Twenty-Four-Hour Central (Aortic) Systolic Blood Pressure: Reference Values and Dipping Patterns in Untreated Individuals.

Central (aortic) systolic blood pressure (cSBP) is the pressure seen by the heart, the brain, and the kidneys. If properly measured, cSBP is closer associated with hypertension-mediated organ damage and prognosis, as compared with brachial SBP (bSBP). We investigated 24-hour profiles of bSBP and cSBP, measured simultaneously using Mobilograph devices, in 2423 untreated adults (1275 women; age, 18-94 years), free from overt cardiovascular disease, aiming to develop reference values and to analyze daytime-nighttime variability. Central SBP was assessed, using brachial waveforms, calibrated with mean arterial pressure (MAP)/diastolic BP (cSBPMAP/DBPcal), or bSBP/diastolic blood pressure (cSBPSBP/DBPcal), and a validated transfer function, resulting in 144 509 valid brachial and 130 804 valid central measurements. Averaged 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime brachial BP across all individuals was 124/79, 126/81, and 116/72 mm Hg, respectively. Averaged 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime values for cSBPMAP/DBPcal were 128, 128, and 125 mm Hg and 115, 117, and 107 mm Hg for cSBPSBP/DBPcal, respectively. We pragmatically propose as upper normal limit for 24-hour cSBPMAP/DBPcal 135 mm Hg and for 24-hour cSBPSBP/DBPcal 120 mm Hg. bSBP dipping (nighttime-daytime/daytime SBP) was -10.6 % in young participants and decreased with increasing age. Central SBPSBP/DBPcal dipping was less pronounced (-8.7% in young participants). In contrast, cSBPMAP/DBPcal dipping was completely absent in the youngest age group and less pronounced in all other participants. These data may serve for comparison in various diseases and have potential implications for refining hypertension diagnosis and management. The different dipping behavior of bSBP versus cSBP requires further investigation.

Pain Characteristics, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: There is unclear evidence that chronic pain may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality. This work evaluated the association between chronic pain, incidence of CVD, and changes in CVD risk factors. METHODS: Cohort of 1091 community-dwelling individuals of at least 60 years, free from CVD at baseline, followed up for 6 years. Data on psychosocial factors and CVD risk factors were obtained through validated questionnaires and laboratory measurements. A pain scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 6 (worst pain) was created according to pain frequency, location, and intensity. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of CVD was 4.2% at 3 years and 7.7% at 5 years of follow-up. Compared to individuals without pain in the first 3 years (2012-2015), those with maintained scores of at least 2 showed a mean reduction of 3.57 (-5.77 to -1.37) METs-h/week in recreational physical activity, a 0.38-point (0.04-0.73) increase in psychological distress, and a 1.79 (1.03-3.11) higher odds of poor sleep. These associations held in the second follow-up period, when individuals with maintained pain also worsened their diet quality. A 1-point increase in the pain scale in 2012 was associated with a 1.21 (1.03-1.42) and 1.18 (0.97-1.44) increased CVD incidence in 2015 and 2017, respectively; none of the studied factors mediated this relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with chronic pain show important reductions in recreational physical activity and deterioration in mental health, sleep, and diet quality, which may well aggravate pain. Future studies should evaluate whether these factors mediate the increased risk of CVD observed in older adults with chronic pain.

Association Between Hearing Loss and Impaired Physical Function, Frailty, and Disability in Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study.

