CHD risk factors

Race Has Role in Vitamin D Link to Heart Risk

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A 10-ng/mL decrease in 25(OH)D levels was associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease events in whites (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06-1.49) and those with Chinese ancestry (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.07-2.61), according to Ian de Boer, MD, of the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues.

But a similar relationship was not seen among blacks (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.73-1.20) and Hispanics (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.77-1.33), the investigators reported in the July 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

via Race Has Role in Vitamin D Link to Heart Risk.

A couple of years ago I asked my primary care physician to check my Vitamin D level.  We were both surprised to discover the fact I was Vitamin D deficient.  Since then I’ve been on daily Vitamin D supplementation of 5000iu.

Simple blood test.  Just do it.

The researchers advised caution in interpreting the results in the Chinese and Hispanic participants because of the low sample sizes.

I’m still going to take my supplement.

Large Study Affirms Safety of Statins

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The study included information from 135 randomized trials — 55 with a placebo control and 80 with an active comparator — that included a total of 246,955 participants with or without cardiovascular disease. The study initially included trials of atorvastatin, fluvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and rosuvastatin (Crestor); trials of pitavastatin (Livalo) were added post hoc because the protocol was already being finalized at the time the drug was approved.

via Large Study Affirms Safety of Statins.

PTSD May Raise Risk of Heart Disease

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Through a median of 13 years of follow-up, twins who had PTSD at baseline had a significantly higher rate of incident coronary heart disease compared with those without PTSD (22.6% versus 8.9%), according to Viola Vaccarino, MD, PhD, of Emory University in Atlanta, and colleagues.

The difference was not due to established risk factors, since the association remained significant after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, service in Southeast Asia, lifestyle factors, coronary heart disease risk factors, major depression, and other psychiatric diagnoses (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-3.9), the researchers reported online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

via PTSD May Raise Risk of Heart Disease.

Walk or Run? Think Distance, Not Speed

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Researchers evaluated 33,060 runners in the National Runners’ Health Study and 15,045 walkers in the National Walkers’ Health Study. Dr. Thompson said there will be more results coming from the data. The study found:

  • Running reduced the risk for first-time hypertension 4.2%, and walking reduced it by 7.2%.
  • Running cut the risk for first-time high cholesterol 4.3%, and walking reduced it by 7.0%.
  • Running cut the risk for first-time diabetes 12.1%, and walking decreased it by 12.3%.
  • Running reduced coronary heart disease 4.5% compared with 9.3% for walking.

via Walk or run? Think distance, not speed, for health benefits – amednews.com.

GREAT NEWS for this aging tortoise who no longer runs 10-k’s due to bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

Association of Clinical Symptomatic Hypoglycemia With Cardiovascular Events and Total Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes

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CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic hypoglycemia, whether clinically mild or severe, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, all-cause hospitalization, and all-cause mortality. More attention may be needed for diabetic patients with hypoglycemic episodes.

via Association of Clinical Symptomatic Hypoglycemia With Cardiovascular Events and Total Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes.

Watch those hypoglycemic episodes in applicants with T2DM.