Race, Genetic Ancestry, and Estimating Kidney Function in CKD.

BACKGROUND: The inclusion of race in equations to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) has become controversial. Alternative equations that can be used to achieve similar accuracy without the use of race are needed. METHODS: In a large national study involving adults with chronic kidney disease, we conducted cross-sectional analyses of baseline data from 1248 participants for whom data, including the following, had been collected: race as reported by the participant, genetic ancestry markers, and the serum creatinine, serum cystatin C, and 24-hour urinary creatinine levels. RESULTS: Using current formulations of GFR estimating equations, we found that in participants who identified as Black, a model that omitted race resulted in more underestimation of the GFR (median difference between measured and estimated GFR, 3.99 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.17 to 5.62) and lower accuracy (percent of estimated GFR within 10% of measured GFR [P10], 31%; 95% CI, 24 to 39) than models that included race (median difference, 1.11 ml per minute per 1.73 m2; 95% CI, -0.29 to 2.54; P10, 42%; 95% CI, 34 to 50). The incorporation of genetic ancestry data instead of race resulted in similar estimates of the GFR (median difference, 1.33 ml per minute per 1.73 m2; 95% CI, -0.12 to 2.33; P10, 42%; 95% CI, 34 to 50). The inclusion of non-GFR determinants of the serum creatinine level (e.g., body-composition metrics and urinary excretion of creatinine) that differed according to race reported by the participants and genetic ancestry did not eliminate the misclassification introduced by removing race (or ancestry) from serum creatinine-based GFR estimating equations. In contrast, the incorporation of race or ancestry was not necessary to achieve similarly statistically unbiased (median difference, 0.33 ml per minute per 1.73 m2; 95% CI, -1.43 to 1.92) and accurate (P10, 41%; 95% CI, 34 to 49) estimates in Black participants when GFR was estimated with the use of cystatin C. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the serum creatinine level to estimate the GFR without race (or genetic ancestry) introduced systematic misclassification that could not be eliminated even when numerous non-GFR determinants of the serum creatinine level were accounted for. The estimation of GFR with the use of cystatin C generated similar results while eliminating the negative consequences of the current race-based approaches. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and others.).

Factors Associated With Non-vaccination for Influenza Among Patients With CKD: Findings From the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Vaccination for influenza is strongly recommended for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to their immunocompromised state. Identifying risk factors for not receiving an influenza vaccine (non-vaccination) could inform strategies for improving vaccine uptake in this high-risk population. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 3,692 Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study (CRIC) participants. EXPOSURE: Demographic factors, social determinants of health, clinical conditions, and health behaviors. OUTCOME: Influenza non-vaccination, which was assessed based on a receipt of influenza vaccine ascertained during annual clinic visits in a subset of participants who were under nephrology care. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Mixed-effects Poisson models to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs). RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2020, the pooled mean vaccine uptake was 72% (mean age, 66 years; 44% female; 44% Black race). In multivariable models, factors significantly associated with influenza non-vaccination were younger age (APR, 2.16 [95% CI, 1.85-2.52] for<50 vs≥75 years), Black race (APR, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.43-1.75] vs White race), lower education (APR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.04-1.39 for less than high school vs college graduate]), lower annual household income (APR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.06-1.49] for <$20,000 vs >$100,000), formerly married status (APR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.09-1.35] vs currently married), and nonemployed status (APR, 1.13 [95% CI, 1.02-1.24] vs employed). In contrast, participants with diabetes (APR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.73-0.87] vs no diabetes), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (APR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.70-0.92] vs no COPD), end-stage kidney disease (APR, 0.64 [0.56 to 0.76] vs estimated glomerular filtration rate≥60mL/min/1.73m2), frailty (APR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.74-0.99] vs no frailty), and ideal physical activity (APR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.82-0.99] vs. physically inactive) were less likely to have non-vaccination status. LIMITATIONS: Possible residual confounding. CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with CKD receiving nephrology care, younger adults, Black individuals, and those with adverse social determinants of health were more likely to have the influenza non-vaccination status. Strategies are needed to address these disparities and reduce barriers to vaccination. PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Identifying risk factors for not receiving an influenza vaccine ("non-vaccination") in people living with kidney disease, who are at risk of influenza and its complications, could inform strategies for improving vaccine uptake. In this study, we examined whether demographic factors, social determinants of health, and clinical conditions were linked to the status of not receiving an influenza vaccine among people living with kidney disease and receiving nephrology care. We found that younger adults, Black individuals, and those with adverse social determinants of health were more likely to not receive the influenza vaccine. These findings suggest the need for strategies to address these disparities and reduce barriers to vaccination in people living with kidney disease.

