Segment-specific association of carotid-intima-media thickness with cardiovascular risk factors - findings from the STAAB cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The guideline recommendation to not measure carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) for cardiovascular risk prediction is based on the assessment of just one single carotid segment. We evaluated whether there is a segment-specific association between different measurement locations of CIMT and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Subjects from the population-based STAAB cohort study comprising subjects aged 30 to 79 years of the general population from Würzburg, Germany, were investigated. CIMT was measured on the far wall of both sides in three different predefined locations: common carotid artery (CCA), bulb, and internal carotid artery (ICA). Diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, and obesity were considered as risk factors. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, odds ratios of risk factors per location were estimated for the endpoint of individual age- and sex-adjusted 75th percentile of CIMT. RESULTS: 2492 subjects were included in the analysis. Segment-specific CIMT was highest in the bulb, followed by CCA, and lowest in the ICA. Dyslipidemia, hypertension, and smoking were associated with CIMT, but not diabetes and obesity. We observed no relevant segment-specific association between the three different locations and risk factors, except for a possible interaction between smoking and ICA. CONCLUSIONS: As no segment-specific association between cardiovascular risk factors and CIMT became evident, one simple measurement of one location may suffice to assess the cardiovascular risk of an individual.

Control of cardiovascular risk factors and its determinants in the general population- findings from the STAAB cohort study.

BACKGROUND: While data from primary care suggest an insufficient control of vascular risk factors, little is known about vascular risk factor control in the general population. We therefore aimed to investigate the adoption of adequate risk factor control and its determinants in the general population free of cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: Data from the Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure Stages A-B and Determinants of Progression (STAAB) Cohort Study, a population-based study of inhabitants aged 30 to 79 years from the general population of Würzburg (Germany), were used. Proportions of participants without established CVD meeting targets for risk factor control recommended by 2016 ESC guideline were identified. Determinants of the accumulation of insufficiently controlled vascular risk factors (three or more) were assessed. RESULTS: Between December 2013 and April 2015, 1379 participants without CVD were included; mean age was 53.1 ± 11.9 years and 52.9% were female; 30.8% were physically inactive, 55.2% overweight, 19.3% current smokers. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus were prevalent in 31.8%, 57.6%, and 3.9%, respectively. Treatment goals were not reached despite medication in 52.7% of hypertensive, in 37.3% of hyperlipidemic and in 44.0% of diabetic subjects. Insufficiently controlled risk was associated with male sex (OR 1.94, 95%CI 1.44-2.61), higher age (OR for 30-39 years vs. 70-79 years 4.01, 95%CI 1.94-8.31) and lower level of education (OR for primary vs. tertiary 2.15, 95%CI 1.48-3.11). CONCLUSIONS: In the general population, prevalence of vascular risk factors was high. We found insufficient identification and control of vascular risk factors and a considerable potential to improve adherence to cardiovascular guidelines for primary prevention. Further studies are needed to identify and overcome patient- and physician-related barriers impeding successful control of vascular risk factors in the general population.

Consequences of visual height intolerance for quality of life: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Visual height intolerance (vHI) occurs when a trigger causes the apprehension of losing balance and falling. Depending on the severity of vHI, an avoidance behavior may develop in about 50 % of the thus afflicted, and it can have considerable impact on their daily life and interpersonal interactions. It seems obvious that such experiences may be impairing and distressing, but this has not yet been examined systematically. Objective of this study was to examine the consequences of vHI for quality of life. METHODS: A qualitative, phenomenological exploratory approach was chosen. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with individuals who had reported in a previous study that they were susceptible to vHI. The interview transcripts were segregated into distinct meaning units, which were used to create a coding guideline with meta- and subcodes. Meaning units were then systematically extracted and assigned to the appropriate codes. Weights and links were used to assign priorities for interpretation. RESULTS: Eighteen participants were interviewed (mean age 53, range 30-73; 11 females). Data analysis resulted in 29 meta-codes and 115 subcodes. Responses indicated that vHI can be very disabling and has a relevant impact on quality of life and daily activities of the affected persons, including their family life and behavior towards partner, children and friends. CONCLUSION: Relevant topics for further quantitative studies were identified, for example, strategies of compensation and the influence of vHI on family life. Other quantitative studies should determine whether comorbidities and the typologies found in this study have consequences for individual therapeutic approaches.

