Associations between long-term aircraft noise exposure, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in US cohorts of female nurses.

Unlabelled: There is limited research examining aircraft noise and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The objective of this study was to investigate associations of aircraft noise with CVD among two US cohorts, the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII).

Methods: Between 1994 and 2014, we followed 57,306 NHS and 60,058 NHSII participants surrounding 90 airports.

Sleep Restriction and Recurrent Circadian Disruption Differentially Affects Blood Pressure, Sodium Retention, and Aldosterone Secretion.

Prolonged exposure to chronic sleep restriction (CSR) and shiftwork are both associated with incident hypertension and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that the combination of CSR and shiftwork's rotating sleep schedule (causing recurrent circadian disruption, RCD) would increase blood pressure, renal sodium retention, potassium excretion, and aldosterone excretion. Seventeen healthy participants were studied during a 32-day inpatient protocol that included 20-h "days" with associated scheduled sleep/wake and eating behaviors.

Long-term aircraft noise exposure and risk of hypertension in the Nurses' Health Studies.

Background: Aircraft noise can affect populations living near airports. Chronic exposure to aircraft noise has been associated with cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. However, previous studies have been limited in their ability to characterize noise exposures over time and to adequately control for confounders.

Effect of daily 2000 IU versus 800 IU vitamin D on blood pressure among adults age 60 years and older: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Observational studies report higher blood pressure (BP) among individuals with lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Whether dosage of vitamin D supplementation has a differential effect on BP control remains unclear.

Objective: The study aimed to determine if daily vitamin D supplementation with 2000 IU is more effective than 800 IU for BP control among older adults.

Postanesthesia ultrasound facilitates creation of more preferred accesses without affecting access survival.

Objective: The results of preoperative ultrasound (pre-US) vein mapping for hemodialysis access creation can be affected by environmental and clinical factors, such as ambient temperature, acute illness, recent phlebotomy, and hypovolemia. These factors may inadvertently exclude otherwise viable veins as options for access creation. We hypothesized that repeating the ultrasound vein mapping immediately preoperatively after anesthesia administration (post-US) identifies additional veins not appreciated by pre-US, thereby altering the operative plan and producing more preferred accesses, particularly more forearm accesses.

Association between sex hormones and ambulatory blood pressure.

Introduction: Higher levels of total testosterone and lower levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) have been associated with increased blood pressure (BP) in women with an inverse association between total testosterone and BP among men. Fewer studies have examined associations with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP), blunted nocturnal BP decline or the role of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), a precursor to androgens.

Methods: Baseline blood samples were assayed for 229 normotensive men (≥50 years) and women (≥55 years) participating in the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL.

Association Between Endometriosis and Hypercholesterolemia or Hypertension.

An altered hormonal or chronic systemic inflammatory milieu characterizing endometriosis may result in a higher risk of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. Conversely, elevated low-density lipoprotein in hypercholesterolemia and chronic systemic inflammation resulting from hypertension may increase the risk of endometriosis. We assessed the association of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis with hypercholesterolemia and hypertension in a large prospective cohort study.

Effect of Vitamin D on Endothelial Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: In nonhypertensive individuals, lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) have been associated with an increased risk of hypertension, and vitamin D deficiency has been associated with endothelial dysfunction in such individuals. However, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on endothelial dysfunction in nonhypertensive individuals has not been examined in a rigorous fashion.

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of nonhypertensive, nondiabetic overweight, or obese individuals with vitamin D deficiency (body mass index ≥25 and 25[OH]D ≤ 20 ng/ml), we assigned subjects to receive either ergocalciferol (50,000 units) or matching placebo, once a week for 8 weeks.

The effect of vitamin D on renin-angiotensin system activation and blood pressure: a randomized control trial.

Objective: Disruption of vitamin D signaling in rodents causes activation of the rennin-angiotensin system (RAS) and development of hypertension. Observational studies in humans found lower circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is associated with increased RAS activity and blood pressure (BP). We performed the first randomized control trial to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the RAS in humans.

Effect of Uric Acid-Lowering Agents on Endothelial Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Higher levels of serum uric acid are independently associated with endothelial dysfunction, a mechanism for incident hypertension. Overweight/obese individuals are more prone to endothelial dysfunction than their lean counterparts. However, the effect of lowering serum uric acid on endothelial dysfunction in these individuals has not been examined thoroughly.

Recognition and Management of Resistant Hypertension.

Despite improvements in hypertension awareness and treatment, 30%-60% of hypertensive patients do not achieve BP targets and subsequently remain at risk for target organ damage. This therapeutic gap is particularly important to nephrologists, who frequently encounter treatment-resistant hypertension in patients with CKD. Data are limited on how best to treat patients with CKD and resistant hypertension, because patients with CKD have historically been excluded from hypertension treatment trials.