Adherence to Plant-Based Diets and Risk of CKD Progression and All-Cause Mortality: Findings From the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that generally healthy individuals who consume diets rich in plant foods have a lower risk of incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the prospective associations of plant-based diets with the risk of CKD progression and all-cause mortality in individuals with CKD. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 2,539 participants with CKD recruited between 2003-2008 into the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. EXPOSURE: Responses on the Diet History Questionnaire were used to calculate scores for the overall plant-based diet index, healthy plant-based diet index, and unhealthy plant-based diet index. OUTCOME: (1) CKD progression defined as≥50% estimated glomerular filtration rate decline from baseline or kidney replacement therapy (dialysis, transplant) and (2) all-cause mortality. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Cox proportional hazards models to compute hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals adjusting for lifestyle, socioeconomic, and clinical covariates. RESULTS: There were 977 CKD progression events and 836 deaths during a median follow-up period of 7 and 12 years, respectively. Participants with the highest versus lowest adherence to overall plant-based diets and healthy plant-based diets had 26% (HR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.62-0.88], P trend<0.001) and 21% (HR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.66-0.95], P trend=0.03) lower risks of all-cause mortality, respectively. Each 10-point higher score of unhealthy plant-based diets was modestly associated with a higher risk of CKD progression (HR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.03-1.25) and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.00-1.23). LIMITATIONS: Self-reported diet may be subject to measurement error. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to an overall plant-based diet and a healthy plant-based diet is associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among individuals with CKD. An unhealthy plant-based was associated with an elevated risk of CKD progression and all-cause mortality. PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Plant-based diets are healthful dietary patterns that have been linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases. However, the impact of plant-based diets on clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not well established. In 2,539 individuals with CKD, we examined the associations of adherence to 3 different types of plant-based diets with the risks of CKD progression and all-cause mortality. We found that following an overall plant-based diet and a healthy plant-based diet was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. By contrast, following an unhealthy plant-based diet was associated with a higher risk of CKD progression and all-cause mortality. These results suggest that the quality of plant-based diets may be important for CKD management.

Social, Behavioral, and Metabolic Risk Factors and Racial Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in U.S. Adults : An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is persistently higher in the Black population than in other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. OBJECTIVE: To examine the degree to which social, behavioral, and metabolic risk factors are associated with CVD mortality and the extent to which racial differences in CVD mortality persist after these factors are accounted for. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) 1999 to 2018. PARTICIPANTS: A nationally representative sample of 50 808 persons aged 20 years or older. MEASUREMENTS: Data on social, behavioral, and metabolic factors were collected in each NHANES survey using standard methods. Deaths from CVD were ascertained from linkage to the National Death Index with follow-up through 2019. RESULTS: Over an average of 9.4 years of follow-up, 2589 CVD deaths were confirmed. The age- and sex-standardized rates of CVD mortality were 484.7 deaths per 100 000 person-years in Black participants, 384.5 deaths per 100 000 person-years in White participants, 292.4 deaths per 100 000 person-years in Hispanic participants, and 255.1 deaths per 100 000 person-years in other race groups. In a multiple Cox regression analysis adjusted for all measured risk factors simultaneously, several social (unemployment, low family income, food insecurity, lack of home ownership, and unpartnered status), behavioral (current smoking, lack of leisure-time physical activity, and sleep <6 or >8 h/d), and metabolic (obesity, hypertension, and diabetes) risk factors were associated with a significantly higher risk for CVD death. After adjustment for these metabolic, behavioral, and social risk factors separately, hazard ratios of CVD mortality for Black compared with White participants were attenuated from 1.54 (95% CI, 1.34 to 1.77) to 1.34 (CI, 1.16 to 1.55), 1.31 (CI, 1.15 to 1.50), and 1.04 (CI, 0.90 to 1.21), respectively. LIMITATION: Causal contributions of social, behavioral, and metabolic risk factors to racial and ethnic disparities in CVD mortality could not be established. CONCLUSION: The Black-White difference in CVD mortality diminished after adjustment for behavioral and metabolic risk factors and completely dissipated with adjustment for social determinants of health in the U.S. population. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Institutes of Health.

