Prolonged heart rate recovery time after 6-minute walk test is an independent risk factor for cardiac events in heart failure: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the time for peak exercise heart rate to return to resting heart rate after the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) can predict cardiac events in patients with heart failure (HF) within 2 years. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: HF outpatient facility at a tertiary teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-six patients with HF, New York Heart Association functional classification II and III, and left ventricular ejection fraction <50% MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients used a heart rate monitor to measure the time for peak exercise heart rate to return to resting heart rate after the 6MWT. Data were analysed using Polar Pro-Trainer 5 software (Kempele, Finland). Patients were followed for >2 years for cardiac events (hospitalisations and death). RESULTS: Thirty-four patients had cardiac events during the 2-year follow-up period. There was a significant difference in time to return to resting heart rate between the groups with and without cardiac events {with 3.6 [standard deviation (SD) A] vs without 2.8 (SD B) minutes; mean difference C; 95% confidence interval (CI) of the difference D to E; P=0.003}. No significant differences between patients with and without cardiac events were found for mean walking distance, mean heart rate recovery at 1 minute and mean heart rate recovery at 2 minutes. The receiver operating curve discriminated between patients with and without cardiac events (área under the curve 0.71, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.81; P< 0.001). Using logistic regression analysis, prolonged time to return to resting heart rate (≥3 minutes) independently increased the risk for cardiac events 6.9-fold (95% CI 2.34 to 20.12; P< 0.001). The Kaplan­Meier curve showed more cardiac events in patients with prolonged time to return to resting heart rate (P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged time to return to resting heart rate (≥3 minutes) after the 6MWT was an independent predictor of cardiac events in patients with HF.

Prolonged heart rate recovery time after 6-minute walk test is an independent risk factor for cardiac events in heart failure: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the time for peak exercise heart rate to return to resting heart rate after the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) can predict cardiac events in patients with heart failure (HF) within 2 years. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: HF outpatient facility at a tertiary teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-six patients with HF, New York Heart Association functional classification II and III, and left ventricular ejection fraction <50%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients used a heart rate monitor to measure the time for peak exercise heart rate to return to resting heart rate after the 6MWT. Data were analysed using Polar Pro-Trainer 5 software (Kempele, Finland). Patients were followed for >2 years for cardiac events (hospitalisations and death). RESULTS: Thirty-four patients had cardiac events during the 2-year follow-up period. However, there was a significant difference in the time to return to resting heart rate between the groups with and without cardiac events {with 3.6 (SD 1.1) vs without 2.8 (SD 1.1) minutes; mean difference of 0.79 (95% confidence interval (CI) of the difference 0.28 to 1.28; P=0.003}. No significant differences between patients with and without cardiac events were found for mean walking distance, mean heart rate recovery at 1minute and mean heart rate recovery at 2minutes. The receiver operating curve discriminated between patients with and without cardiac events (área under the curve 0.71, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.81; P<0.001). Using logistic regression analysis, prolonged time to return to resting heart rate (≥3minutes) independently increased the risk for cardiac events 6.9-fold (95% CI 2.34 to 20.12; P<0.001). The Kaplan-Meier curve showed more cardiac events in patients with prolonged time to return to resting heart rate (P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged time to return to resting heart rate (≥3minutes) after the 6MWT was an independent predictor of cardiac events in patients with HF.

Anomalous Coronary Artery Origin in a Young Patient with Marfan Syndrome.

Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that affects connective tissue and is caused by mutations in the fibrillin 1 gene present at chromosome 15. Aortic aneurysm is its main complication, and along the dilation of the aorta root and its descending portion (60-100%), with secondary aortic insufficiency, it increases risk of acute aortic dissection and death. Coronary artery anomalies affect between 0.3% and 1.6% of the general population and are the second leading cause of sudden death in young adults, especially if the anomalous coronary passes through aorta and pulmonary artery. The anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery in the right Valsalva sinus has a prevalence of 0.02%-0.05% and is commonly related to other congenital cardiac anomalies, such as transposition of great vessels, coronary fistulas, bicuspid aortic valve, and tetralogy of Fallot. Its association with Marfan syndrome is not known, and there is no previous report in the literature. We describe here a case of a female with Marfan syndrome diagnosed with symptomatic anomalous origin of the left coronary artery in the right Valsalva sinus.

