Body mass index in early adulthood and dementia in late life: Findings from a pooled cohort

INTRODUCTION

To examine the independent association of body mass index (BMI) in early adulthood with dementia incidence among men and women.

METHODS

We studied 5104 older adults from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) and the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study. We imputed early adulthood and midlife BMI using a pooled parent cohort with complete adult lifespan coverage and previously established methods. Dementia was ascertained using criteria such as neuropsychological test battery, medical records, and dementia-related drug use. Pooled logistic regression (PLR) models were used.

RESULTS

Compared to women with normal BMI in early adulthood, the odds of dementia were higher among both overweight (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31 to 2.54) and obese (OR = 2.45; 95% CI = 1.47 to 4.06) women, independent of mid- and late-life BMI. Similar relationship was observed in men.

CONCLUSIONS

With the growing obesity epidemic among US adults, efforts aimed at reducing dementia may need to begin obesity prevention and treatment early in the life course.

Non-fatal stimulant overdose among homeless and unstably housed women in San Francisco, California

BACKGROUND

US rates of overdose deaths involving stimulants (e.g., cocaine or methamphetamine) have increased, but little is known about non-fatal stimulant overdoses, particularly among vulnerable populations. We characterized rates of non-fatal stimulant overdose identified outside of health care settings among women at high risk.

METHODS

Homeless and unstably housed women in San Francisco, California using stimulants were administered questionnaires on drug use and outcomes (stimulant overdose, health care utilization) monthly for six months. Based on pilot interviews, stimulant overdose during follow-up was defined as acute toxicity from stimulant use ("over-amping") resulting in "feeling sick, really scared, or like one's life may be in danger". Poisson regression estimated unadjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) comparing participant characteristics.

RESULTS

We included 160 women (41% Black, 26% White, 15% Latina, median age 54 years) using crack cocaine (81%), methamphetamine (48%), and powdered cocaine (36%). Participants reported 67 non-fatal stimulant overdoses over 685 person-months of observation, a rate of 117.4 per 100 person-years (95% CI 85.8-160.5). Rates were higher among participants who were Latina vs. White (IRR 4.18 [1.60-10.94]), used methamphetamine (IRR 1.80 [0.96-3.38]), or used any stimulant daily/almost daily (IRR 2.63 [1.41-4.91]). Among women reporting stimulant overdose, 4% received emergency and 3% inpatient care for overdose of any drug.

CONCLUSIONS

Women in this setting, particularly those who used stimulants frequently or used methamphetamine, experienced high non-fatal stimulant overdose and rarely received health care for these events. Efforts should be made to increase awareness and reduce harms of stimulant toxicity in vulnerable populations.

Racial and ethnic differences in reconstructive surgery for apical vaginal prolapse

BACKGROUND

There is limited literature identifying racial and ethnic health disparities among surgical modalities and outcomes in the field of urogynecology and specifically pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the differences in surgical approach for apical vaginal prolapse and postoperative complications by race and ethnicity.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing surgical repair for apical vaginal prolapse between 2014 and 2017 using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they underwent either vaginal colpopexy or abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Abdominal sacrocolpopexy cases were further divided into those performed by laparotomy and those performed by laparoscopy. Multivariable logistic regression models that controlled for age, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, and concurrent surgery were used to determine whether race and ethnicity are associated with the type of colpopexy (vaginal vs abdominal) or the surgical route of abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Similar models that also controlled for surgical approach were used to assess 30-day complications by race and ethnicity.

RESULTS

A total of 22,861 eligible surgical cases were identified, of which 12,337 (54%) were vaginal colpopexy and 10,524 (46%) were abdominal sacrocolpopexy. Among patients who had an abdominal sacrocolpopexy, 2262 (21%) were performed via laparotomy and 8262 (79%) via laparoscopy. The study population was 70% White, 9% Latina, 6% African American, 3% Asian, 0.6% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.4% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 11% unknown. In multivariable analysis, Asian and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander women were less likely to undergo abdominal sacrocolpopexy compared with White women (odds ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-0.99, and odds ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.82, respectively). Among women who underwent an abdominal sacrocolpopexy, Latina women and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander women were less likely to undergo a laparoscopic approach compared with White women (odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.79, and odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.56, respectively). Complication rates also differed by race and ethnicity. After a colpopexy, African American women were more likely to need a blood transfusion (odds ratio, 3.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.95-4.73; P≤.001) and have a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus (odds ratio, 2.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-5.48; P=.028), but less likely to present with postoperative urinary tract infections (odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.96; P=.028) than White women in multivariable regression models. Using the Clavien-Dindo classification system, Latina women had higher odds of developing grade II complications than White women in multivariable models (odds ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.51; P=.02).

