Retinal vascular caliber and the long-term risk of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose: the Blue Mountains Eye Study

Objective: To assess the associations of retinal vessel caliber with the 10‐year incidence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study is a population based cohort study of Australian residents aged at least 49 years, with baseline examinations conducted during 1992–4. Retinal arteriolar and venular calibers were measured and summarized from baseline digitized images in 3368 participants. Diabetes was defined as a physician‐diagnosis of diabetes or fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL and IFG as fasting blood glucose 109 to 125 mg/dL. Ten year incidence of diabetes and IFG was defined from 5‐ and 10‐year follow up data. Results : After adjusting for age and gender, wider retinal venular caliber was associated with an increased incidence of diabetes and IFG. These associations were not significant after controlling for baseline glucose, body mass index and other factors. In persons 49–70 years of age at baseline, however, the association of wider retinal venular caliber and incident IFG persisted after further controlling for other factors (OR, 1.53, 95% CI, 1.11–2.12). Retinal arteriolar caliber was not associated with incident diabetes or IFG. Conclusions: This study suggests that wider retinal venular caliber was associated with higher risk of IFG in middle‐aged persons.     

Lower dairy products and calcium intake is associated with adverse retinal vascular changes in older adults

Background and aimsHigher consumption of dairy products and calcium is likely to play a role in maintaining optimal vascular health. In this study, we aimed to explore the associations between consumption of total-, regular- and low-fat dairy foods, and total calcium intake with retinal vascular caliber.Methods and results2813 Blue Mountains Eye Study participants aged 50+ years had dietary data collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and serves of dairy consumption were calculated. Fundus photographs were taken and retinal vascular caliber measured using computer-assisted techniques and summarized. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, mean arterial blood pressure, serum glucose, white cell count, history of diagnosed hypertension, stroke and coronary heart disease, plus retinal arteriolar caliber, participants in the lowest quintile of total dairy consumption compared to those in the remaining highest 4 quintiles had significantly wider retinal venular caliber, 227.2 versus 224.7 μm, respectively (multivariable-adjusted p = 0.002). Also, subjects in the lowest quintile of low-fat dairy product consumption versus those in the remaining quintiles of low-fat dairy intake had wider retinal venules (∼1.7 μm, p = 0.03) and narrower retinal arterioles (∼1.4 μm, p = 0.04). Participants in the lowest quintile versus highest quintile of total dietary calcium intake had ∼2.3 μm wider retinal venules (multivariable-adjusted p-trend = 0.02).ConclusionsA significant association was observed between lower intake of dairy products or calcium and adverse retinal vascular signs. We cannot discount the possibility of confounding from unmeasured risk factors; hence, further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.     

Dairy food consumption,blood pressure and retinal microcirculation in adolescents

Background and aimsThe relationship between dairy food consumption and dietary calcium intake, and vascular risk factors during adolescence remains unclear. We aimed to prospectively assess whether dairy food consumption (milk, cheese, yoghurt) is associated with blood pressure (BP) and retinal microvascular signs among adolescents.Methods and resultsAs many as 2353 and 1216 participants aged 12 and 17, respectively, were examined. Longitudinal analyses involved 888 subjects with complete baseline and follow-up data. Dairy consumption was assessed from validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires. BP information was collected and retinal vessel caliber was quantified from digital photographs using computer software. In girls, after multivariable adjustment, each serve/day increase in total dairy intake was concurrently associated with 1.04 (p = 0.03) and 1.10 mm Hg (p = 0.02) decreases in mean diastolic and arterial BP, respectively. Also in girls, each serve/day increase in cheese intake over 5 years was concurrently related to 7.18 (p = 0.001), 5.28 (p = 0.002) and 5.79 mm Hg (p = 0.001) decrease in mean systolic, diastolic and arterial BP, respectively. Among girls, each 100 mg/day increase in dietary calcium intake was associated with a concurrent 0.5 (p = 0.01) and 0.3 mm Hg (p = 0.02) decrease in mean systolic and arterial BP, respectively. Cross-sectionally, adolescents in the highest versus lowest tertile of yoghurt intake had ∼1.3 μm wider retinal arterioles (p = 0.05) and ∼2.0 μm narrower venules (p = 0.04).ConclusionsConsumption of dairy products, particularly cheese, could have a beneficial effect on BP, particularly among girls.     

