Achieving disease control is the goal of asthma management. Serum or sputum eosinophil counts have been known traditional means of assessing eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthma, which is vital ...in predicting response to corticosteroid therapy which ultimately promotes control of the disease. Evidence suggests that fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) may be a more useful non-invasive surrogate biomarker for the assessment of eosinophilic airway inflammation and could help with the timely adjustment of inhaled corticosteroid therapy in the uncontrolled asthma patient. The relationship between FeNO and other markers of airway inflammation has been variable in literature, with limited data in sub-Saharan Africa where FeNO testing is very sparse. We sought to define the relationship between FeNO levels, serum eosinophil counts, spirometry measures and symptom control among asthma patients.BACKGROUNDAchieving disease control is the goal of asthma management. Serum or sputum eosinophil counts have been known traditional means of assessing eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthma, which is vital in predicting response to corticosteroid therapy which ultimately promotes control of the disease. Evidence suggests that fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) may be a more useful non-invasive surrogate biomarker for the assessment of eosinophilic airway inflammation and could help with the timely adjustment of inhaled corticosteroid therapy in the uncontrolled asthma patient. The relationship between FeNO and other markers of airway inflammation has been variable in literature, with limited data in sub-Saharan Africa where FeNO testing is very sparse. We sought to define the relationship between FeNO levels, serum eosinophil counts, spirometry measures and symptom control among asthma patients.The study was conducted at the Asthma Clinic of a large tertiary hospital. This study included 82 patients with physician-diagnosed asthma being regularly managed at the clinic. All participants were taken through the asthma control test (ACT), had FeNO and spirometry measurements taken according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines. Blood samples were obtained from all participants for serum eosinophil counts. Correlation coefficient was used to ascertain the relationship between FeNO levels and serum eosinophil counts, ACT scores, and spirometry measurements. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between high FeNO and abnormal FEV1 percentage predicted (<80%) with adjustments for age, sex, and BMI.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe study was conducted at the Asthma Clinic of a large tertiary hospital. This study included 82 patients with physician-diagnosed asthma being regularly managed at the clinic. All participants were taken through the asthma control test (ACT), had FeNO and spirometry measurements taken according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines. Blood samples were obtained from all participants for serum eosinophil counts. Correlation coefficient was used to ascertain the relationship between FeNO levels and serum eosinophil counts, ACT scores, and spirometry measurements. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between high FeNO and abnormal FEV1 percentage predicted (<80%) with adjustments for age, sex, and BMI.A total of 82 patients with asthma were included in the study, with higher prevalence of females (72%). Majority (40.2%) of the patients were found in the 60 and above age category. The median FeNO level and ACT score was 42.00 (26.00-52.50) parts per billion (ppb) and 20.0 (18-23) respectively. The median serum eosinophil counts was 0.25(0.90-0.38) × 109/L. The median FeNO levels were significantly higher in patients with partly and very poorly controlled asthma than in the well-controlled group (p < 0.001). A total of 47(57%) of the patients were classified as having well controlled asthma and 35 (42%) uncontrolled. FeNO correlated with serum eosinophil counts (r = 0.450, p < 0.001), ACT (r = -0.648, p < 0.001), and FEV1 percentage predicted (r = -0.353, p = 0.001). High FeNO (>50 ppb) was associated with an over fivefold increased risk of having an abnormal FEV1 percentage predicted.RESULTSA total of 82 patients with asthma were included in the study, with higher prevalence of females (72%). Majority (40.2%) of the patients were found in the 60 and above age category. The median FeNO level and ACT score was 42.00 (26.00-52.50) parts per billion (ppb) and 20.0 (18-23) respectively. The median serum eosinophil counts was 0.25(0.90-0.38) × 109/L. The median FeNO levels were significantly higher in patients with partly and very poorly controlled asthma than in the well-controlled group (p < 0.001). A total of 47(57%) of the patients were classified as having well controlled asthma and 35 (42%) uncontrolled. FeNO correlated with serum eosinophil counts (r = 0.450, p < 0.001), ACT (r = -0.648, p < 0.001), and FEV1 percentage predicted (r = -0.353, p = 0.001). High FeNO (>50 ppb) was associated with an over fivefold increased risk of having an abnormal FEV1 percentage predicted.FeNO levels significantly correlated with the ACT scores, serum eosinophil counts and FEV1% predicted among the asthma patients who were on inhaled corticosteroid therapy. High FeNO was significantly associated with abnormal FEV1 percentage predicted. We suggest that the point of care assessment of FeNO is a reliable marker of eosinophilic inflammation in our cohort of patients and together with 'ACT scores' in our asthma clinics could increase asthma control rates.CONCLUSIONFeNO levels significantly correlated with the ACT scores, serum eosinophil counts and FEV1% predicted among the asthma patients who were on inhaled corticosteroid therapy. High FeNO was significantly associated with abnormal FEV1 percentage predicted. We suggest that the point of care assessment of FeNO is a reliable marker of eosinophilic inflammation in our cohort of patients and together with 'ACT scores' in our asthma clinics could increase asthma control rates.
