The Canadian journal of cardiology
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There is growing use of prehospital electrocardiograms (ECGs) in establishing early diagnosis of ST segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) to facilitate early reperfusion. This study aimed to determine the predictive value of prehospital ECGs interpreted by nonphysician emergency medical services (EMS) in chest pain presentations. ⋯ Our findings demonstrate nonphysician EMS interpretation of STEMI on prehospital ECG has excellent sensitivity and high negative predictive value. This finding supports the use of prehospital ECGs interpreted by EMS to help identify and facilitate treatment of STEMI. These results may have broad implications on staffing models for first responder/EMS units.
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Review Comparative Study
The obesity epidemic and its impact on hypertension.
Global obesity rates have increased steadily in both developed and emerging countries over the past several decades with little signs of slowing down. Over 1.5 billion people worldwide are overweight or obese and over 40 million children under the age of 5 are overweight. Obesity is associated with increased morbidity, disability, and premature mortality from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, and musculoskeletal disorders. ⋯ Pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery for obesity are adjunctive measures when health behaviour interventions fail to achieve the body weight and health targets. Successful management of overweight and obese persons requires a comprehensive, multifaceted framework that integrates population health, public health, and medical health models to dismantle the proximal and distal drivers of the obesogenic environment in which we live. Prevention of obesity is no longer a lofty but rather necessary goal that urgently calls for action from governments at all levels, in conjunction with all public and private sector stakeholders, in order to combat a serious and growing public health concern.
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Comparative Study
Antihypertensive medication use, adherence, stops, and starts in Canadians with hypertension.
Some of the greatest barriers to achieving blood pressure control are perceived to be failure to prescribe antihypertensive medication and lack of adherence to medication prescriptions. ⋯ Compatible with high rates of hypertension control, most Canadians diagnosed with hypertension take antihypertensive medications and report adherence. Widespread implementation of self-management strategies for blood pressure control and standardized instructions on antihypertensive medication may further optimize drug treatment.
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Comparative Study
Even low levels of ambient air pollutants are associated with increased emergency department visits for hypertension.
Numerous studies have reported associations between air pollution and cardiovascular diseases. While several studies illustrate that exposures to air pollutants can elevate blood pressure, few have evaluated the clinical relevance of this relationship. Hence, we aimed to explore the associations between daily concentrations of several air pollutants and emergency department visits for hypertension. ⋯ These findings support the contention that ambient pollution can produce clinically meaningful increases in blood pressure.