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Aim We aimed to examine the impact of high-risk levels of cardiovascular risk factors on the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in overweight and non-overweight individuals without treatment for the risk factors. Methods A total of 8,051 individuals aged 40-74 years without a history of CVD and/or without treatment for hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and kidney disease at baseline in 1995-2000 were followed up for a median of 14.1 years. We classified the participants into three risk categories (low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups) on the basis of individual risk factors (blood pressure, serum glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], and urinary protein) according to the guidelines of Japanese clinical societies. The high-risk group (systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg, fasting serum glucose ≥ 130 mg/dL or non-fasting serum glucose ≥ 180 mg/dL, LDL-C ≥ 180 mg/dL, proteinuria ≥ 2+) needed to refer to physicians or start treatment immediately. Overweight was defined as a body mass index of ≥ 25 kg/m2. Results Compared with those in the non-overweight low-risk group, the hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals, population-attributable fractions [PAFs]) of CVD in the high-risk categories of blood pressure were 2.0 (1.4-2.9, 7.0%) in the non-overweight high-risk group and 2.9 (1.9-4.3, 6.8%) in the overweight high-risk group. The corresponding HRs (95% confidence intervals, PAFs) of serum glucose were 2.0 (1.2-3.4, 2.5%) and 2.2 (1.1-4.3, 1.5%) in the non-overweight and overweight high-risk groups, respectively. Such associations were not observed for the high-risk group of LDL-C and proteinuria. Conclusions The present long-term observational study implies that targeting persons with non-treated severe hypertension and diabetes is prioritized to prevent CVD regardless of overweight status.

This study aimed to investigate the association between retinal microvascular abnormalities and the risk of incident stroke and its subtypes in the general Japanese population.A total of 12 965 residents aged 40-74 years without a history of stroke and/or coronary heart disease underwent retinal photography during the annual health checkups of four Japanese communities between 1990 and 1999. Retinal microvascular abnormalities, such as the presence or absence of generalized arteriolar narrowing, focal arteriolar narrowing, arteriovenous nicking, enhanced arteriolar light reflex, and retinal hemorrhages were graded using standard protocols.During a median follow-up of 20 years, 817 patients were diagnosed with incident stroke. Retinal microvascular abnormalities were positively associated with the risk of total stroke; after adjustment for age, sex, community, SBP, antihypertensive medication use, and other cardiovascular risk factors, the multivariable hazard ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] was 1.68 (1.42-1.98), 1.67 (1.34-2.07), 1.41 (1.17-1.72), 1.54 (1.26-1.87), and 1.57 (1.19-2.07) for generalized arteriolar narrowing, focal arteriolar narrowing, arteriovenous nicking, enhanced arteriolar light reflex, and retinal hemorrhages, respectively. Similar positive associations were observed for the risk of stroke subtypes, except for subarachnoid hemorrhage, for which no association was observed. Furthermore, the positive associations were similar in participants with and without hypertension.Retinal microvascular abnormalities were positively associated with the risk of incident stroke in the general Japanese population. Routine retinal photography could provide positive clinical insights into stroke risk stratification independent of blood pressure, antihypertensive medication use, and other risk factors.

Aim Seaweed contains soluble dietary fibers, potassium, and flavonoids and was recently reported to be inversely associated with the risk of coronary heart disease and mortality from stroke. However, epidemiological evidence on this issue has remained scarce. Methods At the baseline survey of four Japanese communities between 1984 and 2000, we enrolled 6,169 men and women aged 40-79 years who had no history of cardiovascular disease. We assessed their seaweed intake using the data from a 24 h dietary recall survey and categorized the intake into four groups (0, 1-5.5, 5.5-15, and ≥ 15 g/day). We used sex-specific Cox proportional hazards models to examine the association between seaweed intake and risk of cardiovascular disease (stroke, stroke subtypes, and coronary heart disease). Results During the 130,248 person-year follow-up, 523 cases of cardiovascular disease occurred: 369 cases of stroke and 154 cases of coronary heart disease. Seaweed intake levels were inversely associated with the risk of total stroke and cerebral infarction among men but not among women. Adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors did not change the associations: the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals; P for trend) for the highest versus lowest categories of seaweed intake were 0.63 (0.42-0.94; 0.01) for total stroke and 0.59 (0.36-0.97; 0.03) for cerebral infarction. No associations were observed between seaweed intake and risks of intraparenchymal hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or coronary heart disease among men or women. Conclusions We found an inverse association between seaweed intake and risk of total stroke, especially that from cerebral infarction, among Japanese men.

