Adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Serum Urate Concentrations: A Longitudinal Analysis from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

BACKGROUND: Increased serum urate (SU) and hyperuricemia (HU) are associated with chronic noncommunicable diseases and mortality. SU concentrations are affected by several factors, including diet, and are expected to rise with age. We investigated whether the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet alter this trend. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess whether adherence to the DASH diet predicts a longitudinal change in SU concentrations and risk of HU in 8 y of follow-up. METHODS: Longitudinal analyses using baseline (2008-2010, aged 35-74 y), second (2012-2014), and third (2016-2018) visits data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). The inclusion criteria were having complete food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and urinary sodium measurement, in addition to having SU measurement at the 1st visit and at least 1 of the 2 follow-up visits. For the HU incidence analyses, participants had also to be free from HU at baseline. The final samples included 12575 individuals for the SU change analyses and 10549 for the HU incidence analyses. Adherence to DASH diet was assessed as continuous value. HU was defined as SU>6.8 mg/dL and/or urate-lowering therapy use. Mixed-effect linear and Poisson regressions (incidence rate ratio [IRR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) were used in the analyses, adjusted for confounders. RESULTS: The mean age was 51.4 (8.7) y, and 55.4% were females. SU means (standard deviation) were 5.4 (1.4) at 1st visit, 5.2 (1.4) at 2nd visit, and 5.1(1.3) mg/dL at 3rd visit. The HU incidence rate was 8.87 per 1000 person-y. Each additional point in adherence to the DASH diet accelerated SU decline (P< 0.01) and lowered the incidence of HU by 4.3% (IRR: 0.957; 95% CI: 0.938,0.977) in adjusted model. CONCLUSION: The present study findings reinforce the importance of encouraging the DASH diet as a healthy dietary pattern to control and reduce the SU concentrations and risk of HU.

Chronic inflammatory diseases, subclinical atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases: Design, objectives, and baseline characteristics of a prospective case-cohort study ‒ ELSA-Brasil.

OBJECTIVES: This analysis describes the protocol of a study with a case-cohort to design to prospectively evaluate the incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in Chronic Inflammatory Disease (CID) participants compared to non-diseased ones. METHODS: A high-risk group for CID was defined based on data collected in all visits on self-reported medical diagnosis, use of medicines, and levels of high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein >10 mg/L. The comparison group is the Aleatory Cohort Sample (ACS): a group with 10% of participants selected at baseline who represent the entire cohort. In both groups, specific biomarkers for DIC, markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, and CVD morbimortality will be tested using weighted Cox. RESULTS: The high-risk group (n = 2,949; aged 53.6 ± 9.2; 65.5% women) and the ACS (n=1543; 52.2±8.8; 54.1% women) were identified. Beyond being older and mostly women, participants in the high-risk group present low average income (29.1% vs. 24.8%, p < 0.0001), higher BMI (Kg/m2) (28.1 vs. 26.9, p < 0.0001), higher waist circumference (cm) (93.3 vs. 91, p < 0.0001), higher frequencies of hypertension (40.2% vs. 34.5%, p < 0.0001), diabetes (20.7% vs. 17%, p = 0.003) depression (5.8% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.007) and higher levels of GlycA a new inflammatory marker (p < 0.0001) compared to the ACS. CONCLUSIONS: The high-risk group selected mostly women, older, lower-income/education, higher BMI, waist circumference, and of hypertension, diabetes, depression, and higher levels of GlycA when compared to the ACS. The strategy chosen to define the high-risk group seems adequate given that multiple sociodemographic and clinical characteristics are compatible with CID.

Chronic inflammatory diseases, subclinical atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases: Design, objectives, and baseline characteristics of a prospective case-cohort study ‒ ELSA-Brasil

Abstract Objectives This analysis describes the protocol of a study with a case-cohort to design to prospectively evaluate the incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in Chronic Inflammatory Disease (CID) participants compared to non-diseased ones. Methods A high-risk group for CID was defined based on data collected in all visits on self-reported medical diagnosis, use of medicines, and levels of high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein >10 mg/L. The comparison group is the Aleatory Cohort Sample (ACS): a group with 10% of participants selected at baseline who represent the entire cohort. In both groups, specific biomarkers for DIC, markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, and CVD morbimortality will be tested using weighted Cox. Results The high-risk group (n = 2,949; aged 53.6 ± 9.2; 65.5% women) and the ACS (n=1543; 52.2±8.8; 54.1% women) were identified. Beyond being older and mostly women, participants in the high-risk group present low average income (29.1% vs. 24.8%, p < 0.0001), higher BMI (Kg/m2) (28.1 vs. 26.9, p < 0.0001), higher waist circumference (cm) (93.3 vs. 91, p < 0.0001), higher frequencies of hypertension (40.2% vs. 34.5%, p < 0.0001), diabetes (20.7% vs. 17%, p = 0.003) depression (5.8% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.007) and higher levels of GlycA a new inflammatory marker (p < 0.0001) compared to the ACS. Conclusions The high-risk group selected mostly women, older, lower-income/education, higher BMI, waist circumference, and of hypertension, diabetes, depression, and higher levels of GlycA when compared to the ACS. The strategy chosen to define the high-risk group seems adequate given that multiple sociodemographic and clinical characteristics are compatible with CID.

