Multiethnic Cohort Study Research Articles

Associations between residential greenness and the predicted 10-year risk for atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease among Chinese adults

BackgroundExposure to build environments, especially residential greenness, offers benefits to reduce the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). The 10-year ASCVD risk is a useful indicator for long-term ASCVD risk, but the evidence on the association and potential pathway of residential greenness in mitigating its development remains unclear. ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the associations between residential greenness and the 10-year predicted ASCVD risks, and potentially mediation effect on this association by air pollution, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity (PA). MethodsThe baseline of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study, enrolling 99,556 adults during 2018–2019, was used in this cross-sectional study. The participants' 10-year ASCVD risks were predicted as low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups, based on the six risk factors: age, smoking, hypertension, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and high total cholesterol (TC). The 3-year mean value within the circular buffer of 500 m and 1000 m of Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI500m and EVI1000m) were used to assess greenness exposure. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between residential greenness and the 10-year ASCVD risks. Stratified analyses by sex, age and smoking status were performed to identify susceptible populations. Causal mediation analysis was used to explore the mediation effects of air pollution, BMI and PA. ResultsA total of 75,975 participants were included, of which 17.9 % (n = 13,614) and 5.6 % (n = 4253) had the moderate and high 10-year ASCVD risks, respectively. Compared to the low-risk group, each interquartile increase in EVI500m and EVI1000m reduced the ASCVD risk of the moderate-risk group by 4 % (OR = 0.96 [0.94, 0.98]) and 4 % (OR = 0.96 [0.94, 0.98]), respectively; and reduced the risk of the high-risk group by 8 % (OR = 0.92 [0.90, 0.96]) and 7 % (OR = 0.93 [0.90, 0.97]), respectively. However, the increased greenness did not affect the ASCVD risk of the high-risk group when compared to the moderate-risk group. Effects of residential greenness on the ASCVD risk were stronger in women than in men (p < 0.05), and were not observed in those aged ≥55. PA and BMI partially mediated the association between greenness and the 10-year ASCVD risk. ConclusionsASCVD prevention strategies should be tailored to maximize the effectiveness within the groups with different ASCVD risks, better at early stages when the ASCVD risk is low.

Abstract C097: Association between a healthy lifestyle index and breast cancer risk among post-menopausal women in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study

Abstract Consistent evidence supports maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in physical activity, and limiting alcohol consumption as potential strategies for reducing breast cancer risk. Sleep duration and sedentary behavior are also emerging breast cancer risk factors. While these cardiometabolic factors have been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, prior studies have primarily investigated these factors separately. The association between a healthy lifestyle index (HLI) and breast cancer risk, particularly across racially and ethnically diverse postmenopausal women, has not been well studied. Within the Multiethnic Cohort study, ongoing analyses are examining associations between an HLI and risk of invasive breast cancer among 65,813 eligible postmenopausal women (African American [18.7 %], Native Hawaiian [6.7 %], Japanese American [28.2%], Latina [21.1%], and White [25.3%]). During a median follow-up of 23 years, 4,571 incident invasive breast cancer cases were diagnosed between baseline (1993-1996) and the end of follow-up (2017). Self-reported baseline information on seven lifestyle factors was used to create an HLI based on the sum of scores (max HLI score=23): Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI 2010) score divided into quartiles (scored 1-4), metabolic equivalents (METs) of moderate and vigorous physical activity (1-3), time spent sedentary (1-3), smoking status and duration (1-5), alcohol consumption (1-3), body mass index (BMI) (1-3) and sleep duration (1-2). Preliminary analyses included descriptive statistics as well as age- and race and ethnicity-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models of invasive breast cancer to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association with HLI score (tertiles, (T)) using age as the timescale. The mean HLI score in the overall population was 15.3 [Standard Deviation (SD): 2.1] with 51.4% of the analytic population in an HLI score tertile of ≥18 to 23 (T3; most healthy) and 13.2% in the lowest HLI score tertile ≥7 to &amp;lt;15 (T1; least healthy). The mean HLI scores by race/ethnicity were the following: African American 16.5 [SD: 2.5], Native Hawaiian 16.7 [SD: 2.6], Japanese American 18.2 [SD: 2.2], Latina 17.3 [SD: 2.2] and White 17.2 [SD: 2.6] women. Preliminary findings suggest that overall, women in HLI score T3 had on average, a BMI of 23.6 [3.7] (mean [SD] kg/m2), dietary intake HEI 2010 scores between 60-78.9, exerted &amp;gt; 6 METs of moderate and strenuous activity, spent &amp;lt; 6 hours a day sedentary, consumed less than 4.9 grams of ethanol per day, slept between 7 to 8 hours and were never smokers. In initial age- and race and ethnicity-adjusted analyses, postmenopausal women with an HLI score in T2 (HR: 0.90 [95% CI:0.82-0.98]) and in T3 (HR: 0.81 [95% CI: 0.74–0.89]) (p-trend &amp;lt;0.001) were at reduced risk of breast cancer compared to women in T1. Ongoing analyses include race and ethnicity stratified and fully adjusted multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Citation Format: Bethany T. Ogbenna, Iona Cheng, James Butler III, Typhanye Dyer, Xin He, Loic Le Marchand, Lynne Wilkens, Cher Dallal. Association between a healthy lifestyle index and breast cancer risk among post-menopausal women in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C097.

