Showing papers by "Renata Cifkova published in 2020"

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

Abstract: High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol—which is a marker of cardiovascular risk—changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95% credible interval 3.7 million–4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world.

National trends in total cholesterol obscure heterogeneous changes in HDL and non-HDL cholesterol and total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio : a pooled analysis of 458 population-based studies in Asian and Western countries

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and non-HDL cholesterol have opposite associations with coronary heart disease, multi-country reports of lipid trends only use total cholesterol (TC). Our aim was to compare trends in total, HDL and non-HDL cholesterol and the total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio in Asian and Western countries. METHODS: We pooled 458 population-based studies with 82.1 million participants in 23 Asian and Western countries. We estimated changes in mean total, HDL and non-HDL cholesterol and mean total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio by country, sex and age group. RESULTS: Since ∼1980, mean TC increased in Asian countries. In Japan and South Korea, the TC rise was due to rising HDL cholesterol, which increased by up to 0.17 mmol/L per decade in Japanese women; in China, it was due to rising non-HDL cholesterol. TC declined in Western countries, except in Polish men. The decline was largest in Finland and Norway, at ∼0.4 mmol/L per decade. The decline in TC in most Western countries was the net effect of an increase in HDL cholesterol and a decline in non-HDL cholesterol, with the HDL cholesterol increase largest in New Zealand and Switzerland. Mean total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio declined in Japan, South Korea and most Western countries, by as much as ∼0.7 per decade in Swiss men (equivalent to ∼26% decline in coronary heart disease risk per decade). The ratio increased in China. CONCLUSIONS: HDL cholesterol has risen and the total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio has declined in many Western countries, Japan and South Korea, with only a weak correlation with changes in TC or non-HDL cholesterol.

30-year trends in major cardiovascular risk factors in the Czech population, Czech MONICA and Czech post-MONICA, 1985 - 2016/17.

Abstract: Background Compared with Western Europe, the decline in cardiovascular (CV) mortality has been delayed in former communist countries in Europe, including the Czech Republic. We have assessed longitudinal trends in major CV risk factors in the Czech Republic from 1985 to 2016/17, covering the transition from the totalitarian regime to democracy. Methods There were 7 independent cross-sectional surveys for major CV risk factors conducted in the Czech Republic in the same 6 country districts within the WHO MONICA Project (1985, 1988, 1992) and the Czech post-MONICA study (1997/98, 2000/01, 2007/08 and 2016/2017), including a total of 7,606 males and 8,050 females. The population samples were randomly selected (1%, aged 25–64 years). Results Over the period of 31/32 years, there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of smoking in males (from 45.0% to 23.9%; p < 0.001) and no change in females. BMI increased only in males. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in both genders, while the prevalence of hypertension declined only in females. Awareness of hypertension, the proportion of individuals treated by antihypertensive drugs and consequently hypertension control improved in both genders. A substantial decrease in total cholesterol was seen in both sexes (males: from 6.21 ± 1.29 to 5.30 ± 1.05 mmol/L; p < 0.001; females: from 6.18 ± 1.26 to 5.31 ± 1.00 mmol/L; p < 0.001). Conclusions The significant improvement in most CV risk factors between 1985 and 2016/17 substantially contributed to the remarkable decrease in CV mortality in the Czech Republic.

Peripartum management of hypertension: a position paper of the ESC Council on Hypertension and the European Society of Hypertension.

Abstract: Hypertensive disorders are the most common medical complications in the peripartum period associated with a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality. Hypertension in the peripartum period may be due to the continuation of pre-existing or gestational hypertension, de novo development of pre-eclampsia or it may be also induced by some drugs used for analgesia or suppression of postpartum haemorrhage. Women with severe hypertension and hypertensive emergencies are at high risk of life-threatening complications, therefore, despite the lack of evidence-based data, based on expert opinion, antihypertensive treatment is recommended. Labetalol intravenously and methyldopa orally are then the two most frequently used drugs. Short-acting oral nifedipine is suggested to be used only if other drugs or iv access are not available. Induction of labour is associated with improved maternal outcome and should be advised for women with gestational hypertension or mild pre-eclampsia at 37 weeks' gestation. This position paper provides the first interdisciplinary approach to the management of hypertension in the peripartum period based on the best available evidence and expert consensus.

Comparison of three office blood pressure measurement techniques and their effect on hypertension prevalence in the general population.

