Ayako Matsuda

Long-Term Stroke Risk Due to Partial White-Coat or Masked Hypertension Based on Home and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurements The Ohasama Study

The prognostic significance of white-coat hypertension (WCHT) is controversial, and different findings on self-measured home measurements and 24-h ambulatory monitoring make identifying WCHT difficult. We examined whether individuals with partially or completely defined WCHT, as well as masked hypertension, as determined by different out-of-office blood pressure measurements, have a distinct long-term stroke risk. We followed 1464 participants (31.8% men; mean age, 60.6±10.8 years) in the general population of Ohasama, Japan, for a median of 17.1 years. A first stroke occurred in 212 subjects. Using sustained normal blood pressure (events/n=61/776) as a reference, adjusted hazard ratios for stroke (95% confidence intervals; events/n) were 1.38 (0.82–2.32; 19/137) for complete WCHT (isolated office hypertension), 2.16 (1.36–3.43; 29/117) for partial WCHT (either home or ambulatory normotension with office hypertension), 2.05 (1.24–3.41; 23/100) for complete masked hypertension (both home and ambulatory hypertension with office normotension), 2.08 (1.37–3.16; 38/180) for partial masked hypertension (either home or ambulatory hypertension with office normotension), and 2.46 (1.61–3.77; 42/154) for sustained hypertension. When partial WCHT and partial masked hypertension groups were further divided into participants only with home hypertension and those only with ambulatory hypertension, all subgroups had a significantly higher stroke risk (adjusted hazard ratio ≥1.84, P⩽0.04). In conclusion, impacts of partial WCHT as well as partial masked hypertension for long-term stroke risk were comparable to those of complete masked hypertension or sustained hypertension. We need both home and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurements to evaluate stroke risk accurately.

We're in this together: Patients', caregivers' and health care providers' illness perceptions about non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

This study reviews empirical studies in the area of illness perceptions in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Beliefs about the illness and its consequences, including its medical management, are part of the review. Also, the relatively small research area of perceptions and views about patients with NSCLC of caregivers and health care providers is reviewed. Given our earlier review of the topic in this Journal [5], we now report on papers published after that 2011 publication. 38 papers were identified, a quite major increase in published research compared to the 15 papers in our previous publication (2011 and earlier). Most papers report on psychosocial concepts that determine responses to the illness and its treatment. Increasingly, reactions of caregivers and health care providers are studied. These last two categories of respondents perceive the psychosocial consequences of NSCLC as more severe than the patients themselves. Psychosocial variables appear to be stronger predictors of psychological distress and reduced quality of life than sociodemographic or clinical variables. These results are instrumental in the developing field of psychosocial interventions for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and their caregivers, which may also be helpful for health care providers. Suggestions for research and clinical implications are presented.

Impaired Higher-Level Functional Capacity as a Predictor of Stroke in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Ohasama Study

Background and Purpose— Functional capacity is a predictor, as well as a consequence, of stroke. However, little research has been done to examine whether higher-level functional capacity above basic activities of daily living is a predictor of stroke. Methods— We followed 1493 Japanese community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years (mean age, 70.1 years) who were independent in basic activities of daily living and had no history of stroke. Baseline data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Higher-level functional capacity was measured using the total score and 3 subscales (instrumental activities of daily living, intellectual activity, and social role) derived from the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence. Adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by the Cox proportional hazards model. Results— During a mean follow-up of 10.4 years, 191 participants developed a first stroke. Impaired higher-level functional capacity based on total score of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence was significantly associated with stroke (hazard ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–2.33). Among the 3 subscales, only intellectual activity was significantly associated with stroke (hazard ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.21–2.22). Social role was significantly associated with stroke only among those aged ≥75 years (hazard ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–2.98). Conclusions— Impaired higher-level functional capacity, especially in the domain of intellectual activity, was a predictor of stroke, even among community-dwelling older adults with independent basic activities of daily living at baseline. Monitoring of higher-level functional capacity might be useful to detect those at higher risk of developing stroke in the future.

Risk Factors for Stroke among Young-Old and Old-Old Community-Dwelling Adults in Japan: The Ohasama Study

Aim: Few studies have addressed stroke risk factors in older populations, particularly among the old-old. We examined differences in traditional risk factors for stroke among the old-old compared with the young-old in community-dwelling Japanese adults. Methods: We followed 2,065 residents aged ≥ 60 years who had no history of stroke. Traditional risk factors for stroke were obtained from a self-administered questionnaire at baseline. We classified participants into two age categories, 60–74 years (n = 1,502) and ≥ 75 years (n = 563), and assessed whether traditional risk factors were differentially associated with stroke incidence according to age category. Hazard ratios were calculated by the Cox proportional hazards model, adjusting for confounding factors and competing risk of death. Results: During a median follow-up of 12.8 and 7.9 years, 163 and 111 participants aged 60–74 and ≥ 75 years, respectively, developed a first stroke. Hypertension was consistently associated with increased risk of stroke, regardless of age category. Diabetes mellitus was associated with increased risk of stroke in those aged 60–74 years (hazard ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–2.25), but not in those aged ≥ 75 years (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.33–1.29), with significant interaction by age (P = 0.035). No traditional risk factor other than hypertension was associated with stroke among those aged ≥ 75 years. Conclusion: Those with hypertension had significantly higher stroke risk among old people, while diabetes mellitus was differentially associated with stroke according to age category. Our findings indicate the importance of different prevention strategies for stroke incidence according to age category.

