The impact of health behaviours on incident cardiovascular disease in Europeans and South Asians--a prospective analysis in the UK SABRE study

Changes in 10-Year Predicted Cardiovascular Disease Risk for a Multiethnic Semirural Population in South East Asia: Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors tend to cluster and interact multiplicatively and have been incorporated into risk equations such as the Framingham risk score, which can reasonably predict CVD over short- and long-term periods. Beyond risk factor levels at a single time point, recent evidence demonstrated that risk trajectories are differentially related to CVD risk. However, factors associated with suboptimal control or unstable CVD risk trajectories are not yet established.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine factors associated with CVD risk trajectories in a semirural, multiethnic community-dwelling population.

METHODS

Data on demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, mental health, and cardiovascular factors were measured at baseline (2013) and during follow-up (2018) of the South East Asia Community Observatory cohort. The 10-year CVD risk change transition was computed. The trajectory patterns identified were improved; remained unchanged in low, moderate, or high CVD risk clusters; and worsened CVD risk trajectories. Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine the association between risk factors and changes in Framingham risk score and predicted CVD risk trajectory patterns with adjustments for concurrent risk factors.

RESULTS

Of the 6599 multiethnic community-dwelling individuals (n=3954, 59.92% female participants and n=2645, 40.08% male participants; mean age 55.3, SD 10.6 years), CVD risk increased over time in 33.37% (n=2202) of the sample population, while 24.38% (n=1609 remained in the high-risk trajectory pattern, which was reflected by the increased prevalence of all major CVD risk factors over the 5-year follow-up. Meanwhile, sex-specific prevalence data indicate that 21.44% (n=567) of male and 41.35% (n=1635) of female participants experienced an increase in CVD risk. However, a stark sex difference was observed in those remaining in the high CVD risk cluster, with 45.1% (n=1193) male participants and 10.52% (n=416) female participants. Regarding specific CVD risk factors, male participants exhibited a higher percentage increase in the prevalence of hypertension, antihypertensive medication use, smoking, and obesity, while female participants showed a higher prevalence of diabetes. Further regression analyses identified that Malay compared to Chinese (P<.001) and Indian (P=.04) ethnicity, nonmarried status (P<.001), full-time employment (P<.001), and depressive symptoms (P=.04) were all significantly associated with increased CVD risk scores. In addition, lower educational levels and frequently having meals from outside were significantly associated to higher odds of both worsening and remaining in high CVD risk trajectories.

CONCLUSIONS

Sociodemographics and mental health were found to be differently associated with CVD risk trajectories, warranting future research to disentangle the role of psychosocial disparities in CVD. Our findings carry public health implications, suggesting that the rise in major risk factors along with psychosocial disparities could potentially elevate CVD risk among individuals in underserved settings. More prevention efforts that continuously monitor CVD risk and consider changes in risk factors among vulnerable populations should be emphasized.

The Effect of Organic Vegetable Mixed Juice on Blood Circulation and Intestine Flora: Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Epidemiological evidence suggests that fruit and vegetable intake significantly positively affects cardiovascular health. Since vegetable juice is more accessible than raw vegetables, it attracts attention as a health functional food for circulatory diseases. Therefore, this study measured blood lipids, antioxidants, blood circulation indicators, and changes in the microbiome to confirm the effect of organic vegetable mixed juice (OVJ) on improving blood circulation. This 4-week, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study involved adult men and women with borderline total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. As a result, blood lipid profile indicators, such as TC, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B, decreased (p < 0.05) in the OVJ group compared with those in the placebo group. Additionally, the antioxidant biomarker superoxide dismutase increased (p < 0.05). In contrast, systolic and diastolic blood viscosities, as blood circulation-related biomarkers, decreased (p < 0.05) in the OVJ group compared with those in the placebo group. After the intervention, a fecal microbiome analysis confirmed differences due to changes in the intestinal microbiome composition between the OVJ and placebo groups. In conclusion, our research results confirmed that consuming OVJ improves blood circulation by affecting the blood lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes, and microbiome changes.

Lifestyle behaviors and risk of cardiovascular disease and prognosis among individuals with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 71 prospective cohort studies

BACKGROUND

Healthy lifestyle behaviors (LBs) have been widely recommended for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite a large number of studies exploring the association between combined LBs and CVD, a notable gap exists in integration of relevant literatures. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to analyze the correlation between combined LBs and the occurrence of CVD, as well as to estimate the risk of various health complications in individuals already diagnosed with CVD.

