Polygenic risk scores predict diabetes complications and their response to intensive blood pressure and glucose control.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular and renal complications, but early risk prediction could lead to timely intervention and better outcomes. Genetic information can be used to enable early detection of risk. METHODS: We developed a multi-polygenic risk score (multiPRS) that combines ten weighted PRSs (10 wPRS) composed of 598 SNPs associated with main risk factors and outcomes of type 2 diabetes, derived from summary statistics data of genome-wide association studies. The 10 wPRS, first principal component of ethnicity, sex, age at onset and diabetes duration were included into one logistic regression model to predict micro- and macrovascular outcomes in 4098 participants in the ADVANCE study and 17,604 individuals with type 2 diabetes in the UK Biobank study. RESULTS: The model showed a similar predictive performance for cardiovascular and renal complications in different cohorts. It identified the top 30% of ADVANCE participants with a mean of 3.1-fold increased risk of major micro- and macrovascular events (p = 6.3 × 10-21 and p = 9.6 × 10-31, respectively) and a 4.4-fold (p = 6.8 × 10-33) higher risk of cardiovascular death. While in ADVANCE overall, combined intensive blood pressure and glucose control decreased cardiovascular death by 24%, the model identified a high-risk group in whom it decreased the mortality rate by 47%, and a low-risk group in whom it had no discernible effect. High-risk individuals had the greatest absolute risk reduction with a number needed to treat of 12 to prevent one cardiovascular death over 5 years. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This novel multiPRS model stratified individuals with type 2 diabetes according to risk of complications and helped to target earlier those who would receive greater benefit from intensive therapy.

The comparative effects of intensive glucose lowering in diabetes patients aged below or above 65 years: Results from the ADVANCE trial.

AIMS: For relatively old patients with diabetes, current guidelines recommend adjustment of glycaemic goals based on patients' cognitive function, or coexisting chronic illnesses. However, the evidence which supports the efficacy and safety of intensive glucose lowering in older patients with diabetes is scarce. The objective of the present study was to compare the efficacy and safety of intensive glucose lowering in patients with type 2 diabetes stratified by age (<65 and ≥ 65 years), and examine whether the effects differ according to patients' characteristics in the older patient group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of intensive glucose lowering (to a target glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] concentration of ≤48 mmol/mol [6.5%]) on major clinical outcomes were evaluated by Cox regression models according to subgroups defined by baseline age of <65 or ≥ 65 years in the ADVANCE trial (n = 11 140). RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 5 years, intensive glucose lowering significantly decreased the risk of the composite of major macrovascular and microvascular events (hazard ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.82-0.98), with no heterogeneity in the effects across age subgroups (p for heterogeneity = 0.44). Relative effects on all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and components of major vascular events were also similar (P for heterogeneity ≥0.06), except for severe hypoglycaemia, which was of greater risk for patients aged <65 years. Absolute benefits and harms were broadly consistent across subgroups. Among patients aged ≥65 years, randomized treatment effects did not differ significantly across different levels of cognitive function or coexisting chronic illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that an intensive glycaemic control strategy to reduce HbA1c to 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) provided broadly similar benefits and harms and may be recommended for older, as well as younger, patients.

Sex differences in risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia, including death as a competing risk, in individuals with diabetes: Results from the ADVANCE trial.

AIM: To estimate the associations between risk factors and cognitive decline (CD)/dementia, and the sex differences in these risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes, while accounting for the competing risk of death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial of 11,140 individuals with type 2 diabetes was used to estimate the odds of CD/dementia using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: During a median 5-year follow-up, 1827 participants (43.2% women) had CD/dementia (1718 with CD only; 21 with dementia only; 88 with CD and dementia), and 929 (31.0% women) died without CD/dementia. Women had lower odds of CD/dementia than men (odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval], 0.88 [0.77, 1.00]); older age, higher total cholesterol, HbA1c, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, moderately increased albumin-creatinine ratio, stroke/transient ischaemic attack and retinal disease were each associated with greater odds of CD/dementia; higher years at education completion, baseline cognitive function, taller stature and current alcohol use were inversely associated. Higher waist circumference (women-to-men ratio of ORs [ROR], 1.05 [1.00, 1.10] per 5 cm) and presence of anxiety/depression (ROR, 1.28 [1.01, 1.63]) were associated with greater ORs for CD/dementia in women than men. CONCLUSIONS: Several risk factors were associated with CD/dementia. Higher waist circumference and mental health symptoms were more strongly associated with CD/dementia in women than men. Further studies should examine the mechanisms that underlie these sex differences.

