Efficacy of lifestyle change psychological intervention in coronary risk reduction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a program of lifestyle change through psychological intervention, combined with pharmacological therapy, for coronary risk reduction in uncontrolled hypertensive patients with overweight and dyslipidemia over 11 months of follow-up. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with 74 patients assigned to three different treatment programs. One group (CT) only received conventional pharmacological treatment. Another group (OG) received pharmacological treatment and participated in a guidance program to control cardiovascular risk factors. A third group (LSPI) received pharmacological treatment and participated in a brief psychological intervention program for reduction of estresse levels and changing of eating behavior. The main measure was the Framingham risk index. RESULTS: CT patients presented an average reduction of 18% (p = 0.001) in coronary risk; OG patients elevated the risk by 0.8% (NS) and the LSPI group showed an average reduction of 27% on the Framingham risk index (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pharmacological treatment combined with psychological intervention for reduction of estresse level and changing of eating behavior resulted in additional benefits in coronary risk reduction.

Eficácia de uma intervenção psicológica no estilo de vida para redução do risco coronariano / Efficacy of lifestyle change psychological intervention in coronary risk reduction

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia de um programa destinado a promover mudanças no estilo de vida por meio de intervenção psicológica associado à terapia farmacológica para redução do risco coronariano em pacientes com hipertensão não-controlada, sobrepeso e dislipidemia acompanhados durante 11 meses. MÉTODOS: Estudo controlado e aleatório com 74 pacientes distribuídos para três programas de tratamento distintos. Um grupo (TC) recebeu exclusivamente tratamento farmacológico convencional. O grupo de orientação (GO) recebeu tratamento farmacológico e participou de um programa de orientação para controle dos fatores de risco cardiovascular. O terceiro grupo (IPEV) recebeu tratamento farmacológico e participou de um programa de intervenção psicológica breve destinado a reduzir o nível de estresse e mudar o comportamento alimentar. A principal medida de avaliação foi o índice de risco de Framingham. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes do grupo TC obtiveram uma redução média de 18 por cento (p = 0,001) no risco coronariano; os pacientes do grupo GO apresentaram um aumento de risco de 0,8 por cento (NS); e os pacientes do grupo IPEV obtiveram uma redução média de 27 por cento no índice de risco de Framingham (p = 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento farmacológico aliado a um programa de intervenção psicológica destinado a reduzir o nível de estresse e mudar o comportamento alimentar resultou em benefícios adicionais na redução de risco coronariano.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a program of lifestyle change through psychological intervention, combined with pharmacological therapy, for coronary risk reduction in uncontrolled hypertensive patients with overweight and dyslipidemia over 11 months of follow-up. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with 74 patients assigned to three different treatment programs. One group (CT) only received conventional pharmacological treatment. Another group (OG) received pharmacological treatment and participated in a guidance program to control cardiovascular risk factors. A third group (LSPI) received pharmacological treatment and participated in a brief psychological intervention program for reduction of estresse levels and changing of eating behavior. The main measure was the Framingham risk index. RESULTS: CT patients presented an average reduction of 18 percent (p = 0.001) in coronary risk; OG patients elevated the risk by 0.8 percent (NS) and the LSPI group showed an average reduction of 27 percent on the Framingham risk index (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pharmacological treatment combined with psychological intervention for reduction of estresse level and changing of eating behavior resulted in additional benefits in coronary risk reduction.

N-domain angiotensin I-converting enzyme with 80 kDa as a possible genetic marker of hypertension.

We have previously described angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) forms in urine of normotensive (190 and 65 kDa) and hypertensive patients (90 and 65 kDa, N-domain ACEs). Based on the results described above, experimental and genetic models of hypertension were investigated to distinguish hemodynamic and genetic influence on the generation of ACE profile in urine: Wistar-Kyoto and Brown Norway rats (WKY and BN), spontaneously and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR and SHR-SP), one kidney/one clip rats (1K1C), deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) salt-treated and untreated rats, and enalapril-treated SHR (SHRen). Two peaks with ACE activity were separated from the urine of WKY and BN rats submitted to an AcA-44 column, WK-1/BN-1 (190 kDa), and WK-2/BN-2 (65 kDa), as described for urine of normotensive subjects. The same results were obtained for urine of 1K1C and DOCA salt-treated and untreated rats, analyzed to evaluate the influence of hemodynamic factors in the ACE profile in urine. The urine from SHR, SHR-SP, and SHRen presented 80 (S-1, SP-1, Sen-1) and 65 (S-2, SP-2, Sen-2) kDa ACE forms, differing from the urine profile of normotensive rats, but similar to that described for hypertensive patients. The presence of 80 kDa ACE in urine of SHR, SHR-SP, and SHRen and its absence in urine of experimental hypertensive rats (1K1C and DOCA salt) support the hypothesis that this enzyme could be a possible genetic marker of hypertension. Taken together, our results provide evidence that ACE forms with 90/80 kDa isolated from the urine of hypertensive subjects and genetic hypertensive animals behaves as a possible genetic marker of hypertension and not as a marker of high blood pressure.