Leveraging Implementation Science for Cardiovascular Health Equity: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Reducing cardiovascular disease disparities will require a concerted, focused effort to better adopt evidence-based interventions, in particular, those that address social determinants of health, in historically marginalized populations (ie, communities excluded on the basis of social identifiers like race, ethnicity, and social class and subject to inequitable distribution of social, economic, physical, and psychological resources). Implementation science is centered around stakeholder engagement and, by virtue of its reliance on theoretical frameworks, is custom built for addressing research-to-practice gaps. However, little guidance exists for how best to leverage implementation science to promote cardiovascular health equity. This American Heart Association scientific statement was commissioned to define implementation science with a cardiovascular health equity lens and to evaluate implementation research that targets cardiovascular inequities. We provide a 4-step roadmap and checklist with critical equity considerations for selecting/adapting evidence-based practices, assessing barriers and facilitators to implementation, selecting/using/adapting implementation strategies, and evaluating implementation success. Informed by our roadmap, we examine several organizational, community, policy, and multisetting interventions and implementation strategies developed to reduce cardiovascular disparities. We highlight gaps in implementation science research to date aimed at achieving cardiovascular health equity, including lack of stakeholder engagement, rigorous mixed methods, and equity-informed theoretical frameworks. We provide several key suggestions, including the need for improved conceptualization and inclusion of social and structural determinants of health in implementation science, and the use of adaptive, hybrid effectiveness designs. In addition, we call for more rigorous examination of multilevel interventions and implementation strategies with the greatest potential for reducing both primary and secondary cardiovascular disparities.

Prediction of End-Stage Kidney Disease Using Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate With and Without Race : A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: New estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations removed race adjustment, but the impact of its removal on prediction of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To compare the ESKD prediction performance of different eGFR equations. DESIGN: Observational, prospective cohort study. SETTING: 7 U.S. clinical centers. PARTICIPANTS: 3873 participants with chronic kidney disease (CKD) from the CRIC (Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort) Study contributing 13 902 two-year risk periods. MEASUREMENTS: ESKD was defined as initiation of dialysis or transplantation. eGFR was calculated using 5 Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations based on serum creatinine and/or cystatin C, with or without race adjustment. The predicted 2-year risk for ESKD was calculated using the 4-variable Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE). We evaluated the prediction performance of eGFR equations and the KFRE score using discrimination and calibration analyses. RESULTS: During a maximum 16 years of follow-up, 856 participants developed ESKD. Across all eGFR equations, the KFRE score was superior for predicting 2-year incidence of ESKD compared with eGFR alone (area under the curve ranges, 0.945 to 0.954 vs. 0.900 to 0.927). Prediction performance of KFRE scores using different eGFR equations was similar, but the creatinine equation without race adjustment improved calibration among Black participants. Among all participants, compared with an eGFR less than 20 mL/min/1.73 m2, a KFRE score greater than 20% had similar specificity for predicting 2-year ESKD risk (ranges, 0.94 to 0.97 vs. 0.95 to 0.98) but higher sensitivity (ranges, 0.68 to 0.78 vs. 0.42 to 0.66). LIMITATION: Data are solely from the United States. CONCLUSION: The KFRE score better predicts 2-year risk for ESKD compared with eGFR alone, regardless of race adjustment. The creatinine equation with age and sex may improve calibration among Black patients. A KFRE score greater than 20% showed high specificity and sensitivity for predicting 2-year risk for ESKD. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Institutes of Health.

Association of Proximal Tubular Secretory Clearance with Long-Term Decline in Cognitive Function.

BACKGROUND: People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk for cognitive impairment and progressive cognitive decline. Retention of protein-bound organic solutes that are normally removed by tubular secretion is hypothesized to contribute to cognitive impairment in CKD. METHODS: We followed 2362 participants who were initially free of cognitive impairment and stroke in the prospective Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. We estimated tubular secretory clearance by the 24-hour kidney clearances of eight endogenous solutes that are primarily eliminated by tubular secretion. CRIC study investigators assessed participants' cognitive function annually using the Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS) Examination. Cognitive decline was defined as a sustained decrease of more than five points in the 3MS score from baseline. Using Cox regression models adjusted for potential confounders, we analyzed associations between secretory solute clearances, serum solute concentrations, and cognitive decline. RESULTS: The median number of follow-up 3MS examinations was six per participant. There were 247 incident cognitive decline events over a median of 9.1 years of follow-up. Lower kidney clearances of five of the eight secretory solutes (cinnamoylglycine, isovalerylglycine, kynurenic acid, pyridoxic acid, and tiglylglycine) were associated with cognitive decline after adjustment for baseline eGFR, proteinuria, and other confounding variables. Effect sizes ranged from a 17% to a 34% higher risk of cognitive decline per 50% lower clearance. In contrast, serum concentrations of the solutes were not associated with cognitive decline. CONCLUSIONS: Lower kidney clearances of secreted solutes are associated with incident global cognitive decline in a prospective study of CKD, independent of eGFR. Further work is needed to determine the domains of cognition most affected by decreased secretory clearance and the mechanisms of these associations.

