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Objective: Although preterm-born and low-birth-weight individuals have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, little is known regarding early cardiovascular and renal damage (CVRD) or hypertension in adulthood. Our study investigated the association of birth weight with early CVRD markers as well as the heritability of birth weight in an initially healthy family-based cohort., Methods: This study was based on 1028 individuals from the familial longitudinal STANISLAS cohort (399 parents/629 children) initiated in 1993-1995, with a fourth examination conducted in 2011-2016. Analyses performed at the fourth visit included pulse-wave velocity, central pressure, ambulatory blood pressure, hypertension status, diastolic dysfunction/distensibility, left ventricular mass indexed (LVMI), carotid intima-media thickness and kidney damage. The family structure of the cohort allowed birth weight heritability estimation., Results: Mean (±SD) birth weight was 3.3 ± 0.6 kg. Heritability was moderate (42-44%). At the fourth visit, individuals were 37 years old (32.0-57.0), 56% were women and 13% had antihypertensive treatment. Birth weight was strongly and negatively associated with hypertension [odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61 (0.45-0.84)]. A nonlinear association was found with LVMI, participants with a birth weight greater than 3 kg having a higher LVMI. A positive association ( β 95% CI 5.09 (1.8-8.38)] was also observed between birth weight and distensibility for adults with normal BMI. No associations were found with other CVRD., Conclusion: In this middle-aged population, birth weight was strongly and negatively associated with hypertension, and positively associated with distensibility in adults with normal BMI and with LVMI for higher birth weights. No associations were found with other CVRD markers., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Aortic stiffness is a feature of arterial aging and is associated with dismal cardiovascular prognosis. We examined whether central and general adiposity is an independent predictor of accelerated aortic stiffening 20 years later in initially healthy midlife individuals., Methods: Participants from the STANISLAS cohort study (826 initially healthy participants aged 30-60 from the Lorraine region in France) underwent clinical and biological measurements at baseline (1994-1995) and after ≈20 years (2011-2016). Adiposity measurements included waist circumference/BMI ratio, BMI, waist circumference, and 'body shape index' [waist circumference/(BMI height)]. Real carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was measured at end of follow-up. Our primary analysis was to test the association between waist circumference/BMI ratio and cfPWV., Results: In a multiple linear regression model adjusted for sex, age and mean arterial pressure, waist circumference -to-BMI ratio was positively associated (for 1SD increase) with higher cfPWV [regression coefficient β = 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19-0.45, P < 0.001]. The cfPWV was less strongly associated with body shape index (β = 0.17, 95% CI 0.022-0.32, P < 0.05) and negatively associated with BMI (-0.20, 95% CI -0.31 to -0.093, P < 0.001) and waist circumference (-0.14, 95% CI -0.28 to 0.00, P < 0.05). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the risk of cfPWV associated with waist circumference-to-BMI ratio remained significant after adjustment for heart rate, metabolic risk factors and inflammatory markers., Conclusion: Central adiposity (and more specifically waist circumference-to-BMI ratio) is an independent predictor of 20-year subsequent aortic stiffness in initially healthy midlife subjects.

Objective: Several studies have suggested that orthostatic hypotension may be an independent predictor of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular risk and all-cause mortality, particularly in a geriatric population. In 1996, a consensus defined orthostatic hypotension as a SBP fall at least 20 mmHg and/or a DBP fall at least 10 mmHg within 3 min of standing., Methods: Pubmed and Cochrane database were searched up to October 2013 in order to identify prospective studies evaluating, in adult populations, the association between orthostatic hypotension as defined by the 1996 consensus and clinical outcome. Meta-regression was performed when sufficient data were available., Results: A total of 28 prospective studies were found eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. Nine prospective studies found an association between orthostatic hypotension and various cardiovascular events such as coronary disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias. No association was found between orthostatic hypotension and the risk for strokes and falls in the majority of the prospective included studies. Insufficient data were available to perform a meta-analysis for strokes and falls. The meta-analysis of seven prospective studies found that orthostatic hypotension is associated with a significant increased risk for overall mortality [pooled hazard ratio in random-effects model = 1.36 (1.13-1.63), P < 0.001)]., Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides evidence that orthostatic hypotension is associated with a 36% increase in the risk of overall mortality. A systematic review of the literature suggests that orthostatic hypotension is also associated with a higher risk for cardiovascular events. Insufficient data are available to enable a precise assessment of the association of orthostatic hypotension with strokes and falls.