Cumulative Systolic Blood Pressure and Incident Stroke Type Variation by Race and Ethnicity.

Importance: Stroke risk varies by systolic blood pressure (SBP), race, and ethnicity. The association between cumulative mean SBP and incident stroke type is unclear, and whether this association differs by race and ethnicity remains unknown. Objective: To examine the association between cumulative mean SBP and first incident stroke among 3 major stroke types-ischemic stroke (IS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-and explore how these associations vary by race and ethnicity. Design, Setting, and Participants: Individual participant data from 6 US longitudinal cohorts (January 1, 1971, to December 31, 2019) were pooled. The analysis was performed from January 1, 2022, to January 2, 2024. The median follow-up was 21.6 (IQR, 13.6-31.8) years. Exposure: Time-dependent cumulative mean SBP. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was time from baseline visit to first incident stroke. Secondary outcomes consisted of time to first incident IS, ICH, and SAH. Results: Among 40 016 participants, 38 167 who were 18 years or older at baseline with no history of stroke and at least 1 SBP measurement before the first incident stroke were included in the analysis. Of these, 54.0% were women; 25.0% were Black, 8.9% were Hispanic of any race, and 66.2% were White. The mean (SD) age at baseline was 53.4 (17.0) years and the mean (SD) SBP at baseline was 136.9 (20.4) mm Hg. A 10-mm Hg higher cumulative mean SBP was associated with a higher risk of overall stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.20 [95% CI, 1.18-1.23]), IS (HR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.17-1.22]), and ICH (HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.25-1.38]) but not SAH (HR, 1.13 [95% CI, 0.99-1.29]; P = .06). Compared with White participants, Black participants had a higher risk of IS (HR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.09-1.33]) and ICH (HR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.30-2.13]) and Hispanic participants of any race had a higher risk of SAH (HR, 3.81 [95% CI, 1.29-11.22]). There was no consistent evidence that race and ethnicity modified the association of cumulative mean SBP with first incident stroke and stroke type. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that cumulative mean SBP was associated with incident stroke type, but the associations did not differ by race and ethnicity. Culturally informed stroke prevention programs should address modifiable risk factors such as SBP along with social determinants of health and structural inequities in society.

The predictive ability of ABSI compared to BMI for mortality and frailty among older adults.

Introduction: To study the utility of A Body Shape Index (ABSI) alongside body mass index (BMI) to predict mortality and frailty in an aging community population. Materials and methods: Participants (n = 1,580) were drawn from the first Israeli national health and nutrition survey of older adults ("Mabat Zahav") conducted from 2005 to 2006, constituting adults aged ≥65 years. Socio-demographic, clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial data were collected. Baseline weight, height, and waist circumference (WC) were measured and expressed as the allometric indices BMI (kg/m2) and ABSI, a BMI-independent measure of abdominal obesity [WC/(BMI2/3*m1/2)]. Mortality follow-up lasted through 2019. Frailty was assessed in 2017-2019 by the Fried Biological Phenotype in a sub-cohort of 554 survivors. Cox and logistic regression models assessed associations of BMI and ABSI with mortality and frailty. Results: At baseline, mean [SD] age was 74.5 [6.1] years, and 52.4% were women. The correlation between BMI and WC Z scores was 0.71, reduced to -0.11 for BMI and ABSI. Over a median follow-up of 13 years, 757 deaths occurred. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) for mortality per standard deviation increase in BMI and ABSI were 1.07 (0.99;1.17) and 1.13 (1.05;1.21), respectively. Among participants assessed for frailty, 77 (14%) met the frailty criteria. After multivariable adjustment, the odds ratios (95% CIs) for frailty were 0.83 (0.69-1.01) for BMI and 1.55 (1.34-1.79) for ABSI. Discussion: In a nationwide cohort of older adults, ABSI was independently associated with mortality risk. Furthermore, ABSI, but not BMI, was a strong predictor of frailty.