Background: End-stage renal disease is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events. It is unknown, however, whether mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Methods: Observational analyses were conducted using individual-level data from 4 population data sources (Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, EPIC-CVD [European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition–Cardiovascular Disease Study], Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank), comprising 648 135 participants with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes at baseline, yielding 42 858 and 15 693 incident CHD and stroke events, respectively, during 6.8 million person-years of follow-up. Using a genetic risk score of 218 variants for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we conducted Mendelian randomization analyses involving 413 718 participants (25 917 CHD and 8622 strokes) in EPIC-CVD, Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank. Results: There were U-shaped observational associations of creatinine-based eGFR with CHD and stroke, with higher risk in participants with eGFR values 105 mL·min –1 ·1.73 m –2 , compared with those with eGFR between 60 and 105 mL·min –1 ·1.73 m –2 . Mendelian randomization analyses for CHD showed an association among participants with eGFR –1 ·1.73 m –2 , with a 14% (95% CI, 3%–27%) higher CHD risk per 5 mL·min –1 ·1.73 m –2 lower genetically predicted eGFR, but not for those with eGFR >105 mL·min –1 ·1.73 m –2 . Results were not materially different after adjustment for factors associated with the eGFR genetic risk score, such as lipoprotein(a), triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c, and blood pressure. Mendelian randomization results for stroke were nonsignificant but broadly similar to those for CHD. Conclusions: In people without manifest cardiovascular disease or diabetes, mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to risk of CHD, highlighting the potential value of preventive approaches that preserve and modulate kidney function.

Evidence on the risk factors for incident heart failure in Asia has been limited. We sought to identify the risk factors for pre-heart failure or symptomatic heart failure, based on N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), in the Japanese general population.We performed a retrospective cohort study based on the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study involving 5335 Japanese individuals whose NT-proBNP levels were measured between 2010 and 2015. Of these, 2768 people aged between 30 and 69 years who undertook annual cardiovascular risk surveys at least once between 1990 and 2000 were retrospectively eligible to be participants in this study. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of pre-heart failure or symptomatic heart failure defined as NT-proBNP400 pg/mL or as having a diagnosis of heart failure and taking medication for heart failure for several cardiovascular risk factors (body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, triglyceride, smoking status, drinking status).We identified 85 cases of heart failure. The multivariable ORs (95% CIs) were 5.70 (2.70-12.0) for body mass index of 27-29.9 kg/mThe accumulation of these risk factors was associated with a graded higher risk of pre-heart failure or symptomatic heart failure.

This study aimed to investigate whether the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has changed among the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s in Japan.The study population consisted of residents in Japan aged 40-69 years who had no history of CVD. The baseline surveys have been conducted every year since 1963. We defined the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth cohorts as 1963-1969 (n=4,248), 1970-1979 (n=6,742), 1980-1989 (n=12,789), 1990-1999 (n=12,537), and 2000-2005 (n=9,140) respectively. The participants were followed up for a median of 15 years for each cohort to determine the incidence of CVD. We classified them into four categories (BMI ＜21.0, 21.0-＜23.0, 23.0-＜25.0, and ≥ 25.0 kg/mFrom 1963-1969 to 2000-2005, the prevalence of BMI ≥ 25.0 increased over time. Compared with BMI 23.0-＜25.0, the age-, sex- and community-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CIs]) of CVD for BMI ≥ 25.0 were 1.10 (0.77-1.57), 0.89 (0.68-1.18), 1.03 (0.85-1.26), 1.28 (1.04-1.58), and 1.36 (1.04-1.78)in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth cohorts, respectively. The corresponding population attributable fractions were 2.0% (nonsignificant), -2.6% (nonsignificant), 0.9% (nonsignificant), 7.6%, and 10.9%. Further adjustment for systolic blood pressure and antihypertensive medication use in the fourth and fifth cohorts attenuated the associations, which may reflect that blood pressure may mediate the BMI-CVD association.The proportion of CVD attributable to overweight/obesity has increased during the periods between 1963-1969 and 2000-2005. The significant associations between overweight/obesity and risk of CVD after the 1990s were mediated by blood pressure levels.

