The role of cardiometabolic risk factors and endothelial dysfunction in serum albumin levels and capillary leak syndrome of patients with COVID-19

Background: Growing evidence focuses on the role of hypoalbuminemia in the COVID-19 course and the role of vascular inflammation in the progression to Capillary Leak Syndrome (CLS). CLS may be mediated by a derangement of endothelial barrier following vascular endothelial dysfunction. We investigated the role of cardiometabolic risk factors in the association of hypoalbuminemia with endothelial dysfunction of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Method(s): In this cross-sectional study, patients hospitalized for COVID- 19 at the medical ward or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were enrolled. Medical history and laboratory examinations were collected while the endothelial function was assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) between the first 24-72 hours of their admission to the hospital. According to the body mass index, history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, COVID-19 patients were categorized in those with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors (CRFact) or without CRFact (no-CRFact). From the study population, we excluded subjects with established cardiovascular disease. Result(s): Sixty-six patients with COVID-19 (37% admitted in ICU) were recruited. From the study population, 41 were in the group of CRFact and 25 in the no-CRFact. Patients with CFRact were older (65+/-9 years vs. 53+/-14 years, p<0.001), had more impaired FMD (1.16+/-2.13% vs. 2.60+/-2.44%, p=0.01), and lower serum albumin levels (3.10+/-0.68 g/dL vs. 3.52+/-0.26 g/dL, p=0.006) compared to the no-CRFact group. Between CRFact and no-CRFact, there was no difference in CRP and IL-6 levels. Interestingly, serum albumin in patients with CRFact was significantly lower than the lower reference limit (LRL) (=3.5 g/dl) of albumin (p=0.001), while no such finding was noted in subjects with no CRFact (p=0.64). Furthermore, regression analysis revealed that, even after adjustment for age, the presence of CRFact was associated with decreased serum albumin levels by 0.31mg/dl (95% CI 0.08 to 0.63, p=0.04). In the CRFact population, there was a correlation of albumin with FMD (R=0.29, p=0.05) and an inverse correlation with CRP (rho=-0.48, p=0.02) and IL-6 (rho=-0.66, p<0.001), while in the no-CRFact group no such correlation were observed (p=NS for all). Conclusion(s): COVID-19 patients with cardiometabolic risk factors present with low serum albumin levels early at the course of the disease, which may be driven by endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation. This data gives insights into the potential association of a dysfunctional endothelial layer and the progression to capillary leak syndrome. (Figure Presented).

The Social Distance Impacts from COVID-19 Pandemic on the Development of Two Orders of a Concurrent Training Programme for Morbidly Obese Patients.

BACKGROUND: Although there is relevant information regarding the consequences of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), little is known about the impact of the imposed social confinement (at home) on the development of exercise training programmes in populations with morbid obesity. AIM: To describe the effects of the imposed COVID-19 confinement on the cardiometabolic health benefits acquired through a concurrent training programme that started before the pandemic in populations with morbid obesity. METHODS: This was an experimental randomized clinical study, in which sedentary morbidly obese women were assigned 1:1 to a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) plus resistance training (RT) group (HIIT + RT; n = 11; BMI 42.1 ± 6.6) or to the same exercise dose, but in different order group of RT plus HIIT group (RT + HIIT; n = 7; BMI 47.5 ± 8.4). Both groups undertook two sessions/week. When COVID-19 confinement at home started, a post-test was applied in January 2020 (Post1) and after 20 months (Post2). The main outcomes were waist circumference (WC), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high-density lipids (HDL-c), triglycerides (Tg), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). RESULTS: In the HIIT + RT group, the WC showed significant increases from Post1 to Post2 (Δ + 3.1 cm, p = 0.035); in the RT + HIIT group, it decreased from Post1 to Post2 (Δ - 4.8 cm, p = 0.028). In the HIIT + RT group, SBP showed significant increases from Post1 to Post2 (Δ + 6.2 mmHg, p = 0.041); the RT + HIIT group decreased SBP from Pre0 to Post1 (Δ - 7.2 mmHg, p = 0.026) and increased DBP from Pre0 to Post1 (Δ + 8.1 mmHg, p = 0.015). Tg in the HIIT + RT group decreased from Pre0 to Post1 (Δ - 40.1 mg/dL, p = 0.023) but increased from Post1 to Post2 (Δ + 86.3 mg/dL, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 social confinement worsened metabolic syndrome (MetS) outcomes that had improved from 20 weeks' RT + HIIT during the training period, such as WC, SBP, and Tg from HIIT + RT, when, worryingly, SBP increased to another more serious clinical classification in both groups.

