Sex and population differences in the cardiometabolic continuum: a machine learning study using the UK Biobank and ELSA-Brasil cohorts.

BACKGROUND: The temporal relationships across cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) were recently conceptualized as the cardiometabolic continuum (CMC), sequence of cardiovascular events that stem from gene-environmental interactions, unhealthy lifestyle influences, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and hypertension. While the physiological pathways linking metabolic and cardiovascular diseases have been investigated, the study of the sex and population differences in the CMC have still not been described. METHODS: We present a machine learning approach to model the CMC and investigate sex and population differences in two distinct cohorts: the UK Biobank (17,700 participants) and the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) (7162 participants). We consider the following CMDs: hypertension (Hyp), diabetes (DM), heart diseases (HD: angina, myocardial infarction, or heart failure), and stroke (STK). For the identification of the CMC patterns, individual trajectories with the time of disease occurrence were clustered using k-means. Based on clinical, sociodemographic, and lifestyle characteristics, we built multiclass random forest classifiers and used the SHAP methodology to evaluate feature importance. RESULTS: Five CMC patterns were identified across both sexes and cohorts: EarlyHyp, FirstDM, FirstHD, Healthy, and LateHyp, named according to prevalence and disease occurrence time that depicted around 95%, 78%, 75%, 88% and 99% of individuals, respectively. Within the UK Biobank, more women were classified in the Healthy cluster and more men in all others. In the EarlyHyp and LateHyp clusters, isolated hypertension occurred earlier among women. Smoking habits and education had high importance and clear directionality for both sexes. For ELSA-Brasil, more men were classified in the Healthy cluster and more women in the FirstDM. The diabetes occurrence time when followed by hypertension was lower among women. Education and ethnicity had high importance and clear directionality for women, while for men these features were smoking, alcohol, and coffee consumption. CONCLUSIONS: There are clear sex differences in the CMC that varied across the UK and Brazilian cohorts. In particular, disadvantages regarding incidence and the time to onset of diseases were more pronounced in Brazil, against woman. The results show the need to strengthen public health policies to prevent and control the time course of CMD, with an emphasis on women.

Association Between Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and Cognitive Decline: Findings From the ELSA-Brasil Study.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid dysfunction has been associated with cognitive decline and dementia. However, the role of subtle thyroid hormone alterations in cognitive function is still debatable. METHODS: Participants without overt thyroid dysfunction aged 35-74 years at baseline were evaluated in 3 study waves (2008-2010, 2012-2014, and 2017-2019). We assessed baseline thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3). Cognitive performance was evaluated every 4 years in each wave using 10-word immediate and late recall, word recognition, semantic (animals category) and phonemic (letter f) verbal fluency, and the trail-making B-version tests. A global composite z-score was derived from these tests. The associations of TSH, FT4, and FT3 levels with cognitive decline over time were evaluated using linear mixed-effect models adjusted for sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables. RESULTS: In 9 524 participants (mean age 51.2 ±â€…8.9 years old, 51% women, 52% White), there was no association between baseline TSH, FT4, and FT3 levels and cognitive decline during the follow-up. However, increase in FT4 levels over time was associated with faster memory (ß = -0.004, 95% CI = -0.007; -0.001, p = .014), verbal fluency (ß = -0.003, 95% CI = -0.007; -0.0005, p = .021), executive function (ß = -0.004, 95% CI = -0.011; -0.003, p < .001), and global cognition decline (ß = -0.003, 95% CI = -0.006; -0.001, p = .001). Decrease in FT4 levels over time was associated with faster verbal fluency (ß = -0.003, 95% CI = -0.007; -0.0004, p = .025) and executive function (ß = -0.004, 95% CI = -0.007; -0.0003, p = .031) decline. CONCLUSIONS: An increase or decrease in FT4 levels over time was associated with faster cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults without overt thyroid dysfunction during 8 years of follow-up.

GlycA Levels Independently Predict Coronary Artery Calcium Incidence and Progression in the ELSA-Brasil Cohort (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health).

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a marker of atherosclerotic disease events and mortality risk. Increased GlycA, an emerging marker of inflammation, is associated with a higher risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there is conflicting evidence on whether GlycA predicts subclinical CAD progression. We hypothesized that GlycA can predict subclinical CAC incidence/progression in healthy participants. We included 2,690 ELSA-Brasil cohort participants without cardiovascular/chronic inflammatory disease not receiving statin therapy who had GlycA levels measured and 2 interval CAC assessments between 2010 and 2018. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were computed to evaluate GlycA as a predictor of CAC incidence and progression. CAC incidence required a baseline CAC of 0. CAC progression required a baseline CAC >0. The mean age of participants was 48.6 ± 7.7 years, 56.7% were women, and 54.6% and 16.1% (429 of 2,690) were White and Black, respectively. The mean CAC interscan period was 5.1 ± 0.9 years, the mean GlycA level was 414.7 ± 65 µmol/L, and the incidence of CAC was 13.1% (280 of 2,129). The GlycA level odds ratio for CAC incidence was 1.002 (95% confidence interval 1.0005 to 1.005, p = 0.016), adjusted for demographics, lifestyle, a family history of early CAD (≤60 years), lipids, and co-morbidities. The GlycA (≤p25 vs ≥p75) odds ratio for CAC progression (Berry definition) was 1.77 (95% confidence interval 1.07 to 2.96, p = 0.03) in a similar multivariable-adjusted model. Higher GlycA levels were associated with CAC incidence and progression in a healthy Brazilian cohort.

