Coronary Artery Disease In Young Adults Research Articles

Prospective bidirectional relations between depression and metabolic health: 30-year follow-up from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

This study investigated prospective bidirectional relationships between depressive symptoms and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the moderating effects of race, sex, and health behaviors in a diverse cohort followed for 30 years. Data were analyzed from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a 30-year prospective study of young adults (N = 5,113; Mage = 24.76 [SD = 3.63] at baseline; 45% male) who were tested every 5 years between 1985 and 2015. Measures included biological assessments of MetS components and self-reported depressive symptoms based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) scale. Data analyses included bidirectional general estimating equations analyses of time-lagged associations between depressive symptoms and MetS. There was a consistent, bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and MetS over time. Individuals with more CESD depressive symptoms were more likely to develop MetS over time compared to those reporting fewer symptoms, Wald χ²(1) = 7.09, p < .008, and MetS was similarly predictive of CESD. MetS more consistently predicted CESD scores at each 5-year exam than CESD predicted MetS. Race and sex moderated these relationships, with White females, White individuals overall, and females overall demonstrating significant relationships between CESD depressive symptoms and MetS. Health behaviors were not related to associations between CESD and MetS. In a diverse young adult population prospectively followed into late middle age, MetS more consistently predicted depressive symptoms over time than depressive symptoms predicted MetS. The relation between MetS and depressive symptoms was moderated by race and sex, but not health behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Associations between low serum levels of ANRIL and some common gene SNPs in Iranian patients with premature coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the major cause of mortality in the world. Premature development of CAD can be attributed to women under 55 and men under 45. Many genetic factors play a part in premature CAD. Among them, ANRIL, a long noncoding RNA is located at the 9p21 risk locus, and its expression seems to be correlated with CAD. In the current study, premature CAD and control blood samples, with and without Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), were genotyped for six SNPs at the 9p21 locus. Additionally, ANRIL serum expression was assessed in both groups using real-time PCR. It was performed using different primers targeting exons 1, 5–6, and 19. The χ2 test for association, along with t-tests and ANOVA, was employed for statistical analysis. In this study, we did not find any significant correlation between premature coronary artery disease and rs10757274, rs2383206, rs2383207, rs496892, rs10757278 and rs10738605. However, a lower ANRIL expression was correlated with each SNP risk genotype. Despite the correlation between lower ANRIL expression and CAD, Type 2 diabetes was associated with higher ANRIL expression. Altogether, the correlation between ANRIL expression and the genotypes of the studied SNPs indicated that genetic variants, even those in intronic regions, affect long noncoding RNA expression levels. In conclusion, we recommend combining genetic variants with expression analysis when developing screening strategies for families with premature CAD. To prevent the devastating outcomes of CAD in young adults, it is crucial to discover noninvasive genetic-based screening tests.

Supplemental Material for Prospective Bidirectional Relations Between Depression and Metabolic Health: 30-Year Follow-Up From the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Supplemental Material for Prospective Bidirectional Relations Between Depression and Metabolic Health: 30-Year Follow-Up From the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Associations between weight discrimination and metabolic health: A cross sectional analysis of middle aged adults

BackgroundConcurrent with the recent rise in overweight and obesity, concerns with weight discrimination have arisen. Individuals who have experienced weight discrimination report a host of deteriorations related to physical and psychological health, which may co-exist with behaviours such as increased food consumption and decreases in physical activity that make weight management difficult. What remains less clear, however, is the extent to which metabolic health may be specifically affected, and how this may vary by setting and perceived intensity of the lifetime history of weight discrimination. MethodTo address this, a secondary data analysis was performed on 1365 participants from year 25 of the Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) study who were living with overweight and obesity. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed on the presence of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and abdominal obesity, as well as their experience of the weight discrimination. ResultsPrevalence of the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and abdominal obesity was higher among those reporting low and high stress weight discrimination compared to those with no history of weight discrimination. In the adjusted analyses, weight discrimination was associated with a 65% greater likelihood for having metabolic syndrome, 85% greater likelihood of diabetes, and between a 2.5- and 3.9-times greater likelihood of abdominal obesity for low and high stress experiences, respectively. ConclusionExposure to weight discrimination may worsen metabolic health, as characterized by higher rates of metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity. These associations may be greater with levels of stress experienced from weight discrimination. Further longitudinal work is necessary to understand the temporal sequence, time lag, and any possible critical periods for weight discrimination on metabolic health.

