Increased Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Research Articles

Even periconceptional alcohol consumption can have long-term consequences on heart health in the offspring.

Even periconceptional alcohol consumption can have long-term consequences on heart health in the offspring.

Causal association of cardiovascular disease with erectile dysfunction: a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.

The association between cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including ischemic stroke (IS), heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), and coronary heart disease (CHD), and erectile dysfunction (ED) remains unclear from observational studies. We explored the potential bidirectional association between CVD and ED by Mendelian randomization (MR). Data from genome-wide association studies for CVD in individuals with European ancestry were obtained from several databases, with 1,711,875-977,323 participants, while that for ED included 223,805 participants. We conducted univariate MR (UVMR), inverse variance-weighting (IVW), weighted median, MR-Egger, and multivariate MR (MVMR) analyses to explore the bidirectional causal effects between CVD and ED. UVMR indicated that IS (odds ratios [OR]=1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.21, P=0.007), HF (OR=1.36, 95% CI 1.07-1.74, P=0.013), and CHD (OR=1.15, 95% CI 1.09-1.18, P=0.022) were associated with ED. By MVMR, IS estimates remained significant after accounting for combining single nucleotide polymorphisms from CVDs (OR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.13-1.79, P=0.002). Moreover, the effect of a genetic susceptibility to IS on ED was not mediated by type 2 diabetes or triglycerides; that of HF was not mediated by type 2 diabetes, and that of CHD was not mediated by body mass index. Bidirectional analyses showed that genetic susceptibility to ED did not confer any increased CVD risk. Our results, based on MR, indicated that genetic susceptibility to IS, HF, and CHD was causally associated with ED. These findings can inform prevention and intervention strategies for ED in IS, HF, and CHD patients.

Association of remnant cholesterol with risk of cardiovascular disease events, stroke, and mortality: A systemic review and meta-analysis

Background and aimsLipid disorders are associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Remnant cholesterol (RC), a non-traditional previously neglected risk factor for CVD, has received much attention in recent years. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of RC with the risks of CVD, stroke, and mortality. MethodsMEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials were searched. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, and observational cohort studies assessing the association of RC with the risks of cardiovascular (CV) events, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and mortality. ResultsOverall, 31 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with low RC, elevated RC was associated with an increased risk of CVD, CHD, stroke, CVD mortality, and all-cause mortality (RR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.41–1.66; RR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.19–1.67; RR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.24–1.66; RR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.53–2.19; and RR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.27–1.50; respectively). A subgroup analysis demonstrated that each 1.0 mmol/L increase in RC was associated with an increased risk of CVD events and CHD. The association of RC with an increased CVD risk was not dependent on the presence or absence of diabetes, a fasted or non-fasted state, total cholesterol, or triglyceride or ApoB stratification. ConclusionsElevated RC is associated with an increased risk of CVD, stroke, and mortality. In addition to the traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as total cholesterol and LDL-C, clinicians should also pay attention to RC in clinics.

Invited Commentary: Beyond Barker-Mothers Are the Ones at Risk.

Dr. David Barker hypothesized that low birth weight (LBW) is the result of inadequate fetal nutrition, leading to increased risk ofcardiovascular disease (CVD) in the offspring. This hypothesis has stimulated thousands of reports on low birth weight (LBW) and CVD risk. One problem with this association is that many LBW infants are small because they are preterm, not growth-restricted. A second problem is that maternal CVD risk factors confound the association. In an accompanying article, Lu et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2023;192(6):866-877) address both concerns. Using population data from Sweden and Denmark, the authors estimated CVD incidence among offspring born small for gestational age (SGA). The smallest 3% had a CVD hazard ratio of 1.44 (95% confidence interval: 1.38, 1.51). Even this moderate risk mostly evaporated in sibship analysis, which controlled for unmeasured maternal CVD risk factors (hazard ratio = 1.11, 95% confidence interval: 0.99, 1.25). The risk highlighted by Barker is negligible, especially when compared with a more urgent health issue-cardiovascular risk in women with pregnancy complications. Mothers of SGA infants have up to a 3-fold CVD risk, and mothers with preeclampsia and preterm delivery have up to a 9-fold risk. Pregnancy complications thus provide an early marker of a woman's propensity to develop CVD, and perhaps an opportunity for early intervention. From a public health perspective, Barker's hypothesis about CVD risk in LBW offspring is less compelling than the question of CVD risk among mothers with pregnancy complications. This article is part of a Special Collection on ABC.

