N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Is Not a Significant Predictor of Stroke Incidence After 5 Years - The Ohasama Study

Mixed effects logistic regression analysis of blood pressure among Ghanaians and associated risk factors

Blood pressure (BP) control is a global health issue with an increase in BP beyond the normal BP leading to different stages of hypertension in humans and hence the need to identify risk factors of BP for efficient and effective control. Multiple BP measurement have proven to provide BP readings close to the true BP status of the individual. In this study, we used multiple BP measurement data on 3809 Ghanaians to determine risk factors associated with BP. The data were obtained from World Health Organization study on Global AGEing and Adult Health. We defined high blood pressure (HBP) as [Formula: see text] 130/80 mmHg or normal as [Formula: see text] 130/80 mmHg. We provide summary statistics and also used the Chi-Square test to assess significance of association between HBP versus risk factors of HBP. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors of BP using the mixed effects logistic regression model. Data were analyzed using R version 4.2.2. The results showed that the risk of high blood pressure (HBP) decreases across the three measurement periods. There is reduced risk (OR = 0.274, 95% CI = 0.2008, 0.405) of HBP among male participants relative to female participants. The risk (OR = 2.771, 95% CI = 1.8658, 4.1145) of HBP increased by 2.771-folds among those who are 60 years and above relative to those below the age of 60 years. Those whose work involves/requires vigorous exercise has 1.631-fold increase in the risk (OR = 1.631, 95% CI = 1.1151, 2.3854) of HBP relative to those whose work does not involve vigorous exercise. There is approximately 5-folds increased in the risk (OR = 4.896, 95% CI = 1.9535, 12.2268) of among those who have ever been diagnosed with diabetes. The results also revealed high risk (OR = 1.649, 95%CI = 1.1108, 2.4486) of HBP among those who have formal education. The risk (OR = 1.009, 95% CI = 1.0044, 1.0137) of HBP increases with increasing weight and a reduced risk (OR = 0.996, 95% CI = 0.9921, 0.9993) of HBP with increasing height. We found that sad experience, either mild, moderate or severe, is associated with a reduced risk of HBP. Those who have vegetable servings at least 2 cups per day have increased risk of HBP and those who have fruits servings at least 2 cups per day is associated with a reduced risk of HBP, however this is not statistically significant. To achieve success in BP control, programs should be designed with the aim of reducing weight, educate those with formal eduction on issues relating to HBP. Those whose work requires vigorous exercise are recommended to have regular check-ups to ensure that pressure build-up in the lungs is cleared. SBP is lower for women at young age but continue to increase after menopause as their BP increase becomes salt-sensitive. Hence there is need to give more attention to menopausal women so as to improve BP. Both young and old individuals are recommended to practice regular exercise since this has shown to reduce risk of being overweight or becoming diabetic and reduces the risk of HBP at yong age and old age. Also, to improve blood pressure control, programs for management of blood pressure or hypertension should focus more short stature individuals since such people are more likely to experience HBP.

Electrocardiographic Left Atrial Abnormality and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in a General Japanese Population: NIPPON DATA2010

AIMS

P-wave terminal force in lead V1 (PTFV1) is an electrocardiogram marker of increased left atrial pressure and may be a noninvasive and early detectable marker for future cardiovascular events in the general population compared to serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration. The clinical significance of PTFV1 in the contemporary general population is an area of unmet need. We aimed to demonstrate the correlation between PTFV1 and BNP concentrations in a contemporary representative Japanese population.

METHODS

Among 2,898 adult men and women from 300 randomly selected districts throughout Japan (NIPPON DATA2010), we analyzed 2,556 participants without cardiovascular disease (stroke, myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation). Elevated BNP was defined as a value of ≥ 20 pg/mL based on the definition from the Japanese Circulation Society guidelines.

RESULTS

In total, 125 (4.9%) participants had PTFV1. Participants with PTFV1 were older with a higher prevalence of hypertension, major electrocardiographic findings, and elevated BNP concentrations (13.5 [6.9, 22.8] versus 7.8 [4.4, 14.5] pg/mL; P＜0.001). After adjustment for confounders, PTFV1 was correlated with elevated BNP (odds ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.62; P=0.030). This correlation was consistent among various subgroups and was particularly evident in those aged ＜65 years or those without a history of hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

In the contemporary general population cohort, PTFV1 was independently related to high BNP concentration. PTFV1 may be an alternative marker to BNP in identifying individuals at a higher risk of future cardiovascular events in the East Asian population.

