Lower Cardiovascular Risk Factors Research Articles

The association between low carbohydrate dietary score (LCDS) and cardiovascular risk factors: results from the Shiraz Heart Study (SHS)

BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death and recent studies have highlighted the potential role of dietary carbohydrate indices in cardiovascular health. Given the controversial results in this field, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between low carbohydrate dietary score (LCDS) and CVD risk factors in a population of Iranian adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted within the framework of the Shiraz Heart Study (SHS) including 1982 adults. The validated 168 items food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess participants’ dietary intakes. To investigate the association between LCDS and cardiometabolic risk factors, logistic regression, was conducted.ResultsDuring 5 years of follow-up, a total of 1982 adults, with a mean age of 53.07 ± 8.38 years, were included to the analysis. The adjusted model based on known confounding factors (age, sex, smoking, physical activity, energy intake and body mass index) revealed a significant decrease in a body shape index (ABSI) (OR = 0.70, 95% CI= (0.50 to 0.98), P = 0.038) comparing highest LCDS tertile vs. the reference. In contrast, risk of hypertension (HTN), body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were not significantly associated with LCDS.ConclusionCurrent findings suggest that adherence to a low carbohydrate diet reduces ABSI, a main indicator of central obesity.

Association of Anthropometric Indices With Midlife Cardiovascular Risk in Young Individuals Without Obesity and Traditional Risk Factors.

The aim of this study was to assess how early-adulthood body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) relate to long-term cardiovascular structure, function, and prognosis in individuals without obesity and with low cardiovascular risk factor (CVRF) burden. A total of 2024 participants aged 18 to 30 from the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study, without obesity and with low CVRFs defined as the absence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, hypertension, current smoking, and dyslipidemia were included. A CVRF-optimal subgroup was also defined, with blood pressure<120/80 mm Hg, fasting glucose <100 mg/dL, total cholesterol <200, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <130, and women with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥50 mg/dL. Coronary artery calcification, carotid intima-media thickness, left ventricular mass, left ventricular ejection fraction, longitudinal peak systolic strain, and diastolic function were assessed in midlife. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios of BMI and WC for all-cause death and CVD events. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for subclinical CVD. Over 33.9 years (median follow-up), 5.2% (n=105) died, and 2.6% (n=52) had CVD events. Each 1-SD BMI increase was associated with 27% (95% CI, 1.10-1.47), 24% (1.08-1.43), 42% (1.20-1.68), 28% (1.05-1.57), 51% (1.20-1.90), and 49% (1.10-2.02) higher odds of coronary artery calcification presence, increased carotid intima-media thickness, left ventricular hypertrophy, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, low longitudinal peak systolic strain, and diastolic dysfunction, respectively, in the CVRF-low group. Generally, similar associations were found for WC and in the CVRF-optimal subgroup. No significant associations between BMI and WC with CVD and death were found. Elevations in BMI and WC among young low-risk individuals, even within the nonobesity range, are associated with midlife cardiovascular health.

Muscleness and fatness phenotypes for diabetes and hypertension prediction from the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-17

Introduction: diabetes and arterial hypertension are increasing in adults, where calf circumference and waist circumference are two clinical epidemiological markers poorly studied for predicting cardiometabolic risk. Objective: to characterize four phenotypical models in the Chilean adult population based on muscleness and fatness using both calf circumference and waist circumference outcomes. Methodology: An epidemiological observational cross-sectional representative study based on the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-17, where four phenotypes groups were analyzed; Low skeletal muscle mass and high-waist circumference (Lsmm-Hwc, n=140), low skeletal muscle mass and low waist circumference (Lsmm-Lwc, n=242), high skeletal muscle mass and high waist circumference (Hsmm-Hwc, n=1076), and high skeletal muscle mass and low waist circumference (Hsmm-Lwc, n=1358). These groups described information about diabetes, hypertension prevalence, including other risk factors. Results: the reference group Hsmm-Lwc group showed lower fasting plasma glucose (FPG) vs. Hsmm-Hwc (90,4 [95%CI] [89,0; 91,8] vs. 111,7 [109,1; 114,3]), and vs. Lsmm-Hwc (90,4 [89,0; 91,8] vs. 118.,3 [107,2; 129,4] mg/dL, both P&lt;0,0001). Lower levels (i.e., appropriate) of FPG (R2 4,8 %), glycated hemoglobin (R2 2,6 %), systolic BP (R2 19,0 %), and diastolic BP (R2 2,5 %) were significantly associated (all, P&lt;0,0001) with the Reference group Hsmm-Lwc. Conclusion: A high muscleness and low fatness phenotype is present in those who are younger adults, is associated with better glucose/blood pressure control, and reports low cardiovascular risk factors for diabetes and hypertension in Chilean adults