CONCLUSION

There are racial and ethnic differences in the type and route of surgical repair for apical vaginal prolapse. In particular, Latina and Pacific Islander women were less likely to undergo a laparoscopic approach to abdominal sacrocolpopexy compared with White women. Although complications were uncommon, there were several complications including blood transfusions that were higher among African American and Latina women. Additional studies are needed to better understand and describe associated factors for these differences in care and surgical outcomes.

FSH Level and Changes in Bone Mass and Body Composition in Older Women and Men

CONTEXT

FSH may have independent actions on bone remodeling and body fat regulation. Cross-sectionally, we have shown that serum FSH is associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and body fat in older postmenopausal women, but it remains unknown whether FSH predicts bone and fat changes.

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether baseline FSH level is associated with subsequent bone loss or body composition changes in older adults.

SETTING, DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS

We studied 162 women and 158 men (mean age 82 ± 4 years) from the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES)-Bone Marrow Adiposity cohort, a substudy of the AGES-Reykjavik Study of community-dwelling older adults. Skeletal health and body composition were characterized at baseline and 3 years later.

MAIN OUTCOMES

Annualized change in BMD and body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Models were adjusted for serum estradiol and testosterone levels.

RESULTS

There was no evidence for an association between baseline FSH level and change in BMD or body composition by DXA or QCT. For femoral neck areal BMD, adjusted mean difference (95% CI) per SD increase in FSH was 1.3 (-0.7 to 3.3) mg/cm2/y in women, and -0.2 (-2.6 to 2.2) mg/cm2/y in men. For visceral fat, adjusted mean difference (95% CI) per SD increase in FSH was 1.80 (-0.03 to 3.62) cm2/y in women, and -0.33 (-3.73 to 3.06) cm2/y in men.

CONCLUSIONS

Although cross-sectional studies and studies in perimenopausal women have demonstrated associations between FSH and BMD and body composition, in older adults, FSH level is not associated with bone mass or body composition changes.

Long-Term Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Progression of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy and Their Correlation With Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias

BACKGROUND

Prior studies of structural and electrocardiographic changes in arrhythmogenic right ventricular (RV) cardiomyopathy and their role in predicting ventricular arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia) have shown conflicting results.

METHODS

We reviewed 405 ECGs, 315 transthoracic echocardiographies, and 441 implantable cardioverter defibrillator interrogations in 64 arrhythmogenic RV cardiomyopathy patients (56% men, mean age [SD], 44.2 [14.6] years) over a mean follow-up of 10 (range, 2.3-19) years. Generalized estimating equations were used to identify the association between ECG abnormalities, clinical variables, and transthoracic echocardiographic measurements (>mild degree of tricuspid regurgitation, RV outflow tract diameter in parasternal long axis and short axis, RV end-diastolic area, fractional area change).

RESULTS

There was a 4.65 (95% CI, 0.51%-8.8%) increase in RV end-diastolic area, a 3.75 (95% CI, 1.17%-6.34%) decrease in fractional area change, and 1.9 (95% CI, 1.3-2.8) higher odds (odds ratio) of RV wall motion abnormality with every 5-year increase in age after patients' first transthoracic echocardiography. >Mild tricuspid regurgitation was an independent predictor of RV enlargement and dysfunction (hazard ratio of >10% drop in fractional area change from baseline [95% CI], 3.51 [1.77-6.95] and hazard ratio of >10% increase in RV end-diastolic area from baseline [95% CI], 4.90 [2.52-9.52]). Patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator were more likely to develop >mild tricuspid regurgitation and larger structural and functional disease progression. More pronounced increase in RV end-diastolic area was translated into higher rates of any ventricular tachycardia. Inferior T-wave inversions and sum of R waves (mm) in V1 to V3 were predictors of RV enlargement and dysfunction with the former also predicting risk of any ventricular tachycardia.

CONCLUSIONS

Arrhythmogenic RV cardiomyopathy is a progressive disease. Tricuspid regurgitation is an independent predictor of structural disease progression, which may be exacerbated by use of a transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead.

