Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is an Independent Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease in Central Obesity

Several inflammatory biomarkers were found to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of subclinical inflammation that increases with the stress response. Visceral adiposity index (VAI) calculated as a combination of anthropometric and metabolic parameters reflects both the extent and function of visceral adipose tissue. Given the association of subclinical inflammation with both obesity and cardiovascular diseases, it is plausible that the inflammation-CVD association is modulated by the amount and function of adipose tissue. Thus, our aim was to examine the association between NLR and coronary artery calcium score (CACS), an intermediate marker of coronary artery disease in asymptomatic patients across VAI tertiles. Methods: Data from 280 asymptomatic participants of a cardiovascular screening program were analysed. In addition to the collection of lifestyle and medical history, a non-contrast cardiac CT scan and laboratory tests were performed on all participants. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted with CACS > 100 as the outcome and with conventional cardiovascular risk factors and NLR, VAI, and NLR by VAI tertile as predictors. Results: We found an interaction between VAI tertiles and NLR; NLR values were similar in the lower VAI tertiles, while they were higher in the CACS > 100 in the 3rd VAI tertile (CACS ≤ 100: 1.94 ± 0.58 vs. CACS > 100: 2.48 ± 1.1, p = 0.008). According to multivariable logistic regression, the interaction between NLR and VAI tertiles remained: NLR was associated with CACS > 100 in the 3rd VAI tertile (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.06-2.62, p = 0.03) but not in the lower tertiles even after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, history of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and diabetes mellitus, as well as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Our findings draw attention to the independent association between subclinical, chronic, systemic inflammation and subclinical coronary disease in obesity

Cardiovascularis szuroprogram a kozep-magyarorszagi regioban. Budakalasz Vizsgalat.

INTRODUCTION: The reduction in mortality due to prevention programmes observed in some European countries is not currently reached in Hungary. Effective prevention is based on the screening of risk factors and health state of the population. AIM: The goal of this study was to develop a longitudinal, population-based screening programme in the Central Hungarian region in order to collect information on the health state and cardiovascular risk profile of the citizens and discover new potential cardiovascular risk factors. METHOD: The Budakalasz Study is a self-voluntary programme involving the adult population (>20 yrs, approx. 8000 persons), and it consists of questionnaires, non-invasive tests (anthropometry, cardiac echo, carotid duplex scan, blood pressure measurement, ankle-brachial index), venous blood sample collection and laboratory tests. RESULTS: Until January, 2014, 2420 persons (30% of the population, male: 41.2%, average age 54.8 years) participated in the programme. Cardiovascular morbidity was higher in contrast to a former national survey. The number of risk factors and, therefore, 10-year cardiovascular risk were also elevated in this population. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underline the importance of screening programmes and effective therapies. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(34), 1344-1352

Signs of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic patients at increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS: We aimed to study carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in asymptomatic patients with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and in a pre-diabetic state. METHODS: Diabetes risk assessment was performed in 2420 participants in a voluntary screening program between 2011 and 2013. The risk of T2DM was estimated by the Findrisc scoring system (FR). A FR>/=12 was considered as increased risk. HbA1c% between 5.7 and 6.4% signified a pre-diabetic state. Carotid duplex scan was performed and CIMT above 0.9 mm was regarded as pathological. Patients with T2DM or a history of cardiovascular disease were excluded. RESULTS: Overall 1475 subjects were included. Four groups were compared: "control" (normal HbA1c, FR. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of Findrisc score and HbA1c at population level may facilitate early recognition of subclinical vascular complications even in the pre-diabetic state

Cardiovascularis szűrőprogram a közép-magyarországi régióban. Budakalász Vizsgálat | Cardiovascular screening programme in the Central Hungarian region. The Budakalász Study

