The design and rationale of the Beijing Vascular Disease Patients Evaluation Study (BEST study)

Vascular Health Promotion Project and Vascular Medicine in China-CCVM2004-2023

Cardiovascular disease(CVD) has become a major disease burden affecting people's health in China. Blood vessels are very important for human health and are the "sentinel" for the development of many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The key to effectively preventing fatal, disabling heart, brain and peripheral vascular events lies in controlling traditional and non-traditional risk factors for vascular health from the source, and early assessment and intervention of early vascular lesions. Since 2004, China government promoted the early detection technology of vascular lesions and vascular medicine, and proposed the Beijing Vascular Health Stratification (BVHS) to provide suggestions for the examination, evaluation and management of risk factors, and to provide new ideas for lifelong maintenance of vascular health. This review mainly introduces the establishment and development of the clinical discipline of "vascular medicine" in the past 20 years in China, introduces the indicators for detecting vascular function and structure and the predictive value of vascular events, and carries out intelligent and digital management of vascular health throughout the life cycle of individualized prevention, treatment and rehabilitation for people with different parts or degrees of lesions, effectively reducing the occurrence and development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and the prospect of new technology in maintaining vascular health.

Association of brain white matter lesions with arterial stiffness assessed by cardio-ankle vascular index. The Beijing Vascular Disease Evaluation STudy (BEST)

Background-The association of brain white matter lesions with arterial stiffness, as assessed by the cardio-ankle vascular index, is not well characterized in the population.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to quantify the cross-sectional association of brain white matter lesions with arterial stiffness assessed by the cardio-ankle vascular index among 1176 adults.

METHODS

We used logistic regression to evaluate the associations of the cardio-ankle vascular index with brain white matter lesions, detected by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, versus normal brain white matter.

RESULTS

After adjustment for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, blood lipid level, C reactive protein level, homocysteine level, uric acid level, urea nitrogen level, creatinine level, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and stroke, the multivariable analysis showed that age, sex, systolic blood pressure, stroke and the cardio-ankle vascular index were independently associated with the presence of brain white matter lesions. Age range (odds ratio: from 2.48 to 33.64, all p < 0.05) showed the strongest association, followed by stroke (odds ratio: 7.16, 95% confidence interval: 4.59 to 11.16), male sex (odds ratio: 1.80, 95% confidence interval: 1.18 to 2.75), cardio-ankle vascular index (odds ratio: 1.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.06 to 1.50) and systolic blood pressure (odds ratio: 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.00 to 1.02).

CONCLUSION

Higher arterial stiffness assessed by the cardio-ankle vascular index was associated with the presence of brain white matter lesions. Longitudinal characterization of the observed associations is warranted to assess whether arterial stiffness predicts brain white matter lesions.

Carotid artery stiffness in rural adult Chinese: a cross-sectional analysis of the community-based China stroke cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To derive normative carotid artery stiffness data in rural adult Chinese population-based study of ultrasound measurements of carotid elasticity by using quality arterial stiffness (QAS), and to assess the changes of relevant parameters in Chinese adults 40 years of age and older.

DESIGN

A China stroke cohort study (total number: 1586) in the northern countryside were carried out between June 2013 and April 2016, designed to investigate the risk factors of cardiovascular and age-related diseases.

SETTING

The present study was a cross-sectional analysis of an ongoing community-based Shunyi cohort study in China.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 583 participants (227 men and 356 women; aged 40-80 years) with ultrasound carotid QAS examination were retrieved from the study to analyse.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Arterial stiffness parameters included diastolic diameter (Dd), pulse wave velocity (PWV), stiffness indices α and β were calculated by QAS. Other clinical indicators included physical measurements, medical histories and blood biochemical test.

RESULTS

In the entire study sample, mean Dd was 7.93±0.88 mm, mean PWV was 9.4±2.4 m/s, mean α was 7.65±5.13 and mean β was 15.53±10.29. PWV was significant higher in participants with hypertension (9.9 m/s vs 9.2 m/s in those without, p=0.002), and with diabetes (10.3 m/s vs 9.2 m/s in those without, p=0.003). PWV were significantly higher in participants with HbA1c at 5.8%-6.4% versus <5.8%, but no difference was found between subjects with glycohaemoglobin (HbA1c) at 5.8%-6.4% versus >6.4% (p=0.005, p=0.955, respectively). Age increase by every 10 years was associated with Dd increased by 0.27 mm, PWV increased by 1.2 m/s, α increased by 1.34 and β increased by 2.71. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) increase by every 10 mm Hg was associated with Dd increased by 0.15 mm, PWV increased by 0.35 m/s, α increased by 0.13 and β increased by 0.15.

