Comparison of Cardiovascular Health Profiles Across Population Surveys From 5 High- to Low-Income Countries.

Background: To facilitate the shift from risk-factor management to primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease, the American Heart Association developed guidelines to score and track cardiovascular health (CVH). How the prevalence and trajectories of a high level of CVH across the life course compare among high- and lower-income countries is unknown. Methods: Nationally representative survey data with CVH variables (physical activity, cigarette smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, and total cholesterol levels) were identified in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Brazil, England, and the US for adults (aged 18-69 years and not pregnant). Data were harmonized, and CVH metrics were scored using the American Heart Association guidelines, as high (2), moderate (1), or low (0), with the prevalence of high scores (better CVH) across the life course compared across countries. Results: Among 28,092 adults (Ethiopia n = 7686, 55.2% male; Bangladesh n = 6731, 48.4% male; Brazil n = 7241, 47.9% male; England n = 2691, 49.5% male, and the US n = 3743, 50.3% male), the prevalence of high CVH scores decreased as country income level increased. Declining CVH with age was universal across countries, but differences were already observable in those aged 18 years. Excess body weight appeared to be the main driver of poor CVH in higher-income countries, and the prevalence of current smoking was highest in Bangladesh. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CVH decline with age may be universal. Interventions to promote and preserve CVH throughout the life course are needed in all populations, tailored to country-specific time courses of the decline. In countries where the level of CVH remains relatively high, protection of whole societies from risk-factor epidemics may still be feasible.

Contexte: Afin de faciliter la transition de la prise en charge des facteurs de risque vers la prévention primordiale des maladies cardiovasculaires, l'American Heart Association a élaboré des lignes directrices en vue de mesurer la santé cardiovasculaire (SCV) et d'en faire le suivi. On ignore dans quelle mesure la prévalence et la trajectoire d'un niveau élevé de SCV au cours d'une vie se comparent entre les pays à revenu élevé et les pays à plus faible revenu. Méthodologie: Des résultats de sondages représentatifs des pays concernant les variables de la SCV (activité physique, tabagisme, indice de masse corporelle, pression artérielle, glycémie et taux de cholestérol total) ont été obtenus de l'Éthiopie, du Bangladesh, du Brésil, de l'Angleterre et des États-Unis, pour des adultes âgés de 18 à 69 ans, excluant les femmes enceintes. Les données ont été harmonisées, et la SCV a été mesurée conformément aux lignes directrices de l'American Heart Association, et notée en fonction des scores suivants : élevée (2), modérée (1) ou faible (0). La prévalence de scores élevés, soit une meilleure SCV tout au long de la vie, a été comparée entre les pays. Résultats: Parmi 28 092 adultes (Éthiopie, n = 7 686, 55,2 % de sexe masculin; Bangladesh, n = 6 731, 48,4 % de sexe masculin; Brésil, n = 7 241, 47,9 % de sexe masculin; Angleterre, n = 2 691, 49,5 % de sexe masculin, et États-Unis, n = 3 743, 50,3 % de sexe masculin), la prévalence de scores correspondant à une SCV élevée diminuait à mesure que le niveau de revenu du pays augmentait. La diminution de la SCV avec l'âge était universelle dans tous les pays, mais des différences étaient déjà observables chez les personnes âgées de 18 ans. Un surplus de poids corporel semblait être le principal facteur d'une faible SCV dans les pays à revenu plus élevé; la prévalence d'un tabagisme actuel était la plus élevée au Bangladesh. Conclusions: Nos observations laissent croire que le déclin de la SCV avec l'âge pourrait être universel. Il est nécessaire de mener des interventions adaptées à la progression du déclin dans chacun des pays en vue de favoriser et de préserver la SCV tout au long de la vie, et ce, dans toutes les populations. Dans les pays où le niveau de SCV demeure relativement élevé, il pourrait être encore possible de protéger des sociétés entières contre des épidémies liées aux facteurs de risque.

Hypertension care cascades and reducing inequities in cardiovascular disease in low- and middle-income countries.

Improving hypertension control in low- and middle-income countries has uncertain implications across socioeconomic groups. In this study, we simulated improvements in the hypertension care cascade and evaluated the distributional benefits across wealth quintiles in 44 low- and middle-income countries using individual-level data from nationally representative, cross-sectional surveys. We raised diagnosis (diagnosis scenario) and treatment (treatment scenario) levels for all wealth quintiles to match the best-performing country quintile and estimated the change in 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk of individuals initiated on treatment. We observed greater health benefits among bottom wealth quintiles in middle-income countries and in countries with larger baseline disparities in hypertension management. Lower-middle-income countries would see the greatest absolute benefits among the bottom quintiles under the treatment scenario (29.1 CVD cases averted per 1,000 people living with hypertension in the bottom quintile (Q1) versus 17.2 in the top quintile (Q5)), and the proportion of total CVD cases averted would be largest among the lowest quintiles in upper-middle-income countries under both diagnosis (32.0% of averted cases in Q1 versus 11.9% in Q5) and treatment (29.7% of averted cases in Q1 versus 14.0% in Q5) scenarios. Targeted improvements in hypertension diagnosis and treatment could substantially reduce socioeconomic-based inequalities in CVD burden in low- and middle-income countries.

