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International journal of cardiology 04/2013; · 7.08 Impact Factor
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Gut 04/2013; · 10.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Objectives: Reduced arterial elasticity is a risk factor for coronary artery disease. Our main objective was to evaluate the association between large arterial elasticity (LAE) and small arterial elasticity (SAE) with subclinical atherosclerosis as reflected by the coronary artery calcium score (CACS). Methods: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) includes a multi-ethnic, population-based cohort (n = 6,814), aged 45-84 years, free from clinical cardiovascular disease. We undertook a post hoc analysis of the NHLBI limited access data set of MESA subjects (n = 6,278) to evaluate the association between LAE and SAE with CACS [divided in to 4 categories: none (reference), 1-99, 100-299, and ≥300] using multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis. Results: After adjustments for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, anti-hypertensive medications use, race, smoking, diabetes, high-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, both LAE [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.65; 95% CI 0.49-0.87 for CACS ≥300] and SAE (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.56-0.83 for CACS ≥300) were significantly (p < 0.001 for both) associated with a higher CACS. Conclusion: Both LAE and SAE, independent of traditional risk factors and inflammation, are associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.
Cardiology 09/2012; 123(1):24-30. · 1.71 Impact Factor
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Angiology 08/2012; 63(6):480-1. · 1.51 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Red cell distribution width (RDW) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are both known to be predictive of future cardiovascular disease (CVD).
We hypothesized that RDW would be associated with HbA1c in adults without diabetes independent of fasting blood glucose (FBG).
This cross-sectional study included 15,343 nondiabetic adults, free of CVD, enrolled in NHANES 1999-2008. Adjusted means of RDW were calculated across HbA1c categories for the overall population. Multivariable regression analyses were performed analyzing the association between RDW and HbA1c for individuals with available data on FBG (n = 7,454).
RDW significantly correlated with HbA1c (r = 0.27, p < 0.001; n = 15,343), with a gradual increase in adjusted mean RDW across HbA1c categories (12.59% ± 0.02% in the group with HbA1c ≤4.8% vs. 12.92% ± 0.02% in the group with HbA1c >5.8%, p < 0.001 for trend). In regression analyses, RDW independently predicted HbA1c (β-coefficient 0.034, 95% CI 0.026-0.042, p < 0.001).
RDW significantly predicts HbA1c independent of FBG in healthy nondiabetic adults, suggesting the possibility of chronic hyperglycemia mediating the association between RDW and CVD.
Cardiology 07/2012; 122(2):129-32. · 1.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Heart failure with preserved systolic function (HFPSF) has attained epidemic proportions; however evidence-based therapeutic interventions have not advanced despite continued research over the past three decades. We propose the combined use of direct renin inhibitor and carvedilol for this condition.
The Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS) plays a central role in myocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis and ventricular remodeling which is responsible for the diastolic dysfunction in HFPSF. Rising serum aldosterone levels with age have been implicated as a cause of myocardial fibrosis in the elderly. The sole use of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers is associated with angiotensin-II and aldosterone escape and increased plasma renin activity. Carvedilol is a novel third generation non-selective β-blocker. The use of combination therapy will facilitate in better blood pressure control, reduce afterload, improve ventricular relaxation, cause regression of ventricular remodeling/fibrosis, maintain atrioventricular synchrony and enhance cardio-metabolic profile. The individual benefits of direct renin inhibitor and carvedilol could plausibly have a supra-additive effect when used in combination. Besides this, carvedilol can further reduce generation of free radicals, decrease LDL oxidation, improve Doppler echo diastolic parameters and decrease cardiac norepinephrine and density of cardiac β-receptors.
Evidence suggests that patients with HFPSF are treated less aggressively as compared to patients with heart failure with systolic dysfunction. Aggressive therapy with concurrent use of direct renin inhibitor and carvedilol will help in improving outcomes in this vulnerable patient sub-population. No prior trial has evaluated the combined use of these drugs for the treatment of HFPSF.
