Development, structure, and implementation of cardiometabolic clinics in the United States, with a focus on comprehensive patient care

Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus increase atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) risk. However, the association between renal outcome of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and ASCVD risk is unclear. Methods This retrospective study enrolled 218 type 2 diabetic patients with biopsy-proven DKD, and without known cardiovascular diseases. Baseline characteristics were obtained and the 10-year ASCVD risk score was calculated using the Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE). Renal outcome was defined as progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The association between ASCVD risk and renal function and outcome was analyzed with logistic regression and Cox analysis. Results Among all patients, the median 10-year ASCVD risk score was 14.1%. The median of ASCVD risk score in CKD stage 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 10.9%, 12.3%, 16.5%, and 14.8%, respectively (p = 0.268). Compared with patients with lower ASCVD risk (＜14.1%), those with higher ASCVD risk had lower eGFR, higher systolic blood pressure, and more severe renal interstitial inflammation. High ASCVD risk (>14.1%) was an independent indicator of renal dysfunction in multivariable-adjusted logistic analysis (OR, 3.997; 95%CI, 1.385–11.530; p = 0.010), though failed to be an independent risk factor for ESRD in patients with DKD in univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. Conclusions DKD patients even in CKD stage 1 had comparable ASCVD risk score to patients in CKD stage 2, 3, and 4. Higher ASCVD risk indicated severe renal insufficiency, while no prognostic value of ASVCD risk for renal outcome was observed, which implied macroangiopathy and microangiopathy in patients with DKD were related, but relatively independent.

Several studies have shown improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors, as well as in the related mortality following bariatric surgery. However, few studies have assessed changes in the estimated cardiovascular risk. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of bariatric surgery on the estimated 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. We performed a retrospective analysis from a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent a primary bariatric procedure from 2004 to 2018. The 10-year ASCVD risk was estimated before and after 1year of surgery using the ASCVD Risk Estimator Plus of the American College of Cardiology. Changes in the ASCVD risk were evaluated. There were 58 (51.3%) women and 55 (48.7%) men with a mean age of 49.9years. Before surgery, 64 patients had arterial hypertension, 57 T2DM, and 49 were smokers. Baseline mean estimated 10-year ASCVD risk was 8.50 ± 7.92%. Fifty-one (45.1%), 10 (8.8%), 41 (36.3%), and 11 (9.7%) patients were classified as low, borderline, intermediate, and high risk, respectively. One year after surgery, 92.9% of the patients showed a reduction of the estimated 10-year ASCVD risk. Mean values were significantly lower (5.31 ± 5.95%) when compared to basal ones (p < 0.0001). According to the risk classification, 71 (62.8%), 13 (11.5%), 26 (23%), and 3 (2.7%) were cataloged as low, borderline, intermediate, and high risk, respectively. Surgically induced weight loss leads to a significant improvement in the estimated 10-year ASCVD risk, 1year after surgery.

Age-based disparities in statin use for primary prevention in US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2013–2020

The association between angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) polymorphisms and plasma ACE levels may allow for the optimization of a preventive intervention to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population. In this study, we aimed to analyze the association between ACE I/D polymorphism and cardiovascular mortality risk among non-hemodialyzed chronic kidney disease patients. This cross-sectional study examined 70 patients of Javanese ethnic origin with stable CKD who did not receive hemodialysis. ACE I/D polymorphisms, plasma ACE levels, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, and cardiovascular mortality risk were investigated. As per our findings, the I allele was found to be more frequent (78.6) than the D allele (21.4), and the DD genotype was less frequent than the II genotype (4.3 vs. 61.4). The ACE I/D polymorphism had a significant direct positive effect on plasma ACE levels (path coefficient = 0.302, p = 0.021). Similarly, plasma ACE levels had a direct and significant positive effect on the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (path coefficient = 0.410, p = 0.000). Moreover, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk had a significant positive effect on cardiovascular mortality risk (path coefficient = 0.918, p = 0.000). The ACE I/D polymorphism had no direct effect on ASCVD and cardiovascular mortality risk. However, our findings show that the indirect effects of high plasma ACE levels may be a factor in the increased risk of ASCVD and cardiovascular mortality in Javanese CKD patients.