Variability in estimated glomerular filtration rate and the risk of major clinical outcomes in diabetes: Post hoc analysis from the ADVANCE trial.

There are limited data on whether estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) variability modifies the risk of future clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetes (T2D). We assessed the association between 20-month eGFR variability and the risk of major clinical outcomes in T2D among 8241 participants in the ADVANCE trial. Variability in eGFR (coefficient of variation [CVeGFR ]) was calculated from three serum creatinine measurements over 20 months. Participants were classified into three groups by thirds of CVeGFR : low (≤6.4; reference), moderate (>6.4 to ≤12.1) and high (>12.1). The primary outcome was the composite of major macrovascular events, new or worsening nephropathy and all-cause mortality. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Over a median follow-up of 2.9 years following the 20-month period, 932 (11.3%) primary outcomes were recorded. Compared with low variability, greater 20-month eGFR variability was independently associated with higher risk of the primary outcome (HR for moderate and high variability: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.91-1.27 and 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03-1.45, respectively) with evidence of a positive linear trend (p = .015). These data indicate that eGFR variability predict changes in the risk of major clinical outcomes in T2D.

Plasma fatty acids and the risk of vascular disease and mortality outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes: results from the ADVANCE study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: This biomarker study aimed to quantify the association of essential and other plasma fatty acid biomarkers with macrovascular disease, microvascular disease and death in individuals with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A case-cohort study (N = 3576), including 654 macrovascular events, 341 microvascular events and 631 deaths during 5 years of (median) follow-up, was undertaken as a secondary analysis of the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified-Release Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) study (full details of the study design and primary endpoints of the ADVANCE trial and its case-cohort have been published previously). This current study considers new data: fatty acids measured from baseline plasma samples by proton NMR analysis. The fatty acids measured were n-3, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), n-6, linoleic acid, and polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids. HRs were modelled per SD higher (percentage) fatty acid. C statistics and continuous net reclassification improvement were used to test the added value of fatty acids compared with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: After adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, an inverse association was observed for n-3 fatty acids and DHA with the risk of macrovascular events (HR [95% CI]: 0.87 [0.80, 0.95] and 0.88 [0.81, 0.96], respectively, per 1 SD higher percentage), and for n-3 fatty acids with the risk of death (HR 0.91 [95% CI 0.84, 0.99] per 1 SD higher percentage). Such associations were also evident when investigating absolute levels of fatty acids. There were no statistically significant associations between any fatty acids and microvascular disease after adjustment. However, there was limited improvement in the predictive ability of models when any fatty acid was added. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Plasma n-3 fatty acids and DHA were found to be inversely associated with macrovascular disease, while n-3 fatty acids were also inversely associated with death. These results support the cardioprotective effects of n-3 fatty acids and DHA and further merit testing the role of high-dose supplementation with n-3 fatty acids in individuals with type 2 diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00145925. Graphical abstract.

Sex-specific associations between cardiovascular risk factors and myocardial infarction in patients with type 2 diabetes: The ADVANCE-ON study.

AIM: To examine possible sex differences in the excess risk of myocardial infarction (MI) consequent to a range of conventional risk factors in a large-scale international cohort of patients with diabetes, and to quantify these potential differences both on the relative and absolute scales. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven thousand and sixty-five participants (42% women) with type 2 diabetes in the ADVANCE trial and its post-trial follow-up study, ADVANCE-ON, were included. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for associations between risk factors and MI (fatal and non-fatal) by sex, and the women-to-men ratio of HRs (RHR). RESULTS: Over a median of 9.6 years of follow-up, 719 patients experienced MI. Smoking status, smoking intensity, higher systolic blood pressure (SBP), HbA1c, total and LDL cholesterol, duration of diabetes, triglycerides, body mass index (BMI) and lower HDL cholesterol were associated with an increased risk of MI in both sexes. Furthermore, some variables were associated with a greater relative risk of MI in women than men: RHRs were 1.75 (95% CI: 1.05-2.91) for current smoking, 1.53 (1.00-2.32) for former smoking, 1.18 (1.02-1.37) for SBP, and 1.13 (95% CI, 1.003-1.26) for duration of diabetes. Although incidence rates of MI were higher in men (9.3 per 1000 person-years) compared with women (5.8 per 1000 person-years), rate differences associated with risk factors were greater in women than men, except for HDL cholesterol and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 2 diabetes, smoking, higher SBP and longer duration of diabetes had a greater relative and absolute effect in women than men, highlighting the importance of routine sex-specific approaches and early interventions in women with diabetes.