Medical Hypotheses 07/2012; 79(4):448-51. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is an independent predictor of the 10-year estimated risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events. However, RDW's association with peripheral artery disease (PAD) - a CHD risk equivalent - has not been evaluated to date. In this cross-sectional study, we examined 6950 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004. PAD was defined as an ankle-brachial index below 0.9 (n = 618). RDW was divided into quartiles (Q) (Q1: ≤ 12.2; Q2: 12.3-12.5; Q3: 12.6-13.0; Q4: ≥ 13.1) and PAD risk was compared across these quartiles using adjusted multivariate logistic regression. A graded increase in prevalent PAD with increasing RDW quartiles was observed (4.2% in Q1 vs 13.9% in Q4; test of trend p < 0.001). Risk of PAD was significantly higher (odds ratio (OR) 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.34; p = 0.003) after adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking, estimated glomerular filtration rate, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and nutritional factors (folate, iron and vitamin B(12)) deficiencies with each unit (0.1) increase in RDW. Upon receiver-operating characteristics analysis, the predictive accuracy of the American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association (ACC/AHA)-defined PAD screening criteria (for a high-risk population) was 0.657 at best, but improved significantly (0.727) after addition of RDW (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, higher levels of RDW are independently associated with a higher risk of PAD and can significantly improve the risk prediction beyond that estimated by ACC/AHA-defined PAD screening criteria.
Vascular Medicine 06/2012; 17(3):155-63. · 1.46 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Limited information is available about gender and ethnic differences in red cell distribution width (RCDW) with regard to its relation to mortality in a population free of cardiovascular (CV) disease and diabetes. To assess gender and ethnic differences in RCDW and their effect on the association between RCDW and mortality, the Third National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (n = 15,460, 1988 to 1994) data were examined. Multivariate adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to assess effect of gender and ethnicity on the association between RCDW and mortality (total, CV disease, and coronary heart disease [CHD]). RCDW (mean ± SE) was greater in black women (13.1 ± 0.03) and men (13.4 ± 0.02) compared to women of white (12.9 ± 0.02) and other (13.0 ± 0.07) ethnicities and men of white (13.3 ± 0.02) and other (13.3 ± 0.07) ethnicities, respectively (p <0.001). The interaction between RCDW and gender was statistically significant for all study outcomes (p <0.001) but nonsignificant for RCDW and ethnicity. After adjusting for key variables, RCDW in women was associated with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.22 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14 to 1.31) for all-cause mortality, 1.17 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.28) for CV deaths, and 1.18 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.35) for CHD deaths; in men, adjusted hazard ratios were 1.29 (95% CI 1.20 to 1.38) for all-cause mortality, 1.27 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.37) for CV deaths, and 1.25 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.39) for CHD deaths (p <0.05 for all). In conclusion, blacks and men have significantly greater RCDWs compared to whites and women. Greater RCDW is associated with a greater risk of mortality in men compared to women, whereas no effect modification is observed by ethnicity.
The American journal of cardiology 03/2012; 109(11):1664-70. · 3.58 Impact Factor
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The American journal of cardiology 02/2012; 109(4):600. · 3.58 Impact Factor
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Archives of internal medicine 02/2012; 172(3):275-7. · 11.46 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We sought to evaluate the ability of various metabolic syndrome definitions in predicting primary cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in a vast multiethnic U.S. cohort.
This study included 6,814 self-identified men and women aged 45-84 years enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) study. Gender-stratified analyses were performed to calculate hazard ratios of CVD, stroke, and mortality associated with various metabolic syndrome definitions and their individual constructs.
The hazard ratios [95% confidence interval (CI)] for all-cause CVD in men were 2.90 (2.18-3.85), 2.64 (1.98-3.51), 2.16 (1.62-2.88), 2.56 (1.91-3.44), 1.82 (1.35-2.46), and 2.92 (2.15-3.95) for the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), American Heart Association (AHA), World Health Organization (WHO), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR), and the newly defined consensus criteria. Hazard ratios in women were 2.11 (1.41-3.15), 2.17 (1.45-3.27), 2.04 (1.37-3.06), 1.91 (1.27-2.88), 1.85 (1.23-2.79), and 2.08 (1.37-3.14), respectively. Metabolic syndrome was strongly associated with stroke risk only in males. In men, all constitutive metabolic syndrome components were continuously and strongly associated with CVD. In women, high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides did not appear to be associated with short term CVD risk.
We found the newly defined consensus criteria for metabolic syndrome to be similarly predictive of cardiovascular events when compared to existing definitions. Significant gender differences exist in the association between metabolic syndrome, its individual components, and CVD.
Metabolic syndrome and related disorders 02/2012; 10(1):47-55.