Background: Shift work is known to increase the risk of cardiometabolic diseases and mortality. We investigate the relationship between shift work schedules and cardiometabolic risk factors (smoking, hypertension, and obesity) and their association with cardiometabolic diseases (diabetes and cardiovascular diseases) in a multi-ethnic population from Singapore. Methods: 2469 participants from the Singapore-based Multi-Ethnic Cohort underwent physical and clinical assessments. Shift work schedules (morning, evening, night, and mixed) were assessed using a validated questionnaire. Results: Among shift workers, night shift workers had a significantly higher prevalence of smoking (54.5%), diabetes (27.3%), and cardiovascular events (14.1%). Compared to non-shift workers, workers in the night (OR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.26–3.41) and mixed (OR = 1.74, 95%CI: 1.22–2.48) shift groups were more likely to be current smokers. A significant association between shift duration and smoking (OR = 1.02, 95%CI: 1.00–1.03) was also observed, with longer shift duration (in years) leading to an increase in smoking behavior. No significant associations were found between shift work schedules and hypertension, obesity (BMI), diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, as well as other cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases. Conclusion: This study found that shift schedules and shift duration were most strongly associated with smoking status after covariate adjustments (age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and work arrangement), with night and mixed shift types being strongly associated with current smoker status. As smoking is a modifiable risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, employers of shift workers should increase work-based health interventions to control smoking and promote a healthier workforce.

Different components of blood pressure are associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease versus heart failure in advanced chronic kidney disease

Insomnia is a condition characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or experiencing early morning awakenings despite having a sufficient opportunity for rest. It affects up to one-third of adults, with around 10% meeting the criteria for insomnia disorder. Emerging research increasingly points to insomnia as a significant, modifiable risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. This narrative review synthesizes the latest evidence linking insomnia to heightened cardiometabolic risk, especially type 2 diabetes. Additionally, we discuss how sleep deprivation affects metabolic processes and cardiovascular health, highlighting the connection between insomnia and cardiometabolic disease. Despite its prevalence and clear impact on health, insomnia remains trivialized, underdiagnosed, and inadequately managed. Only a minority of individuals seek medical advice for sleep disturbances, highlighting an urgent need for improved screening and management, particularly for those with cardiometabolic conditions. In this review, we aim to provide health-care professionals with practical recommendations for identifying and managing insomnia, a condition that is often underrecognized, with the ultimate goal of reducing the burden of cardiometabolic diseases. Integrating sleep health into cardiometabolic care will represent a significant step forward in reducing the global burden of chronic cardiometabolic diseases.

We sought to characterize atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and metrics of cardiovascular health in persons with HIV (PWH) eligible for primary prevention of ASCVD. A cross-sectional study of PWH 40 years and older without documented ASCVD who received care at three HIV clinics in San Francisco from 2019 to 2022. We used ICD-10 codes and electronic health record data to assess ASCVD risk and cardiovascular health, as defined by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metrics for nicotine exposure, BMI, lipids, glucose, and blood pressure (BP). Among 2567 PWH eligible for primary prevention of ASCVD, the median age was 55 years, 14% were women, and 95% were on antiretroviral therapy. Seventy-seven percent had undergone complete assessment of ASCVD risk factors, and 50% of these patients had intermediate-high ASCVD risk (≥7.5%). Of those with hypertension, 39% were prescribed an antihypertensive. Among those eligible, 43% were prescribed a statin. The mean LE8 cardiovascular health score [0--100 (best health)] was 55.1 for nicotine exposure, 71.3 for BMI, 70.4 for lipids, 81.2 for blood glucose, 56.0 for BP, with an average score of 66.2 across the five metrics. Patients with Medicare insurance, black patients, and those with sleep apnea and chronic kidney disease had on average lower cardiovascular health scores; patients with undetectable viral loads had higher cardiovascular health scores. We highlight opportunities for improving primary prevention of ASCVD among PWH, especially in the areas of guideline-based therapy, nicotine exposure, and BP control.

