European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2021
Observational StudyQuality of life primary aldosteronism: A prospective observational study.
Previous studies suggested that patients affected by primary aldosteronism (PA) have impaired quality of life (QOL) compared to the general population, but a direct comparison with patients affected by essential hypertension (EH) has never been performed. The aim of the study was to compare the QOL of patients affected by PA to the QOL of patients affected by EH. ⋯ Patients with PA have impaired QOL, which is likely caused by uncontrolled hypertension and the effects of intensive antihypertensive treatment. Surgical and medical treatment of PA allows a significant improvement of QOL, by amelioration of blood pressure control and, after surgical treatment, by reduction of antihypertensive treatment.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2021
Serum osteopontin predicts glycemic profile improvement in metabolic syndrome: a pilot study.
Prediabetes is often observed in patients with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and might be associated with metabolic and inflammatory alterations. Here, we investigated whether the inflammatory molecule osteopontin (OPN) might have a prognostic impact in a cohort of MetS patients (n = 85) with baseline normal glycaemia or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) over one year of recommended pharmacological treatments and Mediterranean diet. Patients were then followed up for 12 months with intermediate evaluation after 6 months. ⋯ In conclusion, pharmacological and dietetic interventions improved glycaemic profile in patients with MetS. In particular, glycaemic improvement was demonstrated in patients who also reduce circulating OPN levels. Higher OPN levels at baseline predict normalization of glycaemic profile.
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Epidemiological studies on the association between asthma and cardiovascular disease have reported conflicting results. This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between asthma and ischaemic heart disease (IHD)/stroke in Korean adults. ⋯ Asthma was associated with IHD, mainly in older patients and untreated asthma patients, but not with stroke.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Mar 2021
Depression and clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: evidence from the TOPCAT trial.
Limited data have been published concerning about depression in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Besides, among HFpEF patients with depression, the efficacy of antidepressants is poorly defined. Therefore, our current study was aimed to examine the relationship between major depression and clinical outcomes in HFpEF patients and further address the effects of antidepressants on prognosis in patients with major depression and HFpEF. ⋯ In HFpEF patients, major depression at baseline did not increase mortality or rehospitalization. Additionally, treatment with antidepressants might not improve prognosis among HFpEF patients with major depression. Future studies are warranted to explore the effects of antidepressants on HFpEF patients with depression.
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Acute pericarditis has a wide spectrum of clinical presentations largely depending on underlying aetiologies. We assessed the role of age and sex in the clinical features and outcome of acute pericarditis. ⋯ Patients with acute pericarditis have distinct presenting clinical, biochemical and prognostic features according to age and sex. Awareness of such differences is important for clinical decision-making.