Dose-response associations of clinical markers of obesity and duration of exposure to excess weight with chronic musculoskeletal pain: cross-sectional analysis at baseline of ELSA-Brasil Musculoskeletal cohort.

The objective of this study is to investigate the association of clinical markers of obesity and weight trajectories with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). This is a cross-sectional study using baseline data from ELSA-Brasil MSK cohort. CMP was evaluated at nine body sites (neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, lower back, wrists/hands, hips/thighs, knees, ankles/feet), and defined as pain lasting > 6 months in the past year. General and abdominal obesity levels were classified according to accepted cut-offs for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-height ratio (WHtR). Binomial and multinomial logistic regressions tested for associations with CMP at any site, at ≥ 3 sites (multisite) and in upper + lower limbs + axial skeleton (generalized). A total of 2899 participants (mean age 56.0 ± 8.93) were included, 55.0% reported CMP, 19.1% had multisite, and 10.3% had generalized CMP. After adjustments for sex, age, education, physical activity and depressive symptoms, nearly all the investigated markers of obesity were associated with any CMP, multisite and generalized CMP, with strongest associations being observed for general obesity level II/III: OR 2.08 (95% CI 1.45-2.99), OR 3.19 (95% CI 2.06-4.94) and OR 3.65 (2.18-6.11), respectively. Having excess weight currently or both at age 20 and currently was also associated with all CMP presentations. Associations of greater magnitude were consistently observed at higher obesity levels and longer exposures to excess weight (dose-response). These results may support the contribution of obesity-derived mechanical and inflammatory mechanisms of CMP, and indicate a role for the accumulation of exposure to excess weight across the adult life course.

Measurement properties of Portuguese-Brazil Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) for the assessment of knee complaints in Brazilian adults: ELSA-Brasil Musculoskeletal cohort.

Information on measurement properties of translated versions of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index is still limited. This study investigated the internal consistency, test-retest reliability/agreement, construct validity, and floor and ceiling effects of Portuguese-Brazil WOMAC applied to civil servants at baseline of ELSA-Brasil Musculoskeletal cohort. Each measurement property was evaluated in the overall sample, in the subgroup reporting knee symptoms, and across different sociodemographic strata (except factorial analyses). Separate analyses were performed for pain, stiffness and function dimensions, considering the knee with the worst score (or right knee if same score in both knees). A total of 1740 participants were included (319 completed WOMAC on 2 occasions), mean age 56.0 (standard deviation = 8.9) years, 46.8% male, 42.1% had knee symptoms. In the overall sample, the range of results for WOMAC's dimensions were: internal consistency = cronbach alpha 0.92-0.98; test-retest reliability = intraclass correlation coefficient 0.85-0.97; standard error of measurement (SEM) = 1.38-5.86; smallest detectable change (SDC) = 3.84-16.25; lowest possible score = 38.8%-61.1% (floor effect present); highest possible score = 0.2%-0.9% (ceiling effect absent). Construct validity was confirmed by hypothesis testing and factorial analysis. Results were similar in the symptomatic group, except for higher SEM and SDC, and the absence of floor effects in pain and function dimensions. Portuguese-Brazil WOMAC showed good overall quality in a nonclinical setting. Variability in measurement properties across different strata of the population should be taken into consideration for the design of future studies using WOMAC.

Prevalence of pain and associated factors in Brazilian civil servants: an introductory analysis using baseline data from the ELSA-Brasil cohort.

INTRODUCTION: In Brazil, the prevalence and costs of pain will increase substantially with population ageing. Understanding of pain epidemiology is needed for the development of health care policies that can minimize this projected burden. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of pain and associated factors at baseline of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). METHODS: Data were collected in public institutions of higher education/research (2008-2010). Pain in the past 30 days and pain attributed to psychological distress ("with psychological attributions"-PPA) were evaluated by the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R). The independent t-test and χ2 test investigated associations between sociodemographic/clinical factors and each pain episode. Multivariable analyses including age, sex, leisure-time physical activity, depression, and arthritis/rheumatism, and factors showing univariate associations at the P < 0.10 level, were performed. RESULTS: Fifteen thousand ninety-five civil servants were included (52.1 ± 9.1 years, 54.4% female). The prevalence of any pain was 62.4% (95% confidence interval 61.6%-63.2%), and of PPA was 22.8% (95% confidence interval 22.2%-23.5%). Factors associated with any pain and PPA in multivariable analyses included age (odds ratio [OR] 0.97), female sex (OR 1.86-2.01), moderate and vigorous leisure-time physical activity (OR 0.60-0.84), excessive drinking (OR 0.68-0.83), depressive symptoms (OR 1.28-1.96), anxiety symptoms (OR 1.63-2.45), sleep disturbance (OR 1.62-1.79), and arthritis/rheumatism (OR 1.32-2.18). Nonroutine nonmanual occupation (manual occupation as reference), body mass index, and smoking were independently associated with either any pain or PPA. CONCLUSION: This study provided preliminary information on the epidemiology of pain at baseline of the largest Latin American cohort on chronic noncommunicable diseases.

