Inflammation, metabolic syndrome and vascular diseases in older Chinese: the Guangzhou biobank cohortstudy

published_or_final_versionCommunity MedicineDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph

Reproducibility and Validity of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Assessing Dietary Consumption via the Dietary Pattern Method in a Chinese Rural Population.

This study was conducted to assess the reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that was developed to assess the overall dietary consumption via dietary pattern method in a rural population in southwest China.A total of 179 participants aged between 40 and 70 years old were included in this study. Participants administered FFQ at baseline (FFQ1) and one year later (FFQ2) to assess the reproducibility. Six 3-day 24-hour recalls (24HRs) were completed between the administrations of two FFQs to determine the validity. Dietary patterns from three separate dietary sources were derived by using principle component factor analysis. Comparisons between dietary pattern scores were made by using Pearson or intraclass correlation coefficient, cross-classification analysis, weighted kappa (κ) statistic and Bland-Altman analysis. The de-attenuated method was adopted to correct the monthly and seasonally variation and the partial correlation analysis was used correct the influence by total energy intake.Two major dietary factors, labeled as prudent pattern and processed food pattern, were identified. The prudent pattern was characterized by higher factor loadings of wheat, rice, fresh vegetables, bean products, nuts, red meat, white meat and fresh eggs; and the processed food pattern was characterized by higher factor loadings of pickled vegetables, preserved vegetables and salted meat. Between Two FFQs, intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.57 for prudent pattern and 0.55 for processed food pattern, partial Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.51 for the prudent pattern and 0.56 for the processed food pattern; weighted κ statistic ranged from 0.45 (for the prudent pattern) to 0.56 (for the processed food pattern). Between FFQs and 24HRs, de-attenuated correlation coefficients ranged from 0.54 to 0.78 for the prudent pattern and from 0.55 to 0.61 for the processed food pattern; partial Pearson correlation coefficients ranged from 0.41 to 0.56 for the prudent pattern and from 0.42 to 0.44 for the processed food pattern; weighted κ statistic ranged from 0.42 to 0.46 for prudent pattern and from 0.43 to 0.60 for processed food pattern. The Bland-Altman plots and limits of agreement indicated that the deviation/divergence was not obvious for both of the patterns between FFQ1 and FFQ2 and between FFQs and 24HRs.The study suggests that the FFQ is reasonably reproducible and valid to assess the overall dietary consumption via dietary pattern methods in the Chinese rural population

Leisure-time physical activity mitigated the cognitive effect of PM2.5 and PM2.5 components exposure: Evidence from a nationwide longitudinal study

Background: Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) impairs cognition, while physical activity (PA) improves cognitive function. However, whether taking PA with PM2.5 exposure is still beneficial to cognition remains unknown. Methods: We utilized national representative longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Study (CFPS), comprising a total sample of 108,099 from 2010 to 2018 in three waves. Cognitive performance and leisure-time PA were measured using the standard cognitive module and Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. Gridded overall PM2.5 and major chemical components of PM2.5 were estimated using a two-stage machine learning model and matched to each participant based on their residential location. Mixed-effect models and difference-in-difference models were employed to investigate the individual and joint effects of total PM2.5, PM2.5 components, and leisure-time PA on cognition. Results: Every 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a −0.035 (95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.052, −0.018) point change in cognitive score. All PM2.5 components exhibited negative associations with cognitive change, with black carbon (BC) contributing the most significant cognitive decline (β = −1.025, 95% CI = −1.367, −0.683). Every one-time (or one-hour) increase in leisure-time PA frequency (or PA time) per week was associated with an increase in cognitive score by 0.576 (0.270) points (PA frequency: 95% CI = 0.544, 0.608, PA time: 95% CI = 0.248, 0.293). PA frequency (β = −0.005, 95% CI = −0.006, −0.003) and PA time (β = −0.002, 95% CI = −0.003, −0.001) exhibited interactive effects with PM2.5. Increased PA frequency and time were more beneficial to cognitive function in the low PM2.5 exposure group compared to those exposed to high PM2.5 levels. Moreover, relative to lower PM2.5 exposure, the cognitive benefits of physically active individuals with higher PM2.5 exposure were attenuated but still improved cognition when compared to those with no PA. Conclusion: Engaging in leisure-time PA provides cognitive benefits even under PM2.5 exposure, although PM2.5 exposure attenuates these benefits. Among all PM2.5 components, BC demonstrated the most significant cognitive hazard and interaction with leisure-time PA. Promoting PA as a preventive measure may offer a cost-effective and convenient strategy to mitigate the negative impact of PM2.5 exposure on cognition. There is no excuse to avoid PA under PM2.5 exposure, as its cognitive benefits persist even in polluted environments

Study design and time frame used in this study.

