@article {775, title = {The presence of frailty in elderly persons with chronic renal insufficiency.}, journal = {Am J Kidney Dis}, volume = {43}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 May}, pages = {861-7}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Frailty has been defined as a tool to define individuals who lack functional reserve and are at risk for functional decline. We hypothesized that chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) would be associated with a greater prevalence of frailty and disability in the elderly.

METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis used baseline data collected from the Cardiovascular Health Study, which enrolled 5,888 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older from 4 clinical centers in the United States. Renal insufficiency is defined as a serum creatinine level of 1.3 mg/dL or greater (> or =115 micromol/L) in women and 1.5 mg/dL or greater (> or =133 micromol/L) in men. Frailty is defined by the presence of 3 of the following abnormalities: unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, measured weakness, slow walking speed, and low physical activity. Disability is defined as any self-reported difficulty with activities of daily living.

RESULTS: Among 5,808 participants with creatinine levels measured at entry, 15.9\% of men (n = 394) and 7.6\% of women (n = 254) had CRI. Prevalences of frailty (15\% versus 6\%; P < 0.001) and disability (12\% versus 7\%; P = 0.001) were greater in participants with CRI compared with those with normal renal function. After multivariate adjustment for comorbidity, CRI remained significantly associated with frailty (odds ratio, 1.76; 95\% confidence interval, 1.28 to 2.41), but not disability (odds ratio, 1.26; 95\% confidence interval, 0.94 to 1.69).

CONCLUSION: Elderly persons with CRI have a high prevalence of frailty, which may signal their risk for progression to adverse health outcomes. If confirmed in other studies, identification of frailty in patients with CRI may warrant special interventions to preserve their independence, quality of life, and survival.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Frail Elderly, Humans, Kidney Failure, Chronic, Male, United States}, issn = {1523-6838}, doi = {10.1053/j.ajkd.2003.12.049}, author = {Shlipak, Michael G and Stehman-Breen, Catherine and Fried, Linda F and Song, Xiao and Siscovick, David and Fried, Linda P and Psaty, Bruce M and Newman, Anne B} } @article {1045, title = {Physical activity and incidence of atrial fibrillation in older adults: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {118}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Aug 19}, pages = {800-7}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Vigorous exertion and endurance training have been reported to increase atrial fibrillation (AF). Associations of habitual light or moderate activity with AF incidence have not been evaluated.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively investigated associations of leisure-time activity, exercise intensity, and walking habits, assessed at baseline and updated during follow-up visits, with incident AF, diagnosed by annual 12-lead ECGs and hospital discharge records, from 1989 to 2001 among 5446 adults > or =65 years of age in the Cardiovascular Health Study. During 47 280 person-years of follow-up, 1061 new AF cases occurred (incidence 22.4/1000 person-years). In multivariable-adjusted analyses, leisure-time activity was associated with lower AF incidence in a graded manner, with 25\% (hazard ratio [HR] 0.75, 95\% confidence interval [CI] 0.61 to 0.90), 22\% (HR 0.78, 95\% CI 0.65 to 0.95), and 36\% (HR 0.64, 95\% CI 0.52 to 0.79) lower risk in quintiles 3, 4, and 5 versus quintile 1 (P for trend <0.001). Exercise intensity had a U-shaped relationship with AF (quadratic P=0.02): Versus no exercise, AF incidence was lower with moderate-intensity exercise (HR 0.72, 95\% CI 0.58 to 0.89) but not with high-intensity exercise (HR 0.87, 95\% CI 0.64 to 1.19). Walking distance and pace were each associated with lower AF risk in a graded manner (P for trend <0.001); when we assessed the combined effects of distance and pace, individuals in quartiles 2, 3, and 4 had 25\% (HR 0.75, 95\% CI 0.56 to 0.99), 32\% (HR 0.68, 95\% CI 0.50 to 0.92), and 44\% (HR 0.56, 95\% CI 0.38 to 0.82) lower AF incidence than individuals in quartile 1. Findings appeared unrelated to confounding by comorbidity or indication. After evaluation of cut points of moderate leisure-time activity (approximately 600 kcal/week), walking distance (12 blocks per week), and pace (2 mph), 26\% of all new AF cases (95\% CI 7\% to 43\%) appeared attributable to absence of these activities.

