Psychosocial profiles influencing healthy dietary behaviors among adolescents in Shandong Province, China: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the influence of psychosocial profiles on dietary behaviors among school-aged adolescents in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 7,862 adolescents from 100 schools in Shandong, China. Psychosocial profiles and dietary behaviors were assessed using the Junior High School Students' Psychosocial Profiles Questionnaire (JPPQ) and the Chinese Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ), respectively. Linear regression models were used to investigate the association between adolescents' psychosocial profiles and dietary behaviors. Results: The mean age of the participants was 13.18 ± 1.15 years; 48.5% of them were boys. The majority of participants (97.90%) were Han Chinese, and approximately half of the participants (50.90%) resided in rural areas. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and family computer and Internet ownership and usage, healthy dietary behavior was positively correlated with higher psychosocial profile scores (p < 0.05). The stratified analysis results revealed that the group with the highest psychosocial profile score was associated with an increased overall global dietary reference (GDR) score in "households without a family computer and Internet" ( ß : 5.357, 95% Cl: 4.931-5.784, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Good psychosocial profiles exhibit a positive influence on healthy dietary behaviors. Therefore, policymakers should focus on Internet usage to maximize the positive effects on global youth health behaviors.

Determinants and prediction of hypertension among Chinese middle-aged and elderly adults with diabetes: A machine learning approach.

Objective: Multimorbidity, particularly diabetes combined with hypertension (DCH), is a significant public health concern. Currently, there is a gap in research utilizing machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict hypertension risk in Chinese middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients, and gender differences in DCH comorbidity patterns remain unclear. We aimed to use ML algorithms to predict DCH and identify its determinants among middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients in China. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Data were collected on 2775 adults with diabetes aged ≥45 years from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We employed nine ML algorithms to develop prediction models for DCH. The performance of these models was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC). Additionally, we conducted variable importance analysis to identify key determinants. Results: Our results showed that the best prediction models for the overall population, men, and women were extreme gradient boosting (AUC = 0.728), light gradient boosting machine (AUC = 0.734), and random forest (AUC = 0.737), respectively. Age, waist circumference, body mass index, creatinine level, triglycerides, taking Western medicine, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and sleep disorders were identified as common important predictors by all three populations. Conclusions: ML algorithms showed accurate predictive capabilities for DCH. Overall, non-linear ML models outperformed traditional logistic regression for predicting DCH. DCH predictions exhibited variations in predictors and model accuracy by gender. These findings could help identify DCH early and inform the development of personalized intervention strategies.

Omega-3 Supplementation in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients: Impact on ICU Stay and Hospital Stay-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background/Objectives: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is associated with inflammation and complications, potentially leading to prolonged ICU and hospital stays. Omega-3 PUFA has anti-inflammatory properties, thought to potentially reduce complications in CABG patients. This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the impact of perioperative omega-3 PUFA supplementation on total ICU and total hospital stays in CABG patients; Methods: Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of omega-3 PUFA supplementation (IV/oral) on ICU and hospital stays in CABG patients were included. Studies were searched for in PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial databases, along with hand searching of reference lists. The quality and risk of bias of the included studies were evaluated by two independent reviewers using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Meta-analysis was performed using fixed or random effects models according to the level of heterogeneity by mean difference with their 95% confidence intervals; Results: Twelve studies were included in the qualitative analysis and seven in the meta-analysis. Omega-3 PUFA was associated with a significant reduction in days of hospital stay (-0.58 (95% CI -1.13, -0.04)). Subgroup analysis showed that only oral omega-3 PUFA supplementation resulted in a statistically significant reduction in length of hospitalization after subgroup analysis with MD -0.6 (95% CI -1.17, -0.04); Conclusions: This study suggests that perioperative omega-3 PUFA supplementation may reduce the length of hospitalization in CABG patients, especially when administered orally. However, the findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the high level of heterogeneity.

