Triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

Purpose Of Review: In this review, we intend to show the heterogenicity of the triglyceride group, including the triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and its subparticles, apolipoproteins, and its role in atherogenesis through epidemiological and genetic studies, observing the association of these various components and subclasses with subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. Also, we reevaluated the moment of blood collection for the triglyceride measurement and its repercussion in atherosclerosis. Finally, we present the current scenario and new insights about the pharmacologic treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.

Subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk stratification in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia patients undergoing statin treatment.

Purpose Of Review: To discuss the heterogeneity of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and evidence and limitations of clinical risk scores and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis (SCA) imaging to evaluate risk.

Recent Findings: Risk evaluation in contemporary familial hypercholesterolemia cohorts needs to consider the cause of the familial hypercholesterolemia phenotype, for example the presence of autosomal molecular defects that impart a greater ASCVD risk than in polygenic hypercholesterolemia, prospective follow-up and the impact of statin treatment. As atherosclerosis is multifactorial, clinical scores like the Montreal familial hypercholesterolemia score and SAFEHEART risk equation have been proposed to stratify ASCVD in statin-treated, molecularly defined familial hypercholesterolemia individuals.

Composite acute phase glycoproteins with coronary artery calcification depends on metabolic syndrome presence - The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Background: Inflammation has been weakly associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) in the overall population. However, it is currently unknown whether this varies according to the cardio-metabolic profile. We evaluated the association between GlycA, a unique composite biomarker of pro-inflammatory acute phase glycoproteins, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), uric acid, and their composite values (composite inflammation) in the overall population and strata according to cardiovascular risk.

Association between Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Levels and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is Not Independent from Metabolic Syndrome Criteria.

Introduction: Thyroid hormones are involved in the regulation of body composition, lipid metabolism, and insulin resistance. Thus, it is possible that they might play a role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the role of thyroid function on NAFLD is not well defined.

Coronary Artery Calcium and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia Receiving Standard Lipid-Lowering Therapy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of coronary artery calcium (CAC) as a predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) (fatal or not myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina requiring revascularization, and elective myocardial revascularization) events in asymptomatic primary prevention molecularly proven heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) subjects receiving standard lipid-lowering therapy.

Background: FH is associated with premature ASCVD. However, the clinical course of ASCVD in subjects with FH is heterogeneous.

Depression is Associated With Sarcopenia Due to Low Muscle Strength: Results From the ELSA-Brasil Study.

Objectives: To investigate the association of sarcopenia and its defining components with depression in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting And Participants: This analysis included 5927 participants from the ELSA-Brasil Study second data collection, aged 55 years and older, with complete data for exposure, outcome, and covariates.

Post-stroke depression and cognitive impairment: Study design and preliminary findings in a Brazilian prospective stroke cohort (EMMA study).

Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) and cognitive impairment (PCI) are common conditions. This study aims to describe the protocol and preliminary findings of an investigation into factors associated with PSD and PCI 1-3 months after stroke (subacute phase) in survivors from the Study of Stroke Mortality and Morbidity (EMMA study).

Methods: Stroke patients underwent to clinical and neurological evaluations on admission to hospital.

Familial hypercholesterolemia prevalence in an admixed racial society: Sex and race matter. The ELSA-Brasil.

Background And Aims: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder associated with high cardiovascular burden of disease. FH prevalence may vary widely across populations and data in race/ethnically diverse and admixed populations is scarce. ELSA-Brasil epidemiology may be widely generalizable in this regard, and we calculated the ELSA-Brasil FH prevalence and its variation according to age, sex and race/ethnicity.

Three-Year Hospitalization and Mortality in Elderly Smokers with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: In elderly smokers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure (CHF) usually present with dyspnoea. COPD and CHF are associated -almost invariably with concomitant chronic diseases, which contribute to severity and prognosis.

Objectives: We investigated similarities and differences in the clinical presentation, concomitant chronic diseases and risk factors for -mortality and hospitalization at 3-year follow-up in elderly smokers/ex-smokers with a primary diagnosis of COPD or CHF recruited and followed in specialized centers.

Implications of coronary artery calcium testing on risk stratification for lipid-lowering therapy according to the 2016 European Society of Cardiology recommendations: The MESA study.

Aims: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guideline on cardiovascular risk assessment considers coronary artery calcium a class B indication for risk assessment. We evaluated the degree to which coronary artery calcium can change the recommendation for individuals based on a change in estimated risk.

Methods And Results: We stratified 5602 MESA participants according to the ESC recommendation as: no lipid-lowering treatment recommended ( N = 2228), consider lipid-lowering treatment if uncontrolled ( N = 1686), or lipid-lowering treatment recommended ( N = 1688).

Forced expiratory volume in one second: A novel predictor of work disability in subjects with suspected obstructive sleep apnea.

Whether the association of work disability with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is mainly due to the disease, i.e. the number and frequency of apneas-hypoapneas, or to coexisting factors independent from the disease, is not well-established.

Diabetes alters the association between high-density lipoprotein subfractions and carotid intima-media thickness: The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Introduction: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol comprises a group of heterogeneous subfractions that might have differential effects on atherosclerosis. Moreover, prior investigations suggest that the presence of diabetes (T2D) modifies the impact of some subfractions on atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol subfractions and carotid intima-media thickness in the baseline assessment of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health participants from the São Paulo investigation centre.

