scholarly journals Greater Neurobiological Resilience to Chronic Socioeconomic or Environmental Stressors Associates With Lower Risk for Cardiovascular Disease Events

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tawseef Dar ◽  
Michael T. Osborne ◽  
Shady Abohashem ◽  
Taimur Abbasi ◽  
Karmel W. Choi ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic exposure to socioeconomic or environmental stressors associates with greater stress-related neurobiological activity (ie, higher amygdalar activity [AmygA]) and higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). However, among individuals exposed to such stressors, it is unknown whether neurobiological resilience (NBResilience, defined as lower AmygA despite stress exposure) lowers MACE risk. We tested the hypotheses that NBResilience protects against MACE, and that it does so through decreased bone marrow activity and arterial inflammation. Methods: Individuals underwent 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography; AmygA, bone marrow activity, and arterial inflammation were quantified. Chronic socioeconomic and environmental stressors known to associate with AmygA and MACE (ie, transportation noise exposure, neighborhood median household income, and crime rate) were quantified. Heightened stress exposure was defined as exposure to at least one chronic stressor (ie, the highest tertile of noise exposure or crime or lowest tertile of income). MACE within 5 years of imaging was adjudicated. Relationships were evaluated using linear and Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier survival, and mediation analyses. Results: Of 254 individuals studied (median age [interquartile range]: 57 years [46–67], 36.7% male), 166 were exposed to at least one chronic stressor. Among stress-exposed individuals, 12 experienced MACE over a median follow-up of 3.75 years. Among this group, higher AmygA (ie, lower resilience) associated with higher bone marrow activity (standardized β [95% CI]: 0.192 [0.030–0.353], P =0.020), arterial inflammation (0.203 [0.055–0.351], P =0.007), and MACE risk (standardized hazard ratio [95% CI]: 1.927 [1.370–2.711], P =0.001). The effect of NBResilience on MACE risk was significantly mediated by lower arterial inflammation ( P <0.05). Conclusions: Among individuals who are chronically exposed to socioeconomic or environmental stressors, NBResilience (AmygA <1 SD above the mean) associates with a >50% reduction in MACE risk, potentially via reduced arterial inflammation. These data raise the possibility that enhancing NBResilience may decrease the burden of cardiovascular disease.

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuji Shimizu ◽  
Takahiro Maeda

AbstractRecent studies have revealed an inverse association between height and cardiovascular disease. However, the background mechanism of this association has not yet been clarified. Height has also been reported to be positively associated with cancer. Therefore, well-known cardiovascular risk factors, such as increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, are not the best explanations for this inverse association because these risk factors are also related to cancer. However, impaired blood flow is the main pathological problem in cardiovascular disease, while glowing feeding vessels (angiogenesis) are the main characteristic of cancer pathologies. Therefore, endothelial maintenance activity, especially for the productivity of hematopoietic stem cells such as CD34-positive cells, could be associated with the height of an individual because this cell contributes not only to the progression of atherosclerosis but also to the development of angiogenesis. In addition, recent studies have also revealed a close connection between bone marrow activity and endothelial maintenance; bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells contribute towards endothelial maintenance. Since the absolute volume of bone marrow is positively associated with height, height could influence endothelial maintenance activity. Based on these hypotheses, we performed several studies. The aim of this review is not only to discuss the association between height and bone marrow activity, but also to describe the potential mechanism underlying endothelial maintenance. In addition, this review also aims to explain some of the reasons that implicate hypertension as a major risk factor for stroke among the Japanese population. The review also aims to clarify the anthropological reasons behind the high risk of atherosclerosis progression in Japanese individuals with acquired genetic characteristics.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Veljkovic ◽  
Snezana Zivkovic ◽  
Miodrag Milenovic

The paper deals with the issues related to noise as an environmental stressor by considering its influences on the human psychophysiological functioning, the psychos ocial impacts and the psychological symptoms. In the first part of the paper, some basic concepts and definitions of stress and impact of stressors are given, while in the second part of the paper the basic mechanisms of psychophysiological response to stress and the studies dealing with noise as one of the most common environmental stressors are presented. The paper shows that the noise seriously affects the nervous system, both central and vegetative, which further influences the heart, blood vessels, blood pressure, digestive tract and many other organs and tissues, where many changes and functional disturbances including harassment, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease and cognitive performance deficit are caused. Noise exposure is associated with psychological symptoms, but not with the clinically defined psychiatric disorder. Key words: stress, noise, environmental stressor, reactions .


