Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni Research Articles

Habitual coffee consumption and office, home, and ambulatory blood pressure: results of a 10-year prospective study.

Heterogeneous are the results of the published studies aimed at determining the long-term effects of habitual coffee consumption on blood pressure (BP). Specifically, no data are available on the longitudinal association between habitual coffee consumption and office, home and 24 h BP profile and variability. In 1408 subjects recruited in the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study, followed for a 10 year follow-up period and classified as coffee consumers and nonconsumers (self-reporting), we prospectically investigated the association between habitual coffee consumption and office, home and 24-h ambulatory BP; 24-h BP variability; and development of a new hypertensive state. Data were also analysed according to gender. When data were adjusted for confounders habitual coffee nonconsumers and consumers displayed similar long-term BP changes during the follow-up in office, home, and ambulatory BP. No difference was found between heavy and moderate coffee consumers. Furthermore, also new-onset hypertension and patterns of BP variability were superimposable in coffee nonconsumers and consumers, independently on confounders including gender, number, and characteristics of the antihypertensive drug treatment. The present study, which is the first longitudinal investigation never performed examining in a prospective fashion the long-term (10 year) effects of coffee consumption on office, home, and ambulatory BP, provides conclusive evidence that habitual coffee consumption is associated with neutral effects on in-office and out-of-office BP values and related variabilities. This is the also the case for the new-onset hypertensive state.

Long-term increase in serum uric acid and its predictors over a 25 year follow-up: Results of the PAMELA study

Background and aimsHyperuricemia (HU) has been shown to be associated with an adverse impact on cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Scanty data are available in the general population on the longitudinal changes in serum uric acid (SUA), the occurrence of HU and their potential predictors. We examined during a 25-year follow-up the SUA changes and the factors associated with HU development in the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study. Methods and resultsWe analyzed data collected in 561 subjects of the PAMELA study evaluated during an average follow-up time amounting to 25.4 ± 1.0 years (mean ± SD). HU was defined by the Uric Acid Right for Heart Health (URRAh) cutoff (5.1 for females and 5.6 mg/dl for males). Mean SUA values during follow-up increased from 4.7 ± 1.1 to 5.0 ± 1.2 mg/dl (P<0.001), the average SUA elevation amounting to of 0.3 ± 1.1 mg/dl 26.7 % of the subjects displayed HU at the follow-up. This was associated at the multivariable analysis with female gender, office, home and 24-h blood pressure, diuretic treatment, serum triglycerides and baseline SUA, as well as the increase in waist circumference and the reduction in renal function. ConclusionThe present study provides longitudinal evidence that in the general population during a 25 year follow-up there is a progressive increase in SUA and HU development. Baseline SUA represents the most important factor associated with these modifications. Gender, renal dysfunction, triglycerides, obesity, diuretic treatment and blood pressure represent other variables capable to predict future occurrence of HU.

Anthropometric Measures of Adiposity as Markers of Kidney Dysfunction: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The present study was designed to provide information on the ability of several different anthropometric markers to reflect the renal impairment associated with body weight increase and to predict the development of renal alterations linked to overweight and obesity. In 574 subjects representative of the general population of the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate e Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study, with an age range between 57 and 73 years, we investigated the association between different anthropometric markers of body fat, as alternative to body mass index, and renal failure, to obtain information useful for determining their potential predictive value. Renal dysfunction was significantly associated with almost all anthropometric markers of adiposity related to body weight and body shape. After adjustment for confounders, such as age, sex, office blood pressure, serum glucose, antihypertensive drugs and smoking habit, association remained significant only for waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), lipid accumulation product (LAP) and visceral adiposity index (VAI). These 3 markers also displayed at the receiver operating curves (ROC) analysis the best ability to detect subjects with or without kidney dysfunction. The results of the present study provide evidence that WHR, LAP and VAI represent the best markers of renal dysfunction associated with visceral body fat accumulation.

FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERURICEMIA DEVELOPMENT DURING A 25 YEARS FOLLOW-UP: THE PAMELA STUDY

Objective: HyperUricemia (HU) has been associated with future fatal and non fatal CV events as well as with hypertension and metabolic syndrome development. However, only few data exist regarding the change in Uric Acid (UA) and the development of HU during a population follow-up. In particular, no study analyzed the variations during a very long follow-up. The present study was aimed at evaluating the factors associated with UA changes and HU development during a 25-years follow-up in the PAMELA study. Both the classic cut-off for hyperuricemia and the newly one identified by the Uric Acid Right for Heart Health (URRAH) study were used to define HU. Design and method: We analyzed data collected in 561 subjects of the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study with available SUA who complete the 3rd wave study (mean follow-up time 25.2 ± 0.5 years). The classic cut-off of 6/7 mg/dL (females and males respectively) and URRAH one (5.1/5.6 mg/dL for females and males) were used for HU definitions. Results: Mean UA value during follow-up increase from 4.7 ± 1.1 to 5.0 ± 1.2 mg/dL (p &lt; 0.001) with a mean increase of 0.3 ± 1.1 mg/dL. UA changes significanlty correlated with baseline UA (r = -0.39, p &lt; 0.001) and creatinine (r = -0 - 21, p &lt; 0.001). With the classic cut-off (6/7 mg/dL) 9.1% of the subjects develop HU and this was associated at the multivariate model with age, sex (male), baseline diastolic Blood Pressure (BP) (OR 1.038, p = 0.02) and UA (OR 2.62, p &lt; 0.001). With the new URRAH cut-off 19.1% of the subjects develop HU. At the multivariate model variables associated were gender (male) and baseline 24h systolic BP (OR 1.05, p &lt; 0.001), tryglicerides (OR 1.01, p = 0.01) and UA (4.99, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The present study provide evidence that in the PAMELA study during the 25 year follow-up there is a progressive increase in UA. Baseline UA is the most important factor associated with HU development. However, also age, gender, triglycerides and BP could help to identify subjects that most probably will develop HU.

URIC ACID RELATIONSHIPS WITH LIPID PROFILE AND ADIPOSITY INDICES: IMPACT OF DIFFERENT HYPERURICEMIC TRESHOLDS

Objective: Previous studies focused on the relationships between Serum Uric Acid (SUA) and lipids have found an association mainly with triglycerides. Furthermore, previous studies on adiposity indices have been focused on the evaluation of the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI). The present study was aimed at providing within the same population a systematic evaluation of lipids and adiposity indices with SUA, employing both the classic cutoff for hyperuricemia and the newly one identified by the Uric Acid Right for Heart Health (URRAH) study. Design and method: We analyzed data collected in 1892 subjects of the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study with available SUA, lipid profile and variables necessary to calculate VAI, Cardio-Metabolic Index (CMI) and Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP). Results: At linear regression model (corrected for confounders) SUA correlated with all the lipids values (with the strongest for triglycerides) and adiposity indices. When the two different cutoffs were compared, the URRAH one was significantly related to atherogenic lipids profile (OR 1.207 for LDL and 1.33 for non-HDL, P &lt; 0.001) while this was not the case for the classic one. Regarding adiposity indices the classic cutoff displays highest OR as compared to the URRAH one. Conclusions: Newly reported URRAH cutoff for hyperuricemia better relate to atherogenic lipoprotein (LDL and non-HDL) when compared to the classic one. The opposite has been found for adiposity indexes where the classic cut-off seems to present highest performance. Among adiposity indexes, LAP present the highest OR for the relationship with hyperuricemia.

Coffee consumption, clinic, 24-hour and home blood pressure. Findings from the PAMELA study