The relationship between eGFR slope and subsequent risk of vascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in type 2 diabetes: the ADVANCE-ON study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Some studies have reported that annual change in eGFR (eGFR slope) is associated with the future risk of end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and death in general or chronic kidney disease cohorts. However, the benefits of using eGFR slopes for prediction of major clinical outcomes in diabetes are unclear. METHODS: We used data from the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron MR Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial and the ADVANCE Post-Trial Observational Study (ADVANCE-ON). After excluding the first 4 months during which an acute fall in eGFR was induced by the initiation of an ACE inhibitor and diuretic combination agent, eGFR slopes were estimated by linear mixed models, using three measurements of eGFR at 4, 12 and 24 months after randomisation over 20 months, and categorised according to quartiles. Cox regression models were used to evaluate adjusted HRs for the study's primary outcome, a composite of major renal events, major macrovascular events and all-cause mortality during the subsequent follow-up from 24 months after randomisation. RESULTS: A total of 8,879 participants (80%) were included in this cohort. The mean age was 65.6 years (SD 6.3), the mean eGFR was 75 ml min-1 (1.73 m)-2 (SD 17) and the median urinary albumin/creatinine ratio was 14 µg/mg (interquartile range 7-38). The mean eGFR slope was -0.63 ml min-1 (1.73 m)-2 year-1 (SD 1.75). Over a median follow-up of 7.6 years following the 20-month eGFR slope ascertainment period, 2,221 participants (25%) met the primary outcome. An annual substantial decrease in eGFR (lowest 25%, <-1.63 ml min-1 [1.73 m]-2 year-1) was significantly associated with the subsequent risk of the primary outcome (HR 1.30 [95% CI 1.17, 1.43]) compared with a stable change in eGFR (middle 50%, -1.63 to 0.33). An annual substantial increase in eGFR (highest 25%, >0.33) had no significant association with the risk of the primary outcome (HR 0.96 [95% CI 0.86, 1.07]). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our study supports the utility of eGFR slope in type 2 diabetes as a surrogate endpoint for renal outcomes, as well as a prognostic factor for identifying individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov registration no. NCT00145925 and no. NCT00949286.

Response of 1,5-anhydroglucitol level to intensive glucose- and blood-pressure lowering interventions, and its associations with clinical outcomes in the ADVANCE trial.

AIMS: To evaluate 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) according to clinical outcomes and assess the effects of glucose- and blood pressure-lowering interventions on change in 1,5-AG levels in people with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We measured 1,5-AG in 6826 stored samples at baseline and in a random subsample of 684 participants at the 1-year follow-up visit in the ADVANCE trial. We examined baseline 1,5-AG [< 39.7, 39.7-66.2, ≥ 66.2 µmol/L (<6, 6-10, ≥10 µg/mL)] and microvascular and macrovascular events and mortality using Cox regression models during 5 years of follow-up. Using an intention-to-treat approach, we examined 1-year change in 1,5-AG (mean and percent) in response to the glucose- and blood pressure-lowering interventions in the subsample. RESULTS: Low 1,5-AG level [<39.7 µmol/L vs ≥ 66.2 µmol/L (<6 µg/mL vs ≥10 µg/mL)] was associated with microvascular events (hazard ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.60) after adjustment for risk factors and baseline glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c); however, the associations for macrovascular events and mortality were not independent of HbA1c. The glucose-lowering intervention was associated with a significant 1-year increase in 1,5-AG (vs standard control) of 6.69 µmol/L (SE 2.52) [1.01 µg/mL (SE 0.38)], corresponding to an 8.26% (SE 0.10%) increase from baseline. We also observed an increase in 1,5-AG of similar magnitude in response to the blood pressure intervention independent of the glucose-lowering effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that 1,5-AG is a marker of risk in adults with type 2 diabetes, but only for microvascular events independently of HbA1c. We found that 1,5-AG was improved (increased) in response to an intensive glucose-lowering intervention, although the independent effect of the blood pressure-lowering intervention on 1,5-AG suggests potential non-glycaemic influences.

