Seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and risk of COVID-19 in Navarre, Spain, May to July 2022.

In Navarre, Spain, in May 2022, the seroprevalence of anti-nucleocapsid (N) and anti-spike (S) antibodies of SARS-CoV-2 was 58.9% and 92.7%, respectively. The incidence of confirmed COVID-19 thereafter through July was lower in people with anti-N antibodies (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.08; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05-0.13) but not with anti-S antibodies (aOR = 1.06; 95% CI: 0.47-2.38). Hybrid immunity, including anti-N antibodies induced by natural exposure to SARS-CoV-2, seems essential in preventing Omicron COVID-19 cases.

Adherence to a priori dietary indexes and baseline prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the PREDIMED-Plus randomised trial.

PURPOSE: Cardiovascular disease remains the global leading cause of death. We evaluated at baseline the association between the adherence to eight a priori high-quality dietary scores and the prevalence of individual and clustered cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in the PREDIMED-Plus cohort. METHODS: All PREDIMED-Plus participants (6874 men and women aged 55-75 years, with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome) were assessed. The prevalence of 4 CVRF (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia), using standard diagnoses criteria, were considered as outcomes. The adherence to eight a priori-defined dietary indexes was calculated. Multivariable models were fitted to estimate differences in mean values of factors and prevalence ratios for individual and clustered CVRF. RESULTS: Highest conformity to any dietary pattern did not show inverse associations with hypertension. The modified Mediterranean Diet Score (PR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.90-0.99), Mediterranean Diet Adherence Score (MEDAS) (PR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.89-0.98), the pro-vegetarian dietary pattern (PR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.90-0.99) and the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (PR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.87-0.96) were inversely associated with prevalence of obesity. We identified significant inverse trend among participants who better adhered to the MEDAS and the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS) in the mean number of CVRF across categories of adherence. Better adherence to several high-quality dietary indexes was associated with better blood lipid profiles and anthropometric measures. CONCLUSIONS: Highest adherence to dietary quality indexes, especially Mediterranean-style and PDQS scores, showed marginal associations with lower prevalence of individual and clustered CVRF among elderly adults with metabolic syndrome at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Socioeconomic inequalities in cardiometabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine if the achievement of control targets in patients with type 2 diabetes was associated with personal socioeconomic factors and if these associations were sex-dependent. METHODS: This cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in Spain. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level and other clinical parameters were obtained from electronic primary care records (n = 32,638 cases). Socioeconomic status was determined using education level and yearly income. Among patients, having their HbA1c level checked during the previous year was considered as an indirect measure of the process of care, whereas tobacco use and clinical parameters such as HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and blood pressure (BP) were considered intermediate control outcomes. General linear mixed effect models were used to assess associations. RESULTS: The achievement of metabolic and cardiovascular control targets in patients with type 2 diabetes was associated with educational level and income, and socioeconomic gradients differed by sex. The probability of having had an HbA1c test performed in the previous year was higher in patients with lower education levels. Patients in the lowest income and education level categories were less likely to have reached the recommended HbA1c level. Males in the lowest education level categories were less likely to be non-smokers or to have achieved the blood pressure targets. In contrast, patients within the low income categories had a higher probability of reaching the recommended LDL-c level. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the presence of socioeconomic inequalities in the achievement of cardiovascular and metabolic control that differed in direction and magnitude depending on the measured outcome and sex of the patient. These findings may help health professionals focus on high-risk individuals to decrease health inequalities.

Cohort Profile: CArdiovascular Risk in patients with DIAbetes in NAvarra (CARDIANA cohort).

PURPOSE: The CArdiovascular Risk in patients with DIAbetes in Navarra (CARDIANA cohort) cohort was established to assess the effects of sociodemographic and clinical variables on the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 (T2D) diabetes, with a special focus on socioeconomic factors, and to validate and develop cardiovascular risk models for these patients. PARTICIPANTS: The CARDIANA cohort included all patients with T1D and T2D diabetes registered in the Public Health Service of Navarra with prevalent disease on 1 January 2012. It consisted of 1067 patients with T1D (ages 2-88 years) and 33842 patients with T2D (ages 20-105 years), whose data were retrospectively extracted from the Health and Administrative System Databases. FINDINGS TO DATE: The follow-up period for wave 1 was from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. During these 5 years, 9 patients (0.8%; 95% CI (0.4% to 1.6%)) in the T1D cohort developed a cardiovascular disease event, whereas for the T2D cohort, 2602 (7.7%; 95% CI (7.4% to 8.0%)) had an event. For the T2D cohort, physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events, with adjusted estimated ORs equal to 0.84 (95% CI 0.66 to 1.07) for the partially active group and 0.71 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.91) for the active group, compared with patients in the non-active group. FUTURE PLANS: The CARDIANA cohort is currently being used to assess the effect of sociodemographic risk factors on CV risk at 5 years and to externally validate cardiovascular predictive models. A second wave is being conducted in late 2022 and early 2023, to extend the follow-up other 5 years, from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2021. Periodic data extractions are planned every 5 years.

Circulating carotenoids are associated with favorable lipid and fatty acid profiles in an older population at high cardiovascular risk.

