Community Health Workers' Concept and Understanding of Diabetes: A Qualitative Study.

Objectives: Community health workers (CHWs) fill in the insufficiency of health professionals in low-income countries. The CHWs' roles include health education of their constituents whose health they likewise take care. This study aimed to describe the concept and understanding of diabetes among CHWs in the Philippines.

Intravenous Tocilizumab versus Standard of Care in the Treatment of Severe and Critical COVID-19-related Pneumonia: A Single-center, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase 3 Trial.

Background: Severe and critical COVID-19 disease is characterized by hyperinflammation involving pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-6. Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks IL-6 receptors.

Objectives: This study evaluated the efficacy of tocilizumab in Filipino patients with severe to critical COVID-19 disease.

Isolated tricuspid valve Group B Streptococcal endocarditis with septic pulmonary embolism and multiple mycotic aneurysms of the pulmonary arteries.

A diabetic woman in her 30s was admitted to our medical centre for persistent fever associated with worsening cough, easy fatigability and pleuritic chest pain noted after childbirth. Investigations revealed an isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis from Group B Despite appropriate antibiotic coverage, her symptoms persisted with worsening dyspnoea; hence, a CT pulmonary angiogram was done which showed septic pulmonary embolism and multiple mycotic aneurysms of the pulmonary arteries. She was treated with antibiotics and underwent tricuspid valve replacement and was discharged well with a return to her baseline functional capacity on subsequent follow-ups.

Utility of laboratory and immune biomarkers in predicting disease progression and mortality among patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease at a Philippine tertiary hospital.

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the clinical biomarkers and cytokines that may be associated with disease progression and in-hospital mortality in a cohort of hospitalized patients with RT-PCR confirmed moderate to severe COVID-19 infection from October 2020 to September 2021, during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic before the advent of vaccination.

Patients And Methods: Clinical profile was obtained from the medical records. Laboratory parameters (complete blood count [CBC], albumin, LDH, CRP, ferritin, D-dimer, and procalcitonin) and serum concentrations of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, IFN-γ, IP-10, TNF-α) were measured on Days 0-3, 4-10, 11-14 and beyond Day 14 from the onset of illness.

The rs1458038 variant near FGF5 is associated with poor response to calcium channel blockers among Filipinos.

Genetic variation is known to affect response to calcium channel blockers (CCBs) among different populations. This study aimed to determine the genetic variations associated with poor response to this class of antihypertensive drugs among Filipinos.One hundred eighty one hypertensive participants on CCBs therapy were included in an unmatched case-control study.

Cost-utility analysis of add-on dapagliflozin in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in the Philippines.

Aim: We aim to determine the cost-effectiveness of dapagliflozin in addition to standard therapy versus standard therapy alone among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) using the public healthcare provider's perspective in the Philippines.

Methods And Results: A thousand Filipino patients with HFrEF (with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus) were included in a simulation cohort using a lifetime Markov model. The model, which was developed based on the results of the Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure trial, was composed of three health states.

Executive Summary of the 2020 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidemia in the Philippines.

Dyslipidemia is a cardiovascular risk factor that is increasing in prevalence in the country. The need to treat and manage elevated cholesterol levels, both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic, is of utmost importance. Different medical societies and groups bonded together to formulate the 2020 Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines for dyslipidemia.

The Association of Febuxostat Compared With Allopurinol on Blood Pressure and Major Adverse Cardiac Events Among Adult Patients With Hyperuricemia: A Meta-analysis.

Increased uric acid levels have been known to be associated with different cardiovascular and renal diseases. Over the past few years, several studies have examined the role of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in hypertension and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and suggest a potential role of elevated serum uric acid as an independent cardiovascular risk factor. This meta-analysis was done to determine the association of 2 ULTs commonly used in clinical practice (febuxostat vs.

Asia-Pacific Consensus Statement on the Management of Peripheral Artery Disease: A Report from the Asian Pacific Society of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Disease Asia-Pacific Peripheral Artery Disease Consensus Statement Project Committee.

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the most underdiagnosed, underestimated and undertreated of the atherosclerotic vascular diseases despite its poor prognosis. There may be racial or contextual differences in the Asia-Pacific region as to epidemiology, availability of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, and even patient treatment response. The Asian Pacific Society of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Diseases (APSAVD) thus coordinated the development of an Asia-Pacific Consensus Statement (APCS) on the Management of PAD.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of an invasive strategy compared to a conservative approach in patients > 65 years old with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Patients 65 years old and older largely represent (>50%) hospital-admitted patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Data are conflicting comparing efficacy of early routine invasive (within 48-72 hours of initial evaluation) versus conservative management of ACS in this population.

Objective: We aimed to determine the effectiveness of routine early invasive strategy compared to conservative treatment in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events in patients 65 years old and older with non-ST elevation (NSTE) ACS.

The Klotho Variant rs36217263 Is Associated With Poor Response to Cardioselective Beta-Blocker Therapy Among Filipinos.

A common drug used for hypertension among Filipinos is beta-blockers. Variable responses to beta-blockers are observed, and genetic predisposition is suggested. This study investigated the association of genetic variants with poor response to beta-blockers among Filipinos.

Economic burden of hospitalisation for congestive heart failure among adults in the Philippines.