Importance: Several studies have examined the association between hearing loss (HL) and physical function, with inconsistent results. Few used pure-tone thresholds and considered possible confounders in the association. Objective: To examine the association between hearing loss and impaired lower extremity function, frailty syndrome, and disability in older adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: The Seniors-ENRICA-2 is a cohort study that was established in 2015-2017 in Spain. The present study was conducted from December 2015 to June 2017. Data were analyzed from January 2, 2021, to March 10, 2021. This cross-sectional analysis included 1644 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years or older (range, 66-91 years) of both sexes. Participants had hearing threshold measurements and data on impaired lower extremity function, frailty syndrome, and disability. Exposures: Hearing loss defined as pure-tone average greater than 40 dB HL in the better ear for standard frequency (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz), speech frequency (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz), and high frequency (3, 4, and 8 kHz). Main Outcomes and Measures: Impaired lower extremity function was defined with the Short Physical Performance Battery; the frailty syndrome was defined as having at least 3 of the 5 criteria, including weakness, slow walking speed, low physical activity, exhaustion, and weight loss; and disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was evaluated with the Lawton and Brody scale. Results: Of the 1644 participants, 831 were men (50.5%); mean (SD) age was 73.8 (4.3) years. The prevalence of moderate HL was 13.6% at speech frequency. After adjustment for age, sex, lifestyle, comorbidities, impaired cognition, and social isolation, HL in standard frequency was associated with impaired lower extremity function, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.20 (95% CI, 1.25-3.88); the corresponding estimate for the frailty syndrome was 1.85 (95% CI, 0.98-3.49) and for the IADL disability, was 2.25 (95% CI, 1.29-3.94). When considering speech frequency pure-tone average, HL was also associated with impaired function (OR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.57-4.28), frailty syndrome (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.06-3.22), and IADL disability (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.32-3.60). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional analysis of data from the Seniors-ENRICA-2 cohort study, hearing loss was associated with impaired lower extremity function, frailty syndrome, and IADL disability. It may be useful to examine this association with the mechanisms elucidated in further studies.

Ultra-processed Food Consumption and Incident Frailty: A Prospective Cohort Study of Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Ultra-processed food intake has been associated with chronic conditions and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between ultra-processed food intake and incident frailty in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Prospective cohort study with 1,822 individuals aged at least 60 years who were recruited during 2008-2010 in Spain. At baseline, food consumption was obtained using a validated computerized face-to-face dietary history. Ultra-processed foods were identified according to the nature and extent of their industrial processing (NOVA classification). In 2012, incident frailty was ascertained based on Fried's criteria. Statistical analyses were performed with logistic regression and adjusted for the main potential confounders. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, 132 cases of frailty were identified. The fully adjusted risks of frailty across increasing quartiles of the percentage of total energy intake from ultra-processed foods were the following: 0.04 (0.02-0.05), 0.05 (0.03-0.07), 0.09 (0.07-0.12), and 0.11 (0.08-0.14). Results were similar when food consumption was expressed as gram per day/body weight. Regarding ultra-processed food groups, the highest versus the lowest tertiles of consumption of yogurts and fermented milks, cakes and pastries, as well as nonalcoholic beverages (instant coffee and cocoa, packaged juices, and other nonalcoholic drinks, excluding soft drinks) were also significantly related to incident frailty. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of ultra-processed foods is strongly associated with frailty risk in older adults. Substituting unprocessed or minimally processed foods for ultra-processed foods would play an important role in the prevention of age-related frailty. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02804672.

The inflammatory potential of diet is related to incident frailty and slow walking in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Certain foods and dietary patterns have been associated with both inflammation and frailty. As chronic inflammation may play a role in frailty and disability, we examined the association of the inflammatory potential of diet with these outcomes. METHODS: Data were taken from 1948 community-dwelling individuals ≥60 years old from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort, who were recruited in 2008-2010 and followed-up through 2012. Baseline diet data, obtained with a validated diet history, was used to calculate Shivappa's Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), an "a priori" pattern score which is based on known associations of foods and nutrients with inflammation, and Tabung's Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index (EDII), an "a posteriori" pattern score which was statistically derived from an epidemiological study. At follow-up, incident frailty was assessed with Fried's criteria, and incident limitation in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) with the Lawton-Brody index. Statistical analyses were performed with logistic regression, and adjusted for the main confounders. RESULTS: Compared with individuals in the lowest tertile of DII, those in the highest tertile showed higher risk of frailty (odds ratio [OR] 2.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42, 4.44, p-trend = 0.001) and IADL disability (OR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.86, p-trend = 0.035). By contrast, EDII did not show an association with these outcomes. The DII score was associated with slow gait speed, both as a low score in the Short Physical Performance Battery test (OR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.27, 2.62, p-trend = 0.001) and as a positive Fried's criterion (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.51, p-trend = 0.021), which use different thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: DII predicted frailty and IADL while EDII did not. DII is able to measure diet healthiness in terms of physical decline in addition to avoidance of inflammation. REGISTERED ON: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01133093.

