Four blood pressure indexes and the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction in Japanese men and women: a meta-analysis of 16 cohort studies

Risk factors for increased left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with chronic kidney disease: findings from the CKD-JAC study

Background

Although left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been established as a predictor of cardiovascular events in chronic kidney disease (CKD), the relationship between the prevalence of LVH and CKD stage during the pre-dialysis period has not been fully examined.

Methods

We measured left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in a cross-sectional cohort of participants in the Chronic Kidney Disease Japan Cohort (CKD-JAC) study to identify factors that are associated with increased LVMI in patients with stage 3–5 CKD.

Results

We analyzed the baseline characteristics in 1088 participants (male 63.8%, female 36.2%). Diabetes mellitus was the underlying disease in 41.7% of the patients, and mean age was 61.8 ± 11.1 years. LVH was detected in 23.4% of the patients at baseline. By multivariate logistic analysis, independent risk factors for LVH were past history of cardiovascular disease [odds ratio (OR) 2.364; 95% confidence interval ([CI) 1.463–3.822; P = 0.0004], body mass index (OR 1.108; 95% CI 1.046–1.173; P = 0.0005), systolic blood pressure (OR 1.173; 95% CI 1.005–1.369; P = 0.0433), urinary albumin (OR 1.425; 95% CI 1.028–1.974; P = 0.0333), and serum total cholesterol level (OR 0.994; 95% CI 0.989–0.999; P = 0.0174).

Conclusion

The cross-sectional baseline data from the CKD-JAC study shed light on the association between LVH and risk factors in patients with decreased renal function. Further longitudinal analyses of the CKD-JAC cohort are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of LVH in CKD patients.

Cumulative mean arterial pressure and risks of adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events: a prospective cohort study of 53,813 adults

The association between cumulative mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and risks of adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (CCVEs) has not been characterized. This prospective cohort study included 53,813 participants, free of prior myocardial infarction or stroke in or before 2010 (baseline) from a community-based cohort including 101,510 participants. Cumulative MAP was defined as the summed average MAP for each pair of consecutive examinations multiplied by the time interval with the data from previous surveys (2006- 2007, 2008 to 2009, 2010-2011). Incident adverse CCVEs were ascertained by both the information collection in biennial follow-up surveys (2012-2013, 2014-2015) and surveying each year's discharge lists from local hospitals and death certificates from state vital statistics offices by three experienced physicians blinded to the study design. The study population were stratified into quartiles based on cumulative MAP (<354.62 mmHg, n = 13,454; 354.62 to 392.82 mmHg, n = 13,452; 392.82 to 438.04 mmHg, n = 13 453; ≥ 438.04 mmHg, n = 13,454). We documented 1055 incident adverse CCVEs, including 271 myocardial infarction and 794 stroke (10 comorbid with myocardial infarction), which consisted of 673 ischemic stroke and 134 hemorrhagic stroke (13 comorbid with ischemic stroke). The incidence of adverse CCVEs increased with the increase of cumulative MAP with significant difference (p < 0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression models revealed the elevated cumulative MAP as an independent risk factor for adverse CCVEs, especially hemorrhagic stroke, after adjusting potential confounders. A J-shaped relationship between cumulative MAP and hemorrhagic stroke was also observed.

Predictive power of home blood pressure indices at baseline and during follow-up in hypertensive patients: HOMED-BP study

We compared the predictive power for a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) of four home blood pressure (BP) indices (systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean BP, and pulse pressure (PP)) obtained at baseline before treatment and during the on-treatment follow-up period in 3147 patients with essential hypertension (women: 50.1%, mean age: 59.5 years). Associations between MACE and each index were determined using Cox proportional hazard models and the likelihood ratio (LR) test. During a median follow-up of 5.4 years, 46 patients experienced MACE, which was a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal stroke, and non-fatal myocardial infarction. The LR test showed that systolic, diastolic, and mean BP during follow-up was more closely associated with cardiovascular risk than the corresponding indices at baseline (LR χ² for baseline versus follow-up: systolic BP, (6.0, P = 0.014) versus (11.3, P = 0.0008); diastolic BP, (0.4, P = 0.53) versus (12.4, P = 0.0004); mean BP, (3.2, P = 0.074) versus (15.0, P = 0.0001)), whereas neither PP at baseline nor that during follow-up was significantly associated with MACE risk. Among home BP indices during follow-up, mean BP further improved prediction models in which systolic or diastolic BP was already included (P ≤ 0.042), but neither systolic nor diastolic BP improved models with mean BP (P = 0.80). In addition to home systolic and diastolic BP, mean BP during follow-up period provides essential information in predicting future cardiovascular diseases, whereas its utilization should be further assessed by an intervention trial targeting mean BP levels.

Effect of Long-Term Systolic Blood Pressure Trajectory on Kidney Damage in the Diabetic Population: A Prospective Study in a Community-Based Chinese Cohort

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that hypertension is an important factor contributing to the occurrence and progression of diabetic kidney damage. However, the relationship between the patterns of blood pressure (BP) trajectory and kidney damage in the diabetic population remains unclear. This prospective study investigated the effect of long-term systolic BP (SBP) trajectory on kidney damage in the diabetic population based on an 8-year follow-up community-based cohort.

METHODS

This study included 4556 diabetic participants among 101,510 participants. BP, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urinary protein were measured every 2 years from 2006 to 2014. SBP trajectory was identified by the censored normal modeling. Five discrete SBP trajectories were identified according to SBP range and the changing pattern over time. Kidney damage was evaluated through eGFR and urinary protein value. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influence of different SBP trajectory groups on kidney damage.

RESULTS

We identified five discrete SBP trajectories: low-stable group (n = 864), moderate-stable group (n = 1980), moderate increasing group (n = 609), elevated decreasing group, (n = 679), and elevated stable group (n = 424). The detection rate of kidney damage in the low-stable group (SBP: 118-124 mmHg) was the lowest among the five groups. The detection rate of each kidney damage index was higher in the elevated stable group (SBP: 159-172 mmHg) compared with the low-stable group. For details, the gap was 4.14 (11.6% vs. 2.8%) in eGFR <60 ml·min-1·1.73 m-2 and 3.66 (17.2% vs. 4.7%), 3.38 (25.0% vs. 7.4%), and 1.8 (10.6% vs. 5.9%) times in positive urinary protein, eGFR <60 ml·min-1·1.73 m-2 and/or positive urinary protein, and eGFR decline ≥30%, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

An elevated stable SBP trajectory is an independent risk factor for kidney damage in the diabetic population.

Time course of blood pressure control prior to lacunar TIA and stroke: Population-based study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the age-specific temporal trends in blood pressure (BP) before acute lacunar vs nonlacunar TIA and stroke.

METHODS

In a population-based study of TIA/ischemic stroke (Oxford Vascular Study), we studied 15-year premorbid BP readings from primary care records in patients with lacunar vs nonlacunar events (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment [TOAST]) stratified by age (<65, ≥65 years).

