Hypertensive Diseases in Pregnancy and Kidney Function Later in Life: The Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between hypertensive diseases in pregnancy and kidney function later in life. METHODS: We evaluated measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) using iothalamate urinary clearance in 725 women of the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study. Women were classified by self-report as nulliparous (n=62), a history of normotensive pregnancies (n=544), a history of hypertensive pregnancies (n=102), or a history of pre-eclampsia (n=17). We compared adjusted associations among these four groups with mGFR using generalized estimating equations to account for familial clustering. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as mGFR of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) greater than or equal to 30 mg/g. RESULTS: Among women with kidney function measurements (mean age, 59±9 years, 52.9% African American), those with a history of hypertensive pregnancy had lower mGFR (-4.66 ml/min per 1.73 m2; 95% CI, -9.12 to -0.20) compared with women with a history of normotensive pregnancies. Compared with women with a history of normotensive pregnancies, women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy also had higher odds of mGFR less than 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.21 to 3.60). Additionally, women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy had greater odds for chronic kidney disease (odds ratio, 4.89; 95% CI, 1.55 to 15.44), after adjusting for age, race, education, smoking history, hypertension, body mass index, and diabetes. CONCLUSION: A history of hypertension in pregnancy is an important prognostic risk factor for kidney disease. To our knowledge, this is the first and largest investigation showing the association between hypertensive diseases in pregnancy and subsequent kidney disease using mGFR in a large biracial cohort.

Income disparity and utilization of cardiovascular preventive care services among U.S. adults.

OBJECTIVE: : Associations between income disparity and utilization of cardiovascular disease (CVD) preventive care services, such as receipt of lifestyle advice and screening for CVD risk factors in populations with and without CVD, are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between income and utilization of CVD-preventive services among U.S. adults. METHODS: : We included adults ≥18 years with and without CVD from the 2006 to 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. We categorized participants as high-income (>400% of federal poverty level [FPL]), middle income (200-400% of FPL), low-income (125-200% of FPL) and very low (VL)-income (<125% of FPL). We used logistic regression to compare the likelihood of receiving CVD-preventive services by income strata, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. RESULTS: : The study included 185,081 participants (representing 194.6 million U.S. adults) without CVD, and 32,862 participants (representing 37 million U.S. adults) with CVD. VL-income adults without CVD were less likely than high-income adults to have blood pressure measured within past 2 years [odds ratio [OR] 0.41 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-0.45)] or cholesterol levels checked within past 5 years [0.36 (0.33-0.38)] or receive counseling about diet modifications [0.77 (0.74-0.81)], exercise [0.81 (0.77-0.85)], or smoking cessation [0.71 (0.63-0.79)] within past year. VL-income adults with CVD were also less likely to have blood pressure [0.32 (0.22-0.46)] or cholesterol [0.33 (0.26-0.42)] checked and receive counseling about exercise [0.84 (0.76-0.93)] or smoking cessation [0.78 (0.61-0.99)]. Additional subgroup analyses restricted to participants who had seen a healthcare provider within the preceding 12 months, as well as secondary analyses stratified by sex, race and ethnicity, showed similar disparities between high-income and VL-income participants. CONCLUSIONS: : VL-income adults were less likely to be screened for CVD risk factors or receive CVD-prevention counseling than high-income adults, regardless of CVD status. More work must be done to reduce disparities in access to and utilization of CVD-preventive services among adults in different income groups.

Nondietary Cardiovascular Health Metrics With Patient Experience and Loss of Productivity Among US Adults Without Cardiovascular Disease: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2006 to 2015.

Background The American Heart Association 2020 Impact Goals aimed to promote population health through emphasis on cardiovascular health (CVH). We examined the association between nondietary CVH metrics and patient-reported outcomes among a nationally representative sample of US adults without cardiovascular disease. Methods and Results We included adults aged ≥18 years who participated in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey between 2006 and 2015. CVH metrics were scored 1 point for each of the following: not smoking, being physically active, normal body mass index, no hypertension, no diabetes mellitus, and no dyslipidemia, or 0 points if otherwise. Diet was not assessed in Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Patient-reported outcomes were obtained by telephone survey and included questions pertaining to patient experience and health-related quality of life. Regression models were used to compare patient-reported outcomes based on CVH, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. There were 177 421 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey participants (mean age, 45 [17] years) representing ~187 million US adults without cardiovascular disease. About 12% (~21 million US adults) had poor CVH. Compared with individuals with optimal CVH, those with poor CVH had higher odds of reporting poor patient-provider communication (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.24), poor healthcare satisfaction (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.08-1.22), poor perception of health (odds ratio, 5.89; 95% CI, 5.35-6.49), at least 2 disability days off work (odds ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.30-1.48), and lower health-related quality of life scores. Conclusions Among US adults without cardiovascular disease, meeting a lower number of ideal CVH metrics is associated with poor patient-reported healthcare experience, poor perception of health, and lower health-related quality of life. Preventive measures aimed at optimizing ideal CVH metrics may improve patient-reported outcomes among this population.