Adherence to Healthy Dietary Patterns and Risk of CKD Progression and All-Cause Mortality: Findings From the CRIC (Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort) Study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Current dietary guidelines recommend that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) restrict individual nutrients, such as sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein. This approach can be difficult for patients to implement and ignores important nutrient interactions. Dietary patterns are an alternative method to intervene on diet. Our objective was to define the associations of 4 healthy dietary patterns with risk for CKD progression and all-cause mortality among people with CKD. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 2,403 participants aged 21 to 74 years with estimated glomerular filtration rates of 20 to 70mL/min/1.73m2 and dietary data in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. EXPOSURES: Healthy Eating Index-2015, Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010, alternate Mediterranean diet (aMed), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet scores were calculated from food frequency questionnaires. OUTCOMES: (1) CKD progression defined as≥50% estimated glomerular filtration rate decline, kidney transplantation, or dialysis and (2) all-cause mortality. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical covariates to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: There were 855 cases of CKD progression and 773 deaths during a maximum of 14 years. Compared with participants with the lowest adherence, the most highly adherent tertile of Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010, aMed, and DASH had lower adjusted risk for CKD progression, with the strongest results for aMed (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.90). Compared with participants with the lowest adherence, the highest adherence tertiles for all scores had lower adjusted risk for all-cause mortality for each index (24%-31% lower risk). LIMITATIONS: Self-reported dietary intake. CONCLUSIONS: Greater adherence to several healthy dietary patterns is associated with lower risk for CKD progression and all-cause mortality among people with CKD. Guidance to adopt healthy dietary patterns can be considered as a strategy for managing CKD.

Longitudinal Changes in Prorenin and Renin in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Prorenin, a precursor of renin, and renin play an important role in regulation of the renin-angiotensin system. More recently, receptor-bound prorenin has been shown to activate intracellular signaling pathways that mediate fibrosis, independent of angiotensin II. Prorenin and renin may thus be of physiologic significance in CKD, but their plasma concentrations have not been well characterized in CKD. METHODS: We evaluated distribution and longitudinal changes of prorenin and renin concentrations in the plasma samples collected at follow-up years 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study, an ongoing longitudinal observational study of 3,939 adults with CKD. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression of log-transformed values were used to describe cross-sectional and longitudinal variation and associations with participant characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 3,361 CRIC participants had plasma available for analysis at year 1. The mean age (±standard deviation, SD) was 59 ± 11 years, and the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, ± SD) was 43 ± 17 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Median (interquartile range) values of plasma prorenin and renin at study entry were 4.4 (2.1, 8.8) ng/mL and 2.0 (0.8, 5.9) ng/dL, respectively. Prorenin and renin were positively correlated (Spearman correlation 0.51, p < 0.001) with each other. Women and non-Hispanic blacks had lower prorenin and renin values at year 1. Diabetes, lower eGFR, and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, statins, and diuretics were associated with higher levels. Prorenin and renin decreased by a mean of 2 and 5% per year, respectively. Non-Hispanic black race and eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 at year 1 predicted a steeper decrease in prorenin and renin over time. In addition, each increase in urinary sodium excretion by 2 SDs at year 1 increased prorenin and renin levels by 4 and 5% per year, respectively. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: The cross-sectional clinical factors associated with prorenin and renin values were similar. Overall, both plasma prorenin and renin concentrations decreased over the years, particularly in those with severe CKD at study entry.

