Impact of Prediabetes on Cardiac Function Among Primary Care Patients.

Prediabetes is a novel risk factor recently associated with changes in the left ventricle. Our aim is to determine if prediabetes is associated with heart failure (HF) and structural heart disease. We conducted a cross-sectional study and performed screening echocardiograms to consecutive primary care patients.

Erratum to "Prior cardiovascular risk and screening echocardiograms predict hospitalization and severity of coronavirus infection among elderly Medicare patients" [American Journal of Preventive Cardiology 3C (2020) 100090].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpc.

Metformin is associated with lower hospitalizations, mortality and severe coronavirus infection among elderly medicare minority patients in 8 states in USA.

Background And Aims: Metformin has antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects and several cohort studies have shown that metformin lower mortality in the COVID population in a majority white population. There is no data documenting the effect of metformin taken as an outpatient on COVID-19 related hospitalizations. Our aim was to evaluate if metformin decreases hospitalization and severe COVID-19 among minority Medicare patients who acquired the SARS-CoV2 virus.

Prior cardiovascular risk and screening echocardiograms predict hospitalization and severity of coronavirus infection among elderly medicare patients.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionally impacted the elderly. In the United States and Europe the mortality rate of elderly patients with COVID-19 is greater than 30%. Our aim is to determine predictors of COVID-19 related hospitalization and severity of disease among elderly Medicare patients in the United States.

Patients with elevated blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension have structural heart disease.

Background: The 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommendations lower the hypertension threshold to 130/80 mmHg and recommends treatment for high-risk patients. Our aim is to determine whether the new blood pressure categories are associated with left ventricular (LV) structural changes and whether echocardiograms can provide risk stratification and help treatment initiation.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and performed screening echocardiograms to consecutive primary care patients.

The additive role of echocardiography in the screening for sudden death.

Background: A clinically based sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk score has predictive value. Echocardiographic parameters predict SCD. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of adding echocardiographic parameters to the clinical SCD risk score for the prediction of all-cause mortality.

High-touch care leads to better outcomes and lower costs in a senior population.

Objectives: There are several models of primary care. A form of high-intensity care is a high-touch model that uses a high frequency of encounters to deliver preventive services. The aim of this study is to compare the healthcare utilization of patients receiving 2 models of primary care, ​1 with high-touch care and 1 without.

A screening echocardiogram to identify diastolic dysfunction leads to better outcomes.

Background: Diastolic dysfunction (DD) can lead to heart failure and higher mortality. Echocardiograms can detect DD but are not indicated for screening in older adults. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of DD and the impact of identifying it in seniors.

Screening echocardiograms in a senior focused value based primary care improves systolic heart failure detection and clinical management.

Background: Screening echocardiograms are not indicated. Our aim is to evaluate the impact of screening echocardiograms on improving clinical management among older adults.

Methods: We performed screening echocardiograms for all consecutive patients and defined incident systolic heart failure (HF) as an ejection fraction of less than 50% among patients without a previous HF diagnosis.