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AimsPatients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) suffer from subsequent cardiovascular events, even after complete revascularization; thus, elucidation of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms is required. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is increasingly recognized as a metabolically active organ with a key role in the pathogenesis of metabolic-related cardiac diseases. The present study investigated the association between EAT burden and left heart remodelling in patients with CCS.Methods and resultsWe studied 267 CCS patients (210 men; 71 ± 9 years) with complete revascularization and normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction who underwent follow-up echocardiography. All patients underwent the measurement of EAT thickness and speckle-tracking analysis to evaluate LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and left atrial (LA) phasic strain. The mean EAT thickness was 5.0 ± 1.8 mm. Age, sex, body mass index, and diabetes mellitus were independently associated with EAT thickness (all P < 0.05). Multivariable linear regression analysis demonstrated that EAT thickness was significantly associated with LV mass index, early diastolic mitral annular velocity, and LA conduit strain independent of age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors (all P < 0.05). On the other hand, there was no relationship between EAT thickness and LV systolic parameters including LV ejection fraction and LVGLS.ConclusionCCS patients with increased EAT thickness had unfavourable left heart remodelling. The assessment of EAT thickness by echocardiography may have clinical utility as a simple surrogate to aid in risk stratification for impaired left heart function in CCS patients.

Serum uric acid (SUA) was reported to be associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship between SUA and CVD among young adults has not been clarified yet. In this study, we aimed to identify the association of medication naive SUA with incident CVD including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) using a nationwide epidemiological database. We analyzed 353,613 participants aged 20-49 years, who were not taking UA lowering medications, and had no prevalent history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) using a nationwide health claims database collected in the JMDC Claims Database between 2005 and 2018. Median [interquartile range] age was 40 [34-44] years, and 46.9% were men. Over a mean follow-up of 1,176±876 days, 391 (0.1%) incident MI, 1,308 (0.4%) incident stroke, 3,374 (1.0%) incident HF, and 684 (0.2%) incident AF events occurred. Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test showed that there was a significant difference in incident MI, stroke, HF, and AF among the groups based on SUA tertile (all log-rank p< 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that the upper tertile of SUA (SUA ≥ 5.7 mg/dL) was associated with higher incidence of MI (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.00-2.10), HF (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.28), and AF (HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.02-1.78) compared with the first tertile of SUA (SUA < 4.4 mg/dL). SUA as continuous variable was independently associated with incident MI (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.00-1.20), stroke (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.11), HF (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.10), and AF (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.19). SUA ≥ 7.0 mg/dL was independently associated with incident HF (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.12-1.38). In conclusion, higher SUA was associated with increased incidence of CVD events in individuals aged< 50 years, suggesting the potential significance of the optimal UA control for the primary CVD prevention even in young adults.

Context Although diabetes mellitus (DM) was reported to be associated with incident colorectal cancer (CRC), the detailed association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and incident CRC has not been fully understood. Objective We assessed whether hyperglycemia is associated with a higher risk for CRC. Design Analyses were conducted using the JMDC Claims Database [n = 1 441 311; median age (interquartile range), 46 (40-54) years; 56.6% men). None of the participants were taking antidiabetic medication or had a history of CRC, colorectal polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease. Participants were categorized as normal FPG (FPG level < 100 mg/dL; 1 125 647 individuals), normal-high FPG (FPG level = 100-109 mg/dL; 210 365 individuals), impaired fasting glucose (IFG; FPG level = 110-125 mg/dL; 74 836 individuals), and DM (FPG level ≥ 126 mg/dL; 30 463 individuals). Results Over a mean follow-up of 1137 ± 824 days, 5566 CRC events occurred. After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratios for CRC events were 1.10 (95% CI 1.03-1.18) for normal-high FPG, 1.24 (95% CI 1.13-1.37) for IFG, and 1.36 (95% CI 1.19-1.55) for DM vs normal FPG. We confirmed this association in sensitivity analyses excluding those with a follow-up of< 365 days and obese participants. Conclusion The risk of CRC increased with elevated FPG category. FPG measurements would help to identify people at high-risk for future CRC.

Purpose We aimed to explore the association of blood pressure (BP) classification using the 2017 American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association Guideline and the prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy using a nationwide epidemiological database. Methods This study is a retrospective observational cross-sectional analysis using the health claims database of the JMDC between 2005 and 2020. We analyzed 280,599 participants who did not take anti-hypertensive medications. Each participant was categorized as having normal BP (systolic BP [SBP] Results Median (interquartile range) age was 46 (40–53) years, and 50.4% were men. Hypertensive retinopathy which was defined as ≥ Keith-Wagener-Barker system grade 1, was observed in 16,836 participants (6.0%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with normal BP, elevated BP (odds ratio [OR] 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–1.38), stage 1 hypertension (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.64–1.79), and stage 2 hypertension (OR 4.10, 95% CI 3.93–4.28) were associated with higher prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy. Even among 92,121 participants without obesity, high waist circumference, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, and alcohol drinking, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with normal BP, elevated BP (odds ratio 1.34, 95% CI 1.19–1.51), stage 1 hypertension (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.61–1.98), and stage 2 hypertension (OR 4.42, 95% CI 4.00–4.92) were associated with higher prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy. The association between BP category and hypertensive retinopathy was observed in all subgroups stratified by age or sex. Conclusion Our investigation showed that the prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy increased with the blood pressure category, suggesting that atherosclerotic change could start even in elevated BP and stage 1 hypertension. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (19AA2007 and H30-Policy-Designated-004) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (17H04141).