Objectives: Hospitalisation for congestive heart failure (CHF) was reported to be 1648 cases for every 100 000 patient claims in 2014 in the Philippines; however, there are no data regarding its economic impact. This study determined CHF hospitalisation cost and its total economic burden. It compared the healthcare-related hospitalisation cost from the societal perspective with the payer's perspective, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Ivabradine Versus Beta-Blockers in Mitral Stenosis in Sinus Rhythm: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Symptoms of mitral stenosis (MS) are worsened during tachycardia and exercise. Beta-blockers are used in controlling heart rate (HR) in MS, resulting in symptom improvement, but coming with significant side effects. Ivabradine has a selective action on the sinus node devoid of the usual side effects of beta-blockers.

Red Cell Distribution Width and Mortality in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis on Prognosis.

Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW), a routine component of the complete blood count (CBC), measures variation in the size of circulating erythrocytes. It has been associated with several clinical outcomes in cardiovascular disease. We sought to strengthen the association between RDW and mortality in patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by pooling together data from available studies.

Cardiac events occurred commonly among apparently healthy Filipinos with the Brugada ECG pattern in the LIFECARE cohort.

Background: Brugada syndrome is the mechanism for sudden unexplained death. The Brugada ECG pattern is found in 2% of Filipinos. There is a knowledge gap on the clinical outcome of these individuals.

Epidemiologic burden of hospitalisation for congestive heart failure among adults aged ≥19 years in the Philippines.

Objectives: The study determined the prevalence of hospitalisation due to congestive heart failure (CHF) among adult patients aged 19 years and above in the Philippines and its 17 regions in 2014. It also determined the demographic profile of these patients, aetiology and type of CHF, comorbidities, duration of hospitalisation and the overall in-hospital mortality rate.

Methods: Data collection was done using the hospitalisation claims database of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Prediction of Symptomatic Embolism in Filipinos With Infective Endocarditis Using the Embolic Risk French Calculator.

Background: Cardioembolic events are life-threatening complications of infective endocarditis (IE). The embolic risk French calculator estimates the embolic risk in IE computed on admission. Variables in this tool include age, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, prior embolism, vegetation length, and on culture.

Chronic Heart Failure Clinical Practice Guidelines' Class 1-A Pharmacologic Recommendations: Start-to-End Synergistic Drug Therapy?

Background: Chronic heart failure (HF) disease as an emerging epidemic has a high economic-psycho-social burden, hospitalization, readmission, morbidity and mortality rates despite many clinical practice guidelines' evidenced-based and consensus driven recommendations that include trials' initial-baseline data.

Objective: To show that the survival and hospitalization-free event rates in the reviewed chronic HF clinical practice guidelines' class I-A recommendations as initial HF drug therapy (IDT) is possibly a combination and 'start-to-end' synergistic effect of the add-on ('end') HF drug therapy (ADT) to the baseline ('start') HF drug therapy (BDT).

Methodology: The references cited in the chronic HF clinical practice guidelines of the 2005, 2009, and 2013 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC), the 2006 Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), and the 2005, 2008, and 2012 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) were reviewed and compared with the respective guidelines' and other countries' recommendations.

Economic Burden of Community-Acquired Pneumonia among Adults in the Philippines: Its Equity and Policy Implications in the Case Rate Payments of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Objectives: To determine 1) the cost of hospitalization, the 1-week postdischarge cost, the total cost, and the economic burden of community-acquired pneumonia among patients aged 19 years or older in the Philippines and 2) the difference between the estimated costs and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) pneumonia case rate payments.

Methods: The study involved two tertiary private hospitals in the Philippines. Using the societal perspective, both health care and non-health care costs were determined.

Socio-demographic factors and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among filipinos from the LIFECARE cohort.

Background: Metabolic syndrome(MetS) is an aggregation of multiple metabolic risk factors shown to lead to the development of cardiovascular disease. The International Diabetes Federation(IDF) and the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel Ⅲ(mNCEP) criteria are used in identifying MetS. This report will determine the prevalence of MetS and its component risk factors of the Philippine cohort of the LIFE course study in CARdiovascular disease Epidemiology(LIFECARE).

A community-based validation study of the short-form 36 version 2 Philippines (Tagalog) in two cities in the Philippines.

Objective: To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Philippines (Tagalog) Short Form 36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2(®)) standard questionnaire among Filipinos residing in two cities.

Study Design And Setting: The official Philippines (Tagalog) SF-36v2 standard (4-week recall) version was pretested on 30 participants followed by formal and informal cognitive debriefing. To obtain the feedback on translation by bilingual respondents, each SF-36v2 question was stated first in English followed by Tagalog.

Survey of atherosclerotic disease in Asian subjects with cardiovascular disease risk factors who were not receiving lipid-lowering agents.

Background: Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis, used to identify asymptomatic individuals at increased risk of cardiovascular events. The primary objective of this study was to obtain the distribution of CIMT measurements in Asian individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors who were not receiving lipid-lowering agents.

Methods: Mean CIMT based on ultrasonographic measurement of 12 sites within the common carotid artery was recorded for 2726 subjects across eight Asian countries who had two or more CVD risk factors but were not receiving lipid-lowering therapy.