Diet Quality and Incident Frailty in Adults 65 Years or Older: The Israeli Longitudinal Study on Aging.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively examine the association between diet quality and frailty incidence in the oldest-old age group. METHODS: We studied an older adult (65+ years) cohort participating in the Israeli National Health and Nutrition Survey of Older Adults in 2005-2006 (T1 [N=1799]). Survivors of T1 were contacted, and between 2017 and 2019, an extensive interview and a functional assessment were conducted (T2) of 604 past participants. A 24-hour dietary recall, assessed at T1, was used to calculate the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) score. A frailty index based on an accumulation of deficits, including clinical, functional, and cognitive measures, was computed. Frail participants at T1 were excluded from the analysis. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association of HEI-2015 score with frailty incidence. Inverse probability weighting was used to minimize selection bias due to attrition. RESULTS: Of the 479 T2 participants analyzed (mean [SD] age, 84 [5] years; 50% women), 225 (46%) were classified as frail. Frail participants were older, were less educated, and had a lower household income and a higher comorbidity burden at baseline than non-frail participants. After adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, a higher HEI-2015 score was associated with decreased odds of incident frailty (odds ratio, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.35 to 0.91] for the upper tertile and 0.66 [95% CI, 0.42 to 1.06] for the middle tertile compared with the lower tertile; Ptrend=.02). CONCLUSION: In this cohort study of oldest-old participants, improved diet quality was inversely associated with frailty incidence in a dose-dependent manner.

Cancer Incidence and Survival Among Patients Following an Acute Coronary Syndrome.

To examine the role of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in subsequent cancer incidence and survival, 2 cohorts of patients hospitalized with ACS were matched 1:1 by gender and age (±3 years) to cardiovascular disease (CVD)-free patients from 2 cycles of the Israeli National Health and Nutrition Surveys. Data on all-cause mortality were retrieved from national registries. Cancer incidence with death treated as a competing event, overall survival, and mortality risk associated with incident cancer as a time-dependent variable were compared between the groups. Our cohort included 2,040 cancer-free matched pairs (mean age of 60±14 years, 42.5% women). Despite higher rates of smokers and patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus, 10-year cumulative cancer incidence was significantly lower in the ACS group compared with CVD-free group (8.0% vs 11.4%, p = 0.02). This decreased risk was more pronounced in women than men (pinteraction = 0.05). Although being free of CVD meant a significant (p <0.001) survival advantage in the general cohort, this advantage faded once a cancer diagnosis was made (p = 0.80). After adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical covariates, the hazard ratios for mortality associated with a cancer diagnosis were 2.96 (95% confidence interval: 2.36 to 3.71) in the ACS group versus 6.41 (95% confidence interval: 4.96 to 8.28) in the CVD-free group (Pinteraction<0.001). In conclusion, in this matched cohort, ACS was associated with a lower risk of cancer and mitigated the excess risk of mortality associated with cancer incidence.

An Exercise-Induced Metabolic Shield in Distant Organs Blocks Cancer Progression and Metastatic Dissemination.

Exercise prevents cancer incidence and recurrence, yet the underlying mechanism behind this relationship remains mostly unknown. Here we report that exercise induces the metabolic reprogramming of internal organs that increases nutrient demand and protects against metastatic colonization by limiting nutrient availability to the tumor, generating an exercise-induced metabolic shield. Proteomic and ex vivo metabolic capacity analyses of murine internal organs revealed that exercise induces catabolic processes, glucose uptake, mitochondrial activity, and GLUT expression. Proteomic analysis of routinely active human subject plasma demonstrated increased carbohydrate utilization following exercise. Epidemiologic data from a 20-year prospective study of a large human cohort of initially cancer-free participants revealed that exercise prior to cancer initiation had a modest impact on cancer incidence in low metastatic stages but significantly reduced the likelihood of highly metastatic cancer. In three models of melanoma in mice, exercise prior to cancer injection significantly protected against metastases in distant organs. The protective effects of exercise were dependent on mTOR activity, and inhibition of the mTOR pathway with rapamycin treatment ex vivo reversed the exercise-induced metabolic shield. Under limited glucose conditions, active stroma consumed significantly more glucose at the expense of the tumor. Collectively, these data suggest a clash between the metabolic plasticity of cancer and exercise-induced metabolic reprogramming of the stroma, raising an opportunity to block metastasis by challenging the metabolic needs of the tumor. SIGNIFICANCE: Exercise protects against cancer progression and metastasis by inducing a high nutrient demand in internal organs, indicating that reducing nutrient availability to tumor cells represents a potential strategy to prevent metastasis. See related commentary by Zerhouni and Piskounova, p. 4124.