RESULTS

Of 2,085 patients (1,250 with stroke, 835 with TIA), 309 had lacunar events. In 493 patients <65 years of age, the prevalence of diagnosed hypertension did not differ between lacunar and nonlacunar events (46 [48.4%] vs 164 [41.2%], p = 0.20), but mean/SD premorbid BP (44,496 BP readings) was higher in patients with lacunar events (15-year records: systolic BP [SBP] 138.5/17.7 vs 133.3/15.0 mm Hg, p = 0.004; diastolic BP [DBP] 84.1/9.6 vs 80.9/8.4 mm Hg, p = 0.001), mainly because of higher mean BP during the 5 years before the event (SBP 142.6/18.8 vs 134.6/16.6 mm Hg, p = 0.0001; DBP 85.2/9.7 vs 80.6/9.0 mm Hg, p < 0.0001), with a rising trend (ptrend = 0.006) toward higher BP leading up to the event (<30-day pre-event SBP: 152.7/16.1 vs 135.3/23.1 mm Hg, p = 0.009; DBP 87.9/9.4 vs 80.8/12.8 mm Hg, p = 0.05; mean BP ≤1 year before the event 145.8/22.0 vs 134.7/16.1 mm Hg, p = 0.001; 86.1/10.7 vs 80.4/9.8 mm Hg, p = 0.0001). Maximum BP in the 5 years before the event was also higher in patients with lacunar events (SBP 173.7/26.6 vs 158.6/23.2 mm Hg, p = 0.0001; DBP 102.3/12.9 vs 94.2/11.2 mm Hg, p < 0.0001), as was persistently elevated BP (≥50% SBP >160 mm Hg, odd ratio 4.95, 95% confidence interval 1.99-12.31, p = 0.0002). However, no similar differences in BP were observed in patients ≥65 years of age.

CONCLUSION

Recent premorbid BP control is strongly temporarily related to acute lacunar events at younger ages, suggesting a direct role of BP in accelerating causal pathology and highlighting the need to control hypertension quickly.

Pitfalls in the ankle-brachial index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity

Background

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) are indices of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness. The Japan-made measuring devices of those indices have spread widely because of their convenience and the significance of the parameters. However, studies that comprehensively discuss the various pitfalls in using these indices are not available.

Methods

This study presents several representative pitfalls in using the ABI and brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) by showing the result sheets of the device, “the Vascular Profiler”. Furthermore, some considerations when utilizing these indices in the future are also discussed.

Results

Several diseases such as arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO), arterial calcification in the lower limb, arterial stenosis in the right upper-limb, aortic valve diseases, arterial stenosis in the upper-limb of the contralateral side of the hemodialysis access, are the representative pitfalls when evaluating ABI and baPWV. Moreover, a measurement error is found to actually exist. Furthermore, same phenomena are considered most likely to occur when using other similar indices and devices.

Conclusion

The ABI and baPWV are the useful and significant biomarkers. Nevertheless, caution is sometimes necessary when interpreting them. Moreover, rigorous patient exclusion criteria should be considered when using those indices in the severely conditioned patient population. And the results of this study can be applied to enhance the literacy using other indices, such as the cardio-ankle vascular index and other similar devices.

Blood pressure, heart rate, and double product in a pooled cohort: the Japan Arteriosclerosis Longitudinal Study

OBJECTIVE

To identify the characteristics of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and double product in a Japanese population sample.

METHODS

We pooled individual records from 1999 to 2005 for 111 007 participants in 25 community-based cohorts and seven worksite-based cohorts. The data were analyzed to provide information on BP, HR, and double product according to age-sex groups and use of antihypertensive medication.

RESULTS

Average BP was 130/77 mmHg among men and women combined. Among untreated individuals, SBP increased with age, whereas DBP reached a ceiling around the age of 60 years. The average SBP of treated participants was around 140 mmHg, irrespective of age, whereas DBP decreased linearly with age, and 56.4% of treated participants had a BP of 140/90 mmHg or over. HR did not differ across age groups or treatment status. The double product, also called the rate-pressure product, calculated by multiplying the SBP and the HR, increased with age among untreated individuals, whereas it first decreased and then increased with age among treated individuals.

CONCLUSION

Based on these collaborative data, insufficient BP control in Japan, where the average life expectancy is the longest in the world, was seen.

Analyzing the association between aortic regurgitation and atherosclerosis: is pulse pressure a cause of atherosclerosis?

If pulse pressure, one of the mechanical stresses, is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, then atherosclerosis should be progressive in aortic regurgitation which is a representative disease with increased pulse pressure. This cross-sectional study included 1,149 patients. We examined the influence of aortic regurgitation on maximum intima-media thickness or brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. The degree of aortic regurgitation was classified into 4 grades by color Doppler examination. There were 177 patients with aortic regurgitation. Pulse pressure was significantly higher in patients with aortic regurgitation than in those without it. On multiple regression analysis, aortic regurgitation was not found to be a significant independent variable for maximum intima-media thickness [standard partial regression coefficient: aortic regurgitation = grade 1, 0.011, P = 0.7635; aortic regurgitation ≥ grade 2, -0.034, P = 0.3289] and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [standard partial regression coefficient: aortic regurgitation = grade1, -0.043, P = 0.1197; aortic regurgitation ≥ grade2, 0.002, P = 0.9358] after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, presence or absence of cardiovascular disease, antihypertensive treatment, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and smoking. These results found no causal association between aortic regurgitation and atherosclerosis, and were a contradiction to the opinion that pulse pressure was a risk factor of atherosclerosis.

Predictive Value of Pulse Pressure in Acute Ischemic Stroke for Future Major Vascular Events

Background and Purpose—

This study aimed to investigate whether pulse pressure (PP) obtained during the acute stage of ischemic stroke can be used as a predictor for future major vascular events.

Methods—

Using a multicenter prospective stroke registry database, patients who were hospitalized for ischemic stroke within 48 hours of onset were enrolled in this study. We analyzed blood pressure (BP) data measured during the first 3 days from onset. Primary and secondary outcomes were time to a composite of stroke recurrence, myocardial infarction, all-cause death, and time to stroke recurrence, respectively.

Results—

Of 9840 patients, 4.3% experienced stroke recurrence, 0.2% myocardial infarction, and 7.3% death during a 1-year follow-up period. In Cox proportional hazards models including both linear and quadratic terms of PP, PP had a nonlinear J-shaped relationship with primary (for a quadratic term of PP, P =0.004) and secondary ( P <0.001) outcomes. The overall effects of PP and other BP parameters on primary and secondary outcomes were also significant ( P <0.05). When predictive power of BP parameters was compared using a statistic of −2 log-likelihood differences, PP was a stronger predictor than systolic BP (8.49 versus 5.91; 6.32 versus 4.56), diastolic BP (11.42 versus 11.05; 10.07 versus 4.56), and mean atrial pressure (8.75 versus 5.91; 7.03 versus 4.56) for the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.

Conclusions—

Our study shows that PP when measured in the acute period of ischemic stroke has nonlinear J-shaped relationships with major vascular events and stroke recurrence, and may have a stronger predictive power than other commonly used BP parameters.

Efficacy and Safety of Sacubitril/Valsartan (LCZ696) Compared With Olmesartan in Elderly Asian Patients (≥65 Years) With Systolic Hypertension

OBJECTIVE

Systolic hypertension is common in elderly patients and remains a challenge to treat effectively. The efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696), a first-in-class angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, vs. olmesartan was evaluated in elderly Asian patients (≥65 years) with systolic hypertension.

METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, 14-week study, patients initially received once-daily sacubitril/valsartan 100 mg or olmesartan 10 mg, increased to sacubitril/valsartan 200 mg or olmesartan 20 mg at week 4. At week 10, for patients with blood pressure (BP) >140/90 mm Hg, the doses were up-titrated to sacubitril/valsartan 400 mg or olmesartan 40 mg. The primary assessment was superiority of sacubitril/valsartan vs. olmesartan in reducing office mean sitting (ms) systolic BP (msSBP) from baseline at week 10. Secondary efficacy assessments included changes from baseline in ms diastolic BP (msDBP), ms pulse pressure (msPP), 24-hour mean ambulatory (ma) BP (maBP), and maPP at week 10; msBP and msPP at weeks 4 and 14.

RESULTS

Overall, 588 patients were randomized (mean age, 70.7 years; baseline msBP, 160.3/84.9 mm Hg; msPP, 75.4 mm Hg). At week 10, sacubitril/valsartan provided superior msSBP reductions vs. olmesartan (22.71 vs. 16.11 mm Hg, respectively; P < 0.001); similarly, reductions from baseline in other BP and PP assessments were significantly greater with sacubitril/valsartan. At week 14, despite more patients requiring up-titration in the olmesartan group, msBP and msPP reductions from baseline were significantly greater with sacubitril/valsartan. Both treatments were generally well-tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Sacubitril/valsartan is more effective than olmesartan in reducing BP in elderly Asian patients with systolic hypertension.

Development of a Basic Risk Score for Incident Atrial Fibrillation in a Japanese General Population - The Suita Study

BACKGROUND

An atrial fibrillation (AF) risk score for a non-Western general population has not been established.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 6,898 participants (30-79 years old) initially free of AF have been prospectively followed for incident AF since 1989. AF was diagnosed when AF or atrial flutter was present on ECG at a biannual health examination; was indicated as a current illness; or was in the medical records during follow-up. Cox proportional hazard ratios were analyzed after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors at baseline. During the 95,180 person-years of follow-up, 311 incident AF events occurred. We developed a scoring system for each risk factor as follows: 0/-5, 3/0, 7/5, and 9/9 points for men/women in their 30 s-40 s, 50 s, 60 s, and 70 s, respectively; 2 points for systolic hypertension, overweight, excessive drinking, or coronary artery disease; 1 point for current smoking; -1 point for moderate non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; 4 points for arrhythmia; and 8, 6, and 2 points for subjects with cardiac murmur in their 30 s-40 s, 50 s, and 60 s, respectively (C-statistic 0.749; 95% confidence interval, 0.724-0.774). Individuals with score ≤2, 10-11, or ≥16 points had, respectively, ≤1%, 9%, and 27% observed probability of developing AF in 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a 10-year risk score for incident AF using traditional risk factors that are easily obtained in routine outpatient clinics/health examinations without ECG.

Blood pressure components and the risk for proteinuria in Japanese men: The Kansai Healthcare Study

Background

We examined prospectively which of the four blood pressure (BP) components (systolic BP [SBP], diastolic BP [DBP], pulse pressure [PP], and mean arterial pressure [MAP]) was best in predicting the risk of proteinuria.

Methods

This prospective study included 9341 non-diabetic Japanese middle-aged men who had no proteinuria and an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m² and were not taking antihypertensive medications at entry. Persistent proteinuria was defined if proteinuria was detected two or more times consecutively and persistently at the annual examination until the end of follow-up. We calculated the difference in values of Akaike's information criterion (ΔAIC) in comparison of the BP components-added model to the model without them in a Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

During the 84,587 person-years follow-up period, we confirmed 151 cases of persistent proteinuria. In multiple-adjusted models that included a single BP component, the hazard ratios for persistent proteinuria for the highest quartile of SBP, PP, and MAP were 3.11 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.79–5.39), 1.87 (95% CI, 1.18–2.94), and 2.21 (95% CI, 1.33–3.69) compared with the lowest quartile of SBP, PP, and MAP, respectively. The hazard ratio for the highest quartile of DBP was 2.69 (95% CI, 1.65–4.38) compared with the second quartile of DBP. Of all models that included a single BP component, those that included SBP alone or DBP alone had the highest values of ΔAIC (14.0 and 13.1, respectively) in predicting the risk of persistent proteinuria.

Conclusions

Of all BP components, SBP and DBP were best in predicting the risk of persistent proteinuria in middle-aged Japanese men.

•

We examined which blood pressure (BP) components increased risk of proteinuria.

•

We used systolic BP, diastolic BP, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure.

•

Systolic and diastolic BP were the best predictors of persistent proteinuria.

Streptococcus thermophilus fermented milk reduces serum MDA-LDL and blood pressure in healthy and mildly hypercholesterolaemic adults

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL), MDA-LDL/LDL-cholesterol in serum, and blood pressure are considered useful risk markers of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to examine whether a fermented milk containing Streptococcus thermophilus YIT 2001 (ST), which has high anti-oxidative activity, would benefit healthy and mildly hyper-LDL-cholesterolaemic adults via a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. ST-fermented milk or non-fermented placebo milk (PC) was consumed once a day for 12 weeks by 29 and 30 subjects, respectively, with average serum LDL-cholesterol levels of about 140 mg/dl. Serum levels of LDL-cholesterol and MDA-LDL and blood pressure were analysed before (baseline) and after consumption. Comparisons of the responses between both groups were assessed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA, with the baseline value as the covariate). ANCOVA demonstrated that the ST group had significant reductions in MDA-LDL, MDA-LDL/LDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared with the PC group during the consumption period (P<0.05). Moreover, stratified analysis revealed that there were significant reductions in MDA-LDL, MDA-LDL/LDL-cholesterol, SBP, and DBP in the ST group compared with the PC group during the consumption period in subjects who had above median (65 U/l) levels of oxidative stress marker MDA-LDL at baseline (P<0.05), but not in subjects with levels below the median. These findings suggest that daily consumption of ST-fermented milk may be beneficial in healthy or mildly hyper-LDL cholesterolaemic subjects through reductions in risk marker values of oxidative stress and/or cardiovascular diseases. The benefits were particularly remarkable in subjects who had higher levels of MDA-LDL.

Remifentanil in electroconvulsive therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

In electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), remifentanil is often used concurrently with anesthetics. The objective of this study was to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive review on how the addition of remifentanil to anesthetics affects seizure duration and circulatory dynamics in mECT. We performed a meta-analysis of RCTs that investigated seizure duration and circulatory dynamics in patients treated with ECT using anesthetics alone (non-remifentanil group) and with anesthetics plus remifentanil (remifentanil group). A total of 13 RCTs (380 patients and 1024 ECT sessions) were included. The remifentanil group showed a significantly prolonged seizure duration during ECT compared to the non-remifentanil group [motor: 9 studies, SMD = 1.25, 95 % CI (0.21, 2.29), p = 0.02; electroencephalogram: 8 studies, SMD = 0.98, 95 % CI (0.14, 1.82), p = 0.02]. The maximum systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly reduced in the remifentanil group compared to the non-remifentanil group [7 studies, SMD = -0.36, 95 % CI (-0.65, 0.07), p = 0.02]. Substantial heterogeneity was observed for meta-analyses for seizure durations, but a pre-planned subgroup analysis revealed that seizure duration was prolonged only when the use of the anesthetic dose was reduced in the remifentanil group. The results of our study suggest that addition of remifentanil to anesthesia in ECT may lead to prolonged seizure duration when it allows the use of reduced anesthetic doses. Further, the addition of remifentanil was associated with reduced maximum SBP.