Bevezetés: Az egyes európai országokban a prevenciós tevékenységnek köszönhető morbiditáscsökkenést Magyarországon még nem sikerült elérni. A hatékony prevenció alapfeltétele a lakosság egészségi állapotának, a kockázati tényezők jelenlétének pontos ismerete. Célkitűzés: A szerzők célja volt, hogy egy közép-magyarországi longitudinális lakossági vizsgálattal információt nyerjenek a magyar lakosság egészségi állapotáról, cardiovascularis kockázati státusáról, ami lehetővé teszi új rizikóbecslést befolyásoló tényezők azonosítását. Módszer: A Budakalász Vizsgálat a felnőtt lakosságot célzó (>20 év, ~8000 fő), átfogó, önkéntes alapú cardiovascularis szűrőprogram, amely egészségkérdőívből, noninvazív tesztekből (antropometriai mérések, szívultrahang, carotisultrahang, vérnyomásmérés, boka-kar index mérése), illetve vénás vérvételből és laborvizsgálatokból áll. Eredmények: 2014. januárig 2420 fő (a lakosság 30%-a, 41,2% férfi, átlagéletkor 54,8 év) kérdőíves, fizikális vizsgálata és cardiovascularis kockázatbecslése történt meg. A résztvevők cardiovascularis morbiditása a korábbi országos felméréshez viszonyítva magasabb volt, illetve a cardiovascularis kockázati faktorok száma és a becsült 10 éves kockázat is emelkedettnek bizonyult a lakosok körében. Következtetések: Az eredmények felhívják a figyelmet a szűrések és a hatékony terápia fontosságára.Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(34), 1344–1352. | Introduction: The reduction in mortality due to prevention programmes observed in some European countries is not currently reached in Hungary. Effective prevention is based on the screening of risk factors and health state of the population. Aim: The goal of this study was to develop a longitudinal, population-based screening programme in the Central Hungarian region in order to collect information on the health state and cardiovascular risk profile of the citizens and discover new potential cardiovascular risk factors. Method: The Budakalász Study is a self-voluntary programme involving the adult population (>20 yrs, approx. 8000 persons), and it consists of questionnaires, non-invasive tests (anthropometry, cardiac echo, carotid duplex scan, blood pressure measurement, ankle-brachial index), venous blood sample collection and laboratory tests. Results: Until January, 2014, 2420 persons (30% of the population, male: 41.2%, average age 54.8 years) participated in the programme. Cardiovascular morbidity was higher in contrast to a former national survey. The number of risk factors and, therefore, 10-year cardiovascular risk were also elevated in this population. Conclusions: These findings underline the importance of screening programmes and effective therapies. Orv. Hetil., 2014, 155(34), 1344–1352

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is an Independent Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Disease in Central Obesity

Several inflammatory biomarkers were found to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of subclinical inflammation that increases with the stress response. Visceral adiposity index (VAI) calculated as a combination of anthropometric and metabolic parameters reflects both the extent and function of visceral adipose tissue. Given the association of subclinical inflammation with both obesity and cardiovascular diseases, it is plausible that the inflammation–CVD association is modulated by the amount and function of adipose tissue. Thus, our aim was to examine the association between NLR and coronary artery calcium score (CACS), an intermediate marker of coronary artery disease in asymptomatic patients across VAI tertiles. Methods: Data from 280 asymptomatic participants of a cardiovascular screening program were analysed. In addition to the collection of lifestyle and medical history, a non-contrast cardiac CT scan and laboratory tests were performed on all participants. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted with CACS > 100 as the outcome and with conventional cardiovascular risk factors and NLR, VAI, and NLR by VAI tertile as predictors. Results: We found an interaction between VAI tertiles and NLR; NLR values were similar in the lower VAI tertiles, while they were higher in the CACS > 100 in the 3rd VAI tertile (CACS ≤ 100: 1.94 ± 0.58 vs. CACS > 100: 2.48 ± 1.1, p = 0.008). According to multivariable logistic regression, the interaction between NLR and VAI tertiles remained: NLR was associated with CACS > 100 in the 3rd VAI tertile (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.06–2.62, p = 0.03) but not in the lower tertiles even after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, history of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and diabetes mellitus, as well as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Our findings draw attention to the independent association between subclinical, chronic, systemic inflammation and subclinical coronary disease in obesity