Background and aimsChronic coffee consuption has been reported to be associated with a modest but significant increase in blood pressure (BP), although some recent studies have shown the opposite. These data, however, largely refer to clinic BP and virtually no study evaluated cross-sectionally the association between chronic coffee consuption, out-of-office BP and BP variability. Methods and resultsIn 2045 subjects belonging to the population of the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study, we analyzed cross-sectionally the association between clinic, 24-hour, home BP and BP variability and level of chronic coffee consumption. Results show that when adjusted for confounders (age, gender, body mass index, cigarette smoking, physical activity and alcohol drinking) chronic coffee consumption does not appear to have any major lowering effect on BP values, particulary when they are assessed via 24-hour ambulatory (0 Cup/day: 118.5 ± 0.7/72.8 ± 0.4 mmHg vs 3 cups/day: 120.2 ± 0.4/74.8 ± 0.3 mmHg, PNS) or home BP monitoring (0 cup/day: 124.1 ± 1.2/75.4 ± 0.7 mmHg vs 3 cups/day: 123.3 ± 0.6/76.4 ± 0.36 mmHg, PNS). However, daytime BP was significantly higher in coffee consumers (about 2 mmHg), suggesting some pressor effects of coffee which vanish during nighttime. Both BP and HR 24-hour HR variability were unaffected. ConclusionThus chronic coffee consumption does not appear to have any major lowering effect either on absolute BP values, particulary when they are assessed via 24-hour ambulatory or home BP monitoring, or on 24-hour BP variability.

Impact of the Increase in Left Ventricular Mass on the Risk of Long-Term Cardiovascular Mortality: a Prospective Cohort Study.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events, and evidence has been obtained that an increase of a normal left ventricular mass (LVM) or new-onset LVH over time augments cardiovascular outcomes. We addressed this issue in a sample of a general population at relatively low cardiovascular risk. We analyzed subjects with normal echocardiographic LVM enrolled in the PAMELA (Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni) study to follow the increase of LVM over time and assess the prognostic impact of this change on the incidence of cardiovascular events (mean follow-up 18.5 years). In 990 subjects with no LVH at baseline, there was a significant average increase of LVM (21.2%), LVMIBSA (18.9%), and LVMIHT (22.3%) more than 10 years later. About a quarter developed LVH. The LVMIBSA change exhibited an association with the cardiovascular risk mortality during the following 18.5 years, and the association remained significant after adjustment for confounders (hazard ratio, 1.2 [1.0-1.5]). Similar findings were obtained for LVM in absolute values or indexed for height. The association was seen in both genders, but the link with the cardiovascular risk was statistically significant in males only. Thus, although over 10 years, the LVM increase does not reach a LVH status, it is associated with an augmented cardiovascular mortality risk. This suggests that it might be important to consider periodical LVM assessment, even when LVM is within the normal range, to timely detect its increase and cope with the need of cardiovascular risk restratification.

Uric acid relationships with lipid profile and adiposity indices: Impact of different hyperuricemic thresholds.

Previous studies focused on the relationships between Serum Uric Acid (SUA) and lipids have found an association mainly with triglycerides. Furthermore, previous studies on adiposity indices have been focused on the evaluation of the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI). The present study was aimed at providing within the same population a systematic evaluation of lipids and adiposity indices with SUA, employing both the classic cutoff for hyperuricemia and the newly one identified by the Uric Acid Right for Heart Health (URRAH) study. We analyzed data collected in 1892 subjects of the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study with available SUA, lipid profile and variables necessary to calculate VAI, Cardio-Metabolic Index (CMI) and Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP). At linear regression model (corrected for confounders) SUA correlated with all the lipids values (with the strongest β for triglycerides) and adiposity indices. When the two different cutoffs were compared, the URRAH one was significantly related to atherogenic lipids profile (OR 1.207 for LDL and 1.33 for non-HDL, P<0.001) while this was not the case for the classic one. Regarding adiposity indices the classic cutoff displays highest OR as compared to the URRAH one. In conclusions, newly reported URRAH cutoff for hyperuricemia better relate to atherogenic lipoprotein (LDL and non-HDL) when compared to the classic one. The opposite has been found for adiposity indexes where the classic cut-off seems to present highest performance. Among adiposity indexes, LAP present the highest OR for the relationship with hyperuricemia.

Association between Berlin questionnaire index and blood pressure, organ damage and metabolic profilein a general population.