Twenty four-hour activity cycle in older adults using wrist-worn accelerometers: The seniors-ENRICA-2 study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed: (a) to provide a detailed description of sleep, sedentary behavior (SED), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) over the complete 24-hours period using raw acceleration data in older adults; and (b) to examine the differences in the 24-hours activity cycle by sex, age, education, and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Population-based cohort comprising 3273 community-dwelling individuals (1739 women), aged 71.8 ± 4.5 years, participating in the Seniors-ENRICA-2 study. Participants wore a wrist-worn ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer for 7 consecutive days, and the raw signal was processed using the R-package GGIR. RESULTS: Participants reached 21.5 mg as mean acceleration over the whole day; 32.3% (7.7 h/d) of time was classified as sleep, 53.2% (12.7 h/d) as SED, 10.4% (148.6 min/d) as LPA, and 4.1% (59.0 min/d) as MVPA. No marked differences were found in sleep-related variables between socio-demographic and BMI groups. However, women showed higher LPA but lower SED and MVPA than men. Moreover, SED increased whereas LPA and MVPA decreased with age. Participants with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 ) accumulated more SED and less LPA and MVPA than those without obesity. As expected, adherence to physical activity recommendations varied widely (9.2%-76.6%) depending on the criterion of MVPA accumulation. CONCLUSION: Objective assessment of the 24-hour activity cycle provides extensive characterization of daily activities distribution in older adults and may inform health-promotion interventions in this population. Women, the oldest old, and those with obesity offer relevant targets of strategies to improve lifestyle patterns.

Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Mortality: A National Prospective Cohort in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prospective association between ultra-processed food consumption and all-cause mortality and to examine the effect of theoretical iso-caloric non-processed foods substitution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A population-based cohort of 11,898 individuals (mean age 46.9 years, and 50.5% women) were selected from the ENRICA study, a representative sample of the noninstitutionalized Spanish population. Dietary information was collected by a validated computer-based dietary history and categorized according to their degree of processing using NOVA classification. Total mortality was obtained from the National Death Index. Follow-up lasted from baseline (2008-2010) to mortality date or December 31th, 2016, whichever was first. The association between quartiles of consumption of ultra-processed food and mortality was analyzed by Cox models adjusted for the main confounders. Restricted cubic-splines were used to assess dose-response relationships when using iso-caloric substitutions. RESULTS: Average consumption of ultra-processed food was 385 g/d (24.4% of the total energy intake). After a mean follow-up of 7.7 years (93,599 person-years), 440 deaths occurred. The hazard ratio (and 95% CI) for mortality in the highest versus the lowest quartile of ultra-processed food consumption was 1.44 (95% CI, 1.01-2.07; P trend=.03) in percent of energy and 1.46 (95% CI, 1.04-2.05; P trend=.03) in grams per day per kilogram. Isocaloric substitution of ultra-processed food with unprocessed or minimally processed foods was associated with a significant nonlinear decrease in mortality. CONCLUSION: A higher consumption of ultra-processed food was associated with higher mortality in the general population. Furthermore, the theoretical iso-caloric substitution ultra-processed food by unprocessed or minimally processed foods would suppose a reduction of the mortality risk. If confirmed, these findings support the necessity of the development of new nutritional policies and guides at the national and international level. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01133093.

Impact of the European and American guidelines on hypertension prevalence, treatment, and cardiometabolic goals.