CONCLUSION

Among the participants older than 40 years, stiffness of the carotid artery had differences between hypertension and non-hypertension adults, as well as between diabetes and non-diabetes adults. Stiffness of the carotid artery also have differences between adults with HbA1c at 5.8%-6.4% versus <5.8%. Stiffness of the carotid artery increases with increasing age and increasing SBP at a range from 40 and up.

Association between multi-site atherosclerotic plaques and systemic arteriosclerosis: results from the BEST study (Beijing Vascular Disease Patients Evaluation Study)

BACKGROUND

Arteriosclerosis can be reflected in various aspect of the artery, including atherosclerotic plaque formation or stiffening on the arterial wall. Both arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are important and closely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between systemic arteriosclerosis and multi-site atherosclerotic plaques.

METHODS

The study was designed as an observational cross-sectional study. A total of 1178 participants (mean age 67.4 years; 52.2% male) enrolled into the observational study from 2010 to 2017. Systemic arteriosclerosis was assessed by carotid femoral artery pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) and multi-site atherosclerotic plaques (MAP, > = 2 of the below sites) were reflected in the carotid or subclavian artery, abdominal aorta and lower extremities arteries using ultrasound equipment. The associations were assessed by multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

The prevalence of CF-PWV > 12 m/s and MAP were 40.2% and 74.4%. Atherosclerotic plaques in 3 sites were more common in male compared with that in female (48.9% versus 36.9%, p < 0.05). All CVD factors were worse in participants with MAP than that with <=1 site. Participants with CF-PWV > 12 m/s corresponded to a mean 82% probability of MAP with age and sex-adjusted. Patients with peripheral artery disease showed the highest odds ratio (OR) (3.88) for MAP, followed by smoking (2.485), CF-PWV > 12 m/s (2.25), dyslipidemia (1.89), male (1.84), stroke (1.64), hypoglycemic agents (1.56) and age (1.09) (all p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

MAP was highly prevalent in this cohort, with male showing a higher prevalence than female. Higher systemic arteriosclerosis was independently associated with MAP, which indicating the supplementary value of arteriosclerosis for the earlier identification and intervention on MAP.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trial, URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02569268 .

[Predictive value of vascular health indicators on newly cardiovascular events: Preliminary validation of Beijing vascular health stratification system]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the predictive value of carotid femoral artery pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV), carotid radial artery pulse wave velocity (CR-PWV), cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), and ankle brachial index (ABI) on coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebral infarction (CI), and the preliminary validation of Beijing vascular health stratification (BVHS).

METHODS

Subjects with at least 2 in-patient records were included into the study between 2010 and 2017 from Vascular Medicine Center of Peking University Shougang Hospital. Subjects with CHD or CI, and without data of vascular function at baseline were excluded. Eventually, 467 subjects free of CHD [cohort 1, mean age: (63.4±12.3) years, female 42.2%] and 658 subjects free of CI [cohort 2, mean age: (64.3±12.2) years, female 48.7%] at baseline were included. The first in-patient records were as the baseline data, the second in-patient records were as a following-up data. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to establish the predictive models of CHD or CI derived from BVHS by multivariable-adjusted analysis.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time of cohort 1 and cohort 2 was 1.9 years and 2.1 years, respectively. During the follow-up, 164 first CHD events occurred in cohort 1 and 117 first CI events occurred in cohort 2. Four indicators were assessed as continuous variables simultaneously by multivariable-adjusted analysis. In cohort 1, CF-PWV, CR-PWV, ABI, and CAVI reached statistical significance in the multivariable-adjusted models (P<0.05). In cohort 2, only CAVI (P<0.05) was of statistical significance. In addition, the higher CF-PWV became a protector of CHD or CI (P<0.05). The prediction value of BVHS reached the statistical significance for CHD and CI in the unadjusted models (all P<0.05), however, BVHS could only predict the incidence of CHD (P<0.05), but not the incidence of CI (P>0.05) in the multivariable-adjusted models. CF-PWV, CR-PWV, ABI, and CAVI were associated factors of CHD independent of each other (P<0.05), only CAVI (P<0.05) was the risk factor of CI independent of the other three.

CONCLUSION

The different vascular indicators might have different effect on CHD or CI. CAVI might be a stable predictor of both CHD and CI. Higher baseline CF-PWV was not necessarily a risk factor of CHD or CI because of proper vascular health management. BVHS was a potential factor for the prediction of CHD, and further research is needed to explore the prediction value for CI.