Poor Oral Health Is Associated With Inflammation, Aortic Valve Calcification, and Brain Volume Among Forager-Farmers.

Poor oral health is associated with cardiovascular disease and dementia. Potential pathways include sepsis from oral bacteria, systemic inflammation, and nutritional deficiencies. However, in post-industrialized populations, links between oral health and chronic disease may be confounded because the lower socioeconomic exposome (poor diet, pollution, and low physical activity) often entails insufficient dental care. We assessed tooth loss, caries, and damaged teeth, in relation to cardiovascular and brain aging among the Tsimane, a subsistence population living a relatively traditional forager-horticulturalist lifestyle with poor dental health, but minimal cardiovascular disease and dementia. Dental health was assessed by a physician in 739 participants aged 40-92 years with cardiac and brain health measured by chest computed tomography (CT; n = 728) and brain CT (n = 605). A subset of 356 individuals aged 60+ were also assessed for dementia and mild cognitive impairment (n = 33 impaired). Tooth loss was highly prevalent, with 2.2 teeth lost per decade and a 2-fold greater loss in women. The number of teeth with exposed pulp was associated with higher inflammation, as measured by cytokine levels and white blood cell counts, and lower body mass index. Coronary artery calcium and thoracic aortic calcium were not associated with tooth loss or damaged teeth. However, aortic valve calcification and brain tissue loss were higher in those who had more teeth with exposed pulp. Overall, these results suggest that dental health is associated with indicators of chronic diseases in the absence of typical confounds, even in a population with low cardiovascular and dementia risk factors.

Clinical characteristics of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis who were hospitalized for heart failure

Abstract Background Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) often leads cardiac dysfunction and exacerbates heart failure. However, there are limited data regarding CS patients who were hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF). Purpose We aimed to compare the patient characteristics and outcomes between patients with CS who were hospitalized for AHF (CS-AHF) and patients with AHF of other etiology. Methods A total of 4,556 hospitalized patients with CS were identified from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database from 2012 to 2020. Among them, we analyzed 254 patients who were hospitalized due to AHF. Patient characteristics, prior medical history, medical therapy for heart failure, intensive care management during hospitalization, in-hospital outcomes and rehospitalization within one year after the index hospitalization were compared with general 4,056 hospitalized AHF patients who were enrolled in the Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure registry. Results Patients with CS-AHF were younger (71 [63-78] vs 80 [72-86]) and more women (69% vs 45%; p &amp;lt; 0.001) than general AHF patients. In addition, CS-AHF were associated with lower prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia (46% vs 72%, p &amp;lt; 0.001; 28% vs 37%, p = 0.005; and 21% vs 38%, p &amp;lt; 0.001), and lower prescription of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blocker (28 % vs 46%; p &amp;lt; 0.001) while prescription of beta-blockers were similar between the groups. The length of hospital stay was significantly longer in CS-AHF (23 [14-39] days vs 16 [11-25] days), more patients were treated by intensive respiratory care (32% vs 25%; p = 0.05) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRTD) implantation (6% vs. 0.5%; p &amp;lt; 0.001) Although in-hospital mortality was similar between the groups, the rate of rehospitalization within one year was higher in CS-AHF (51% vs 39%; p = 0.001). Conclusions Patients with CS-AHF were younger, more women and had lower cardiovascular risk factors than those with AHF in general. CS-AHF were associated with longer hospital stay, higher rate of CRTD implantation and higher rehospitalization rates. More attention might be needed for this distinct group of patients.

