Cumulative Cardiovascular Disease Research Articles

Disparities in tobacco smoking and risk of cardiovascular disease in people with low socioeconomic status or serious psychological distress: A simulation analysis

High tobacco smoking prevalence in people with low SES or serious psychological distress (SPD) in the U.S. may increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among these marginalized subpopulations. We estimate how smoking disparities contribute to CVD disparities. Using the Simulation of Tobacco and Nicotine Outcomes and Policy model, a validated microsimulation model of tobacco use and clinical outcomes, we used 2004-2019 data from the National Health Interview Survey to first compare 20-year cumulative CVD incidence for 40-year-olds by sex, smoking status, and marginalized subpopulation membership. Second, we simulated the marginalized subpopulations with representative age, sex, and smoking status distributions to estimate 20-year cumulative CVD incidence under status quo and counterfactual scenarios. In the counterfactual scenario, smoking prevalence and trends in the low SES and SPD subpopulations match those in the higher SES and non-SPD subpopulations, respectively. The model-projected impact of smoking on 20-year cumulative CVD incidence is considerably larger than the impact of low SES or SPD; for example, among 40-year-old males, cumulative CVD incidence is 28.3% for low SES people who currently smoke, 13.0% for low SES people who never smoke, and 26.2% for higher SES people who currently smoke. In the second analysis, in the status quo scenario, model-projected 20-year cumulative CVD incidence is 19.3% for low SES and 22.1% for SPD; in the counterfactual scenario, it is 18.1% for low SES and 19.6% for SPD. Interventions focused on reducing smoking disparities could substantially reduce CVD in marginalized subpopulations.

Oxidative stress mediates the association between triglyceride-glucose index and risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in metabolic syndrome: evidence from a prospective cohort study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in adults with metabolic syndrome (MeS) and explore the mediating role of oxidative stress. This study included 6131 adults with MeS from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The relationships between TyG index and mortality were elucidated using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models, restricted cubic splines (RCS) Fine-Gray competing risk model. In addition, mediation analysis was used to test the indirect effect of oxidative stress indicators. Over a median 106-month follow-up, a total of 357 CVD and 1292 all-cause deaths were recorded. After multivariate adjustment, there was a J-type relationship between TyG index and CVD and all-cause mortality, with optimal inflection point of 9.13 and 8.92. After the threshold point, TyG index was positively associated with CVD (HR: 4.21, 95%CI: 1.82, 9.78) and all-cause mortality(HR: 2.93, 95%CI: 2.05, 4.18). Even using non-cardiovascular mortality as a competitive risk, the Fine-Gray model also illustrated that the cumulative CVD mortality incidence was higher in MeS with TyG index >9.13 (Fine-Gray P< 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed that biomarkers of oxidative stress, including gamma-glutamyl transferase and uric acid, collectively mediated 10.53% of the association between the TyG index and CVD mortality, and 8.44% of the association with all-cause mortality (P < 0.05). In the cohort study, TyG index was found to have a J-shaped association with CVD mortality and all-cause mortality in MeS population and oxidative stress may play a key mediating role in this relationship.

Cause-Specific Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020–2021) in 12 Countries of the C-MOR Consortium

BackgroundThis study investigated cause-specific mortality rates in 12 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.MethodsWe collected weekly cause-specific mortality data from respiratory disease, pneumonia, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer from national vital statistic databases. We calculated excess mortality for respiratory disease (excluding COVID-19 codes), pneumonia, and CVD in 2020 and 2021 by comparing observed weekly against expected mortality based on historical data (2015–2019), accounting for seasonal trends. We used multilevel regression models to investigate the association between country-level pandemic-related variables and cause-specific mortality.ResultsSignificant reductions in cumulative mortality from respiratory disease and pneumonia were observed in 2020 and/or 2021, except for Georgia, Northern Ireland, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine, which exhibited excess mortality for one or both causes. Australia, Austria, Cyprus, Georgia, and Northern Ireland experienced excess cumulative CVD mortality in 2020 and/or 2021. Australia, Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Georgia, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Slovenia, experienced increased crude cumulative cancer mortality during 2020 and/or 2021 compared to previous years. Among pandemic-related variables, reported COVID-19 incidence was negatively associated with increased cancer mortality, excess respiratory, (2020) and pneumonia (2021) mortality, and positively associated with respiratory and CVD mortality (2021). Stringency of control measures were negatively associated with excess respiratory disease, CVD, and increased cancer mortality (2021).ConclusionsThis study provides evidence of substantial excess mortality from CVD, and notable reductions in respiratory disease and pneumonia in both years across most countries investigated. Our study also highlights the beneficial impact of stringent control measures in mitigating excess mortality from most causes in 2021.