Background The clinical benefits of lipid lowering treatment (LLT) for reducing risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are well established. Recent findings support early initiation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9i mAb) to maximize clinical benefit. However, when comparing treatment effects in a real-world setting, it is important to establish comparability of treatment groups and assess and adjust for confounding. Purpose To compare clinical characteristics and LLT use in patients initiating and not initiating PCSK9i mAb within 365 days following a myocardial infarction (MI). Methods MI events occurring in patients ≥18 years between 1 April 2016 and 31 December 2020 were identified in PHARMO Database Network, a population-based network of electronic healthcare databases linking data from general practitioners, out-patient and in-patient pharmacies and hospitals in the Netherlands. The database has about 3.3 million patients, representative of the Dutch population with respect to age and sex albeit with slight over-representation of those &amp;gt;80 years old. Characteristics of patients were presented by treatment groups: initiating PCSK9i mAb and not initiating PCSK9i mAb within 365 days post-MI. Characteristics and LLT use in the two treatment groups was evaluated. Results Of the 28,975 MI events, 157 (0.5%) initiated a PCSK9i mAb within 365 days. Patients who initiated a PCSK9i mAb within 365 days post-MI were younger than those who did not (median age of 63 versus 69 years), more likely to have a history of ASCVD prior to the MI event (56% versus 39%) and dyslipidaemia (55% versus. 28%), while non-initiators were more likely to have diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease and atrial fibrillation (Table). Patients who initiated PCSK9i mAb within 365 days post-MI had higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (3.7 versus 2.9 mmol/L), higher use of ezetimibe (25% versus 4%) and high-intensity statins (15% vs 11%, Figure). Conclusions In the Netherlands, despite being at very high risk of recurrent ASCVD, based on this dataset excluding Patient Support Programs, fewer than 1% of patients initiated a PCSK9i mAb within 365 days post-MI. Further analyses are needed to reveal if these treatment groups are comparable to assess differences and uncontrolled confounders in cardiovascular outcomes in the real world.

Cardiometabolic diseases are among the leading causes of mortality worldwide and are increasingly prevalent in rapidly aging populations. Neighborhood socioeconomic position (SEP) and living arrangements are increasingly recognized as important determinants of cardiometabolic health but have not been examined within Puerto Rico. This study examined the association between neighborhood SEP, living arrangements, and incidence of cardiometabolic conditions among island-dwelling older Puerto Ricans, using longitudinal data from the Puerto Rican Elderly Health Conditions Project (Waves I 2002/03 and II 2006/07) linked with 2000 Census data for neighborhood-level conditions. Our sample consists of non-institutionalized adults aged 60 and older who remained in the same residence over both waves of data collection (N = 2,769). We used multilevel multinomial logistic regression models to examine the relationship between neighborhood SEP and the prevalence and incidence of cardiometabolic disease. Findings show that residence in a socioeconomically advantaged neighborhood was positively associated with reporting having one cardiometabolic condition at baseline, but not associated with the incidence of cardiometabolic conditions at follow-up. Living without a partner was negatively associated with reporting having cardiometabolic conditions compared to living with a partner. Similar results were found for the incidence of cardiometabolic conditions. Living arrangements significantly modified the relationship between neighborhood SEP and cardiometabolic conditions. Compared to living with a partner, living alone in a socioeconomically advantaged neighborhood was associated with a reduced risk of reporting having one condition. Living with children in a socioeconomically advantaged neighborhood was associated with a reduced risk of developing one cardiometabolic condition than living with a partner. Living arrangements are more salient to cardiometabolic health than neighborhood SEP. Social programs and services focused on household composition and familial support are needed to identify older Puerto Ricans potentially at risk of underdiagnosed chronic conditions, especially as ongoing economic, demographic, environmental, and healthcare crises potentially exacerbate social inequalities.

