European journal of preventive cardiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
High-intensity interval training is effective and superior to moderate continuous training in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A randomized clinical trial.
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a prevalent syndrome, with exercise intolerance being one of its hallmarks, contributing to worse quality of life and mortality. High-intensity interval training is an emerging training option, but its efficacy in HFpEF patients is still unknown. ⋯ This randomized clinical trial provided evidence that high-intensity interval training is a potential exercise modality for HFpEF patients, being more effective than moderate continuous training in improving peak VO2. However, the two strategies were equally effective in improving ventilatory efficiency and other CPET parameters, quality of life score and diastolic function after 3 months of training.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Bempedoic acid plus ezetimibe fixed-dose combination in patients with hypercholesterolemia and high CVD risk treated with maximally tolerated statin therapy.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering efficacy and safety of a bempedoic acid 180 mg and ezetimibe 10 mg fixed-dose combination in patients with hypercholesterolemia and a high risk of cardiovascular disease receiving maximally tolerated statin therapy. ⋯ The bempedoic acid and ezetimibe fixed-dose combination significantly lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol versus placebo or other oral monotherapies and had a favourable safety profile when added to maximally tolerated statin therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia and high cardiovascular disease risk.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Heart rate and the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Background Although high resting heart rates are associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection, the reports for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are conflicting. Design A secondary analysis was conducted in order to examine the relationship between resting heart rate and adverse outcomes in 2705 patients (mean age = 68 ± 10 years; 47% men; 88% white) with HFpEF who were in sinus rhythm from the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist Trial (TOPCAT). Methods Baseline heart rate was obtained from baseline electrocardiogram data. ⋯ An increased risk (per 5-beats per minute [bpm] increase) for hospitalisation (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.004-1.060), hospitalisation for heart failure (HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.05-1.15), death (HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.06-1.16) and cardiovascular death (HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.07-1.19) was observed. When the analysis was limited to those who did not report the use of β-blockers, the magnitude of the association for each outcome (per 5-bpm increase) was not materially altered (hospitalisation: HR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.97-1.09; hospitalisation for heart failure: HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.98-1.27; death: HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.05-1.28; cardiovascular death: HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.99-1.27). Conclusion High resting heart rate is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients with HFpEF, and future studies are needed in order to determine whether reducing heart rate improves outcomes in HFpEF.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Impact of switching from different treatment regimens to a fixed-dose combination pill (polypill) in patients with cardiovascular disease or similarly high risk.
Aims Cardiovascular fixed-dose combination pills, or polypills, may help address the widespread lack of access and adherence to proven medicines. Initiation of polypill-based care typically entails switching from current separately taken medications. Given the heterogeneity in usual care, there is interest in the impact of polypill treatment across different patterns of prior medication regimen. ⋯ Switching to a polypill-based strategy resulted in estimated cardiovascular relative risk reductions across a wide range of usual care patterns of antiplatelet, statin and BP-lowering therapy prescribing. Conclusion Adherence benefits from switching to a polypill resulted in risk factor changes that were at least as good as usual care across a wide variety of treatment patterns, including equally potent or more potent regimens. The benefits of switching to polypill-based care were greatest among those stepped up from partial treatment or less potent treatment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The haemoglobin glycation index as predictor of diabetes-related complications in the AleCardio trial.
The haemoglobin glycation index (HGI) quantifies the interindividual variation in the propensity for glycation and is a predictor of diabetes complications and adverse effects of intensive glucose lowering. We investigated the relevance of HGI as independent predictor of complications by using data of the AleCardio trial. The AleCardio trial randomized 7226 type 2 diabetes patients with an acute coronary syndrome to aleglitazar or placebo. ⋯ Every percentage increase in HGI was associated with a 16% increase in the risk for cardiovascular mortality ( p = 0.005). The association between HGI and mortality disappeared with additional adjustment for HbA1c. HGI predicts mortality in diabetes patients with acute coronary syndromes, but no better than HbA1c.