Cardiovascular health status among Caribbean Hispanics living in Northern Manhattan and Ecuadorian natives/mestizos in rural coastal Ecuador: a comparative study

Neck circumference as a predictor of all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older adults in rural Ecuador

BACKGROUND

Neck circumference (NC) has been associated with mortality secondary to cardiovascular diseases and other conditions. However, information on this association in the population at large is limited. We aimed to assess this association in community dwellers living in rural Ecuador.

METHODS

Individuals aged ≥40 y who were enrolled in the population-based Three Villages Study cohort were prospectively followed to estimate mortality risk according to baseline measurements of NC, after adjusting for relevant confounders.

RESULTS

Analysis included 1521 individuals followed for a mean of 6.4±3.4 y. Mean NC was 36.2±3.7 cm, with 509 (33%) individuals allocated to the first (25-34 cm), 319 (21%) to the second (36-37 cm), 417 (27%) to the third (37-39 cm) and 276 (18%) to the fourth (40-50 cm) quartile. A total of 211 (14%) individuals died during the follow-up. Overall, the crude mortality rate was 2.3 per 100 person-years, which increased to 5.63 for those in the fourth NC quartile. An adjusted Cox-proportional hazards model showed that individuals in the fourth quartile of NC had higher mortality risk compared with the first quartile (HR: 2.98; 95% CI 1.77 to 5.02).

CONCLUSION

Larger NC increases mortality risk in middle-aged and older adults of indigenous ancestry living in rural Ecuador.

Fear of Crime During Years of Street Violence Is Associated With Worsening Cardiovascular Health Status

BACKGROUND

Street violence has detrimental effects on cardiovascular health (CVH). However, the significance of these consequences have not been systematically evaluated. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of fear of crime on CVH status among community-dwellers aged ≥40 years living in a rural village stricken by violence.

METHODS

Participants were selected from individuals enrolled in the Atahualpa Project Cohort, a population-based longitudinal study that aims to reduce the burden of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in rural Ecuador. Fear of crime was evaluated using a structured scale. The Life's Simple 7 construct of the American Heart Association was employed to assess CVH before the escalation of violence and crime in the village (2019) and at the end of the study (2024). Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to examine the association between the exposure and outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 648 individuals (mean age = 57.4 ± 11.7 years; 56% women) were included. At the end of the follow-up, significant association between fear of crime levels and worsening CVH status was noted. Participants allocated to the second and third tertiles of fear of crime were 3.27 (95% CI = 2.07-5.19) and 5.46 (95% CI = 3.14-9.48) times more likely to have worsening CVH status at follow-up compared to baseline determinations, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study shows an aggravating impact of fear of crime on the CVH status and identifies interventional targets that may help to reduce the risk of CVH status worsening in community-dwellers living in rural settings afflicted by violence.

Detrimental effect of high social risk on the cardiovascular health status of community-dwelling older adults living in rural settings. A population-based, longitudinal prospective study

BACKGROUND

Information of the effect of social risk on the cardiovascular health (CVH) status among individuals living in rural settings is limited. We aim to assess this effect in participants of the Three Villages Study cohort.

METHODS

Following a longitudinal prospective design, older adults living in rural Ecuador received baseline social risk determinations by means of social determinants of health components included in the Gijon's Social-Familial Evaluation Scale (SFES) together with clinical interviews and procedures to determine CVH status included in the Life's Simple 7 construct. Those who also received CVH assessment at the end of the study were included. Random-effects generalized least square and mixed logistic regression models were fitted to assess the longitudinal effect of social risk on CVH metrics, after adjusting for relevant covariates.

RESULTS

The study included 443 community dwellers (mean age: 67 ± 7 years). The Gijon's SFES mean score was 9.8 ± 2.7 points. The mean number of ideal CVH metrics at baseline was 3.1 ± 1.3, which decreased to 2.6 ± 1.2 (β: -0.467; 95% C.I.: -0.588 to -0.346), after a mean of 7.31 ± 3.26 years of follow-up. The total Gijon's SFES score was higher among individuals with a worsening CVH status compared to those who did not (10.4 ± 2.6 versus 9.3 ± 2.6; p < 0.001). The ideal CVH status declined 1.23 (95% C.I.: 1.13-1.34) times per point of change in the total Gijon's SFES score.

