Short-term and long-term health impacts of air pollution reductions from COVID-19 lockdowns in China and Europe: a modelling study.

Background: Exposure to poor air quality leads to increased premature mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Among the far-reaching implications of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial improvement in air quality was observed worldwide after the lockdowns imposed by many countries. We aimed to assess the implications of different lockdown measures on air pollution levels in Europe and China, as well as the short-term and long-term health impact.

Risks and benefits of early treatment of acute myocardial infarction with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in patients with a history of arterial hypertension: analysis of the GISSI-3 database.

Background: Many trials have proved the benefits of early systematic treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Pathophysiological studies, however, suggest potential harm in excessive reduction of blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients with ischemic heart disease.

Methods: We analyzed data from the GISSI-3 (Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto miocardico) trial to assess the effects of early treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors during AMI in patients with a history of hypertension compared with normotensive patients.