Obesity and overweight prevalence and its association with undiagnosed hypertension in Shanghai population, China: a cross-sectional population-based survey

Increased Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index Was Associated with Type 2 Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Chinese Population

Background

Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), a novel inflammatory marker, has been demonstrated to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its vascular complications, however, the relation between SII and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) has been never reported. We aimed to explore whether SII is associated with DPN in Chinese population.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1460 hospitalized patients with T2DM. SII was calculated as the platelet count × neutrophil count/lymphocyte count, and its possible association with DPN was investigated by correlation and multivariate logistic regression analysis, and subgroup analyses.

Results

Patients with higher SII quartiles had higher vibration perception threshold and prevalence of DPN (all P<0.01), and SII was independently positively associated with the prevalence of DPN (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of prevalence of DPN increased progressively across SII quartiles (P for trend <0.01), and participants in the highest quartile of SII was at a significantly increased risk of prevalent DPN compared to those in the lowest quartile after adjustment for potential confounding factors (odds rate: 1.211, 95% confidence intervals 1.045-1.404, P<0.05). Stratified analysis revealed positive associations of SII quartiles with risk of prevalent DPN only in men, people less than 65 years old, with body mass index <24 kg/m2, duration of diabetes >5 years, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, poor glycaemic control, and estimated glomerular filtration rate <90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P for trend <0.01 or P for trend <0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off point of SII for predicting DPN was 617.67 in patients with T2DM, with a sensitivity of 45.3% and a specificity of 73%.

Conclusion

The present study showed that higher SII is independently associated with increased risk of DPN, and SII might serve as a new risk biomarker for DPN in Chinese population.

Obesity and Its Association with Undiagnosed Diabetes Mellitus, High Blood Pressure and Hypercholesterolemia in the Malaysian Adult Population: A National Cross-Sectional Study Using NHMS Data

This study aimed to report the prevalence of obesity, classified using Asian cut-off, and its relationships with undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and hypercholesteremia. We analyzed the nationally representative data from 14,025 Malaysian adults who participated in the NHMS 2015. The relationship between obesity and undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and hypercholesteremia was determined using multivariable logistic regressions, and lifestyle risk factors and sociodemographic characteristics were adjusted. The undiagnosed high blood pressure group showed the highest proportionate of overweight/obese (80.0%, 95% CI: 78.1-81.8) and central obesity (61.8%, 95% CI: 59.3-64.2). Inverse association was observed between underweight with undiagnosed high blood pressure (aOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.26-0.61) and hypercholesterolemia (aOR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.59-0.95) groups. In contrast, positive relationships were shown between overweight/obese and risk of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (aOR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.31-2.07), high blood pressure (aOR: 3.08, 95% CI: 2.60-3.63), and hypercholesterolemia (aOR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.22-1.53). Likewise, central obesity was positively associated with a risk of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (aOR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.17-1.67), high blood pressure (aOR: 2.83, 95% CI: 2.45-3.26), and hypercholesterolemia (aOR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.12-1.42). Our findings indicated the importance of periodical health examinations to assess the risk of non-communicable diseases among the general and abdominal obese Malaysian adults.

The effects of the interaction between BMI and dyslipidemia on hypertension in adults

