Objective:
We tested the hypothesis that low plasma concentrations of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D are associated with increased risk of symptomatic ischemic stroke in the general population.
Methods:
We ...measured plasma 25‐hydroxyvitamin D in 10,170 individuals from the general population, the Copenhagen City Heart Study. During 21 years of follow‐up, 1,256 and 164 persons developed ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, respectively. In a meta‐analysis of ischemic stroke, we included 10 studies, 58,384 participants, and 2,644 events.
Results:
Stepwise decreasing plasma 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were associated with stepwise increasing risk of ischemic stroke both as a function of seasonally adjusted percentile categories and as a function of clinical categories of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (p for trend ≤ 2 × 10−3). In a Cox regression model comparing individuals with plasma 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations between the 1st and 4th percentiles to individuals with 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations between the 50th and 100th percentiles, multivariate adjusted hazard ratio of ischemic stroke was 1.82 (95% confidence interval, 1.41–2.34). Comparing individuals with clinical categories of severe vitamin D deficiency (<25.0nmol/l <10.0ng/ml) to individuals with optimal vitamin D status (≥75.0nmol/l ≥30.0ng/ml), the multivariate adjusted hazard ratio of ischemic stroke was 1.36 (1.09–1.70). 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were not associated with risk of hemorrhagic stroke. In a meta‐analysis comparing lowest versus highest quartile of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, the multivariate adjusted odds ratio of ischemic stroke was 1.54 (1.43–1.65) with a corresponding hazard ratio of 1.46 (1.35–1.58) in prospective general population studies.
Interpretation:
In this large population‐based prospective study, we observed stepwise increasing risk of symptomatic ischemic stroke with decreasing plasma 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations. This finding was substantiated in a meta‐analysis. ANN NEUROL 2013.
Elevated nonfasting triglycerides indicate the presence of remnant lipoproteins, which may promote atherosclerosis.
To test the hypothesis that very high levels of nonfasting triglycerides predict ...myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic heart disease (IHD), and death.
A prospective cohort study of 7587 women and 6394 men from the general population of Copenhagen, Denmark, aged 20 to 93 years, followed up from baseline (1976-1978) until 2004.
Hazard ratios (HRs) for incident MI, IHD, and total death according to baseline nonfasting triglyceride level categories of 1 to 1.99 mmol/L (88.5-176.1 mg/dL), 2 to 2.99 mmol/L (177.0-264.6 mg/dL), 3 to 3.99 mmol/L (265.5-353.0 mg/dL), 4 to 4.99 mmol/L (354.0-441.6 mg/dL), and 5 mmol/L or more (> or =442.5 mg/dL) vs triglyceride levels of less than 1 mmol/L (<88.5 mg/dL).
With increasing levels of nonfasting triglycerides, levels of remnant lipoprotein cholesterol increased. During a mean follow-up of 26 years, 1793 participants (691 women and 1102 men) developed MI, 3479 (1567 women and 1912 men) developed IHD, and 7818 (3731 women and 4087 men) died. For MI, among women, the age-adjusted HRs and multifactorially adjusted HRs (aHRs) for each respective category per 1-mmol/L increase in nonfasting triglyceride levels were 2.2 (aHR, 1.7), 4.4 (aHR, 2.5), 3.9 (aHR, 2.1), 5.1 (aHR, 2.4), and 16.8 (aHR, 5.4); for both, P for trend < .001. For MI, among men, the values were 1.6 (aHR, 1.4), 2.3 (aHR, 1.6), 3.6 (aHR, 2.3), 3.3 (aHR, 1.9), and 4.6 (aHR, 2.4); for both, P for trend < .001. For IHD, among women, the values were 1.7 (aHR, 1.4), 2.8 (aHR, 1.8), 3.0 (aHR, 1.8), 2.1 (aHR, 1.2), and 5.9 (aHR, 2.6); for both, P for trend < .001. For IHD, among men, the values were 1.3 (aHR, 1.1), 1.7 (aHR, 1.3), 2.1 (aHR, 1.3), 2.0 (aHR, 1.2), and 2.9 (aHR, 1.5); P for trend < .001 for age-adjusted and P for trend = .03 for multifactorially adjusted. For total death, among women, the values were 1.3 (aHR, 1.3), 1.7 (aHR, 1.6), 2.2 (aHR, 2.2), 2.2 (aHR, 1.9), and 4.3 (aHR, 3.3); for both, P for trend < .001. For total death, among men, the values were 1.3 (aHR, 1.2), 1.4 (aHR, 1.4), 1.7 (aHR, 1.5), 1.8 (aHR, 1.6), and 2.0 (aHR, 1.8); for both, P for trend < .001.
In this general population cohort, elevated nonfasting triglyceride levels were associated with increased risk of MI, IHD, and death in men and women.
Background
Despite no international consensus on the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia, low lean mass, muscle strength, and physical function are important risk factors for disability, frailty, and ...mortality in older individuals, as well as in a wide range of patients with muscle loss. Here, we provide a population‐based reference material of total and regional lean body mass, muscle strength/power parameters, and physical function in a healthy cohort of Danish men and women across the lifespan.
Methods
Volunteers aged 20–93 years from the Copenhagen City Heart Study were invited to establish a Danish reference material (Copenhagen Sarcopenia Study) on lean mass characteristics appendicular lean mass (ALM), iDXA, GE Lunar, muscle function handgrip strength (HGS), Jamar dynamometer and leg extension power (LEP), Nottingham Power Rig, and physical function 30 s sit‐to‐stand test (STS), 10‐m maximal and habitual gait speed (GS).
Results
A total of 1305 participants 729 women (age: 56.4 ± 18.9 years, height: 1.66 ± 0.01 m, body mass index: 24.6 ± 4.3 kg/m2 and 576 men, age: 57.0 ± 17.5 years, height: 1.80 ± 0.07 m, body mass index: 26.0 ± 3.9 kg/m2 completed all measurements and were included in the present analysis. Lean mass characteristics (TLM, ALM, and ALM/h2) decreased with increasing age in both men and women (P < 0.001). Men demonstrated larger absolute and relative total ALM and higher HGS and LEP compared with women at all age intervals (P < 0.001). HGS and LEP decreased progressively with age in both men and women (P < 0.01); 30 s STS performance, habitual GS, and maximal GS decreased at an accellerated rate of decline with increasing age in both men and women (P < 0.001). Habitual GS was reduced in men and women aged ≥70 years, while maximal GS was reduced from the age of ≥60 years compared with young adults (P < 0.001). Regardless of sex, 30 s STS was reduced from the age of ≥50 years compared with the young reference group (P < 0.001)
Conclusions
While the power‐based measurements (LEP and 30 s STS) started to decline already at age +50 years, less power‐based parameters (GS and HGS) and lean mass characteristics (TLM, ALM, and ALM/h2) remained unaltered until after the age of +70 years. Notably, the cut‐off thresholds derived in the present study differed from earlier reference data, which underlines the importance of obtaining updated and local reference materials.
Abstract
Background
Left atrial (LA) strain parameters have been demonstrated to be valuable predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) in several patient cohorts. The purpose of this study was to ...investigate whether LA strain, assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography, can be used to predict the development of AF in the general population.
Methods and results
This prospective longitudinal study included 4466 participants from the fifth Copenhagen City Heart Study. All participants underwent a health examination, including echocardiographic measurements of LA strain. Participants with prevalent AF at baseline were excluded. The primary endpoint was incident AF. During a median follow-up period of 5.3 years, 154 (4.3%) participants developed AF. In univariable analysis, peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS), peak atrial contraction strain (PACS), and LA strain during the conduit phase were significantly associated with the development of AF. PALS hazard ratio (HR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.03–1.07), P < 0.001, per 1% decrease and PACS (HR 1.08, 95% CI (1.05–1.12), P < 0.001, per 1% decrease remained independent predictors of AF in multivariable analysis. In addition, PALS and PACS remained significantly associated with AF development even in participants with normal-sized atria and normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function.
Conclusion
In the general population, PALS and PACS independently predict incident AF. These findings remained consistent even in participants with normal-sized LA and normal LV systolic function.