Hair cortisol levels are associated with overweight and obesity in the ELSA-Brasil cohort.

Introduction: Hair cortisol level has recently been identified as a promising marker for detecting long-term cortisol levels and a marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA) axis activity. However, research on the association between obesity and an altered cortisol metabolism remains controversial. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hair cortisol levels and overweight and obesity in participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 2,499 participants from the second follow-up (visit 3, 2017-2019) attending research centers in Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul states. Hair samples were collected, and cortisol levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Cortisol levels were classified as low (< 40 pg/mg), medium (40-128 pg/mg), or high (> 128 pg/mg). The participants were classified as eutrophic, overweight, or obese according to their weight (kg) and height (m2). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated. Results: Of the 2499 individuals, 30% had eutrophic weight, 40% were overweight, and 30% were obese. Notably, cortisol levels gradually increased with increasing body weight. Among participants with high hair cortisol levels, 41.2% were classified as overweight and 34.2% as obese. Multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that participants with high cortisol levels were 43% (OR =1.43; 95%CI: 1.02-2.03) more likely to be overweight and 72% (OR =1.72; 95%CI:1.20-2.47) more likely to be obese than participants with low hair cortisol levels. After adjustment for all covariates, high cortisol levels remained associated with obesity (OR = 1.54; 95%CI:1.02-2.31) and overweight (OR =1.33; 95%CI:0.91-1.94). Conclusion: In the ELSA-Brazil cohort, hair stress were positively associated with overweight and obesity. These results underscore the importance of considering stress and cortisol as potential factors in obesity prevention and intervention efforts, and highlight a novel aspect of the complex relationship between stress and obesity in the Brazilian population.

Adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Serum Urate Concentrations: A Longitudinal Analysis from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

BACKGROUND: Increased serum urate (SU) and hyperuricemia (HU) are associated with chronic noncommunicable diseases and mortality. SU concentrations are affected by several factors, including diet, and are expected to rise with age. We investigated whether the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet alter this trend. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess whether adherence to the DASH diet predicts a longitudinal change in SU concentrations and risk of HU in 8 y of follow-up. METHODS: Longitudinal analyses using baseline (2008-2010, aged 35-74 y), second (2012-2014), and third (2016-2018) visits data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). The inclusion criteria were having complete food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and urinary sodium measurement, in addition to having SU measurement at the 1st visit and at least 1 of the 2 follow-up visits. For the HU incidence analyses, participants had also to be free from HU at baseline. The final samples included 12575 individuals for the SU change analyses and 10549 for the HU incidence analyses. Adherence to DASH diet was assessed as continuous value. HU was defined as SU>6.8 mg/dL and/or urate-lowering therapy use. Mixed-effect linear and Poisson regressions (incidence rate ratio [IRR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) were used in the analyses, adjusted for confounders. RESULTS: The mean age was 51.4 (8.7) y, and 55.4% were females. SU means (standard deviation) were 5.4 (1.4) at 1st visit, 5.2 (1.4) at 2nd visit, and 5.1(1.3) mg/dL at 3rd visit. The HU incidence rate was 8.87 per 1000 person-y. Each additional point in adherence to the DASH diet accelerated SU decline (P< 0.01) and lowered the incidence of HU by 4.3% (IRR: 0.957; 95% CI: 0.938,0.977) in adjusted model. CONCLUSION: The present study findings reinforce the importance of encouraging the DASH diet as a healthy dietary pattern to control and reduce the SU concentrations and risk of HU.

Optimal cardiovascular health is associated with slower cognitive decline.

BACKGROUND: Life's Simple 7, a lifestyle and cardiovascular index associated with cognition, has been updated to Life's Essential 8 (LE8) to include sleep. LE8 has been related to cardiovascular outcomes but its association with cognition is unclear. METHODS: In this longitudinal analysis of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), LE8 score was based on health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, and sleep health) as well as health-related factors (body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure). Cognition was assessed in three waves, 4 years apart, using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease - Word List, semantic and phonemic verbal fluency, the Trail-Making Test B (TMT-B), and a global composite score. We used linear mixed-model analysis, inverse probability weighting, and interaction analysis. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean age of the study cohort was 51.4 ± 8.9 years, 56% were women, and 53% were White. Higher baseline LE8 scores were associated with slower decline in global cognition (ß = 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.001, 0.002; p < 0.001), memory (ß = 0.001, 95% CI 0.000, 0.002; p = 0.013), verbal fluency (ß = 0.001, 95% CI 0.000, 0.002; p = 0.003), and TMT-B (ß = 0.004, 95% CI 0.003, 0.005; p < 0.001). This association was mainly driven by LE8 health factors, particularly blood glucose and blood pressure. Age, sex, and race were modifiers of the association between LE8 and global cognitive decline (p < 0.001), suggesting it was more pronounced in older, male, and Black participants. CONCLUSIONS: Higher baseline LE8 scores were associated with slower global and domain-specific cognitive decline during 8 years of follow-up, mainly due to health factors such as blood glucose and blood pressure. Sociodemographic factors were modifiers of this association.

