Korean Genome Epidemiology Study Research Articles

Predictive Mortality Index for Community-Dwelling Elderly Koreans

There are very few predictive indexes for long-term mortality among community-dwelling elderly Asian individuals, despite its importance, given the rapid and continuous increase in this population. We aimed to develop 10-year predictive mortality indexes for community-dwelling elderly Korean men and women based on routinely collected clinical data.We used data from 2244 elderly individuals (older than 60 years of age) from the southwest Seoul Study, a prospective cohort study, for the development of a prognostic index. An independent longitudinal cohort of 679 elderly participants was selected from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study in Ansan City for validation.During a 10-year follow-up, 393 participants (17.5%) from the development cohort died. Nine risk factors were identified and weighed in the Cox proportional regression model to create a point scoring system: age, male sex, smoking, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, total cholesterol, white blood cell count, and hemoglobin. In the development cohort, the 10-year mortality risk was 6.6%, 14.8%, 18.2%, and 38.4% among subjects with 1 to 4, 5 to 7, 8 to 9, and ≥10 points, respectively. In the validation cohort, the 10-year mortality risk was 5.2%, 12.0%, 16.0%, and 16.0% according to these categories. The C-statistic for the point system was 0.73 and 0.67 in the development and validation cohorts, respectively.The present study provides valuable information for prognosis among elderly Koreans and may guide individualized approaches for appropriate care in a rapidly aging society.

TRPV1 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Type 2 Diabetes by Their Interaction with Fat Consumption in the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study

Background: Different transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) variants may be differently activated by noxious stimuli. Aim: We investigated how TRPV1 variants modulated the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and specific gene-nutrient interactions. Methods: Among 8,842 adults aged 40-69 years in the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study, the associations between TRPV1 genotypes and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes as well as their gene-nutrient interactions were investigated after adjusting for the covariates of age, gender, residence area, body mass index, daily energy intake, and total activity. Results: The TRPV1 rs161364 and rs8065080 minor alleles lowered HOMA-IR and the risk of type 2 diabetes after adjusting for covariates. There were gene-nutrient interactions between TRPV1 variants rs161364 and rs8065080 and preference for oily taste, intake of oily foods, and fat intake after adjusting for covariates. Among subjects with the minor alleles of TRPV1 rs161364 and rs8065080, the group with a high preference for oily foods had a lower odds ratio for type 2 diabetes. Consistent with the preference for taste, among subjects with the minor alleles, the group with high fat intake from oily foods also exhibited a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than subjects with the major alleles. Conclusions: People with the minor alleles of the TRPV1 single nucleotide polymorphisms rs161364 and rs8065080 have a lower risk of diabetes with a high-fat diet, but people with the major alleles are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes when consuming high-fat diets. The majority of people should be careful about a high fat intake.

Validation of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study Risk Score to Predict Incident Hypertension in a Large Nationwide Korean Cohort.

This study aimed to validate the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES) risk score to predict the 4-year risk of hypertension (HT) in a large nationwide sample, and compare its discrimination and calibration with the Framingham and blood pressure (BP)-only models. This study analyzed 69,918 subjects without HT at baseline from the National Sample Cohort in the National Health Insurance Service database. We compared the Framingham, KoGES, and BP-only models for discrimination using area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (AROC), calibration using goodness-of-fit tests, and reclassification ability using the continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement. Of 69,918 subjects, 18.6% developed HT during the follow-up. AROC was significantly higher for the KoGES (0.733) than for the Framingham (0.729) or BP-only (0.707) model. Recalibrated Framingham model underestimated HT incidence in all deciles (P<0.001). BP-only model overestimated risk in the lower deciles (P<0.001). KoGES model accurately predicted risk in all except the highest decile (χ(2)=14.85, P=0.062). The KoGES model led to a significant improvement in risk reclassification compared with the Framingham and BP-only models (NRI, 0.354; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.343-0.365 and 0.542; 95% CI, 0.523-0.561, respectively). In this validation study, the KoGES model demonstrated better discrimination, calibration, and reclassification ability than either the Framingham or BP-only model. The KoGES model may help identify Korean individuals at high risk for HT. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1578-1582).