CONCLUSION

Study results indicate a deleterious effect of high social risk on CVH status at follow-up in this underserved population.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Latino Immigrants to the USA

The Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is an increasingly prevalent condition globally. Latino populations in the USA have shown an alarming increase in factors associated with MetS in recent years. The objective of the present systematic review was to determine the prevalence of MetS and its risk factors in immigrant Latinos in the USA and perform a meta-analysis of those prevalence. The review included cross-sectional, cohort, or case−control studies involving adult immigrant Latinos in the USA, published during the period 1980−2020 in any language. Studies involving individuals who were pregnant, aged <18 years, immigrant non-Latinos, published outside the 1980−2020 period, or with other design types were excluded. The Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, Lilacs, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases were searched. The risk of bias was assessed using the checklists of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The review included 60 studies, and the meta-analysis encompassed 52 studies. The pooled prevalence found for hypertension, diabetes, general obesity, and abdominal obesity were 28% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 23−33%), 17% (95% CI: 14−20%), 37% (95% CI: 33−40%), and 54% (95% CI: 48−59%), respectively. The quality of the evidence of the primary studies was classified as low or very low. Few studies including immigrants from South America were identified. Further studies of those immigrants are needed due to the cultural, dietary, and language disparities among Latin American countries. The research protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF).

Total cerebral small vessel disease score and all-cause mortality in older adults of Amerindian ancestry: The Atahualpa Project

Introduction

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) predicts all-cause mortality in Eastern Asian and Caucasian populations. However, little is known about SVD impact in individuals of different races/ethnic groups. In this study, we sought to estimate the mortality risk according to the total SVD (tSVD) score in older adults of Amerindian ancestry.

Methods

Participants aged ≥60 years from the prospective population-based Atahualpa Project cohort underwent brain MRI between June 2012 and June 2017. The tSVD score was calculated based on the presence of moderate-to-severe white matter hyperintensities, enlarged perivascular spaces, one or more lacune, and one or more cerebral microbleed. We ascertained all-cause mortality during post-MRI follow-up. Poisson regression and Cox-proportional hazards models adjusted for demographics and cardiovascular risk were obtained to estimate mortality risk according to the tSVD score.

Results

Analysis included 375 participants with available brain MRI and clinical data (mean age 69.0 ± 8.3 years, 56.3% women). The tSVD score was 0 point in 216 individuals (57.6%), 1 point in 71 (18.9%), 2 points in 53 (14.1%), and 3-4 points in 35 (9.3%). Increasing tSVD score was associated with advancing age, hypertension, low level of education, and physical inactivity. Using tSVD score of 0 as reference, a multivariate Poisson regression model showed an increased mortality for individuals with a tSVD score 3-4 points (IRR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.20-4.28). Likewise, in the Cox-proportional model adjusted for demographics and cardiovascular risk, participants with a tSVD score 3-4 maintained a greater than two-fold mortality risk when compared to those with tSVD score of 0 points (HR: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.23-4.39).

Conclusions

High-burden SVD as determined by the tSVD score predicts mortality in community-dwelling older adults of Amerindian ancestry. Incidental diagnosis of covert SVD should prompt aggressive control of cardiovascular health.

Life's simple 7 and all-cause mortality. A population-based prospective cohort study in middle-aged and older adults of Amerindian ancestry living in rural Ecuador

Life's Simple 7 is an initiative of the American Heart Association developed for stratifying risk factors associated with adverse vascular outcomes and premature mortality. While this scale has been widely used, there is limited information on its applicability to individuals living in remote communities where risk factors and lifestyles differ from those found in urban settings. This longitudinal prospective study aimed to assess, according to the Life's Simple 7 scale, all-cause mortality in community-dwelling middle-age and older adults of Amerindian ancestry living in rural Ecuador. A total of 933 Atahualpa residents aged ≥ 40 years who received baseline interviews and procedures for measurement of cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics were enrolled and followed-up for a median of 8 years (interquartile range: 4-9 years). Using a Poisson regression model (adjusted for age at baseline, gender and the level of education), the predicted incidence rate of mortality was 4.22 per 100 person-years (95% C.I.: 2.48-5.97) for individuals with 0-1 CVH metrics in the ideal range, which decreased to 1.23 (95% C.I.: 0.24-2.21) for those with five ideal metrics. In an adjusted Cox-proportional hazard model that included all the CVH metrics, having three or more metrics in the ideal range significantly reduced the mortality hazard ratio when compared with individuals having 0-2 ideal metrics. Study results emphasize the usefulness of the Life's Simple 7 scale to estimate mortality risk in Amerindians living in remote communities. Control of CVH metrics should prove cost-effective for reducing premature deaths in underserved populations.

