Serum uric acid as a predictor of future hypertension: Stratified analysis based on body mass index and age.

BACKGROUND: Serum uric acid level is a predictor of future hypertension. However, its dependence on body mass index or age is unclear. METHODS: We examined 26,442 Japanese males aged 18-60years free from hypertension or diagnosed cardiovascular disease at baseline followed up between 2000 and 2010. Participants were categorized into three groups according to the tertile of serum uric acid levels [mg/dL; 1st (reference): 0.1-5.3; 2nd: 5.4-6.2; 3rd: 6.3-11.6]. Incident hypertension was defined as newly detected blood pressure≥140/90mmHg and/or antihypertensive drugs initiation. Body mass index (<25kg/m(2) vs. ≥25kg/m(2)) and age (<40years vs. ≥40years) were stratified into two groups. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 7.2years, there were 11,361 (43%) hypertension cases. Mean serum uric acid levels (mg/dL) at baseline in each group were 1st tertile, 4.6; 2nd tertile, 5.8; and 3rd tertile, 7.0. The cumulative incident hypertension rate was significantly higher in the 3rd tertile (50.8%) than in the 1st (37.4%). Multiple-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for incident hypertension compared with 1st tertile were 1.01 (0.96-1.05) and 1.15 (1.10-1.21) in the 2nd and 3rd tertile, respectively. There was a significant interaction between age and serum uric acid level (p for interaction=0.035). In subjects aged ≥40years, the 3rd serum uric acid group showed higher hazard ratios [1.48 (1.38-1.59)]. CONCLUSION: High serum uric acid level was associated with future hypertension in young and middle-aged Japanese males. This association was stronger among subjects ≥40years old.

Associations of proteinuria and the estimated glomerular filtration rate with incident hypertension in young to middle-aged Japanese males.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the independent associations of proteinuria and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with incident hypertension. METHODS: We investigated 29,181 Japanese males 18-59years old without hypertension in 2000 and examined whether proteinuria and the eGFR predicted incident hypertension independently over 10years. Incident hypertension was defined as a newly detected blood pressure of ≥140/90mmHg and/or the initiation of antihypertensive drugs. Proteinuria and the eGFR were categorized as dipstick negative (reference), trace or ≥1+ and ≥60 (reference), 50-59.9 or <50ml/min/1.73m(2), respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of incident hypertension. RESULTS: At baseline, 236 (0.8%) and 477 (1.6%) participants had trace and ≥1+ dipstick proteinuria, while 1416 (4.9%) and 129 (0.4%) participants had an eGFR of 50-59.9 and <50ml/min/1.73m(2), respectively. The adjusted HRs were significant for proteinuria ≥1+ (HRs 1.20, 95% CI: 1.06-1.35) and an eGFR of <50ml/min/1.73m(2) (1.29, 1.03-1.61). When two non-referent categories were combined (dipstick≥trace vs. negative and eGFR<60 vs. ≥60ml/min/1.73m(2)), the association was more significant for proteinuria (1.15, 1.04-1.27) than for eGFR (0.99, 0.92-1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Proteinuria and a reduced eGFR are independently associated with future hypertension in young to middle-aged Japanese males.

The significance of measuring body fat percentage determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis for detecting subjects with cardiovascular disease risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Body fat percentage (BF%) determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis is widely used at home and in medical check-ups. However, the clinical significance of measuring BF% has not been studied in detail. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on a cohort of 10,774 middle-aged Japanese men who had undergone an annual check-up in 2008. Cut-off points were evaluated for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and BF% for detecting participants with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia), and effectiveness compared for each marker's cut-off point. Additionally, the effects of smoking on cut-off points were evaluated. The cut-off points of BMI, WC, and BF% for detecting participants with 1 or more CVD risk factors were 22.7kg/m(2), 81.4cm, and 20.3%, respectively. The cut-off points of BF% for 1 or more CVD risk factors classified 3.43% more subjects into correct categories than those of BMI (P<0.001). The cut-off points of BMI, WC, and BF% for detecting individuals with 3 CVD risk factors in current smokers were 24.9kg/m(2), 87.8cm, and 23.7%, while those in non-smokers were 23.3kg/m(2), 83.9cm, and 22.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BF% could be more effective in detecting individuals with early stage CVD risk accumulation than BMI. The cut-off points for current smokers were lower than those for non-smokers in all markers.

Metabolic syndrome and all-cause mortality, cardiac events, and cardiovascular events: a follow-up study in 25,471 young- and middle-aged Japanese men.

AIM: The association between subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS) who were considered not to require medication by their attending physicians and all-cause mortality, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unknown and should be clarified. METHODS AND RESULTS: This is an observational longitudinal cohort study with a median follow-up of 7.5 years performed for 25,471 Japanese men aged 20-61 years who were not on medication. We used a modified definition of MS from the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine and the NCEP ATPIII, both of which employed body mass index instead of waist circumference. MS was associated with increased rates of all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 4.88 [95% confidence interval, 2.96-7.66]), IHD (3.17 [1.06-7.65]), and CVD (2.63 [1.32-4.72]). In contrast, overweight subjects with no component or one component had similar rates to subjects of normal weight. Any combination of the three MS components was associated with significantly greater rates of all-cause mortality (HR: 3.18-11.2) and IHD (HR: 3.17-8.24), whereas blood pressure elevation plus dyslipidaemia was associated with a significantly higher rate of CVD (HR: 3.27). In any endpoint, MS defined by Japanese criteria had higher HRs than defined by NCEP ATP III criteria. CONCLUSION: Young and middle-aged Japanese men with MS who had been viewed as not needing medication already showed increased rates of all-cause mortality, IHD and CVD. Additionally, the event rate depended on the specific combination of metabolic syndrome components.