Association between Genetic Variations Affecting Mean Telomere Length and the Prevalence of Hypertension and Coronary Heart Disease in Koreans

In this study, we investigated whether the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with telomere length (TL) were associated with the incidence of hypertension (HTN)/coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular risk factors in the Korean population. Data from 5,705 (ages 39–70) participants in the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (rural Ansung and urban Ansan cohorts) were studied. Twelve SNPs known to be associated with telomere biology were tested for an association with HTN/CHD. As results, no significant associations were found between the selected TL-related SNPs and prevalence of HTN and CHD. Among non-alcohol users, subjects with minor alleles in rs1269304 and rs10936601 (TERC and LRRC34, respectively) exhibited a higher rate of CHD occurrence (odds ratio [OR], 1.862; 95% confidence intervals [CIs], 1.137, 3.049; OR, 1.855; 95% CIs, 1.111, 2.985; respectively). However, alcohol users with minor alleles in rs398652 (PELI2) were significantly associated with higher HTN prevalence (OR, 1.179; 95% CIs, 1.040, 1.336). Of the 3 SNPs related to disease outcomes, rs1296304 was significantly associated with increased levels of diastolic blood pressure (β estimate, 0.470; 95% CIs, 0.013, 0.926). The minor allele in rs398652 was significantly associated with higher levels of body mass index (OR, 0.128; 95% CIs, 0.010, 0.246) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (OR, 0.013; 95% CIs, 0.001, 0.024). In conclusion, there were no significant associations between the selected TL-related SNPs and the occurrence of HTN/CHD in Koreans. However, the results suggest the presence of a possible interaction between related SNPs and alcohol behavior associated with HTN/CHD occurrence.

The effect of dietary antioxidant on the COPD risk: the community-based KoGES (Ansan-Anseong) cohort.

BackgroundDietary antioxidants have been suggested to have protective role against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but few prospective studies examined this relationship. The prospective study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary antioxidants on COPD risk and lung function in the Korean population.MethodsThe data were collected from the community-based Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES) cohort. To diagnose COPD, forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured by spirometry. The dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins was estimated from validated Food-Frequency Questionnaire. For the analysis, 325 COPD patients and 6,781 at risk subjects were selected from the cohort of 10,038 subjects. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the odds ratio (OR) after adjusting for age, sex, marital status, income, history of asthma, history of tuberculosis, and smoking.ResultsThe risk of COPD was positively associated with aging, low education, low household income, lower body mass index, and cigarette smoking. The risk of COPD decreased with increase in the dietary vitamin C (ORQ1 vs Q5=0.66, Ptrend=0.03) and vitamin E (ORQ1 vs Q5=0.56, Ptrend=0.05) intake, predominantly, in men (Ptrend=0.01 and 0.05 for vitamins C and E, respectively). In addition, the lung function was significantly improved with increase in vitamins C (FEV1, P=0.04; FVC, P=0.03) and E (FEV1, P=0.03; FVC, P=0.04) intake. No statistically significant interactions were observed between smoking and vitamin C or E intake in relation to COPD risk among men.ConclusionOur results suggest the independent beneficial effect of antioxidants, particularly vitamins C and E, on COPD risk and lung function in men.

Associations of Sleep Apnea, NRG1 Polymorphisms, Alcohol Consumption, and Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensities: Analysis with Genome-Wide Association Data.

There are few studies on gene-environment interactions with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our study aimed to explore genetic polymorphisms associated with OSA using genome-wide association (GWA) data and evaluate the effects of relevant polymorphisms on the association between risk factors, including obesity and alcohol consumption, and OSA. We also investigated on these associations in relation to cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance images. A cross-sectional design. A polysomnography study embedded in a population-based cohort from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study was conducted in 2011-2013. 1,763 participants aged 48-78 years. 251 individuals were identified to have OSA with an apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 15. A common polymorphism of neuregulin-1 gene (NRG1), rs10097555, was selected as the most suggestive locus associated with OSA (P value < 10(-5)) based on the results of GWA analysis in a matched case-control subsample (n = 470). Among 1,763 participants, we found that the presence of the NRG1 polymorphism is inversely associated with OSA (P value < 0.01) even after taking into account potential risk factors; the multivariate odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the mutant alleles was 0.57 (0.39-0.82) compared with the wild-type. We observed that this association is modified by alcohol consumption (P < 0.05), not by obesity. We also observed that WMH are positively associated with OSA independent of the NRG1 polymorphism and alcohol consumption (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the neuregulin-1 gene (NRG1) may be involved in the etiological mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and that carriers of a particular NRG1 mutation may be less likely to have OSA if they do not drink alcoholic beverages.