Cumulative remnant cholesterol burden increases the risk of cardiovascular disease among young adults

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that remnant cholesterol (RC) was associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) among middle-aged or older adults. However, lack of evidence on long-term exposures to RC and their role in CVD risk among young adults. We thus aimed to explore the association between cumulative RC burden and CVD in young adults. MethodsWe enrolled participants younger than 45 years free of CVD history in the Kailuan Study who completed the first three health examinations from 2006 to 2010. Cumulative RC burden included cumulative RC burden score, time-weighted cumulative RC, exposure duration of high RC, and time course of RC accumulation. The outcome was the incidence of CVD. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between cumulative RC burden and CVD risk. ResultsA total of 15,219 participants were included (73.70% male, median age 39.13 years). During a median follow-up duration of 8.71 years (interquartile range: 8.4–9.15 years), 502 individuals developed CVD. After adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, highest risk of CVD was observed in participants with the highest cumulative RC burden score (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.29–2.12), the highest quartile time-weighted cumulative RC (HR,1.50; 95% CI, 1.15–1.96), the longest exposure duration of high RC (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.21–2.42), and those with cumulative RC burden and positive slope (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.35–2.36). ConclusionsCumulative RC burden increased the risk of CVD among young adults, suggesting that maintaining low RC levels throughout young adulthood may minimize CVD risk. Key learning points•Remnant cholesterol (RC) was associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) among middle-aged or older adults, but lack of evidence on long-term exposures to RC and their role in CVD risk among young adults.•We explored the association between cumulative RC burden and CVD in younger than 45 years adults.•Cumulative RC burden increased the risk of CVD among young adults, suggesting that maintaining low RC levels throughout young adulthood may minimize CVD risk.

Abstract 4828: Effect of county-level income and rurality on cardiovascular disease mortality among Asian and Pacific Islander breast cancer survivors in the US, 2000-2018

Abstract Purpose: To examine differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality by county-level income and rurality for Asian versus Pacific Islander (PI) breast cancer survivors. Background: Asian and PI individuals experience varying cancer burden, and prior studies have reported disparities in treatment-related CVD mortality among breast cancer survivors by socioeconomic status and race and ethnicity. However, the impact of county-level income and rurality on CVD mortality among Asian and PI breast cancer survivors, separately, are not well described. Methods: We included 60,184 Non-Hispanic Asian and PI women diagnosed with first primary, invasive breast cancer between 2000-2017 in the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (aged 18-84, survived 12+ months, and received initial surgery). We estimated the hazard ratio (HR) of CVD mortality using Cox proportional hazard models assessing the impact of county-level income (median household income: low = &amp;lt;$75,000; high [ref] = ≥$75,000) and rurality (urban [ref] = metropolitan counties, population ≥ 250,000; rural = nonmetropolitan counties), separately for Asian and PI breast cancer survivors. Models adjusted for continuous age, stage (localized, regional/distant), and year of breast cancer diagnosis (2000-2004, 2005-2009, 2010-2017). We calculated 10-year cumulative CVD mortality for Asian and PI women accounting for competing risks (e.g., non-CVD deaths). Results: Of 55,602 Asian and 4,582 PI breast cancer survivors, 1,114 Asian and 178 PI women died from CVD through 2018 (median follow-up, Asian = 6.0 years; PI = 5.5 years). PI women had a higher median age at breast cancer diagnosis (57 vs. 55 years) and more advanced stage (37% vs. 33%) than Asian women. Among Asian breast cancer survivors, low county-level income was associated with elevated CVD mortality (HR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.31), but not rurality (HR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.91, 1.58). For PI breast cancer survivors, there were no significant associations observed for low county-level income (HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.60, 1.14) or rurality (HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.76, 1.61). At 10 years after breast cancer diagnosis, 1 in 40 Asian women and 1 in 20 PI women died of CVD. Conclusion: Asian breast cancer survivors living in low-income counties had heightened risk of CVD mortality compared with those living in higher income counties, highlighting potential healthcare access barriers to cancer survivorship care. Although PI women did not experience significant differences in CVD mortality across groups of county-level income and rurality, they had twice as high absolute risk of CVD mortality than Asian women, warranting further investigation. Future studies that disaggregate Asian and PI individuals into more diverse and granular ethnicity groups are needed to understand heterogeneity in breast cancer survivorship outcomes. Citation Format: Katherine L. Ho, Cody Ramin, Jaimie Z. Shing, Kekoa Taparra, Jacqueline B. Vo. Effect of county-level income and rurality on cardiovascular disease mortality among Asian and Pacific Islander breast cancer survivors in the US, 2000-2018 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4828.