Urinary levels of 30 metal/metalloids in the Brazilian southeast population: Findings from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

The assessment of risks associated with environmental exposure to metals/metalloids requires well-established reference values for each population since it varies considerably according to distinct local/regional characteristics. However, very few studies establish baseline values for these elements (essential and toxic) in large population groups, especially in Latin American countries. This study was aimed at establishing urinary reference levels of 30 metals/metalloids: aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), cerium (Ce), cesium (Cs), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lanthanum (La), lead (Pb), lithium (Li), strontium (Sr), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), rubidium (Rb), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), tin (Sn), tellurium (Te), thallium (Tl), thorium (Th), tungsten (W), uranium (U) and zinc (Zn) in a Brazilian southeast adult population. This pilot study is a cross-sectional analysis conducted with the first wave of the ELSA-Brasil cohort (baseline examination). A total of 996 adults (45.5% men, N = 453, mean age: 50.5, and 54.5% women, N = 543, mean age: 50.6) were included in the study. Sample analyses were performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Percentiles (2.5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 95 (CI95%), and 97.5) of each element (µg/g of creatinine) in the study are presented according to sex. Moreover, differences in the mean metal/metalloid urinary levels according to age, education, smoking, and alcohol intake are also presented. Finally, median found values were compared to established values of large human biomonitoring surveys previously conducted in North America and France. This is the first comprehensive and systematic human biomonitoring study that established population reference ranges for 30 (essential and/or toxic elements) in a Brazilian population group.

Association between carotid intima-media thickness and cognitive decline differs by race.

INTRODUCTION: Common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and is associated with cognitive decline. Although carotid atherosclerosis is more frequent in White than in Black participants, little is known whether race modifies the association between cIMT and cognitive decline. METHODS: In this longitudinal analysis of the ELSA-Brasil, we assessed cIMT using ultrasound and cognitive performance using different domain tests. We used linear mixed models, interaction analysis, and race stratified analyses. RESULTS: Baseline high IMT values were associated with memory (p < 0.001), verbal fluency (p < 0.001), TMT-B (p < 0.001)), and global cognitive decline (p < 0.001). Race was an effect modifier in the association between IMT and global cognitive decline (0.043), with stronger association in White (p < 0.001) than in Black (p = 0.009) participants. DISCUSSION: Baseline IMT was associated with global and domain-specific cognitive decline and race modified this relationship, with stronger associations in White participants. HIGHLIGHTS: Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was associated with cognitive decline. cIMT and cognitive decline association was stronger in White than in Black participants. We used inverse probability weighting to address attrition bias.

Ultra-processed foods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal association with uric acid and hyperuricemia in ELSA-Brasil.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Food intake influences uric acid (UA) levels and hyperuricemia (HU), but evidence on the role of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are scarce. The association between UPFs consumption and (1) HU prevalence and UA levels; (2) HU cumulative incidence; and (3) UA level change over a 4-year period was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed using baseline (2008-2010, aged 35-74 years) and second visit (2012-2014) data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Participants with glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, bariatric surgery, implausible caloric intake, and using urate-lowering therapy (ULT) at baseline were excluded (all analyses). Participants with HU at baseline were excluded from longitudinal analyses. UPFs consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and categorized by the NOVA classification system (100 g/day). HU was defined as UA≥6.8 mg/dL. Linear, logistic, and mixed-effect linear regressions investigated the associations between UPFs consumption and UA/HU, adjusted for covariates. The final samples included 13,923 (cross-sectional) and 10,517 (longitudinal) individuals. The prevalence of HU was 18.7%, and the cumulative incidence was 4.9%. Greater UPFs consumption was associated with a greater prevalence of HU (OR:1.025 95%CI: 1.006; 1.044) and higher UA levels (ß:0.024 95%CI: 0.016; 0.032). Every additional consumption of 100 g/day of UPFs raised the 4-year cumulative incidence of HU by 5.6% (95%CI: 1.021; 1.092). However, UPFs were not associated with the pace of UA level changes during the study period. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that greater UPFs consumption is associated with another deleterious health consequence: higher UA levels and the risk of having HU.

Uso da inteligência artificial aplicada ao Eletrocardiograma para diagnóstico de Disfunção Sistólica Ventricular Esquerda / Use of artificial intelligence applied to the Electrocardiogram to diagnose Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction

INTRODUÇÃO: a insuficiência cardíaca (IC) é uma das três causas mais comuns de doenças cardiovasculares (DCV), grupo de enfermidades que é a principal causa de morbimortalidade no mundo. O eletrocardiograma (ECG) é um dos exames utilizados na avaliação da IC, sendo de baixo custo e amplamente acessível. Quando associado à inteligência artificial, o ECG pode ser uma poderosa ferramenta para triagem de indivíduos com maior probabilidade de IC. O objetivo foi avaliar o desempenho de um algoritmo de IA, aplicado ao ECG, para detecção de DSVE e compará-lo ao das alterações maiores ao ECG (AME), de acordo com o código de Minnesota. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal retrospectivo de acurácia diagnóstica que utilizou a população do Estudo Longitudinal da Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil). Foram avaliados 2567 indivíduos que possuíam ecocardiograma (ECO) e ECG válidos e valores de predição para disfunção sistólica do ventrículo esquerdo (DSVE) estimadas por um algoritmo de inteligência artificial (IA). A DSVE foi definida como Fração de Ejeção do Ventrículo Esquerdo (FEVE) menor que 40%, calculada utilizando o ECO. A prevalência de DSVE foi de 1,13% na população estudada (29 indivíduos). Foram calculados sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo (VPP), valor preditivo negativo (VPN), razão de verossimilhança positivo (RVP), razão de verossimilhança negativa (RVN), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) para o algoritmo e para as AME. Calculou-se também a área sob a curva ROC (ASC-ROC) para o algoritmo. RESULTADOS: a população estudada possui mediana de 62 anos, sendo 47,2% do sexo masculino. A ASC-ROC do algoritmo para predição de IC foi de 0,947 (IC 95% 0,913 ­ 0,981). A sensibilidade, especificidade, VPP, VPN, RVP, RVN e DOR para o algoritmo foi de 0,690; 0,976; 0,244; 0,996; 27,6; 0,32 e 88,74, respectivamente. Para as AME foi 0,172; 0,837; 0,012; 0,989; 1,09; 0,990 e 1,07 respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: A IA aplicada ao ECG é uma fermenta promissora para identificação de pacientes com maior probabilidade de IC e que devem ser priorizados para realização de ECO. Isso poderia aprimorar o diagnóstico de IC em nosso meio e, assim, permitir o início precoce do tratamento, com possível impacto na redução da morbidade e mortalidade.

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) is one of the three most common causes of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the tests used in the evaluation of HF, combining low-cost and wide accessibility. When combined with artificial intelligence, the ECG can be a powerful tool for screening individuals with a higher risk of HF. Our objective was to assess the performance of an AI algorithm applied to the ECG for the detection of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and compare it to the performance of major ECG abnormalities (MEA) according to the Minnesota code. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study using data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brazil). A total of 2567 individuals with valid echocardiograms (ECO) and ECGs and probability values for left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) estimated by an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm, were evaluated. LVSD was defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40%, calculated using ECO. The prevalence of LVSD was 1.13% in the studied population (29 individuals). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated for the algorithm and MEA. The area under the ROC curve (AUC-ROC) was also calculated for the algorithm. RESULTS: The study population had a median age of 62 years, with 47.2% being male. The AUC-ROC for the algorithm to predict HF was 0.947 (95% CI 0.913 ­ 0.981). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, PLR, NLR, and DOR for the algorithm were 0.690, 0.976, 0.244, 0.996, 27.6, 0.32, and 88.74, respectively. For MEA, it was 0.172, 0.837, 0.012, 0.989, 1.09, 0.990, and 1.07, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AI applied to the ECG is a promising tool for identifying patients with a higher likelihood of HF who should be prioritized for ECO. This could improve the diagnosis capacity of HF in our setting and thus enable early treatment initiation, with possible impact on reducing morbidity and mortality.

Association between Sedentary Behavior and Cognitive Performance in Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults: Cross-Sectional Results from ELSA-Brasil.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to verify the association between Sedentary Behavior (SB) and performance on cognitive function tests in middle-aged and elderly adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 6505 participants (55.2% women) of ELSA-Brasil, with a median age of 61 years. The different types of SB considered were sitting time and screen time. The scores obtained in the memory, language, and executive function tests were used to assess cognitive performance (CP). The association between SB and CP was assessed using linear regression. RESULTS: For men, sitting time was associated with better performance in memory, language, and executive function tests. Screen time on the weekend, showed a favorable association with performance in the executive function test. Occupational screen time on weekdays was positively associated with language test performance. For women, sitting time and occupational screen time were positively associated with performance on memory tests. SB was favorably associated with performance in language tests and executive function tests. CONCLUSIONS: SB seems to favor CP in this population without evident dementia and with a high level of education. The type of SB (mentally active or passive) and the schooling seem to be of particular interest for cognitive performance.

Body image distortion among Brazilian and Portuguese women with children: A comparative study between the ELSA-Brasil and Generation XXI cohorts.

Solid evidence indicates that body image distortion is associated with various physical and mental health problems in women (e.g. Lee and Lee, 2016; Mölbert et al., 2017; Raj and Ploriya, 2020; Sagar, 2005; Shin et al., 2015). Furthermore, body image has been shown to vary according to life context and stage, particularly after a woman has had children. This scenario justifies the comparison between different countries and cultures. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of body image distortion/accuracy in Brazilian and Portuguese women with children. The study assessed women selected from two epidemiological cohorts: ELSA-Brasil in Brazil (n = 1468) and Generation XXI in Portugal (n = 3380). The data analyzed were based on multidimensional questionnaires from which sociodemographic and family characteristics as well as data associated with lifestyle and health were obtained. The results show that most women in both cohorts had an accurate perception of their own body size. In cases of distorted self-perception, the likelihood of the Brazilian women perceiving themselves as being heavier was greater if they had had cancer, whereas the Portuguese women were less likely to perceive themselves as heavier when they had less schooling. Perceiving themselves as thinner than they actually are, was associated with poorer self-perception of their own state of health in the Brazilian women and with poorer schooling in both the Brazilian and Portuguese women. The present findings contribute towards improving understanding of the influence of body image distortion on the health and wellbeing of Brazilian and Portuguese women, possibly leading to the implementation of health-promoting policies in both countries.