Short-term follow-up of exercise training program and beta-blocker treatment on quality of life in dogs with naturally acquired chronic mitral valve disease.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carvedilol treatment and a regimen of supervised aerobic exercise training on quality of life and other clinical, echocardiographic, and biochemical variables in a group of client-owned dogs with chronic mitral valve disease (CMVD). Ten healthy dogs (control) and 36 CMVD dogs were studied, with the latter group divided into 3 subgroups. In addition to conventional treatment (benazepril, 0.3-0.5 mg/kg once a day, and digoxin, 0.0055 mg/kg twice daily), 13 dogs received exercise training (subgroup I; 10.3 ± 2.1 years), 10 dogs received carvedilol (0.3 mg/kg twice daily) and exercise training (subgroup II; 10.8 ± 1.7 years), and 13 dogs received only carvedilol (subgroup III; 10.9 ± 2.1 years). All drugs were administered orally. Clinical, laboratory, and Doppler echocardiographic variables were evaluated at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Exercise training was conducted from months 3-6. The mean speed rate during training increased for both subgroups I and II (ANOVA, P>0.001), indicating improvement in physical conditioning at the end of the exercise period. Quality of life and functional class was improved for all subgroups at the end of the study. The N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level increased in subgroup I from baseline to 3 months, but remained stable after training introduction (from 3 to 6 months). For subgroups II and III, NT-proBNP levels remained stable during the entire study. No difference was observed for the other variables between the three evaluation periods. The combination of carvedilol or exercise training with conventional treatment in CMVD dogs led to improvements in quality of life and functional class. Therefore, light walking in CMVD dogs must be encouraged.

Short-term follow-up of exercise training program and beta-blocker treatment on quality of life in dogs with naturally acquired chronic mitral valve disease

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carvedilol treatment and a regimen of supervised aerobic exercise training on quality of life and other clinical, echocardiographic, and biochemical variables in a group of client-owned dogs with chronic mitral valve disease (CMVD). Ten healthy dogs (control) and 36 CMVD dogs were studied, with the latter group divided into 3 subgroups. In addition to conventional treatment (benazepril, 0.3-0.5 mg/kg once a day, and digoxin, 0.0055 mg/kg twice daily), 13 dogs received exercise training (subgroup I; 10.3±2.1 years), 10 dogs received carvedilol (0.3 mg/kg twice daily) and exercise training (subgroup II; 10.8±1.7 years), and 13 dogs received only carvedilol (subgroup III; 10.9±2.1 years). All drugs were administered orally. Clinical, laboratory, and Doppler echocardiographic variables were evaluated at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Exercise training was conducted from months 3-6. The mean speed rate during training increased for both subgroups I and II (ANOVA, P>0.001), indicating improvement in physical conditioning at the end of the exercise period. Quality of life and functional class was improved for all subgroups at the end of the study. The N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level increased in subgroup I from baseline to 3 months, but remained stable after training introduction (from 3 to 6 months). For subgroups II and III, NT-proBNP levels remained stable during the entire study. No difference was observed for the other variables between the three evaluation periods. The combination of carvedilol or exercise training with conventional treatment in CMVD dogs led to improvements in quality of life and functional class. Therefore, light walking in CMVD dogs must be encouraged.

Gender differences in serum CK-MB mass levels in healthy Braziliansubjects

The creatine kinase-isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) mass assay is one of the laboratory tests used for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. It is recommended, however, that reference limits should take gender and race into account. In the present study, we analyzed the plasma CK-MB mass and troponin levels of 244 healthy volunteers without a personal history of coronary artery disease and with no chronic diseases, muscular trauma or hypothyroidism, and not taking statins. The tests were performed with commercial kits, CK-MB mass turbo kit and Troponin I turbo kit, using the Immulite 1000 analyzer from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostic. The values were separated according to gender and showed significant differences by the Mann-Whitney test. Mean (± SD) CK-MB mass values were 2.55 ± 1.09 for women (N = 121; age = 41.20 ± 10.13 years) and 3.49 ± 1.41 ng/mL for men (N = 123; age = 38.16 ± 11.12 years). Gender-specific reference values at the 99th percentile level, according to the Medicalc statistical software, were 5.40 ng/mL for women and 7.13 ng/mL for men. The influence of race was not considered because of the high miscegenation of the Brazilian population. The CK-MB values obtained were higher than the 5.10 mg/mL proposed by the manufacturer of the laboratory kit. Therefore, decision limits should be related to population and gender in order to improve the specificity of this diagnostic tool, avoiding misclassification of patients.

