Machine learning analysis of sex and menopausal differences in the gut microbiome in the HELIUS study.

Sex differences in the gut microbiome have been examined previously, but results are inconsistent, often due to small sample sizes. We investigated sex and menopausal differences in the gut microbiome in a large multi-ethnic population cohort study, including 5166 participants. Using machine learning models, we revealed modest associations between sex and menopausal status, and gut microbiota composition (AUC 0.

Antihypertensive Medication Category Prescriptions and Blood Pressure Control in African Surinamese and Ghanaian Migrants with Hypertension in Amsterdam, The Netherlands: The HELIUS Study.

West African (WA) migrants in Europe have higher hypertension rates than the host populations. For African migrants, guidelines recommend diuretics and/or calcium channel blockers (CCB) for primary cardiovascular disease prevention, but data on antihypertensive medication (AHM) prescription patterns or related hypertension control rates are lacking. We assessed AHM prescription patterns and its relation to hypertension control among hypertensive WA migrants in the Netherlands compared to the host population.

Genetic Variance in Heparan Sulfation Is Associated With Salt Sensitivity.

Background: High heritability of salt sensitivity suggests an essential role for genetics in the relationship between sodium intake and blood pressure (BP). The role of glycosaminoglycan genes, which are crucial for salinity tolerance, remains to be elucidated.

Methods: Interactions between 54 126 variants in 130 glycosaminoglycan genes and daily sodium excretion on BP were explored in 20 420 EPIC-Norfolk (European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer in Norfolk) subjects.

Adding ethnicity to cardiovascular risk prediction: External validation and model updating of SCORE2 using data from the HELIUS population cohort.

Background: Current prediction models for mainland Europe do not include ethnicity, despite ethnic disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. SCORE2 performance was evaluated across the largest ethnic groups in the Netherlands and ethnic backgrounds were added to the model.

Methods: 11,614 participants, aged between 40 and 70 years without CVD, from the population-based multi-ethnic HELIUS study were included.

[Spurious hypertension in an athletic young man].

Isolated systolic hypertension is typical for the elderly, but also occurs in younger adults. Increased pulse wave amplification between the elastic aorta and arteries to the arm can result in a higher peripheral (brachial) blood pressure, while central (aortic) systolic blood pressure is normal. A 21-year-old athletic man was referred because of an arterial blood pressure of 160/85 mmHg.

Phylogeny and disease associations of a widespread and ancient intestinal bacteriophage lineage.

Viruses are core components of the human microbiome, impacting health through interactions with gut bacteria and the immune system. Most human microbiome viruses are bacteriophages, which exclusively infect bacteria. Until recently, most gut virome studies focused on low taxonomic resolution (e.

Effects of Oral Butyrate on Blood Pressure in Patients With Hypertension: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: The microbiota-derived short chain fatty acid butyrate has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) in rodent studies. Nonetheless, the net effect of butyrate on hypertension in humans remains uncovered. In this study, for the first time, we aimed to determine the effect of oral butyrate on BP in patients with hypertension.

Adverse Lipid Profiles Are Associated with Lower Dementia Risk in Older People.

Objective: Midlife dyslipidemia is associated with higher risk of dementia in late-life dementia, but the impact of late-life dyslipidemia on dementia risk is uncertain. This may be due to the large heterogeneity in cholesterol measures and study designs employed. We used detailed data from a large prospective cohort of older persons to comprehensively assess the relation between a broad range of cholesterol measures and incident dementia, addressing potential biases, confounders, and modifiers.

Sex disparities in hypertension prevalence, blood pressure trajectories and the effects of anti-hypertensive treatment.

Introduction: Sex differences in blood pressure (BP), hypertension and hypertension mediated cardiovascular complications have become an increasingly important focus of attention. This narrative review gives an overview of current studies on this topic, with the aim to provide a deeper understanding of the sex-based disparities in hypertension with essential insights for refining prevention and management strategies for both men and women.