Impact of cardiovascular risk factors on myocardial work-insights from the STAAB cohort study.

Myocardial work is a new echocardiography-based diagnostic tool, which allows to quantify left ventricular performance based on pressure-strain loops, and has been validated against invasively derived pressure-volume measurements. Myocardial work is described by its components (global constructive work [GCW], global wasted work [GWW]) and indices (global work index [GWI], global work efficiency [GWE]). Applying this innovative concept, we characterized the prevalence and severity of subclinical left ventricular compromise in the general population and estimated its association with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. Within the Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure STAges A/B and Determinants of Progression (STAAB) cohort study we comprehensively phenotyped a representative sample of the population of Würzburg, Germany, aged 30-79 years. Indices of myocardial work were determined in 1929 individuals (49.3% female, mean age 54 ± 12 years). In multivariable analysis, hypertension was associated with a mild increase in GCW, but a profound increase in GWW, resulting in higher GWI and lower GWE. All other CV risk factors were associated with lower GCW and GWI, but not with GWW. The association of hypertension and obesity with GWI was stronger in women. We conclude that traditional CV risk factors impact selectively and gender-specifically on left ventricular myocardial performance, independent of systolic blood pressure. Quantifying active systolic and diastolic compromise by derivation of myocardial work advances our understanding of pathophysiological processes in health and cardiac disease.

Physicians' lifestyle advice on primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention in Germany: A comparison between the STAAB cohort study and the German subset of EUROASPIRE IV.

BACKGROUND: We assessed prevalence and determinants in appropriate physician-led lifestyle advice (PLA) in a population-based sample of individuals without cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with a sample of CVD patients. METHODS: PLA was assessed via questionnaire in a subsample of the population-based Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure Stages A-B and Determinants of Progression (STAAB) cohort free of CVD (primary prevention sample) and the German subset of the fourth EUROASPIRE survey (EUROASPIRE-IV) comprising CVD patients (secondary prevention sample). PLA was fulfilled if the participant reported having ever been told by a physician to: stop smoking (current/former smokers), reduce weight (overweight/obese participants), increase physical activity (physically inactive participants) or keep to a healthy diet (all participants). Factors associated with receiving at least 50% of the PLA were identified using logistic regression. RESULTS: Information on PLA was available in 665 STAAB participants (55 ± 11; 55% females) and in 536 EUROASPIRE-IV patients (67 ± 9; 18% females). Except for smoking, appropriate PLA was more frequently given in the secondary compared with the primary prevention sample. Determinants associated with appropriate PLA in primary prevention were: diabetes mellitus (odds ratio (OR) 4.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.88-10.95), hyperlipidaemia (OR 3.12; 95% CI 2.06-4.73) and hypertension (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.15-2.62); in secondary prevention: age (OR per year 0.96; 95% CI 0.93-0.98) and diabetes mellitus (OR 2.33; 95% CI 1.20-4.54). CONCLUSIONS: In primary prevention, PLA was mainly determined by the presence of vascular risk factors, whereas in secondary prevention the level of PLA was higher in general, but the association between CVD risk factors and PLA was less pronounced.

Prevalence and determinants of the precursor stages of heart failure: results from the population-based STAAB cohort study.

