Time Trends in Lifestyle, Risk Factor Control, and Use of Evidence-Based Medications in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease in Europe: Results From 3 EUROASPIRE Surveys, 1999-2013.

Background: The EUROASPIRE (European Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events) cross-sectional surveys describe time trends in lifestyle and risk factor control among coronary patients between 1999 and 2013 in Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom as part of the EuroObservational Research Programme under the auspices of European Society of Cardiology.

Objectives: This study sought to describe time trends in lifestyle, risk factor control, and the use of evidence-based medication in coronary patients across Europe.

Methods: The EUROASPIRE II (1999 to 2000), III (2006 to 2007), and IV (2012 to 13) surveys were conducted in the same geographical areas and selected hospitals in each country.

Extended-release niacin/laropiprant improves endothelial function in patients after myocardial infarction.

Raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is an important strategy for reducing residual cardiovascular risk. In the present study, we sought to assess the effect of extended-release niacin/laropiprant on endothelial function in patients after a myocardial infarction with target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 63 men (35-60 years of age) after a myocardial infarction were randomized to either niacin/laropiprant (1000/20 mg daily for 4 weeks and 2000/40 mg daily thereafter) or placebo.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase T(-786)C polymorphism in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and impaired endothelium-dependent dilatation.

Background/aims: This study aimed to investigate the association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms with impaired endothelium-dependent dilatation (EDD) in a cohort of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: Ninety-seven children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes underwent ultrasound assessment of EDD. The association of various factors with EDD was analyzed with multivariate linear regression analysis.

Atrial fibrillation is an independent determinant of increased NT-proBNP levels in outpatients with signs and symptoms of heart failure.

Background: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is increasingly used in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of heart failure; however, the possible influence of atrial fibrillation on BNP is still a matter of controversy. We assessed the influence of atrial fibrillation on NT-proBNP levels in outpatients with signs and symptoms of heart failure.

Methods: Consecutive outpatients (n = 306) referred to a university hospital heart-failure clinic for evaluation of signs and symptoms of heart failure underwent clinical and echocardiographic assessment and had their NT-proBNP levels determined in a sandwich chemiluminescent immunoassay with two antibodies on an Elecsys analyzer.