Association of Diet Quality With Longevity and Successful Aging in Israeli Adults 65 Years or Older.

Importance: To our knowledge, the role of overall diet quality in successful aging has not been conclusively demonstrated. Objective: To prospectively examine the association between diet quality and longevity and successful aging in a population-based cohort of older adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: Participants in "Mabat Zahav" (the Israeli National Health and Nutrition Survey of Older Adults), an older adult cohort (aged ≥65 years) consisting of a random sample of 1770 individuals, were recruited from July 2005 to December 2006 (time 1 [T1]). Survivors of T1 were again contacted and asked to participate in a second interview. From May 2017 to June 2019 (time 2 [T2]), an extensive face-to-face interview and a functional assessment were conducted in each participant's home in a subsample of 604 participants from T1, representing 72.7% of 820 surviving individuals who were able to complete interviews and assessments. Exposures: A 24-hour dietary recall, assessed at T1, was used to calculate scores from the 2015 version of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) (scores range from 0 [worst diet] to 100 [best diet]). Main Outcomes and Measures: Time to death, with follow-up lasting through June 2019, and successful aging. The latter, based on T2 assessment, was defined as (objectively measured) preserved physical and cognitive function and (subjective) mental well-being and favorable self-rated health. Inverse probability weighting was used in the analysis to minimize attrition bias. Results: At T1, the study included 1770 participants (mean [SD] age, 74.6 [6.2] years; 943 women [53%]). On average, participants with higher HEI-2015 scores had healthier lifestyles and higher socioeconomic status at T1. During a median follow-up duration of 12.6 years (IQR, 7.6-13.2 years), 893 deaths occurred. Among the 596 T2 participants analyzed (mean [SD] age, 84.1 [4.4] years; 334 [56%] women), 242 (40%) met successful aging criteria. After adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle risk factors, a higher HEI-2015 score was inversely associated with mortality (hazard ratios, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.72-0.99 in the upper tertile and 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71-0.98 in the middle tertile vs the lower tertile; P = .04 for trend) and was positively associated with successful aging (odds ratios, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.10-2.72 in the upper tertile and 1.30; 95% CI, 0.83-2.03 in the middle tertile vs the lower tertile; P = .03 for trend). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of older adults in Israel, improved diet quality was associated with increased longevity and successful aging in a dose-dependent manner. These data contribute to the body of literature that suggests diet quality is associated with aging in the older age group.

Association of socioeconomic status measures with physical activity and subsequent frailty in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Despite increased recognition, frailty remains a significant public health challenge. OBJECTIVE: we aimed to assess the role of education and income, as well as neighborhood socioeconomic status, on physical activity and subsequent frailty in older adults. METHODS: Using a population-based cohort of older adults, this study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) factors, physical activity and frailty. The study included 1,799 participants (mean [SD], 74.6 (6.2), 53.3% female) from the "National Health and Nutrition Survey of Older Adults Aged 65 and Over in Israel", conducted in 2005-2006. A follow-up interview was performed 12-14 years later in a subgroup of 601 subjects (mean [SD], age 84[4]; 56% women). Self-reported leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) was measured at both baseline and follow-up. SES measures were assessed at baseline. Frailty was measured at follow-up, using the Fried's Phenotype Model. RESULTS: All SES measures were strongly and positively associated with LTPA (all p < 0.001). Eighty-two participants (14%) were classified as frail at follow-up. After age and sex adjustment and accounting for attrition bias using inverse probability weighting, baseline LTPA (OR = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.57-4.90, for inactivity; OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 0.75-2.68, for insufficient activity, compared with sufficient activity, Ptrend < 0.001) was inversely associated with incident frailty. The association persisted after further adjustment for SES and comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Among older individuals, multiple SES measures were positively associated with LTPA, which was a strong predictor of lower subsequent frailty risk.