HIV Infection and the Risk of World Health Organization-Defined Sudden Cardiac Death

Background People living with HIV have higher sudden cardiac death (SCD) rates compared with the general population. Whether HIV infection is an independent SCD risk factor is unclear. Methods and Results This study evaluated participants from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study, an observational, longitudinal cohort of veterans with and without HIV infection matched 1:2 on age, sex, race/ethnicity, and clinical site. Baseline for this study was a participant's first clinical visit on or after April 1, 2003. Participants were followed through December 31, 2014. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we assessed whether HIV infection, CD4 cell counts, and/or HIV viral load were associated with World Health Organization (WHO)-defined SCD risk. Among 144 336 participants (30% people living with HIV), the mean (SD) baseline age was 50.0 years (10.6 years), 97% were men, and 47% were of Black race. During follow-up (median, 9.0 years), 3035 SCDs occurred. HIV infection was associated with increased SCD risk (hazard ratio [HR], 1.14; 95% CI, 1.04-1.25), adjusting for possible confounders. In analyses with time-varying CD4 and HIV viral load, people living with HIV with CD4 counts <200 cells/mm3 (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.28-1.92) or viral load >500 copies/mL (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.46-1.98) had increased SCD risk versus veterans without HIV. In contrast, people living with HIV who had CD4 cell counts >500 cells/mm3 (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90-1.18) or HIV viral load <500 copies/mL (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.87-1.09) were not at increased SCD risk. Conclusions HIV infection is associated with increased risk of WHO-defined SCD among those with elevated HIV viral load or low CD4 cell counts.

Predictors of incident SARS-CoV-2 infections in an international prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Until effective treatments and vaccines are made readily and widely available, preventative behavioural health measures will be central to the SARS-CoV-2 public health response. While current recommendations are grounded in general infectious disease prevention practices, it is still not entirely understood which particular behaviours or exposures meaningfully affect one's own risk of incident SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our objective is to identify individual-level factors associated with one's personal risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study of adult participants from 26 March 2020 to 8 October 2020.

SETTING

The COVID-19 Citizen Science Study, an international, community and mobile-based study collecting daily, weekly and monthly surveys in a prospective and time-updated manner.

PARTICIPANTS

All adult participants over the age of 18 years were eligible for enrolment.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

The primary outcome was incident SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed via PCR or antigen testing.

RESULTS

28 575 unique participants contributed 2 479 149 participant-days of data across 99 different countries. Of these participants without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection at the time of enrolment, 112 developed an incident infection. Pooled logistic regression models showed that increased age was associated with lower risk (OR 0.98 per year, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.00, p=0.019), whereas increased number of non-household contacts (OR 1.10 per 10 contacts, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.20, p=0.024), attending events of at least 10 people (OR 1.26 per 10 events, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.50, p=0.007) and restaurant visits (OR 1.95 per 10 visits, 95% CI 1.42 to 2.68, p<0.001) were associated with significantly higher risk of incident SARS-CoV-2 infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identified three modifiable health behaviours, namely the number of non-household contacts, attending large gatherings and restaurant visits, which may meaningfully influence individual-level risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2.

Coffee Consumption and Incident Tachyarrhythmias: Reported Behavior, Mendelian Randomization, and Their Interactions

Importance

The notion that caffeine increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmias is common. However, evidence that the consumption of caffeinated products increases the risk of arrhythmias remains poorly substantiated.

Objective

To assess the association between consumption of common caffeinated products and the risk of arrhythmias.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective cohort study analyzed longitudinal data from the UK Biobank between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2018. After exclusion criteria were applied, 386 258 individuals were available for analyses.

Exposures

Daily coffee intake and genetic polymorphisms that affect caffeine metabolism.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Any cardiac arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation or flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, premature atrial complexes, and premature ventricular complexes.

Results

A total of 386 258 individuals (mean [SD] age, 56 [8] years; 52.3% female) were assessed. During a mean (SD) follow-up of 4.5 (3.1) years, 16 979 participants developed an incident arrhythmia. After adjustment for demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, and lifestyle habits, each additional cup of habitual coffee consumed was associated with a 3% lower risk of incident arrhythmia (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.98; P < .001). In analyses of each arrhythmia alone, statistically significant associations exhibiting a similar magnitude were observed for atrial fibrillation and/or flutter (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.98; P < .001) and supraventricular tachycardia (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99; P = .002). Two distinct interaction analyses, one using a caffeine metabolism-related polygenic score of 7 genetic polymorphisms and another restricted to CYP1A2 rs762551 alone, did not reveal any evidence of effect modification. A mendelian randomization study that used these same genetic variants revealed no significant association between underlying propensities to differing caffeine metabolism and the risk of incident arrhythmia.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this prospective cohort study, greater amounts of habitual coffee consumption were associated with a lower risk of arrhythmia, with no evidence that genetically mediated caffeine metabolism affected that association. Mendelian randomization failed to provide evidence that caffeine consumption was associated with arrhythmias.