Abstract P374: Understanding the Mediating Role of Allostatic Load on the Relationship Between Long-Term Financial Strain and Subclinical CVD Among Black Women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

Introduction: Black adults are disproportionately burdened by poor cardiovascular health, and Black women bear the brunt of this disparity. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disparities among Black women have been attributed to chronic exposure to psychosocial stressors and the cumulative “wear and tear” of these stressors on the body (i.e., allostatic load). Financial strain has been linked to both higher allostatic load and CVD risk. We aimed to determine whether allostatic load (AL) mediates the relationship between financial strain and cumulative CVD risk among Black women. Methods: This study utilized longitudinal data from the Black participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). We conducted a causal mediation analysis with fourfold decomposition to determine if the relationship between long-term financial strain and subclinical CVD was mediated by AL. The study outcome was defined as the presence of any indicator of subclinical CVD from carotid ultrasounds conducted in visit 12/13: carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) ≥ 75 th percentile of the study sample, carotid adventitial diameter (cAD) ≥ 75 th percentile of the study sample, or plaque index (a measure of number and size of plaques) &gt;2. Long-term financial strain was defined as reporting “money problems” or “difficulty paying for basics” at &gt;50% of the 6 most recent visits prior to the carotid ultrasound. AL was calculated using a validated summary score method based on 10 component measures from visit 12: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum glucose, BMI, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, HDL-C, total cholesterol, waist-to-hip ratio, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. AL was considered “high” if the score was ≥75 th percentile of the study sample. Results: Of the 390 Black women in our sample [Mean (SD) age at subclinical CVD visit = 60.0 (2.7)], 42.3% had subclinical CVD (24.9% with cIMT or cAD, 9.7% with plaque), 56.9% reported long-term financial strain, and 38.0% had high AL. Both long-term financial strain (β=0.132, p &lt;0.01) and high AL (β=0.134, p &lt;0.01) were associated with a significantly higher likelihood of subclinical CVD. However, causal mediation analysis indicated that the effect of long-term financial strain on subclinical CVD was not mediated by AL (β=0.004, p =0.66). Conclusions: Though higher AL is associated with higher CVD risk among Black women, it did not mediate the causal relationship between long-term financial strain and CVD risk in these midlife women. Future research should examine the pathways by which financial strain and AL influence premature cardiovascular weathering among midlife Black women and explore potential large-scale interventions.

Association between atherogenic index of plasma control level and incident cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals with abnormal glucose metabolism

BackgroundThe atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in participants with abnormal glucose metabolism have been linked in previous studies. However, it was unclear whether AIP control level affects the further CVD incidence among with diabetes and pre-diabetes. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the association between AIP control level with risk of CVD in individuals with abnormal glucose metabolism.MethodsParticipants with abnormal glucose metabolism were included from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. CVD was defined as self-reporting heart disease and/or stroke. Using k-means clustering analysis, AIP control level, which was the log-transformed ratio of triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in molar concentration, was divided into five classes. The association between AIP control level and incident CVD among individuals with abnormal glucose metabolism was investigated multivariable logistic regression analysis and application of restricted cubic spline analysis.Results398 (14.97%) of 2,659 participants eventually progressed to CVD within 3 years. After adjusting for various confounding factors, comparing to class 1 with the best control of the AIP, the OR for class 2 with good control was 1.31 (95% CI, 0.90–1.90), the OR for class 3 with moderate control was 1.38 (95% CI, 0.99–1.93), the OR for class 4 with worse control was 1.46 (95% CI, 1.01–2.10), and the OR for class 5 with consistently high levels was 1.56 (95% CI, 1.03–2.37). In restricted cubic spline regression, the relationship between cumulative AIP index and CVD is linear. Further subgroup analysis demonstrated that the similar results were observed in the individuals with agricultural Hukou, history of smoking, diastolic blood pressure ≥ 80mmHg, and normal body mass index. In addition, there was no interaction between the AIP control level and the subgroup variables.ConclusionsIn middle-aged and elderly participants with abnormal glucose metabolism, constant higher AIP with worst control may have a higher incidence of CVD. Monitoring long-term AIP change will contribute to early identification of high risk of CVD among individuals with abnormal glucose metabolism.

