Baependi Heart Study Research Articles

Association between early menarche and hypertension in pre and postmenopausal women: Baependi Heart Study.

Early menarche has been associated with an increased risk of arterial hypertension. Whether the association between early menarche and hypertension is independent of menopausal status is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between early menarche and hypertension in pre and postmenopausal women. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 1406 women aged 18-100. Age at menarche, menopause status, hemodynamic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected by using standard protocols. Menarche <12 years was defined as early menarche. Systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥90 mmHg and/or intake of antihypertensive medication, were used as criteria for hypertension. In total, 21.3% of women had early menarche (<12 years), and the frequency of hypertension was 38.7%. Premenopausal women with early menarche had a 58% higher chance of developing hypertension, even after adjusting for age, obesity, and smoking [odds ratio (OR) 1.58; (95% confidence interval, CI 1.016-2.461)]. In postmenopausal women, age, obesity, and diabetes mellitus were predictors of hypertension, while early menarche was not. The odds of hypertension were higher with early menarche, but only in women of reproductive age. In postmenopausal women, the physiological changes inherent to aging and the presence of more comorbidities, such as diabetes, might overlap the influence of early menarche on hypertension.

Gender differences in the relationship between sleep and age in a Brazilian cohort: the Baependi Heart Study.

Gender and age are well-established determinants of health and sleep health that influence overall health, which also often varies by gender and age. Sleep architecture is an important component of sleep health. The goal of this analysis was to examine whether associations between age and sleep stages differ by gender in the absence of moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a rural setting in Brazil. This study conducted polysomnography recordings in the Baependi Heart Study, a cohort of Brazilian adults. Our sample included 584 women and 309 men whose apnea-hypopnea index was ≤15 events/h. We used splines to distinguish non-linear associations between age, total sleep time, wake after sleep onset (WASO), N2, N3, and rapid-eye-movement sleep. The mean (standard deviation; range) age was 47 (14; 18-89) years. All sleep outcomes were associated with age. Compared to men, women had more N3 sleep and less WASO after adjusting for age. Model-based comparisons between genders at specific ages showed statistically higher mean WASO for men at ages 60 (+13.6 min) and 70 years (+19.5 min) and less N3 for men at ages 50 (-13.2 min), 60 (-19.0 min), and 70 years (-19.5 min) but no differences at 20, 30, 40 or 80 years. The other sleep measures did not differ by gender at any age. Thus, even in the absence of moderate-severe OSA, sleep architecture was associated with age across adulthood, and there were gender differences in WASO and N3 at older ages in this rural community.

Altered sleep architecture in diabetes and prediabetes: findings from the Baependi Heart Study.

People with diabetes and prediabetes are more likely to have sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), but few studies examined sleep architecture in people with diabetes or prediabetes in the absence of moderate-severe SDB, which was the aim of our cross-sectional study. This cross-sectional sample is from the Baependi Heart Study, a family-based cohort of adults in Brazil. About 1074 participants underwent at-home polysomnography (PSG). Diabetes was defined as fasting glucose >125 mg/dL or HbA1c > 6.4 mmol/mol or taking diabetic medication, and prediabetes was defined as HbA1c ≥ 5.7 & <6.5 mmol/mol or fasting glucose ≥ 100 & ≤125 mg/dl. We excluded participants with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 30 in primary analyses and ≥ 15 in secondary analysis. We compared sleep stages among the 3 diabetes groups (prediabetes, diabetes, neither). Compared to those without diabetes, we found shorter REM duration for participants with diabetes (-6.7 min, 95%CI -13.2, -0.1) and prediabetes (-5.9 min, 95%CI -10.5, -1.3), even after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, and AHI. Diabetes was also associated with lower total sleep time (-13.7 min, 95%CI -26.8, -0.6), longer slow-wave sleep (N3) duration (+7.6 min, 95%CI 0.6, 14.6) and higher N3 percentage (+2.4%, 95%CI 0.6, 4.2), compared to those without diabetes. Results were similar when restricting to AHI < 15. People with diabetes and prediabetes had less REM sleep than people without either condition. People with diabetes also had more N3 sleep. These results suggest that diabetes and prediabetes are associated with differences in sleep architecture, even in the absence of moderate-severe sleep apnea.

