The American journal of medicine
-
The purpose of this study was to determine whether sleep characteristics are associated with incidence of treated diabetes in postmenopausal individuals. ⋯ Sleep-disordered breathing and short or long sleep duration were associated with higher diabetes risk in a postmenopausal population.
-
The association of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) with cancer occurrence is not well examined, and the impact of common risk factors on the risk of cancer in ASCVD patients is not known. This study aimed to explore the effect and possible causes of ASCVD on cancer risk through a cohort study. ⋯ Cancer risk can be reduced by controlling for common risk factors after ASCVD event. This risk reduction is site-specific-, time-, and the number of ideal indicator-dependent.
-
Observational Study
Carotid Duplex Ultrasonography to Assess Severity of Low-Flow Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis.
Patients with low-flow, low-gradient aortic valve stenosis constitute a substantial subset of all severe aortic stenosis patients. However, assessment of true severity of these patients can be challenging. In this analysis, we study the utility of the common carotid artery waveforms to distinguish true from pseudo-severe low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis. ⋯ cAT acceleration time may be used to distinguish true from pseudo-severe low-flow, low-gradient aortic valve stenosis.
-
There is an association between hyperthyroidism and pulmonary hypertension. However, the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in hyperthyroidism and the underlying mechanisms are incompletely defined. ⋯ Approximately one-third of patients with hyperthyroidism have evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Our data suggest that an increased cardiac output and left ventricular filling pressure are the main mechanisms underlying the elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure in hyperthyroidism, whereas there is no evidence of significant pulmonary vascular disease.
-
Atrioventricular block may be idiopathic or a secondary manifestation of an underlying systemic disease. Cardiac sarcoidosis is a significant underlying cause of high-grade atrioventricular block, posing diagnostic challenges and significant clinical implications. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical characteristics of cardiac sarcoidosis among younger patients presenting with unexplained high-grade atrioventricular block. ⋯ Cardiac sarcoidosis was confirmed in one-third of patients ≤ 65 years, who presented with unexplained high-grade atrioventricular block. Cardiac sarcoidosis should be highly suspected in such patients, particularly in males who present with heart failure symptoms or exhibit thicker inter-ventricular septum and right ventricular dysfunction on echocardiography.