Demographic and socioeconomic inequalities in ideal cardiovascular health: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In 2010, the American Heart Association introduced a new concept of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) defined as the simultaneous presence of 7 favorable CVH metrics (smoking, diet, physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose). The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of studies examining the prevalence of ideal CVH, and each of the ideal CVH metrics as well as the relationship between socio-demographic determinants and ideal CVH.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in Medline and Scopus databases for studies published between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2020. A total of 50 studies including 2,148,470 participants were analyzed. Associations were estimated using DerSimonian-Laird random-effect models. Heterogeneity was investigated through subgroup analyses, Q-test, and I2 statistics.

RESULTS

This study showed a low prevalence of ideal CVH defining as 6 and 7 ideal metrics (3.3%). Among seven ideal CVH metrics, smoking was the best metric (71%), while the poorest CVH metric was a healthy diet (5.8%). Gender was a statistically significant moderator of ideal smoking (81% in females and 60% in males) and ideal blood pressure (42% in females and 30% in males). Females and young adults had better CVH status compared to males and older adults. Also, more educated and better-off individuals had a greater number of ideal CVH metrics.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review on the relationship between participants' socioeconomic status and ideal CVH. The results suggest that the prevalence of ideal CVH and most metrics was unsatisfactory. In order to achieve the improvement of the CVH metrics and the overall ideal CVH, nationwide prevention efforts at the population and individual levels are urgently needed.

Social Determinants of Health and Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Living in a Rural Latin American Setting

High social risk, as measured by the social determinants of health (SDH), may increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, this association has not been studied in rural communities. Using the Atahualpa Project cohort, we aimed to assess the association between SDH and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in community-dwelling older adults living in rural Ecuador. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were determined in 319 individuals aged ≥ 60 years that completed a validated field instrument to assess their social risk before the introduction of this novel pandemic. Multivariate models were fitted to assess the independent association between SDH-and each of their components-and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity, after adjusting for relevant covariates. According to the Gijon scale, 102 (32%) individuals had a high social risk (≥ 10 points). A total of 141 (44%) individuals were seropositive to SARS-CoV-2. A fully-adjusted logistic regression model showed an independent) association between social risk and SARS-CoV-2 positivity (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.04-1.27; p = 0.008). For every unit of the total SDH score, the odds of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity increased 15% (95% CI 3.7-27%). In addition, multivariate models showed that the individual component of SDH more strongly associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was housing, which suggested that lack of basic home facilities may increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Knowledge on the association between high social risk and SARS-CoV-2 infection is indispensable for the development of cost-effective preventive strategies for controlling modifiable factors that are in the path of SARS-CoV-2 infection among older adults living in underserved communities.

The burden of hypertension in Ecuador: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hypertension is a major risk factor of cardiovascular diseases, which occurrence has increased consistently worldwide. With this in mind, this review was designed to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension in Ecuador. We systematically searched publications in Medline, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Database, and Ibero-America electronic databases for articles published through September 2019 and reporting the prevalence of hypertension in Ecuador. Selected data were subjected to meta-analysis, and pooled prevalence and their 95% (95% CI) were calculated. Seventeen articles have been selected according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria of the study. The overall estimate of the pooled prevalence of hypertension was 35.8% (CI: 31.3-38.4). Most importantly, the prevalence of hypertension increased markedly with age and obesity. Pooled estimates for the four age subdivisions (<30 years), (≥30 and ≤50 years), (>50 and ≤60 years) and (>60 years) were 9.4% (CI: 7.3-11.5), 22.0% (CI: 19.0-25.0), 26.1% (22.2-30.0) and 48.7% (CI: 45.4-52.0), respectively. Moreover, the pooled estimate of subjects with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² (57.7%, CIs: 45.6-69.8) was markedly higher than those with BMI < 30 kg/m² (30.4%, CI: 23.3-38.4). Although limited, available data reported higher rates of hypertension in Afro-Ecuadorians than other ethnicities. This study underlines a high prevalence of hypertension in adults nationwide, but mostly in elderly and obese individuals. The magnitude of this burden emphasizes the need for robust and targeted interventions to control hypertension, and ultimately reverse the trend of cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular Health Status Among Community-Dwelling Ecuadorian Natives Living in Neighboring Rural Communities: The Three Villages Study