Gender differences in serum CK-MB mass levels in healthy Brazilian subjects.

The creatine kinase-isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) mass assay is one of the laboratory tests used for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. It is recommended, however, that reference limits should take gender and race into account. In the present study, we analyzed the plasma CK-MB mass and troponin levels of 244 healthy volunteers without a personal history of coronary artery disease and with no chronic diseases, muscular trauma or hypothyroidism, and not taking statins. The tests were performed with commercial kits, CK-MB mass turbo kit and Troponin I turbo kit, using the Immulite 1000 analyzer from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostic. The values were separated according to gender and showed significant differences by the Mann-Whitney test. Mean (± SD) CK-MB mass values were 2.55 ± 1.09 for women (N = 121; age = 41.20 ± 10.13 years) and 3.49 ± 1.41 ng/mL for men (N = 123; age = 38.16 ± 11.12 years). Gender-specific reference values at the 99th percentile level, according to the Medicalc statistical software, were 5.40 ng/mL for women and 7.13 ng/mL for men. The influence of race was not considered because of the high miscegenation of the Brazilian population. The CK-MB values obtained were higher than the 5.10 mg/mL proposed by the manufacturer of the laboratory kit. Therefore, decision limits should be related to population and gender in order to improve the specificity of this diagnostic tool, avoiding misclassification of patients.

The metabolic treatment of patients with coronary artery disease: effects on quality of life and effort angina.

The effectiveness of drug therapy in controlling angina and the resulting improvement in exercise capacity were reviewed. We performed a Medline search of published reports on ranolazine, trimetazidine, and other medicines that act metabolically. Quality of life with regards to work capacity alone was analyzed. Most reports were about trimetazidine, with strong evidence of its efficacy and tolerability. Its effect on episodes of angina, total exercise time, and time to the onset of ischemia on ECG is impressive with no negative effects found on double product (workload) and improvement in quality of life. The second most evaluated drug was ranolazine, particularly regarding quality of life. Results are similar to those with trimetazidine but are not as significant for quality of life issues. For the other drugs, L-carnitine, ribose, and dichloroacetate, accumulated experimental data provide a physiological background in which clinical trials have been started, but as yet very few patients have been enrolled. Also, studies that intended to evaluate, by echocardiography, ischemic dysfunction induced by dobutamine-atropine stress were examined; these also showed a reduction in ischemia and fewer anginal episodes, but only with trimetazidine in this regard. Taken together, these drug effects are important to ameliorate quality of life. The issue of quality of life was evaluated in specific reports, and the results of the application of validated questionnaires (SF36, 5-dimensional EuroQol Instrument, and Seattle Angina Questionnaire) attest to the positive drug effects on patients' perception of wellness, particularly with the use of trimetazidine, and less with ranolazine.

Efficacy of exercise, losartan, enalapril, atenolol and rilmenidine in subjects with blood pressure hyperreactivity at treadmill stress test and left ventricular hypertrophy.

High levels of activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) are related to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). A percentage of subjects with hyperactivity to treadmill stress test show LVH to echocardiogram. This paper aims at evaluating neurohumoral influence over these subjects by comparing drugs that block both the RAS and the SNS. In a 1-year open protocol, 195 normotensive subjects, with hyperactivity to treadmill stress test and LVH, were randomly assigned to supervised physical exercise, rilmenidine 1 mg day(-1), atenolol 50 mg day(-1), enalapril 10 mg day(-1) or losartan 50 mg day(-1). Changes in left ventricular mass index (LVMI), measured by means of echocardiogram, were the primary end point. Changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) at rest and peak effort were also evaluated. Enalapril significantly brought LVMI down in relation to the basal value (28.2%; n=36) similarly to losartan (26.9%; n=42); P>0.05. However, both were more efficient than physical exercise (2.9%; n=39), rilmenidine (5.1%; n=38) and atenolol (7.2%; n=40); P<0.001. There was no significant difference in SBP reduction at rest and peak effort in groups assigned to atenolol, enalapril and losartan; P>0.05. In such groups, reduction was greater than in groups assigned to physical exercise and rimenidine; P<0.001. In conclusion, drugs that block RAS were more efficient in reducing LVH than physical exercise and drugs that block SNS, and such reduction took place regardless of SBP level reduction at rest and peak effort.