Implementation of Multifaceted Patient-Centered Treatment Strategies for Intensive Blood Pressure Control (IMPACTS): Rationale and design of a cluster-randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) reported that intensive blood pressure (BP) treatment reduced cardiovascular disease and mortality compared to standard BP treatment in hypertension patients. The next important question is how to implement more intensive BP treatment in real-world clinical practice. We designed an effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial to simultaneously test the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention for intensive BP treatment and its feasibility, fidelity, and sustainability in underserved hypertension patients. METHODS: Implementation of Multifaceted Patient-Centered Treatment Strategies for Intensive Blood Pressure Control (IMPACTS) is a cluster randomized trial conducted in 36 Federally Qualified Health Center clinics in Louisiana and Mississippi. Federally Qualified Health Center clinics were randomized to either a multifaceted intervention for intensive BP treatment, including protocol-based treatment using the SPRINT intensive BP management algorithm, dissemination of SPRINT findings, BP audit and feedback, home BP monitoring, and health coaching, or enhanced usual care. Difference in mean systolic BP change from baseline to 18 months is the primary clinical effectiveness outcome, and intervention fidelity, measured by treatment intensification and medication adherence, is the primary implementation outcome. The planned sample size of 1,260 participants (36 clinics with 35 participants each) has 90% power to detect a 5.0-mm Hg difference in systolic BP at a .05 significance level and 80% follow-up rate. CONCLUSIONS: IMPACTS will generate critical data on the effectiveness and implementation of a multifaceted intervention for intensive BP treatment in real-world clinical practice and could directly impact the BP-related disease burden in minority and low-income populations in the United States.

Comparison of the 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guideline with Earlier Guidelines on Estimated Reductions in Cardiovascular Disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the recommendations of the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association hypertension guideline and to compare it with previous guidelines on potential cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality risk reductions. RECENT FINDINGS: Compared with previous guidelines, the 2017 hypertension guideline increased the prevalence of hypertension and the number of adults recommended for antihypertensive therapy in the US population. Based on data from recent analyses, the new guideline effectively directs antihypertensive therapy toward individuals at higher CVD risk. Two recent analyses using US national data estimated that implementation of the 2017 hypertension guideline could further reduce hundreds of thousands of CVD events and deaths compared with previous guidelines. However, the new guideline might increase the number of adverse events. The new guideline also improves the number of individuals needed to treat to prevent CVD events and deaths, suggesting implementation is cost-effective. Implementation of the 2017 hypertension guideline is projected to substantially reduce CVD events and deaths in the USA but might increase the number of adverse events. Future research is needed to implement and scale up effective, equitable, and sustainable strategies for applying the new guideline in daily clinical practice.

Comparative Effectiveness of Implementation Strategies for Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: The prevalence of hypertension is high and is increasing worldwide, whereas the proportion of controlled hypertension is low. Purpose: To assess the comparative effectiveness of 8 implementation strategies for blood pressure (BP) control in adults with hypertension. Data Sources: Systematic searches of MEDLINE and Embase from inception to September 2017 with no language restrictions, supplemented with manual reference searches. Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials lasting at least 6 months comparing the effect of implementation strategies versus usual care on BP reduction in adults with hypertension. Data Extraction: Two investigators independently extracted data and assessed study quality. Data Synthesis: A total of 121 comparisons from 100 articles with 55 920 hypertensive patients were included. Multilevel, multicomponent strategies were most effective for systolic BP reduction, including team-based care with medication titration by a nonphysician (-7.1 mm Hg [95% CI, -8.9 to -5.2 mm Hg]), team-based care with medication titration by a physician (-6.2 mm Hg [CI, -8.1 to -4.2 mm Hg]), and multilevel strategies without team-based care (-5.0 mm Hg [CI, -8.0 to -2.0 mm Hg]). Patient-level strategies resulted in systolic BP changes of -3.9 mm Hg (CI, -5.4 to -2.3 mm Hg) for health coaching and -2.7 mm Hg (CI, -3.6 to -1.7 mm Hg) for home BP monitoring. Similar trends were seen for diastolic BP reduction. Limitation: Sparse data from low- and middle-income countries; few trials of some implementation strategies, such as provider training; and possible publication bias. Conclusion: Multilevel, multicomponent strategies, followed by patient-level strategies, are most effective for BP control in patients with hypertension and should be used to improve hypertension control. Primary Funding Source: National Institutes of Health.

Global Disparities of Hypertension Prevalence and Control: A Systematic Analysis of Population-Based Studies From 90 Countries.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the leading preventable cause of premature death worldwide. We examined global disparities of hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in 2010 and compared secular changes from 2000 to 2010. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE from 1995 through 2014 and supplemented with manual searches of retrieved article references. We included 135 population-based studies of 968 419 adults from 90 countries. Sex- and age-specific hypertension prevalences from each country were applied to population data to calculate regional and global numbers of hypertensive adults. Proportions of awareness, treatment, and control from each country were applied to hypertensive populations to obtain regional and global estimates. RESULTS: In 2010, 31.1% (95% confidence interval, 30.0%-32.2%) of the world's adults had hypertension; 28.5% (27.3%-29.7%) in high-income countries and 31.5% (30.2%-32.9%) in low- and middle-income countries. An estimated 1.39 (1.34-1.44) billion people had hypertension in 2010: 349 (337-361) million in high-income countries and 1.04 (0.99-1.09) billion in low- and middle-income countries. From 2000 to 2010, the age-standardized prevalence of hypertension decreased by 2.6% in high-income countries, but increased by 7.7% in low- and middle-income countries. During the same period, the proportions of awareness (58.2% versus 67.0%), treatment (44.5% versus 55.6%), and control (17.9% versus 28.4%) increased substantially in high-income countries, whereas awareness (32.3% versus 37.9%) and treatment (24.9% versus 29.0%) increased less, and control (8.4% versus 7.7%) even slightly decreased in low- and middle-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Global hypertension disparities are large and increasing. Collaborative efforts are urgently needed to combat the emerging hypertension burden in low- and middle-income countries.