Pilot study of extended-release lorcaserin for cocaine use disorder among men who have sex with men: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial

Objective

To determine if men who have sex with men (MSM) with cocaine use disorder (CUD) and actively-using cocaine could be enrolled and retained in a pharmacologic intervention trial of lorcaserin—a novel 5-HT_2cR agonist—and determine the degree to which participants would adhere to study procedures.

Methods

This was a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study with 2:1 random parallel group assignment to daily extended-release oral lorcaserin 20 mg versus placebo (clinicaltrials.gov identifier-NCT03192995). Twenty-two of a planned 45 cisgender MSM with CUD were enrolled and had weekly follow-up visits during a 12-week treatment period, with substance use counseling, urine specimen collection, and completion of audio-computer assisted self-interview (ACASI) behavioral risk assessments. Adherence was measured by medication event monitoring systems (MEMS) caps and self-report. This study was terminated early because of an FDA safety alert for lorcaserin’s long-term use.

Results

Eighty-six percent completed the trial, with 82% of weekly study follow-up visits completed. Adherence was 55.3% (lorcaserin 51.6% vs. placebo 66.2%) by MEMS cap and 56.9% (56.5% vs. placebo 57.9%) by self-report and did not differ significantly by treatment assignment. Intention-to-treat analyses (ITT) did not show differences in cocaine positivity by urine screen between the lorcaserin and placebo groups by 12 week follow-up (incidence risk ratio [IRR]: 0.96; 95%CI = 0.24–3.82, P = 0.95). However, self-reported cocaine use in timeline follow-back declined more significantly in the lorcaserin group compared to placebo (IRR: 0.66; 95%CI = 0.49–0.88; P = 0.004).

Conclusion

We found that it is feasible, acceptable, and tolerable to conduct a placebo-controlled pharmacologic trial for MSM with CUD who are actively using cocaine. Lorcaserin was not associated with significant reductions in cocaine use by urine testing, but was associated with significant reductions in self-reported cocaine use. Future research may be needed to continue to explore the potential utility of 5-HT_2cR agonists.

Preventive Care Delivery After the Veterans Choice Program

INTRODUCTION

The Veterans Choice Program expanded Veteran access to community care. The Veterans Choice Program may negatively impact the receipt of preventive care services owing to care fragmentation. This study assesses 10 measures of preventive care in Veterans with the Department of Veterans Affairs coverage before and after the Veterans Choice Program.

METHODS

The study population included Veterans who responded to the National Health Interview Survey during the 2 time periods before and after Veterans Choice Program implementation: January 2011-October 2014 and November 2015-December 2018. Outcomes were preventive care services categorized as cardiovascular risk reduction (cholesterol monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, aspirin use), infectious disease prevention (influenza vaccination and HIV testing), and diabetes care (fasting blood glucose monitoring, podiatry visits, ophthalmology visits, influenza vaccination, and pneumonia vaccination). Two different analyses were conducted: (1) unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted pre-post analysis and (2) difference-in-differences analyses. Analyses were conducted in 2019.

RESULTS

Measures of cardiovascular risk reduction and influenza vaccination were not statistically different before and after Veterans Choice Program implementation using the 2 different analytic approaches. In unadjusted pre-post analysis, after Veterans Choice Program implementation, Veterans with Veterans Affairs coverage had increased HIV testing (66.1%‒75.4%, p=0.008), podiatry visits (22.4%‒38.3%, p=0.01), and ophthalmology visits (62.2%‒77.2%, p=0.02). Using multivariable adjustment for participant sociodemographic factors, Veterans Choice Program implementation was associated with higher odds of podiatry visits (AOR=2.28, 95% CI=1.24, 4.20, p=0.009) and ophthalmology visits (AOR=2.11, 95% CI=1.13, 3.94, p=0.02) among Veterans with diabetes. In difference-in-differences analyses, Veterans Choice Program implementation was associated with increased podiatry visits (AOR=2.95, 95% CI=1.49, 5.83, p=0.002) among Veterans with diabetes and Veterans Affairs coverage compared with that among those with other coverage types, but no statistically significant effect was observed for ophthalmology visits.

