Surgical Endoepicardial Linear Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia With Postinfarction Left Ventricular Aneurysm.

This retrospective study evaluated the feasibility of surgical endoepicardial linear ablation for ventricular tachycardia in patients with postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm. Sixty-four patients with multivessel coronary artery disease and left ventricular aneurysm but no mural thrombosis of the aneurysm or valve disease were treated at our institution from March 2012 through July 2015. All underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and left ventricular aneurysm repair by linear plication. Twenty-three patients (35.9%) had ventricular tachycardia and underwent surgical endoepicardial linear ablation on the beating heart guided by epicardial substrate mapping with the Carto 3 system. The remaining 41 patients (64.1%) composed the no-ablation group. The effectiveness of surgical linear ablation in the ablation group was evaluated. Safety and clinical outcomes were evaluated and compared between the groups. The ventricular tachycardia recurrence rate in the ablation group was 17.4% in the immediate postoperative period and 23.8% at last follow-up (39 ± 21 mo). Early (<30-d) mortality rates were 8.7% in the ablation group and 4.9% in the no-ablation group (P=0.41); the respective late mortality rates were 19.1% and 18% (P=0.70). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that preoperatively poor left ventricular function was an independent risk factor for early and late death in both groups. The groups were similar in terms of the need for postoperative mechanical circulatory support, intensive care unit stay, and cumulative survival rate. We conclude that, for carefully selected candidates, surgical endoepicardial linear ablation combined with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and left ventricular aneurysm linear plication is a feasible treatment for ventricular tachycardia with postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm.

Hematocrit and the incidence of stroke: a prospective, population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Whether higher hematocrit levels could increase the incidence of stroke has always been full of controversy. This study aimed to explore the association between hematocrit and the incidence of stroke in the Chinese population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Kailuan study is a prospective longitudinal cohort study on risk factors and events of chronic diseases. Using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, we examined the association between baseline hematocrit values and the incidence of stroke in the Kailuan cohort (93,299 participants). RESULTS: A total of 3,624 participants developed stroke during the 9-year follow-up period. In Cox regression models adjusted for demographic information and for clinical variables, there was a significant association between baseline hematocrit levels and the incidence of stroke. The highest hematocrit quartile (quartile 5: men, hematocrit >48.6%; women, hematocrit >43.2%) was associated with a higher incidence of stroke (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.04-1.31, P for trend =0.0016) compared with the lowest hematocrit quartile (quartile 1: men, hematocrit <41.5%; women, hematocrit <36.6%). In the analysis of ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage separately, similar association was observed in ischemic stroke, but there were no statistical differences in intracerebral hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Higher hematocrit levels are associated with a higher incidence of stroke in the Chinese population.

Association between the metabolically healthy obese phenotype and the risk of myocardial infarction: results from the Kailuan study.

Objective This study aimed to determine if the metabolically healthy obese (MHO) is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in Chinese population. Design The Kailuan study is a community-based prospective cohort study. Methods BMI and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were assessed in 91 866 participants without a history of MI or stroke. Participants were categorised into six mutually exclusive groups according to the BMI-MetS status: normal weight (BMI: ≤ 18.5to < 24.0 kg/m2) without MetS (MH-NW), normal weight with MetS (MUH-NW), overweight (BMI: ≤ 24.0to < 28.0 kg/m2) without MetS (MH-OW), overweight with MetS (MUH-OW), obese (BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2) without MetS (MHO) and obese with MetS (MUO). The hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI was calculated for the incidence of MI using a multivariable Cox model. Results A total of 6745 (7.34%) individuals were classified as MHO. During a median 8-year follow-up, 1167 (1.27%) participants developed MI. The MHO group had an increased risk of MI (HR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.37-2.25) in comparison with the MH-NW group after adjusting for potential confounding variables. After a similar adjustment, the risk of MI was significantly elevated in the MUH-NW (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.28-2.05), MUH-OW (HR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.67-2.35) and MUO group (HR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.70-2.49). Conclusions MHO subjects showed a substantially higher risk of MI in comparison with MH-NW subjects. That said, even without measurable metabolic abnormalities, obesity was associated with a higher risk of MI.