Elevated liver stiffness without histological evidence of liver fibrosis in rural Ugandans.

Liver fibrosis may be assessed noninvasively with transient electrography (TE). Data on the performance of TE for detecting liver fibrosis in sub-Saharan Africa are limited. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of TE by performing liver biopsies on persons with liver fibrosis indicated by TE. We enrolled HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected participants with TE scores consistent with at least minimal disease (liver stiffness measurement [LSM]≥7.1 kPa). Biopsies were performed and staged using the Ishak scoring system. A concordant result was defined using accepted thresholds for significant fibrosis by TE (LSM ≥ 9.3 kPa) and liver biopsy (Ishak score ≥ 2). We used modified Poisson regression methods to quantify the univariate and adjusted prevalence risk ratios (PRR) of the association between covariates and the concordance status of TE and liver biopsy in defining the presence of liver fibrosis. Of 131 participants with valid liver biopsy and TE data, only 5 participants (3.8%) had Ishak score ≥ 2 of whom 4 had LSM ≥ 9.3 kPa (sensitivity = 80%); of the 126 (96.2%) with Ishak score < 2, 76 had LSM < 9.3 kPa (specificity = 61%). In multivariable analysis, discordance was associated with female gender (adjPRR = 1.80, 95%CI 1.1-2.9; P = .019), herbal medicine use (adjPRR 1.64, 95% CI = 1.0-2.5; P = .022), exposure to lake or river water (adjPRR 2.05, 95% CI = 1.1-3.7; P = .016), and current smoking (adjPRR 1.72, 95%CI 1.0-2.9; P = .045). These data suggest that TE among rural Ugandans has low specificity for detection of histologically confirmed liver fibrosis. Caution should be exercised when using this tool to confirm significant liver fibrosis.

Sex differences in the association between ideal cardiovascular health and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease among adults in the United States: a cross-sectional analysis from the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the sex differences in the associations between ideal cardiovascular health (CVH), measured by the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 metrics, and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related biomarkers among an ethnically diverse cohort of women and men free of clinical CVD at baseline. SETTING: We analysed data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis conducted in six centres across the USA (Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Forsyth County, North Carolina; Los Angeles, California; New York, New York; and St Paul, Minnesota). PARTICIPANTS: This is a cross-sectional study of 5379 women and men, aged 45-84 years old. Mean age (SD) was 62 (10), 52% were women, 38% White, 11% Chinese American, 28% Black and 23% Hispanic. PRIMARY MEASURES: The seven metrics (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, diet, total cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose) were each scored as 0 points (poor), 1 point (intermediate) or 2 points (ideal). The total CVH score ranged from 0 to 14. The CVD-related biomarkers studied were high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, D-dimer, fibrinogen, homocysteine, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and interleukin 6. We examined the association between the CVH score and each biomarker using multivariable linear regression, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, education, income and health insurance status. RESULTS: Higher CVH scores were associated with lower concentrations of all biomarkers, except for NT-proBNP where we found a direct association. There were statistically significant interactions by sex for all biomarkers (p<0.001), but results were qualitatively similar between women and men. CONCLUSION: A more favourable CVH score was associated with lower levels of multiple CVD-related biomarkers for women and men, except for NT-proBNP. These data suggest that promotion of ideal CVH would have similarly favourable impact on the reduction of biomarkers of CVD risk for both women and men.

National Trends in Cessation Counseling, Prescription Medication Use, and Associated Costs Among US Adult Cigarette Smokers.