Aim N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), frequently used as a biochemical marker for detecting and monitoring heart failure, is also a risk marker for development of coronary heart disease and total stroke. However, studies that explore subtypes of ischemic stroke with regard to NT-proBNP are scarce. Here, we examined NT-proBNP and its impact upon subtypes of ischemic stroke (lacunar stroke, large-artery occlusive stroke and embolic stroke) among Japanese. Methods We measured NT-proBNP and categorized 4,393 participants of the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study into four groups (＜55, 55-124, 125-399, and ≥ 400 pg/ml). We used a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model to examine association with risks of stroke and subtypes. Results During 4.7 years of follow-up, we identified 50 strokes, including 35 ischemic (15 lacunar, 6 largeartery occlusive, 10 embolic strokes) and 14 hemorrhagic strokes. NT-proBNP was associated with stroke risk: the multivariable hazard ratio of total strokes was 7.29 (2.82-18.9) for the highest and 2.78 (1.25-6.16) for the second highest NT-proBNP groups compared with the lowest group. The respective hazard ratios for the highest NT-proBNP group were 9.37 (3.14-28.0) for ischemic stroke and 6.81 (1.11-41.7) for lacunar stroke. Further adjustment for atrial fibrillation did not attenuate these associations. The associations were similarly observed for large-artery occlusive and embolic strokes. Conclusion We found that even moderate serum levels of NT-proBNP were associated with the risk of total and ischemic strokes among Japanese whose NT-proBNP levels were relatively low compared with Westerners.

The role of serum uric acid as a predictor of stroke among the general Japanese population remains controversial. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 5235 men and 8185 women aged 40-79 years at baseline between 1985 and 1994 in four Japanese communities, who were initially free from stroke, coronary heart disease, and medication for hyperuricemia or gout. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate sex-specific hazard ratios of stroke and its types in relation to serum uric acid level. During a median follow-up of 23.1 years, we recorded 1018 (488 men and 530 women) incident strokes, including 222 (99 and 123) intraparenchymal hemorrhages, 113 (33 and 80) subarachnoid hemorrhages and 667 (347 and 320) ischemic strokes. After adjustment for age, community and known cardiovascular risk factors, the multivariable hazard ratios (95% CIs) in the highest vs. lowest quintile of serum uric acid were 1.45 (1.07-1.96) for total stroke, 1.20 (0.65-2.20) for intraparenchymal hemorrhage, 1.46 (0.69-3.09) for subarachnoid hemorrhage and 1.61 (1.07-2.41) for ischemic stroke in women. The corresponding multivariable hazard ratios (95% CIs) in men were 1.02 (0.74-1.35), 0.83 (0.40-1.72), 1.19 (0.38-3.75) and 1.00 (0.70-1.41). Furthermore, those positive associations with risks of total and ischemic strokes in women were more evident in nonusers of antihypertensive medication than the users. In conclusion, elevated serum uric acid level is an independent predictor of total stroke in women but not in men. The positive association in women was mostly attributable to ischemic stroke and was more pronounced among nonusers of antihypertensive medication.

Aims: The frequency of breakfast intake has been reported to be inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular events; however, it is uncertain what the impact of the energy and nutrient intakes from breakfast are. We assessed the association between these intakes from breakfast and the risk of stroke prospectively. Methods: In a baseline survey of four Japanese communities between 1981 and 1990, we enrolled 3 248 residents (1 662 men and 1 586 women) aged 40–59 years who were free from stroke and heart disease and who responded to the 24-hour dietary recall survey. We assessed the dietary intake at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and other times separately. Results: During the median 25-year follow-up, 230 individuals (147 men and 83 women) developed stroke. After adjustment for age, community, other dietary intakes, and lifestyle and physiological factors, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of intracerebral hemorrhage for the highest versus lowest quartiles of energy intake from breakfast were 0.38 (0.15–0.99) in men and 1.36 (0.36–5.10) in women. For the major nutrients, a higher saturated or monounsaturated fat intake at breakfast was associated with a reduced risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in men, and remained statistically significant after further adjustment for intake of other major nutrients from breakfast. Conclusions: A higher intake of energy from breakfast, primarily saturated or monounsaturated fat, was associated with a reduced risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in Japanese men.