Association between the cumulative average triglyceride glucose-body mass index and cardiovascular disease incidence among the middle-aged and older population: a prospective nationwide cohort study in China

BackgroundFindings from earlier research have established that insulin resistance (IR) is implicated in atherosclerosis progression, representing a noteworthy risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recently, the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) has been introduced as a straightforward and robust alternative indicator for early detection of IR. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of studies that have examined the capability of TyG-BMI for predicting incident CVD. Consequently, the core objective of this study was to determine whether the cumulative average TyG-BMI correlated with CVD incidence.MethodsAll data was sourced from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The exposure was the cumulative average TyG-BMI, determined by the average of TyG-BMI values for the baseline and follow-up investigations (Wave 1 in 2011, Wave 3 in 2015, respectively). The calculation of TyG-BMI involved a combination of triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, and body mass index. The primary outcome was incident CVD. Logistic regression analyses as well as restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression analyses were performed for examining the association between the cumulative average TyG-BMI and CVD incidence.ResultsIn all, 5,418 participants were enrolled in our analysis, with 2,904 (53.6%) being female, and a mean (standard deviation, SD) age of 59.6 (8.8) years. The mean (SD) cumulative average TyG-BMI among all participants was 204.9 (35.7). Totally, during a 4-year follow-up, 543 (10.0%) participants developed CVD. The fully adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between the cumulative average TyG-BMI and incident CVD [odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.168, 1.040–1.310, per 1 SD increase]. The RCS regression analysis displayed a positive, linear association of the cumulative average TyG-BMI with CVD incidence (P for overall = 0.038, P for nonlinear = 0.436).ConclusionsOur study revealed a noteworthy correlation between the cumulative average TyG-BMI and incident CVD among the middle-aged and older population. The cumulative average TyG-BMI emerges as a valuable tool that may enhance the primary prevention and treatment of CVD.

Genetic and Environmental Factors and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Adolescents

Cardiovascular risk factors in youth have been associated with future cardiovascular disease (CVD), but conventional observational studies are vulnerable to genetic and environmental confounding. To examine the role of genetic and environmental factors shared by full siblings in the association of adolescent cardiovascular risk factors with future CVD. This is a nationwide cohort study with full sibling comparisons. All men who underwent mandatory military conscription examinations in Sweden between 1972 and 1995 were followed up until December 31, 2016. Data analysis was performed from May 1 to November 10, 2022. Body mass index (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, handgrip strength, and a combined risk z score in late adolescence. The primary outcome was fatal or nonfatal CVD, as recorded in the National Inpatient Register or the Cause of Death Register before 2017. A total of 1 138 833 men (mean [SD] age, 18.3 [0.8] years), of whom 463 995 were full brothers, were followed up for a median (IQR) of 32.1 (26.7-37.7) years, during which 48 606 experienced a CVD outcome (18 598 among full brothers). All risk factors were associated with CVD, but the effect of controlling for unobserved genetic and environmental factors shared by full siblings varied. In the sibling analysis, hazard ratios for CVD (top vs bottom decile) were 2.10 (95% CI, 1.90-2.32) for BMI, 0.77 (95% CI, 0.68-0.88) for cardiorespiratory fitness, 1.45 (95% CI, 1.32-1.60) for systolic blood pressure, 0.90 (95% CI, 0.82-0.99) for handgrip strength, and 2.19 (95% CI, 1.96-2.46) for the combined z score. The percentage attenuation in these hazard ratios in the sibling vs total cohort analysis ranged from 1.1% for handgrip strength to 40.0% for cardiorespiratory fitness. Consequently, in the sibling analysis, the difference in cumulative CVD incidence at age 60 years (top vs bottom decile) was 7.2% (95% CI, 5.9%-8.6%) for BMI and 1.8% (95% CI, 1.0%-2.5%) for cardiorespiratory fitness. Similarly, in the sibling analysis, hypothetically shifting everyone in the worst deciles of BMI to the middle decile would prevent 14.9% of CVD at age 60 years, whereas the corresponding number for cardiorespiratory fitness was 5.3%. In this Swedish national cohort study, cardiovascular risk factors in late adolescence, especially a high BMI, were important targets for CVD prevention, independently of unobserved genetic and environmental factors shared by full siblings. However, the role of adolescent cardiorespiratory fitness in CVD may have been overstated by conventional observational studies.