AIMS: Prevention of heart failure relies on the early identification and control of risk factors. We aimed to identify the frequency and characteristics of individuals at risk of heart failure in the general population. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report cross-sectional data from the prospective Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure Stages A-B and Determinants of Progression (STAAB) cohort study investigating a representative sample of residents of Würzburg, Germany. Sampling was stratified 1:1 for sex and 10:27:27:27:10 for age groups of 30-39/40-49/50-59/60-69/70-79 years. Heart failure precursor stages were defined according to American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association: stage A (risk factors for heart failure), stage B (asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction). The main results were internally validated in the second half of the participants. The derivation sample comprised 2473 participants (51% women) with a distribution of 10%/28%/25%/27%/10% in respective age groups. Stages A and B were prevalent in 42% and 17% of subjects, respectively. Of stage B subjects, 31% had no risk factor qualifying for stage A (group 'B-not-A'). Compared to individuals in stage B with A criteria, B-not-A were younger, more often women, and had left ventricular dilation as the predominant B qualifying criterion (all P < 0.001). These results were confirmed in the validation sample (n = 2492). CONCLUSION: We identified a hitherto undescribed group of asymptomatic individuals with cardiac dysfunction predisposing to heart failure, who lacked established heart failure risk factors and therefore would have been missed by conventional primary prevention. Further studies need to replicate this finding in independent cohorts and characterise their genetic and -omic profile and the inception of clinically overt heart failure in subjects of group B-not-A.

Myocardial work - correlation patterns and reference values from the population-based STAAB cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Recently, myocardial work analysis as an echocardiographic tool to non-invasively determine LV work has been introduced and validated against invasive measurements. Based on systolic blood pressure and speckle-tracking derived longitudinal strain (GLS) during systole and isovolumic relaxation, it is considered less load-dependent than LV ejection fraction (LVEF) or GLS and to integrate information on LV active systolic and diastolic work. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to establish reference values for global constructive (GCW) and global wasted work (GWW) as well as of global work index (GWI) and global work efficiency (GWE) across a wide age range and to assess the association with standard echocardiography parameters to estimate the potential additional information provided by myocardial work (MyW). METHODS: The Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure STAges A/B and Determinants of Progression (STAAB) cohort study carefully characterized a representative sample of the population of the City of Würzburg, Germany, aged 30-79 years. We performed myocardial work analysis using the standardized, quality-controlled transthoracic echocardiograms of all individuals lacking any cardiovascular risk factor. RESULTS: Out of 4965 participants, 779 (49±10 years, 59% women) were eligible for the present analysis. Levels of GCW, GWW, and GWE were independent of sex and body mass index, and were stable until the age of 45 years. Thereafter, we observed an upward shift to further stable values of GCW and a linear increase of GWW with advancing age, resulting in lower GWE. Age-adjusted percentiles for GCW, GWW, GWI, and GWE were derived. Higher levels of blood pressure or LV mass were associated with higher GCW, GWI, and GWW, resulting in lower GWE; higher LVEF correlated with higher GCW and GWI, but lower GWW. Higher E/e´ correlated with higher GWW, higher e´ with lower GWW. CONCLUSIONS: Derived from a large sample of apparently healthy individuals from a population based-cohort, we provide age-adjusted reference values for myocardial work indices, applicable for either sex. Weak correlations with common echocardiographic parameters suggest MyW indices to potentially provide additional information, which has to be evaluated in diseased patient cohorts.

Effects of Whole Body Vibration Therapy and Classic Physiotherapy on Postural Stability in People With Back Pain: A Randomized Trial.

STUDY DESIGN: This 2-step prospective randomized parallel trial evaluated postural stability in 65 back pain participants (61.6±7.9 y) and 50 nonback pain participants (61.2±8.6 y) in a first step using the MFT-S3-Check. In a second step, postural stability and questionnaires were evaluated in back pain participants before and after therapy with either whole body vibration therapy or classic physiotherapy. OBJECTIVE: The first aim was to investigate whether the MFT-S3-Check is suitable to evaluate differences in postural stability in back pain and nonback pain participants. The second aim was to evaluate the effect of whole body vibration therapy and classic physiotherapy on postural stability and the influence of depressive symptoms and pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Objective bodily measurement values in chronic back pain are rare; therefore, the evaluation of effectiveness of different therapies is difficult. METHODS: Postural stability was investigated using stability-, sensorimotor-, and symmetry indexes, in standing and seated positions with the MFT-S3-Check. The following standard questionnaires were used to investigate pain and depressive symptoms: HADS, ODI, NASS, SF-36. RESULTS: No significant difference in postural stability was found between back pain participants and the nonback pain group. None of the two training concepts in back pain participants was superior, concerning postural stability and pain. Both treatments showed positive effects, with significant improvements in postural stability in the classic physiotherapy group. Depressive symptoms had a significant correlation with pain intensity in back pain participants. CONCLUSIONS: The MFT-S3-Check could not find a significant difference in postural stability between the back pain and nonback pain group in the study setting. Postural stability improved after treatment.

