@article {719, title = {Elevations of inflammatory and procoagulant biomarkers in elderly persons with renal insufficiency.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {107}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Jan 07}, pages = {87-92}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Renal insufficiency has been associated with cardiovascular disease events and mortality in several prospective studies, but the mechanisms for the elevated risk are not clear. Little is known about the association of renal insufficiency with inflammatory and procoagulant markers, which are potential mediators for the cardiovascular risk of kidney disease.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The cross-sectional association of renal insufficiency with 8 inflammatory and procoagulant factors was evaluated using baseline data from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort study of 5888 subjects aged > or =65 years. C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, factor VIIc, and factor VIIIc levels were measured in nearly all participants; interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, plasmin-antiplasmin complex, and D-dimer levels were measured in nearly half of participants. Renal insufficiency was defined as a serum creatinine level > or =1.3 mg/dL in women and > or =1.5 mg/dL in men. Multivariate linear regression was used to compare adjusted mean levels of each biomarker in persons with and without renal insufficiency after adjustment for other baseline characteristics. Renal insufficiency was present in 647 (11\%) of Cardiovascular Health Study participants. After adjustment for baseline differences, levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin-6, factor VIIc, factor VIIIc, plasmin-antiplasmin complex, and D-dimer were significantly greater among persons with renal insufficiency (P<0.001). In participants with clinical, subclinical, and no cardiovascular disease at baseline, the positive associations of renal insufficiency with these inflammatory and procoagulant markers were similar.

CONCLUSION: Renal insufficiency was independently associated with elevations in inflammatory and procoagulant biomarkers. These pathways may be important mediators leading to the increased cardiovascular risk of persons with kidney disease.

}, keywords = {Aged, alpha-2-Antiplasmin, Biomarkers, Blood Coagulation Factors, C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cohort Studies, Creatinine, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products, Fibrinogen, Fibrinolysin, Humans, Inflammation, Interleukin-6, Male, Prospective Studies, Renal Insufficiency, Risk Factors}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/01.cir.0000042700.48769.59}, author = {Shlipak, Michael G and Fried, Linda F and Crump, Casey and Bleyer, Anthony J and Manolio, Teri A and Tracy, Russell P and Furberg, Curt D and Psaty, Bruce M} } @article {773, title = {Chronic renal insufficiency and cardiovascular events in the elderly: findings from the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Am J Geriatr Cardiol}, volume = {13}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 Mar-Apr}, pages = {81-90}, abstract = {

In the Cardiovascular Health Study, the authors sought to evaluate the impact of chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) on cardiovascular risk status and outcomes in a representative sample of community-dwelling elderly adults. Defined as a serum creatinine level > or =1.3 mg/dL in women and > or =1.5 mg/dL in men, CRI was present in 647 (11\%) of 5808 participants. At baseline, the prevalence of clinical or subclinical cardiovascular disease was 64\% in participants with CRI and 43\% in those without CRI (odds ratio, 2.34; 95\% confidence interval, 1.96-2.80). The incidence of cardiovascular disease events during follow-up was 3\% per year in participants with creatinine levels <1.10 mg/dL and increased steadily to reach 7\% per year in those with creatinine > or =1.70 mg/dL. Among the possible mediators for the association between CRI and cardiovascular morbidity are inflammatory (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and interleukin-6) and hemostatic (factor VII, factor VIII, plasmin-antiplasmin product, and D-dimer) biomarkers, all of which were significantly elevated in Cardiovascular Health Study participants with CRI. Future studies should evaluate the contribution of novel and traditional cardiovascular risk factors to the cardiovascular risk of elderly persons with CRI. The identification of CRI in the elderly and the use of cardiovascular prevention therapies represent a major opportunity to reduce their burden of cardiovascular morbidity.

