Pernille Lunde , Hanne Søberg Finbråten , Are Hugo Pripp , Birgitta Blakstad Nilsson , Jostein Grimsmo , Asta Bye
{"title":"Effect of a mHealth intervention on health literacy in patients completing cardiac rehabilitation: A randomized controlled trial with one- and five-year follow-up","authors":"Pernille Lunde , Hanne Søberg Finbråten , Are Hugo Pripp , Birgitta Blakstad Nilsson , Jostein Grimsmo , Asta Bye","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200445","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200445","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and aims</h3><div>Adherence to treatment is a significant challenge for patients with cardiac disease. Optimizing health literacy (HL) is essential in this context. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have been suggested to improve both treatment adherence and HL. This study aimed to examine the effect of a one-year mHealth intervention on HL and to compare HL changes between the intervention- and the control group.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This randomized controlled trial included patients completing cardiac rehabilitation, who were randomly allocated to either an intervention group receiving individualized follow-up via an app for one year or a control group receiving usual care. From one-year follow-up to the five-year follow-up, both groups received usual care. HL was measured using the HLS-Q12. Mixed model for repeated measurements and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to analyse differences between groups, while paired sample <em>t</em>-test and Kendall's Tau b correlation analysed within-group changes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 113 patients were included in the study. No statistically significant differences between the groups were found in total HLS-Q12 score or at item level at any follow-up. However, a statistically significant within-group improvement was observed in the intervention group for the total score (mean change of 2.5 ± 4.6, p < 0.01) and several HLS-Q12 items from baseline to one-year follow-up.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The one-year mHealth intervention did not show an effect on HL levels at one- or five-year follow-ups. However, significant within-group HL improvement from baseline to one-year follow-up suggests that mHealth interventions may have the potential to enhance HL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200445"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144239567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Association between asthma and cardiovascular disease among a United States representative population","authors":"Humza Naqvi , Charles D. Searles","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200451","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200451","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200451"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144239568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The hidden burden: Inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular mortality in underreported populations","authors":"Jose Eric M. Lacsa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200449","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200449","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent data from the United States reveal a rising trend in mortality linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), with pronounced disparities across age, sex, race, and geography. This commentary reappropriates those findings within the context of the Philippines and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where chronic inflammation remains underdiagnosed and health systems are ill-equipped to address its cardiovascular consequences. While CVD is already the leading cause of death in the Philippines, the compounding effects of inflammatory disorders like IBD are largely overlooked. Drawing parallels from U.S. patterns, we highlight how rural-urban divides, healthcare inaccessibility, and poor disease surveillance may fuel similar trends in LMICs. We call for integrated screening strategies, improved chronic disease registries, and cross-disciplinary approaches that recognize inflammation as a key driver of cardiovascular risk. The global burden of cardiovascular disease cannot be fully addressed without confronting the silent role of systemic inflammation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200449"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144262772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"When the heart and lungs fail together: A wake-up call for aging populations in the Philippines and beyond","authors":"Jose Eric M. Lacsa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200450","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200450"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144239569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guangwei Huang , Qing Huang , Chenrui Mou , Anna Duan , Fujiao He , Hailong Dai
{"title":"S100A4-shRNA mitigates autophagy, reduces inflammation, and improves cardiac functionality in MIRI","authors":"Guangwei Huang , Qing Huang , Chenrui Mou , Anna Duan , Fujiao He , Hailong Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>S100A4 plays a crucial role in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), where the interplay between autophagy and inflammation shapes the progression of reperfusion injury. However, the specific mechanisms by which S100A4 influences autophagy and inflammation in this context remain unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model was established in mice. The optimal timing for inducing reperfusion injury was determined, and mice were divided into sham and experimental groups. The experimental group underwent 2 h of ischemia/reperfusion injury followed by a 2-day reperfusion period. In the I/R + S100A4-shRNA group, S100A4 silencing was achieved through the injection of short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Myocardial ischemia was induced by occluding the left anterior descending branch (LAD) of the coronary artery. Diagnostic procedures, including electrocardiogram assessments, cardiac function testing, cardiac enzyme analyses, and 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, were performed to assess myocardial injury. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence staining, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and Masson trichrome staining were used to evaluate the expression levels of IL-1, TNF-a, morphological changes in cardiomyocytes, and cardiac fibrosis. Protein blotting was conducted to examine autophagy-related proteins and Bnip3 signaling-related proteins.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study showed an increase in S100A4 expression, as well as upregulation of autophagy orchestrating proteins (Beclin-1 and LC3), contributing to myocardial injury and expansion of myocardial infarction (MI). S100A4 played a multifaceted role by regulating autophagy through the BNIP3 pathway in MIRI. Silencing S100A4 resulted in reduced autophagy and inflammation, leading to decreased infarct size and improved cardiac function.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>S100A4 is upregulated during MIRI and orchestrates autophagy through the BNIP3 pathway, influencing the progression of reperfusion injury following myocardial infarction. Inhibition of autophagy and mitigation of inflammatory responses by S100A4-shRNA provide protection against the detrimental effects of IRI on the heart.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200443"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144184305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hao Huang , Lei Zhang , Ding Zhang , Sitong Lu , Jiaqi Lin , Jingyao Huang , Zibo Ni , Jien Pan , Xingxing Hu , Ying Lin , Dongsheng Hu , Ming Zhang , Fulan Hu
{"title":"Association of unsweetened and sweetened tea consumption with risk of incident cardiovascular disease: Evidence from the UK Biobank","authors":"Hao Huang , Lei Zhang , Ding Zhang , Sitong Lu , Jiaqi Lin , Jingyao Huang , Zibo Ni , Jien Pan , Xingxing Hu , Ying Lin , Dongsheng Hu , Ming Zhang , Fulan Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200442","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200442","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The impact of tea consumption, particularly the differences between sweetened and unsweetened tea, on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains underexplored. This study investigates the associations between the consumption of unsweetened, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened tea and the incidence of CVD.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We included 177,810 participants from the UK Biobank, with a median follow-up period of 12.7 years. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to assess the associations between tea intake and the risk of CVD, coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, and heart failure (HF) incidents. Additionally, we investigated potential interactions with polygenic risk scores (PRS) for CVD.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>During the follow-up period, 15,003 cases of incident CVD were recorded. A U-shaped association was identified between unsweetened tea consumption and CVD risk, with the lowest risk observed at a consumption level of 0–2 drinks/day (HR: 0.92, 95 % CI: 0.87–0.97). In contrast, no significant associations were found for sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened tea. The reduced CVD risk associated with unsweetened tea was consistent across various subtypes, including CAD, stroke, and HF. Additionally, no significant interactions were observed between tea consumption and PRS.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Consuming unsweetened tea is associated with a reduced risk of incident CVD, CAD, stroke, and HF. In contrast, no significant associations were observed for sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened tea. These findings indicate that unsweetened tea may contribute positively to the prevention of CVD, independent of genetic risk factors. Further research is needed to validate these results and explore the underlying mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200442"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144196200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tania Sharma , Akiko Maehara , Michael Maeng , Lars Kjøller-Hansen , Thomas Engstrøm , Ori Ben-Yehuda , Mitsuaki Matsumura , Ole Fröbert , Jonas Persson , Rune Wiseth , Alf Inge Larsen , Sasha Koul , Rebecca Rylance , Gary S. Mintz , Ziad A. Ali , Stefan K. James , Gregg W. Stone , David Erlinge
{"title":"Circulating protein biomarkers and their association with vulnerable plaque characteristics – a PROSPECT II substudy","authors":"Tania Sharma , Akiko Maehara , Michael Maeng , Lars Kjøller-Hansen , Thomas Engstrøm , Ori Ben-Yehuda , Mitsuaki Matsumura , Ole Fröbert , Jonas Persson , Rune Wiseth , Alf Inge Larsen , Sasha Koul , Rebecca Rylance , Gary S. Mintz , Ziad A. Ali , Stefan K. James , Gregg W. Stone , David Erlinge","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200440","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200440","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In the PROSPECT-II study, near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to characterize atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries. NIRS-derived lipid core burden index (LCBI) and IVUS-derived plaque burden (PB) were able to identify plaques strongly associated with adverse cardiovascular events.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>Our aim was to identify biomarkers associated with LCBI or PB in the coronary arteries.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>898 patients with recent myocardial infarction underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Blood samples to analyze plasma levels of 179 proteins associated with cardiovascular disease were procured and a combined NIRS-IVUS catheter was used to analyze the coronary arteries. Adjusted linear regression models were calculated between the biomarkers and the outcomes of interest, adjusted for multiplicity testing. Kaplan-Meier survival curves of biomarkers divided by median were assessed with the log-rank test. Adjusted Cox proportional models were calculated for major adverse cardiovascular events.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 24 proteins were associated with PB and 28 proteins with LCBI. Eight of these biomarkers were associated with both increased pan-coronary LCBI and PB; IL-18R1, CSF-1, VEGFA, EN-RAGE, cathepsin D, PCSK9, transferrin receptor protein 1 and OPN. After adjusting for multiplicity, angiopoietin like 3 (ANGPTL3) retained its association with LCBI, and IL-18R1 and CSF-1 retained their association with PB.