RESUMO
Arterial stiffness has been investigated as part of the physiopathology of arterial hypertension since the 1970s. Its role in increasing the "pulsatile load" imposed over the Left Ventricle (LV) has been intensely studied recently and has helped in understanding the mechanisms of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in hypertensive patients. This paper aims to review the main evidence on this issue and establish possible mechanisms involved in the development of AF in patients with arterial stiffness. A PubMed search was performed, and selected articles were searched for references focusing on this topic. In the long term, lower blood pressure levels allow for arterial wall remodeling, leading to a lower stiffness index. To this day, however, there are no available treatments that directly promote the lowering of arterial wall stiffness. Most classes of anti-hypertensive drugs â with stronger evidence for beta-blockers and diuretics â could be effective in reducing arterial stiffness. There is strong evidence demonstrating an association between arterial stiffness and AF. New studies focusing on arterial stiffness and pre-fibrillatory stages would strengthen this causality relation.
Assuntos
Fibrilação Atrial , Hipertensão , Rigidez Vascular , Anti-Hipertensivos , Fibrilação Atrial/etiologia , Pressão Sanguínea , Humanos , Rigidez Vascular/fisiologiaRESUMO
ABSTRACT Arterial stiffness has been investigated as part of the physiopathology of arterial hypertension since the 1970s. Its role in increasing the "pulsatile load" imposed over the Left Ventricle (LV) has been intensely studied recently and has helped in understanding the mechanisms of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in hypertensive patients. This paper aims to review the main evidence on this issue and establish possible mechanisms involved in the development of AF in patients with arterial stiffness. A PubMed search was performed, and selected articles were searched for references focusing on this topic. In the long term, lower blood pressure levels allow for arterial wall remodeling, leading to a lower stiffness index. To this day, however, there are no available treatments that directly promote the lowering of arterial wall stiffness. Most classes of anti-hypertensive drugs ‒ with stronger evidence for beta-blockers and diuretics ‒ could be effective in reducing arterial stiffness. There is strong evidence demonstrating an association between arterial stiffness and AF. New studies focusing on arterial stiffness and pre-fibrillatory stages would strengthen this causality relation.
RESUMO
Fundamentos: Estudos demonstram a importante prevalência do déficit de vitamina D (vit. D) em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca com fração deejeção reduzida (ICFER). O déficit de vit. D se relaciona com a piora na qualidade de vida e redução do desempenho funcional. Com o envelhecimento, a insuficiência cardíaca com fração de ejeção normal (ICFEN) tornar-se-á o tipo de insuficiência cardíaca mais comum, com resultados referentes ao prognóstico semelhantes aos da ICFER. Apesar das evidências daação benéfica da vit. D no sistema cardiovascular em pacientes com ICFER, não há estudos clínicos que demonstrem a melhora morfofuncional cardiovascularcom a suplementação de vit.D em pacientes com ICFEN. Objetivo: Demonstrar a melhora da qualidade de vida e função diastólica em pacientes com ICFEN, após suplementação de vit. D. Métodos: E s t u d o p ro s p e c t i v o , d u p l o-c e g o randomizado, placebo controlado, envolvendo 40 pacientes com ICFEN e deficiência de vit. D (25OHD<30ng/mL), por 20 semanas de tratamento. Os pacientes receberão suplementação de 100.000UI decolecalciferol ou placebo no início do estudo e na 10ª semana, sob supervisão médica. Os pacientes serão avaliados por: testes funcionais (timed up and go test e 6 minute walk test), exames laboratoriais, questionário Minnesota Living with Heart Failure, eletrocardiograma e ecoDopplercardiograma, avaliando a função sistólica, a diastólica e o remodelamento ventricular no início doestudo, em 10 semanas e em 20 semanas. Conclusão: O estudo FITNESS avaliará o impacto morfofuncional cardiovascular e na qualidade de vida em 20 semanas na suplementação de colecalciferol em pacientes com ICFEN e déficit de vit. D.
Background: Studies have shown a significant prevalence of vitamin D (Vit. D) deficits in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction(HFREF), related to poorer quality of life andreductions in functional performance. With anaging population, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) will become the most common type of heart failure (HF), with similar results for HFREF predictions. Despite evidence of the beneficial action of vit. D on the cardiovascular system in HFREF patients, there are no clinical s t u d i e s demo n s t r a t i n g c a rd i o v a s c u l a r morphofunctional improvement through vit.D supplementation in HFPEF patients. Objective: To demonstrate improvements in the quality of life and diastolic function for FPEF patients taking vit. D supplements. Methods: Prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, with 40 patients with HFNEF and vit. D deficiency (25OHD <30ng/mL)for 20 weeks of treatment. Patients will receive supplements of 100,000IU of cholecalciferol (Vit. D3)or placebo at baseline and at 10 weeks under medical supervision. They will be assessed by: functional tests (timed up-and-go test and 6-minute walk test),laboratory examinations, the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, electrocardiogram, evaluating systolic and diastolic functions and ventricular remodeling at baseline, and at 10 and 20weeks.Conclusion: The FITNESS study will evaluate cardiovascular morphofunctional impacts and effects on the quality of life during 20 weeks of cholecalciferol supplementation in HFPEF patients with vit. D deficits.