Population prevalence of ECG abnormalities and risk of incident CVD outcomes: 5-year follow-up of 25,000 Chinese adults

Abstract Background and purpose Little is known about the utility of automated reporting of electrocardiograms (ECGs) for prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) types in low- and middle-income countries. We compared derived ECG phenotypes and a clinical risk score for prediction of incident major CVD types in a population study of Chinese adults. Methods CVD risk factors were collected and 12-lead ECGs performed with automated interpretation using Mortara’s VERITAS™ algorithm on 25,239 adults in the China Kadoorie Biobank resurvey in 2013-2014. Incident CVD outcomes were recorded prospectively over a median follow-up of 5 years. We examined the prevalence and prognosis of broad ECG phenotypes developed from automated outputs: (i) atrial fibrillation/flutter (AFib); (ii) ischaemia (possible/probable or definite); (iii) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH); and (iv) normal ECG. Participants were stratified by modified CHA2DS2-VA score (&amp;lt;3 vs ≥3) and by age at resurvey. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to display cumulative CVD event rates during follow-up for ECG phenotypes. Results The mean (SD) age at resurvey was 59.5 (10.2) years, 62% were women and 57% were from rural areas. Overall, 44.3% had a normal ECG and 1.2% had AFib (0.4%, 0.9%, and 3.9% at ages &amp;lt;55, 55-69, and 70+). A total of 28.1% had ischaemia, and 13.6% had LVH (Table). The prevalence of all pathological ECG phenotypes increased with age and prior CVD. AFib was more common in individuals with CHA2DS2-VA ≥3 vs &amp;lt;3 (3.6% vs 0.8%). CHA2DS2-VA ≥3 was associated with higher HRs (95% CI) for stroke (1.91; 1.67-2.19), ischaemic heart disease (IHD) (1.79; 1.52-2.11), and heart failure (HF) (1.80; 1.23-2.62), respectively. Compared to CHA2DS2-VA ≥3, HRs for the AFib phenotype were greater for IHD (2.62; 1.97-3.50) and HF (3.79; 2.21-6.49) and similar for stroke (1.88; 1.44-2.77). LVH was most strongly associated with HF (1.83; 1.31-2.55) and positive associations with each CVD type were greater for definite vs probable/possible ischaemic phenotypes. After adjustment for age, 5-year cumulative incidence rates of CVD were 36.8% in individuals with AFib, 19.4% in those with ischaemia (all), 18.0% in those with LVH, and 14.1% in those with normal ECGs. Individuals with CHA2DS2-VA ≥3 had a 3-fold greater cumulative incidence of CVD than those with scores &amp;lt;3 (40.9% vs 13.9%). Conclusions All pathological ECG phenotypes were associated with higher risks of CVD outcomes, but AFib was most strongly predictive and comparable to moderate-high CHA2DS2-VA scores. However, absolute risks of subsequent CVD events were similar in those with ischaemia, LVH and a normal ECG. When combined with clinical risk scores, automated ECG interpretation is a useful adjunct in low-resource settings for CVD risk prediction in population studies and in clinical practice.

Cardiovascular mortality by cancer risk stratification in patients with localized prostate cancer: a SEER-based study.

The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa) by risk stratification remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of CVD death in patients with localized PCa by risk stratification. Population-based study of 340,806 cases in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database diagnosed with localized PCa between 2004 and 2016. The proportion of deaths identifies the primary cause of death, the competing risk model identifies the interaction between CVD and PCa, and the standardized mortality rate (SMR) quantifies the risk of CVD death in patients with PCa. CVD-related death was the leading cause of death in patients with localized PCa, and cumulative CVD-related death also surpassed PCa almost as soon as PCa was diagnosed in the low- and intermediate-risk groups. However, in the high-risk group, CVD surpassed PCa approximately 90 months later. Patients with localized PCa have a higher risk of CVD-related death compared to the general population and the risk increases steadily with survival (SMR = 4.8, 95% CI 4.6-5.1 to SMR = 13.6, 95% CI 12.8-14.5). CVD-related death is a major competing risk in patients with localized PCa, and cumulative CVD mortality increases steadily with survival time and exceeds PCa in all three stratifications (low, intermediate, and high risk). Patients with localized PCa have a higher CVD-related death than the general population. Management of patients with localized PCa requires attention to both the primary cancer and CVD.

County-level geographic disparities in cardiovascular disease mortality among US breast cancer survivors, 2000-2018.

