1.
Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on major cardiovascular outcomes: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies and randomized controlled trials.
Choi, H, Kim, JY, Lee, KH, Kim, JS, Lee, JY, Choi, EK, Seong, HJ, Kim, G, Park, H, Jung, E, et al
European review for medical and pharmacological sciences. 2021;(4):2079-2092
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly used as a lipid-lowering agent or dietary supplement for the purpose of prevention of cardiovascular diseases. However, even large-scale clinical trials have not shown significant results demonstrating clear clinical benefits in cardiovascular diseases. Thus, this umbrella review aims to summarize and evaluate the evidence of clinical effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes through comprehensive analyses of previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or observational cohort studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted relevant publication search in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. We retrieved and analyzed 3,298 articles published until August 28th, 2019. RESULTS We identified 29 relevant articles and analyzed 83 meta-analyses of RCTs or cohort studies therefrom. As a result, we identified 12 cardiovascular outcomes that are related to omega-3 fatty acids supplementation. Among them, total mortality from major cardiovascular causes (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.98) had significant inverse associations, and moreover, statistical significances were maintained even in subgroup analysis of large-scale RCTs including more than 1,000 patients (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99). CONCLUSIONS Our umbrella review study shows that omega-3 fatty acids supplementation have a clinical benefit in reducing mortality from cardiovascular causes. However, many studies still have shown conflicting results, and therefore, further studies will be needed to verify the clinical benefit of omega-3 supplementation.
2.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and White Matter Hyperintensities: Difference in Susceptibility in South Asians Compared With Europeans.
Sudre, CH, Smith, L, Atkinson, D, Chaturvedi, N, Ourselin, S, Barkhof, F, Hughes, AD, Jäger, HR, Cardoso, MJ
Journal of the American Heart Association. 2018;(21):e010533
Abstract
Background Cardiovascular risk factors vary between ethnicities but little is known about their differential effects on white matter hyperintensities ( WMH ), an indicator of brain aging and burden of cerebrovascular disease. Methods and Results Brain magnetic resonance imaging scans from 213 people of South Asian and 256 of European ethnicity (total=469) were analyzed for global and regional WMH load. Associations with cardiovascular risk factors and a composite cardiovascular risk score (National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III) were compared by ethnicity, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and hypertension status. Distributional patterns of WMH were similar by ethnicity but the vulnerability to specific risk factors differed. Associations between WMH and age or National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III scores were stronger in South Asians compared with Europeans. For instance, a year of age led to an excess of 3.8% (confidence interval=[0.2, 7.6]; P=0.04) of WMH load in frontal regions in South Asians compared with Europeans. In the diabetic subgroup, South Asians had more WMH than Europeans (+63.3%, confidence interval=[14.1, 133.9]; P=0.007), particularly in the deeper regions (+102% confidence interval=[24, 329]; P=0.004). In the population as a whole, diabetes mellitus was not, or only weakly, related to an increase in WMH volume (12.4%, confidence interval=[-10.7, 41.3]; P=0.32), and diabetes mellitus duration was a positive predictor of frontal periventricular WMH load in Europeans but not in South Asians. In turn, diastolic blood pressure was positively associated with WMH volumes in South Asians but not in Europeans. Hypertension was not associated with WMH load ( P=0.9). Conclusions Distribution patterns of WMH are similar in South Asians and Europeans but older age and higher cardiovascular risk are associated with more WMH in South Asians.
3.
Association Between Gait Speed With Mortality, Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.
Veronese, N, Stubbs, B, Volpato, S, Zuliani, G, Maggi, S, Cesari, M, Lipnicki, DM, Smith, L, Schofield, P, Firth, J, et al
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 2018;(11):981-988.e7
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Slow gait speed may be associated with premature mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer, although a comprehensive meta-analysis is lacking. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we explored potential associations between gait speed and mortality, incident CVD, and cancer. DESIGN A systematic search in major databases was undertaken from inception until March 15, 2018 for prospective cohort studies reporting data on gait speed and mortality, incident CVD, and cancer. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS All available. MEASURES The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), based on the model with the maximum number of covariates for each study between gait speed (categorized as decrease in 0.1 m/s) and mortality, incident CVD, and cancer, were meta-analyzed with a random effects model. RESULTS Among 7026 articles, 44 articles corresponding to 48 independent cohorts were eligible. The studies followed up on a total of 101,945 participants (mean age 72.2 years; 55% women) for a median of 5.4 years. After adjusting for a median of 9 potential confounders and the presence of publication bias, each reduction of 0.1 m/s in gait speed was associated with a 12% increased risk of earlier mortality (45 studies; HR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.09-1.14; I2 = 90%) and 8% increased risk of CVD (13 studies; HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03-1.13; I2 = 81%), but no relationship with cancer was observed (HR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.97-1.04; I2 = 15%). CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS Slow gait speed may be a predictor of mortality and CVD in older adults. Because gait speed is a quick and inexpensive measure to obtain, our study suggests that it should be routinely used and may help identify people at risk of premature mortality and CVD.