Lifting all boats: strategies to promote equitable bidirectional research training opportunities to enhance global health reciprocal innovation.

Inequities in global health research are well documented. For example, training opportunities for US investigators to conduct research in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) have exceeded opportunities for LMIC investigators to train and conduct research in high-income countries. Reciprocal innovation addresses these inequities through collaborative research across diverse global settings.The Fogarty International Center of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) promotes research capacity building in LMICs. Fogarty K-grants for mentored career development in global health are available for both US and LMIC investigators, whereas the D43 is the standard grant to support institutional training programmes in LMIC. Other NIH institutes fund T32 training grants to support biomedical research training in the USA, but very few have any global health component. Most global health training partnerships have historically focused on research conducted solely in LMIC, with few examples of bidirectional training partnerships. Opportunities may exist to promote global health reciprocal innovation (GHRI) research by twinning K-awardees in the USA with those from LMIC or by intentionally creating partnerships between T32 and D43 training programmes.To sustain independent careers in GHRI research, trainees must be supported through the path to independence known as the K (mentored grantee)-to-R (independent grantee) transition. Opportunities to support this transition include comentorship, research training at both LMIC and US institutions and protected time and resources for research. Other opportunities for sustainability include postdoctoral training before and after the K-award period, absorption of trained researchers into home institutions, South-South training initiatives and innovations to mitigate brain drain.

Use of Human-Centered Design Methodology to Develop a Digital Toolkit to Optimize Heart Failure Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMTs) improve quality of life and health outcomes for patients with heart failure (HF). However, GDMT utilization is suboptimal among patients with HF. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to engage key stakeholders in semistructured, virtual human-centered design sessions to identify challenges in GDMT optimization posthospitalization and inform the development of a digital toolkit aimed at optimizing HF GDMTs. METHODS: For the human-centered design sessions, we recruited (a) clinicians who care for patients with HF across 3 hospital systems, (b) patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (ejection fraction ≤ 40%) discharged from the hospital within 30 days of enrollment, and (c) caregivers. All participants were 18 years or older, English speaking, with Internet access. RESULTS: A total of 10 clinicians (median age, 37 years [interquartile range, 35-41], 12 years [interquartile range, 10-14] of experience caring for patients with HF, 80% women, 50% White, 50% nurse practitioners) and three patients and one caregiver (median age 57 years [IQR: 53-60], 75% men, 50% Black, 75% married) were included. Five themes emerged from the clinician sessions on challenges to GDMT optimization (eg, barriers to patient buy-in). Six themes on challenges (eg, managing medications), 4 themes on motivators (eg, regaining independence), and 3 themes on facilitators (eg, social support) to HF management arose from the patient and caregiver sessions. CONCLUSIONS: The clinician, patient, and caregiver insights identified through human-centered design will inform a digital toolkit aimed at optimizing HF GDMTs, including a patient-facing smartphone application and clinician dashboard. This digital toolkit will be evaluated in a multicenter, clinical trial.

Aspirin for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in 51 Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries.

Importance: Aspirin is an effective and low-cost option for reducing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and improving mortality rates among individuals with established CVD. To guide efforts to mitigate the global CVD burden, there is a need to understand current levels of aspirin use for secondary prevention of CVD. Objective: To report and evaluate aspirin use for secondary prevention of CVD across low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cross-sectional analysis using pooled, individual participant data from nationally representative health surveys conducted between 2013 and 2020 in 51 low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Included surveys contained data on self-reported history of CVD and aspirin use. The sample of participants included nonpregnant adults aged 40 to 69 years. Exposures: Countries' per capita income levels and world region; individuals' socioeconomic demographics. Main Outcomes and Measures: Self-reported use of aspirin for secondary prevention of CVD. Results: The overall pooled sample included 124 505 individuals. The median age was 52 (IQR, 45-59) years, and 50.5% (95% CI, 49.9%-51.1%) were women. A total of 10 589 individuals had a self-reported history of CVD (8.1% [95% CI, 7.6%-8.6%]). Among individuals with a history of CVD, aspirin use for secondary prevention in the overall pooled sample was 40.3% (95% CI, 37.6%-43.0%). By income group, estimates were 16.6% (95% CI, 12.4%-21.9%) in low-income countries, 24.5% (95% CI, 20.8%-28.6%) in lower-middle-income countries, 51.1% (95% CI, 48.2%-54.0%) in upper-middle-income countries, and 65.0% (95% CI, 59.1%-70.4%) in high-income countries. Conclusion and Relevance: Worldwide, aspirin is underused in secondary prevention, particularly in low-income countries. National health policies and health systems must develop, implement, and evaluate strategies to promote aspirin therapy.

