1.
The reverse metabolic syndrome in the elderly: Is it a "catabolic" syndrome?
Curcio, F, Sasso, G, Liguori, I, Ferro, G, Russo, G, Cellurale, M, Della-Morte, D, Gargiulo, G, Testa, G, Cacciatore, F, et al
Aging clinical and experimental research. 2018;(6):547-554
Abstract
Traditional risk factors of cardiovascular death in the general population, including body mass index (BMI), serum cholesterol, and blood pressure are also found to relate to outcomes in the geriatric population, but in a differing direction. A higher body mass index, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension are not harmful but even permit better survival at advancing age. This phenomenon is called "reverse epidemiology" or "risk factor paradox" and is also detected in a variety of chronic disease states such as chronic heart failure. Accordingly, a low BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol values are associated with a worse prognosis. Several possible causes are hypothesized to explain this elderly paradox, but this phenomenon remains controversial and its underlying reasons are poorly understood. The aim of this review is to recognize the factors behind this intriguing phenomenon and analyse the consequences that it can bring in the management of the cardiovascular therapy in elderly patient. Finally, a new phenotype identified as "catabolic syndrome" has been postulated.
2.
[Vitamin D deficiency, left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure].
Cioffi, G, Gatti, D, Adami, S
Giornale italiano di cardiologia (2006). 2010;(9):645-53
Abstract
Epidemiologic data indicate that about one million people worldwide suffer from and should be treated for vitamin D deficiency. The clinical impact of vitamin D deficiency is very high if we consider the pivotal role that this condition plays in determining osteoporosis, fractures, cancers, diabetes, vascular inflammation, which can severely reduce functional capacity, quality of life and may often lead to disability. Vitamin D deficiency is a widely underdiagnosed pathological condition. Although many cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension, myocardial ischemia, diabetic cardiomyopathy and heart failure, may arise from a low vitamin D status, cardiologists do not routinely search for this disease in clinical practice. Vitamin D, indeed, stimulates the synthesis of various contractile proteins and activates crucial intracellular mechanisms that manage calcium metabolism and energy production. These functions can be altered once vitamin D deficiency develops. This review focuses on the relationship between vitamin D deficiency, asymptomatic changes in left ventricular geometry and function, and heart failure syndrome through a recall of the myocardial metabolic processes regulated by vitamin D. The analysis of the available data from the literature leads to raise some questions that, at present, have no answer. Future prospective studies are needed to assess the effect of treatment of vitamin D deficiency on cardiac function.
3.
Comparison of 80 versus 10 mg of atorvastatin on occurrence of cardiovascular events after the first event (from the Treating to New Targets [TNT] trial).
LaRosa, JC, Deedwania, PC, Shepherd, J, Wenger, NK, Greten, H, DeMicco, DA, Breazna, A, ,
The American journal of cardiology. 2010;(3):283-7
Abstract
Analyses of randomized clinical trials are usually restricted to examination of time to first event. However, because many patients have multiple events, this approach precludes much potentially useful clinical and economic data. To assess the effect on overall disease burden in the Treating to New Targets (TNT) study, we evaluated the effect of treatment with atorvastatin 80 versus 10 mg in the period after the occurrence of a first cardiovascular event. In TNT, 10,001 patients with stable coronary heart disease received double-blind therapy with atorvastatin 80 or 10 mg and were followed for 4.9 years. Post hoc time-to-event analysis was used to estimate separate hazard ratios for time to any first, second, third, fourth, and fifth recurrent cardiovascular events. During TNT, 3,082 patients had a first recurrent cardiovascular event, with 1,516, 698, 345, and 197 developing second, third, fourth, and fifth recurrent events, respectively. In patients receiving atorvastatin 80 mg, the relative risk of a first recurrent event was significantly decreased compared to those receiving atorvastatin 10 mg. Significant benefit with the 80-mg dose was also observed for second, third, fourth, and fifth recurrent events. Similar findings were recorded in 5,854 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or metabolic syndrome and in 3,809 patients > or = 65 years of age compared to younger patients. In conclusion, treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg continued to significantly decrease the risk of any cardiovascular event over time compared to atorvastatin 10 mg in patients who had survived previous events. In TNT, analyses limited to the primary end point significantly underestimated the decrease in total cardiovascular disease burden achieved by intensive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering.