Adult Cardiovascular Disease Research Articles

The Effects of Pharmacological Urate-Lowering Therapy on Cardiovascular Disease in Older Adults with Gout.

Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of mortality in older patients. In addition to the traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, hyperuricemia has been increasingly associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Uric acid itself has several unfavorable effects on the cardiovascular system, and hyperuricemia can lead to the development of gout. Gout is the most prevalent inflammatory rheumatic disease. Older patients with gout have an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality due toan increased prevalence of traditional risk factors, as well as the inflammatory burden of gout activity. As the prevalence of traditional risk factors and the prevalence of both hyperuricemia and gout are increasing in older adults, cardiovascular risk management in these patients is very important. This risk management consists of, on the one hand, treatment of individual traditional risk factors and, on the other hand, of urate lowering, thereby decreasing inflammatory burden of gout. However, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that urate-lowering therapy reduces the risk of cardiovascular events. Moreover, from a cardiovascular point of view, there is no preference for one urate lowering drug over another in patients with gout, nor is there enough evidence to support a preference in patients with gout with increased cardiovascular risk. Personalized treatment in older patients with gout should be aimed at optimizing serum uric acid levels, as well as targeting traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Further prospective randomized trials are needed to support the hypothesis that urate lowering reduces cardiovascular risk in older patients with gout.

Tracking of serum lipid levels from childhood to adulthood: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and aimsThe utility of lipid screening in pediatric settings for preventing adult atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases partly depends on the lifelong tracking of lipid levels. This systematic review aimed to quantify the tracking of lipid levels from childhood and adolescence to adulthood. MethodsWe systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar in March 2022. The protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; ID: CRD42020208859). We included cohort studies that measured tracking of lipids from childhood or adolescence (<18 years) to adulthood (≥18) with correlation or tracking coefficients. We estimated pooled correlation and tracking coefficients using random-effects meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed with a review-specific tool. ResultsThirty-three studies of 19 cohorts (11,020 participants) were included. The degree of tracking from childhood and adolescence to adulthood differed among lipids. Tracking was observed for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (pooled r = 0.55–0.65), total cholesterol (pooled r = 0.51–0.65), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (pooled r = 0.46–0.57), and triglycerides (pooled r = 0.32–0.40). Only one study included tracking of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.42–0.59). Substantial heterogeneity was observed. Study risk of bias was moderate, mostly due to insufficient reporting and singular measurements at baseline and follow-up. ConclusionsEarly-life lipid measurements are important for predicting adult levels. However, further research is needed to understand the tracking of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the stability of risk classification over time, which may further inform pediatric lipid screening and assessment strategies.

Loneliness Trajectories Predict Risks of Cardiovascular Diseases in Chinese Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Loneliness is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but related evidence is mixed. Examining trajectories of loneliness over time, as compared to the assessment of loneliness at a single time point, can be useful to better understand the risks for CVD. The present study aimed to examine loneliness trajectories and their impacts on CVD in Chinese middle-aged and older adults. The sample included 9,235 adults aged 45 years and older from 4 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey from 2011 to 2018. Loneliness was assessed by a single-item question with a 4-point scale. CVD events were measured by self-reports of heart diseases and strokes in 2018. Group-based trajectory modeling showed that 3 loneliness trajectories emerged: stable low, moderate increasing, and high increasing loneliness. Binary logistic regression showed that loneliness trajectories were significantly associated with the risk of having CVD after controlling for all covariates. Specifically, compared to the group with stable low loneliness, people with moderate increasing loneliness had a higher risk of having stroke, and people with high increasing loneliness had higher risks of having both heart diseases and stroke. In contrast, loneliness at a single time point was not independently associated with the risk of having CVD. The present study identified groups of people vulnerable to CVD from the perspective of social connections in terms of loneliness trajectories. Middle-aged and older adults showing increasing loneliness may need social and emotional support to protect their cardiovascular health.

