Cardio Round-Up: The Relationship Between Cardiovascular Disease and Vitamin D; and More

To D or not to D? The Relationship between Cardiovascular Disease and Vitamin D

For years, clinical research has been unclear regarding the relationship between vitamin D and cardiovascular disease (CVD). While low levels of vitamin D are correlated with increased risk of CV outcomes including myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation, this does not necessarily indicate causation of poor CVD outcomes. Specifically, Mendelian randomization (MR) studies (a study design which measures variation in genes to determine a causal relationship between exposure and outcome) and other randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis have refuted the notion that Vitamin D replacement causing a reduction in CVD mortality or major adverse cardiac events. What could explain this discrepancy between expected vs observed benefit of Vitamin D supplementation? This topic was explored during CardioNerds Episode 91: Aspirin, Vitamin D, Calcium & Omega 3 Fatty Acids Supplementation with Dr. Erin Michos.

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Going to Bed Late Among the Causes of Premature Coronary Artery Disease

Seeking to uncover the role of quantity and quality of sleep in the frequency of cardiovascular diseases, researchers examined a cohort of 30,101 patients from the Khuzestan Comprehensive Health Study (KCHS) and observed that a late bedtime was significantly associated with incidence of premature coronary artery disease (CAD), highlighting a potential avenue for investigation of premature CAD causes. The study’s report was published in Archives of Iranian Medicine.

Prognostic Value of Interleukin-6 for Stroke and Mortality in Atrial Fibrillation

In a study, published in the Anatolian Journal of Cardiology, researchers examined the prognostic value of interleukin-6 (IL-6) for mortality and stroke in atrial fibrillation (AFib). The investigators, led by Xiaoyue Jia, conducted a cohort trial and a meta-analysis and found that increased levels of circulating IL-6 was “significantly associated with a greater risk of stroke and all-cause mortality in patients with AFib.”