16th INASH AbstractT Book

The proceedings contain 45 papers. The topics discussed include: neuropeptide levels effect on blood pressure in chronic kidney disease patients with hypertension;dry weight gain and incidence of intradialytic hypertension: a cross-sectional study in rural hospital;why they don't take the pill: a qualitative study of antihypertensive medication nonadherence in East Borneo primary health care;antihypertensive effect of nigella sativa (Habbatus Sauda) supplementation in population with cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials;risk factors of peripheral artery disease in the hypertensive chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis;impact of day-to-day blood pressure variability to in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 and efficacy of antihypertensive agents;and systolic blood pressure as risk factor associated with persisting proteinuria after delivery in women with preeclampsia.

Genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease is associated with higher risk of stroke in persons with COVID-19

Background and Purpose: Stroke is a serious complication of COVID-19. However, the risk factors for this complication are poorly understood. We hypothesize that genetic predisposition to cardioand cerebrovascular disease (CVD) leads to an increased risk of stroke in patients with COVID-19 infection. Methods: We evaluated data from a nested cohort study conducted within the UK Biobank focused on persons with documented COVID-19. Incident strokes (ischemic and hemorrhagic) were identified by combining inpatient data (including critical care and discharge diagnostic codes) and primary care data, the latter entered by providers within 30 days of a positive COVID-19 test. Genetic predisposition to CVD was evaluated through a polygenic risk score that integrated genomic information on 2,176 independent genetic risk variants for stroke, coronary artery disease and cardiometabolic risk factors. This score was divided into low (0-20th percentile), intermediate (20th- 80th percentile), and high (80 -100 percentile) genetic risk. Results: A total of 11,882 study participants (mean age 65.8, SD [8.6], female sex 6,306 [53.1%]) with documented COVID-19 infection were included in this study, including 99 (0.8%) persons that ustained a stroke during the infection. Compared to persons with low genetic predisposition to CVD, those with intermediate and high genetic risk had 35% (OR 1.35, 95%CI 1.14-1.55) and 2.4- fold (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.71-3.05) higher risk of stroke (test for trend p=0.004). Sub-scoring analyses evaluating one polygenic risk score per CVD trait of interest indicated that genetic predisposition to hypertension (p=0.017) and smoking (p=0.03) were the most important genetic risk factors. Conclusions: Genetic predisposition to CVD is associated with a higher risk of stroke in persons with acute COVID-19 infection. Genetic risk factors for hypertension and smoking appear to mediate a significant portion of this association. Genetic information should be considered in the multiple ongoing efforts to create risk-stratification strategies to identify COVID-19 patients at high risk of stroke.

Effect of a ketogenic diet vs mediterranean diet on hba1c: The keto-med randomized crossover trial

Background: Growing interest in very low carbohydrate diets, and in particular the ketogenic diet, has been met with some resistance. Important gaps exist regarding what diet to compare to the ketogenic diet. The objective of this study was to compare a Well Formulated Ketogenic Diet (WFKD) with a Mediterranean-Plus diet (Med-Plus;Mediterranean with emphasis on eliminating added sugars and refined grains), in a crossover study, stratified by diabetes status (T2D vs Prediabetes). Methods: The intervention involved having participants follow the WFKD and Med-Plus, for 12 weeks each, in random order. All meals were provided for the first 4 weeks of each diet phase (food delivery);then participants were responsible for purchasing and preparing their own foods (self-provided). The primary outcome was glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Secondary outcomes included weight, glucose as measured by continuous glucose monitor (CGM), and cardiometabolic risk factors, such as fasting insulin, glucose, and lipids. Results: Among participants randomized (n = 42), 33 had complete data at both diet phases (some missing data attributable to COVID disruptions). Participants were 60 ± 9 (mean ± sd) years of age, 61% men, with BMI 31 ± 5 kg/m2. Adherence for both diets was higher during the food delivery than the self-provided phase, but similar between diets for both phases. HbA1c concentrations were not significantly different between diets, but average CGM glucose levels were significantly lower during the WFKD compared to Med-Plus (p = 0.03). Additionally, WFKD induced a significantly greater decrease in triglycerides (-16% vs -5%, p = 0.02) and greater increase in LDL-C levels (10% vs -5%, p = 0.01), compared to Med-Plus. Weight change on WFKD vs Med-Plus was -8% vs -7% (p = 0.05). Sensitivity analyses largely confirmed the main findings. Conclusions: Participants improved in glucose control and weight management on both diets relative to baseline;however, glucose control was superior on the WFKD. Some caution is warranted when interpreting these results due to pandemic disruptions and a small sample size. A fair comparison of the two diets should also take into consideration non-glycemic effects.