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Carotid artery intima media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaque are measures of subclinical atherosclerosis associated with ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD). Here, we undertake meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in 71,128 individuals for cIMT, and 48,434 individuals for carotid plaque traits. We identify eight novel susceptibility loci for cIMT, one independent association at the previously-identified PINX1 locus, and one novel locus for carotid plaque. Colocalization analysis with nearby vascular expression quantitative loci (cis-eQTLs) derived from arterial wall and metabolic tissues obtained from patients with CHD identifies candidate genes at two potentially additional loci, ADAMTS9 and LOXL4. LD score regression reveals significant genetic correlations between cIMT and plaque traits, and both cIMT and plaque with CHD, any stroke subtype and ischemic stroke. Our study provides insights into genes and tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms linking atherosclerosis both to its functional genomic origins and its clinical consequences in humans.

Background—Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with cardiomyopathy, but the influence of moderate alcohol use on cardiac structure and function is largely unknown.\ud \ud Methods and Results—We studied 4466 participants from visit 5 of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (76±5 years and 60% women) who underwent transthoracic echocardiography, excluding former drinkers and those with significant valvular disease. Participants were classified into 4 categories based on self-reported alcohol intake: nondrinkers, drinkers of ≤7, ≥7 to 14, and ≥14 drinks per week. We related alcohol intake to measures of cardiac structure and function, stratified by sex, and fully adjusted for covariates. In both genders, increasing alcohol intake was associated with larger left ventricular diastolic and systolic diameters and larger left atrial diameter (P

To describe the contribution of diabetes nutrition therapy to disease self-management among individuals with Type 1 diabetes in China and to estimate the association of diabetes nutrition therapy with dietary intake.The 3C Study was an epidemiological study of the coverage, cost and care of Type 1 diabetes in China. The data reported in the present study are from the 3C Nutrition Ancillary Study, a follow-up study conducted a mean ± sd of 1.6 ± 0.2 years later. Diabetes nutrition therapy was assessed by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed using three 24-h recalls. The association of diabetes nutrition therapy with dietary intake was estimated using ancova.Participants (n = 100; 54% male) had a mean ± sd age of 41.7 ± 16.3 years and a mean ± sd diabetes duration of 11.8 ± 9.7 years. Fewer than half of the participants reported that they had 'ever' met with a dietitian. While 64% of participants were taught carbohydrate counting, only 12% 'ever' use this tool. Participants on insulin pumps and those testing ≥ 1 time/day reported greater dietary flexibility and higher fruit intakes compared with participants on other insulin regimens and testing less frequently. After adjustment for confounding by age and occupation, there were no consistent differences in dietary intake across subgroups of diabetes nutrition therapy.In this sample of individuals with Type 1 diabetes in China there is little dietitian involvement or carbohydrate counting. Increased frequency of nutrition education in conjunction with intensified self-monitoring of blood glucose is needed to improve care.

BackgroundOrganized stroke care is associated with improved outcomes. Data are limited on differences in changes in the quality of acute stroke care at The Joint Commission–certified Primary Stroke Centers (PSCs) versus non‐PSCs over time.Methods and ResultsWe compared compliance with the Joint Commission's 10 acute stroke care performance measures and defect‐free care in PSCs and non‐PSCs participating in the Registry of the North Carolina Stroke Care Collaborative from January 2005 through February 2010. We included 29 654 cases presenting at 47 hospitals—10 PSCs, 8 preparing for certification, and 29 non‐PSCs—representing 43% of North Carolina's non–Veterans Affairs, acute care hospitals. Using a non‐PSC referent, odds ratios and 95% CIs were calculated using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations accounting for clustering of cases within hospitals. Time trends were presented graphically using simple linear regression. Performance measure compliance increased for all measures for all 3 groups in 2005–2010, with the exception of discharge on antithrombotics, which remained consistently high. PSCs and hospitals preparing for certification had better compliance with all but 2 performance measures compared with non‐PSCs (each P

Beyond the Framingham Stroke Risk Score (FSRS), prediction of future stroke may improve with a genetic risk score (GRS) based on Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with stroke and its risk factors.

Some evidence suggests that an inadequate vitamin D level may increase the risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Whether low vitamin D has a role in venous thromboembolism (VTE), i.e., venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is largely unexplored.

Despite major therapeutic advances, the public health burden associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) remains enormous with approximately 525 000 people predicted to have a new myocardial infarction (MI) in 2013, ≈15.4 million estimated to be living with CHD in 2013, and ≈1 346 000 people

