Treatment and control of blood pressure in Welsh patients with and without depression: A study of whole-population electronic health records.

Background: To explore differences in blood pressure treatment and control in patients with and without depression and a diagnosis of hypertension (HTN). Also to examine the possible impact of sex, socio-economic status (deprivation) and location of residence on any differences.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study (2010-2019) using individual level linked anonymised routinely-collected electronic health record (EHR) data sources was carried out.

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Male and Female Patients With and Without Depression: an Electronic Health Record Evaluation in Wales.

Aim: To investigate rates of cardiovascular risk factor assessment (blood pressure, lipid and QRISK score) in routine clinical practice for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with and without depression.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study using electronic health record data sources was carried out. Rates of blood pressure measurement, lipid checks and QRISK documentation in primary care were calculated for non-depressed, and patients prior and subsequent to depression diagnosis.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Carotid Distensibility, and Incident Heart Failure in Older Men: The British Regional Heart Study.

Background: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid distensibility are markers of arterial change; however, little is known of the association with incident heart failure (HF). We aimed to assess this.

Methods: This was a longitudinal analysis of data from the British Regional Heart Study, a prospective cohort study.

Incident atrial fibrillation and adverse clinical outcomes during extended follow-up of participants recruited to the remote heart rhythm sampling using the AliveCor heart monitor to screen for atrial fibrillation: the REHEARSE-AF study.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important risk factor for stroke, which is commonly asymptomatic, particularly in older patients, and often undetected until cardiovascular events occur. Development of novel technology has helped to improve detection of AF. However, the longer-term benefit of systematic electrocardiogram (ECG) screening on cardiovascular outcomes is unclear.

Associations between inflammation, coagulation, cardiac strain and injury, and subclinical vascular disease with frailty in older men: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Inflammation, coagulation activation, endothelial dysfunction and subclinical vascular disease are cross-sectionally associated with frailty. Cardiac-specific biomarkers are less-well characterised. We assessed associations between these and frailty, in men with, and without, cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Achievement of European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society lipid targets in very high-risk patients: Influence of depression and sex.

Aims: To explore differences in the use of lipid lowering therapy and/or achievement of lipid guideline targets in patients with and without prior depression and influence of sex in very high-risk coronary patients.

Methods & Findings: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted using individual-level linked electronic health record data in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (2012-2017) in Wales. The cohort comprised of 13,781 patients (27.

Subclinical cardiovascular disease and risk of incident frailty: The British Regional Heart Study.

Background/objectives: Subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) is cross-sectionally associated with frailty, but the relationship between subclinical CVD and incident frailty has not been reported. We aimed to assess this prospective association.

Design: Longitudinal analysis of data from the British Regional Heart Study, a prospective cohort study.

Influence of Maternal Lifestyle and Diet on Perinatal DNA Methylation Signatures Associated With Childhood Arterial Stiffness at 8 to 9 Years.

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Association of physical activity metrics with indicators of cardiovascular function and control in children with and without type 1 diabetes.

Objective: Little is known about the role of physical activity accumulation in cardiovascular disease risk for children with type 1 diabetes. Improved insight to identify factors of influence in key health outcomes could be provided by considering the entire physical activity profile.

Methods: Pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed cross-sectionally in children with (n = 29, 12.

Active Children Through Individual Vouchers Evaluation: A Mixed-Method RCT.

Introduction: Physical activity declines in adolescence, especially among those in deprived areas. Research suggests this may result from accessibility barriers (e.g.

Predictors of cardiovascular health in teenagers (aged 13-14 years): a cross-sectional study linked with routine data.

Objective: To examine the predictors of cardiovascular health in teenagers (aged 13-14 years).

Methods: Measures of arterial stiffness (augmentation index (AIx)), blood pressure and cardiovascular fitness were taken from 234 teenage children (n=152 boys) and subsequently linked to routine data (birth and general practice records, education data and hospital admission data). Deprivation at school and at individual level was measured at birth, at 1 year old, at 13 years old and at secondary school using the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Associations of depression-anxiety and dyslipidaemia with subclinical carotid arterial disease: Findings from the Whitehall II Study.

Aims: There is mixed evidence for an association between depression and/or anxiety and carotid intima-media thickness, and limited information on the related role of dyslipidaemia. Here we report associations between depression and/or anxiety and intima-media thickness in the Whitehall II cohort, considering the moderating effects of sex and dyslipidaemia.

Methods: A total of 2822 men and 1112 women (61 ± 6 years) were studied during phase 7 (2002-2004) of the Whitehall II study.

What works best when implementing a physical activity intervention for teenagers? Reflections from the ACTIVE Project: a qualitative study.

Objective: This paper explores what aspects of a multicomponent intervention were deemed strengths and weaknesses by teenagers and the local council when promoting physical activity to young people.