Mapping the genetic diversity of HLA haplotypes in the Japanese populations

Japan has often been viewed as an Asian country that possesses a genetically homogenous community. The basis for partitioning the country into prefectures has largely been geographical, although cultural and linguistic differences still exist between some of the districts/prefectures, especially between Okinawa and the mainland prefectures. The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) region has consistently emerged as the most polymorphic region in the human genome, harbouring numerous biologically important variants; nevertheless the presence of population-specific long haplotypes hinders the imputation of SNPs and classical HLA alleles. Here, we examined the extent of genetic variation at the MHC between eight Japanese populations sampled from Okinawa, and six other prefectures located in or close to the mainland of Japan, specifically focusing at the haplotypes observed within each population, and what the impact of any variation has on imputation. Our results indicated that Okinawa was genetically farther to the mainland Japanese than were Gujarati Indians from Tamil Indians, while the mainland Japanese from six prefectures were more homogeneous than between northern and southern Han Chinese. The distribution of haplotypes across Japan was similar, although imputation was most accurate for Okinawa and several mainland prefectures when population-specific panels were used as reference.

Menstrual Factors and Stroke Incidence in Japanese Postmenopausal Women: The Ohasama Study

Background: The association between stroke and menstrual factors, for example, age at the time of menarche and age at the time of menopause, has not been well studied so far and the findings are inconsistent. We sought to examine this association in Japanese postmenopausal women. Methods: We followed 1,412 postmenopausal women aged ≥35 without a history of stroke in Ohasama, Japan. Baseline data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs of each menstrual factor for stroke incidence were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: During a median follow-up of 12.8 years, 143 participants developed a stroke for the first time. Women aged ≤13 at the time of menarche had a significantly higher probability of encountering a stroke incidence in their lives compared with women aged 15 at the time of menarche (HR 1.83; 95% CI 1.04-3.22). The same was also true for cerebral infarction (HR 2.34; 95% CI 1.18-4.66). While early menopause was not significantly associated with stroke incidence, women aged ≤45 at the time of menopause faced a higher risk for cerebral infarction compared with women aged 50 years at the time of menopause (HR 3.25; 95% CI 1.54-6.86). Conclusions: Early menarche and its associated features might be a useful tool for future intervention strategies targeting modifiable factors that trigger menstrual onset.

Nocturnal blood pressure decline based on different time intervals and long-term cardiovascular risk: the Ohasama Study

ABSTRACT A diminished nocturnal decline in blood pressure (BP) represents a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. To define daytime and nighttime ambulatory BP, clock time-dependent methods are used when information on diary-based sleeping time is unavailable. We aimed to compare fixed-clock intervals with diary records to identify nocturnal BP declines as a predictor of long-term cardiovascular risk among the general population. Data were obtained from 1714 participants with no history of cardiovascular disease in Ohasama, Japan (mean age, 60.6 years; 64.9% women). We defined extreme dippers, dippers, non-dippers, and risers as nocturnal systolic BP decline ≥20%, 10–19%. 0–9%, and <0%, respectively. Over a mean follow-up period of 17.0 years, 206 cardiovascular deaths occurred. Based on diary records, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for cardiovascular death compared with dippers were 1.24 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82–1.87) in extreme dippers, 1.21 (0.87–1.69) in non-dippers, and the highest HR of 2.31 (1.47–3.62) was observed in risers. Using a standard fixed-clock interval (daytime 09:00–21:00; nighttime 01:00–06:00), a nighttime 2 h-early shifted fixed-clock (daytime 09:00–21:00; nighttime 23:00–04:00), or a nighttime 2 h-late shifted fixed-clock (daytime 09:00–21:00; nighttime 03:00–08:00), the HR (95%CI) in risers compared with dippers was 1.57 (1.08–2.27), 2.02 (1.33–3.05), or 1.29 (0.86–1.92), respectively. Although use of diary records remains preferable, the standard and nighttime 2 h-early shifted fixed-clock intervals appear feasible for population-based studies.