Associations Between Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease in Young Adults

Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) impacts 50% of U.S. adults although few studies evaluate young adults’ cardiovascular disease risk. Early identification of cardiovascular disease risk may mitigate increased adulthood incidence. We analyzed (CVD) risk factors and their association with cardiovascular fitness ([Formula: see text] o2max) to devise effective strategies to improve cardiovascular health across the lifespan. Methods A cross-sectional study evaluated the effect of a single bout of aerobic exercise on cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults aged 18 to 36 years. Glycemic control (HbA1C), cardiovascular fitness ([Formula: see text]o2max), percent body fat, lean body mass, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed using correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. Results Statistically significant relationships were observed between percent body fat (r = .83, P &lt; .001) and BMI, and waist circumference (r = .83, P &lt; .001) and BMI. Percent body fat ( P &lt; .001) and race ( P = .018) predicted exercise time, with Asians exercising the longest. Percent fat ( P &lt; .001) and HbA1C ( P = .039) were identified as predictors of cardiovascular fitness which was low in spite of primarily normal average HbA1C levels. Conclusions HbA1C and body fat negatively influence cardiovascular fitness ([Formula: see text] o2max) in young adults increasing adulthood cardiovascular disease risk. Research investigating the effect of HbA1C on cardiovascular health especially in youth is warranted.

Age-specific differences in the association between prediabetes and cardiovascular diseases in China: A national cross-sectional study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, the global burden of which is rising. It is still unclear the extent to which prediabetes contributes to the risk of CVD in various age brackets among adults. To develop a focused screening plan and treatment for Chinese adults with prediabetes, it is crucial to identify variations in the connection between prediabetes and the risk of CVD based on age. To examine the clinical features of prediabetes and identify risk factors for CVD in different age groups in China. The cross-sectional study involved a total of 46239 participants from June 2007 through May 2008. A thorough evaluation was conducted. Individuals with prediabetes were categorized into two groups based on age. Chinese atherosclerotic CVD risk prediction model was employed to evaluate the risk of developing CVD over 10 years. Random forest was established in both age groups. SHapley Additive exPlanation method prioritized the importance of features from the perspective of assessment contribution. In total, 6948 people were diagnosed with prediabetes in this study. In pre-diabetes, prevalences of CVD were 5 (0.29%) in the younger group and 148 (2.85%) in the older group. Overall, 11.11% of the younger group and 29.59% of the older group were intermediate/high-risk of CVD for prediabetes without CVD based on the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China equation in ten years. In the younger age group, the 10-year risk of CVD was found to be more closely linked to family history of CVD rather than lifestyle, whereas in the older age group, resident status was more closely linked. The susceptibility to CVD is age-specific in newly diagnosed prediabetes. It is necessary to develop targeted approaches for the prevention and management of CVD in adults across various age brackets.

Outdoor artificial light at night and incident cardiovascular disease in adults: A national cohort study across China

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) become a major public health concern. Evidence concerning the effects of outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) on CVD in adults is scarce. We aimed to investigate the extent to which outdoor ALAN could affect the risk of CVD over a exposure range. Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a population-based longitudinal study, launched in 2011–2012 and follow up till 2018, covering 28 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across mainland China. This study included 14,097 adults aged ≥45 years. Outdoor ALAN exposure (in nanowatts per centimeters squared per steradian) within 500 m of each participant's baseline residence was obtained from satellite image data. CVD was defined from medical diagnosis. The population was divided into three groups based on outdoor ALAN exposure from low to high. Cox regression model was used to estimate the association between outdoor ALAN exposure and incident CVD with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). The mean (SD) age of the cohort was 57.6 (9.1) years old and 49.3 % were males. Outdoor ALAN exposure of study participants ranged from 0.02 to 39.79 nW/cm2/sr. During 83,033 person-years of follow-up, 2190 (15.5 %) cases of CVD were identified. Both low (HR: 1.21; 95 % CI: 1.02—1.43) and high (HR: 1.23; 95 % CI: 1.04—1.46) levels of outdoor ALAN exposure group were associated with higher risk of CVD compared with intermediate levels of outdoor ALAN exposure group. Body mass index was a significant effect modifier in the association between outdoor ALAN and risk of CVD, with stronger effects among those who was overweight or obese. The findings of this study suggest that low and high outdoor ALAN exposure were associated with a higher risk for CVD. More attention should be given to the cardiovascular effects associated with outdoor ALAN exposure.