Proteinuria and risk of stroke in patients with hypertension: The Kailuan cohort study.

Proteinuria is associated with stroke, but the effects of changes in proteinuria on stroke risk are not well understood in the hypertensive population. This study examined whether proteinuria changes across 2-year assessments were associated with incident stroke in individuals with hypertension. We used visit data from 24 300 participants with hypertension of the Kailuan study who were stroke free at baseline. Based on the baseline and 2-year dipstick screening results, participants were classified as having no, remittent, incident, or persistent proteinuria. The relationship between proteinuria and stroke was analyzed using Cox proportional-hazards models after adjusting for potential variables. During a median of 6.89-year follow-up, we identified 1197 people with stroke. Compared to those with no proteinuria, stroke risk was significantly increased in participants with incident (hazard ratio [HR] 1.41, 95% CI, 1.05-1.77) and persistent proteinuria (HR 1.49, 95% CI, 1.25-1.89) after adjustment for other factors, which was consistent in ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. No interaction was found between changes of proteinuria and diabetes mellitus in the hypertensive population. Changes in proteinuria exposure, particularly persistent proteinuria, play a role in reflecting the risk of stroke in patients with hypertension.

The relationship between oxidized low-density lipoprotein and the NIHSS score among patients with acute ischemic stroke: The SOS-Stroke Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) has a defined role in the genesis and development of atherosclerosis, however, whether it is related to severity of neurological deficits is rarely reported. The aim of our study was to investigate the potential association between oxLDL and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score among patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: Between January 2014 and October 2014, we recruited 4111 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), who were admitted within 7 days-43 hospitals in China, and participated in the SOS-Stroke Study. We collected detailed clinical data and then tested the relationship between oxLDL and the NIHSS score using a multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, marriage and other confounding variables, the elevated NIHSS score was significantly associated with increased oxLDL levels, and each 1-µg/dL elevation in oxLDL concentration resulted in an increase of 0.027 in the NIHSS score. CONCLUSIONS: A positive correlation was found between plasma levels of oxLDL and the NIHSS score in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Higher plasma levels of oxLDL potentially suggest a worse prognosis in AIS patients.

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, Proteinuria, and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases and All-cause Mortality in Diabetic Population: a Community-based Cohort Study.

Data about associations between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and all-cause mortality among diabetic population is less described. We aimed to describe these associations in Chinese diabetic population, and investigate the difference between sexes. The study was based on 8,301 diabetic participants in the Kailuan study, who was free of CVDs at baseline. We used Cox proportional hazard models to examine the associations of eGFR and proteinuria with CVDs and all-cause mortality. A stratified analysis by gender was performed. During a median follow-up of 8.05 years, 917 deaths and 813 incident CVDs occurred. Adjusted for all potential confounders, eGFR was associated with all-cause mortality, but not associated with incidence of CVDs. Compared to those with eGFR ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2, Participants with eGFR <45 ml/min/1.73 m2 had 1.50 fold higher risk of all-cause mortality. Adjusted for all potential confounders, proteinuria was associated with risk of both CVDs and all-cause mortality. Additionally, the risk of all-cause mortality by proteinuria was greater in women than that in men. Both lower eGFR and proteinuria are independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in the Chinese diabetic population. Proteinuria conferred excessive risk for CVDs, and especially in women.

Visit-to-Visit Variability of Fasting Plasma Glucose and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality in the General Population.