0177 Relationship Between Sleep Architecture and Age by Gender in Brazil: Baependi Heart Study

Abstract Introduction Sleep stage duration has been associated with age. However, few studies have examined sleep stages across adulthood in both men and women. The objective of this analysis was to describe sleep architecture across age by gender in a large cohort of Brazilian adults. Methods This ancillary study added polysomnography (PSG) recordings to the Baependi Heart study, a prospective family-based cohort of Brazilian adults. Preliminary analyses used data from 812 participants (517 women). Sleep was staged following standard criteria. Generalized linear models were used to assess associations between age (cubic polynomial) and sleep outcomes in analyses stratified by gender. Results Age ranged between 18 and 88 years. Mean age was 50.0 (SD = 13.3) for women and 49.9 (SD = 14.9) for men. Expected means for women at age 50 were 6.35 hours total sleep time (TST) (95% CI: 6.22, 6.48), 213.5 minutes in N2 (95% CI: 207.2, 219.9), and 75.6 minutes (95% CI: 71.9, 79.3) in REM. These were similar to expected means for men at age 50, which were 6.3 hours TST (95% CI: 6.12, 6.48), 212.9 minutes in N2 (95% CI: 204.0, 221.8), and 78.3 minutes (95% CI: 73.7, 82.8) in REM. Expected N3 at 50 years was higher in women (44.7 minutes i, 95% CI: 44.0, 45.5) than men (30.2 minutes,95% CI: 29.4, 31.1) and WASO duration was lower for women (62.6 minutes; 95% CI: 61.7, 63.5) than for men (69.8 minutes; 95% CI: 68.5, 71.1).Non-linear relationships with age were demonstrated for N3, REM, and WASO. For example, in women there appears to be a steeper decline in N3 between approximately ages 20-40 years, a plateau until approximately 55-60 years and then another decline. Men also exhibit a steeper decline at younger ages followed by a more gradual decline that begins around 35-40 years. By contrast, TST showed a stable, linear decline with age in men and women. Conclusion Preliminary analyses suggest that the relationship between age and some sleep outcomes differ by gender. Future analyses on the full sample will consider splines for age to investigate further these non-linear relationships. Support (If Any) 1R01HL141881

Body mass index is superior to other body adiposity indexes in predicting incident hypertension in a highly admixed sample after 10-year follow-up: The Baependi Heart Study.

Hypertension is the leading cause of overall mortality in low‐ and middle‐income countries. In Brazil, there is paucity of data on the determinants of incident hypertension and related risk factors. We aimed to determine the incidence of hypertension in a sample from the Brazilian population and investigate possible relationships with body adiposity indexes. We assessed risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, including adiposity body indexes and biochemical analysis, in a sample from the Baependi Heart Study before and after a 10‐year follow‐up. Hypertension was defined by the presence of systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or the use of antihypertensive drugs. From an initial sample of 1693 participants, 498 (56% women; mean age 38 ± 13 years) were eligible to be included. The overall hypertension incidence was 24.3% (22.3% in men and 25.6% in women). Persons who developed hypertension had higher prevalence of obesity, higher levels for blood pressure, higher frequency of dyslipidemia, and higher body adiposity indexes at baseline. The best prediction model for incident hypertension includes age, sex, HDL‐c, SBP, and Body Mass Index (BMI) [AUC = 0.823, OR = 1.58 (95% CI 1.23‐2.04)]. BMI was superior in its predictive capacity when compared to Body Adiposity Index (BAI), Body Roundness Index (BRI), and Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI). Incident hypertension in a sample from the Brazilian population was 24.3% after 10‐year follow‐up and BMI, albeit the simpler index to be calculated, is the best anthropometric index to predict incident hypertension.

