Comparative effect of antihypertensive drugs in improving arterial stiffness in adults with hypertension (RIGIPREV study). A network meta-analysis.

To synthesize and evaluate the available scientific evidence on the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs on arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension by using a network meta-analysis approach. A systematic search of the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify experimental studies addressing the effect of different antihypertensive drugs on arterial stiffness parameters (pulse wave velocity [PWV] and augmentation index [AIx]) in adults with hypertension. Comparative evaluation of the effect of antihypertensive drugs was performed by conducting a standard pairwise meta-analysis and a network meta-analysis for direct and indirect comparisons between antihypertensive drugs and placebo/other antihypertensive drugs.

Comparative Effect of Antihypertensive Drugs in Improving Arterial Stiffness in Hypertensive Adults (RIGIPREV Study). A Protocol for Network Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: Arterial stiffness is closely and bi-directionally related to hypertension and is understood as both a cause and a consequence of hypertension. Several studies suggest that antihypertensive drugs may reduce arterial stiffness. Therefore, effective prescription of antihypertensive drugs should consider both blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

Effectiveness of an mHealth Intervention Combining a Smartphone App and Smart Band on Body Composition in an Overweight and Obese Population: Randomized Controlled Trial (EVIDENT 3 Study).

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) is currently among the supporting elements that may contribute to an improvement in health markers by helping people adopt healthier lifestyles. mHealth interventions have been widely reported to achieve greater weight loss than other approaches, but their effect on body composition remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the short-term (3 months) effectiveness of a mobile app and a smart band for losing weight and changing body composition in sedentary Spanish adults who are overweight or obese.

Hypertension and high ankle brachial index: the overlooked combination.

Objective: Assessment of asymptomatic organ damage in the management of hypertension includes low (<0.9) ankle brachial index (ABI) values. No recommendations are given for patients with high ABI (≥1.

Automatic or manual arterial path for the ankle-brachial differences pulse wave velocity.

An automated method for measuring arterial path length with devices that determine pulse wave velocity (PWV) in peripheral arteries is frequently applied. We aimed to compare arterial path length measurements based on mathematical height-based formulas with those measured manually and to assess whether the ankle-brachial difference (abD-PWV) measured with the VOPITB device is comparable to that obtained by manual measurements. In 245 patients, a metric measuring tape was used to determine the arterial path length from the suprasternal notch to the midpoint of the VOPITB cuffs wrapped around the extremities, and the results were compared with those obtained with height-based formulas.

Long-Term Effectiveness of a Smartphone App for Improving Healthy Lifestyles in General Population in Primary Care: Randomized Controlled Trial (Evident II Study).

Background: Information and communication technologies are currently among the supporting elements that may contribute to improving health and changing lifestyles.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of adding an app to standardized counseling in order to increase physical activity (PA) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet and to analyze the effects of app adherence in lifestyle changes.

Methods: A randomized, multicenter clinical trial with a 12 month-follow up was conducted, involving 833 participants recruited by random sampling in 6 primary Spanish care centers (415 vs 418).

Ideal Cardiovascular Health and Arterial Stiffness in Spanish Adults-The EVIDENT Study.

Background: Studies concerning ideal cardiovascular (CV) health and its relationship with arterial stiffness are lacking. This study examined the association between arterial stiffness with ideal CV health as defined by the American Heart Association, across age groups and gender.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 1365 adults.

Relationship between glycaemic levels and arterial stiffness in non-diabetic adults.

Objective: To examine, in a non-diabetic population, whether the association between arterial stiffness and glycaemic levels depends on the test used as a glycaemic indicator, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).

Patient Population And Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of a 220 non-diabetic subsample from the EVIDENT II study in which FPG, HbA1c and arterial stiffness-related parameters (pulse wave velocity, radial and central augmentation index, and central pulse pressure) were determined. Mean differences in arterial stiffness-related parameters by HbA1c and FPG tertiles were tested using analysis of covariance.

Association Between Health-Related Quality of Life, Obesity, Fitness, and Sleep Quality in Young Adults: The Cuenca Adult Study.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to examine in university students: (a) the mean differences in the HRQoL among fat mass percentage, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and sleep quality categories; and (b) the independent associations among fat mass percentage, CRF, and sleep quality with HRQoL.

Participants: 376 students, 18-30 years old, from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Cuenca, Spain (during 2009-2010).

Method: Cross-sectional study measuring % fat mass (DXA), CRF (20-m shuttle run test), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and HRQoL (SF-12 questionnaire).

Evolution of target organ damage and haemodynamic parameters over 4 years in patients with increased insulin resistance: the LOD-DIABETES prospective observational study.

Objectives: We prospectively examined the impact of type 2 diabetes compared with metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the development of vascular disease over 4 years as determined by anatomic and functional markers of vascular disease. By comparing the vascular outcomes of the 2 disorders, we seek to determine the independent effect of elevated glucose levels on vascular disease.