PREDICTORS OF MULTIVESSEL CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN YOUNG PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH ST-SEGMENT ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Objectives: Premature coronary artery disease (CAD) is on the rise in our population, and multivessel disease (MVD) is no longer an uncommon finding in young patients. Therefore, aim of this study was to determine the predictors of MVD in young patients who presented with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Methodology: For this study, we enrolled 294 young adult (18-40 years) patients with STEMI. MVD was diagnosed based on angiography. Demographic characteristics and baseline risk profiles were considered for the univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the predictors of MVD. Results: Out of 294 patients, 90.5% (266) were males, and the mean age was 35.45 ± 4.07 years. Our 24.1% (71) patients were hypertensive (HTN), and 36.1% (106) were smokers. A total of 94 patients had MVD. Patients with MVD were older and more likely to have diabetes (DM) and HTN than their counterparts. Only age and DM were found to be significant independent predictors of MVD. The risk of developing MVD was higher in diabetics, with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) [95% CI] of 2.47 [1.23-4.97; p=0.011]. Conclusion: In conclusion, we showed that age and DM are independent predictors of MVD in a young Pakistani adult population presenting with STEMI. However, none of the other risk factors, such as obesity, male gender or smoking, were found to be significantly associated with MVD in Pakistani adults with premature CAD. Although significantly associated, HTN does not prove to be an independent predictor of multivessel CAD in young adults.

Donor Family History of ESKD and Long-term Outcomes Among African American Living Kidney Donors: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Rationale & ObjectiveLive kidney donation is associated with a small increased risk for kidney disease and hypertension in African American donors. We investigated a possible association between donor family history of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and their postdonation kidney function and the development of hypertension. We tested whether this association was modified by kidney donation.Study DesignRetrospective cohort.Setting & ParticipantsFormer African American live kidney donors between 1993 and 2010. Healthy nondonors were selected from the Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.ExposureFamily history of ESKD in a first-degree relative.OutcomesKidney function and blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medications at follow-up.Analytical ApproachDonors were grouped based on family history of ESKD. Outcomes were first compared between donor groups and then between donors and healthy nondonors matched for demographics, follow-up time, and family history. A mixed-effect model was used to compare outcomes.ResultsOf 179 donors, 139 (78%) had a first degree relative with ESKD. Predonation characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. At a median follow-up of 11 years postdonation, there was no difference in postdonation estimated glomerular filtration rates (68 ± 19 vs 69 ± 13 mL/min/1.73 m2; P = 0.71) and the presence of albuminuria (P = 0.16). There was a trend toward a higher incidence of hypertension (51% vs 35%; P = 0.08) among donors with a family history of ESKD than for those without. Although there was no difference in annual change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.17), the risk for hypertension was higher in donors than nondonors (relative risk, 2.44 [95% CI, 1.56-3.84]), but there was no interaction by family history (P = 0.11).LimitationsRetrospective small study. Lack of data across donor-recipient specific biological relationship.ConclusionsFamily history of ESKD is not associated with postdonation kidney function among African American kidney donors. Live kidney donation is associated with an increased risk for hypertension among African Americans, independent of donor family history of ESKD.

Abstract 17015: Understanding Sex Differences With Cardiac Risk Factors in the Young Adult Population