Aim This study aimed to investigate the associations of leukocyte count with the risks of stroke and coronary heart disease among the general Japanese population. Methods A total of 5,242 residents aged 40-69 years living in two Japanese communities underwent leukocyte count measurements between 1991 and 2000, and the data were updated using 5- or 10-year follow-ups or both. Participants who had histories of stroke, coronary heart disease, or high values of leukocyte count (＞130×102 cells/mm3) were excluded. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated according to quartiles of cumulative average leukocyte count. Results During follow-up of 21 years, 327 stroke and 130 coronary heart disease cases were determined. After adjustments for age, sex, community, and updated cardiovascular risk factors, the multivariable hazard ratio (95% CI) for the highest versus lowest quartile of leukocyte count was 1.50 (1.08-2.08) for ischemic stroke, 1.59 (1.00-2.51) for lacunar infarction, 1.42 (0.90-2.26) for non-lacunar infarction, 2.17 (1.33-3.55) for coronary heart disease, and 1.40 (1.11-1.76) for total cardiovascular disease. In smoking status-stratified analyses, the corresponding multivariable hazard ratio (95% CI) was 2.45 (1.11-5.38) for ischemic stroke, 2.73 (1.37-5.44) for coronary heart disease in current smokers, 2.42 (1.07-5.46), 1.55 (0.58-4.15) in former smokers, and 1.17 (0.75-1.82), 1.78 (0.83-3.82) in never smokers. Conclusion Leukocyte count was positively associated with the risks of ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease among the general Japanese population, especially in current smokers.

Background Evidence on the associations of carotid intima‐media thickness and carotid plaque characteristics with stroke subtypes and coronary artery disease risks in Asians is limited. This study investigated these associations in the Japanese general population. Methods and Results Maximum intima‐media thicknesses of both the common carotid artery and internal carotid artery and carotid plaque characteristics were evaluated in 2943 Japanese subjects aged 40 to 75 years without history of cardiovascular disease. Subjects were followed up for a median of 15.1 years. Using a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, we found that hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for the highest (≥1.07 mm) versus lowest (≤0.77 mm) quartiles of maximum intima‐media thicknesses of the common carotid artery were 1.97 (1.26–3.06) for total stroke, 1.52 (0.67–3.41) for hemorrhagic stroke, 2.45 (1.41–4.27) for ischemic stroke, 3.60 (1.64–7.91) for lacunar infarction, 1.53 (0.69–3.41) for nonlacunar cerebral infarction, 2.68 (1.24–5.76) for coronary artery disease, and 2.11 (1.44–3.12) for cardiovascular disease (similar results were found for maximum intima‐media thicknesses of the internal carotid artery). HRs(95% CIs) for heterogeneous plaque versus no plaque were 1.58 (1.09–2.30) for total stroke, 1.25 (0.58–2.70) for hemorrhagic stroke, 1.74 (1.13–2.67) for ischemic stroke, 1.84 (1.03–3.19) for lacunar infarction, 1.58 (0.80–3.11) for nonlacunar cerebral infarction, 2.11 (1.20–3.70) for coronary artery disease, and 1.71 (1.25–2.35) for cardiovascular disease. Conclusions Maximum intima‐media thicknesses of the common carotid artery, maximum intima‐media thicknesses of the internal carotid artery, and heterogeneous plaque were associated with the risks of stroke, lacunar infarction, coronary artery disease, and cardiovascular disease in Asians.