Importance: Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. When used separately or in combination, smoking cessation counseling and cessation medications have been associated with increased cessation rates. Objectives: To present trends in self-reported receipt of physician advice to quit smoking and in use of prescription smoking cessation medication along with their associated expenditures among a nationally representative sample of active adult smokers in the United States. Design, Setting, and Participants: This repeated cross-sectional study of US adults aged 18 years or older was conducted from July 5, 2018, through August 15, 2018. Data were collected between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2015, from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, an annual US survey of individuals and families, health care personnel, and employers. Participants (n = 29 106) were noninstitutionalized civilians who were randomly drawn from the respondents of the previous year's National Health Interview Survey. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between sociodemographic factors and receipt of physician cessation advice and use of cessation prescription medication. A 2-part econometric model was used to assess health care expenditures. Main Outcomes and Measures: Trends in self-reported receipt of physician advice to quit and uptake of prescription smoking cessation medications with associated total and out-of-pocket expenditures. Results: The study sample consisted of 29 106 participants, with a mean (SD) age of 57 (10) years and a composition of 13 670 women (47.0%). The results were weighted to provide estimates for 31.2 million active adult cigarette smokers. The proportion of smokers who reported receiving physician advice to quit increased from 60.2% (95% CI, 58.5%-62.0%) in 2006 to 2007 to 64.9% (95% CI, 62.8%-66.9%) in 2014 to 2015, with a P for trend = .001. The odds of receiving physician cessation advice was statistically significantly higher in women (odds ratio [OR], 1.50; 95% CI, 1.39-1.59) and lower among uninsured participants (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.52-0.65). Overall, prescription smoking cessation medication use decreased with a corresponding reduction in total expenditures from $146 million (out-of-pocket cost, $46 million) in 2006 to 2007 to $73 million (out-of-pocket cost, $9 million) in 2014 to 2015. Male (odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% CI, 0.66-0.91), uninsured (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.41-0.83), and racial/ethnic minority (African American: OR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.38-0.69]; Asian: OR, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.10-0.93]; Hispanic: OR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.36-0.78]) participants were less likely to use prescription smoking cessation medications. Conclusions and Relevance: The lower rates of delivery of physician advice to quit smoking and the lower uptake of known prescription smoking cessation medications among men, younger adults, uninsured individuals, racial/ethnic minority groups, and those without smoking-associated comorbidities may be associated with the higher smoking rates among these subgroups despite an all-time low prevalence of smoking in the United States; this finding calls for a more targeted implementation of smoking cessation guidelines.

Associations of ideal cardiovascular health with GlycA, a novel inflammatory marker: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Unhealthy lifestyles and inflammation contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD). GlycA is a novel biomarker of systemic inflammation representing post-translational glycosylation of acute phase reactants and associated with increased clinical CVD risk. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that ideal cardiovascular health (CVH), as assessed by (higher) Life's Simple 7 (LS7) scores, would be associated with lower GlycA levels among individuals free of CVD in a multiethnic community-based population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 6479 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants [53% women; mean age 62 ± 10 years] with GlycA levels measured at baseline by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The LS7 metrics (smoking, physical activity, diet, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose) were each scored as ideal (2), moderate (1), or poor (0). Total scores were summed and categorized as optimal (12-14), average (8-11), and inadequate (0-7). Linear regression assessed percent difference in GlycA by LS7 scores, after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, education, income, family history of CVD, and other inflammatory biomarkers. RESULTS: GlycA levels were 403.4 ± 63.1, 374.4 ± 59.2, and 350.3 ± 56.2 micromoles per liter (µmol/L) for inadequate, average, and optimal CVH, respectively (P-trend <0.001). After multivariable adjustment, GlycA remained independently and inversely associated with CVH categories, with a lower mean GlycA level of 5 µmol/L (95% confidence interval 4.5-5.8) for each one unit increment in LS7 score. CONCLUSIONS: Among this group of ethnically diverse individuals without CVD, suboptimal CVH is associated with higher GlycA levels, independent of traditional inflammatory biomarkers. Strategies aimed at improving CVH might reduce GlycA, which could be a marker of reduced risk of future CVD events.

Resting heart rate and the incidence and progression of valvular calcium: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Left-sided valvular calcification is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Resting heart rate (RHR) may influence valvular calcium progression through shear stress. Whether RHR, an established CVD risk factor, is associated with valvular calcium progression is unknown. We assessed whether RHR predicts incidence and progression of mitral annular calcium (MAC) and aortic valve calcium (AVC) in a community-based cohort free of CVD at baseline. METHODS: RHR was obtained from baseline electrocardiograms of 5498 MESA participants. MAC and AVC were quantified using Agatston scoring from cardiac computed tomography scans obtained at baseline and at a second examination during follow-up. We examined associations of RHR with incident MAC/AVC and annual change in MAC/AVC scores, after adjusting for demographics, CVD risk factors, physical activity, and atrioventricular nodal blocker use. RESULTS: At baseline, participants had mean age of 62 ±â€¯10 years and mean RHR of 63 ±â€¯10 bpm; 12.3% and 8.9% had prevalent AVC and MAC, respectively. Over a median of 2.3 years, 4.1% and 4.5% developed incident AVC and MAC, respectively. Each 10 bpm higher RHR was significantly associated with incident MAC [Risk Ratio 1.17 (95% CI 1.03-1.34)], but not incident AVC. However, RHR was associated with AVC progression [ß = 1.62 (0.45-2.80) Agatston units/year for every 10 bpm increment], but not MAC progression. CONCLUSIONS: Higher RHR was associated with MAC incidence and AVC progression, independent of traditional CVD risk factors. Future studies are needed to determine whether modification of RHR through lifestyle or pharmacologic interventions can reduce valvular calcium incidence or progression.