METHODS

Articles published up to February 10, 2023 were sourced through PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. Eligible prospective cohort studies that reported the relations of combined LBs with pre-determined outcomes were included. Summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using either a fixed or random-effects model. Subgroup analysis, meta-regression, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis were as well performed.

RESULTS

In the general population, individuals with the healthiest combination of LBs exhibited a significant risk reduction of 58% for CVD and 55% for CVD mortality. For individuals diagnosed with CVD, adherence to the healthiest combination of LBs corresponded to a significant risk reduction of 62% for CVD recurrence and 67% for all-cause mortality, when compared to those with the least-healthy combination of LBs. In the analysis of dose-response relationship, for each increment of 1 healthy LB, there was a corresponding decrease in risk of 17% for CVD and 19% for CVD mortality within the general population. Similarly, among individuals diagnosed with CVD, each additional healthy LB was associated with a risk reduction of 27% for CVD recurrence and 27% for all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Adopting healthy LBs is associated with substantial risk reduction in CVD, CVD mortality, and adverse outcomes among individuals diagnosed with CVD. Rather than focusing solely on individual healthy LB, it is advisable to advocate for the adoption of multiple LBs for the prevention and management of CVD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO: CRD42023431731.

Carotid atherosclerosis in people of European, South Asian and African Caribbean ethnicity in the Southall and Brent revisited study (SABRE)

Background

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk differs by ethnicity. In comparison with Europeans (EA) South Asian (SA) people in UK experience higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, while African Caribbean people have a lower risk of CHD but a higher risk of stroke.

Aim

To compare carotid atherosclerosis in EA, SA, and AC participants in the Southall and Brent Revisited (SABRE) study and establish if any differences were explained by ASCVD risk factors.

Methods

Cardiovascular risk factors were measured, and carotid ultrasound was performed in 985 individuals (438 EA, 325 SA, 228 AC). Carotid artery plaques and intima-media thickness (cIMT) were measured. Associations of carotid atherosclerosis with ethnicity were investigated using generalised linear models (GLMs), with and without adjustment for non-modifiable (age, sex) and modifiable risk factors (education, diabetes, hypertension, total cholesterol, HDL-C, alcohol consumption, current smoking).

Results

Prevalence of any plaque was similar in EA and SA, but lower in AC (16, 16, and 6%, respectively; p < 0.001). In those with plaque, total plaque area, numbers of plaques, plaque class, or greyscale median did not differ by ethnicity; adjustment for risk factors had minimal effects. cIMT was higher in AC than the other ethnic groups after adjustment for age and sex, adjustment for risk factors attenuated this difference.

Conclusion

Prevalence of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques varies by ethnicity, independent of risk factors. Lower plaque prevalence in in AC is consistent with their lower risk of CHD but not their higher risk of stroke. Higher cIMT in AC may be explained by risk factors. The similarity of plaque burden in SA and EA despite established differences in ASCVD risk casts some doubt on the utility of carotid ultrasound as a means of assessing risk across these ethnic groups.

Lifestyle behaviours predicting major cardiovascular diseases mortality in a practically extinct cohort of middle-aged men followed-up for 61 years

To study lifetime relationships of three major lifestyle behaviours with cardiovascular mortality in a cohort of middle-aged men that reached practical extinction. In the Italian Areas of the Seven Countries Study of Cardiovascular Diseases (SCS), 1712 men were enrolled and examined in 1960, and behavioural habits were measured: smoking habits, physical activity and diet each divided into three classes. Follow-up for mortality was extended for 61 years. Three groups of major cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were used for analysis, coronary heart disease (CHD), STROKE and other Heart Diseases of Uncertain Aetiology (HDUE). Kaplan-Meier curves, death rates in classes of behaviours and Cox proportional hazard models were computed, the last ones adjusted for other major risk factors.In 61 years of follow-up, 1708 men died and 727 were cases of CVD as defined above. Clear separation of classes in Kaplan-Meier survival curves were seen only for physical activity and diet in CHD, and physical activity for STROKE. Cox proportional hazard ratios (HR, adjusted for age, blood pressure and serum cholesterol) showed the significant protective effect on CHD of Mediterranean diet (HR = 0.72), vigorous physical activity (0.55), never smoking (0.73); on STROKE of vigorous physical activity (0.67); on HDUE of never smoking (0.57). Combination of three healthy versus three unhealthy behaviours was associated for CHD to a lower mortality of 39%. This comparison was not coherent for STROKE and HDUE.Lifetime healthy behaviours are clearly beneficial versus CHD mortality but not necessarily for mortality from HDUE and STROKE that probably represent different morbid conditions.