Impaired response of memory Treg to high density lipoproteins is associated with intermediate/high cardiovascular disease risk in persons with HIV.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of enhanced morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV (PWH) in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (AART). However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Regulatory T cells (Treg), notably the highly suppressive memory subset, have been shown to limit CVD. Importantly, memory Treg cell numbers remain low in many treated PWH. High density lipoproteins (HDL) also protect from CVD, and we previously found that Treg-HDL interactions reduce oxidative stress in these cells. Here, we evaluated Treg-HDL interactions in PWH and whether they were operative in those higher CVD risk. To do that, we recruited a cohort of PWH with intermediate/high CVD risk (median ASCVD risk score of 13.2%, n=15) or low/borderline risk (median ASCVD risk score of 3.6%, n=14), as well as a group of statins treated PWH with intermediate/high CVD risk (median ASCVD risk score of 12.7%, n=14). We evaluated Treg frequency, phenotype and response to HDL. PWH with Int/High CVD risk had a significantly lower number of memory Treg, but memory Treg were more activated and displayed an inflammatory phenotype, versus those with Low/BL CVD risk. In untreated patients, Treg absolute numbers were negatively correlated with ASCVD score. Although HDL decreased oxidative stress in memory Treg in all subjects, memory Treg from PWH with Int/High CVD risk were significantly less responsive to HDL than those from PWH with Low/BL CVD risk. The level of oxidative stress in memory Treg positively correlated with ASCVD scores. In contrast, plasma HDL from PWH, regardless of CVD risk, retained their anti-oxidative properties, suggesting that the defect in memory Treg response to HDL is intrinsic. Statin treatment partially ameliorated the memory Treg defect. In conclusion, the defective HDL-Treg interactions may contribute to the inflammation-induced increased CVD risk observed in many AART-treated PWH.

Association of disrupted sleep with 24-hour blood pressure variability in caregivers

BackgroundA growing body of research highlights the negative impact of caregiving on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine associations of psychological symptoms and sleep quality with 24-hour blood pressure variability (BPV), which is an independent predictor of CVD, among family caregivers of community-dwelling individuals with chronic illness. MethodsFor this cross-sectional study, we assessed caregiving burden and depressive symptoms using questionnaires and 7-day sleep quality (i.e., number of awakenings, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency) using an actigraph. The participants carried out a 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring for systolic and diastolic BPV over 24 h and during awake/sleep times. We performed Pearson's correlations and multiple linear regression. ResultsThe analytic sample consisted of 30 caregivers (25 female; mean age 62 years). The number of awakenings during sleep was positively correlated with systolic BPV-awake (r = 0.426, p = 0.019) and diastolic BPV-awake (r = 0.422, p = 0.020). Sleep efficiency was negatively correlated with diastolic BPV-awake (r = -0.368, p = 0.045). Caregiving burden and depressive symptoms were not correlated with BPV. After controlling for age and mean arterial pressure, the number of awakenings was significantly associated with increased systolic BPV-24 h (β = 0.194, p = 0.018) and systolic BPV-awake (β = 0.280, p = 0.002), respectively. ConclusionsCaregivers’ disrupted sleep may play a role in increased CVD risk. While these findings should be confirmed in large clinical studies, improving sleep quality would need to be considered in CVD prevention for caregivers.

Impact of diabetic status and contribution of office and home blood pressure across diabetic status for cardiovascular disease: the J-HOP study.