Haemoglobin glycation index and risk for diabetes-related complications in the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Previous studies have suggested that the haemoglobin glycation index (HGI) can be used as a predictor of diabetes-related complications in individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether HGI was a predictor of adverse outcomes of intensive glucose lowering and of diabetes-related complications in general, using data from the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial. METHODS: We studied participants in the ADVANCE trial with data available for baseline HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (n = 11,083). HGI is the difference between observed HbA1c and HbA1c predicted from a simple linear regression of HbA1c on FPG. Using Cox regression, we investigated the association between HGI, both categorised and continuous, and adverse outcomes, considering treatment allocation (intensive or standard glucose control) and compared prediction of HGI and HbA1c. RESULTS: Intensive glucose control lowered mortality risk in individuals with high HGI only (HR 0.74 [95% CI 0.61, 0.91]; p = 0.003), while there was no difference in the effect of intensive treatment on mortality in those with high HbA1c. Irrespective of treatment allocation, every SD increase in HGI was associated with a significant risk increase of 14-17% for macrovascular and microvascular disease and mortality. However, when adjusted for identical covariates, HbA1c was a stronger predictor of these outcomes than HGI. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: HGI predicts risk for complications in ADVANCE participants, irrespective of treatment allocation, but no better than HbA1c. Individuals with high HGI have a lower risk for mortality when on intensive treatment. Given the discordant results and uncertain relevance beyond HbA1c, clinical use of HGI in type 2 diabetes cannot currently be recommended.

Circulating amino acids and the risk of macrovascular, microvascular and mortality outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes: results from the ADVANCE trial.

AIMS/HYPOTHESES: We aimed to quantify the association of individual circulating amino acids with macrovascular disease, microvascular disease and all-cause mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We performed a case-cohort study (N = 3587), including 655 macrovascular events, 342 microvascular events (new or worsening nephropathy or retinopathy) and 632 all-cause mortality events during follow-up, in a secondary analysis of the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) study. For this study, phenylalanine, isoleucine, glutamine, leucine, alanine, tyrosine, histidine and valine were measured in stored plasma samples by proton NMR metabolomics. Hazard ratios were modelled per SD increase in each amino acid. RESULTS: In models investigating associations and potential mechanisms, after adjusting for age, sex and randomised treatment, phenylalanine was positively, and histidine inversely, associated with macrovascular disease risk. These associations were attenuated to the null on further adjustment for extended classical risk factors (including eGFR and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio). After adjustment for extended classical risk factors, higher tyrosine and alanine levels were associated with decreased risk of microvascular disease (HR 0.78; 95% CI 0.67, 0.91 and HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.76, 0.98, respectively). Higher leucine (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.69, 0.90), histidine (HR 0.89; 95% CI 0.81, 0.99) and valine (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.70, 0.88) levels were associated with lower risk of mortality. Investigating the predictive ability of amino acids, addition of all amino acids to a risk score modestly improved classification of participants for macrovascular (continuous net reclassification index [NRI] +35.5%, p < 0.001) and microvascular events (continuous NRI +14.4%, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: We report distinct associations between circulating amino acids and risk of different major complications of diabetes. Low tyrosine appears to be a marker of microvascular risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes independently of fundamental markers of kidney function.

Use of the waist-to-height ratio to predict cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes: Results from the ADVANCE-ON study.