Knowledge of cardiovascular health (CVH) status in rural communities is essential to implement cost-effective strategies aimed to address the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases in these settings. Here, we report on the CVH status and health metrics of 1508 community-dwellers aged ≥ 40 years in three neighboring rural villages of Coastal Ecuador (Atahualpa, El Tambo, and Prosperidad). According to the American Heart Association, a poor CVH status is designated when at least one cardiovascular health metric is in the poor range. About 70% of individuals in the villages studied had a poor CVH status, with no overall differences across villages. However, the relative prevalence of poor health metrics varied. Using Atahualpa as the referent village, a multinomial logistic regression model showed that El Tambo residents were more often smokers and had a worse diet, while Prosperidad residents had more high blood pressure but better fasting glucose levels. Probabilities of having poor health metrics were lower in Atahualpa than in El Tambo (p < 0.001), but not better than in Prosperidad (p = 0.097). Predictive estimates of having poor health metrics were significantly higher in El Tambo than in Atahualpa or in Prosperidad. This comparative study demonstrates that the CVH status of rural populations of coastal Ecuador is basically similar. However, individual health metrics in the poor range were found to vary across villages. While the three villages are generally comparable, interventions should be tailored according to local priorities. The same may occur in other rural communities, but more studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Status of cardiovascular health in the Republic of Serbia: Results from the National Health Survey

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the most significant cause of death in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of CVD continues to rise due to the increasing incidence of CVD. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) across sex and age groups and to analyze associations between demographic and socio-economic variables and ideal CVH metrics in the adult population of the Republic of Serbia.

METHODS

Information on demographic (age, sex, marital status, and type of settlement) and socio-economic characteristics (education, and wealth index), and the 7 ideal CVH metrics (smoking, physical activity, healthy diet, BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose) was obtained for 13100 respondents aged 20 years and above, from the 2013 National Health Survey in the Republic of Serbia. According to the American Heart Association, the ideal CVH was defined as the simultaneous presence of 7 ideal CVH metrics.

RESULTS

Out of all ideal CVH metrics, the most prevalent components were ideal glucose (92.2%), ideal cholesterol (86.4%) and ideal smoking (63%), while the least prevalent ideal CVH component was ideal healthy diet (2.4%). Only 0.1% had all 7 CVH components at the ideal level. According to the multivariable logistic regression analysis the higher number of ideal CVH metrics was observed in women (OR = 4.46), younger people (OR = 7.12), people living without partner (OR = 1.70), more educated (OR = 2.51 for middle educated and OR = 3.57 for high educated), as well as among the rich (OR = 1.43).

CONCLUSION

Our findings of existing age-specific, sex and socio-economic differences in the prevalence and number of ideal CVH metrics should serve for the development of appropriate CVD prevention policies tailored to fit specific needs of both sexes, all age groups and people with different socioeconomic status.

Prevalence of the cardiovascular health status in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The American Heart Association has outlined seven cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics, including smoking, body mass index, physical activity, dietary pattern, total cholesterol, and fasting plasma glucose, to define and monitor CVH status. Our study was to evaluate the global CVH in adults.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and reference lists of relevant articles for studies published between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2018. Included studies should report the proportions of ideal status for the seven CVH metrics and/or provide the prevalence of overall poor (having 0-2 ideal metrics) or ideal (having 5-7 ideal metrics) CVH status in adults. 88 articles were identified: 75 for the prevalence of ideal CVH metrics, 58 for the proportion of overall poor CVH status, and 55 for the proportion of overall ideal CVH status. Smoking had the highest prevalence of ideal status (69.1%) while dietary pattern has the lowest (12.1%). 32.2% and 19.6% of participants had overall poor and ideal CVH, respectively. Females and young adults had better CVH status when compared to males and older adults. There existed regional variations in ideal CVH metrics and overall CVH status. The overall CVH status had improved over study time.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of ideal status was low for some metrics, such as dietary pattern, and the overall CVH status was still unsatisfactory. We should continue to measure the CVH status and carry out lifestyle interventions to improve the CVH status in the whole population.

