PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Primary care professionals key to helping people achieve & maintain heart health

Primary care professionals have a leading role in recognizing and addressing cardiovascular disease risk factors outlined in Life’s Essential 8, according to a new American Heart Association Scientific Statement

2024-11-13
(Press-News.org) Statement Highlights:

A new scientific statement outlines the role of primary care professionals in helping their patients achieve Life’s Essential 8, the key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health defined by the American Heart Association. The new statement highlights how primary care clinicians can help patients follow and maintain the Association’s Life’s Essential 8 health metrics for optimal cardiovascular health, which includes four health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure and sleep) and four health metrics (body mass index, cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure). Despite its potential to positively impact cardiovascular health, the field of primary care faces numerous challenges, including gaps in access to care, a small workforce that is facing burnout, difficulties with coordination of care and insufficient reimbursement for care. Embargoed until 4:00 a.m. CT/5:00 a.m. ET Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024

DALLAS, Nov. 13, 2024 — Primary care clinicians and practices are uniquely positioned to help people achieve optimal cardiovascular health through screening, diagnosing and treating the health behaviors and factors outlined in the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 health metrics to reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke, according to a new scientific statement published today in the Association’s peer-reviewed journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., however, an estimated 1 of every 4 deaths due to cardiovascular disease could be avoided by addressing modifiable risk factors with lifestyle changes and treatment. The Association’s Life’s Essential 8 are key measures for improving and maintaining optimal cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and other major health conditions. Life’s Essential 8 outlines four health behaviors—diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure and sleep; and four health factors— body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure.

“Primary care plays a central role in people’s health and health care across their lifetime,” said Chair of the statement writing group Madeline R. Sterling, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., FAHA, an associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. “Primary care professionals have the potential to greatly improve the identification and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors and health behaviors in their patients.”

Notably, recent data show that primary care, rather than specialty care, is the dominant source of care that can support patients in addressing the health behaviors and factors outlined in the American Heart Association Life’s Essential 8 for optimal cardiovascular health.

Each area within Life’s Essential 8 is modifiable with behavioral changes or medication management, and primary care professionals are often typically the ones who routinely screen for, diagnose and treat high blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Additionally, screening for and counseling on smoking cessation and weight are performed far more often in primary care compared to specialty care settings.

As highlighted in the scientific statement, effective primary care is person-centered, team-based, community-aligned and designed to achieve better health at lower costs. Primary care has been proven to improve the identification and treatment of cardiovascular health behaviors and risk factors, as outlined in Life’s Essential 8, including:

Nutrition and physical activity - Primary care clinicians and teams play a central role in counseling on nutrition and heart-healthy dietary plans, such as the Mediterranean Diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, as well as on the delivery of diet-related lifestyle and physical activity programs and interventions. Nicotine exposure - Nicotine exposure through tobacco use, vaping and secondhand smoke is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and is responsible for 20% of CVD deaths annually. Both behavioral and medication-based interventions are effective and can be addressed by primary care professionals. Sleep – Inadequate and/or poor-quality sleep are associated with risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. Primary care professionals can screen for poor sleep, examine potential causes and initiate medication changes and referral to sleep specialists when needed. Weight management - Obesity affects 42% of adults in the U.S., and primary care is an ideal setting to screen for elevated weight, refer individuals to nutrition and weight loss programs, prescribe medications, and, when appropriate, provide referrals to bariatric surgery or other interventions. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that behavioral weight management interventions for adults with obesity delivered via primary care settings were effective for weight loss. Blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol - Screening for risk factors such as elevated blood pressure, blood glucose and lipids are cornerstones of primary prevention for cardiovascular disease and achieved in the primary care setting. Primary care clinicians and practices are able to counsel on lifestyle, and they can prescribe treatment approaches that often include educational interventions, blood pressure self-monitoring, coaching programs to improve patient-guided management, interventions such as nutrition counseling and/or medications. One current review of 42 randomized control trials found that both individual and organizational level interventions (nurse and pharmacist management, community health workers, etc.) in primary care were effective at improving glycemic control among people with poorly managed Type 2 diabetes. Similar results have also been noted for people with high blood pressure treated in primary care settings. According to the American Heart Association’s 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report, the incidence of cardiovascular disease has declined in the U.S. However, only 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. have what is considered optimal cardiovascular health, which is associated with greater longevity and improved quality of life.