Abstract B032: Diet quality and physical activity of African American prostate cancer survivors at baseline of Men Moving Forward, a lifestyle intervention program

Abstract Background: In the United States, approximately 41,600 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in Black/African American men in 2022. Lifestyle can impact cancer survivorship, including recurrence risk, comorbidity burden and quality of life. The American Cancer Society has set physical activity and nutrition guidelines for cancer survivors that include plant-based eating and regular physical activity and strength training. However, many cancer survivors are unaware of these guidelines, and they often face challenges in adopting such behaviors. Men Moving Forward (MMF) is among the first community-based lifestyle intervention developed with and for African American Prostate Cancer Survivors (AAPCS). This study examines the diet and physical activity patterns of MMF participants at baseline. Methods: MMF is a 16-week group-based lifestyle intervention, led by local health coaches. Men complete surveys and physical assessments at baseline, post-intervention and at a 12-month follow-up. The VioScreen Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to obtain dietary intake and diet quality scores for participants at baseline. The Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) is used to assess adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) 2015-2020. Baseline HEI-2015 scores of men in the Multiethnic Cohort Study (MEC) were used to provide a population-based comparison. We also examined how many men received an HEI-2015 total score &amp;gt;80, reflecting an ideal diet for reducing premature death and chronic disease risk. Physical activity was measured using the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin) with an item added to query on frequency of strength training. Results: At baseline of MMF, 80 AAPCS completed the FFQ and 83 AAPCS completed the Godin. MMF participants had a mean age of 66.4 ± 6.86, 49.4% were married/living with a partner, and had varying incomes and education levels. Top comorbidities include hypertension (71%), obesity (51%), diabetes (31%), and hypercholesterolemia (48%). MMF participants had lower total HEI-2015 scores than MEC study men with average scores of 60.3 ± 11.0 and 65.6 ± 10.3, respectively. About half of the HEI-2015 component scores were similar between MMF and MEC participants. However, MMF participants reported 1 or more points higher component scores for “dairy” and “refined grains”, and 1 or more points lower scores for “seafood &amp; plant proteins”, “fatty acids”, “sodium”, and “saturated fats” than their MEC counterparts. Although AAPCS in MMF reported similar HEI-2015 scores to typical American men, only 3 of the 80 AABCS at baseline reported HEI-2015 scores &amp;gt;80, highlighting a need for diet quality improvement. At baseline, 40% of participants were considered active and 33% reported strength training at least twice weekly. Conclusion: Data reflect the value of supporting AAPCS in lifestyle changes to improve dietary quality, physical activity and strength training. Few efforts have addressed lifestyle among AAPCS, despite high prostate cancer burden. Future reports will examine the efficacy of MMF. Citation Format: Margaret Y. Tovar, Patricia Sheean, Paula Papanek, Alexis Visotcky, Lola Awoyinka, Anjishnu Banerjee, Kathryn Bylow, Deepak Kilari, Kathryn Flynn, Toni Uhrich, Sophia Aboagye, Sandra Contreras, Kathleen Jensik, Melinda Stolley. Diet quality and physical activity of African American prostate cancer survivors at baseline of Men Moving Forward, a lifestyle intervention program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B032.

Abstract A023: Racial differences in lung cancer burden: A retrospective analysis of TriNetX data