Oily fish consumption is inversely correlated with cerebral microbleeds in community-dwelling older adults: results from the Atahualpa Project

BACKGROUND

Oily fish is a major dietary source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs). These nutrients improve endothelial dysfunction, reduce β-amyloid induced damage of neurovascular units, and might prevent the occurrence of cerebral microbleeds. However, this relationship has not been investigated so far.

AIM

To evaluate the association between oily fish intake and cerebral microbleeds in a population of frequent fish consumers living in coastal Ecuador.

METHODS

Cerebral microbleeds were identified by gradient-echo MRI and oily fish consumption was calculated in community-dwellers aged ≥60 years enrolled in the Atahualpa Project. The association between cerebral microbleeds and fish servings was examined in regression models adjusted for relevant confounders. A predictive model was constructed using quintiles of fish servings to take into account the non-linearity in the relationship.

RESULTS

Out of 311 eligible individuals, 293 (94 %) were enrolled. Cerebral microbleeds were recognized in 37 (13 %) individuals. Mean fish consumption was 8.8 ± 5.4 servings per week (ω-3 PUFAs estimates: 10.2 ± 7.1 g). Multivariate analysis showed an inverse relationship between cerebral microbleeds and fish consumption (p < 0.001). Predictive margins of CMB were higher for individuals in the lowest (≤4.3) than for those in the highest (≥13.1) quintile of fish servings (17.4 vs 2.3 %, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows a lower cerebral microbleed presence among older adults eating large amounts of oily fish (13 servings per week, equivalent to about 15 g of ω-3 PUFAs). These high requirements can be more readily accomplished in other populations by taking fish oil preparations. Longitudinal studies are warranted to assess whether these interventions reduce incident cerebral microbleeds in high-risk individuals.

Caffeine intake has no effect on sleep quality in community dwellers living in a rural Ecuadorian village (The Atahualpa Project)

More information is needed to better understand the effect of caffeine on sleep quality at the community level. In a population-based, cross-sectional study design, we aimed to assess the effect of caffeine intake on sleep quality by the use of a multivariate exposure-effect model, adjusted for relevant confounders. All Atahualpa residents aged ≥40 years were identified during a door-to-door survey and interviewed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a structured instrument designed to estimate the daily amount of caffeine intake. An exposure-effect model was built using augmented inverse probability weighting taking into account variables that were associated with exposure (using a probit model) and variables that were associated with outcome (in a linear model). Out of 779 eligible individuals, 716 (92%) were included. Consumption of <100 mg/day of caffeine was recorded in 320 (45%) participants, from 100 to 200 mg/day in 299 (42%), and >200 mg/day in 97 (13%). Mean score in the PSQI was 4.5±2.2 points, with 203 (28%) individuals classified as poor sleepers (≥6 points). The exposure-effect model, adjusted for variables associated with the exposure (symptoms of depression, total cholesterol blood levels and smoking) and the outcome (age, symptoms of depression, physical activity and fasting glucose levels), revealed no effect of caffeine intake in sleep quality (average exposure effect: 0.027, 95% C.I.: -0.284 to 0.338, p=0.866). This population-based study shows that caffeine intake has no effect on sleep quality in community-dwelling adults living in a rural village of Ecuador.

Calcifications in the carotid siphon correlate with silent cerebral small vessel disease in community-dwelling older adults: A population-based study in rural Ecuador

AIM

Using a population-based, cross-sectional design, we aimed to assess whether the presence of calcifications in the carotid siphon (as seen on computed tomography) is associated with silent markers of cerebral small vessel disease (on magnetic resonance imaging) in apparently healthy older adults living in Atahualpa, a rural Ecuadorian village.

METHODS

Stroke-free Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years identified during a door-to-door survey underwent head computed tomography for assessment of carotid siphon calcifications, and brain magnetic resonance imaging for identification of white matter hyperintensities and silent lacunar infarcts. We evaluated the association between calcifications and markers of small vessel disease using logistic regression models adjusted for demographics and cardiovascular risk factors.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 236 participants was 71 ± 8 years, and 139 (59%) were women. Computed tomography readings showed high calcium content in the carotid siphon in 64 individuals (27%), and magnetic resonance imaging showed moderate-to-severe white matter hyperintensities in 51 (30%) and lacunar infarcts in 28 (12%). In the univariate analysis, individuals with high calcium content were older and were more likely to have high fasting glucose levels than those with low calcium content. After adjusting for confounding variables, we found an independent association between high calcium content in the carotid siphon and moderate-to-severe white matter hyperintensities (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.9, P = 0.035) as well as lacunar infarcts (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3-7.6, P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study shows a direct relationship between calcium content in the carotid siphon and silent small vessel disease in an indigenous Latin American population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 1063-1067.