Introduction: The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing in young adults (YA) (age&lt;40 years), and greater understanding of their cardiac risk factors is essential to create effective preventive strategies. Given the sex differences for CAD observed in older adults, understanding if sex differences exist for CAD risk factors in YAs is important. Hypothesis: There will be several risk factors associated with CAD in YAs that will differ between men and women. Methods: In this secondary analysis, 125,017 YAs between the ages of 18-44 were evaluated for health conditions and behaviors considered to be risk factors for CAD. The 2017 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System database from the Center for Disease Control was utilized. Frequency procedures, chi-square testing, and logistic regression modeling with odds ratios were analyzed using (SAS) 9.4 software. Results: Greater percentages of men (65.5%) than women (56.7%) were found to be overweight (BMI 25-30) or obese (BMI =&gt;30) (p&lt;.0001). Men reported higher rates of hypertension with 18.6% as compared to women with hypertension at 11.5% (p&lt;.0001). High cholesterol and heavy alcohol consumption were characteristic of men in this sample with percentages at 17.8% for high cholesterol and 7.5% for heavy alcohol use. YAs between the ages of 40-44 were over 2 times as likely to develop CAD than those aged 18-24, odds ratio (OR) 2.4. YAs between the ages of 25-29 were least likely to develop CAD compared to 18-24 with the lowest OR 1.3. Overall, significant risk factors for developing CAD in this population were HTN (OR 4.1), age 35-44 (OR &gt;2.2), high cholesterol (OR 2.2), smoking (OR 1.9), and prediabetes (OR 1.7). Physical activity (OR 0.6) and healthcare coverage (OR 0.7) were protective factors against CAD. There were 276 young adults in all who were diagnosed with CAD in this analysis. Conclusions: Greater efforts are needed to reduce the number of risk factors in YAs and prevent the development of CAD. There were significant gender differences noted in CAD risk factors within the YA population. Targeted interventions should include counseling as outlined in the American Heart Association Life’s Simple 7 Campaign in an effort to improve cardiovascular health in young adult men and women.

Risk factors of premature coronary artery disease in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this study was to determine the mean age at which coronary artery disease (CAD) hase decreased in recent years in Iran. This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the prevalence of different risk factors of premature CAD (PCAD) in patients vs healthy individuals. Medline, Web of Science, Embase and Scientific Information Database were searched for studies about PCAD risk factors in Iran until 28 October 2017. Observational studies of Iranians, comparing risk factors between patients with PCAD and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects, were included. Fixed-effects and random-effects model were used for pooling data. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI and mean difference were used for effect size estimation among studies. Twelve studies were eligible for meta-analysis. Diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.9-3.03; P=0.0001, I2 =25.5%; P=0.2), family history of CAD (OR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.22-3.6; P=0.007, I2 =86%; P=0.0001), dyslipidaemia (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.15-3.64; P=0.01, I2 =54%; P=0.08),smoking (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.11-2.46; P=0.01, I2 =77.2%; P=0.000) andhypertension (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.21 to-1.50; P<0.001, I2 =31%, P=0.1) associated with PCAD. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that patients with PCAD had significantly lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and significantly higher levels of triglycerides compared to healthy subjects (MD: -2.56, 95% CI: -3.54 to -1.58, P<0.001, I2 =42%, P=0.01 and MD: 21.17, 95% CI: 14.73-27.62, P<0.001, I2 =80.12%, P<0.001, respectively). It should be noted that although high levels of heterogeneity in LDL and HDL values among the studies were observed, when dyslipidaemia was studied as a binary variable, no significant heterogeneity among studies was observed. Diabetes mellitus, family history of CAD, dyslipidaemia, smoking, and hypertension were significantly and positively associated with CAD in young adults compared to healthy age- and sex-matched population in Iran.

Comparison of Angiography Findings in Iranian Patients Younger and Older Than 50 Years Underwent Coronary Angiography in Boo-Ali Hospital: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) or ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the most common cause of death globally. CAD is a multifactorial disease with many variable risk factors. It is estimated that its prevalence is increasing in various populations. CAD in young adults is also increasing in Iran due to the life style changes. Identifying risk factors and timely correction can reduce the burden of disease and related health problems. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of CAD and the traditional risk factors according to angiographic findings of patient’s ≤ 50 and > 50 years old. Patients and Methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study on 112 patients who were admitted to Boo-Ali hospital from November 2013 to December 2014 for evaluation of CAD. Self-administered questionnaire consisted of demographic data and risk factors were filled. Angiographic film was reviewed in respect to coronary arteries involvement and echocardiography was performed. For evaluation of left ventricular (LV) function, patients divided into two groups of ages ≤ 50 (group A) and > 50 (group B) years old. Risk factors, coronary angiography and ejection fraction (EF) were compared. Results: Of the 112 patients, 51 (45.5%) were in group A and 61 (54.5%) were in group B with mean age of 37.6 ± 4.4 and 63 ± 8.5, respectively. No significant statistical differences were found between the body mass index (BMI), smoking, family history (FH), hyperlipidemia (HLP) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) between two groups (P > 0.05). Hypertension (HTN) was significantly higher in group B vs. group A respect to 65.6% and 31.4% (P 0.05). There were a significant higher number of patients with a decline in EF in group B (P = 0.01). Conclusions: The pattern and number of vessels involved were similar in both groups. Based on common prevalence of traditional risk factors among two groups, planning for lifestyle changes is recommended.