There are also marked disparities in care and health based on social and environmental factors, such as socioeconomic status, race and community factors, such as safe spaces to exercise and access to healthy foods.

“Primary care as a field can address some of these disparities by providing preventive care to screen patients for cardiovascular disease risk factors, encouraging people to adopt heart-healthy lifestyle behaviors to prevent health problems from developing or worsening, and initiating treatment to improve cardiometabolic health if necessary,” said Jeremy Sussman, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., associate professor of medicine at the University of Michigan and vice chair of the scientific statement.

Despite the potential to promote Life’s Essential 8, primary care professionals and practices face challenges that may limit their success in supporting patients to reduce cardiovascular risks. Research shows the benefits of having a higher ratio of primary care clinicians per person include a lower total cost of care and reduced illness and mortality. However, there are concerns about a shrinking primary care workforce that faces high levels of burnout, difficulties with coordination of care with other health professionals and insufficient financial support and reimbursement. Lack of health insurance coverage, unequal access to care and limited health resources in rural settings may also create barriers to better health.

“Primary care as a profession is under-valued and under-resourced, accounting for 35% of health care visits in the U.S., while accounting for only 5% of health care expenditures,” said Sterling. “For primary care to have a maximum impact on the variables outlined in Life’s Essential 8, it must be supported, promoted and valued by the health care community, public health systems and policymakers.”

The statement highlights ways to address these challenges, including payment reform, leveraging technology and promoting team-based care. It is notable that primary care professionals are among the lowest-paid clinicians in the U.S.  

“Effective support of primary care would require federal and state legislation to increase the overall portion of health care spending to primary care and to update how care and supporting programs are paid,” said Sussman.

A team-based care approach is also needed to support primary care professionals and promote collaboration via health system- and clinic-based initiatives. Technology and data infrastructure, such as electronic health records systems, clinical decision support tools and telehealth visits, can improve health care delivery and offer better support for primary care practices, and, in turn, patients. Evidence-based treatments also need to be incorporated into care more efficiently and consistently.

This scientific statement was prepared by the volunteer writing group on behalf of the American Heart Association’s Primary Care Science Committee of the Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research and the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; the Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation; and the Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health. American Heart Association scientific statements promote greater awareness about cardiovascular diseases and stroke issues and help facilitate informed health care decisions. Scientific statements outline what is currently known about a topic and what areas need additional research. While scientific statements inform the development of guidelines, they do not make treatment recommendations. American Heart Association guidelines provide the Association’s official clinical practice recommendations.

Additional co-authors and members of the writing group for the statement are Erin Ferranti, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., FAHA; Beverly B. Green, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA; Nathalie Moise, M.D., M.S., FAHA; Randi Foraker, Ph.D., M.A., FAHA; Soohyun Nam, Ph.D., A.P.R.N., A.N.P.-B.C., FAHA; Stephen P. Juraschek, M.D., Ph.D., A.H.S.C.P.-C.H.S., FAHA; Cheryl A.M. Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S., FAHA; and Paul St. Laurent, D.N.P., R.N. Authors’ disclosures are listed in the manuscript.

The Association receives funding primarily from individuals. Foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers, and the Association’s overall financial information are available here.