Different patterns of alcohol consumption and the incidence and persistence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among older adults in Ireland: A prospective community-based study.

Background: The associations of different patterns of alcohol consumption and the incidence and persistence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in older age remain unclear.

Methods: Data on 6095 adults aged ≥ 50 years old from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA) was analyzed. Participants completed the CAGE instrument to screen for problematic alcohol use at baseline between October 2009 and February 2011.

Association between high-density lipoprotein subfractions and low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome components: The ELSA-Brasil study.

Background: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) can be divided into subfractions, which may have variable effects in atherogenesis. The results about the association between HDL-C subfractions and risk factors for cardiovascular disease are mixed.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the association between HDL-C subfractions and each metabolic syndrome component, homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Poorer cardiovascular health is associated with psychiatric comorbidity: results from the ELSA-Brasil Study.

Background: Common psychiatric symptoms may hinder achieving ideal cardiovascular health (ICH). We aimed to investigate the association between the ICH score and psychiatric disorders in Brazilian adults.

Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, 13,743 participants free of cardiovascular disease from the ELSA-Brasil study were assessed using the American Heart Association ICH score.

Prevalence and associated factors for agenesis of corpus callosum in Emilia Romagna (1981-2015).

Agenesis and hypoplasia of the corpus callosum (ACC and HCC) are heterogeneous group with a large variation in published prevalence based on few population based studies. The aim of this work is to describe prevalence, associated factors and other malformations present in cases with either agenesis or hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, using a population-based database of all malformations diagnosed in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, (the Emilia-Romagna Registry on Congenital Malformations, IMER). This registry links and integrates hospital discharge records, birth certificates with cases reported by referral clinicians to identify all structural malformations diagnosed within one year of life regarding live birth, fetal death or termination of pregnancy due to fetal malformations (TOPFA).

Prognostic value of carotid intima-media in the short- and long-term mortality in the Strategy of Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ERICO) study.

Background And Aims: Atherosclerotic in carotids can determinate a poor prognosis in individuals after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Thus, we aimed to evaluate mortality associated to carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in the participants from the Strategy of Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ERICO) study.

Methods: Carotid intima media thickness was evaluated by B-mode ultrasound for mortality risk assessment in 180 days, 1-3 years.

Omega 3 Consumption and Anxiety Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Few studies have evaluated the association between diet and mental disorders, and it has been established that ω-3 (-3) fatty acids may have a beneficial effect for sufferers of anxiety disorders. This study is part of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)—a population-based cohort study on diet and mental health—and searched for associations between anxiety disorders and consumption of -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The study had a cross-sectional design, with a total sample of 12,268 adults.

Prevalence of valproate syndrome in Europe from 2005 to 2014: A registry based multi-centre study.

Women with epilepsy need to continue to take anticonvulsants during their pregnancies to prevent seizures from occurring. Since the 1980's, it has been known that the use of valproate (an anticonvulsant) in the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of spina bifida. Recent studies have also demonstrated increased risks of other congenital anomalies as well as a risk of cognitive impairment.

The prevalence and correlates of subclinical atherosclerosis among adults with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <70 mg/dL: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Background And Aims: The prevalence and correlates of subclinical atherosclerosis when low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are low remain unclear. Therefore, we examined the association of cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis among individuals with untreated LDL-C <70 mg/dL.

Methods: We included participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) cohorts.

Trends in congenital anomalies in Europe from 1980 to 2012.

Background: Surveillance of congenital anomalies is important to identify potential teratogens.

Methods: This study analysed the prevalence of 61 congenital anomaly subgroups (excluding chromosomal) in 25 population-based EUROCAT registries (1980-2012). Live births, fetal deaths and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly were analysed with multilevel random-effects Poisson regression models.

Time of exposure to night work and carotid atherosclerosis: a structural equation modeling approach using baseline data from ELSA-Brasil.

Purpose: The study of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) associated with night work is difficult due to the long period required for conditions to manifest and the healthy-worker effect. Analyzing asymptomatic pre-clinical changes in the atherosclerotic process is a way to assess the pathways between exposure to night work and CVD.

Aim: To evaluate the associations between night work and subclinical atherosclerosis measured by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) using baseline data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Carotid intima-media thickness in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil): a narrative review.

Background: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), as measured by ultrasound, has been used in large studies as a non-invasive marker for subclinical atherosclerosis. The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) is a cohort of 15,105 civil servants in six Brazilian cities that included CIMT evaluation in its baseline assessment. The aim of the present narrative review was to provide an overview of ELSA-Brasil CIMT articles published up to July 31, 2017.

Orthostatic Hypotension and Cognitive Function: Cross-sectional Results From the ELSA-Brasil Study.

Background: The association between orthostatic hypotension (OH) and cognitive impairment is controversial, and most studies have investigated older white adults from Western Europe and the United States. Therefore, we investigated the association between OH and cognitive performance in a large and racially diverse sample of adults using cross-sectional data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Methods: OH was defined when systolic blood pressure decreased 20 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure decreased 10 mmHg from supine to standing position.