Graphical Abstract
It has been a challenge to verify the dose of exercise that will produce the maximum health benefits in hypertension. This study aimed to explore the association between level of daily physical ...activity, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcome at different blood pressure levels. A random sample of 18 974 white men and women aged 20 to 98 years were examined in a prospective cardiovascular population study. Self-reported activity level in leisure-time was drawn from the Physical Activity Questionnaire (level I: inactivity; II: light activity; and III: moderate/high-level activity). Blood pressure was defined as normal blood pressure: <120/<80 mm Hg; Prehypertension: 120-139/80-89 mm Hg; Stage I hypertension: 140-159/90-99 mm Hg; Stage II hypertension ≥160/≥100 mm Hg. The mean follow-up time was 23.4±11.7 years. At all levels of blood pressure, higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower all-cause mortality in a dose-response pattern. The pattern remained unchanged after adjustment for following confounders: sex, age, smoking status, education, diabetes mellitus, previous cardiovascular disease, body mass index, and calendar time. Compared with inactivity, following hazard ratios were found for stage I hypertension: light activity, hazard ratio 0.78 (0.72-0.84;
<0.001), moderate/high-level activity, hazard ratio 0.69 (0.63-0.75;
<0.001). At all levels of blood pressure, the risk of cardiovascular events was significantly reduced independent of the level of physical activity. In conclusion, the association between physical activity and all-cause mortality was present in an inverse dose-response pattern at all levels of blood pressure. Physical activity was associated with reduction in cardiovascular events independent of the level of physical activity.
Studies indicate that physical activity during leisure and work have opposite associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, referred to as the physical activity health paradox. We ...investigated how sedentary behaviour and physical activity types during leisure and work are associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), waist circumference (WC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in an adult general population sample using compositional data analysis.
Participants wore accelerometers for 7 days (right thigh and iliac crest; 24 h/day) and had their SBP, WC, and LDL-C measured. Accelerometer data was analysed using the software Acti4 to derive daily time spent in sedentary behaviour and physical activity types. The measure of association was quantified by reallocating time between sedentary behaviour and 1) walking, and 2) high-intensity physical activity (HIPA; sum of climbing stairs, running, cycling, and rowing), during both domains.
In total, 652 participants were included in the analyses (median wear time: 6 days, 23.8 h/day). During leisure, the results indicated that less sedentary behaviour and more walking or more HIPA was associated with lower SBP, while during work, the findings indicated an association with higher SBP. During both domains, the findings indicated that less sedentary behaviour and more HIPA was associated with a smaller WC and lower LDL-C. However, the findings indicated less sedentary behaviour and more walking to be associated with a larger WC and higher LDL-C, regardless of domain.
During leisure, less sedentary behaviour and more walking or HIPA seems to be associated with a lower SBP, but, during work, it seems to be associated with a higher SBP. No consistent differences between domains were observed for WC and LDL-C. These findings highlight the importance of considering the physical activity health paradox, at least for some risk factors for CVD.
Physical activity (PA) confers some protection against development of heart failure (HF) but little is known of the role of intensity and duration of exercise.
In a prospective cohort study of men ...and women free of previous MI, stroke or HF with one or more examinations in 1976-2003, we studied the association between updated self-assessed leisure-time PA, speed and duration of walking and subsequent hospitalization or death from HF. Light and moderate/high level of leisure-time PA and brisk walking were associated with reduced risk of HF in both genders whereas no consistent association with duration of walking was seen. In 18,209 subjects age 20-80 with 1580 cases of HF, using the lowest activity level as reference, the confounder-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for light and moderate/high leisure-time physical activity were 0.75 (0.66-0.86) and 0.80 (0.69-0.93), respectively. In 9,937 subjects with information on walking available and 542 cases of HF, moderate and high walking speed were associated with adjusted HRs of 0.53 (0.43-0.66) and 0.30 (0.21-0.44), respectively, and daily walking of ½-1 hrs, 1-2 and >2 hrs with HR of 0.80 (0.61-1.06), 0.82 (0.62-1.06), and 0.96 (0.73-1.27), respectively. Results were similar for both genders and remained robust after exclusion of HF related to coronary heart disease and after a series of sensitivity analyses.
Speed rather than duration of walking was associated with reduced risk of HF. Walking is the most wide-spread PA and public health measures to curb the increase in HF may benefit from this information.