Habitual sleep initiation time and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly adults

This study aimed to examine the association between habitual types of sleep initiation time and metabolic syndrome. A total of 2674 participants aged 40 to 69 years (48.73% men, mean age 48.33 ± 7.18 years), who were free of cardiovascular disease or cancer and were not shift workers, participated in this population-based cross-sectional study embedded within the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES). Based on at baseline and the last visit, the study participants were classified into four types of sleep initiation time: persistent late sleep (PLS), persistent usual sleep (PUS), persistent early sleep (PES), and non-persistent sleep (NPS) types. Metabolic syndrome was defined as having three or more of the following five criteria: abdominal obesity, impaired glucose intolerance, high blood pressure, high triglyceride, and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Among the 2674 study participants, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 865 (32.35%). To estimate the association between sleep initiation time and the risk of having metabolic syndrome, we constructed multivariable logistic regression models. After adjusting for covariates including sleep duration, the participants of the PLS type were 1.87 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 1.87, 95% confidence interval 1.07–3.27) than those of the PES type. In conclusion, in this population-based cross-sectional study, we observed that the PLS type of sleep initiation time had a significantly increased risk of metabolic syndrome as compared to the PES type, even after adjusting for covariates.

Validation study of candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in the Korean population

BackgroundLeft ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a valid predictor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity regardless of age, gender, and race. The HyperGEN study conducted a genome-wide association study and identified twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with LVH. The aim of this study was to validate these candidate SNPs in the Korean population.MethodsAmong 1637 individuals from the Korean Multi-Rural Communities Cohort Study (MRCohort) of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES), we carried out a linear regression analysis with left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and a logistic regression analysis for LVH status.ResultsThe rs4129218 on chromosome 12 tended to be associated with LVM/body surface area (adjusted β = −0.023; p = 0.036) and LVM/height2.7 (adjusted β = −0.027; p = 0.016), and was marginally protective against LVH after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, serum creatinine, systolic blood pressure, heart rate and antihypertensive medication (adjusted odds ratio = 0.766 and 0.731; p = 0.027 and 0.007 according to indexation by BSA and height2.7, respectively).ConclusionsIn the Korean population, the minor allele of rs4129218 had borderline association with lower LVM. This study suggests that rs4129218 on chromosome 12 showed consistent tendency of possibly related loci for LVH independent of ethnic background.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12881-015-0158-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Identification of FAM13A gene associated with the ratio of FEV1 to FVC in Korean population by genome-wide association studies including gene-environment interactions.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex, multifactorial disease. Although smoking is a main risk factor for obstructive impairment, not all smokers develop this critical disease. We conducted a genome-wide association study to identify the association between genetic variants and pulmonary function and also examined how these variants relate to lung impairment in accordance with smoking behaviors. Using two community-based cohorts, the Ansan cohort (n=4319) and the Ansung cohort (n=3674), in the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study, we analyzed the association between genetic variants (single-nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes) and the ratio of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1/FVC) using multivariate linear regression models. Similar analyses were conducted after stratification by smoking status. Four genome-wide significant signals in the FAM13A gene (the strongest signal at rs2609264, P=1.76 × 10(-7) in a combined set) were associated with FEV1/FVC. For the association with ratio, the effect size in the CTGA haplotype (risk haplotype) was -0.57% (s.e., 0.11; P=2.10 × 10(-7)) as compared with the TCAG haplotype (reference haplotype) in a combined set. There was also a significant interaction of FAM13A haplotypes with heavy smoking on FEV1/FVC (P for interaction=0.028). We confirmed the previously reported association of FAM13A in 4q22.1 with pulmonary function. The FAM13A haplotypes also interacted with heavy smoking to affect the risk of reduced pulmonary function.

Sodium Excretion and Cardiovascular Structure and Function in the Nonhypertensive Population: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

The effect of sodium intake on the cardiovascular system remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation between sodium intake and cardiovascular structure and function in the nonhypertensive population. We performed a cross-sectional analysis in 1,586 nonhypertensive subjects who participated in the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (2007-2008). Sodium intake was assessed by estimating the 24-hour urinary sodium excretion from a spot urine sample. Changes in cardiovascular structure and function were assessed by using tissue Doppler echocardiography, the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased with increasing tertiles of estimated 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. In multivariate analyses adjusting for covariates, there were stepwise decreases in the baPWV (P = 0.003) and CIMT (P = 0.001) values as the estimated 24-hour urinary sodium excretion increased, whereas no significant differences in left ventricular (LV) structural and functional parameters were observed across the tertiles of estimated 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the estimated 24-hour urinary sodium excretion was independently and inversely associated with baPWV (P < 0.001) and CIMT (P = 0.001), but not with LV parameters. In the nonhypertensive population, urinary sodium excretion was inversely related to baPWV and CIMT. However, there were no associations between urinary sodium excretion and LV structure or function.