AIMS: Patients with type 2 diabetes have a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Central obesity has been particularly associated with this risk relationship. We aimed to evaluate waist to height ratio (WHtR) as a predictor of risk in such patients. METHODS: WHtR was evaluated as a predictor of the risk of CVD and mortality amongst 11 125 participants with type 2 diabetes in the ADVANCE and ADVANCE-ON studies, and was compared with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist hip ratio (WHR). Primary outcome was a composite of death from CVD, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes were myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular death and death from any cause. Cox models were used, with bootstrapping to compare associations between anthropometric measures for the primary outcome. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 9.0 years. There was a positive association between WHtR and adverse outcomes. The hazard ratio (HR) (confidence interval), per SD higher WHtR, was 1.16 (1.11-1.22) for the primary endpoint, with no heterogeneity by sex or region, but a stronger effect in individuals aged 66 years or older. The other 3 anthropometric measurements showed similar associations, although there was evidence that WHtR marginally outperformed BMI and WHR. Based on commonly used BMI cut-points, the equivalent WHtR cut-points were estimated to be 0.55 and 0.6, with no evidence of a difference across subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with diabetes, WHtR is a useful indicator of future adverse risk, with similar effects in different population subgroups.

Follow-up of blood-pressure lowering and glucose control in type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: In the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) factorial trial, the combination of perindopril and indapamide reduced mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes, but intensive glucose control, targeting a glycated hemoglobin level of less than 6.5%, did not. We now report results of the 6-year post-trial follow-up. METHODS: We invited surviving participants, who had previously been assigned to perindopril-indapamide or placebo and to intensive or standard glucose control (with the glucose-control comparison extending for an additional 6 months), to participate in a post-trial follow-up evaluation. The primary end points were death from any cause and major macrovascular events. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were similar among the 11,140 patients who originally underwent randomization and the 8494 patients who participated in the post-trial follow-up for a median of 5.9 years (blood-pressure-lowering comparison) or 5.4 years (glucose-control comparison). Between-group differences in blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin levels during the trial were no longer evident by the first post-trial visit. The reductions in the risk of death from any cause and of death from cardiovascular causes that had been observed in the group receiving active blood-pressure-lowering treatment during the trial were attenuated but significant at the end of the post-trial follow-up; the hazard ratios were 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 0.99; P=0.03) and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.99; P=0.04), respectively. No differences were observed during follow-up in the risk of death from any cause or major macrovascular events between the intensive-glucose-control group and the standard-glucose-control group; the hazard ratios were 1.00 (95% CI, 0.92 to 1.08) and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.92 to 1.08), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits with respect to mortality that had been observed among patients originally assigned to blood-pressure-lowering therapy were attenuated but still evident at the end of follow-up. There was no evidence that intensive glucose control during the trial led to long-term benefits with respect to mortality or macrovascular events. (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and others; ADVANCE-ON ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00949286.).

Pheochromocytomas are diagnosed incidentally and at older age in neurofibromatosis type 1.

INTRODUCTION: Guidelines do not currently recommend routine systematic hormonal screening for pheochromocytoma (PHEO) in all/normotensive patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), in contrast to other PHEO-predisposing genetic syndromes such as Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. OBJECTIVES: To characterize and compare parameters of PHEO in patients with NF1 to patients with or without other germline mutations. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients with histologically proven PHEO at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal from 2000 through 2015. RESULTS: Neurofibromatosis type 1 was diagnosed clinically in nine patients in our cohort of 145 PHEO (6·2%). The mean age at diagnosis was 48 ± 14 years, and seven patients had hypertension. No PHEO was diagnosed by systematic clinical screening. The mode of presentation was adrenal incidentalomas in five patients. Urinary metanephrines were elevated in 5/9 cases. Mean tumour diameter was 3·5 cm (min-max 1·5-12·5 cm). One had bilateral PHEO and none were malignant to date. Statistically significant differences were noted when comparing PHEO in NF1 to other genetic syndromes (n = 20), in terms of age at diagnosis (mean 48 vs 30 years P < 0·05), initial mode of presentation (no PHEO detected by routine screening in NF1 vs 40% in other genetic syndromes P < 0·05) and familial history of catecholamine-secreting tumour (none in NF1 vs 55% in patients with other genetic syndrome P < 0·05). CONCLUSIONS: Pheochromocytoma in NF1 occurs in older patients with no family history compared to other syndromes; it is mostly unilateral, secretory and benign. The older age at diagnosis of PHEO could be secondary to delay in identification due to lack of systematic screening for PHEO in NF1.

Central blood pressures in early chronic kidney disease: an analysis of CARTaGENE.