Cardiovascular events and death in Japanese patients with chronic kidney disease

The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) than in the general population, and the risk of CVD increases with reductions in renal function. However, the incidence of CVD in Japanese patients with CKD has not been sufficiently investigated. To measure this we conducted the Chronic Kidney Disease Japan Cohort (CKD-JAC) Study over four years in 2,966 Japanese patients with CKD to examine the incidence of CVD and all-cause death. These patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 10-59 ml/min/1.73 m², were under nephrologist care, and pooled from 17 medical institutions in Japan. At the median follow-up of 3.9 years, 69 patients had died, 217 had cardiovascular events, and 514 started maintenance dialysis therapy. The incidences of cardiovascular events were 11.9, 19.1, 25.0, and 39.4 per 1,000 person-years at eGFRs of 45-59, 30-44, 15-29, and under 15 ml/min/1.73 m², respectively. The adjusted Cox proportional hazards models showed that the risk of cardiovascular events increased as the eGFR decreased, with a significant difference only between CKD stage G5 (eGFR: under 15 ml/min/1.73 m²) and CKD stage G3a (eGFR: 45-59 ml/min/1.73 m²) (hazard ratio 3.16, 95% confidence interval 1.28 to 7.76). Thus, the risk of CVD and all-cause death was related to the decrease in eGFR, but not necessarily elevated in proportion to progression of the CKD stage in Japanese patients with predialysis CKD under a nephrologist's care.

Impact of drinking and smoking habits on cerebrovascular disease risk among male employees

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to analyze the impact of drinking and smoking behavior on the risk of developing cerebrovascular diseases among male employees aged 20-46 years. Twenty years of follow-up data of male employees enrolled in the DENSO Health Insurance Program were used for analyses.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Of 29,048 male employees aged 20-46 years who were enrolled in the insurance program in 1994, 25,084 (86.4%) employees underwent annual health check-ups until 2003 without missing an appointment. Of these 25,084 employees, the data of 11,784 (40.6%) employees who self-reported drinking and smoking habits were used for analyses. The hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for developing cerebrovascular disease in 2004-2013 were calculated in four risk groups categorized as per drinking and smoking behavior in the young group who were in their 20s and the middle-aged group who were in their 30s-40s in 1994. Based on their drinking behavior, participants were categorized into two groups: "not drinking or drinking sometimes" and "drinking every day." Based on their smoking behavior, participants were also categorized into two groups: "not smoking for 10 years" and "smoking for 10 years."

RESULTS

A Cox's proportional hazard model revealed that after controlling for body mass index, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, and age, the hazard ratios for "smoking and drinking every day" were 3.82 (95% CI: 1.40-10.41) in the young group and 2.31 (95% CI: 1.27-4.17) in the middle-aged group.

DISCUSSION

Male employees who had been drinking and smoking for 10 years had a higher risk of developing cerebrovascular diseases. To prevent cerebrovascular diseases among male employees, it may be effective to offer behavior change interventions for both drinking and smoking habits, regardless of the age group.

The relationship between blood pressure variability and Pooled Cohort Risk Assessment Equations 10-year cardiovascular risk score

BACKGROUND

Recent attention has focused on the clinical significance of blood pressure variability (BPV) in explaining the adverse cardiovascular consequences of hypertension. We therefore analyze the impact of 24 h BPV on the development of future cardiovascular disease determined by The Pooled Cohort Risk Assessment Equations 10-year risk calculator.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed 250 adult patients, ages 40-80 years old. The ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was recorded automatically. We defined the mean blood pressure values, SD, and coefficient of variation (CV) of blood pressure on the basis of the recorded 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring values as an indicator for BPV.Patients were divided into two groups according to their Pooled Cohort Risk Assessment Equations 10-year risk profile (<7.5 and ≥7.5%).

RESULTS

Besides the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), parameters showing the BPV such as SD and CV of mean blood pressures were also significantly higher in patients with an elevated 10-year risk score compared with others. Only CV of SBP and pulse pressure showed a clear association with the 10-year risk in multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results suggested that each 1% increase in CV of SBP could lead to a 1.258-fold increase in The Pooled Cohort Risk Assessment Equations 10-year risk score.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, we found that independent of baseline SBP, increased CV of SBP within 24 h was associated with increased cardiovascular risk, as assessed by The Pooled Cohort Risk Assessment Equations 10-year risk calculator.

Midlife Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Late-Life Unrecognized and Recognized Myocardial Infarction Detect by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: ICELAND-MI, the AGES-Reykjavik Study

Background

Associations of atherosclerosis risk factors with unrecognized myocardial infarction (UMI) are unclear. We investigated associations of midlife risk factors with UMI and recognized MI (RMI) detected 31 years later by cardiac magnetic resonance.

Methods and Results

The Reykjavik Study (1967–1991) collected serial risk factors in subjects, mean (SD) age 48 (7) years. In ICELAND‐MI (2004–2007), 936 survivors (76 (5) years) were evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance. Analysis included logistic regression and random effects modeling. Comparisons are relative to subjects without MI. At baseline midlife evaluation, a modified Framingham risk score was significantly higher in RMI and in UMI versus no MI (7.4 (6.3)%; 7.1 (6.2)% versus 5.4 (5.8)%, P<0.001). RMI and UMI were more frequent in men (65%, 64% versus 43%; P<0.0001). Baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in UMI (138 (17) mm Hg versus 133 (17) mm Hg; P<0.006; 87 (10) mm Hg versus 84 (10) mm Hg; P<0.02). Diastolic BP was significantly higher in RMI (88 (10) mm Hg versus 84 (10) mm Hg; P<0.02). Cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly higher in RMI (6.7 (1.1) mmol/L versus 6.2 (1.1) mmol/L; P=0.0005; and 1.4 (0.7) mmol/L versus 1.1 (0.7) mmol/L; P<0.003). Cholesterol trended higher in UMI (P=0.08). Serial midlife systolic BP was significantly higher in UMI versus no MI (β [SE] = 2.69 [1.28] mm Hg, P=0.04). Serial systolic and diastolic BP were significantly higher in RMI versus no MI (4.12 [1.60] mm Hg, P=0.01 and 2.05 [0.91] mm Hg, P=0.03) as were cholesterol (0.43 [0.11] mmol/L, P=0.0001) and triglycerides (0.3 [0.06] mmol/L, P<0.0001).

Conclusions

Midlife vascular risk factors are associated with UMI and RMI detected by cardiac magnetic resonance 31 years later. Systolic blood pressure was the most significant modifiable risk factor associated with later UMI.

