Long-term effect of obstructive sleep apnoea management on blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension: the SARAH study.

BACKGROUND: There is a close relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and resistant hypertension (RH). However, studies assessing the long-term effect of diagnosing and treating OSA on blood pressure (BP) control in these patients are lacking. METHODS: To address this gap, we recruited 478 RH patients from hypertension units and followed them prospectively after they were screened for OSA through a sleep study. By performing 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) annually, the effect of OSA management was assessed. RESULTS: The patients had a median (interquartile range (IQR)) age of 64.0 (57.2-69.0) years, 67% were males and most were nonsleepy, with a median (IQR) apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) of 15.8 (7.9-30.7) events·h-1. The median (IQR) follow-up time was 3.01 (2.93-3.12) years. At baseline, severe OSA was associated with uncontrolled BP, nocturnal hypertension and a nondipper circadian BP pattern. Moreover, these patients had higher BP values during follow-up than did patients in the other groups. However, among patients with moderate and severe OSA, the management of sleep disordered breathing, including the implementation of continuous positive airway pressure treatment, was associated with a reduction in 24-h ABPM parameters, especially night-time BP values, at the 1-year follow-up. These benefits were attenuated over time and only subjects with severe OSA maintained an ABPM night-time reduction at 3 years. Furthermore, clinical variables such as uncontrolled BP, sex and age showed a predictive value for the BP response at 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: A favourable long-term decrease in BP was detected by diagnosing and treating OSA in a cohort of RH patients from hypertension units, but over time this decrease was only partially maintained in severe OSA patients.

Sleep and Circadian Health of Critical Survivors: A 12-Month Follow-Up Study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the sleep and circadian health of critical survivors 12 months after hospital discharge and to evaluate a possible effect of the severity of the disease within this context. DESIGN: Observational, prospective study. SETTING: Single-center study. PATIENTS: Two hundred sixty patients admitted to the ICU due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The cohort was composed of 260 patients (69.2% males), with a median (quartile 1-quartile 3) age of 61.5 years (52.0-67.0 yr). The median length of ICU stay was 11.0 days (6.00-21.8 d), where 56.2% of the patients required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) revealed that 43.1% of the cohort presented poor sleep quality 12 months after hospital discharge. Actigraphy data indicated an influence of the disease severity on the fragmentation of the circadian rest-activity rhythm at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups, which was no longer significant in the long term. Still, the length of the ICU stay and the duration of IMV predicted a higher fragmentation of the rhythm at the 12-month follow-up with effect sizes (95% CI) of 0.248 (0.078-0.418) and 0.182 (0.005-0.359), respectively. Relevant associations between the PSQI and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (rho = 0.55, anxiety; rho = 0.5, depression) as well as between the fragmentation of the rhythm and the diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (rho = -0.35) were observed at this time point. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal a great prevalence of critical survivors presenting poor sleep quality 12 months after hospital discharge. Actigraphy data indicated the persistence of circadian alterations and a possible impact of the disease severity on the fragmentation of the circadian rest-activity rhythm, which was attenuated at the 12-month follow-up. This altogether highlights the relevance of considering the sleep and circadian health of critical survivors in the long term.

Obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular risk. / Apnea obstructiva del sueño y riesgo cardiovascular.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction due to recurrent collapse during sleep. This leads to intermittent hypoxia episodes, which, through complex pathophysiological mechanisms, trigger sympathetic overactivation, endothelial dysfunction, hypercoagulation, and metabolic dysregulation. Consequently, other cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes are induced. Furthermore, this enhances target organ damage, affecting the heart, arteries, and kidneys, leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Among the various treatments for OSA, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) has been extensively studied. To date, this treatment has shown mild benefits in reducing blood pressure, particularly noticeable in patients with resistant hypertension. Furthermore, CPAP treatment appears to reduce cardiovascular events, both in primary and secondary prevention, though this benefit is limited to individuals with good compliance (CPAP use ≥4h/night). Future research perspectives in OSA seem to focus on identifying patients in whom the condition significantly influences cardiovascular risk, thus determining those who would benefit the most from treatment in the reduction of cardiovascular risk.

