Villarreal Rizzo, Alan F

Objective To examine sex differences in the relationship between comorbid anemia and heart failure (HF) with 13-year all-cause mortality in Mexican American older adults aged 75 years and older. Methods Participants ( N = 1,615) aged ≥75 years were from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (2004/05–2016). Participants were categorized by anemia status, HF status, and sex. Cox proportional hazards regression models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for all-cause mortality. Results HF only was associated with higher mortality in males (HR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.12–1.78; p = 0.0039) and females (HR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.24–1.85; p < 0.0001). Anemia only (HR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.06–2.23; p = 0.0248) and comorbid anemia and HF (HR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.00–3.03; p = 0.0484) were associated with higher mortality only in males. Conclusion Anemia and HF were associated with greater mortality risk among older Mexican American males than females.

Resistant hypertension (RH) is a high-risk phenotype characterized by blood pressure readings ≥130/80 mmHg despite maximally tolerated therapy with three antihypertensive agents, including a diuretic, or controlled blood pressure requiring four or more medications. The diagnosis of RH requires a structured evaluation that confirms accurate blood pressure measurement, excludes pseudoresistance—particularly nonadherence and white coat hypertension—and identifies secondary causes such as obstructive sleep apnea, primary aldosteronism, renovascular disease, pheochromocytoma, and Cushing syndrome. RH arises from overlapping mechanisms, including activation of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), sympathetic overactivity, arterial stiffness, volume expansion, and immune-mediated pathways. Management begins with lifestyle modification and optimized triple therapy, followed by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists as the preferred fourth-line treatment. Emerging pharmacological options, such as sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, endothelin receptor antagonists, aldosterone synthase inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor and neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs), offer additional therapeutic potential; meanwhile, device-based interventions, including renal denervation and baroreflex activation therapy, have shown sustained blood pressure reductions in selected patients. Future directions highlight precision medicine, digital health technologies, and artificial intelligence as methods to improve diagnosis, guide individualized therapy, and enhance long-term blood pressure control.

Objectives Few studies have investigated health outcomes associated with arthritis in low-middle-income countries. Our objective was to examine the association between arthritis and all-cause hospitalization and mortality among middle-aged and older adults in Mexico. Methods Our sample included 12,106 participants aged >50 years from the 2012, 2015, and 2018 waves of the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Logistic regression was used for the associations between arthritis and hospitalization. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used for the association between arthritis and mortality. Results Arthritis was associated with higher odds of hospitalization (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.09–1.38), but not mortality. Arthritis with physical limitations had the highest odds of hospitalization (OR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.27–1.73). Arthritis with joint pain (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.10–1.41) and medication use (OR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.11–1.48) had higher odds of hospitalization. Conclusion Among middle-aged and older adults in Mexico, arthritis was associated with a high risk of hospitalization.