Association Between Electrocardiographic Age and Cardiovascular Events in Community Settings: The Framingham Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: Deep neural networks have been used to estimate age from ECGs, the electrocardiographic age (ECG-age), which predicts adverse outcomes. However, this prediction ability has been restricted to clinical settings or relatively short periods. We hypothesized that ECG-age is associated with death and cardiovascular outcomes in the long-standing community-based FHS (Framingham Heart Study). METHODS: We tested the association of ECG-age with chronological age in the FHS cohorts in ECGs from 1986 to 2021. We calculated the gap between chronological and ECG-age (Δage) and classified individuals as having normal, accelerated, or decelerated aging, if Δage was within, higher, or lower than the mean absolute error of the model, respectively. We assessed the associations of Δage, accelerated and decelerated aging with death or cardiovascular outcomes (atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, and heart failure) using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, and clinical factors. RESULTS: The study population included 9877 FHS participants (mean age, 55±13 years; 54.9% women) with 34 948 ECGs. ECG-age was correlated to chronological age (r=0.81; mean absolute error, 9±7 years). After 17±8 years of follow-up, every 10-year increase of Δage was associated with 18% increase in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.18 [95% CI, 1.12-1.23]), 23% increase in atrial fibrillation risk (HR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.17-1.29]), 14% increase in myocardial infarction risk (HR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.05-1.23]), and 40% increase in heart failure risk (HR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.30-1.52]), in multivariable models. In addition, accelerated aging was associated with a 28% increase in all-cause mortality (HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.14-1.45]), whereas decelerated aging was associated with a 16% decrease (HR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.74-0.95]). CONCLUSIONS: ECG-age was highly correlated with chronological age in FHS. The difference between ECG-age and chronological age was associated with death, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. Given the wide availability and low cost of ECG, ECG-age could be a scalable biomarker of cardiovascular risk.

Association of lifestyle with deep learning predicted electrocardiographic age.

Background: People age at different rates. Biological age is a risk factor for many chronic diseases independent of chronological age. A good lifestyle is known to improve overall health, but its association with biological age is unclear. Methods: This study included participants from the UK Biobank who had undergone 12-lead resting electrocardiography (ECG). Biological age was estimated by a deep learning model (defined as ECG-age), and the difference between ECG-age and chronological age was defined as Δage. Participants were further categorized into an ideal (score 4), intermediate (scores 2 and 3) or unfavorable lifestyle (score 0 or 1). Four lifestyle factors were investigated, including diet, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and smoking. Linear regression models were used to examine the association between lifestyle factors and Δage, and the models were adjusted for sex and chronological age. Results: This study included 44,094 individuals (mean age 64 ± 8, 51.4% females). A significant correlation was observed between predicted biological age and chronological age (correlation coefficient = 0.54, P < 0.001) and the mean Δage (absolute error of biological age and chronological age) was 9.8 ± 7.4 years. Δage was significantly associated with all of the four lifestyle factors, with the effect size ranging from 0.41 ± 0.11 for the healthy diet to 2.37 ± 0.30 for non-smoking. Compared with an ideal lifestyle, an unfavorable lifestyle was associated with an average of 2.50 ± 0.29 years of older predicted ECG-age. Conclusion: In this large contemporary population, a strong association was observed between all four studied healthy lifestyle factors and deaccelerated aging. Our study underscores the importance of a healthy lifestyle to reduce the burden of aging-related diseases.

Volume de Gordura Epicárdica está Associada com Disfunção Endotelial, mas Não com Calcificação Coronariana: Do ELSA-Brasil / Epicardial Fat Volume Is Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction, but not with Coronary Calcification: From the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Resumo Fundamento O aumento no volume de gordura epicárdica (VGE) está relacionado com doença arterial coronariana (DAC), independentemente de gordura visceral ou subcutânea. O mecanismo dessa associação não é claro. O escore de cálcio coronariano (CC) e a disfunção endotelial estão relacionados com eventos coronarianos, mas não está bem esclarecido se o VGE está relacionado com esses marcadores. Objetivos Avaliar a associação entre VGE medido por método automatizado, fatores de risco cardiovasculares, escore de CC, e função endotelial. Métodos: Em 470 participantes do Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto LSA-Brasil com medidas de VGE, escore de CC e função endotelial, realizamos modelos multivariados para avaliar a relação entre fatore de risco cardiovascular e VGE (variável resposta), e entre VGE (variável explicativa), e função endotelial ou escore de CC. Valor de p<0,05 bilateral foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados A idade média foi 55 ± 8 anos, e 52,3% dos pacientes eram homens. O VGE médio foi 111mL (86-144), e a prevalência de escore de CC igual a zero foi 55%. Nas análises multivariadas, um VGE mais alto relacionou-se com sexo feminino, idade mais avançada, circunferência da cintura, e triglicerídeos (p<0,001 para todos). Um VGE mais alto foi associado com pior função endotelial: em comparação ao primeiro quartil, os valores de odds ratio para a amplitude de pulso basal foram (q2=1,22; IC95% 1,07-1,40; q3=1,50, IC95% 1,30-1,74; q4=1,50, IC95% 1,28-1,79) e para a razão de tonometria arterial periférica foram (q2=0,87; IC95% 0,81-0,95; q3=0,86, IC95% 0,79-0,94; q4=0,80, IC95% 0,73-0,89), mas não com escore de CC maior que zero. Conclusão Um VGE mais alto associou-se com comprometimento da função endotelial, mas não com escore de CC. Os resultados sugerem que o VGE esteja relacionado ao desenvolvimento de DAC por uma via diferente da via do CC, possivelmente pela piora da disfunção endotelial e doença microvascular.