Correlation between Vegetable and Fruit Intake and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chongqing, China.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between different types of vegetable and fruit intake and cognitive function among the older adults in Chongqing, China, and to provide a scientific basis for developing efficient lifestyle interventions for the prevention of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). METHOD: Approximately 728 older adults in urban and rural areas of Chongqing were surveyed using face-to-face questionnaires. Cognitive function was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B) scale, and the vegetable and fruit intake groups were investigated with the Simple Food Frequency Counting Survey Scale. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the effect of the vegetable and fruit intake group on cognitive function. Subgroup analysis was used to demonstrate the robustness of the results. RESULT: Of the 728 participants in the study, 36.40% were likely to have MCI, which is higher than the national average for this condition. After adjusting for confounders, compared to the Q1 group, fruit and root vegetable intake was a protective factor for MCI, showing a dose-response relationship (p < 0.05). Only lower intake (Q2) of total vegetables, medium intake (Q2, Q3) of solanaceous vegetables, and medium-high intake (Q2, Q4) of fungi and algae was protective against MCI, whereas the leafy vegetables showed no relation to MCI. Apart from this, participants who were older, female, unmarried, non-smoking, and engaged in physical labor, and who had an average monthly income of less than 3000 RMB were more likely to suffer from cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: This suggested that the fruit-intake groups and some vegetable-intake groups showed a protective effect on cognitive function, and might behave differently depending on their different intake and demographic characteristics. A sensible, healthy diet can help prevent MCI.

Dietary patterns derived by reduced rank regression, macronutrients as response variables, and variation by economic status: NHANES 1999-2018.

PURPOSE: Macronutrient intakes vary across people and economic status, leading to a disparity in diet-related metabolic diseases. This study aimed to provide insight into this by: (1) identifying dietary patterns in adults using reduced rank regression (RRR), with macronutrients as response variables, and (2) investigating the associations between economic status and macronutrient based dietary patterns, and between dietary patterns with central obesity (waist circumference) and systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]). METHODS: 41,849 US participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2018 were included. The percentages of energy from protein, carbohydrates, saturated fats, and unsaturated fats were used as response variables in RRR. Multivariable generalized linear models with Gaussian distribution were employed to investigate the associations. RESULTS: Four dietary patterns were identified. Economic status was positively associated with both the high fat, low carbohydrate [ßHighVsLow = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.28] and high protein patterns [ßHighVsLow = 0.07; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.11], and negatively associated with both the high saturated fat [ßHighVsLow = -0.06; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.03] and the low alcohol patterns [ßHighVsLow = -0.08; 95% CI; -0.10, -0.06]. The high saturated fat pattern was positively associated with waist circumference [ßQ5VsQ1 = 1.71; 95% CI: 0.97, 2.44] and CRP [ßQ5VsQ1 = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.47]. CONCLUSION: Macronutrient dietary patterns, which varied by economic status and were associated with metabolic health markers, may explain associations between economic status and health.

Higher egg consumption and incident cardiovascular disease in Chinese adults - 10-Year follow-up results from China health and nutrition survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Current evidence of the association between egg consumption and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is controversial. We aim to investigate the longitudinal association between egg consumption and the risk of CVD among Chinese adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 16,030 adults who attended China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2015 were included in this study. Egg consumption was collected with 3-day 24-h recall method supplemented by household inventory record. Cumulative mean egg intake during 1991-2011 were calculated as the habitual intake. CVD incidence was self-reported as being diagnosed by physicians following study entry. The association between egg consumption and incident CVD was examined using Cox regression. The mean age (SD) of the study population was 43.7 (14.8) years and 51% were women. During a 9.9-year (median 9.0) follow up, 663 CVD incidents were reported. The corresponding incident rate (per 1000 person-year) by egg consumption level of none, 1-20, 21-50, and 50+gram/day was 2.6, 4.8, 4.2, 5.5 (P < 0.001) with the unadjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.0, 1.42 (1.12-1.80), 1.31 (1.02-1.67), 2.01 (1.53-2.64). After adjusted for demo socioeconomic, and behaviour factors, egg consumption>50 g/day increased the CVD incident by 43% (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.02-2.00. BMI, hypertension, and diabetes mediated the association between egg consumption and CVD. CONCLUSION: Higher egg intake, as part of the modern dietary pattern high in sugars, fat, and animal-source foods, increased the risk of CVD. The effect of egg on CVD incident was partly mediated by overweight/obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.