Subjective sleep quality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Brazilian rural population

ObjectivesPrior studies have examined sleep during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but have few compared sleep measured both during and prior to COVID. We examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on subjective sleep quality in general and separately by gender and age (<50 vs. ≥50 years). Further, we compared sleep quality between those who did and did not follow quarantine orders. MethodsThis sample is from the Baependi Heart Study, a family-based cohort of adults in South-eastern Brazil. Longitudinal data were from 417 individuals who completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) twice: between January 2010 and September 2014 (pre-COVID) and during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order March-June, 2020. Cross-sectional analysis included 800 participants. ResultsMean (±SD) PSQI scores were significantly higher during than before COVID-19 (5.7 ± 3.8 vs. 5.0 ± 3.3, p < .01). This increase was significant among women and among adults ≥50 years but not in men or younger adults. The significant increase in PSQI was only observed in those who quarantined during COVID-19 (5.9 ±3.7 vs. 5.2 ±3.4, p < .01) and not those who did not quarantine (5.0 ± 3.7 vs. 4.5 ± 3, p = .12). In cross-sectional analyses, individuals who quarantined had higher PSQI scores than nonquarantined individuals (6.1 ± 3.9 vs. 5.0 ± 3.5, p < .01). The quarantine status-dependent differences were significant for women (6.4 ± 4 vs. 5.2 ± 3.7, p < .01) and older adults (6.6 ± 0.1 vs. 5.5 ± 3.3, p = .04). Differences by quarantine status were attenuated after adjusting for age and gender. ConclusionsSubjective sleep quality declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among women, older adults, and those compliant to quarantine orders.

234 Sleep quality during the coronavirus pandemic in a Brazilian family-based cohort

IntroductionEarly in the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazil adopted measures to minimize the spread of the virus, including quarantine orders where people only left home for essential business. This practice could negatively impact sleep by reducing exposure to daylight and physical activity. We examined subjective sleep quality in Baependi, a small rural town in Brazil during the COVID-19 quarantine order.MethodsThis sample is from the Baependi Heart Study, a family-based cohort of adults. Participants (n=800, 71% women, mean age 51.6±15.6 years) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) early in the COVID pandemic (April-May, 2020). They were also asked about their compliance to the quarantine order (yes/no). We compared sleep between quarantined (QT) and not-quarantined individuals (NQT). Longitudinal data was obtained from a subsample of 417 individuals who also completed a pre-COVID PSQI between January, 2010 and September, 2014.ResultsIndividuals compliant with the quarantine had worse sleep quality than non-quarantined individuals [QT PSQI= 6.1 (±3.9), NQT PSQI= 5.0 (±3.5), p<0.01]. Stratified analysis showed that differences in PSQI scores between QT and NQT was greater for women [QT = 6.4 (±4), NQT = 5.2 (±3.7), p<0.01] and older people [QT = 6.6 (±0.1), NQT = 5.5 (±3.3), p=0.02]. Associations were attenuated after adjusting for age and gender. PSQI components demonstrated a higher sleep latency for the QT group in the full sample (p=0.02), women (p<0.01) and young (<50 years, p=0.03). Sleep duration was shorter in the QT young subsample (p=0.03). QT women also reported lower sleep efficiency (p=0.01) and greater use of sleep medication than NQT women (p<0.01). In the longitudinal subsample, PSQI scores were significantly higher during COVID than pre-pandemic [COVID= 5.7 (±3.8), pre-COVID= 5 (±3.3), p<0.01]. The significant change in PSQI was only observed in the QT participants [COVID= 5.9 (±3.7), pre-COVID= 5.2 (±3.4), p<0.01] and not NQT [COVID= 5 (±3.7), pre-COVID= 4.5 (±3), p=0.12.ConclusionIndividuals who quarantined during COVID-19 had worse sleep quality than individuals who did not quarantine. Longitudinal comparison demonstrated that participants who quarantined had worse sleep quality during COVID compared to before to the pandemic.Support (if any)NIH 1R01HL141881

Age and Sex Differences in Heart Rate Variability and Vagal Specific Patterns - Baependi Heart Study.