Disparities in cardiovascular disease mortality among breast cancer survivors are documented, but geographic factors by county-level socioeconomic status (SES) and rurality are not well described. We analyzed 724 518 women diagnosed with localized or regional stage breast cancer between 2000 and 2017 within Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program-18 with follow-up until 2018. We calculated relative risks (RRs) of cardiovascular disease mortality using Poisson regression, accounting for age- and race-specific rates in the general population, according to county-level quintiles of SES (measured by Yost index), median income, and rurality at breast cancer diagnosis. We also calculated 10-year cumulative mortality risk of cardiovascular disease accounting for competing risks. Cardiovascular disease mortality was 41% higher among breast cancer survivors living in the lowest SES (RR = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36 to 1.46, Ptrend < .001) and poorest (RR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.36 to 1.47, Ptrend < .001) counties compared with the highest SES and wealthiest counties, and 24% higher for most rural relative to most urban counties (RR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.30, Ptrend < .001). Disparities for the lowest SES relative to highest SES counties were greatest among younger women aged 18-49 years (RR = 2.32, 95% CI = 1.90 to 2.83) and aged 50-59 years (RR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.77 to 2.28) and within the first 5 years of breast cancer diagnosis (RR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.44 to 1.64). In absolute terms, however, disparities were widest for women aged 60+ years, with approximately 2% higher 10-year cumulative cardiovascular disease mortality risk in the poorest compared with wealthiest counties. Geographic factors at breast cancer diagnosis were associated with increased cardiovascular disease mortality risk. Studies with individual- and county-level information are needed to inform public health interventions and reduce disparities among breast cancer survivors.

Association between Seafood Intake and Cardiovascular Disease in South Korean Adults: A Community-Based Prospective Cohort Study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common non-communicable diseases causing 18.6 million deaths worldwide. Several studies have revealed that seafood consumption has a protective effect against CVD. This study investigated the correlation between CVD and seafood intake based on a 10-year follow-up of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). The study population, which included 6565 adults age, 55.65 (±8.68), was divided into seafood intake-based tertiles. CVD included myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease. At baseline, participants with low seafood intake also had low eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intakes. Prospectively, hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CVD were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Seafood intake exhibited a significantly inverse relationship with the cumulative CVD incidence over 10 years regardless of sex (women: log-rank test p &lt; 0.001 and men: log-rank test p &lt; 0.0401). The longitudinal association of low seafood intake with the CVD risk was significantly stronger in female participants after adjusting for confounding variables (HR (95% confidence interval (CI)) = 0.718 (0.519-0.993) p-trend = 0.043). These results suggested that seafood consumption potentially ameliorates CVD risk in middle-aged adults.

Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Death in Older Malignant Melanoma Patients: A Population-Based Study.

Simple SummaryStudies have shown that the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) death is significantly increased in older (65 or older) malignant melanoma (MM) patients. Proportion of death, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and cumulative mortality were used to compare the differences in mortality between MM and CVD in older MM patients. Our study revealed older MM patients died from diseases other than primary cancer, and CVD was the leading cause. MM patients had a 1.98-fold higher risk of CVD death than the general population, which signals the importance of prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in patients with MM.Noncancer deaths account for a large proportion of deaths in patients with malignant melanoma (MM), but the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) death in older MM patients remains unclear. This study aimed to estimate the risk of CVD death in older MM patients. Data on older MM patients were obtained in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Risk of CVD death was calculated by standardized mortality rates (SMRs), cumulative mortality and proportion of different causes of death. MM patients had a higher risk of CVD death than general populations (SMR = 1.98; 95% CI 1.93–2.03, p < 0.001). CVD death was more common in MM patients who were diagnosed at age 85 or older, had a localized stage, were white, had surgical treatment, had a primary head/neck/upper limb site and had a low-grade and superficial spreading/lentigo malignant pathologic type. Cumulative CVD mortality was more common than primary cancer in all older age groups, male or female, and patients with localized-stage disease. Other than primary cancer, CVD was the main cause of death in older patients diagnosed with MM. Our findings highlight CVD death is an important competing event of deaths in older MM patients, and more attention should be paid to reducing CVD death to improve survival.

Abstract EP68: Can A Single Model For General Population Predict Cardiovascular Events In Cancer Survivors?