Association between adherence to the mediterranean diet, physical activity, and sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) in a middle-aged population with cardiovascular risk: Insights from the ILERVAS cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (SAHS) is a common sleep disorder influenced by factors like age, gender, and obesity. The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and physical activity have shown health benefits in lung diseases, but their effects on SAHS remain underexplored. METHODS: In a cross-sectional analysis of 678 middle-aged individuals with low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk from the ILERVAS cohort, we assessed adherence to the MedDiet and physical activity levels using validated tools. Sleep parameters, SAHS severity, and excessive daytime sleepiness were evaluated through non-attended cardiorespiratory polygraphy and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Multinomial logistic regression models were employed to assess the relationship between MedDiet adherence, physical activity, and SAHS severity. RESULTS: The prevalence of severe, moderate, and mild SAHS was 15.5%, 23.2% and 36.1%, respectively. We found no significant associations between adherence to the MedDiet, physical activity levels, and the presence or severity of SAHS. However, we noted a significant interaction between MedDiet and physical activity with minimum SpO2 values (p = 0.049). Notably, consuming more than one serving of red meat per day was independently associated with a higher risk of moderate SAHS [OR = 2.65 (1.29-5.44), p = 0.008]. CONCLUSION: Individually, MedDiet adherence and physical activity did not show independent correlations with SAHS. However, when considered together, a minimal but significant effect on minimum SpO2 was observed. Additionally, red meat consumption was associated with a moderate risk of SAHS. Further research is necessary to comprehend the intricate connections between lifestyle factors and sleep-breathing disorders, with a focus on personalized approaches for high-risk populations.

Addressing the unsolved challenges in microRNA-based biomarker development: Suitable endogenous reference microRNAs for SARS-CoV-2 infection severity.

Circulating cell-free microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising biomarkers for medical decision-making. Suitable endogenous controls are essential to ensure reproducibility. We aimed to identify and validate endogenous reference miRNAs for qPCR data normalization in samples from SARS-CoV-2-infected hospitalized patients. We used plasma samples (n = 170) from COVID-19 patients collected at hospital admission (COVID-Ponent project, www.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT04824677). First, 179 miRNAs were profiled using RT-qPCR. After stability assessment, candidates were validated using the same methodology. miRNA stability was analyzed using the geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper algorithms. Stability was further evaluated using an RNA-seq dataset derived from COVID-19 hospitalized patients, along with plasma samples from patients with critical COVID-19 profiled using RT-qPCR. In the screening phase, after strict control of expression levels, stability assessment selected eleven candidates (miR-17-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-30e-5p, miR-106a-5p, miR-151a-5p, miR-185-5p, miR-191-5p, miR-423-3p, miR-425-5p, miR-484 and miR-625-5p). In the validation phase, all algorithms identified miR-106a-5p and miR-484 as top endogenous controls. No association was observed between these miRNAs and clinical or sociodemographic characteristics. Both miRNAs were stably detected and showed low variability in the additional analyses. In conclusion, a 2-miRNA panel composed of miR-106a-5p and miR-484 constitutes a first-line normalizer for miRNA-based biomarker development using qPCR in hospitalized patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

MicroRNA-guided drug discovery for mitigating persistent pulmonary complications in critical COVID-19 survivors: A longitudinal pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection pose a significant global challenge, with nearly 50% of critical COVID-19 survivors manifesting persistent lung abnormalities. The lack of understanding about the molecular mechanisms and effective treatments hampers their management. Here, we employed microRNA (miRNA) profiling to decipher the systemic molecular underpinnings of the persistent pulmonary complications. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We conducted a longitudinal investigation including 119 critical COVID-19 survivors. A comprehensive pulmonary evaluation was performed in the short-term (median = 94.0 days after hospital discharge) and long-term (median = 358 days after hospital discharge). Plasma miRNAs were quantified at the short-term evaluation using the gold-standard technique, RT-qPCR. The analyses combined machine learning feature selection techniques with bioinformatic investigations. Two additional datasets were incorporated for validation. KEY RESULTS: In the short-term, 84% of the survivors exhibited impaired lung diffusion (DLCO  < 80% of predicted). One year post-discharge, 54.4% of this patient subgroup still presented abnormal DLCO . Four feature selection methods identified two specific miRNAs, miR-9-5p and miR-486-5p, linked to persistent lung dysfunction. The downstream experimentally validated targetome included 1473 genes, with heterogeneous enriched pathways associated with inflammation, angiogenesis and cell senescence. Validation studies using RNA-sequencing and proteomic datasets emphasized the pivotal roles of cell migration and tissue repair in persistent lung dysfunction. The repositioning potential of the miRNA targets was limited. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our study reveals early mechanistic pathways contributing to persistent lung dysfunction in critical COVID-19 survivors, offering a promising approach for the development of targeted disease-modifying agents.