Abstract Background. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and many other countries. Lung cancer incidence and mortality rates have decreased for all races over the past 20 years, in part because of decreased tobacco use. Yet, there have been few clinical studies of lung cancer morbidity and mortality by race. The purpose of this study is to examine racial differences in lung cancer mortality in the U.S. using the electronic health records (EHR) database, TriNetX. Method. This retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the data from US Collaborative Network in TriNetX, a real-time, EHR database providing 42.7-million patient data from 49 health care organizations (HCOs). The cohort of interest was lung cancer patients in the U.S., which were identified using the ICD-10 code of C34 with an index diagnosis date of January 1, 2010. Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank chi-square statistics, and hazard ratio (HR) were compared among different racial groups in the EHR data. Results. Of 42.7-million patients in the U.S., the majority (60.3%) were people who are non-Hispanic white (NHW) followed by people who are Black/African American (15.4%), Hispanic (7.2%), Asian (4.6%), and others (Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 0.5%). 394,560 lung cancer patients were identified. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that Asians had the highest survival probability with median overall survival (OS) from the initial lung cancer diagnosis of 127.3 months, compared to 92.1 months for Hispanic, 69.1 months for African American/Black, 61.4 months for others, and 53.8 months for NHW. The HR was highest among NHW (HR=1.71, 95% CI=1.62-1.81), others (HR=1.62, 95% CI=1.41-1.85), African American/Black (HR=1.52, 95% CI=1.43-1.61), and Hispanic patients (HR=1.40, 95% CI=1.30-1.52) compared to Asian patients Conclusion. These findings suggest racial disparities in lung cancer survival, with NHW having the lowest and Asians having the highest median survival. These findings are inconsistent with the results from the Multiethnic Cohort study (prospective population based study), which reported blacks having the lowest median survival. It indicates that there are different racial burdens of lung cancer from clinical data and population data. Further analyses are needed to adjust potential confounders such as smoking status and stage of diagnosis. Citation Format: SoHye Park, Zachary Urdang, Julie Barta, Kuang-Yi Wen, Joseph Curry, Hee-Soon Juon. Racial differences in lung cancer burden: A retrospective analysis of TriNetX data [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr A023.

Two a posteriori dietary patterns are associated with risks of hyperuricemia among adults in less-developed multiethnic regions in Southwest China

Diet is a major determinant of hyperuricemia, but little is known about the association between diet and hyperuricemia in less-developed multiethnic regions (LMERs). This study aimed to assess the hypothesis that dietary patterns (including 2 a-priori and 3 a posteriori dietary patterns) are associated with hyperuricemia in LMERs. The 2 a priori dietary patterns were the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and the alternative Mediterranean diet (aMED). We derived 3 a posteriori dietary patterns from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort study by principal component factor analysis. Given that those dietary patterns had high geographic discrimination, they were named the Sichuan Basin (economically developed industrial region), Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau (agricultural region), and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (nomadic region) dietary pattern, respectively. We performed a logistic regression model to investigate associations between dietary patterns and hyperuricemia with potential confounders identified by the directed acyclic graph. Comparing the highest with the lowest quintiles, the Sichuan Basin dietary pattern was positively associated with hyperuricemia, whereas the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau dietary pattern showed an inverse association with hyperuricemia. For the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau dietary pattern, DASH, or aMED, our results did not show a significant association with hyperuricemia. The results were robust among stratified analyses and different analyzing strategies. The dietary patterns showed great diversity in Southwest China. Both DASH and aMED, which many studies widely recommended, did not show expected beneficial effects on preventing hyperuricemia. However, the plant-based protein dietary pattern in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau showed a beneficial association with the risk of hyperuricemia, which can provide insights for dietary guidance in LMERs.

Timing of introduction of complementary foods, breastfeeding, and child cardiometabolic risk: a prospective multiethnic Asian cohort study

BackgroundThe timing of introduction of complementary foods and the duration of breastfeeding (BF) have been independently associated with child overweight and obesity; however, their combined influence on body fat partitioning and cardiometabolic risk is unclear. ObjectiveWe investigated the associations of the timing of introduction of complementary foods, the duration of BF, and their interaction with child adiposity and cardiometabolic risk markers. MethodsWe analyzed data from 839 children in the prospective Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort. Mothers reported the age at which infants were first fed complementary foods and BF duration, classified as early (≤4 mo) versus typical (>4 mo) complementary feeding (CF) and short (≤4 mo) versus long (>4 mo) duration of any BF, respectively. We measured adiposity and cardiometabolic risk markers at the age of 6 y and examined their associations with infant feeding patterns using multiple regression, adjusting for sociodemographics, parents’ body mass index (BMI), maternal factors, birth weight for gestational age, and infant weight gain. ResultsOf 839 children, 18% experienced early CF, whereas 54% experienced short BF. Short (vs. long) BF and early (vs. typical) CF were independently associated with higher z-scores of BMI [β (95% confidence interval), short BF, 0.18 standard deviation score (SDS) (−0.01, 0.38); early CF, 0.34 SDS (0.11, 0.57)] and sum of skinfolds [short BF, 1.83 mm (0.05, 3.61); early CF, 2.73 mm (0.55, 4.91)]. Children who experienced both early CF and short BF (vs. typical CF–long BF) had synergistically higher diastolic blood pressure [1.41 mmHg (−0.15, 2.97), P-interaction = 0.023] and metabolic syndrome score [0.81 (0.16, 1.47), P-interaction = 0.081]. Early CF–long BF (vs. early CF–short BF) was associated with a lower systolic blood pressure [−3.74 mmHg (−7.01, −0.48)], diastolic blood pressure [−2.29 mmHg (−4.47, −0.11)], and metabolic syndrome score [−0.90 (−1.80, 0.00)]. ConclusionsA combination of early CF and short BF was associated with elevated child adiposity and cardiometabolic markers. Longer BF duration may protect against cardiometabolic risk associated with early CF.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01174875.