Onco-cardiology is the emerging field, and the concept of shared risk factor holds an important position in this field. The increasing prevalence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in young adults is a critical epidemiological issue. Although metabolic syndrome, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is known to be associated with CRC incidence in middle-aged and elderly individuals, it is unclear whether this association is present in young adults. We assessed whether metabolic syndrome was associated with CRC events in young adults (aged50 years), and whether the association differed by the definition of metabolic syndrome. We retrospectively analyzed 902,599 adults (20 to 49 years of age) enrolled in the JMDC Claims Database which is a nationwide epidemiological database in Japan between January 2005 and August 2018. Participants who had a history of CRC, colorectal polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease were excluded. Study participants were categorized into 2 groups according to the presence of metabolic syndrome, defined using the Japanese criteria (waist circumference ≥85 cm for men and ≥90 cm for women, and ≥2 metabolic parameters including elevated blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or elevated fasting plasma glucose). Clinical outcomes were collected between January 2005 and August 2018. The primary outcome was CRC of any stage. Median (interquartile range) age was 41 (37 to 45), and 55.4% were men. Over a median follow-up of 1,008 (429 to 1,833) days, there were 1,884 incidences of CRC. After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratio (HR) of metabolic syndrome for CRC events was 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07 to 1.49). Cox regression analysis after multiple imputation for missing values showed that metabolic syndrome was associated with CRC incidence (HR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.56). Metabolic syndrome was also associated with a higher incidence of CRC in individuals with a follow-up period of ≥365 days (HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.10 to 1.60). This association was observed when metabolic syndrome was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria (HR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.09 to 1.55) and the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.12 to 1.72). In conclusion, metabolic syndrome was associated with a higher incidence of CRC among individuals aged50 years. These results could be informative for risk stratification of subsequent CRC among young adults.

Background We aimed to explore the association between the blood pressure (BP) classification defined by the 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guideline and the prevalence of retinal atherosclerosis. Methods This study was a retrospective observational cross-sectional analysis using the JMDC Claims Database. We analyzed 280,599 subjects not taking any antihypertensive medications. According to the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, each subject was categorized as having normal BP (n = 159,524), elevated BP (n = 35,603), stage 1 hypertension (n = 54,795), or stage 2 hypertension (n = 30,677) using the BP value at the initial health checkup. Retinal photographs were assessed according to the Keith–Wagener–Barker system. Results The median age was 46 years, and 50.4% subjects were men. Retinal atherosclerosis, defined as Keith–Wagener–Barker system grade ≥1, was observed in 3.2% in normal BP, 5.2% in elevated BP, 7.7% in stage 1 hypertension, and 18.7% in stage 2 hypertension. Compared with normal BP, elevated BP (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–1.38), stage 1 hypertension (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.64–1.79), and stage 2 hypertension (OR, 4.10; 95% CI, 3.93–4.28) were associated with a higher prevalence of retinal atherosclerosis. Among 92,121 subjects without obesity, high waist circumference, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption, elevated BP (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.19–1.51), stage 1 hypertension (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.61–1.98), and stage 2 hypertension (OR, 4.42; 95% CI, 4.00–4.92) were associated with a higher prevalence of retinal atherosclerosis. This association was observed in all subgroups stratified by age or sex. Conclusions Our investigation suggests that retinal atherosclerosis could start even in individuals with elevated BP and stage 1 hypertension.

Although diabetes mellitus (DM) was reported to be associated with incident colorectal cancer (CRC), the detailed association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and incident CRC has not been fully understood.We assessed whether hyperglycemia is associated with a higher risk for CRC.Analyses were conducted using the JMDC Claims Database (n=1,441,311; median age [IQR], 46 [40-54] years; 56.6% men). None of the participants were taking antidiabetic medication or had a history of CRC, colorectal polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease. Participants were categorized as normal FPG, FPG level100 mg/dL (1,125,647 individuals); normal-high FPG, FPG level=100-109 mg/dL (210,365 individuals); impaired fasting glucose (IFG), FPG level=110-125 mg/dL (74,836 individuals); and DM, FPG level≥126 mg/dL (30,463 individuals).Over a mean follow-up of 1,137±824 days, 5,566 CRC events occurred. After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratios for CRC events were 1.10 (95% CI,1.03-1.18) for normal-high FPG, 1.24 (95% CI, 1.13-1.37) for IFG, and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.19-1.55) for DM vs. normal FPG. We confirmed this association in sensitivity analyses excluding those with a follow-up of365 days, and or with obese participants.The risk of CRC increased with elevated FPG category. FPG measurements would help identifying people at high-risk for future CRC.