Abstract Background The increase in epicardial fat volume (EFV) is related to coronary artery disease (CAD), independent of visceral or subcutaneous fat. The mechanism underlying this association is unclear. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and endothelial dysfunction are related to coronary events, but whether EFV is related to these markers needs further clarification. Objectives To evaluate the association between automatically measured EFV, cardiovascular risk factors, CAC, and endothelial function. Methods In 470 participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) with measures of EFV, CAC score and endothelial function, we performed multivariable models to evaluate the relation between cardiovascular risk factors and EFV (response variable), and between EFV (explanatory variable) and endothelial function variables or CAC score. Two-sided p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Mean age was 55 ± 8 years, 52.3% of patients were men. Mean EFV was 111mL (IQ 86-144), and the prevalence of CAC score=0 was 55%. In the multivariable analyses, increased EFV was related to female sex, older age, waist circumference, and triglycerides (p<0.001 for all). Higher EFV was associated with worse endothelial function: as compared with the first quartile, the odds ratio for basal pulse amplitude were (q2=1.22, 95%CI 1.07-1.40; q3=1.50, 95%CI 1.30-1.74; q4=1.50, 95%CI 1.28-1.79) and for peripheral arterial tonometry ratio were (q2=0.87, 95%CI 0.81-0.95; q3=0.86, 95%CI 0.79-0.94; q4=0.80, 95%CI 0.73-0.89), but not with CAC score>0. Conclusion Higher EFV was associated with impaired endothelial function, but not with CAC. The results suggest that EFV is related to the development of CAD through a pathway different from the CAC pathway, possibly through aggravation of endothelial dysfunction and microvascular disease.

Saúde Cardiovascular e Fibrilação ou Flutter Atrial: Um Estudo Transversal do ELSA-Brasil / Cardiovascular Health and Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter: A Cross-Sectional Study from ELSA-Brasil

Resumo Fundamento A associação entre o status de saúde cardiovascular ideal ( ideal cardiovascular health ( ICVH) e diagnóstico de fibrilação ou flutter atrial (FFA) foi menos estudado em comparação a outras doenças cardiovasculares. Objetivos Analisar a associação entre o diagnóstico de FFA e métricas e escores de ICVH no Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil). Métodos Este estudo analisou dados de 13141 participantes com dados completos. Os traçados eletrocardiográficos foram codificados de acordo com o Sistema de Minnesota, em um centro de leitura centralizado. As métricas do ICVH (dieta, atividade física, índice de massa corporal, tabagismo, glicemia de jeju, e colesterol total) e escores do ICVH foram calculados conforme proposto pela American Heart Association . Modelos de regressão logística bruta e ajustada foram construídos para analisar associações de métricas e escores do ICVH com diagnóstico de FFA. O nível de significância foi estabelecido em 0,05. Resultados A idade mediana da amostra foi de 55 anos, e 54,4% eram mulheres. Nos modelos ajustados, os escores de ICVH não apresentaram associação significativa com diagnóstico de FFA prevalente [odds ratio (OR):0,96; intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%):0,80-1,16; p=0,70). Perfis de pressão arterial ideal (OR:0,33; IC95%:0,1-0,74; p=0,007) e colesterol total ideal (OR:1,88; IC95%:1,19-2,98; p=0,007) foram significativamente associados com o diagnóstico de FFA. Conclusões Não foram identificadas associações significativas entre escores de ICVH global e diagnóstico de FFA após ajuste multivariado em nossas análises, devido, ao menos em parte, às associações antagônicas da FFA com métricas de pressão arterial e de colesterol total do ICVH. Nossos resultados sugerem que estimar a prevenção da FFA por meio de escore de ICVH global pode não ser adequado, e as métricas do ICVH devem ser consideradas separadamente.

