The effect of cardiovascular morbidity on clinical response provided by tadalafil in patients with erectile dysfunction

We aimed to investigate the association between erectile dysfunction and severity of cardiovascular morbidity and to assess clinical responses to tadalafil of patients in different cardiovascular risk groups. Between November 2019 and August 2020, a total of 258 male patients aged 45–70 years with ED were included. They were divided into three groups according to the Framingham risk score: low-risk (n: 86, 33.3%), intermediate-risk (n: 103, 39.9%) and high-risk (n: 69, 26.8%). At admission, all domains of the International Index of Erectile Function score were worse in high-risk group compared to other risk groups (p < .001). After a 12-week follow-up, a more significant improvement was observed in all domains of erectile function in all risk groups, but high-risk group had lower sexual scores (p < .001). The lowest rate for complete responsiveness to tadalafil was observed in the high-risk group (37.7%). The rate of failure in complete responsiveness was found to be 4.127 times greater with higher Framingham score and 3.102 times greater with higher erectile dysfunction severity at admission. Our preliminary findings show that more severe sexual disorders are observed in high-risk patients with cardiovascular morbidity. Individualised treatment may be important in high-risk group since they may benefit less from tadalafil, and failure in complete responsiveness can be more common in this group.     

Recurrent cardiac intimal sarcoma misdiagnosed as a myxoma or malignant transformation of a cardiac myxoma?

Cardiac intimal sarcoma is extremely rare and aggressive primary malignant cardiac tumors. Here, we reported the case of a young man initially operated for a tumor of the left atrium, causing a dynamic obstruction of the mitral valve and (mis‐)diagnosed as a myxoma at the histopathological analysis. Patient presented a local recurrence at 3 months and was reoperated. Pathology revealed this time the presence of an intimal sarcoma. Patient received adjuvant chemotherapy. Despite a good local control, the 1‐year follow‐up positron emission tomography scan revealed the presence of a metastasis in the left adrenal gland that was surgically resected. This article aims to highlight the risk of misdiagnosis in case of cardiac tumors, the hypothetical concept of malignant transformation of a cardiac myxoma, the aggressive course of the extremely rare cardiac intimal sarcoma, and the therapeutic modalities available to treat this pathology.     

Association between atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases risk and renal outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AimsChronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus increase atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) risk. However, the association between renal outcome of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and ASCVD risk is unclear.MethodsThis retrospective study enrolled 218 type 2 diabetic patients with biopsy-proven DKD, and without known cardiovascular diseases. Baseline characteristics were obtained and the 10-year ASCVD risk score was calculated using the Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE). Renal outcome was defined as progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The association between ASCVD risk and renal function and outcome was analyzed with logistic regression and Cox analysis.ResultsAmong all patients, the median 10-year ASCVD risk score was 14.1%. The median of ASCVD risk score in CKD stage 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 10.9%, 12.3%, 16.5%, and 14.8%, respectively (p = 0.268). Compared with patients with lower ASCVD risk (＜14.1%), those with higher ASCVD risk had lower eGFR, higher systolic blood pressure, and more severe renal interstitial inflammation. High ASCVD risk (>14.1%) was an independent indicator of renal dysfunction in multivariable-adjusted logistic analysis (OR, 3.997; 95%CI, 1.385–11.530; p = 0.010), though failed to be an independent risk factor for ESRD in patients with DKD in univariate and multivariate Cox analysis.ConclusionsDKD patients even in CKD stage 1 had comparable ASCVD risk score to patients in CKD stage 2, 3, and 4. Higher ASCVD risk indicated severe renal insufficiency, while no prognostic value of ASVCD risk for renal outcome was observed, which implied macroangiopathy and microangiopathy in patients with DKD were related, but relatively independent.     