Managing cardiovascular disease risk in South Asian kidney transplant recipients

South Asians (SA) are at higher cardiovascular risk than other ethnic groups, and SA kidney transplant recipients (SA KTR) are no exception. SA KTR experience increased major adverse cardiovascular events both early and late post-transplantation. Cardiovascular risk management should therefore begin well before transplantation. SA candidates may require aggressive screening for pre-transplant cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to their ethnicity and comorbidities. Recording SA ethnicity during the pre-transplant evaluation may enable programs to better assess cardiovascular risk, thus allowing for earlier targeted peri- and post-transplant intervention to improve cardiovascular outcomes. Diabetes remains the most prominent post-transplant cardiovascular risk factor in SA KTR. Diabetes also clusters with other metabolic syndrome components including lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher triglycerides, hypertension, and central obesity in this population. Dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and obesity are all significant CVD risk factors in SA KTR, and contribute to increased insulin resistance. Novel biomarkers such as adiponectin, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein (a) may be especially important to study in SA KTR. Focused interventions to improve health behaviors involving diet and exercise may especially benefit SA KTR. However, there are few interventional clinical trials specific to the SA population, and none are specific to SA KTR. In all cases, understanding the nuances of managing SA KTR as a distinct post-transplant group, while still screening for and managing each CVD risk factor individually in all patients may help improve the long-term success of all kidney transplant programs catering to multi-ethnic populations.

Lifestyle interventions for type 2 diabetes management among migrants and ethnic minorities living in industrialized countries: a systematic review and meta-analyses

The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions to improve the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among migrants and ethnic minorities. Major searched databases included MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE (via Ovid) and CINAHL. The selection of studies and data extraction followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. In the meta-analysis, significant heterogeneity was detected among the studies (I2 >50%), and hence a random effects model was used. Subgroup analyses were performed to compare the effect of lifestyle interventions according to intervention approaches (peer-led vs community health workers (CHWs)-led). A total of 17 studies were included in this review which used interventions delivered by CHWs or peer supporters or combination of both. The majority of the studies assessed effectiveness of key primary (hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipids, fasting plasma glucose) and secondary outcomes (weight, body mass index, blood pressure, physical activity, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, food habits and healthcare utilization). Meta-analyses showed lifestyle interventions were associated with a small but statistically significant reduction in HbA1c level (-0.18%; 95% CI -0.32% to -0.04%, p=0.031). In subgroup analyses, the peer-led interventions showed relatively better HbA1c improvement than CHW-led interventions, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.379). Seven studies presented intervention costs, which ranged from US$131 to US$461 per participant per year. We conclude that lifestyle interventions using either CHWs or peer supporters or a combination of both have shown modest effectiveness for T2DM management among migrants of different background and origin and ethnic minorities. The evidence base is promising in terms of developing culturally appropriate, clinically sound and cost-effective intervention approaches to respond to the growing and diverse migrants and ethnic minorities affected by diabetes worldwide.

Association between 4-dimension lifestyle pattern and 10-year mortality risk in Chinese individuals older than 65: a population-based cohort study

While the impact of a 4-dimension lifestyle pattern (4DL) on older people's mortality (aged ≥65 years) has been reported in high-income countries, few studies investigated the association between lifestyle pattern and disease-accompanied mortality, or examined the difference among different age or gender groups in low- and middle-income countries. We followed up 16,954 Chinese older participants from 2008 to 2018 and adopted the Cox proportional hazard model to evaluate the protective effect of 4DL. After adjustment for confounders, individuals with 3-4 4DL scores had a 38% reduction in all-cause mortality risk, and up to 36%, 42% and 41% reduced risk of mortality accompanied by hypertension, respiratory disease and dementia, respectively in contrast with those scored 0. Compared with octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarians, adhering to 3-4 4DL could further reduce the mortality risks in the younger elderly (aged 65-79 years). This study shows that among the elderly population in China, participants who adhered to 4DL had a lower all-cause mortality risk than those who did not. Additionally, hypertension, respiratory disease, or dementia accompanied mortality risk was also reduced significantly. The findings indicated that the positive effects of 4DL on longevity should be acknowledged in China's older population, especially for the younger elderly.