Carotenoid intake has been reported to be associated with improved cardiovascular health, but there is little information on actual plasma concentrations of these compounds as biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk. The objective was to investigate the association between circulating plasma carotenoids and different cardiometabolic risk factors and the plasma fatty acid profile. This is a cross-sectional evaluation of baseline data conducted in a subcohort (106 women and 124 men) of an ongoing multi-factorial lifestyle trial for primary cardiovascular prevention. Plasma concentrations of carotenoids were quantified by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The associations between carotenoid concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed using regression models adapted for interval-censored variables. Carotenoid concentrations were cross-sectionally inversely associated with serum triglyceride concentrations [-2.79 mg/dl (95% CI: -4.25, -1.34) and -5.15 mg/dl (95% CI: -7.38, -2.93), p-values = 0.0002 and <0.00001 in women and men, respectively], lower levels of plasma saturated fatty acids [-0.09% (95% CI: -0.14, -0.03) and -0.15 % (95% CI: -0.23, -0.08), p-values = 0.001 and 0.0001 in women and men, respectively], and higher levels of plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids [(0.12 % (95% CI: -0.01, 0.25) and 0.39 % (95% CI: 0.19, 0.59), p-values = 0.065 and 0.0001 in women and men, respectively] in the whole population. Plasma carotenoid concentrations were also associated with higher plasma HDL-cholesterol in women [0.47 mg/dl (95% CI: 0.23, 0.72), p-value: 0.0002], and lower fasting plasma glucose in men [-1.35 mg/dl (95% CI: -2.12, -0.59), p-value: 0.001].

Association between ankle-brachial index and cognitive function in participants in the PREDIMED-Plus study: cross-sectional assessment.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is an indicator of peripheral artery disease (PAD). The aim of this study was to assess the association between PAD, measured with the ABI, and cognitive function in persons with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted with baseline data from the PREDIMED-Plus study, which included 4898 participants (after exclusion of those without ABI measurements) aged between 55 and 75 years, and with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome. At the baseline assessment, we measured the ABI with a standardized protocol and assessed the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors (eg, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension). Cognitive function was evaluated using several tests validated for the Spanish population (mini-mental state examination [MMSE], phonological and semantic verbal fluency test, WAIS-III working memory index [WMI], parts A and B of the trail making test (TMT), and clock drawing test). Generalized linear models were used to assess the association between the ABI and cognitive function. RESULTS: Among the participants, 3.4% had PAD defined as ABI ≤ 0.9, and 3.3% had arterial calcification defined as ABI ≥ 1.4. PAD was associated with age, systolic blood pressure and obesity indicators, while arterial calcification was also associated with obesity and diabetes. No significant associations were observed between cognitive function and ABI or PAD. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, the presence of PAD increased with age, blood pressure, and obesity. No significant association was observed between ABI, PAD, or cognitive function.

Achievement of cardiovascular risk factor targets according to sex and previous history of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: A population-based study.

AIMS: The main objective was to assess, using real-practice primary care records, the degree of control of cardiovascular risk factor targets. Records were stratified by the presence of previous history or cardiovascular disease (CVD), and sex differences in the fulfillment profile were analyzed. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional population-based study conducted in Spain. Type 2 diabetes patients over 20 years old (n = 32,638) were identified from primary care electronic health records, and the following information was extracted: glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, triglycerides, BMI and smoking history. RESULTS: Patients with CVD had worse control of HbA1c than patients without it, (HbA1c < 7% 56.9% vs. 61.2%) but better control of BP (<130/80: 43.5% vs 38.2%) and lipids. In the group without prior CVD history, women had worse control of HbA1c, LDL, HDL, BMI and triglycerides and better control of blood pressure and smoking. These differences were maintained or accentuated in the group with previous CVD. CONCLUSIONS: Women had poorer control of CV risk factors in both groups, and the sex-gap is accentuated in patients with previous CVD.

Seafood Consumption, Omega-3 Fatty Acids Intake, and Life-Time Prevalence of Depression in the PREDIMED-Plus Trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this analysis was to ascertain the type of relationship between fish and seafood consumption, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) intake, and depression prevalence. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses of the PREDIMED-Plus trial. Fish and seafood consumption and ω-3 PUFA intake were assessed through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Self-reported life-time medical diagnosis of depression or use of antidepressants was considered as outcome. Depressive symptoms were collected by the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between seafood products and ω-3 PUFA consumption and depression. Multiple linear regression models were fitted to assess the association between fish and long-chain (LC) ω-3 PUFA intake and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Out of 6587 participants, there were 1367 cases of depression. Total seafood consumption was not associated with depression. The odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quintiles of consumption of fatty fish were 0.77 (0.63⁻0.94), 0.71 (0.58⁻0.87), and 0.78 (0.64⁻0.96), respectively, and p for trend = 0.759. Moderate intake of total LC ω-3 PUFA (approximately 0.5⁻1 g/day) was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of depression. CONCLUSION: In our study, moderate fish and LC ω-3 PUFA intake, but not high intake, was associated with lower odds of depression suggesting a U-shaped relationship.