European journal of internal medicine
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Feb 2022
Meta AnalysisAssociation between air temperature, air pollution and hospital admissions for pulmonary embolism and venous thrombosis in Italy.
Previous studies reported a link between short-term exposure to environmental stressors (air pollution and air temperature) and atherothrombotic cardiovascular diseases. However, only few of them reported consistent associations with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Our aim was to estimate the association between daily air temperature and particulate matter (PM) air pollution with hospital admissions for pulmonary embolism (PE) and venous thrombosis (VT) at national level in Italy. ⋯ Results show a significant effect of air temperature on PE hospitalizations in the cold seasons and summer. No effect of particulate matter was detected.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Feb 2022
ReviewGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for cardiovascular and renal protection: A treatment approach far beyond their glucose-lowering effect.
Findings from cardiovascular outcome trials on certain newer glucose-lowering drugs have shown clear cardiovascular and renal benefits. In this review, we provide an updated overview of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors in terms of cardiovascular and renal protection. Both drugs have been described as diabetes/disease-modifying drugs. ⋯ There is now a focus on a multifactorial approach that goes beyond the glucose-lowering effect of these drugs, which are the preferred choice in routine clinical practice. According to the current evidence, a patient-focused approach that includes both individualized glycemic control and cardiorenal prevention using GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors with proven cardiovascular and renal benefits is believed to be the best strategy for achieving the treatment goals of patients with type 2 diabetes. Despite the strong cardiovascular and renal benefits of these drugs, further research is required in order to clarify questions that remain unanswered.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Feb 2022
Meta AnalysisLeft ventricular global longitudinal strain in secondary hypertension: A meta-analysis of echocardiographic studies.
Information on systolic dysfunction, as assessed by left ventricular (LV) mechanics in secondary hypertension is still largely limited. We performed a systematic meta- analysis of 2D/3D speckle tracking studies in order to provide an updated comprehensive information on this topic. ⋯ The present meta-analysis adds a new piece of evidence by showing that GLS performs better than EF in identifying systolic dysfunction in the setting of secondary hypertension. In particular, this is true in patients with pheochromocytoma in whom conventional EF suggests a normal or even super-normal systolic function.