CONCLUSIONS: Light to moderate physical activities, particularly leisure-time activity and walking, are associated with significantly lower AF incidence in older adults.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Atrial Fibrillation, Exercise, Female, Humans, Incidence, Leisure Activities, Male, Motor Activity, Prospective Studies, Walking}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.785626}, author = {Mozaffarian, Dariush and Furberg, Curt D and Psaty, Bruce M and Siscovick, David} } @article {1148, title = {Physical activity and rapid decline in kidney function among older adults.}, journal = {Arch Intern Med}, volume = {169}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Dec 14}, pages = {2116-23}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Habitual physical activity (PA) has both physiologic and metabolic effects that may moderate the risk of kidney function decline. We tested the hypothesis that higher levels of PA are associated with a lower risk of kidney function decline using longitudinal data from a large cohort of older adults.

METHODS: We studied 4011 ambulatory participants aged 65 or older from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) who completed at least 2 measurements of kidney function over 7 years. We calculated a PA score (range, 2-8) by summing kilocalories expended per week (ordinal score of 1-5 from quintiles of kilocalories per week) and walking pace (ordinal score for categories of <2, 2-3, and >3 mph). Rapid decline in kidney function decline (RDKF) was defined by loss of more than 3.0 mL/min/1.73 m(2) per year in glomerular filtration rate, which we estimated by using longitudinal measurements of cystatin C levels.

RESULTS: A total of 958 participants had RDKF (23.9\%; 4.1 events per 100 person-years). The estimated risk of RDKF was 16\% in the highest PA group (score of 8) and 30\% in the lowest PA group (score of 2). After multivariate adjustment, we found that the 2 highest PA groups (scores of 7-8) were associated with a 28\% lower risk of RDKF (95\% confidence interval, 21\%-41\% lower risk) than the 2 lowest PA groups (score of 2-3). Greater kilocalories of leisure-time PA and walking pace were also each associated with a lower incidence of RDKF.

CONCLUSION: Higher levels of PA are associated with a lower risk of RDKF among older adults.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cystatin C, Female, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Humans, Kidney Function Tests, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Motor Activity, Renal Insufficiency, Time Factors}, issn = {1538-3679}, doi = {10.1001/archinternmed.2009.438}, author = {Robinson-Cohen, Cassianne and Katz, Ronit and Mozaffarian, Dariush and Dalrymple, Lorien S and de Boer, Ian and Sarnak, Mark and Shlipak, Mike and Siscovick, David and Kestenbaum, Bryan} } @article {6609, title = {Plasma phospholipid trans-fatty acids levels, cardiovascular diseases, and total mortality: the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {J Am Heart Assoc}, volume = {3}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Aug}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: While self-reported trans-fatty acid (TFA) consumption is linked to coronary heart disease (CHD), relationships between objective biomarkers of TFA subtypes (t-16:1n9, total t-18:1, and cis/trans-(c/t-), t/c- and t/t-18:2) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) or total mortality are not well established.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated 2742 adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study, aged 74{\textpm}5 years and free of prevalent CVD, with plasma phospholipid TFA measures in 1992. Incident fatal and nonfatal CHD events, CVD and non-CVD mortality, and total mortality were centrally adjudicated through 2010. Risks were assessed using Cox proportional hazards. During 31 494 person-years, 1735 total deaths and 639 total CHD events occurred. In the multivariate model including mutual adjustment for the 5 TFA subtypes, circulating t/t-18:2 was associated with higher total mortality (extreme quintile hazard ratio (HR)=1.23, 95\% CI=1.04 to 1.44, P-trend=0.01), CVD mortality (HR=1.40, 95\% CI=1.05 to 1.86, P-trend=0.02), and total CHD (HR=1.39, 95\% CI=1.06 to 1.83, P-trend=0.01). t/c-18:2 was positively related to total mortality (HR=1.19, P-trend=0.05), total CHD (HR=1.67, P-trend=0.002), and nonfatal CHD (HR=2.06, P-trend=0.002) after mutual adjustment; these associations were insignificant without mutual adjustment. Neither t-16:1n9 nor t-18:1 was significantly associated with total mortality or CVD, nor was c/t-18:2 if we excluded early cases.