We evaluated the relationships between Berlin questionnaire (BQ) scores, hypertension and other metabolic variables in 598 subjects (age: 65.8±10 years, mean±SD) enrolled in the PAMELA (Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni) study representative of the general population, treated or untreated with antihypertensive drugs. Two hundred and eleven subjects (35%) had a positive BQ with two or more positive categories of the inquiry. Compared to those without sleep disorders these subjects showed a greater male prevalence (55.9%), worse serum cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose profile, greater body mass index (BMI) (28.9±4.9vs. 24.9±3.4kg/m2 ), higher office (and to a lesser extent 24-h) BP and HR values, higher serum creatinine values and greater rate of echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (25%vs. 13%). These differences were not detected when the data analysis was restricted to treated hypertensive patients. Thus, BQ scores allow to identify among subjects belonging to a general population those with elevated BP, organ damage and altered metabolic. When antihypertensive drug treatment is present, however, the approach fails to detect differences between groups with low or high BQ index.

WHITE-COAT HYPERTENSION WITHOUT ORGAN DAMAGE: IMPACT OF LONG-TERM MORTALITY, NEW HYPERTENSION AND NEW ORGAN DAMAGE

Objective: According to some guidelines white-coat hypertension (WCH) carries little or no increase of cardiovascular (CV) risk in absence of organ damage (OD) but no data are available on this issue. Design and method: Using the population data from Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA), we evaluated CV and total mortality over a median follow-up of 29 years in WCH (elevated office and normal 24-hour or home blood pressure, BP) and normotensive controls (N, normal in- and out-of-office BP) with no echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy and no reduction of estimated glomerular filtration rate. Analysis was extended to sustained hypertension (SH, in- and out-of-office BP elevation) and to N, WCH and SH with cardiac and renal OD. Results: During the 29 years follow-up there were in the 1423 subjects nalysed 165 CV and 526 all cause deaths. OD was detected in 10.6%, 30.5% and 43.8% of N, WCH and SH, respectively. After adjustment for confounders no-ODWCH exhibited a risk of fatal CV events lower than that of no-ODSH but greater than that of no-ODN (HR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1–3.6, P = 0.02), this being the case also for all cause mortality. Compared with no-ODN, no-ODWCH also exhibited a greater 10 year adjusted risk to develop new SH or OD. Similar findings were obtained in N, WCH and SH with OD. The present study provides the first evidence that WCH with no cardiac and renal OD is accompanied by an increased long-term risk of mortality, new hypertension and new OD, thereby not representing a clinically innocent condition. Conclusions: The present study provides the first evidence that WCH with no cardiac and renal OD is accompanied by an increased long-term risk of mortality, new hypertension and new OD, thereby not representing a clinically innocent condition.

White-Coat Hypertension Without Organ Damage: Impact on Long-Term Mortality, New Hypertension, and New Organ Damage.

According to some guidelines, white-coat hypertension (WCH) carries little or no increase of cardiovascular risk in the absence of organ damage (OD), but no data are available on this issue. Using the population data from PAMELA (Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni), we evaluated cardiovascular and total mortality over a median follow-up of 29 years in WCH (elevated office and normal 24-hour or home blood pressure [BP]) and normotensive controls (normal in- and out-of-office blood pressure) with no echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy and no reduction of estimated glomerular filtration rate. Patients with sustained hypertension (SH, in- and out-of-office blood pressure elevation) and normotensive, WCH, and SH with cardiac and renal OD served as controls. In the 1423 subjects analyzed, there were 165 cardiovascular and 526 all-cause deaths. After adjustment for confounders, no-OD WCH exhibited a risk of fatal cardiovascular events lower than that of no-OD SH but greater than that of no-ODN (hazard ratio, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.1-3.6], P=0.02), this being the case also for all-cause mortality. Compared with no-OD normotensive, no-OD WCH also exhibited a greater 10-year adjusted risk to develop new SH or OD. Similar findings were obtained in normotensive, WCH, and SH with OD. The present study provides the first evidence that WCH with no OD is accompanied by a noticeable increase in long-term risk of mortality, new hypertension, and new OD, thereby differing from normotension.

White-Coat Hypertension: Pathophysiological and Clinical Aspects: Excellence Award for Hypertension Research 2020.

