Objective(s): Football as the most popular sport could improve insufficient physical activity in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. A modified ‘healthy’ football training format could motivate hypertensive patients to return to sport and improve risk factors. Methods: The 3F study: ‘Fit and Fun with Football’ a prospective interventional study with 1 year follow-up. Football group: n = 103, structured ‘health’-football training (1×/week, 90 min) led by Deutscher Fußball Bund-licensed football coaches. Hypertensive patients at least 45 years who have not exercised for several years were compared with a control group (n = 105). Primary study objective: Reduction of office (OBP) and/or 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) and/or reduction of number or dosage of antihypertensive medication. Main results: OBP values decreased significantly in the football group from 142.6/87.9 to 130.8/81.8 mmHg (P < 0.001), in the control group the values increased slightly (NS). ABPM values decreased significantly in the football group, while a slight increase was found in the control group. At the end of the study, the mean values in the football group of both OPB (P < 0.001) and ABPM (systolic P < 0.001, diastolic P = 0.017) were significantly lower than in the control group. Significantly more people in the football group were able to reduce antihypertensive patients than in the control group (football group:16, control group:6), while more participants in the control group intensified antihypertensive therapy (football group:3, control group:14) (P < 0.001). Among the secondary endpoints, there was a weight loss of 3 kg in the football group and an increase of 1.7 kg in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Offering modified ‘healthy’ football-training to middle-aged hypertensive patients can lead to better BP control and a reduction of antihypertensive medication. Therefore, the offer of ‘health football’ should be established and supported by clubs, insurances and authorities.

Background: This prospective cohort study examines the association between hyperuricemia (HU) and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the current study was to assess whether there might be a correlation between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular risk and future cardiovascular events. Methods: We analyzed data from 4082 participants, dividing them into two groups based on serum uric acid levels. Results: Our findings reveal that participants with elevated serum uric acid or xanthine oxidase inhibitor (XOI) therapy had a significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular events such as coronary artery disease (8.4% vs. 3.3%), stroke (2.6% vs. 1.2%), heart failure (3.4% vs. 0.9%), and chronic kidney insufficiency (4.5% vs. 1.9%) compared to those with normal uric acid levels. Moreover, group 2, which had higher serum uric acid levels, also exhibited a higher burden of established cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. These results support the hypothesis that HU is not only a marker for metabolic dysfunction but may also serve as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Conclusions: We propose that routine measurement of uric acid levels could be a valuable tool for early identification of high-risk cardiovascular patients, particularly in individuals with multiple metabolic risk factors. Further prospective studies are needed to explore the potential benefits of early XOI therapy in reducing cardiovascular events.

Following the publication of the new US guidelines, especially the new classifications of hypertension and the general reduction in treatment targets were discussed worldwide. Applying the US guidelines to a recent German cohort study would in practice lead to a significant increase in the diagnosis of “hypertension” in untreated patients. The number of under-adjusted patients would also increase sharply, increasing more than those predicted in the US Guidelines. Affected by an intensified antihypertensive therapy would be particularly elderly patients, in which adverse drug reactions but also occur more frequently. It seems doubtful whether the massive increase in the diagnosis “hypertension” can improve the supply situation: the opposite effect of avoiding therapists and patients could occur. Determining the individual risk with suitable, evaluated instruments certainly makes sense to treat more targeted patients. More important than new blood pressure limits is a more accurate classification of blood pressure. Repeated self-measurements and ambulatory blood pressure measurement lead to a better selection of patients benefiting from a therapy.

This prospective cohort study examines the association between hyperuricemia (HU) and cardiovascular diseases. We analyzed data from 4,082 participants, dividing them into two groups based on serum uric acid levels. Our findings reveal that participants with elevated serum uric acid or xanthine oxidase inhibitor (XOI) therapy had a significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular events such as coronary artery disease (8.4% vs 3.3%), stroke (2.6% vs. 1.2%), heart failure (3.4% vs. 0.9%), and chronic kidney insufficiency (4.5% vs. 1.9%) compared to those with normal uric acid levels. Moreover, group 2, which had higher serum uric acid levels, also exhibited a higher burden of established cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. These results support the hypothesis that HU is not only a marker for metabolic dysfunction but may also serve as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We propose that routine measurement of uric acid levels could be a valuable tool for early identification of high-risk cardiovascular patients, particularly in individuals with multiple metabolic risk factors. Further prospective studies are needed to explore the potential benefits of early XOI therapy in reducing cardiovascular events.

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund Die COVID-19-Pandemie und deren Maßnahmen haben zu einem Defizit der medizinischen Versorgung und zu Änderungen in der Lebensführung der Menschen geführt, was in der Konsequenz auch die kardio- und zerebrovaskuläre Primär- und Sekundärprävention verändert hat. Die vorhandenen Daten beruhen im Wesentlichen auf Umfragen. Neben der Problematik der Korrektheit von Selbsteinschätzungen können die Pandemie per se und die massive öffentliche Berichterstattung die Daten verzerrt haben.Nur wenige Publikationen haben vor der Pandemie erhobene Daten mit den Ergebnissen im Verlauf der Pandemie verglichen. In der ELITE-Studie werden seit Jahren bei über 5000 Teilnehmern regelmäßige Kontrollen von Risikofaktoren (RF) und psychosozialen Parametern (Stress, Depressionen, Wohlbefinden, Ernährung, Hirnleistung, Bewegung) vorgenommen. Aus dieser Studie wurden die Daten von 1775 Personen ausgewertet, die vor Beginn und erneut während der Pandemie (06.05.2020–25.01.2022) erhoben wurden. Damit waren die Ausgangswerte unbeeinflusst von der Pandemie. Ergebnisse Erwartungsgemäß fanden sich sowohl Verbesserungen als auch Verschlechterungen der erhobenen Parameter. Blutdruck und depressive Symptome verschlechterten sich signifikant häufiger, wobei Frauen häufiger betroffen waren. Auch das Gewicht und die Stressbelastung stiegen häufiger an, als dass sie sich verbesserten. Nur die körperliche Aktivität zeigte eine geringgradige Zunahme. 24,1 % wiesen ausschließlich Verschlechterungen und keine Verbesserungen dieser Parameter auf. Demgegenüber zeigten 19,6 % ausschließlich Verbesserungen. In der Gruppe mit ausschließlich Verschlechterungen fand sich ein signifikanter Anstieg von Personen mit den Risikofaktoren (RF) Hypertonie, Adipositas, erhöhtes LDL-Cholesterin, Nikotin und Diabetes mellitus. Dies führte zu einer Zunahme von Personen mit 2 und mehr RF. Dagegen reduzierte sich die Zahl von Personen mit 2 und mehr RF in der Gruppe, die nur Verbesserungen aufwies. Auffällig war, dass sich Personen mit Risikofaktoren häufiger verbesserten. Folgerung Bei einem nicht unerheblichen Teil der Bevölkerung kam es in der Pandemie zu deutlichen Verschlechterungen der RF. Dies betraf besonders den Blutdruck und depressive Symptome – und dabei häufiger Frauen.