Abstract: Objectives There is an ongoing controversy about the magnitude of the difference between unattended automated office blood pressure (AOBP) and conventional office blood pressure (BP). The aim of our study was to compare unattended AOBP with both auscultatory BP and oscillometric attended AOBP in an epidemiological setting. Methods In 2588 participants of the Czech post-MoNItoring of CArdiovascular Disease study (a randomly selected 1% representative population sample aged 25-64 years, mean age 48 ± 11 years, 47.5% males), BP was measured using an AOBP device unattended, auscultatory mercury sphygmomanometer and an oscillometric attended AOBP device. Results On average, auscultatory BP was 10.6/5.6 mmHg higher than unattended AOBP. Similarly, oscillometric attended AOBP was 9.9/3.4 mmHg higher than unattended AOBP, while the mean difference between attended oscillometric AOBP and auscultatory BP was 0.8/2.1 mmHg. Unattended systolic AOBP of 127 mmHg corresponded to SBP of 140 mmHg measured by a conventional sphygmomanometer. The prevalence of hypertension varied depending on the measurement technique and ranged from 31.5 to 40.1%. Reasonable agreement in hypertension diagnosis was observed with unattended AOBP cut-off at least 130/85 mmHg when compared with both auscultatory (McNemar P = 0.07, kappa 0.819) and attended oscillometric AOBP (McNemar P = 0.46, kappa 0.852) thresholds of at least 140/90 mmHg. Conclusion Unattended automated office SBP is on average 10 mmHg lower than the office auscultatory or attended AOBP values. In epidemiological settings, a threshold of unattended AOBP at least 130/85 mmHg should make comparison of hypertension prevalence possible with studies using auscultatory techniques and cut-off values of 140/90 mmHg.

Hypertension and Reproduction.

Abstract: Many aspects of reproduction have been associated with increased blood pressure and impaired glucose metabolism that reveals a subsequent increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this review is to assess reproductive life factors associated with an increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, e.g., early life programming, sexual, and reproductive health in men and women. Impaired fetal growth, with low birth weight adjusted for gestational age, has been found associated with hypertension in adulthood. Erectile dysfunction, currently considered an early diagnostic marker of cardiovascular disease preceding the manifestation of coronary artery disease by several years, frequently coexisting with hypertension, could also be exacerbated by some antihypertensive drugs. Male hypogonadism or subfertility are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy including preeclampsia represent a major cause of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity, and mortality. The risk of developing preeclampsia can be substantially reduced in women at its high or moderate risk with a low dose of acetylsalicylic acid initiated from 12 weeks of gestation. An increased risk of hypertension in women following invasive-assisted reproductive technologies has been newly observed. Blood pressure elevation has been noticed following contraceptive pill use, around the menopause and in postmenopausal age. Furthermore, drug treatment of hypertension has to be considered as a factor with a potential impact on reproduction (e.g., due to teratogenic drug effects). In summary, a deeper understanding of reproductive life effects on hypertension and metabolic abnormalities may improve prediction of future cardiovascular disease.

Soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products independently influences individual age-dependent increase of arterial stiffness.

Abstract: Circulating levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) have been suggested to have a protective role in neutralizing advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and their pathological effects on vessel walls. We aimed to investigate the association between the circulating concentration of sRAGE and the dynamics of arterial wall stiffening as a manifestation of vascular aging in the general population. In a prospective cohort study, we longitudinally followed 530 general-population-based subjects (subsample of Czech post-MONICA study). Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured twice (at baseline and after ~8 years of follow-up) using a SphygmoCor device (AtCor Medical Ltd), and the intraindividual change in PWV per year (∆PWV/year) was calculated. Concentrations of sRAGE were assessed at baseline by ELISA (R&D Systems). The average ∆PWV/year significantly decreased across the sRAGE quintiles (p = 0.048), and a drop by one sRAGE quintile was associated with an ~21% increase in the relative risk of accelerated age-dependent stiffening (∆PWV/year ≥ 0.2 m/s). Subjects in the bottom quintile of sRAGE (<889.74 pg/mL) had a fully adjusted odds ratio of accelerated stiffening of 1.72 (95% CI: 1.06–2.79), p = 0.028, while those with high sRAGE concentrations (≥1695.2 pg/mL) showed the opposite effect [odds ratio 0.55 (95% CI: 0.33–0.90), p = 0.017]. In conclusion, the circulating status of sRAGE independently influenced the individual progression of arterial stiffness over time. This finding strongly supports the hypothesis that high sRAGE has a protective role against vascular aging.