Association between coffee consumption with serum lipid profile in ELSA-Brasil study: a metabolomic approach.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the association between coffee consumption and serum lipid profile in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study on baseline data from participants of the cohort ELSA-Brasil. Only participants of São Paulo Research Center who underwent a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy examination of lipid profile were included (N = 4736). Coffee intake was categorized into four categories (cups/day, in reference cup size of 50 mL, which is the household measure adopted in Brazil): never/almost never, ≤ 1, 1-3, and > 3. Serum lipid profile [i.e., Total Cholesterol (TC), Total Triglycerides (TG), Very Low-Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-c), Low-Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), High-Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), Triglyceride-rich Lipoprotein Particles (TRLP) and subfractions particles] was analyzed. To estimate the effect of coffee consumption on serum lipid profile, multivariate Generalized Linear Models were performed. RESULTS: Compared to participants who never or almost never drink coffee, individuals who consumed more than 3 cups/day showed an increase in concentrations of TC (ß: 4.13; 95% CI 0.81, 7.45), TG (ß: 9.53; 95% CI 1.65, 17.42), VLDL-c (ß: 1.90; 95% CI 0.38, 3.42), TRLP (ß: 8.42; 95% CI 1.24, 15.60), and Very Small-TRLP and Medium-TRLP subfractions (ß: 7.36; 95% CI 0.21, 14.51; ß: 2.53; 95% CI 0.89, 4.16, respectively), but not with HDL-c and LDL-c. Among individuals with low (≤ 1 cup/day) and moderate (1-3 cups/day) coffee consumption, no significant associations with lipids was observed. CONCLUSION: High coffee consumption (more than 3 cups per day) was associated with an increase in serum lipids, namely TC, TG, VLDL-c, and TRL particles, highlighting the importance of a moderate consumption of this beverage.

Racial discrimination is associated with greater arterial stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness: the ELSA-Brasil study.

PURPOSE: The association between racial discrimination and subclinical cardiovascular markers remains under-examined. We aimed to investigate the association of race/skin color and racial discrimination with pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) in the Brazilian context. METHODS: We used data from 13,284 participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) baseline with information of PWV and 9850 for c-IMT. Self-reported race/skin color and perceived racial discrimination were the exposures. PWV and c-IMT were used continuously and categorizing according to cutoff that indicates increased cardiovascular risk. Linear and logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: Experience of racial discrimination was reported by 7% of total participants, but this prevalence was much higher among Blacks than Browns (PWV sample: 31,9% vs. 6,1%; c-IMT sample: 33,7% vs. 6,8%). After adjustments for age, sex, and research center, Blacks and Browns presented higher means of PWV and c-IMT and had greater chances of PWV>10 m/s and c-IMT≥75th percentile than Whites. The magnitude of all these associations were higher among Blacks and Browns with racial discrimination. In final models adjusted for education this pattern of association remained the same, although an attenuation in the magnitude of the association has been observed. CONCLUSIONS: Blacks and Browns presented worse profiles of subclinical cardiovascular markers compared to Whites and those exposed to racial discrimination seem to have an additional cardiovascular risk.

Estresse no trabalho e Dor Lombar Crônica [recursos eletrônicos]: uma análise longitudinal da coorte ELSA-Brasil Musculoesquelético (ELSA-Brasil MSK) / Work stress and chronic low back pain - a longitudinal analysis of the Elsa - Brazil Musculoskeletal (ELSA - Brazil MSK) cohort