Methods And Results: We searched Medline, Embase and the Cochrane libray on sex differences in BP-trajectories and hypertension prevalence.

Preconception lipid profile and the subsequent risk of pregnancy disorders characterized by uteroplacental dysfunction in a multi-ethnic population: the linked HELIUS-PERINED study.

Background: Unfavorable lipid profile is associated with pregnancy disorders characterized by uteroplacental dysfunction, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction. None of current tools used to predict the risk of pregnancy complications include lipid levels.

Objective(s): In this study, we examined the association of preconception lipid profile with pregnancy disorders characterized by uteroplacental dysfunction in a multi-ethnic population, aiming to improve the identification of women at high risk for uteroplacental dysfunction using current prediction models.

Biomarker patterns in patients with cardiogenic shock versus septic shock.

Background: In cardiogenic shock (CS), contractile failure is often accompanied by a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. In contrast, many patients with septic shock (SS) develop cardiac dysfunction. A similar hemodynamic support strategy is often deployed in both syndromes but it is unclear whether this is justified based on profiles of biomarkers expressing neurohormonal activation and cardiovascular stress.

Can eHealth programs for cardiac arrhythmias be scaled-up by using the KardiaMobile algorithm?

Background: Remote monitoring devices for atrial fibrillation are known to positively contribute to the diagnostic process and therapy compliance. However, automatic algorithms within devices show varying sensitivity and specificity, so manual double-checking of electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings remains necessary.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of the KardiaMobile algorithm within the Dutch telemonitoring program (HartWacht).

Developing practical recommendations for drug-disease interactions in patients with hypertension.

Background: Hypertension, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, demands proactive management as cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide. Reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels below recommended reference values of <140/90 mmHg can lead to a significant reduction of the risk of CVD and all-cause mortality. However, treatment of hypertension can be difficult and the presence of comorbidities could further complicate this treatment.

International Migration and Cardiovascular Health: Unraveling the Disease Burden Among Migrants to North America and Europe.

Europe and North America are the 2 largest recipients of international migrants from low-resource regions in the world. Here, large differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and death exist between migrants and the host populations. This review discusses the CVD burden and its most important contributors among the largest migrant groups in Europe and North America as well as the consequences of migration to high-income countries on CVD diagnosis and therapy.

Ethnic variations in metabolic syndrome components and their associations with the gut microbiota: the HELIUS study.

Background: The occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the gut microbiota composition are known to differ across ethnicities yet how these three factors are interwoven is unknown. Also, it is unknown what the relative contribution of the gut microbiota composition is to each MetS component and whether this differs between ethnicities. We therefore determined the occurrence of MetS and its components in the multi-ethnic HELIUS cohort and tested the overall and ethnic-specific associations with the gut microbiota composition.

Healthy ageing in a multi-ethnic population: A descriptive cross-sectional analysis from the HELIUS study.

Objective: We investigated ethnic health disparities in the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting multi-ethnic cohort using the multidimensional Healthy Ageing Score.

Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the study baseline data (2011-2015) collected through questionnaires/physical examinations for 17,091 participants (54.8 % women, mean (SD) age = 44.

Sex differences in blood pressure phenotypes over time - the HELIUS study.

Background: Hypertension can be classified into different phenotypes according to systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP). In younger adults, these phenotypical differences have different prognostic value for men and women. However, little is known about sex differences in the natural course of different BP phenotypes over time.

Serum Adiponectin and Leptin Among Ghanaian Migrants in Amsterdam and Their Compatriots in Rural and Urban Ghana: The RODAM Study.

Background: The rapidly rising cardiometabolic disease (CMD) burden in urbanizing sub-Saharan African populations and among sub-Saharan African migrants in Europe likely affects serum adiponectin and leptin levels, but this has not yet been quantified.

Objectives: To compare the serum levels of adiponectin and leptin among migrant, and non-migrant (urban and rural) populations of Ghanaian descent.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of serum leptin and adiponectin in the multi-centre Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study.