Setting: 2 primary care centres in Salamanca, Spain.

Gender differences in the progression of target organ damage in patients with increased insulin resistance: the LOD-DIABETES study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the evolution of vascular, cardiac and renal target organ damage (TOD) in patients with increased insulin resistance over a 3.5 year follow-up and to investigate gender difference and factors that influence its progression.

Methods: We performed a prospective observational study involving 112 patients (71 men, 41 women) who were followed for 3.

Cardio-ankle vascular index is associated with cardiovascular target organ damage and vascular structure and function in patients with diabetes or metabolic syndrome, LOD-DIABETES study: a case series report.

Background: The cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a new index of the overall stiffness of the artery from the origin of the aorta to the ankle. This index can estimate the risk of atherosclerosis. We aimed to find the relationship between CAVI and target organ damage (TOD), vascular structure and function, and cardiovascular risk factors in Caucasian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome.

Sedentary behaviour patterns and carotid intima-media thickness in Spanish healthy adult population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between sedentary behaviour, as assessed by an accelerometer, and mean carotid intima-media thickness (IMT).

Methods: The study included 263 healthy subjects belonging to the EVIDENT study (59.3% women).

Effectiveness of brief interventions in primary health care settings to decrease alcohol consumption by adult non-dependent drinkers: a systematic review of systematic reviews.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of brief interventions in the primary health care setting to decrease alcohol consumption in non-alcoholic adult drinkers.

Method: Systematic review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials published in English and Spanish and indexed in EMBASE, MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and The Cochrane Library, from their inception to January 2014. The quality of the studies was evaluated with the AMSTAR instrument.

Loneliness and mental health in a representative sample of community-dwelling Spanish older adults.

Research seems to support loneliness as a risk factor for mental health problems in the elderly. Most studies analyzing the effects of loneliness on older adults' mental health have relied on convenience samples. In this study, the prevalence and predictors of feelings of loneliness were studied in a representative sample of 272 community-dwelling Spanish older adults.

Ambulatory arterial stiffness indices and target organ damage in hypertension.

Background: The present study was designed to evaluate which arterial stiffness parameter - AASI or the home arterial stiffness index (HASI) - correlates best with vascular, cardiac and renal damage in hypertensive individuals.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 258 hypertensive patients. AASI and HASI were defined as the 1-regression slope of diastolic over systolic blood pressure readings obtained from 24-hour recordings and home blood pressure over 6 days.

Relationship between intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery and arterial stiffness in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes: a case-series report.

Background: We examined the relationship between the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) and arterial stiffness, assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), the ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and the augmentation index (AIx) in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A case-series study was made in 366 patients (105 diabetics and 261-non-diabetics). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed on a day of standard activity with the SpaceLabs 90207 system.

[Prevalence of occult chronic kidney disease and associated variables in a population of patients with type 2 diabetes].

Background And Objective: To determine the prevalence of occult chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the associated clinical variables in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM-2).

Patients And Method: Observational, laboratory and cross-sectional study of patients with DM-2 from primary care settings. Demographic and anthropometric data, previous illnesses and measures of cardiovascular risk and kidney function were collected from electronic medical records.

[Subclinical and established kidney disease in recently diagnosed hypertensive patients].

Background And Objective: To estimate renal disease in recently diagnosed hypertensive patients, and to identify factors related to renal disease.

Patients And Methods: Cross-sectional study, with 425 hypertensive patients recently diagnosed in primary health care; renal disease was estimated with serum creatinine, albumin/creatinine index and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We analyzed cardiovascular risk factors (CRF), subclinical organ injury and cardiovascular disease following the criteria of the 2007 European Guide of Hypertension.

[Efficacy of an educational intervention group on changes in lifestyles in hypertensive patients in primary care: a randomized clinical trial].

Background: Healthy lifestyles are associated with less risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a group educational strategy in lifestyle changes, as well as the control of risk factors and cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients.

Methods: Randomized clinical trial carried out in Primary Care.

Leisure and distress in caregivers for elderly patients.

Caregiving for the elderly has been linked to mental and physical problems in those providing the care. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of leisure on caregiver's burden and mental health. Drawing on the stress and coping model, 134 caregiver/care-recipient dyads were assessed.

[Family function and the mental health of the caregiver of dependent relatives].

Objective: To analyse the influence of family function on the caregiver's perceived mental health.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Two primary care urban health centres.

[Durability of the effects of a quality improvement intervention in hypertensive patients on long-term follow-up (CICLO-RISK study)].

Objective: To evaluate the durability of the effects achieved with a quality improvement intervention on cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular risk, as intermediate outcomes, in hypertensive patients on long-term follow-up long time primary health care.

Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Setting: Two urban primary care health centres.