INTRODUÇÃO: A dor lombar é principal causa de anos vividos com incapacidade em todo o mundo e consiste no local de dor musculoesquelética mais incapacitante. Estima-se que aproximadamente 70% dos anos vividos com incapacidade associados à dor lombar ocorram em pessoas em idade produtiva (20-65 anos) e é possível que a exposição ao estresse no trabalho possa explicar pelo menos parcialmente a maior carga de dor lombar crônica (DLC) nesse grupo populacional. Porém, essa hipótese não foi verificada por estudo longitudinal. OBJETIVOS: Investigar a associação entre o estresse no trabalho, segundo o modelo de desequilíbrio esforço-recompensa (ERI ­ do inglês effort-reward imbalance), e a incidência acumulada de DLC em 4 anos de seguimento, considerando o número de episódios de dor no período e a intensidade e/ou incapacidade relacionada a dor. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo longitudinal com seguimento de três anos da coorte do Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto - Musculoesquelético (ELSA-Brasil MSK). Dados da linha de base (2012-2014) e das três primeiras entrevistas anuais telefônicas foram utilizados. Foram incluídos 1733 participantes sem DLC (duração >6 meses) no ano anterior à inclusão na coorte, com informação para a escala ERI na linha de base do ELSA-Brasil MSK e para DLC nos três seguimentos telefônicos anuais. Nos seguimentos, a DLC foi definida pela presença no último mês de dor lombar com intensidade moderada/grave/muito grave e duração >3 meses. O presente estudo teve três variáveis resposta: 1) Incidência acumulada de DLC (sim/não); 2) Número de episódios de DLC (0, 1, ≥2 episódios); 3) Incidência acumulada de DLC segundo intensidade/incapacidade (ausente/muito leve/leve; moderada; grave/muito grave e/ou incapacitante). O estresse no trabalho foi avaliado pela versão longa da escala ERI. Dessa forma, as variáveis explicativas de interesse foram: o desequilibro esforço-recompensa, avaliado pela razão esforço/recompensa, e cada dimensão da escala ERI (esforço, recompensa e comprometimento excessivo) separadamente. Todas as dimensões foram categorizadas em tercis de suas distribuições. Foi utilizado o diagrama causal (Direct Acyclic Graph ­ DAG) como instrumento auxiliar na definição das variáveis a serem consideradas nos ajustes dos modelos que considerou o conhecimento prévio acerca dos fatores de risco comuns ao estresse no trabalho e dor lombar disponíveis na literatura. Dessa forma, foram consideradas para ajustes variáveis sociodemográficas [idade (em anos); sexo; raça/cor (branca/amarela, parda, preta/indígena) e escolaridade (superior completo; médio completo; fundamental - completo/incompleto] e características da ocupação [natureza da ocupação (não manual não rotineira, não manual rotineira e manual) e turno de trabalho (apenas diurno, noturno ou misto)]. A estimativa para as associações entre cada uma das variáveis de estresse no trabalho e a incidência acumulada de DLC foram feitas através dos modelos de regressão de Poisson. As associações das variáveis de estresse no trabalho com o número de episódios de DLC e com a incidência acumulada de DLC segundo intensidade/incapacidade foram investigadas por meio de modelos de regressão logística multinominal, por se tratar de variáveis com três categorias. RESULTADOS: A incidência acumulada de DLC em 4 anos de seguimento foi de 24,8%. Menor recompensa (1º versus 3º tercis; RR=1,24; IC95%=1,01-1,54) e alto comprometimento excessivo (3º versus 1º tercis; RR=1,23; IC95%=1,01-1,50) foram associadas a maior incidência de DLC. Do total de participantes, 10,7% reportaram múltiplos episódios de DLC (≥2 episódios). Alto esforço (3º versus 1º tercis; OR=1,48; IC95%=1,02-2,15), alta razão esforço/recompensa (3º versus 1º tercis; OR=1,67; IC95%=1,12-2,47) e alto comprometimento excessivo (3º versus 1º tercis; OR=1,67; IC=1,11-2,50) estiveram associados a maior chance de múltiplos episódios de DLC. A DLC grave/incapacitante foi reportada por 9,92% dos participantes. Menor recompensa (1º versus 3º tercis; OR=1,58; IC95%=1,02-2,44), alta razão esforço/recompensa (3º versus 1º tercis; OR=1,70; IC95%=1,14-2,53), e alto comprometimento excessivo (3º versus 1º tercis; OR=1,57; IC95%=0,5-2,34), foram independentemente associados à incidência acumulada de DLC grave/incapacitante. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados demostraram que o estresse no trabalho, especialmente o alto comprometimento excessivo, foi associado a maior risco de DLC, maior risco de múltiplos episódios de DLC e maior risco de quadros de DLC grave e/ou incapacitante após 4 anos de seguimento. Os resultados desse estudo sugerem que medidas que atenuem a exposição ao estresse no trabalho possivelmente reduzirão a carga de DLC.

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain is the main cause of years lived with disability worldwide and is the most disabling musculoskeletal pain site. It is estimated that approximately 70% of the years lived with disability associated with low back pain occur in people of working age (20-65 years) and it is possible that exposure to work stress may at least partially explain the greater burden of chronic low back pain. (CLBP) in this population group. However, this hypothesis was not verified by a longitudinal study. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between stress at work, according to the effort-reward imbalance model (ERI), and the cumulative incidence of CLBP in 4 years of follow-up, considering the number of episodes of pain in the period and the intensity and/or disability of the pain. METHODS: This is a longitudinal study with a three-year follow-up of the cohort of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health - Musculoskeletal (ELSA-Brasil MSK). Baseline data (2012-2014) and the first three annual telephone interviews were used. A total of 1733 participants without CLBP (lasting >6 months) in the year prior to inclusion in the cohort were included, with information for the ERI scale at baseline of the ELSA-Brasil MSK and for CLBP in the three annual telephone follow-ups. In the follow-ups, CLBP was defined by the presence of low back pain with moderate/severe/very severe intensity and duration >3 months in the last month. The present study had three response variables: 1) Accumulated incidence of CLD (yes/no); 2) Number of CLBP episodes (0, 1, ≥2 episodes); 3) Accumulated incidence of CLD according to intensity/disability (absent/very mild/mild; moderate; severe/very severe and/or disabling). Stress at work was assessed using the long version of the ERI questionnaire. Thus, the explanatory variables of interest were: the effort-reward imbalance, assessed by the effort/reward ratio, and each dimension of the ERI scale (effort, reward and overcommitment) separately. All dimensions were categorized into tertiles of their distributions. We used the causal diagram (Direct Acyclic Graph - DAG) as an auxiliary instrument in defining the variables to be considered in the adjustments of the models that considered prior knowledge about common risk factors for stress at work and low back pain available in the literature. Thus, sociodemographic variables [age (in years); sex; race/color (white/yellow, brown, black/indigenous) and schooling (complete higher education; complete high school; elementary school - complete/incomplete) and occupation characteristics [nature of occupation (non-routine non-manual, non-routine manual and manual) and work shift (only day, night or mixed)]. The estimation for the associations between each of the variables of stress at work and the cumulative incidence of CLBP were made using Poisson regression models. The associations of stress at work variables with the number of CLBP episodes and with the cumulative incidence of CLBP according to intensity/disability were investigated using multinomial logistic regression models, as these are variables with three categories. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of CLBP in 4 years of follow-up was 24.8%. Lower reward (1st versus 3rd tertiles; RR=1.24; 95%CI=1.01-1.54) and greater overcommitment (3rd versus 1st tertiles; RR=1.23; 95%CI=1.01-1, 50) were associated with a higher incidence of CLBP. Of the total participants, 10.7% reported multiple episodes of CLBP (≥2 episodes). Greater effort (3rd versus 1st tertiles; OR=1.48; 95%CI=1.02-2.15), greater effort/reward ratio (3rd versus 1st tertiles; OR=1.67; 95%CI=1.12- 2.47) and greater overcommitment (3rd versus 1st tertiles; OR=1.67; CI=1.11-2.50) were associated with a greater chance of having multiple CLBP episodes. Severe/disabling CLBP was reported by 9.92% of participants. Lower reward (1st versus 3rd tertiles; OR=1.58; 95%CI=1.02-2.44), higher effort/reward ratio (3rd versus 1st tertiles; OR=1.70; 95%CI=1.14- 2.53), and greater overcommitment (3rd versus 1st tertiles; OR=1.57; 95%CI=0.5-2.34), were independently associated with the cumulative incidence of severe/disabling CLBP. CONCLUSION: The results showed that stress at work, especially greater overcommitment, was associated with a higher risk of CLBP, higher risk of multiple CLBP episodes, and higher risk of severe and/or disabling CLBP after 4 years of follow-up. It is suggested that measures that mitigate exposure to stress at work will possibly reduce the burden of CLBP.