Abstract Background The association between ideal cardiovascular health (ICVH) status and atrial fibrillation or flutter (AFF) diagnosis has been less studied compared to other cardiovascular diseases. Objective To analyze the association between AFF diagnosis and ICVH metrics and scores in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods This study analyzed data from 13,141 participants with complete data. Electrocardiographic tracings were coded according to the Minnesota Coding System, in a centralized reading center. ICVH metrics (diet, physical activity, body mass index, smoking, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and total cholesterol) and scores were calculated as proposed by the American Heart Association. Crude and adjusted binary logistic regression models were built to analyze the association of ICVH metrics and scores with AFF diagnosis. Significance level was set at 0.05. Results The sample had a median age of 55 years and 54.4% were women. In adjusted models, ICVH scores were not significantly associated with prevalent AFF diagnosis (odds ratio [OR]:0.96; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]:0.80-1.16; p=0.70). Ideal blood pressure (OR:0.33; 95% CI:0.15-0.74; p=0.007) and total cholesterol (OR:1.88; 95% CI:1.19-2.98; p=0.007) profiles were significantly associated with AFF diagnosis. Conclusions No significant associations were identified between global ICVH scores and AFF diagnosis after multivariable adjustment in our analyses, at least partially due to the antagonistic associations of AFF with blood pressure and total cholesterol ICVH metrics. Our results suggest that estimating the prevention of AFF burden using global ICVH scores may not be adequate, and ICVH metrics should be considered in separate.

Epicardial Fat Volume Is Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction, but not with Coronary Calcification: From the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). / Volume de Gordura Epicárdica está Associada com Disfunção Endotelial, mas Não com Calcificação Coronariana: Do ELSA-Brasil.

BACKGROUND: The increase in epicardial fat volume (EFV) is related to coronary artery disease (CAD), independent of visceral or subcutaneous fat. The mechanism underlying this association is unclear. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and endothelial dysfunction are related to coronary events, but whether EFV is related to these markers needs further clarification. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between automatically measured EFV, cardiovascular risk factors, CAC, and endothelial function. METHODS: In 470 participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) with measures of EFV, CAC score and endothelial function, we performed multivariable models to evaluate the relation between cardiovascular risk factors and EFV (response variable), and between EFV (explanatory variable) and endothelial function variables or CAC score. Two-sided p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Mean age was 55 ± 8 years, 52.3% of patients were men. Mean EFV was 111mL (IQ 86-144), and the prevalence of CAC score=0 was 55%. In the multivariable analyses, increased EFV was related to female sex, older age, waist circumference, and triglycerides (p<0.001 for all). Higher EFV was associated with worse endothelial function: as compared with the first quartile, the odds ratio for basal pulse amplitude were (q2=1.22, 95%CI 1.07-1.40; q3=1.50, 95%CI 1.30-1.74; q4=1.50, 95%CI 1.28-1.79) and for peripheral arterial tonometry ratio were (q2=0.87, 95%CI 0.81-0.95; q3=0.86, 95%CI 0.79-0.94; q4=0.80, 95%CI 0.73-0.89), but not with CAC score>0. CONCLUSION: Higher EFV was associated with impaired endothelial function, but not with CAC. The results suggest that EFV is related to the development of CAD through a pathway different from the CAC pathway, possibly through aggravation of endothelial dysfunction and microvascular disease.

FUNDAMENTO: O aumento no volume de gordura epicárdica (VGE) está relacionado com doença arterial coronariana (DAC), independentemente de gordura visceral ou subcutânea. O mecanismo dessa associação não é claro. O escore de cálcio coronariano (CC) e a disfunção endotelial estão relacionados com eventos coronarianos, mas não está bem esclarecido se o VGE está relacionado com esses marcadores. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a associação entre VGE medido por método automatizado, fatores de risco cardiovasculares, escore de CC, e função endotelial. Métodos: Em 470 participantes do Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto LSA-Brasil com medidas de VGE, escore de CC e função endotelial, realizamos modelos multivariados para avaliar a relação entre fatore de risco cardiovascular e VGE (variável resposta), e entre VGE (variável explicativa), e função endotelial ou escore de CC. Valor de p<0,05 bilateral foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. RESULTADOS: A idade média foi 55 ± 8 anos, e 52,3% dos pacientes eram homens. O VGE médio foi 111mL (86-144), e a prevalência de escore de CC igual a zero foi 55%. Nas análises multivariadas, um VGE mais alto relacionou-se com sexo feminino, idade mais avançada, circunferência da cintura, e triglicerídeos (p<0,001 para todos). Um VGE mais alto foi associado com pior função endotelial: em comparação ao primeiro quartil, os valores de odds ratio para a amplitude de pulso basal foram (q2=1,22; IC95% 1,07-1,40; q3=1,50, IC95% 1,30-1,74; q4=1,50, IC95% 1,28-1,79) e para a razão de tonometria arterial periférica foram (q2=0,87; IC95% 0,81-0,95; q3=0,86, IC95% 0,79-0,94; q4=0,80, IC95% 0,73-0,89), mas não com escore de CC maior que zero. CONCLUSÃO: Um VGE mais alto associou-se com comprometimento da função endotelial, mas não com escore de CC. Os resultados sugerem que o VGE esteja relacionado ao desenvolvimento de DAC por uma via diferente da via do CC, possivelmente pela piora da disfunção endotelial e doença microvascular.

Cardiovascular Health and Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter: A Cross-Sectional Study from ELSA-Brasil. / Saúde Cardiovascular e Fibrilação ou Flutter Atrial: Um Estudo Transversal do ELSA-Brasil.