Relationship between metabolic status, physical activity and cardiovascular disease in participants with obesity.

We aimed to investigate the independent and joint associations between metabolic status, PA (physical activity) and risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease) in participants with obesity. We included 109,301 adults with obesity free of baseline CVD enrolled from 2006 to 2010 in the UK Biobank cohort (aged 56 ± 7.9 years). Based on metabolic status, obesity was grouped into metabolically healthy obesity (MHO; free of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes; n = 26,989; BMI 33 ± 3.3 kg/m2) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO; n = 82,312; BMI 34 ± 4.0 kg/m2). PA was categorized into four groups according to moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA): none, low, medium, and high. Multivariable Cox regression models were used for the main analyses adjusting for sociodemographic factors, lifestyles and comorbidities. There were 8,059 CVD events during a median follow-up of 8.1 years. MHO was associated with a 42% reduced risk of CVD compared with MUO (HR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.53-0.63). A significant interaction effect between PA and metabolic status on CVD risk was found. Among MUO participants, individuals with PA had significantly decreased CVD risk when compared with no MVPA (HR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.81-0.94 for low PA; HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.78-0.93 for medium PA; and HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.80-0.92 for high PA). The lowest CVD risk was observed in MHO & medium PA group when compared with MUO & no MVPA (HR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.37-0.56). Both MHO and any MVPA were associated with reduced risk of CVD in adults with obesity, while PA could modify the relationship between metabolic status and CVD risk.

Abnormal Lipid Profile Level in Neonates and Possible Development of Atherosclerosis in Adulthood: Mini Review

The lipid profile during the neonatal period plays a pivotal role in determining the future risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Abnormal lipid levels in neonates have been associated with an increased propensity for the development of atherosclerosis later in life. This review aims to explore the significance of abnormal lipid profiles in neonates and their potential implications for the development of atherosclerosis in adulthood. The discussion encompasses the mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism in early life, the impact of various factors on lipid levels in neonates, and the long-term consequences of abnormal lipid profiles. Understanding the relationship between neonatal lipid profiles and the risk of atherosclerosis in adulthood is crucial for developing preventive strategies and interventions aimed at reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases in later life. This review synthesizes idea from existing literature to provide insights into the importance of early lipid assessment and its implications for long-term cardiovascular health. Keywords: Abnormal Lipid Profile, Neonates, Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Risk, Lipid Metabolism, Early Life, Long-term Health, Preventive Strategies, Cardiovascular Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in young adults and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

It is uncertain if there is a link between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in young adults and children. To evaluate the potential link between these two conditions, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Embase in order to locate all relevant cohort studies published until August 2023. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted using the generic inverse variance method, with additional subgroup and sensitivity analyses. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was employed to evaluate the methodological quality. Four cohort studies (eleven datasets) involving 10,668,189 participants were included in this meta-analysis. This meta-analysis demonstrated that NAFLD increases the risk of CVD in young adults and children (HR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.46-1.82, P < 0.00001). Further subgroup analyses showed that individuals with NAFLD were at a heightened risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) (HR = 3.10, 95% CI: 2.01-4.77, P < 0.00001), myocardial infarction (MI) (HR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.61-1.78, P < 0.00001), atrial fibrillation (AF) (HR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.12-3.57, P = 0.02), congestive heart failure (CHF) (HR = 3.89, 95% CI: 1.20-12.61, P = 0.02), and stroke (HR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.39-1.55, P < 0.00001). The results of subgroup analyses based on the study location, NAFLD definition, and follow-up time also showed consistency with the overall results. Sensitivity analyses showed that our results were robust. All of the included studies were judged to be of medium to high quality. Current evidence reveals that NAFLD is linked to an increased risk of major CVD (including CHD, MI, AF, CHF and stroke) in young adults and children. Further research is needed to strengthen this association and provide stronger evidence for primary prevention of CVD in young adults and children with NAFLD. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023457817.

Comparison of Two Strategies for Hypercholesterolemia Detection through Point-of-Care Testing.