Influence of depression, anxiety and stress on cognitive performance in community-dwelling older adults living in rural Ecuador: results of the Atahualpa Project

AIM

To assess the relationship between cognitive status and self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress of older adults living in an underserved rural South American population.

METHODS

Community-dwelling Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years were identified during a door-to-door census, and evaluated with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). We explored whether positivity in each of the DASS-21 axes was related to total and domain-specific MoCA performance after adjustment for age, sex and education.

RESULTS

A total of 280 persons (59% women; mean age, mean age 70 ± 8 years) were included. Based on established cut-offs for the DASS-21, 12% persons had depression, 15% had anxiety and 5% had stress. Mean total MoCA scores were significantly lower for depressed than for not depressed individuals (15.9 ± 5.5 vs 18.9 ± 4.4, P < 0.0001). Depressed participants had significantly lower total and domain-specific MoCA scores for abstraction, short-term memory and orientation. Anxiety was related to significantly lower total MoCA scores (17 ± 4.7 vs 18.8 ± 4.5, P = 0.02), but not to differences in domain-specific MoCA scores. Stress was not associated with significant differences in MoCA scores.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that depression and anxiety are associated with poorer cognitive performance in elderly residents living in rural areas of developing countries.

Edentulism associates with worse cognitive performance in community-dwelling elders in rural Ecuador: results of the Atahualpa project

Studies in industrialized nations suggest that severe edentulism correlates with cognitive impairment, but there is little information on this association in underserved populations. We conducted a community-based study to assess whether edentulism associates with cognitive impairment in elders living in rural Ecuador. Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years were identified during a door-to-door census and evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Persons were classified into two groups according to whether they have severe edentulism (<10 remaining teeth) or not. In addition, a questionnaire allowed self-rating of oral health. A total of 274 persons (mean age 69.6 ± 7.7 years; 59% women) were included. Persons with <10 remaining teeth (n = 116) have significantly lower MoCA scores than those with ≥10 teeth (n =158), after adjusting for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, depression and dementia (β = -1.06, p = 0.03). Self-rated poor oral health was more prevalent among persons with <10 teeth (p < 0.0001), but did not correlate with MoCA scores (good vs. poor, β = -0.89, p = 0.89). Severe edentulism is associated with poor cognitive performance in elders living in rural Ecuador. Public health campaigns directed to improve oral health may facilitate early recognition of persons with cognitive impairment in underserved populations.

Prevalence, correlates, and prognosis of peripheral artery disease in rural ecuador-rationale, protocol, and phase I results of a population-based survey: an atahualpa project-ancillary study

Background. Little is known on the prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in developing countries. Study design. Population-based study in Atahualpa. In Phase I, the Edinburgh claudication questionnaire (ECQ) was used for detection of suspected symptomatic PAD; persons with a negative ECQ but a pulse pressure ≥65 mmHg were suspected of asymptomatic PAD. In Phase II, the ankle-brachial index will be used to test reliability of screening instruments and to determine PAD prevalence. In Phase III, participants will be followed up to estimate the relevance of PAD as a predictor of vascular outcomes. Results. During Phase I, 665 Atahualpa residents aged ≥40 years were enrolled (mean age: 59.5 ± 12.6 years, 58% women). A poor cardiovascular health status was noticed in 464 (70%) persons of which 27 (4%) had a stroke and 14 (2%) had ischemic heart disease. Forty-four subjects (7%) had suspected symptomatic PAD and 170 (26%) had suspected asymptomatic PAD. Individuals with suspected PAD were older, more often women, and had a worse cardiovascular profile than those with nonsuspected PAD. Conclusions. Prevalence of suspected PAD in this underserved population is high. Subsequent phases of this study will determine whether prompt detection of PAD is useful to reduce the incidence of catastrophic vascular diseases in the region.