OBJECTIVES: Unlike the 2018 European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension (ESC/ESH) guideline, the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline has recommended a shift in hypertension definition from blood pressure (BP) 140/90-130/80 mmHg. Further, they proposed somewhat different indications for antihypertensive medication. No data are available on the comprehensive impact of these guidelines in European countries, where physicians do not always follow guidelines from their own continent. We estimated the prevalence of hypertension, recommendations for antihypertensive medication, and cardiometabolic goals achieved in Spain using the ESC/ESH versus ACC/AHA guidelines. METHODS: We analyzed data from a national survey on 12074 individuals representative of the population aged at least 18 years in Spain. BP was measured with standardized procedures. RESULTS: According to the ESC/ESH and ACC/AHA guidelines, hypertension prevalence was 33.1% (95% confidence interval: 32.2-33.9%) and 46.9% (46.0-47.8%), respectively, and antihypertensive medication was recommended for 33.5% (32.7-34.3%) and 37.2% (36.3-38.1%) of adults, respectively. This represents 5.3 more million hypertensive patients and 1.4 more million candidates for medication (for a 40-million-adults' country) using the ACC/AHA versus the ESC/ESH guideline. Participants who were hypertensive under the ACC/AHA but not the ESC/ESH guideline achieved less frequently some cardiometabolic goals (e.g. nonsmoking, reduced salt consumption, LDL cholesterol if hypercholesterolemic, lifestyle medical advice, and treatment with renin-angiotensin-system blockers where indicated) than those who were hypertensive under the ESC/ESH guideline. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the ACC/AHA versus the ESC/ESH guideline would result in a substantial increase in the prevalence of hypertension and the number of adults who should receive medication. There is room for improvement in lifestyles and cardioprotective treatment in individuals with BP of 130-9/80-9 mmHg whether they are called hypertensive (ACC/AHA) or not (ESC/ESH). We suggest that clinical-practice guidelines should consider the public health and costs implications, and not only the evidence on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, of their recommendations.

Habitual Meat Consumption and Changes in Sleep Duration and Quality in Older Adults.

Dietary proteins are sources of some amino acid precursors of two neurotransmitters relevant for biological rhythms, serotonin and melatonin, which are involved in sleep and alertness. Meat is the main source of proteins in many countries. Furthermore, meat consumption is of special interest because it provides high-quality protein as well as saturated and trans fatty acids. However, its effect on sleep patterns is unclear. Thereby, the aim was to examine the association of habitual meat consumption with changes in sleep duration and with sleep quality in older adults. We used data from 1,341 participants in the Seniors-ENRICA cohort aged ≥60 years, followed from 2012 through 2015. Habitual meat consumption was assessed at baseline with a validated diet history. Sleep duration and quality were ascertained both in 2012 and 2015. Analyses were performed with logistic regression and adjusted for socio-demographic variables, lifestyle, morbidity, sleep duration and poor sleep indicators at baseline. During follow-up, 9.0% of individuals increased and 7.9% decreased their sleep duration by ≥2 hours/night. Compared with individuals in the lowest tertile of meat consumption (<87 g/d), those in the highest tertile (≥128 g/d) showed increased incidence of a large decrease (≥2 h) in sleep duration (OR: 1.93; 95% CI:1.01-3.72; p-trend:0.04). Higher consumption of meat was also associated with incidence of snoring (OR:2.06; 95% CI:1.17-3.60; p-trend:0.01) and poor general sleep quality (OR:1.71; 95% CI:1.04-2.82; p-trend:0.03). Each 100 g/d increment in meat intake was associated with a 60% higher risk of both large sleep duration changes and poor sleep quality (OR:1.60; 95% CI:1.07-2.40). Results were in the same direction for red and processed meat and for white meat separately, and among individuals with physical impairment. Higher meat consumption (≥128 g/d) was associated with changes in sleep duration and with poor sleep in older adults.

Prospective Association Between Nut Consumption and Physical Function in Older Men and Women.

BACKGROUND: The beneficial effect of nut consumption preventing cardio-metabolic diseases and cancer suggests that nuts might also protect from physical function impairment in older people since aging-related functional decline shares biological pathways with these chronic diseases. The objective was to examine the association between nut consumption and impairment of physical function in older adults. METHODS: Prospective study with 3,289 individuals aged ≥60 years from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort. In 2008-2010 and 2012 nut consumption was measured with a validated diet history. Participants were followed-up until 2015 to ascertain incident impaired physical function, specifically impaired agility, mobility, grip strength, gait speed, and overall physical function. Statistical analyses were performed with Cox regression and adjusted for the main confounders, including a wide set of socioeconomic, lifestyle, dietary, and morbidity variables. RESULTS: Overall, 65.7% of participants consumed any type of nuts. The mean intake among nut consumers was 15.1 g/d in men and 14.6 g/d in women. Median consumption of nuts was 11.5 g/d in both sexes. Men consuming ≥11.5 g/d of nuts had a lower risk of impaired agility and mobility than those who did not consume nuts; the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval (CI); p for linear trend) were 0.59 (0.39-0.90; p = .01) and 0.50 (0.29-0.90; p = .02), respectively. In women, compared with nonconsumers, the hazard ratio (95% CI; p for linear trend) of impaired overall physical function for nut intake ≥11.5 g/d was 0.65 (0.48-0.87; p = .004). No association was observed between nut consumption and low grip strength and slow gait speed. CONCLUSIONS: Nut consumption was associated with half the risk of impaired agility and mobility in men and with a lower risk of overall physical function impairment in women. The suggested protective effect of nut consumption on physical functioning merits further examination.