Metabolipidomic Analysis in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Discloses a Circulating Metabotype of Non-Dipping Blood Pressure.

A non-dipping blood pressure (BP) pattern, which is frequently present in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), confers high cardiovascular risk. The mechanisms connecting these two conditions remain unclear. In the present study we performed a comprehensive analysis of the blood metabolipidome that aims to provide new insights into the molecular link between OSA and the dysregulation of circadian BP rhythmicity. This was an observational prospective longitudinal study involving adults with suspected OSA who were subjected to full polysomnography (PSG). Patients with an apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5 events/h were included. Fasting plasma samples were obtained the morning after PSG. Based on the dipping ratio (DR; ratio of night/day BP values) measured via 24 h ambulatory BP monitoring, two groups were established: dippers (DR ≤ 0.9) and non-dippers (DR > 0.9). Treatment recommendations for OSA followed the clinical guidelines. Untargeted metabolomic and lipidomic analyses were performed in plasma samples via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Non-dipper patients represented 53.7% of the cohort (88/164 patients). A set of 31 metabolic species and 13 lipidic species were differentially detected between OSA patients who present a physiologic nocturnal BP decrease and those with abnormal BP dipping. Among the 44 differentially abundant plasma compounds, 25 were putatively identified, notably glycerophospholipids, glycolipids, sterols, and fatty acid derivates. Multivariate analysis defined a specific metabotype of non-dipping BP, which showed a significant dose-response relationship with PSG parameters of OSA severity, and with BP dipping changes after 6 months of OSA treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Bioinformatic analyses revealed that the identified metabolipidomic profile was found to be implicated in multiple systemic biological pathways, with potential physiopathologic implications for the circadian control of BP among individuals with OSA.

Key Factors Associated With Pulmonary Sequelae in the Follow-Up of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

Introduction: Critical COVID-19 survivors have a high risk of respiratory sequelae. Therefore, we aimed to identify key factors associated with altered lung function and CT scan abnormalities at a follow-up visit in a cohort of critical COVID-19 survivors. Methods: Multicenter ambispective observational study in 52 Spanish intensive care units. Up to 1327 PCR-confirmed critical COVID-19 patients had sociodemographic, anthropometric, comorbidity and lifestyle characteristics collected at hospital admission; clinical and biological parameters throughout hospital stay; and, lung function and CT scan at a follow-up visit. Results: The median [p25–p75] time from discharge to follow-up was 3.57 [2.77–4.92] months. Median age was 60 [53–67] years, 27.8% women. The mean (SD) percentage of predicted diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) at follow-up was 72.02 (18.33)% predicted, with 66% of patients having DLCO<80% and 24% having DLCO<60%. CT scan showed persistent pulmonary infiltrates, fibrotic lesions, and emphysema in 33%, 25% and 6% of patients, respectively. Key variables associated with DLCO<60% were chronic lung disease (CLD) (OR: 1.86 (1.18–2.92)), duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (OR: 1.56 (1.37–1.77)), age (OR [per-1-SD] (95%CI): 1.39 (1.18–1.63)), urea (OR: 1.16 (0.97–1.39)) and estimated glomerular filtration rate at ICU admission (OR: 0.88 (0.73–1.06)). Bacterial pneumonia (1.62 (1.11–2.35)) and duration of ventilation (NIMV (1.23 (1.06–1.42), IMV (1.21 (1.01–1.45)) and prone positioning (1.17 (0.98–1.39)) were associated with fibrotic lesions. Conclusion: Age and CLD, reflecting patients’ baseline vulnerability, and markers of COVID-19 severity, such as duration of IMV and renal failure, were key factors associated with impaired DLCO and CT abnormalities. (AU)

Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Its Association With Atherosclerotic Plaques in a Cohort of Subjects With Mild–Moderate Cardiovascular Risk

Introduction: Classic cardiovascular risk factors do not explain all the cardiovascular events. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been proposed as a potential and prevalent cardiovascular risk factor. Our study aimed to describe the prevalence of OSA in a middle-aged cohort with mild–moderate cardiovascular risk and evaluate its association with atherosclerotic disease. Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional ancillary study of the ILERVAS project which was aimed to study subclinical arterial disease in a cohort with mild–moderate cardiovascular risk. In a sample of consecutive subjects, we performed a sleep study and evaluate OSA prevalence and its association with carotid and femoral atheroma plaques and atherosclerotic burden. Results: Overall, 966 subjects with a median age of 57 years (25–75th percentile; 52–62) and a body mass index (BMI) of 28.5kg/m2 (25.6–31.6) were included. Of these, 72.6% (69.7%–75.3%) had OSA (apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI)≥5/h); 35.7% (32.8%–38.8%) had mild OSA (AHI 5–14.9/h) and 36.9% (33.9%–39.9%) had moderate/severe OSA (AHI≥15/h). Mean oxygen saturation and the percentage of time with oxygen saturation<90% (CT90) were associated with atherosclerotic burden (eβ (95%CI) 0.932 (0.892, 0.974); 1.005 (1.002, 1.009), respectively) and total plaque (OR (95%CI) 0.88 (0.797,0.971); 1.013 (1.004,1.021), respectively). No association with the AHI or oxygen desaturation index was found. Conclusions: This study confirms a high prevalence of OSA in patients with mild–moderate cardiovascular risk and shows an association between atherosclerotic burden, total and femoral plaque with CT90 and mean oxygen saturation, suggesting the importance of OSA-related hypoxaemia in the induction of atherosclerotic disease. (AU)

Long-term Effect of CPAP Treatment on Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Resistant Hypertension and Sleep Apnea. Data From the HIPARCO-2 Study / Efecto a largo plazo del tratamiento de la presión positiva continua en las vías respiratorias en eventos cardiovasculares en pacientes con hipertensión resistente y apnea del sueño. Datos del estudio HIPARCO-2

Background: There is some controversy about the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the incidence of cardiovascular events (CVE). However, the incidence of CVE among patients with both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) ans resistant hypertension (HR) has not been evaluated. Our objective was to analyze the long-term effect of CPAP treatment in patients with RH and OSA on the incidence of CVE.Methods: Multi-center, observational and prospective study of patients with moderate-severe OSA and RH. All the patients were followed up every 3•6 months and the CVE incidence was measured. Patients adherent to CPAP (at least 4h/day) were compared with those with not adherent or those who had not been prescribed CPAP.Results: Valid data were obtained from 163 patients with 64 CVE incidents. Treatment with CPAP was offered to 82%. After 58 months of follow-up, 58.3% of patients were adherent to CPAP. Patients not adherent to CPAP presented a non-significant increase in the total CVE incidence (HR:1.6; 95%CI: 0.96•2.7; p=0.07). A sensitivity analysis showed that patients not adherent to CPAP had a significant increase in the incidence of cerebrovascular events (HR: 3.1; CI95%: 1.07•15.1; p=0.041) and hypertensive crises (HR: 5.1; CI95%: 2.2•11.6; p=0.006), but the trend went in the opposite direction with respect to coronary events (HR: 0.22; CI95%: 0.05•1.02; p=0.053).Conclusions: In patients with RH and moderate-severe OSA, an uneffective treatment with CPAP showed a trend toward an increase in the incidence of CVE (particularly neurovascular events and hypertensive crises) without any changes with respect to coronary events. (AU)