Few issues of modern cardiovascular medicine have been as controversial as the relationship between white-coat hypertension (WCH), that is, a common condition in which office blood pressure is elevated while out-of-office blood pressure (ambulatory blood pressure or home blood pressure) is normal. While earlier studies showed no increased risk of cardiovascular events in WCH compared with the normotensive state, more recent studies have changed this conclusion by showing that an increased cardiovascular risk represents a trait of this hypertensive phenotype. The present article will review a number of issues related to WCH, that is, its definition, pathophysiological background, clinical alterations, and prognostic significance. This will be done by considering the available evidence published during the last decades, with special focus on the data collected in PAMELA (Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate e Loro Associazioni)-a research project performed with a cross-sectional and longitudinal design, which has provided a series of novel clinical information on WCH throughout the years. The final part of the article will discuss the therapeutic implications of the abovementioned evidence, as well as some controversial or still undefined issues related to WCH, whose investigation will be an important goal to pursue by future research.

Adding Home and/or Ambulatory Blood Pressure to Office Blood Pressure for Cardiovascular Risk Prediction

Home and 24-hour blood pressure (BPHome and BP24h) are believed to improve the prognostic value of office BP (BPOffice) alone, but the evidence has limitations such as that (1) these 3 BPs are characterized by multicollinearity and (2) the procedures adopted do not allow quantification of the prognostic advantage. One thousand eight hundred thirty-three individuals belonging to the PAMELA (Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate e Loro Associazioni) were followed for 16 years. Prediction of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality was determined via the goodness of fit of individual data (Cox model), the area underlying the receiving operator curves and the net reclassification improvement of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality risk. Calculations were made for BPOffice alone and after addition of BPHome, BP24h, or both, limited to their residual portion which was found to be unexplained by, and thus independent on, BPOffice. With all methods addition of residual out-of-office systolic or diastolic BP to BPOffice significantly improved cardiovascular and all-cause mortality prediction. The improvement was more consistent when BPHome rather than BP24h was added to BPOffice and, compared with BPOffice plus BPHome, no better prediction was found when addition was extended to BP24h. With all additions, however, the improvement was quantitatively modest, which was the case also when data were separately analyzed in younger and older individuals or in dippers and nondippers. Thus, addition of out-of-office to BPOffice improves prediction of cardiovascular risk, even when data analysis avoids previous limitations. The improvement appears to be limited, however, which raises the question of the advantage to recommend their extended use in clinical practice.

Clinical correlates and subclinical cardiac organ damage in different extreme dipping patterns.

Information regarding the association of hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) with extreme dipping pattern is scanty and not univocal. We sought to assess the clinical correlates of this blood pressure (BP) phenotype and its relationship with cardiac HMOD in the general population belonging to Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study. The present analysis included all participants with good-quality ABPM recordings with reliable echocardiography at entry. A total of 792 out of 1597 patients (49.6%) exhibited an extreme dipping pattern (155 had a night-time reduction in both SBP and DBP at least 20% compared with daytime values and 637 a night-time reduction in DBP at least 20%); 34.2% were dippers and 16.2% nondippers. Left ventricular mass (LVM) indexed to height and LV hypertrophy (LVH) prevalence rates increased progressively from diastolic extreme dipping (14%), dipper (17%), systolic/diastolic extreme dipping (21%) to nondipper group (27%). However, after adjusting for confounders, statistical differences in both LVMI and LVH rates among the four groups disappeared. Similar results were obtained for LVM indexed to body surface area and absolute/indexed left atrial diameter. Extreme dipping pattern is a BP phenotype highly frequent in the general population largely consisting of middle-aged individuals without prevalent cardiovascular disease. In this population, the extreme dipping pattern is not associated with an increased risk of cardiac HMOD, which suggests that the mechanisms invoked for the potential adverse cardiovascular effects of this condition (i.e. nocturnal hypoxemia, low-grade myocardial inflammation, coronary hypoperfusion, sympathetic activation at early morning, etc.) are not operative.

Risk of new-onset metabolic syndrome associated with white-coat and masked hypertension: data from a general population.