Advanced glycation end product: A potential biomarker for risk stratification of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in ELSA-Brasil study.

BACKGROUND: Liver diseases are associated with the excess formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which induce tissue inflammation and oxidative damage. However, the trend of oxidative marker levels according to the steatosis grade in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unclear. AIM: To compare serum AGE levels between participants with NAFLD accordingly to steatosis severity in the baseline ELSA-Brasil population. METHODS: In 305 individuals at baseline ELSA-Brasil, NAFLD-associated steatosis was classified by ultrasound hepatic attenuation. The participants were grouped according to the severity of steatosis: mild and moderate/severe pooled. The measurement of serum fluorescent AGE concentrations was based on spectrofluorimetric detection. Serum AGE content and clinical and laboratory characteristics of the participants were compared between groups. The correlation between serum AGE levels and the grade of steatosis was analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between serum AGE levels and steatosis severity. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: According to the steatosis severity spectrum in NAFLD, from mild to moderate/severe, individuals with the most severe steatosis grade had a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome (63% vs 34%, P ≤ 0.001), diabetes mellitus (37% vs 14%, P ≤ 0.001), and high cholesterol levels (51% vs 33%, P < 0.001). Moreover, individuals with increasing severity of steatosis presented increasing waist circumference, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, C-reactive protein, and uric acid levels and lower high-density lipoprotein. Higher serum AGE content was present in the moderate/severe group of individuals than in the mild group (P = 0.008). In addition, the serum AGE levels were correlated with the steatosis grade in the overall sample (rho = 0.146, P = 0.010). Logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounding variables, showed that subjects with higher serum AGE content had a 4.6-fold increased chance of having moderate or severe steatosis when compared to low levels of serum AGEs. According to the results of the receiver operator characteristic curves analyses (areas under the curve, AUC = 0.83), AGEs could be a good marker of steatosis severity in patients with NAFLD and might be a potential biomarker in predicting NAFLD progression, strengthening the involvement of AGE in NAFLD pathogenesis. CONCLUSION: NAFLD-associated steatosis was associated with serum AGE levels; therefore, plasmatic fluorescent AGE quantification by spectroscopy could be a promising alternative method to monitor progression from mild to severe NAFLD accordingly to steatosis grade.

Longitudinal association between binge eating and metabolic syndrome in adults: Findings from the ELSA-Brasil cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder have greater cardiovascular morbidity than the general population. Longitudinal research on the association between binge eating and metabolic syndrome is limited. We tested the longitudinal association between binge eating and metabolic syndrome and its components in a large population sample of Brazilian adults. METHODS: We used data from Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil, N = 15,105). To test for the association between binge eating at baseline (2008-2010) and metabolic syndrome at follow-up (2012-2014), we used univariable and multivariable logistic regression models progressively adjusting for potential socio-demographic confounders, number of metabolic syndrome components, and body mass index (BMI) at baseline. RESULTS: In total, 13,388 participants (54.8% female; 52.2% white) had complete data on all variables of interest. Binge eating was associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome at follow-up (odds ratio (OR):1.66, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.44, 1.75). However, the size of this association was attenuated after including number of metabolic syndrome components at baseline (OR:1.19, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.35) and was no longer present after adjusting for baseline BMI (OR:1.09, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.25). Binge eating was also associated with higher odds of hypertension (OR:1.14, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.37) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR:1.21, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.37) at the follow-up assessment after adjustment for all confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who binge eat are at increased risk of metabolic syndrome via increased BMI, and of hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension independently of BMI. If these are causal associations, effective interventions for binge eating could also have beneficial effects on metabolic health outcomes.