BACKGROUND: The association between ideal cardiovascular health (ICVH) status and atrial fibrillation or flutter (AFF) diagnosis has been less studied compared to other cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between AFF diagnosis and ICVH metrics and scores in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). METHODS: This study analyzed data from 13,141 participants with complete data. Electrocardiographic tracings were coded according to the Minnesota Coding System, in a centralized reading center. ICVH metrics (diet, physical activity, body mass index, smoking, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and total cholesterol) and scores were calculated as proposed by the American Heart Association. Crude and adjusted binary logistic regression models were built to analyze the association of ICVH metrics and scores with AFF diagnosis. Significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: The sample had a median age of 55 years and 54.4% were women. In adjusted models, ICVH scores were not significantly associated with prevalent AFF diagnosis (odds ratio [OR]:0.96; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]:0.80-1.16; p=0.70). Ideal blood pressure (OR:0.33; 95% CI:0.15-0.74; p=0.007) and total cholesterol (OR:1.88; 95% CI:1.19-2.98; p=0.007) profiles were significantly associated with AFF diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: No significant associations were identified between global ICVH scores and AFF diagnosis after multivariable adjustment in our analyses, at least partially due to the antagonistic associations of AFF with blood pressure and total cholesterol ICVH metrics. Our results suggest that estimating the prevention of AFF burden using global ICVH scores may not be adequate, and ICVH metrics should be considered in separate.

FUNDAMENTO: A associação entre o status de saúde cardiovascular ideal ( ideal cardiovascular health ( ICVH) e diagnóstico de fibrilação ou flutter atrial (FFA) foi menos estudado em comparação a outras doenças cardiovasculares. OBJETIVOS: Analisar a associação entre o diagnóstico de FFA e métricas e escores de ICVH no Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil). MÉTODOS: Este estudo analisou dados de 13141 participantes com dados completos. Os traçados eletrocardiográficos foram codificados de acordo com o Sistema de Minnesota, em um centro de leitura centralizado. As métricas do ICVH (dieta, atividade física, índice de massa corporal, tabagismo, glicemia de jeju, e colesterol total) e escores do ICVH foram calculados conforme proposto pela American Heart Association . Modelos de regressão logística bruta e ajustada foram construídos para analisar associações de métricas e escores do ICVH com diagnóstico de FFA. O nível de significância foi estabelecido em 0,05. RESULTADOS: A idade mediana da amostra foi de 55 anos, e 54,4% eram mulheres. Nos modelos ajustados, os escores de ICVH não apresentaram associação significativa com diagnóstico de FFA prevalente [odds ratio (OR):0,96; intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%):0,80-1,16; p=0,70). Perfis de pressão arterial ideal (OR:0,33; IC95%:0,1-0,74; p=0,007) e colesterol total ideal (OR:1,88; IC95%:1,19-2,98; p=0,007) foram significativamente associados com o diagnóstico de FFA. CONCLUSÕES: Não foram identificadas associações significativas entre escores de ICVH global e diagnóstico de FFA após ajuste multivariado em nossas análises, devido, ao menos em parte, às associações antagônicas da FFA com métricas de pressão arterial e de colesterol total do ICVH. Nossos resultados sugerem que estimar a prevenção da FFA por meio de escore de ICVH global pode não ser adequado, e as métricas do ICVH devem ser consideradas separadamente.

Cardiovascular Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemics in a Large Brazilian City: A Comprehensive Analysis.

Introduction: The impact of COVID-19 pandemics on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) may be caused by health system reorganization and/or collapse, or from changes in the behaviour of individuals. In Brazil, municipalities were empowered to define regulatory measures, potentially resulting in diverse effects on CVD morbimortality. Objective: To analyse the impact of COVID-19 pandemics on CVD outcomes in Belo Horizonte (BH), the sixth greater capital city in Brazil, including: mortality, mortality at home, hospitalizations, intensive care unit utilization, and in-hospital mortality; and the differential effect according to sex, age range, social vulnerability, and pandemic's phase. Methods: Ecological study analysing data from the Mortality and Hospital Information System of BH residents aged ≥30 years. CVD was defined as in Chapter IX from ICD-10. Social vulnerability was classified by a composite socioeconomic index as high, medium and low. The observed age-standardized rates for epidemiological weeks 10-48, 2020, were compared to the expected rates (mean of 2015-2019). Risk ratios (RiR) were analysed and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all estimates. Population projected to 2020 for BH and its census tracts were used to calculate rates. Results: We found no changes in CVD mortality rates (RiR 1.01, 95%CI 0.96-1.06). However, CVD deaths occurred more at homes (RiR 1.32, 95%CI 1.20-1.46) than in hospitals (RiR 0.89, 95%CI 0.79-0.99), as a result of a substantial decline in hospitalization rates, even though proportional in-hospital deaths increased. The rise in home deaths was greater in older adults and in had an increasing gradient in those more socially vulnerable (RiR 1.45); for high (RiR 1.45), medium (RiR 1.32) and low vulnerability (RiR 1.21). Conclusion: The greater occurrence of CVD deaths at home, in parallel with lower hospitalization rates, suggests that CVD care was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemics, which more adversely affected older and more socially vulnerable individuals, exacerbating health inequities in BH.

