Association between pulse wave velocity and the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the Chinese population: A community-based study

Associations Between Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity and Five-Year All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease with and without Standard Modifiable Risk Factors: Evidence From NHANES 1999-2016

Aim

The study aimed to analyze the associations between estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) and 5-year mortality in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) patients with and without standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRFs), which included smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia.

Methods

The present retrospective cohort study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2016. Patients with ASCVD who completed both the questionnaire survey and serum testing were included. Patients were categorized into the ≥1 SMuRF group if they had at least one SMuRF, while those without any SMuRFs were classified into the SMuRF-less group. The ePWV, which was calculated using the age and mean blood pressure, was evenly divided into three categories: low (Q1), medium (Q2), and high (Q3). Multivariable weighted Cox proportional-hazard regression analyses were utilized to explore the risk factors associated with 5-year mortality in patients with and without SMuRFs. And restricted cubic spline curve (RCS) was used to assess their nonlinear correlation.

Results

A total of 1901 patients with ASCVD were included in the study. For the patients in ≥1 SMuRF group, the Q3 group included patients who were older, with a higher proportion of males, more comorbidities, and a lower body mass index than the Q1 group (P<0.05). The Cox proportional-hazard regression model results revealed, the Q3 group had a higher risk of 5-year mortality than the Q1 group [hazard ratio (HR) 4.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.66, 6.95), P<0.001]. RCS demonstrated a linear trend between high level of ePWV and decreased risks of mortality. Similar results were observed in the SMuRF-less group [HR 10.62, 95% CI (1.22, 92.06), P=0.032].

Conclusion

A high level of ePWV signified a higher risk of 5-year mortality in ASCVD patients with and without SMuRFs.

The Chinese cardiorespiratory and circulatory system at work in women and men: a case-control study

Background

The physiology of prominent prognostic factors in the cardiorespiratory system remains unchartered in the world's largest ethnic group: Hans Chinese (HC). This study assessed and contrasted the fundamental variables in HC and European-American (EA) individuals.

Methods

Healthy HC and EA adults (n = 140, 43% ♀) closely matched by age, sex and physical activity were included. Body composition (DXA) and haematological variables (haemoglobin mass, blood volume (BV)) were measured at rest. Pulmonary O2 uptake (VO2) measurements along with cycle ergometry designed for accurate transthoracic echocardiography were implemented to assess cardiorespiratory structure/function up to peak effort.

Findings

HC presented with higher body fat and lower lean body mass (LBM) percentage than EA irrespective of sex (P ≤ 0.014). BV did not differ whereas blood haemoglobin concentration was lower in HC compared with EA, particularly in females (P = 0.009). Myocardial diastolic and overall function at rest was enhanced in HC versus EA (P < 0.001). During exercise, heart volumes and output per unit of body size did not differ between ethnicities, whereas larger heart volumes per unit of LBM were found in HC versus EA in females (P ≤ 0.003). At high exercise intensities, VO2 (-16%) and the arteriovenous O2 difference (-28%) were markedly reduced in HC compared with EA in females (P ≤ 0.024). In males, no physiological difference between HC and EA was observed during exercise.

Interpretation

Notwithstanding lower LBM, HC are characterised by similar BV and cardiac capacity but reduced peak VO2 than EA in females, partly explained by low ethnic-specific blood O2 carrying capacity.

Funding

Early Career Scheme (106210224, to D.M.) and Seed Fund (104006024, to D.M.).

Recent Progress of Wearable Triboelectric Nanogenerator-Based Sensor for Pulse Wave Monitoring

Today, cardiovascular diseases threaten human health worldwide. In clinical practice, it has been concluded that analyzing the pulse waveform can provide clinically valuable information for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Accordingly, continuous and accurate monitoring of the pulse wave is essential for the prevention and detection of cardiovascular diseases. Wearable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are emerging as a pulse wave monitoring biotechnology due to their compelling characteristics, including being self-powered, light-weight, and wear-resistant, as well as featuring user-friendliness and superior sensitivity. Herein, a comprehensive review is conducted on the progress of wearable TENGs for pulse wave monitoring. Firstly, the four modes of operation of TENG are briefly described. Secondly, TENGs for pulse wave monitoring are classified into two categories, namely wearable flexible film-based TENG sensors and textile-based TENG sensors. Next, the materials, fabrication methods, working mechanisms, and experimental performance of various TENG-based sensors are summarized. It concludes by comparing the characteristics of the two types of TENGs and discussing the potential development and challenges of TENG-based sensors in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and personalized healthcare.