Retinal vessel diameter and cardiovascular mortality: pooled data analysis from two older populations.

AIMS: The retinal microvasculature may reflect pre-clinical changes in the cerebral and coronary microcirculations. We assessed whether smaller retinal arterioles and larger venules predicted coronary heart disease (CHD)- and stroke-mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: We pooled data from the Beaver Dam Eye Study (n = 4926, aged 43-86) and the Blue Mountains Eye Study (n = 3654, aged 49-97). Retinal vessel diameters were measured from digitized retinal photographs. Change point models were used to assess and document the existence of threshold effects. We defined smaller arterioles as diameters within the narrowest quintile and larger venules as diameters within the widest quintile, with other quintiles as the reference. Of 8550 participants, 7494 (88%) with complete data were included, of whom 653 died from CHD and 299 from stroke over 10-12 years follow-up. After multivariable adjustment, each standard deviation (SD) increase in arteriolar diameter, or SD decrease in venular diameter, was not found to be significantly associated with either CHD-mortality or stroke-mortality. However, smaller arterioles [hazard ratio (HR) 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.62] and larger venules (HR 1.24, CI 1.02-1.52), predicted increased risk of CHD-mortality. These associations were mainly evident among persons aged 43-69 (smaller arterioles: HR 1.70, CI 1.27-2.28; larger venules: HR 1.41, CI 1.06-1.89). Smaller arterioles (HR 1.64, CI 1.00-2.67) and larger venules (HR 1.53, CI 0.94-2.47) were also associated with an increased risk of stroke-mortality among persons aged 43-69. CONCLUSION: Retinal vessel diameter may predict risk of CHD and stroke deaths in middle-aged persons.     

Relationship of Type 2 diabetes to the prevalence,incidence and progression of age‐related hearing loss

Aims Type 2 diabetes and associated microvascular abnormalities are postulated to affect hearing. Our study reports on the relationship between Type 2 diabetes and the prevalence, 5‐year incidence and progression of hearing impairment in a representative, older, Australian population. Methods The Blue Mountains Hearing Study is a population‐based survey of age‐related hearing loss conducted in a defined suburban area, west of Sydney. Hearing loss was defined as the pure‐tone average of frequencies 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 kHz > 25 decibels hearing level (dB HL) in the better ear (bilateral hearing loss). Type 2 diabetes was defined from reported physician‐diagnosed diabetes or fasting blood glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l. Results Age‐related hearing loss was present in 50.0% of diabetic participants (n = 210) compared with 38.2% of non‐diabetic participants (n = 1648), odds ratio (OR) 1.55 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–2.17], after adjusting for multiple risk factors. A relationship of diabetes duration with hearing loss was also demonstrated. After 5 years, incident hearing loss occurred in 18.7% of participants with, and 18.0% of those without diabetes, adjusted OR 1.01 (CI 0.54–1.91). Progression of existing hearing loss (> 5 dB HL), however, was significantly greater in participants with newly diagnosed diabetes (69.6%) than in those without diabetes (47.8%) over this period, adjusted OR 2.71 (CI 1.07–6.86). Conclusions Type 2 diabetes was associated with prevalent, but not incident hearing loss in this older population. Accelerated hearing loss progression over 5 years was more than doubled in persons newly diagnosed with diabetes. These data explore further reported links between Type 2 diabetes and age‐related hearing loss.     