Moderate Levels of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide is Associated with Increased Risks of Total and Ischemic Strokes among Japanese: The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study

AIM

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), frequently used as a biochemical marker for detecting and monitoring heart failure, is also a risk marker for development of coronary heart disease and total stroke. However, studies that explore subtypes of ischemic stroke with regard to NT-proBNP are scarce. Here, we examined NT-proBNP and its impact upon subtypes of ischemic stroke (lacunar stroke, large-artery occlusive stroke and embolic stroke) among Japanese.

METHODS

We measured NT-proBNP and categorized 4,393 participants of the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study into four groups (＜55, 55-124, 125-399, and ≥ 400 pg/ml). We used a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model to examine association with risks of stroke and subtypes.

RESULTS

During 4.7 years of follow-up, we identified 50 strokes, including 35 ischemic (15 lacunar, 6 largeartery occlusive, 10 embolic strokes) and 14 hemorrhagic strokes. NT-proBNP was associated with stroke risk: the multivariable hazard ratio of total strokes was 7.29 (2.82-18.9) for the highest and 2.78 (1.25-6.16) for the second highest NT-proBNP groups compared with the lowest group. The respective hazard ratios for the highest NT-proBNP group were 9.37 (3.14-28.0) for ischemic stroke and 6.81 (1.11-41.7) for lacunar stroke. Further adjustment for atrial fibrillation did not attenuate these associations. The associations were similarly observed for large-artery occlusive and embolic strokes.

CONCLUSION

We found that even moderate serum levels of NT-proBNP were associated with the risk of total and ischemic strokes among Japanese whose NT-proBNP levels were relatively low compared with Westerners.

N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Is a Predictor of Chronic Kidney Disease in an Asian General Population - The Ohasama Study

Background: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is known to increase in heart failure patients. Given that no reports have described the association between NT-proBNP and chronic kidney disease (CKD) incidence in Asian populations, we investigated this association in the Japanese population. Methods and Results: We followed up 867 participants without CKD from the general population of Ohasama, Japan. We defined CKD as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m² and/or proteinuria. In accordance with previous studies, the participants were classified into 4 groups according to NT-proBNP level (<30.0, 30.0-54.9, 55.0-124.9, and ≥125.0 pg/mL). The Cox model was applied to assess adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for CKD incidence after full adjustment including baseline eGFR. Participant mean age was 59.1 years, and 587 (67.7%) were women. During the mean follow-up period of 9.7 years, 177 participants developed CKD. When the group with NT-proBNP <30.0 pg/mL was used as the reference, adjusted HR for CKD incidence in the 30.0-54.9, 55.0-124.9, and ≥125.0 pg/mL groups were 1.34 (95% CI: 0.90-2.01), 1.25 (95% CI: 0.81-1.92), and 1.83 (95% CI: 1.05-3.18), respectively. Conclusions: NT-proBNP can be significantly predictive for CKD incidence in Asian populations.

The potential role of inflammation in cryptogenic stroke

PURPOSE

The study aimed to identify biomarkers predictive of cryptogenic stroke in patients aged <65.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated 520 patients with ischemic stroke. Out of them we assigned 65 patients to the cryptogenic stroke group (age 54 (47-58), 42% male) and 36 without stroke to the control group (age 53 (47-58), 61% male). In all patients we assessed carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and the levels of biomarkers which might be involved in the underlying biological mechanism of ischemic stroke.

RESULTS

There were no differences between stroke and control groups in the levels of syndecan 4, resistin, leptin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, prothrombin time, or activated partial thromboplastin time. There was no statistically significant difference in cIMT between groups. The level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was statistically significantly lower in the cryptogenic stroke group than in the controls (1.1 mmol/L (0.95-1.46) vs 1.37 (1.19-1.6) p = 0.02). Patients in the stroke group had higher levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (391 pg/ml (107-1249) vs 109 (46-236); p = 0.003), interleukin 6 (2.6 pg/ml (0.8-8.1) vs 0.7 (0.4-1.2) p = 0.002) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) (0.44 μmol/L (0.39-0.55) vs 0.36 (0.32-0.4); p = 0.0002) than the control group. In the multivariate analysis Il-6 was the only biomarker statistically significant associated with the occurrence of cryptogenic stroke (odds ratio 1.918, 95% confidence interval 1.029-3.575; p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Endothelial dysfunction assessed by increased level of ADMA affects the inflammatory state in patients with cryptogenic stroke. Increase in the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 by 1 pg/ml almost doubles the risk of stroke.