Higher mortality during COVID-19 pandemic in socially vulnerable areas in Belo Horizonte: implications for vaccination prioriti / Maior mortalidade durante a pandemia de COVID-19 em áreas socialmente vulneráveis em Belo Horizonte: implicações para priorização da vacinação

Objective: To assess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic according to social vulnerability by areas of Belo Horizonte (BH), aiming at strategies for vaccination. Methods: Ecological study with mortality analysis, according to census tracts classified by the Health Vulnerability Index, a composite indicator that includes socioeconomic and sanitation variables. Deaths due to natural causes and COVID-19 were obtained from the "Mortality Information System", between the 10th and 43rd epidemiological weeks (EW) of 2020. Excess mortality was calculated by a time series model, considering observed deaths by EW, between 2015 and 2019, for census tracts. Mortality rates (MR) were calculated and age-standardized =using population estimates from 2010 census. Results: Excess mortality in BH was 16.1% (n =1524): 11.0%, 18.8% and 17.3% in the low, intermediate and high vulnerability areas, respectively. The differences between observed and expected age-standardized MR by natural causes were equal to 59/100,000 inhabitants in BH, increasing from 31 to 77 and 95/100,000 inhabitants, in the areas of low, intermediate and high vulnerability, respectively. There was an aging gradient in COVID-19 MR, ranging from 4 to 611/100,000 inhabitants among individuals of 20-39 years and 75+ years. The COVID-19 MR per 100,000 elderly (60+ years) was 292 in BH, increasing from 179 to 354 and 476, in the low, intermediate and high vulnerability areas, respectively. Conclusion: Inequalities in mortality, particularly among the elderly, combined with the limited supply of doses, demonstrate the importance of prioritizing socially vulnerable areas during vaccination against COVID-19.

Objetivo: Avaliar a mortalidade por áreas de Belo Horizonte (BH) durante a pandemia de COVID-19 conforme vulnerabilidade social, visando estratégia de vacinação. Métodos: Estudo ecológico com análise de mortalidade, segundo setores censitários classificados pelo Índice de Vulnerabilidade da Saúde, composto por indicadores de saneamento e socioeconômicos. Óbitos por causas naturais e COVID-19 foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade, entre a 10ª e 43ª semana epidemiológica (SE) de 2020. Calculou-se o excesso de mortalidade por modelo de série temporal, considerando as mortes observadas por SE, entre 2015 e 2019, por setor censitário. Taxas de mortalidade (TM) foram calculadas e padronizadas por idade a partir de estimativas populacionais do IBGE. Resultados: Houve 16,1% (n=1524) de excesso de mortalidade em BH: 11,0%, 18,8% e 17,3% nas áreas de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. As diferenças entre TM observadas e esperadas por causas naturais, padronizadas por idade, foi igual a 59/100.000 habitantes em BH, aumentando de 31 para 77 e 95/100.000, nas áreas de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. Houve gradiente de aumento com a idade nas TM por COVID-19, variando de 4 a 611/100.000 habitantes entre as idades de 20-39 anos e 75+ anos. A TM por COVID-19 por 100.000 idosos (60+ anos) foi igual a 292, aumentando de 179 para 354 e 476, nos setores de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. Conclusão: Desigualdades na mortalidade, mesmo entre idosos, aliadas à baixa oferta de doses, demonstram importância de priorizar áreas socialmente vulneráveis durante a vacinação contra COVID-19.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic course in the number and severity of hospitalizations for other natural causes in a large urban center in Brazil.

The COVID-19 pandemic may indirectly impact hospitalizations for other natural causes. Belo Horizonte is a city with 2.5 million inhabitants in Brazil, one of the most hardly-hit countries by the pandemic, where local authorities monitored hospitalizations daily to guide regulatory measures. In an ecological, time-series study, we investigated how the pandemic impacted the number and severity of public hospitalizations by other natural causes in the city, during 2020. We assessed the number and proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and in-hospital deaths for all-natural causes, COVID-19, non-COVID-19 natural causes, and four disease groups: infectious, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neoplasms. Observed data from epidemiological week (EW) 9 (first diagnosis of COVID-19) to EW 48, 2020, was compared to the mean for the same EW of 2015-2019 and differences were tested by Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The five-week moving averages of the studied variables in 2020 were compared to that of 2015-2019 to describe the influence of regulatory measures on the indicators. During the studied period, there was 54,722 hospitalizations by non-COVID-19 natural causes, representing a 28% decline compared to the previous five years (p<0.001). There was a concurrent significant increase in the proportion of ICU admissions and deaths. The greater reductions were simultaneous to the first social distancing decree or occurred in the peak of COVID-19 hospitalizations, suggesting different drivers. Hospitalizations by specific causes decreased significantly, with greater increase in ICU admissions and deaths for infectious, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases than for neoplasms. While the first reduction may have resulted from avoidance of contact with healthcare facilities, the second reduction may represent competing causes for hospital beds with COVID-19 after reopening of activities. Health policies must include protocols to address hospitalizations by other causes during this or future pandemics, and a plan to face the rebound effect for elective deferred procedures.

