scholarly journals Cardiovascular risk factors, living and ageing in Halle: the CARLA study

Author(s):  
Lamiaa Hassan ◽  
Ljupcho Efremov ◽  
Anne Großkopf ◽  
Nadja Kartschmit ◽  
Daniel Medenwald ◽  
...  

AbstractThe CARLA study (Cardiovascular Disease, Living and Ageing in Halle) is a longitudinal population-based cohort study of the general population of the city of Halle (Saale), Germany. The primary aim of the cohort was to investigate risk factors for cardiovascular diseases based on comprehensive cardiological phenotyping of study participants and was extended to study factors associated with healthy ageing. In total, 1779 probands (812 women and 967 men, aged 45–83 years) were examined at baseline (2002–2005), with a first and second follow-up performed 4 and 8 years later. The response proportion at baseline was 64.1% and the reparticipation proportion for the first and second follow-up was 86% and 77% respectively. Sixty-four percent of the study participants were in retirement while 25% were full- or partially-employed and 11% were unemployed at the time of the baseline examination. The currently running third follow-up focuses on the assessment of physical and mental health, with an intensive 4 h examination program, including measurement of cardiovascular, neurocognitive, balance and gait parameters. The data collected in the CARLA Study resulted in answering various research questions in over 80 publications, of which two thirds were pooled analyses with other similar population-based studies. Due to the extensiveness of information on risk factors, subclinical conditions and evident diseases, the biobanking concept for the biosamples, the cohort representativeness of an elderly population, and the high level of quality assurance, the CARLA cohort offers a unique platform for further research on important indicators for healthy ageing.

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Wikström ◽  
Jaana Lindström ◽  
Kennet Harald ◽  
Markku Peltonen ◽  
Tiina Laatikainen

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 216-216
Author(s):  
Ahmed Shakarchi ◽  
Emmanuel Garcia Morales ◽  
Nicholas Reed ◽  
Bonnielin Swenor

Abstract Sensory impairment (SI) is common among older adults, and it is an increasingly important public health challenge as the population ages. We evaluated the association between SI and incident disability-related cessation of employment in older adults using the population-based Health and Retirement Study. Participants employed in 2006 completed biennial interviews until self-reported incident disability-related cessation of employment. Participants were censored at loss to follow-up, retirement, or 2018. Participants rated their vision and hearing, using eyeglasses or hearing aids if applicable, on a Likert scale (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent). SI was defined as poor or fair ability, and SI was categorized as neither SI (NSI), vision impairment alone (VI), hearing impairment alone (HI), and dual SI (DSI). Cox proportional hazard regression assessed the association between SI and incident disability-related cessation of employment, adjusting for demographic and health covariates. Overall, 4726 participants were included: 421 (8.9%) were with VI, 487 (10.3) with HI, and 203 (4.3%) with DSI. Mean age was 61.0 ± 6.8 years, 2488 (52.6%) were women, and 918 (19.4) were non-White. In the fully adjusted model, incident disability-related cessation of employment over the 12-year follow-up period was higher in VI (Hazard Ratio (HR)=1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.92, 1.85), HI (HR=1.60, CI=1.16, 2.22), and DSI (HR=2.02, CI=1.38, 2.96). These findings indicate that employed older adults with SI are at increased risk of incident disability-related cessation of employment, and that older adults with DSI are particularly vulnerable. Addressing SI in older adults may lengthen their contribution to the workforce.


2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 210-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne K. Nitter ◽  
Are H. Pripp ◽  
Karin Ø. Forseth

