the prognosis of the transplant population. In addition, scientific RE provide valuable information on the performance of Tx programmes and help generate prognostic indexes, which could contribute to improving survival. Under these prerequisites, this review will assess the following aspects related to the scientific RE in the Tx: 1) the concept and importance of implementing RE in Tx; 2) the measures that are needed for the correct execution of the scientific RE; 3) the benefits, quality and limitations of RE; 4) the statistical tools for the adequate analysis of survival; and 5) utility of RE in the evaluation of performance, quality and surveillance of transplant programmes and the generation of comorbidity índices.

Mortality in Elderly Waiting-List Patients Versus Age-Matched Kidney Transplant Recipients: Where is the Risk?

The number of elderly patients on the waiting list (WL) for kidney transplantation (KT) has risen significantly in recent years. Because KT offers a better survival than dialysis therapy, even in the elderly, candidates for KT should be selected carefully, particularly in older waitlisted patients. Identification of risk factors for death in WL patients and prediction of both perioperative risk and long-term post-transplant mortality are crucial for the proper allocation of organs and the clinical management of these patients in order to decrease mortality, both while on the WL and after KT. In this review, we examine the clinical results in studies concerning: a) risk factors for mortality in WL patients and KT recipients; 2) the benefits and risks of performing KT in the elderly, comparing survival between patients on the WL and KT recipients; and 3) clinical tools that should be used to assess the perioperative risk of mortality and predict long-term post-transplant survival. The acknowledgment of these concerns could contribute to better management of high-risk patients and prophylactic interventions to prolong survival in this particular population, provided a higher mortality is assumed.