Clinical and angiographic characteristics of coronary artery disease in young adults: a single centre study.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) in young adults under 40 years of age is a growing medical, social, psychological and economical problem, related to the prevalence of civilization-related diseases and unhealthy lifestyle. The problem of CAD in young people has not been characterised as well as in older individuals, as the available data mostly come from case reports and small series, often related to genetic aspects and familial occurrence of the disease. To assess clinical and angiographic characteristics of young adults with CAD and to evaluate in-hospital and long-term mortality in this patient group. The study combined a retrospective and a prospective approach. A total of 239 patients aged 40 years or younger who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) in the Swietokrzyskie Centre of Cardiology in Kielce in 2001-2008 were included in this study. Demographic characteristics, risk factor profile, laboratory test results, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings, CAG findings, and in-hospital mortality were assessed retrospectively in the selected groups. During the second stage of the study, clinical and mortality data were obtained prospectively in 130 patients (54.4% of the study group) during up to 5 years of follow-up. The mean patient age was 35.1 ± 4.4 years. Men made up 86.2% of the study sample, and the proportion of rural area residents was 54.8%. Among young patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), the most common presentation (52.8%) was ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Angiographically normal coronary arteries were found in 37.2% of CAD patients and in 16.9% of patients with the diagnosis of ACS. The mean degree of coronary artery lumen stenosis was 75.4% in the group with significant atherosclerotic coronary lesions (50-90%) and 95.9% in the group demonstrating a critical coronary obstruction (≥ 90%). Single-vessel disease was identified in 61.9% of patients with a positive result of CAG (stenosis > 50%, CORO(+) group). The most common location of significant atherosclerotic coronary lesions was the left anterior descending artery (61.6%) followed by the right coronary artery (27.4%). The most prevalent conventional cardiovascular risk factors were lipid abnormalities, cigarette smoking and an increased body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2, followed by a family history of CAD and hypertension. The proportion of patients with abnormal lipid profile, cigarette smoking and overweight or obesity was particularly high in the CORO(+) group (85.6%, 83.9%, and 64.4%, respectively). In-hospital mortality rate was low, at 0.7% among ACS patients. Long-term mortality during up to 5 years of follow-up was not so favourable, at 7.75% in ACS patients and 8.5% in the CORO(+) group. The population of young patients with CAD is predominantly male, rural, and characterised by a low socio-economic status. The aetiology of CAD in this patient group differs significantly from that in older patients and it is often associated with an unhealthy lifestyle related to rapid civilization changes. The rates of CAD risk factors in young adults are high and the most important risk factors are dyslipidaemia, smoking, and overweight/obesity. Single vessel disease and STEMI presentation were predominant in young patients. Short-term prognosis in young ACS patients is excellent, but long-term prognosis is significantly worse. Further studies on CAD in young adults are warranted, particularly in larger patient populations.

Prognosis and disease progression in patients under 50 years old undergoing PCI: The CRAGS (Coronary aRtery diseAse in younG adultS) study