Abstract 112: When Cell Blood Count Matter, Hypereosinophilic Syndrome a Rare Cause of Ischemic Strokes

Introduction Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare hematological disorder defined by persistently elevated blood eosinophil count (&gt;1500/μL), associated with evidence of organ damage. It can occasionally present primarily with neurological conditions such as ischemic strokes, encephalopathy, or sensory neuropathy. Driving hypothesized mechanisms are hypercoagulability owing to eosinophil‐related endothelial damage or cardioembolism. We present an unusual case of ischemic strokes due to HES in the setting of Fip1‐like 1‐platelet‐derived growth factor receptor alpha (FIP1L1‐PDGFRA) mutation. Methods The patient was identified in routine clinical practice. Results 38 year‐old‐male with no significant medical history who was transferred to our institution for blurred vision, and dizziness. His initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 3 for bilateral leg weakness. The neurological exam was pertinent for paresis in his left arm and legs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain demonstrated multiple acute infarcts in bilateral cortical and subcortical structures as shown in Figure 1. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the brain and neck did not show significant stenosis or occlusion. During admission, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) did not reveal any source for cardioembolism. Subsequently, he developed hyperactive delirium requiring anti‐psychotics. He was worked up for any infectious etiology because he continued to have a leukocytosis with an eosinophil count as high as 49%. Doppler of lower extremities showed deep vein thrombosis in the left femoral vein. Hematology evaluated the patient and, after performing a bone marrow biopsy, he was diagnosed with primary Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) in the setting of FIP1L1‐PDGFRA mutation. He was started on high‐dose methylprednisolone, hydroxyurea and later switched to Imatinib. A cardiac MRI was performed which was negative for eosinophilic myocarditis. The patient's mental status improved significantly after starting Imatinib and his anti‐psychotics were discontinued. In regards to secondary prevention, vascular neurology wanted antiplatelet monotherapy, however, the patient was started on Apixaban to treat his DVT. He was followed up in the stroke clinic 2 months after discharge, his modified Rankin score (mRS) was 1. Aspirin was recommended for secondary stroke prevention once hematology considers it safe to discontinue apixaban. Conclusion This case encourages the consideration of HES in patients with low cardiovascular risk factors who have infarcts following a cardioembolic or watershed pattern in brain imaging. Going back to the basics and reviewing simple laboratory tests like cell blood count can be the initial clue for diagnosis. Early recognition is crucial as immunosuppression is the most important treatment in the acute phase. While imatinib is the treatment of choice for FIP1L1‐PDGFRA mutation HES, patients continued to be at risk of stroke recurrence despite having normal eosinophil count as described by Rohmer et al.

Multi-infarct stroke secondary to reactive thrombocytosis in a patient with iron deficiency anaemia: A case report

A 47-year-old woman who presented to the hospital with left sided weakness, left sided paraesthesia, ataxic gait, headache, nausea and vomiting was found to have multiple infarct strokes. Her past medical history was significant for iron deficiency anaemia secondary to menorrhagia. Her haemoglobin level on arrival at the hospital was 7.3 gm/dl. Her symptoms improved after blood transfusions and iron infusion. She had low cardiovascular risk factors and her stroke work up was negative. So, it was assumed that her stroke was likely related to reactive thrombocytosis secondary to iron deficiency anaemia.

Do markers of adiposity and glycaemia mediate the association between low carbohydrate diet and cardiovascular risk factors: findings from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008–2016

ObjectivesTo examine the associations between low carbohydrate diet (LCD) and conventional cardiovascular risk factors and investigate whether these associations are mediated by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and...