CONCLUSIONS

Veterans with Veterans Affairs coverage and diabetes had an increase in podiatry visits after Veterans Choice Program implementation. There was no evidence that Veterans Choice Program implementation had a negative impact on the receipt of preventive care services among Veterans with Veterans Affairs coverage.

Physical activity and atrial fibrillation: Data from wearable fitness trackers

BACKGROUND

Regular physical activity is an important determinant of cardiovascular health and quality of life. Previous investigations examining the association between exercise and atrial fibrillation (AF) have been limited by self-reported, retrospectively collected activity data.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to objectively quantify differences in daily physical activity among individuals with and those without AF using electronic wearable activity trackers.

METHODS

Daily exercise data were directly obtained from wrist-worn activity trackers (Fitbit, San Francisco, CA) among participants in the Health eHeart (HeH) study. Average daily step count was compared between individuals with and those without AF both before and after adjusting for comorbidities. AF severity was quantified using the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy of Life (AFEQT) survey.

RESULTS

Among 171,284 HeH study participants, 3333 individuals (234 with AF [7%]) submitted activity data. In unadjusted analysis, AF participants ambulated an average of 723 fewer steps per day (95% confidence interval [CI] 292-1154; P = .001) compared to individuals without AF. After adjustment for demographics and comorbid diseases, participants with AF demonstrated 591 fewer steps per day (95% CI 149-1033; P = .009). Among AF patients, AF severity was associated with less physical activity. For each single point decrease in AFEQT score (corresponding to more symptomatic AF), physical activity decreased by a mean 24 steps per day (95% CI 1-46; P = .04).

CONCLUSION

Objective, automatically collected step count data demonstrate that individuals with AF engage in significantly less average daily physical activity. In addition, worsening AF symptom severity is associated with reduced daily exercise.

Sudden Cardiac Death and Myocardial Fibrosis, Determined by Autopsy, in Persons with HIV

BACKGROUND

The incidence of sudden cardiac death and sudden death caused by arrhythmia, as determined by autopsy, in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has not been clearly established.

METHODS

Between February 1, 2011, and September 16, 2016, we prospectively identified all new deaths due to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest among persons 18 to 90 years of age, with or without known HIV infection, for comprehensive autopsy and toxicologic and histologic testing. We compared the rates of sudden cardiac death and sudden death caused by arrhythmia between groups.

RESULTS

Of 109 deaths from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest among 610 unexpected deaths in HIV-positive persons, 48 met World Health Organization criteria for presumed sudden cardiac death; of those, fewer than half (22) had an arrhythmic cause. A total of 505 presumed sudden cardiac deaths occurred between February 1, 2011, and March 1, 2014, in persons without known HIV infection. Observed incidence rates of presumed sudden cardiac death were 53.3 deaths per 100,000 person-years among persons with known HIV infection and 23.7 deaths per 100,000 person-years among persons without known HIV infection (incidence rate ratio, 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37 to 3.70). Observed incidence rates of sudden death caused by arrhythmia were 25.0 and 13.3 deaths per 100,000 person-years, respectively (incidence rate ratio, 1.87; 95% CI, 0.93 to 3.78). Among all presumed sudden cardiac deaths, death due to occult drug overdose was more common in persons with known HIV infection than in persons without known HIV infection (34% vs. 13%). Persons who were HIV-positive had higher histologic levels of interstitial myocardial fibrosis than persons without known HIV infection.

CONCLUSIONS

In this postmortem study, the rates of presumed sudden cardiac death and myocardial fibrosis were higher among HIV-positive persons than among those without known HIV infection. One third of apparent sudden cardiac deaths in HIV-positive persons were due to occult drug overdose. (Supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.).

Predictors of incident viral symptoms ascertained in the era of COVID-19

Background

In the absence of universal testing, effective therapies, or vaccines, identifying risk factors for viral infection, particularly readily modifiable exposures and behaviors, is required to identify effective strategies against viral infection and transmission.

Methods

We conducted a world-wide mobile application-based prospective cohort study available to English speaking adults with a smartphone. We collected self-reported characteristics, exposures, and behaviors, as well as smartphone-based geolocation data. Our main outcome was incident symptoms of viral infection, defined as fevers and chills plus one other symptom previously shown to occur with SARS-CoV-2 infection, determined by daily surveys.