Hypertension Is a Risk Factor for Several Types of Heart Disease: Review of Prospective Studies

Many prospective cohort studies have demonstrated that hypertension is a strong risk factor for total mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Heart disease includes coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure, atrial fibrillation, valvular disease, sudden cardiac death (SCD), sick sinus syndrome (SSS), cardiomyopathy, and aortic aneurysms. Most of the epidemiologic prospective studies of heart disease focused on coronary/ischemic heart disease. Here we comprehensively reviewed the association between hypertension and the above-mentioned heart diseases. We found that CHD, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, aortic valvular disease, SCD, SSS, left ventricular hypertrophy, and abdominal aortic aneurysms were all associated with hypertension. Those relations tended to be stronger in men. The prevention of hypertension and lowering one's blood pressure may help reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women. Despite improvements in cardiovascular disease prevention efforts, there remain gaps in cardiovascular disease awareness among women, as well as age and racial disparities in ASCVD outcomes for women. Disparity also exists in the impact the traditional risk factors confer on ASCVD risk between women and men, with smoking and diabetes both resulting in stronger relative risks in women compared to men. Additionally there are risk factors that are unique to women (such as pregnancy-related factors) or that disproportionally affect women (such as auto-immune disease) where preventive efforts should be targeted. Risk assessment and management must also be sex-specific to effectively reduce cardiovascular disease and improve outcomes among women. Evidence supports the use of statin therapy for primary prevention in women at higher ASCVD risk. However, some pause should be given to prescribing aspirin therapy in women without known ASCVD, with most evidence supporting the use of aspirin for women≥65 years not at increased risk for bleeding. This review article will summarize (1) traditional and non-traditional assessments of ASCVD risk and (2) lifestyle and pharmacologic therapies for the primary prevention of ASCVD in women.

Interaction of Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index With Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation in a Japanese Urban Cohort: The Suita Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To prevent stroke, strategies for atrial fibrillation (AF) prevention and an early detection of AF by electrocardiogram are essential. However, only a limited prospective studies have examined the risk factors for AF, even in blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI), which are not clear among general populations. We investigated the impacts of BP and BMI on the risk of incident AF in a general population.

METHODS

A total of 6,906 participants (30-84 years) in the Suita Study were prospectively followed up for incident AF. Participants were diagnosed with AF if AF or atrial flutter was present on an electrocardiogram from a routine health examination (every 2 years) or if AF was indicated as a present illness from health examinations and/or medical records during follow-up. Adjusted Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated.

RESULTS

During the 12.8-year follow-up, 253 incident AF events occurred. Compared with the systolic BP (SBP) < 120 mm Hg and normal-weight, the adjusted HRs (95% confidence intervals; CIs) of incident AF in the systolic hypertension and the overweight (BMI ≥ 25kg/m(2)) groups were 1.74 (1.22-2.49) and 1.35 (1.01-1.80), respectively. Compared with SBP < 120 mm Hg and normal weight, the adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of incident AF in the SBP = 120-139 mm Hg with overweight and the systolic hypertension with normal or overweight were 1.72 (1.01-2.91), 1.66 (1.10-2.50), and 2.31 (1.47-3.65), respectively (P for interaction = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Systolic prehypertension and overweight are associated with incident AF in Japanese population. The association between SBP and AF may be evident by overweight.

Effects of calcium channel blocker-based combinations on intra-individual blood pressure variability: post hoc analysis of the COPE trial

Visit-to-visit blood pressure (BP) variability is an important predictor of stroke. However, which antihypertensive drug combination is better at reducing visit-to-visit BP variability and therefore at reducing stroke incidence remains uncertain. We have previously reported that the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker benidipine combined with a β-blocker appeared to be less beneficial in reducing the risk of stroke than a combination of benidipine and thiazide. Here, we further compare the visit-to-visit BP variability among three benidipine-based regimens, namely angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), β-blocker and thiazide combinations. The present post hoc analysis included 2983 patients without cardiovascular events or death during the first 18 months after randomization. We compared the BP variability (defined as the s.d. and the coefficient of variation (CV)), maximum systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) of the clinic mean on-treatment BPs obtained at 6-month intervals, starting 6 months after the treatment initiation, among the 3 treatments (ARB, n=1026; β-blocker, n=966; thiazide, n=991). During the first 6–36 months after randomization, both the s.d. and CV-BPs were lower in the benidipine–thiazide group than in the benidipine–β-blocker group (s.d.-SBP, P=0.019; s.d.-DBP, P=0.030; CV-SBP, P=0.012; CV-DBP, P=0.022). The s.d. and CV in the ARB group did not reach statistical significance compared with the other two groups. The maximum BPs did not differ among the three treatments. These findings suggest that the benidipine–thiazide combination may reduce visit-to-visit BP variability more than the benidipine–β-blocker combination.

[Is blood pressure control different in women than in men?]

Blood pressure (BP) evolves with age; until the 50's it is higher in men than in women, equaling and even then increasing in women. The prevalence of controlled BP appears to be similar between the sexes, but the prevalence of cardiovascular disease is higher in women than in men. The possibility that BP influences the cardiovascular risk differently according to sex must therefore be considered. While some studies suggest no difference exists, others have shown evidence of an increased risk in women with respect to men despite equal BP. In this way, it seems that the measurement of ambulatory BP, but not office BP, would mark the differences in the association between BP-gender and cardiovascular risk. It should therefore be investigated the possibility of a different BP goal for women and men, especially by evaluating ambulatory BP.

Blood pressure level and risk of major cardiovascular events and all-cause of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment: an observational study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We assessed the relationship between BP and risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment (estimated GFR < 60 ml min(-1) 1.73 m(-2)) treated in clinical practice.

METHODS

A total of 33,356 patients (aged 75 ± 9 years, diabetes duration of 10 ± 8 years) with at least one serum creatinine and BP value available in the Swedish National Diabetes Register between 2005 and 2007 were followed up until 2011 or death. The relationships between mean BPs, CVEs and all-cause mortality were examined using time-dependent Cox models to estimate HRs, adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and ongoing medications.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period (mean 5.3 years), 11,317 CVEs and 10,738 deaths occurred. The lowest risks of CVEs and all-cause mortality were observed with a systolic BP (SBP) of 135-139 and a diastolic BP (DBP) of 72-74 mmHg, and the highest risks were observed for those with SBP intervals 80-120 (CVE HR 2.3 [95% CI 2.0, 2.6] and all-cause mortality HR 2.4, [95% CI 2.1, 2.7]) and 160-230 mmHg (CVE HR 3.0 [95% CI 2.6, 3.3] and all-cause mortality HR 2.0 [95% CI 1.8-2.3]) and DBP intervals 40-63 mmHg (CVE HR 2.0 [95% CI 1.8, 2.2], all-cause mortality HR 2.0 [95% CI 1.8, 2.2]) and 83-125 mmHg (CVE HR 2.3 [95% CI 2.0, 2.5], all-cause mortality HR 2.3 [95% CI 2.0, 2.6]).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In this nationwide cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment, the risk of CVEs and all-cause mortality increased significantly with both high and low BPs, while an SBP of 135-139 mmHg and DBP of 72-74 mmHg were associated with the lowest risks of CVEs and death.

Pulse pressure and stroke risk: development and validation of a new stroke risk model

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to develop and validate a stroke risk model incorporating pulse pressure (PP) as a potential risk factor. Recent evidence suggests that PP, defined as the difference between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), could be an incremental risk factor beyond SBP.

