Showing papers by "Raul D. Santos published in 2006"
TL;DR: The association between obesity and leukocyte count was highly dependent on the presence of MS, and no significant difference was found in the leukocytes between groups 1 and 2 and groups 3 and 4.
Abstract: Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS), which often co-exist, are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. An increased leukocyte count is also associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. However, the role of obesity, independent of MS, has been debated. We sought to assess the influence of MS on the association of obesity and leukocyte count in asymptomatic patients. The data from 431 asymptomatic Brazilian men (mean age 46 ± 7 years), who presented for cardiovascular risk assessment, were analyzed. MS was defined as the presence of ≥3 of the following risk factors: hypertension (≥130/85 mm Hg), truncal obesity (≥102 cm or 40 in), hypertriglyceridemia (≥150 mg/dl), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (≤40 mg/dl), and hyperglycemia (glucose ≥110 mg/dl). Obesity was defined as a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m 2 . Confounding variables (age, smoking, lipid-lowering therapy, and physical activity) and leukocyte count (10 9 /L) were recorded. The patients were divided into 4 groups: group1, no obesity and no MS; group 2, obesity but no MS; group 3, no obesity but MS; and group 4, obesity and MS. The mean leukocyte count increased from groups 1 to 4 (6.10 ± 0.09, 6.42 ± 0.28, 6.71 ± 0.21, and 6.96 ± 0.22 × 10 9 /L, p
63 citations
TL;DR: The presence and extent of CAC varies among different racial groups within and outside the United States, and it is important to develop ethnic specific CAC nomograms to more accurately determine the underlying CHD risk associated with CAC in these individuals.
49 citations
TL;DR: Significant differences in CACS were detected among three nations in different continents, paralleled the respective cardiovascular mortality rates.
46 citations
TL;DR: Asymptomatic men with low levels ofCRF have a greater likelihood for clustering of MS components and thus are at higher CVD risk, and further studies are needed to define the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with intermediate levels of CRF.
35 citations
TL;DR: Higher SBP within the normotensive range is also associated with elevated WBC count, and further studies are needed to clarify the role of inflammation in high normal SBP and associated CVD risk.
Abstract: Hypertension and inflammation promote cardiovascular disease (CVD). Even high normal systolic blood pressure (SBP) is associated with increased CVD risk. We assessed the relationship of elevated SBP within the normotensive range and white blood cell (WBC) count. This is a cross-sectional study of 3484 white asymptomatic individuals (mean age: 43+/-8 years, 79% males) without hypertension with SBP or=75th percentile (8.35 x 10(9) cells/l) was considered cutoff for elevated WBC. Subjects were classified into three levels of SBP (first: <120 mm Hg, n=1,176, 34%; second: 120-129 mm Hg, n=1,654, 47%; third: 130-139 mm Hg, n=654, 19%). Mean WBC count increased linearly across SBP categories (first: 6.14+/-1.54, second: 6.20+/-1.52, third: 6.41+/-1.62, P=0.02 for trend). There was a linear increase in prevalence of elevated WBC across higher SBP categories (22, 24 and 28%, P=0.02). As compared to those with SBP<120 mm Hg, in multivariate linear regression analyses (adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, diabetes, body mass index, physical activity, cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio) WBC count was significantly higher among participants with SBP 130-139 mm Hg (regression coefficient: 2.64, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-4.24, P=0.001). Odds ratio for prevalence of elevated WBC with SBP<120 mm Hg as reference group was 1.14 (0.92-1.41) for SBP 120-129 mm Hg and 1.50 (1.15-1.92) for SBP 130-139 mm Hg. In conclusion, Higher SBP within the normotensive range is also associated with elevated WBC count. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of inflammation in high normal SBP and associated CVD risk.
28 citations
TL;DR: Only a small percentage of patients, even those under treatment with LLD, showed cholesterol levels according to currently available guidelines, which means it is necessary to decrease lipid levels of these patients by increasing the dose of the statins or using a second drug.
Abstract: Embora existam recomendacoes especificas envolvendo o tratamento das dislipidemias em pacientes com alto risco, estas recomendacoes dificilmente sao seguidas adequadamente. O objetivo deste estudo e investigar fatores de risco em pacientes com alto risco cardiovascular acompanhados ambulatorialmente no Brasil e Venezuela. Os prontuarios de 412 pacientes foram selecionados em 4 instituicoes. Os pacientes foram divididos conforme a utilizacao de hipolipemiantes. Pacientes sem hipolipemiantes apresentavam niveis mais elevados de colesterol total (p< 0,001), LDL colesterol (p< 0,001) e HDL colesterol (p< 0,001), alem de menores niveis de triglicerides (p< 0,001). O uso de hipolipemiantes foi associado a diminuicao dos niveis de colesterol total (251,0 ± 40,0 para 196,0 ± 46,0), LDL colesterol (168,0 ± 36,0 para 116,0 ± 39,0), HDL colesterol (51,0 ± 46,0 para 46,0 ± 12,0) e triglicerides (181,0 ± 120,0 para 160,0 ± 79,0). Concluimos que apenas um pequeno percentual de pacientes, mesmo em uso de estatinas, apresenta niveis de colesterol compativel com os atualmente recomendados. Desta forma, embora as recomendacoes para tratamento das dislipidemias sejam bem conhecidas, um pequeno percentual de pacientes atinge os valores desejados de colesterol. E necessario um melhor controle dos niveis lipidicos dos pacientes, tanto atraves da utilizacao de doses maiores de estatinas como da utilizacao da associacao de hipolipemiantes.
23 citations
TL;DR: The findings suggest that in people with metabolic syndrome an increased level of physical fitness might exert its beneficial effect via attenuating inflammation.
15 citations
TL;DR: The findings reveal the potential limitation of NCEP guidelines in identifying asymptomatic Brazilian men with significant coronary atherosclerosis who are potential candidates for aggressive primary prevention.
8 citations
01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the effect of hipolipemiantes on colesterol usage on the risk of heart disease in pacientes with high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Abstract: RESUMO Embora existam recomendacoes especificas envolvendo o tratamento das dislipidemias em pacientes com alto risco, estas recomendacoes dificilmente sao seguidas adequadamente. O objetivo deste estudo e investigar fatores de risco em pacientes com alto risco cardiovascular acompanhados ambulatorialmente no Brasil e Venezuela. Os prontuarios de 412 pacientes foram selecionados em 4 instituicoes. Os pacientes foram divididos conforme a utilizacao de hipolipemiantes. Pacientes sem hipolipemiantes apresentavam niveis mais elevados de colesterol total (p< 0,001), LDL colesterol (p< 0,001) e HDL colesterol (p< 0,001), alem de menores niveis de triglicerides (p< 0,001). O uso de hipolipemiantes foi associado a diminuicao dos niveis de colesterol total (251,0 ± 40,0 para 196,0 ± 46,0), LDL colesterol (168,0 ± 36,0 para 116,0 ± 39,0), HDL colesterol (51,0 ± 46,0 para 46,0 ± 12,0) e triglicerides (181,0 ± 120,0 para 160,0 ± 79,0). Concluimos que apenas um pequeno percentual de pacientes, mesmo em uso de estatinas, apresenta niveis de colesterol compativel com os atualmente recomendados. Desta forma, embora as recomendacoes para tratamento das dislipidemias sejam bem conhecidas, um pequeno percentual de pacientes atinge os valores desejados de colesterol. E necessario um melhor controle dos niveis lipidicos dos pacientes, tanto atraves da utilizacao de doses maiores de estatinas como da utilizacao da associacao de hipolipemiantes. (Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab 2006;50/3:481-489)
5 citations