Findings

Among 14, 335 participants residing in all 50 US states and 93 different countries followed for a median 21 days (IQR 10–26 days), 424 (3%) developed incident viral symptoms. In pooled multivariable logistic regression models, female biological sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.75, 95% CI 1.39–2.20, p<0.001), anemia (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.16–1.81, p = 0.001), hypertension (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.08–1.68, p = 0.007), cigarette smoking in the last 30 days (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.35–2.55, p<0.001), any viral symptoms among household members 6–12 days prior (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.67–2.55, p<0.001), and the maximum number of individuals the participant interacted with within 6 feet in the past 6–12 days (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06–1.25, p<0.001) were each associated with a higher risk of developing viral symptoms. Conversely, a higher subjective social status (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.83–0.93, p<0.001), at least weekly exercise (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.47–0.70, p<0.001), and sanitizing one’s phone (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63–0.99, p = 0.037) were each associated with a lower risk of developing viral symptoms.

Interpretation

While several immutable characteristics were associated with the risk of developing viral symptoms, multiple immediately modifiable exposures and habits that influence risk were also observed, potentially identifying readily accessible strategies to mitigate risk in the COVID-19 era.

Physical Activity and Hypertension From Young Adulthood to Middle Age

INTRODUCTION

The optimum physical activity dose to achieve during young adulthood to prevent hypertension using the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines remains undefined. This study aims to determine the association between level and change in physical activity through the adult life course and the onset of hypertension using these 2017 definitions.

METHODS

In 2020, prospective community-based cohort data of 5,115 Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study participants were analyzed. The cohort included Black and White men and women aged 18-30 years at baseline (1985-1986) at 4 urban sites, collected through 30 years of follow-up (2015-2016). Individualized physical activity trajectories were developed for each participant using linear mixed models.

RESULTS

Black women reported the lowest physical activity levels from young adulthood through middle age. Lower physical activity score (per 100 units) at age 18 years was associated with 4% (95% CI=1%, 7%, p=0.002) higher odds of hypertension incidence. Each additional 1-unit reduction per year in physical activity score was associated with 2% (95% CI=1%, 3%, p=0.001) higher annual odds of hypertension incidence. Meeting approximately the current minimum physical activity guideline levels at age 18 years and through follow-up was not protective of hypertension incidence; however, meeting approximately twice the current minimum physical activity guideline level at age 18 years and through follow-up was protective of hypertension incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate physical activity levels may need to exceed current minimum guidelines to prevent hypertension onset using 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association definitions.

Cumulative Marijuana Use and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness at Middle Age: The CARDIA Study

BACKGROUND

Long-term cardiovascular health effects of marijuana are understudied. Future cardiovascular disease is often indicated by subclinical atherosclerosis for which carotid intima-media thickness is an established parameter.

METHODS

Using the data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a cohort of 5115 Black and white women and men at Year 20 visit, we studied the association between carotid intima-media thickness in midlife and lifetime exposure to marijuana (1 marijuana year = 365 days of use) and tobacco smoking (1 pack-year = 20 cigarettes/day for 365 days). We measured carotid intima-media thickness by ultrasound and defined high carotid intima-media thickness at the threshold of the 75th percentile of all examined participants. We fit logistic regression models stratified by tobacco smoking exposure, adjusting for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and other drug exposures.

RESULTS

Data was complete for 3257 participants; 2722 (84%) reported ever marijuana use; 374 (11%) were current users; 1539 (47%) reported ever tobacco smoking; 610 (19%) were current smokers. Multivariable adjusted models showed no association between cumulative marijuana exposure and high carotid intima-media thickness in never or ever tobacco smokers, odds ratio (OR) 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63-1.21) at 1 marijuana-year among never smokers and OR 1.11 (95% CI: 0.85-1.45) among ever tobacco smokers. Cumulative exposure to tobacco was strongly associated with high carotid intima-media thickness, OR 1.88 (95%CI: 1.20-2.94) for 20 pack-years of exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

This study adds to the growing body of evidence that there might be no association between the average population level of marijuana use and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Factors associated with phosphatidylethanol (PEth) sensitivity for detecting unhealthy alcohol use: An individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Objective measurement of alcohol consumption is important for clinical care and research. Adjusting for self-reported alcohol use, we conducted an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis to examine factors associated with the sensitivity of phosphatidylethanol (PEth), an alcohol metabolite, among persons self-reporting unhealthy alcohol consumption.