Increasing Influenza Vaccination Rates among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Chongqing, China: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Using Behavioral and Social Drivers Tools.

BACKGROUND: Influenza vaccination is essential for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients due to their higher risks of severe complications and mortality from influenza. This study investigated the willingness of T2DM patients in Chongqing, China, to receive the influenza vaccination during the 2023/2024 season, using behavioral and social drivers (BeSD) tools to improve vaccination uptake in this high-risk group. METHODS: A multi-stage sampling method was used to select participants, and face-to-face surveys were conducted in community health centers between March 1 and May 1, 2023. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing vaccination willingness, and standardized scores identified barriers and drivers. RESULTS: Among 1672 T2DM patients, 11.7% had been vaccinated during the 2022/2023 season, and 59.6% were willing to receive the vaccination in the 2023/2024 season. Higher willingness was associated with ethnic minorities (odds ratio [OR], 3.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.58-6.39), being unemployed individuals (OR 2.69, 95% CI: 1.60-4.52), higher monthly household income per capita (OR 2.72, 95% CI: 1.65-4.50), having diabetes complications (OR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.23-2.51), sufficient vaccine knowledge (OR 1.87, 95% CI: 1.48-2.37), and previous vaccination (OR 7.75, 95% CI: 4.83-12.44). Concerning BeSDs, fear of infecting friends or family members and trust in vaccine efficacy were the predominant drivers, while high vaccine costs were the greatest barrier. CONCLUSIONS: Future strategies should focus on improving vaccine knowledge, supporting healthcare workers and peer recommendations, and enhancing vaccination policies. Key interventions such as health education among high-risk groups, such as unemployed individuals, advocacy campaigns, pay-it-forward strategies, and policies for free vaccination could improve coverage in Chongqing.

Association between dietary patterns and depression symptoms among adults with or without diabetes in Qatar: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a major public health problem in Qatar and is associated with an increased risk of depression. However, no study has been conducted in Qatar on the relationship between dietary patterns and depression symptoms in adults. The aim of this study was to assess the association between dietary patterns and depression symptoms among adults with or without diabetes in Qatar. METHODS: A total of 1000 participants from the Qatar Biobank (QBB) were included in this cross-sectional study. Food intake was assessed using a computer-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis. Depression symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). RESULTS: Depression symptoms were present in 13.5% of the sample. Two dietary patterns were identified: "unhealthy" (high consumption of fast food, biryani, mixed dish (chicken/meat/fish), croissant) and "prudent" (high consumption of fresh fruit, salads/raw vegetables, canned/dried fruit, and dates). After adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle factors (smoking and physical activity), diabetes and medication use for diabetes and hypertension, a high intake of "unhealthy" pattern was associated with an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms in individuals with diabetes (prevalence ratio, PR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.28, 1.56; p-value < 0.001), while there was no statistically significant association between depressive symptoms and the "prudent" dietary pattern. The "prudent" pattern was inversely and significantly associated with depressive symptoms in individuals with a normal body weight (PR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.76; p-value = 0.018). CONCLUSION: The "unhealthy" dietary pattern was positively associated with depression symptoms in those with diabetes, whereas the "prudent" dietary pattern was inversely associated with depression symptoms in those with a normal body weight. Promoting healthy eating habits should be considered in the prevention and management of depression.

Development of the Competency Evaluation Scale for Clinical Nutritionists in China: A Delphi Study.

Background: Clinical nutritionists are responsible for nutritional therapy in clinical practice, which significantly enhances patients' nutritional status. This study aims to develop and validate a competency evaluation scale to effectively assess the abilities of clinical nutritionists. Methods: The competency evaluation scale for clinical nutritionists was developed based on the iceberg model, utilizing literature review, semi-structured interviews, and the Delphi method. The weights of each indicator were calculated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the validity and reliability of the scale were confirmed through questionnaire surveys. Results: The competency evaluation scale of clinical nutritionists comprised five primary indicators, twelve secondary indicators, and sixty-six tertiary indicators. The primary indicators, including professional theoretical knowledge, professional practical skills, humanistic practice ability, interpersonal communication ability, and professional development capability, have respective weights of 0.2168, 0.2120, 0.2042, 0.2022, and 0.1649. The Cronbach's α coefficients of the five dimensions of the scale were 0.970, 0.978, 0.969, 0.962, and 0.947, respectively. The results of the Exploratory Factor Analysis showed that the prerequisites for factor analysis were satisfied. Additionally, Bartlett's test of sphericity yielded a significance level of p < 0.001, confirming the scale's reliability and validity. Conclusions: The competency evaluation scale for clinical nutritionists developed in this study is of high scientific reliability and validity, which provides assessment criteria for the training and assessment of clinical nutritionists.