Physical Activity and Long-Term Mortality Risk in Older Adults with and without Cardiovascular Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

AIMS: To evaluate the association between physical activity (PA) levels and mortality among older adults, to determine whether it differs according to cardiovascular disease (CVD) status, and to assess the optimal weekly duration of PA associated with subsequent survival. METHODS: Participants (n = 1,799) were drawn from a national survey conducted from 2005 to 2006, constituting Israeli adults aged ≥65 years. Sociodemographic, clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial data were collected via interview at study entry. Based on a detailed PA questionnaire and according to published guidelines, participants were classified as sufficiently active, insufficiently active, and inactive. CVD status was self-reported. Mortality data (last follow-up, December 2016) were obtained from the Israeli Ministry of Health. Using Cox models, inverse probability weighted hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality, based on propensity score, were estimated for PA categories. RESULTS: Among the participants at baseline (mean age, 74.6 years), 559 (31.1%) were sufficiently active, 506 (28.1%) were insufficiently active, and 734 (40.8%) were inactive. During follow-up (mean, 9.0 years), 684 participants (38.0%) died. PA was inversely associated with mortality, with propensity score-adjusted HRs (95% confidence intervals) of 0.84 (0.71-1.01) in insufficiently and 0.73 (0.61-0.88) in sufficiently active participants (ptrend < 0.001). No PA-by-CVD interaction was detected on multiplicative scale (p = 0.36) or additive scale (p = 0.58). A monotonic survival benefit was observed until ∼150 min of PA per week, beyond which no further gain was apparent. CONCLUSIONS: In a nationwide cohort of older adults, nearly 70% did not meet the guideline for PA. PA engagement was inversely associated with long-term mortality risk, similarly in individuals with and without CVD. A maximum survival advantage was achieved at around 150 min of exercise per week.

Resumption of sexual activity after acute myocardial infarction and long-term survival.

AIMS: Sexual activity is an important factor in the overall quality of life. We examined whether resumption of sexual activity frequency within the first few months after myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with long-term survival. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sexually active patients aged ≤65 years (n = 495; median age, 53 years), drawn from the longitudinal Israel Study of First Acute Myocardial Infarction, were interviewed during the index hospitalization (1992-93) and after 3-6 months. Resumption of sexual activity was defined as abstaining/decreasing or maintaining/increasing according to self-reported frequency post- vs. pre-MI. Patients were followed for all-cause and cause-specific mortality through national registries. A propensity score for sexual activity resumption was calculated, based on which inverse probability weighted Cox models were constructed to examine associations. Patients who maintained/increased frequency [n = 263 (53%)] were more likely to be of higher socioeconomic status and to express lower levels of depression than their abstained/decreased counterparts. In the propensity score-weighted synthetic sample, the distribution of measured baseline covariates was similar across exposure categories. During a median follow-up of 22 years, 211 (43%) patients died. Maintaining/increasing sexual activity frequency was inversely associated with all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48-0.88], compared with abstaining/reducing. The inverse association was more robust for non-cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36-0.85) than cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.53-1.51). CONCLUSIONS: Resumption of sexual activity frequency within the first months after MI was strongly associated with improved long-term survival, highlighting the need for sexual counselling shortly after MI.

Reaching 80 Years of Age: Clinical, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Related Risk Factors in a Large Cohort of Israeli Working Men.