BACKGROUND: Vascular stiffness and advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) are strong determinants of higher central blood pressure (BP) and are associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Whether mild-to-moderate CKD is associated with higher central BP independently of other comorbid conditions remains uncertain. METHODS: We evaluated the central hemodynamic profile [central systolic BP, central pulse pressure (PP), augmentation index, PP amplification, augmented pressure] of Stage 3 CKD patients and compared it with participants with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 in the CARTaGENE populational cohort through propensity score matching and multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 20 004 participants, 13 114 had valid pulse wave analysis and eGFRs >30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , of which 515 had Stage 3 CKD. These 515 patients had significantly higher peripheral systolic BP (127 ± 16 versus 125 ± 15 mmHg, P = 0.01) and central PP (43.0 ± 11.4 versus 39.7 ± 10.0 mmHg, P <0.001) than the control group (eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ). Propensity score matching allowed the creation of 500 pairs with similar clinical characteristics. In this matched cohort, central BPs were similar in Stage 3 CKD patients compared with controls (central PP 42.9 ± 11.3 versus 43.7 ± 11.3 mmHg, P = 0.3). Multivariate analysis using data from all patients also found that the higher central hemodynamic readings found in Stage 3 CKD patients disappeared after adjusting for comorbid conditions. In a subset of 609 participants in whom albuminuria levels were measured, urine albumin excretion was not independently associated with higher central hemodynamic indices. CONCLUSION: In this large cohort from the general population, early CKD and albuminuria was not independently associated with detrimental central hemodynamic parameters.

Clinical follow-up and breast and ovarian cancer screening of true BRCA1/2 noncarriers: a qualitative investigation.

PURPOSE: Most women from BRCA1/2 mutation-positive families who did not inherit the familial mutation have breast and ovarian cancer risks similar to those of women of the same age in the general population. However, recent studies suggest that some of these noncarriers may exhibit screening practices that may be considered as excessive compared to general population screening guidelines. Reasons for such tendencies remain largely unknown. This study aims to better understand how the implications of a noncarrier status are explained to these women and how their own realization of this status affects their screening behaviors. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted with five focus groups (n = 28) in Quebec City and Montreal, Canada. RESULTS: Thematic analysis of the discussions highlighted four major themes: (i) acquiring a noncarrier identity takes place progressively; (ii) noncarriers show a range of opinions about screening; (iii) noncarriers have mixed feelings about the follow-up by their physicians and gynecologists; and (iv) noncarriers need more information in a context where genetics progresses ever more rapidly. CONCLUSION: Our results provide novel insights regarding the physician-patient interaction and the organizational aspects of the health-care system that may significantly impact the cancer screening practices of BRCA1/2 noncarriers.Genet Med 18 6, 627-634.

Presentations of major peripheral arterial disease and risk of major outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: results from the ADVANCE-ON study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is known to be associated with high cardiovascular risk, but the individual impact of PAD presentations on risk of macrovascular and microvascular events has not been reliably compared in patients with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to evaluate the impact of major PAD, and its different presentations, on the 10-year risk of death, major macrovascular events, and major clinical microvascular events in these patients. METHODS: Participants in the action in diabetes and vascular disease: PreterAx and DiamicroN modified-release controlled evaluation (ADVANCE) trial and the ADVANCE-ON post-trial study were followed for a median of 5.0 (in-trial), 5.4 (post-trial), and 9.9 (overall) years. Major PAD at baseline was subdivided into lower-extremity chronic ulceration or amputation secondary to vascular disease and history of peripheral revascularization by angioplasty or surgery. RESULTS: Among 11,140 participants, 516 (4.6 %) had major PAD at baseline: 300 (2.7 %) had lower-extremity ulceration or amputation alone, 190 (1.7 %) had peripheral revascularization alone, and 26 (0.2 %) had both presentations. All-cause mortality, major macrovascular events, and major clinical microvascular events occurred in 2265 (20.3 %), 2166 (19.4 %), and 807 (7.2 %) participants, respectively. Compared to those without PAD, patients with major PAD had increased rates of all-cause mortality (HR 1.35, 95 % CI 1.15-1.60, p = 0.0004), and major macrovascular events (1.47 [1.23-1.75], p < 0.0001), after multiple adjustments for region of origin, cardiovascular risk factors and treatments, peripheral neuropathy markers, and randomized treatments. We have also observed a trend toward an association of baseline PAD with risk of major clinical microvascular events [1.31 (0.96-1.78), p = 0.09]. These associations were comparable for patients with a lower-extremity ulceration or amputation and for those with a history of peripheral revascularization. Furthermore, the risk of retinal photocoagulation or blindness, but not renal events, increased in patients with lower-extremity ulceration or amputation [1.53 (1.01-2.30), p = 0.04]. CONCLUSIONS: Lower-extremity ulceration or amputation, and peripheral revascularization both increased the risks of death and cardiovascular events, but only lower-extremity ulceration or amputation increased the risk of severe retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Screening for major PAD and its management remain crucial for cardiovascular prevention in patients with type 2 diabetes (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00949286).