Childhood dyslipidemia is a common condition that can lead to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in adulthood. It is usually multifactorial. Screening for cholesterol disorders in children varies based on risk factors, with some guidelines recommending cascade screening for children with a clear family history of familial hypercholesterolemia, targeted screening for those with specific risk factors, and universal screening. Point-of-care testing (POCT) cholesterol tests offer potential advantages, including ease of use, portability, increased patient access, low cost, fewer medical or laboratory visits, and instant results. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of POCT cholesterol screening on the diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia in children in a family practice setting. We used a POCT cholesterol analyzer to perform two different (universal and targeted) screening approaches for dyslipidemia in children. We used the NCEP guidelines for the classification of the results. We screened 183 children, 105 in the universal screening group and 78 in the targeted screening group. Eight patients in the targeted screening group had elevated cholesterol levels (p = 0.02). All participants received instant feedback and recommendations. Using a targeted screening approach, POCT could be a practical and effective tool for identifying at-risk children with hypercholesterolemia.

Sugar-sweetened or artificially-sweetened beverage consumption, physical activity, and risk of cardiovascular disease in adults: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundWhether physical activity could mitigate the adverse impacts of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) or artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains uncertain. ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the independent and joint associations between SSB or ASB consumption and physical activity and risk of CVD, defined as fatal and nonfatal coronary artery disease and stroke, in adults from 2 United States-based prospective cohort studies. MethodsCox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs between SSB or ASB intake and physical activity with incident CVD among 65,730 females in the Nurses’ Health Study (1980–2016) and 39,418 males in the Health Professional’s Follow-up Study (1986–2016), who were free from chronic diseases at baseline. SSBs and ASBs were assessed every 4-y and physical activity biannually. ResultsA total of 13,269 CVD events were ascertained during 3,001,213 person-years of follow-up. Compared with those who never/rarely consumed SSBs or ASBs, the HR for CVD for participants consuming ≥2 servings/d was 1.21 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.32; P-trend < 0.001) for SSBs and 1.03 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.09; P-trend = 0.06) for those consuming ≥2 servings/d of ASBs. The HR for CVD per 1 serving increment of SSB per day was 1.18 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.26) and 1.12 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.20) for participants meeting and not meeting physical activity guidelines (≥7.5 compared with <7.5 MET h/wk), respectively. Compared with participants who met physical activity guidelines and never/rarely consumed SSBs, the HR for CVD was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.37, 1.57) for participants not meeting physical activity guidelines and consuming ≥2 servings/wk of SSBs. No significant associations were observed for ASB when stratified by physical activity. ConclusionsHigher SSB intake was associated with CVD risk regardless of physical activity levels. These results support current recommendations to limit the intake of SSBs even for physically active individuals.

Pediatric hypertension as an early manifestation of cardiovascular disease in children.

In adults, cardiovascular events associated with arterial hypertension (AH) have a major impact on morbidity and mortality. In light of recent findings, AH in children has been interpreted as early cardiovascular disease (CVD), while exposure to CV risk factors in children proves to be a predictor of subclinical CVD in adults. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association has recently updated the classifications for measuring blood pressure (BP) in adults and children. Primary AH in children is generally asymptomatic, and it is associated with a family history of AH, overweight/obesity, and normal morphofunctional characteristics of the urinary system. The younger the child and the higher the BP, the greater the likelihood of secondary AH. The investigation into the etiology of AH begins with a detailed anamnesis, which should include clinical information and details on the use of medication, smoking, and alcohol consumption from the perinatal period to the time of consultation. Modifying risk factors by reducing weight, decreasing alcohol consumption and increasing vegetable intake from childhood to adulthood has been associated with the resolution of AH in the childhood-adulthood transition, and with the reversal of cardiometabolic adverse effects in non-obese adult individuals. Pharmacological therapy should be initiated in cases of symptomatic AH, AH secondary to chronic kidney disease or diabetes mellitus, presence of target organ lesions, stage 2 AH with no modifiable cause and resistant AH unresponsive to lifestyle changes.

Individual and Joint Association between Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Inadequate Lifestyle Behaviors in a Sample from Brazil.