Clinical-MRI correlations in a multiethnic cohort with recent lacunar stroke: the SPS3 trial

BACKGROUND

Neuroimaging manifestations of small vessel disease are heterogeneous, and correlation with patient features has not been adequately characterized.

AIM

Our goal was to correlate magnetic resonance imaging findings with clinical features in a large multiethnic cohort with recent lacunar stroke.

METHODS

Patient characteristics were correlated with neuroimaging results in the Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Stroke study participants.

RESULTS

Among 3005 patients, mean age was 63 years; 62% were men; and 51%, 30%, and 16% were non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, and Black, respectively. Recent lacunar infarcts were distributed between the subcortical hemisphere (31%), thalamus (26%), brainstem/cerebellum (26%), and basal ganglia/internal capsule (16%). Multiple lacunar infarcts (i.e., acute and remote) were present in 40% and associated with increased age (OR 1·3 per 20 years, 95% CI 1·1, 1·5), male gender (OR 1·5, CI 1·3, 1·7), hypertension (OR 1·5, CI 1·2, 1·8), increased systolic blood pressure (OR 1·2 per 20 mmHg, CI 1·1, 1·3), and prior stroke (OR 3·8, CI 2·9, 5·0). Moderate-severe white matter hyperintensities were present in 50% and associated with increased age (OR 4·3 per 20 years, CI 3·4, 5·4), hypertension (OR 1·8, CI 1·4, 2·3), increased systolic blood pressure (OR 1·3 per 20 mmHg, CI 1·1, 1·5), increased diastolic blood pressure (OR 1·2 per 10 mm, CI 1·0, 1·3), and prior stroke (OR 3·3, CI 2·3, 4·5). Infarct location varied significantly by race-ethnicity (P < 0·001), with Blacks and Hispanics having more infarcts in the brainstem/cerebellum than non-Hispanic Whites, and by gender with women more often having thalamic lacunes than men (P ≤ 0·001).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with recent lacunar stroke, infarct location and number have distinctie associations with gender, vascular risk factors, and race-ethnicity, demonstrating the complex pathogenesis of lacunar stroke and cerebral small artery disease.

Indices of abdominal obesity may be better than the BMI to discriminate Latin American natives/mestizos with a poor cardiovascular status

AIMS

To assess whether the anthropometric index used by the American Heart Association (AHA) to evaluate cardiovascular health (CVH) status, i.e., the body mass index (BMI), could also be of value in ethnic groups phenotypically different than Whites.

METHODS

CVH status was evaluated in 616 Ecuadorian natives/mestizos aged ≥40 years with the seven metrics proposed by the AHA. Then, the BMI was replaced by the waist-to-hip (WtoHp) and the waist-to-height (WtoHt) ratios to estimate whether these changes modify the CVH status and the presence of ≥5 ideal metrics per person.

RESULTS

Replacing the BMI for either the WtoHt or the WtoHp ratios reduces the percentage of persons with ≥5 ideal CVH metrics from 13%, to 8% (p<0.004) and to 6.8% (p<0.0003), respectively. The number of persons with a poor CVH status increased when the WtoHt ratio was used instead of the BMI (81.5% versus 69.8%, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results may explain the paradox "better CVH status/similar stroke prevalence" previously found in Ecuadorian natives/mestizos, and suggest that the WtoHt ratio could be the best anthropometric index to be included in the set of metrics used to evaluate the CVH status in populations that are phenotypically different than Whites.

Association between sleep quality and cardiovascular health: a door-to-door survey in rural Ecuador

OBJECTIVES

Cardiovascular correlates of sleep disorders have not been well investigated in underserved populations. The aim of this door-to-door survey was to evaluate the association between sleep quality and cardiovascular health status in persons aged ≥40 years living in a village that is representative of rural Ecuador.

METHODS

All stroke-free Atahualpa residents aged ≥40 years were screened with a validated Spanish version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the seven cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics proposed by the American Heart Association to assess the CVH status.