In the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate e Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study, clinical and metabolic variables as well as office, home and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) values were simultaneously measured at baseline and after a 10-year follow-up. The study design allowed us to assess the value of selective and combined elevation of different BP phenotypes in predicting new-onset metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present analysis included 1182 participants without MetS at baseline, as defined by the APT III criteria. On the basis of office, 24-h ambulatory BP and home values, participants were divided into four groups: normal, white-coat hypertension (WCH), masked hypertension and sustained hypertension. Compared with participants with in-office and out-of-office normal BP, a greater incidence of new-onset age-adjusted and sex-adjusted MetS was observed in WCH (OR = 1.75, CI 1.01-3.04, P = 0.0046), masked hypertension (OR = 2.58, CI 1.26-5.30; P = 0.009) and sustained hypertension (OR = 2.14, CI 1.20-3.79, P = 0.009)) when out-of-office BP was defined by ambulatory criteria. This was not the case when out-of-office BP was defined by home criteria, as only the WCH group showed a greater risk (OR 2.16, CI 1.28-3.63, P = 0.003). Similar findings were obtained for single components of the MetS such as abdominal obesity and hyperglycemia. Our study provides evidence that either isolated or combined BP elevations identified by office/ambulatory measurements, carry an increased risk of new-onset MetS, whereas, only WCH is associated with a greater risk of incident MetS whenever BP phenotypes are identified by office/home measurements. In a clinical perspective, a comprehensive evaluation of BP status based on office/ambulatory measurements may improve diagnosis of new-onset MetS and activate measures for its prevention.

Big Data and Blood Pressure Control: Insights from the PAMELA and BP-CARE Study Cohorts.

The paper examines the patterns of BP control achieved in two large scale observational studies, i.e., the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study and the Blood Pressure control rate and CArdiovascular Risk profilE (BP-CARE), carried out in the general population and in treated hypertensive patients, respectively. It is well known that only a minor fraction among the treated hypertensive patients exhibits a good blood pressure control. However, few study investigated blood pressure control on the basis not only of office, but also home and ambulatory blood pressure measurement, examining its impact on organ damage. In the whole sample of the PAMELA study, only in about 21.1% of cases treated hypertensive subjects exhibit a well-controlled office BP. Control of systolic blood pressure was rarer than the diastolic one. Control of home and, even more, ambulatory blood pressure was more frequent. Left ventricular mass was not normalized even when blood pressure was adequately controlled. Most subjects of BP-CARE study show high or very high cardiovascular risk, due to concomitant risk factors and organ damage. The percentage of well-treated hypertensive patients is lower when CV risk is higher.

White-Coat Hypertension: the Neglected Subgroup in Hypertension.

The clinical prognostic importance of white coat hypertension (WCH), that is, the clinical condition characterized by an increase of office but a normal ambulatory or home blood pressure (BP) is since a long time matter of considerable debate. WCH accounts for a consistent portion of hypertensive patients (up to 30–40%), particularly when hypertension is mild or age is more advanced. Although scanty and inconsistent information is available on the response of office and out-office BP to antihypertensive treatment and the cardiovascular (CV) protection provided by treatment, an increasing body of evidence focusing on the association of WCH with CV risk factors, subclinical cardiac and extra-cardiac organ damage and, more importantly, with CV events indicates that the risk entailed by this condition is intermediate between true normotension and sustained hypertension. This review will address a number of issues concerning WCH with particular attention to prevalence and clinical correlates, relation with subclinical target organ damage and CV morbidity/mortality, therapeutic perspectives. Several topics covered in this review are based on data acquired over the past 20 years by the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study, a longitudinal survey performed by our group on the general population living in the surroundings of Milan area in the north part of Italy.

Uric Acid and New Onset Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: Findings From the PAMELA Population.

The association between serum uric acid (SUA) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is controversial and the ability of SUA in predicting incident LVH remains unsettled. Thus, we evaluated the relationship of SUA with new-onset echocardiographic LVH over a 10-year period in subjects of the general population enrolled in the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study. The study included 960 subjects with normal LV mass index (LVMI) at baseline echocardiographic evaluation and a readable echocardiogram at the end of follow-up. Cut-points for LVH were derived from reference values of the healthy fraction of the PAMELA population. Over a 10-year period, 258 participants (26.9%) progressed to LVH. The incidence of new-onset LVH increased from the lowest (23%) to intermediate (25%) and the highest baseline SUA tertile (32%). After adjusting for confounders (not including body mass index (BMI)), each 1 mg/dl increase in SUA entailed a 26% higher risk of incident LVH. Adjusted odd ratio of LVH risk in the highest SUA tertile was 96% higher than in the lowest tertile (odds ratio (OR) = 1.966, 95% CI = 1.158-3.339, P = 0.0123). Correction for BMI reduced the magnitude and statistical significance of ORs. The study shows that SUA is a predictor of long-term echocardiographic changes from normal LVMI to LVH in a community sample. Thus, life-style and pharmacologic measures aimed to reduce SUA levels may concur to preventing LVH development in the general population.