Psychometric properties of Multidimensional Health Locus of Control - A and General Self-Efficacy Scale in civil servants: ELSA-Brasil Musculoskeletal Study (ELSA-Brasil MSK).

BACKGROUND: Health-related control and self-efficacy beliefs can be assessed in the general population using Multidimensional Health Locus of Control-A subscales (MHLC-A) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), respectively. OBJECTIVE: To test construct validity, internal consistency, reliability (test-retest) and ceiling and floor effects of Portuguese-Brazil versions of MHLC-A and GSES. METHOD: Civil servants (N=2901) enrolled in a large Brazilian cohort were included. A new version of the GSES was produced (GSES-Brazil). Procedures for cross-cultural adaptation and testing of psychometric properties followed well-accepted international guidelines. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses yielded the following indices: MHLC-A (tridimensional model): χ2[df]=223.45[132], p-value <0.01; CFI=0.87; TLI=0.85; RMSEA=0.07 (0.07-0.08); WRMR=3.00. GSES-Brazil (unidimensional model): χ2[df]=788.60[35], p-value <0.01; CFI=0.95; TLI=0.94; RMSEA=0.09 (0.08-0.09); WRMR=2.50. Cronbach's alpha coefficients and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC2,1) ranged from 0.57 (0.54-0.59) and 0.57 (0.47-0.65) for MHLC-A internality to 0.80 (0.79-0.81) and 0.71 (0.66-0.77) for GSES-Brazil, respectively. There was no evidence of ceiling and floor effects. Convergent validity analyses provided further support for construct validity of both scales. CONCLUSION: These findings support the use of the newly developed version of GSES-Brazil for the assessment of general self-efficacy of adult Brazilians. Internal consistency was lower than ideal for MHLC-A, indicating these subscales may need further refinements to provide a more psychometrically sound measure of control beliefs.

Psychometric properties of Multidimensional Health Locus of Control - A and General Self-Efficacy Scale in civil servants: ELSA-Brasil Musculoskeletal Study (ELSA-Brasil MSK)

Abstract Background Health-related control and self-efficacy beliefs can be assessed in the general population using Multidimensional Health Locus of Control-A subscales (MHLC-A) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), respectively. Objective To test construct validity, internal consistency, reliability (test-retest) and ceiling and floor effects of Portuguese-Brazil versions of MHLC-A and GSES. Method Civil servants (N=2901) enrolled in a large Brazilian cohort were included. A new version of the GSES was produced (GSES-Brazil). Procedures for cross-cultural adaptation and testing of psychometric properties followed well-accepted international guidelines. Results Confirmatory factor analyses yielded the following indices: MHLC-A (tridimensional model): χ2[df]=223.45[132], p-value <0.01; CFI=0.87; TLI=0.85; RMSEA=0.07 (0.07-0.08); WRMR=3.00. GSES-Brazil (unidimensional model): χ2[df]=788.60[35], p-value <0.01; CFI=0.95; TLI=0.94; RMSEA=0.09 (0.08-0.09); WRMR=2.50. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC2,1) ranged from 0.57 (0.54-0.59) and 0.57 (0.47-0.65) for MHLC-A internality to 0.80 (0.79-0.81) and 0.71 (0.66-0.77) for GSES-Brazil, respectively. There was no evidence of ceiling and floor effects. Convergent validity analyses provided further support for construct validity of both scales. Conclusion These findings support the use of the newly developed version of GSES-Brazil for the assessment of general self-efficacy of adult Brazilians. Internal consistency was lower than ideal for MHLC-A, indicating these subscales may need further refinements to provide a more psychometrically sound measure of control beliefs.

Progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The progression of carotid atherosclerosis in lupus patients is frequently encountered, and it is determined by both traditional and nontraditional risk factors. Of the 181 patients initially included in the study, 157 patients were reevaluated after 39(37-42) months. The progression of atherosclerosis was defined as the increase in the intima-media thickness (IMT) >0.15 mm and/or an increase of the plaque score. The predictive factors of progression were identified using the Poisson regression model. The median of the cohort age at baseline was 38 years (range 29-46 years; 96.2% female, 75.8% nonwhite). Carotid atherosclerosis progression was observed in 43 patients (27.4%), an increased plaque score was observed in nine patients (5.7%), an increase of IMT >0.15 mm was observed in 31 (19.7%), and both issues were present in three patients (1.9%). The univariate determinants of atherosclerosis progression were age, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) duration, and higher serum level of triglycerides (p < 0.05). The presence of nephrotic proteinuria (p = 0.063), stage 3 or greater chronic kidney disease (p = 0.091), and longer duration of prednisone use (p = 0.056) showed a tendency towards association with progression of atherosclerosis. The independent risk factors for progression were the SLE duration (p = 0.008, RR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.03-1.10) and the presence of nephrotic proteinuria (p = 0.022, RR = 4.22, 95% CI = 2.18-8.15). The progression of atherosclerosis occurred in a substantial number of young SLE patients during a short-term follow-up. The independent factors associated with this progression emphasize the importance of SLE in determining atherosclerosis in these individuals.