Population prevalence and incidence of Parkinson's disease in an Australian community

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting older individuals. Few studies have determined the prevalence and incidence of this disease in Australia. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and 10‐year incidence of PD in the Australian community. Methods: In the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES), a population‐based health survey of Australian residents aged 49 years or more, we determined the cross‐sectional prevalence (BMES2, 1997–1999, n = 3509) and 10‐year incidence (BMES1, 2 and 3, 1992–1994, 1997–1999 and 2002–2004, respectively, n = 2545) of PD. We screened participants who took PD medications. PD diagnosis was confirmed by contacting the participant’s medical/general practitioners. Results: Nineteen new cases of PD were identified over the 10‐year period, a 10‐year incidence of 0.84% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54–1.33%). In the cross‐sectional study, 16/3509 participants were confirmed to have PD (0.46%), with age‐specific prevalence rates of 0.48% in persons aged 60–69 years, 0.82% for ages 70–79 years and 0.56% in persons aged 80 years or older. No PD cases were identified among participants less than 60 years of age. When age standardized to the 2001 Australian population, the prevalence of PD was 362 per 100 000 (95%CI 183–541) among persons aged 50 years or older and 104 per 100 000 for the Australian population at all ages, assuming no prevalent cases in persons aged less than 50 years. Conclusion: This study estimates a 0.46% (95%CI 0.23–0.68) prevalence of PD patients treated with medications aged 50 years or older and a 10‐year incidence of 0.84% (95%CI 0.54–1.33).     

International differences in coronary heart disease mortality and consumption of fish and other foodstuffs

The relationship between fish consumption and coronary heartdisease mortality was investigated using data on foodstuff consumptionand mortality from 21 countries. A moderate negative associationwas found which appeared stable over different periods. Thisassociation disappeared when the effects of other foodstuffswere controlled for in multiple regression analysis. One featureto emerge was the anomalous position of Japan in consumptionof several foodstuffs. Inclusive or exclusion of this countryfrom regression analysis had a powerful effect on which independentvariables entered the model. This illustrates the danger ofusing single countries, for example Japan with a high fish consumptionand low CHD mortality, to support causal hypotheses about dietand disease.     

Associations between retinal microvascular structure and the severity and extent of coronary artery disease

Objective

Microvascular mechanisms are increasingly recognized as being involved in a significant proportion of coronary artery disease (CAD) cases, but their exact contribution or role is unclear. We aimed to define the association between retinal microvascular signs and both CAD extent and severity.

Methods

1120 participants of the Australian Heart Eye Study were included. Retinal vessel caliber was measured from digital retinal images. Extent and severity of CAD was assessed using several approaches. First, a simple scoring classifying participants as having one-vessel, two-vessel, and three-vessel disease was used. Gensini and Extent scores were calculated using angiography findings.

Results

After multivariable adjustment, significantly narrower retinal arteriolar caliber in women (comparing lowest versus highest quartile or reference) and wider venular caliber in men (comparing highest versus lowest quartile or reference) were associated with 2-fold and 54% higher odds of having at least one stenosis ≥50% in the epicardial coronary arteries, respectively. Women in the third versus first tertile of retinal venular caliber had 92% and ∼2-fold higher likelihood of having higher Gensini and Extent scores, respectively. Women in the lowest versus highest tertile of retinal arteriolar caliber had greater odds of having higher Extent scores, OR 2.99 (95% CI 1.45–6.16). In men, non-significant associations were observed between retinal vascular caliber and Gensini and Extent scores.

Conclusions

An unhealthy retinal microvascular profile, namely, narrower retinal arterioles and wider venules was associated with more diffuse and severe CAD among women.     

