Daily sunshine hours as determinant of 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration among diabetic cardiac patients who experienced myocardial infarction hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Wstęp. Niedobór witaminy D jest problemem ogólnoświatowym o różnych konsekwencjach zdrowotnych. Witamina D może obniżać ryzyko niewydolności serca, jednak dowody świadczące o skuteczności suplementacji witaminą D na utrzymanie zdrowia układu sercowo-naczyniowego są sprzeczne z powodu braku odpowiedniej liczby i jakości badań klinicznych. Przyczyny braku jednoznacznych efektów potwierdzających pozytywny wpływ suplementacji witaminy D mogą być co najmniej trzy: 1) suplementacja zbyt małą ilością witaminy D lub 2) brak włączenia do badania tylko populacji z ciężkim niedoborem witaminy D, lub 3) czas trwania suplementacji. Celem pracy była charakterystyka grupy pacjentów kardiologicznych, u których stwierdzono w poprzednich badaniach najniższe stężenia 25-hydroksywitaminy D [25(OH)D].Materiał i metody. Analizie poddano wyniki 92 chorych kardiologicznych z cukrzycą w wieku 41–89 lat, którzy przeżyli zawał serca z istotnymi zmianami w tętnicach wieńcowych, hospitalizowanych z powodu ostrego zespołu wieńcowego, mieszkających w Warszawie.Wyniki. Mediana stężenia 25(OH)D w badanej populacji wyniosła 11 ng/ml (zakres: 4–28 ng/ml). Jedynym istotnym determinantem stężenia 25(OH)D był okres badania; stężenie było wyższe latem niż zimą.Wnioski. Leczenie witaminą D u polskich pacjentów kardiologicznych w celu osiągnięcia optymalnego stężenia, tj. 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/l), wydaje się konieczne i powinno być jak najszybciej wdrożone.Introduction. Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide problem with a variety of health consequences. Vitamin D may reduce the risk of heart failure, however, evidence of the impact of vitamin D treatment on maintenance of cardiovascular health (i.e., preventing cardiovascular diseases) is conflicting due to lack of support from clinical trials. The reason for the failure of clinical trials to confirm an effect of vitamin D supplementation could be at least threefold: 1) too little vitamin D given to the participants or 2) lack of inclusion of only severely vitamin D-deficient populations or 3) study duration. The aim of this study was to characterize a group of cardiac patients who presented the lowest concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. Material and methods. Results of 92 diabetic cardiac patients aged between 41 and 89 years who experienced myocardial infarction, with significant coronary arteries changes, hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome living in Warsaw were analyzed. Results. Patients presented median 25(OH)D concentration value of 11 ng/mL (range: 4–28 ng/mL). The only significant determinant of 25(OH)D concentration was the date of examination, with higher concentrations in summer than in winter. Conclusions. Vitamin D treatment in Polish cardiac patients aimed at reaching the optimal level of 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L) seems to be necessary and implemented as soon as possible

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Degree of Coronary Artery Disease in Cardiac Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Several modifiable factors may influence cardiac function in diabetic patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of vitamin D level on the stage of coronary atherosclerosis in cardiac patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The study was performed in 337 consecutive patients undergoing coronarography. The stage of atherosclerosis was evaluated using Coronary Artery Surgery Study Score. The plasma 25(OH)D concentration was determined by an electrochemiluminescence method. Patients without significant lesions in coronary arteries presented the highest 25(OH)D level, significantly higher than patients with one-, two-, and three-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) (p<0.01). Significantly lower level of the 25(OH)D was observed in patients hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in comparison to patients hospitalized due to stable CAD (p<0.001). Lower 25(OH)D levels were observed in patients with the history of myocardial infarction (MI) in comparison to patients without previous MI (p<0.001). In cardiac patients with diabetes, the higher number of stenotic coronary arteries is associated with lower values of the 25(OH)D. A group of male cardiac patients with diabetes with significant stenosis in three coronary arteries, hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome, with a history of previous MI and hyperlipidemia presented the lowest vitamin D level