ObjectiveYoung patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are generally considered at low procedural risk, but the potentially aggressive nature of coronary artery disease and long expectancy of life expose them to a high risk of recurrent coronary events. The extent and determinants of disease progression in this patient subset remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate general risk factors for late outcomes among patients ≤50 years old who underwent PCI. MethodsCoronary aRtery diseAse in younG adults (CRAGS) is a multicenter European retrospective registry that enrolled 1617 patients (age ≤50 years) who underwent PCI over the years 2002–2012. The median follow-up was 3.0 years. ResultsThe majority of patients were smokers who were nevertheless prescribed adequate secondary prevention medication, including statins, aspirin, beta blockers and/or ACE inhibitors/AT blockers. At 5 years, survival was 97.8%, while freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was 74.1%, from repeat revascularization 77.8% and from myocardial infarction 89.9%. Altogether 13.5% of patients exhibited disease progression that indicated a need for repeat revascularization. Other indications for repeat revascularization were restenosis (7.1%) and stent thrombosis (2.1%) at the 5-year follow-up. Independent post-PCI predictors of disease progression were multivessel disease, diabetes and hypertension. ConclusionPCI is associated with excellent survival in patients ≤50 years old. Nevertheless, despite guideline-adherent medication, every eighth patient underwent repeat revascularization due to disease progression diagnosed at the median follow-up of three years, underscoring the need for more effective secondary prevention than currently available.

Abstract MP72: Apolipoprotein B and Apolipoprotein B, LDL-C Discordance in Young Adults Are Associated With Coronary Artery Calcification at 25 Year Follow-Up: The Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Introduction: High ApoB has been shown to predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults even in the context of low LDL-C. It is not known, however, if high ApoB and high ApoB, low LDL-C discordance in young adults are associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) in mid-life. Methods: Data were derived from CARDIA, a multicenter study of the development and determinants of CVD risk factors in young adults recruited at ages 18 to 30. All participants with complete baseline CVD risk factor data, ApoB, and year-25 CAC score were included in this study. Baseline lipid fractions and ApoB were measured by standard assays. Year-25 CAC was assessed using two consecutive CT scans with presence of CAC defined as having a positive, non-zero Agatston score using the average of two scans. Baseline ApoB values were divided into tertiles. Four mutually exclusive concordant/discordant groups were created based on median ApoB and LDL-C. Logistic regression was performed for unadjusted and adjusted models. Results: 3496 participants were included [mean age=25±3.6, BMI=24.5±5Kg/m2, 44.4% male, and the following mean lipid values (mg/dL): total cholesterol=177.3±33.1, LDL-C=109.9±31.1, HDL-C=53±12.8, ApoB=90.7±24, median triglycerides=61(IQR 46-83)]. Compared with the lowest ApoB tertile, the middle [OR=1.55 (95% CI 1.22-1.95)] and high [OR=2.35 (95% CI 1.87-2.97)] tertiles exhibited increased odds of developing year-25 CAC in traditional risk factor-adjusted models. High ApoB, low LDL-C discordance was also associated with year-25 CAC in adjusted models [OR=1.57 (95% CI 1.12-2.20)]. Conclusions: These data suggest a dose-response association between ApoB in young adults and presence of mid-life CAC independent of baseline traditional CVD risk factors. High ApoB, low LDL-C discordance was also associated with year-25 CAC, suggesting that ApoB in young adults may help identify individuals with modest LDL-C levels who are at increased risk for subclinical atherosclerosis in mid-life.

Young coronary artery disease in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESUnderstanding the nature and pattern of young coronary artery disease (CAD) is important due to the tremendous impact on these patients’ socio-economic and physical aspect. Data on young CAD in the southeast Asian region is rather patchy and limited. Hence we utilized our National Cardiovascular Disease Database (NCVD)—Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Registry to analyze young patients who underwent PCI in the year 2007 to 2009.DESIGN AND SETTINGSThis is a retrospective study of all patients who had undergone coronary angioplasty from 2007 to 2009 in 11 hospitals across Malaysia.METHODSData were obtained from the NCVD—PCI Registry, 2007 to 2009. Patients were categorized into 2 groups—young and old, where young was defined as less than 45 years for men and less than 55 years for women and old was defined as more than or equals to 45 years for men and more than or equals to 55 years for women. Patients’ baseline characteristics, risk factor profile, extent of coronary disease and outcome on discharge, and 30-day and 1-year follow-up were compared between the 2 groups.RESULTSWe analyzed 10 268 patients, and the prevalence of young CAD was 16% (1595 patients). There was a significantly low prevalence of Chinese patients compared to other major ethnic groups. Active smoking (30.2% vs 17.7%) and obesity (20.9% vs 17.3%) were the 2 risk factors more associated with young CAD. There is a preponderance toward single vessel disease in the young CAD group, and they had a favorable clinical outcome in terms of all-cause mortality at discharge (RR 0.49 [CI 0.26–0.94]) and 1-year follow-up (RR 0.47 [CI 0.19–1.15]).CONCLUSIONWe observed distinctive features of young CAD that would serve as a framework in the primary and secondary prevention of the early onset CAD.