CONCLUSIONS: Among circulating TFAs, t/t-18:2 was most adversely associated with total mortality, mainly due to the increased risk of CVD. t/c-18:2 was also positively associated with total mortality and CHD, but only after adjustment for other TFAs. These results highlight the need for further investigation of dietary sources, nondietary determinants, and health effects of specific TFA subtypes, especially t-18:2 isomers.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cohort Studies, Dietary Fats, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Male, Mortality, Phospholipids, Prognosis, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Trans Fatty Acids}, issn = {2047-9980}, doi = {10.1161/JAHA.114.000914}, author = {Wang, Qianyi and Imamura, Fumiaki and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Rimm, Eric B and Wang, Molin and King, Irena B and Song, Xiaoling and Siscovick, David and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {6743, title = {Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Leukocyte Telomere Length: The Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Med Sci Sports Exerc}, volume = {47}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Dec}, pages = {2525-34}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: The influence of physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) at older ages on changes in telomere length (TL)--repetitive DNA sequences that may mark biologic aging--is not well-established. Few prior studies (mainly cross-sectional) have been conducted in older adults, and few studies have evaluated PF.

METHODS: We investigated cross-sectional and prospective associations of PA and PF with leukocyte TL among 582 older adults (mean {\textpm} SD age, 73 {\textpm} 5 yr at baseline) in the Cardiovascular Health Study, with serial TL measures and PA and PF assessed multiple times. Cross-sectional associations were assessed using multivariable repeated-measures regression, in which cumulatively averaged PA and PF measures were related to TL. Longitudinal analyses assessed cumulatively averaged PA and PF against later changes in TL, and changes in cumulatively averaged PA and PF against changes in TL.

RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, greater walking distance and chair test performance, but not other PA and PF measures, were each associated with longer TL (P trend = 0.007 and 0.04, respectively). In longitudinal analyses, no significant associations of baseline PA and PF with change in TL were observed. In contrast, changes in leisure-time activity and chair test performance were each inversely associated with changes in TL.

CONCLUSIONS: Cross-sectional analyses suggest that greater PA and PF are associated with longer TL. Prospective analyses show that changes in PA and PF are associated with differences in changes in TL. Even later in life, changes in certain PA and PF measures are associated with changes in TL, suggesting that leisure-time activity and fitness could reduce leukocyte telomere attrition among older adults.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Cross-Sectional Studies, Exercise Test, Female, Hand Strength, Humans, Leukocytes, Male, Motor Activity, Physical Fitness, Prospective Studies, Telomere Homeostasis, Walking}, issn = {1530-0315}, doi = {10.1249/MSS.0000000000000720}, author = {Soares-Miranda, Luisa and Imamura, Fumiaki and Siscovick, David and Jenny, Nancy Swords and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {9455, title = {PUFA ω-3 and ω-6 biomarkers and sleep: a pooled analysis of cohort studies on behalf of the Fatty Acids and Outcomes Research Consortium (FORCE).}, journal = {Am J Clin Nutr}, volume = {115}, year = {2022}, month = {2022 Mar 04}, pages = {864-876}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: n-3 and n-6 PUFAs have physiologic roles in sleep processes, but little is known regarding circulating n-3 and n-6 PUFA and sleep parameters.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess associations between biomarkers of n-3 and n-6 PUFA intake with self-reported sleep duration and difficulty falling sleeping in the Fatty Acids and Outcome Research Consortium.

METHODS: Harmonized, de novo, individual-level analyses were performed and pooled across 12 cohorts. Participants were 35-96 y old and from 5 nations. Circulating measures included α-linolenic acid (ALA), EPA, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), DHA, EPA~+~DPA~+~DHA, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid. Sleep duration (10 cohorts, n~=~18,791) was categorized as short (<=6 h), 7-8 h (reference), or long (>=9 h). Difficulty falling asleep (8 cohorts, n~=~12,500) was categorized as yes or no. Associations between PUFAs, sleep duration, and difficulty falling sleeping were assessed by cross-sectional multinomial logistic regression using standardized protocols and covariates. Cohort-specific multivariable-adjusted ORs per quintile of PUFAs were pooled with inverse-variance weighted meta-analysis.