Blood Count-Derived Inflammatory Markers and Acute Complications of Ischemic Heart Disease in Elderly Women

Coronary artery disease (CAD) in women occurs later than in men. Underlying atherosclerosis, a chronic process of lipoprotein deposition in arterial walls with a prominent inflammatory component, is influenced by several risk factors. In women, commonly used inflammatory markers are generally found to be related to the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), as well as the development of other diseases that influence CAD. New inflammatory markers derived from total blood count—systemic inflammatory response index (SII), systemic inflammatory reaction index (SIRI), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)—were analyzed in the group of 244 elderly, postmenopausal women with the diagnosis of ACS or stable CAD. SII, SIRI, MLR, and NLR were significantly higher in women with ACS compared to those with stable CAD (p < 0.05 for all)—the highest values were observed in women with NSTEMI. MLR from new inflammatory markers, HDL, and history of MI turned out to be significant factors associated with ACS. These results suggest that MLR as representative of blood count-derived inflammatory markers may be considered as additional CVD risk factors in women with suspected ACS

Blood Count-Derived Inflammatory Markers and Acute Complications of Ischemic Heart Disease in Elderly Women

Coronary artery disease (CAD) in women occurs later than in men. Underlying atherosclerosis, a chronic process of lipoprotein deposition in arterial walls with a prominent inflammatory component, is influenced by several risk factors. In women, commonly used inflammatory markers are generally found to be related to the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), as well as the development of other diseases that influence CAD. New inflammatory markers derived from total blood count&mdash;systemic inflammatory response index (SII), systemic inflammatory reaction index (SIRI), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)&mdash;were analyzed in the group of 244 elderly, postmenopausal women with the diagnosis of ACS or stable CAD. SII, SIRI, MLR, and NLR were significantly higher in women with ACS compared to those with stable CAD (p &lt; 0.05 for all)&mdash;the highest values were observed in women with NSTEMI. MLR from new inflammatory markers, HDL, and history of MI turned out to be significant factors associated with ACS. These results suggest that MLR as representative of blood count-derived inflammatory markers may be considered as additional CVD risk factors in women with suspected ACS

Vitamin D level in patients with consecutive acute coronary syndrome is not correlated with the parameters of platelet activity

Coronary artery disease continues to be the leading cause of death in developed countries. Elevated mean platelet volume (MPV) is associated with an increased incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and MI-related mortality. Vitamin D concentrations affect the level and function of platelets, which are the crucial mediator of atherothrombosis and plaque rupture. The main aim of this study was to examine the relationship of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels with the platelet activity in patients with a history of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This prospective study recruited 268 patients with a history of MI who underwent coronary angiography due to the suspicion of another ACS. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was determined by electrochemiluminescence. Platelet activity was assessed using the MPV and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) parameters. There was no significant difference in MPV and P-LCR values between patients diagnosed with subsequent MI and patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). A significantly lower level of 25(OH)D was demonstrated in patients who had another MI compared to those with CCS (p < 0.05). No significant correlation of 25(OH)D concentrations with platelet activity parameters values was found. The subgroup of patients with consecutive MI was characterized by significantly lower serum vitamin D levels, but this was not related to the analyzed parameters of platelet activity

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is not associated with severity of coronary artery disease and is not correlated with vitamin D level in patients with a history of an acute coronary syndrome