A lovastatina no tratamento da hipercolesterolemia em portadores de diabete näo dependente de insulina / Lovastatin for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia in Non-insulin Dependent Diabetic Patients

Objetivo - Avaliar os efeitos da lovastatina como agente capaz de corrigir as anormalidade do perfil lipídico do plasma em pacientes diabéticos näo dependentes de insulina (NIDDM) e portadores de hipercolesterolemia. Métodos - Foram estudados 20 pacientes NIDDM nos quais se diagnosticou hipercolesterolemia, definida como a ocorrência de níveis de LDL-colesterol superiores a 160mg/dl, em pacientes do sexo feminino, e acima de 130mg/dl em pacientes do sexo masculino, ou em mulheres portadoras de qualquer outro fator de risco para doença coronariana. Dos 20 pacientes incluídos, 18 eram hipertensos que foram admintidos no estudo após terem substituído a terapêutica com ß-bloqueadores ou diurêticos por inibidores da enzima conversora ou bloqueadores dos canais de cálcio. O tratamento consistiu na administraçäo de lovastatina por um período de 24 semanas. A dose diária inicial de 20mg era elevada para 40mg, após 6 semanas de uso da droga, caso os níveis de LDL-colesterol se mantivessem acima de 130mg/dl. Resultados - A lovastatina na dose diária de 20mg (9 pacientes) ou 40mg (11 pacientes), reduziu os níveis séricos de LDL-colesterol e do colesterol total em 30// e 21// respectivamente, enquanto os níveis de HDL-colesterol e triglicérides permaneceram inalterados. A medicaçäo foi bem tolerada e nenhum paciente apresentou alteraçöes nos níveis séricos das transaminases ou bilirrubinas. Em 9 dos pacientes estudados houve elevaçäo dos níveis séricos da fosfatase alcalina, sendo que a média do grupo todo se elevou de 109 ñ 59 para 188 ñ 60mµ (p < 0,05), sendo esta a única alteraçäo laboratorial observada, näo associada a qualquer manifestaçäo clínica. Conclusäo - Em NIDDM a lovastatina se mostrou eficiente para promover reduçöes nos níveis séricos do colesterol total e do LDL-colesterol. Embora se desconheça o real significado da elevaçäo nos níveis séricos da fosfatase alcalina, recomendamos, nessa condiçäo, a suspensäo da terapia com essa droga

Purpose- To evaluate the effects of lovastatin as an hypocholesterolemic agent in non-insulin dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients with high cholesterol plasma levels. Methods - Twenty NIDDM patients were included in this study. Hypercholesterolemia was defined as LDL cholesterol plasma levels above 160mg/dl in female patients and above 130mg/dl in male patients or in women presenting any other risk factor for cardiovascular disease. From the 20 patients included, 18 had also high levels of arterial blood pressure. They were evaluated for admission in the study after they have substituted the antihypertensive medication for at least 6 weeks, from bblockers or diuretics to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or calcium channel blockers. Lovastatin was administered in a initial daily dose of 20mg to all patients for 6 weeks. After this period this dose was increased to 40mg in 11 patients with LDL-cholesterol levels above 130mg/dl. All patients were treated for a total period of 24 weeks. Results - Lovastatin therapy for 24 weeks reduced LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol plasma levels in 30% and 21°/, respectively, while no changes in HDL cholesterol or triglycerides plasma levels wereobserved. The medication was well tolerated and no changes in bilirrubins or transaminases plasma levels were detected. In 9 patients the serum levels of alkaline phosphatase showed an elevation and the mean level of all group increased from 109±59 to 188±60mm/ml (p< 0.05). This was an isolated abnormality without any other clinical manifestation. Conclusion - Lovastatin in NIDDM showed to be an efficient agent to reduce high levels of LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol. However, the importance of the abnormality observed in serum alkaline phosphatase levels deserves further investigation. In this condition we recommend discontinuation of lovastatin therapy