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Journal of the American College of Cardiology 01/2012; 59(5):542-3. · 14.16 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: We sought to define the influence of ethnicity on associations between novel biomarkers and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events among Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) study participants, a community based population of asymptomatic US adults. METHODS: Baseline (log transformed) levels of biomarkers namely C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, interleukin-6 (IL-6), D-dimer, plasmin-antiplasmin complex (PAP) and factor VIII were used to predict the cumulative incidence of all CVD events in an ethnicity stratified study cohort from Cox-proportional hazard analysis where models were adjusted for relevant confounders. RESULTS: Ethnic cohorts included 2362 Caucasians, 1601 African Americans, 1353 Hispanics, and 751 Chinese. At mean 4.6years of follow-up, 286 CVD events were identified with cumulative incidence of 11.3% in Caucasians, 9.8% in African Americans, 11.3% in Hispanics and 6.9% in Chinese. Biomarker risk association with CVD events incidence was significantly influenced by ethnicity with positive association (HR, 95% CI, p value) being shown for: CRP among Caucasians only (1.23, 1.04-1.47, <0.01) IL-6 among African Americans only (1.69, 1.15-2.48, <0.01) and fibrinogen among Caucasians (3.05, 1.21-7.69, 0.02), African Americans (3.51, 1.09-11.2, 0.03) and Hispanics (4.16, 1.23-14.1, 0.02) only. None of the biomarkers were able to predict CVD in Chinese. Association between above biomarkers and CVD was bi-directional: cases with CVD events had higher mean levels of biomarkers; cases in higher quartiles of biomarkers had increased cumulative incidence of CVD events. CONCLUSION: Study results from a vast, ethnically diverse, asymptomatic US adult population suggest that biomarker association with incident CVD events is significantly influenced by ethnicity.
International journal of cardiology 01/2012; · 7.08 Impact Factor
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Luis Afonso,
Ashok Kondur,
Mengistu Simegn,
Ashutosh Niraj,
Pawan Hari,
Ramanjit Kaur,
Preeti Ramappa,
Jyotiranjan Pradhan,
Deepti Bhandare,
Kim A Williams,
Sandip Zalawadiya,
Aurelio Pinheiro,
Theodore P Abraham
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ABSTRACT: This study was designed to examine the utility of two-dimensional strain (2DS) or speckle tracking imaging to typify functional adaptations of the left ventricle in variant forms of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
Cross-sectional study.
Urban tertiary care academic medical centres.
A total of 129 subjects, 56 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 34 with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (H-LVH), 27 professional athletes with LVH (AT-LVH) and 12 healthy controls in sinus rhythm with preserved left ventricular systolic function.
Conventional echocardiographic and tissue Doppler examinations were performed in all study subjects. Bi-dimensional acquisitions were analysed to map longitudinal systolic strain (automated function imaging, AFI, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA) from apical views.
Subjects with HCM had significantly lower regional and average global peak longitudinal systolic strain (GLS-avg) compared with controls and other forms of LVH. Strain dispersion index, a measure of regional contractile heterogeneity, was higher in HCM compared with the rest of the groups. On receiver operator characteristics analysis, GLS-avg had excellent discriminatory ability to distinguish HCM from H-LVH area under curve (AUC) (0.893, p<0.001) or AT-LVH AUC (0.920, p<0.001). Tissue Doppler and LV morphological parameters were better suited to differentiate the athlete heart from HCM.
2DS (AFI) allows rapid characterisation of regional and global systolic function and may have the potential to differentiate HCM from variant forms of LVH.
BMJ open. 01/2012; 2(4).
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Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine 10/2011; 12(10):747-9. · 1.51 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering therapy is an important aspect of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Statins are the most widely used drug therapy for achieving low-density lipoprotein goals based on an individual's 10-year risk. However, substantial risk of CVD events still exists even when a person is on statins. We sought to explore the predictors of future CVD events in individuals on statins with no pre-existing CVD.
The analysis was done on subjects who were on statins (n = 919) at baseline in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis limited access dataset from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The primary outcome variable was all-cause CVD events (n = 67). Multivariate regression Cox proportional hazard analysis was done to identify potential independent predictors of all-cause CVD.
Our cohort consisted of 47% males, with a mean age of 66 ± 9 years. Sixty-seven participants (7.3%) experienced CVD events during a mean follow-up of 4.4 years. A higher coronary artery calcium score, homocysteine levels, waist circumference and a lower large arterial elasticity index were identified as independent predictors of CVD events.