The Relationship Between Serum Bilirubin Levels and Peripheral Arterial Disease and Gender Difference in Patients With Hypertension: BEST Study

We evaluated the relationship between serum bilirubin levels and ankle-brachial index (ABI) to determine whether gender affected the relationship between bilirubin levels and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with hypertension. A total of 543 patients were included in our studies (78 patients with PAD and 465 without PAD). Peripheral arterial disease was defined as ABI <0.90 for either and/or both sides. Serum bilirubin levels were measured with a vanadate oxidation method by using fasting venous blood samples. Serum total bilirubin (TBiL) and direct bilirubin (DBiL) levels were higher in males compared with females (both P < .05). Total bilirubin and DBiL were significantly lower in the PAD group. After adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, PAD was independently negatively related to TBiL and DBiL, with odds ratios (OR) 0.914 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.845-0.990) and 0.748 (95% CI: 0.572-0.977). In addition, there was a relationship between PAD and bilirubin levels (TBiL-OR = 0.884, 95% CI: 0.792-0.985; DBiL-OR = 0.621; 95% CI: 0.424-0.909) only in males but not in females. Future studies should further evaluate whether interventions that increase serum bilirubin levels will have a particular role in PAD prevention in males.

Relationship between glycated hemoglobin and low Ankle-Brachial Index: a cross-sectional observational study from the Beijing Vascular Disease Evaluation Study (BEST Study)

BACKGROUND

Studies have confirmed that the low Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) and high glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level were both risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the association has rarely been explored between ABI and HbA1c. This study was to evaluate the independent relationship between HbA1c and low ABI.

METHODS

A total of 3102 subjects (male 1539, female 1563, aged 67.72±10.69 years) were enrolled into the study from 2010 to 2018. The odds ratio (OR) and linear regression coefficient of low ABI group (defined as ABI≤0.9) and ABI value in associations with the HbA1c were modelled using multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses by adjusting for possible confounders.

RESULTS

Compared with participants with normal ABI, those presenting the low ABI showed a significantly older age, smoking rate, higher level of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse pressure (PP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), HbA1c and carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV); and higher prevalence rate of hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD); and higher rate on medication of statins, diabetes drug and cardiovascular drug (all P<0.001). After multiple adjustment for age, sex, smoke, FPG, blood lipids, hs-CRP, SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), PP, CF-PWV, hypertension, diabetes, CAD and medications, the OR of HbA1c for low ABI was of statistical significance (95% CI: 1.204-1.410, P<0.001). After further multivariate adjustment analysis by linear regression, with left and right ABI as dependent variables, the results showed that HbA1c was independently linearly correlated to left and right ABI (all P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

HbA1c was an independent associated factor of lower ABI and linearly correlated to ABI level independent of fasting plasma glucose and other cardiovascular factors. We should not only focus on the HbA1c in diabetes mellitus patients, but also people with lower ABI.

Comparison of vascular-related diseases in their associations with carotid femoral pulse wave velocity: From the Beijing Vascular Disease Patients Evaluation Study (BEST Study)

AIMS

Carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) is associated with vascular-related diseases. However, this association has rarely been compared in the same study population, which would improve our understanding of the role of these diseases in developing arteriosclerosis. This study was designed to assess arterial function in different vascular-related diseases and the potential interrelationships between these diseases and arteriosclerosis.

METHODS

There were 13 798 participants with or without established vascular-related diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke and peripheral artery disease (PAD), enrolled into the study from 2010 to 2016, comprising 6648 males and 7150 females. The odds ratio (OR) of arteriosclerosis (defined as CF-PWV >12 m/s) in associations with the vascular-related diseases was modelled using multivariable logistic regression analyses to adjust for possible confounders.

RESULTS

Compared with participants without vascular-related diseases, those presenting the diseases showed a significantly higher prevalence and age- and sex-adjusted OR of arteriosclerosis (all P < .001). After further adjustment for hypertension, the ORs became much smaller and not significant for CAD or stroke. Compared with apparently healthy participants, participants with each of the diseases showed a significantly higher adjusted OR (range: 2.46-3.30, all P < .001); participants with each vascular-related disease only showed much smaller and non-significant ORs, except for hypertension (OR = 2.73, 95% CI: 2.46, 3.04). After further adjustment for hypertension, these ORs became non-significant (range: 0.81-1.36, all P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The associations between arteriosclerosis and diseases other than hypertension were largely explained by the association with hypertension, indicating that hypertension could be the single most important factor that leads to arteriosclerosis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02569268.