METHODS

Electronic health records (EHRs) of hypertensive patients from a US integrated health delivery system were analyzed (January 2004 to May 2012). Patients with ≥ 1 PP reading and ≥ 6 months of observation prior to the first diagnosis of hypertension were randomly split into development (two-thirds of sample) and validation (one-third of sample) datasets. Stroke events were identified using ICD-9-CM 433.xx-436.xx. Cox proportional hazards models assessed time to first stroke event within 3 years of first hypertension diagnosis based on baseline risk factors, including PP, age, gender, diabetes, and cardiac comorbidities. The optimal model was selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO); performance was evaluated by the c-statistic.

RESULTS

Among 34,797 patients selected (mean age 59.3 years, 48% male), 4272 patients (12.3%) had a stroke. PP was higher among patients who developed stroke (mean [SD] PP, stroke: 02.0 [15.3] mmHg; non-stroke: 58.1 [14.0] mmHg, p < 0.001). The best performing risk model (c-statistic, development: 0.730; validation: 0.729) included PP (hazard ratio per mmHg increase: 1.0037, p < 0.001) as a significant risk factor.

LIMITATIONS

This study was subject to limitations similar to other studies using EHRs. Only patient encounters occurring within the single healthcare network were captured in the data source. Though the model was tested internally, external validation (using a separate data source) would help assess the model's generalizability and calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

This stroke risk model shows that greater PP is a significant predictive factor for increased stroke risk, even in the presence of known risk factors. PP should be considered by practitioners along with established risk factors in stroke treatment strategies.

Risk Associated with Pulse Pressure on Out-of-Office Blood Pressure Measurement

BACKGROUND

Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that the risk of cardiovascular disease increases with pulse pressure (PP). However, PP remains an elusive cardiovascular risk factor with findings being inconsistent between studies. The 2013 ESH/ESC guideline proposed that PP is useful in stratification and suggested a threshold of 60 mm Hg, which is 10 mm Hg higher compared to that in the 2007 guideline; however, no justification for this increase was provided.

METHODOLOGY

Published thresholds of PP are based on office blood pressure measurement and often on arbitrary categorical analyses. In the International Database on Ambulatory blood pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcomes (IDACO) and the International Database on HOme blood pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome (IDHOCO), we determined outcome-driven thresholds for PP based on ambulatory or home blood pressure measurement, respectively.

RESULTS

The main findings were that for people aged <60 years, PP did not refine risk stratification, whereas in older people the thresholds were 64 and 76 mm Hg for the ambulatory and home PP, respectively. However, PP provided little added predictive value over and beyond classical risk factors.

Time-to-effect relationships between systolic blood pressure and the risks of nephropathy and retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes

AIMS

To analyze time-to-effect relationships between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the risks of development of nephropathy and retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 647 patients with type 2 diabetes who first visited our hospital between 1995 and 1996, made ≥1 hospital visit per year, had been followed-up for ≥1year, and had undergone ≥4 SBP measurements. Of these, 352 with normoalbuminuria and 516 without retinopathy were followed through June 2012.

RESULTS

Nephropathy developed in 90 patients and retinopathy in 113. Hazard ratios (HRs) for time-dependent SBP-associated nephropathy and retinopathy were the highest during 1year preceding each endpoint or censoring. The HRs for nephropathy had been steadily lower during the preceding 1-17 years, while that for retinopathy had been lower during the preceding 1-5 years and constant during the preceding 5-17 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The time-to-effect relationship with SBP differed for the development of nephropathy and retinopathy. The long-term effect was obvious for nephropathy and borderline for retinopathy, while the short-term effect was stronger and evident for both. Continuous SBP lowering is necessary to prevent nephropathy, whereas SBP control during the preceding 5years seems to be important to prevent retinopathy.

Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of fixed-dose combination therapy of azilsartan and amlodipine besylate in Japanese patients with grade I to II essential hypertension

BACKGROUND

Guidelines for the management of hypertension recommend using drugs with different mechanisms of action in antihypertensive regimens that include simple single-pill fixed-dose combination (FDC) products.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of the FDC of azilsartan (AZI) and amlodipine besylate (AML) with those of AZI monotherapy and AML monotherapy in Japanese patients with grade 1 to 2 essential hypertension.

METHODS

This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study. After receiving placebo during a 4-week run-in period in a single-blind manner, patients were randomized to receive 1 of the following 5 treatments for 8 weeks: FDC containing AZI 20 mg and AML 5 mg (AZI/AML 20/5 mg), FDC containing AZI 20 mg and AML 2.5 mg (AZI/AML 20/2.5 mg), AZI 20 mg, AML 5 mg, or AML 2.5 mg once daily in a fasting or fed state. The primary end point was the change from baseline (week 0) in the seated trough diastolic blood pressure at week 8 (last observation carried forward [LOCF]), and the secondary end point was the change from baseline in the seated trough systolic blood pressure at week 8 (LOCF). Tolerability was assessed based on adverse events, vital signs, and physical examination findings.

RESULTS

Of the 800 patients who provided informed consent, 603 were randomized to receive AZI/AML 20/5 mg (150 patients), AZI/AML 20/2.5 mg (151 patients), AZI 20 mg (151 patients), AML 5 mg (75 patients), or AML 2.5 mg (76 patients). The mean baseline systolic/diastolic blood pressure was 160.7/100.3 mm Hg. The mean change from baseline in seated blood pressure at week 8 (LOCF) was -35.3/-22.3 mm Hg in the AZI/AML 20/5 mg group and -31.4/-19.2 mm Hg in the AZI/AML 20/2.5 mg group, indicating a reduction significantly greater than that in corresponding monotherapy groups (-21.5/-13.9 mm Hg in the AZI 20 mg group, -26.4/-15.5 mm Hg in the AML 5 mg group, and -19.3/-11.6 mm Hg in the AML 2.5 mg group; p < 0.0001 for all contrast tests). No remarkable difference was found in the incidences of adverse events, vital signs, and physical examination findings among the treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

This study found that the FDC of AZI/AML 20/5 mg and 20/2.5 mg exhibited greater antihypertensive effects compared with each monotherapy. The FDC of AZI/AML had a similar safety profile to that of each monotherapy and was tolerable to Japanese patients with grade 1 to 2 essential hypertension.

JAPAN PHARMACEUTICAL INFORMATION CENTER REGISTRATION

Japic CTI-111606.

Investigation on cardiovascular risk prediction using physiological parameters

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Early prediction of CVD is urgently important for timely prevention and treatment. Incorporation or modification of new risk factors that have an additional independent prognostic value of existing prediction models is widely used for improving the performance of the prediction models. This paper is to investigate the physiological parameters that are used as risk factors for the prediction of cardiovascular events, as well as summarizing the current status on the medical devices for physiological tests and discuss the potential implications for promoting CVD prevention and treatment in the future. The results show that measures extracted from blood pressure, electrocardiogram, arterial stiffness, ankle-brachial blood pressure index (ABI), and blood glucose carry valuable information for the prediction of both long-term and near-term cardiovascular risk. However, the predictive values should be further validated by more comprehensive measures. Meanwhile, advancing unobtrusive technologies and wireless communication technologies allow on-site detection of the physiological information remotely in an out-of-hospital setting in real-time. In addition with computer modeling technologies and information fusion. It may allow for personalized, quantitative, and real-time assessment of sudden CVD events.