ObjectiveEvidence shows that the conventional cardiometabolic risk factors do not fully explain the burden of microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes (T2D). One potential factor is the impact ...of pulmonary dysfunction on systemic microvascular injury. We assessed the associations between spirometric impairments and systemic microvascular complications in T2D.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingNational Diabetes Management and Research Centre in Ghana.ParticipantsThe study included 464 Ghanaians aged ≥35 years with established diagnosis of T2D without primary myocardial disease or previous/current heart failure. Participants were excluded if they had primary lung disease including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe associations of spirometric measures (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC ratio) with microvascular complications (nephropathy (albumin-creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g), neuropathy (vibration perception threshold ≥25 V and/or Diabetic Neuropathy Symptom score >1) and retinopathy (based on retinal photography)) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models with adjustments for age, sex, diabetes duration, glycated haemoglobin concentration, suboptimal blood pressure control, smoking pack years and body mass index.ResultsIn age and sex-adjusted models, lower Z-score FEV1 was associated with higher odds of nephropathy (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.19–2.02, p=0.001) and neuropathy (1.27 (1.01–1.65), 0.038) but not retinopathy (1.22 (0.87–1.70), 0.246). Similar observations were made for the associations of lower Z-score FVC with nephropathy (1.54 (1.19–2.01), 0.001), neuropathy (1.25 (1.01–1.54), 0.037) and retinopathy (1.19 (0.85–1.68), 0.318). In the fully adjusted model, the associations remained significant for only lower Z-score FEV1 with nephropathy (1.43 (1.09–1.87), 0.011) and neuropathy (1.34 (1.04–1.73), 0.024) and for lower Z-score FVC with nephropathy (1.45 (1.11–1.91), 0.007) and neuropathy (1.32 (1.03–1.69), 0.029). Lower Z-score FEV1/FVC ratio was not significantly associated with microvascular complications in age and sex and fully adjusted models.ConclusionOur study shows positive but varying strengths of associations between pulmonary dysfunction and microvascular complications in different circulations. Future studies could explore the mechanisms linking pulmonary dysfunction to microvascular complications in T2D.
Ethnic differences exist in the prevalence and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. It has been proposed that chronic low-grade inflammation ...plays an important role in CKD pathogenesis. In the current analysis, we study the association between systemic inflammatory biomarkers and CKD prevalence in different ethnic groups.
We examined cross-sectional associations between biomarkers of low-grade inflammation, including serum high-sensitive (hs)-CRP, fibrinogen, and D-dimer, and CKD prevalence in different ethnic groups residing in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We included 5740 participants (similar-sized Dutch, African Surinamese, South-Asian Surinamese, Ghanaian, Turkish and Moroccan populations) aged 18 to 70 years of the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting study (HELIUS) cohort.