The objective of this study was to estimate the probability of long-term overall survival based on total number of risk factors (RF). We also sought to examine the role of midlife clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial predictors of longevity in a large cohort of Israeli men. This study was based on the Israeli Ischemic Heart Disease (IIHD) cohort that included over 10,000 men who were followed up for mortality over more than four decades. During the 43 years of follow-up, 4634 (46.1%) men survived to 80 years of age or older. We considered cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, high systolic blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, low socioeconomic status, and serious family problems as RF at ages 40-65. Cox proportional hazards regression models, with age as the time scale, were constructed to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) for failure to survive 80 years of age. Compared with men free of all the above RF, those with one identified RF (HR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.42-1.75) and counterparts with two identified RF (HR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.96-2.43) were at a significantly greater risk of death before 80. Additional RF further increased the risk of early mortality (HR = 3.62, 95% CI: 1.50-8.73 for men with 5 RF). The results suggest a role of physiological, behavioral, and psychological risk factors at midlife in predicting longevity.

Recent trends in cardiovascular disease deaths: a state specific perspective.

BACKGROUND: The rate of decline in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality has lessened nationally. How these findings apply to specific states or causes of CVD deaths is not known. Examining these trends at the state level is important to plan local interventions. METHODS: We analyzed CVD mortality trends in Minnesota (MN) using the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER). Trends were analyzed by age, sex, type of CVD and location of death. RESULTS: CVD mortality rates in MN declined in 2000-2009 and then leveled off in 2010-2018, paralleling national rates. Age- and sex-adjusted CVD mortality decreased by 3.7% per year in 2000-2009 (average annual percent changes [AAPC]: -3.7; 95% CI: - 4.8, - 2.6) with no change observed in 2010-2018. Those aged 65-84 years had the most rapid early decline in CVD mortality (AAPC: -5.9, 95% CI: - 6.2, - 5.7) and had less improvement in 2010-2018 (AAPC: -1.8, 95% CI: - 2.2, - 1.5), and the younger age group (25-64 years) now experiences the most adverse trends (AAPC: 1.2, 95% CI: 0.7-1.8). Coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebrovascular disease had the largest relative decreases in mortality in 2000-2009 (CHD AAPC: -5.2; 95% CI: - 6.5,-3.9; cerebrovascular disease AAPC: -4.4, 95% CI: - 5.2, - 3.6) with no change 2010-2018. Heart failure (HF)/cardiomyopathy followed similar trends with a 2.5% decrease (AAPC 95% CI: - 3.5, - 1.5) per year in 2000-2009 and no change in 2010-2018. Deaths from other CVD also decreased in the early time period (AAPC: -1.6, 95% CI: - 2.7, - 0.5) but increased in 2010-2018 (AAPC: 1.9, 95% CI: 0.5, 3.3). In- and out-of-hospital death rates improved in 2000-2009 with a slowing in improvement for in-hospital death and no further improvement for out-of-hospital death in 2010-2018. CONCLUSION: Concerning CVD mortality trends occurred in MN. In the most recent decade (2010-2018) mortality from all CVD subtypes plateaued or even increased. CVD mortality among the younger age groups increased as well. These data are congruent with adverse national trends supporting their generalizability. These adverse trends underscore the urgent need for CVD prevention and treatment, as well as continued surveillance to assess progress at the state and national level.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cognitive function in middle-aged adults: the CARDIA study.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors that have been linked to cognitive decline. Whether NAFLD is associated with cognitive performance in midlife remains uncertain. METHODS: Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study participants with CT examination and cognitive assessment at Y25 (2010-2011; n = 2809) were included. Cognitive function was reassessed at Y30. NAFLD was defined according to liver attenuation and treated both continuously and categorically (using ≤ 40 and ≤ 51 Hounsfield units to define severity) after exclusion for other causes of liver fat. Cognitive tests including the Digit Symbol Substitution (processing speed), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning (verbal memory), and Stroop (executive function) were analyzed with standardized z-scores. Linear models were constructed to (a) examine the cross-sectional associations of NAFLD with cognitive scores and (b) evaluate its predictive role in 5-year change in cognitive performance. RESULTS: Participants' mean age (Y25) was 50.1 (SD 3.6) years (57% female; 48% black), with 392 (14%) having mild NAFLD and 281 (10%) having severe NAFLD. NAFLD was positively associated with CVD risk factors and inversely associated with cognitive scores. However, after adjustment for CVD risk factors, no associations were shown between NAFLD and cognitive scores (all ßs ≈ 0). Similarly, no associations were observed with 5-year cognitive decline. CVD history, hypertension, smoking, diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia showed stronger associations with baseline cognitive scores and were predictive of subsequent cognitive decline (all P ≤ .05). CONCLUSION: Among middle-aged adults, inverse associations between NAFLD and cognitive scores were attenuated after adjustment for CVD risk factors, with the latter predictive of poorer cognitive performance both at baseline and follow-up.