Urinary Sodium and Potassium Excretion and CKD Progression.

CKD is a major risk factor for ESRD, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Whether dietary sodium and potassium intake affect CKD progression remains unclear. We prospectively studied the association of urinary sodium and potassium excretion with CKD progression and all-cause mortality among 3939 patients with CKD in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study. Urinary sodium and potassium excretion were measured using three 24-hour urine specimens, and CKD progression was defined as incident ESRD or halving of eGFR. During follow-up, 939 CKD progression events and 540 deaths occurred. Compared with the lowest quartile of urinary sodium excretion (<116.8 mmol/24 h), hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest quartile of urinary sodium excretion (≥194.6 mmol/24 h) were 1.54 (1.23 to 1.92) for CKD progression, 1.45 (1.08 to 1.95) for all-cause mortality, and 1.43 (1.18 to 1.73) for the composite outcome of CKD progression and all-cause mortality after adjusting for multiple covariates, including baseline eGFR. Additionally, compared with the lowest quartile of urinary potassium excretion (<39.4 mmol/24 h), hazard ratios for the highest quartile of urinary potassium excretion (≥67.1 mmol/24 h) were 1.59 (1.25 to 2.03) for CKD progression, 0.98 (0.71 to 1.35) for all-cause mortality, and 1.42 (1.15 to 1.74) for the composite outcome. These data indicate that high urinary sodium and potassium excretion are associated with increased risk of CKD progression. Clinical trials are warranted to test the effect of sodium and potassium reduction on CKD progression.

Effect of a Community Health Worker-Led Multicomponent Intervention on Blood Pressure Control in Low-Income Patients in Argentina: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Despite extensive knowledge of hypertension treatment, the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension is high and increasing in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: To test whether a community health worker-led multicomponent intervention would improve blood pressure (BP) control among low-income patients with hypertension. Design, Setting, and Participants: A cluster randomized trial was conducted in 18 centers for primary health care within a national public system providing free medications and health care to uninsured patients in Argentina. A total of 1432 low-income adult patients with uncontrolled hypertension were recruited between June 2013 and April 2015 and followed up to October 2016. Interventions: Nine centers (743 patients) were randomized to the multicomponent intervention, which included a community health worker-led home intervention (health coaching, home BP monitoring, and BP audit and feedback), a physician intervention, and a text-messaging intervention over 18 months. Nine centers (689 patients) were randomized to usual care. Main Outcomes and Measures: The coprimary outcomes were the differences in systolic and diastolic BP changes from baseline to the end of follow-up of patients with hypertension. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients with controlled hypertension (BP <140/90 mm Hg). Three BP measurements were obtained at each of 2 baseline and 2 termination visits using a standard protocol, the means of which were used for analyses. Results: Of 1432 participants (mean age, 55.8 years [SD, 13.3]; 772 women [53.0%]), 1357 (94.8%) completed the trial. Baseline mean systolic BP was 151.7 mm Hg for the intervention group and 149.8 mm Hg for the usual care group; the mean diastolic BP was 92.2 mm Hg for the intervention group and 90.1 mm Hg for the usual care group. Systolic BP reduction from baseline to month 18 was 19.3 mm Hg (95% CI, 17.9-20.8 mm Hg) for the intervention group and 12.7 mm Hg (95% CI, 11.3-14.2 mm Hg) for the usual care group; the difference in the reduction was 6.6 mm Hg (95% CI, 4.6-8.6; P < .001). Diastolic BP decreased by 12.2 mm Hg (95% CI, 11.2-13.2 mm Hg) in the intervention group and 6.9 mm Hg (95% CI, 5.9-7.8 mm Hg) in the control group; the difference in the reduction was 5.4 mm Hg (95% CI, 4.0-6.8 mm Hg; P < .001). The proportion of patients with controlled hypertension increased from 17.0% at baseline to 72.9% at 18 months in the intervention group and from 17.6% to 52.2% in the usual care group; the difference in the increase was 20.6% (95% CI, 15.4%-25.9%; P < .001). No adverse events were reported. Conclusions and Relevance: Low-income patients in Argentina with uncontrolled hypertension who participated in a community health worker-led multicomponent intervention experienced a greater decrease in systolic and diastolic BP than did patients who received usual care over 18 months. Further research is needed to assess generalizability and cost-effectiveness of this intervention and to understand which components may have contributed most to the outcome. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01834131.