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 772-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T Osborne ◽  
Azar Radfar ◽  
Malek Z O Hassan ◽  
Shady Abohashem ◽  
Blake Oberfeld ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Chronic noise exposure associates with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; however, the role of confounders and the underlying mechanism remain incompletely defined. The amygdala, a limbic centre involved in stress perception, participates in the response to noise. Higher amygdalar metabolic activity (AmygA) associates with increased CVD risk through a mechanism involving heightened arterial inflammation (ArtI). Accordingly, in this retrospective study, we tested whether greater noise exposure associates with higher: (i) AmygA, (ii) ArtI, and (iii) risk for major adverse cardiovascular disease events (MACE). Methods and results Adults (N = 498) without CVD or active cancer underwent clinical 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. Amygdalar metabolic activity and ArtI were measured, and MACE within 5 years was adjudicated. Average 24-h transportation noise and potential confounders were estimated at each individual’s home address. Over a median 4.06 years, 40 individuals experienced MACE. Higher noise exposure (per 5 dBA increase) predicted MACE [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval, CI) 1.341 (1.147–1.567), P &lt; 0.001] and remained robust to multivariable adjustments. Higher noise exposure associated with increased AmygA [standardized β (95% CI) 0.112 (0.051–0.174), P &lt; 0.001] and ArtI [0.045 (0.001–0.090), P = 0.047]. Mediation analysis suggested that higher noise exposure associates with MACE via a serial mechanism involving heightened AmygA and ArtI that accounts for 12–26% of this relationship. Conclusion Our findings suggest that noise exposure associates with MACE via a mechanism that begins with increased stress-associated limbic (amygdalar) activity and includes heightened arterial inflammation. This potential neurobiological mechanism linking noise to CVD merits further evaluation in a prospective population.


Author(s):  
Mustafa Umut Somuncu ◽  
Belma Kalayci ◽  
Ahmet Avci ◽  
Tunahan Akgun ◽  
Huseyin Karakurt ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundThe increase in soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) both in the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure is well established; however, existing data regarding sST2 values as the prognostic marker after myocardial infarction (MI) are limited and have been conflicting. This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of sST2 in predicting 1-year adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in MI patients.Materials and methodsIn this prospective study, 380 MI patients were included. Participants were grouped into low sST2 (n = 264, mean age: 60.0 ± 12.1 years) and high sST2 groups (n = 116, mean age: 60.5 ± 11.6 years), and all study populations were followed up for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) which are composed of CV mortality, target vessel revascularization (TVR), non-fatal reinfarction, stroke and heart failure.ResultsDuring a 12-month follow-up, 68 (17.8%) patients had MACE. CV mortality and heart failure were significantly higher in the high sST2 group compared to the low sST2 group (15.5% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.001 and 8.6% vs. 3.4% p = 0.032, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis concluded that high serum sST2 independently predicted 1-year CV mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 2.263, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.124–4.557, p = 0.022)]. Besides, older age, Killip class >1, left anterior descending (LAD) as the culprit artery and lower systolic blood pressure were the other independent risk factors for 1-year CV mortality.ConclusionsHigh sST2 levels are an important predictor of MACE, including CV mortality and heart failure in a 1-year follow-up period in MI patients.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Juan León Román ◽  
Clara García-Carro ◽  
Irene Agraz ◽  
Nestor Toapanta ◽  
Ander Vergara ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients infected with COVID-19 are at risk of serious complications such as hospitalization and death. The prognosis and lethality of COVID-19 infection in patients with established kidney disease has not been widely studied. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data included patients who underwent kidney biopsy at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital between January 2013 and February 2020 with COVID-19 diagnosis during the period from March 1 to May 15, 2020. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Thirty-nine (7%) patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. Mean age was 63 ± 15 years and 48.7% were male. Hypertension was present in 79.5%, CKD without renal replacement therapy in 76.9%, and cardiovascular disease in 64.1%. Nasopharyngeal swab was performed in 26 patients; older (<i>p</i> = 0.01), hypertensive (<i>p</i> = 0.005), and immunosuppressed (<i>p</i> = 0.01) patients, those using RAS-blocking drugs (<i>p</i> = 0.04), and those with gastrointestinal symptoms (<i>p</i> = 0.02) were more likely to be tested for CO­VID-19. Twenty-two patients required hospitalization and 15.4% died. In bivariate analysis, mortality was associated with older age (<i>p</i> = 0.03), cardiovascular disease (<i>p</i> = 0.05), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (<i>p</i> = 0.05), and low hemoglobin levels (<i>p</i> = 0.006). Adjusted Cox regression showed that low hemoglobin levels at admission had 1.81 greater risk of mortality. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Patients with CO­VID-19 infection and kidney disease confirmed by kidney biopsy presented a mortality of 15.4%. Swab test for COVID-19 was more likely to be performed in older, hypertensive, and immunosuppressed patients, those using RAS-blocking drugs, and those with gastrointestinal symptoms. Low hemoglobin is a risk factor for mortality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (18) ◽  
pp. 1406
Author(s):  
Scott Janus ◽  
Jamal Hajjari ◽  
Anshul Badhwar ◽  
Corrilynn O. Hileman ◽  
Sadeer Al-Kindi ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 1358863X2110082
Author(s):  
Erika Lilja ◽  
Anders Gottsäter ◽  
Mervete Miftaraj ◽  
Jan Ekelund ◽  
Björn Eliasson ◽  
...  

