Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce

Background: Remnant lipoprotein-cholesterol (RLP-C) has emerged as a potential contributor to adverse cardiovascular events. While the association of low-density lipoprotein- cholesterol and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is well-established, the joint association of RLP-C and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in driving major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) remains less explored. Methods: We included a total of 118,004 participants from the UK Biobank with nuclear magnetic resonance-measured RLP-C. Participants were categorized into four groups based on their RLP-C levels and T2DM status: Group 1 (RLP-C below the median and no T2DM), Group 2 (RLP-C above the median and no T2DM), Group 3 (RLP-C below the median and T2DM), and Group 4 (RLP-C above the median and T2DM). Cox proportional hazards regression was employed to assess the association of these four categories with the time to incident MACE. The model was adjusted for age, sex, race, BMI, smoking, systolic blood pressure, anti-hypertensive and lipid-lowering therapy, and physical activity. Results: Our analysis revealed significant associations between RLP-C levels, T2DM, and the risk of MACE. Compared to the reference group (Group 1), Groups 2-4 had hazard ratio for the MACE outcome of 1.27 (95% CI: 1.18-1.37, p < .0001), 1.43 (95% CI: 1.29-1.59, p < .0001), and 2.04 (95% CI: 1.78-2.32, p < .0001), respectively (see Figure). Conclusion: This analysis from individuals in UK Biobank free from cardiovascular disease at baseline demonstrated a significant joint association between elevated RLP-C levels and T2DM, with the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Keywords: remnant lipoprotein cholesterol, type 2 diabetes mellitus, major adverse cardiovascular events, UK Biobank, nuclear magnetic resonance

Objective: Investigate the relationship between geographic region and unmet social needs in youth referred for hypertension disorders.Youth facing health disparities often experience substantial challenges due to adverse social determinants of health, such as those related to the geographic area in which they reside. Understanding the prevalence of unmet social needs by geographic region is vital to advocating for underserved patient populations. Interim cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from The Study of the Epidemiology of Pediatric Hypertension (SUPERHERO), a multisite retrospective Registry using electronic health record data. Inclusion criteria were initial visit for hypertension disorder (identified by ICD-10 code) between 1/1/2015 and 12/31/2022 and age <19 years. Exclusion criteria were ICD-10 code-identified kidney failure on dialysis, kidney transplant, or pregnancy. We recorded U.S. Census geographic Region based on participants’ home address. Our outcome was at least one ICD-10 code for an unmet social need. We used unadjusted generalized linear models.Of the 9,416 participants, mean age was 12 yrs. (SD 5.0) and 29 (0.3%) had at least one unmet social need (Table). Compared to the South, youth from the Northeast had 3.17 times higher risk of unmet social needs (1.08-9.32) and those from the Midwest had 4.71 times higher risk (95% CL 1.76-12.62).We found that youth referred for hypertension disorders from the Northeast and Midwest were more likely to have an unmet social need compared to youth from the South. Ongoing steps include acquiring geocoded data to investigate neighborhood-level metrics and more rigorous unmet social needs data.

Background: Hypertension has been linked with increased risk of cognitive impairment, but fewer studies have examined the association between physical activity (PA) and incident cognitive impairment in hypertension. Objective: To examine the association between vigorous PA (VPA) and incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI), probable dementia (PD), or composite MCI/PD in SPRINT MIND. Methods: This analysis included SPRINT MIND participants with baseline self-reported PA data. VPA, defined as PA associated with sweating, increased heart rate or breathing, was grouped into low (<1 sessions/week) or high (≥1 sessions/week) VPA. Using multivariable Cox regression, we examined the association of VPA and MCI, PD and MCI/PD events. Results: This analysis included 7,669 participants (aged 70±9 years, 35% women, 59% White) (Table). After a median follow-up of 4.4 years, 571, 271 and 761 MCI, PD and MCI/PD events occurred respectively. High VPA, compared to low VPA participants, experienced lower events rates (per 1,000 person-years) of MCI (14.0 vs 19.7), PD (6.2 vs 9.1) and MCI/PD (18.5 vs 19.7). In multivariable Cox regression model, high VPA, relative to low VPA, was associated with lower risk of MCI (HR [95% CI]: 0.77 [0.64 – 0.92]), PD (0.72 [0.55 – 0.93]), and MCI/PD (0.77 [0.66 – 0.90]) (Figure). There were no significant interactions between VPA participation status and trial randomization to standard (goal systolic blood pressure (SBP) <140 mm Hg) or intensive (goal SBP <120) treatment for hypertension for any cognitive impairment outcomes. Conclusion: Among patients with high-risk hypertension, doing vigorous PA ≥ 1 sessions/week may be protective against cognitive decline.

Introduction: Heart failure is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. The use of beta blockers (BB) in patients with chronic heart failure is the cornerstone of guideline directed medical therapy and is recommended by national guidelines. However, BB are often discontinued when a patient is admitted to the hospital with ADHF, especially when inotropic support is needed. Little is known about the effects of continuing BB therapy in patients with ADHF requiring inotropes. This study sought to compare the effect of BB continuation vs discontinuation on in-hospital mortality among patients admitted to the hospital in ADHF requiring inotropic therapy. Methods: A single center, retrospective, non-blinded study was conducted in patients hospitalized with ADHF requiring inotropes over a three-year period. Inclusion criteria were patients ≥ 18 years of age admitted with ADHF and treated with inotropes (milrinone, dobutamine) from 1/1/2017-1/1/2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. We assessed BB continuation and discontinuation on admission. Continuation of BB was defined as BB given at least 50% of patient’s hospitalization time. A time to event analysis framework was implemented using Cox proportional hazards models to analyze the effect of BB use on in-hospital mortality. Results: A total of 449 patients were admitted with ADHF requiring inotropes who met study criteria. Of those patients, 206 (45.9%) were admitted and continued on BB therapy. Continuation of BB therapy was associated with significant improvements in survival compared with patients whose BB was discontinued. Compared with the BB discontinuation group, a 70% reduction in the likelihood of in-hospital mortality was observed among individuals that continued BB therapy [HR 0.30, 95% Cl: 0.18-0.61, p<0.002]. Conclusion: In our study, among patients admitted with ADHF requiring inotropes, those continued on BB therapy were 70% less likely to die during their hospitalization.