&lt;b&gt;Objectives: &lt;/b&gt;To evaluate temporal prevalence trend, cardiometabolic risk factors, and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and all-cause mortality (ACM) in incident young- and usual-onset type 2 diabetes. &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Research Design and Methods: &lt;/b&gt;From the UK primary care database, 370,854 people with new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes from 2000 to 2017 were identified. Analyses were conducted by age groups (18-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 years) and high/low risk status without history of ASCVD at diagnosis - ≥ two of current smoking, high SBP, high LDL-C or chronic kidney disease were classified as high-risk. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Proportion of people aged &lt;50 years at diagnosis increased during 2000-2010 and then stabilised. The incidence rates of ASCVD and ACM declined in people aged ≥50 years, but did not decrease in people &lt;50 years. Compared to people aged ≥50 years, those aged 18-39 years at diagnosis had higher obesity (71% obese), higher HbA1c (8.6%), 71% had high LDL-C, while only 18% were on cardio-protective therapy. Although 2% in this age group had ASCVD at diagnosis, 23% were identified as high-risk. In the 18-39 years group, the adjusted average years to ASCVD /ACM in high-risk individuals (years (95% CI): 9.1 (8.2–10.0) /9.3 (8.1–10.4)) were similar to those with low-risk (years (95% CI): 10.0 (9.5 – 10.5) /10.5 (9.7–11.2)). However, individuals ≥50 years with high-risk were likely to experience an ASCVD event 1.5 - 2 years earlier and death 1.1 – 1.5 years earlier compared to low-risk groups (p&lt;0.01). &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/b&gt;Unlike usual-onset,&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;young-onset type 2 diabetes have similar cardiovascular and mortality risk irrespective of their cardiometabolic risk factor status at diagnosis. The guidelines on the management of young-onset type 2 diabetes for intensive risk-factor management and cardioprotective therapies need to be urgently re-evaluated through prospective studies.&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Background: The American Heart Association recently introduced the Predicting Risk of CVD EVENTs (PREVENT) equations, which incorporate additional cardiometabolic risk factors to estimate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in younger adults in a race-neutral manner. This study aims to assess the interplay of estimated ASCVD risk by PREVENT equations and coronary artery calcium (CAC) and their association with hard ASCVD events in a large population-based cohort. Methods: We analyzed data from 6,380 individuals aged 45-79 years and free of ASCVD at baseline from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (obtained from the Biologic Specimen and Data Repository Information Coordinating Center [BioLINCC]). Participants were classified by baseline CAC score (0, 1–100, &gt;100) and clinically relevant PREVENT categories (&lt;5%, 5%–&lt;7.5%, ≥7.5%). In unadjusted survival analysis, we evaluated the incidence and risk of hard CVD events across PREVENT and CAC scoring profiles. Results: Among individuals with &lt;5% risk, 70% had CAC=0 and 8% had CAC&gt;100, whereas among individuals with ≥7.5% risk, 27% and 42% had CAC=0 and CAC&gt;100 respectively, as shown in figure (panel A). Overall, 609 hard CVD events occurred in a median follow-up of 14.1 years (10-year observed rate of 14.3%). Individuals with &lt;5% PREVENT score and CAC &gt;100 had an event rate 1.5 times higher than individuals with ≥7.5% risk and CAC 0 (8.9% vs 5.9%). A CAC score of 0 was associated with 10-year CVD event rates of less than 7.5% across the estimated ASCVD risk categories (Figure, panel B). The interplay between continuous CAC and PREVENT is shown in figure (panel C) Conclusion: Across the spectrum of PREVENT-based ASCVD risk, the distribution of CAC is heterogeneous. A high CAC burden, even among individuals with a low estimated 10-year risk by PREVENT, is associated with an elevated event rate. Conversely, the absence of CAC, even among those with elevated risk, is associated with a low event rate. CAC testing can support individual preferences in the context of shared decision making when estimating ASCVD risk and subsequent management choices.

BackgroundCirculating ceramide (Cer) drives various pathological processes associated with cardiovascular diseases, liver illness, and diabetes mellitus. Although recognized as predictors of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) in research and clinical settings, their potential for predicting CMD risk in individuals under 18 remains unexplored.ObjectivesThis study was designed to utilize Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methodology to determine the biological reference ranges for Cer in plasma samples of Emirati children and develop a risk assessment score (CERT-1) based on Cer concentrations.MethodsUsing LC-MS/MS, we developed a method to measure five Cer species in plasma samples of 582 Emirati participants aged 5–17. We used the circulating concentrations of these Cer to determine their reference intervals in this population. We employed traditional statistical analyses to develop a risk score (CERT-1) and assess the association between Cer levels and conventional biomarkers of CMD.ResultsWe validated a high-throughput methodology using LC–MS/MS to quantify five Cer species in human plasma. Reference values for this population (n = 582) were quantified: CerC16:0 (0.12–0.29 µmol/L), CerC18:0 (0.019–0.067 µmol/L), CerC22:0 (0.102–0.525 µmol/L), CerC24:0 (0.65–1.54 µmol/L) and CerC24:1 (0.212–0.945 µmol/L). We devised a risk assessment score (CERT-1) based on plasma Cer content in the study participants, showing that 72.5% have low to moderate risk and 9.3% are at a higher risk of developing CMD. Our analyses also revealed a significant correlation (P < 0.05) between this score and the conventional risk factors linked to CMD, indicating its potential clinical implication.ConclusionThis study presents a clinical-scaled LC–MS/MS methodology for assessing clinically relevant Cer, setting reference ranges, and developing a risk score (CERT-1) for young Emirati individuals. Our findings can enhance primary risk prediction and inform the management and follow-up of CMD from an early age.