In the fully adjusted models, adjusted for ethnicity-specific cut-off values, elevated fibrinogen odds ratio 2.50 (95 % confidence interval 1.10–5.78) and D-dimer 2.99 (1.28–7.00) were significantly associated with CKD in Dutch. In South-Asian Surinamese, a significant association with elevated D-dimer 2.66 (1.32–5.37) was found.
Our study shows that there are both differences in biomarker levels and the association with CKD across ethnic groups. Future research to identify potential drivers of the differential associations and susceptibility of CKD among ethnic groups to reduce the CKD burden is necessary.
•There are notable variations in the mean concentrations of inflammation-related biomarkers among the ethnic minority groups.•There are differences in the association between inflammatory biomarkers and chronic kidney disease across ethnic groups.•In Dutch, an elevation of fibrinogen and/or D-dimer is significantly associated with chronic kidney disease.•In South-Asian Surinamese, an elevation of D-dimer is significantly associated with chronic kidney disease.•The roles of inflammation in chronic kidney disease risk prediction may vary between ethnic groups.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Although the associations between measures of macrovascular and microvascular dysfunctions are well characterized in diabetes, there is limited data on these associations in individuals without ...diabetes. We compared the associations between macrovascular dysfunction and renal microvascular dysfunction in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and without diabetes.
Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data from the multiethnic Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), including 986 participants with T2D and 7680 participants without diabetes were done. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between macrovascular dysfunction aortic stiffness, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and stroke and renal microvascular dysfunction albuminuria with adjustments for age, sex, ethnicity, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol, and smoking (and HbA1c and diabetes duration for the T2D group).
In the fully adjusted models, aortic stiffness was associated with albuminuria in individuals with T2D OR 2.55; 95% CI,1.30–4.98, but not without diabetes 0.96; 0.63–1.45; stroke was associated with albuminuria in T2D 2.40;1.10–5.25, but not in non-diabetes 1.39;0.83–2.33. In age-sex adjusted models, CAD was associated with albuminuria in T2D 1.65;1.09–2.50 and in non-diabetes 1.56;1.13–2.15; the associations were no longer significant in the fully adjusted model. There were no associations between PAD and albuminuria in T2D and non-diabetes.
Our study shows important differences in the associations between measures of macrovascular and renal microvascular dysfunction in T2D and non-diabetes. These findings provide opportunities for future research aimed at prevention and treatment strategies for individuals with vascular dysfunction.
•Macrovascular dysfunction (MvD) rates were higher in T2D than in non-diabetes.•MvD was more frequently associated with albuminuria in T2D than in non-diabetes.•In a fully adjusted model, stroke was associated with albuminuria in T2D only.•After full adjustment, aortic stiffness was associated with albuminuria in T2D only.•Peripheral artery disease wasn't associated with albuminuria in T2D or non-diabetes.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Evidence suggests that the burden of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is rising more rapidly than other forms of cardiovascular diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, but the extent to which they differ ...between rural and urban settings in Africa and upon migration to Europe is unknown. We assessed the burden of PAD among Ghanaians living in rural- and urban-Ghana and Ghanaian migrants living in three European countries.
Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data from the multicenter Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study were done. Data from 5516 participants living in Europe (1487 Amsterdam, 546 Berlin, 1047 London) and Ghana 1419 urban and 1017 rural aged 25–70years were included. PAD was defined as ankle brachial index≤0.90. Comparisons among sites were made using logistic regression analysis.
The age-standardized prevalence of PAD was higher in Ghanaians living in rural 7.52%, 95% CI = 5.87–9.51 and urban 8.93%, 7.44–10.64 Ghana than for their compatriots living in Europe 5.70%, 4.35–7.35 for London; 3.94%, 2.96–5.14 for Amsterdam; and 0.44%, 0.05–1.58 for Berlin. The differences persisted even after adjustment for age, sex, education and the conventional cardiovascular risk factors adjusted odds ratio = 3.16, 95% CI = 2.16–4.61, p < .001 for rural-Ghana; and 2.93, 1.87–4.58, p < .00 for urban-Ghana, compared with Ghanaian migrants in Europe.