Hypertension-related stroke prevention in the elderly

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events, including ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Reduction of blood pressure by lifestyle measures and antihypertensive drug therapy reduces stroke in elderly men and women. The use of diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers causes a similar reduction in reducing coronary events and stroke for a given reduction in blood pressure. The American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association 2011 expert consensus document on hypertension in the elderly recommended that the blood pressure should be reduced to less than 140/90 mm Hg in adults younger than 80 years at high risk for cardiovascular events. On the basis of data from the Hypertension in the Very Elderly trial, these guidelines recommended that the systolic blood pressure should be reduced to 140 to 145 mm Hg if tolerated in adults aged 80 years and older. The 2013 European Society of Hypertension guidelines recommended that reducing blood pressure to less than 130/80 mm Hg in adults at high risk for cardiovascular events was unsupported by prospective trial data. The systolic blood pressure should be reduced to less than 140 mm Hg in these adults and to between 140 to 150 mm Hg in adults aged 80 years and older.

Do differences in risk factors explain the lower rates of coronary heart disease in Japanese versus U.S. women?

BACKGROUND

Mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) in women in Japan is one of the lowest in developed countries. In an attempt to shed some light on possible reasons of lower CHD in women in Japan compared with the United States, we extensively reviewed and analyzed existing national data and recent literature.

METHODS

We searched recent epidemiological studies that reported incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and examined risk factors for CHD in women in Japan. Then, we compared trends in risk factors between women currently aged 50-69 years in Japan and the United States, using national statistics and other available resources.

RESULTS

Recent epidemiological studies have clearly shown that AMI incidence in women in Japan is lower than that reported from other countries, and that lipids, blood pressure (BP), diabetes, smoking, and early menopause are independent risk factors. Comparing trends in risk factors between women in Japan and the United States, current levels of serum total cholesterol are higher in women in Japan and levels have been similar at least since 1990. Levels of BP have been higher in in Japan for the past 3 decades. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been similar in Japanese and white women currently aged 60-69 for the past 2 decades. In contrast, rates of cigarette smoking, although low in women in both countries, have been lower in women in Japan.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in risk factors and their trends are unlikely to explain the difference in CHD rates in women in Japan and the United States. Determining the currently unknown factors responsible for low CHD mortality in women in Japan may lead to new strategy for CHD prevention.

Effects of a benidipine-based combination therapy on the risk of stroke according to stroke subtype: the COPE trial

The Combination Therapy of Hypertension to Prevent Cardiovascular Events (COPE) trial compared the dihydropyridine T/L-type calcium channel blocker benidipine-based therapies when combined with an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), a β-blocker (BB) or a thiazide diuretic (TD). The results suggested that benidipine combined with a BB appeared to be less beneficial in reducing the risk of stroke compared with the benidipine-TD combination (hazard ratio (HR): 2.31, P=0.0109). We further evaluated the treatment effects on different stroke subtypes among the three benidipine-based regimens. The COPE trial was an investigator-initiated, multicenter study with PROBE design. Patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter were excluded from the study. All stroke events were subclassified with the Trial of Org 10,172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria. The total incidence of stroke was 4.7, hemorrhagic stroke was 1.6 and ischemic stroke was 2.5 per 1000 person-years. The incidence of lacunar stroke was 1.1, large-artery stroke was 0.6, cardioembolic stroke was 0.3, unknown ischemic type was 0.6 and transient ischemic attack was 0.6 per 1000 person-years. Although few differences in stroke subtypes were observed among the three treatment groups, multi-adjusted HRs for the incidence rates of all types of stroke, hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke were significantly higher with the benidipine-BB regimen than with the benidipine-TD regimen. The incidence of both hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke in the benidipine-ARB regimen was not different compared with the other two treatment regimens. This prespecified sub-analysis suggested that a blood pressure-lowering therapy with a benidipine-TD regimen might be beneficial for hypertensive patients to prevent both hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke.

Baseline characteristics and prevalence of cardiovascular disease in newly visiting or referred chronic kidney disease patients to nephrology centers in Japan: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

About 39,000 patients were newly prescribed renal replacement therapy in Japan in 2011, resulting in a total of more than 300,000 patients being treated with dialysis. This high prevalence of treated end stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients is an emergent problem that requires immediate attention. We launched a prospective cohort study to evaluate population specific characteristics of the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this report, we describe the baseline characteristics and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence among this cohort.

METHODS

New patients from 16 nephrology centers who were older than 20 years of age and who visited or were referred for the treatment of CKD stage 2-5, but were not on dialysis therapy, were recruited in this study. At enrollment, medical history, lifestyle behaviors, functional status and current medications were recorded, and blood and urine samples were collected. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated by a modified three-variable equation.

RESULTS

We enrolled 1138 patients, 69.6% of whom were male, with a mean age of 68 years. Compared with Western cohorts, patients in this study had a lower body mass index (BMI) and higher proteinuria. The prevalence of CVD was 26.8%, which was lower than that in Western cohorts but higher than that in the general Japanese population. Multivariate analysis demonstrated the following association with CVD prevalence: hypertension (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.57; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.82-7.02); diabetes (aOR 2.45; 95% CI 1.86-3.23); hemoglobin level less than 11 g/dl (aOR 1.61; 95% CI 1.21-2.15); receiving anti-hypertensive agents (aOR 3.54; 95% CI 2.27-5.53); and statin therapy (aOR 2.73; 95% CI 2.04-3.66). The combination of decreased eGFR and increased proteinuria was also associated with a higher prevalence of CVD.

CONCLUSIONS

The participants in this cohort had a lower BMI, higher proteinuria and lower prevalence of CVD compared with Western cohorts. Lower eGFR and high proteinuria were associated with CVD prevalence. Prospective follow up of these study patients will contribute to establishment of individual population-based treatment of CKD.

Comparison of the sex-specific associations between systolic blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 124 cohort studies, including 1.2 million individuals

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Conflicting results have been reported on whether the association between increments in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and cardiovascular disease differs between men and women. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to compare reliably sex-specific associations between SBP and cardiovascular risk.

METHODS

PubMed MEDLINE was systematically searched for prospective population-based cohort studies published between January 1, 1966, and March 31, 2012. Studies were selected if they presented sex-specific estimates, with associated variability, of the relative risk for either ischemic heart disease or stroke according to SBP. The data were pooled using random effects models with inverse variance weighting, and estimates of the ratio of the relative risks per 10 mm Hg increment in SBP, comparing women with men, were derived.

RESULTS

Data from 124 prospective cohort studies, including information on 1197 472 individuals (44% women) and 26 176 stroke and 24 434 ischemic heart disease events, were included. Overall, there was no evidence to suggest a sex difference in the relationship between SBP and either the risk of stroke (pooled ratio of relative risks, 0.98 [95% confidence interval, 0.96; 1.01]; P=0.13) or ischemic heart disease (pooled ratio of relative risks, 1.00 [95% confidence interval, 0.97; 1.04]; P=0.85).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated levels of SBP are a major risk factor for stroke and ischemic heart diseases in both women and men. This study unequivocally demonstrates the broadly similar impact of SBP increments on cardiovascular outcomes in both sexes.