Life Course Socioeconomic Position, Intergenerational Social Mobility, and Hypertension Incidence in ELSA-Brasil.

BACKGROUND: Life course epidemiology is a powerful framework to unravel the role of socioeconomic position (SEP) disparities in hypertension (HTN). This study investigated whether life course SEP is associated with HTN incidence. Specifically, to test whether cumulative low SEP throughout life and unfavorable intergenerational social mobility increased HTN incidence. METHODS: Longitudinal analysis of 8,754 ELSA-Brasil participants without HTN or cardiovascular in visit 1 (2008-2010). The response variable was the incidence of HTN between visits 1 and 2 (2012-2014). The explanatory variables were childhood, youth, and adulthood SEP, cumulative low SEP, and intergenerational social mobility. Associations were estimated by incidence rate ratios (IRRs) obtained by generalized linear models, with Poisson distribution and logarithmic link function, after adjustment for sociodemographic, behavioral, and health factors. RESULTS: The incidence of HTN was 43.2/1,000 person-years, being higher in males, elderly (70-74 years), self-declared black, and low SEP individuals. After considering sociodemographic factors, low SEP in childhood, youth, and adulthood remained statistically associated with increased HTN incidence. Individuals in the third (IRR: 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-1.44) and fourth top quartiles (IRR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.11-1.49) of cumulative low SEP, vs. first, as well as those with low stable intergenerational trajectory (IRR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.16-1.43), vs. high stable, also had increased HTN incidence rates. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic disparities at all phases of the life cycle appear to raise HTN incidence rates, being the individuals with greater accumulation of exposure to low SEP and with more unfavorable intergenerational mobility at greatest risk, even in a short follow-up time.

Coffee consumption and risk of hypertension: A prospective analysis in the cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages around the world. Dietary habits, specifically, coffee consumption has long been a suspected cause of hypertension. However, previous findings on coffee consumption and its association with the incidence of hypertension are not homogeneous and still inconsistent. PURPOSE: To examine the association of habitual coffee consumption with the risk of developing hypertension in a middle-aged Brazilian cohort. METHODS: Data were from the multicenter prospective cohort "Brazilian Longitudinal Study for Adult Health - ELSA-Brasil". The cohort comprises 15,105 civil servants, aged 35-74 years at baseline, who were sampled from universities located in six Brazilian cities. For the present study, we analyzed data from 8780 participants initially free of hypertension during a mean follow-up of 3.9 years. The consumption of coffee was obtained at baseline using a previously validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Subsequently coffee intake was categorized into four categories (cups/day): never/almost never, ≤1, 1-3, and >3. Hypertension status was defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, use of antihypertensive drug treatment, or both. Poisson regression model with a robust variance was performed to estimate relative risk (RR) and confidence interval (95% CI) for hypertension according to baseline coffee consumption. The effect of interaction between coffee consumption and smoking status was assessed. RESULTS: Most participants (90%) drank coffee, and the median total coffee intake was 150 mL/day. A total of 1285 participants developed hypertension. Compared to participants who never or almost never drink coffee, the risk of hypertension was lower for individuals consuming 1-3 cups/day (RR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.97) (P for interaction=0.018). After stratification by smoking status the analysis revealed a decreased risk of hypertension in never smokers drinking 1-3 cups of coffee per day (RR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64-0.98), whereas the hypertension risk among former and current smokers was not associated with coffee consumption significantly. Moreover, upper category of coffee drinking (>3 cups/day) the association was not significant for risk of hypertension. CONCLUSION: The association between coffee consumption and incidence of hypertension was related to smoking status. The beneficial effect of moderate coffee intake (1-3 cups/day) on risk of hypertension was observed only in never smokers.

Vehicular traffic density and cognitive performance in the ELSA-Brasil study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the knowledge about the deleterious effects of air pollutants and their influence on mortality and morbidity due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, little is known about the relationship between atmospheric pollutants and neurological diseases. Recently, studies from high-income countries have suggested an association between exposures to air pollutants with cognitive impairment. Thus, we investigated the association of air pollution with cognitive performance in the participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). METHODS: Cognitive function was evaluated using the word list, the verbal fluency, and the trail making tests (TMT). Pollutant exposure was evaluated indirectly using the distance-weighted traffic density (DWTD) of participants' residence and workplace. We investigated the cross-sectional association between DWTD and cognitive test scores using adjusted linear regression models for sociodemographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: 3050 were included (mean age = 52.1 ± 9.2 years old, 56.5% women, and 63.6% white). In the simple linear regression models, participants in the higher tertile of combined DWTD (residence and workplace) presented better cognitive performance in all tests when compared to participants in the lower tertile. The DWTD was not associated with cognitive performance in adjusted linear models especially when adjusted for socioeconomic variables (age, sex, education, and race). We found similar results when we investigated the association of cognitive performance with DTWD near participants' workplace and residence separately. CONCLUSION: Air pollutants were not associated with worse cognitive performance in a large sample of middle-aged and older adults.