Our study shows that Ghanaians living in Ghana have higher prevalence of PAD than their migrant compatriots. Further work is needed to identify potential factors driving the high prevalence of PAD among non-migrant Ghanaians to assist interventions aimed at reducing PAD burden.
•In sub-Saharan Africa, peripheral artery disease (PAD) rate is rising very rapidly•African migrants in Europe had poorer PAD risk profiles than non-migrant Africans•However, non-migrant Africans had higher rates of PAD than their migrant peers•Conventional vascular risk factors could not explain the differences in PAD rates
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Metabolic conditions, including intermediate hyperglycemia (IH), affect migrants to a greater extent than the populations of origin. Evidence suggests that IH increases the risk of vascular ...complications, but it is unclear whether the differences in IH between the non-migrant and migrant populations translate to differences in vascular complications between the two populations. We compared the prevalence of macrovascular and renal microvascular complications among West Africans with IH living in West Africa and their migrant compatriots in Europe.
Data from the multicenter Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants(RODAM) study were analyzed. Ghanaians with IH(524 non-migrant and 1439 migrants) were included. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the associations between migrant status and macrovascular coronary artery disease(CAD) and peripheral artery disease(PAD) and renal microvascularnephropathy complications with adjustment for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, systolic blood pressure, BMI, total cholesterol, HbA1c, C-reactive protein, and serum uric acid.
The prevalence of microvascular/macrovascular complications was higher in non-migrants than in migrants(nephropathy 15.3vs.9.7%; PAD 3.1%vs.1.3%; and CAD 15.8% vs. 5.0%). The differences persisted in the fully adjusted model: nephropathy odds ratio, 2.12; 95% CI(1.46–3.08); PAD, 4.44(1.87–10.51); CAD 2.35(1.64–3.37). Non-migrant females had higher odds of nephropathy2.14(1.34–3.43), PAD7.47(2.38–23.40) and CAD 2.10(1.34–3.27) compared to migrant females. Non-migrant males had higher odds of nephropathy2.54(1.30–4.97) and CAD2.85(1.48–5.50), but not PAD1.81(0.32–10.29),than their migrant peers.
Macrovascular and renal microvascular complications were more prevalent in non-migrants than in migrant West Africans with IH. Further studies are needed to identify factors that increase the risk to aid preventive/treatment strategies.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Physical exercise aids glycemic control and the prevention of diabetes-related complications. However, exercise beyond an individual's pulmonary functional capacity may be detrimental. To date, ...little is known about the relationship between pulmonary function and exercise capacity in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We investigated the relationship between pulmonary function and exercise capacity in T2D.
Spirometry and 6-min walk test (6MWT) were conducted for 263 systematically sampled adults with T2D without primary heart/lung disease. The primary measure of exercise capacity was the 6-min walk distance (6MWD); impaired exercise capacity was defined as 6MWD<400 m. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between spirometric measures and exercise capacity with adjustments for age, sex, height, body mass index, diabetes duration, glycated hemoglobin concentration, smoking, suboptimum blood pressure control, and total cholesterol concentration.
Compared with individuals with normal spirometry, those with pulmonary restriction/obstruction had significantly lower 6MWD (404.67 m vs. 451.70),p < 0.001). The proportion of individuals with impaired exercise capacity was higher in individuals with impaired pulmonary function compared with those with normal pulmonary function (39.8% vs. 20.7%,p = 0.001). In the unadjusted models, decreasing Z-score FEV1 odds ratio 1.40, 95% confidence interval (1.07–1.83),p = 0.013 and Z-score FVC 1.37 (1.06–1.76),0.016, but not Z-score FEV1/FVC ratio 1.00 (0.78–1.27),0.972 were significantly associated with impaired exercise capacity. In the fully adjusted model, the strength of association remained statistically significant for Z-score FEV1 1.60 (1.06–2.41),0.025 but not Z-score FVC 1.48 (0.98–2.23),0.065.