Blood Pressure Levels in Young Adulthood and Midlife Stroke Incidence in a Diverse Cohort.

[Figure: see text].

Sex Differences in Outcomes After Myocardial Infarction in the Community.

PURPOSE: Prior studies observed that women experienced worse outcomes than men after myocardial infarction but did not convincingly establish an independent effect of female sex on outcomes, thus failing to impact clinical practice. Current data remain sparse and information on long-term nonfatal outcomes is lacking. To address these gaps in knowledge, we examined outcomes after incident myocardial infarction for women compared with men. METHODS: We studied a population-based myocardial infarction incidence cohort in Olmsted County, Minnesota, between 2000 and 2012. Patients were followed for recurrent myocardial infarction, heart failure, and death. A propensity score was constructed to balance the clinical characteristics between men and women; Cox models were weighted using inverse probabilities of the propensity scores. RESULTS: Among 1959 patients with incident myocardial infarction (39% women; mean age 73.8 and 64.2 for women and men, respectively), 347 recurrent myocardial infarctions, 464 heart failure episodes, 836 deaths, and 367 cardiovascular deaths occurred over a mean follow-up of 6.5 years. Women experienced a higher occurrence of each adverse event (all P <0.01). After propensity score weighting, women had a 28% increased risk of recurrent myocardial infarction (hazard ratio: 1.28, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.59), and there was no difference in risk for any other outcomes (all P >0.05). CONCLUSION: After myocardial infarction, women experience a large excess risk of recurrent myocardial infarction but not of heart failure or death independently of clinical characteristics. Future studies are needed to understand the mechanisms driving this association.

Role of psychosocial factors in long-term adherence to secondary prevention measures after myocardial infarction: a longitudinal analysis.

PURPOSE: Psychosocial factors have been linked to myocardial infarction (MI) outcomes. Whether psychosocial factors affect post-MI long-term adherence to secondary prevention recommendations remains uncertain. METHODS: Patients ≤65 years (n = 616) were assessed for optimism, perceived social support (PSS), sense of coherence (SOC), anxiety, and depression at initial hospitalization for acute MI (1992-1993). Adherence to secondary prevention measures was recorded in interviews 3-6 months, 1-2, 5, and 10-13 years after MI. Prevention score (proportion of recommendations met) was developed based on: (1) medication adherence; (2) exercise; (3) nonsmoking; (4) healthy diet; (5) maintaining recommended body weight. Associations between psychosocial factors and prevention scores were estimated using Generalized Estimating Equation models. The role of the prevention score in long-term survival was assessed using time-dependent Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Average follow-up prevention scores ranged from 0.70 to 0.80 (SD, ≈0.20). After multivariable adjustment, PSS (ß = 0.087, P = .002, per 1 SD increase) and SOC (ß = 0.082, P = .006, per 1 SD increase) were positively associated with secondary prevention adherence. The prevention score predicted survival over 23-year follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.68-0.91, per 1 SD increase). CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial factors following MI, particularly PSS and SOC, were associated with long-term adherence to secondary prevention measures.