Association between Dietary Pattern, Weight Loss, and Diabetes among Adults with a History of Bariatric Surgery: Results from the Qatar Biobank Study.

We aimed to examine the association between weight loss, dietary patterns, diabetes, and glycemic control among Qatari adults with a history of bariatric surgery (BS). Data from 1893 adults from the Qatar Biobank study were analyzed. Diabetes was defined by blood glucose, HbA1c, and medical history, with poor glycemic control defined as HbA1c ≥ 7.0%. The dietary patterns were derived from a Food Frequency Questionnaire using factor analysis. The participants' mean age was 38.8 years, with a mean weight loss of 23.4% and a 6.1% prevalence of poor glycemic control. Weight loss was inversely associated with diabetes and poor glycemic control. The traditional dietary pattern (high intake of Biryani, chicken, meat, fish dishes, zaatar fatayer, croissant, lasagna, and Arabic bread) was inversely associated with diabetes prevalence, with an OR of 0.61 (95%CI, 0.41-0.99) when comparing extreme quartiles. No significant associations were found between prudent or sweet dietary patterns and diabetes. Among the individuals with known diabetes, the prevalence of remission was 33.4%, with an OR for remission of 5.94 (95%CI, 1.89-18.69) for the extreme quartiles of weight loss. In conclusion, weight loss and traditional dietary patterns are inversely associated with diabetes and glycemic control among adults with a history of BS, with weight loss being the main determinant.

Susceptibility gene identification and risk evaluation model construction by transcriptome-wide association analysis for salt sensitivity of blood pressure.

BACKGROUND: Salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP) is an intermediate phenotype of hypertension and is a predictor of long-term cardiovascular events and death. However, the genetic structures of SSBP are uncertain, and it is difficult to precisely diagnose SSBP in population. So, we aimed to identify genes related to susceptibility to the SSBP, construct a risk evaluation model, and explore the potential functions of these genes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A genome-wide association study of the systemic epidemiology of salt sensitivity (EpiSS) cohort was performed to obtain summary statistics for SSBP. Then, we conducted a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) of 12 tissues using FUSION software to predict the genes associated with SSBP and verified the genes with an mRNA microarray. The potential roles of the genes were explored. Risk evaluation models of SSBP were constructed based on the serial P value thresholds of polygenetic risk scores (PRSs), polygenic transcriptome risk scores (PTRSs) and their combinations of the identified genes and genetic variants from the TWAS. The TWAS revealed that 2605 genes were significantly associated with SSBP. Among these genes, 69 were differentially expressed according to the microarray analysis. The functional analysis showed that the genes identified in the TWAS were enriched in metabolic process pathways. The PRSs were correlated with PTRSs in the heart atrial appendage, adrenal gland, EBV-transformed lymphocytes, pituitary, artery coronary, artery tibial and whole blood. Multiple logistic regression models revealed that a PRS of P < 0.05 had the best predictive ability compared with other PRSs and PTRSs. The combinations of PRSs and PTRSs did not significantly increase the prediction accuracy of SSBP in the training and validation datasets. CONCLUSIONS: Several known and novel susceptibility genes for SSBP were identified via multitissue TWAS analysis. The risk evaluation model constructed with the PRS of susceptibility genes showed better diagnostic performance than the transcript levels, which could be applied to screen for SSBP high-risk individuals.

Unfavorable Mealtime, Meal Skipping, and Shiftwork Are Associated with Circadian Syndrome in Adults Participating in NHANES 2005-2016.