The risk of major amputation is higher after urgently planned endovascular therapy for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this nationwide cohort study was to compare outcomes between patients with and without DM following urgently planned open revascularization for CLTI from 2010 to 2014. Out of 1537 individuals registered in the Swedish Vascular Registry, 569 were registered in the National Diabetes Register. A propensity score adjusted Cox regression analysis was conducted to compare outcome between the groups with and without DM. Median follow-up was 4.3 years and 4.5 years for patients with and without DM, respectively. Patients with DM more often had foot ulcers ( p = 0.034) and had undergone more previous amputations ( p = 0.001) at baseline. No differences in mortality, cardiovascular death, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), or major amputation were observed between groups. The incidence rate of stroke was 70% higher (95% CI: 1.11–2.59; p = 0.0137) and the incidence rate of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) 39% higher (95% CI: 1.00–1.92; p = 0.0472) among patients with DM in comparison to those without. Open vascular surgery remains a first-line option for a substantial number of patients with CLTI, especially for limb salvage in patients with DM. The higher incidence rates of stroke and AMI among patients with DM following open vascular surgery for infrainguinal CLTI require specific consideration preoperatively with the aim of optimizing medical treatment to improve cardiovascular outcome postoperatively.


2021 ◽  
pp. 152692482110246
Author(s):  
Grace Hsu ◽  
Tracy M. Sparkes ◽  
Brent N. Reed ◽  
Stormi E. Gale ◽  
Brian E. Crossley ◽  
...  

Introduction: Pretransplant cardiovascular risk may be amplified after renal transplant, but little is known about its impact on graft outcomes. Research question: The purpose of this study was to determine if pretransplant cardiovascular risk was associated with graft outcomes. Design: This retrospective study included deceased-donor renal transplant recipients from 2010-2015. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk for patients without prior disease was calculated and patients were categorized into high (score >20%), intermediate (7.5-20%), and low risk (<7.5%). Patients with and without prior cardiovascular disease were also compared. The main endpoint was graft failure at 3-years post-transplant. Other outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events, biopsy-proven rejection, and mortality. Results: In patients without prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (N = 115), graft failure rates (4.5% vs 11.3% vs 12.5%; ( P = 0.64) and major adverse cardiovascular events (9.1% vs 13.2% vs 5.0%; P = 0.52) were similar in the high, intermediate, and low risk groups. In those with prior disease (N = 220), rates of primary nonfunction (6.8% vs 1.7%; P = 0.04), major adverse cardiovascular events (7.3% vs 2.6%; P = 0.01), and heart failure (10.9% vs 3.5%; P = 0.02) were higher than those without cardiovascular; rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and heart failure were insignificant after adjusting for age, gender, and race. Other outcomes were not different. Outcomes did not differ based on pretransplant cardiovascular risk. Discussion: Pretransplant atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease was associated with increased early graft failure but similar outcomes at 3-years, suggesting cardiac risk alone should not exclude transplantation.


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