Diana A. Chirinos

Optimal Definitions for Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome in Andean Hispanics: The PREVENCION Study

OBJECTIVE We aimed to establish optimal definitions for abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Andean adults. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Among 1,448 Andean adults, we assessed the relationship between waist circumference and subclinical vascular disease assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and manifest cardiovascular disease (M-CVD). RESULTS Optimal waist circumference cutoffs to classify individuals with abnormal cIMT or M-CVD were >97 and >87 cm in men and women, respectively. With these cutoffs, there was substantial disagreement between the original American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) and the recently updated MetS definition, particularly among men (κ = 0.85). Subjects with MetS identified by the updated definition but not meeting the original AHA/NHLBI MetS criteria demonstrated significantly increased cIMT (P < 0.001) compared with subjects who did not meet the MetS criteria by either definition. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the use of ethnic-specific waist circumference cutoffs and the updated MetS definition in Andean adults.

Normative values and correlates of carotid artery intima-media thickness and carotid atherosclerosis in Andean-Hispanics: The Prevencion Study

OBJECTIVES Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, ethnicity and gender-specific normative data are required to assess cIMT, which are not available for Andean-Hispanics. In addition, data regarding correlates of subclinical atherosclerosis in ethnic population are needed. METHODS We studied 1448 adults enrolled in a population-based study in Peru. cIMT and carotid plaque were measured with high-resolution ultrasonography. A healthy reference sample (n=472) with no cardiovascular disease, normal weight and normal metabolic parameters was selected to establish normative cIMT values. Correlates of abnormal cIMT and carotid plaque were assessed in the entire population. RESULTS In the reference sample, 95th-percentile cIMT values were both age and gender-dependent. In stepwise regression, selected predictors of increasing cIMT were: older age, impaired fasting glucose, diabetes mellitus, higher systolic blood pressure, higher LDL-cholesterol, smoking and male gender. Predictors of carotid plaque included older age, male gender, higher systolic blood pressure, lower diastolic blood pressure and higher LDL-cholesterol. HDL-cholesterol and C-reactive protein were not associated with cIMT or carotid plaque. The lack of association with HDL-cholesterol was confirmed using high performance liquid chromatography. CONCLUSIONS We present ethnic-specific cut-offs for abnormal cIMT applicable to Andean-Hispanics and correlates of subclinical atherosclerosis in this population. Pending longitudinal studies, our data supports several risk associations seen in other populations and can be used to identify Andean-Hispanics at increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The lack of association between HDL-C and cIMT or carotid plaque in this population requires further investigation.

Leptin and its Association with Somatic Depressive Symptoms in Patients with the Metabolic Syndrome

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine the association between circulating leptin levels and total depressive symptoms as well as depressive symptom dimensions (cognitive and somatic) after controlling for important confounding factors.MethodsThe study sample was comprised of 135 participants with the metabolic syndrome. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory—II. Leptin was measured using a leptin-specific enzyme immunoassay. Inflammation was assessed using C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels.ResultsLeptin was significantly associated with somatic depressive symptoms (β = 0.33, P = 0.018), but not total depressive symptoms (β = 0.27, P = 0.067) or cognitive depressive symptoms (β = 0.21, P = 0.182), after controlling for age, gender, body mass index, and insulin resistance. Further adjustment for C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels did not alter the relationship (β = 0.32, P = 0.023) between circulating leptin levels and somatic depressive symptoms.ConclusionsLeptin is independently associated with somatic depressive symptoms in patients with the metabolic syndrome.

Challenges in Preventing Heart Disease in Hispanics: Early Lessons Learned from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

The challenge of preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in US Hispanics depends upon being able to understand and communicate about the diversity within this population in terms of environmental exposures, health behaviors, socio-cultural experiences and genetic background to CVD risk factor profiles and disease burdens. Recent publications from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) launched by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have begun to accomplish this task. In this article we review some of the HCHS/SOL findings concerning cardiometabolic and other CVD risk factors and relate them to the need for increased access to health care and attention to lifestyle variables including nutrition. A major challenge that needs to be accomplished is to alert our lawmakers, public health officials, health care providers and the Hispanic population at large about how to lighten the CVD risk factor and disease burdens now carried by our Hispanic population.