Mood disorders impaired quality of life but not the mortality or morbidity risk in stable coronary heart disease patients.

Abstract: Background: It was suggested that depression and anxiety might be associated with increased cardiovascular risk in both primary and secondary prevention. In stable coronary heart disease (CHD) pati...

Serum Bilirubin in the Czech Population - Relationship to the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Males.

Abstract: BACKGROUND The potential antiatherogenic role of bilirubin is generally acknowledged, so the aim of this study was to determine serum bilirubin concentrations and the prevalence of Gilbert syndrome (GS) in the Czech general population with particular reference to its relationship to the risk of myocardial infarction (MI).Methods and Results:Biochemical markers were analyzed in 2 independent Czech post-MONICA studies (in total, n=3,311), and in 741 male MI patients. TheUGT1A1promoter gene variant (rs81753472) was analyzed in these MI patients and in the first control population cohort (n=717). Medians of serum bilirubin concentrations in the 2 Czech general population cohorts were 9.6 and 9.8 μmol/L (10.7 and 11.3 μmol/L in males, and 8.3 and 8.8 μmol/L in females; P<0.01). The prevalence of GS was 8.9%, twice as high in males compared with females (11.6 vs. 6.1%; P<0.01). TheUGT1A1(TA)7/7promoter repeats significantly influenced serum bilirubin concentrations in the controls, but not in the MI patients. Serum bilirubin concentrations were significantly lower in MI patients (7.7 vs. 10.7 μmol/L; P<0.01), with almost 5-fold lower prevalence of GS. CONCLUSIONS Serum bilirubin concentrations and the prevalence of GS were determined in the Czech general population. Significantly lower serum bilirubin concentrations were observed in male MI patients.

The prognostic importance of subclinical heart failure in stable coronary heart disease patients.

Abstract: Background: In stable coronary heart disease (CHD) patients we aimed to assess the predictive potential of only mild increase of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in subjects free from symptoms or diagnostic criteria of heart failure (HF).Methods: We examined 967 patients, at least 6 months after myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization and divided them into three categories: 'overt HF' (NYHA II-IV, objective signs of HF, chronic treatment with furosemide and/or spironolactone or history of hospitalisation for HF), 'subclinical HF (BNP over 150 ng/mL, but no criterion of overt HF)' and 'no HF' (no above mentioned criterion present). Follow-up was done to assess 5-years all-cause mortality.Results: Overt and subclinical HF (by definition) had 38.8% and 9.6% of patients, respectively. In analyses adjusted for classical risk factors and other possible covariates, both overt and subclinical HF were independently associated with increased mortality compared to no HF subjects [hazard risk ratio 1.99 (95%CI:1.02-3.91) and 3.01 (95%CI:1.90-4.78), respectively. The risk of total mortality was similar in overt and subclinical HF patients [HRR 1.30 (95%CI: 0.72-2.36)]. Within overt HF group, those with BNP >150 ng/mL had also higher mortality risk than those with low BNP levels [HRR 2.79 (95%CI: 1.67-4.68)]. The addition of left ventricle ejection fraction into definition of HF groups did not affect main results.Conclusions: Mild increase of BNP in generally stable and asymptomatic CHD patients identifies high individual mortality risk in the same extend that presence of clinically manifest HF.

Prevalence hlavních rizikových faktorů kardiovaskulárních onemocnění v české populaci v letech 2015-2018. Studie Czech post-MONICA