Background:Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive method for assessing autonomic function. Age, sex, and chronic conditions influence HRV.Objectives:Our aim was to evaluate HRV measures exploring differences by age, sex, and race in a sample from a rural area.Methods:Analytical sample (n = 1,287) included participants from the 2010 to 2016 evaluation period of the Baependi Heart Study, a family-based cohort in Brazil. Participants underwent 24-hour Holter-ECG (Holter) monitoring. To derive population reference values, we restricted our analysis to a ‘healthy’ subset (i.e. absence of medical comorbidities). A confirmatory analysis was conducted with a subgroup sample that also had HRV derived from a resting ECG 10’-protocol obtained during the same time period.Results:The ‘healthy’ subset included 543 participants. Mean age was 40 ± 14y, 41% were male, 74% self-referred as white and mean body-mass-index was 24 ± 3kg/m2. Time domain HRV measures showed significant differences by age-decade and by sex. Higher values were observed for males across almost all age-groups. Parasympathetic associated variables (rMSSD and pNN50) showed a U-shaped distribution and reversal increase above 60y. Sympathetic-parasympathetic balance variables (SDNN, SDANN) decreased linearly by age. Race differences were no significant. We compared time domain variables with complete data (Holter and resting ECG) between ‘healthy’ versus ‘unhealthy’ groups. Higher HRV values were shown for the ‘healthy’ subset compared with the ‘unhealthy’ group.Conclusion:HRV measures vary across age and sex. A U-shaped pattern and a reversal increase in parasympathetic variables may reflect an age-related autonomic dysfunction even in healthy individuals that could be used as a predictor of disease development.

Triglyceride glucose index as a tool to motivate early lifestyle modification in young adults at diabetes risk: The Baependi Heart Study.

Considering that the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been increasing especially in developing countries and becoming a global public health problem, this study aims to evaluate the association between triglyceride glucose index (TyG) – which is a mathematical product of the fasting blood glucose and triglyceride levels – and incident T2DM in an adult sample in the Baependi Heart Study (BHS).The data were from the BHS cohort consisting of two periods: cycle 1 (2005–2006; n = 1712; 119 families) and cycle 2 (2010–2013; n = 3017; 127 families). A total of 1121 individuals (both sexes, 18–100 years) were selected if they were assessed in both cycles and not diagnosed with T2DM at baseline (cycle 1).Our findings showed that a participant’s risk of developing T2DM increased almost 10 times for a one-unit increase in the TyG (odds ratio OR = 10.17, 95% CI, 7.51–13.93). The association when stratified by age was OR = 28.13 [95% CI, 14.03–56.41] for young adults, meaning that the risk of developing T2DM increased more than 28 times for a one-unit increase in the TyG. For the other groups, young middle-aged adults, old middle-aged adults, and seniors, we found OR = 4.84 [95% CI, 2.91–8.06], OR = 28.73 [95% CI, 10.63–77.65, and OR = 9.88 [95% CI, 3.16–30.90], respectively.A higher TyG implies a significant increase in the risk of developing T2DM, which could be an important screening tool to target early lifestyle intervention in Brazil.

Relationship between marital status and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Brazilian rural population: The Baependi Heart Study.

Many factors influence the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we investigated the associations between socio-demographic characteristics and familial history with the 5-year incidence of T2DM in a family-based study conducted in Brazil. T2DM was defined as baseline fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL or the use of any hypoglycaemic drug. We excluded individuals with T2DM at baseline or if they did not attend two examination cycles. After exclusions, we evaluated a sample of 1,125 participants, part of the Baependi Heart Study (BHS). Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess T2DM incident given different characteristics. At the 5-year follow-up, the incidence of T2DM was 6.7% (7.2% men and 6.3% women). After adjusting for age, sex, and education status, the model that combined marital and occupation status, skin color, and familial history of T2DM provided the best prediction for T2DM incidence. Only marital status was independently associated with T2DM incidence. Individuals that remained married, despite having significantly increased their weight, were significantly less likely to develop diabetes than their divorced counterparts.

Carotid intima-media thickness and metabolic syndrome in a rural population: Results from the Baependi Heart Study

Background and aimsCarotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events and associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, but the association structure between specific factors and disease development is not well-established in rural populations. We described the association structure between MetS factors and cIMT in a sample from rural Brazil. MethodsWe studied 1937 participants from the Baependi Heart Study who underwent carotid ultrasound exam. We used ATP–III–2001 for MetS definition and linear mixed-effects models, adjusting by the family structure, to assess independent associations between the cardiovascular risk factors which define MetS and cIMT. ResultsThe sample's mean age was 46 ± 16y, 61% female, 73% white, mean body-mass-index 26±5 kg/m2, mean cIMT 0.53 ± 0.16 mm, with 35% of the sample classified with MetS. As expected, cIMT demonstrated a linear relationship with increasing age, and cIMT higher values were observed for MetS (0.58 ± 0.16 mm) compared to non-MetS (0.49 ± 0.14 mm). Considering models for cIMT with MetS and all of its factors, we found that blood pressure, glucose and obesity were independently associated with cIMT, but not HDL or triglycerides. ConclusionscIMT showed a linear relationship with increasing age. Blood pressure, obesity, and glucose were independently associated with cIMT, but not HDL-cholesterol or triglycerides. In a rural population, hypertension, diabetes and obesity play a more important role than lipids in determining cIMT interindividual variability.