Psychosocial Factors in the Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and Cardiometabolic Risk: the HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study

BackgroundU.S. Hispanics/Latinos display a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), a group of co-occurring cardiometabolic risk factors (abdominal obesity, impaired fasting glucose, dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure) associated with higher cardiovascular disease and mortality risk. Low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with higher risk for MetSyn in Hispanics/Latinos, and psychosocial factors may play a role in this relationship.PurposeThis cross-sectional study examined psychosocial factors in the association of SES and MetSyn components in 4,996 Hispanic/Latino adults from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study.MethodsMetSyn components were measured at the baseline examination. Participants completed interviews to determine psychosocial risks (e.g., depression) and resources (e.g., social support) within 9 months of baseline (< 4 months in 72.6% of participants). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to identify latent constructs and examine associations.ResultsParticipant mean age was 41.7 years (SE = 0.4) and 62.7% were female. CFA identified single latent factors for SES and psychosocial indicators, and three factors for MetSyn [blood pressure, lipids, metabolic factors]. SEMs showed that lower SES was related to MetSyn factors indirectly through higher psychosocial risk/lower resources (Y-Bχ2 (df = 420) = 4412.90, p < .05, RMSEA = .042, SRMR = .051). A statistically significant effect consistent with mediation was found from lower SES to higher metabolic risk (glucose/waist circumference) via psychosocial risk/resource variables (Mackinnon’s 95% asymmetric CI = −0.13 to −0.02).ConclusionsSES is related to metabolic variables indirectly through psychosocial factors in U.S. Hispanics/Latinos of diverse ancestries.

Do all components of the metabolic syndrome cluster together in U.S. Hispanics/Latinos? Results from the Hispanic Community Health study/Study of Latinos

PURPOSE Metabolic syndrome (MetS), the clustering of several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, is highly prevalent in Hispanics/Latinos. We tested whether all components significantly loaded on the syndrome in Hispanics/Latinos and whether their contribution differed by sex and Hispanic ancestry. We also examined associations of MetS with prevalent diabetes and coronary heart disease in Hispanics/Latinos. METHODS Data were obtained from a population-based cohort of n = 15,823 participants in the HCHS/SOL study who self-identified as being of Central American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, or South American ancestry and were aged 18 to 74 years at screening. RESULTS A latent variable model of waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and fasting glucose fit the data in men and women, but the contribution of HDL-C was weak. No difference in the latent model of MetS was detected across Hispanic/Latino ancestry groups. MetS was significantly associated with diabetes and coronary heart disease. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that similar criteria for MetS may be applied across Hispanic/Latino ancestry groups but call into question the role of HDL-C in classifying the MetS in Hispanics/Latinos.

Metabolic syndrome as an underlying disease entity and its relationship to subclinical atherosclerosis in Andean hispanics

BACKGROUND The question of whether the metabolic syndrome truly reflects a single disease entity with a common underlying pathology remains unclear. In this study, we assess whether metabolic syndrome represents an underlying disease construct in a large population-based sample of Andean Hispanic adults and examine its relationship to subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS The study sample was comprised of 2513 participants. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to identify a metabolic syndrome latent factor using waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), and glucose levels as indicators. The relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis, measured by carotid intima media thickness (cIMT), was assessed using structural equation modeling. RESULTS Results supported the proposed structure of the metabolic syndrome latent factor evidenced by adequate fit indexes. HDL-C did not significantly load on the metabolic syndrome latent factor (standardized factor loading=0.01, P=0.88). The metabolic syndrome latent factor was significantly associated with cIMT in women (B=0.007, P<0.001) and men (B=0.008, P<0.001) after controlling for age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and smoking. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that metabolic syndrome components, such as waist circumference, blood pressure, TGs, and glucose levels, but not HDL-C, share a common underlying pathophysiology that may contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis in Andean Hispanics. Its longitudinal association with cardiovascular disease should be the focus of future research.

