Faculty Bibliography

Predominantly based on North American and European studies, 30% to 40% declines in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a few years are strongly associated with the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and have been proposed as surrogate endpoints of ESRD for clinical research. However, this association has not been systematically quantified in Asian populations. To do this we studied adult Japanese patients with baseline eGFR 10-59 ml/min/1.73m². Changes in eGFR from baseline measured by centrally assessed serum creatinine were linked to subsequent ESRD in 2410 patients after one year and in 2079 patients after year 2. After year 1, 1.4% experienced a 53% decrease in eGFR (equivalent to doubling of serum creatinine), whereas 4.3% and 9.7% had eGFR decrease of 40% or 30% or more, respectively. The corresponding numbers after 2 years were 4.2%, 10.9%, and 19.3%, respectively. After year 1 baseline period, 498 patients developed ESRD over a median follow-up of 2.9 years (365 ESRD cases over a median follow-up of 2 years after year 2). In year 1, after accounting for potential confounders, a strong linear association was found between eGFR declines and subsequent ESRD, with adjusted hazard ratios of 20.7 (95% confidence interval 14.3-30.1) for a 53% decrease, 9.6 (7.4-12.5) for a 40% decrease, and 5.3 (4.1-6.9) for a 30% decrease compared to no change. Corresponding hazard ratios for year two analysis were 17.3 (11.8-25.3), 6.5 (4.7-9.1), and 3.1 (2.2-4.4), respectively. The associations were consistent across demographics and kidney diseases. Thus, 30% to 40% declines in eGFR are strongly associated with the risk of ESRD in Japanese patients with reduced eGFR, broadening global implications as a surrogate endpoint in clinical research.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:Clinical guidelines are not consistent regarding whether or how to utilize information on measures of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This review summarizes recent literature regarding CVD prediction in the context of CKD. RECENT FINDINGS:Previous studies used different definitions of CKD measures and CVD outcomes, and applied distinct statistical approaches. A recent individual-level meta-analysis from the CKD Prognosis Consortium is of value as it has uniformly investigated creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria as CKD measures and applied the same statistical approach across 24 cohorts with more than 630 000 participants. In this meta-analysis, eGFR and albuminuria improve CVD risk prediction beyond traditional CVD risk factors, particularly for CVD mortality and heart failure. Albuminuria demonstrates more evident improvement than eGFR. Moreover, several recent studies have shown that other filtration markers, for example, cystatin C and β2-microglobulin, and measures of atherosclerosis or cardiac damage (e.g., coronary artery calcium and cardiac troponins) can further improve CVD prediction in the CKD population. SUMMARY:Future clinical guidelines may require updates regarding whether/how to incorporate CKD measures and other biomarkers in CVD prediction, depending on the CVD outcomes of interest, target population, and availability of those measures/biomarkers in that population.

The present longitudinal study examined cultural adaptation (i.e., acculturation and enculturation) and its correlates in a sample of 189 Mexican and Dominican immigrant women. Acculturation and enculturation were measured within the domains of language competence, identity and cultural knowledge at two time points over a one-year period. Across groups and domains, cultural adaptation was generally stable over time; only American cultural knowledge showed change, and only for MA women. Several correlates of cultural adaptation were identified. For Mexican women, living in poverty and in immigrant-dense neighborhoods was associated with lower acculturation. For Dominican women, age at immigration was the most robust correlate and was associated with more acculturation and less enculturation, though poverty and neighborhood characteristics emerged as significant for Dominican women too. Findings are consistent with the notion of cultural adaptation as a complex construct that is influenced by cultural context as well as individual immigrant characteristics.

BACKGROUND:Kidney failure disproportionately affects older blacks versus whites. The reasons are unknown and may be related to lower measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and higher levels of albuminuria in community-based population samples. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Cross-sectional analysis of a substudy of a prospective cohort. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS/METHODS:Ancillary study following Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) visit 5. PREDICTOR/METHODS:Age, sex, and race. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS/METHODS:Measured GFR using plasma clearance of iohexol and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR). RESULTS:); this difference persisted and remained significant after adjustment for demographics, clinical characteristics, and measures of body size. The difference between men and women, but not between blacks and whites, was substantially greater when GFR was not indexed for body surface area. ACR was higher in older versus younger participants (mean difference, 3.2% [95% CI, 1.5%-4.8%] per year), but geometric mean ratio of ACR did not differ between blacks versus whites (mean difference, 19.7%; 95% CI, -39.1% to 6.1%) or between men versus women (mean difference, -4.4%; 95% CI, -27.7% to 26.3%). LIMITATIONS/CONCLUSIONS:This is a study of survivors. People who agreed to participate were younger than those who refused. CONCLUSIONS:In this first community-based study that included blacks and whites, no differences in measured GFR between races were found, suggesting that other factors must account for the disproportionately higher burden of kidney failure in older blacks versus whites.

AIMS:To assess associations between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and computed tomography-determined volumes of pericardial, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissue with magnetic resonance imaging-(MRI) based cerebral structure and cognitive performance in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS:This study was performed in 348 African Americans (AAs) and 256 European Americans (EAs) with T2D. Associations between adiposity measures with cerebral volumes of white matter (WMV), gray matter (GMV), white matter lesions, hippocampal GMV, and hippocampal WMV, cognitive performance and depression were examined using marginal models incorporating generalized estimating equations. All models were adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, HbA1c, hypertension, statins, cardiovascular disease, MRI scanner (MRI outcomes only), and time between scans; some neuroimaging measures were additionally adjusted for intracranial volume. RESULTS:Participants were 59.9% female with mean (SD) age 57.7(9.3)years, diabetes duration 9.6(6.8)years, and HbA1c 7.8(1.9)%. In AAs, inverse associations were detected between hippocampal GMV and both BMI (β [95% CI]-0.18 [-0.30, -0.07], P=0.0018) and WC (-0.23 [-0.35, -0.12], P=0.0001). In the full bi-ethnic sample, inverse associations were detected between hippocampal WMV and WC (P≤0.0001). Positive relationships were observed between BMI (P=0.0007) and WC (P<0.0001) with depression in EAs. CONCLUSIONS:In patients with T2D, adiposity is inversely associated with hippocampal gray and white matter volumes.