AbstractIntroductionChronic musculoskeletal pain represents a significant health problem among adults in Norway. The prevalence of chronic pain can be up to 50% in both genders. However, the prevalence of chronic widespread pain is significantly higher in females than in males. Chronic widespread pain is seen as the end of a continuum of pain. There is rather sparse knowledge about the incidence of pain in initially pain free individuals and the course of self-reported pain over time. Moreover, little is known about risk factors for incidence of chronic pain or prognostic factors for the course of self-reported pain. We believe that such knowledge may contribute to develop strategies for treatment at an early stadium of the pain condition and thereby reduce the prevalence of chronic pain included chronic widespread pain.Aims of the studyThe aims of this study were threefold: (1) to calculate the incidence of self-reported musculoskeletal pain in a female cohort, (2) to describe the course of pain and (3) to investigate whether or not health complaints and sleep problems are predictive factors for onset of pain or prognostic factors for the course of pain.MethodsThis is a prospective population-based study of all women between 20 and 50 years who were registered in Arendal, Norway, in 1989 (N = 2498 individuals). A questionnaire about chronic pain (pain >3 months duration in muscles, joints, back or the whole body), modulating factors for pain, sleep problems and seven non-specific health complaints was mailed to all traceable women, in 1990 (N =2498), 1995 (n = 2435) and 2007 (n = 2261). Of these, 1338 responded on all three occasions. Outcome measures were presence and extent of chronic pain.ResultsThe prevalence of chronic pain was 57% in 1990 and 61% in 2007. From 1990 to 2007, 53% of the subjects changed pain category. The incidence of chronic pain in initially pain free individuals during follow-up was 44%, whereas the recovery rate was 25%. Impaired sleep quality predicted onset of chronic pain. There was a linear association between the number of health complaints and the incidence of chronic pain in initially pain free individuals. Equivalent results were found for persistence of pain and worsening of pain.ConclusionThe prevalence of chronic pain was rather stable throughout the follow-up period, but the prevalence of chronic widespread pain increased. Individual changes in pain extent occurred frequently. The presence of sleep disturbances and number of health complaints predicted onset, persistence and worsening of pain.ImplicationsSleep problems must be thoroughly addressed as a possible risk factor for onset or worsening of pain. Elimination of sleep problems in an early phase is an interesting approach in treating chronic pain. More research is needed to illuminate the possible pathogenetic relations between pain, non-specific health complaints, sleep problems and also depression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1065
Author(s):  
Eun Hui Bae ◽  
Sang Yeob Lim ◽  
Jin-Hyung Jung ◽  
Tae Ryom Oh ◽  
Hong Sang Choi ◽  
...  

Obesity has become a pandemic. It is one of the strongest risk-factors of new-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the effects of obesity and abdominal obesity on the risk of developing CKD in young adults has not been elucidated. From a nationwide health screening database, we included 3,030,884 young adults aged 20–39 years without CKD during a baseline examination in 2009–2010, who could follow up during 2013–2016. Patients were stratified into five levels based on their baseline body mass index (BMI) and six levels based on their waist circumference (WC; 5-cm increments). The primary outcome was the development of CKD. During the follow up, until 2016, 5853 (0.19%) participants developed CKD. Both BMI and WC showed a U-shaped relationship with CKD risk, identifying the cut-off values as a BMI of 21 and WC of 72 cm in young adults. The obesity group (odd ratio [OR] = 1.320, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.247–1.397) and abdominal obesity group (male WC ≥ 90, female WC ≥ 85) (OR = 1.208, 95%CI: 1.332–1.290) showed a higher CKD risk than the non-obesity or non-abdominal obesity groups after adjusting for covariates. In the CKD risk by obesity composite, the obesity displayed by the abdominal obesity group showed the highest CKD risk (OR = 1.502, 95%CI: 1.190–1.895), especially in those under 30 years old. During subgroup analysis, the diabetes mellitus (DM) group with obesity or abdominal obesity paradoxically showed a lower CKD risk compared with the non-obesity or non-abdominal obesity group. Obesity and abdominal obesity are associated with increased risk of developing CKD in young adults but a decreased risk in young adults with diabetes.


Author(s):  
J. Skov Neergaard ◽  
K. Dragsbæk ◽  
C. Christiansen ◽  
M. Asser Karsdal ◽  
S. Brix ◽  
...  

Background: Identification of subjects with a progressive disease phenotype is an urgent need in the pharmaceutical industry where most of the recent clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease have failed. Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify subgroups of individuals with objective cognitive impairment (OCI), who were most likely to progress to dementia and to identify the risk factors associated with progression. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Population-based. Participants: 5,380 elderly women from Denmark. Measurements: The Short Blessed Test and a category fluency test with animal naming, was used to assess cognitive function, and to classify them into different groups of OCI. Results: OCI was identified in 852 subjects at baseline. The risk of dementia was elevated for OCI subjects as compared to subjects with normal cognition (HR 1.46[1.19-1.79]). The courses of OCI were studied in a sub-cohort who completed the cognitive assessment at both the baseline and the follow-up visit (n = 1,933). Of these subjects 203 had OCI at baseline. The multi-domain subtypes of OCI were associated with progressive OCI. Subjects most likely to progress were older, physically inactive, had a higher level of total cholesterol (>6.5 mmol/L) and had a history of depression as compared to subjects with a non-progressive course of OCI. Conclusions: In this cohort we identified a risk profile associated with progression from OCI in older women. The degree of impairment at baseline was an important predictor of conversion to dementia, additionally several modifiable risk factors were associated with progression.


Circulation ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (suppl_12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward O Bixler ◽  
Alexandros N Vgontzas ◽  
Duanping Liao ◽  
Susan Calhoun ◽  
Julio Fernandez-Mendoza ◽  
...  