Coffee consumption and risk of physical function impairment, frailty and disability in older adults.

PURPOSE: Habitual coffee consumption has been associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Since these diseases are main determinants of functional limitations, we have tested the hypothesis that coffee intake is associated with lower risk of physical function impairment, frailty and disability in older adults. We focused on women and those with obesity, hypertension or type 2 diabetes because they are at higher risk of functional limitations. METHODS: Prospective study with 3289 individuals ≥ 60 years from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort. In 2008-2010 coffee consumption was measured through a validated dietary history. Participants were followed up until 2015 to ascertain incident impaired physical function, frailty and disability, assessed by both self-report and objective measures. RESULTS: Compared with non-drinking coffee, consumption of ≥ 2 cups of coffee/day was associated with lower risk of impaired agility in women (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51-0.97, P trend 0.04) and in those with obesity (HR 0.60; 95% CI 0.40-0.90, P trend 0.04). Intake of ≥ 2 cups of coffee/day was also linked to reduced risk of impaired mobility in women (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.46-0.95, P trend 0.02) and among individuals with hypertension (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.48-1.00, P trend 0.05). Moreover, among subjects with diabetes, those who consumed ≥ 2 cups/day had lower risk of disability in activities of daily living (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.11-0.76, P trend 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In older people, habitual coffee consumption was not associated with increased risk of functional impairment, and it might even be beneficial in women and those with hypertension, obesity or diabetes.

Prevalencia de enfermedad renal crónica en España: impacto de la acumulación de factores de riesgo cardiovascular / Chronic kidney disease in Spain: Prevalence and impact of accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors

INTRODUCCIÓN: La enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) constituye un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron estimar la prevalencia de ERC en España y evaluar el impacto de la acumulación de factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV) en la prevalencia. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Análisis del Estudio de Nutrición y Riesgo Cardiovascular en España (ENRICA), estudio epidemiológico de ámbito nacional, de base poblacional, con una muestra de 11.505 sujetos representativos de la población adulta española. La información se recogió mediante cuestionarios estandarizados, exploración física y colección de muestras de sangre y orina que se analizaron en un laboratorio centralizado. La ERC se definió según las guías KDIGO en curso. Se analizó la relación de la ERC con 10 FRCV (edad, hipertensión arterial, obesidad, obesidad abdominal, tabaquismo, colesterol LDL elevado, colesterol HDL disminuido, hipertrigliceridemia, diabetes y sedentarismo. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de ERC fue del 15,1% (IC 95%: 14,3-16,0). La ERC fue más frecuente en varones (23,1% vs. 7,3% en mujeres), según aumentaba la edad (4,8% en sujetos de 18-44 años, 17,4% en sujetos de 45-64 años, y 37,3% en sujetos ≥ 65 años), y en sujetos con enfermedad cardiovascular (39,8% vs. 14,6% en sujetos sin enfermedad cardiovascular); todas las comparaciones con p < 0,001. La ERC afectó al 4,5% de los sujetos con 0-1FRCV, con un aumento progresivo desde el 10,4 al 52,3% en sujetos con 2 a 8-10FRCV (p de tendencia < 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: La ERC afecta a uno de cada 7 adultos en España, una prevalencia más elevada que la estimada en estudios previos en nuestro país y similar a la observada en Estados Unidos. La ERC afecta particularmente a los varones, a sujetos de edad avanzada o con enfermedad cardiovascular. La prevalencia de ERC aumenta de forma marcada con la acumulación de FRCV, lo que sugiere que la ERC en la población podría considerarse como un trastorno cardiovascular

