Mechanical Circulatory Support in Patients Without Cardiogenic Shock Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: The use of mechanical circulatory support devices for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has increased over the past decade despite limited data of benefit. We sought to examine the association between intravascular microaxial left ventricular assist device (LVAD) versus intra-aortic balloon pump use in patients without cardiogenic shock (CS) undergoing PCI.

Methods And Results: This retrospective study analyzed claims data from a large, insured population who underwent PCI without CS from April 1, 2016 to July 31, 2022.

The association between hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and maternal and neonatal outcomes: a retrospective claims analysis.

Background: Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy continue to increase in prevalence and are associated with several adverse outcomes and future cardiovascular risk for mothers. This study evaluated the association of hypertensive disorders compared to no hypertension during pregnancy with neonatal and maternal outcomes. We then evaluated risk factors associated with progression from a less to more severe hypertensive disorder during pregnancy.

Clinical Outcomes and Cost Associated With an Intravascular Microaxial Left Ventricular Assist Device vs Intra-aortic Balloon Pump in Patients Presenting With Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock.

Importance: Intravascular microaxial left ventricular assist device (LVAD) compared with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been associated with increased risk of mortality and bleeding among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, evidence on the association of device therapy with a broader array of clinical outcomes, including data on long-term outcomes and cost, is limited.

Objective: To examine the association between intravascular LVAD or IABP use and clinical outcomes and cost in patients with AMI complicated by CS.

Doula care across the maternity care continuum and impact on maternal health: Evaluation of doula programs across three states using propensity score matching.

Background: This evaluation of doula care emerges at a time when maternal mortality in the U.S. outranks every country in the developed world.

Race and Gender Differences in the Association Between Experiences of Everyday Discrimination and Arterial Stiffness Among Patients With Coronary Heart Disease.

Background: Self-reported experiences of discrimination have been linked to indices of cardiovascular disease. However, most studies have focused on healthy populations. Thus, we examined the association between experiences of everyday discrimination and arterial stiffness among patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI).

Evaluating different criteria for defining a complete ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recording: data from the Jackson Heart Study.

Objective: We determined differences in the prevalence of blood pressure (BP) phenotypes and the association of these phenotypes with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) for individuals who fulfilled and did not fulfill various criteria used for defining a complete ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) recording.

Methods: We analyzed data for 1141 participants from the Jackson Heart Study. Criteria evaluated included having greater than or equal to 80% of planned readings with more than or equal to one reading per hour (Spanish ABPM Registry criteria), more than or equal to 70% of planned readings with a minimum of 20 daytime and seven nighttime readings (2013 European Society of Hypertension criteria), greater than or equal to 14 daytime and greater than or equal to seven nighttime readings (2003 European Society of Hypertension criteria), more than or equal to 10 daytime and more than or equal to 5 nighttime readings (International Database of Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Relation to Cardiovascular Outcome criteria), and greater than or equal to 14 daytime readings (UK National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence criteria).

Chronic kidney disease and incident apparent treatment-resistant hypertension among blacks: Data from the Jackson Heart Study.

It is unclear whether black patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) vs those without CKD who take antihypertensive medication have an increased risk for apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH). The authors analyzed 1741 Jackson Heart Study participants without aTRH taking antihypertensive medication at baseline. aTRH was defined as uncontrolled blood pressure while taking three antihypertensive medication classes or taking four or more antihypertensive medication classes, regardless of blood pressure level.

Cardiovascular Health and Incident Hypertension in Blacks: JHS (The Jackson Heart Study).

Several modifiable health behaviors and health factors that comprise the Life's Simple 7-a cardiovascular health metric-have been associated with hypertension risk. We determined the association between cardiovascular health and incident hypertension in JHS (the Jackson Heart Study)-a cohort of blacks. We analyzed participants without hypertension or cardiovascular disease at baseline (2000-2004) who attended ≥1 follow-up visit in 2005 to 2008 or 2009 to 2012 (n=1878).

Blood Pressure, Antihypertensive Polypharmacy, Frailty, and Risk for Serious Fall Injuries Among Older Treated Adults With Hypertension.

Antihypertensive medication and low systolic blood pressure (BP) and diastolic BP have been associated with an increased falls risk in some studies. Many older adults have indicators of frailty, which may increase their risk for falls. We contrasted the association of systolic BP, diastolic BP, number of antihypertensive medication classes taken, and indicators of frailty with risk for serious fall injuries among 5236 REGARDS study (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Difference in Stroke) participants ≥65 years taking antihypertensive medication at baseline with Medicare fee-for-service coverage.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Masked Hypertension: The Jackson Heart Study.

Masked hypertension is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Identifying modifiable risk factors for masked hypertension could provide approaches to reduce its prevalence. Life's Simple 7 is a measure of cardiovascular health developed by the American Heart Association that includes body mass index, physical activity, diet, cigarette smoking, blood pressure (BP), cholesterol, and glucose.

Association of Reduced eGFR and Albuminuria with Serious Fall Injuries among Older Adults.

Background And Objectives: Falls are common and associated with adverse outcomes in patients on dialysis. Limited data are available in earlier stages of CKD.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: We analyzed data from 8744 Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study participants ≥65 years old with Medicare fee for service coverage.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Individuals with HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Abnormal diurnal blood pressure (BP) rhythms may contribute to the high cardiovascular disease risk in HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals. To synthesize the current literature on ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in HIV+ individuals, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed.

Methods: Medical databases were searched through November 11, 2015 for studies that reported ABPM results in HIV+ individuals.

Association of systolic blood pressure levels with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality among older adults taking antihypertensive medication.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to identify the association of systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels with cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and falls among elderly persons taking antihypertensive medication.

Methods: US adults ≥ 45 years of age taking antihypertensive medication enrolled in the REGARDS study were categorized into 3 age groups: 55-64, 65-74 and ≥ 75 years old and baseline on-treatment SBP levels. Our primary analyses focused on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) (n=9787) and all-cause mortality (n=13,948).

Injury risk among children in motor vehicle crashes: older versus younger drivers.

Aim: To explore the relationship between injury risk among child occupants involved in motor vehicle collisions according to the age of the vehicle driver.

Methods: The National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System 2000-2009 (n = 10 797) was used to identify demographic, vehicle-, collision- and injury-related characteristics among motor vehicle collision occupants ≤15 years of age. The association between the age of the driver (older vs.

Trends in hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control among US adults 80 years and older, 1988-2010.

The authors examined trends in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in 1988-1994 (n=1164), 1999-2004 (n=1,026), and 2005-2010 (n=1048) among US adults 80 years and older in serial National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Hypertension was defined as SBP ≥140 mm Hg, DBP ≥90 mm Hg, or use of antihypertensive medication. Awareness and treatment were defined by self-report and control as SBP/DBP<140/90 mm Hg.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine for eye-related diseases and conditions.

Aim: To determine the prevalence, types and characteristics associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use to treat eye-related diseases and conditions.

Materials And Methods: The 2002 and 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was used to identify participants, 18 years of age and older, who completed the Adult Alternative Health/Complementary and Alternative Medicine questionnaire. Characteristics for those who reported CAM use for eye diseases and conditions and those who did not were compared; the types of CAM and the eye diseases and conditions for their use were also reported.

A suggested association between hypothyroidism and age-related macular degeneration.

Objective: To explore the relationship between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and hypothyroidism in a population-based sample of adults 50 years and older in the United States.

Study Population: Participants aged 50 years and older (N = 9,677). Of this total, 356 participants reported having AMD and 9321 reported not having AMD.