The relation of digital vascular function to cardiovascular risk factors in African-Americans using digital tonometry: the Jackson Heart Study.

Digital vascular tone and function, as measured by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), are associated with cardiovascular risk and events in non-Hispanic whites. There are limited data on relations between PAT and cardiovascular risk in African-Americans. PAT was performed on a subset of Jackson Heart Study participants using a fingertip tonometry device.

Increased Proximal Aortic Diameter is Associated With Risk of Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality in Blacks The Jackson Heart Study.

Background: Enlargement of the proximal aorta is associated with aortic wall tissue remodeling, including fragmentation of the elastin fibers, increased synthesis of collagen, and calcification, all of which are associated with aortic wall stiffening. We hypothesized that the proximal aortic diameter (AoD) is associated with cardiovascular events in a community-based cohort of blacks.

Methods And Results: We investigated the associations between AoD and cardiovascular events among 3018 black participants (mean age, 55.

Large-scale genome-wide analysis identifies genetic variants associated with cardiac structure and function.

Background: Understanding the genetic architecture of cardiac structure and function may help to prevent and treat heart disease. This investigation sought to identify common genetic variations associated with inter-individual variability in cardiac structure and function.

Methods: A GWAS meta-analysis of echocardiographic traits was performed, including 46,533 individuals from 30 studies (EchoGen consortium).

Development and Validation of Risk Prediction Models for Cardiovascular Events in Black Adults: The Jackson Heart Study Cohort.

Importance: Cardiovascular risk assessment is a fundamental component of prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, commonly used prediction models have been formulated in primarily or exclusively white populations. Whether risk assessment in black adults is dissimilar to that in white adults is uncertain.

Relations between subclinical disease markers and type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and incident cardiovascular disease: the Jackson Heart Study.

Objective: The presence of subclinical disease measures has been directly associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in whites. African Americans (AAs) in the U.S.

Clinical correlates and prognostic significance of change in standardized left ventricular mass in a community-based cohort of African Americans.

Background: Though left ventricular mass (LVM) predicts cardiovascular events (CVD) and mortality in African Americans, limited data exists on factors contributing to change in LVM and its prognostic significance. We hypothesized that baseline blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI) and change in these variables over time are associated with longitudinal increases in LVM and that such increase is associated with greater incidence of CVD.

Methods And Results: We investigated the clinical correlates of change in standardized logarithmically transformed-LVM indexed to height2.

C-reactive protein and subclinical cardiovascular disease among African-Americans: (the Jackson Heart Study).

Objective: Systemic inflammation has been implicated as an early marker for subclinical cardiovascular disease; however, findings have been inconsistent in the African-American population.

Methods: We examined the relation of C-reactive protein (CRP) to subclinical disease in African-American participants of the Jackson Heart Study first examination. Subclinical disease evaluated included aortic valve calcification (AVC), carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Associations of adiponectin and leptin with incident coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke in african americans: the jackson heart study.

Background: Because the predictive significance of previously reported racial differences in leptin and adiponectin levels remains unclear, we assessed the prospective association of these adipokines with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in African Americans, a population with a high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors.

Methods: Serum specimens from 4,571 Jackson Heart Study participants without prevalent CVD at baseline examination (2000-2004) were analyzed for adiponectin and leptin levels. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the associations of the two adipokines with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and incident ischemic stroke.

Incidence and survival of hospitalized acute decompensated heart failure in four US communities (from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study).

Most population-based estimates of incident hospitalized heart failure (HF) have not differentiated acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) from chronic stable HF nor included racially diverse populations. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study conducted surveillance of hospitalized HF events (age ≥55 years) in 4 US communities. We estimated hospitalized ADHF incidence and survival by race and gender.

Aldosterone, C-reactive protein, and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide are associated with the development of metabolic syndrome and longitudinal changes in metabolic syndrome components: findings from the Jackson Heart Study.

Objective: Several pathomechanisms are implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS), most of which have not been investigated in African Americans (AAs). We examined the contribution of a selected panel of biomarkers to the development of MetS in Jackson Heart Study (JHS) participants in this investigation.

Research Design And Methods: We evaluated 3,019 JHS participants (mean age, 54 years; 64% women) with measurements for seven biomarkers representing inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [CRP]), adiposity (leptin), natriuretic pathway (B-natriuretic peptide [BNP]), adrenal pathway (cortisol and aldosterone), and endothelial function (endothelin and homocysteine).

