The COVID-19 pandemic and temporal change in metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a natural experiment within the HELIUS study.

Objective We studied the association between the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including the restrictive measures, and metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women and men. Next, we analysed whether changes in these metabolic risk factors were mediated by psychological and behavioural mechanisms. Design In this natural experiment, we assessed changes from baseline in metabolic CVD risk factors in the exposed group (whose follow-up measurements were taken during the pandemic), and compared these to the changes in the control group (whose follow-up measurements were taken before the pandemic). Participants This study used data from 6962 participants from six different ethnic groups (Dutch, South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Turkish and Moroccan) of the HELIUS study, based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We included women and men without prior CVD, who participated in both the baseline (2011-2015) and follow-up measurements (2019-2021). Outcome measures Changes between baseline and follow-up measurements in six metabolic CVD risk factors were calculated for systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), total cholesterol (TC), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Results The exposed group experienced somewhat less favourable changes over time in SBP, DBP and FPG (the latter only in women) than the control group, while temporal changes in HbA1c and eGFR were more favourable among the control group. For instance, SBP was 1.119 mmHg [0.046, 2.193] higher in exposed than non-exposed women, and 1.380 [0.288, 2471] in men. Changes in SBP and DBP were partially mediated by changes in behavioural factors, most notably BMI and alcohol consumption. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic, including the restrictive lockdown measures, is associated with a deterioration of several CVD risk factors in women and men. These findings may aid in decision making concerning the management of and the recovery following the pandemic

Associations between plasma metabolite profiles and blood pressure: the HELIUS study

Background Blood pressure (BP) is regulated by plasma metabolites from different neurohumoral and cardiometabolic systems. Since there are established differences in hypertension pathogenesis and treatment response between ethnicities, we hypothesized that plasma metabolites may be differently associated with BP across ethnic groups. Purpose To investigate associations between plasma metabolite profiles and BP in a multi-ethnic population-based cohort. Methods From the Healthy Living In an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study, 369 subjects (mean age 52±11 years, 51%F) of African and non-African descent were included. Office systolic (136±21 mmHg) and diastolic (83±12 mmHg) BP levels were recorded. Plasma metabolites were measured semi-quantitively with LC-MS (Metabolon) from fasting plasma samples. Associations between metabolite profiles and BP were assessed with machine learning prediction models using the XGBoost algorithm with nested cross-validation. Associations between the resulting best predictors and BP were assessed with linear regression models while adjusting for age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate and diabetes. Results Plasma metabolite profiles explained 14.1% of systolic BP variance and 10.6% of diastolic BP variance. These were attenuated to 3.1% and 1.4% respectively, when using residuals of BP after adjusting for age and sex. Top predictors for both systolic and diastolic BP included N-formylmethionine, several acylcarnitines and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as hexadecadienoate. These metabolites were significantly associated with higher systolic BP with estimates ranging from 3.0 to 4.5 mmHg per 1 SD increase in the adjusted models. Associations with hexadecadienoate, dihomolinoleate and catecholamine metabolites, including vanillactate had significant interactions (p<0.05) with ethnicity, and were only significant in subjects of non-African descent. Conclusions Plasma metabolome composition explained a large proportion of BP variance, but this association was attenuated when adjusting for confounders. Polyunsaturated fatty acids and catecholamine metabolites were only associated with BP in the non-African descent subjects. N-formylmethionine was the most consistent predictor for systolic BP across all subgroups. Future studies could focus on translating these findings in vitro in order to decipher the role of N-formylmethionine in BP regulation. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): Dutch Heart Foundation, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, the European Integration Fund and the European Union (Seventh Framework Programme) Explained variances of machine learning Linear regression models

Is the Association Between Education and Sympathovagal Balance Mediated by Chronic Stressors?

Background This study investigated whether raised chronic stress in low education groups contributes to education differences in cardiovascular disease by altering sympathovagal balance. Methods This study included cross-sectional data of 10,202 participants from the multi-ethnic, population-based HELIUS-study. Sympathovagal balance was measured by baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), the standard deviation of the inter-beat interval (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD). The associations between chronic stressors (work, home, psychiatric, financial, negative life events, lack of job control and perceived discrimination) in a variety of domains and BRS, SDNN and RMSSD were assessed using linear regression, adjusted for age, ethnicity, waist-to-hip ratio and pack-years smoked. Mediation analysis was used to assess the contribution of chronic stress to the association between education and sympathovagal balance. Results Modest but significant associations were observed between financial stress and BRS and SDNN in women, but not in RMSSD nor for any outcome measure in men. Women with the highest category of financial stress had 0.55% lower BRS (ms/mmHg; β = -0.055; CI = -0.098, -0.011) and 0.61% lower SDNN (ms; β = -0.061; CI = -0.099, -0.024) than those in the lowest category. Financial stress in women contributed 7.1% to the association between education and BRS, and 13.8% to the association between education and SDNN. Conclusion No evidence was found for the hypothesized pathway in which sympathovagal balance is altered by chronic stress, except for a small contribution of financial stress in women.