Risk factors for increased left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with chronic kidney disease

Background

Although left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been established as a predictor of cardiovascular events in chronic kidney disease (CKD), the relationship between the prevalence of LVH and CKD stage during the predialysis period has not been fully examined.

Methods

We measured left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in a cross-sectional cohort of participants in the Chronic Kidney Disease Japan Cohort (CKD-JAC) study in order to identify factors that are associated with increased LVMI in patients with stage 3–5 CKD. LVH was defined as LVMI > 125 g/m² in male patients and >110 g/m² in female patients.

Results

We analyzed baseline characteristics in 1185 participants (male 63.7 %, female 36.3 %). Diabetes mellitus was the underlying disease in 41.3 % of patients, and mean age was 61.8 ± 11.1 years. LVH was detected in 21.7 % of patients at baseline. By multivariate logistic analysis, independent risk factors for LVH were past history of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR] 0.574; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.360–0.916; P = 0.020), systolic blood pressure (OR 1.179; 95 % CI 1.021–1.360; P = 0.025), body mass index (OR 1.135; 95 % CI 1.074–1.200; P < 0.001), and serum calcium level (OR 0.589; 95 % CI 0.396–0.876; P = 0.009).

Conclusion

Cross-sectional baseline data from the CKD-JAC study shed light on the association between LVH and risk factors in patients with decreased renal function. Further longitudinal analyses of the CKD-JAC cohort are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of LVH in CKD patients.

Body fat, abdominal fat and body fat distribution related to cardiovascular risk factors in prepubertal children

AIM

We analysed whether total body fat (TBF), abdominal fat and body fat distribution are associated with higher composite risk factor scores for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in young children.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 238 children aged 8-11 years. TBF and abdominal fat mass (AFM) were measured by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry. TBF was expressed as a percentage of body weight (BF%). Body fat distribution was calculated as AFM/TBF. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2PEAK) ), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), and resting heart rate (RHR) were measured. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) were calculated. Left atrial diameter (LA) was measured, and left ventricular mass (LVM) and relative wall thickness (RWT) were calculated. Z-scores were calculated. Sum of z-scores for SBP, DBP, MAP, PP, RHR, LVM, LA, RWT and -VO(2PEAK) was calculated in boys and girls, separately, and used as composite risk factor score.

RESULTS

Pearson correlations between ln BF%, ln AFM and AFM/TBF versus composite risk factor score for boys were r = 0.56, r = 0.59 and r = 0.48, all p < 0.001, and for girls r = 0.45, r = 0.50 and r = 0.48, all p < 0.001.

CONCLUSION

Total body fat, abdominal fat and body fat distribution were all associated with higher composite risk factor scores for CVD in young children.

Blood pressure categories and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease according to age group in Japanese men and women

Blood pressure (BP) categories defined by systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) are commonly used. However, the BP category-specific risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has not been thoroughly investigated in different age groups. The aim of this study was to assess long-term CVD risk and its impact according to BP categories and age group. Pooling individual data from 10 cohorts, we studied 67 309 Japanese individuals (40-89 years old) who were free of CVD at baseline: we categorized them as belonging to three age groups: 'middle-aged' (40-64 years), 'elderly' (65-74 years) and 'very elderly' (75-89 years). BP was classified according to the 2009 Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines. Cox models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios for CVD deaths. We observed 1944 CVD deaths over a mean follow-up of 10.2 years. In all age groups, the overall relationship between BP category and CVD risk was positive, with a greater strength observed for younger age groups. We observed a trend of increased risk from SBP/DBP ≥ 130/85 mm Hg in the very elderly, and a significant increase from SBP/DBP ≥ 120/80 mm Hg in the other age groups. The population attributable fractions (PAFs) of CVD death in reference to the SBP/DBP<120/80 mm Hg category ranged from 23.4% in the very elderly to 60.3% in the middle-aged. We found an overall graded increase in CVD risk with higher BP category in the very elderly. The PAFs suggest that keeping BP levels low is an important strategy for primary CVD prevention, even in an elderly population.

Aerobic fitness related to cardiovascular risk factors in young children

Low aerobic fitness (maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2 PEAK))) is predictive for poor health in adults. In a cross-sectional study, we assessed if VO(2 PEAK) is related to a composite risk factor score for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 243 children (136 boys and 107 girls) aged 8 to 11 years. VO(2 PEAK) was assessed by indirect calorimetry during a maximal exercise test and scaled by body mass (milliliters per minute per kilogram). Total body fat mass (TBF) and abdominal fat mass (AFM) were measured by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Total body fat was expressed as a percentage of total body mass (BF%) and body fat distribution as AFM/TBF. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SDP and DBP) and resting heart rate (RHR) were measured. The mean artery pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) were calculated. Echocardiography, 2D-guided M-mode, was performed. Left atrial diameter (LA) was measured and left ventricular mass (LVM) and relative wall thickness (RWT) were calculated. Z scores (value for the individual - mean value for group)/SD were calculated by sex. The sum of z scores for DBP, SDP, PP, MAP, RHR, LVM, LA, RWT, BF%, AFM and AFM/TBF were calculated in boys and girls, separately, and used as composite risk factor score for CVD. Pearson correlation revealed significant associations between VO(2 PEAK) and composite risk factor score in both boys (r = -0.48 P < 0.05) and in girls (r = -0.42, P < 0.05). One-way ANOVA analysis indicated significant differences in composite risk factor score between the different quartiles of VO(2 PEAK) (P < 0.001); thus, higher VO(2 PEAK) was associated with lower composite risk factor score for CVD. In conclusion, low VO(2 PEAK) is associated with an elevated composite risk factor score for CVD in both young boys and girls.

Dairy intake, blood pressure and incident hypertension in a general British population: the 1946 birth cohort

PURPOSE

We aimed to examine the association between intake of different subgroups of dairy products and blood pressure and incident hypertension 10 years later, adjusting for confounding factors.

METHODS

We studied 1,750 British men and women from the 1946 British birth cohort from 1989 to 1999 (age 43 and 53 years, respectively). Diet was assessed by 5-day food diaries using photographs in the estimation of portion size. Systolic (sbp) and diastolic (dbp) blood pressure and prevalent hypertension were assessed at age 43 and 53 years. Linear regression and logistic regression were used to examine 10-year blood pressure levels and incident hypertension by baseline dairy intake.

RESULTS

There was a weak non-significant trend of a protective effect of total dairy intake on blood pressure and incident hypertension, but no evidence for a dose-response relationship (OR for incident hypertension: 0.88 (95% CI 0.68;1.14) 2nd vs. 1st tertile and 0.93 (95% CI 0.72;1.18) 3rd vs. 1st tertile). Higher intake of low-fat and fermented dairy was linked to a higher sbp but in a nonlinear manner. Adjustment for other dietary factors, health behaviours and BMI attenuated these associations.

CONCLUSIONS

Total dairy intake and specific dairy subgroups were not associated with blood pressure and incident hypertension among a representative sample of British adults after adjustment for confounding factors.