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem worldwide. We aimed to estimate the CKD prevalence in Spain and to examine the impact of the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a nationwide, population-based survey evaluating 11,505 individuals representative of the Spanish adult population. Information was collected through standardised questionnaires, physical examination, and analysis of blood and urine samples in a central laboratory. CKD was graded according to current KDIGO definitions. The relationship between CKD and 10CVRF was assessed (age, hypertension, general obesity, abdominal obesity, smoking, high LDL-cholesterol, low HDL-cholesterol, hypertriglyceridaemia, diabetes and sedentary lifestyle). RESULTS: Prevalence of CKD was 15.1% (95%CI: 14.3-16.0%). CKD was more common in men (23.1% vs 7.3% in women), increased with age (4.8% in 18-44 age group, 17.4% in 45-64 age group, and 37.3% in ≥ 65), and was more common in those with than those without cardiovascular disease (39.8% vs 14.6%); all P <.001. CKD affected 4.5% of subjects with 0-1CVRF, and then progressively increased from 10.4% to 52.3% in subjects with 2 to 8-10CVRF (P trend <.001). CONCLUSIONS: CKD affects one in seven adults in Spain. The prevalence is higher than previously reported and similar to that in the United States. CKD was particularly prevalent in men, older people and people with cardiovascular disease. Prevalence of CKD increased considerably with the accumulation of CVRF, suggesting that CKD could be considered as a cardiovascular condition

Velocidad de la onda de pulso y presión arterial central: valores normales y de referencia en personas mayores en España / Pulse wave velocity and Central blood pressure: normal and reference values in older people in Spain

No disponible

LDL Cholesterol Rises With BMI Only in Lean Individuals: Cross-sectional U.S. and Spanish Representative Data.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated LDL cholesterol (LDLc) is not strongly associated with obesity or metabolic syndrome (MS), but this relationship repeatedly has been examined assuming a linear association. This study aimed to assess the dose-response relationship between body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) and LDLc and to evaluate its link to metabolic impairment. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants in the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999-2010) (n = 12,383) and the Study on Nutrition and Cardiovascular Risk (ENRICA, 2008-2010) (n = 11,765), representative samples of U.S. and Spanish noninstitutionalized populations, were cross-sectionally investigated. LDLc was modeled with age- and sex-adjusted regressions, with BMI and/or WC as explanatory variables included in models as two-segment linear and natural cubic splines. RESULTS: In NHANES and ENRICA, slopes of the BMI-LDLc association changed (P < 0.001) at BMI 27.1 and 26.5 kg/m2, respectively, forming an inverted U shape. Below these BMI inflection points, LDLc rose 2.30 and 2.41 mg/dL per kg/m2 (both P < 0.001). However, above said points, LDLc declined -0.37 and -0.38 mg/dL per kg/m2 (both P < 0.001). The WC-LDLc relationship was similar to the BMI-LDLc relationship. Accumulation of MS traits was associated with a weakening of the positive BMI-LDLc association among lean participants (below the BMI inflection point). Aging shifted the inflection point of the BMI-LDLc relationship to lower BMI values. CONCLUSIONS: The BMI- and WC-LDLc relationships have inverted U shapes. Diminishing associations between BMI and LDLc might indicate metabolic impairment as a result of aging or other metabolic diseases. In lean individuals, small weight losses might help to lower LDLc for cardiovascular prevention.

Chronic kidney disease in Spain: Prevalence and impact of accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors. / Prevalencia de enfermedad renal crónica en España: impacto de la acumulación de factores de riesgo cardiovascular.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem worldwide. We aimed to estimate the CKD prevalence in Spain and to examine the impact of the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a nationwide, population-based survey evaluating 11,505 individuals representative of the Spanish adult population. Information was collected through standardised questionnaires, physical examination, and analysis of blood and urine samples in a central laboratory. CKD was graded according to current KDIGO definitions. The relationship between CKD and 10CVRF was assessed (age, hypertension, general obesity, abdominal obesity, smoking, high LDL-cholesterol, low HDL-cholesterol, hypertriglyceridaemia, diabetes and sedentary lifestyle). RESULTS: Prevalence of CKD was 15.1% (95%CI: 14.3-16.0%). CKD was more common in men (23.1% vs 7.3% in women), increased with age (4.8% in 18-44 age group, 17.4% in 45-64 age group, and 37.3% in ≥65), and was more common in those with than those without cardiovascular disease (39.8% vs 14.6%); all P<.001. CKD affected 4.5% of subjects with 0-1CVRF, and then progressively increased from 10.4% to 52.3% in subjects with 2 to 8-10CVRF (P trend <.001). CONCLUSIONS: CKD affects one in seven adults in Spain. The prevalence is higher than previously reported and similar to that in the United States. CKD was particularly prevalent in men, older people and people with cardiovascular disease. Prevalence of CKD increased considerably with the accumulation of CVRF, suggesting that CKD could be considered as a cardiovascular condition.