Antecedentes: Existe cierta controversia sobre el efecto de la presión positiva continua en las vías respiratorias (CPAP) sobre la incidencia de eventos cardiovasculares (ECV). Sin embargo, no se ha evaluado la incidencia de ECV en los pacientes con apnea obstructiva del sueño (AOS) e hipertensión resistente (HR). Nuestro objetivo fue analizar el efecto a largo plazo del tratamiento con CPAP en pacientes con HR y AOS en la incidencia de ECV.Métodos: Estudio multicèc)ntrico, observacional y prospectivo de pacientes con AOS y HR. Cada paciente acudió a revisión cada 3-6 meses y se midió la incidencia de ECV. Se compararon los pacientes con buena adherencia a la CPAP (al menos 4h/día) con aquellos con mala adherencia o aquellos a quienes no se les había indicado la CPAP.Resultados: Se obtuvieron datos válidos de 163 pacientes con 64 eventos de ECV. Se ofreció tratamiento con CPAP al 82%. Despuèc)s de 58 meses de seguimiento, el 58,3% de los pacientes presentaron buena adherencia a la CPAP. Los pacientes con mala adherencia o sin prescripción de CPAP presentaron un aumento no significativo en la incidencia total de ECV (HR: 1,6; IC 95%: 0,96-2,7; p=0,07). Un análisis de sensibilidad mostró que los pacientes con mala adherencia a la CPAP tuvieron un aumento significativo en la incidencia de eventos cerebrovasculares (HR: 3,1; IC 95%: 1,07-15,1; p=0,041) y crisis hipertensivas (HR: 5,1; IC 95%: 2,2-11,6; p=0,006), pero la tendencia fue en la dirección opuesta con respecto a los eventos coronarios (HR: 0,22; IC 95%: 0,05-1,02; p=0,053).Conclusiones: En pacientes con HR y AOS moderada o grave, un tratamiento ineficaz con CPAP mostró una tendencia hacia un aumento en la incidencia de ECV (particularmente eventos neurovasculares y crisis hipertensivas), sin ningún cambio con respecto a los eventos coronarios. (AU)

Rationale and Methodology of the SARAH Trial: Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Resistant Hypertension and Obstructive Sleep Apnea / Justificación y metodología del ensayo clínico SARAH: evolución cardiovascular a largo plazo en pacientes con hipertensión resistente y apnea obstructiva del sueño

Introduction: Patients with resistant hypertension (RH) have a high risk of developing cardiovascular events; therefore, new therapeutic approaches to better control blood pressure may be useful in improving cardiovascular outcomes. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is very high among patients with RH. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been shown to be an effective treatment for reducing blood pressure in patients with RH. Nevertheless, the long-term effect of CPAP treatment on cardiovascular outcomes has not been explored. The main objective of the SARAH study is to assess the impact of OSA and its treatment on cardiovascular outcomes (morbidity and mortality) in patients with RH. Methods: This study is a multi-center, prospective, observational cohort study. A total of 1371 patients with RH will be enrolled in the study and followed once a year for five years. At inclusion, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and a sleep study will be performed in all subjects. Socio-demographic, clinical and cardiovascular variables will be collected at baseline and follow-up. Subsequently, subjects with OSA will be managed according to local standard practice. Based on the OSA diagnosis and its treatment, three cohorts of subjects with RH will be defined: non-OSA, treated OSA and non-treated OSA. Conclusions: This study will contribute to elucidating the long-term impact of OSA treatments on blood pressure control and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with RH. These results will contribute to improve the cardiovascular prognosis of patients with RH

Introducción: Los pacientes con hipertensión resistente (HR) tienen un elevado riesgo de desarrollar eventos cardiovasculares; así, las nuevas estrategias terapéuticas para el control de la presión arterial podrían ser útiles para mejorar los resultados cardiovasculares. La prevalencia de la apnea obstructiva del sueño (AOS) es muy elevada entre los pacientes con HR. Se ha demostrado que la presión positiva continua en la vía aérea (CPAP) constituye un tratamiento efectivo para reducir la presión arterial en pacientes con HR. Sin embargo, todavía no se han estudiado los efectos a largo plazo del tratamiento con CPAP sobre los resultados cardiovasculares. El principal objetivo del estudio SARAH es evaluar el impacto de la AOS y su tratamiento en los resultados cardiovasculares (morbilidad y mortalidad) en pacientes con HR. Métodos: Este es un estudio observacional prospectivo multicéntrico en el que se incluirán 1.371 pacientes con HR, a los cuales se les realizará seguimiento una vez al año durante 5 años. En el momento de la inclusión se realizará a todos los pacientes monitorización ambulatoria de la presión arterial (MAPA), así como un estudio de sueño. Se recogerán las variables sociodemográficas, clínicas y cardiovasculares tanto al inicio del estudio como durante el seguimiento. Posteriormente, los individuos con AOS serán tratados de acuerdo con la práctica clínica estándar de cada centro. Se definirán 3 grupos en función del diagnóstico de AOS y su tratamiento: sin AOS, con AOS en tratamiento, con AOS sin tratar. Conclusiones: Este estudio contribuirá a averiguar el impacto a largo plazo del tratamiento de la AOS en el control de la presión arterial y los resultados cardiovasculares en pacientes con HR. Asimismo, estos resultados contribuirán a mejorar el pronóstico cardiovascular de los pacientes con HR