Relation of Different Fruit and Vegetable Sources With Incident Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Background Public health policies reflect concerns that certain fruit sources may not have the intended benefits and that vegetables should be preferred to fruit. We assessed the relation of fruit and vegetable sources with cardiovascular outcomes using a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Methods and Results MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane were searched through June 3, 2019. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed study quality (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale). Data were pooled (fixed effects), and heterogeneity (Cochrane-Q and I2) and certainty of the evidence (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) were assessed. Eighty-one cohorts involving 4 031 896 individuals and 125 112 cardiovascular events were included. Total fruit and vegetables, fruit, and vegetables were associated with decreased cardiovascular disease (risk ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.89-0.96]; 0.91 [0.88-0.95]; and 0.94 [0.90-0.97], respectively), coronary heart disease (0.88 [0.83-0.92]; 0.88 [0.84-0.92]; and 0.92 [0.87-0.96], respectively), and stroke (0.82 [0.77-0.88], 0.82 [0.79-0.85]; and 0.88 [0.83-0.93], respectively) incidence. Total fruit and vegetables, fruit, and vegetables were associated with decreased cardiovascular disease (0.89 [0.85-0.93]; 0.88 [0.86-0.91]; and 0.87 [0.85-0.90], respectively), coronary heart disease (0.81 [0.72-0.92]; 0.86 [0.82-0.90]; and 0.86 [0.83-0.89], respectively), and stroke (0.73 [0.65-0.81]; 0.87 [0.84-0.91]; and 0.94 [0.90-0.99], respectively) mortality. There were greater benefits for citrus, 100% fruit juice, and pommes among fruit sources and allium, carrots, cruciferous, and green leafy among vegetable sources. No sources showed an adverse association. The certainty of the evidence was "very low" to "moderate," with the highest for total fruit and/or vegetables, pommes fruit, and green leafy vegetables. Conclusions Fruits and vegetables are associated with cardiovascular benefit, with some sources associated with greater benefit and none showing an adverse association. Registration URL: https://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03394339.

Racial disparities and cardiovascular disease: One size fits all approach?

BACKGROUND

Despite recent advancements in prevention, treatment, and management options, cardiovascular diseases contribute to one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Several studies highlight the compelling evidence for the existence of healthcare inequities and disparities in the treatment and management control of cardiovascular diseases.

AIMS

To explore the role of racial disparities in the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the role of socioeconomic and cultural factors, and ultimately postulate solutions to eliminate the disparities.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted using appropriate keywords on search engines of SCOPUS, Wiley, PubMed, and SAGE Journals.

CONCLUSION

By continued research to eliminate healthcare inequalities, there exists a potential to improve health-related outcomes in minority populations.

Impact of Kidney Function on Cardiovascular Risk and Mortality: A Comparison of South Asian and European Cohorts

BACKGROUND

Evidence is limited on ethnic differences in associations between kidney function markers and mortality or cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS

Baseline cross-sectional analysis and longitudinal follow-up study of a UK population-based cohort of 1,116 Europeans and 1,104 South Asians of predominantly Indian descent, age 52 ± 7 years at baseline (1988-1991). Kidney function was estimated using Cystatin C and creatinine-based chronic kidney disease (CKD) Epidemiology Collaboration estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations, and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR). Mortality was captured at 27 years, and incident CVD at 22 years, from death certification, medical records and participant report. Longitudinal associations between eGFR/ACR and mortality/incident CVD were examined using Cox models.

RESULTS

eGFRcys was lower and ACR higher in South Asians than Europeans. eGFRcys and -eGFRcreat were more strongly associated with outcomes in Europeans than South Asians. Conversely, associations between ACR and outcomes were greater in South Asians than Europeans, for example, for CVD mortality: HRs (95% CI) adjusted for CVD risk factors and ACR/eGFRcys as appropriate, p for ethnicity interaction: eGFRcys: Europeans: 0.76 (0.62-0.92), South Asians: 0.92 (0.78-1.07), p = 0.05, eGFRcreat: Europeans 0.81 (0.67-0.99), South Asians 1.18 (0.97-1.41), p = 0.002, ACR: -Europeans: 1.24 (1.08-1.42), South Asians: 1.39 (1.25-1.57), p= 0.23. Addition of all CKD measures to a standard CVD risk factor model modestly improved prediction capability in -Europeans; in South Asians only ACR contributed to improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Strong associations between ACR and outcomes in South Asians of predominantly Indian origin, and null associations for eGFRcys and eGFRcreat, suggest that ACR may have greater utility in CVD risk prediction in South Asians. Further work is needed to validate these -findings.

