Gene-by-Psychosocial Factor Interactions Influence Diastolic Blood Pressure in European and African Ancestry Populations: Meta-Analysis of Four Cohort Studies

From Sugar Spikes to Pressure Peaks: Navigating the World of Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, and Kidney Health

Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are major public health challenges globally, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. The co-occurrence and interplay among these conditions exacerbate health outcomes, highlighting the need for an integrated understanding and approach to management. This narrative review aims to explore the complex relationships between diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and CKD, elucidating their collective impact on health. It discusses the epidemiological trends, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, genetic predispositions, current treatment strategies, and the future direction of research and therapy. An extensive review of current literature was conducted, focusing on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and CKD. Additionally, the review delves into the genetic and molecular biology underlying these conditions, the potential for personalized medicine, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to care. The review identifies key areas where these conditions intersect, enhancing disease progression and complicating management. It highlights the role of genetic and environmental factors in disease etiology, the critical need for personalized treatment strategies, and the gaps in current management approaches. Innovations in pharmacotherapy, monitoring technologies, and the potential of pharmacogenomics are discussed as avenues for advancing patient care. Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and CKD are intricately linked, necessitating an integrated, patient-centered approach to care that goes beyond traditional treatment modalities. Future research should focus on collaborative models and interdisciplinary strategies to address the multifaceted challenges posed by these conditions. Emphasizing personalized medicine and leveraging technological advancements offer promising pathways to improve outcomes and reduce the global health burden of these metabolic disorders.

Prevalence and risk factors for depression among training physicians in China and the United States

During their first year of medical residency (internship), 35% of training physicians in the United States suffer at least one depression episode. We assessed whether there is a similar increase of depression among first year residents in China, and identified predictors of depression in the two systems. 1006 residents across three cohorts (2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Peking Union Medical College were assessed in parallel with three cohorts of 7028 residents at 100 + US institutions. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depressive symptoms were measured at baseline and quarterly. Demographic, personal and residency factors were assessed as potential predictors of PHQ-9 depression scores. Similar to training interns in the US, the proportion of participants in China who met depression criteria at least once during the first year of residency increased substantially, from 9.1 to 35.1%. History of depression and symptoms at baseline were common factors significantly associated with depression during residency. By contrast, neuroticism, early family environment, female gender and not being coupled were associated with depression risk only in the US, while young age was a predictor of depression only in China. Fear of workplace violence also was a predictor in China. Long duty hours and reduced sleep duration emerged as training predictors of depression in both countries. The magnitude of depression increase and work-related drivers of depression were similar between China and the US, suggesting a need for effective system reforms in both systems.

Multi-Ancestry Genome-wide Association Study Accounting for Gene-Psychosocial Factor Interactions Identifies Novel Loci for Blood Pressure Traits

Psychological and social factors are known to influence blood pressure (BP) and risk of hypertension and associated cardiovascular diseases. To identify novel BP loci, we carried out genome-wide association meta-analyses of systolic, diastolic, pulse, and mean arterial BP taking into account the interaction effects of genetic variants with three psychosocial factors: depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and social support. Analyses were performed using a two-stage design in a sample of up to 128,894 adults from 5 ancestry groups. In the combined meta-analyses of Stages 1 and 2, we identified 59 loci (p value <5e-8), including nine novel BP loci. The novel associations were observed mostly with pulse pressure, with fewer observed with mean arterial pressure. Five novel loci were identified in African ancestry, and all but one showed patterns of interaction with at least one psychosocial factor. Functional annotation of the novel loci supports a major role for genes implicated in the immune response (PLCL2), synaptic function and neurotransmission (LIN7A, PFIA2), as well as genes previously implicated in neuropsychiatric or stress-related disorders (FSTL5, CHODL). These findings underscore the importance of considering psychological and social factors in gene discovery for BP, especially in non-European populations.

A Social Determinant of Health May Modify Genetic Associations for Blood Pressure: Evidence From a SNP by Education Interaction in an African American Population

African Americans experience the highest burden of hypertension in the United States compared with other groups. Genetic contributions to this complex condition are now emerging in this as well as other populations through large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and meta-analyses. Despite these recent discovery efforts, relatively few large-scale studies of blood pressure have considered the joint influence of genetics and social determinants of health despite extensive evidence supporting their impact on hypertension. To identify these expected interactions, we accessed a subset of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) biorepository linked to de-identified electronic health records (EHRs) of adult African Americans genotyped using the Illumina Metabochip (n = 2,577). To examine potential interactions between education, a recognized social determinant of health, and genetic variants contributing to blood pressure, we used linear regression models to investigate two-way interactions for systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). We identified a two-way interaction between rs6687976 and education affecting DBP (p = 0.052). Individuals homozygous for the minor allele and having less than a high school education had higher DBP compared with (1) individuals homozygous for the minor allele and high school education or greater and (2) individuals not homozygous for the minor allele and less than a high school education. To our knowledge, this is the first EHR -based study to suggest a gene-environment interaction for blood pressure in African Americans, supporting the hypothesis that genetic contributions to hypertension may be modulated by social factors.

Interactive Effects between Chronic Lead Exposure and the Homeostatic Iron Regulator Transport HFE Polymorphism on the Human Red Blood Cell Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)

Research has shown that long-term exposure to lead harms the hematological system. The homeostatic iron regulator HFE (hemochromatosis) mutation, which has been shown to affect iron absorption and iron overload, is hypothesized to be related to lead intoxication in vulnerable individuals. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the HFE genotype modifies the blood lead levels that affect the distributions of serum iron and other red blood cell indices. Overall, 121 lead workers and 117 unexposed age-matched subjects were recruited for the study. The collected data included the blood lead levels, complete blood count, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, transferrin, and ferritin, which were measured during regular physical examinations. All subjects filled out questionnaires that included demographic information, medical history, and alcohol and tobacco consumption. HFE genotyping for C282Y and H63D was determined using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP). The mean blood lead level in lead workers was 19.75 µg/dL and was 2.86 µg/dL in unexposed subjects. Of 238 subjects, 221 (92.9%) subjects were wild-type (CCHH) for HFE C282Y and H63D, and 17 (7.1%) subjects were heterozygous for a H63D mutation (CCHD). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that blood lead was significantly negatively associated with hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), whereas the HFE variant was associated negatively with MCV and positively with ferritin. An interactive influence on MCV was identified between blood lead and HFE variants. Our research found a significant modifying effect of the HFE variant, which possibly affected MCV. The HFE H63D heterozygous (CCHD) variant seemed to provide a protective factor against lead toxicity. Future studies should focus on competing binding proteins between iron and lead influenced by gene variation.