Medicina de precisión: un viaje a Ítaca / Precision medicine: A modern odyssey

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Estudio de intervención aleatorizado para evaluar la prevalencia de enfermedad ateromatosa y renal ocultas y su impacto en la morbimortalidad: Proyecto ILERVAS / Randomised intervention study to assess the prevalence of subclinical vascular disease and hidden kidney disease and its impact on morbidity and mortality: The ILERVAS project

Antecedentes y objetivos: La enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) y la ateromatosis son 2 enfermedades interrelacionadas que aumentan el riesgo de morbimortalidad cardiovascular. Los objetivos del proyecto ILERVAS son: 1) conocer la prevalencia de enfermedad ateromatosa subclínica y de enfermedad renal oculta; 2) valorar el impacto de su diagnóstico precoz sobre la morbimortalidad cardiovascular y la progresión de la ERC; 3) disponer de una plataforma de datos y muestras biológicas. Métodos: Estudio de intervención aleatorizado. Entre 2015 y 2017 se incluirá a 19.800 personas (9.900 en el grupo de intervención y 9.900 en el grupo control) entre 45 y 70 años, sin antecedentes de enfermedad cardiovascular y que presenten al menos un factor de riesgo cardiovascular, seleccionadas aleatoriamente de los centros de atención primaria (AP) de la provincia de Lérida. Un equipo técnico experto se desplazará con una unidad móvil para realizar las exploraciones basales al grupo de intervención: ecografía arterial (carótida, femoral, transcraneal y aorta abdominal), medición del índice tobillo-brazo, espirometría, detección de los productos de glicación avanzada y analítica seca de sangre y orina. Adicionalmente, se recogerán muestras de sangre y orina que serán almacenadas en el biobanco para identificar nuevos biomarcadores con biología de sistemas. Los participantes serán seguidos hasta 2025 para la identificación de eventos cardiovasculares, cambios de tratamiento y modificación de estilos de vida. Conclusiones: El proyecto ILERVAS permitirá conocer la prevalencia de enfermedad vascular y de enfermedad renal subclínicas, evaluar si su diagnóstico precoz tiene un beneficio en la salud e investigar factores de riesgo emergentes (AU)

Background and objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and atherosclerosis are 2 interrelated diseases that increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objectives of the ILERVAS project are: 1) to determine the prevalence of subclinical arterial disease and hidden kidney disease; 2) to assess the impact of early diagnosis of both diseases on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and also on the progression of CKD; 3) to have a platform of data and biological samples. Methods: Randomized intervention study. From 2015 to 2017, 19,800 people (9,900 in the intervention group and 9,900 in the control group) aged between 45 and 70 years without previous history of cardiovascular disease and with at least one cardiovascular risk factor will be randomly selected from the primary health care centres across the province of Lérida. A team of experts will travel around in a mobile unit to carry out the following baseline tests on the intervention group: Artery ultrasound; (carotid, femoral, transcranial and abdominal aorta); ankle-brachial index; spirometry; determination of advanced glycation end products; dried blood spot and urine spot tests. Additionally, blood and urine samples will be collected and stored in the biobank to identify new biomarkers using omics studies. Participants will be followed up until 2025 for identification of cardiovascular events, treatment changes and changes in lifestyle. Conclusions: The ILERVAS project will reveal the prevalence of subclinical vascular disease and hidden kidney disease, determine whether or not their early diagnosis brings health benefits and will also allow investigation of new risk factors (AU)