Does the flushing response modify the relationship between alcohol intake and hypertension in the Japanese population? NIPPON DATA2010

Asian flush is a potential protective factor against COVID-19: a web-based retrospective survey in Japan

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first reported in December 2019, spread worldwide in a short period, resulting in numerous cases and associated deaths; however, the toll was relatively low in East Asia. A genetic polymorphism unique to East Asians, Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 rs671, has been reported to confer protection against infections.

METHOD

We retrospectively investigated the association between the surrogate marker of the rs671 variant, the skin flushing phenomenon after alcohol consumption, and the timing of COVID-19 incidence using a web-based survey tool to test any protective effects of rs671 against COVID-19.

RESULTS

A total of 807 valid responses were received from 362 non-flushers and 445 flushers. During the 42 months, from 12/1/2019 to 5/31/2023, 40.6% of non-flushers and 35.7% of flushers experienced COVID-19. Flushers tended to have a later onset (Spearman's partial rank correlation test, p = 0.057, adjusted for sex and age). Similarly, 2.5% of non-flushers and 0.5% of flushers were hospitalized because of COVID-19. Survival analysis estimated lower risks of COVID-19 and associated hospitalization among flushers (p = 0.03 and <0.01, respectively; generalized Wilcoxon test). With the Cox proportional hazards model covering 21 months till 8/31/2021, when approximately half of the Japanese population had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of COVID-19 incidence was estimated to be 0.21 (0.10-0.46) for flusher versus non-flusher, with adjustment for sex, age, steroid use, and area of residence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests an association between the flushing phenomenon after drinking and a decreased risk of COVID-19 morbidity and hospitalization, suggesting that the rs671 variant is a protective factor. This study provides valuable information for infection control and helps understand the unique constitutional diversity of East Asians.

Race- and sex-specific association between alcohol consumption and hypertension in 22 cohort studies: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The alcohol-hypertension relation has been well documented, but whether women have protective effect or race and type of beverage consumed affect the association remain unclear. To quantify the relation between total or beverage-specific alcohol consumption and incident hypertension by considering the effect of sex and race.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Articles were identified in PubMed and Embase databases with no restriction on publication date. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by random effects models. Restricted cubic splines were used to model the dose-response association. This study involved 22 articles (31 studies) and included 414,477 participants. The hypertension risk was different among liquor, wine, and beer at 5.1-10 g/d of ethanol consumption (P_{-across subgroups} = 0.002). The hypertension risk differed between men (RR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.20) and women (RR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.89, 1.06) at 10 g/d (P_{-across subgroups} = 0.005). We found a linear alcohol-hypertension association among white (P-_linearity = 0.017), black people (P-_linearity = 0.035), and Asians (P-_linearity<0.001). With 10 g/d increment of consumption, the RRs for hypertension were 1.06 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.08), 1.14 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.28), and 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.10) for Asians, black, and white people, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Sex modifies the alcohol-hypertension association at low level of alcohol consumption and we did not find evidence of a protective effect of alcohol consumption among women. Black people may have higher hypertension risk than Asians and white people at the same ethanol consumption.

Association between alcohol consumption and hypertension in Chinese adults: Findings from the CHNS

OBJECTIVES

To obtain information about alcohol consumption (henceforth "drinking") among Chinese adults from 1991 to 2011, and to explore the association between drinking behavior and hypertension.

METHODS

According to the longitudinal data obtained in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1991-2011), 50,013 records of 12,577 adults were selected by applying eligibility criteria. The chi-test was employed to explore the association between drinking and hypertension, by considering the frequency of drinking, daily alcohol intake, alcohol type, and the prevalence of hypertension. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to analyze the longitudinal association between drinking frequency and the prevalence of hypertension.

RESULTS

The prevalence of hypertension was higher in participants with a high drinking frequency than in those with a low drinking frequency among both males and females (p < 0.001). A step increase in daily alcohol intake was not associated with any obvious changes in the prevalence of hypertension in males, but the prevalence in each drinking group was higher than that in the nondrinking group, the prevalence of hypertension in females was lowest among those with a daily alcohol intake below 15 g. The types of alcohol consumed differed significantly between males and females (p < 0.001). Longitudinal analysis results showed that compared with the nondrinking group, drinking frequency ≤2 times/week was positively correlated with hypertension in both males (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.26-1.82, p < 0.001) and females (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.08-2.58, p < 0.05) after adjusting for covariates, meanwhile, the same positive correlation also occurred in males with drinking frequency >2 times/week (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.77-2.56, p < 0.05), the risk of hypertension increased with the increase in drinking frequency.