Genome-wide association study of cardiac structure and systolic function in African Americans: the Candidate Gene Association Resource (CARe) study.

Background: Using data from 4 community-based cohorts of African Americans, we tested the association between genome-wide markers (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) and cardiac phenotypes in the Candidate-gene Association Resource study.

Methods And Results: Among 6765 African Americans, we related age, sex, height, and weight-adjusted residuals for 9 cardiac phenotypes (assessed by echocardiogram or magnetic resonance imaging) to 2.5 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms genotyped using Genome-wide Affymetrix Human SNP Array 6.

Health Professional Shortage Areas, insurance status, and cardiovascular disease prevention in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study.

Individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) living in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) may receive less preventive care than others. The Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke Study (REGARDS) surveyed 30,239 African American (AA) and White individuals older than 45 years of age between 2003-2007. We compared medication use for CVD prevention by HPSA and insurance status, adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, and health status.

Association of adiponectin with left ventricular mass in blacks: the Jackson Heart Study.

Background: Blacks have a higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy than whites. Several population-based studies have reported an inverse association between adiponectin and left ventricular mass (LVM); however, the relationship between adiponectin levels and LVM has yet to be defined in blacks. The Jackson Heart Study cohort provides an opportunity to test the hypothesis that the inverse association between adiponectin and LVM may be modified by risk factors common among blacks.

Relation of obesity to circulating B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations in blacks: the Jackson Heart Study.

Background: Lower plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations in obese individuals ("natriuretic handicap") may play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity-related hypertension. Whether this phenomenon may contribute to hypertension in blacks is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that body mass index is inversely related to BNP concentrations in blacks.

The relation of diabetes, impaired fasting blood glucose, and insulin resistance to left ventricular structure and function in African Americans: the Jackson Heart Study.

Objective: We assessed the relation of diabetes and insulin resistance (IR) on left ventricular (LV) structure and function in African Americans.

Research Design And Methods: Among those receiving echocardiograms in cycle 1 of the Jackson Heart Study, we assessed the sex-specific relation of fasting blood glucose (FBG), diabetes, and IR to LV structure and function, adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive medications, and BMI.

Results: Among 2,399 participants, LV mass index (P(women) = 0.

Distribution and determinants of Doppler-derived diastolic flow indices in African Americans: the Jackson Heart Study (JHS).

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the distribution and determinants of diastolic function in a middle-aged cohort of African Americans (AA).

Background: The distribution and determinants of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in AA are not well-described despite high rates of AA with diastolic heart failure and a five-fold higher risk of death in those with diastolic dysfunction (DD) compared to normal diastolic function.

Methods: Four categories of diastolic function were defined in JHS participants undergoing echocardiograms at the first examination (2001-2004) using mitral and pulmonary vein velocities.

Epidemiology, heritability, and genetic linkage of C-reactive protein in African Americans (from the Jackson Heart Study).

C-reactive protein (CRP) has been studied largely in white non-Hispanic cohorts. There is limited information on CRP's range of values, heritability, and relation to cardiovascular disease risk factors in African Americans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution, clinical correlates, heritability, and genetic linkage of log-transformed CRP in participants in the middle-aged to elderly African American cohort in the community-based Jackson Heart Study.

The predictive value of left atrial size for incident ischemic stroke and all-cause mortality in African Americans: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Background And Purpose: The association between left atrial (LA) size, ischemic stroke, and death has not been well established in African Americans despite their disproportionately higher rates of stroke and cardiovascular mortality compared to non-Hispanic whites.

Methods: For the analysis, participants in the Jackson cohort of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study were followed from the date of the echocardiogram in cycle three to the date of the first ischemic stroke event (or death) or to December 31, 2004 if no ischemic stroke event (or death) was detected.

Results: There were 1886 participants in the study population (mean age 58.

Echocardiographic left ventricular mass in African-Americans: the Jackson cohort of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Characterization of target organ damage from hypertension is of particular interest in African-Americans, and evidence from electrocardiographic studies suggests that left ventricular hypertrophy is a frequent clinical finding of considerable prognostic importance. Echocardiographic studies may permit more precise characterization of the pathologic impact of hypertension on cardiac structure and function. The objective of this study is to characterize left ventricular (LV) structure including measures of wall thickness, septal thickness, internal dimension, and mass in a middle-aged sample of African-Americans using echocardiography.