The concept of Circadian Syndrome (CircS) aims to emphasize the circadian disruptions underlying cardiometabolic conditions. Meal timing and shiftwork may disrupt circadian rhythms, increasing cardiometabolic risk. This study aimed to assess the associations of meal timing, meal skipping, and shiftwork with CircS in US adults and explore effect modifications by sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. CircS was defined using Metabolic Syndrome components in addition to short sleep and depression symptoms. Data from 10,486 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2016 were analyzed cross-sectionally. Mealtime was assessed by calculating the midpoint of intake between breakfast and dinner and dichotomizing it into favorable mealtime (between 12:30 and 13:15) and unfavorable mealtime using a data-driven approach. Meal skippers were categorized separately. Participants working evening, night, or rotating shifts were classified as shift workers. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, an unfavorable mealtime, meal skipping, and shiftwork were associated with a higher likelihood of CircS (OR = 1.24; 95%CI 1.07-1.44, OR = 1.39; 95%CI 1.16-1.67, and OR = 1.37; 95%CI 1.01-1.87, respectively). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant interactions between meal timing, meal skipping, or shiftwork and socioeconomic status or lifestyle regarding CircS. These findings highlight the importance of aligning mealtimes with circadian rhythms for improved circadian health.

The circadian syndrome is a predictor for cognition impairment in middle-aged adults: Comparison with the metabolic syndrome.

AIMS: Circadian syndrome (CircS) is considered a better predictor for cardiovascular disease than the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aim to examine the associations between CircS and MetS with cognition in Chinese adults. METHOD: We used the data of 8546 Chinese adults aged ≥40 years from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. MetS was defined using harmonised criteria. CircS included the components of MetS plus short sleep and depression. The cut-off for CircS was set as ≥4. Global cognitive function was assessed during the face-to-face interview. RESULTS: CircS and MetS had opposite associations with the global cognition score and self-reported poor memory. Compared with individuals without the CircS and MetS, the regression coefficients (95%CI) for global cognition score were -1.02 (-1.71 to -0.34) for CircS alone and 0.52 (0.09 to 0.96) for MetS alone in men; -1.36 (-2.00 to -0.72) for CircS alone and 0.60 (0.15 to 1.06) for MetS alone in women. Having CircS alone was 2.53 times more likely to report poor memory in men (95%CI 1.80-3.55) and 2.08 times more likely in women (95%CI 1.54-2.81). In contrast, having MetS alone was less likely to report poor memory (OR 0.64 (0.49-0.84) in men and 0.65 (0.52-0.81) in women). People with CircS and MetS combined were more likely to have self-reported poor memory. CONCLUSIONS: CircS is a strong and better predictor for cognition impairment than MetS in Chinese middle-aged adults. MetS without short sleep and depression is associated with better cognition.

Relationships among Sleep Time, Physical Activity Time, Screen Time, and Nutrition Literacy of Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chongqing, China.

Background: Unhealthy lifestyles among adolescents are reaching alarming levels and have become a major public health problem. This study aimed to assess the relationship between sleep time, physical activity (PA) time, screen time (ST), and nutritional literacy (NL). Methods: This cross-sectional online study involving adolescents aged 10-18 years was conducted in September 2020 in 239 schools in Chongqing, China. NL was measured using the "Nutrition Literacy Scale for middle school students in Chongqing (CM-NLS)". According to the recommended by the Chinese dietary guidelines (2022), we divided the sleep time of junior high school students into <9 h and ≥9 h, high school students into <8 h and ≥8 h, divided the workdays into weekend PA time < 1 h and ≥1 h, and divided the workdays into weekend ST < 2 h and ≥2 h. The multinomial logistic regression model was used to examine the association. Results: A total of 18,660 adolescents (50.2% males) were included. The proportion of participants that were junior high school students and attended boarding schools was 57.2% and 65.3%, respectively. Compared with senior high school students, junior high school students had a higher level of NL. Whether on workdays or weekends, participants with sleep time ≥ 8/9 h, PA time ≥ 1 h, and ST < 2 h per day had higher levels of NL. On weekdays, participants who met the sleep time ≥ 8 h/9 h (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.36, 1.62) and PA time ≥ 1 h (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.59, 1.81) had higher reporting of NL levels. Conclusions: Sleep time, PA time, and ST were positively correlated with NL among adolescents, especially junior high school students.