Objectives: To study the epidemiology of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in adolescents, which has received little attention. Methods: The Penn State Child Cohort (PSCC) is a representative general population sample of 700 children aged 5-12 years. Our preliminary results are based on an average 8 year follow up of the initial 300 prospective subjects (~43%) from this ongoing cohort study. A logistic regression was used to assess the association between potential risk factors and incident SDB. Results: The mean age at the 8-year follow up examination was 17.2 ± 0.1 years, with an average BMI percentile of 66.6 ± 1.6 and 56.5% boys. At baseline 1.5% of this subsample had SDB, defined by Apnea Hypopnia Index (AHI > 5 /hour). Surprisingly, there was no persistence of SDB. Eight-year incident SDB was 10.5%. The average AHI in those with incident SDB was 12.7 with a maximum of 92.4. Incident SDB was similar for girls (7.8%) and boys (12.7%). Those with SDB were older than those without (18.7 vs 17.0 years, P<0.001) and girls with SDB were older than boys with SDB (20.0 vs 18.0 years, P=0.002). Those with incident SDB tended to have a greater change in BMI percentile (8.2 vs 1.8, P = 0.143) during the follow up and slightly higher minority representation (25.8% vs 21.9%, P=0.655). A logistic regression model identified three variables that were associated with incident SDB, controlling for baseline AHI: age (OR = 1.5 (1.3, 1.9) P<0.001), male (OR= 2.5 (1.11,10.00) P=0.021), and [[Unable to Display Character: &#8710;]]BMIPCT (OR=1.2(1.02, 1.5) P=0.032). Conclusion: In this population based sample of adolescents, the 8-year incidence of SDB was high (10.5%), whereas childhood SDB did not persist into adolescence. Further, the results indicate that risk factors for incident SDB in adolescents are age, male and the development of obesity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 974-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Sutin ◽  
Y. Stephan ◽  
A. Terracciano

BackgroundMultiple studies have found Conscientiousness to be protective against dementia. The purpose of this study is to identify which specific aspects, or facets, of Conscientiousness are most protective against cognitive impairment and whether these associations are moderated by demographic factors and/or genetic risk.MethodsHealth and Retirement Study participants were selected for analysis if they completed the facets of Conscientiousness measure, scored in the range of normal cognitive functioning at the baseline personality assessment, and had at least one follow-up assessment of cognition over the up to 6-year follow-up (N = 11 181). Cox regression was used to test for risk of incident dementia and risk of incident cognitive impairment not dementia (CIND).ResultsOver the follow-up, 278 participants developed dementia and 2186 participants developed CIND. The facet of responsibility had the strongest and most consistent association with dementia risk: every standard deviation increase in this facet was associated with a nearly 35% decreased risk of dementia; self-control and industriousness were also protective. Associations were generally similar when controlling for clinical, behavioral, and genetic risk factors. These three facets were also independent predictors of decreased risk of CIND.ConclusionsThe present research indicates that individuals who see themselves as responsible, able to control their behavior, and hard workers are less likely to develop CIND or dementia and that these associations persist after accounting for some common clinical, behavioral, and genetic risk factors.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e031169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marvin Gonzalez-Quiroz ◽  
Dorothea Nitsch ◽  
Sophie Hamilton ◽  
Cristina O'Callaghan Gordo ◽  
Rajiv Saran ◽  
...  

IntroductionA recently recognised form of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown origin (CKDu) is afflicting communities, mostly in rural areas in several regions of the world. Prevalence studies are being conducted in a number of countries, using a standardised protocol, to estimate the distribution of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and thus identify communities with a high prevalence of reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In this paper, we propose a standardised minimum protocol for cohort studies in high-risk communities aimed at investigating the incidence of, and risk factors for, early kidney dysfunction.Methods and analysisThis generic cohort protocol provides the information to establish a prospective population-based cohort study in low-income settings with a high prevalence of CKDu. This involves a baseline survey that included key elements from the DEGREE survey (eg, using the previously published DEGREE methodology) of a population-representative sample, and subsequent follow-up visits in young adults (without a pre-existing diagnosis of CKD (eGFR<60 mL/min/1.73m2), proteinuria or risk factors for CKD at baseline) over several years. Each visit involves a core questionnaire, and collection and storage of biological samples. Local capacity to measure serum creatinine will be required so that immediate feedback on kidney function can be provided to participants. After completion of follow-up, repeat measures of creatinine should be conducted in a central laboratory, using reference standards traceable to isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) quality control material to quantify the main outcome of eGFR decline over time, alongside a description of the early evolution of disease and risk factors for eGFR decline.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval will be obtained by local researchers, and participants will provide informed consent before the study commences. Participants will typically receive feedback and advice on their laboratory results, and referral to a local health system where appropriate.


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