Little is known about changes in physical activity in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its impact on mortality. Therefore, we aimed to study changes in physical activity ...in subjects with and without COPD and the impact of physical activity on mortality risk. Subjects from the Copenhagen City Heart Study with at least two consecutive examinations were selected. Each examination included a self-administered questionnaire and clinical examination. 1270 COPD subjects and 8734 subjects without COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 s 67±18 and 91±15% predicted, respectively) were included. COPD subjects with moderate or high baseline physical activity who reported low physical activity level at follow-up had the highest hazard ratios of mortality (1.73 and 2.35, respectively; both p<0.001). In COPD subjects with low baseline physical activity, no differences were found in survival between unchanged or increased physical activity at follow-up. In addition, subjects without COPD with low physical activity at follow-up had the highest hazard ratio of mortality, irrespective of baseline physical activity level (p≤0.05). A decline to low physical activity at follow-up was associated with an increased mortality risk in subjects with and without COPD. These observational data suggest that it is important to assess and encourage physical activity in the earliest stages of COPD in order to maintain a physical activity level that is as high as possible, as this is associated with better prognosis.
Background Information about how much time adults spend cycling, walking and running can be used for planning and evaluating initiatives for active, healthy societies. The objectives of this study ...were to describe how much time adult Copenhageners cycle, walk, run, stand and spend sedentary using accelerometers, and to describe differences between population groups. Methods In the fifth examination of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, 2335 individuals gave consent to wear accelerometers (skin-attached; right thigh and iliac crest; 24 h/day, 7 consecutive days) of which 1670 fulfilled our inclusion criteria (greater than or equai to16 h/day for greater than or equai to5 days; median wear time: 23.8 h/day). Daily time spent cycling, walking, running, standing and sedentary was derived from accelerometer-based data using the Acti4 software, and differences between sex, age groups, level of education and BMI were investigated using Kruskal-Wallis rank sum tests. Results Among those cycling (61%), the median cycling time was 8.3 min/day. The median time walking, running, standing and sedentary was 82.6, 0.1, 182.5 and 579.1 min/day, respectively. About 88% walked fast (i.e., greater than or equai to100 steps/min) greater than or equai to30 min/day. The shortest duration and lowest prevalence of cycling, walking and running were found among older individuals, those with a low level of education, and individuals being overweight or obese. Conclusions We found a long duration and high prevalence of cycling and walking, but also that many adult Copenhageners spent much time sedentary. Population groups with low participation in physical activities such as cycling and walking should be targeted in future initiatives towards an active, healthy society. Keywords: Cross-sectional study, General population, Adults, Older adults, Physical activity, Sedentary behaviour, Stationary behaviours, Accelerometer
Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) detects left ventricular dysfunction in patients with heart failure and normal ejection fraction, but the prognostic significance of left ventricular dysfunction by TDI ...in the general population is unknown.
Within the Copenhagen City Heart Study, a large community-based population study, cardiac function was evaluated in 1036 participants by both conventional echocardiography and TDI. Averages of peak systolic (s'), early diastolic (e'), and late diastolic (a') velocities from 6 mitral annular sites were used. TDI was furthermore quantified by a combined index (eas index) of diastolic and systolic performance: e'/(a' x s'). During follow-up (median, 5.3 years), 90 participants died. Left ventricular dysfunction by TDI, in terms of low s' (hazard ratio, 1.23 per 1-cm/s decrease; P<0.05) and a' (hazard ratio, 1.20 per 1-cm/s decrease; P=0.001), were significant predictors of death in Cox proportional-hazards models adjusted for clinical variables (age, sex, body mass index, heart rate, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease) and conventional echocardiography. The adjusted hazard ratio for death in the third tertile compared with the first tertile of the combined index of systolic and diastolic performance by TDI was 2.5 (P<0.005).
In the general population, in which most are free of left ventricular systolic dysfunction and restrictive diastolic filling using conventional echocardiographic parameters, left ventricular dysfunction by TDI is a powerful and independent predictor of death, especially when systolic performance and diastolic performance are considered together, recognizing their interdependency and their complex relation to deteriorating cardiac function.
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