Nutritional Therapy for Asian Patients at Risk for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

The burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains high worldwide, and its prevalence has increased in Asian countries over the last two decades. The increase in ASCVD may arise from complex interactions between genetic and lifestyle/environmental factors. Abnormal blood cholesterol levels, elevated blood glucose, obesity, elevated blood pressure, smoking, and family history are common risk factors of ASCVD. There is an increased burden of ASCVD in Asian countries, maybe due to rapid economic development and lifestyle changes in these countries. Nutrition is one of the major modifiable risk factors for ASCVD. Despite this, there are insufficient nutritional therapies for prevention and management of ASCVD in Asian patients. There is also a lack of relevant research in Asian populations. In this review, we describe the current nutritional guidelines and the findings from previous landmark studies regarding management and/or prevention of ASCVD. We also summarize the recommendations regarding evidence-based nutrition therapy/management strategies that may be effective in Asian subjects to prevent onset and/or to treat ASCVD.

The impact of physical activity and an additional behavioural risk factor on cardiovascular disease, cancer and all-cause mortality: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Regular physical activity improves overall health, and has the capacity to reduce risk of chronic diseases and death. However, better understanding of the relationship between multiple lifestyle risk behaviours and disease outcomes is pertinent for prioritising public health messaging. The aim of this systematic review is to examine the association between physical inactivity in combination with additional lifestyle risk behaviours (smoking, alcohol, diet, or sedentary behaviour) for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality.

METHODS

We searched Ovid Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Register from 1 January 2010 to 12 December 2017, for longitudinal observational studies of adults (18+ years) in the general population with a publication date of 2010 onwards and no language restriction. Main exposure variables had to include a physical activity measure plus at least one other lifestyle risk factor. In total, 25,639 studies were identified. Titles, abstracts and full-text articles of potentially relevant papers were screened for eligibility. Data was extracted and quality assessment was completed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

RESULTS

Across the 25 eligible studies, those participants who reported being physically active combined with achieving other health behaviour goals compared to those who were categorised as physically inactive and did not achieve other positive lifestyle goals, were at least half as likely to experience an incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) event, die from CVD, or die from any cause. These findings were consistent across participant age, sex, and study length of follow-up, and even after excluding lower quality studies. We also observed a similar trend among the few studies which were restricted to cancer outcomes. Most studies did not consider epidemiological challenges that may bias findings, such as residual confounding, reverse causality by pre-existing disease, and measurement error from self-report data.

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of physical activity in combination with other positive lifestyle choices is associated with better health outcomes. Applying new approaches to studying the complex relationships between multiple behavioural risk factors, including physical activity, should be a priority.

Caucasian and south Asian men show equivalent improvements in surrogate biomarkers of cardiovascular and metabolic health following 6-weeks of supervised resistance training

Background: The South Asian population have greater cardiovascular risk than their age-matched Caucasian counterparts, characterized by unfavorable biomarkers. South Asians may also be partially resistant to the pleiotropic benefits of physical activity on cardiovascular health. There is a current absence of studies that compare markers of cardio-metabolic health between Caucasians and South Asians employing resistance exercise. This study set out to compare the response in biomarkers of cardio-metabolic health in Caucasians and South Asians in response to resistance exercise. Methods: Caucasian (n=15, 25.5 ± 4.8 yrs) and South Asian (n=13, 25.4 ± 7.0 yrs) males completed a 6-week progressive resistance exercise protocol. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, and their product insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides (TRIGS), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), asymmetric dimythylarginine (ADMA), L-arginine (L-ARG) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were established at baseline and following resistance exercise. Results: There were significant improvements in fasting glucose, TC, LDL, HDL and VEGF in both groups following resistance exercise ( p<0.05, for all). No change was observed in insulin, HOMA-IR, TRIGS, ADMA, L-ARG following resistance exercise ( p>0.05, in both groups). CRP increased in the South Asian group ( p<0.05) but not the Caucasian group ( p>0.05) Conclusions: The cardio-metabolic response to resistance exercise is comparable in young Caucasian and South Asian males though inflammatory response to exercise may be prolonged in South Asians.

Screening of miRNA target genes in coronary artery disease by variational Bayesian Gaussian mixture model

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death, and microRNAs (miRNAs) are widely involved in physiological and pathological processes of CAD. We chose the targetscore method calculated via the variational Bayesian Gaussian mixture model (VB-GMM) as the prediction method of target genes. By observing the density overlap, we selected the thresholds of miRNA-1 and miRNA-155. In total, 18 target genes of miRNA-1, and 19 target genes of miRNA-155 were identified. The threshold of miRNA-146a was selected using the |logFC| value, and 16 target genes were screened out. In this study, our major contribution was to predict the target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of the chosen miRNAs with the gene expression profiles, which can effectively reduce the workload of screening. Although the validated genes constituted only a small part in the final prediction results, it is a good sign for research in the future. It means that we could provide new research aims for future studies focusing on miRNA regulatory mechanisms.