Homocysteine, waist circumference, coronary artery calcification and the large artery elasticity index appear to be the major independent predictors of CVD events in individuals on statins with no pre-existing CVD. In addition to emphasizing weight loss, alternative approaches beyond lipid reduction may need to be explored to better characterize and attenuate the residual risk in subjects on statin therapy for primary prevention.
Cardiology 09/2011; 119(4):187-90. · 1.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Microalbuminuria (MA), a renal marker of vascular injury, is an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) events. Red cell distribution width (RDW), an emerging CV risk predictor, has not been evaluated for its association with MA.
We evaluated 8,499 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2006, where RDW was evaluated as a continuous variable and in quartiles (Q(1) ≤ 12.1, Q(2) 12.2-12.5, Q(3) 12.6-13 and Q(4) >13). Multivariate adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the odds of having MA (n = 1,736; adjusted for traditional CV risk factors, race, BMI, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and nutritional factors deficiencies of iron, folate and vitamin B(12)).
The prevalence of MA increased with increasing RDW (13.52% in Q(1) vs. 30.02% in Q(4), p < 0.001). The odds of having MA for those in Q(4) was 2.49 (95% CI: 1.95-3.18, p < 0.001) compared to those in Q(1) after the adjustments. No effect modification was observed by covariates on the association between RDW and MA.
Elevated RDW is independently associated with a higher risk of MA. An interaction between chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, neurohumoral overactivity and endothelial dysfunction may explain this association and the attendant elevated CV/renal risk.
Nephron Clinical Practice 09/2011; 119(4):c277-82. · 2.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to examine whether adding homocysteine (Hcy) to a model based on traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors improves risk classification.
Data on using Hcy to reclassify individuals in various risk categories beyond traditional approaches have not been adequately scrutinized.
We performed a post hoc analysis of the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) and NHANES III (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III) datasets. Hcy was used to predict composite CVD and hard coronary heart disease (CHD) events in the MESA study and CVD and CHD mortality in the NHANES III survey using adjusted Cox-proportional hazard analysis. Reclassification of CHD events was performed using a net reclassification improvement (NRI) index with a Framingham risk score (FRS) model with and without Hcy.
Hcy level (>15 μmol/l) significantly predicted CVD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.79, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.19 to 1.95; p = 0.006) and CHD events (aHR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.20 to 4.09; p = 0.01) in the MESA trial and CVD (aHR: 2.72, 95% CI: 2.01 to 3.68; p < 0.001) and CHD mortality (aHR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.83 to 3.73; p < 0.001) in the NHANES III, after adjustments for traditional risk factors and C-reactive protein. The level of Hcy, when added to FRS, significantly reclassified 12.9% and 18.3% of the overall and 21.2% and 19.2% of the intermediate-risk population from the MESA and NHANES cohorts, respectively. The categoryless NRI also showed significant reclassification in both MESA (NRI: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.53; p < 0.001) and NHANES III (NRI: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.71; p < 0.001) datasets.
From these 2 disparate population cohorts, we found that addition of Hcy level to FRS significantly improved risk prediction, especially in individuals at intermediate risk for CHD events.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology 08/2011; 58(10):1025-33. · 14.16 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Almost 50% of patients with congestive heart failure (HF) have preserved ejection fraction (PEF). Data on the effect of HF-PEF on atrial fibrillation outcomes are lacking. We assessed the prognostic significance of HF-PEF in an atrial fibrillation population compared to a systolic heart failure (SHF) population. A post hoc analysis of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-limited access data set of the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) trial was carried out. The patients with a history of congestive HF and a preserved ejection fraction (EF >50%) were classified as having HF-PEF (n = 320). The patients with congestive HF and a qualitatively depressed EF (EF <50%) were classified as having SHF (n = 402). Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed. The mean follow-up duration was 1,181 ± 534 days/patient. The patients with HF-PEF had lower all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.46 to 0.85, p = 0.003) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.84, p = 0.006), with a possible decreased arrhythmic end point (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16 to 1.006, p = 0.052) than did the patients with SHF. No differences were observed for ischemic stroke (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.48 to 2.39, p = 0.86), rehospitalization (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.07, p = 0.24), or progression to New York Heart Association class III-IV (odds ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.54, p = 0.522). In conclusion, although patients with HF-PEF have better mortality outcomes than those with SHF, the morbidity appears to be similar.
The American journal of cardiology 08/2011; 108(9):1283-8. · 3.58 Impact Factor
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The American journal of cardiology 08/2011; 108(3):474. · 3.58 Impact Factor
