Higher serum uric acid levels and risk of all-cause mortality in general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Population-based studies have reported a relationship between high serum uric acid (SUA) levels and all-cause mortality; however, findings are inconsistent. To address this issue, we conducted a meta-analysis of general population-based studies.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Ovid Medline, EMBASE, and Web of science to identify relevant peer-reviewed articles using pre-specified search terms.

Effectiveness of social prescribing for chronic disease prevention in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Social prescribing (SP) enables healthcare professionals to link patients with non-medical interventions available in the community to address underlying socioeconomic and behavioural determinants. We synthesised the evidence to understand the effectiveness of SP for chronic disease prevention.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using five databases and two registries.

Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in the elderly: current status and future directions.

The role of aspirin in the secondary prevention of occlusive cardiovascular events has now been well established. Given this, aspirin in primary prevention has been the focus of several large trials and subsequent meta-analyses over the past 3 decades, and yet the issue remains controversial. Recent studies in populations with high baseline risk - such as diabetics and those with asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease - have not found the expected benefits of aspirin on cardiovascular endpoints, which contrasts with earlier studies that reported a reduced relative risk for outcomes such as myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke, but not for mortality.

The Melbourne Atherosclerosis Vitamin E Trial (MAVET): a study of high dose vitamin E in smokers.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate whether vitamin E (500 IU) slowed the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in a population of chronic smokers over 4 years as measured by ultrasound determination of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and systemic arterial compliance (SAC).

Methods: The Melbourne Atherosclerosis Vitamin E Trial (MAVET) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 409 male and female smokers aged 55 years and over were randomized to receive 500 IU per day of natural vitamin E or placebo. The primary endpoint was progression of carotid atherosclerosis determined by intima-media thickness of the right common carotid artery.

Atherosclerosis and folic acid supplementation trial in chronic renal failure: baseline results.

Background: Atherosclerosis and Folic Acid Supplementation Trial (ASFAST) is a randomized placebo controlled trial assessing whether high-dose folic acid can reduce cardiovascular events and atherosclerosis progression in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). Here we report the baseline results and compare indices of arterial structure (carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT)) and function (systemic arterial compliance (SAC)), pressure augmentation index (AI(x)) and pulse wave velocity (PWV a-f and PWV f-d)) to age- and sex-matched controls.

Methods: Three hundred and fifteen subjects with CRF (serum creatinine > or = 0.