Preexisting coronary heart disease and susceptibility to long-term effects of traffic-related air pollution: A matched cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with coronary heart disease are considered susceptible to traffic-related air pollution exposure. Yet, cohort-based evidence on whether preexisting coronary heart disease modifies the association of traffic-related air pollution with health outcomes is lacking. AIM: Using data of four Israeli cohorts, we compared associations of traffic-related air pollution with mortality and cancer between coronary heart disease patients and matched controls from the general population. METHODS: Subjects hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome from two patient cohorts (inception years: 1992-1993 and 2006-2014) were age- and sex-matched to coronary heart disease-free participants of two cycles of the Israeli National Health and Nutrition Surveys (inception years: 1999-2001 and 2005-2006). Ambient concentrations of nitrogen oxides at the residential place served as a proxy for traffic-related air pollution exposure across all cohorts, based on a high-resolution national land use regression model (50 m). Data on all-cause mortality (last update: 2018) and cancer incidence (last update: 2016) were retrieved from national registries. Cox-derived stratum-specific hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated, adjusted for harmonized covariates across cohorts, including age, sex, ethnicity, neighborhood socioeconomic status, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, prior stroke and prior malignancy (the latter only in the mortality analysis). Effect-modification was examined by testing nitrogen oxides-by-coronary heart disease interaction term in the entire matched cohort. RESULTS: The cohort (mean (standard deviation) age 61.5 (14) years; 44% women) included 2393 matched pairs, among them 2040 were cancer-free at baseline. During a median (25th-75th percentiles) follow-up of 13 (10-19) and 11 (7-17) years, 1458 deaths and 536 new cancer cases were identified, respectively. In multivariable-adjusted models, a 10-parts per billion nitrogen oxides increment was positively associated with all-cause mortality among coronary heart disease patients (hazard ratio = 1.13, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.22), but not among controls (hazard ratio = 1.00, 0.93-1.08) (pinteraction = 0.003). A similar pattern was seen for all-cancer incidence (hazard ratioCHD = 1.19 (1.03-1.37), hazard ratioCHD-Free = 0.93 (0.84-1.04) (pinteraction = 0.01)). Associations were robust to multiple sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary heart disease patients might be at increased risk for traffic-related air pollution-associated mortality and cancer, irrespective of their age and sex. Patients and clinicians should be more aware of the adverse health effects on coronary heart disease patients of chronic exposure to vehicle emissions.

Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Cancer Risk Among Older Adults: A Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and long-term cancer risk in a nationwide cohort of older adults. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The cohort comprised participants of a national survey conducted between July 2005 and December 2006, constituting a random sample of Israeli community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older. Based on self-reported LTPA habits, participants were classified as sufficiently active, insufficiently active, or inactive according to published guidelines. Cancer diagnosis was assessed via the Israeli National Cancer Registry through September 2015. Inverse probability weighted hazard ratios for incident cancer, based on propensity score, were estimated for LTPA categories. RESULTS: Analysis included 1542 participants with no history of cancer at baseline (median [25th-75th percentile] age, 73 years [69-78 years]; 826 [53.6%] women). Inactive participants (n=641 [41.6%]) were more likely to be female, of lower socioeconomic status, and with higher body mass index and poorer perceived health compared with their insufficiently active (n=443 [28.7%]) and sufficiently active (n=458 [29.7%]) counterparts. In the propensity score-weighted synthetic sample, the distribution of measured baseline covariates was similar across LTPA categories. Over a median follow-up of 9 years, 254 new cancer cases (16.5%) were diagnosed. Leisure-time physical activity was inversely associated with incident cancer, with adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) of 0.66 (0.46-0.93) in insufficiently active and 0.59 (0.42-0.82) in sufficiently active participants compared with inactive individuals (P value for trend = .002). CONCLUSION: Among older adults, engaging in LTPA, even at lower levels than officially recommended, may have a beneficial effect on primary prevention of cancer.

Coronary Disease Surveillance in the Community: Angiography and Revascularization.