CHRONIC DISEASE AND LIFE EXPECTANCY DISPARITIES OF OLDER ADULTS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract Singapore is one of the countries with longest life expectancy, also one of the most rapidly ageing societies in the world. This study investigates the future demographic transitions in Singapore, focusing on the life expectancy disparities of the older adults. We developed a dynamic Markov microsimulation model based on the Singapore Multi-Ethnic Cohort study. The model was adapted to project future trends of chronic diseases, mental illnesses as well as hospitalisation costs of Singapore older people from 2020 to 2050. The prevalences of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, disability, dementia and depression of people aged 51 and above was projected to be increasing. Overall projected life expectancy at age 51 for male is 27.8 years, and for female is 34.5 years. Moreover, for older people with secondary or upper education, the overall projected life expectancy at age 51 is 34.1 years, active life expectancy at age 51 is 28.6 years. For older people with primary or lower education, the overall life expectancy at age 51 is projected to be 27.9 years, and active life expectancy projected to be 23.9 years. Our study has significant social and economic implications for policymakers in the way that it demonstrates disparate trends in aging and costs among different education groups in Singapore.

Factors Associated with RANTES, EMMPIRIN, MMP2 and MMP9, and the Association of These Biomarkers with Cardiovascular Disease in a Multi-Ethnic Population.

The growing cardiovascular disease (CVD) epidemic calls for further research to identify novel biomarkers for earlier detection and as potential therapeutic targets. Biomarkers Regulated on Activation, Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES), extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, and MMP-9) are linked to proatherogenic and proinflammatory pathways of CVD development, the majority of which are coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke. We evaluated potential factors affecting these four biomarkers and established their association with CVD. This is a cross-sectional analysis using a nested case-control design involving 580 participants aged 21-75 years from the prospective multi-ethnic cohort study. A total of 290 CVD cases and 290 age-and sex-matched controls were identified. All participants underwent interviews, health screenings, and provided blood samples, including biomarkers RANTES, EMMPRIN, and MMPs. CVD was defined based on previous medical history. The average age of the participants was 55.7(SD = 10.3) years of age, and 34.6% were female. Arrhythmia history and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significant factors of logEMMPRIN (β = -0.124 [-0.245, -0.003] and β = 0.111 [0.0, 0.191], respectively). Only female sex (β = 0.189 [0.078, 0.300]) for logRANTES and age (β = 0.033 [0.010, 0.055]) for logMMP-2 and logMMP-9 were significant. The Indian ethnicity (β = 0.192 [0.048, 0.335]) and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels (β = 0.063 [0.011, 0.116]) were statistically significant for logMMP-9. No association was detected between biomarkers and CVD. In this multi-ethnic study cohort, RANTES was associated with sex, EMMPRIN was associated with a history of arrhythmia and LDL levels, MMP-2 with age, and MMP-9 with ethnicity and hs-CRP levels. The biomarker serum levels were not associated with CVD.

Dietary factors and the risk of lung cancer by epidermal growth factor receptor mutation status and histological subtypes.

Previous studies have reported differential associations of certain dietary factors such as soy consumption by epidermal growth factor receptor mutant (EGFR +) subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, whether the other dietary factors including meat, fruits, and vegetables have differential risks on different histological and molecular subtypes of lung cancer remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a case-control study to evaluate these associations. A total of 3,170 cases and 4,238 controls from three different studies (Genes and Environment in Lung Cancer Study, Lung Cancer Consortium Singapore Study, and Multi-ethnic Cohort Study) were included. Information on demographics, lifestyle, and dietary consumption was obtained using questionnaires. Diet was assessed by using the number of standard servings of each item consumed per week. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between meat, vegetables, and fruits consumption with lung cancer risk after adjusting for potential confounders. We identified a significant inverse association between higher consumption of fruits and the risk of lung cancer (2nd tertile: OR = 0.54, 95%CI = 0.46-0.65; 3rd tertile: OR = 0.77, 95%CI = 0.65-0.91), compared with the lower (1st tertile) consumption of fruits. Higher vegetable consumption was significantly associated with a lower risk of EGFR + lung cancer (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.54-0.88), however, this association was not significant among EGFR wild-type (-) lung cancer. Conversely, higher consumption of total meat (OR = 2.10, 95%CI = 1.58-2.79) was significantly associated with higher lung cancer risk, as compared with the lower consumption group. Differential associations between vegetable consumption with EGFR mutation status in NSCLC were found. Further prospective studies are warranted to assess this association and elucidate the biological mechanisms.

