Association of Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Proteomics Biomarkers With Indices of Heart Rate Variability in the General Population: KORA S4/FF4 Study.

Background: We sought to investigate the association between circulating inflammatory and cardiovascular proteomics biomarkers and cardiac autonomic nervous dysfunction-sensitive heart rate variability indices.

Methods: Using the population-based KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) cohort, 233 proteomics biomarkers were quantified in baseline plasma samples of 1389 individuals using proximity extension assay technology. Five heart rate variability indices (Rényi entropy of the histogram with order [α] 4, total power of the density spectra, SD of word sequence, SD of the short-term normal-to-normal interval variability, compression entropy) were assessed at baseline in 982 individuals and in 407 individuals at baseline and at 14-year follow-up.

Occurrence of coronary events in the absence of traditional risk factors: Understanding residual risk.

Background And Aims: The major predictors of future coronary heart disease (CHD) events in individuals without traditional modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) remain unknown. We investigated the association between circulating biomarkers, reflecting residual risk, with incident CHD in a general population, according to the presence of five CVRFs (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and obesity) at baseline.

Methods: Overall 212,598 CHD-free individuals from 21 European population-based cohorts were stratified by CVRF burden into three groups, having zero (n = 35,707), one (n = 68,548) or ≥2 (n = 108,343) risk factors at baseline.

Serum metabolites characterize hepatic phenotypes and reveal shared pathways: results from population-based imaging.

Background: Steatotic liver disease is a major public health issue, with hepatic iron overload exacerbating fibrotic conditions. This study aimed to identify metabolites associated with hepatic fat and/or iron overload using targeted metabolomics in a population-based cohort.

Methods: We used the cross-sectional KORA-MRI study (N = 376 individuals).

Higher afamin concentrations are associated with higher fatty liver indices: Population-based KORA F4/FF4 study.

Background: Previous studies suggest that afamin is associated with steatotic liver diseases (SLD). However, the exact role of afamin in SLD development and fibrogenesis remains unclear. Potential modifying effects of sex and glucose tolerance status have also not been examined.

Proteomic Signatures as Biomarkers of Atherosclerosis Burden.

Atherosclerosis progresses silently over decades before manifesting clinically as myocardial infarction or stroke. Currently, no circulating biomarker reliably quantifies the burden of atherosclerosis beyond imaging techniques. Here, we sought to define plasma proteomic signatures that reflect the systemic burden of atherosclerosis.

Lipoprotein (a) and Incident Coronary Heart Disease in the Community: Impact of Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

Aims: Deleterious effects Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) might be mitigated by overall cardiovascular (CV) risk reduction. However, data on the relationship between increased Lp(a) and incident coronary heart disease (CHD) according to the distribution of modifiable CV risk factors (CVRF) at baseline are still scarce. We investigated the association between high Lp(a) and incident CHD in the general population, depending on the presence/absence of four major CVRFs (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking) at baseline.

Soluble alpha klotho-impact of biological variables and reference intervals for adults.

Objective: Concentrations of soluble alpha klotho (sαKL) are higher in active acromegaly compared with healthy controls. However, reference intervals based on large population-based samples are lacking, and the impact of many biological variables is unclear.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Cardiovascular disease outcomes in relation to 25-hydroxyvitamin D and its seasonal variation: Results from the BiomarCaRE consortium.

Background: It has been hypothesized but seldom tested that the winter excess in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is related to hypovitaminosis D. The present study examined the association between CVD and (i) seasonality of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and (ii) individual 25(OH)D concentrations.

Methods And Findings: Harmonized 25(OH)D data were obtained from the Biomarkers for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Europe (BiomarCaRE) project, including 79,570 participants examined between 1984 and 2010.

The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: Changed Results Using Different Drinking Solutions?

The impact of different drinking solutions used for an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) on 2-h glucose values and gastrointestinal side effects are not clear. This study compared a commercially produced solution (Accu-Chek Roche solution) and a standardized pharmacy solution (NRF 13.8.