Abstract: Kardiovaskularni onemocněni (KVO) jsou hlavni přicinou umrti v Ceske republice. Pokles umrtnosti na KVO, který je u nas pozorovan od roku 1985, může být způsoben poklesem incidence nebo letality. Letalita onemocněni souvisi předevsim s urovni lecebne pece, zatimco incidence KVO je ovlivněna rizikovým profilem obyvatelstva. Cilem teto prace bylo zjistit prevalenci zakladnich rizikových faktorů u reprezentativniho vzorku ceske populace. Metodika: Byl proveden 1% nahodný výběr vzorku populace deviti okresů Ceske republiky ve věku 25-64 let. Vysetřeni sestavalo z vyplněni standardniho dotazniku, ziskani zakladnich antropometrických udajů, opakovaneho měřeni krevniho tlaku a odběru krve. Výsledky: V obdobi 2015-2018 bylo vysetřeno celkem 2 621 osob (1 250 mužů, průměrný věk 48,3 ± 10,9 roku a 1 371 žen, průměrný věk 47,7 ± 11,0 roku; p < 0,001); respondence 44,8 %. Průměrna hodnota indexu tělesne hmotnosti (BMI) u nami vysetřene populace cinila 29,1 ± 4,8 kg/m2 u mužů a 27,15 ± 6,1 kg/m2 u žen (p < 0,001). Obezita byla zjistěna u 37,3 % mužů a 28,2 % žen. Mezi vysetřenými muži 24,8 % uvedlo, že jsou pravidelnými kuřaky, zatimco kouřeni u žen bylo zjistěno u 21,6 % (p < 0,001). Nalezli jsme vysokou prevalenci hypertenze (48,6 % u mužů a 32,4 % u žen; p < 0,001); 74,3 % hypertoniků vi o svem onemocněni, 61,5 % je medikamentozně leceno a pouze 33,9 % dosahuje cilových hodnot krevniho tlaku < 140/90 mm Hg. Průměrna hodnota celkoveho cholesterolu u nami vysetřene populace byla teměř identicka pro muže i ženy (muži 5,26 ± 1,03 mmol/l; ženy 5,28 ± 1,00 mmol/l). Hypolipidemiky bylo leceno 13,9 % mužů a 10,2 % žen (p < 0,001). Diabetes byl zjistěn u 8,2 % mužů a 4,6 % žen (p < 0,001). Prevalence vsech zakladnich rizikových faktorů výrazně narůstala s věkem u obou pohlavi (p pro trend < 0,001). Zavěr: U reprezentativniho nahodně vybraneho vzorku ceske populace středniho věku byla nalezena vysoka prevalence zakladnich rizikových faktorů kardiovaskularnich onemocněni, ktere jsou přicinou stale vysoke mortality z kardiovaskularnich přicin v Ceske republice. © 2020, CKS.

Longitudinal trends in the prevalence of hyperuricaemia and chronic kidney disease in hypertensive and normotensive adults

Abstract: The purpose: To evaluate longitudinal trends in the prevalence of hyperuricaemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Czech adults with and without arterial hypertension (HT).Materials and methods: ...

Which serum uric acid levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk in the general adult population

Abstract: Our aim was to determine the serum uric acid (SUA) levels associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause death in the general adult population. We analyzed data obtained in two independent cross-sectional surveys performed in the Czech Republic in 2006-09 and 2015-18, involving 1% population random samples in nine districts, aged 25-64 years, stratified by age and gender. Ten-year mortality data were obtained in a cohort with examination in 2006-09. Final analyses included 3542 individuals (48.2% men) examined in 2006-09, and 2304 (47.4% men) examined in 2015-18. From a cohort examined in 2006-09, 122 men and 60 women were reported dead (33% and 27% from CV disease). In men, there was no association of baseline SUA levels with baseline SCORE category or 10-year mortality rates. In women, each 10 µmol/L increase in baseline SUA levels was associated with an increase in baseline SCORE category (P < .001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses in women identified the baseline SUA cutoff values discriminating: 1. between low/intermediate and high/very high SCORE categories (309 µmol/L), 2. CV mortality (325 µmol/L), and 3. all-cause mortality (298 µmol/L). After adjusting for confounders including SCORE, Cox regression analysis confirmed that the baseline SUA cutoffs of 309 µmol/L and 325 µmol/L were associated with 4-times (P = .010) and 6-times (P = .036) greater risk of CV mortality, whereas the cutoff of 298 µmol/L was associated with 87% greater risk of all-cause mortality (P = .025). In conclusion, the SUA cutoff value of 309 µmol/L identified women at high/very high SCORE category and was associated with 4-times greater risk of observed CV mortality over 10 years.

Primary aldosteronism in a general population sample. The Czech post-MONICA study.

Abstract: Purpose: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is considered the most common form of secondary hypertension, however, its prevalence, particularly in a general population, is still a matter of debate. The aim...

Synergistic effect of sclerostin and angiotensin II receptor 1 polymorphism on arterial stiffening.