Few studies have investigated whether the prognostic power of home blood pressure (BP) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events differs across subjects with different diabetic status. We used the dataset of the J-HOP (Japan Morning Surge-Home Blood Pressure) study, which enrolled patients having cardiovascular risks to investigate relationships between home BP and CVD events. We classified the patients as having diabetes mellitus (DM), prediabetes or normal glucose metabolism (NGM) as follows: for DM, a self-reported history of physician-diagnosed DM and/or use of DM medication, a fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL, a casual plasma glucose level ≥200 mg/dL or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5% (n = 1034); for prediabetes, HbA1c of 5.7-6.4% (n = 1167), and for NGM, those who remained (n = 2024). CVD outcome was defined as coronary artery disease, stroke or heart failure. During a median 6.2 ± 3.8 years of follow-up, 259 CVD events occurred. Analysis found both prediabetes (Unadjusted Hazard ratio [uHR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.95), and DM (uHR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.59-2.85) as risks of CVD compared to NGM. In DM, patients with a 10-mmHg elevation of office systolic BP (SBP) and morning home SBP had 16% and 14% higher risks for CVD events. In the prediabetes group, only an elevated morning home SBP conferred a risk of CVD events (uHR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00-1.31), but this association did not hold for the adjusted model. Like DM, prediabetes should be recognized as a risk for CVD events, albeit weakly. Elevated home BP contributes to increased CVD risk in diabetes. Our study demonstrated the impact of prediabetes and diabetes on CVD and the impact of office and home BP on CVD events in each group.

CORRELATION BETWEEN PLASMA FIBRINOGEN WITH DAS28 SCORE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic illness affecting joints and extra-articular structures and is the most prevalent kind of inammatory arthritis worldwide. Patients of rheumatoid arthritis have increase risk of cardiovascular disease as compared to general population. Local inammation of the affected joints, manifesting as joint pain and swelling, generally represents the clinical disease activity in RAand is measured by various joint indices like Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI). Fibrinogen is the major determinant of plasma viscosity and it represents link between inammation, thrombosis and cardiovascular risk. The aim was to study the association of plasma brinogen with Disease activity score in rheumatoid arthritis and to compare levels of plasma brinogen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with healthy population. Materials And Methods:This study was a cross sectional study done in 70 subjects ( 35 diagnosed RApatient by ACR 1987 criteria and 35 healthy subjects) in Assam Medical College and hospital from June 2021- May 2022.The quantitive determination of plasma brinogen was done using clot detection method. We also measured ESR using Westergren's method. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. Results: The mean value of plasma brinogen was 381.143±43.71 in rheumatoid arthritis versus 314.285±46.29 in controls. This difference was statistically signicant <0.001.On evaluating brinogen level and DAS28 score, it was noted that patient with higher DAS28 had signicantly higher brinogen level (p<0.01). Conclusion: This study concluded that plasma brinogen is signicantly elevated in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and is signicant with increasing severity of the disease. As brinogen is the risk factor for cardiovascular disease it can also be added in routine monitoring of disease activity along with other parameters

Abstract P515: HIV/HCV Co-Infection and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of 91,153 Patients

Introduction: Antiretroviral therapy has improved the life expectancy of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, these patients are more susceptible to developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and subsequent mortalities. Many studies examining the association between HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection and the risk of CVD, compared to HIV mono-infection, have inconsistent results. We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify this association. We hypothesized that CVD risk will be synergistically increased by the persistent inflammatory responses of dual viral infections. Method: We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Web of Science from inception to July 2022 to identify studies on HIV/HCV co-infection and CVD, defined as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and stroke. We used either a random or fixed effect model considering the heterogeneity. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and crude Odds ratio (COR) for CVD and mortality were used. Results: Among the 453 articles reviewed, 11 observational studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 91,153 participants. Of these, 9633 (10.5%) were HIV/HCV coinfected, 81,520 (89.5%) were HIV monoinfected. Pooled hazard ratio for the association between HIV/HCV co-infection and CVD was significant (aHR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.65, I2 = 38%, P=0.12) compared to HIV mono-infection. Furthermore, the odds of mortality due to HIV/HCV co-infection in patients with CVD is significantly higher compared to HIV mono-infection (COR = 4.07, 95% CI: 3.19, 5.18, I2 = 0%, P=0.56). Conclusion: We found a positive association between HIV/HCV coinfection and increased CVD risk and associated mortality compared to those with HIV mono-infection. However, more research is needed for further assessment of this association, determining potential underlying mechanisms and evaluating whether treatment for HIV and HCV infections can reduce CVD morbidities and mortalities.