Introduction: Rheumatic heart disease affects 40.5 million people globally and causes 306,000 annual deaths. Echocardiographic screening detects rheumatic heart disease at an early, latent stage. However, it is unknown if secondary antibiotic prophylaxis is effective at preventing progression of latent rheumatic heart disease. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of secondary antibiotic prophylaxis among Ugandan children (5-17 years) with latent rheumatic heart disease. We randomized children to receive either 4-weekly injections of benzathine benzylpenicillin G or no prophylaxis. All children underwent echocardiography at baseline and 2 years after randomization. Changes from baseline were adjudicated by a panel blinded to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was rheumatic heart disease progression. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.org (NCT03346525) on November 17, 2017. Results: 818 were included in the modified intention to treat analysis and 799 participants (97.7%) reached study completion. Three participants in the prophylaxis group (0.8%) demonstrated echocardiographic progression, compared to 33 (8.3%) in the control group (risk difference -7.5%, 95%CI, -10.2 to -4.7, p<0.001). The number of children with latent rheumatic heart disease needed to receive prophylaxis to prevent one child from developing progression was 13 (95%CI, 10 to 21). There were 2 serious adverse events in the prophylaxis group, including one episode of a mild anaphylactic reaction (0.01% of all treatment doses). Conclusions: Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the risk of latent rheumatic heart disease progression at 2 years. These data provide new information for our understanding of the role of screening for latent rheumatic heart disease. Further research is needed before the implementation of population-level screening can be recommended.

Introduction: Poor lung function and aortic stiffness often co-occur, but causal and temporal relationships are equivocal. Investigating relationships between mid-life lung function and arterial stiffness later in life may highlight modifiable targets to slow arterial aging. Objective: Assess whether lung function in mid-life is associated with central artery stiffness later in life, and whether this relationship is modified by baseline smoking status, hypertension, or diabetes. Methods: We included 3,529 ARIC cohort participants (60% women; 22% Black; mean baseline age 51.4 (SD: 4.9)) who attended visits 1 (1987-1989) and 5 (2011-2013). Spirometry included forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) of high-quality grades. Central artery stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV)) was measured at visit 5. Associations of mid-life lung function with later-life central artery stiffness (cfPWV>75 th percentile) were evaluated by multivariable Poisson and logistic regressions adjusted for covariates. Sensitivity analyses excluded participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease identified from surveillance of hospitalizations occurring in follow up (N=109). Results: Mean FEV1 at visit 1 was 3.04 L (SD: 0.73) and FVC was 3.99 L (SD: 0.96). Lung function varied by thoracic height. Visits 1 and 5 were a mean of 23.8 years apart, and mean cfPWV at visit 5 was 1167 cm/s (SD: 379). Lung function at visit 1 was inversely associated with adjusted prevalence and odds of later cfPWV>75 th percentile among those present at visit 5 (Table). Stratum-specific estimates suggested modification by baseline smoking status, hypertension, and diabetes, but were not nominally statistically different. Sensitivity analyses did not alter inferences. Conclusion: Lung function at mid-life is inversely associated with central artery stiffness in later life. Whether change in mid-life pulmonary function is associated with arterial stiffness later in life warrants further examination.

Background: Elevated carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and presence of carotid plaque are markers of atherosclerosis, which may be linked to structural brain injury. Using data from the ARIC-NCS cohort, we tested the hypotheses that greater cIMT and presence of carotid plaque at late midlife were each associated with presence of infarcts (lacunar and cortical) and cerebral microbleeds (lobar and subcortical), greater white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, and smaller regional brain volumes in late life. Methods: We included 1,795 ARIC participants who had carotid ultrasounds in 1990-92 and brain MRI scans in 2011-13. Weighted linear regression was used for continuous (brain volume) outcomes, and weighted logistic regression for dichotomous outcomes (infarcts and cerebral microbleeds). Results: Participants were aged 57±6 years at baseline, 57% were female, and 23% were Black. Mean ± SD follow-up was 21±1 years. After multivariable adjustments, the highest quintile of cIMT in late midlife was associated with smaller deep grey matter volume (β [95% CI]: -0.11 [-0.22, -0.01]) and cortical volume in a temporal-parietal meta region of interest (ROI) (β [95% CI]: -0.10 [-0.20, -0.01]) in late life (Table). At baseline, 473 (26%) participants had carotid plaque present on their carotid ultrasound. Similar to cIMT, those with carotid plaque had smaller regional brain volumes than those without carotid plaque present (βs [95% CIs]: -0.05 [-0.12, 0.03] and -0.06 [-0.13, 0.01] for deep grey matter and temporal-parietal meta ROI volumes, respectively). No significant relations were observed with WMH volume, or the presence of any infarcts or cerebral microbleeds. Conclusion: Greater midlife cIMT and presence of carotid plaque were associated with smaller deep grey matter volume and cortical volume in a temporal-parietal meta ROI in later life. Contrary to our hypothesis, associations between midlife subclinical atherosclerosis and markers of vascular brain injury in later life were null.