Individual and Joint Association between Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Inadequate Lifestyle Behaviors in a Sample from Brazil. CVD: cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are often influenced by modifiable factors, notably individuals' lifestyle choices, which play a crucial role in modulating cardiovascular risk. To investigate the individual and simultaneous association between inadequate lifestyle behaviors and risk factors for CVD in adults and older adults. A cross-sectional study with 1079 users of the Health Academy Program in Brazil. Information related to inadequate diet, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical inactivity were individually and collectively investigated (0, 1, or ≥ 2 factors) in association with CVD risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity), considering the following two outcomes: presence of CVD risk factors and number of CVD risk factors present in the same individual (0, 1, 2, or ≥ 3 risk factors). Logistic and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used. The statistical significance adopted was 5%. A higher number of inadequate lifestyle behavior was associated with greater odds of simultaneous presence of 1, 2, or ≥ 3 CVD risk factors. The simultaneous adoption of 1 and ≥ 2 inadequate lifestyle behaviors was associated with greater odds of hypercholesterolemia. Simultaneous adherence to ≥ 2 inadequate lifestyle behaviors was associated with lower odds of hypertension. A greater number of inadequate lifestyle behaviors was associated with higher odds of simultaneous presence of multiple CVD risk factors.

Association between serum pyridoxal 5'-phosphate levels and all-cause, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular disease in adults: a population-based cohort study.

The association between pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a topic of discussion. This study aimed to explore the relationship between serum PLP levels and the incidence of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and the risk of CVD among the US population. A population-based cohort study. This study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using weighted Cox proportional hazards regression models to assess the risk associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Weighted binary logistic regression was utilized to assess the relationship between serum PLP levels and the risk of CVD. Nonlinear associations were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted restricted cubic splines. There were 2546 cases of all-cause mortality and 867 cases of cardiovascular mortality over a mean follow-up of 11.36 years. In the fully adjusted model, the adjusted HRs with 95% CIs for all-cause mortality associated with increases in serum PLP levels corresponding to the interquartile ranges were 0.83 (0.74-0.93), 0.71 (0.63-0.80), and 0.64 (0.56-0.74), respectively. Similarly, cardiovascular mortality decreased by 0.78 (0.62-0.97), 0.63 (0.49-0.81), and 0.62 (0.50-0.77) with each quartile increase in serum PLP levels. Higher serum PLP levels confer protection against CVD risk (odds ratio: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.79-0.96). Serum PLP levels showed nonlinear relationships with risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and CVD. The results of this study provide evidence that serum PLP serves as a protective factor against all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and CVD in US adults, with dose-response relationships.

Association of composite dietary antioxidant index with cardiovascular disease in adults: results from 2011 to 2020 NHANES.

Oxidative stress is a known pathogenic mechanism in cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet the association between dietary antioxidants and CVD in the general population remains underexplored. This study leverages data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate the association of a composite dietary antioxidant index with CVD in US adults. Analyzing data from 25,997 adults (2011-2020 NHANES), we employed weighted generalized linear models, subgroup analysis, threshold effect analyses, and sensitivity analysis to assess the association between dietary antioxidants and CVD. Nonlinear associations were explored through a restricted cubic spline, with gender-specific stratification and threshold effect analysis to identify critical inflection points. Increasing levels of the composite dietary antioxidant index corresponded with decreased CVD prevalence (P < 0.001). In all models, weighted generalized linear models revealed a consistent negative association between CVD prevalence. And in Model 3, Quartile 4 had a 29% lower CVD prevalence than Quartile 1[0.71 (0.59, 0.85), P < 0.001]. Meanwhile, the findings of the unweighted logistic regression model demonstrated stability. Various characteristics such as sex, age, race, PIR, education, BMI, alcohol consumption, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes did not influence this inverse association (P for interaction >0.05). Notably a nonlinear association was observed, with a significant inflection point at 3.05 among women. This study demonstrates a strong negative association between the composite dietary antioxidant index and CVD prevalence, suggesting the potential protective role of dietary antioxidants. These findings underscore the need for prospective studies to further understand the impact of oxidative stress on cardiovascular health.

Effects of polyphenol supplementation on hepatic steatosis, intima-media thickness and non-invasive vascular elastography in obese adolescents: a pilot study protocol

IntroductionNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly prevalent in obese adolescents. Increased systemic inflammation and decreased gut microbial diversity linked to obesity affect the liver and are also associated with...