Genetic variants at 1q32.1, 10q11.2 and 19q13.41 are associated with prostate-specific antigen for prostate cancer screening in two Korean population-based cohort studies

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are affected by non-cancerous conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, inflammations, and inherited factors. To search for genetic variants associated with PSA levels, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a two-stage design. A total of 554 men from the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II were used as a discovery stage and 1575 men collected by the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study were used as a replication stage. Analysis by Genome-wide Human single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array 5.0 was performed by using DNAs derived from venous blood. We analyzed the association between genetic variants and PSA levels using multivariate linear regression models, including age as a covariate. We detected 12 genome-wide significant signals on chromosome 1q32.1, 10q11.2, and 19q13.41 between PSA levels and SNPs. The top SNP associated with log PSA levels was rs2153904 in SLC45A3 (p values, 5.24×10−9 to 2.00×10−6). We also investigated GWAS using 754 subjects from KCPS-II cohort whether our genome-wide significant loci were associated with a risk of prostate cancer (PCa) (200 PCa cases and 554 controls). Three of the SNPs on 10q11.2, rs7077830, rs2611489, and rs4631830, were associated with a risk of PCa. However, two loci, 1q32.1 and 19q13, were not significantly associated with a PCa risk. We suggest that our results for some but not all PCa risk SNPs to be associated with PSA levels could be used as an evidence for the advance of individual PCa screening strategies, such as applying a personalized cutoff value for PSA.

Abstract 9610: Aortic Stiffness and Increased Left Ventricular Mass Predict Progress From Prehypertension to Hypertension

Introduction: Whether aortic stiffness and increased left ventricular (LV) mass can predict progress from prehypertension to hypertension is not well investigated. Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to find predictors of hypertension and evaluate the clinical implications of aortic stiffness and increased LV mass in disease-free prehypertensive population. Methods: 510 prehypertensive subjects in the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES) were observed for four years. In addition to clinical information, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left atrial volume index (LAVI), aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and other cardiovascular characteristics were obtained at baseline. Baseline clinical and cardiovascular characteristics were compared between subjects that developed hypertension and did not, and independent predictors of hypertension were determined. Results: Out of 510 participants, 237 subjects developed hypertension during four years (46%). After multivariate adjustment, high range prehypertension (OR=4.27 [2.63-9.63], p=0.000), 5th quintile of LAVI (OR=3.38 [1.63-7.04], p=0.001), 5th quintile of LVMI (OR=2.982 [1.399-6.359], p=0.005), 4th (OR=2.881 [1.372-6.049], p=0.005) and 5th quintiles of PWV (OR=2.283 [1.067-4.885], p=0.033) predicted development of hypertension. Subjects in low range prehypertension at baseline and hypertension at the final visit (“fast increase in blood pressure (BP)”) had the highest baseline LVMI, while those with high range prehypertension at baseline and not-hypertension at the final visit ("slow increase in BP") had the lowest baseline LVMI (p=0.005 for fast BP increase vs. slow BP increase). Conclusions: In prehypertensive population, presence of aortic stiffness and increased LV mass independently predicted development of hypertension. Further, increased LVMI at baseline was correlated with fast increase in BP in the future. PWV and echocardiography should be performed to recognize subjects at high risk of hypertension, because they possibly benefit from pre-emptive medical treatment.

Association between the APOB rs1469513 polymorphism and obesity is modified by dietary fat intake in Koreans

ObjectiveThe apolipoprotein B (APOB) gene has been reported to be a candidate gene for individual susceptibility to dyslipidemia and obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the APOB rs1469513 polymorphism on plasma lipid profiles and obesity-related phenotypes, together with their modulation by dietary intake in Korean individuals. MethodsWe analyzed the plasma lipid profiles, obesity-related phenotypes, and dietary intake of 6470 Korean aged 40 to 59 y from the KoGES (Korean Genome Epidemiology Study) database. The effects of APOB rs1469513 on traits, the interaction of APOB rs1469513 and dietary intake on traits were analyzed. ResultsPlasma levels of total cholesterol (P = 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.010), body weight (P = 0.048), and body mass index (P = 0.029) were significantly different in carriers of the A allele and minor G allele of APOB rs1469513. Among individuals whose fat intake was above the median, the difference for the body mass index across genotypes is 1.14% (AA 24.66 kg/m2 versus AG+GG 24.94 kg/m2, P = 0.004) and carriers of the minor G allele had increased odds of being obese (Odds ratios, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.57; P = 0.004) compared with homozygotes for the A allele. ConclusionsOur findings support a significant association between the APOB rs1469513 variant, plasma lipid profiles, and obesity-related phenotypes. This association has the potential to be modified by dietary fat intake. These results may offer proof that the differences between normal weight and overweight/obese individuals might partly result from different SNPs.

Impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance do not predict hypertension: a community cohort study.

Insulin resistance has an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. We hypothesized that impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) which represents insulin resistance would predict the development of hypertension. A total of 4,039 subjects without hypertension or diabetes (1,847 men and 2,192 women; age 49.9±8.2 years), from the Ansan-Ansung cohorts within the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study, were enrolled in 2001-2002 and restudied in 2005-2006. The association between the incidence of hypertension and IFG, IGT, or other metabolic factors was studied. During the 4-year follow-up period, 582 of the 4,039 subjects developed hypertension. At baseline, the prevalence of abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and IGT was higher in subjects who became hypertensive compared to those that remained normotensive. The prevalence of IFG was not significantly different between the 2 groups. In a multivariate analysis, abdominal obesity and high serum triglyceride were significant risk factors for the development of hypertension. Neither IFG nor IGT were significantly associated with new-onset hypertension. Although the risk of hypertension was higher with the number of metabolic components present at baseline, IFG and IGT were not significant components compared to other metabolic components, especially when abdominal obesity was taken into account. While metabolic syndrome components related to insulin resistance present at baseline are important risk factors of hypertension, we conclude that coexisting metabolic component, mainly abdominal obesity, rather than IFG and IGT have more predictive value for determining the development of hypertension in a Korean population.

Epistasis between polymorphisms in TSHB and ADAMTS16 is associated with premature ovarian failure

This study investigated whether epistasis between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the TSHB (thyroid-stimulating hormone β) and ADAMTS16 (ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 16) genes is associated with an increased risk of premature ovarian failure (POF) in Korean women. In stage I, 120 women with POF and 222 controls participated. A GoldenGate assay with VeraCode technology was used to genotype SNPs within the TSHB and ADAMTS16 genes. For stage II, we obtained genotype data merged with imputed data for 1,641 female controls from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. In stage I, two SNPs (rs7530810 and rs1321108) in the 5' flanking region of the TSHB gene demonstrated significant synergistic interactions with one tagging intronic SNP (rs13172105) in the ADAMTS16 gene (odds ratios, 6.63 and 5.57; 95% CIs, 2.30-19.18 and 2.05-15.12; P = 0.00048 and 0.00074, respectively) although the SNPs were not significantly associated with POF in a single SNP model. When at least one G allele at rs7530810 or one A allele at rs1321108 was present in combination with a C allele at rs13172105, significant synergistic effects were observed in a recessive model. In stage II and combined analyses, the same combinations repeatedly showed significant synergistic interactions. Epistasis between SNPs within the TSHB and ADAMTS16 genes may increase the risk of POF in Korean women.

Dietary patterns and cognitive function in Korean older adults.

The objectives of this study were to identify major dietary patterns and to investigate the association between dietary patterns and cognitive function in older adults. This is a cross-sectional study. The data from the Korean Multi-Rural Communities Cohort Study, which is a part of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study, were used. There were 806 (340 men and 466 women) subjects aged ≥ 60 years. Usual dietary intake was assessed using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire with 106 food items. Cognitive function was assessed using the Korean version Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-KC). We conducted factor analysis using the principal component analysis method to identify the major dietary patterns. The association between major dietary patterns and cognitive function was investigated by logistic regression analysis. Three major dietary patterns were identified and assigned descriptive names based on the food items with high loadings: "prudent" pattern, "bread, egg, and dairy" pattern, and "white rice only" pattern. As the white rice only pattern scores increased, a significant decreasing trend for MMSE-KC scores was observed after adjusting for covariates. The bread, egg, and dairy pattern was inversely related to the risk of cognitive impairment, and the white rice only pattern was positively associated with the risk of cognitive impairment. This study suggests that specific dietary patterns were significantly associated with cognitive impairment in older adults. In particular, like the white rice only pattern, a rice-centered diet without well-balanced meals may increase the risk of cognitive impairment. However, since our study is a cross-sectional design, the possibility of reverse causality should be considered.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome and subclinical cardiovascular changes in the general population

ObjectiveThe effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on cardiovascular system remains controversial. We investigated the independent contribution of NAFLD to cardiovascular structure and function in the general population.MethodsA total...

