Non Electrocardiographic alterations in exercise testing in asymptomatic women. Associations with cardiovascular risk factors

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of exercise testing alterations in middle-aged women without symptoms of heart disease and to verify the associations of functional capacity and heart rate behavior during and after exercise with cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 509 asymptomatic women aged between 46 and 65 years who underwent clinical evaluations and exercise testing (Bruce protocol). The heart rate behavior was evaluated by the maximal predicted heart rate achieved, chronotropic index and recovery heart rate. RESULTS: The mean age was 56.4±4.8 years, and 13.4% of the patients had a Framingham risk score above 10%. In the exercise treadmill testing, 58.0% presented one or more of the following alterations (listed in order of ascending prevalence): symptoms (angina, dyspnea, and dizziness), ST-segment depression, arrhythmia, reduction in recovery heart rate of p12 bpm at 1 minute, altered maximal predicted heart rate achieved, abnormal blood pressure, functional capacity deficiency, and altered chronotropic index. In the multivariate analysis, the following associations (odds ratio) were observed for these alterations: chronotropic index was associated with obesity (2.08) and smoking (4.47); maximal predicted heart rate achieved was associated with smoking (6.45); reduction in the recovery heart rate at 1 minute was associated with age (1.09) and obesity (2.78); functional capacity was associated with age (0.92), an overweight status (2.29) and obesity (6.51). CONCLUSIONS: More than half of middle-aged women without cardiovascular symptoms present alterations in one or more exercise testing parameters. Alterations in the functional capacity or heart rate behavior, as verified by exercise testing, are associated with age, smoking, an overweight status and obesity

Prevalence and predictors of carotid atherosclerosis in pre- and post-menopausal women

Introdução: As doenças cardiovasculares permanecem como a principal causa de morbimortalidade entre as mulheres no Brasil e no mundo. Estratégias de prevenção primária baseadas na detecção dos fatores de risco tradicionais para aterosclerose, têm sido pouco eficazes para reduzir as altas taxas de mortalidade nessa população. O presente estudo tem como objetivo primário detectar e quantificar a presença de aterosclerose na sua fase subclínica, em mulheres climatéricas e pós-menopausadas. Métodos: Foram estudadas 823 mulheres de 45 a 65 anos de idade (idade média 54,3 ± 5,3 anos), no período peri e pós-menopausa, sem doença cardiovascular conhecida, ou em uso de terapia de reposição hormonal, residentes em Recife, Nordeste do Brasil. Todas foram submetidas a avaliação clínica e dosagens bioquímicas, que incluíram os níveis de glicose, lipídios, proteína C-reativa, hormônio folículo-estimulante, adiponectina e aldosterona. Ultrassonografia modo B foi utilizada na avaliação carotídea; medidas da espessura íntima média carotídea (EIMC) foram determinadas na parede posterior da artéria carótida comum (ACC) utilizando-se um \"software\" de leitura automatizada; aterosclerose carotídea foi definida quando da presença de placa carotídea e/ou EIMC > 1mm. Resultados: De 823 mulheres, 10,2% eram fumantes, 58% tinham hipertensão e 9,9% eram diabéticas. A prevalência de doença aterosclerótica subclínica entre a população analisada foi de 12,7%, e a média da EIMC foi de 0,645 ± 0,124 milímetros. Na análise univariada, foram detectadas associações significativas entre presença de aterosclerose carotídea e: a idade (p = 1.00mm. Results: Of the 823 women, 10.2% were current smokers, 58% had hypertension and 9.9% were diabetics. The prevalence of subclinical atherosclerotic disease among the analyzed population was 12.7%, and the mean CCA-IMT was 0.645±0.124 mm. By univariate analyses, a positive and statistically significant correlation was found between carotid atherosclerosis and age (p < 0.001), current smoker (p=0.014), hypertension (p=0.002), systolic blood pressure (p=0.003), total cholesterol (p=0.001) and LDL cholesterol (p=0.001). In the adjusted model, age (p < 0.001), current smoker (p=0.001), systolic blood pressure (p=0.030) and total cholesterol (p=0.008), remained correlating significantly and independently with carotid atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Our study showed a high prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis among asymptomatic pre- and post-menopausal Brazilian women. As well as age, classic risk factors correlated independently with carotid atherosclerosis. These findings are of particular relevance as strategies for reducing cardiovascular risk are based on risk prediction models in which women are often classified as having low cardiovascular risk, and opportunities for engaging them in prevention at a younger age are very often misse