Smoking and smoking cessation in relation to all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in 25,464 healthy male Japanese workers.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is still a major health problem among males in Japan. The effects of smoking and quitting on mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) need updating. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a prospective cohort study with a median follow-up of 7.5 years of a total of 25,464 healthy male Japanese workers aged 20-61 years who were not on any medication. The adjusted hazard ratios (HR; 95% confidence interval) for all-cause death were 1.51 (0.73, 2.94), 1.68 (1.07, 2.70), 1.30 (0.70, 2.34), and those for total CVD events 1.91 (0.72, 4.67), 2.94 (1.65, 5.63), and 3.25 (1.69, 6.54) for light smokers (1-10 cigarettes/day), moderate smokers (11-20/day), and heavy smokers (≥ 21/day) compared to never-smokers, respectively. Total CVD events increased dose-dependently as the number of cigarettes/day increased. Acute myocardial infarction was increased at any level of smoking. Stroke was increased at a moderate level of smoking. Quitting for ≥ 4 years, compared with continuing smokers, reduced the HR for all-cause death to 0.64 (0.38, 1.01), and total CVD events to 0.34 (0.17, 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: In healthy young- and middle-aged Japanese males, a significant increase in HR for total CVD events was confirmed for a smoking level of 11-20 cigarettes/day. Quitting reduced the HR for total CVD events, with quitting for ≥ 4 years being statistically significant. A similar trend was observed for all-cause mortality.

Impact of drinking and smoking habits on cerebrovascular disease risk among male employees.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze the impact of drinking and smoking behavior on the risk of developing cerebrovascular diseases among male employees aged 20-46 years. Twenty years of follow-up data of male employees enrolled in the DENSO Health Insurance Program were used for analyses. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Of 29,048 male employees aged 20-46 years who were enrolled in the insurance program in 1994, 25,084 (86.4%) employees underwent annual health check-ups until 2003 without missing an appointment. Of these 25,084 employees, the data of 11,784 (40.6%) employees who self-reported drinking and smoking habits were used for analyses. The hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for developing cerebrovascular disease in 2004-2013 were calculated in four risk groups categorized as per drinking and smoking behavior in the young group who were in their 20s and the middle-aged group who were in their 30s-40s in 1994. Based on their drinking behavior, participants were categorized into two groups: "not drinking or drinking sometimes" and "drinking every day." Based on their smoking behavior, participants were also categorized into two groups: "not smoking for 10 years" and "smoking for 10 years." RESULTS: A Cox's proportional hazard model revealed that after controlling for body mass index, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, and age, the hazard ratios for "smoking and drinking every day" were 3.82 (95% CI: 1.40-10.41) in the young group and 2.31 (95% CI: 1.27-4.17) in the middle-aged group. DISCUSSION: Male employees who had been drinking and smoking for 10 years had a higher risk of developing cerebrovascular diseases. To prevent cerebrovascular diseases among male employees, it may be effective to offer behavior change interventions for both drinking and smoking habits, regardless of the age group.

Cardiovascular events increased at normal and high-normal blood pressure in young and middle-aged Japanese male smokers but not in nonsmokers.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether the impact of normal and high-normal BP (BP) per se on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause death differs depending on smoking status. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospective observational cohort study (median follow-up period: 7.5 years) was performed among 25,077 healthy nondiabetic Japanese men aged 20-61 years (mean age 37.3 years), whose BP was less than 150/95 mmHg and who were not on medication. Hazard ratios (HRs), adjusted by known risk factors and a change in annual BP during the follow-up, were calculated by the Cox proportional model with less than 119/75 mmHg as a reference. Among smokers, CVD events increased significantly from a SBP of 120 mmHg, with HRs of 2.68 (120-129 mmHg), 4.28 (130-139 mmHg), and 11.7 (140-149 mmHg). The CVD events also increased from a DBP of 75 mmHg (P for trend less than 0.0001), with 75-79 mmHg and 90-94 mmHg considered statistically significant. Among noncurrent smokers, 110-149 mmHg (SBP) and 75-89 mmHg (DBP) were not associated with elevated HRs for CVD. The relation between BP and all-cause mortality was similar among both current and noncurrent smokers: 140-149 mmHg (SBP) and 90-94 mmHg (DBP) were significantly associated with elevated risk, and 130-139 mmHg (SBP) among noncurrent smokers associated with elevated risk. CONCLUSION: Young and middle-aged healthy Japanese individuals with normal and high-normal BP (120-139/75-89 mmHg) were at risk for CVD among smokers, even after adjusting for an annual change in BP.