Abstract 04: Neighborhood Social Vulnerability Associated With Increased Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease in Port-au-Prince: Findings From the Haiti Cardiovascular Disease Cohort Study

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in low-income countries (LICs). Neighborhood social vulnerability has been associated with increased CVD risk in high-income countries, but the relationship is unknown in LICs. Our objective was to determine the association between neighborhood social vulnerability and prevalent CVD in urban Haiti. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that adults living in neighborhoods with increased social vulnerability will have a greater prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and CVD. Methods: We used cross-sectional enrollment data from the Haiti CVD Cohort study, a population-based cohort of adults ≥18 years living in Port-au-Prince distributed across 97 census blocks. To quantify vulnerability, we created a Haiti-specific Neighborhood Social Vulnerability Index (NSVI) based on the US CDC Social Vulnerability Index. The NSVI included three socioeconomic variables (income, sex, education), two household variables (single parent household, household with child <18 years), and six neighborhood stress and well-being variables (neighborhood cohesion, neighborhood violence, perceived stress, food insecurity, depression, social support). Each variable was determined using validated questionnaires. NSVI was calculated for each census block, which were stratified into quartiles. HTN was defined as SBP ≥140 mmHg, DBP ≥90, or on antihypertensive medications; CVD included heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, and angina, defined using adjudicated criteria. HTN and CVD prevalence were calculated for each NSVI quartile. Associations between NSVI quartile and HTN or CVD were quantified using individual-level multivariate logistic regression to adjust for confounders. Results: Among 2932 participants, median age was 40 years (IQR 28-55) and 58% were female. Age-standardized prevalence of HTN and CVD was 32.3% and 13.8%, respectively. The age-standardized prevalence of HTN and CVD was 35.7% and 17.3% across 4 th NSVI quartile blocks, compared to 29.1% and 14.1% across 1 st quartile NSVI blocks (p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, BMI, smoking, and alcohol use, participants living in 4 th NSVI quartile blocks had a greater risk of HTN (Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 1.42; 95% CI 1.07-1.88; p-value 0.01) and CVD (aOR 1.36; CI: 0.99-1.88; p-value 0.06) compared to participants in the 1 st NSVI quartile blocks. NSVI was significantly associated with HTN in males but not females; conversely, NSVI was significantly associated with CVD in females and not males. Conclusions: Individuals living in neighborhoods with the greatest social vulnerability had a higher prevalence of HTN and CVD. Even in a setting of severe poverty such as urban Haiti, gradients in social vulnerabilities are associated with CVD disparities. Screening for social vulnerabilities should be incorporated into CVD prevention and treatment interventions in LICs.

Abstract P314: Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among African Immigrants in New York City

