The association of four-limb blood pressure differences with cardiovascular risk factors and target organ changes in elderly Chinese: The Northern Shanghai Study

Increasing the frequency of plant-based food intake in daily diets reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease among elderly Chinese: a cohort study

Objective

There is limited research on the relationship between the frequency of plant-based food intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among elderly Chinese. This study aims to evaluate the association between plant-based dietary index (PDI) and CVD risks, providing evidence for elderly Chinese to reduce CVD risks by increasing the frequency of plant-based food consumption.

Methods

This study analyzed data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) 2011-2018, employing a multivariate modified Poisson regression model, trend tests, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis to assess the linear and non-linear relationship between the PDI and CVD risks. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were conducted to evaluate the robustness and population-specificity of the results.

Results

This study included a total of 1,414 elderly Chinese, and at the end of follow-up, 487 participants had developed CVD. The multivariate modified Poisson regression model revealed a negative association between PDI and CVD risks [RR = 0.983, 95%CI = (0.970, 0.997)]. Similarly, the multivariate trend test (p = 0.031) and RCS analysis (P for nonlinear = 0.600) indicated a linear relationship between PDI and CVD risks. Subgroup analyses showed that the relationship between PDI and CVD risk was not influenced by gender, BMI, smoking, alcohol use, or exercise.

Conclusion

The PDI was negatively correlated with CVD risks, indicating that increasing the frequency of plant-based food intake in the diet may reduce CVD risks among elderly Chinese.

Inter-leg systolic blood pressure difference has been associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: analysis of NHANES 1999-2004

BACKGROUND

Inter-leg systolic blood pressure difference (ILSBPD) has emerged as a novel cardiovascular risk factor. This study aims to investigate the predictive value of ILSBPD on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in general population.

METHODS

We combined three cycles (1999-2004) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Levels of ILSBPD were calculated and divided into four groups based on three cut-off values of 5, 10 and 15mmHg. Time-to-event curves were estimated with the use of the Kaplan-Meier method, and two multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were conducted to assess the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality associated with ILSBPD.

RESULTS

A total of 6 842 subjects were included, with the mean (SD) age of 59.5 (12.8) years. By December 31, 2019, 2 544 and 648 participants were identified all-cause and cardiovascular mortality respectively during a median follow-up of 16.6 years. Time-to-event analyses suggested that higher ILSBPD was associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (logrank, p < 0.001). Every 5mmHg increment of ILSBPD brings about 5% and 7% increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and individuals with an ILSBPD ≥ 15mmHg were significantly associated with higher incidence of all-cause mortality (HR 1.43, 95%CI 1.18-1.52, p < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.73, 95%CI 1.36-2.20, p < 0.001) when multiple confounding factors were adjusted. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis confirmed the relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the increment of ILSBPD was significantly associated with higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in general population.

Association between interleg systolic blood pressure difference and apparent peripheral neuropathy in US adults with diabetes: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Interleg systolic blood pressure difference (ILSBPD) is associated with peripheral artery disease, but the relationship between ILSBPD and apparent peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients remains unclear. We explored the relationship between ILSBPD and apparent peripheral neuropathy and examined the possible effect modifiers in US adults with diabetes.

METHODS

One thousand and fifty-one diabetic participants were included in the study with complete data on systolic blood pressure of the lower extremities and Semmes-Weinstein 10-g monofilament testing from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys. Systolic blood pressure in the lower extremities was measured using an oscillometric blood pressure device with the patient in the supine position. Apparent peripheral neuropathy was defined as the presence of monofilament insensitivity.

RESULTS

Every 5-mmHg increment in ILSBPD is associated with an about 14% increased risk of apparent peripheral neuropathy in crude model, but after adjustment for covariates, the correlation became nonsignificant (P = 0.160). When participants were divided into groups based on ILSBPD cutoffs of 5, 10 and 15 mmHg in different analyses, there was a significantly increased risk of apparent peripheral neuropathy in the ILSBPD ≥ 15 mmHg group (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.11-2.91, P = 0.018), even after adjusting for confounders. In subgroup analysis, no interaction effect was found (all P for interaction > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In US adults with diabetes, an increase in the ILSBPD (≥ 15 mmHg) was associated with a higher risk of apparent peripheral neuropathy.

Systolic inter-arm blood pressure difference and estimated glomerular filtration rate in type 2 diabetic patients in Palestine: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the association between systolic inter-arm blood pressure difference (IABPD) and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), as well as chronic kidney disease (CKD), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 189 Palestinians diagnosed with T2DM. Data were collected through personal interviews, medical records and three separate blood pressure measurements from both arms. Patients were stratified in two ways: based on systolic IABPD ≥15 mmHg and the presence of CKD, indicated by an eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 over a three months period. We used simple and multiple linear regression analyses to clarify the association between systolic IABPD (mmHg) and eGFR and to identify independent predictors for eGFR.

RESULTS

The mean age was 61.3 years, with a female percentage of 57.7%. The prevalence of systolic IABPD ≥15 mmHg and CKD was 27.5% and 30.2%, respectively. Among patients with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, the median systolic IABPD was 12.5 mmHg (interquartile range (IQR), 13.5 mmHg), whereas in patients with eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2, it was 7.5 mmHg (IQR, 9.8 mmHg) with a significant difference (p = .021). The results of the multiple linear regression model did not reveal an independent association between systolic IABPD and eGFR, with an unstandardized coefficient (B) of -0.257 (95% confidence interval (CI), -0.623 to 0.109; p = .167). However, older age (B, -0.886; 95% CI, -1.281 to -0.49; p < .001), hypertension (B, -12.715; 95% CI, -22.553 to -2.878; p = .012) and a longer duration of DM (B, -0.642; 95% CI, -1.10 to -0.174; p = .007) were significantly and negatively associated with eGFR.

CONCLUSIONS

Systolic IABPD did not exhibit an independent association with eGFR in T2DM patients. However, older age, a previous history of hypertension, and a longer duration of DM were all significantly associated with lower eGFR.

Elevated Interarm Systolic Blood Pressure Difference Is Positively Associated with Increased Likelihood of Coronary Artery Disease

Background

Systolic interarm differences in blood pressure have been associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease. We investigated the relationship between interarm systolic blood pressure difference and coronary artery disease.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data for patients undergoing coronary angiography and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity examination during hospitalization from 2013 to 2018. Patients underwent simultaneous upper arm blood pressure measurement. Interarm systolic blood pressure difference (IASBPD) was defined as the absolute value of the difference between the right and left upper limb systolic blood pressure. Patients with IASBPD ≥10 mmHg constituted the high group, and those with IASBPD <10 mmHg constituted the normal group. We also recorded data for cardiovascular risk factors. Coronary artery disease was defined as ≥50% vessel stenosis or having undergone interventional therapy according to coronary angiography results.

Results

Compared with the normal group, the number of patients with coronary artery disease was higher in the high group (86.1% vs. 74.6%, P=0.029). Multiple logistic regression showed that IASBPD ≥10 mmHg were positively correlated with coronary artery disease (odds ratio, 2.313; 95% confidence interval, 1.086-4.509; P=0.029), and as the IASBPD value increased, the correlation also gradually increased.

Conclusions

IASBPD ≥10 mmHg was positively related to coronary artery disease and increased IASBPD values were correlated with coronary artery disease severity.