Obesity, estrone, and coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: The link between obesity and endogenous estrogen with coronary artery disease (CAD) in postmenopausal women is uncertain. In this prospective study we analyzed the association of body mass index (BMI) and blood levels of estrone in postmenopausal women with known CAD or with a high risk factor score for CAD. METHODS: Participants were 251 female clinic patients aged 50-90 years who were postmenopausal and not using estrogen therapy. Clinical and behavioral characteristics and fasting blood for estrone and heart disease risk factors were collected at baseline, and again at 1 and 2 years. Women were grouped according to their BMI (kg/m2) as normal (18.5< or =BMI<25), overweight (25< or =BMI<30) or obese (BMI > or =30), and by low and high estrone levels (<15 and > or =15pg/mL, respectively). Fatal and nonfatal events were recorded for 2 years after baseline. RESULTS: Women with a low estrone level were older, thinner, and had less hypertension, diabetes, and lower triglyceride and glucose levels. BMI was positively associated with estrone levels, hypertension, and diabetes and inversely associated with HDL cholesterol. There were 14 deaths, 8 attributed to CAD. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed a nonsignificant trend (p=0.074) of greater all cause mortality in women with low estrone levels (<15mL). In this model, adjusted for BMI, age [OR=1.08; p=0.03], C-reactive protein [OR=1.24; p=0.024] and hypertension [OR=6.22; p=0.003] were independent predictors of all cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal women with low estrone levels (<15pg/mL) had a trend for increased mortality over the next 2 years. Larger, longer studies are needed.

Effect of sexual steroids on the calcium content of aortic atherosclerotic plaque of oophorectomized rabbits.

We determined the effect of conjugated equine estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate on calcium content of aortic atherosclerotic lesions in oophorectomized adult New Zealand rabbits submitted to a cholesterol rich diet. Five groups of 10 animals each were studied: G1 = control, G2 = cholesterol diet only, G3 = diet plus conjugated equine estrogen (0.625 mg/day); G4 and G5 = diet, conjugated equine estrogen (0.625 mg/day) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 and 10 mg/day, respectively). Mean weight varied from 2.7 +/- 0.27 to 3.1 +/- 0.20 kg (P = 0.38) between groups at the beginning and 3.1 +/- 0.27 to 3.5 +/- 0.20 kg (P = 0.35) at the end of the experiment. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined at the time of oophorectomy, 21 days after surgery (time 0), and at the end of follow-up of 90 days. The planimetric method was used to measure plaque and caryometric method for histopathologic examination of the aorta. Calcium content was determined by the method of von Kossa. A similar increase in cholesterol occurred in all treated groups without differences between them at the end of the study. Groups G4 and G5 had smaller areas of atherosclerotic lesions (2.33 +/- 2.8 and 2.45 +/- 2.1 cm(2), respectively) than the groups receiving no progestogens (G2: 5.6 +/- 4 and G3: 4.6 +/- 2.8 cm(2); P = 0.02). The relation between lesion area and total aorta area was smaller in groups treated with combined drugs compared to the groups receiving no progesterone (G4: 14.9 +/- 13 and G5: 14.2 +/- 13.4 vs G2: 35.8 +/- 26 and G3: 25 +/- 8 cm(2), respectively; P = 0.017). Oral conjugated equine estrogen (0.625 mg/day) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 or 10 mg/day) provoked a greater reduction in atherosclerotic plaque area and calcium content in treated groups, suggesting a dose-dependent effect.

Effect of sexual steroids on the calcium content of aortic atherosclerotic plaque of oophorectomized rabbits