Diet-dependent acid load and type 2 diabetes: pooled results from three prospective cohort studies.

Aims/hypothesis: Studies suggest a potential link between low-grade metabolic acidosis and type 2 diabetes. A western dietary pattern increases daily acid load but the association between diet-dependent acid load and type 2 diabetes is still unclear. This study aimed to assess whether diet-dependent acid load is associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes.

A nested case-control study of the association between melatonin secretion and incident myocardial infarction.

Objectives: Low nocturnal melatonin secretion is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes and hypertension, while individuals with prevalent cardiovascular disease have lower nocturnal melatonin levels. However, the prospective association of melatonin secretion with myocardial infarction (MI) has not been studied. We aimed to study the association between melatonin secretion and the risk of developing MI.

Potato intake and incidence of hypertension: results from three prospective US cohort studies.

Objective: To determine whether higher intake of baked or boiled potatoes, French fries, or potato chips is associated with incidence of hypertension.

Design: Prospective longitudinal cohort studies.

Setting: Healthcare providers in the United States.

Long-Term Exposure to Particulate Matter and Self-Reported Hypertension: A Prospective Analysis in the Nurses' Health Study.

Background: Studies have suggested associations between elevated blood pressure and short-term air pollution exposures, but the evidence is mixed regarding long-term exposures on incidence of hypertension.

Objectives: We examined the association of hypertension incidence with long-term residential exposures to ambient particulate matter (PM) and residential distance to roadway.

Methods: We estimated 24-month and cumulative average exposures to PM10, PM2.

Association of short sleep duration and rapid decline in renal function.

The kidney is influenced by circadian rhythms and is entrained to the sleep-wake cycle allowing anticipation of the metabolic and physiological demands of the kidney throughout a 24-hour cycle. Although sleep disruption has been studied extensively in cardiovascular and metabolic disease, its association with chronic kidney disease has not been shown. We examined this in a prospective cohort study of 4238 participants from the Nurses' Health Study and analyzed the association of self-reported sleep duration with decline in renal function over an 11-year period (1989 to 2000).

Healthful Dietary Patterns and the Risk of Hypertension Among Women With a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Women who developed gestational diabetes mellitus represent a high-risk population for hypertension later in life. The role of diet in the progression of hypertension among this susceptible population is unknown. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 3818 women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus in the Nurses' Health Study II as part of the ongoing Diabetes & Women's Health Study.

Hypertension, use of antihypertensive medications, and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Few studies have examined the associations of hypertension and antihypertensive medications with ovarian cancer. In particular, beta-blockers, one of the most commonly prescribed medications to treat hypertension, may reduce ovarian cancer risk by inhibiting beta-adrenergic signaling. We prospectively followed 90,384 women in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) between 1988-2012 and 113,121 NHSII participants between 1989-2011.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and the Incidence of Hypertension in Three Prospective Cohort Studies.

Increased fruit and vegetable intake lowers blood pressure in short-term interventional studies. However, data on the association of long-term intake of fruits and vegetables with hypertension risk are scarce. We prospectively examined the independent association of whole fruit (excluding juices) and vegetable intake, as well as the change in consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, with incident hypertension in 3 large longitudinal cohort studies: Nurses' Health Study (n=62 175), Nurses' Health Study II (n=88 475), and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (n=36 803).

Long-term intake of animal flesh and risk of developing hypertension in three prospective cohort studies.

Objective: Prospective data are scarce on the relation of red meat, seafood, and poultry consumption with hypertension risk. Although red and processed meats are generally considered to have adverse cardiovascular consequences, seafood is believed to be protective and poultry's effect is controversial.

Methods: We prospectively examined the independent association of long-term intake of animal flesh with incident hypertension in three longitudinal cohort studies of nonhypertensive individuals: Nurses' Health Study (NHS, n = 62 273 women), Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II, n = 88 831 women), and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS, n = 37 414 men).

Joint association between birth weight at term and later life adherence to a healthy lifestyle with risk of hypertension: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Low birth weight and unhealthy lifestyles in adulthood have been independently associated with an elevated risk of hypertension. However, no study has examined the joint effects of these factors on incidence of hypertension.

Methods: We followed 52,114 women from the Nurses' Health Study II without hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, prehypertension, and hypertension at baseline (1991-2011).

Prospective analysis of the association of ambulatory blood pressure characteristics with incident chronic kidney disease.

Objective: Ambulatory blood pressure measurement allows quantification of diurnal changes in blood pressure. While decreased nocturnal blood pressure dipping and elevated morning blood pressure surge are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, the utility of ambulatory blood pressure measurements to predict renal events is unclear. African Americans, in addition to having an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), also have an increased prevalence of hypertension.

Infertility, fertility treatment, and risk of hypertension.

Objective: To evaluate the association between infertility and fertility treatments on subsequent risk of hypertension.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Not applicable.