To screen or not to screen? The development of a prediction model for aorto-iliac stenosis in kidney transplant candidates

Screening for aorto-iliac stenosis is important in kidney transplant candidates as its presence affects pre-transplantation decisions regarding side of implantation and the need for an additional vascular procedure. Reliable imaging techniques to identify this condition require contrast fluid, which can be harmful in these patients. To guide patient selection for these imaging techniques, we aimed to develop a prediction model for the presence of aorto-iliac stenosis. Patients with contrast-enhanced imaging available in the pre-transplant screening between January 1st, 2000 and December 31st, 2018 were included. A prediction model was developed using multivariable logistic regression analysis and internally validated using bootstrap resampling. Model performance was assessed with the concordance index and calibration slope. Three hundred and seventy-three patients were included, 90 patients (24.1%) had imaging-proven aorto-iliac stenosis. Our final model included age, smoking, peripheral arterial disease, coronary artery disease, a previous transplant, intermittent claudication and the presence of a femoral artery murmur. The model yielded excellent discrimination (optimism-corrected concordance index: 0.83) and calibration (optimism-corrected calibration slope: 0.91). In conclusion, this prediction model can guide the development of standardized protocols to decide which patients should receive vascular screening to identify aorto-iliac stenosis. External validation is needed before this model can be implemented in patient care.     

Cardiovascular events in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery treated with remote ischaemic preconditioning: 1-year follow-up of a randomised clinical trial

Remote ischaemic preconditioning reduces the risk of myocardial injury within 4 days of hip fracture surgery. We aimed to investigate the effect of remote ischaemic preconditioning on the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events 1 year after hip fracture surgery. We performed a phase-2, multicentre, randomised, observer-blinded, clinical trial between February 2015 and September 2017. We studied patients aged ≥ 45 years with a hip fracture and a minimum of one cardiovascular risk factor. Patients were allocated randomly to remote ischaemic preconditioning applied just before surgery or no treatment (control group). Remote ischaemic preconditioning was performed on the upper arm with a tourniquet in four cycles of 5 min ischaemia and 5 min reperfusion. Primary outcome was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events within 1 year of surgery. A total of 316 patients were allocated randomly to the remote ischaemic preconditioning group and 309 patients to the control group. Major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 43 patients (13.6%) in the remote ischaemic preconditioning group compared with 51 patients (16.5%) in the control group (adjusted hazard ratio (95%CI) 0.83 (0.55–1.25); p = 0.37). Fewer patients in the remote ischaemic preconditioning group had a myocardial infarction (11 (3.5%) vs. 22 (7.1%); hazard ratio (95%CI) 0.48 (CI 0.23–1.00); p = 0.04). Remote ischaemic preconditioning did not reduce the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events within 1 year of hip fracture surgery. The effect of remote ischaemic preconditioning on clinical cardiovascular outcomes in non-cardiac surgery needs confirmation in appropriately powered randomised clinical trials.     

Effect of QT interval prolongation on cardiac arrest following liver transplantation and derivation of a risk index

Liver transplantation (LT) has a 4-fold higher risk of periprocedural cardiac arrest and ventricular arrhythmias (CA/VAs) compared with other noncardiac surgeries. Prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) is common in patients with liver cirrhosis. Whether it is associated with an increased risk of CA/VAs following LT is unclear. Rates of 30-day CA/VAs post-LT were assessed in consecutive adults undergoing LT between 2010 and 2017. Pretransplant QTc was measured by a cardiologist blinded to clinical outcomes. Among 408 patients included, CA/VAs occurred in 26 patients (6.4%). QTc was significantly longer in CA/VA patients (475 ± 34 vs 450 ± 34 ms, P < .001). Optimal QTc cut-off for prediction of CA/VAs was ≥480 ms. After adjustment, QTc ≥480 ms remained the strongest predictor for the occurrence of CA/VAs (odds ratio [OR] 5.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-12.6). A point-based cardiac arrest risk index (CARI) was derived with the bootstrap method for yielding optimism-corrected coefficients (2 points: QTc ≥480, 1 point: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD] ≥30, 1 point: age ≥65, and 1 point: male). CARI score ≥3 demonstrated moderate discrimination (c-statistic 0.79, optimism-corrected c-statistic 0.77) with appropriate calibration. QTc ≥480 ms was associated with a 5-fold increase in the risk of CA/VAs. The CARI score may identify patients at higher risk of these events. Whether heightened perioperative cardiac surveillance, avoidance of QT prolonging medications, or beta blockers could mitigate the risk of CA/VAs in this population merits further study.     

