Cardiovascular conditions Flashcards
What is cardiovascular disease (CVD)?
a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels
List eight conditions that cause CVD.
coronary artery disease angina peripheral arterial disease myocardial infarction hypertensive heart diseases cerebral vascular disease (stroke) heart failure atrial fibrillation
List six behavioural risk factors of CVD that can be modified.
smoking high cholesterol high blood pressure poor diet harmful drinking physical inactivity
List five environmental and social risk factors of CVD.
family history financial inequalities employment housing air pollution
What genetic condition can lead to CVD?
familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) affects 1 in 250-500 people in the UK
What is the main risk factor for CVD?
cholesterol (7.1% of deaths)
What is an atheroma?
reversible accumulation of cholesterol and degenerative tissue in the tunica intima of the arterial wall
include (1) lipids (intracellular and extracellular) (2) fibrous connective tissue (3) cells (macrophages and smooth muscle)
What happens if cholesterol and degenerative tissue continue to accumulate?
macrophages enter the tunica intima to digest the lipids leading to foam cells
this coincides with growth factors and the infiltration/proliferation of smooth muscle with connective tissue forming a thin fibrous cap on the surface
What are the five stages of atherosclerosis?
(1) endothelial dysfunction
(2) formation of lipid layer within the intima
(3) migration of leukocytes and smooth muscle cells into the vessel wall
(4) foam cell formation
(5) degradation of extracellular matrix
What is the QRISK assessment tool?
calculates a person’s risk of developing a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years
used in primary care
focuses on the primary prevention of CVD in people aged up to 84
Who does not benefit from the QRISK tool?
people with a diagnosis of CVD (e.g. peripheral arterial disease, CVA, TIA)
people at high risk of CVD due to FH
people aged 85+ years (considered high risk due to age, higher if they smoke or have hypertension)
What is the prevalence of coronary heart disease in the UK?
7.4 million
What is the prevalence of angina in England?
2 million
What is the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease in the UK?
1 in 5 >60 years
What is the prevalence of myocardial infarction in the UK?
750-1250 per million
What is the prevalence of hypertension in England?
1 in 4 adults
What is the prevalence of CVA in the UK?
150,000 per year
What is the prevalence of heart failure in the UK?
920,000
What is the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the UK?
1.4 million
What is the third biggest risk factor for premature death and disability in England after smoking and poor diet (PHE, 2017)?
hypertension
People from the most deprived areas in England are how much more likely to have hypertension compared to people from the least deprived areas (PHE, 2017)?
30%
What percentage of all heart attacks and strokes are associated with hypertension (PHE, 2017)?
at least 50%
Hypertension is a major risk factor for which other conditions (PHE, 2017)?
chronic kidney disease, heart failure, dementia
What percentage of GP appointments are related to hypertension and its complications?
12%
What is the estimated cost of hypertension to the NHS per year?
£2 billion
What is the renin-angiotensin system (RAS)?
a hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid and electrolyte balance, as well as systemic vascular resistance
The development of hypertension can be broken down into which two parts?
primary and secondary
What factors are involved in the primary development of hypertension?
family history race stress obesity diet high in fat or sodium smoking sedentary lifestyle ageing
What factors are involved in the secondary development of hypertension?
the presence of other conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, neurological disorders, pregnancy, renovascular disorders)
What is stage 1 hypertension?
clinic reading is 140/90 mmHg or higher
subsequent ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) daytime average or home BP monitoring (HBPM) average BP is 135/85 mmHg or higher
What is stage 2 hypertension?
clinic reading is 160/100 mmHg or higher
subsequent ABPM daytime average or HBPM average BP is 150/95 mmHg or higher
What is severe hypertension?
clinic systolic BP is 180 mmHg or higher, OR
clinic diastolic BP is 110 mmHg or higher
What are the main complications of persistent hypertension?
brain - CVA, hypertensive encephalopathy (confusion, headache, convulsion)
retina of eye - hypertensive retinopathy
heart - MI, hypertensive cardiomyopathy (heart failure)
blood - elevated glucose levels
kidneys - hypertensive nephropathy (chronic renal failure)
What are the signs and symptoms of hypertension?
signs - elevated BP, nosebleed, shortness of breath
symptoms - persistent headache, dizziness, vision problems
many people have no signs and symptoms as part of the 5.5 million people with undetected hypertension
What is usually the first-line approach for treating hypertension?
altering lifestyle choices (e.g. diet, weight loss, smoking, exercise)
can be combined with pharmacological interventions
Why should adults of black African or Afro-Caribbean origin be considered for an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) or calcium channel blocker (CCB)?
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have limited benefit in managing hypertension in this patient group
What is the pharmacological treatment pathway for patients under 55 years?
target < 80 years 140/90 mmHg
first-line - ACE/ARB
second-line - ACE and ARB
third-line - ACE and ARB and thiazide-like diuretic
What is the pharmacological treatment pathway for patients over 55 years?
target > 80 years 150/90 mmHg
first-line - CCB
second-line - CCB and ACE/ARBs
third-line - CCB and ACE/ARB and diuretic
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS
Amlodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem - actions
vascular dilatation lowers blood pressure
amlodipine and nifedipine dilate arterial resistance vessels
(verapamil acts mainly on the heart, slowing the rate)
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS
Amlodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem - MOA
block voltage-gated calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle which inhibits calcium influx and thus contraction
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS
Amlodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem - abs/distrib/elim
given orally
amlodipine half-life 35h
nifedipine half-life 2h
verapamil undergoes first-pass metabolism, half-life ~4h
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS
Amlodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem - clinical use
hypertension
chronic stable angina pectoris
Prinzmetal’s angina
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS
Amlodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem - adverse effects
nifedipine and amlodipine: reflex tachycardia, hypotension and headache due to vasodilatation
ankle swelling
constipation
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS
Amlodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem - special points
grapefruit juice increases the effects
ANGIOTENSIN ANTAGONISTS
Losartan, valsartan, candesartan, irbesartan - actions
lowers blood pressure by decreasing vasoconstrictor tone
ANGIOTENSIN ANTAGONISTS
Losartan, valsartan, candesartan, irbesartan - MOA
blocks the action of angiotensin II on the angiotensin II (AT1 subtype) receptor
ANGIOTENSIN ANTAGONISTS
Losartan, valsartan, candesartan, irbesartan - abs/distrib/elim
given orally
half-life 1-2h
half-life of metabolite 3-4h
ANGIOTENSIN ANTAGONISTS
Losartan, valsartan, candesartan, irbesartan - clinical use
hypertension
congestive heart failure
nephropathy
ANGIOTENSIN ANTAGONISTS
Losartan, valsartan, candesartan, irbesartan - adverse effects
hypotension, dizziness
hyperkalaemia can occur
ANGIOTENSIN ANTAGONISTS
Losartan, valsartan, candesartan, irbesartan - special points
does not cause the dry cough or angioedema seen with the ACE inhibitors