Early chronotype with advanced activity rhythms and dim light melatonin onset in a rural population.

Studying communities at different stages of urbanisation and industrialisation can teach us how timing and intensity of light affect the circadian clock under real-life conditions. We have previously described a strong tendency towards morningness in the Baependi Heart Study, located in a small rural town in Brazil. Here, we tested the hypothesis that this morningness tendency is associated with early circadian phase based on objective measurements (as determined by dim light melatonin onset, DLMO, and activity) and light exposure. We also analysed how well the previously collected chronotype questionnaire data were able to predict these DLMO values. The average DLMO observed in 73 participants (40 female) was 20:03±01:21, SD, with an earlier average onset in men (19:38±01:16) than in women (20:24±01:21; P≤.01). However, men presented larger phase angle between DLMO and sleep onset time as measured by actigraphy (4.11hours vs 3.16hours; P≤.01). Correlational analysis indicated associations between light exposure, activity rhythms and DLMO, such that early DLMO was observed in participants with higher exposure to light, higher activity and earlier light exposure. The strongest significant predictor of DLMO was morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) (beta=-0.35, P≤.05), followed by age (beta = -0.47, P≤.01). Sex, light exposure and variables derived from the Munich chronotype questionnaire were not significant predictors. Our observations demonstrate that both early sleep patterns and earlier circadian phase have been retained in this small rural town in spite of availability of electrification, in contrast to metropolitan postindustrial areas.

Cardiometabolic risk factors correlated with the incidence of dysglycaemia in a Brazilian normoglycaemic sample: the Baependi Heart Study cohort

BackgroundDysglycaemia is defined by elevated glucose levels in the blood, commonly characterized by impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, elevated glycated haemoglobin, or diabetes mellitus (DM) diagnosis. The abnormal levels of glucose may occur many years before DM, a condition known as prediabetes, which is correlated with comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of prediabetic dysglycaemia and its relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors at a 5-year follow-up, based on an initially normoglycaemic sample in the Baependi Heart Study cohort.MethodsThe data used comes from the Baependi Heart Study cohort, which consists of two periods: cycle 1 (2005–2006) and cycle 2 (2010–2013). For this study, we excluded those who had fasting blood glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL or were taking anti-diabetic medications at baseline, and those that had diabetes diagnosed in cycle 2. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess the association between cardiometabolic risk factors and the incidence of dysglycaemia, including a familiar random effect such as a cluster.ResultsThe incidence of prediabetic dysglycaemia was 12.8%, and it did not differ between men and women (14.4% and 11.6%, respectively). Two models were analysed to investigate the relationship between cardiometabolic risk factors and the occurrence of prediabetic dysglycaemia. The model that better explained the occurrence of dysglycaemia over the 5 years, after correction, included the waist circumference (WC) (measures and Δ), systolic blood pressure (SBP), HDL-c levels, and age. Although sex was not associated with the incidence of dysglycaemia, women and men showed differences in cardiometabolic risk factors related to glucose impairment: men who developed dysglycaemia showed, in parallel, higher LDL-c levels, TC/HDL-c ratio and DBP measurements; while these parameters remained similar between women who developed dysglycaemia and dysglycaemia-free women, after 5 years.ConclusionsIn an initially normoglycaemic sample of a highly mixed population living in a traditional Brazilian lifestyle, important cardiometabolic risk factors were associated with the occurrence of prediabetic dysglycaemia, and this relationship appeared to be more important in men. These results provide important insights about cardiovascular risk in prediabetic individuals.