BACKGROUND: The association of short-term variability of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and mortality has been well investigated. However, the relationships between visit-to-visit variability of FPG over longer periods of follow-up and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality are unclear. This study aimed to investigate these relationships. METHODS AND RESULTS: The current analysis included 53 607 Chinese participants (mean age, 49.10 years) who were free of CVD in the Kailuan study. Participants were divided into 4 categories by quartiles of visit-to-visit variability of FPG. Visit-to-visit variability of FPG was defined as the coefficient of variation of 3 values of FPG that were measured from the examination periods of 2006 to 2007, 2008 to 2009, and 2010 to 2011. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for CVD and all-cause mortality. After a mean follow-up of 4.93 years, 4261 individuals developed CVD and 1545 individuals died. The incidence of CVD and all-cause mortality was 5.04 and 5.85 per 1000 person-years, respectively. After adjusting for mean FPG and other potential confounders, individuals in the highest quartile of variability of FPG compared with participants in the lowest quartile showed a 26% greater risk of developing CVD (hazard ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.47) and a 46% greater risk for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-1.70). CONCLUSIONS: Independent of mean FPG and other baseline parameters, elevated visit-to-visit variability of FPG significantly increases the risk of CVD and all-cause mortality in the general population. Measuring long-term visit-to-visit variability of FPG is helpful for predicting the risk for CVD and all-cause mortality.

Changes in Proteinuria on the Risk of All-Cause Mortality in People with Diabetes or Prediabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Proteinuria has been related to all-cause mortality, showing regression or progression. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between proteinuria changes and all-cause mortality. The main purpose of this paper is to examine the associations between proteinuria changes and all-cause mortality in people with diabetes or prediabetes. METHODS: Dipstick proteinuria at baseline and a 2-year follow-up were determined in the participants attending the Kailuan prospective cohort study. Participants were then divided into three categories: elevated proteinuria, stable proteinuria, and reduced proteinuria. Four Cox proportional hazard models were built to access the relations of proteinuria changes to all-cause mortality, adjusting for other confounding covariates. RESULTS: A total of 17,878 participants were finally included in this study. There were 1193 deaths after a median follow-up of 6.69 years. After adjusting for major covariates and proteinuria at baseline, mortality risk was significantly associated with elevated proteinuria (hazard ratio (HR): 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33-1.79) and reduced proteinuria (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.55-0.89), compared to those with stable proteinuria. CONCLUSION: Proteinuria changes were independently associated with mortality risk in either diabetic or prediabetic population.

Association of Persistent, Incident, and Remittent Proteinuria With Stroke Risk in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus or Prediabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Proteinuria often changes dynamically, showing either regression or progression. The impact of changes in proteinuria on future stroke risk remains largely unknown. We hypothesized that changes in proteinuria would be associated with stroke risk in patients with diabetes mellitus and prediabetes mellitus. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population included 17 380 participants with diabetes mellitus or prediabetes mellitus enrolled in a prospective Chinese cohort. From the baseline and 2-year dipstick screening results, participants were classified as having no proteinuria or remittent, incident, or persistent proteinuria. Reduction in proteinuria was calculated as the baseline minus 2-year proteinuria. Stroke outcomes were assessed in subsequent follow-ups. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional-hazards models. During a median follow-up of 6.9 years, we identified 751 patients with stroke. Stroke risk was increased for participants with persistent (hazard ratio [HR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-2.30), incident (HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.22-1.89), and remittent (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.01-2.02) proteinuria compared with those with no proteinuria. Persistent proteinuria was associated with a higher risk of stroke for participants with prediabetes mellitus (HR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.58-4.22) compared with those with diabetes mellitus (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.86-2.12 [P for interaction=0.0083]). Proteinuria reduction contributed to a decrease in stroke incidence (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.81-0.95). The results were confirmed by sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent, incident, and remittent proteinuria are independent indicators of stroke risk in both diabetic and prediabetic populations.

Erratum to: Changes in proteinuria and the risk of myocardial infarction in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes: a prospective cohort study.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that figure 2 had not been replaced with the correct figure as indicated in the proofs.