Background Temporal declines in cardiac stress tests results, coronary revascularization, and cardiovascular mortality have suggested a decline in the population burden of coronary disease until the 2000s. However, recent data indicate these favorable trends could be ending. We aimed to assess the evolution of the population burden of coronary disease in the community by examining trends in angiography and revascularization. Methods and Results We analyzed age- and sex-adjusted trends from all coronary angiographic diagnostic procedures and revascularizations performed in Olmsted County, MN from 2000 to 2018. A total of 12 981 invasive angiograms were performed among 9049 individuals (64% men; 55% aged ≥65 years). Adjusted angiography rates decreased by 30% (95% CI, 25%-34%) between 2000 and 2009 and leveled off thereafter. Including computed tomography, angiography uncovered an increase in angiography use in recent years (risk ratio=1.15 [95% CI, 1.07-1.23] for 2018 versus 2014) and a decline in the prevalence of anatomic CAD from 2000 to 2018. CAD severity declined substantially from 2000 to 2009, followed by a plateau. Among 6570 revascularizations (72% men; 57% aged ≥65 years), 77% were percutaneous coronary interventions and 23% coronary artery bypass graft surgeries. The adjusted revascularization rates declined by 34% (95% CI, 27%-39%) from 2000 to 2009, followed by a plateau (risk ratio=1.10 [95% CI, 1.00-1.22]). Conclusions Between 2000 and 2018 in the community, coronary angiography use declined initially, leveled off, and then increased. Trends in CAD severity and revascularization use decreased then plateaued. The most recent trends are concerning as they suggest the burden of coronary disease is no longer declining. This warrants reinvigorated primary prevention and population surveillance.

Validation of the DAPT score in real-world patients undergoing coronary stent implantation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the external validity of the Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) score decision tool in real world patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective study using an all comers PCI registry. We compared the rates of myocardial infarction (MI) and actionable bleeding between 12 vs. 12+ months DAPT stratified by DAPT score category. Of 12,162 patients, 4471 (36.8%) completed a year of DAPT without events. The high DAPT score stratum patients were older and had a higher comorbidity burden. Overall, 12+ months DAPT duration was associated with reduced rates of MI (2.8% vs. 4.0%, p = 0.025) and similar rates of bleeding (2.6% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.281) compared to 12 months DAPT, but when stratified by DAPT score stratum, there was no difference in any of the outcomes in both high score group, (3.7% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.111 and 2.0% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.800, for MI and bleeding, respectively) and low score patients (2.7% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.656 and 2.8% vs. 2.0%, p = 0.308, for MI and bleeding, respectively). Overall clinical events (MI + bleeding) was again similar between patients treated with 12+ vs. 12 months DAPT (5.5% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.535 and 5.1% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.503 for high and low DAPT score, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: for real world patients completing 1 year of DAPT post PCI, rates of MI, actionable bleeding, and their combination did not differ between those treated with 12+ vs. 12 months DAPT stratified by DAPT score stratum. Clinicians should be aware of the DAPT score's limitations. Further studies examining the validity of the DAPT score in larger cohorts are required.

Frequency of Sexual Activity and Long-term Survival after Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown an inverse relationship between sexual activity and mortality in the general population. We evaluated the association between sexual activity and long-term survival among patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Patients aged ≤65 years (n=1120; mean age, 53) discharged from 8 hospitals in central Israel after first myocardial infarction from 1992-1993 were followed for mortality through 2015. Frequency of sexual activity was self-reported during the index hospitalization (baseline; referring to the year preceding the infarct) and after 5 and 10-13 years, along with sociodemographic and clinical data. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to estimate the association with all-cause mortality in time-dependent sexual activity categories. RESULTS: At baseline, a > once per week frequency of sexual activity was reported by 42% of the patients, whereas no sexual activity was reported by 6%. After 10-13 years, the rates were 21% and 27%, respectively. Lower sexual activity was associated with older age, female sex, lack of a steady partner and more comorbidities. During follow-up, 524 deaths (47%) occurred. An inverse relationship was observed between sexual activity frequency and death, with hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 0.30 (0.23-0.38) for > once per week, 0.36 (0.28-0.46) for once per week, and 0.53 (0.42-0.66) for < once per week, compared with none. After adjusting for relevant confounding factors, the estimates were attenuated to 0.68 (0.50-0.91), 0.63 (0.48-0.83), and 0.72 (0.57-0.93), respectively (P for trend = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Using repeated assessments of sexual activity after myocardial infarction, an inverse association was demonstrated with mortality, which was only partly accounted for by measured potential confounders.