Additional Resources:

Available multimedia is on right column of release link. After Nov. 13, 2024, view the manuscript online. AHA news release: New guideline: Preventing a first stroke may be possible with screening, lifestyle changes (Oct. 2024) AHA Presidential Advisory: Forecasting the Burden of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in the United States Through 2050—Prevalence of Risk Factors and Disease (June 2024) AHA Presidential Advisory: Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health (Oct. 2023) AHA Presidential Advisory: Life’s Essential 8: Updating and Enhancing the American Heart Association’s Construct of Cardiovascular Health (June 2022) Follow AHA/ASA news on X @HeartNews Follow news from the AHA’s Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes journal @CircOutcomes ###

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact, our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Early detection, intensive treatment critical for high-risk patients with Kawasaki Disease

2024-11-13
Embargoed until 4:00 a.m. CT/5:00 a.m. ET Wed., Nov. 13, 2024 DALLAS, Nov. 13, 2024 — Advances in cardiac imaging techniques and risk categorization have led to improvements in diagnosis, initial treatment and long-term management of patients with Kawasaki Disease, according to a new scientific statement published today in the American Heart Association’s flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation. The new statement, “Update on Diagnosis and Management of Kawasaki Disease,” summarizes the data published since the 2017 American Heart Association Scientific Statement ...

A phase-transformable membrane for efficient gas separation could revolutionize industrial applications

A phase-transformable membrane for efficient gas separation could revolutionize industrial applications
2024-11-13
Industrial gas separation, essential for clean energy and environmental protection, demands efficiency and adaptability. Current materials, however, lack the flexibility to selectively separate gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) and hydrogen (H₂) while remaining energy-efficient. Researchers at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS) at Kyoto University and the Department of Chemical Engineering at National Taiwan University have developed a phase-transformable membrane that could meet these needs.   This innovative membrane design relies on a unique combination of metal-organic polyhedra (MOP) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains. “Traditional ...

From camera to lab: Dr. Etienne Sibille transforms brain aging and depression research

From camera to lab: Dr. Etienne Sibille transforms brain aging and depression research
2024-11-13
Toronto, Canada, November 13, 2024 - In science, the most fascinating breakthroughs often come from unexpected places. For Dr. Etienne Sibille, professor at the University of Toronto, and director of the Neurobiology of Depression and Aging program at CAMH, and co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Damona Pharmaceuticals, the path to revolutionizing mental health treatment began not in a laboratory, but through a camera lens in New York City.  "I grew up in France and went to medical school, but it was not for me. I was too restless and moved to ...

Depression rates in LGBTQIA+ students are three times higher than their peers, new research suggests

2024-11-13
The findings, which were published in the Journal of American College Health, uncover an alarming rise in depression rates among all higher education students in the United States, but especially among sexual and gender minorities. This population includes those who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+), non-binary or gender non-conforming, and other identities.    “This study highlights the critical need for targeted interventions to support the mental health and well-being ...

Most parents don’t ask about firearms in the homes their kids visit

2024-11-13
Over 60 percent of Illinois parents had never asked another parent about an unlocked firearm in their home before allowing their child to visit for a playdate, according to a survey from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago published in Pediatrics. Many parents reported they had not asked about firearms because it never occurred to them to do so, which highlights a critical need to raise awareness of this important safety concern. Among children 0-14 years old, almost 20 percent of unintentional firearm-related deaths occur at a friend’s home. ...

Beer-only drinkers’ diets are worse than wine drinkers

2024-11-13
SAN DIEGO, California (Nov. 13, 2024) — Beer drinkers have lower-quality diets, are less active, and are more likely to smoke cigarettes than people who drink wine, liquor, or a combination, according to a study scheduled for presentation at The Liver Meeting, held by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. “Alcohol overuse is the leading cause of cirrhosis in the U.S., and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is rapidly increasing,” said Madeline Novack, chief resident at Tulane School of Medicine’s internal medicine residency program and lead author of the study. “Both ...

Eco-friendly biomass pretreatment method yields efficient biofuels and adsorbents

Eco-friendly biomass pretreatment method yields efficient biofuels and adsorbents
2024-11-13
As global demand for sustainable energy solutions increases, bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass is gaining traction. However, traditional methods face limitations due to high processing costs and waste issues. A recent study led by Xinchuan Yuan, published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, presents an innovative biomass pretreatment method that not only improves bioethanol production efficiency but also utilizes biomass residues as bio-adsorbents for wastewater treatment, potentially transforming the industry.   Producing ...

How graph convolutions amplify popularity bias for recommendation?