Body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia are indicators of human health and are often associated with high blood pressure. In this study,we explored the relationship between BMI or dyslipidemia and the risk of hypertension and further verified the possible interacting influences of BMI with dyslipidemia on the risk of hypertension. The aim is to explore the possible risk factors of hypertension and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Eligible subjects were selected from a cross-sectional survey in Changsha City, and we collected relevant data and clinical indicators for each participant. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg)/height² (m²), and divided into four categories according to the Chinese standard. Dyslipidemia is defined according to Chinese guideline. Unconditional logistic regression models were used for dichotomous variables to determine the risk or protective factors of dependent variables. Multivariate Logistic model was used to study the influence of BMI and dyslipidemia on hypertension. The following indicators were used to assess the interaction effects: (1) Relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI); (2) Attributable proportion due to interaction(AP); (3) Synergy index (SI). SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. A total of 2740 eligible participants were enrolled in the cross-sectional study, of which 765 subjects (27.9%) were diagnosed with hypertension. Multivariate Logistic model showed that overweight (OR: 1.70, 95%CI: 1.39–2.09) or obese (OR: 2.60, 95%CI: 1.84–3.66) subjects had a significantly higher risk of hypertension than normal weight people, and underweight was a protective factor for hypertension(OR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.29–0.93). People with dyslipidemia have a higher risk of hypertension than those with normal lipids (OR: 3.05, 95%CI: 2.36–3.90). In addition,there was a significant potentiating interaction effect between overweight or obesity and dyslipidemia(overweight: RERI (1.91, 95%CI: 0.17–3.66), AP (0.40, 95%CI:0.14–0.66), SI (2.03, 95%CI:1.11–3.74) and obesity: RERI (2.20, 95%CI:1.01–3.40), AP (0.38, 95%CI:0.18–0.58), SI (1.84, 95%CI:1.18–2.89), while no interaction was found between underweight and dyslipidemia. Low body weight is an independent protective factor for hypertension, but overweight, obesity and dyslipidemia are risk factors for hypertension, and dyslipidemia significantly shared interactions with overweight and obesity that influenced the risk of hypertension.

Obesity predisposes to the risk of higher mortality in young COVID-19 patients

Although emerging data demonstrated mortality of young COVID-19 patients, no data have reported the risk factors of mortality for these young patients, and whether obesity is a risk for young COVID-19 patients remains unknown. We conducted a retrospective study including 13 young patients who died of COVID-19 and 40 matched survivors. Logistic regression was employed to characterize the risk factors of mortality in young obese COVID-19 patients. Most of the young deceased COVID-19 patients were mild cases at the time of admission, but the disease progressed rapidly featured by a higher severity of patchy shadows (100.00% vs 48.70%; P = .006), pleural thickening (61.50% vs 12.80%; P = .012), and mild pericardial effusion (76.90% vs 0.00%; P < .001). Most importantly, the deceased patients manifested higher body mass index (odds ratio [OR] = 1.354; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.075-1.704; P = .010), inflammation-related index C-reactive protein (OR = 1.014; 95% CI = 1.003-1.025; P = .014), cardiac injury biomarker hs-cTnI (OR = 1.420; 95% CI = 1.112-1.814; P = .005), and increased coagulation activity biomarker D-dimer (OR = 418.7; P = .047), as compared with that of survivors. Our data support that obesity could be a risk factor associated with high mortality in young COVID-19 patients, whereas aggravated inflammatory response, enhanced cardiac injury, and increased coagulation activity are likely to be the mechanisms contributing to the high mortality.

High prevalence of non-communicable diseases and associated risk factors amongst adults living with HIV in Cambodia

Background

With rapid expansion of antiretroviral therapy for HIV, there are rising life expectancies among people living with HIV. As a result, co-morbidity from non-communicable diseases in those living and aging with HIV is increasingly being reported. Published data on this issue have been limited in Cambodia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia and associated risk factors in adults living with HIV in Cambodia.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in five provinces of Cambodia from May-June 2015. Information was obtained on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, and anthropometric and biochemical measurements were performed. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed with fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dl, hypertension with systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg and hypercholesterolemia with fasting blood cholesterol ≥190 mg/dl. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to explore risk factors.

Results

The study sample included 510 adults living with HIV; 67% were female, with a mean age of 45 (standard deviation = 8) years. Of these, 8.8% had diabetes mellitus, 15.1% had hypertension and 34.7% had hypercholesterolemia. Of the total participants with non-communicable diseases (n = 244), 47.8% had one or more diseases, and 75% were not aware of their diseases prior to the study: new disease was diagnosed in 90% of diabetes mellitus, 44% of hypertension and 90% of hypercholesterolemia. Single disease occurred in 81%, dual disease in 17% and triple disease in 2%. In adjusted analyses, those consuming 1 serving of fruit compare to 2 servings as significantly with diabetes mellitus, those eating 1 serving of fruit compare to 2 servings and using lard for cooking were significantly associated with hypertension, and those being unemployed, having monthly income less than 100 USD and being underweighted were significantly associated with hypercholesterolemia.