A study on major cardiovascular risk factors in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patient 40 years and below admitted in CCU of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center.

Coronary artery disease (CAD), predominately manifest in older individuals, is a devastating dis­ease precisely because an otherwise healthy person in the prime of life may die or become disabled without warning. When the afflicted individual is under the age of 40, the tragic consequences for family, friends, and occupation are particularly catastrophic and unexpected. Fortunately, the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and symptomatic CAD in young adults is low; most stud­ies show that only about 3% of all CAD cases occur in this age range. Premature CAD is defined as cardiac events occurring before the age of 45 in men and 55 in women. In its severe form it is defined as CAD occurring below the age of 40 years. Prematurity and severity suggests that the dis­ease starts at an early age and has a malignant course. In this study, we aim to investigate the major risk factor (smoking, Hypertension, Diabetes and dyslipidemia ) as defined by ACC-AHA pattern in ACS patient 40years or below admitted in Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre (SGNHC) from April 2008 to April 2009. There were all together 54 ACS patients, male 44(81%) and female 10(19%). HTN is the risk factor which was more commonly diagnosed and treated, while Dys­lipidemia, DM and IFG were not usually diagnosed in young patient before they were diagnosed CAD. Dyslipidemia was the most common comprising 83.3% followed by HTN 70%, smoking 70%, abnormal blood glucose level 50%, DM in 22.2% while IFG in 27.7 %. High total cholesterol (48%) is the common form of dyslipidemia followed by high LDL (44.4%), low HDL in 31.4%. When non modifiable risk factor family history is excluded, 85% of the patients have two or more risk factors of CAD. When smoking along with family history is excluded 94.5% of the patients have 1 or more risks factors for CAD. Nepalese Heart Journal | Volume 7 | No.1 | November 2010 (special issue) | Page 20-24 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njh.v7i1.8497

Screening for the Presence of Coronary Artery Disease

Screening for the Presence of Coronary Artery Disease

White Blood Cell Count and the Risk for Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults

BackgroundThe association between white blood cell (WBC) count and coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown in young adults. Our objective was to assess the association between WBC count and its changes over time with CAD incidence in the Metabolic, Life-style and Nutrition Assessment in Young adults (MELANY) study, a cohort of Israeli army personnel.Methods and Findings29,120 apparently healthy young men (mean age; 31.2±5.5 years) with a normal baseline WBC count (3,000–12,000 cells/mm3) were followed during a mean follow up of 7.5±3.8 years for incidence of CAD. Participants were screened every 3–5 years using a stress test, and CAD was confirmed by coronary angiography. In a multivariate model adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, family history of CAD, physical activity, diabetes, triglycerides and smoking status, WBC levels (divided to quintiles) above 6,900 cells/mm3 (quintile 4) were associated with a 2.17-fold increase (95%CI = 1.18–3.97) in the risk for CAD as compared with men in quintile 1 (WBC≤5,400 cells/mm3). When modeled as a continuous variable, a WBC increment of 1000 cells/mm3 was associated with a 17.4% increase in CAD risk (HR 1.174; 95%CI = 1.067–1.290, p = 0.001). A decrease in the WBC level (within the normal range) during the follow-up period was associated with increased physical activity and decreased triglyceride levels as well as with reduced incidence of CAD.ConclusionsWBC count is an independent risk factor for CAD in young adults at values well within the normal range. WBC count may assist in detecting subgroups of young men at either low or high risk for progression to CAD.