}, keywords = {Aged, Blood Coagulation Factors, Cardiovascular Diseases, Chronic Disease, Creatinine, Cystatin C, Cystatins, Female, Fibrinogen, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Incidence, Male, Prevalence, Renal Insufficiency, Risk Factors}, issn = {1076-7460}, doi = {10.1111/j.1076-7460.2004.02125.x}, author = {Shlipak, Michael G and Fried, Linda F and Stehman-Breen, Catherine and Siscovick, David and Newman, Anne B} } @article {813, title = {Inflammatory and prothrombotic markers and the progression of renal disease in elderly individuals.}, journal = {J Am Soc Nephrol}, volume = {15}, year = {2004}, month = {2004 Dec}, pages = {3184-91}, abstract = {

Inflammatory and prothrombotic markers are elevated in individuals with mild to moderate renal disease. It was hypothesized that these markers may also be determinants of the progression of renal disease. The association of six markers-serum C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count, fibrinogen, factor VII, albumin, and hemoglobin-with subsequent elevations of creatinine and decline in estimated GFR in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a community-based cohort of elderly individuals, was analyzed. Linear regression was used to determine predictors of an annualized change in serum creatinine as the main outcome. Duration of follow-up was 7 yr for the original cohort and 4 yr for the more recently recruited black cohort. A total of 588 (12.7\%) individuals had a decline in estimated GFR of at least 3 ml/min per yr per 1.73 m(2). Higher CRP (P < 0.001), WBC count (P < 0.001), fibrinogen (P < 0.001), and factor VII (P < 0.001) levels and lower albumin (P < 0.001) and hemoglobin levels (P < 0.001) were associated with a rise in creatinine, after adjusting for age. With additional adjustments for race, gender, baseline creatinine, systolic and diastolic BP, lipid levels, weight, and pack-years smoking, higher CRP, factor VII, fibrinogen, WBC count, and lower albumin and hemoglobin levels remained associated with a rise in creatinine. Similar results were found for decline in estimated GFR. The decline in GFR was greater with increasing number of inflammatory or prothrombotic markers that were above the median (below for hemoglobin and albumin). Inflammatory and prothrombotic markers are predictors for a change in kidney function in elderly individuals. Interventions that reduce inflammation might confer significant cardiovascular and renal benefits.

}, keywords = {Aged, Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Creatinine, Factor VII, Female, Fibrinogen, Follow-Up Studies, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Hemoglobins, Humans, Leukocyte Count, Linear Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Predictive Value of Tests, Prospective Studies, Renal Insufficiency, Serum Albumin, Thrombosis}, issn = {1046-6673}, doi = {10.1097/01.ASN.0000146422.45434.35}, author = {Fried, Linda and Solomon, Cam and Shlipak, Michael and Seliger, Stephen and Stehman-Breen, Catherine and Bleyer, Anthony J and Chaves, Paolo and Furberg, Curt and Kuller, Lewis and Newman, Anne} } @article {1022, title = {Distribution and correlates of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in an elderly cohort: the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {56}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 May}, pages = {792-9}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether high levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) are associated with prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to evaluate factors most influencing Lp-PLA(2) levels in a community-based cohort of older adults.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

SETTING: The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), a population-based cohort study of men and women aged 65 and older.

PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand five hundred thirty-one CHS participants.

MEASUREMENTS: Levels of Lp-PLA(2) activity were determined using stored blood samples from the baseline examination.

RESULTS: Mean Lp-PLA(2) was higher in participants with electrocardiographically determined ventricular conduction defect and major Q-wave abnormality and was positively correlated with left ventricular (LV) mass. It was high in those with echocardiographically determined abnormal LV ejection fraction, which persisted after adjustment. Mean Lp-PLA(2) was also higher in participants with mild renal insufficiency and kidney disease. After multivariable adjustment, there was a modest but significant 27\% greater risk of prevalent CHF per standard deviation increment of Lp-PLA(2) and a modest but significant 12\% greater risk of prevalent myocardial infarction. Lp-PLA(2) was weakly but mainly most strongly correlated with cholesterol and lipoproteins, but those correlations were not especially strong. Lp-PLA(2) was weakly positively correlated with soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 but not interleukin-6. In total, all factors considered could explain only 29\% of Lp-PLA(2) activity.

CONCLUSION: Novel findings in the study are the associations, in those aged 65 and older, between Lp-PLA(2) activity and LV dysfunction, CHF, and renal disease. CVD risk factors only minimally explain levels of Lp-PLA(2).

}, keywords = {1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase, Aged, Atherosclerosis, Body Mass Index, Cardiac Output, Low, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cholesterol, HDL, Cholesterol, LDL, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Electrocardiography, Female, Heart Failure, Humans, Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular, Long QT Syndrome, Male, Reference Values, Renal Insufficiency, Risk Factors, Statistics as Topic, Triglycerides}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01667.x}, author = {Furberg, Curt D and Nelson, Jeanenne J and Solomon, Cam and Cushman, Mary and Jenny, Nancy Swords and Psaty, Bruce M} } @article {1067, title = {High frequency of and factors associated with thyroid hormone over-replacement and under-replacement in men and women aged 65 and over.}, journal = {J Clin Endocrinol Metab}, volume = {94}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Apr}, pages = {1342-5}, abstract = {

CONTEXT: Thyroid hormone use is common in older populations, but the frequency of over- or under-replacement is debated.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the frequency of and factors associated with thyroid hormone over- or under-replacement in a population of older men and women.