Changes in proteinuria and the risk of myocardial infarction in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between changes in proteinuria and myocardial infarction (MI) remains unclear in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value and independent role of changes in proteinuria over a 2-year period in the incidence of MI in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. METHODS: Based on the baseline and 2-year dipstick screening results from the Kailuan prospective cohort study, participants were divided into four categories: no proteinuria, remittent proteinuria, incident proteinuria, and persistent proteinuria. Four multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were built to adjust for the effects of different confounding covariates. RESULTS: Among the 17,625 participants in this study, there were a total of 238 incidents of MI during a median follow-up of 6.69 years. After adjusting for demography factors and laboratory indices, the association between persistent proteinuria and MI incidence was maintained (hazard ratio [HR] 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48-4.22). Every decrease of proteinuria from 2006 to 2008 was observed to be responsible for a 21% decline of MI incidence (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68-0.90). The interaction between changes in proteinuria and diabetes was confirmed with no effect on MI (P = 0.3371). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent proteinuria is an independent risk factor for MI incidence in the pre-diabetic and diabetic population. These findings may help clinicians to interpret proteinuria changes in the outpatient setting and provide possible preventive approaches for people with pre-diabetes or diabetes.

Post-stroke depression: different characteristics based on follow-up stage and gender-a cohort perspective study from Mainland China.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common and important comorbidity in patients after stroke. It negatively impacts stroke survivors' outcomes. Plenty of studies have investigated risk factors for PSD, especially sex differences. However, the results remain inconsistent. In this study, we explored the prevalence and risk factors for PSD both in the acute phase and the chronic phase of stroke, emphasizing on the impact of gender in PSD. METHODS: About 1094 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke were included in the study. Patients were followed up, respectively, 2 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months after stroke. Data collected included demographic and stroke-related factors, and whether patients still suffer from PSD at each time points. T-test, chi-square test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to explore the group differences between patients with PSD and without PSD, and between female and male patients. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the risk factors for PSD both in the acute and the chronic stage of stroke. RESULTS: The prevalence of PSD was 25.4, 17.6, and 12.4%, respectively 2 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months after stroke. Female patients had higher prevalence of PSD compared with male patients (31.4 vs. 22.4% 2 weeks after stroke; 20.05 vs. 16.22% 3 months after stroke; 15.04 vs. 11.05% 12 months after stroke). In the acute stage of stroke, female gender (OR 1.686 95%CI 1.155-2.462) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR 1.118 95%CI 1.076-1.162) were independent risk factors for PSD. However, in the chronic stage of stroke, risk factors for PSD were different. At 3 months, NIHSS score (OR 1.082 95%CI 1.037-1.128), smoking (OR 1.772 95%CI 1.163-2.701), and frontal lobe lesion (OR 2.331 95%CI 1.472-3.692) were independent risk factors for PSD. On the other hand, education level (OR 0.693 95%CI 0.486-0.998) was a protective factor. About 12 months after stroke onset, NIHSS score (OR 1.113 95%CI 1.062-1.167) and living alone (OR 3.608 95%CI 1.538-8.466) were risk factors for PSD. CONCLUSION: PSD is common in stroke survivors, and female patients have higher prevalence of PSD. Risk factors for PSD in the acute phase are different from that in the chronic phase of stroke. Female gender is an independent risk factor for PSD in the acute stage of stroke. Smoking, frontal lobe lesion, and living alone are predictive factors for PSD in the chronic stage of stroke. NIHSS score is a risk factor for PSD both in the acute and in the chronic stage of stroke. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underlying the elevated prevalence of PSD in female.

Association of Cumulative Exposure to Resting Heart Rate with Risk of Stroke in General Population: The Kailuan Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It remains unclear whether resting heart rate (RHR), particularly cumulative exposure to resting heart rate (cumRHR), is associated with stroke. The aim of our study was to prospectively explore the relationship between cumRHR and stroke morbidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Kailuan study is a prospective longitudinal cohort study on cerebrovascular events and cardiovascular factors. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a Cox competing risk model. RESULTS: A total of 46,568 participants were included in the final analysis. In the observation population, we identified 851 stroke events and 1012 incident death cases in the 4.98 ± .51 year followed-up. Each 46.74 (beats/min) × year increase in heart rate was associated with a 12% increase in the risk of stroke (HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.05-1.20). In the categorical model, the highest quartile had an increased risk of stroke (HR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.13-1.81), compared with the bottom quartile. Gender and age had no interaction with cumRHR for the risk of stroke. CONCLUSION: Increase of exposure to cumulative heart rate is independently associated with a higher risk of stroke in the general population.