Adiposity indicators exhibit depot- and sex-specific associations with multimorbidity onset: A cohort study of the UK Biobank.

AIM: This study investigated the depot- and sex-specific associations of adiposity indicators with incident multimorbidity and comorbidity pairs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected 382 678 adults without multimorbidity (≥2 chronic diseases) at baseline from the UK Biobank. General obesity, abdominal obesity and body fat percentage indices were measured. RESULTS: Cox proportional hazard regression analyses of general obesity indices revealed that for every one-unit increase in body mass index, the risk of incident multimorbidity increased by 5.2% (95% confidence interval 5.0%-5.4%). A dose-response relationship was observed between general obesity degrees and incident multimorbidity. The analysis of abdominal obesity indices showed that for every 0.1 increment in waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio, the risk of incident multimorbidity increased by 42.0% (37.9%-46.2%) and 27.9% (25.7%-30.0%), respectively. Central obesity, as defined by waist circumference, contributed to a 23.2% increased risk of incident multimorbidity. Hip circumference and hip-to-height ratio had protective effects on multimorbidity onset. Consistent findings were observed for males and females. Body fat percentage elevated 3% (0.2%-5.9%) and 5.3% (1.1%-9.7%) risks of incident multimorbidity in all adults and females, respectively. Arm fat percentages elevated 5.3% (0.8%-9.9%) and 19.4% (11.0%-28.5%) risks of incident multimorbidity in all adults and males, respectively. The general obesity indices, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, waist-to-hip ratio and central obesity increased the onset of comorbidity pairs, whereas hip circumference and hip-to-height ratio decreased the onset of comorbidity pairs. These adiposity indicators mainly affect diabetes mellitus-related comorbidity onset in males and hypertensive-related comorbidity onset in females. CONCLUSIONS: Adiposity indicators are predictors of multimorbidity and comorbidity pairs and represent a promising approach for intervention.

The Association between Lifestyle Factors and COVID-19: Findings from Qatar Biobank.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifestations range from mild to severe life-threatening symptoms, including death. COVID-19 susceptibility has been associated with various factors, but studies in Qatar are limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between COVID-19 susceptibility and various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, including age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, education level, dietary patterns, supplement usage, physical activity, a history of bariatric surgery, diabetes, and hypertension. We utilized logistic regression to analyze these associations, using the data of 10,000 adult participants, aged from 18 to 79, from Qatar Biobank. In total, 10.5% (n = 1045) of the participants had COVID-19. Compared to non-smokers, current and ex-smokers had lower odds of having COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.44-0.68 and OR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.57-0.86, respectively). Vitamin D supplement use was associated with an 18% reduction in the likelihood of contracting COVID-19 (OR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69-0.97). Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), a history of bariatric surgery, and higher adherence to the modern dietary pattern-characterized by the consumption of foods high in saturated fat and refined carbohydrates-were positively associated with COVID-19. Our findings indicate that adopting a healthy lifestyle may be helpful in the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

Impact of the MIF -173G/C variant on cardiovascular disease risk: a meta-analysis of 9,047 participants.

Introduction: Many factors contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), an umbrella term for several different heart diseases, including inflammation. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an important immune modulator that has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of different heart diseases, so understanding pathogenic variants of the MIF gene is important for risk stratification. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to investigate whether the MIF -173G/C (rs755622) polymorphism is associated with CVD. Methods: The PubMed, Science Direct, and Embase databases were searched from inception to June 2023 for case-control studies of the MIF -173G/C polymorphism and its relationship to any type of CVD. Correlations between the MIF -173G/C polymorphism and CVD were estimated by pooling the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals in allelic, dominant, and recessive models using random-effects meta-analysis. Results: A total of 9,047 participants (4141 CVD cases and 4906 healthy controls) from 11 relevant studies were included. In the total population, there was no significant association between the MIF -173G/C (rs755622) polymorphism and the risk of developing CVD in the three different models. In a stratified analysis by ethnicity, the allelic model (C vs G) was significantly associated with CVD in the Arab and Asian populations (OR = 0.56, CI 0.42 -0.75 and OR = 1.28, CI 1.12 -1.46, respectively); the dominant model (CC+CG vs GG) was significantly associated with CVD in the Arab population (OR = 0.42, CI 0.30 -0.61); while the recessive model (GG+GC vs CC) was associated with CVD susceptibility in the Arab population (OR = 3.84, CI 1.57 -9.41). There were no significant associations between the MIF -173 G/C polymorphism and CVD risk in the European population. Conclusion, the MIF -173G/C polymorphism is associated with CVD in some populations. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, PROSPERO (CRD42023441139).