Phenotype-based clusters, inflammation and cardiometabolic complications in older people before the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes: KORA F4/FF4 cohort study.

Background: Using a data-driven approach, six clusters with different risk profiles and burden of complications were recently identified in middle-aged people before the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We aimed to investigate whether these clusters could be generalised to older people and if subclinical inflammation was related to their cardiometabolic risk profiles.

Methods: We assigned 843 participants of the KORA F4 study aged 61-82 years without T2D to the six previously defined phenotype-based clusters.

Longitudinal association between DNA methylation and type 2 diabetes: findings from the KORA F4/FF4 study.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been linked to changes in DNA methylation levels, which can, in turn, alter transcriptional activity. However, most studies for epigenome-wide associations between T2D and DNA methylation comes from cross-sectional design. Few large-scale investigations have explored these associations longitudinally over multiple time-points.

Comparison of robustness, resilience and intrinsic capacity including prediction of long-term adverse health outcomes: The KORA-Age study.

Background: Frailty, resilience and intrinsic capacity (IC) are concepts to evaluate older person`s health status, but no comparison of their associations with adverse health outcomes exists. We therefore aimed to assess which concept is most useful for determining long-term health of older adults.

Methods: Analyses were based on the KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg)-Age study (n = 940, 65-93 years).

Analyzing longitudinal trait trajectories using GWAS identifies genetic variants for kidney function decline.

Understanding the genetics of kidney function decline, or trait change in general, is hampered by scarce longitudinal data for GWAS (longGWAS) and uncertainty about how to analyze such data. We use longitudinal UK Biobank data for creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate from 348,275 individuals to search for genetic variants associated with eGFR-decline. This search was performed both among 595 variants previously associated with eGFR in cross-sectional GWAS and genome-wide.

The mediatory role of androgens on sex differences in glucose homeostasis and incidence of type 2 diabetes: the KORA study.

Background: Sex differences exist in type 2 diabetes (T2D), and androgens have been implicated in the etiology of T2D in a sex-specific manner. We therefore aimed to investigate whether androgens play a role in explaining sex differences in glucose homeostasis and incidence of T2D.

Methods: We used observational data from the German population-based KORA F4 study (n = 1975, mean age: 54 years, 41% women) and its follow-up examination KORA FF4 (median follow-up 6.

Subphenotypes of adult-onset diabetes: Data-driven clustering in the population-based KORA cohort.

Aims: A data-driven cluster analysis in a cohort of European individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has previously identified four subgroups based on clinical characteristics. In the current study, we performed a comprehensive statistical assessment to (1) replicate the above-mentioned original clusters; (2) derive de novo T2D subphenotypes in the Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg (KORA) cohort and (3) describe underlying genetic risk and diabetes complications.

Methods: We used data from n = 301 individuals with T2D from KORA FF4 study (Southern Germany).

Association of plasma proteomics with mortality in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes: Results from two population-based KORA cohort studies.

Background: Protein biomarkers may contribute to the identification of vulnerable subgroups for premature mortality. This study aimed to investigate the association of plasma proteins with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among individuals with and without baseline type 2 diabetes (T2D) and evaluate their impact on the prediction of all-cause mortality in two prospective Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) studies.

Methods: The discovery cohort comprised 1545 participants (median follow-up 15.

Should workers be physically active after work? Associations of leisure-time physical activity with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality across occupational physical activity levels-An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: There is insufficient evidence to provide recommendations for leisure-time physical activity among workers across various occupational physical activity levels. This study aimed to assess the association of leisure-time physical activity with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality across occupational physical activity levels.

Methods: This study utilized individual participant data from 21 cohort studies, comprising both published and unpublished data.

Associations of occupational and leisure-time physical activity with all-cause mortality: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Objective: Health effects of different physical activity domains (ie, during leisure time, work and transport) are generally considered positive. Using data, we assessed independent associations of occupational and leisure-time physical activity (OPA and LTPA) with all-cause mortality.

Design: Two-stage individual participant data meta-analysis.