How graph convolutions amplify popularity bias for recommendation?
2024-11-13
Graph convolutional networks (GCNs) have become prevalent in recommender system (RS) due to their superiority in modeling collaborative patterns. Although improving the overall accuracy, GCNs unfortunately amplify popularity bias --- tail items are less likely to be recommended. This effect prevents the GCN-based RS from making precise and fair recommendations, decreasing the effectiveness of recommender systems in the long run.   Performance change of LightGCN with different graph convolution layers on Gowalla. Recall@20 and TR@20 ...

New lignin-based hydrogel breakthrough for wound healing and controlled drug release

New lignin-based hydrogel breakthrough for wound healing and controlled drug release
2024-11-13
As the demand for advanced wound healing and drug delivery materials grows, scientists are turning to sustainable, bioactive materials for innovative solutions. A recent study by Bowei Wang et al., published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, presents a breakthrough in lignin-based hydrogels designed to combine mechanical strength with bioactivity. This research reveals a controlled-release polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) hydrogel, augmented with sulfonated lignin, which could revolutionize the treatment of complex wounds and enable sustained drug ...

Enhancing compatibility and biodegradability of PLA/biomass composites via forest residue torrefaction

Enhancing compatibility and biodegradability of PLA/biomass composites via forest residue torrefaction
2024-11-13
With an increasing focus on environmental sustainability, researchers are seeking ways to improve the biodegradability and mechanical properties of bioplastics, particularly polylactic acid (PLA). A recent study by June-Ho Choi and colleagues, published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, presents a promising approach that enhances the compatibility and decomposition of PLA when combined with biomass through a process called torrefaction. This innovation offers practical improvements for sustainable material applications, positioning PLA as a viable, eco-friendly alternative in various industries. PLA, ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Revolutionizing biology education: Scientists film ‘giant’ mimivirus in action

Genetic variation enhances cancer drug sensitivity

Protective genetic mutation offers new hope for understanding autism and brain development

Colombia's Dr. Natalia Acosta-Baena uncovers critical link between brain development and degeneration

How can we reduce adolescent pregnancies in low- and middle-income countries?

When sun protection begets malnutrition: vitamin D deficiency in Japanese women

Cannabis use can cause chromosomal damage, increasing cancer risk and harming offspring

Survey finds many Americans apply misguided and counterproductive advice to combat holiday weight gain

New study reveals half a century of change on Britain’s iconic limestone pavements

Green flight paths could unlock sustainable aviation, new research suggests

Community partners key to success of vaccine clinic focused on neurodevelopmental conditions

Low-carbon collaborative dual-layer optimization for energy station considering joint electricity and heat demand response

McMaster University researchers uncover potential treatment for rare genetic disorders

The return of protectionism: The impact of the Sino-US trade war

UTokyo and NARO develop new vertical seed distribution trait for soybean breeding

Research into UK’s use of plastic packaging finds households ‘wishcycle’ rather than recycle – risking vast contamination

Vaccine shows promise against aggressive breast cancer

Adverse events affect over 1 in 3 surgery patients, US study finds

Outsourcing adult social care has contributed to England’s care crisis, argue experts

The Lancet: Over 800 million adults living with diabetes, more than half not receiving treatment, global study suggests

New therapeutic approach for severe COVID-19: faster recovery and reduction in mortality

Plugged wells and reduced injection lower induced earthquake rates in Oklahoma

Yin selected as a 2024 American Society of Agronomy Fellow

Long Covid could cost the economy billions every year

Bluetooth technology unlocks urban animal secrets

This nifty AI tool helps neurosurgeons find sneaky cancer cells

Treatment advances, predictive biomarkers stand to improve bladder cancer care

NYC's ride-hailing fee failed to ease Manhattan traffic, new NYU Tandon study reveals

Meteorite contains evidence of liquid water on Mars 742 million years ago

Self-reported screening helped reduce distressing symptoms for pediatric patients with cancer

[Press-News.org] Primary care professionals key to helping people achieve & maintain heart health
Primary care professionals have a leading role in recognizing and addressing cardiovascular disease risk factors outlined in Life’s Essential 8, according to a new American Heart Association Scientific Statement