Sodium Excretion and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

IMPORTANCE: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with the general population. Prior studies have produced contradictory results on the association of dietary sodium intake with risk of CVD, and this relationship has not been investigated in patients with CKD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between urinary sodium excretion and clinical CVD events among patients with CKD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective cohort study of patients with CKD from 7 locations in the United States enrolled in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study and followed up from May 2003 to March 2013. EXPOSURES: The cumulative mean of urinary sodium excretion from three 24-hour urinary measurements and calibrated to sex-specific mean 24-hour urinary creatinine excretion. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: A composite of CVD events defined as congestive heart failure, stroke, or myocardial infarction. Events were reported every 6 months and confirmed by medical record adjudication. RESULTS: Among 3757 participants (mean age, 58 years; 45% women), 804 composite CVD events (575 heart failure, 305 myocardial infarction, and 148 stroke) occurred during a median 6.8 years of follow-up. From lowest (<2894 mg/24 hours) to highest (≥4548 mg/24 hours) quartile of calibrated sodium excretion, 174, 159, 198, and 273 composite CVD events occurred, and the cumulative incidence was 18.4%, 16.5%, 20.6%, and 29.8% at median follow-up. In addition, the cumulative incidence of CVD events in the highest quartile of calibrated sodium excretion compared with the lowest was 23.2% vs 13.3% for heart failure, 10.9% vs 7.8% for myocardial infarction, and 6.4% vs 2.7% for stroke at median follow-up. Hazard ratios of the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile were 1.36 (95% CI, 1.09-1.70; P = .007) for composite CVD events, 1.34 (95% CI, 1.03-1.74; P = .03) for heart failure, and 1.81 (95% CI, 1.08-3.02; P = .02) for stroke after multivariable adjustment. Restricted cubic spline analyses of the association between sodium excretion and composite CVD provided no evidence of a nonlinear association (P = .11) and indicated a significant linear association (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Among patients with CKD, higher urinary sodium excretion was associated with increased risk of CVD.

A systematic analysis of worldwide population-based data on the global burden of chronic kidney disease in 2010.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Here we estimated the global prevalence and absolute burden of CKD in 2010 by pooling data from population-based studies. We searched MEDLINE (January 1990 to December 2014), International Society of Nephrology Global Outreach Program-funded projects, and bibliographies of retrieved articles and selected 33 studies reporting gender- and age-specific prevalence of CKD in representative population samples. The age-standardized global prevalence of CKD stages 1-5 in adults aged 20 and older was 10.4% in men (95% confidence interval 9.3-11.9%) and 11.8% in women (11.2-12.6%). This consisted of 8.6% in men (7.3-9.8%) and 9.6% in women (7.7-11.1%) in high-income countries, and 10.6% in men (9.4-13.1%) and 12.5% in women (11.8-14.0%) in low- and middle-income countries. The total number of adults with CKD was 225.7 million (205.7-257.4 million) men and 271.8 million (258.0-293.7 million) women. This consisted of 48.3 million (42.3-53.3 million) men and 61.7 million (50.4-69.9 million) women in high-income countries, and 177.4 million (159.2-215.9 million) men and 210.1 million (200.8-231.7 million) women in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, CKD is an important global-health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries. National and international efforts for prevention, detection, and treatment of CKD are needed to reduce its morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Five-Year Cumulative Cardiovascular Health and Clinical Events in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: The CRIC Study.