TyG index as a predictor of spontaneous coronary artery dissection in young women

ABSTRACT Objective Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare but potentially life-threatening pathology and cases are especially seen in women under 50 years of age and with relatively fewer cardiovascular risk factors. Although risk factors facilitating the development of SCAD have been defined in the literature, modifiable risk factors remain unclear. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between the triglyceride glucose index (TyG) and the development of SCAD in the population of young women. Methods The results of 281 patients were analyzed and compared with each other in terms of clinical, demographic, laboratory parameters, and coronary angiography results. Results The mean age was 45 years and all of them were female. When the groups were compared, the TyG and inflammatory parameters were higher in the SCAD group (p < 0.001). When these two groups with low cardiovascular risk factors were compared in logistic regression analysis, high TyG was found to be an independent predictor of SCAD development in young women (p < 0.001). Conclusion As a result, our study shows that the development of these non-atherosclerotic conditions can be predicted by simple biochemical tests in young women with low atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factors.

Serum uric acid: a futile bystander in endothelial function?

Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum uric acid levels and endothelial function, oxidative stress, and hemodynamic parameters, and to determine if uric acid levels provide additional insights beyond traditional factors like ageing and hypertension in volunteers with low cardiovascular risk factors. Serum uric acid is known for its antioxidant properties, but it may also contribute to cardiovascular risk. Materials and Methods The study enrolled 40 male participants, divided into three groups based on age and blood pressure status. Group 1 comprised younger participants, group 2 included older individuals without hypertension, and group 3 consisted of older patients with hypertension. The study assessed endothelial function using laser Doppler imaging and measured acetylcholine- and sodium nitroprusside-induced hyperaemia. The heat microcirculatory response was also examined in the presence of L-NAME, an inhibitor of NOS synthase. The study evaluated oxidative stress and arterial stiffness by measuring allantoin, angiotensin II, Homocitrulline/Lysine, and Chloro-Tyrosine/Tyrosine ratios, as well as by performing non-invasive measurements of aortic augmentation indexes and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. Results The study found that uric acid levels did not differ significantly among the three groups. Augmentation indexes increased with ageing, but hypertension did not have an additional effect. Blood pressure and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity differed among the groups, with the lowest values among younger participants and the highest values among older individuals with hypertension. Allantoin and angiotensin II levels did not differ among the groups. However, Homocitrulline/Lysine and Chloro-Tyrosine/Tyrosine ratios were significantly lower in young subjects. Correlation and multivariable analysis showed that uric acid had no effect on any of the studied parameters. Despite a strong association between ageing and systolic blood pressure with impaired endothelial function, oxidative stress, and arterial stiffness, only ageing retained a significant effect in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion In healthy or hypertensive adults with normal renal function, serum uric acid appears to be a futile bystander in endothelial function, oxidative stress, and arterial stiffness, in contrast to ageing, which reduces NO bioavailability. This study suggests that traditional factors such as ageing and hypertension should be the focus of clinical assessment and management of cardiovascular risk, rather than uric acid levels.

Metabolic and inflammatory profiles define phenotypes with clinical relevance in female knee osteoarthritis patients with joint effusion.

Osteoarthritis has been the subject of abundant research in the last years with limited translation to the clinical practice, probably due to the disease's high heterogeneity. In this study, we aimed to identify different phenotypes in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients with joint effusion based on their metabolic and inflammatory profiles. A non-supervised strategy based on statistical and machine learning methods was applied to 45 parameters measured on 168 female KOA patients with persistent joint effusion, consecutively recruited at our hospital after a monographic OA outpatient visit. Data comprised anthropometric and metabolic factors and a panel of systemic and local inflammatory markers. The resulting clusters were compared regarding their clinical, radiographic and ultrasound severity at baseline and their radiographic progression at two years. Our analyses identified four KOA inflammatory phenotypes (KOIP): a group characterized by metabolic syndrome, probably driven by body fat and obesity, and by high local and systemic inflammation (KOIP-1); a metabolically healthy phenotype with mild overall inflammation (KOIP-2); a non-metabolic phenotype with high inflammation levels (KOIP-3); and a metabolic phenotype with low inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors not associated with obesity (KOIP-4). Of interest, these groups exhibited differences regarding pain, functional disability and radiographic progression, pointing to a clinical relevance of the uncovered phenotypes. Our results support the existence of different KOA phenotypes with clinical relevance and differing pathways regarding their pathophysiology and disease evolution, which entails implications in patients' stratification, treatment tailoring and the search of novel and personalized therapies.