<p>FFQ was administrated at the baseline (FFQ1) and one year later (FFQ2) at rural health clinics by trained interviewers with a face-to face approach. Six times 3-day 24-hour recalls (24HRs) surveys were performed between the two FFQs in every two month. The first 24HRs were performed one month later after the FFQ1. Several interviewers visited to participants with local dialect. All participants were asked to recall all foods (including recipes/ingredients of mixed dishes) and drinks that they consumed from the last day (22:00) to next day (22:00) on the 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires in three consecutive days (including two weekdays and one weekend day). The reliability of FFQ was assessed by comparing the dietary pattern scores between FFQ1 and FFQ2. The Validity of the FFQ was assessed by comparing the dietary pattern scores between FFQs and 24HRs.</p

Food and drinks in the food frequency questionnaire.

<p>Food and drinks in the food frequency questionnaire.</p

Characteristics of participants in the study.

<p>^a BMI, body mass index</p><p>Characteristics of participants in the study.</p

Effect of ambient air pollution on daily mortality rates in Guangzhou, China

We aimed to investigate the effects of ambient air pollutants on daily mortality in a relatively stable and homogeneous population in Guangzhou, China. Daily mortality, air pollution, and weather data between 2006 and 2009 were collected. The generalized additive model with poison regression was used to estimate the excessive risks (ERs) of air pollutants (PM10, SO2, and NO2) on total, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. The effects of lag0-1 were the greatest for total non-accidental and cardiovascular deaths. The increments of 10μgm-3 in SO2, NO2, and PM10 were associated with ERs of 1.54% (95%CI: 1.03-2.06%), 1.42% (95%CI: 1.06-1.78%), and 1.26% (95%CI: 0.86-1.66%) respectively for total non-accidental deaths, and 2.28% (95%CI: 1.40-3.16%), 1.81% (95%CI: 1.20-2.41%), and 1.79% (95%CI: 1.11-2.47%) respectively for cardiovascular deaths. For persons who died from respiratory disease, however, the maximum effects occurred at lag0. The ERs for SO2, NO2, and PM10 were 1.36% (95%CI: 0.23-2.50%), 1.47% (95%CI: 0.66-2.29%) and 0.93% (95%CI: 0.03-1.83%), respectively. The effects of the three air pollutants on mortality were stronger in elderly and in women. The ERs in the present study were higher than those reported in Europe, the U.S., and most other Asian cities. Our findings show relatively higher ERs of daily mortality by ambient air pollutants in the center of Guangzhou, China, compared with estimates in other cities. Further studies with accurate exposure measurement among homogeneous population are needed to evaluate the precise magnitudes of the effects of the air pollutants. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Bland–Altman plots for scores of prudent pattern and processed food pattern derived from two FFQs and 24HRs.

<p>A, Prudent pattern (FFQ1 vs. 24HRs); B, Processed food pattern (FFQ1 vs. 24HRs); C, Prudent pattern (FFQ2 vs. 24HRs); D, Processed food pattern (FFQ2 vs. 24HRs); FFQs- 24HRs, the pattern score difference of FFQs and 24HRs; (FFQs + 24HRs)/2, average pattern scores of FFQs and 24HRs. The solid line represents the mean difference (FFQs-24HRs) and the dash lines represent the limits of agreements (mean difference ± 1.96 standard deviations).</p

Correlation coefficients for dietary pattern scores derived from FFQ1, FFQ2 and 24HRs.

<p>^a.FFQ1, the first FFQ administration; FFQ2, the second FFQ administration; 24HRs, six 3-day 24-hour recalls.</p><p>^b.Crude PCC, Crude Pearson correlation coefficients, all <i>P</i><0.01</p><p>^c.Partial PCC, Partial Pearson correlation coefficient, adjusted for log10-transformation of total energy intake, all <i>P</i><0.01</p><p>^d.De-attenuated PCC, De-attenuated Pearson correlation coefficients, corrected for the monthly and seasonal variation of food supply, all <i>P</i><0.01.</p><p>^e.ICC, intraclass correlation coefficients, all <i>P</i><0.01</p><p>Correlation coefficients for dietary pattern scores derived from FFQ1, FFQ2 and 24HRs.</p

Height, Its Components, and Cardiovascular Risk Among Older Chinese: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

Objectives. Better childhood conditions, inferred from height and specifically leg length, are usually protective against ischemic heart disease and its risk factors in Western countries. In other geoethnic populations, height is less clearly protective, casting doubt on there being a biological etiology. To clarify the role of childhood conditions, we examined the associations of height and its components with cardiovascular risk among older Chinese people