Introduction: No specific guideline exists for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in cancer survivors. We hypothesized that CVD risk and its association with risk factors are comparable between cancer survivors and the general population, such that they may share currently available risk scores (e.g., Pooled Cohort Equation; PCE) for initial risk discussion. Methods: We studied 59 445 cancer survivors (≥5 years from diagnosis) and 59 445 age/sex-matched non-cancer controls aged 40-79 years (51.6% female) and free of CVD among participants of 2009 Korean National Health Insurance health screening. We calculated 10-year cumulative incidence of CVD events (composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death) and hazard ratios for traditional CVD risk factors in cancer survivors vs. non-cancer controls. We then evaluated discrimination and calibration of a previously-derived, general Korean population-based CVD risk model (having similar predictors as the PCE) applied to cancer survivors. Results: During a median follow-up of 10.3 years, 6,809 CVD events occurred. Multivariable-adjusted 10-year cumulative CVD incidence was 2.8% (2.7-3.0) among cancer survivors and 3.0% (2.0-3.2) among non-cancer controls (Figure A). Associations of traditional risk factors with CVD events were similar between cancer survivors and controls (Figure B). Results were consistent when stratified by sex and age. A CVD risk model, previously derived from the general Korean population similarly as the PCE, showed good discrimination (C-index, 0.747) and calibration (Figure C) when applied to cancer survivors. By cancer subtype, some cancers were associated with higher or lower CVD risk than controls (Figure D). Conclusions: CVD risk and associations with predictors were similar between cancer survivors and non-cancer individuals. Pre-existing models for general population may perform well in overall cancer survivors, although subtype-specific recalibration may be desirable for some cancers.

Association between incarceration and incident cardiovascular disease events: results from the CARDIA cohort study

BackgroundIncarceration has been associated with higher cardiovascular risk, yet data evaluating its association with cardiovascular disease events are limited. The study objective was to evaluate the association between incarceration and incident fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) events.MethodsBlack and white adults from the community-based Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adult (CARDIA) study (baseline 1985–86, n = 5105) were followed through August 2017. Self-reported incarceration was measured at baseline (1985–1986) and Year 2 (1987–1988), and fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease events, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure, and all-cause mortality, were captured through 2017. Analyses were completed in September 2019. Cumulative CVD incidence rates and Cox proportional hazards were compared overall by incarceration status. An interaction between incarceration and race was identified, so results were also analyzed by sex-race groups.Results351 (6.9%) CARDIA participants reported a history of incarceration. Over 29.0 years mean follow-up, CVD incidence rate was 3.52 per 1000 person-years in participants with a history of incarceration versus 2.12 per 1000 person-years in participants without a history of incarceration (adjusted HR = 1.33 [95% CI, 0.90–1.95]). Among white men, incarceration was associated with higher risk of incident cardiovascular disease (adjusted HR = 3.35 [95% CI, 1.54–7.29) and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR = 2.52 [95% CI, 1.32–4.83]), but these associations were not statistically significant among other sex-race groups after adjustment.ConclusionsIncarceration was associated with incident cardiovascular disease rates, but associations were only significant in one sex-race group after multivariable adjustment.

Cardiovascular disease in the World Trade Center Health Program General Responder Cohort.

Over 90,000 rescue and recovery responders to the September 2001 World Trade Center (WTC) attacks were exposed to toxic materials that can impair cardiac function and increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We examined WTC-related exposures association with annual and cumulative CVD incidence and risk over 17 years in the WTC Health Program (HP) General Responder Cohort (GRC). Post 9/11 first occurrence of CVD was assessed in 37,725 responders from self-reported physician diagnosis of, or current treatment for, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, stroke and/or congestive heart failure from WTCHP GRC monitoring visits. Kaplan-Meier estimates of CVD incidence used the generalized Wilcoxon test statistic to account for censored data. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses estimated the CVD hazard ratio associated with 9/11/2001 arrival in responders with and without dust cloud exposure, compared with arrival on or after 9/12/2001. Additional analyses adjusted for comorbidities. To date, 6.3% reported new CVD. In covariate-adjusted analyses, men's CVD 9/11/2001 arrival risks were 1.40 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.26, 1.56) and 1.43 (95% CI = 1.29, 1.58) and women's were 2.16 (95% CI = 1.49, 3.11) and 1.59 (95% CI = 1.11, 2.27) with and without dust cloud exposure, respectively. Protective service employment on 9/11 had higher CVD risk. WTCHP GRC members with 9/11/2001 exposures had substantially higher CVD risk than those initiating work afterward, consistent with observations among WTC-exposed New York City firefighters. Women's risk was greater than that ofmen's. GRC-elevated CVD risk may also be occurring at a younger age than in the general population.