Association between being breastfed and cardiovascular disease: a population cohort study of 320249 participants.

Being breastfed is associated with lower cardiovascular risk factors but, to date, no studies have demonstrated a protective effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aims to address the limitations of previous studies, specifically insufficient statistical power and residual confounding, to determine if such association exists. This is a population-based retrospective cohort study of 320249 men and women aged 40-69years. Breastfeeding status was self-reported. CVD and myocardial infarction (MI) events and deaths based via linkage to hospitalization and death records. Overall, 28469 (8.4%) participants experienced a CVD event and 5174 (1.6%) experienced an MI. Following adjustment for sociodemographic, lifestyle and early life confounders, breastfeeding was associated with a reduced risk of CVD events (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.94-1.00, P=0.041), CVD deaths (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.98, P=0.017), MI events (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.87-0.99, P=0.033) and MI deaths (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.98, P=0.026). Child health benefits of breastfeeding are well established. However, the benefits of breastfeeding may extend into later life reinforcing the need to encourage and support breastfeeding.

Association of a Multiancestry Genome-Wide Blood Pressure Polygenic Risk Score With Adverse Cardiovascular Events.

Traditional cardiovascular risk factors and the underlying genetic risk of elevated blood pressure (BP) determine an individual's composite risk of developing adverse cardiovascular events. We sought to evaluate the relative contributions of the traditional cardiovascular risk factors to the development of adverse cardiovascular events in the context of varying BP genetic risk profiles. Genome-wide polygenic risk score (PRS) was computed using multiancestry genome-wide association estimates among US adults who underwent whole-genome sequencing in the Trans-Omics for Precision program. Individuals were stratified into high, intermediate, and low genetic risk groups (>80th, 20-80th, and <20th centiles of systolic BP [SBP] PRS). Based on the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations, participants were stratified into low and high (10 year-atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk: <10% or ≥10%) cardiovascular risk factor profile groups. The primary study outcome was incident cardiovascular event (composite of incident heart failure, incident stroke, and incident coronary heart disease). Among 21 897 US adults (median age: 56 years; 56.0% women; 35.8% non-White race/ethnicity), 1 SD increase in the SBP PRS, computed using 1.08 million variants, was associated with SBP (β: 4.39 [95% CI, 4.13-4.65]) and hypertension (odds ratio, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.46-1.55]), respectively. This association was robustly seen across racial/ethnic groups. Each SD increase in SBP PRS was associated with a higher risk of the incident CVD (multivariable-adjusted hazards ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.04-1.10]) after controlling for ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations risk scores. Among individuals with a high SBP PRS, low atherosclerotic CVD risk was associated with a 58% lower hazard for incident CVD (multivariable-adjusted hazards ratio, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.36-0.50]) compared to those with high atherosclerotic CVD risk. A similar pattern was noted in intermediate and low genetic risk groups. In a multiancestry cohort of >21 000 US adults, genome-wide SBP PRS was associated with BP traits and adverse cardiovascular events. Adequate control of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors may reduce the predisposition to adverse cardiovascular events among those with a high SBP PRS.

Postural stability, body composition and functional ability of the lower extremity in patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis

Although patients accessing rehabilitation services had been reported to have better functional ability of the lower limbs, postural stability, and low cardiovascular disease risk factors, updated data from developing countries is however vital for clinical practices. Hence, the aim of this study was to present the association between lower extremity functional ability (LEFA), stability, and body composition profiles in rehabilitative lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS) patients considering age and gender. One hundred and twenty-four participants (45 females, 79 males), with a mean age of 56.45±11.13 years, volunteered for the study. Weight, height body fat percent (BFP), visceral fat, body mass index (BMI), resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and resting heart rate were measured while functional ability and stability tests were conducted on the participants. 53.4% were at least overweight; LEFA was below average, stability of both dominant and nondominant legs was very poor, blood pressure and heart rate were high. Women had high total body fat and visceral fat. Significant differences were observed in BMI (p=0.044) and BFP (p=0.035) based on age classification as well as BMI (p=0.000), BFP (p=0.000) and visceral fat (p=0.000) by gender. Overweight, high blood pressure, poor LEFA, and postural stability are crucial comorbidities of Ghanaian LDS patients in this study. Educationally and pragmatically comprehensive healthy lifestyle interventions of regular exercise regimes, adequate and quality nutrition, and occupational stress reduction would play major complementary roles in chiropractic treatment.