Genetic Ancestry-Smoking Interactions and Lung Function in African Americans: A Cohort Study

BackgroundSmoking tobacco reduces lung function. African Americans have both lower lung function and decreased metabolism of tobacco smoke compared to European Americans. African ancestry is also associated with lower pulmonary function in African Americans. We aimed to determine whether African ancestry modifies the association between smoking and lung function and its rate of decline in African Americans.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe evaluated a prospective ongoing cohort of 1,281 African Americans participating in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study initiated in 1997. We also examined an ongoing prospective cohort initiated in 1985 of 1,223 African Americans in the Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. Pulmonary function and tobacco smoking exposure were measured at baseline and repeatedly over the follow-up period. Individual genetic ancestry proportions were estimated using ancestry informative markers selected to distinguish European and West African ancestry. African Americans with a high proportion of African ancestry had lower baseline forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) per pack-year of smoking (−5.7 ml FEV1/ smoking pack-year) compared with smokers with lower African ancestry (−4.6 ml in FEV1/ smoking pack-year) (interaction P value = 0.17). Longitudinal analyses revealed a suggestive interaction between smoking, and African ancestry on the rate of FEV1 decline in Health ABC and independently replicated in CARDIA.Conclusions/SignificanceAfrican American individuals with a high proportion of African ancestry are at greater risk for losing lung function while smoking.

Cardiac autonomic control and the effects of age, race, and sex: The CARDIA study

BackgroundStratification variables of age, race, and sex figure prominently in the assessment of cardiovascular disease risk. Similarly, cardiac autonomic regulation, measured by RR interval variability (RRV), is associated with risk. The relationship among these variables is unclear. MethodsWe examined the cross-sectional relationship between RRV and age, race, and sex in 757 subjects from the NHLBI-funded Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. ResultsAge was a significant determinant of RRV, despite the narrow range (33–47): participants aged 33–39 years had had greater levels of HF power, LF power, and standard deviation (SD) of RR intervals than did those aged 40–47 years. There was no age effect for the LF/HF ratio. Compared to whites, blacks had lower levels of LF power, SD, and lower LF/HF. Blacks and whites did not differ in HF power. Finally, compared to men, women had lower levels of LF power, SD, and LF/HF but did not differ in HF power. ConclusionsData from the CARDIA study suggest that in adults in the 33–47 year age range, indices of RRV were greater in younger compared to older subjects, in men compared to women and in whites compared to blacks. These findings are broadly consistent with those of other large studies examining relationships between RRV and age, sex, and race. However, patterns of associations between RRV and these stratification variables are not entirely consistent with an underlying autonomic physiology linked to cardioprotection.

Does Hypoadiponectinemia Explain the Increased Risk of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in South Asians?

A substantial body of evidence has documented the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among people of South-Asian descent, defined on the basis of ancestral origin from the Indian subcontinent comprised of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka (1–7). These observations relate to both native South Asians in urban settings and those living overseas in different countries (including the U.K., Canada, the U.S., South Africa, Singapore, Fiji, and Trinidad), leading to the suggestion that members of this ethnic group may share an underlying predisposition to metabolic and vascular disease (3,4,6–10). It has been postulated that a gene-environment interaction between underlying genetic susceptibility and urbanization-induced lifestyle changes (such as increased caloric intake and decreased energy expenditure) may promote the clinical expression of a high-risk phenotype (7). Clinically, this phenomenon translates to a 1.5- to 10-fold–higher incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in immigrant South Asians compared with the general populations of the host countries (2–4,10,11). Furthermore, South Asians exhibit clinical features suggestive of a distinctly aggressive cardiovascular pathophysiology compared with other ethnic groups. These features include significantly higher cardiovascular mortality (4,12) and earlier onset of CAD in young adults (7,13). Thus, identification of the determinants of vascular disease in South Asians may be relevant to both 1 ) our understanding of the pathophysiology of CVD and 2 ) preventive health care for the approximately one-fifth of the world’s population that comes from the Indian subcontinent. A similarly worrisome problem is the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes in South Asians. India currently has the highest number of cases of diabetes in the world (14). In addition, it has been projected that between 2000 and 2030, the number of patients with diabetes …

Premature coronary artery disease: clinical risk factors and prognosis.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) that becomes manifest in young adults can have devastating consequences. Additionally, the study of young patients with CAD may provide insight into the genetic basis of coronary disease. Over the past few years, our understanding of risk factors in this population has been expanded to include social, environmental, and emotional factors. The identification of genetic markers for disease is just beginning. Also, it has recently been shown that CAD in young adults has a poor long-term prognosis, meaning that clinicians caring for these patients must be aggressive in risk factor control.