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>We were able to identify distinct biomarker patterns associated with PB and LCBI. IL-18R1 and CSF-1 had a strong relationship with PB. ANGPTL3 was associated with lipid rich plaques but not with PB, supporting its role in lipid accumulation and development of vulnerable plaques.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200440"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144155011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Do gender differences matter in Acute Heart Failure? Insights from Indian College of Cardiology – National Heart Failure Registry, India","authors":"P.B. Jayagopal , C.N. Manjunath , A. Jabir , Sridhar L. Sastry , Veena Nanjappa , P.R. Vaidyanathan , Johny Joseph , Soma Sekhar Ghanta , P. Manokar , Nitin Kabra , Dharmendra Jain , Vinod Sharma , Trinath Kumar Mishra , R. Badri Narayanan , Narendra Jathappa , Gautam Rege , Sunil Modi , S.N. Routray , T.R. Raghu , Rabin Chakraborty , V.K. Chopra","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Real-world investigations focused on gender-associated characteristics of Acute Heart failure (AHF) are lacking. The current study, from a national heart failure registry, aims to investigate gender-based patterns and outcomes among AHF patients in India.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This prospective Indian College of Cardiology National Heart Failure Registry enrolled patients admitted with AHF in 17 centres from 2019 to 2021. Demographics, aetiology, co-morbidities, laboratory investigations, electrocardiogram, and echo parameters were captured. In-hospital 30-day and one-year mortality rates were recorded. The prescription and adherence to the three Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) prescription in 2019–2021 were also captured at discharge. Mortality rate Gender-based comparisons were tested at a 5 % level of significance.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study enrolled 5182 AHF patients, 66.7 % male (M) and 33.3 % female (F). The mean age of the male (M) population was 60.9 ± 13.3, and the female (F) population was 62.8 ± 14 years. Women had a higher prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)(F:12.9 %, M:7.3 %;<em>P</em> < 0.0001), hypertension (F: 57.2 %, M: 52.4 %; <em>P</em> = 0.0011) and arrhythmia (F:15.2 %, M:11.7 %;<em>P</em> = 0.0005). Men had a higher incidence of ischemic heart disease (M:76.2 %, F:67.5 %; <em>P</em> < 0.001). Adherence to Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, Beta-blockers and Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) was low (18.8 % (M); 15.9 % (F)). The mortality rate, in-hospital mortality was 6.9 % (M:6.5 %, F:7.7 %), up to one-month was 11.8 % (M:11.6 %, F:12.3 %) or one-year was 18.1 % (M:17.8 %, F:18.6 %).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Women represent one-third of the population with AHF. Hypertension and HFpEF were more common in women, while ischemic heart disease was more prevalent in men. No gender-based differences were observed in the mortality outcomes. Both groups had low GDMT adherence. This calls for effective strategies to improve HF care in the country.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200441"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144166980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Syed Anjum Gardezi , Nakul Sachdeva , Insiya Mohammed Rampurawala , Akalanka Ranasinghe , Muhammad Umair Shehzad , Kieran Gill , Raheel Qureshi , Ashish Gupta , Ali Hasan , Muzammil Farhan , Azeem Hassan , Eeshal Zulfiqar , Mushood Ahmed , Raheel Ahmed
{"title":"Trends and disparities in inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular disease-related mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2023: A CDC WONDER analysis","authors":"Syed Anjum Gardezi , Nakul Sachdeva , Insiya Mohammed Rampurawala , Akalanka Ranasinghe , Muhammad Umair Shehzad , Kieran Gill , Raheel Qureshi , Ashish Gupta , Ali Hasan , Muzammil Farhan , Azeem Hassan , Eeshal Zulfiqar , Mushood Ahmed , Raheel Ahmed","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200438","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200438","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Individuals with inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to chronic systemic inflammation and vascular dysfunction. While advancements in treatment have improved IBD management, its impact on cardiovascular mortality remains unclear. This study aims to analyze trends in IBD- and CVD-related mortality in the U.S. from 1999 to 2023, identifying high-risk populations based on age, sex, race, and geography.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Mortality data for individuals aged 25 years and older from 1999 to 2023 were obtained from the CDC WONDER database. Crude mortality rates (CMRs) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 persons were calculated. Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression analysis to estimate the annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) in mortality rates.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Between 1999 and 2023, a total of 41,635 deaths were identified related to IBD and CVD among adults aged 25 years and older. The overall AAMR remained relatively stable from 1999 to 2018 before increasing sharply from 0.67 in 2018 to 1.03 in 2021 [APC: 15.63∗ (95 % CI: 11.66, 17.91); p = 0.0004], after which it plateaued through 2023. Males consistently exhibited higher AAMRs than females throughout the study period (Males: 1.10 vs. Females: 0.90 in 2023). When stratified by race, the highest AAMR was observed in NH White populations, followed by NH Black or African American individuals (1.21 vs. 0.64 in 2023). Regionally, the highest mortality was observed in the West, followed by the Midwest, the Northeast, and lastly, the South (AAMR of 1.02, 1.08, 0.87, and 0.97, respectively, in 2023). Rural areas (0.74) exhibited consistently higher AAMRs than urban areas (0.69) from 1999 to 2020. Mortality rates increased with age, with the highest burden observed in individuals aged 85 years and older.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>IBD- and CVD-related mortality has risen in the U.S., with the highest burden among males, NH White individuals, and older adults. Targeted interventions and enhanced cardiovascular screening are needed to reduce mortality in high-risk populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200438"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}