Clinical Phenotypes of Atrial Fibrillation and Mortality Risk-A Cluster Analysis from the Nationwide Italian START Registry.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) still experience a high mortality rate despite optimal antithrombotic treatment. We aimed to identify clinical phenotypes of patients to stratify mortality risk in AF. Cluster analysis was performed on 5171 AF patients from the nationwide START registry. The risk of all-cause mortality in each cluster was analyzed. We identified four clusters. Cluster 1 was composed of the youngest patients, with low comorbidities; Cluster 2 of patients with low cardiovascular risk factors and high prevalence of cancer; Cluster 3 of men with diabetes and coronary disease and peripheral artery disease; Cluster 4 included the oldest patients, mainly women, with previous cerebrovascular events. During 9857 person-years of observation, 386 deaths (3.92%/year) occurred. Mortality rates increased across clusters: 0.42%/year (cluster 1, reference group), 2.12%/year (cluster 2, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 3.306, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.204–9.077, p = 0.020), 4.41%/year (cluster 3, aHR 6.702, 95%CI 2.433–18.461, p < 0.001), and 8.71%/year (cluster 4, aHR 8.927, 95%CI 3.238–24.605, p < 0.001). We identified four clusters of AF patients with progressive mortality risk. The use of clinical phenotypes may help identify patients at a higher risk of mortality.

Aspirin thromboprophylaxis in joint replacement surgery

BackgroundAspirin is commonly used as the only pharmacologic agent for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after joint replacement surgery in the United States. Despite this, prospective studies investigating VTE events after aspirin‐only thromboprophylaxis in joint replacement surgery are lacking in the real‐world setting. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to estimate the risk of VTE with aspirin‐only pharmacologic prophylaxis following joint replacement surgery. MethodsWe carried out a prospective observational study of 350 low‐risk patients (no prior history of VTE and low cardiovascular risk factors) who underwent total knee and total hip arthroplasty and received only aspirin for thromboprophylaxis postoperatively. ResultsThe observed risk of symptomatic VTE was 1.7% (95% confidence interval, 0.9%‐3.3%) over 3 months of follow up, with only one major bleeding event and no surgical hematomas. ConclusionThe risk of VTE with aspirin monotherapy for thromboprophylaxis in joint replacement surgery in this real‐world cohort was higher than previously reported.

Urban active living environments and cardiovascular disease mortality: a Canadian national cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Neighbourhoods conducive to utilitarian walking and active living are associated with higher physical activity and lower cardiovascular risk factors. Most evidence, however, has been drawn from ecological studies. Our aim was to investigate longitudinal associations between neighbourhood walkability and cardiovascular mortality in a large population-based cohort of Canadian adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2001 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC). These data were obtained from the mandatory 2001 long-form census, which includes a random sample of roughly 20% of the Canadian population. Individual-level data from the 2001 census were linked to income tax files to provide annual residential postal codes, while mortality was ascertained by linkage to the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database between 2001 and 2016. The main exposure was the Canadian Active Living Environments (Can–ALE), a national quintile index that summarizes features of the built environment related to active living and walkability. We restricted our analysis to those 19 years of age and older at baseline who lived in large city areas (population ≥100,000), allowing individual person-years to move in and out of the analytical sample. Cox proportional hazard models were fit to estimate hazard ratios for Can–ALE categories and cardiovascular mortality while adjusting for many individual and contextual covariates. RESULTS:A total of 26,875,875 person-years (53% female) and 266,740 deaths were included in the model. Living in a highly walkable neighbourhood (Can–ALE 5 [high] vs 1 [low]) was significantly associated with a 6% reduced hazard of cardiovascular mortality (aHR: 0.94, 95%CI: 0.90, 0.98), 11% reduced hazard of cerebrovascular mortality (aHR: 0.89, 95%CI: 0.81, 0.98), and a 7% reduced hazard of ischemic heart disease mortality (aHR: 0.93, 95%CI: 0.88, 0.99). CONCLUSIONS:Living in an urban neighbourhood or community supportive of utilitarian walking and active living may contribute to lower mortality from cardiovascular disease in adults. KEYWORDS: Built environment, walkability, cardiovascular diseases, mortality

Coronary artery disease and its impact on the pulsatile brain: Afunctional NIRS study.