Background: African immigrants (AIs) constitute a highly diverse and rapidly growing population in the US, particularly in New York City. Yet, their cardiovascular health remains understudied. We examined the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and identified predictors of increased CVD risk among AIs residing in the five New York City (NYC) boroughs. Objective: To examine the relationship between social determinants (marital status, education, employment, and health insurance) and CVD risk factors among AIs living in NYC. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among AIs ≥30 years residing in NYC. Outcomes of interest were self-reported CVD risk factors assessed individually (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, overweight/obesity, and poor sleep). Using logistic regression analyses, we examined the associations between social determinants and individual CVD risk factors, adjusting for age and sex. Results: Of 215 participants, the mean age was 54 (SD: 11.7) years, and 70% were female. The majority (93%) had ≥1 of the 6 CVD risk factors. Smoking was least prevalent, and overweight/obesity was most prevalent (76%); with 42%, and 18% having a prior diagnosis of hypertension and diabetes, respectively. Those who were employed had ≥ bachelor's education were less likely to have hyperlipidemia (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 0.35, 95%CI: 0.15-0.86, or overweight/obesity (aOR: 0.31, 95%CI: 1.11-0.88); and twice (aOR: 2.14, 95%CI: 1.11-4.15), more likely to report poor sleep. However, being married and having health insurance were associated with a 3-fold (aOR: 3.08, 95%CI: 1.12-8.50) and 4-fold (aOR: 4.07, 95%CI: 1.12-14.73) higher likelihood of being overweight/obese. Conclusions: The prevalence of CVD risk factors among AIs was particularly high. Culturally-appropriate interventions and policies to reduce CVD risk factors are highly recommended for this population.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Clonal Hematopoiesis.

The evolution of antiretroviral therapies (ART) has tremendously improved the life expectancy of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH), which is currently similar to the general population. However, as PLWH are now living longer, they exhibit various comorbidities such as a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defined malignancies. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is the acquisition of somatic mutations by the hematopoietic stem cells, rendering them survival and growth benefit, thus leading to their clonal dominance in the bone marrow. Recent epidemiologic studies have highlighted that PLWH have a higher prevalence of CH, which in turn is associated with increased CVD risk. Thus, a link between HIV infection and a higher risk for CVD might be explained through the induction of inflammatory signaling in the monocytes carrying CH mutations. Among the PLWH, CH is associated with an overall poorer control of HIV infection; an association that requires further mechanistic evaluation. Finally, CH is linked to an increased risk of progression to myeloid neoplasms including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which are associated with particularly poor outcomes among patients with HIV infection. These bidirectional associations require further molecular-level understanding, highlighting the need for more preclinical and prospective clinical studies. This review summarizes the current literature on the association between CH and HIV infection.

A Systematic Review on the Potential of Aspirin to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in Schizophrenia.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide. Patients with mental health disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ) are known to have an increased risk for CVD. Given the association with metabolic syndrome, patients with SCZ are often prescribed metformin and statins but its impact remains unsatisfactory. The use of aspirin (ASA) to decrease cardiovascular risk in the general population has been thoroughly investigated and clear guidelines are currently in place. Since adjuvant treatment with ASA could possibly decrease CVD risk and mortality in SCZ, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to determine the state of the current literature on this subject. Our systematic review points to gaps in the literature on CVD prevention in SCZ and illustrates an obvious need for further research. Although several studies have shown increased CVD risk in SCZ, to date, no research has been conducted on the utilization of CVD preventative treatment such as ASA for SCZ.

Remnant cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and incident cardiovascular disease among Koreans: a national population-based study.

The synergistic association of remnant cholesterol (remnant-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in various subgroups of Koreans was investigated. Using the national health insurance data, we included subjects aged between 40 and 70 without a history of CVD and at least two health screenings between 2009 and 2011. The subjects were divided into four groups by LDL-C and remnant-C levels. The primary outcome was CVD, which occurred between 2014 and 2017. Among 3,686,034 (45.6% women) of subjects, 144,004 cardiovascular events occurred. Individuals in both high LDL-C and high remnant-C [hazard ratio (HR) 1.266, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.243-1.289; 7.9%], high LDL-C only (HR 1.098, 95% CI 1.083-1.113; 21.2%), and high remnant-C only groups (HR 1.102, 95% CI 1.087-1.118; 19.1%) had higher risks of CVD than the reference group (LDL-C < 3.4 mmol/L and remnant-C < 0.8 mmol/L; 51.8%). A continuous and linear increase in CVD risk was found in those with higher remnant-C levels after adjustment for several confounders, including LDL-C levels. The association of remnant-C ≥ 0.8 mmol/L with an increased CVD risk was consistent across various strata. Combined high remnant-C and LDL-C levels confer a higher CVD risk than that individually. Elevated remnant-C values, independent of LDL-C levels, were associated with a risk of incident CVD. Remnant-C levels in addition to LDL-C levels are important considerations in risk stratification for the primary prevention of CVD.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors Seen in College-going Medical Students Population in India