Long-Term Stroke Risk Due to Partial White-Coat or Masked Hypertension Based on Home and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurements

The prognostic significance of white-coat hypertension (WCHT) is controversial, and different findings on self-measured home measurements and 24-h ambulatory monitoring make identifying WCHT difficult. We examined whether individuals with partially or completely defined WCHT, as well as masked hypertension, as determined by different out-of-office blood pressure measurements, have a distinct long-term stroke risk. We followed 1464 participants (31.8% men; mean age, 60.6±10.8 years) in the general population of Ohasama, Japan, for a median of 17.1 years. A first stroke occurred in 212 subjects. Using sustained normal blood pressure (events/n=61/776) as a reference, adjusted hazard ratios for stroke (95% confidence intervals; events/n) were 1.38 (0.82–2.32; 19/137) for complete WCHT (isolated office hypertension), 2.16 (1.36–3.43; 29/117) for partial WCHT (either home or ambulatory normotension with office hypertension), 2.05 (1.24–3.41; 23/100) for complete masked hypertension (both home and ambulatory hypertension with office normotension), 2.08 (1.37–3.16; 38/180) for partial masked hypertension (either home or ambulatory hypertension with office normotension), and 2.46 (1.61–3.77; 42/154) for sustained hypertension. When partial WCHT and partial masked hypertension groups were further divided into participants only with home hypertension and those only with ambulatory hypertension, all subgroups had a significantly higher stroke risk (adjusted hazard ratio ≥1.84, P⩽0.04). In conclusion, impacts of partial WCHT as well as partial masked hypertension for long-term stroke risk were comparable to those of complete masked hypertension or sustained hypertension. We need both home and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurements to evaluate stroke risk accurately.

N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Is Not a Significant Predictor of Stroke Incidence After 5 Years ― The Ohasama Study ―

BACKGROUND N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been used for risk stratification in heart failure or acute coronary syndrome, but the beyond 5-year predictive value of NT-proBNP for stroke remains an unsettled issue in Asian patients. The aim of the present study was to clarify this point.Methods and Results:We followed 1,198 participants (33.4% men; mean age, 60.5±11.1 years old) in the Japanese general population for a median of 13.0 years. A first stroke occurred in 93 participants. Referencing previous reports, we stratified participants according to NT-proBNP 30.0, 55.0, and 125.0 pg/mL. Using the NT-proBNP <30.0 pg/mL group as a reference, adjusted HR for stroke (95% CI) in the NT-proBNP 30.0-54.9-pg/mL, 55.0-124.9-pg/mL, and ≥125.0-pg/mL groups were 1.92 (0.94-3.94), 1.77 (0.85-3.66), and 1.99 (0.86-4.61), respectively. With the maximum follow-up period set at 5 years, the hazard ratio of the NT-proBNP≥125.0-pg/mL group compared with the <30.0-pg/mL group increased significantly (HR, 4.51; 95% CI: 1.03-19.85). On extension of the maximum follow-up period, however, the association between NT-proBNP and stroke risk weakened. CONCLUSIONS NT-proBNP was significantly associated with an elevated stroke risk. Given, however, that the predictive power decreased with the number of years after NT-proBNP measurement, NT-proBNP should be re-evaluated periodically in Asian patients.

Long-Term Stroke Risk Due to Partial White-Coat or Masked Hypertension Based on Home and Ambulatory Blood Pressure MeasurementsNovelty and Significance

The prognostic significance of white-coat hypertension (WCHT) is controversial, and different findings on self-measured home measurements and 24-h ambulatory monitoring make identifying WCHT difficult. We examined whether individuals with partially or completely defined WCHT, as well as masked hypertension, as determined by different out-of-office blood pressure measurements, have a distinct long-term stroke risk. We followed 1464 participants (31.8% men; mean age, 60.6±10.8 years) in the general population of Ohasama, Japan, for a median of 17.1 years. A first stroke occurred in 212 subjects. Using sustained normal blood pressure (events/n=61/776) as a reference, adjusted hazard ratios for stroke (95% confidence intervals; events/n) were 1.38 (0.82–2.32; 19/137) for complete WCHT (isolated office hypertension), 2.16 (1.36–3.43; 29/117) for partial WCHT (either home or ambulatory normotension with office hypertension), 2.05 (1.24–3.41; 23/100) for complete masked hypertension (both home and ambulatory hypertension with office normotension), 2.08 (1.37–3.16; 38/180) for partial masked hypertension (either home or ambulatory hypertension with office normotension), and 2.46 (1.61–3.77; 42/154) for sustained hypertension. When partial WCHT and partial masked hypertension groups were further divided into participants only with home hypertension and those only with ambulatory hypertension, all subgroups had a significantly higher stroke risk (adjusted hazard ratio ≥1.84, P⩽0.04). In conclusion, impacts of partial WCHT as well as partial masked hypertension for long-term stroke risk were comparable to those of complete masked hypertension or sustained hypertension. We need both home and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurements to evaluate stroke risk accurately.