High blood pressure, blood glucose, serum cholesterol, and BMI are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and some of these factors also increase the risk of chronic kidney disease and diabetes. We estimated mortality from cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes that was attributable to these four cardiometabolic risk factors for all countries and regions from 1980 to 2010. We used data for exposure to risk factors by country, age group, and sex from pooled analyses of population-based health surveys. We obtained relative risks for the effects of risk factors on cause-specific mortality from meta-analyses of large prospective studies. We calculated the population attributable fractions for each risk factor alone, and for the combination of all risk factors, accounting for multicausality and for mediation of the effects of BMI by the other three risks. We calculated attributable deaths by multiplying the cause-specific population attributable fractions by the number of disease-specific deaths. We obtained cause-specific mortality from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors 2010 Study. We propagated the uncertainties of all the inputs to the final estimates. In 2010, high blood pressure was the leading risk factor for deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes in every region, causing more than 40% of worldwide deaths from these diseases; high BMI and glucose were each responsible for about 15% of deaths, and high cholesterol for more than 10%. After accounting for multicausality, 63% (10·8 million deaths, 95% CI 10·1-11·5) of deaths from these diseases in 2010 were attributable to the combined effect of these four metabolic risk factors, compared with 67% (7·1 million deaths, 6·6-7·6) in 1980. The mortality burden of high BMI and glucose nearly doubled from 1980 to 2010. At the country level, age-standardised death rates from these diseases attributable to the combined effects of these four risk factors surpassed 925 deaths per 100 000 for men in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, but were less than 130 deaths per 100 000 for women and less than 200 for men in some high-income countries including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, and Spain. The salient features of the cardiometabolic disease and risk factor epidemic at the beginning of the 21st century are high blood pressure and an increasing effect of obesity and diabetes. The mortality burden of cardiometabolic risk factors has shifted from high-income to low-income and middle-income countries. Lowering cardiometabolic risks through dietary, behavioural, and pharmacological interventions should be a part of the global response to non-communicable diseases. UK Medical Research Council, US National Institutes of Health.

Background and Objectives: Vitamin D is thought to modulate cardiometabolic disease risk through effects on an array of disease-associated pathways, such as glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammation. Although vitamin D insufficiency is thought to play a role in the susceptibility to cardiometabolic disease, the association between the two conditions is yet to be investigated in both men and women from the general population. Methods: Subjects (n= 1,928, age range 16-79 yrs) from Canada were examined. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] by month of clinic visit were plotted for men and women to examine the monthly fluctuation patterns. Linear regression models adjusted for sex, waist circumference, physical activity, hormone use, and season of clinic visit examined the linear associations between 25(OH)D and cardiometabolic biomarkers [glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total:HDL-C ratio, apolipoprotein(apo)A1, apoB] and biomarkers of inflammation [C reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and homocysteine]. Analyses were repeated separately for men and women. Results: Monthly variation in 25(OH)D was noted for both men and women, with mean levels fluctuating more widely throughout the year in men (50 to 80 nmol/L) than in women (60 to 75 nmol/L). Significant inverse associations with 25(OH)D were noted for insulin (β= -0.16, p=0 .003), HOMA-IR (β= -0.18, p= 0.002), triglycerides (β= -0.21, p= 0.004), total cholesterol (β= -0.31, p= 0.046), LDL-C (β= 0.09, p= 0.02), and total:HDL-C ratio (β= -0.09, p= 0.004). When the population was stratified by sex, significant inverse associations with 25(OH)D were observed for insulin (β= -0.21, p= 0.002), HOMA-IR (β= -0.24, p= 0.002), and triglycerides (β= -0.26, p= 0.01) among men, and insulin (β= 0.13, p= 0.05), HOMA-IR (β= -0.14, p= 0.03), total cholesterol (β= -0.34, p= 0.05), LDL-C (β= -0.10, p= 0.02), and total:HDL-C ratio (β= -0.10, p= 0.001) among women. Conclusions: Plasma 25(OH)D levels vary month-to-month, and fluctuate more widely in men than in women. Vitamin D may modulate multiple processes related to the cardiometabolic biomarkers and disease risk and may, thereby, play a role in disease prevention.