Changes in Quality of Life Associated with Complications of Diabetes: Results from the ADVANCE Study.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the impact of complications on summary measures of health-related quality of life among people with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Patients participating in the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease:Preterax and Diamicron MR Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial were administered a health-related quality-of-life questionnaire, the three-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L), on four occasions over a 5-year period. We used two-way fixed-effects longitudinal regression models to investigate the impact of incident diabetes complications (stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, renal failure, blindness, and amputation) on EQ-5D-3L utility score (where 1 = perfect health), while controlling for characteristics of individuals that do not vary over time. RESULTS: The effect of having any one of the seven complications was to reduce the EQ-5D-3L utility score by 0.054 (95% confidence interval 0.044-0.064), and this was not significantly affected by baseline age, sex, economic region, or the value set used to derive utilities. The complication with the largest disutility was amputation (0.122), followed by stroke (0.099), blindness (0.083), renal failure (0.049), heart failure (0.045), and myocardial infarction (0.026). Ischemic heart disease did not significantly reduce the utility score. Quality of life also declined with elapsed time-by an average of 0.006 per year, in addition to the effect of complications. CONCLUSIONS: Common complications significantly reduce health-related quality of life. Utility scores derived from the EQ-5D-3L provide a potential measure that can be used to summarize patient-reported outcomes and inform health economic models. Prevention of complications is critical to reduce the progressive burden of declining quality of life for people with diabetes.

Salt and gene expression: evidence for [Na+]i/[K+]i-mediated signaling pathways.

Our review focuses on the recent data showing that gene transcription and translation are under the control of signaling pathways triggered by modulation of the intracellular sodium/potassium ratio ([Na+]i/[K+]i). Side-by-side with sensing of osmolality elevation by tonicity enhancer-binding protein (TonEBP, NFAT5), [Na+]i/[K+]i-mediated excitation-transcription coupling may contribute to the transcriptomic changes evoked by high salt consumption. This novel mechanism includes the sensing of heightened Na+ concentration in the plasma, interstitial, and cerebrospinal fluids via augmented Na+ influx in the endothelium, immune system cells, and the subfornical organ, respectively. In these cells, [Na+]i/[K+]i ratio elevation, triggered by augmented Na+ influx, is further potentiated by increased production of endogenous Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitors documented in salt-sensitive hypertension.

Genome-wide association study of kidney function decline in individuals of European descent.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified multiple loci associated with cross-sectional eGFR, but a systematic genetic analysis of kidney function decline over time is missing. Here we conducted a GWAS meta-analysis among 63,558 participants of European descent, initially from 16 cohorts with serial kidney function measurements within the CKDGen Consortium, followed by independent replication among additional participants from 13 cohorts. In stage 1 GWAS meta-analysis, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at MEOX2, GALNT11, IL1RAP, NPPA, HPCAL1, and CDH23 showed the strongest associations for at least one trait, in addition to the known UMOD locus, which showed genome-wide significance with an annual change in eGFR. In stage 2 meta-analysis, the significant association at UMOD was replicated. Associations at GALNT11 with Rapid Decline (annual eGFR decline of 3 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) or more), and CDH23 with eGFR change among those with CKD showed significant suggestive evidence of replication. Combined stage 1 and 2 meta-analyses showed significance for UMOD, GALNT11, and CDH23. Morpholino knockdowns of galnt11 and cdh23 in zebrafish embryos each had signs of severe edema 72 h after gentamicin treatment compared with controls, but no gross morphological renal abnormalities before gentamicin administration. Thus, our results suggest a role in the deterioration of kidney function for the loci GALNT11 and CDH23, and show that the UMOD locus is significantly associated with kidney function decline.