We determined the effect of conjugated equine estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate on calcium content of aortic atherosclerotic lesions in oophorectomized adult New Zealand rabbits submitted to a cholesterol rich diet. Five groups of 10 animals each were studied: G1 = control, G2 = cholesterol diet only, G3 = diet plus conjugated equine estrogen (0.625 mg/day); G4 and G5 = diet, conjugated equine estrogen (0.625 mg/day) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 and 10 mg/day, respectively). Mean weight varied from 2.7 ± 0.27 to 3.1 ± 0.20 kg (P = 0.38) between groups at the beginning and 3.1 ± 0.27 to 3.5 ± 0.20 kg (P = 0.35) at the end of the experiment. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined at the time of oophorectomy, 21 days after surgery (time 0), and at the end of follow-up of 90 days. The planimetric method was used to measure plaque and caryometric method for histopathologic examination of the aorta. Calcium content was determined by the method of von Kossa. A similar increase in cholesterol occurred in all treated groups without differences between them at the end of the study. Groups G4 and G5 had smaller areas of atherosclerotic lesions (2.33 ± 2.8 and 2.45 ± 2.1 cm², respectively) than the groups receiving no progestogens (G2: 5.6 ± 4 and G3: 4.6 ± 2.8 cm²; P = 0.02). The relation between lesion area and total aorta area was smaller in groups treated with combined drugs compared to the groups receiving no progesterone (G4: 14.9 ± 13 and G5: 14.2 ± 13.4 vs G2: 35.8 ± 26 and G3: 25 ± 8 cm², respectively; P = 0.017). Oral conjugated equine estrogen (0.625 mg/day) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 or 10 mg/day) provoked a greater reduction in atherosclerotic plaque area and calcium content in treated groups, suggesting a dose-dependent effect.

Clustering of traditional risk factors and precocity of coronary disease in women.

BACKGROUND: Women usually develop coronary artery disease (CAD) 10 years later than men do. CAD in women is associated with menopausal status and the number and intensity of risk factors. But, when the age gap between men and women narrows, less is known about the influence of risk factors on CAD. METHODS: We assessed the prevalence of traditional risk factors in 850 men and 468 women with stable CAD who had mean age, 58.3+/-8.6 and 58.8+/-10.3 years (P=NS), respectively. RESULTS: Univariate analysis of risk factors showed that body mass index (BMI), hypertension (all three stages), diabetes, triglycerides (> or =2.8 mmol/l), cholesterol (> or =6.2 mmol/l) and family history were more prevalent in women. Smoking and previous myocardial infarction (MI) were more prevalent in men. Multivariable analysis disclosed hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and family history as independent risk factors for women with stable CAD and smoking and previous MI as independent risk factors for men. CONCLUSION: Clustering of traditional risk factors may explain the precocity of CAD in women who are near in age to men.

Cholesterol lowering with statins reduces exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in hypercholesterolemic patients with coronary artery disease.

Coronary flow reserve is mainly influenced by the combination of luminal stenosis and vascular dilation capacity. Thus, after statin treatment, the reduction of ischemic threshold in patients submitted to exercise testing could be intensely influenced by angiographic severity. In this study, we verify the effect of statin treatment on exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in hypercholesterolemic patients with a broad range of coronary angiographic severities. Patients with 2 consecutive positive exercise tests, coronary stenosis > or =70%, total cholesterol > or =300 mg/dl, and triglycerides < or =200 mg/dl were randomly assigned to a 16-week treatment period with either diet alone (n = 39) or diet plus statins (simavastatin, n = 31 and pravastatin, n = 10). Statin-treated patients had a significant variation in total cholesterol (-46% vs -2.7%; p <0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-58% vs 0.8%; p <0.01), and high-density cholesterol (+28% vs -6%; p <0.05) in comparison with the diet-only group. After 16 weeks of treatment, 36 patients (92%) in the diet group still had positive exercise tests, whereas only 7 patients (15%) of the statin group had a positive test (p <0.01). The proportion of positive tests was significantly reduced in subgroups of patients with 1-, 2-, or 3-vessel disease. Regarding the severity of coronary stenosis, the proportion of positive tests was significantly reduced in patients with stenosis between 70% and 90% and in patients with stenosis > or =90%. Moreover, the proportion of positive tests tended to decrease to a greater extent in patients with mild coronary disease. In conclusion, cholesterol-lowering treatment with statins reduces exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in hypercholesterolemic patients with mild or severe epicardial coronary stenosis.