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of death worldwide, is caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis has an inflammatory component, which can be measured with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties that affect many mechanisms involved in CAD. In this study, we investigated the association between NLR, vitamin D levels, and the severity of CAD in a group of patients who had a myocardial infarction (MI) in the past. Our results show that patients with acute coronary syndrome had a higher NLR compared to those with stable CAD. No associations were observed between NLR and the severity of CAD. We found no correlation between vitamin D levels and NLR. NLR could be used as a prognostic marker of consecutive MI in patients with CAD and previous MI. ABSTRACT: Coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of death worldwide, has an underlying cause in atherosclerosis. The activity of this inflammatory process can be measured with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). The anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties of vitamin D affect many mechanisms involved in CAD. In this study, we investigated the association between NLR, vitamin D concentration, and severity of CAD in a group of patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI). NLR was higher in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in comparison to those with stable CAD (median: 2.8, range: 0.96–24.3 vs. median: 2.3, range: 0.03–31.6; p < 0.05). No associations between NLR and severity of CAD (p = 0.14) in the cohort and in the subgroups with stable CAD (p = 0.40) and ACS (p = 0.34) were observed. We found no correlation between vitamin D level and NLR neither in the whole study group (p = 0.29) nor in subgroups of patients with stable CAD (p = 0.84) and ACS (p = 0.30). NLR could be used as prognostic biomarker of consecutive MI in patients with CAD and a history of MI

Small differences in vitamin D levels between male cardiac patients in different stages of coronary artery disease

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality in males older than 65 years of age. The prevalent vitamin D deficiency in the worldwide population may have multiple effects on the cardiovascular system. This study sought to determine the association between serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and the stage of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Polish male subjects. Additionally, subjects with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) were analyzed for potential differences in 25(OH)D levels in comparison with those diagnosed with stable CAD. The study was conducted prospectively in a group of 669 male patients subjected to coronarography examination. CAD stage was defined using the Coronary Artery Surgery Study Score. Patients without significant coronary lesions had significantly higher 25(OH)D levels than patients with single-, double-, or triple-vessel disease (median, 17 vs. 15 ng/mL; p < 0.01). Significantly lower levels of 25(OH)D were apparent when MI was identified as the cause of the then-current hospitalization in comparison with stable CAD, as well as in patients with a history of MI; all of these cases had lower levels of 25(OH)D in comparison with patients with no such history. Male patients with single-, double-, or triple-vessel CAD, acute coronary syndrome, or a history of MI presented lower serum 25(OH)D

Professional activity of Polish peri- and postmenopausal women

Introduction: The menopausal transition as one of the stages in women’s life can bring many ailments which complicate the accomplishment of professional duties. The situation of women on the Polish job market is determined by many barriers and stereotypes which impede women’s access to jobs and professional promotions. Material and methods : The aim of the study was to estimate the professional status and job satisfaction of women aged 40-65. The research was carried out by a survey method, a poll technique in the period from January to March 2016. An original questionnaire consisting of 35 questions was used as a research tool. Results: The analysis of obtained results shows that the arithmetic mean of the age of women in full-time employment was 51.84 years whereas the arithmetic mean of the age of women in part-time or seasonal employment was 52.64. Women aged 45-60 were characterised by a significantly lower job satisfaction than women over 60 years of age. The highest percentage of women in full-time employment lived in large cities. The financial situation of working women determined their job satisfaction. Well-off respondents were more pleased with their jobs than women in a worse financial situation. Conclusions : There is a strong need of education about counteraction of gender and age discrimination on the Polish labour market. The struggle against discrimination requires support on each level of the state administration through the implementation of numerous regulations facilitating the final period and resumption of women’s professional activity

The association between serum vitamin D concentration and new inflammatory biomarkers - systemic inflammatory index (SII) and systemic inflammatory response (SIRI) - in patients with ischemic heart disease

The incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) increases every year. This cardiovascular disease has an inflammatory factor in its etiology due to different immune cells that influence atherogenesis. New inflammatory biomarkers—the Systemic Inflammatory Index (SII) and the Systemic Inflammatory Response (SIRI)—attempt to describe the pro- and anti-inflammatory balance and quantify the complex impact of the immune system on atherosclerosis, while vitamin D has a multidirectional impact on the human body, including the cardiovascular and immune systems. Hence, the objective of this research was to analyze the association between SII and SIRI and serum vitamin D concentrations in patients with IHD. A significant correlation was observed between SIRI and 25(OH)D in the whole group and between both biomarkers (SII and SIRI) and 25(OH)D in the group of patients with ACS but not in the group of patients with stable IHD. The role of vitamin D in IHD complications and its association with new inflammatory biomarkers requires further well-designed, large-scale research