RESULTS: In pooled analysis adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and health status, participants with higher very long-chain n-3 PUFAs were less likely to have long sleep duration. In the top compared with the bottom quintiles, the multivariable-adjusted ORs (95\% CIs) for long sleep were 0.78 (95\% CI: 0.65, 0.95) for DHA and 0.76 (95\% CI: 0.63, 0.93) for EPA~+~DPA~+~DHA. Significant associations for ALA and n-6 PUFA with short sleep duration or difficulty falling sleeping were not identified.

CONCLUSIONS: Participants with higher concentrations of very long-chain n-3 PUFAs were less likely to have long sleep duration. While objective biomarkers reduce recall bias and misclassification, the cross-sectional design limits assessment of the temporal nature of this relation. These novel findings across 12 cohorts highlight the need for experimental and biological assessments of very long-chain n-3 PUFAs and sleep duration.

}, keywords = {Biomarkers, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Fatty Acids, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Humans, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Sleep}, issn = {1938-3207}, doi = {10.1093/ajcn/nqab408}, author = {Murphy, Rachel A and Tintle, Nathan and Harris, William S and Darvishian, Maryam and Marklund, Matti and Virtanen, Jyrki K and Hantunen, Sari and de Mello, Vanessa D and Tuomilehto, Jaakko and Lindstr{\"o}m, Jaana and Bolt, Matthew A and Brouwer, Ingeborg A and Wood, Alexis C and Senn, Mackenzie and Redline, Susan and Tsai, Michael Y and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Eiriksdottir, Gudny and Lindberg, Eva and Shadyab, Aladdin H and Liu, Buyun and Carnethon, Mercedes and Uusitupa, Matti and Djouss{\'e}, Luc and Riserus, Ulf and Lind, Lars and van Dam, Rob M and Koh, Woon-Puay and Shi, Peilin and Siscovick, David and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Mozaffarian, Dariush} } @article {9330, title = {Plasma sphingolipids, lung function and COPD: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {ERJ Open Res}, volume = {9}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Mar}, abstract = {

RATIONALE: COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Sphingolipids, structural membrane constituents that play a role in cellular stress and apoptosis signalling, may be involved in lung function.

METHODS: In the Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective cohort of older adults, we cross-sectionally examined the association of plasma levels of 17 sphingolipid species with lung function and COPD. Multivariable linear regression and logistic regression were used to evaluate associations of sphingolipid concentrations with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV) and odds of COPD, respectively.

RESULTS: Of the 17 sphingolipids evaluated, ceramide-18 (Cer-18) and sphingomyelin-18 (SM-18) were associated with lower FEV values (-0.061 L per two-fold higher Cer-18, p=0.001; -0.092 L per two-fold higher SM-18, p=0.002) after correction for multiple testing. Several other associations were significant at a 0.05 level, but did not reach statistical significance after correction for multiple testing. Specifically, Cer-18 and SM-18 were associated with higher odds of COPD (odds ratio per two-fold higher Cer-18 1.29, p=0.03 and SM-18 1.73, p=0.008). Additionally, Cer-16 and SM-16 were associated with lower FEV values, and Cer-14, SM-14 and SM-16 with a higher odds of COPD.

CONCLUSION: In this large cross-sectional study, specific ceramides and sphingomyelins were associated with reduced lung function in a population-based study. Future studies are needed to examine whether these biomarkers are associated with longitudinal change in FEV within individuals or with incident COPD.

}, issn = {2312-0541}, doi = {10.1183/23120541.00346-2022}, author = {Gharib, Arya R and Jensen, Paul N and Psaty, Bruce M and Hoofnagle, Andrew N and Siscovick, David and Gharib, Sina A and Sitlani, Colleen M and Sotoodehnia, Nona and Lemaitre, Rozenn N} }