Our study shows inverse associations between FEV1 and impaired exercise capacity in T2D, Future research could characterize optimal exercise levels based on a patient's FEV1.
•Impaired exercise capacity was commoner in patients with type 2 diabetes with lung dysfunction than without lung dysfunction.•Lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s was positively associated with impaired exercise capacity.•The conventional cardiovascular and respiratory risk factors did not explain the observed associations.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Diabetes-related microvascular and macrovascular disease rates varied by ethnicity.•Ethnic minorities had higher rates of nephropathy and coronary artery disease.•Ethnic minorities had similar rates ...of stroke and peripheral artery disease.•The conventional vascular risk factors did not fully explain the ethnic difference.
To assess ethnic differences in diabetes-related microvascular and macrovascular complication rates in a multi-ethnic population in the Netherlands.
Data from the HELIUS study comprising of 165 Dutch, 591 South-Asian Surinamese, 494 African Surinamese, 272 Ghanaian, 368 Turkish, and 444 Moroccan participants with diabetes were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to assess ethnic differences in microvascular (nephropathy) and macrovascular (coronary heart disease (CHD), peripheral artery disease (PAD) and stroke) complications, with adjustments for age, sex, education, and the conventional risk factors.
In an age-sex adjusted model, ethnic minorities had higher odds of nephropathy than Dutch except for Ghanaians and African Surinamese. The difference remained statistically significant in South-Asian Surinamese (odds ratio: 2.29; 95% CI, 1.09–4.80), but not in the Turkish (1.01; 0.43–2.38) and Moroccan (1.56; 0.68–3.53) participants. The odds of CHD was higher in all ethnic minorities than in Dutch, with the odds ratios ranging from 2.73 (1.09–6.84) in Ghanaians to 6.65 (2.77–15.90) in Turkish in the fully-adjusted model. There were no ethnic differences in the odds of PAD and stroke.
The findings suggest ethnic inequalities in macrovascular and microvascular complications in diabetes, with nephropathy and CHD being the most common complications affecting ethnic minorities.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Albuminuria and retinal microvascular dysfunction(RMD) were positively associated.•Severer forms of RMD were more frequent in individuals with albuminuria than without albuminuria.•Albuminuria was ...more strongly correlated with RMD in hypertension than without hypertension.•Albuminuria was more strongly correlated with RMD in suboptimal than in optimal BP control.•The above associations were independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors.
Studies assessing the concordance of albuminuria and retinal microvascular dysfunction (RMD) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) have yielded inconsistent results. Similar to ethnicity, hypertension may be a potential explanatory variable. We compared the association between albuminuria and RMD in West Africans with T2D with and without hypertension.
This was a cross-sectional study among 177 systematically sampled Ghanaians with T2D aged ≥ 35 years. Albuminuria was based on urinary albumin-creatinine ratio≥30 mg/g. Retinal images were analyzed and graded according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study criteria. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations of albuminuria and RMD with adjustments for age, sex, socioeconomic status, diabetes duration, HbA1c, smoking, systolic blood pressure (BP), BMI, and total cholesterol.
RMD was more prevalent in individuals with albuminuria than in those without albuminuria (41.7% vs. 24.0%, p = 0.026). In the fully adjusted model, albuminuria remained significantly associated with RMD (odds ratio 2.4195% CI:1.00–5.80, p = 0.049); the association between albuminuria and RMD was more pronounced in individuals with hypertension (3.10 1.01–9.50, 0.048) than without hypertension (1.700.33–8.77,0.523). In analyses stratified by BP control, albuminuria was significantly associated with RMD in individuals with suboptimal BP (2.761.07–7.14, 0.037) but not in individuals with optimal BP (0.240.00–17.04,0.512)
Our study shows positive associations between albuminuria and RMD among West Africans with T2D, with the strength of association, accentuated in individuals with hypertension/suboptimal BP. Future studies could further characterize the role of hypertension in the associations between albuminuria and RMD.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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