The Relationship Between Aortic Root Size and Hypertension: An Unsolved Conundrum.

Thoracic aortic aneurysms rupture and dissection are among the most devastating vascular diseases, being characterized by elevated mortality, despite improvements in diagnostic imaging and surgical techniques.An increased aortic root diameter (ARD) represents the main risk factor for thoracic aortic dissection and rupture and for aortic valve regurgitation.Even though arterial hypertension is commonly regarded as a predisposing condition for the development of thoracic aorta aneurysms, the role of blood pressure (BP) as determinant of aortic root enlargement is still controversial. The use of different methods for indexation of ARD may have in part contributed to the heterogeneous findings obtained in the investigations exploring the relationships between ARD and BP. Indeed, the best methods for ARD indexation, as well as the normal values of aortic root size, are still a matter of debate.Several non-hemodynamic factors influence ARD, including age, gender, and anthropometric variables, such as height, weight and their derivatives body surface area (BSA) and body mass index. Of these factors, anthropometric variables have the greatest impact.Several studies documented an association between ARD enlargement, assessed by echocardiography, and some indices of hypertensive target organ damage such as left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, and carotid intima-media thickening. Recently, we found that ARD, expressed either as absolute values or normalized for BSA (ARD/BSA) or height (ARD/H), was significantly greater in hypertensive subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD) when compared to their counterparts with normal renal function. Moreover, at univariate analyses estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) showed significant inverse correlations with ARD not indexed and with ARD/BSA and ARD/H. Taking into account the effect of age, sex, duration of hypertension and other potentially confounding factors, in multiple regression analyses, only the association of GFR with ARD/H and that between GFR and ARD/BSA remained statistically significant. The receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that an estimated GFR of about 50ml/min/1.73m2 represents the better threshold to distinguish hypertensive patients with dilated aortic root from those with a normal one.Some population-based studies showed that an enlarged ARD might predict an adverse prognosis, even in absence of aneurysmatic alterations.In the Cardiovascular Health Study, a dilated aortic root was independently associated with an increased risk for stroke, cardiovascular and total mortality in both sexes and with incident congestive heart failure only in men. The relationship between ARD and heart failure has been observed also in the Framingham Heart Study. More recently, the PAMELA (Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni) study demonstrated an independent relationship of ARD/H with incident cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.Although the relationship between BP and aortic root size is still a matter of debate, increasing evidence seems to support the notion that aortic root dilatation, even in absence of aneurysmatic alterations, may be regarded as an hypertensive organ damage paralleling other preclinical markers whose unfavourable prognostic significance is firmly established. Future studies are needed to assess whether or not antihypertensive therapy is able to reduce aortic root dimension and the increased risk associated with its enlargement.

Does QRS Voltage Correction by Body Mass Index Improve the Accuracy of Electrocardiography in Detecting Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Predicting Cardiovascular Events in a General Population?

The authors assessed the value of body mass index (BMI) correction of two electrocardiographic criteria in improving detection of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and prediction of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in the Italian study Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) population. At entry, 1549 patients underwent diagnostic tests, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring, standard electrocardiography, and echocardiography. The BMI-corrected Cornell voltage and Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria provided better results for detection of echocardiographic LVH as compared with unadjusted electrocardiographic parameters. Cornell voltage index, but not Sokolow-Lyon index, was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events (and all-cause mortality). The adjusted risk of cardiovascular events related to one-standard deviation increment of BMI-corrected Cornell voltage was similar to that conferred by the uncorrected criterion in the total population, but outperformed in obese participants. These findings show that correction for BMI may improve the diagnostic accuracy of Cornell voltage index in detecting LVH and prediction of cardiovascular mortality in obese individuals.