Design: Qualitative findings at 12 months from a mixed method randomised control trial.

Methods: Active Children Through Incentive Vouchers-Evaluation (ACTIVE) gave teenagers £20 of activity enabling vouchers every month for a year.

Carotid artery wave intensity in mid- to late-life predicts cognitive decline: the Whitehall II study.

Aims: Excessive arterial pulsatility may contribute to cognitive decline and risk of dementia via damage to the fragile cerebral microcirculation. We hypothesized that the intensity of downstream-travelling pulsatile waves measured by wave intensity analysis in the common carotid artery during mid- to late-life would be associated with subsequent cognitive decline.

Methods And Results: Duplex Doppler ultrasound was used to calculate peak forward-travelling compression wave intensity (FCWI) within the common carotid artery in 3191 individuals [mean ± standard deviation (SD), age = 61 ± 6 years; 75% male] assessed as part of the Whitehall II study in 2003-05.

Chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular risk markers and total mortality in older men: cystatin C versus creatinine.

Background: It remains uncertain whether cystatin C is a superior marker of renal function than creatinine in older adults. We have investigated the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations based on creatinine (CKD-EPIcr) and cystatin C (CKD-EPIcys), and cardiovascular risk markers and mortality in older adults.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional and prospective study of 1639 British men aged 71-92 years followed up for an average of 5 years for mortality.

Ready-to-use food supplement, with or without arginine and citrulline, with daily chloroquine in Tanzanian children with sickle-cell disease: a double-blind, random order crossover trial.

Background: Sickle-cell disease increases the risk of malnutrition. Low arginine and nitric oxide bioavailability are implicated in morbidity related to sickle-cell disease. Simple interventions are required, especially in low-income settings.

Arterial pathophysiology and comparison of two devices for pulse wave velocity assessment in elderly men: the British regional heart study.

Objective: Vascular disease is highly prevalent in the elderly. This study aimed to evaluate arterial phenotype in elderly men and compare carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) assessed by two techniques (Sphygmocor (S)and Vicorder (V)).

Methods: 1722 men (72-92 years), participants in the British Regional Heart Study, underwent ultrasound assessment of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid distensibility coefficient and presence of carotid plaque.

Circulating soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product: Cross-sectional associations with cardiac markers and subclinical vascular disease in older men with and without diabetes.

Background And Aims: The soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) has been implicated in diabetic vascular complications. We have examined the association between sRAGE and cardiac markers [NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin T (cTnT)] and subclinical vascular markers in older men with and without diabetes.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 1159 men aged 71-92 years with no history of cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, coronary artery bypass graft operation or angioplasty).

Self-reported sleep duration and napping, cardiac risk factors and markers of subclinical vascular disease: cross-sectional study in older men.

Studyobjectives: Daytime sleep has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and heart failure (HF), but the mechanisms remain unclear. We have investigated the association between daytime and night-time sleep patterns and cardiovascular risk markers in older adults including cardiac markers and subclinical markers of atherosclerosis (arterial stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT)).

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 1722 surviving men aged 71-92 examined in 2010-2012 across 24 British towns from a prospective study initiated in 1978-1980.

Increased fibrinogen responses to psychophysiological stress predict future endothelial dysfunction implications for cardiovascular disease?

Stress influences the risk of cardiovascular disease. Acute mental stress can induce both low-grade inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. The relationship between inflammatory responses to stress and future endothelial function is unexplored.

Objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time and subclinical vascular disease: Cross-sectional study in older British men.

Low physical activity (PA) and high levels of sedentary time (ST) are associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among older people. However, their independent contribution and importance of duration of PA and ST bouts remain unclear. We investigated associations between objectively measured PA, ST and non-invasive vascular measures, markers of CVD risk.

Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour and ankle brachial index: Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations in older men.

Background: Associations between bouts of physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and cardiovascular disease, and their mutual independence are not well defined. A low ankle brachial index (ABI ≤0.9) indicates peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and is predictive of cardiovascular events and functional impairment.

Validation of a new method for non-invasive assessment of vasomotor function.

Background: Reactive hyperaemia induces a slowing of pulse wave velocity (PWV) in conduit arteries of healthy subjects (flow-mediated slowing (FMS)). This could be an alternative method for assessing peripheral vasomotor function to the gold standard method of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) a more expensive and technically demanding technique. We aimed to assess the reproducibility of FMS in healthy participants and to test its ability to detect differences in vasomotor function in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and post-lipoprotein apheresis (LA) treatment.

Lipoprotein-apheresis reduces circulating microparticles in individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Lipoprotein-apheresis (apheresis) removes LDL-cholesterol in patients with severe dyslipidemia. However, reduction is transient, indicating that the long-term cardiovascular benefits of apheresis may not solely be due to LDL removal. Microparticles (MPs) are submicron vesicles released from the plasma membrane of cells.