Recent studies have reported that optical indices of cerebral pulsatility are associated with cerebrovascular health in older adults. Such indices, including cerebral pulse amplitude and the pulse relaxation function (PRF), have been previously applied to quantify global and regional cerebral pulsatility. The aim of the present study was to determine whether these indices are modulated by cardiovascular status and whether they differ between individuals with low or high cardiovascular risk factors (LCVRF and HCVRF) and coronary artery disease (CAD). A total of 60 older adults aged 57–79 were enrolled in the study. Participants were grouped as LCVRF, HCVRF, and CAD. Participants were asked to walk freely on a gym track while a near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device recorded hemodynamics data. Low‐intensity, short‐duration walking was used to test whether a brief cardiovascular challenge could increase the difference of pulsatility indices with respect to cardiovascular status. Results indicated that CAD individuals have higher global cerebral pulse amplitude compared with the other groups. Walking reduced global cerebral pulse amplitude and PRF in all groups but did not increase the difference across the groups. Instead, walking extended the spatial distribution of cerebral pulse amplitude to the anterior prefrontal cortex when CAD was compared to the CVRF groups. Further research is needed to determine whether cerebral pulse amplitude extracted from data acquired with NIRS, which is a noninvasive, inexpensive method, can provide an index to characterize the cerebrovascular status associated with CAD.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Associated with a Reduced Cardiovascular Risk in Occupational Groups with Different Working Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study among Police Officers and Office Workers.

Several studies reported a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among police officers and office workers, and adequate cardiorespiratory fitness was reported to have protective effects in reducing cardiovascular risk. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of cardiorespiratory fitness on reducing cardiovascular risk factors in these occupational groups. This cross-sectional study enrolled 101 male participants (55 police officers and 46 office workers). Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed via spiroergometry. Cardiovascular risk factors were also examined, and the 10-year cardiovascular risk and heart/vascular age were reported using the Framingham risk score. In both groups, higher cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with lower cardiovascular risk factors. Police officers and office workers with higher cardiorespiratory fitness demonstrated significantly lower values in BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage, diastolic resting blood pressure, heart rate, triglycerides and total cholesterol values, and 10-year cardiovascular risk and heart/vascular age (all factors p < 0.0077, age adjusted). Police officers and office workers mostly presented low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness: 60% of police officers and 58% of office workers were considered “not fit and obese”. Despite different working conditions, both occupational groups had a high rate of low cardiorespiratory fitness levels and showed no differences in their cardiovascular risk profiles. In both groups, cardiorespiratory fitness reduced cardiovascular risk factors, but there was no difference in the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness on cardiovascular risk factors.

Performances on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Along the Cardiovascular Disease Continuum.

This study compared performances of different cardiovascular disease profiles on the MoCA and its subscores. Eighty participants (>50years) from two studies conducted at the Montreal Heart Institute were separated into four groups: low cardiovascular risk factors (<2), high cardiovascular risk factors (>2), coronary heart disease, and stable heart failure. ANCOVAs were performed on the total score and on subscores, with sex, age, and education as covariates. Group differences were observed on the MoCA total score (heart failure < low cardiovascular risk), verbal fluency (heart failure < low cardiovascular risk), memory (coronary heart disease < low cardiovascular risk), and orientation (coronary heart disease < low and high cardiovascular risk) subscores. Results suggest that the MoCA, particularly verbal fluency and memory subscores, can detect cognitive changes in later stages of the cardiovascular disease continuum, such as heart failure. Detecting cognitive changes earlier on the cardiovascular disease continuum may require more in depth neuropsychological assessments.