SPECT dipyridamole scintigraphy for detecting coronary artery disease in patients with isolated severe aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The sensitivity and specificity of non-invasive methods--specifically single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) dipyridamole-thallium myocardial perfusion--for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with severe aortic stenosis remains unclear. Occasionally, these patients present with atypical angina. Therefore, a CAD diagnosis must be excluded to prevent unnecessary cardiac catheterization. METHODS: To determine the diagnostic value of SPECT dipyridamole-thallium imaging in this population, we compared the effectiveness of the imaging procedure with that of coronary angiography by prospectively analyzing patients who underwent both procedures. Group 1 included 59 patients who were asymptomatic or had atypical angina; group 2; 51 preoperative aged-matched patients with typical angina. SPECT acquisition was performed 15 min after 0.142 mg/kg/min of dipyridamole infusion completion, and redistribution images were performed 4 h after thallium injection. Two cut-off values of luminal diameter narrowing, >50 and >70%, defined significant CAD. RESULTS: Coronary angiography with significant CAD (>50%) was present in 15 (25%) group 1 patients and in 16 (32%) group 2 patients (P=NS). The sensitivity was greater in group 2 than in group 1 (56 versus 26%; P=0.001). The specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and accuracy in the groups were similar. CAD of >70% luminal stenosis was present in 11 (19%) group 1 patients and in 12 (23%) group 2 patients (P=NS). The positive predictive value was greater in group 2 than in group 1 (75 versus 43%; P=0.001) but similar sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and accuracy. The likelihood ratio for abnormal test increased in patients with CAD of >70%. CONCLUSIONS: symptoms of typical angina had significant impact on test sensitivity, positive predictive value and likelihood ratio for abnormal test. Furthermore, SPECT dipyridamole-thallium imaging was a useful non-invasive method to exclude the diagnosis of significant CAD (high specificity) in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with isolated severe aortic stenosis.

Triglyceride and lipoprotein (a) are markers of coronary artery disease severity among postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: After menopause, some women manifest coronary artery disease (CAD) with highly variable angiographic severity. For these women, postmenopausal appearing of some CAD risk factors may have differently influenced the CAD risk and severity. In this study, we attempt to unravel differences in the frequency or intensity of CAD risk factors among postmenopausal women with different angiographic severity. METHODS: We studied 182 postmenopausal women (64+/-6 years) who underwent coronary angiography to investigate thoracic pain. Subjects with no detectable coronary lesions at angiography were recruited to the non-obstructive group and patients with CAD were grouped in one-vessel or multi-vessel groups. We compared clinical variables as the body mass index (BMI), age at menopause, age, hypertension, diabetes and cigarette smoking, and lipid measurements as plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) A1, apo B and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)). RESULTS: Comparing to the non-obstructive group, Lp(a) was twofold higher in the one-vessel group and threefold higher in the multi-vessel group and triglycerides were 34% higher in the one-vessel group and 50% higher in the multi-vessel group. No further difference was found among the three groups. After multivariate logistic regression analysis, triglyceride (odds ratio: 1.01; P=0.0013) and Lp(a) (odds ratio: 1.006; P<0.0001) were independently indicative of the presence of obstructive CAD. CONCLUSIONS: We found that both Lp(a) and triglycerides constitute useful markers of CAD severity among postmenopausal women.

Prescription and adherence to statins of patients with coronary artery disease and hypercholesterolemia.

OBJECTIVE: Statins have proved to be safe and effective in the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease, but the level of prescription and the reasons for nonadherence to treatment in many coronary diseases treatment centers has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to identify reasons for nonadherence to statin therapy. METHODS: We analyzed 207 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease and hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol > or = 200 mg/dL or LDL-cholesterol > or = 130 mg/dL). Patients' average age was 61.7 +/- 10 year; 111 (53.6 %) male were and 94 (46.6 %) were female. We analyzed the level of prescription and adherence to treatment with statins. RESULTS: Statins were prescribed for 139 (67 %) patients, but only 85 (41 %) used the drug. In spite of being indicated, statins were not prescribed in 68 (33 %) patients. Of 54 (26 %) patients, nonadherent to statins, 67 % did not use the drug due to its high cost, 31 % due to the lack of instruction, and only 2 % due to side effects. Total cholesterol (260.3 +/- 42.2 vs 226.4 +/- 51.9; p < 0.0001) and LDL cholesterol (174.6 +/- 38.1 vs 149.6 +/- 36.1; p < 0.0001) were lower in patients on medication. HDL-cholesterol increased from 37.6 +/- 9.6 to 41.5 +/- 12.9 mg/dL (p = 0.02), and triglycerides were not modified in patients using statins. CONCLUSION: The prescription of statins in patients with coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia is high; however, its adherence is far from satisfactory, due to the high cost of the medication. Reduction in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels did not reach the targets recommended by the Brazilian Consensus on Dyslipidemia.