静息心率对老年人群心脑血管事件及全因死亡的影响

目的探讨老年人群(≥60岁)静息心率(RHR)水平对心脑血管事件及全因死亡的影响。方法本前瞻性队列研究于2006年和2007年进行,参加者为101 010名开滦集团的员工,选择其中年龄≥60岁、无心律失常、无心脑血管病史、未服用β受体阻滞剂的18 924例职工为研究对象。按RHR四分位数值分为以下4组:<67次/min、68~71次/min、72~79次/min、≥80次/min。随访期间收集心脑血管疾病及全因死亡事件,应用Cox比例风险模型评估RHR与全因死亡及CVD的风险。结果 (1)中位随访11.18年,4组发生心脑血管事件例数和累积发病率分别为[536(11.32%)、479(12.38%)、686(12.53%)、618(12.76%)],差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);4组发生全因死亡例数和累积全因死亡率分别为1 086(22.93%)、940(24.30%)、1 330(24.28%)、1 462(30.19%)例,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。(2)校正传统心血管疾病危险因素后多因素分析显示,与RHR最低四分位数组相比,最高四分位组发生心脑血管事件及全因死亡的HR值分别为1.06(95%CI 0.93~1.20)、1.07(95%CI 0.95~1.20)、1.07(95%CI 0.94~1.21);1.14(95%CI 1.04~1.25)、1.12(95%CI 1.03~1.22)、1.37(95%CI 1.26~1.49)。结论 RHR升高是开滦研究老年人群全因死亡的危险因素。     

Association between fish consumption and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in Japan: NIPPON DATA80, 1980-99

PURPOSE: Although high consumption of fish may be one of the contributing factors for Japanese longevity, no epidemiological study using Japanese data has tested this hypothesis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The relationship between fish consumption and all-cause as well as cause-specific mortality was analyzed using the database of NIPPON DATA80. At baseline in 1980, history, physical, and blood biochemical measurement and a nutritional survey by the food-frequency method were performed in randomly selected community-based subjects aged 30 years and over in Japan. After exclusion of subjects with significant comorbidities at baseline, we followed 3945 men and 4934 women for 19 years. Men and women were analyzed comprehensively. Age- and sex-adjusted and multivariate adjusted relative risk for all-cause or cause-specific mortality was calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model with delayed entry. RESULTS: During 19 years of followup, there were 1745 deaths. Subjects were divided into 5 groups according to fish consumption frequency. The multivariate Cox analyses showed that relative risks for subjects who ate fish more than twice daily compared with those of subjects who ate 1 to 2 times weekly were 0.99 (95% confidence intervals: 0.77-1.27) for all-cause, 1.26 (0.70-2.29) for stroke, 0.92 (0.20-4.23) for cerebral hemorrhage, 1.09 (0.48-2.43) for cerebral infarction, and 0.91 (0.35-2.35) for coronary heart disease mortality. CONCLUSION: Our results did not provide evidence in support of the fish hypothesis, perhaps because the majority of the Japanese subjects in the study ate fish more than the threshold level shown to be beneficial in the previous studies.     

Diabetes mellitus,impaired glucose tolerance and mortality among elderly men: The Finnish cohorts of the seven countries study

Summary We studied the association of glucose intolerance with total and cause-specific mortality during a 5-year follow-up of 637 elderly Finnish men aged 65 to 84 years. Total mortality was 276 per 1000 for men aged 65 to 74 years and 537 per 1000 for men aged 75 to 84 years. Five-year total mortality adjusted for age was 364 per 1000 in diabetic men, 234 per 1000 in men with impaired glucose tolerance and 209 per 1000 in men with normal glucose tolerance. The relative risk of death among diabetic men was 2.10 (95% confidence interval 1.26 to 3.49) and among men with impaired glucose tolerance 1.17 (95% confidence interval 0.71 to 1.94) times higher compared with men with normal glucose tolerance. Cardiovascular disease was the most common cause of death in every glucose tolerance group. The multivariate adjusted relative risk of cardiovascular death was increased (1.55) in diabetic patients, albeit non-significantly (95% confidence interval 0.84 to 2.85). Diabetes resulted in an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality among men aged 65–74 years but not among the 75–84-year-old men. Relative risk of death from non-cardiovascular causes was slightly increased among diabetic subjects. In conclusion, diabetes mellitus is a significant determinant of mortality among elderly Finnish men.     

