Pub Date : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07151-0
Karol Kaziród-Wolski, Kamil Salwa, Dorota Rębak, Janusz Sielski
{"title":"Bridging cardiology and neurorehabilitation: toward integrated recovery after acute and chronic cardiac events.","authors":"Karol Kaziród-Wolski, Kamil Salwa, Dorota Rębak, Janusz Sielski","doi":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07151-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07151-0","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18668,"journal":{"name":"Minerva cardiology and angiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146125607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07161-3
Francesco Castelletti, Elena Bianco, Eleonora Nicolini, Gianandrea Bertone, Christian Mongiardi, Emanuela Longo, Laura DE Ioris, Francesco Dentali, Flavio Tangianu, Aldo Bonaventura
{"title":"Use of vericiguat in a patient with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis: a helpful therapeutic opportunity.","authors":"Francesco Castelletti, Elena Bianco, Eleonora Nicolini, Gianandrea Bertone, Christian Mongiardi, Emanuela Longo, Laura DE Ioris, Francesco Dentali, Flavio Tangianu, Aldo Bonaventura","doi":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07161-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07161-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18668,"journal":{"name":"Minerva cardiology and angiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146125627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07089-9
Marco Borgi, Attilio Lauretti, Francesco Versaci
{"title":"A new tool for risk stratification in transcatheter aortic valve intervention.","authors":"Marco Borgi, Attilio Lauretti, Francesco Versaci","doi":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07089-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07089-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18668,"journal":{"name":"Minerva cardiology and angiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146106398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-19DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07174-1
Antonio Sili Scavalli, Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai, Federico Bizzarri, Giacomo Frati
{"title":"Pleiotropy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: too much of a good thing?","authors":"Antonio Sili Scavalli, Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai, Federico Bizzarri, Giacomo Frati","doi":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07174-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07174-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18668,"journal":{"name":"Minerva cardiology and angiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145781643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-03DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06958-3
Giuseppe Verolino
{"title":"Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome and patent foramen ovale. A shared treatment pathway for young and elderly patients?","authors":"Giuseppe Verolino","doi":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06958-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06958-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18668,"journal":{"name":"Minerva cardiology and angiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145668820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-06-27DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06713-4
Muhammad T Shaukat, Aleenah Mohsin, Zain A Nadeem, Saad A Waqas, Hamza Ashraf, Rija Siddiqui, Haider Ashfaq, Ahmed J Chaudhary
Background: Hypertension, prevalent among one-third of US adults, significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular disease and mortality. This study seeks to analyze hypertension mortality patterns and regional disparities among adult patients in the USA.
Methods: Data was sourced from the CDC WONDER database, with hypertension identification based on ICD-10 Codes I10-13 and I15. Both crude mortality rates and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 individuals were determined. Using joinpoint regression analysis, annual percentage changes (APC) in AAMR were calculated.
Results: Between 1999 and 2020, hypertensive diseases claimed the lives of 1,479,884 individuals (AAMR: 20.2 per 100,000). An upward trajectory was observed, with the lowest AAMR in 1999 (15.8) and the highest in 2020 (29.1). Men exhibited higher AAMR (21.8) compared to women (18.4). Notably, NH Blacks displayed a remarkably high AAMR of 44.4, whereas other racial groups had similar rates. The Southern region displayed the highest AAMR (22.5), followed by the Western region (20.9). Urban areas demonstrated higher death rates (20.6) than rural areas (18.43). Almost all age-groups witnessed escalating mortality rates from hypertensive diseases, with the highest AAMR seen in individuals aged ≥85 (478.5), followed by the 74-84 age group (112.7).
Conclusions: There was a noticeable rise in hypertension mortality rates in the USA. Major risk factors included being male, residing in the South, identifying as NH Black, living in urban areas, and being aged ≥85. The high economic burden highlights the need to develop strategies to alleviate the burden of hypertensive diseases in high-risk populations.