Association between Depressed Mood and Sleep Duration among Various Ethnic Groups—The Helius Study

Background: We examined the association between depressed mood (DM) and sleep duration in a multi-ethnic population in Amsterdam, and the extent to which DM accounts for both short and long sleep. Methods: Cross-sectional data using 21,072 participants (aged 18–71 years) from the HELIUS study were analyzed. Sleep duration was classified as: short, healthy, and long (<7, 7–8, and ≥9 h/night). A Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9 sum score ≥10) was used to measure DM. The association between DM and sleep duration was assessed using logistic regression. The extent to which DM accounted for short and long sleep was assessed using a population attributable fraction (PAF). Results: DM was significantly associated with short sleep in all ethnic groups after adjustment for other covariates (OR 1.9 (1.5–2.7) in Ghanaians to 2.5 (1.9–32) in the Dutch). DM was not associated with long sleep except in the Dutch (OR 1.9; 1.3–2.8). DM partly accounted for the prevalence of short sleep with PAF ranging from 3.5% in Ghanaians to 15.5% in Turkish. For long sleep, this was 7.1% in the Dutch. Conclusions: DM was associated with short sleep in all ethnic groups, except in Dutch. If confirmed in longitudinal analyses, strategies to reduce depression may reduce the prevalence of short sleep in concerned groups.

Body size ideals and body satisfaction among Dutch-origin and African-origin residents of Amsterdam: The HELIUS study

Objective Obesity is highly prevalent among ethnic minorities and acceptance of larger body sizes may put these ethnic minorities at risk of obesity. This study aimed to examine body size ideals and body satisfaction in relation to body weight, in two Sub-Saharan African (SSA)-origin groups in the Netherlands compared to the Dutch. Additionally, in the two SSA-origin groups, this study assessed the mediating role of acculturation in the relation between ethnicity and body size ideals and body satisfaction. Methods Dutch, African Surinamese and Ghanaians living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, participated in the observational HELIUS study (n = 10,854). Body size ideals were assessed using a validated nine figure scale. Body satisfaction was calculated as the concordance of current with ideal figure. Acculturation was only assessed among SSA-origin participants and acculturation proxies included age of migration, residence duration, ethnic identity and social network. Weight and height were measured using standardised protocols. Results SSA-origin women and Ghanaian men had larger body size ideals compared to the Dutch; e.g. Surinamese and Ghanaian women had 0.37 (95%CI 0.32; 0.43) and 0.70 (95%CI 0.63; 0.78) larger body size ideals compared to Dutch women. SSA-origin participants were more often satisfied with their weight compared to the Dutch. Similarly, SSA-origin participants had more than twice the odds of being satisfied/preferring a larger figure compared to the Dutch (e.g. BSurinamese men 2.44, 95%CI 1.99; 2.99). Within the two SSA-origin groups, most acculturation proxies mediated the relation between ethnicity and body size ideals in women. Limited evidence of mediation was found for the outcome body satisfaction. Conclusion Public health strategies promoting a healthy weight may need to be differentiated according to sex and ethnic differences in body weight perception. Factors other than acculturation may underlie the ethnic differences between African Surinamese and Ghanaians in obesity.

Differences in Body Composition Convey a Similar Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Different Ethnic Groups With Disparate Cardiometabolic Risk—The HELIUS Study

<b>Objective</b>: Studies have shown a disparate association between body composition and the risk of type 2 diabetes. We assessed whether associations between differences in body composition and type 2 diabetes vary among ethnic groups with disparate cardiometabolic risk. <p><b>Research Design and Methods: </b>We used data from the HELIUS study, including individuals aged 18-70 of<b> </b>African Surinamese (n=3997), South-Asian Surinamese (n=2956), Turkish (n=3546), Moroccan (n=3850), Ghanaian (n=2271) and Dutch (n=4452) origin living in Amsterdam. Type 2 diabetes was defined using the World Health Organization criteria. Logistic regression was used to assess the relation between body composition and type 2 diabetes. Waist-hip ratio, waist circumference, BMI and body fat percentage by bio-electrical impedance were used to estimate body composition.</p> <p><b>Results: </b>Per unit change in BMI only Ghanaian [OR 0.94 (95% CI 0.89-0.99)] and Moroccan [0.94 (0.89-0.99)] women had a smaller increase in type 2 diabetes per unit change in BMI compared to the Dutch population, while OR for body fat percentage were 0.94 (0.89-1.00) for Ghanaian, 0.93 (0.88-0.99) for Moroccan and 0.95 (0.90-1.00) for South-Asian Surinamese women. There was no interaction between WHR and ethnicity on the risk of type 2 diabetes, and there were no differences in men. WHR had the highest precision in predicting type 2 diabetes in both men (c-statistic=0.78) and women (c-statistic=0.81). </p> <b>Conclusions: </b>The<b> </b>association between differences in body composition and type 2 diabetes is roughly the same in all ethnic groups. WHR seems the most reliable and consistent predictor of type 2 diabetes regardless of ethnic background.<b> </b>