CONTEXT:Relative to European Americans, calcified atherosclerotic plaque (CP) is less prevalent and severe in African-Americans (AAs). OBJECTIVE:Predictors of progression of CP in the aorta, carotid, and coronary arteries were examined in AAs over a mean 5.3 ± 1.4-year interval. DESIGN:This is the African American-Diabetes Heart Study. SETTING:A type 2 diabetes (T2D)-affected cohort was included. PARTICIPANTS:A total of 300 unrelated AAs with T2D; 50% female, mean age 55 ± 9 years, baseline hemoglobin A1c 8.1 ± 1.8% was included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Glycemic control, renal parameters, vitamin D, and computed tomography-derived measures of adiposity, vascular CP, and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) in lumbar and thoracic vertebrae were obtained at baseline and follow-up. RESULTS:CP increased in incidence and quantity/mass in all three vascular beds over the 5-year study (P < .0001). Lower baseline lumbar and thoracic vBMD were associated with progression of abdominal aorta CP (P < .008), but not progression of carotid or coronary artery CP. Lower baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate was associated with progression of carotid artery CP (P = .0004), and higher baseline pericardial adipose volume was associated with progression of coronary artery (P = .001) and aorta (P = .0006) CP independent of body mass index. There was a trend for an inverse relationship between change in thoracic vBMD and change in aortic CP (P = .05). CONCLUSIONS:In this longitudinal study, lower baseline thoracic and lumbar vBMD and estimated glomerular filtration rate and higher pericardial adipose volumes were associated with increases in CP in AAs with T2D. Changes in these variables and baseline levels and/or changes in glycemic control, albuminuria, and vitamin D were not significantly associated with progression of CP.

Background: Geosocial-networking smartphone applications (apps) have been used increasingly by men who have sex with men (MSM) to meet new sexual partners. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between contexts of app use (e.g. using apps when drinking) and condomless anal intercourse among a sample of MSM who use these apps. Methods: MSM (n=174) in New York City were recruited through Grindr, a geosocial-networking app popular among MSM, using broadcast advertisements asking MSM to complete an Internet-based survey about their app use and sexual behaviours. Log-binomial regression models were fit to assess the association between each of the six app-use contexts (e.g. using apps when lonely, when drinking) and engagement in condomless insertive and receptive anal intercourse with one or more partners in the past 3 months. Results: Engagement in condomless receptive and insertive anal intercourse with one or more partners in the preceding 3 months was common (39.7% and 43.1% respectively) and was associated with several app-use contexts. For example, significant associations (P<0.05) were observed between alcohol and other drug use when using these apps and engagement in condomless receptive and insertive anal intercourse. Conclusion: Given that 57.5% of respondents had engaged in condomless anal intercourse in the preceding 3 months and the associations of app-use contexts with condomless sexual behaviours, these findings suggest that reductions in substance use may lead to safer sexual practices among MSM who use apps to meet sexual partners.

OBJECTIVE: To examine how food store environments can promote healthful eating, including (1) preferences for a variety of behavioral economics strategies to promote healthful food purchases, and (2) the cross-sectional association between the primary food store where participants reported shopping, dietary behaviors, and body mass index. METHODS: Intercept survey participants (n = 342) from 2 midsized eastern North Carolina communities completed questionnaires regarding preferred behavioral economics strategies, the primary food store at which they shopped, and consumption of fruits, vegetables, and sugary beverages. RESULTS: Frequently selected behavioral economic strategies included: (1) a token and reward system for fruit and vegetable purchases; and (2) price discounts on healthful foods and beverages. There was a significant association between the primary food store and consumption of fruits and vegetables (P = .005) and sugary beverages (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Future studies should examine associations between elements of the in-store food environment, purchases, and consumption.

OBJECTIVES: To determine consumer and fast-food purchase characteristics associated with the purchase of a sugar-sweetened beverage, as well as calories and grams of sugar, for children at a fast-food restaurant. METHODS: We completed cross-sectional analyses of fast-food restaurant receipts and point-of-purchase surveys (n = 483) collected during 2013 and 2014 in New York City and Newark and Jersey City, New Jersey. RESULTS: Caregivers purchased beverages for half of all children in our sample. Approximately 60% of these beverages were sugar-sweetened beverages. Fast-food meals with sugar-sweetened beverages had, on average, 179 more calories than meals with non-sugar-sweetened beverages. Being an adolescent or male, having a caregiver with a high school degree or less, having a caregiver who saw the posted calorie information, ordering a combination meal, and eating the meal in the restaurant were associated with ordering a sugar-sweetened beverage. Purchases that included a combination meal or were consumed in the restaurant included more beverage grams of sugar and calories. CONCLUSIONS: Characteristics of fast-food purchases appear to have the largest and most important association to beverage calories for children at fast-food restaurants. Targeting fast-food restaurants, particularly combination meals, may improve childhood obesity rates.