Plant-based dietary patterns defined by a priori indices and colorectal cancer risk by sex and race/ethnicity: the Multiethnic Cohort Study

BackgroundPlant-based diets assessed by a priori indices are associated with health outcomes. This study investigated the associations between pre-defined indices of plant-based diets and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and evaluated whether the association varies by sex, race and ethnicity, and anatomic subsite of tumors.MethodsA total of 79,952 men and 93,475 women who participated in the Multiethnic Cohort Study were included. Primary outcome was incidence of invasive CRC. Cox models were used to estimate the risk of CRC across quintiles of three plant-based diet scores: overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI).ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 19.2 years, 4976 incident CRC were identified. Among men, multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for the highest vs. lowest quintiles was 0.77 (0.67–0.88) for PDI, and 0.80 (0.70–0.91) for hPDI, while no significant association was found for uPDI among men and for all indices among women. In men, the inverse association for PDI was stronger in Japanese American, Native Hawaiian, and White groups than African American or Latino group (P for heterogeneity = 0.01) and for left colon and rectal tumors than right tumors (P for heterogeneity = 0.005), whereas the decreased risk with hPDI was found consistently across racial and ethnic groups and subsites.ConclusionsGreater adherence to plant-based diets rich in healthy plant foods and low in less healthy plant foods is associated with a reduced risk of CRC in men, but not in women. The strength of the association among men may vary by race and ethnicity and anatomic subsite of tumors.

Association of Urinary Biomarkers of Smoking-Related Toxicants with Lung Cancer Incidence in Smokers: The Multiethnic Cohort Study.

While cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, the majority of smokers do not develop the disease over their lifetime. The inter-individual differences in risk among smokers may in part be due to variations in exposure to smoking-related toxicants. Using data from a subcohort of 2,309 current smokers at the time of urine collection from the Multiethnic Cohort Study, we prospectively evaluated the association of ten urinary biomarkers of smoking-related toxicants [total nicotine equivalents (TNE), a ratio of total trans-3'-hydroxycotinine (3-HCOT)/cotinine (a phenotypic measure of CYP2A6 enzymatic activity), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-3-(pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA), 3-hydroxypropyl mercapturic acid (3-HPMA), phenanthrene tetraol (PheT), 3-hydroxyphenanthrene (PheOH), the ratio of PheT/PheOH, cadmium (Cd), and (Z)-7-(1R,2R,3R,5S)-3,5-dihydroxy-2-[(E,3S)-3-hydroxyoct-1-enyl]cyclopenyl]hept-5-enoic acid (8-iso-PGF2α)] with lung cancer risk (n = 140 incident lung cancer cases over an average of 13.4 years of follow-up). Lung cancer risk was estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. After adjusting for decade of birth, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, self-reported pack-years, creatinine, and urinary TNE (a biomarker of internal smoking dose), a one SD increase in log total 3-HCOT/cotinine (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.06-1.66), 3-HPMA (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.07-1.85), and Cd (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.18-1.79) were each associated with increased lung cancer risk. Our study demonstrates that urinary total 3-HCOT/cotinine, 3-HPMA, and Cd are positively associated with lung cancer risk. These findings warrant replication and consideration as potential biomarkers for smoking-related lung cancer risk. These biomarkers may provide additional information on lung cancer risk that is not captured by self-reported smoking history or TNE. See related commentary by Etemadi et al., p. 289.

Association of Number of Live Births With Electrocardiographic and Cardiac Structural Changes.

Background Pregnancy is a major life event unique to women and leads to significant hemodynamic, hormonal, and metabolic changes. The purpose of this study was to use the DHS (Dallas Heart Study), a multiethnic population-based cohort study of Dallas county adults, to evaluate the association between number of live births and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and ECG parameters later in life. Methods and Results Women were included if they had data on self-reported live births and ECG or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging measurements. The 3014 women were stratified by number of live births: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5. Higher number of live births was associated with larger left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume (β, 1.31±0.41; P<0.01), LV end-systolic volume (β, 0.83±0.24; P<0.01), and LV mass (β, 1.13±0.49; P=0.02) and lower LV ejection fraction (β, -0.004±0.0014; P<0.01). Increasing parity was associated with longer PR intervals (β, 1.07±0.38; P<0.01). Subgroup analysis by race demonstrated that the association between number of live births and magnetic resonance imaging parameters (LV end-diastolic volume, LV end-systolic volume, and LV ejection fraction) only remained significant in Black women (P value for interaction <0.05). Conclusions Increasing number of live births was associated with electrocardiographic and cardiac structural changes in a multiethnic population. When stratified by race and ethnicity, magnetic resonance imaging structural changes only remained significant in Black participants. Whether these changes are pathologic and increase the risk of heart failure or arrhythmias in multiparous women warrants further investigation.

