The Long-Term Multicenter Observational Study of Dabigatran Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (RELY-ABLE) Study.

Background: During follow-up of between 1 and 3 years in the Randomized Evaluation of Long-term Anticoagulation Therapy (RE-LY) trial, 2 doses of dabigatran etexilate were shown to be effective and safe for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. There is a need for longer-term follow-up of patients on dabigatran and for further data comparing the 2 dabigatran doses.

Methods And Results: Patients randomly assigned to dabigatran in RE-LY were eligible for the Long-term Multicenter Extension of Dabigatran Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (RELY-ABLE) trial if they had not permanently discontinued study medication at the time of their final RE-LY study visit.

Dabigatran versus warfarin: effects on ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes and bleeding in Asians and non-Asians with atrial fibrillation.

Background And Purpose: Intracranial hemorrhage rates are higher in Asians than non-Asians, especially in patients receiving warfarin. This randomized evaluation of long-term anticoagulation therapy subgroup analysis assessed dabigatran etexilate (DE) and warfarin effects on stroke and bleeding rates in patients from Asian and non-Asian countries.

Methods: There were 2782 patients (15%) from 10 Asian countries and 15 331 patients from 34 non-Asian countries.

Long-term effects of socioeconomic status on incident hypertension and progression of blood pressure.

Objective: Few data have linked socioeconomic status (SES) to incident hypertension, and little information on the relationship between SES and hypertension are available from developing countries. We thus investigated the long-term effects of SES on incident hypertension and changes in blood pressure in Thailand.

Methods: In 1985, baseline data were collected from 3499 participants in the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand study.

Dronedarone in high-risk permanent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Dronedarone restores sinus rhythm and reduces hospitalization or death in intermittent atrial fibrillation. It also lowers heart rate and blood pressure and has antiadrenergic and potential ventricular antiarrhythmic effects. We hypothesized that dronedarone would reduce major vascular events in high-risk permanent atrial fibrillation.

Time to re-appraise the role of alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonists in the management of hypertension?

The role of alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonists (alpha-blockers) in the management of hypertension continues to evolve. Recent data support their use as add-on therapy in uncontrolled hypertension when used in combination with all other major classes of antihypertensive drug and there is increasing evidence suggesting that they have modest but significant beneficial effects on lipid and glucose metabolism. The availability of extended-release formulations has contributed to an excellent tolerability profile.

Metabolic syndrome and risk of acute myocardial infarction a case-control study of 26,903 subjects from 52 countries.

Objectives: This study examines the risk of acute myocardial infarction (MI) conferred by the metabolic syndrome (MS) and its individual factors in multiple ethnic populations.

Background: The risk of the MS on MI has not been well characterized, especially in multiple ethnic groups.

Methods: Participants in the INTERHEART study (n = 26,903) involving 52 countries were classified using the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria for MS, and their odds ratios (ORs) for MI were compared with the individual MS component factors.

Associations between serum lipids and causes of mortality in a cohort of 3,499 urban Thais: The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) study.

The association between serum lipids and mortality has not previously been established in Thailand. Baseline data from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) cohort study, plus a resurvey of the cohort 15 years later were analyzed. Participants were employees of EGAT: 2,702 men and 797 women.

Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27,000 participants from 52 countries: a case-control study.

Background: Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but the most predictive measure for different ethnic populations is not clear. We aimed to assess whether markers of obesity, especially waist-to-hip ratio, would be stronger indicators of myocardial infarction than body-mass index (BMI), the conventional measure.

Methods: We did a standardised case-control study of acute myocardial infarction with 27 098 participants in 52 countries (12,461 cases and 14,637 controls) representing several major ethnic groups.

Twelve-year changes in vascular risk factors and their associations with mortality in a cohort of 3499 Thais: the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Study.

Background: Vascular mortality is increasing in economically developing countries such as Thailand but reliable data about the determinants of these changes are few.

Methods: In 1985, male and female employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand took part in a cardiovascular risk factor survey. In 1997, a follow-up survey was conducted and causes of death were determined for those subjects known to have died.