Prospective association between added sugars and frailty in older adults.

Background: Sugar-sweetened beverages and added sugars (monosaccharides and disaccharides) in the diet are associated with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, which are all risk factors for decline in physical function among older adults. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between added sugars in the diet and incidence of frailty in older people. Design: Data were taken from 1973 Spanish adults ≥60 y old from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort. In 2008-2010 (baseline), consumption of added sugars (including those in fruit juices) was obtained using a validated diet history. Study participants were followed up until 2012-2013 to assess frailty based on Fried's criteria. Statistical analyses were performed with logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking status, body mass index, energy intake, self-reported comorbidities, Mediterranean Diet Adherence Score (excluding sweetened drinks and pastries), TV watching time, and leisure-time physical activity. Results: Compared with participants consuming <15 g/d added sugars (lowest tertile), those consuming ≥36 g/d (highest tertile) were more likely to develop frailty (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.34, 3.90; P-trend = 0.003). The frailty components "low physical activity" and "unintentional weight loss" increased dose dependently with added sugars. Association with frailty was strongest for sugars added during food production. Intake of sugars naturally appearing in foods was not associated with frailty. Conclusions: The consumption of added sugars in the diet of older people was associated with frailty, mainly when present in processed foods. The frailty components that were most closely associated with added sugars were low level of physical activity and unintentional weight loss. Future research should determine whether there is a causal relation between added sugars and frailty.

Housing conditions and risk of physical function limitations: a prospective study of community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Poor housing conditions have been associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in old age. Methods: Prospective cohort of 1602 older adults followed from 2012 to 2015. Poor conditions were defined as living in a walk-up building, lacking piped hot water or heating, feeling frequently cold at home, lacking a bathtub/shower, a refrigerator, a washing machine, an own room or a landline. Frailty was assessed with the Fried criteria, lower extremities performance with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) with the Lawton and Brody questionnaire. Results: During follow-up, 55 individuals (4.2%) developed frailty and 107 (7.2%) IADL disability. Mean (SD) SPPB values at baseline and at follow-up were 8.5 (2.5) and 8.6 (2.4), respectively. After multivariate adjustment, participants who lived in homes with ≥1 poor conditions showed a higher risk of frailty (odds ratio [OR] = 2.02; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.09-3.75) and transportation disability (OR = 3.50; 95% CI: 1.38-8.88). Lacking heating and feeling frequently cold were associated with an increased risk of exhaustion (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.00-5.48) and transportation disability (OR = 3.31; 95% CI: 1.07-10.2), respectively. Conclusions: Prevention programs targeting functional limitations in older adults should ensure that they live in suitable housing conditions.

Frailty, Disability, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Frailty and disability are associated with cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, in older people; however, little is known about their association with ambulatory blood pressure (BP). Thus, we assessed the relationship of frailty and disability with ambulatory BP in older adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study of 1047 community-living individuals aged ≥60 years in Spain. MEASUREMENTS: BP was determined with validated devices under standardized conditions during 24 hours. Frailty was defined as having 3 or more of the following criteria: weight loss, low grip strength, low energy, slow gait speed, and low physical activity. Disability was assessed with the Lawton-Brodýs questionnaire on instrumental activities of daily living. Associations with systolic BP (SBP) and dipping (nocturnal SBP decline) were modeled and adjusted for sociodemographic variables, body mass index, lifestyles, antihypertensive drug treatment, comorbidities, 24-hour heart rate, and conventional or ambulatory SBP as appropriate. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 71.7 years (50.8% men); 6% were frail and 8.1% had disability. Compared with nonfrail participants, those with frailty had 3.5 mm Hg lower daytime SBP (P = .001), 3.3% less SBP dipping (P = .003), and 3.6 mmHg higher nighttime SBP (P = .016). Compared with participants who are not disabled, those who are disabled had 2.5 mmHg lower daytime SBP (P = .002), 2.5% less SBP dipping (P = .003), and 2.7 mmHg higher nighttime SBP (P = .011). CONCLUSIONS: In community-dwelling older adults, frailty and disability were independently associated with lower diurnal SBP, blunted nocturnal decline of SBP, and higher nocturnal SBP. These findings may help explain the higher mortality associated with low clinic SBP in frail older subjects observed in epidemiologic studies.