Personality Traits and Body Mass Index in a Korean Population

BackgroundOverweight and obesity is a serious problem worldwide related to cardiovascular and other diseases. Personality traits are associated with the abnormal body mass indices (BMIs) indicative of overweight and obesity. However, the links between personality traits and BMI have been little studied in Korea.MethodsWe evaluated the association between personality traits and BMI in men and women using the rural Ansung and urban Ansan cohort from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study, and the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital Cohort Study datasets. A shorter version of the original Revised Neuroticism-Extroversion-Openness Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) was used to measure the five-factor model of personality (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness).ResultsData from a total of 1,495 men (mean age 60.0±9.8 years; mean BMI 24.3±3.0 kg/m2) and 2,547 women (mean age 47.0±15.5 years; mean BMI 22.8±3.4 kg/m2) were included in the analysis. Compared with the normal weight groups, overweight and obese men scored higher on openness to experience and lower on conscientiousness. Overweight and obese women scored lower on neuroticism and openness to experience and higher on agreeableness. Extraversion was positively associated with BMI in men (β = 0.032, P<0.05). BMI and waist circumference were significantly increased in individuals who were less dutiful. In women, neuroticism was inversely associated with BMI (β = −0.026, P<0.05). Openness to experience was negatively, and agreeableness was positively, associated with BMI (openness to experience: β = −0.072, agreeableness β = 0.068) and waist circumference (openness to experience: β = −0.202, agreeableness: β = 0.227) (P<0.05).ConclusionPersonality traits were associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity in men and women. Increased understanding of the underlying factors contributing to this association will aid in the prevention and treatment of abnormal BMI.

Harmful and beneficial relationships between alcohol consumption and subclinical atherosclerosis

Background and aimsArterial stiffness and increased intima-media wall thickness are two of the main predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated whether brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and common carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (CCA-IMT) are correlated with alcohol consumption in a cross-sectional study among Korean men and women aged 40 years and over. Methods and resultsAll 5539 subjects (2121 men and 3418 women) were participants in the Multi-Rural Communities cohort (MRcohort) study, a part of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES). The baPWV was positively correlated with alcohol consumption in men (p for trend <0.0001). Age (middle-aged versus elderly) modified the effect of alcohol consumption on PWV. On the other hand CCA-IMT decreased with alcohol consumption in men. There was no favorable zone of alcohol consumption in terms of baPWV and CCA-IMT. Adjustment for lipid profiles substantially attenuated the relationship between alcohol consumption and CCA-IMT. There was no clear relation between alcohol consumption and baPWV/CCA-IMT in women. ConclusionsAlong with a linear harmful relationship between alcohol consumption and arterial stiffness in men there may also be a beneficial relationship between alcohol consumption and carotid intima-wall thickness. The effect of alcohol on arterial stiffness may be slightly stronger in elderly men, and the effect of alcohol on CCA-IMT may be mediated by lipid factors.

Gender differences in the association between serum γ-glutamyltransferase and blood pressure change: a prospective community-based cohort study.

We evaluated the gender differences in the relation of baseline serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels to blood pressure (BP) change during 4 yr. 4,025 normotensive subjects (1,945 men and 2,080 women) who aged 40-69 yr at baseline participated in the Ansung-Ansan cohort of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study were included. The associations of GGT with baseline BP or 4-yr change of BP were evaluated. GGT levels were associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at baseline after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, C-reactive protein (CRP), current smoking status and alcohol intake (SBP, β=1.28, P<0.001; DBP, β=1.41, P<0.001). GGT levels were also associated with 4-yr change in BP after adjusting for age, BMI, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, CRP, current smoking status, alcohol intake and SBP (SBP, β=1.08, P=0.001; DBP, β=0.64, P=0.003). This association was statistically significant in men (SBP, β=1.82, P<0.001; DBP, β=1.05, P=0.001), but not in women (SBP, β=0.38, P=0.466; DBP, β=-0.37, P=0.304). Remarkably, this association between GGT and BP was significant in men at 40-49 yr of age. In summary, we found positive associations between GGT levels at baseline and the change of BP. The relation of GGT level and the change of BP was only significant in men, not in women, which warrants further studies to elucidate the biologic mechanisms.