Usefulness of Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Activity and C-Reactive Protein in Identifying High-Risk Smokers for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study).

Despite the causal role of cigarette smoking in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We evaluated the joint relation between smoking and inflammatory markers with ASCVD risk. We tested cross-sectional associations of self-reported smoking status (never, former, current) and intensity (packs/day) with lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in 10,506 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities participants at Visit 4 (1996 to 1998). Using Cox hazard models adjusted for demographic and traditional ASCVD risk factors, we examined the associations of smoking status and intensity with incident adjudicated ASCVD events (n = 1,745 cases) over an average of 17 years, stratified by Lp-PLA2 and hsCRP categories. Greater packs/day smoked was linearly associated with higher levels of both Lp-PLA2 and hsCRP among current smokers. Compared with never smokers, the hazard ratio for incident ASCVD in current smokers was 2.04 (95% CI 1.76 to 2.35). Among current smokers, the risk for ASCVD per 1 pack/day greater was 1.39 (1.10 to 1.76). Both Lp-PLA2 activity ≥253 nmol/min/ml and hsCRP >3 mg/L identified current smokers at the highest risk for incident ASCVD, with similar hazard ratios. hsCRP risk-stratified current smokers better based on intensity. Among current smokers, hsCRP improved ASCVD prediction beyond traditional risk factors better than Lp-PLA2 (C-statistic 0.675 for hsCRP vs 0.668 for Lp-PLA2, p = 0.001). In this large cohort with long follow-up, we found a dose-response relation between smoking intensity with Lp-PLA2 activity, hsCRP, and ASCVD events. Although both Lp-PLA2 activity and hsCRP categories identified high risk among current smokers, hsCRP may better stratify risk of future ASCVD.

Exposure to ambient air pollution and calcification of the mitral annulus and aortic valve: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA).

BACKGROUND: Long-term exposure to high ambient air pollution has been associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC), a marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Calcifications of left-sided heart valves are also markers of CVD risk. We investigated whether air pollution was associated with valvular calcification and its progression. METHODS: We studied 6253 MESA participants aged 45-84 years who underwent two cardiac CT scans 2.5 years apart to quantify aortic valve calcium (AVC) and mitral annular calcium (MAC). CAC was included for the same timeframe for comparison with AVC/MAC. Ambient particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM2.5) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) concentrations were predicted from residence-specific spatio-temporal models. RESULTS: The mean age (SD) of the study sample was 62 (10) years, 39% were white, 27% black, 22% Hispanic, and 12% Chinese. The prevalence of AVC and MAC at baseline were 13% and 9% respectively, compared to 50% prevalence of CAC. The adjusted prevalence ratios of AVC and MAC for each 5 µg/m3 higher PM2.5 was 1.19 (95% CI 0.87, 1.62) and 1.20 (0.81, 1.77) respectively, and for CAC was 1.14 (1.01, 1.27). Over 2.5 years, the mean change in Agatston units/year for each 5 µg/m3 higher PM2.5 concentration was 0.29 (-5.05, 5.63) for AVC and 4.38 (-9.13, 17.88) for MAC, compared to 8.66 (0.61, 16.71) for CAC. We found no significant associations of NOx with AVC and MAC. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a trend towards increased 2.5-year progression of MAC with exposure to outdoor PM2.5, although this association could not be confirmed. Additional well-powered studies with longer periods of follow-up are needed to further study associations of air pollution with valvular calcium. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Although MESA is not a clinical trial, this cohort is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00005487; Date of registration May 25, 2000.

The association between cigarette smoking and inflammation: The Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study.

