Association of Vascular Risk Factors With Carotid Intima Media Thickness After Kidney Transplant

Introduction The impact of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) on arterial intima-media thickness (IMT), a surrogate measure for cardiovascular disease, remains uncertain, in part because of the potential for non-SDB vascular risk factor interactions. In the present study, we determined predictors for common carotid (CCA) and femoral (CFA) artery IMT in an adult, sleep clinic cohort where non-SDB vascular risk factors (particularly diabetes) were eliminated or controlled. Methods We recruited 296 participants for polysomnography (standard SDB severity metrics) and CCA/CFA ultrasound examinations, followed by a 12 month vascular risk factor minimisation (RFM) and continuous positive pressure (CPAP) intervention for participants with a range of SDB severity (RFM Sub-Group, n = 157; apnea hyponea index [AHI]: 14.7 (7.2–33.2), median [IQR]). Univariable and multivariable linear regression models determined independent predictors for IMT. Linear mixed effects modelling determined independent predictors for IMT change across the intervention study. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results Age, systolic blood pressure and waist:hip ratio were identified as non-SDB predictive factors for CCA IMT and age, weight and total cholesterol:HDL ratio for CFA IMT. No SDB severity metric emerged as an independent predictor for either CCA or CFA IMT, except in the RFM Sub-Group, where a 2-fold increase in AHI predicted a 2.4% increase in CFA IMT. Across the intervention study, CCA IMT decreased in those who lost weight, but there was no CPAP use interaction. CFA IMT, however, decreased by 12.9% (95%CI 6.8, 18.7%, p = 0.001) in those participants who both lost weight and used CPAP > = 4hours/night. Conclusion We conclude that SDB severity has little impact on CCA IMT values when non-SDB vascular risk factors are minimised or not present. This is the first study, however, to suggest a potential linkage between SDB severity and CFA IMT values. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000250932 and ACTRN12620000694910.

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Subclinical Arteriosclerosis is Associated with Common Vascular Risk Factors in Long-Term Survivors of Testicular Cancer

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9040971 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 971

Author(s):

Javier Espíldora-Hernández ◽

Tania Díaz-Antonio ◽

Javier Baena-Espinar ◽

Inmaculada Alonso-Calderón ◽

José Rioja ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Testicular Cancer ◽

Abdominal Aorta ◽

Liver Steatosis ◽

Calcium Score ◽

Intima Media Thickness ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Metabolic Risk ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Media Thickness

Cardiovascular disease risk is increased in survivors of testicular cancer because of exposure to treatment (chemotherapy and radiotherapy), as well as modification in lifestyle. Our aim was to assess the presence of subclinical arteriosclerosis in survivors of testicular cancer in comparison with a control group. This was a cross-sectional, observational, case–control study including 50 survivors of Germ Cell Tumor (GCT) (14 years of follow-up) and 53 age-matched controls with no cancer. We registered clinical data, cardiovascular risk factors, physical and Mediterranean questionnaires, intima-media thickness and plaque at carotid and femoral arteries by ultrasound, calcium score at the abdominal aorta, and liver steatosis by computed tomography, and applied analytical tests to quantify metabolic risk factors and inflammation markers. Patients showed a trend toward greater intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques than controls, as well as a higher calcium score in the abdominal aorta. Remarkably, patients had higher waist circumference, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and liver steatosis, but lower physical activity and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol than controls (all p < 0.05). In multivariate analyses, only common vascular risk factors were associated with subclinical arteriosclerosis. As a conclusion, in our study, a higher rate of subclinical arteriosclerosis in testicular cancer survivors was associated with classical metabolic risk factors and lifestyle, but not with exposure to chemotherapy.

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Effect of vascular risk factors on increase in carotid and femoral intima-media thickness. Identification of a risk scale

Atherosclerosis ◽

10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2011.01.034 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 216 (1) ◽

pp. 109-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

A. Berni ◽

A. Giuliani ◽

F. Tartaglia ◽

L. Tromba ◽

M. Sgueglia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Intima Media Thickness ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Media Thickness ◽

Risk Scale

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Intima-media thickness predicts stroke risk in the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study in association with vascular risk factors, age and gender

Atherosclerosis ◽

10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.06.019 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 224 (1) ◽

pp. 84-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Dirk M. Hermann ◽

Janine Gronewold ◽

Nils Lehmann ◽

Ulla Karen Seidel ◽

Stefan Möhlenkamp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Intima Media Thickness ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Age And Gender ◽

Media Thickness ◽

Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study ◽

And Gender

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Subclinical atherosclerosis in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951120004448 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Silvia M. Cardoso ◽

Michele Honicky ◽

Yara M. F. Moreno ◽

Luiz R. A. de Lima ◽

Matheus A. Pacheco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Congenital Heart Disease ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Congenital Heart ◽

Subclinical Atherosclerosis ◽

Intima Media Thickness ◽

Carotid Intima Media Thickness ◽

Media Thickness

Abstract Background: Subclinical atherosclerosis in childhood can be evaluated by carotid intima-media thickness, which is considered a surrogate marker for atherosclerotic disease in adulthood. The aims of this study were to evaluate carotid intima-media thickness and, to investigate associated factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study with children and adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD). Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed. Subclinical atherosclerosis was evaluated by carotid intima-media thickness. Cardiovascular risk factors, such as physical activity, screen time, passive smoke, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, dietary intake, lipid parameters, glycaemia, and C-reactive protein, were also assessed. Factors associated with carotid intima-media thickness were analysed using multiple logistic regression. Results: The mean carotid intima-media thickness was 0.518 mm and 46.7% had subclinical atherosclerosis (carotid intima-media thickness ≥ 97th percentile). After adjusting for confounding factors, cyanotic CHD (odds ratio: 0.40; 95% confidence interval: 0.20; 0.78), cardiac surgery (odds ratio: 3.17; 95% confidence interval: 1.35; 7.48), and be hospitalised to treat infections (odds ratio: 1.92; 95% confidence interval: 1.04; 3.54) were associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusion: Clinical characteristics related to CHD were associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. This finding suggests that the presence of CHD itself is a risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis. Therefore, the screen and control of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors should be made early and intensively to prevent atherosclerosis.

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Meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies of carotid intima-media thickness

European Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1007/s10654-021-00759-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eliana Portilla-Fernández ◽

Shih-Jen Hwang ◽

Rory Wilson ◽

Jane Maddock ◽

W. David Hill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Dna Methylation ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Association Studies ◽

Subclinical Atherosclerosis ◽

Intima Media Thickness ◽

Carotid Intima Media Thickness ◽

Media Thickness

AbstractCommon carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is an index of subclinical atherosclerosis that is associated with ischemic stroke and coronary artery disease (CAD). We undertook a cross-sectional epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of measures of cIMT in 6400 individuals. Mendelian randomization analysis was applied to investigate the potential causal role of DNA methylation in the link between atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factors and cIMT or clinical cardiovascular disease. The CpG site cg05575921 was associated with cIMT (beta = −0.0264, p value = 3.5 × 10–8) in the discovery panel and was replicated in replication panel (beta = −0.07, p value = 0.005). This CpG is located at chr5:81649347 in the intron 3 of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor gene (AHRR). Our results indicate that DNA methylation at cg05575921 might be in the pathway between smoking, cIMT and stroke. Moreover, in a region-based analysis, 34 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified of which a DMR upstream of ALOX12 showed the strongest association with cIMT (p value = 1.4 × 10–13). In conclusion, our study suggests that DNA methylation may play a role in the link between cardiovascular risk factors, cIMT and clinical cardiovascular disease.

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