Assessing Unique Risk Factors for COVID-19 Complications Among Cancer Patients: A Multi-ethnic Cohort Study

A myriad of organ-specific complications have been observed with COVID-19. While racial/ethnic minorities have been disproportionately burdened by this disease, our understanding of the unique risk factors for complications among a diverse population of cancer patients remains limited. This is a multi-institutional, multi-ethnic cohort study evaluating COVID-19 complications among cancer patients. Patients with an invasive cancer diagnosis and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified from March to November 2020. Demographic and clinical data were obtained and a multivariate logistic regression was employed to evaluate the impact of demographic and clinical factors on COVID-19 complications. The study endpoints were evaluated independently and included any complication, sepsis, pulmonary complications and cardiac complications. A total of 303 patients were evaluated, of whom 48% were male, 79% had solid tumors, and 42% were Hispanic/Latinx (Hispanic). Malignant hematologic cancers were associated with a higher risk of sepsis (OR 3.93 (95% CI 1.58–9.81)). Male patients had a higher risk of sepsis (OR 4.42 (95% CI 1.63–11.96)) and cardiac complications (OR 2.02 (95% CI 1.05–3.89)). Hispanic patients had a higher odds of any complication (OR 2.31 (95% CI 1.18–4.51)) and other race was associated with a higher odds of cardiac complications (OR 2.41 (95% CI 1.01–5.73)). Clinically, fever, cough, and ≥2 co-morbidities were independently significantly associated with any complication. This analysis evaluated covariates that can significantly predict a myriad of complications among a multi-ethnic cohort of cancer patients. The conclusions drawn from this analysis elucidate a mechanistic understanding of differential illness severity from COVID-19.

Diet Quality and Pancreatic Cancer Incidence in the Multiethnic Cohort.

Data on diet quality and pancreatic cancer are limited. We examined the relationship between diet quality, assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), the alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) score, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score and the energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII), and pancreatic cancer incidence in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Diet quality scores were calculated from a validated food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline. Cox models were used to calculate HR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, diabetes, family history of pancreatic cancer, physical activity, smoking variables, total energy intake, body mass index (BMI), and alcohol consumption. Stratified analyses by sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and BMI were conducted. Over an average follow-up of 19.3 years, 1,779 incident pancreatic cancer cases were identified among 177,313 participants (average age of 60.2 years at baseline, 1993-1996). Overall, we did not observe associations between the dietary pattern scores and pancreatic cancer (aMED: 0.98; 95% CI, 0.83-1.16; HEI-2015: 1.03; 95% CI, 0.88-1.21; AHEI-2010: 1.03; 95% CI, 0.88-1.20; DASH: 0.92; 95% CI, 0.79-1.08; E-DII: 1.05; 95% CI, 0.89-1.23). An inverse association was observed with DASH for ever smokers (HR, 0.75; 0.61-0.93), but not for nonsmokers (HR, 1.05; 0.83-1.32). The DASH diet showed an inverse association with pancreatic cancer among ever smokers, but does not show a protective association overall. Modifiable measures are needed to reduce pancreatic cancer burden in these high-risk populations; our study adds to the discussion of the benefit of dietary changes.

Association of Urinary Zinc Concentrations with Dyslipidemia and Its Subtypes: Baseline Data from the Chinese Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) Study.