Alcohol consumption and cardiovascular mortality accounting for possible misclassification of intake: 11-year follow-up of the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between usual daily alcohol intake, beverage type and drinking frequency on cardiovascular (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality, accounting for systematic misclassification of intake. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with mean follow-up of 11.4 years. Setting The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 38 200 volunteers (23 044 women) aged 40-69 years at baseline (1990-1994). MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported alcohol intake using beverage-specific quantity-frequency questions (usual intake) and drinking diary for previous week. FINDINGS: Compared with life-time abstention, usual daily alcohol intake was associated with lower CVD and CHD mortality risk for women but not men. For women, the hazard ratio [HR (95% CI)] for CVD for those drinking > 20 g/day alcohol was 0.43 (0.19-0.95; P trend = 0.18), and for CHD, 0.19 (0.05-0.82; P trend = 0.24). Male former drinkers had over twice the mortality risk for CVD [HR = 2.58 (1.51-4.41)] and CHD [HR = 2.91 (1.59-5.33)]. Wine was the only beverage associated inversely with mortality for women. Compared with drinkers who consumed no alcohol in the week before baseline, drinking frequency was associated inversely with CVD and CHD mortality risk for men but not women. HR for men drinking 6-7 days/week was 0.49 (0.29-0.81; P trend = 0.02) for CVD, and 0.49 (0.26-0.92: P trend = 0.23) for CHD. CONCLUSIONS: Usual daily alcohol intake was associated with reduced CVD and CHD mortality for women but not men. This benefit appeared to be mainly from wine, although comparison of beverages was not possible. Drinking frequency was associated inversely with CVD and CHD death for men but not women.     

Advanced chronic kidney disease,cardiovascular events and the effect of diabetes: data from the Atherosclerosis and Folic Acid Supplementation Trial

Background: End‐stage kidney disease registry data have reported increased mortality in patients with diabetes as compared with those without. Here we examine whether diabetes is independently associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events and death in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: Data from 315 participants with CKD in the Atherosclerosis and Folic Acid Supplementation Trial (ASFAST) were assessed. Primary end‐points were fatal or non‐fatal cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, coronary revascularisation and peripheral vascular events assessed both jointly and separately using Cox‐proportional hazard models. Results: Twenty‐three per cent reported diabetes. Median follow up was 3.6 years. In those with diabetes, an increased risk for major cardiovascular events was observed, crude hazard ratio (HR) 2.87 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.11–3.90). After adjustment for age, gender, smoking, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, past ischaemic heart disease and use of preventive therapies, diabetes was associated with an HR of 1.83 (1.28–2.61) for major cardiovascular events. The risk for peripheral vascular events was also increased, adjusted HR 6.31 (2.61–15.25). For all‐cause death, major coronary and stroke events, the risk in those with diabetes was not significantly increased (all‐cause death, adjusted HR 1.31 (95% CI 0.80–2.14); major coronary events, adjusted HR 1.26 (95% CI 0.64–2.49); and major stroke events, adjusted HR 1.28 (95% CI 0.55–2.99)). Conclusions: Diabetes significantly increases the risk of major cardiovascular events, especially peripheral vascular events in patients with advanced CKD. Trials of multifactorial management of cardiovascular risk factors are required to determine if outcomes for this population may be improved.     