Circadian phase, chronotype and sleep-wake cycle under real-life conditions: the baependi heart study cohort

Circadian phase, chronotype and sleep-wake cycle under real-life conditions: the baependi heart study cohort

Heritability of semantic verbal fluency task using time-interval analysis.

Individual variability in word generation is a product of genetic and environmental influences. The genetic effects on semantic verbal fluency were estimated in 1,735 participants from the Brazilian Baependi Heart Study. The numbers of exemplars produced in 60 s were broken down into time quartiles because of the involvement of different cognitive processes—predominantly automatic at the beginning, controlled/executive at the end. Heritability in the unadjusted model for the 60-s measure was 0.32. The best-fit model contained age, sex, years of schooling, and time of day as covariates, giving a heritability of 0.21. Schooling had the highest moderating effect. The highest heritability (0.17) was observed in the first quartile, decreasing to 0.09, 0.12, and 0.0003 in the following ones. Heritability for average production starting point (intercept) was 0.18, indicating genetic influences for automatic cognitive processes. Production decay (slope), indicative of controlled processes, was not significant. The genetic influence on different quartiles of the semantic verbal fluency test could potentially be exploited in clinical practice and genome-wide association studies.

Poor sleep quality and lipid profile in a rural cohort (The Baependi Heart Study)

AimTo test the association between cardiometabolic risk factors and subjective sleep quality assessed by the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), independent of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep duration. MethodsA total of 573 participants from the Baependi Heart Study, a rural cohort from Brazil, completed sleep questionnaires and underwent polygraphy for OSA evaluation. Multivariable linear regression analysis tested the association between cardiovascular risk factors (outcome variables) and sleep quality measured by PSQI, adjusting for OSA and other potential confounders (age, sex, race, salary/wage, education, marital status, alcohol intake, obesity, smoking, hypertension, and sleep duration). ResultsThe sample mean age was 43 ± 16 years, 66% were female, and mean body mass index (BMI) was 26 ± 5 kg/m2. Only 20% were classified as obese (BMI ≥30). Overall, 50% of participants reported poor sleep quality as defined by a PSQI score ≥5. A high PSQI score was significantly associated with higher very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol levels (beta = 0.392, p = 0.012) and higher triglyceride levels (beta = 0.017, p = 0.006), even after adjustments, including the apnea–hypopnea index. Further adjustments accounting for marital status, alcohol intake, and medication use did not change these findings. No significant association was observed between PSQI scores and glucose or blood pressure. According to PSQI components, sleep disturbances (beta = 1.976, p = 0.027), sleep medication use (beta = 1.121, p = 0.019), and daytime dysfunction (beta = 1.290, p = 0.024) were significantly associated with higher VLDL serum levels. Only the daytime dysfunction domain of the PSQI components was significantly associated with higher triglyceride levels (beta = 0.066, p = 0.004). ConclusionPoorer lipid profile was independently associated with poor sleep quality, assessed by the PSQI questionnaire, regardless of a normal sleep duration and accounting for OSA and socio-economic status.

SU49 - IDENTIFICATION OF NOVEL GWAS HITS FOR SEMANTIC VERBAL FLUENCY: RESULTS FROM A FAMILY-BASED STUDY

Background Semantic verbal fluency is broadly used in both clinical and non-clinical research, mainly because its sensitivity to several neurobiological conditions associated with cognitive impairment. In order to provide additional insights into genetic component contributing to normal variation on speech production, we conducted a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) of semantic verbal fluency in a family-based cohort from the Baependi Heart Study. Cognitive performance was analysed considering not only the total number of words produced in 60 s but also subdivided into four 15-s time-quartiles because of the involvement of different cognitive processes- predominantly automatic at the beginning and controlled/executive at the end of the task. Methods We analysed cognitive performance of 1,735 participants from 134 extended families (mean age±SD 46±16.2, 60% female). Participants were asked to orally name as many animals as possible within 60 s avoiding repetitions and variations of the same animal. Scores were the numbers of exemplars produced in 60 s, which were broken down into four 15-s time-quartiles [0–15 s (T1), 16–30 s (T2), 31–45 s (T3), 46–60 s (T4)]. Heritability estimates were obtained by an adjusted variance component model. The Baependi cohort was genotyped using different GWAS platforms (custom arrays to capture the tri-ancestry genetic structure of the Brazilian population; Affymetrix Axiom Incor array and Affymetrix SNP chip 6.0; Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA). Results All performed analysis were adjusted for sex, age, education and time of day since these sociodemographic variables affected means. Heritability calculations showed an estimate of: 60 s=0.21 (p Discussion Using a family-based cohort with a wide distribution of schooling years and, partitioning word production along time-quartiles contributed to the finding of specific genetic markers for verbal fluency at 60 s, T1, T2 e T3. Importantly, the gene influencing score for 60 s (RIMS1) has been previously reported to play a role in cognitive performance and schizophrenia. Our findings provide, on a biological level, grounds for the presence of distinct cognitive processes recruited during semantic verbal fluency since different loci are implicated with each one of the time-intervals.