Conclusions

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in adults living with HIV in this study was considerably high, with most of these diseases newly identified through active screening in the survey. These findings strongly suggest that screening of non-communicable diseases should be integrated into routine HIV care in Cambodia.

Prevalence of grade 1, 2 and 3 thinness is associated with lower socio-economic status in children in Shanghai, China

Objective

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of grade 1, 2 and 3 thinness among Chinese children and to explore their associations with socio-economic status (SES).

Design

A population, school-based cross-sectional study using multistage, stratified cluster random sampling. Grade 1, 2 and 3 thinness, overweight, obesity and severe obesity were defined by the International Obesity Task Force BMI cut-offs.

Setting

Seven districts of Shanghai, China.

Subjects

Chinese children aged 3–12 years (n 84 075).

Results

In boys and girls, respectively, the prevalence of grade 1 thinness was 8·89 % and 11·78 %, of grade 2 thinness was 2·80 % and 3·74 %, and of grade 3 thinness was 2·23 % and 2·93 %. Compared with urban children, suburban children had higher prevalence of thinness. Children whose parent had low education had higher prevalence of grade 1, 2 and 3 thinness than those whose parent had high education. The prevalence of grade 2 and 3 thinness, obesity and severe obesity in low-SES children was higher than that in high-SES children, and the prevalence of grade 1 thinness was lower than that in high-SES children. Particular patterns of prevalence of grade 1, 2 and 3 thinness appeared in low-, middle- and high-SES children.

Conclusions

The study describes associations of SES with grade 1, 2 and 3 thinness, overweight, obesity and severe obesity in Shanghai children. The patterns of thinness and obesity in Shanghai provide further insights into BMI patterns in mega-cities in developing countries.

Screening for hypertension among adults: community outreach in Cairo, Egypt

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown alarming levels of hypertension among adults in the Middle East. The aim of our study is to measure the prevalence rate of hypertension among adults in Cairo (Egypt), identify possible risk factors for the development of hypertension and assess the rates of undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension.

METHODS

Cluster sampling was utilized and the fieldwork was conducted by 12 teams; each team consisted of a house officer, community worker and senior epidemiologist. A formulated questionnaire that addresses risk factors for hypertension was filled by all participants. Also, weight and height measurements were done to calculate the body mass index. Blood pressure measurement was done by calibrated sphygmomanometers. Blood pressure measurement was done twice, and a mean recording was calculated. A case which recorded both systolic blood pressure of ≥140 and diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 was considered hypertensive.

RESULTS

The study included 774 adult residents of Al-Waily District (Western Zone of Cairo) in late 2011 and early 2012. The mean age of the study participants was 46.5 (SD 17.9) years. Female subjects constituted 67.1% of the studied sample. The prevalence rate of hypertension in our study was 16.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 13.9-19.3). The rate of hypertension was higher among females and three times higher among obese compared with normal or overweight adults. The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 11% (95% CI: 8.4-13.9), and uncontrolled hypertension was 30% (95% CI: 24.2-37).

CONCLUSIONS

Community outreach campaigns should be conducted regularly in the future for early detection of hypertension cases and proper health education about hypertension and its dangerous consequences.

Longitudinal trends in prostate cancer incidence, mortality, and survival of patients from two Shanghai city districts: a retrospective population-based cohort study, 2000-2009

Background

Prostate cancer is the fifth most common cancer affecting men of all ages in China, but robust surveillance data on its occurrence and outcome is lacking. The specific objective of this retrospective study was to analyze the longitudinal trends of prostate cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in Shanghai from 2000 to 2009.

Methods

A retrospective population-based cohort study was performed using data from a central district (Putuo) and a suburban district (Jiading) of Shanghai. Records of all prostate cancer cases reported to the Shanghai Cancer Registry from 2000 to 2009 for the two districts were reviewed. Prostate cancer outcomes were ascertained by matching cases with individual mortality data (up to 2010) from the National Death Register. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze factors associated with prostate cancer survival.