Cardio‐ankle vascular index and cardiovascular disease: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of prospective and cross‐sectional studies

The cardio‐ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a new measure of arterial stiffness that reflects the stiffness from the ascending aorta to the ankle arteries, and demonstrates little dependence on blood pressure during the evaluation. However, a comprehensive assessment of the association of CAVI with cardiovascular disease (CVD) has not been reported. We performed a systematic review to assess the association between CAVI and CVD. We searched for both prospective and cross‐sectional studies using MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane from inception until April 11, 2017. We pooled the results using random‐effects models. Among 1519 records, we identified nine prospective studies (n = 5214) and 17 cross‐sectional eligible studies (n = 7309), with most enrolling high CVD risk populations in Asia. All nine prospective studies investigated composite CVD events as an outcome (498 cases including coronary events and stroke) but modeled CAVI inconsistently. The pooled adjusted hazard ratio for CVD events per 1 standard deviation increment of CAVI in four studies was 1.20 (95% CI: 1.05‐1.36, P = 0.006). Of the 17 cross‐sectional studies, 13 studies compared CAVI values between patients with and without CVD and all reported significantly higher values in those with CVD (pooled mean difference in CAVI values 1.28 [0.86‐1.70], P < 0.001). This systematic review suggests a modest association between CAVI and incident CVD risk, and highlights the need for studies assessing CAVI as a predictor of CVD in the general population and non‐Asian countries.     

The association of resting heart rate with cardiovascular, cancer and all-cause mortality. Eight year follow-up of 3527 male Israeli employees (the CORDIS Study)

BACKGROUND: Resting heart rate has frequently been shown to be a predictor of coronary heart disease mortality. Elevated heart rate could also be a marker for the presence of other risk factors, which have not been taken into consideration in previous studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of resting heart rate on the risk of all-cause cardiovascular and cancer mortality, taking into consideration haematological variables. METHOD: The association between resting heart rate and mortality was assessed applying Cox's proportional hazard models to data obtained in an 8 year follow-up of 3527 Israeli male industrial employees. During this period 135 deaths were recorded, 57 from cardiovascular disease and 45 from cancer. Resting heart rate was assessed at entry; potential confounding demographic, anthropometric and socioeconomic variables, haematological data, serum lipid levels and health-related habits were accounted for. RESULTS: We found that the relative risk of all-cause mortality increased with increasing resting heart rate, workers with resting heart rate >90 beats. min(-1)had an adjusted relative risk of 2.23 (95% CI 1.4-3.6) compared with those with a heart rate <70 beats. min(-1). A similar result was achieved for cardiovascular disease mortality (adjusted relative risk 2.02, 95% CI 1.1-4.0). Cancer mortality was not associated with resting heart rate. CONCLUSION: This study found that resting heart rate is associated with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality after controlling (in various statistical models) for platelet counts, haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell counts, total protein, and other recognized risk factors.     

Muscle-strengthening activities and risk of cardiovascular disease,type 2 diabetes,cancer and mortality: A review of prospective cohort studies

The benefits of aerobic moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are well established. However, much less is known whether muscle-strengthening activities (i.e., resistance/weight/strength training) confer similar benefits. Herein, we conducted a narrative literature review and summarized the existing evidence from large prospective cohort studies on muscle strengthening activities and risk of major chronic diseases and mortality in adults generally free of major NCDs at baseline. Current epidemiologic evidence suggests that engagement in muscle-strengthening activities over 1–2 sessions (or approximately 60–150 min) per week was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (seven studies; approximately 20%–25% reduction), type 2 diabetes (four studies; approximately 30% reduction), cancer mortality (four studies; approximately 15%–20% reduction) as well as all-cause mortality (six studies; approximately 20%–25% reduction). For diabetes, the risk appears to lower further with even higher levels of muscle-strengthening activities, but some studies for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality suggest a reversal whereby higher levels (≥2.5 h/week) have less benefit, or are even harmful, relative to lower levels of activity. The likely mechanisms contributing to a benefit include improvement in body composition, lipid profile, insulin resistance and inflammation. The evidence supports engaging in 1–2 sessions (up to 2.5 h) per week, preferably performed complementary to the recommended levels of aerobic MVPA. Although data are limited, caution is suggested for training exceeding 2.5 h per week. Further studies are required to better understand the influence of frequency, duration and intensity of muscle-strengthening activities on major NCDs and mortality in diverse populations.