1990-2019年中国动脉粥样硬化心血管病疾病负担变化及其危险因素分析

目的 量化分析1990-2019年我国动脉粥样硬化心血管病（ASCVD）疾病负担及其主要危险因素影响的变化趋势。方法 利用2019年全球疾病负担（GBD2019）研究结果,以伤残调整寿命年（DALY）及其年龄标准化率为指标,分析1990-2019年我国ASCVD疾病负担和危险因素归因疾病负担的变化情况,并采用Gupta建立的分解法对人口增长、老龄化、年龄别患病率和疾病严重程度所致的DALY变化进行了量化分析。结果 2019年我国61.00%的心血管病疾病负担由ASCVD所致,缺血性心脏病的DALY较1990年增长了133.66%,其中29.57%可归因于人口增长、108.74%归因于人口老龄化、8.87%归因于年龄别患病率的增加、-13.53%归因于疾病严重程度;缺血性卒中的DALY较1990年增长了138.64%,归因于上述4部分的变化率依次为30.95%、123.38%、55.80%和-71.49%。2019年高血压依然是ASCVD首要危险因素,其次是高LDL-C,归因于饮酒的年龄标准化DALY率较1990年增幅最大（486.01%）,年均增长10.93%。结论 1990-2019年,人口老龄化是我国ASCVD疾病负担大幅增长最主要的原因,而其他可改变危险因素的不利趋势,特别是代谢性危险因素的持续流行同样不容忽视。     

老年心血管病患者健康状况综合评价指标体系的构建

目的应用德尔菲法建立老年心血管病患者健康状况综合评价指标体系,为针对性提高慢性病的综合管理效果提供依据。方法基于前期课题组建立的老年人健康评估量表的框架,通过文献研究,结合心血管病患者特点,初步确立老年心血管病患者健康状况综合评价指标体系。选取专业相关领域的22位专家,采用德尔菲法进行两轮专家咨询,根据咨询结果及专家意见调整指标体系。使用SPSS 20.0软件计算各指标的重要性、可操作性和敏感性评分,并应用Yaahp10.0层次分析软件计算各指标权重。结果本研究中完成两轮咨询的专家共20位,两轮咨询的专家积极系数分别为90.9%和100%;两轮咨询专家总平均权威系数分别为0.808及0.856;第1轮重要性、可操作性和敏感性的专家协调系数分别为0.260、0.218和0.231,第2轮重要性、可操作性和敏感性的专家协调系数分别为0.345、0.377和0.405,均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。通过两轮专家咨询后最终建立包含5个一级指标、25个二级指标、37个三级指标的老年心血管病患者健康状况综合评价指标体系。结论通过德尔菲法构建的老年心血管病患者健康状况综合评价指标体系可靠、客观,可用于老年心血管病患者综合健康评估,有助于对慢性病患者进行精准化健康管理。     

Bolus doses of esmolol for the prevention of perioperative hyper-tension and tachycardia

The effectiveness of esmolol, an ultra short-acting cardioselective beta blocker, in the prevention and treatment of post-intubation haemodynamic perturbations, was investigated. Forty-eight ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing hysterectomy were randomly assigned to receive a single intravenous bolus of placebo, esmolol 100 mg, or esmolol 200 mg in a double-blind fashion. This was administered over 15 sec, and immediately followed by thiopentone 3-5 mg.kg-1, succinylcholine 1.5 mg.kg-1, and tracheal intubation 90 sec later. The heart rate following induction of anaesthesia was lower in the esmolol 200 mg group (P less than 0.01); following intubation, the increase in heart rate in the placebo group was greater than in the esmolol groups (P less than 0.05). The systolic blood pressure post-induction was lower in the esmolol 200 mg group (P less than 0.05); following intubation, however, no significant differences were seen among groups in systolic, diastolic, or mean blood pressures. Following tracheal intubation, the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias was lower in the esmolol groups (P less than 0.05). In summary, esmolol in 100 mg and 200 mg doses was effective in mitigating the haemodynamic response following tracheal intubation.