BACKGROUND: Higher cardiovascular health (CVH) score is associated with lower risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in the general population. However, it is unclear whether cumulative CVH is associated with CVD, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and death in patients with chronic kidney disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among individuals from the prospective CRIC (Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort) Study, we used the percentage of the maximum possible CVH score attained from baseline to the year 5 visit to calculate cumulative CVH score. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to investigate the associations of cumulative CVH with risks of adjudicated CVD (myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure), ESKD, and all-cause mortality. A total of 3939 participants (mean age, 57.7 years; 54.9% men) were included. The mean (SD) cumulative CVH score attained during 5 years was 55.5% (12.3%). Over a subsequent median 10.2-year follow-up, 597 participants developed CVD, 656 had ESKD, and 1324 died. A higher cumulative CVH score was significantly associated with lower risks of CVD, ESKD, and mortality, independent of the CVH score at year 5. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios and 95% CIs per 10% higher cumulative CVH score during 5 years were 0.81 (0.69-0.95) for CVD, 0.82 (0.70-0.97) for ESKD, and 0.80 (0.72-0.89) for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with chronic kidney disease stages 2 to 4, a better CVH status maintained throughout 5 years is associated with lower risks of CVD, ESKD, and all-cause mortality. The findings support the need for interventions to maintain ideal CVH status for prevention of adverse outcomes in the population with chronic kidney disease.

Neighborhood-level social determinants of health and cardioprotective behaviors among church members in New Orleans, Louisiana.

BACKGROUND: Favorable neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDoH) are associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk. Less is known about their influence on cardioprotective behaviors. We evaluated the associations between neighborhood-level SDoH and cardioprotective behaviors among church members in Louisiana. METHODS: Participants were surveyed between November 2021 to February 2022, and were asked about health behaviors, aspects of their neighborhood, and home address (to link to census tract and corresponding social deprivation index [SDI] data). Logistic regression models were used to assess the relation of neighborhood factors with the likelihood of engaging in cardioprotective behaviors: 1) a composite of healthy lifestyle behaviors [fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and a tobacco/nicotine-free lifestyle], 2) medication adherence, and 3) receipt of routine medical care within the past year. RESULTS: Participants (n = 302, mean age: 63 years, 77% female, 99% Black) were recruited from 12 churches in New Orleans. After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, perceived neighborhood walkability or conduciveness to exercise (odds ratio [OR]=1.25; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.53), availability of fruits and vegetables (OR=1.23; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.42), and social cohesion (OR=1.55; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.97) were positively associated with the composite of healthy lifestyle behaviors. After multivariable adjustment, SDI was in the direction of association with all three cardioprotective behavior outcomes, but associations were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In this predominantly Black, church-based population, neighborhood-level SDoH including the availability of fruits and vegetables, walkability or conduciveness to exercise, and social cohesion were associated with cardioprotective behaviors. Findings reiterate the need to address adverse neighborhood-level SDoH in the design and implementation of health interventions.

Circulating MicroRNA-19 and cardiovascular risk reduction in response to weight-loss diets.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNA-19 (miR-19) plays a critical role in cardiac development and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined whether change in circulating miR-19 was associated with change in CVD risk during weight loss. METHODS: This study included 509 participants with overweight or obesity from the 24-month weight-loss diet intervention study (the POUNDS Lost trial) and with available data on circulating miR-19a-3p and miR-19b-3p at baseline and 6 months. The primary outcome for this analysis was the change in atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) risk at 6 and 24 months, which estimates the 10-year probability of hard ASCVD events. Secondary outcomes were the changes in ASCVD risk score components. RESULTS: Circulating miR-19a-3p and miR-19b-3p levels significantly decreased during the initial 6-month dietary intervention period (P = 0.008, 0.0004, respectively). We found that a greater decrease in miR-19a-3p or miR-19b-3p was related to a greater reduction in ASCVD risk (ß[SE] = 0.33 [0.13], P = 0.01 for miR-19a-3p; ß[SE] = 0.3 [0.12], P = 0.017 for miR-19b-3p) over 6 months, independent of concurrent weight loss. Moreover, we found significant interactions between change in miR-19 and sleep disturbance on change in ASCVD risk over 24 months of intervention (P interaction = 0.01 and 0.008 for miR-19a-3p and miR-19b-3p, respectively). Participants with a greater decrease in miR-19 without sleep disturbance had a greater reduction of ASCVD risk than those with slight/moderate/great amounts of sleep disturbance. In addition, change in physical activity significantly modified the associations between change in miR-19 and change in ASCVD risk over 24 months (P interaction = 0.006 and 0.004 for miR-19a-3p and miR-19b-3p, respectively). A greater decrease in miR-19 was significantly associated with a greater reduction in ASCVD risk among participants with an increase in physical activity, while non-significant inverse associations were observed among those without an increase in physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, decreased circulating miR-19 levels during dietary weight-loss interventions were related to a significant reduction in ASCVD risk, and these associations were more evident in people with no sleep disturbance or increase in physical activity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00072995.