This study elucidates the association between urinary zinc concentration and the risk of developing dyslipidemia and its subtypes in China's ethnic minority residents. Based on the baseline survey data of the Chinese Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study, 10,620 subjects were included in the study. Logistic regression analysis evaluated the relationship between urinary zinc concentration and dyslipidemia and its subtypes. After adjustment, compared with urinary zinc concentration quartile 1 (Q1), the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of dyslipidemia participants in the quartile 2 (Q2), quartile 3 (Q3), and quartile 4 (Q4) groups were 1.091 (0.963, 1.237), 1.151 (1.051, 1.304), and 1.393 (1.230, 1.579), respectively (P for trend < 0.001). While that of hypertriglyceridemia participants in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups were 1.130 (0.979, 1.306), 1.283 (1.113, 1.480), and 1.483 (1.287, 1.709), respectively (P for trend < 0.001). Lastly, the ORs and 95% CIs of hyperbetalipoproteinemia participants in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups were 1.166 (0.945, 1.439), 1.238 (1.007, 1.522), and 1.381 (1.126, 1.695), respectively (P for trend < 0.002). This study found that urinary zinc concentrations were not associated with hypercholesterolemia and hypoalphalipoproteinemia. The dose-response relationship was non-linear between urinary zinc concentration and dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperbetalipoproteinemia (P for trend < 0.001). In the stratified analysis, urinary zinc levels were positively associated with the risk of dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperbetalipoproteinemia in male, ≥ 60years old, Miao nationality, hypertension, diabetes, and BMI ≥ 24.0kg/m2 subgroups. Our study provides some possible evidence that elevated urinary zinc concentrations are associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperbetalipoproteinemia.

Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Differences in a Deficit Accumulation Frailty Index in the Multiethnic Cohort Study.

Frailty status has been sparsely studied in some groups including Native Hawaiians and Asian Americans. We developed a questionnaire-based deficit accumulation frailty index (FI) in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) and examined frailty status (robust, FI 0 to <0.2, prefrail, FI 0.2 to <0.35, and frail FI ≥ 0.35) among 29026 men and 40756 women. After adjustment for age, demographic, lifestyle factors, and chronic conditions, relative to White men, odds of being frail was significantly higher (34%-54%) among African American, Native Hawaiian, and other Asian American men, whereas odds was significantly lower (36%) in Japanese American men and did not differ in Latino men. However, among men who had high school or less, none of the groups displayed significantly higher odds of prefrail or frail compared with White men. Relative to White women, odds of being frail were significantly higher (14%-33%) in African American and Latino women, did not differ for other Asian American women and lower (14%-36%) in Native Hawaiian and Japanese American women. These racial and ethnic differences in women were observed irrespective of education. Risk of all-cause mortality was higher in prefrail and frail men than robust men (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.69, 1.59-1.81; HR = 3.27, 3.03-3.53); results were similar in women. All-cause mortality was significantly positively associated with frailty status and frailty score across all sex, race, and ethnic groups. Frailty status differed significantly by race and ethnicity and was consistently associated with all-cause mortality. The FI may be a useful tool for aging studies in this multiethnic population.

Smoking and pancreatic cancer: a sex-specific analysis in the Multiethnic Cohort study

PurposeTo examine whether the detrimental smoking-related association with pancreatic cancer (PC) is the same for women as for men.MethodsWe analyzed data from 192,035 participants aged 45–75 years, enrolled in the Multiethnic Cohort study (MEC) in 1993–1996. We identified PC cases via linkage to the Hawaii and California Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program cancer registries through December 2017.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 19.2 years, we identified 1,936 incident PC cases. Women smokers smoked on average less than men smokers. In multivariate Cox regression models, as compared with sex-specific never smokers, current smokers had a similar elevated risk of PC for women, hazard ratio (HR) 1.49 (95% CI 1.24, 1.79) and as for men, HR 1.48 (95% CI 1.22, 1.79) (pheterogeneity: 0.79). Former smokers showed a decrease in risk of PC for men within 5 years, HR 0.74 (95% CI 0.57, 0.97) and for women within 10 years after quitting, HR 0.70 (95% CI 0.50, 0.96), compared with their sex-specific current smokers. Both sexes showed a consistent, strong, positive dose–response association with PC for the four measures (age at initiation, duration, number of cigarettes per day, number of pack-years) of smoking exposure among current smokers and an inverse association for years of quitting and age at smoking cessation among former smokers (all ptrend’s < 0.001).ConclusionAlthough MEC women smoke on average less than their men counterparts, the smoking-related increase in PC risk and the benefits of cessation seem to be of similar magnitudes for women as for men.