To inform the study and regulation of emerging tobacco products, we sought to identify sensitive biomarkers of tobacco-induced subclinical cardiovascular damage by testing the cross-sectional associations of smoking with 17 biomarkers of inflammation in 2,702 GENOA study participants belonging to sibships ascertained on the basis of hypertension. Cigarette smoking was assessed by status, intensity (number of cigarettes per day), burden (pack-years of smoking), and time since quitting. We modeled biomarkers as geometric mean (GM) ratios using generalized estimating equations (GEE). The mean age of participants was 61 ±10 years; 64.5% were women and 54.4% African American. The prevalence of smoking was 12.2%. After adjusting for potential confounders, 6 of 17 biomarkers were significantly higher among current smokers at a Bonferroni adjusted p-value threshold (p<0.003). High sensitivity C-reactive protein was the most elevated biomarker among current smokers when compared to never smokers [GM ratio = 1.39 (95% CI: 1.23, 1.57); p <0.001]. Among former smokers, each pack-year of cigarettes smoked was associated with a 0.4% higher serum level of hsCRP [GM ratio = 1.004 (95% CI: 1.001, 1.006); p = 0.002] and each 5-year lapsed since quitting was associated with a 4% lower serum level of hsCRP [GM ratio = 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93, 0.99); p = 0.006]. However, we found no significant association of smoking intensity or burden with biomarkers of inflammation among current smokers. HsCRP appears to be the most sensitive biomarker of inflammation associated with cigarette smoking of those investigated, and could be a useful biomarker of smoking-related injury for the study and regulation of emerging tobacco products.

Association Between Smoking and Serum GlycA and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is suggested to be a central feature of atherosclerosis, particularly among smokers. We studied whether inflammatory biomarkers GlycA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are associated with cigarette smoking. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 11 509 participants, 6774 from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) and 4735 from ELSA-Brasil (The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health) were included. We evaluated the cross-sectional association between multiple measures of smoking behavior and the inflammatory biomarkers, GlycA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, using regression models adjusted for demographic, anthropometric, and clinical characteristics. Participants were 57.7±11.1 years old and 46.4% were men. Never, former, and current smokers comprised 51.7%, 34.0%, and 14.3% of the population, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted mean absolute difference in GlycA levels (µmol/L) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were higher for former (4.1, 95% CI, 1.7-6.6 µmol/L) and current smokers (19.9, 95% CI, 16.6-23.2 µmol/L), compared with never smokers. Each 5-unit increase in pack-years of smoking was associated with higher GlycA levels among former (0.7, 95% CI, 0.3-1.1 µmol/L) and current smokers (1.6, 95% CI, 0.8-2.4 µmol/L). Among former smokers, each 5-year increase in time since quitting smoking was associated with lower GlycA levels (-1.6, 95% CI, -2.4 to -0.8 µmol/L) and each 10-unit increase in number of cigarettes/day was associated with higher GlycA among current smokers (2.8, 95% CI, 0.5-5.2 µmol/L). There were similar significant associations between all measures of smoking behavior, and both log-transformed GlycA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. CONCLUSIONS: Acute and chronic exposure to tobacco smoking is associated with inflammation, as quantified by both GlycA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. These biomarkers may have utility for the study and regulation of novel and traditional tobacco products.

Relation of Serum Vitamin D to Risk of Mitral Annular and Aortic Valve Calcium (from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration has been identified as a possible modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We hypothesized that serum 25(OH)D concentration would be associated with calcifications of the left-sided heart valves, which are markers of CVD risk. Aortic valve calcium (AVC) and mitral annular calcium (MAC) were quantified from cardiac computed tomography scans performed on 5,530 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants at the baseline examination (2000 to 2002) and at a follow-up visit at either Examination 2 (2002 to 2004) or Examination 3 (2004 to 2005). 25(OH)D was measured from serum samples collected at the baseline examination. Using relative risk regression, we evaluated the multivariable-adjusted risk of prevalent and incident AVC and MAC in this ethnically diverse population free of clinical CVD at baseline. The mean age of participants was 62 ± 10 years; 53% were women, 40% white, 26% black, 21% Hispanic, and 12% Chinese. Prevalent AVC and MAC were observed in 12% and 9% of study sample, respectively. There were no significant associations between 25(OH)D and prevalent AVC or MAC. Over a mean follow-up of 2.5 years, 4% developed incident AVC and 5% developed incident MAC. After adjusting for demographic variables, each 10 ng/ml higher serum 25(OH)D was associated with a 15% (relative risk 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.74 to 0.98) lower risk of incident MAC but not AVC. However, this association was no longer significant after adjusting for lifestyle and CVD risk factors. Results suggest a possible link between serum 25(OH)D and the risk for incident MAC, but future studies with longer follow-up are needed to further test this association.