Global burden of adolescent and young adult cardiovascular diseases and risk factors: Results from Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

&lt;p&gt;Comprehensive research on the global burden of CVDs among adolescents and young adults (15-44 years) is lacking. We analyzed the results from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019, and the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of 13 CVD types in adolescents and young adults were calculated. We also assessed 19 risk factors associated with CVD-related DALYs across 204 countries and territories from 1990-2019. In 2019, there were 5.7 million CVD incidents and 45.4 million DALYs and 761,458 deaths due to CVDs in adolescents and young adults, globally. CVDs remained the first leading cause of death worldwide among 21 causes of death and the fifth leading cause of death and disability combined in 2019. From 1990-2019, the absolute number of CVD incidents and CVD-related deaths and DALYs increased by 45.5%, 21.6%, and 18.0%, respectively. The highest age-standardized DALY, incidence, and mortality rates from CVDs were observed in the low- and low-middle-sociodemographic index (SDI) regions. Ischemic heart disease, stroke, and rheumatic heart disease were the top three CVDs with the highest age-standardized DALYs. The five leading specific risk factors contributing to CVD-related DALYs were high systolic blood pressure, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high body mass index (BMI), ambient particulate matter pollution (PM2.5), and smoking. The burden of CVDs in adolescents and young adults increased substantially from 1990-2019. Effective and targeted strategies for the prevention and management of CVDs in this population are needed to reduce the overall CVD burden.&lt;/p&gt;

Association between maternal hypothyroidism, baby birth weight, and adult cardiovascular disease risk: insights from ECG measurements.

Thyroid hormone (TH) deficiency during pregnancy may affect cardiovascular function in offspring rats. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TH deficiency during gestation, on the electrocardiogram indices of young and middle-aged offspring of male rats. Eight female rats were equally divided into hypothyroid and control groups. The hypothyroid mothers received 0.025% 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) in drinking water throughout pregnancy, while control mothers consumed only tap water. Following birth, male rats from each group were observed for 4 months (young age) and 12 months (middle-aged). The group known as fetal hypothyroid (FH) consisted of rats born from hypothyroid mothers. The serum T4 and TSH concentrations from mothers and newborn male rats were assayed at the end of gestation. Lead II electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded for 5 minutes using Power Lab, AD Instruments. There was a significant rise in the P wave voltage in young FH rats, whereas, it was decreased in middle-aged control and FH rats. The voltage of QRS decreased and its duration increased in the young and middle-aged FH rats compared to the corresponding control groups. Duration and voltage of the T wave were significantly altered in the young and middle-aged FH groups. PR and QT intervals significantly increased in the young and middle-aged FH groups compared to their controls. Maternal hypothyroidism affected the electrocardiogram indices of offspring rats, possibly signaling cardiovascular problems later in life.

ENOS in congenital to adult cardiovascular disease

eNOS in congenital to adult cardiovascular disease

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN OBESITY INDUCED HYPERTENSION AND CONSUMPTION OF JUNK FOOD AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF DISTRICT SIALKOT

The principal cause of early death throughout the world is cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). It has been found that, in young adults, high blood pressure (BP) is considered a significant public health concern, with approximately 26.4% of global prevalence. A diet containing junk food is the preliminary cause of obesity, which leads to hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases in adults. The risk factors are prevailing at an alarming rate and have affected university students' physical and mental health. Moreover, these health concerns have caused low productivity among students as well. This problem has not been studied and analyzed in sufficient profundity. This cross-sectional and correlational study investigated the relationship between fast food consumption, obesity, and hypertension among university students. This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample size of three hundred participants aged twenty-five to forty. To calculate the BMI, the weight and height of the participants were measured, along with the measurements of their systolic and diastolic blood pressure and age, through standard tools and procedures. Their dietary intake was assessed using a questionnaire of food intake that records a 168-hour food intake. The study results revealed that significant positive correlations of high strength between fast food consumption and obesity were found using Spearman rank order correlations (rs = 0.81) and moderate strength of positive correlation between frequent fast-food consumption and hypertension (rs = 0.58). The resultant conclusion of the study shows that junk food is strongly linked with obesity and prehypertension. The findings of the study can reduce the prevalence of obesity and hypertension.