{"title":"Trends in hypertensive disease related deaths in the United States from 1999 to 2020: a retrospective analysis.","authors":"Muhammad T Shaukat, Aleenah Mohsin, Zain A Nadeem, Saad A Waqas, Hamza Ashraf, Rija Siddiqui, Haider Ashfaq, Ahmed J Chaudhary","doi":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06713-4","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06713-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hypertension, prevalent among one-third of US adults, significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular disease and mortality. This study seeks to analyze hypertension mortality patterns and regional disparities among adult patients in the USA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data was sourced from the CDC WONDER database, with hypertension identification based on ICD-10 Codes I10-13 and I15. Both crude mortality rates and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 individuals were determined. Using joinpoint regression analysis, annual percentage changes (APC) in AAMR were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 1999 and 2020, hypertensive diseases claimed the lives of 1,479,884 individuals (AAMR: 20.2 per 100,000). An upward trajectory was observed, with the lowest AAMR in 1999 (15.8) and the highest in 2020 (29.1). Men exhibited higher AAMR (21.8) compared to women (18.4). Notably, NH Blacks displayed a remarkably high AAMR of 44.4, whereas other racial groups had similar rates. The Southern region displayed the highest AAMR (22.5), followed by the Western region (20.9). Urban areas demonstrated higher death rates (20.6) than rural areas (18.43). Almost all age-groups witnessed escalating mortality rates from hypertensive diseases, with the highest AAMR seen in individuals aged ≥85 (478.5), followed by the 74-84 age group (112.7).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There was a noticeable rise in hypertension mortality rates in the USA. Major risk factors included being male, residing in the South, identifying as NH Black, living in urban areas, and being aged ≥85. The high economic burden highlights the need to develop strategies to alleviate the burden of hypertensive diseases in high-risk populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":18668,"journal":{"name":"Minerva cardiology and angiology","volume":" ","pages":"702-712"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144506825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Introduction: To assess how gender disparities impact major adverse cardiovascular events during hospitalization, as well as in the short and long term, among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who undergo primary PCI.
Evidence acquisition: PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane database were searched for relevant studies. Studies were included if all comers with STEMI, reported gender specific patient characteristics, treatments and outcomes. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated using random effect model.
Evidence synthesis: A total of 23 studies were included for the pooled meta-analysis. Average age of female at presentation was 68.61±3.91 years while in male was 60.83±2.48 years. In unadjusted analysis, female patients were at higher risk for mortality (OR=1.98, 95% CI: 1.71-2.30, P<0.0001, I2=35%) at hospitalization, (OR=2.25, 95% CI=1.75-2.88, P≤0.00001) at short term and (OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.41-2.21, P<0.000, I2=68%) at long term. The adjusted analysis of major adverse cardiovascular events for short term (OR=1.09, 95% CI: 0.91-1.31, P=0.37, I2=76%) and long term (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 0.98-1.12, P=0.17, I2=37%) were not found significant between both genders. However, it remained significant during hospitalization (OR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.03-1.22, I2=15%, Tau2=0.00).
Conclusions: The findings of this comprehensive meta-analysis indicate higher major adverse cardiac events among women with STEMI who underwent PPCI. After adjusting for comorbidities, the difference between women and men showed insignificant at short term and long term but remained significant at in-hospital. Female patients exhibited a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors than men. Implementing intensive cardiovascular risk reduction strategies in women may offer a pathway to address this gender disparity.
{"title":"A systematic review and meta-analysis investigating gender differences in in-hospital, short-term and long-term outcomes among patients who underwent primary PCI.","authors":"Iva Patel, Pooja Vyas, Anand Shukla, Pratik Shah, Deepanshu Assudani, Khushboo Chauhan","doi":"10.23736/S2724-5683.24.06670-5","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-5683.24.06670-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>To assess how gender disparities impact major adverse cardiovascular events during hospitalization, as well as in the short and long term, among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who undergo primary PCI.</p><p><strong>Evidence acquisition: </strong>PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane database were searched for relevant studies. Studies were included if all comers with STEMI, reported gender specific patient characteristics, treatments and outcomes. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated using random effect model.</p><p><strong>Evidence synthesis: </strong>A total of 23 studies were included for the pooled meta-analysis. Average age of female at presentation was 68.61±3.91 years while in male was 60.83±2.48 years. In unadjusted analysis, female patients were at higher risk for mortality (OR=1.98, 95% CI: 1.71-2.30, P<0.0001, I<sup>2</sup>=35%) at hospitalization, (OR=2.25, 95% CI=1.75-2.88, P≤0.00001) at short term and (OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.41-2.21, P<0.000, I<sup>2</sup>=68%) at long term. The adjusted analysis of major adverse cardiovascular events for short term (OR=1.09, 95% CI: 0.91-1.31, P=0.37, I<sup>2</sup>=76%) and long term (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 0.98-1.12, P=0.17, I<sup>2</sup>=37%) were not found significant between both genders. However, it remained significant during hospitalization (OR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.03-1.22, I<sup>2</sup>=15%, Tau<sup>2</sup>=0.00).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings of this comprehensive meta-analysis indicate higher major adverse cardiac events among women with STEMI who underwent PPCI. After adjusting for comorbidities, the difference between women and men showed insignificant at short term and long term but remained significant at in-hospital. Female patients exhibited a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors than men. Implementing intensive cardiovascular risk reduction strategies in women may offer a pathway to address this gender disparity.</p>","PeriodicalId":18668,"journal":{"name":"Minerva cardiology and angiology","volume":" ","pages":"787-796"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143190013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-04-11DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5683.24.06664-X
Muhammad R Cheema, Faizan Ahmed, Farman Ali, Zulfiqar Q Baloch, Abdul M Minhas, Faisal Khosa, Nishant Shah
Background: This study examined trends and disparities in USA mortality rates associated with the co-occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and dyslipidemia from 1999-2020.