Systematic Review of the Effect of Lifestyle Interventions on the Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in South Asian Migrants

A systematic review was undertaken to identify lifestyle intervention studies in South Asian migrant populations to determine the effect on the components of the metabolic syndrome. A total of seven studies were identified, of which six focused on educational advice and the seventh on intensive exercise intervention. Four studies were Randomised Controlled Trials of which two studies reported significant reductions in waist circumference. One of these studies focused on home based education with cooperation of the home cook (adjusted waist reduction of 1.9 cm, 95 % CI 0.52-3.3 cm; p = 0.007) and the other entailed an intensive physical activity program (adjusted waist reduction 3.4 cm, 95 % CI 2.0-4.7 cm). The evidence whether lifestyle intervention studies in South Asians can improve components of the metabolic system is not clear. Further lifestyle interventions for South Asians should be culturally adapted, involve friends and family, especially those with cooking responsibilities.

The effects of a lifestyle-focused text-messaging intervention on adherence to dietary guideline recommendations in patients with coronary heart disease: an analysis of the TEXT ME study

BACKGROUND

A healthy diet is an important component of secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). The TEXT ME study was a randomised clinical trial of people with CHD that were randomised into standard care or a text-message programme in addition to standard care. This analysis aimed to: 1) assess the effects of the intervention onadherence to the dietary guideline recommendations; 2) assess the consistency of effect across sub-groups; and 3) assess whether adherence to the dietary guideline recommendations mediated the improvements in objective clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Dietary data were collected using a self-report questionnaire to evaluate adherence to eight dietary guideline recommendations in Australia, including consumption of vegetables, fruits, fish, type of fat used for cooking and in spreads, takeaway food, salt and standard alcohol drinks. The primary outcome of this analysis was the proportion of patients adhering to ≥ 4 dietary guideline recommendations concomitantly and each recommendation was assessed individually as secondary outcomes. Data were analysed using log-binomial regression for categorical variables and analysis of covariance for continuous variables.

RESULTS

Among 710 patients, 54% were adhering to ≥ 4 dietary guideline recommendations (intervention 53% vs control 56%, p = 0.376) at baseline. At six months, the intervention group had a significantly higher proportion of patients adhering to ≥ 4 recommendations (314, 93%) compared to the control group (264, 75%, RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.15-1.31, p < 0.001). In addition, the intervention patients reported consuming higher amounts of vegetables, fruits, and fish per week; less takeaway foods per week; and greater salt intake control. The intervention had a similar effect in all sub-groups tested. There were significant mediational effects of the increase in adherence to the recommendations for the association between the intervention and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) at six months follow-up (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

A lifestyle-focused text-message programme improved adherence to the dietary guideline recommendations, and specifically improved self-reported consumption of vegetables, fruits, fish, takeaway foods and salt intake. Importantly, these improvements partially mediated improvements in LDL-cholesterol and BMI. This simple and scalable text-messaging intervention could be used as a strategy to improve diet in people with CHD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12611000161921 . Registered on 10 February 2011.

Patterns of Physical Activity and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Pilot Study

Background: In the current study, we investigated the effect of physical activity (PA) on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: In total, 146 cases of CHD and 157 matched controls were included in the study. Data on sociodemographics, lifestyle, and medical history factors were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. A standard World Health Organization (WHO)-based lifestyle questionnaire was used to assess PA. The risk of CHD was analyzed in relation to PA patterns using logistic regression. Results: Vigorous-intensity leisure PA was not associated with a lower risk of CHD. Subjects in the highest tertile of moderate occupational PA had a significantly lower risk of CHD compared to the lowest tertile (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.31, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.17–0.56). Subjects in the highest tertile of walking hasd an adjusted OR of 0.37 (95% CI 0.20–0.70). Subjects in the medium and highest tertiles of sedentary behavior had adjusted ORs of 2.01 (95% CI 1.06–3.79) and 3.88 (95% CI 2.14–7.02), respectively (p-value for trend < 0.001). Conclusion: The current results showed that both moderate occupational PA and walking protected against CHD. Sedentary behavior increased the risk of CHD.