Aim This study aimed to investigate the association between the serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and incident atrial fibrillation risk in the general Japanese population, who have lower hs-CRP levels than the Western population, and assess whether the association is modified by sex, overweight, hypertension, and smoking status. Methods We conducted a prospective study in 6517 Japanese men and women aged 40-79 years without atrial fibrillation at baseline and enrolled in the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (2002-2008). The hs-CRP levels were measured using the latex particle-enhanced immunonephelometric assay. Atrial fibrillation was identified using standard 12-lead electrocardiograms and information on physician-diagnosed atrial fibrillation history from the follow-up surveys. We used a Cox proportional hazard regression stratified by community. Results During a median follow-up of 11 years, 127 new cases of atrial fibrillation (74 and 53 cases among men and women, respectively) were found. Compared to the lowest quintile of hs-CRP levels, the multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 2.54 (1.17-5.50), 2.28 (1.06-4.93), 2.92 (1.37-6.23), and 2.77 (1.30-5.91) for the second, third, fourth, and fifth (highest) quintiles, respectively. There was no significant effect modification by sex, overweight, hypertension, and smoking status (P for interaction ＞0.05). Conclusions Elevated hs-CRP levels were significantly associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation in the Japanese population. The association of hs-CRP levels with incident atrial fibrillation did not vary according to sex, overweight, hypertension status, or smoking status.

This study aimed to assess the association of cigarette smoking with radial augmentation index among the Asian general population. We conducted a cross-sectional population-based study including 1593 men and 2671 women aged 40-79 years. Smoking status was ascertained through interviews, and the number of pack-years was calculated. The radial augmentation index was defined as the ratio of central pulse pressure to brachial pulse pressure, as measured using an automated tonometer: the HEM-9000AI (Omron Healthcare co., Kyoto, Japan). There was a higher prevalence of an increased radial augmentation index among current male smokers who smoked ≥ 30 cigarettes/day and all female smokers than among never smokers. After adjusting for known risk factors of atherosclerosis, the multivariable odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for a high radial augmentation index for current male smokers who smoked ≥30 cigarettes/day compared with never smokers was 1.9 (1.1-3.4). The multivariable OR (95% CI) for a high radial augmentation index for former female smokers and current female smokers compared with never smokers was 1.8 (1.2-2.7) and 2.5 (1.6-3.9), respectively. Moreover, smoking pack-years was positively associated with a high radial augmentation index in both sexes. There were no relationship between smoking status and high central or brachial pulse pressures among subjects of either sex. In conclusion, cigarette smoking and cumulative smoking exposure were positively associated with an increased radial augmentation index in men who smoked heavily and in women.

Background:The effect of postprandial glucose on the risk of cardiovascular disease has been emphasized, but it is controversial whether nonfasting glucose is related to incident stroke and its types. Methods and Results:We investigated the associations of nonfasting glucose with incident stroke and its types among 7,198 participants aged 40–74 years from the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study, enrolled in 1995–2000. We estimated multivariable hazard ratios (HR) using Cox proportional hazard models. Over a median follow-up of 14.1 years, 291 cases of total stroke (ischemic strokes: 191 including 109 lacunar infarctions) were identified. Nonfasting glucose concentration was associated with greater risk of incident total stroke, ischemic stroke and lacunar infarction when modeled categorically (for prediabetic type: 7.8–11.0 mmol/L vs. normal type

Background and aims Limited evidence is available on the association between markers of arterial stiffness and the prevalence of atrial fibrillation among Asian populations. Therefore, we examined those associations in the Japanese population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional population-based study of 4264 men and women aged 40–79 years. The augmentation index (AI), a marker of arterial stiffness, was calculated as the ratio of central pulse pressure/brachial pulse pressure, where the AI and central aortic pressure were measured by an automated tonometer: the HEM-9000AI device (Omron Healthcare co., Kyoto, Japan). Atrial fibrillation was estimated by the Minnesota codes using resting electrocardiograph (ECG). Results The prevalence of atrial fibrillation and total arrhythmia were higher with larger AI values. These associations did not change after adjustment for known cardiovascular risk factors. The multivariable odd ratios (95% confidence intervals) in the highest versus lowest tertiles of AI were 3.4 (1.4–8.6, p for trend = 0.008) for atrial fibrillation and 1.8 (1.2–2.7, p for trend = 0.004) for total arrhythmia. There was no association of central or brachial pulse pressure levels with the prevalence of atrial fibrillation or total arrhythmia. Conclusions AI values, but not brachial or central pulse pressures, were positively associated with the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and total arrhythmia, independent of cardiovascular risk factors.