Atrial fibrillation detection with a portable device during cardiovascular screening in primary care.

INTRODUCTION: A novel handheld dual-electrode stick is a portable atrial fibrillation (AF) screening device (AFSD). We evaluated AFSD performance in primary care patients referred for echocardiogram (echo). METHODS: The AFSD has a light indication of irregular rhythm and single-lead ECG recording. Patients were instructed to hold the device for 1 min, and AF indication was recorded. A 12-lead ECG was performed for all AFSD-positive patients and 250 patients with negative AFSD screen. Echos were performed based on a clinical risk score: all high-risk patients and a sampling of low-risk patients underwent complete echo. Intermediate risk patients first had a screening echocardiogram, with a follow-up complete study if abnormality was suspected. RESULTS: In 5 days, 1518 patients underwent clinical evaluation and cardiovascular risk stratification: mean age 58±16 years, 66% women. The AFSD was positive in 6.4%: 12.6% high risk, 6.1% intermediate risk and 2.2% low risk. Older age was a risk factor (9.3% vs 4.8% in those more than and less than 65 years, p=0.001). AFSD positive was independently associated with heart disease in echo (OR=3.9, 95% CI 2.1 to 7.2, p<0.001). Compared with 12-lead ECG, the AFSD had sensitivity of 90.2% (95% CI 77.0% to 97.3%) and specificity of 84.0% (95% CI 79.3% to 88.0%) for AF detection. CONCLUSION: AFSD demonstrated high sensitivity for AF detection in primary care patients referred for echo. AF prevalence was substantial and independently associated with structural or functional heart disease, suggesting that AFSD screening could be a useful primary care tool to stratify risk and prioritise echo.

Aortic Stiffness and Age With Cognitive Performance Decline in the ELSA-Brasil Cohort.

Background Increased aortic stiffness has been associated with cognitive decline and dementia, but the results are inconsistent. This study investigated the longitudinal association of aortic stiffness and age with decreased cognitive performance in 3 cognitive tests. Methods and Results This study included 6927 participants, with a mean age of 58.8 years at baseline (2008-2010), who participated in the second wave (2012-2014) of the ELSA-Brasil (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health) (interval between visits ranging from 2-6 years). Cognitive performance was evaluated by Memory, Phonemic, and Semantic Verbal Fluency and Trail B Tests, applied at both cohort visits. Associations with the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and age at baseline were investigated using linear models with mixed effects after adjusting for confounders. After all the adjustments, including for systolic blood pressure, the interaction term carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity×time proved to be statistically significant for Memory and Verbal Fluency Tests, indicating that the higher carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity at baseline was associated with a faster decline in cognitive performance in these tests between waves. The interaction term age×time was statistically significant for all cognitive tests, suggesting that increasing age at baseline was also associated with a faster decline in cognitive performance between waves. Conclusions In this relatively young cohort, and after a relatively short interval, an increased aortic stiffness at baseline was associated with a sharper decline in cognitive performances in memory and verbal fluency, regardless of systolic blood pressure levels. This study also showed that the decline in cognitive performance was faster among older individuals than among younger ones at baseline.

The association between salt intake and arterial stiffness is influenced by a sex-specific mediating effect through blood pressure in normotensive adults: The ELSA-Brasil study.

High salt intake is known to increase blood pressure (BP) and also to be associated with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV). However, recent data showed a sex-specific pattern in the salt-induced rise of BP. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether the association between salt intake and arterial stiffness also has a sex-specific pattern. A total of 7755 normotensive participants with a validated 12-h overnight urine collection in which daily salt intake was estimated were included. cf-PWV, as well as clinical and anthropometric parameters, was measured. Salt intake positively correlated with cf-PWV, in which the linear regression was steeper in women than in men (0.0199 ± 0.0045 vs 0.0326 ± 0.0052 m/s per gram of salt, P < .05). cf-PWV increases over the salt quartiles in men and women. However, after adjustment for confounders, the association remained significant only for men. In the path analysis, the direct path (men: 0.048 P < .001, women: 0.029 P = .028) was higher in men while that mediated by SBP (men: 0.020 P < .001, women: 0.034 P < .001) was higher in women. We clearly demonstrated that high salt intake has a direct and independent effect increasing arterial stiffness regardless of sex. Also, the association between salt intake and arterial stiffness is more dependent on BP in normotensive women than it is in normotensive men. These results highlight the need for a sex-specific approach in the evaluation of cardiovascular risk associated with dietary habits.