Two-year changes in proteinuria and risk for myocardial infarction in patients with hypertension: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether changes in proteinuria are associated with the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with hypertension. METHODS: The Kailuan study was a prospective longitudinal cohort study on cardiovascular risk factors and events. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox regression models. RESULTS: A total of 24 926 hypertensive patients (mean age: 55.2 ±â€Š10.9 years) without previous MI were included. After a mean follow-up of 6.8 years, 382 (1.5%) individuals developed MI. Participants with proteinuria at baseline had a 60% higher risk for developing MI as compared with participants without proteinuria at baseline (hazard ratio: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.12-2.29) after adjusting for dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and other cardiovascular risk factors. Compared with participants without proteinuria, individuals with incident proteinuria or persistent proteinuria during the follow-up had 54 and 141% higher risks for developing MI, respectively (hazard ratio: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.14-2.09 and hazard ratio: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.59-3.66; all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Proteinuria is associated with an increased incidence of MI, but the association is likely to be underestimated if baseline measurements of proteinuria are used. Measures of changes in proteinuria, particular persistent proteinuria, are more likely to reflect the lifetime risk for MI.

Two-Year Changes in Proteinuria and the Risk of Stroke in the Chinese Population: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Whether changes in proteinuria are associated with incident stroke in the general population is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between changes in proteinuria and incident stroke and its subtypes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The current study included 60 940 Chinese participants (mean age, 50.69 years) who were free of stroke at the time of surveys (2006-2007 and 2008-2009). Participants were divided into 4 categories according to 2-year changes in proteinuria: no proteinuria, remittent proteinuria, incident proteinuria, and persistent proteinuria. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios and their 95% CIs for stroke. After a median follow-up period of 6.92 years, 1769 individuals developed stroke. After adjustment for confounding factors, incident proteinuria and persistent proteinuria were associated with increased risk of stroke (hazard ratio, 1.46 [95% CI, 1.26-1.68] and hazard ratio, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.42-2.06], respectively) compared with no proteinuria, which were higher than proteinuria detected at one single point (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.09-1.43). The effect size for risk of stroke subtypes including ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in proteinuria exposure, particularly persistent proteinuria, are more likely to reflect the risk of stroke, compared with proteinuria collected at a single time point in the general population.

Association of Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein With Prognosis of Stroke and Stroke Subtypes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The association between oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and the long-term prognosis of stroke is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate whether oxLDL levels contribute to the prognosis of stroke and stroke subtypes. METHODS: All patients with ischemic stroke were recruited from the SOS-Stroke (Study of Oxidative Stress in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke) and classified into 5 different subtypes, according to the TOAST criteria (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment). We measured oxLDL levels and followed up with patients at 1 year after stroke onset. We analyzed the association between oxLDL and the clinical outcomes of death and poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 3-6) of stroke and different stroke subtypes. RESULTS: Among the 3688 patients included in this study, 293 (7.94%) were deceased at the 1-year follow-up and 1020 (27.66%) had a poor functional outcome. Patients in the highest oxLDL quartile had a higher risk of 1-year stroke mortality (hazard ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.33; P<0.001) and a poor functional outcome (odds ratio, 1.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.89; P<0.001) compared with the lowest oxLDL quartile. In the subgroup analyses, oxLDL was only significantly associated with death and poor functional outcome in the large-artery atherosclerosis subgroup (P<0.05) and small-artery occlusion subgroup (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High levels of oxLDL were associated with the high risk of death and poor functional outcome within 1 year after stroke onset, especially in large-artery atherosclerosis and small-artery occlusion stroke subtypes.