Abstract: Aim: We aimed to establish the association between sclerostin (a glycoprotein involved in bone metabolism) and development of pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the general population. Methods: A prospective cohort study with a total of 522 subjects. Aortic PWV was measured twice (at baseline and after approximately 8 years of follow-up) and intraindividual change in PWV per year (ΔPWV/year) was calculated. Results: ΔPWV/year increased across the sclerostin quintiles, but generally in a strong age-dependent manner. However, a significant independent positive association between sclerostin and ΔPWV/year was observed exclusively in C allele carriers of rs5186 polymorphism for the angiotensin II receptor 1 (n = 246). Conclusion: Sclerostin concentrations were associated with an accelerated natural course of arterial stiffening, but only in interaction with renin-angiotension system.

Is There Really an Association of High Circulating Adiponectin Concentration and Mortality or Morbidity Risk in Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract: Adiponectin has several beneficial properties, namely, on the level of glucose metabolism, but paradoxically, its high concentrations were associated with increased mortality. We aimed to clarify the impact of high serum adiponectin on mortality and morbidity in patients with stable coronary artery heart disease (CAD). A total of 973 patients after myocardial infarction and/or coronary revascularization were followed in a prospective cohort study. All-cause and cardiovascular (CV) death, non-fatal cardiovascular events, and hospitalizations for heart failure (HF) were registered as outcomes. High serum adiponectin levels (≥8.58 ng/ml, i. e., above median) were independently associated with increased risk of 5-year all-cause, CV mortality or HF [with HRR 1.57 (95% CI: 1.07–2.30), 1.74 (95% CI: 1.08–2.81) or 1.94 (95% CI: 1.20–3.12), respectively] when adjusted just for conventional risk factors. However, its significance disappeared if brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was included in a regression model. In line with this, we observed strong collinearity of adiponectin and BNP. Additionally, major adverse cardiovascular event (i. e., CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke, coronary revascularization) incidence risk was not associated with high adiponectin. In conclusion, the observed inverse association between adiponectin concentrations and mortality risk seems to be attributable to concomitantly increased BNP, rather than high adiponectin being a causal factor.

Adherence to cardiovascular prevention principles in subjects at high risk.

Abstract: Východisko: Asymptomaticke osoby se zvýseným kardiovaskularnim rizikem představuji jednu z priorit kardiovaskularni prevence, v praxi ale casto opomijenou. Nasim cilem bylo objektivizovat, jak vysokorizikove osoby dosahuji lecebných cilů v primarni peci. Metoda: Analýza zahrnovala nahodný vzorek obecne populace, vysetřený v ramci populacniho průzkumu postMONICA v letech 2016-2017. Probandi byli kategorizovani podle sveho individualniho kardiovaskularniho rizika na zakladě principů 6. spolecných evropských doporuceni a porovnana byla jejich skutecna kontrola rizikoveho profilu s teoretickými doporucenými cili kardiovaskularni prevence. Výsledky: Celkem bylo do analýzy zařazeno 898 subjektů ve věku 25-75 let (47 % mužů). Mezi nimi, 16,7 % subjektů bylo klasifikovano do kategorie "velmi vysoke riziko", 36,8 % jako "vysoke riziko", zatimco zbylých 46,5 % jako jen mirně zvýsene nebo nizke celkove individualni riziko. Z hlediska adherence k doporuceným principům, ve skupině s "velmi vysokým rizikem" abstinovalo od tabaku v jakekoliv podobě jen 58,7 %, naležitou fyzickou aktivitu (≥ 150 min alespoň mirne aktivity týdně) nahlasilo 38 %, doporucenou tělesnou konstituci (BMI 20-25 kg/m2) vykazovalo 16,7 %, naležitý krevni tlak (< 140/90 mm Hg) 39,3 % a cilove hodnoty LDL-cholesterolu (< 1,8 mmol/l) dosahlo jen 8,7 % subjektů. V kategorii "vysokeho rizika" byla adherence k těmto cilům nasledujici: 83,9 % (abstinence od tabaku), 32,7 % (fyzicka aktivita), 17 % (tělesna konstituce), 58,2 % (krevni tlak) a 30,8 % (LDL-cholesterol < 2,5 mmol/l). Přijatelnějsi byla v obou rizikových kategoriich kontrola glukozoveho metabolismu (HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol u diabetiků), tj. 75 % a 81 %, respektive. Zavěr: Celkova adherence k doporuceným principům kardiovaskularni prevence vysokorizikových osob je v primarni peci velmi daleko od sveho optima a markantni je toto zejmena u subjektů s velmi vysokým rizikem