Valor prognóstico da proteína C-reativa na angina instável

Importantes avanços no entendimento da fisiopatologia da aterosclerose ressaltam a contribuição dos mecanismos inflamatórios. A elevação nas concentrações de proteína C-reativa (PCR), tem sido associada com alto risco de doença cardiovascular. Neste estudo, avaliaram-se os níveis de proteína C-reativa de alta sensibilidade (PCR-as) durante o internamento hospitalar, como fator prognóstico de eventos adversos combinados, definidos como morte, infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM), angina refratária e necessidade de revascularização miocárdica de urgência, em pacientes admitidos com angina instável (AI), no Hospital Universitário Oswaldo Cruz (HUOC), de agosto a dezembro de 2003. Determinações plasmáticas de PCR-as (método nefelométrico- Dade Behring Inc.) foram realizadas em 55 pacientes admitidos com dor torácica do tipo isquêmica, em repouso. Foram excluídos do estudo os pacientes que apresentaram os seguintes critérios: níveis de PCR-as >10mg/L, IAM com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST, bloqueios avançados de condução, elevação da creatinofosfoquinase (CPK) e ou da fração MB da creatinofosfoquinase (CK-MB), choque cardiogênico, doenças inflamatórias, câncer, miocardiopatias, valvulopatias e fração de ejeção <40%. Os níveis de PCR-as acima de 3,0 mg/L foram considerados elevados e se estivessem abaixo ou igual a 3,0 mg/L aceitos como valores normais. Dos 55 pacientes admitidos com AI, 27 (49%) permaneceram no estudo. A idade variou de 43 a 81 anos, com média de 60,1 anos (desvio padrão = 9,5 anos). A distribuição por sexo não alcançou diferença estatisticamente significante. Os níveis da PCR foram normais em 10 (37%) e elevados em 17 (62,9%) dos 27 pacientes incluídos no estudo. Onze pacientes (40,7%) foram acometidos por algum tipo de evento adverso. Ocorreram eventos adversos combinados em três pacientes (30%) no grupo com PCR normal e em oito pacientes (47,1%) no grupo com PCR elevada. Os pacientes com angina instável e valores de PCR-as elevados, na admissão hospitalar, apresentaram um número maior de eventos adversos combinados que os com PCR-as normal, embora esta diferença não tenha alcançado significância estatística (p = 0,448

Carotid Atherosclerosis in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women with a History of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: Case-Control Study

<div><p>Abstract Background: Cardiovascular disease mortality among women remains high. Observational studies are controversial about the participation of a history of gestational hypertensive disorder in cardiovascular risk. Objective: To verify the association between carotid atherosclerosis in menopausal women who had pregnancy-induced hypertension. Methods: Case-control study, with cases consisting of women with carotid atherosclerosis, defined as carotid intima-media thickness > 1 mm and/or presence of carotid plaques; the controls did not have these alterations. The significance level was set at 95%. Results: A total of 504 women without previous cardiovascular disease were assessed, 126 cases and 378 controls. Of the total, 67% were hypertensive; 76% were dyslipidemic; and 16% were diabetic. Approximately 10% reported a history of hypertension during pregnancy. Women with carotid atherosclerosis had higher values of systolic blood pressure (134.18 mmHg vs. 128.59 mmHg, p = 0.008) and LDL-cholesterol (156.52 mg% vs. 139.97 mg%; p = 0.0005). No statistical difference was found regarding the presence of carotid atherosclerosis and history of hypertension during pregnancy (OR 1.672, 95% CI: 0.883-3.131). Conclusion: The history of hypertension during pregnancy was not associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in menopausal women. However, an association was observed between carotid atherosclerosis and classic risk factors, such as elevated systolic blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol levels.</p></div

Influence of obesity in pulmonary function and exercise tolerance in obese women with obstructive sleep apnea

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the influence of obesity on pulmonary function and exercise tolerance in women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Subjects and methods: A descriptive analytic cross- sectional study was carried out. Thirty-nine (39) sedentary climacteric women, aged 45 to 60 years, were evaluated and submitted to polysomnography. The participants were divided into 4 groups: a) ‘eutrophic non-OSA’ (n = 13); b) ‘eutrophic OSA’ (n = 5); c) ‘obese non-OSA’ (n = 6); d) ‘obese OSA’ (n = 15). All subjects underwent clinical and anthropometric evaluation, followed by pulmonary function tests and 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Results: There was a significant difference in the predicted percentage values of FEV1/FVC when comparing ‘eutrophic OSA’ and ‘obese OSA’ (97.6% ± 6.1% vs. 105.7% ± 5.7%, respectively; p = 0.025). The other spirometric variables did not show any differences between the studied groups. There was no significant difference in the maximum distance walked when the ‘eutrophic non-OSA’, ‘eutrophic OSA’, ‘obese non-OSA’ and ‘obese OSA’ groups were compared. Conclusion: Considering the results of this study, OSA itself did not influence pulmonary function or functional capacity parameters compared to eutrophic women. However, not only isolated obesity but also obesity associated with OSA can negatively impact sleep quality and lung function

Ventricular Septal Rupture after Acute Coronary Syndrome

Objective: Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare but serious complication of acute myocardial infarction, which occurs in about 0.2 to 0.3% of patients with myocardial ischemia. If early therapy is not initiated, 90% of patients with VSR will die within the first month. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with VSR as a mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction. Methods: A prospective study was conducted among nine patients who presented to the Cardiovascular Emergency Room of Pernambuco with acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation and VSR complications. Results: There were five women and 4 men, and the mean age of the patients was 72.5 years. The median time from the onset of the symptoms of acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation to the diagnosis of VSR was 3.5 days. Among the nine patients included in the study, three were treated surgically. Of all the patients, including those who underwent corrective surgery, eight patients died, 44.4% (N = 4), in the first four days after AMI. Conclusion: VSR occurs more frequently among elderly patients with multi-arterial involvement, lower wall infarction, and involvement of the right coronary artery. The prognosis is extremely limited, especially in patients who are already admitted to the cardiac emergency room with Killip IV, with > 24 hours of clinical evolution, and do not require surgical correction.Facultad de Ciencias Médica