No Association Between High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Carotid Intima-Media Progression: The APAC Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a risk indicator for atherosclerosis. However, the association between hs-CRP and early carotid atherosclerosis progression is not well established. We undertook a prospective, community-based, observational study to address this question. METHODS: Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and hs-CRP values were measured at baseline and after 2 years of follow-up in subjects ≥40 years of age who were participating in the Asymptomatic Polyvascular Abnormalities Community study. Association between hs-CRP values and IMT progression was determined before and after controlling for vascular risk factors. RESULTS: IMT was measured in a total of 1918 subjects at baseline and 52.97% of those (1016 of 1918) had IMT progression after 2 years. No significant association between progression of IMT over a 2-year period and average hs-CRP levels was found (multivariate-adjusted, P for trend = .280). Both hs-CRP values measured at baseline (P = .836) and after 2 years of follow-up (P = .440) were not associated with IMT progression levels. Average hs-CRP values were not related to IMT progression levels in a dose-response manner (P = .784). In a subgroup analysis stratified by age and sex, hs-CRP values were also not significantly associated with IMT progression levels (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that hs-CRP is not a predictor for the progression of early atherosclerotic changes of the carotid arteries. The hs-CRP levels in early atherosclerosis might be considered as risk markers rather than having a causal role.

A low ankle-brachial index is associated with cognitive impairment: The APAC study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Given the recognized links between atherosclerosis and cognitive impairment, the aim of this study was to examine the association between the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and cognitive impairment in a cross-sectional setting of a Chinese population. METHODS: Participants (n = 3,048, aged ≥40 years, 1727 men and 1321 women) were recruited from the ongoing community-based Asymptomatic Polyvascular Abnormalities Community Study. ABI was measured and a low ABI was defined as <0.9. Cognition status was evaluated via the Mini-Mental Status Exam. Multivariate logistic regression models and linear regression models were used to assess the association between ABI and cognitive impairment. RESULTS: A low ABI was associated with cognitive impairment (odds ratio, OR = 1.983; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.150-3.419), independent of the potential confounders. In addition, a decreasing ABI (per standard deviation) was significantly associated with cognitive impairment in fully adjusted models (OR = 1.156; CI: 1.013-1.319) and with a significant trend of decreasing MMSE scores (ß = 0.703, 95% CI 0.189-1.218, p = 0.0074). Furthermore, the odds of a low ABI associated with cognitive impairment in participants without hypertension and participants with diabetes were 4.924 (CI: 1.860-13.035) and 6.393 (CI: 2.431-16.810), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A low ABI is associated with cognitive impairment, especially in non-hypertensive and diabetic patients.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and metabolic syndrome in general population: the APAC study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is correlated with arterial stiffness and can be evaluated by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). We investigated potential associations between MetS and baPWV in a Chinese community population. METHODS: The community-based Asymptomatic Polyvascular Abnormalities in Community study examined asymptomatic polyvascular abnormalities in a Chinese population aged ≥40 years. The relationship between MetS and its components and baPWV was analyzed by multivariate logistic and linear regression models. RESULTS: Out of 5181 study participants, 1271 subjects (24.53%) had MetS. Mean values of baPWV in subjects with 0, 1, 2,3, 4, and 5 components of MetS were 1430, 1526, 1647, 1676,1740, and 1860 cm/s, respectively (p < 0.001 for trend). After adjusting for confounding risk factors, MetS was significantly associated with baPWV (odds ratio [OR]: 2.74; 95% CI: 2.28, 3.30). Among the five components of MetS, elevated blood pressure was the most important factor for baPWV. All models of multivariate linear regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the increasing numbers of MetS components and baPWV (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: baPWV was associated with MetS and was greater with increasing numbers of MetS components. Elevated blood pressure was the most important factor for baPWV.

Intramyocardial dissection with concomitant left ventricular aneurysm as a rare complication of myocardial infarction: a case report.

We describe a rare case of a 60-year-old woman suffering from intramyocardial dissection and left ventricular aneurysm secondary to acute myocardial infarction. A rare form of ventricular septal rupture resulted from intramyocardial dissection deterioration, which was identified during echocardiographic follow-up. Surgical repair under beating-heart cardiopulmonary bypass was successful.