Cumulative Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Triglycerides Differentially Relate to Subdomains of Executive Function in Bipolar Disorder; preliminary findings

ObjectivesCardiovascular disease is disproportionally prevalent in bipolar disorder (BD) and has been linked to cognition in preliminary studies. Herein we evaluate the association between known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and executive function in BD patients compared to healthy controls. MethodsIn a sample of n=57 individuals (n=23 BD, n=34 controls) we assessed two subdomains of executive function; cognitive flexibility (using the Trail Making Test - Part B) and cognitive inhibition (using the Stroop Colour Word Interference Task). Cardiovascular risk was assessed by means of serum triglyceride levels, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, as well as dietary saturated fat intake and a sex-specific cumulative cardiovascular risk score calculated using the Framingham Heart Study method. ResultsPatients with BD had higher BMI and waist circumference, with more BD patients categorized as having central obesity than controls. In the BD group only, higher triglyceride levels were associated with worse cognitive flexibility, and elevated cumulative cardiovascular disease risk was associated with worse cognitive inhibition. No correlations between cardiovascular risk factors and executive function were evident in the control group. LimitationsThe study was limited by the small sample size and should be considered hypothesis-generating ConclusionsThe associations between triglyceride levels, cumulative cardiovascular disease risk and executive functioning evident in BD in this study preliminarily indicate the potential for mechanistic overlap of physical health and cognitive function in the disorder.

Coronary artery calcium progresses rapidly and discriminates incident cardiovascular events in chronic kidney disease regardless of diabetes: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Background and aimsChronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. We sought to assess the prognostic utility of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores in discriminating incident CVD events among subpopulations of CKD, particularly those without diabetes mellitus (DM). MethodsUsing the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, we identified 4 groups based on present/absent CKD/diabetes (CKD-/DM-, n = 5308; CKD-/DM+, n = 586, CKD+/DM-, n = 620; CKD+/DM+, n = 266). Baseline and follow-up CAC (Agatston units) measurements, and association between CAC and incident CVD events in median follow-up of 13 years were evaluated using proportional hazards regression adjusting for demographics, clinical, biomarker variables. ResultsPrevalence of CKD and DM in the cohort was 13% and 12.5% respectively. Annual progression in adjusted median CAC score was 24.8%, 27.9%, 26.7%, 36.8% and unadjusted cumulative incident CVD rates were 12.6%, 22.3%, 23.1%, 39.8% for CKD-/DM-, CKD-/DM+, CKD+/DM-, CKD+/DM+, respectively. After full adjustment (CKD-/DM-referent), hazard ratios (HR, 95% CI) for incident CVD events were 1.25 (1.01–1.53) CKD-/DM+, 1.10 (0.90–1.33) CKD+/DM- and 2.18 (1.73–2.76) CKD+/DM+. Using CKD-/DM-/baseline CAC = 0 referent, adjusted HRs (95% CI) for incident CVD in CKD+/DM- were 1.30 (0.81–2.07), 2.05 (1.4–2.99), and 4.15 (2.94–5.86) for baseline CAC = 0, 1–100, and >300 Agatston units respectively while for CKD+/DM+, adjusted HRs were 3.15 (2.04–4.86), 3.56 (2.26–5.62), 7.90 (5.35–11.67), respectively. ConclusionsCAC provides incremental prognostic information to predict incident CVD events in CKD regardless of DM. Moreover, baseline CAC categories discriminate incident CVD among CKD without DM, which may have implications in individualizing approach to primary prevention in this high-risk population.

Association between aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio and cardiovascular disease mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis: a multi-center retrospective study

BackgroundElevated aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among the general population. However, an association between AST/ALT ratio and CVD mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) has received little attention.MethodsA total of 2224 incident PD patients from multi-centers were enrolled from November 1, 2005, to June 30, 2017, in this retrospective cohort study. The primary endpoint was CVD mortality. Eligible patients were divided into high and normal groups according to the AST/ALT ratio cut-off for CVD mortality with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The associations between the AST/ALT ratio and CVD mortality were evaluated by the Cox regression model.ResultsOf eligible 1579 patients with a mean age of 49.3 ± 14.6 years, 55.4% of patients were male, 18.1% of patients had diabetes, and 64.2% of patients had hypertension. The prevalence of a high AST/ALT ratio was 76.6% in the cohort population. During a follow-up period with 4659.6 patient-years, 316 patients died, of which 193 (61.1%) deaths were caused by CVD episodes. The incidence of CVD mortality in the high group was significantly higher than that in the normal group (13.1% versus 9.2%, P = 0.024). Cumulative CVD mortality rates were significantly different between the two groups by Kaplan-Meier analysis [hazards ratio (HR) = 1.50, 95% confidence index (CI) 1.09–2.07, P = 0.014]. After adjusting for confounding factors, a higher AST/ALT ratio was independently associated with an increased risk of CVD mortality compared with their counterparts (HR = 1.43, 95%CI 1.08–2.41, P = 0.002).ConclusionsPD patients with high baseline AST/ALT ratio levels may be at a significant risk of CVD mortality.