Impact of Patient Beliefs on Blood Pressure Control in the General Population: Findings from the Population-Based STAAB Cohort Study.

Background. Effective antihypertensive treatment depends on patient compliance regarding prescribed medications. We assessed the impact of beliefs related towards antihypertensive medication on blood pressure control in a population-based sample treated for hypertension. Methods. We used data from the Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure Stages A-B and Determinants of Progression (STAAB) study investigating 5000 inhabitants aged 30 to 79 years from the general population of Würzburg, Germany. The Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire German Version (BMQ-D) was provided in a subsample without established cardiovascular diseases (CVD) treated for hypertension. We evaluated the association between inadequately controlled hypertension (systolic RR >140/90 mmHg; >140/85 mmHg in diabetics) and reported concerns about and necessity of antihypertensive medication. Results. Data from 293 participants (49.5% women, median age 64 years [quartiles 56.0; 69.0]) entered the analysis. Despite medication, half of the participants (49.8%) were above the recommended blood pressure target. Stratified for sex, inadequately controlled hypertension was less frequent in women reporting higher levels of concerns (OR 0.36; 95%CI 0.17-0.74), whereas no such association was apparent in men. We found no association for specific-necessity in any model. Conclusion. Beliefs regarding the necessity of prescribed medication did not affect hypertension control. An inverse association between concerns about medication and inappropriately controlled hypertension was found for women only. Our findings highlight that medication-related beliefs constitute a serious barrier of successful implementation of treatment guidelines and underline the role of educational interventions taking into account sex-related differences.

Speckle tracking derived reference values of myocardial deformation and impact of cardiovascular risk factors - Results from the population-based STAAB cohort study.

AIMS: We aimed to provide reference values for speckle-tracking derived systolic and diastolic myocardial deformation markers, and to determine their relation with age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure STAges A/B and Determinants of Progression (STAAB) cohort study recruited a representative sample of the population of Würzburg, Germany, aged 30-79 years. In a sample of 1818 participants (52% female, mean age 54±12 years) global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GL-PSS, n = 1218), systolic (GL-SSR, n = 1506), and early (GL-EDSR, n = 1506) and late diastolic strain rates (GL-LDSR, n = 1500) were derived from 2D speckle tracking analysis. From a subgroup of 323 individuals without any cardiovascular risk factor, sex- and age-specific reference values were computed. GL-PSS, GL-SSR, and GL-EDSR were associated with sex, GL-EDSR decreased and GL-LDSR increased with age. In the total sample, dyslipidemia was associated with altered GL-PSS, GL-SSR, and GL-EDSR in women but not in men, whereas obesity was associated with less favorable GL-PSS and GL-EDSR in either sex. Hypertension impacted more adversely on systolic and diastolic myocardial deformation in women compared to men (all p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The female myocardium appeared more vulnerable to high blood pressure and dyslipidemia when compared to men, while obesity was associated with adverse myocardial deformation in either sex. The reference values for echocardiographic myocardial deformation provided for a non-diseased population and their here reported associations with cardiovascular risk factors will inform future observational and intervention studies regarding i) effect sizes and power calculation, ii) cross-study comparisons, and iii) categorization of myocardial deformation in specific patient groups.

Variations in cardiovascular risk factors in people with and without migration background in Germany - Results from the STAAB cohort study.

