Association Between Cardiovascular Risk Factors and the Diameter of the Thoracic Aorta in an Asymptomatic Population in the Central Appalachian Region.

Background: Effects of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors on the diameter of the thoracic aorta have not been fully studied. This study examined the associations between CV risk factors and diameter of thoracic aorta.

Materials And Methods: Study population comprised of 1273 asymptomatic adults aged ≥18 years from Central Appalachia region of the United States who participated in a coronary artery screening between January 2014 and December 2016.

Association between cardiovascular risk factors and the diameter of the main pulmonary artery in asymptomatic population in the Appalachian region.

Background: Pulmonary artery (PA) diameter may be altered in association with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors as noted in aorta in systemic hypertension. The flow of blood from the right ventricle to the PA and all the way to the capillary level depends on the pulmonary vascular resistance and to a lesser extent compliance and impedance of the PA, which are the fundamental conduit for maintenance of the right heart hemodynamics. Our objective is to determine the association between CV risk factors and the main pulmonary artery (MPA) diameter.

The Progress of Tobacco Control Research in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Past 50 Years: A Systematic Review of the Design and Methods of the Studies.

Over one billion of the world's population are smokers, with increasing tobacco use in low- and middle-income countries. However, information about the methodology of studies on tobacco control is limited. We conducted a literature search to examine and evaluate the methodological designs of published tobacco research in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the past 50 years.

Diabetes, subclinical atherosclerosis and multiple cardiovascular risk factors in hard-to-reach asymptomatic patients.

Aim: To examine the association of cardiovascular disease risk factors with and their cumulative effect on coronary artery calcium in hard-to-reach asymptomatic patients with diabetes.

Methods: A total of 2563 community-dwelling asymptomatic subjects from Central Appalachia participated in coronary artery calcium screening at a heart centre. Binary variable was used to indicate that coronary artery calcium was either present or absent.

The associated risk factors for coronary artery calcium in asymptomatic individuals with and without diabetes in rural Central Appalachia.

Aim: To examine the risk factor of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in individuals with diabetes and those without diabetes in Central Appalachia.

Methods: Study population included 2479 asymptomatic participants who underwent CAC screening between August 2012 and November 2016. CAC score was classified into four categories [0 (no plaque), 1-99 (mild plaque), 100-399 (moderate plaque), and ≥400 (severe plaque)].

Geographic and Individual Correlates of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in an Asymptomatic Rural Appalachian Population.

Background: This study aimed to examine the association between subclinical atherosclerosis (ascertained as coronary artery calcium [CAC]) in asymptomatic individuals in the Central Appalachian region of the United States and individual- and geographic-level factors.

Materials And Methods: Data were obtained from participants in CAC screening between 2012 and 2016. CAC score was assessed as CAC = 0 (no plaque), 1 ≤ CAC ≤ 99 (mild plaque), 100 ≤ CAC ≤ 399 (moderate plaque) and CAC ≥ 400 (severe plaque).