Spicy food consumption is associated with abdominal obesity among Chinese Han population aged 30–79 years in the Sichuan Basin: a population-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundFew animal experiments and volunteer-based intervention studies have showed a controversial effect of spicy foods on abdominal obesity. We aimed to examine the association between spicy food frequency, spicy flavor, and abdominal obesity among Chinese Han population in the Sichuan Basin which area eating spicy foods relatively often.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the Sichuan Basin baseline data from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study, including data from electronic questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and blood sample collection. A total of 40,877 adults (22,503 females) aged 30–79 years were included in the final analysis. Multivariable logistic regression yielded adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for abdominal obesity associated with the strength of spicy flavor and frequency of spicy food intake.ResultsThe prevalence of daily spicy food eating was 47.3% in males and 52.7% in females, the percentages of abdominal obesity were 52.3%, 48.8%, 51.6% and 55.5% in the spicy food intake subgroups of never, 1–2 days/week, 3–5 days/week and 6–7 days/week, respectively. Compared with males who never consumed spicy food, the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) in the 1–2 days/week, 3–5 days/week and 6–7 days/week subgroups were 1.21 (1.09, 1.34), 1.35 (1.21, 1.51), and 1.35 (1.25, 1.47), respectively (Ptrend < 0.001). The corresponding odds ratios for females were 0.95 (0.87, 1.05), 1.14 (1.03, 1.26), and 1.25 (1.16, 1.35), respectively (Ptrend < 0.001). Similarly, compared with no spicy flavor, the adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of mild, middle, and strong spicy strength for abdominal obesity in males were 1.27 (1.17, 1.38), 1.51 (1.37, 1.67), and 1.36 (1.11, 1.67) respectively (Ptrend < 0.001). The corresponding odds ratios for females were 1.14 (1.06, 1.23), 1.27 (1.15, 1.40), and 1.32 (1.06, 1.65), respectively (Ptrend < 0.001).ConclusionsThe data indicated that spicy food consumption was a risk factor for abdominal obesity among Chinese adult population in the Sichuan Basin. The results need to be approved by large cohort studies.

Does awareness of diabetic status increase risk of depressive or anxious symptoms? Findings from the China Multi-Ethnic cohort (CMEC) study

IntroductionPeople with diabetes mellitus (DM) have increased risk of depressive symptoms (DS) or anxious symptoms (AS). This study explores whether awareness of DM will contribute to prevalence of DS or AS. MethodsThe baseline data including 81,717 adults from Southwest China was analyzed. DS and AS were assessed using PHQ-2 and GAD-2. Exposures were defined as 1) having self-reported physician diagnosis of diabetes (self-reported DM), 2) no prior diagnosis of diabetes but meeting diagnostic criteria (newly diagnosed DM), 3) having self-reported physician diagnosis or meeting criteria of non-diabetic diseases (non-diabetic patients), 4) healthy participants. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess impact of presence and awareness of DM on DS or AS, adjusting for regional and individual related factors. ResultsThe prevalence of DS in self-reported DM, newly diagnosed DM, non-diabetic patient and healthy participants was 7.08 %, 4.30 %, 5.37 % and 3.17 %. The prevalence of AS was 7.80 %, 5.77 %, 6.37 % and 3.91 %. After adjusting for related factors, compared with healthy participants, self-reported DM and non-diabetic patients were associated with DS [AORDS, self-reported = 1.443(1.218,1.710), AORDS, nondiabetic patients = 1.265(1.143,1.400)], while the association between newly diagnosed DM and DS was not statistically significant. The associations between self-reported DM, newly diagnosed DM, non-diabetic patients and AS were all statistically significant. LimitationsDS and AS were assessed through self-report and may suffer recall or information bias. ConclusionsThe association between awareness of diabetes and DS/AS suggests to pay attention to distinguish between self-reported and newly diagnosed DM and screening for DS and AS in diabetic population.

How Do the Different Types of Maternal Diabetes during Pregnancy Influence Offspring Outcomes?

Background/Aim of the study: Exposure to maternal diabetes is considered one of the most common in utero insults that can result in an increased risk of complications later in life with a permanent effect on offspring health. In this study, we aim to assess the level of risk associated with each type of maternal diabetes on obesity, glucose intolerance, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature utilizing PubMed for studies published between January 2007 and March 2022. Our search included human cohorts and case control studies following offspring exposed at least to two different types of maternal diabetes clearly identified during pregnancy. Collected outcomes included prevalence, incidence, odds ratio, hazard ratio and risk ratio. Results: Among 3579 published studies, 19 cohorts were eligible for inclusion in our review. The risks for overweight, obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), glucose intolerance, metabolic syndrome, and CVD were increased for all types of maternal diabetes during pregnancy. The risk of overweight or obesity in infancy and in young adults was similar between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). The risk for T2D or abnormal glucose tolerance was double for offspring from GDM mothers compared to offspring from T1D mothers. In contrast, the risk for T1D in offspring at any age until young adulthood was increased when mothers had T1D compared to GDM and T2D. The risk for CVD was similar for all types of maternal diabetes, but more significant results were seen in the occurrence of heart failure and hypertension among offspring from T2D mothers. The risk of autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders was mainly increased after in utero exposure to preexisting T1D, followed by T2D. Conclusions: Offspring of diabetic mothers are at increased risk for multiple adverse outcomes with the highest risk detected among offspring from T2D mothers. Future work warrants large multiethnic prospective cohort studies that aim to identify the risks associated with each type of maternal diabetes separately.