Aim: To investigate the association of retinal vascular changes with a risk of dementia in longitudinal population-based study., Methods: We performed a nested case-control study of 3,718 persons, aged 40–89 years, enrolled between 1983 and 2004. Retinal vascular changes were observed in 351 cases with disabling dementia (average period before the onset, 11.2 years) and in 702 controls matched for sex, age, and baseline year. Incidence of disabling dementia was defined as individuals who received cares for disabilities including dementia-related symptoms and/or behavioral disturbance. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and multivariable adjusted OR (Models 1 and 2) for incidence of dis- abling dementia according to each retinal vascular change. Regarding confounding variables, Model 1 included overweight status, hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and smoking status, whereas Model 2 also included incidence of stroke prior to disabling dementia for further analysis., Results: The proportion of cases (controls) with retinal vascular changes was 23.1 (15.7)% for general-ized arteriolar narrowing, 7.7 (7.5)% for focal arter iolar narrowing, 15.7 (11.8)% for arteriovenous nick-ing, 10.5 (9.3)% for increased arteriolar wall reflex, and 11.4 (9.8)% for any other retinopathy. General-ized arteriolar narrowing was associated with an in creased risk of disabling dementia: crude OR, 1.66 (95% confidence interval, 1.19 –2.31); Model 1: OR, 1.58 (1.12–2.23); Model 2: OR, 1.48 (1.04–2.10). The number of retinal abnormalities was associated in a dose–response manner with the risk., Conclusion: Generalized arteriolar narrowing and total number of retinal abnormalities may be use-ful markers for identifying persons at higher risks of disabling dementia.

Objective The prognostic importance of changes in ischaemic ECG abnormalities over time (especially ST-T abnormalities) among Asians has not been fully investigated. We examined the associations between changes in ischaemic abnormalities upon serial ECG (improvement, persistence, deterioration) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Methods A prospective study cohort was conducted with 9374 men and women aged 40–69 years in four communities. Participants had multiple ECGs at study entry and during the next 10 years, and were followed up for a median period of 23.0 years. Total CVD (stroke and coronary heart disease) was ascertained under systematic surveillance. ECG abnormalities were defined by the Minnesota Code, ST depression (Code4), abnormal T wave (Code5) and categorised into nine groups (no–no, no–minor, no–major, minor–no, minor–minor, minor–major, major–no, major–minor, major–major) by comparison with the point of entrance and maximum change. Results We documented 1196 CVD events. Compared with no–no abnormality, no–minor, minor–major and major–major in Code4, HRs (95% CI) adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors were 1.19 (1.00–1.42), 1.57 (1.15–2.12) and 1.87 (1.42–2.47). Similar results were observed in Code5. Conclusions Changes in ischaemic ECG abnormalities from none to minor, and minor to major, as well as persistent major abnormalities, were associated with an increased risk of CVD.

Background The aim of this study was to examine whether the burden of diabetes on cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Japan has increased in recent years.Methods and Results:Three cohorts were established, consisting of Japanese residents aged 40-69 years, in 1992-1995 (n=8,744), 1996-1999 (n=7,996), and 2000-2003 (n=7,273). All participants had follow-up for a median of 10 years. Diabetes was defined according to the following criteria: (1) fasting serum glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L; (2) non-fasting serum glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L; or (3) anti-diabetic treatment at baseline. During follow-up, the number of CVD incidents was 277 in the first, 214 in the second, and 190 in the third cohorts. The prevalence of diabetes increased slightly over time. Adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, multivariable HR (95% CI) for diabetes as a cardiovascular risk factor were 1.40 (0.91-2.14) in the first, 1.93 (1.25-3.00) in the second, and 2.59 (1.77-3.81) in the third cohorts. The population attributable fraction of CVD due to diabetes was 2.8%, 5.6%, and 12.4%, respectively. Conclusions This is the first study in middle-aged Japanese people to clarify an increased burden of CVD due to diabetes since the early 1990 s. Further efforts are needed to prevent and control diabetes through lifestyle modification and treatment. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2343-2348).