Prospective Risk Factors for Increased Central Augmentation Index in Men and Women

BACKGROUND Arterial wave reflections are important determinants of central pressure pulsatility and left ventricular afterload. The augmentation index (AIx) is the most widely used surrogate of arterial wave reflections. Despite multiple cross-sectional studies assessing the correlates of AIx, little prospective data exist regarding changes in AIx over time. We aimed to assess the predictors of changes in AIx over time in adults from the general population. METHODS We performed radial arterial tonometry assessments a median of 3.18 ± 0.4 years apart on 143 nondiabetic adult participants in the population-based PREVENCION study. Central AIx was obtained using the generalized transfer function of the Sphygmocor device. RESULTS Predictors of the change in AIx over time were investigated. Among men (n = 67), the change in AIx was predicted by abdominal obesity (standardized β for waist circumference = 0.34; P = 0.002), impaired fasting glucose (standardized β = 0.24; P = 0.009), and the change in heart rate (standardized β = -0.78; P < 0.001). Among women (n = 76), the change in AIx was predicted by non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (standardized β = 0.33; P = 0.001), C-reactive protein levels (standardized β = 0.24; P = 0.02), change in mean arterial pressure (standardized β = 0.33; P = 0.001), and change in heart rate (standardized β = -0.52; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Metabolic and inflammatory factors predicted changes in AIx over time, with important sex differences. Metabolic factors, such as abdominal obesity and impaired fasting glucose, predicted changes in AIx in men, whereas C-reactive protein and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels predicted changes in women. Our findings highlight the impact of sex on arterial properties and may guide the design of interventions to favorably impact changes in late systolic pressure augmentation.

Metabolic Syndrome in Andean Populations

The metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic abnormalities, has been linked to both cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk. Several studies have shown that ethnicity is an important determinant for risk of developing the metabolic syndrome; therefore, further understanding of the prevalence and presentation of the metabolic syndrome in various ethnic groups is needed. Latin American communities, and particularly Andean countries, are largely understudied in relation to the metabolic syndrome and until recently, the prevalence of this metabolic disturbance in Andean Hispanics was unknown. Nonetheless, recent (and ongoing) population studies are providing important data regarding the prevalence and patterns of the metabolic syndrome in various Andean countries. This review aims to summarize and interpret the information provided by these studies in an effort to better characterize the metabolic syndrome in Andean Hispanics.

Actigraphic Sleep Patterns of U.S. Hispanics: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Study objective: To assess the extent to which objective sleep patterns vary among U.S. Hispanics/Latinos. Methods: We assessed objective sleep patterns in 2087 participants of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos from 6 Hispanic/Latino subgroups aged 18‐64 years who underwent 7 days of wrist actigraphy. Results: The age‐ and sex‐standardized mean (SE) sleep duration was 6.82 (0.05), 6.72 (0.07), 6.61 (0.07), 6.59 (0.06), 6.57 (0.10), and 6.44 (0.09) hr among individuals of Mexican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American, Puerto Rican, and South American heritage, respectively. Sleep maintenance efficiency ranged from 89.2 (0.2)% in Mexicans to 86.5 (0.4)% in Puerto Ricans, while the sleep fragmentation index ranged from 19.7 (0.3)% in Mexicans to 24.2 (0.7)% in Puerto Ricans. In multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, season, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and comorbidities, these differences persisted. Conclusions: There are important differences in actigraphically measured sleep across U.S. Hispanic/Latino heritages. Individuals of Mexican heritage have longer and more consolidated sleep, while those of Puerto Rican heritage have shorter and more fragmented sleep. These differences may have clinically important effects on health outcomes.