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ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the association of circulating retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) levels with long-term cardiometabolic risk profiles and whether sex disparity mattered.MethodsWe included 784 non-diabetic participants aged 40 years and above from a well-defined community-based cohort at baseline in 2005 and they were invited to attend the on-site follow-up examination for two consecutive times with 3-year intervals in 2008 and 2011, respectively. Serum RBP4 was measured at baseline, and the anthropometry and biochemical measurements were performed at each visit. Generalized estimating equation models were used to assess the association of serum RBP4 levels with the dynamic changes in adiposity and glucolipid profile.ResultsBased on all the baseline and the 3- and 6-year follow-up data, baseline serum RBP4 levels (each 1-unit of log10RBP4) were significantly associated with waist circumference [β=3.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.77, 5.47), P=0.01], fasting, and 2-h post-loading glucose [β=0.26 (0.05, 0.47), P=0.02, and 1.70 (1.29, 2.12), P< 0.0001], serum triglycerides [β=0.75, 95% CI (0.54, 0.96), P< 0.0001], total cholesterol [β=0.47, 95% CI [0.23 0.70], P10RBP4 showed consistent results.ConclusionsHigher RBP4 levels are associated with longitudinal increase in adiposity and deteriorated glucolipid profile defined by repeated measurements. The associations differ in sex regarding to the 2-h post-loading glucose.

Background: Prolonged heart rate corrected QT (QTc) interval was reported to be associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Objective: There exists little data on the association between QTc interval and cardiovascular risk in Asian populations. We prospectively investigated the association of QTc interval with CVDs and vascular traits in a large cohort of Chinese adults. Methods: A total of 7,605 participants aged 40 years or older from a well-defined community without CVDs at baseline were included and followed up for an average of 4.5 years. Association of baseline QTc interval with incident CVDs was evaluated using Cox regression analysis. Associations of QTc interval with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and risk of microalbuminuria and peripheral arterial diseases (PAD) were secondarily examined. Results: Prolonged QTc interval (≥460 ms in women and ≥450 ms in men) was associated with 51% higher risk of total major CVDs (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.20, 1.90]), particularly, 48% increased risk of stroke (95% CI [1.16, 1.88]). Prolonged QTc interval was positively associated with baPWV (β = 38.10 cm/s, standard error [SE] = 8.04, 'P' < 0.0001) and CIMT (β = 0.01 mm, SE = 0.01, P = 0.04). Prolonged QTc interval was associated with increased risk of incident microalbuminuria (odds ratio [OR] = 1.65, 95% CI [1.21, 2.24]) and PAD (2.49, 95% CI [1.35, 4.59]). Conclusions: Prolonged QTc interval is positively and significantly associated with increased risk of CVDs and related vascular traits in Chinese population.