Metabolites related to eGFR: Evaluation of candidate molecules for GFR estimation using untargeted metabolomics

BackgroundMetabolomics can be used to identify novel metabolites related to renal function and that could therefore be used for estimating GFR. We evaluated metabolites replicated and related to eGFR in 3 studies (CKD and general population). MethodsMetabolomics was performed by GC–MS. The Progredir Cohort (n = 454, class 3 and 4 CKD) was used as the derivation study and adjusted linear regression models on eGFR-CKDEPI were built. Bonferroni correction was applied for selecting metabolites to be independently validated in the Diabetic Nephropathy Study (n = 56, macroalbuminuric DN) and in the Baependi Heart Study (BHS, n = 1145, general population). ResultsIn the Progredir Cohort, 72 metabolites where associated with eGFR. Of those, 11 were also significantly associated to eGFR in the DN Study and 8 in the BHS. Four metabolites were replicated and significantly associated to eGFR in all 3 studies: d-threitol, myo-inositol, 4-deoxierythronic acid and galacturonic acid. In addition, pseudouridine was strongly correlated to eGFR only in the 2 CKD populations. ConclusionsOur results demonstrate metabolites that are potential biomarkers of renal function: d-threitol, myo-inositol, 4-deoxierythronic acid, galacturonic acid and pseudouridine. Further investigation is needed to determine their performance against otherwise gold-standard methods, most notably among those with normal eGFR.

The “Baependi Heart Study”: the real history and the development of new strategies for health promotion in childhood education / O “Estudo do Coração de Baependi”: a história real e o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias para a promoção da saúde na educação infantil

The “Baependi Heart Study” started with the Doctoral Thesis of Camila Maciel de Oliveira, in 2005, and it kept working with partnerships among some Universities in Brazil for research and outreach projects. In 2005, José Eduardo Krieger, Alexandre Costa Pereira and Camila Maciel de Oliveira started this pioneer journey in the Laboratory of Genetic and Molecular Cardiology that takes place at the Heart Institute (InCor) at the University of São Paulo (USP). More recently, our group had the opportunity to start projects to discuss some of the cardiovascular risk factors and their prevention among childhood education in Minas Gerais State (Baependi and Juiz de Fora) and Parana State (Curitiba).Why was Baependi considered a desirable choice? The “Baependi Heart Study” started with the Doctoral Thesis of Camila Maciel de Oliveira,1 in 2005, and it kept working with partnerships among some Universities in Brazil for research and outreach projects. In 2005, José Eduardo Krieger, Alexandre Costa Pereira and Camila Maciel de Oliveira had started this journey in the Laboratory of Genetic and Molecular Cardiology that takes place at Heart Institute (InCor) at University of São Paulo (USP). The real history is that Baependi was not the first choice to host the project. At first the study would be in another town near Baependi called Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais State. It was not possible to develop this project in Pouso Alegre because this kind of study requires a political support, which we did not have there.

Prevalence of Peripheral Artery Disease and Associated Risk Factors in a Brazilian Rural Population: The Baependi Heart Study

Abstract Background: The identification of peripheral artery disease (PAD) can help prevent further progression of the disease and additional complications, considering that this condition is a risk factor for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death. Objective: To assess the prevalence of PAD in the Baependi Heart Study and investigate associated risk factors in different age groups. Methods: A total of 1,627 individuals (of both genders and aged 18 – 102 years) residing in the municipality of Baependi (Minas Gerais, Brazil) were [...]