METHODS

We identified 21 eligible studies and obtained 4073 observations from 3085 participants with Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) positive scores (≥3 for women and ≥4 for men) and PEth measurements. We conducted 1-step IPD meta-analysis using mixed effects models with random intercepts for study site. We examined the associations between demographic (sex, race/ethnicity, and age) and biologic (body mass index-BMI, hemoglobin, HIV status, liver fibrosis, and venous versus finger-prick blood collection) variables with PEth sensitivity (PEth≥8 ng/ml), adjusting for the level of self-reported alcohol use using the AUDIT-C score.

RESULTS

One third (31%) of participants were women, 32% were African, 28% African American, 28% White, and 12% other race/ethnicity. PEth sensitivity (i.e., ≥8 ng/ml) was 81.8%. After adjusting for AUDIT-C, we found no associations of sex, age, race/ethnicity, or method of blood collection with PEth sensitivity. In models that additionally included biologic variables, those with higher hemoglobin and indeterminate and advanced liver fibrosis had significantly higher odds of PEth sensitivity; those with higher BMI and those living with HIV had significantly lower odds of PEth sensitivity. African Americans and Africans had higher odds of PEth sensitivity than whites in models that included biologic variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Among people reporting unhealthy alcohol use, several biological factors (hemoglobin, BMI, liver fibrosis, and HIV status) were associated with PEth sensitivity. Race/ethnicity was associated with PEth sensitivity in some models but age, sex, and method of blood collection were not. Clinicians should be aware of these factors, and researchers should consider adjusting analyses for these characteristics where possible.

Factors Associated With Access to and Timing of Coronavirus Testing Among US Adults After Onset of Febrile Illness

Importance

Active SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) transmission continues in the US. It is unclear whether better access to coronavirus testing and more consistent use of testing could substantially reduce transmission.

Objective

To describe coronavirus testing in persons with new onset of febrile illness and analyze whether there are changes over time and differences by race and ethnicity.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used data from the COVID-19 Citizen Science Study, launched in March 2020, which recruited participants via press release, word-of-mouth, and partner organizations. Participants completed daily surveys about COVID-19 symptoms and weekly surveys about coronavirus testing. All adults (aged at least 18 years) with a smartphone were eligible to join. For this analysis, US participants with new onset of febrile illness from April 2020 to October 2020 were included. Data analysis was performed from November 2020 to March 2021.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Receipt of a coronavirus test result within 7 days of febrile illness onset.

Results

Of the 2679 participants included in this analysis, the mean (SD) age was 46.3 (13.4) years, 1983 were female (74%), 2017 were college educated (75%), and a total of 3865 distinct new febrile illness episodes were reported (300 episodes [7.8%] from Hispanic participants, 71 episodes [1.8%] from Black participants, and 3494 episodes [90.4%] from not Black, not Hispanic participants) between April 2 and October 23, 2020. In weekly surveys delivered during the 14 days after fever onset, 12% overall (753 participants) indicated receipt of a test result. Using serial survey responses and parametric time-to-event modeling, it was estimated that by 7 days after onset of febrile illness, a total of 20.5% (95% CI, 19.1%-22.0%) had received a test result. This proportion increased from 9.8% (95% CI, 7.5%-12.0%) early in the epidemic to 24.1% (95% CI, 21.5%-26.7%) at the end of July, but testing rates did not substantially improve since then, increasing to 25.9% (95% CI; 21.6%-30.3%) in late October at the start of the winter surge. Black participants reported receiving a test result about half as often as others (7% [7 of 103] of survey responses vs 12% [53 of 461] for Hispanic vs 13% [693 of 5516] for not Black, not Hispanic; P = .03). This association was not statistically significant in adjusted time-to-event models (hazard ratio = 0.59 vs not Black, not Hispanic participants; 95% CI, 0.26-1.34).

Conclusions and Relevance

Systematic underuse of coronavirus testing was observed in this cohort study through late October 2020, at the beginning of the winter COVID-19 surge, which may have contributed to preventable coronavirus transmission.

Examining if the relationship between BMI and incident type 2 diabetes among middle-older aged adults varies by race/ethnicity: evidence from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

AIMS

Disparities persist on the prevalence of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in racial/ethnic minorities in the USA. This study evaluated the association between BMI and incident type 2 diabetes risk by racial/ethnic group, to determine whether BMI and presence of type 2 diabetes risk factors may help clinicians better target type 2 diabetes screening.

