A Global Perspective on Socioeconomic Determinants of Cardiovascular Health.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the world. From 2005 to 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) planned an initiative to reduce the mortality rate of CVD by 2030 by addressing health, finance, transport, education, and agriculture in these communities. Plans were underway by many countries to meet the goals of the WHO initiative.

The MindMoves Trial: Cross-Sectional Analyses of Baseline Vascular Risk and Cognition in Older Women with Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Vascular diseases, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and stroke, increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment. Serum biomarkers, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), may be indicators of cognitive health.

Objective: We examined whether vascular risk was associated with levels of cognition and serum biomarkers in older women with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries: a single-center retrospective study by sex and race.

Background: In myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), there are limited patient-level data on outcomes by sex and race.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess baseline demographics and 3-year outcomes by sex and race for MINOCA patients.

Methods: Patients admitted to a single center with acute myocardial infarction (MI) between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2018, were identified by chart and angiographic review.

Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Outcomes and Cholesterol-Lowering Efficacy of PCSK9 Inhibitors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) thresholds are often not achieved in women. The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 inhibitor (PCSK9i) monoclonal antibodies can help further reduce LDL-C and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) although differences in efficacy by sex and type are less understood.

Objectives: The authors sought to determine if there are differences in the efficacy of LDL-C lowering and reduction in the risk of MACE by sex and type of PCSK9i.

Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on the Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: Insights from a Large National Database.

Introduction: Studies exploring the effectiveness and safety of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are limited.

Methods: We utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify hospitalizations for LAAO from 2016 to 2020 and further identified cases with concomitant CKD. The primary outcome was mortality, and secondary outcomes were cerebrovascular accidents, major bleeding, vasopressor requirements, percutaneous coronary intervention, cardiac arrest, acute respiratory failure, transfusion, length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges.

Genetics and Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Lipoprotein(a)-Associated Cardiovascular Risk.

Elevated lipoprotein(a) is a genetically transmitted codominant trait that is an independent risk driver for cardiovascular disease. Lipoprotein(a) concentration is heavily influenced by genetic factors, including kringle IV-2 domain size, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and interleukin-1 genotypes. Apolipoprotein(a) is encoded by the gene and contains 10 subtypes with a variable number of copies of kringle -2, resulting in >40 different apolipoprotein(a) isoform sizes.

Sex differences in transcatheter aortic valve replacement outcomes among patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis.

Background: Despite comprising almost half of all patients undergoing valvular repair, data on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis (BAS) are limited.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate whether there are any sex differences in trends and outcomes of TAVR in this population.

Methods: We utilized the National Inpatient Sample from 2012 to 2020 to identify admissions with BAS who underwent TAVR and analyzed trends and outcomes.

Effect of transitioning from conventional cardiac troponin to high-sensitivity cardiac troponin on resource utilization- a single center experience.

Background: Compared to conventional cardiac troponin (cTn), the high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assay is associated with improved detection of myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: We performed a descriptive retrospective analysis of resource utilization at Rush University Medical Center over the transition period (July 1, 2021) from a cTn to a hs-cTn assay. Inclusion criteria included emergency department (ED) encounters between January 1 to December 31, 2021, with chief complaints of "chest pain" or "dyspnea" with associated troponin orders.

Association between number of vasopressors and mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Study Objective: Study the clinical outcomes associated with the number of concomitant vasopressors used in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Design: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients admitted with COVID-19 to the intensive care unit (ICU) between March and October 2020.

Setting: Rush University Medical Center, United States.

A review of the impact, pathophysiology, and management of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) have increased mortality and increased risk of stroke. Due to the heterogeneous nature of both disease processes, it is difficult to ascertain whether the diagnosis and progression of AF is the cause of deterioration or if it is a symptom of worsening heart failure. This presents physicians with a clinical conundrum of whether optimizing their heart failure will decrease the overall AF burden or if restoration of sinus rhythm is necessary to optimize patients with HFpEF.

Assessing readability and comprehension of web-based patient education materials by American Heart Association (AHA) and CardioSmart online platform by American College of Cardiology (ACC): How useful are these websites for patient understanding?

Unlabelled: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of morbidity & mortality worldwide. Patient education materials help patients understand the disease and its management. Health literacy is an important challenge that may contribute to health inequities and disparities.

An Overview of Arrhythmias in Pregnancy.

Cardiovascular disease significantly jeopardizes pregnancies in the United States, impacting 1% to 4% of pregnancies annually. Among complications, cardiac arrhythmias are prevalent, posing concerns for maternal and fetal health. The incidence of arrhythmias during pregnancy is rising, partly due to advances in congenital heart surgery and a growing population of women with structural heart disease.

Sex differences in trends and in-hospital outcomes of acute myocardial infarction in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: insights from a large national database.

Background: Sex differences in clinical outcomes following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are well known. However, data on sex differences among patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) are limited. We aimed to explore sex differences in outcomes of AMI among patients with FH from a national administrative dataset.

Sex differences in trends and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction with mechanical complications in the United States.

Background: Mechanical complications (MC) are rare but significant sequelae of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Current data on sex differences in AMI with MC is limited.

Methods: We queried the National Inpatient Sample database to identify adult patients with the primary diagnosis of AMI and MC.

Sex differences in permanent pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is limited evidence on the effect of sex on permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The primary objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the role of sex among patients requiring PPMI post-TAVR.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using the SCOPUS, MEDLINE, and CINAHL databases for studies published until October 2022.

Socioeconomic disparities in the management and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Patients from lower socioeconomic status areas have poorer outcomes following acute myocardial infarction (AMI); however, how ethnicity modifies such socioeconomic disparities is unclear.

Methods: Using the UK Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP) registry, we divided 370 064 patients with AMI into quintiles based on Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) score, comprising seven domains including income, health, employment and education. We compared white and 'ethnic-minority' patients, comprising Black, Asian and mixed ethnicity patients (as recorded in MINAP); further analyses compared the constituents of the ethnic-minority group.

Vascular Cognitive Impairment: A Little Bit of Good News for Women or Bad News for Men?

In a recent issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Zinman et al. investigated the role of sex in the risk of cognitive impairment in 5,969 patients with a stroke or transient ischemic attacks. Using a short validated clinical screening tool, they noted that men had a 34% higher risk of screening positive for post-stroke cognitive impairment after adjusting for age, education, and stroke severity compared to women.

Cardiovascular disease in Filipino American men and women: A 2023 update.

With more than 4.2 million people, Filipino Americans are the third largest Asian group in the US and the largest Southeast Asian group in the country. Despite relatively favorable average socioeconomic indicators compared to the general US population, Filipino Americans face a significant burden of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, particularly among men.

Adding Pharmacist-Led Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring to Usual Care for Blood Pressure Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Health systems have been quickly adopting telemedicine throughout the United States, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are limited data on whether adding pharmacist-led home blood pressure (BP) telemonitoring to office-based usual care improves BP. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase for randomized controlled trials from January 2000 until April 2022, comparing studies on pharmacist-led home BP telemonitoring with usual care.