Can traditional risk factors explain the higher risk of cardiovascular disease in South Asians compared to Europeans in Norway and New Zealand? Two cohort studies

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to prospectively examine potential differences in the risk of first cardiovascular disease (CVD) events between South Asians and Europeans living in Norway and New Zealand, and to investigate whether traditional risk factors could explain any differences.

METHODS

We included participants (30-74 years) without prior CVD in a Norwegian (n=16 606) and a New Zealand (n=129 449) cohort. Ethnicity and cardiovascular risk factor information was linked with hospital registry data and cause of death registries to identify subsequent CVD events. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to investigate the relationship between risk factors and subsequent CVD for South Asians and Europeans, and to calculate age-adjusted HRs for CVD in South Asians versus Europeans in the two cohorts separately. We sequentially added the major CVD risk factors (blood pressure, lipids, diabetes and smoking) to study their explanatory role in observed ethnic CVD risk differences.

RESULTS

South Asians had higher total cholesterol (TC)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio and more diabetes at baseline than Europeans, but lower blood pressure and smoking levels. South Asians had increased age-adjusted risk of CVD compared with Europeans (87%-92% higher in the Norwegian cohort and 42%-75% higher in the New Zealand cohort) and remained with significantly increased risk after adjusting for all major CVD risk factors. Adjusted HRs for South Asians versus Europeans in the Norwegian cohort were 1.57 (95% CI 1.19 to 2.07) in men and 1.76 (95% CI 1.09 to 2.82) in women. Corresponding figures for the New Zealand cohort were 1.64 (95% CI 1.43 to 1.88) in men and 1.39 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.73) in women.

CONCLUSION

Differences in TC/HDL ratio and diabetes appear to explain some of the excess risk of CVD in South Asians compared with Europeans. Preventing dyslipidaemia and diabetes in South Asians may therefore help reduce their excess risk of CVD.

Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality-a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies

Background

Questions remain about the strength and shape of the dose-response relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and mortality, and the effects of specific types of fruit and vegetables. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify these associations.

Methods

PubMed and Embase were searched up to 29 September 2016. Prospective studies of fruit and vegetable intake and cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality were included. Summary relative risks (RRs) were calculated using a random effects model, and the mortality burden globally was estimated; 95 studies (142 publications) were included.

Results

For fruits and vegetables combined, the summary RR per 200 g/day was 0.92 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90-0.94, I 2  = 0%, n  = 15] for coronary heart disease, 0.84 (95% CI: 0.76-0.92, I 2  = 73%, n  = 10) for stroke, 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90-0.95, I 2  = 31%, n  = 13) for cardiovascular disease, 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95-0.99, I 2  = 49%, n  = 12) for total cancer and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87-0.93, I 2  = 83%, n  = 15) for all-cause mortality. Similar associations were observed for fruits and vegetables separately. Reductions in risk were observed up to 800 g/day for all outcomes except cancer (600 g/day). Inverse associations were observed between the intake of apples and pears, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, and salads and cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, and between the intake of green-yellow vegetables and cruciferous vegetables and total cancer risk. An estimated 5.6 and 7.8 million premature deaths worldwide in 2013 may be attributable to a fruit and vegetable intake below 500 and 800 g/day, respectively, if the observed associations are causal.

Conclusions

Fruit and vegetable intakes were associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and all-cause mortality. These results support public health recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable intake for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature mortality.

Is individual smoking behaviour influenced by area-level ethnic density? A cross-sectional electronic health database study of inner south-east London

Tobacco smoking remains one of the greatest public health problems facing the UK today. It varies significantly by ethnic group. This study aimed to determine whether ethnic differences in smoking behaviour are related to neighbourhood-level, own-group ethnic density across south and east London.

The association between ethnic density and individual smoking behaviour was assessed by multilevel logistic regression using the electronic health records of 688 397 general practitioner-registered patients. Restricted cubic splines were created to explore whether the effect of ethnic density on smoking behaviour was nonlinear.

Increasing own-group ethnic density was found to be associated with a significant reduction in the odds of being a current smoker in all ethnic groups, except for Black Caribbean women. The relationship between ethnic density and current smoking was found to be nonlinear, with the strength of association varying significantly by sex and ethnic group.

These novel findings point to a complex relationship between culture, neighbourhood-level experience of adversity or social support and smoking behaviour, and will allow us to target smoking cessation services differentially to individuals/groups living in relative ethnic isolation, who do not benefit from the potential cultural/social factors associated with reduced tobacco consumption.