BackgroundWe evaluated predictors of coronary heart disease (CHD) death and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.Methods and ResultsThe study population included 13 621 men and women 45 to 65 years of age free from manifest cardiovascular disease at entry. Hazard ratios from Cox regression with 95% confidence intervals were computed for 18 dichotomized repolarization‐related ECG variables. The average follow‐up was 14 years. Independent predictors of CHD death in men were TaVR‐ and rate‐adjusted QTend (QTea), with a 2‐fold increased risk for both, and spatial angles between mean QRS and T vectors and between Tpeak (Tp) and normal R reference vectors [θ(Rm|Tm) and θ(Tp|Tref), respectively], with a >1.5‐fold increased risk for both. In women, independent predictors of the risk of CHD death were θ(Rm|Tm), with a 2‐fold increased risk for θ(Rm|Tm), and θ(Tp|Tref), with a 1.7‐fold increased risk. Independent predictors of SCD in men were θ(Tp|Tref) and QTea, with a 2‐fold increased risk, and θ(Tinit|Tterm), with a 1.6‐fold increased risk. In women, θ(Tinit|Tterm) was an independent predictor of SCD, with a >3‐fold increased risk, and θ(Rm|Tm) and TV1 were >2‐fold for both.Conclusionsθ(Rm|Tm) and θ(Tp|Tref), reflecting different aspects of ventricular repolarization, were independent predictors of CHD death and SCD, and TaVR and TV1 were also independent predictors. The risk levels for independent predictors for both CHD death and SCD were stronger in women than in men, and QTea was a significant predictor in men but not in women.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early risk of recurrence and mortality after stroke differs by subtype, but less is known about long-term recurrence and hospital readmissions. These differences have economic implications and will affect long-term disability and stroke survivor quality of life. We examined recurrent stroke, all-cause hospital readmission, and mortality by index pathogenic subtype. METHODS: We identified 987 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort participants with first-ever stroke and followed them for a median 5.3 years after first stroke. Outcomes were compared across index subtypes (infarction: thrombotic, cardioembolic, and lacunar; hemorrhagic: subarachnoid and intracerebral) using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusting for age, sex, and race. RESULTS: There were 183 recurrent strokes among 147 participants, 3234 hospitalizations among 746 participants, and 529 deaths; only 14% of participants were event-free over follow-up. The majority of recurrent events were of the same subtype, except for lacunar infarcts, which were followed ≈3 quarters of the time by nonlacunar events. Adjusted mortality was higher for intracerebral hemorrhage (hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-3.0) compared with thrombotic stroke and lower for lacunar infarcts. Lacunar infarcts had somewhat higher recurrence compared with thrombotic infarcts (hazard ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-1.9), but lower all-cause readmission (hazard ratio, 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-1.0). Readmission was 40% higher for cardioembolic stroke relative to thrombotic stroke (hazard ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.7). CONCLUSIONS: Although the highest mortality was observed for intracerebral hemorrhage, there was significant burden of recurrent stroke and hospital readmissions for lacunar and cardioembolic strokes, respectively. There may be opportunities to reduce the relatively high rate of poststroke readmissions.

Heart failure causes significant morbidity and mortality. Distinguishing risk factors for incident heart failure can help identify at-risk individuals. Orthostatic hypotension may be a risk factor for incident heart failure; however, this association has not been fully explored, especially in non-white populations.

Understanding associations of carotid atherosclerosis with stroke subtypes may contribute to more effective prevention of stroke.

An association has been described between death from arrhythmia and early repolarization, an electrocardiogram pattern characterized by elevation of the QRS–ST junction (J-point). Little is known about this relationship in non-white populations. This study examines the relationship between J-point elevation (JPE) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) and whether this relationship differs by race or sex.

To identify specific ECG and clinical predictors that separate atherosclerotic sudden cardiac death (SCD) from incident coronary heart disease (CHD) (non-fatal events and non-sudden death) in the combined cohorts of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study and the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Individuals with stroke-like symptoms are recommended to receive rapid diagnostic evaluation. Emergency medical services (EMS) transport, compared to private modes, and hospital notification prior to arrival may reduce delays in evaluation. This study estimated associations between hospital arrival modes (EMS or private; with or without EMS pre-notification) and times for completion and interpretation of initial brain imaging in presumed stroke patients.

Previous research suggests that regular heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk for ischemic stroke, whereas frequent light to moderate alcohol intake may decrease the risk. However, the risk of ischemic stroke associated with transient exposure to alcohol remains unclear. In this study, we used a case-crossover approach to test the hypothesis that alcohol consumption affects the acute risk of ischemic stroke, to determine the length of time between alcohol intake and the onset of symptoms (induction time) and to examine whether the risk varies by the type of alcohol.

In a recent case-control study, the odds of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) among deep vein thrombosis cases was almost twice the odds as among controls. We tested the hypothesis that the incidence of non-cancer-related venous thromboembolism (VTE) is higher among adults with MetSyn and further, that associations are stronger for idiopathic than secondary VTE.

The purpose of this study was to systematically review and summarize prehospital and in-hospital stroke evaluation and treatment delay times. We identified 123 unique peer-reviewed studies published from 1981 to 2007 of prehospital and in-hospital delay time for evaluation and treatment of patients with stroke, transient ischemic attack, or stroke-like symptoms. Based on studies of 65 different population groups, the weighted Poisson regression indicated a 6.0% annual decline (p

This study examines the hypothesis that chronic inflammation is associated with a higher risk of cardiac death compared to the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction.

Recent studies showed that polymorphisms on chromosome 9p21 are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), but few studies examined the association with heart failure (HF), stroke, or other subclinical atherosclerotic diseases. We tested the association of chromosome 9p21 polymorphisms with non-coronary atherosclerotic diseases.

To identify novel risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke (ICH)