Methods: Data were obtained from the multiple cause of death files using CDC WONDER, spanning 1999-2020. ICD-10 codes (I20-I25 for CAD and E78 for dyslipidemia) identified CAD and dyslipidemia-related deaths in adults aged 25 and older. Statistical analyses examined demographic and regional mortality distributions. Joinpoint regression analysis determined trends in age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR), estimating annual percentage changes (APC).
Results: Between 1999 and 2020, 613,969 CAD and dyslipidemia-related deaths occurred in the USA. The AAMR per 100,000 increased from 6.2 in 1999 to 19.0 in 2020. The AAMR rose sharply from 1999-2005 (APC: 10.2; 95% CI: 9.1, 11.3), increased from 2005-2010 (APC: 3.3; 95% CI: 2.6, 5.0), stabilized through 2010-2016 (APC: 0.8; 95% CI: -0.5, 1.4), and increased again from 2016-2019 (APC: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.7, 4.7). Men accounted for 59.8% of deaths, with an AAMR of 18.2, compared to 8.7 for women. Non-Hispanic (NH) American Indian (13.4) and NH white populations (13.3) had the highest AAMRs, followed by NH black or African American (12), Hispanic or Latino (9.8), and NH Asian or Pacific Islanders (9.1). The Midwest had the highest AAMR (14.1), followed by the West (13.8), South (12.2), and Northeast (11.3). Nonmetropolitan areas had higher AAMRs (14.7) compared to metropolitan areas (12.4).
Conclusions: Mortality due to concurrent CAD and dyslipidemia is increasing. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce mortality among vulnerable groups.
{"title":"Trends in coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia-related mortality in the USA from 1999-2020.","authors":"Muhammad R Cheema, Faizan Ahmed, Farman Ali, Zulfiqar Q Baloch, Abdul M Minhas, Faisal Khosa, Nishant Shah","doi":"10.23736/S2724-5683.24.06664-X","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-5683.24.06664-X","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study examined trends and disparities in USA mortality rates associated with the co-occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and dyslipidemia from 1999-2020.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were obtained from the multiple cause of death files using CDC WONDER, spanning 1999-2020. ICD-10 codes (I20-I25 for CAD and E78 for dyslipidemia) identified CAD and dyslipidemia-related deaths in adults aged 25 and older. Statistical analyses examined demographic and regional mortality distributions. Joinpoint regression analysis determined trends in age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR), estimating annual percentage changes (APC).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 1999 and 2020, 613,969 CAD and dyslipidemia-related deaths occurred in the USA. The AAMR per 100,000 increased from 6.2 in 1999 to 19.0 in 2020. The AAMR rose sharply from 1999-2005 (APC: 10.2; 95% CI: 9.1, 11.3), increased from 2005-2010 (APC: 3.3; 95% CI: 2.6, 5.0), stabilized through 2010-2016 (APC: 0.8; 95% CI: -0.5, 1.4), and increased again from 2016-2019 (APC: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.7, 4.7). Men accounted for 59.8% of deaths, with an AAMR of 18.2, compared to 8.7 for women. Non-Hispanic (NH) American Indian (13.4) and NH white populations (13.3) had the highest AAMRs, followed by NH black or African American (12), Hispanic or Latino (9.8), and NH Asian or Pacific Islanders (9.1). The Midwest had the highest AAMR (14.1), followed by the West (13.8), South (12.2), and Northeast (11.3). Nonmetropolitan areas had higher AAMRs (14.7) compared to metropolitan areas (12.4).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Mortality due to concurrent CAD and dyslipidemia is increasing. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce mortality among vulnerable groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":18668,"journal":{"name":"Minerva cardiology and angiology","volume":" ","pages":"692-701"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144034162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-12DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07034-6
Daniela Ferraccioli, Diego Fiume, Gaetano Gioffrè, Claudia Cacace, Elisa DE Carolis, Giulia Liciani, Luigi DI Lallo, Michele Arciuolo, Stefano Coppa, Silvia Carlini, Simone Parrino, Lisa Befani, Alessandro M Martini, Mario Peverini, Massimo Galletti
{"title":"Removal of epidural catheter in a patient with postoperative acute coronary syndrome under dual antiplatelet therapy.","authors":"Daniela Ferraccioli, Diego Fiume, Gaetano Gioffrè, Claudia Cacace, Elisa DE Carolis, Giulia Liciani, Luigi DI Lallo, Michele Arciuolo, Stefano Coppa, Silvia Carlini, Simone Parrino, Lisa Befani, Alessandro M Martini, Mario Peverini, Massimo Galletti","doi":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07034-6","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.07034-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18668,"journal":{"name":"Minerva cardiology and angiology","volume":" ","pages":"797-798"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145040681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-05-05DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06704-3