Desigualdades sociales en los factores de riesgo cardiovascular de los adultos mayores de España: estudio ENRICA-Seniors / Social inequalities in cardiovascular risk factors among older adults in Spain: The Seniors-ENRICA study

Introducción y objetivos: Examinar la distribución de los principales factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV) de los adultos mayores de España según su nivel socioeconómico (NSE). Métodos: Estudio transversal realizado en 2008-2010 sobre 2.699 personas representativas de la población española no institucionalizada de edad ≥ 60 años. El NSE se valoró mediante el nivel educativo, la ocupación de los individuos y la ocupación del padre. Los FRCV se midieron de manera estandarizada e incluyeron factores tanto conductuales como biológicos. Resultados: En análisis ajustados por sexo y edad, el mayor nivel educativo se asoció con mayor frecuencia de consumo de alcohol y actividad física en tiempo libre moderados y menos tiempo mirando la televisión. Se observó un gradiente educativo inverso en la frecuencia de obesidad (estudios universitarios frente a primarios o menos, odds ratio [OR] = 0,44; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%], 0,33-0,57; p de tendencia < 0,01), síndrome metabólico (OR = 0,56; IC95% 0,43-0,71; p de tendencia < 0,01), diabetes (OR = 0,68; IC95%, 0,49-0,95; p de tendencia < 0,05) y enfermedad cardiovascular (OR = 0,52; IC95%, 0,29-0,91; p de tendencia < 0,05). La ocupación manual se asoció a mayor frecuencia de muchos FRCV que la ocupación no manual; esta asociación era más fuerte que la observada con la ocupación del padre. Las diferencias en los FRCV según el NSE habitualmente eran mayores en las mujeres que en los varones. Conclusiones: Existen importantes desigualdades en los FRCV de los adultos mayores en España. Reducir estas desigualdades acercando los niveles de los FRCV de los sujetos de menor NSE a los de mayor NSE podría disminuir sustancialmente la prevalencia de FRCV en los adultos mayores (AU)

Introduction and objectives: To examine the distribution of the main cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) according to socioeconomic level (SEL) among older adults in Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in 2008-2010 with 2699 individuals representative of the noninstitutionalized Spanish population aged ≥ 60 years. Socioeconomic level was assessed using educational level, occupation, and father's occupation. The CVRF included behavioral and biological factors and were measured under standardized conditions. Results: In age- and sex-adjusted analyses, higher educational level was associated with a higher frequency of moderate alcohol consumption and leisure time physical activity, and less time spent watching television. An inverse educational gradient was observed for frequency of obesity (odds ratio [OR] in university vs primary level or below education, 0.44; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 0.33-0.57; P-trend < .01), metabolic syndrome (OR = 0.56; 95%CI, 0.43-0.71; P-trend < .01), diabetes (OR = 0.68; 95%CI, 0.49-0.95; P-trend < .05), and cardiovascular disease (OR = 0.52; 95%CI, 0.29-0.91; P-trend < .05). Compared with a nonmanual occupation, having a manual occupation was associated with a higher frequency of several CVRF; this association was stronger than that observed for father's occupation. Differences in CVRF across SELs were generally greater in women than in men. Conclusions: There are significant social inequalities in CVRF among older adults in Spain. Reducing these inequalities, bringing the levels of CVRF in those from lower SEL in line with the levels seen in higher SEL, could substantially reduce the prevalence of CVRF in the older adult population (AU)