The effect of telehealth on clinical outcomes in patients with hypertension and diabetes: A meta-analysis of 106,261 patients.

Introduction: Telemedicine, propelled by recent technological advancements, has transformed healthcare delivery, notably benefiting patients with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. This meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials aimed to assess the efficacy of telehealth-based interventions on disease control rates and clinical parameters among NCD patients, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.

Methods: We conducted searches in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database for interventional studies that compared tele-monitoring with usual care in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Blood Pressure Control and Clinical Outcomes After Renal Denervation Through Irrigated Catheter Radiofrequency Ablation in Patients with Resistant Hypertension: A Case Series with Up to 10 Years of Follow-Up.

Introduction: The long-term efficacy of renal denervation (RDN) has not been extensively documented.

Aim: To describe the long-term follow-up of patients after RDN.

Methods: We evaluated patients with resistant hypertension (RH) who underwent RDN with irrigated catheter from 2012 to 2014 at a single centre.

Advanced echocardiography techniques (AETs) to assess left atrial structure and function in individuals with resistant hypertension.

Aims: Resistant hypertension (RH) is a challenging phenotype within the hypertension (HTN) spectrum, requiring careful assessment and follow-up. Evaluation of left atrial function may be clinically informative, but is usually neglected. Advanced Echocardiography Techniques (AETs), such as Strain Analysis and three-dimensional echocardiography (3D ECHO) may be useful complementary tools to assess atrial function in patients with RH.

Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio and Abdominal Aortic Atherosclerosis among Asymptomatic Individuals.

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proposed as an inflammatory marker that might be associated with coronary atherosclerosis, although most of the current data is restricted to the acute setting. Additionally, the association of NLR with extracoronary atherosclerosis and stable disease remains unclear.

Objective: To analyze the association between NLR and abdominal aortic atherosclerosis (AAAt).

Cardiovascular Risk Misperception and Low Awareness of Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Individuals with Severe Hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Individuals with severe hypercholesterolemia are at a high risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Many of them have familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

Objectives: To assess from a patient perspective the degree of awareness about severe hypercholesterolemia, especially FH, ASCVD risk perception, cascade screening performance, and treatment of individuals participating in a routine health evaluation program.

Impact of self-reported fasting duration on lipid profile variability, cardiovascular risk stratification and metabolic syndrome diagnosis.

Objective: We sought to investigate the impact of self-reported fasting duration times on the lipid profile results and its impact on the cardiovascular risk stratification and metabolic syndrome diagnosis.

Subjects And Methods: We analyzed data from all consecutive individuals evaluated in a comprehensive health examination at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein from January to December 2015. We divided these patients in three groups, according to the fasting duration recalled (< 8h, 8-12h and > 12h).

Statin Eligibility in Primary Prevention: From a Risk-Based Strategy to a Personalized Approach Based on the Predicted Benefit.

Guidelines have recommended statin initiation based on the absolute cardiovascular risk. We tested the hypothesis that a strategy based on the predicted cardiovascular benefit, compared with the risk-based approach, modifies statin eligibility and the estimated benefit in a population in primary cardiovascular prevention. The study included 16,008 subjects (48 ± 6 years, 73% men) with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of 70 to <190 mg/dl, not on lipid-lowering drugs, who underwent a routine health screening in a single center.

Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol lowering in individuals at intermediate cardiovascular risk: Percent reduction or target level?

Background: Recommendations for blood cholesterol management differ across different guidelines.

Hypothesis: Lipid-lowering strategies based on low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) percent reduction or target concentration may have different effects on the expected cardiovascular benefit in intermediate-risk individuals.

Methods: We selected individuals between 40 and 75 years of age with 10-year risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) between 5.

Association between clinical factors and self-underestimation of cardiovascular risk in subjects submitted to a routine health evaluation.

Background: The perception of cardiovascular (CV) risk is essential for adoption of healthy behaviors. However, subjects underestimate their own risk.

Hypothesis: Clinical characteristics might be associated with self-underestimation of CV risk.

Association of subclinical inflammation, glycated hemoglobin and risk for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the inter-relation between high sensitivity C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin in prediction of risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

Methods: We included all individuals participating in a check-up program at the Preventive Medicine Center of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in 2014. The Berlin questionnaire for risk of obstructive sleep apnea was used, and the high sensitivity C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin levels were evaluated.

The Expected Cardiovascular Benefit of Plasma Cholesterol Lowering with or Without LDL-C Targets in Healthy Individuals at Higher Cardiovascular Risk.

Background:: There is controversy whether management of blood cholesterol should be based or not on LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) target concentrations.

Objectives:: To compare the estimated impact of different lipid-lowering strategies, based or not on LDL-c targets, on the risk of major cardiovascular events in a population with higher cardiovascular risk.

Methods:: We included consecutive individuals undergoing a routine health screening in a single center who had a 10-year risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) ≥ 7.

Cardiovascular Risk Stratification and Statin Eligibility Based on the Brazilian vs. North American Guidelines on Blood Cholesterol Management.

Background:: The best way to select individuals for lipid-lowering treatment in the population is controversial.

Objective:: In healthy individuals in primary prevention: to assess the relationship between cardiovascular risk categorized according to the V Brazilian Guideline on Dyslipidemia and the risk calculated by the pooled cohort equations (PCE); to compare the proportion of individuals eligible for statins, according to different criteria.

Methods:: In individuals aged 40-75 years consecutively submitted to routine health assessment at one single center, four criteria of eligibility for statin were defined: BR-1, BR-2 (LDL-c above or at least 30 mg/dL above the goal recommended by the Brazilian Guideline, respectively), USA-1 and USA-2 (10-year risk estimated by the PCE ≥ 5.

Persistent Depressive Symptoms are Independent Predictors of Low-Grade Inflammation Onset Among Healthy Individuals.

Background: Depressive symptoms are independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among individuals with non-diagnosed CVD. The mechanisms underlying this association, however, remain unclear. Inflammation has been indicated as a possible mechanistic link between depression and CVD.

Check-up and cardiovascular risk progression: is there a room for innovation?

Objective: To evaluate the impact of traditional check-up appointment on the progression of the cardiovascular risk throughout time.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 11,126 medical records of asymptomatic executives who were evaluated between January, 2005 and October, 2008. Variables included participants' demographics characteristics, smoking habit, history of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, dyslipidemia, total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, glucose, c-reactive protein, waist circumference, hepatic steatosis, Framingham score, metabolic syndrome, level of physical activity, stress, alcohol consumption, and body mass index.

Calculated and perceived cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic subjects submitted to a routine medical evaluation: The perception gap.

Background: Poor adherence to medical treatment represents a major health problem. A subject's misperception of his own cardiovascular risk has been indicated as a key driver for low compliance with preventive measures. This study analysed the relationship between objectively calculated short- and long-term cardiovascular risk and its subjective perception.

Relevance of prehypertension as a diagnostic category in asymptomatic adults.

Objective: To assess the association of prehypertension with metabolic, inflammatory and cardiovascular risk profile in asymptomatic individuals.

Methods: Between 2006 and 2009, 11,011 asymptomatic adults (mean age: 43 years; 22% females), underwent a check-up protocol. They were divided into 3 groups: normotensive group (arterial pressure=120/80mmHg), prehypertensive group (arterial pressure >120/80mmHg and <140/90mmHg) and hypertensive group (arterial pressure>140/90mmHg or prior diagnosis of hypertension).