Laura A Dalla Vecchia, Francesco DE Stefano, Maurizio Bussotti, Cosmo Godino, Marco Bernardi, Luigi Spadafora, Edvige Palazzo Adriano, Pasquale Guarini, Roberto F Pedretti
The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a worldwide challenge. CVDs, in particular atherosclerotic CVD, are still an important cause of mortality and morbidity. The increase in life expectancy is a further determining factor in the epidemiology of CVDs in some countries, such as Italy, which increases the urgency of intervening on modifiable risk factors. Among these, hypercholesterolemia is present in a significant percentage of CVD patients. A linear relationship between the risk of acute events and the plasma level of low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL-C) is well known. The reduction of LDL-C levels leads to a decrease in mortality and morbidity. The overall recommendation is to treat hypercholesterolemia intensively and as early as possible. Statins, ezetimibe, bempedoic acid, pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 inhibitors (i.e., the monoclonal antibodies alirocumab and evolocumab, or the small interfering RNA inclisiran) are all available for reaching LDL-C targets according to risk profile. While the real-world data confirm the safety of currently recommended LDL-C targets, data on their actual achievement are discouraging, less than half of patients on therapy reach the LDL-C targets recommended by the most recent ESC/EAS Guidelines. The causes of this critical discrepancy are multiple, arising from the various components that characterize the complex relationship between patient and physician within the healthcare system. A call to action is needed. Doctors should be continuously updated on the latest evidence, follow recommendations and engage the patient in the therapeutic process. Regular monitoring of the effects of the prescribed therapy, also through e-health and telemedicine tools, is essential, as well as changing therapy when LDL-C is not adequately controlled. Finally, health systems should align with guidelines and promote good clinical practices, overcoming a silo system, to impact outcomes in terms of overall sustainability.
{"title":"Hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease: the dilemma of effective treatment for target achievement according to guidelines and national healthcare policies and a call to action.","authors":"Laura A Dalla Vecchia, Francesco DE Stefano, Maurizio Bussotti, Cosmo Godino, Marco Bernardi, Luigi Spadafora, Edvige Palazzo Adriano, Pasquale Guarini, Roberto F Pedretti","doi":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06704-3","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06704-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a worldwide challenge. CVDs, in particular atherosclerotic CVD, are still an important cause of mortality and morbidity. The increase in life expectancy is a further determining factor in the epidemiology of CVDs in some countries, such as Italy, which increases the urgency of intervening on modifiable risk factors. Among these, hypercholesterolemia is present in a significant percentage of CVD patients. A linear relationship between the risk of acute events and the plasma level of low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL-C) is well known. The reduction of LDL-C levels leads to a decrease in mortality and morbidity. The overall recommendation is to treat hypercholesterolemia intensively and as early as possible. Statins, ezetimibe, bempedoic acid, pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 inhibitors (i.e., the monoclonal antibodies alirocumab and evolocumab, or the small interfering RNA inclisiran) are all available for reaching LDL-C targets according to risk profile. While the real-world data confirm the safety of currently recommended LDL-C targets, data on their actual achievement are discouraging, less than half of patients on therapy reach the LDL-C targets recommended by the most recent ESC/EAS Guidelines. The causes of this critical discrepancy are multiple, arising from the various components that characterize the complex relationship between patient and physician within the healthcare system. A call to action is needed. Doctors should be continuously updated on the latest evidence, follow recommendations and engage the patient in the therapeutic process. Regular monitoring of the effects of the prescribed therapy, also through e-health and telemedicine tools, is essential, as well as changing therapy when LDL-C is not adequately controlled. Finally, health systems should align with guidelines and promote good clinical practices, overcoming a silo system, to impact outcomes in terms of overall sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":18668,"journal":{"name":"Minerva cardiology and angiology","volume":" ","pages":"682-691"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143978787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}