Results

A total of 1022 prostate cancer cases were diagnosed from 2000 to 2009. The average age of patients was 75 years. A rapid increase in incidence occurred during the study period. Compared with the year 2000, 2009 incidence was 3.28 times higher in Putuo and 5.33 times higher in Jiading. Prostate cancer mortality declined from 4.45 per 10⁵ individuals per year in 2000 to 1.94 per 10⁵ in 2009 in Putuo and from 5.45 per 10⁵ to 3.5 per 10⁵ in Jiading during the same period. One-year and 5-year prostate cancer survival rates were 95% and 56% in Putuo, and 88% and 51% in Jiading, respectively. Staging of disease, Karnofsky Performance Scale Index, and selection of chemotherapy were three independent factors influencing the survival of prostate cancer patients.

Conclusions

The prostate cancer incidence increased rapidly from 2000 to 2009, and prostate cancer survival rates decreased in urban and suburban Chinese populations. Early detection and prompt prostate cancer treatment is important for improving health and for increasing survival rates of the Shanghai male population.

Total serum calcium level may have adverse effects on serum cholesterol and triglycerides among female university faculty and staffs

Our previous studies showed that serum calcium level may have influence in the blood pressure to older male subjects, but the relationship between serum calcium level and blood lipids is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between total serum calcium level and blood lipids. In our study, total serum calcium level and blood lipids were measured among 1,075 subjects, with age range of 30-60 years, who were recruited for the routine health screening in 2006. The results showed that serum calcium level was positively correlated with triglyceride and total cholesterol weight, but not HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in female subjects (P < 0.05). No correlation was found between total serum calcium level and blood lipids in male subjects (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that a higher total serum calcium level may have a adverse effects on serum cholesterol and triglycerides among female subjects.

The prevalence, predictors and associations of hypertension in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional population based national survey

We studied the community prevalence, patterns and predictors of hypertension in a large sub-population of South Asian adults with a view of identifying differential risk factors. Data were collected between years 2005-2006 and 5000 adults were invited for the study. The sample size was 4485, and about 39.5% were males. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 127.1 ± 19.8 mmHg and 75.4 ± 11.3 mmHg, respectively. Age-adjusted prevalence in all adults, males and females was 23.7%, 23.4% and 23.8%, respectively. Urban adults had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension than rural adults. In the binary logistic-regression analysis, male gender (OR: 1.2), increasing age, Sri Lankan Moor ethnicity (OR: 1.6), physical inactivity (OR: 1.7), presence of diabetes (OR: 2.2) and central obesity (OR: 2.3) all were significantly associated with hypertension. In conclusion, nearly one-third of the Sri Lankan adult population is hypertensive. Hence, public health initiatives should encourage healthier lifestyles with emphasis on preventing obesity and increasing physical activity.

Overweight and obesity associated with increased total serum calcium level: comparison of cross-sectional data in the health screening for teaching faculty

Obesity is a risk of cardiovascular diseases. Our previous studies revealed that serum calcium level may have influence in the blood pressure to older male subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between total serum calcium level and overweight and obesity subjects. In our study, overweight and obesity status and total serum calcium level were measured among 2,503 subjects, at age range of 22-94 years, who were recruited for the routine health screening in 2006. The estimated mean for age (p < 0.001), white blood cell count (p = 0.037), hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001), red blood cell count (p < 0.001), total serum calcium level (p < 0.001), total cholesterol weight (p < 0.001), HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001), and triglyceride (p < 0.001) of overweight and obesity subjects were significantly higher than those of non-overweight subjects. The prevalence of overweight/obesity in subjects according to the log-transformed total serum calcium level quartiles was 16.3-30.5 %. The prevalence of overweight/obesity subjects showed trends that were significant according to the total serum calcium level quartiles (p < 0.001). The odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for overweight/obesity of the second, third, and fourth quartiles compared to the lowest quartile were 1.407 (1.050-1.883), 1.543 (1.136-2.095), and 1.360 (0.995-1.859), respectively, after adjusting for sex and age (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that a higher prevalence of adult overweight/obesity is weakly associated with higher total serum calcium level in the Chinese population.