RESULTS

A total of 635 persons (mean age 59 ± 13 years; 58 % women) were identified. A poor sleep quality was present in 27 % of the subjects (95 % CI 24-31 %) and a poor cardiovascular health in 69 % (95 % CI 63-71 %). In a multivariate logistic regression model, a poor sleep quality was associated with some CVH metrics in the poor range, including smoking status (p = 0.026), physical activity (p = 0.01) and blood glucose levels (p = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

A poor sleep quality may be linked to individual cardiovascular risk factors in this underserved Latin American population. This finding provides useful insights for the implementation of regional prevention priorities.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its correlation with the cardiovascular health status in stroke- and ischemic heart disease-free Ecuadorian natives/mestizos aged ≥40 years living in Atahualpa: a population-based study

AIMS

Epidemiologic studies assessing cardiovascular risk factors affecting a given population may prove cost-effective to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases in the developing world. We evaluated the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Atahualpa, a village representative of rural coastal Ecuador.

METHODS

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its correlation with the cardiovascular (CVH) status was assessed in a door-to-door survey performed in stroke- and ischemic heart disease-free Ecuadorian native/mestizos aged ≥40 years.

RESULTS

The metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 288 (55.7%) out of 517 persons. Worst individual components were: increased waist circumference (75%), increased fasting glucose (68.1%) and high blood pressure (56.5%). Prevalence of individual components of this condition varied according to age, gender, education, and alcohol intake. However, no differences were found in the odds for having the metabolic syndrome when persons were stratified according to these parameters. A poor CVH status was found in 80.2% persons with and in 55.9% without the metabolic syndrome (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Atahualpa is high. Most persons with the metabolic syndrome also have a poor CVH status. However, sizable subsets only have either the metabolic syndrome or a poor CVH status. Stratification of cardiovascular risk according to whether the person has both, one, or none of these two sets of risk factors would be of value to evaluate if the metabolic syndrome, a poor CVH status or the combination of both, better predict the occurrence of vascular outcomes in the long-term follow-up.

Cardiovascular health status and metabolic syndrome in Ecuadorian natives/Mestizos aged 40 years or more with and without stroke and ischemic heart disease--an atahualpa project case-control nested study

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of regional-specific cardiovascular risk factors is mandatory to reduce the growing burden of stroke and ischemic heart disease in Latin American populations. We conducted a population-based case-control study to assess which risk factors are associated with the occurrence of vascular events in natives/mestizos living in rural coastal Ecuador.

METHODS

We assessed the cardiovascular health (CVH) status and the presence of the metabolic syndrome in all Atahualpa residents aged 40 years or more with stroke and ischemic heart disease and in randomly selected healthy persons to evaluate differences in the prevalence of such risk factors between patients and controls.

RESULTS

A total of 120 persons (24 with stroke or ischemic heart disease and 96 matched controls) were included. A poor CVH status (according to the American Heart Association) was found in 87.5% case-patients and 81.3% controls (P = .464). The metabolic syndrome was present in the same proportion (58.3%) of case-patients and controls. Likewise, both sets of risk factors (poor CVH status and the metabolic syndrome) were equally prevalent among both groups (58.3% versus 49%, P = .501).

CONCLUSIONS

This case-control study suggests that none of the measured risk factors is associated with the occurrence of vascular events. It is possible that some yet unmeasured risk factors or an unknown genetic predisposition may account for a sizable proportion of stroke and ischemic heart disease occurring in the native/mestizo population of rural coastal Ecuador.

Living alone and cardiovascular health status in residents of a rural village of coastal Ecuador (The Atahualpa Project)

OBJECTIVES

Knowledge of region-specific factors affecting the cardiovascular health (CVH) is mandatory to reduce the growing burden of stroke and ischemic heart disease in rural areas of Latin American. We conducted a population-based case-control study to assess the CVH status of Atahualpa residents-a rural village representative of Coastal Ecuador-according to their living arrangements.

METHODS

All Atahualpa residents aged ≥40 years and free of stroke or ischemic heart disease that lived alone were identified during a door-to-door census, and their CVH status was compared to that of a sample of residents that lived with relatives. Four controls individually matched for age, gender, education, job and alcohol intake, and randomly selected from different households, were selected for each case-person.

RESULTS

A total of 185 persons (37 who lived alone and 148 matched controls) were included. A poor CVH status was found in 89.2 % case-patients and 72.3 % controls (p = 0.03). We found significantly worse levels of physical activity (p < 0.0001) and non-significant trends for worse healthy diet and glucose levels among case-persons than controls.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that social isolation is associated with a worse CVH in rural coastal Ecuador. An ongoing community-based intervention may prove effective to improve CVH status in these social isolated persons.