CONCLUSIONS

Drinking can increase the prevalence of hypertension in Chinese males and females. From the analysis results of longitudinal data, drinking alcohol is still an important risk factor for hypertension among Chinese subjects, especially those who drink with high frequency.

Dietary Inflammatory Index Positively Associated With High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Level in Japanese From NIPPON DATA2010

Background

It has been reported that chronic inflammation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of several serious diseases and could be modulated by diet. Recently, the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII^®) was developed to assess the inflammatory potential of the overall diet. The DII has been reported as relevant to various diseases but has not been validated in Japanese. Thus, in the present study, we analyzed the relationship between DII scores and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in a Japanese population.

Methods

Data of the National Integrated Project for Prospective Observation of Non-communicable Disease and its Trends in the Aged 2010 (NIPPON DATA2010), which contained 2,898 participants aged 20 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Survey of Japan (NHNS2010), were analyzed. Nutrient intakes derived from 1-day semi-weighing dietary records were used to calculate DII scores. Energy was adjusted using the residual method. Levels of hs-CRP were evaluated using nephelometric immunoassay. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed.

Results

After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, BMI, and physical activity, a significant association was observed between DII scores and log(CRP+1) (standard regression coefficient = 0.05, P < 0.01). Although it was not statistically significant, the positive association was consistently observed in almost all age-sex subgroups and the non-smoker subgroup.

Conclusions

The current study confirmed that DII score was positively associated with hs-CRP in Japanese.

Associations between Socioeconomic Status and the Prevalence and Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia in a General Japanese Population: NIPPON DATA2010

AIM

To investigate associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and the prevalence and treatment status of hypercholesterolemia in a general Japanese population.

METHODS

In 2010, we established a cohort study of 2417 adults (age 20-91 yr) from 300 randomly selected areas across Japan who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Survey of Japan. We cross-sectionally examined an association between SES and (1) prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in 2417 participants (999 men and 1418 women) and (2) not receiving medication for hypercholesterolemia in 654 participants (215 men and 439 women). SES included employment status, marital status, length of education, and household expenditures. Hypercholesterolemia was defined as a total serum cholesterol level of ≥6.21 mmol/L (240 mg/dL) or the use of lipid-lowering medications.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 21.5% in men and 31.0% in women. In men, the lowest quintile of household expenditures was associated with a higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (28.3%) compared with the upper 4 quintiles (19.9%) (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-2.38). Among participants with hypercholesterolemia, 55.4% of men and 55.1% of women were not receiving medication. Unmarried men were more likely to be untreated (75.0%) than married men (50.9%) (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio 2.53;95%CI 1.05-6.08). SES had no significant effects in women.

CONCLUSION

In a general population of Japanese men, low household expenditures were associated with a higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, and unmarried men with hypercholesterolemia were less likely to receive medication.

Differences in prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in urban and rural residents of the northeastern region of the People's Republic of China: A cross-sectional study

Background

Hypertension is a significant global public health problem and recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study was designed to assess the current prevalence of hypertension and to explore risk factors associated with hypertension by urban and rural status to guide the prevention and control of hypertension in Jilin province.

Methods

A multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method was used to obtain data on hypertension, which was investigated by physical examination and face-to-face questionnaire in July 2014-December 2015. Sample data were analyzed by complex weighted statistical analysis to estimate blood pressure levels and prevalence of hypertension in the province. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing hypertension rates.

Results

The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in rural areas than urban areas (25.93% versus 22.73%, respectively). The rates of hypertension known (46.7% versus 38.1%, respectively), control (13.7% versus 5.0%, respectively), and controlled among treated subjects (38.3% versus 17.5%, respectively) were higher in urban areas than in rural areas (all p < 0.001), while the treatment rate was not statistically significantly different between urban and rural areas (35.9% versus 28.4%, respectively). After adjusting for demographic covariates, hypertension prevalence in rural areas was still significantly greater than in urban areas (adjusted OR = 1.22; 95%CI: 1.10, 1.36; p < 0.001). Common risk factors for hypertension among urban and rural residents included older age; male; married; employed; less education; overweight/obese; greater abdominal waist circumference; family history of hypertension, stroke, or coronary heart disease; current smoker; alcohol consumption; higher visceral adiposity index; and higher body fat percentage.

