EU-Wide Cross-Sectional Observational Study of Lipid-Modifying Therapy Use in Secondary and Primary Care: the DA VINCI study.

Aims: To provide contemporary data on the implementation of European guideline recommendations for lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) across different settings and populations and how this impacts low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal achievement.

Methods And Results: An 18 country, cross-sectional, observational study of patients prescribed LLT for primary or secondary prevention in primary or secondary care across Europe. Between June 2017 and November 2018, data were collected at a single visit, including LLT in the preceding 12 months and most recent LDL-C.

Proportion of High-Risk/Very High-Risk Patients in Europe with Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol at Target According to European Guidelines: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Assess achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets in European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) guidelines.

Design: Systematic literature review.

Data Sources: Medline, EMBASE, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature.

Morbidity and mortality associated with atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease: A systematic review.

Background And Aims: It is unclear whether improvements in the detection/treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) affect overall survival and morbidity. We undertook a systematic review to describe survival and morbidity in contemporary PAD cohorts.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for randomised and observational studies reporting mortality/morbidity events between 1 May 2003 and 31 December, 2017 in patients with PAD, diagnosed by intermittent claudication (IC), critical limb ischaemia (CLI), or an ankle brachial index (ABI) < 0.

Combining cholesterol-lowering strategies with imaging data: a visible benefit?

Coronary artery disease is characterised by the development of atherosclerotic plaques and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality on a global level. However, many patients with atherosclerosis are asymptomatic and the prediction of acute coronary events is challenging. The role of imaging studies in characterising plaque morphology and stability is emerging as a valuable prognostic tool, while providing evidence for the beneficial effects of cholesterol-lowering therapy on plaque burden.

Relationship of home blood pressure with target-organ damage in children and adolescents.

The objective of this study was to compare home blood pressure (HBP) vs. ambulatory (ABP) and clinic (CBP) measurements in terms of their association with target-organ damage in children and adolescents. A total of 81 children and adolescents (mean age 13 ± 3 years, 53 boys) referred for elevated CBP had measurements of CBP (1 visit), HBP (6 days) and ABP (24-h).