DESIGN: Participants were 3678 U.S. community dwelling individuals aged 65 yr or older enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study who had thyroid function tests in 1989-1990. Thyroid hormone users (n = 339) were identified and classified into low TSH (<0.45 mU/liter), euthyroid (0.45-4.5 mU/liter), and high TSH (>4.5 mU/liter).

RESULTS: Of the 339 thyroid hormone users, 41\% had a low TSH, 16\% had a high TSH, and 43\% were in the euthyroid range. In multivariable analyses, lower weight (P < 0.001) was independently associated with low TSH status. For every 10 kg lower weight, the likelihood of having low TSH increased by 65\% [odd ratio (OR) 1.65; 95\% confidence interval (CI) 1.31-2.07]. Those with renal insufficiency were less likely to have low TSH levels (P = 0.02). The presence of diabetes was independently associated with having low (OR 3.35; 95\% CI 1.46-7.65) and high TSH levels (OR 2.66; 95\% CI 1.14-6.21).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a very high prevalence of thyroid function testing abnormalities in older people taking thyroid hormone preparations, particularly in those of low weight or with diabetes. Because of potential adverse cardiovascular and skeletal effects from over-replacement, older people represent a key population for increased TSH monitoring on therapy.

}, keywords = {Aged, Body Mass Index, Body Weight, Diabetes Mellitus, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Humans, Male, Multivariate Analysis, Renal Insufficiency, Risk Factors, Thyroid Diseases, Thyroid Hormones, Thyrotropin, Thyroxine, Triiodothyronine}, issn = {1945-7197}, doi = {10.1210/jc.2008-1696}, author = {Somwaru, Lily L and Arnold, Alice M and Joshi, Neha and Fried, Linda P and Cappola, Anne R} } @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 {1372, title = {Insulin resistance, cystatin C, and mortality among older adults.}, journal = {Diabetes Care}, volume = {35}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Jun}, pages = {1355-60}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance is a risk factor for cardiovascular and noncardiovascular diseases. Impaired kidney function is linked with insulin resistance and may affect relationships of insulin resistance with health outcomes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a cohort study of 3,138 Cardiovascular Health Study participants (age >= 65 years) without diabetes. Insulin sensitivity index (ISI) was calculated from fasting and 2-h postload insulin and glucose concentrations. Associations of ISI and fasting insulin concentration with all-cause mortality were tested using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for demographic variables, prevalent cardiovascular disease, lifestyle variables, waist circumference, and LDL cholesterol. Subsequent models were additionally adjusted for or stratified by glomerular filtration rate estimated using serum cystatin C (eGFR).

RESULTS: A total of 1,810 participants died during the 14.7-year median follow-up. Compared with the highest quartile of ISI, the lowest quartile (most insulin resistant) was associated with 21\% (95\% CI 6-41) and 11\% (-3 to 29) higher risks of death without and with adjustment for eGFR, respectively. Compared with the lowest quartile of fasting insulin concentration, the highest quartile was associated with 22\% (4-43) and 4\% (-12 to 22) higher risks of death without and with adjustment for eGFR, respectively. Similar attenuation by eGFR was observed when blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and C-reactive protein were included in models.

CONCLUSIONS: Insulin resistance measured as ISI or fasting insulin concentration is associated with increased risk of death among older adults, adjusting for conventional confounding characteristics. Impaired kidney function may mediate or confound this relationship.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cholesterol, HDL, Cholesterol, LDL, Cohort Studies, Cystatin C, Fasting, Female, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Life Style, Male, Mortality, Predictive Value of Tests, Proportional Hazards Models, Renal Insufficiency, Risk Factors, Triglycerides, Waist Circumference}, issn = {1935-5548}, doi = {10.2337/dc11-1657}, author = {de Boer, Ian H and Katz, Ronit and Chonchol, Michel B and Fried, Linda F and Ix, Joachim H and Kestenbaum, Bryan and Mukamal, Kenneth J and Peralta, Carmen A and Siscovick, David S} }