Worldwide, approximately 17.7 million people died from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in 2015 (31% of all global deaths) according to the World health organization (WHO); among these, 7.4 million deaths were due to coronary heart disease (CHD). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 medical students, belonging to 18-25 years age group, who were randomly enrolled in the study from Government Medical College, Jammu over a period of one year from November 2019 to October 2020 with the objectives: 1.To determine anthropometric measures, blood pressures, personal and family history of cardiovascular risk factors/disease among medical students. 2. To determine the prevalence of some adverse lifestyle choices that may predispose to an increased CVD risk among medical students. The study results showed that out of 200 students, 30 females and 9 male study subjects reported with inconsistent or no physical activity had high-risk of obesity (high waist hip ratio) and also reported high (pre-hypertension) systolic BP was 47 and high (pre-hypertension) diastolic BP was 43. The study results also revealed that the majority of the study subjects113 (56.5%) were Females.

The Gut Microbiome, Microbial Metabolites, and Cardiovascular Disease in People Living with HIV.

To synthesize recent evidence relating the gut microbiome and microbial metabolites to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people living with HIV (PLWH). A few cross-sectional studies have reported on the gut microbiome and cardiovascular outcomes in the context of HIV, with no consistent patterns emerging. The largest such study found that gut Fusobacterium was associated with carotid artery plaque. More studies have evaluated microbial metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide with CVD risk in PLWH, but results were inconsistent, with recent prospective analyses showing null effects. Studies of other microbial metabolites are scarce. Microbial translocation biomarkers (e.g., lipopolysaccharide binding protein) have been related to incident CVD in PLWH. Microbial translocation may increase CVD risk in PLWH, but there is insufficient and/or inconsistent evidence regarding specific microbial species and microbial metabolites associated with cardiovascular outcomes in PLWH. Further research is needed in large prospective studies integrating the gut microbiome, microbial translocation, and microbial metabolites with cardiovascular outcomes in PLWH.

Review of Studies on Palm-Oil Consumption in Relation to Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases

Background: A balanced-diet containing edible-oil has been advocated to have more of unsaturated fatty acid. The saturated nature of palm-oil (PO) has led to the recommendation that its consumption should be limited to avoid the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the claims and counterclaims of PO consumption and the risk of CVD from biochemical perspective. Methods: Relevant published peer-review articles on PO consumption associated with risk of CVD were sorted from Google Scholar, Scopus, Medline, and PubMed databases. Keywords, such as “palm-oil, cardiovascular diseases, and cholesterol” were used for the search. Results: Apparent in animal studies, 52.17% support the claim that PO consumption is associated with CVD, and has been attributed to its saturated nature. According to the reports, PO consumption by virtue of its saturated nature-elicited hypercholesterolaemia, which may result to CVD. Furthermore, PO consumption may instigate fatty liver, cause narrowing blood vessels and thickening aorta of the heart, and consequently non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a serious condition that may lead to severe cirrhosis, thereby increase CVD risk. On the other hand, 47.83% refute such claims that PO consumption is not associated with CVD risk. Based on human studies, 45.45% and 54.55% support and refute, respectively the claims that PO is associated with CVD. Conclusion: PO consumption has shown to be associated with hypercholesterolaemia, elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol, hence, could instigate CVD, even though no study convincingly establishes any relationship between PO consumption and the risk of CVD. Furthermore, consumption of repeatedly heated PO (deep-frying) may instigate oxidative stress, and consequently CVD.

The association of BP with cardiovascular outcomes in patients with dipstick proteinuria and preserved kidney function.