BACKGROUND: About 20% of the German population have a migration background which might influence prevalence of preventable cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). METHODS: We report data of the prospective Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure Stages A-B and Determinants of Progression (STAAB) cohort study investigating a representative sample of inhabitants of the City of Würzburg, Germany, aged 30 to 79 years. Individuals without migration background were defined as follows: German as native language, no other native language, and/or born in Germany. All other participants were defined as individuals with migration background. RESULTS: Of 2473 subjects (51% female, mean age 54 ±â€¯12 years), 291 (12%) reported a migration background: n = 107 (37%) from a country within the EU, n = 117 (40%) from Russia, and n = 67 (23%) from other countries. Prevalence of hypertension, atherosclerotic disease, and diabetes mellitus was similar in individuals with and without migration background. By contrast, prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in individuals with migration background, with the least favourable profile apparent in individuals from Russia (individuals without vs. with migration background: obesity 19 vs. 24%, p < 0.05; odds ratio: EU: 1.6, Russia: 2.2*, other countries: 0.6; metabolic syndrome 18 vs. 21%, p < 0.05; odds ratio: EU: 1.2, Russia: 1.7*, other countries: 1.5; *p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Individuals with migration background in Germany might exhibit a higher CVRF burden due to a higher prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Strategies for primary prevention of heart failure may benefit from deliberately considering the migration background.

Impact of acquisition and interpretation on total inter-observer variability in echocardiography: results from the quality assurance program of the STAAB cohort study.

Variability related to image acquisition and interpretation is an important issue of echocardiography in clinical trials. Nevertheless, there is no broadly accepted standard method for quality assessment of echocardiography in clinical research reports. We present analyses based on the echocardiography quality-assurance program of the ongoing STAAB cohort study (characteristics and course of heart failure stages A-B and determinants of progression). In 43 healthy individuals (mean age 50 ± 14 years; 18 females), duplicate echocardiography scans were acquired and mutually interpreted by one of three trained sonographers and an EACVI certified physician, respectively. Acquisition (AcV), interpretation (InV), and inter-observer variability (IOV; i.e., variability between the acquisition-interpretation sequences of two different observers), were determined for selected M-mode, B-mode, and Doppler parameters. We calculated Bland-Altman upper 95% limits of absolute differences, implying that 95% of measurement differences were smaller/equal to the given value: e.g. LV end-diastolic volume (mL): 25.0, 25.0, 27.9; septal e' velocity (cm/s): 3.03, 1.25, 3.58. Further, 90, 85, and 80% upper limits of absolute differences were determined for the respective parameters. Both, acquisition and interpretation, independently and sizably contributed to IOV. As such, separate assessment of AcV and InV is likely to aid in echocardiography training and quality-assurance. Our results further suggest to routinely determine IOV in clinical trials as a comprehensive measure of imaging quality. The derived 95, 90, 85, and 80% upper limits of absolute differences are suggested as reproducibility targets of future studies, thus contributing to the international efforts of standardization in quality-assurance.

Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure Stages A-B and Determinants of Progression - design and rationale of the STAAB cohort study.

Background Data from the general population on the natural course of heart failure is lacking. The objectives of the STAAB cohort study are to determine the prevalence of heart failure stages A-B in a representative sample of the general population and to prospectively investigate the progression from asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction into symptomatic heart failure. Here we present study design, participation rates and baseline characteristics of the first 1468 enrolled subjects. Methods A random sample of inhabitants from the city of Würzburg stratified by age (30-79 years) and gender was drawn from the local registration office. Subjects receive invitation letters, while send-out batches are continuously adapted to response rates by age and gender. At baseline examination, data on echocardiographic cardiac function, comorbidities and preclinical cardiovascular phenotypes are collected. After 3-5 years, changes in cardiac function and occurrence of clinical events will be assessed in a follow-up visit. Results Between December 2013 and April 2015, 4499 subjects were invited; of those, 1510 (34.6%) responded positively, and 1468 were examined (32.6%). Stratified recruitment was on-target while the participation rate was highest in subjects aged 60-69 years (38%). Hypertension (42%) and dyslipidaemia (37%) were the most commonly reported comorbidities; 7% reported on diabetes and 23% of men ( vs. 17% of women) were smokers. Conclusions STAAB recruits a representative population-based sample suited to provide reliable estimates of the frequency of asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction and determinants of disease progression into symptomatic heart failure. These findings will build the ground for developing preventive strategies for heart failure at different stages of the disease continuum.