Bias and Accuracy of Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimating Equations in the US: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: There is increasing concern that continued use of a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating equation adjusted for a single racial group could exacerbate chronic kidney disease-related disparities and inequalities. Objective: To assess the performance of GFR estimating equations across varied patient populations. Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Scopus databases were systematically searched from January 2012 to February 2023. Study Selection: Inclusion criteria were studies that compared measured GFR with estimated GFR in adults using established reference standards and methods. A total of 6663 studies were initially identified for screening and review. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 2 authors independently extracted data on studies that examined the bias and accuracy of GFR estimating equations. For each outcome, a random-effects model was used to calculate pooled estimates. Data analysis was conducted from March to December 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were bias and accuracy of estimated GFRs in Black vs non-Black patients, as well as in individuals with chronic conditions. Bias was defined as the median difference between the measured GFR and the estimated GFR. Accuracy was assessed with P30 (the proportion of persons in a data set whose estimated GFR values were within 30% of measured GFR values) and measures of heterogeneity. Results: A total of 12 studies with a combined 44 721 patients were included. Significant heterogeneity was found in the bias of various GFR estimation equations. Race-corrected equations and creatinine-based equations tended to overestimate GFR in Black populations and showed mixed results in non-Black populations. For creatinine-based equations, the mean bias in subgroup analysis was 2.1 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI, -0.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 4.4 mL/min/1.73 m2) in Black persons and 1.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI, 0.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 2.5 mL/min/1.73 m2) in non-Black persons. Equations using only cystatin C had small biases. Regarding accuracy, heterogeneity was high in both groups. The overall P30 was 84.5% in Black persons and 87.8% in non-Black persons. Creatinine-based equations were more accurate in non-Black persons than in Black persons. For creatinine-cystatin C equations, the P30 was higher in non-Black persons. There was no significant P30 difference in cystatin C-only equations between the 2 groups. In patients with chronic conditions, P30 values were generally less than 85%, and the biases varied widely. Conclusions and Relevance: This systematic review and meta-analysis of GFR estimating equations suggests that there is bias in race-based GFR estimating equations, which exacerbates kidney disease disparities. Development of a GFR equation independent of race is a crucial starting point, but not the sole solution. Addressing the disproportionate burden of kidney failure on Black individuals in the US requires an enduring, multifaceted approach that should include improving diagnostics, tackling social determinants of health, confronting systemic racism, and using effective disease prevention and management strategies.

Circadian Syndrome Is Associated with Dietary Patterns among Middle-Older Americans: The Health and Retirement Study.

Population aging is a global demographic characteristic of the 21st century, and healthy eating is a core component of healthy aging. However, limited evidence is available among older adults for associations between diet quality and circadian syndrome (CircS). Thus, this study examined associations between dietary patterns and CircS among a representative sample of middle-older adults in the US. The sample comprised middle-older adults enrolled in the 2016 core wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and one of its sub-studies, the 2013 Health Care and Nutrition Study (HCNS). A food frequency questionnaire was used to quantify habitual food intake and identify dietary patterns using a factor analysis. CircS was defined based on the existence of ≥4 components of metabolic syndrome and indicators of sleep disorders and depression. A total of 4253 middle-older adults with a mean age (SD) of 65.4 (10.0) years were included in the study. The prevalence of CircS was 35.9%. Comparing extreme quartiles of the "Prudent Pattern", the odds ratio (95% CI) for CircS was 0.72 (0.55-0.94), and it was 1.47 (1.10-1.95) for the "Western Pattern". The "Western Pattern" was positively associated while the "Prudent Pattern" was inversely associated with the odds of CircS among middle-older adults.