Little is known about the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with proteinuria and a preserved estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). This study sought to investigate the association of BP with CVD risk in adults with proteinuria and preserved eGFR. We studied 188,837 individuals with proteinuria and preserved eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2. We categorized individuals who were not taking BP-lowering medications into four groups based on the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association BP guideline and categorized those who were taking BP-lowering medications using the same BP ranges. The primary outcome was a composite CVD endpoint that included myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke, and heart failure. Over a mean follow-up of 1,050 days, 7,039 CVD events were identified. Compared with normal BP, stage 1 hypertension (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.30, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.21-1.40) and stage 2 hypertension (HR: 2.17, 95% CI: 2.01-2.34) were associated with an increased risk for CVD events among medication-naïve individuals. Only stage 2 hypertension range (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02-1.38) was associated with an increased CVD event risk among people taking BP-lowering medications. Restricted cubic spline analysis showed that the risk of CVD events increased monotonically with BP at an SBP/DBP > 120/80 mmHg among medication-naïve individuals, but risk increased only at an SBP/DBP > 140/90 mmHg among individuals taking BP-lowering medications. In conclusion, among people with proteinuria and preserved eGFR, stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension were associated with a greater risk of CVD among medication-naïve individuals, whereas only stage 2 hypertension was associated with an increased CVD risk among those taking BP-lowering medications.

Procoagulant factors and future risk of arterial cardiovascular disease in patients with prior venous thrombosis: A cohort study.

Patients with venous thrombosis (VT) are at increased risk of future arterial cardiovascular disease (CVD) (i.e., myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke or peripheral artery disease). We investigated whether shared risk factors for VT and CVD are associated with the levels of procoagulant factors (fibrinogen, factor VIII, and von Willebrand factor), and whether the relationship between these risk factors and subsequent CVD was mediated through these procoagulant factors in patients with VT. In a follow-up study consisting of 4956 patients with VT, 2176 patients (44%) provided blood samples and were linked to the Dutch Hospital registry of Statistics Netherlands to identify hospital admissions or procedures for subsequent CVD. In total, 52 CVD events occurred over a follow-up of 11,124 years, with an incidence rate of 4.7 per 1000 patient years (95% confidence intervals 3.5-6.1). Increasing age, male sex, smoking history, major illnesses, dyslipidemia, and impaired fasting glucose levels were associated with increased CVD risk. Procoagulant factor levels were also associated with CVD risk. When adjusted for these procoagulant factors, the association between the risk factors and CVD attenuated partially. This study provides evidence that procoagulant factors can partially explain the association between increased risks of subsequent CVD in patients with previous VT.

Changes in fasting blood glucose status and incidence of cardiovascular disease: The China-PAR project.

The effect of long-standing prediabetes or its transition on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association of changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG) status with the risk of developing CVD. This research included 12 145 Chinese adults aged 35-74 years and free from diabetes mellitus (DM) at baseline. Study participants were cross-classified into six categories according to glucose at the first (1998-2001) and the second visit after 8 years: normal fasting glucose (NFG; 50-99 mg/dl), impaired FBG (IFG; 100-125 mg/dl), and DM. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for CVD associated with transition of glucose status. During a median follow-up of 5.5 years, 373 incident CVD cases occurred. Compared with participants remaining persistent NFG, a higher risk of developing CVD was identified among those remaining persistent IFG, progressing to DM from NFG or from IFG, with the multivariate-adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.792 (1.141, 2.816), 1.723 (1.122, 2.645) and 1.946 (1.120, 3.381), respectively. Furthermore, when stratified by glucose status at baseline, persistent IFG and progression from IFG to DM still increased CVD risk in comparison with reversion from IFG to NFG, with the multivariate-adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.594 (1.003, 2.532) and 1.913 (1.080, 3.389). Participants with long-standing IFG and progressing to DM had a higher risk of developing CVD. Further well-designed studies are warranted to assess the association of other phenotypes or prediabetes duration with CVD.