The effect of ethnic density on smoking behaviour in Londonhttp://ow.ly/NQED308q9cO

Effects and Mechanisms of Fruit and Vegetable Juices on Cardiovascular Diseases

Many studies have indicated that consumption of vegetables and fruits are positively related to lower incidence of several chronic noncommunicable diseases. Although composition of fruit and vegetable juices is different from that of the edible portion of fruits and vegetables, they contain polyphenols and vitamins from fruits and vegetables. Drinking vegetable and fruit juices is very popular in many countries, and also an efficient way to improve consumption of fruits and vegetables. The studies showed that fruit and vegetable juices affect cardiovascular risk factors, such as lowering blood pressure and improving blood lipid profiles. The main mechanisms of action included antioxidant effects, improvement of the aspects of the cardiovascular system, inhibition of platelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory effects, and prevention of hyperhomocysteinemia. Drinking juices might be a potential way to improve cardiovascular health, especially mixtures of juices because they contain a variety of polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals from different fruits and vegetables. This review summarizes recent studies on the effects of fruit and vegetable juices on indicators of cardiovascular disease, and special attention is paid to the mechanisms of action.

Recommended Dietary Pattern to Achieve Adherence to the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) Guidelines: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

In 2013, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology published the “Guideline on Lifestyle Management to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk,” which was based on a systematic review originally initiated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The guideline supports the American Heart Association’s 2020 Strategic Impact Goals for cardiovascular health promotion and disease reduction by providing more specific details for adopting evidence-based diet and lifestyle behaviors to achieve those goals. In addition, the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans issued updated evidence relevant to reducing cardiovascular risk and provided additional recommendations for adopting healthy diet and lifestyle approaches. This scientific statement, intended for healthcare providers, summarizes relevant scientific and translational evidence and offers practical tips, tools, and dietary approaches to help patients/clients adapt these guidelines according to their sociocultural, economic, and taste preferences.

Brief report: Self-compassion, physical health and the mediating role of health-promoting behaviours

To test the hypothesis that self-compassion predicts better physical health and that this is partially mediated through health-promoting behaviours, 147 adults completed self-report measures of self-compassion, health-promoting behaviours and physical health. Self-compassion and health-promoting behaviours were negatively associated with physical symptom scores. Self-compassion was positively associated with health-promoting behaviours. A bootstrapped mediation model confirmed a significant direct effect of self-compassion on physical health through health-promoting behaviours ( R² = 0.13, b = -8.98, p = 0.015), which was partially mediated through health-promoting behaviours ( R² = 0.06, b = -3.16, 95 per cent confidence interval [-6.78, -0.86]). Findings underscore the potential health-promoting benefits of self-compassion.

Associations Between Prediabetes, by Three Different Diagnostic Criteria, and Incident CVD Differ in South Asians and Europeans

OBJECTIVE

We examined longitudinal associations between prediabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (coronary heart disease [CHD] and stroke) in Europeans and South Asians.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a U.K. cohort study of 1,336 Europeans and 1,139 South Asians, aged 40-69 years at baseline (1988-1991). Assessment included blood pressure, blood tests, anthropometry, and questionnaires. Prediabetes was determined by OGTT or HbA1c, using either International Expert Committee (IEC) (HbA1c 6.0-6.5% [42-48 mmol/mol]) or American Diabetes Association (ADA) (HbA1c 5.7-6.5% [39-48 mmol/mol]) cut points. Incident CHD and stroke were established at 20 years from death certification, hospital admission, primary care record review, and participant report.

RESULTS

Compared with normoglycemic individuals, IEC-defined prediabetes was related to both CHD and CVD risk in Europeans but not South Asians (subhazard ratio for CHD 1.68 [95% CI 1.19, 2.38] vs. 1.00 [0.75, 1.33], ethnicity interaction P = 0.008, and for CVD 1.49 [1.08, 2.07] vs. 1.03 [0.78, 1.36], ethnicity interaction P = 0.04). Conversely, IEC-defined prediabetes was associated with stroke risk in South Asians but not Europeans (1.73 [1.03, 2.90] vs. 0.85 [0.44, 1.64], ethnicity interaction P = 0.11). Risks were adjusted for age, sex, smoking, total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, and antihypertensive use. Associations were weaker for OGTT or ADA-defined prediabetes. Conversion from prediabetes to diabetes was greater in South Asians, but accounting for time to conversion did not account for these ethnic differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Associations between prediabetes and CVD differed by prediabetes diagnostic criterion, type of CVD, and ethnicity, with associations being present for overall CVD in Europeans but not South Asians. Substantiation of these findings and investigation of potential explanations are required.