Conclusions

This study identified an increased risk for hypertension in rural regions of Jilin province, suggesting that rural hypertension screening and treatment guidelines should receive greater attention.

Differences in Lifestyle Improvements With the Intention to Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases by Socioeconomic Status in a Representative Japanese Population: NIPPON DATA2010

BACKGROUND

The relationships among socioeconomic status and lifestyle improvements have not yet been examined in a representative Japanese population.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 2,647 participants (1,087 men and 1,560 women) who participated in NIPPON DATA2010. This survey inquired about lifestyle improvements and socioeconomic status. Education was categorized as low (≤9 years), middle (10-12 years), and high (≥13 years). Marital status was categorized as married, divorced, widowed, and never married/other. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of lifestyle improvements with the intention of preventing cardiovascular diseases for educational attainment and marital status, with adjustments for age and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,507 (56.9%) participants practiced prevention and improvements in hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome, and the OR of lifestyle improvements was significantly higher with a high education than with a low education in men (OR 2.86; 95% CI, 1.96-4.17) and women (OR 2.36; 95% CI, 1.67-3.33). The number of participants who practiced prevention and improvements in hypertension, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome was significantly lower in divorced than in married men (OR 0.46; 95% CI, 0.22-0.95) and women (OR 0.53; 95% CI, 0.33-0.86).

CONCLUSIONS

Specific differences caused by educational attainment and marital status may exist in lifestyle improvements.

Relationships among Food Group Intakes, Household Expenditure, and Education Attainment in a General Japanese Population: NIPPON DATA2010

BACKGROUND

A lower socioeconomic status (SES) may be related to the intake of unhealthy food; however, this relationship has not been examined in detail. This study was undertaken to examine relationships among food group intakes and SES in a representative Japanese population.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study using the baseline data of NIPPON DATA2010, which is a prospective cohort study of the National Health and Nutrition Survey in Japan. A total of 2,898 participants were included in the baseline survey in 2010. The effects of age (<65 years and ≥65 years), equivalent household expenditure (EHE), and education attainment on food group intakes (gram per 1,000 kcal) were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

When EHE was lower, cereal intake was higher in men and women. Among men, fish, milk, and alcohol intakes were reduced with lower EHE. Among women, vegetable intake was reduced with lower EHE. In men and women, cereal intake was higher with lower education attainment. In contrast, meat intake was reduced with lower education attainment.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower SES was associated with a higher cereal intake and lower vegetable, fish, meat, and milk intakes in a representative Japanese population. Socioeconomic discrepancies need to be considered in order to promote healthier dietary habits.

Impacts of chronic kidney disease and diabetes on cardiovascular mortality in a general Japanese population: A 20-year follow-up of the NIPPON DATA90 study

Background Studies have shown significant associations of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. The impact on the general population is an important public health issue. However, the population attributable fraction (PAF) of CVD because of CKD and/or DM in a general population is uncertain. Methods We followed 7229 participants (age: ≥30 years) with no history of CVD in a Japanese community. We divided participants into four categories according to CKD and/or DM and calculated hazard ratios (HRs) of CVD mortality for each category using a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, dyslipidemia, smoking and alcohol consumption. In addition, PAFs of CVD were estimated among populations with CKD and/or DM. Results During 20-year follow-up, 488 participants died. HRs for CVD were 1.63 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16-2.30] with DM only, 1.42 (95% CI: 1.08-1.86) with CKD only and 2.37 (95% CI: 1.40-4.01) with CKD + DM. In men, the corresponding HRs for CVD were 1.88 (95% CI: 1.19-2.97), 1.71 (95% CI: 1.15-2.56) and 3.26 (95% CI: 1.69-6.30), respectively; the corresponding PAFs of CVD were 4.1%, 5.1% and 2.9%, respectively. PAFs for CVD among women were lower than those in men, 1.6% for DM only, 2.0% for CKD only and 0.7% for CKD + DM. Conclusions PAFs of CVD mortality due to CKD and/or DM were not so high in past 20 years; however, they might increase in the future because of recent increase in prevalence of these in Japanese population.