METHODS

This prospective cohort analysis included 5659 adults free of type 2 diabetes at baseline from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a population-based cohort (2000-2011). BMI was measured at baseline and time-updated at subsequent visits. Incident type 2 diabetes was defined as fasting glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l, or use of any diabetes medications.

RESULTS

The mean (sd) age was 62 (10) years and 42% of participants were white, 26% African American, 20% Hispanic and 12% Chinese American. During follow-up, 696 (12%) new type 2 diabetes cases were observed. In age- and sex-adjusted models, in the presence of one or more type 2 diabetes risk factors (the most common scenario), a 10% risk of incident type 2 diabetes was observed at a BMI of 21.7 kg/m² [95% confidence interval (CI) 20.1 to 22.8] in Chinese Americans, 23.8 kg/m² (22.7 to 24.9) in Hispanics, 24.7 kg/m² (23.7 to 25.6) in African Americans and 26.2 kg/m² (25.1 to 26.9) in white participants.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports including BMI and presence of type 2 diabetes risk factors as action points for clinicians to prioritize which adults aged ≥ 45 years should be screened. The application of race/ethnicity-specific BMI thresholds may reduce the disparity of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes observed in minority groups.

Factors Predisposing to Survival After Resuscitation for Sudden Cardiac Arrest

BACKGROUND

In the POST SCD study, the authors autopsied all World Health Organization (WHO)-defined sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs) and found that only 56% had an arrhythmic cause; resuscitated sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs) were excluded because they did not die suddenly. They hypothesized that causes underlying resuscitated SCAs would be similarly heterogeneous.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the causes and outcomes of resuscitated SCAs.

METHODS

The authors identified all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) from February 1, 2011, to January 1, 2015, of patients aged 18 to 90 years in San Francisco County. Resuscitated SCAs were OHCAs surviving to hospitalization and meeting WHO criteria for suddenness. Underlying cause was determined by comprehensive record review.

RESULTS

The authors identified 734 OHCAs over 48 months; 239 met SCA criteria, 133 (55.6%) were resuscitated to hospitalization, and 47 (19.7%) survived to discharge. Arrhythmic causes accounted for significantly more resuscitated SCAs overall (92 of 133, 69.1%), particularly among survivors (43 of 47, 91.5%), than WHO-defined SCDs in POST SCD (293 of 525, 55.8%; p < 0.004 for both). Among resuscitated SCAs, arrhythmic cause, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation initial rhythm, and white race were independent predictors of survival. None of the resuscitated SCAs due to neurologic causes survived.

CONCLUSIONS

In this 4-year countywide study of OHCAs, only one-third were sudden, of which one-half were resuscitated to hospitalization and 1 in 5 survived to discharge. Arrhythmic cause predicted survival and nearly one-half of nonsurvivors had nonarrhythmic causes, suggesting that SCA survivors are not equivalent to SCDs. Early identification of nonarrhythmic SCAs, such as neurologic emergencies, may be a target to improve OHCA survival.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors Across the Life Course and Cognitive Decline: A Pooled Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are associated with increased risk of cognitive decline, but little is known about how early adult CVRFs and those across the life course might influence late-life cognition. To test the hypothesis that CVRFs across the adult life course are associated with late-life cognitive changes, we pooled data from 4 prospective cohorts (n = 15,001, ages 18-95).

METHODS

We imputed trajectories of body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose (FG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and total cholesterol (TC) for older adults. We used linear mixed models to determine the association of early adult, midlife, and late-life CVRFs with late-life decline on global cognition (Modified Mini-Mental State Examination [3MS]) and processing speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test [DSST]), adjusting for demographics, education, and cohort.

RESULTS

Elevated BMI, FG, and SBP (but not TC) at each time period were associated with greater late-life decline. Early life CVRFs were associated with the greatest change, an approximate doubling of mean 10-year decline (an additional 3-4 points for 3MS or DSST). Late-life CVRFs were associated with declines in early late life (<80 years) but with gains in very late life (≥80 years). After adjusting for CVRF exposures at all time periods, the associations for early adult and late-life CVRFs persisted.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that imputed CVRFs across the life course, especially in early adulthood, were associated with greater late-life cognitive decline. Our results suggest that CVRF treatment in early adulthood could benefit late-life cognition, but that treatment in very late life may not be as helpful for these outcomes.