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Background: Associations between bouts of physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and cardiovascular disease, and their mutual independence are not well defined. A low ankle brachial index (ABI ≤0.9) indicates peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and is predictive of cardiovascular events and functional impairment. We investigated the independence of PA and SB and the importance of bout duration in relation to ABI using objective measures. Methods: 945 men from the British Regional Heart Study, mean age 78.4 y, had concurrent measurements of ABI (Vicorder) and physical activity (Actigraph GT3X accelerometer); 427 men also had accelerometer measurements one year previously and contributed data to longitudinal analyses. Results and conclusion In cross-sectional analyses, after adjusting for covariates each extra 10 min of moderate and vigorous PA per day was associated with an OR of 0.81 (95% CI 0.72, 0.91) for a low ABI, a stronger association than for light PA (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75, 0.98). Each extra 30 min of SB was associated with an OR of 1.19 (95% CI 1.07, 1.33) for a low ABI. Associations between moderate and vigorous PA and ABI persisted after adjustment for light PA or SB. Bout lengths for PA and SB were not associated with a low ABI. One year changes in PA or SB were not associated with low ABI. All physical activity and lower levels of SB, regardless of bout duration were inversely associated with ABI; more intense PA showed a stronger association. No associations between changes in PA and ABI were observed, but power may have been limited.

Background: Reports are conflicting on whether serum uric acid (sUA) levels are independently associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) death risk., Methods: This post hoc analysis assessed the relationship between sUA levels and CV death risk score in 7531 patients from the cross-sectional, multinational EURIKA study (NCT00882336). Patients had at least one CV risk factor but no clinical CV disease. Ten-year risk of CV death was estimated using SCORE-HDL and SCORE algorithms, categorized as low (<1%), intermediate (1% to <5%), high (≥5% to <10%) or very high (≥10%)., Results: Mean serum sUA levels increased significantly with increasing CV death risk category in the overall population and in subgroups stratified by diuretics use or renal function (all P<0.0001). Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses, adjusted for factors significantly associated with CV death risk in univariate analyses (study country, body mass index, number of CV risk factors and comorbidities, use of lipid lowering therapies, antihypertensives and antidiabetics), showed a significant association between sUA levels and SCORE-HDL category in the overall population (OR: 1.39 [95% CI: 1.34-1.44]) and all subgroups (using diuretics: 1.32 [1.24-1.40]; not using diuretics: 1.46 [1.39-1.53]; estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]<60ml/min/1.73m 2 : 1.30 [1.22-1.38]; eGFR≥60ml/min/1.73m 2 : 1.44 [1.38-1.51]; all P<0.0001). Similar results were obtained when using SCORE., Conclusions: Higher sUA levels are associated with progressively higher 10-year CV death risk score in patients with at least one CV risk factor but no CV disease., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: The soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) has been implicated in diabetic vascular complications. We have examined the association between sRAGE and cardiac markers [NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin T (cTnT)] and subclinical vascular markers in older men with and without diabetes., Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 1159 men aged 71-92 years with no history of cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, coronary artery bypass graft operation or angioplasty). Prevalent diabetes included men with a doctor diagnosis of diabetes, men with fasting glucose ≥7 mmol/l or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% (N = 180). Subclinical vascular measurements included carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), arterial stiffness [pulse wave velocity (PWV)], central aortic blood pressure and arterial wave reflections [central augmentation pressure (AP) and augmentation index (AIx)]., Results: sRAGE was strongly and positively associated with renal dysfunction in men with and without diabetes. sRAGE was significantly and positively associated with NT-proBNP (but not cTnT) and AP and AIx in both groups of men after adjustment for CVD risk and metabolic risk markers, renal function and inflammation. However, no association was seen between sRAGE and central aortic blood pressure, cIMT or arterial stiffness as determined by PWV in either group., Conclusions: Higher plasma sRAGE was associated with increased NT-proBNP and markers of arterial wave reflections in men both with and without diabetes. Increased sRAGE may contribute to or be a marker of worsening cardiac dysfunction or HF. Further studies with cardiac imaging data are required to confirm this., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Stress influences the risk of cardiovascular disease. Acute mental stress can induce both low-grade inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. The relationship between inflammatory responses to stress and future endothelial function is unexplored. Knowledge on the impact of other cardiovascular risk factors, such as dyslipidaemia, on such relationships is also limited We investigated the relationship between inflammatory responses to an acute mental stress challenge and endothelial function plus the influence of dyslipidaemia on the associations. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and fibrinogen were assessed at baseline, immediately following standardized behavioural tasks and 45 min post-task in 158 participants. Blood pressure and heart rate responses were measured. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was measured 3years later. Fibrinogen and IL-6 increased post-stress (p⩽0.001 & 0.003) but TNFα was unchanged (p=0.09). An independent negative association between FMD and change in fibrinogen at 45 min (β=-0.047 p=0.016) remained after multiple adjustment (baseline fibrinogen, baseline diameter, reactive hyperaemia, age, gender and other cardiovascular risk factors). There was no association between FMD and change in IL-6 or TNFα. There were no differences in the responses to stress between those with and without dyslipidaemia. However, there was an interaction between the presence of dyslipidaemia and immediate change in fibrinogen with stress which was associated with FMD. Those participants with dyslipidaemia who had a greater change in fibrinogen had lower FMD. We conclude that elevated fibrinogen responses to stress are associated with future endothelial dysfunction which may reflect increased cardiovascular risk., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The prevalence of and factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension and apparent resistant hypertension were assessed in the European Study on Cardiovascular Risk Prevention and Management in Usual Daily Practice (EURIKA; NCT00882336)., Methods: EURIKA was a cross-sectional observational study including patients being treated for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in 12 European countries. Patients were assessed if they were being treated for hypertension (N=5220). Blood pressure control was defined according to European guidelines, with sensitivity analysis taking account of patients' age and diabetes status. Associated factors were assessed using multivariate analysis., Results: In the primary analysis, a total of 2691 patients (51.6%) had uncontrolled hypertension. Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of having uncontrolled hypertension included female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.93-2.73), body mass index (BMI; OR per kg/m(2): 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04), and geographic location. A total of 749 patients (14.3%) had apparent resistant hypertension. Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of having apparent resistant hypertension included BMI (OR per kg/m(2): 1.06; 95% CI: 1.04-1.08), diabetes (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.06-1.53), use of statins (OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.15-1.62), serum uric acid levels (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.09-1.23), and geographic location. Similar results were seen in sensitivity analyses., Conclusions: Over 50% of patients treated for hypertension continued to have uncontrolled blood pressure and 14.3% had apparent resistant hypertension. Positive associations were seen with other cardiovascular risk factors., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine for the first time the achievement of lipoprotein treatment goals in patients with metabolic syndrome and lipid abnormalities who are at elevated cardiovascular risk in Europe., Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in 2009-2010 in 12 European countries among outpatients aged ≥50 years free of clinical cardiovascular disease. We assessed achievement of American Diabetes Association/American College of Cardiology lipid treatment goals in those with metabolic syndrome at highest risk (diabetes plus ≥1 additional major cardiovascular risk factor beyond lipid abnormalities) or high risk (no diabetes but ≥2 additional major cardiovascular risk factors)., Results: Among 1431 highest-risk patients, 64.6% (between-country range [BCR] 40-84.5%) were on lipid-lowering medication. Of them, 13.4% (BCR: 2.5-28.6%) had LDL-cholesterol<70 mg/dl, non-HDL-cholesterol<100mg/dl, and apolipoprotein B<80 mg/dl. Among 832 high-risk patients, 38.7% BCR: 27.5-55.3%) were on lipid-lowering medication. Of them, 20.5% (BCR: 5.5-57.6%) had LDL-cholesterol<100mg/dl, non-HDL-cholesterol<130 mg/dl, and apolipoprotein B<90 mg/dl. About 96% of highest-risk patients and 94% of high-risk patients were given at least one lifestyle advice (weight reduction, healthy diet, physical activity, no-smoking), but only 1.3% of the former and 4.9% of the latter reached all three lipid goals., Conclusion: There is a substantial gap between clinical guidelines and medical practice since only one in 5-7 patients met all treatment targets. Although most patients received lifestyle advice, the effectiveness of counseling was very low. Large between-country differences in outcomes suggest considerable room for improvement., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess the influence of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) genotype on endothelial function in the presence and absence of infection in childhood., Methods: We studied 2176 children aged 10 years drawn from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Endothelial function was assessed by flow mediated dilatation (FMD). Exon 1 and promoter polymorphisms in the MBL gene were determined by heteroduplexing procedures. Children were classified as AA (wild type) AO (heterozygotes) and OO (homozygotes)., Results: During the vascular assessment, 544 children presented with current or recent (<2 weeks) infection (INF). FMD was reduced in the INF group compared to controls (10% reduction in FMD, p<0.001). MBL genotype was not associated with FMD in controls, although a relationship with the degree of impairment during INF was observed (8.0%, 7.6% and 26.6% lower FMD compared to controls for groups AA, AO, OO respectively, p<0.05). After multivariate analysis, OO was associated with reduced FMD in the INF group (odds ratio 2.95 [1.33, 6.52], p<0.001)., Conclusion: Homozygosity for MBL variant alleles is associated with greater impairment in FMD during infection in childhood. This suggests a gene-environment interaction operating in early life that may have relevance for the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis., (Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)