Objective
To improve detection of abnormal glucose tolerance (Abnl-GT), attention has moved beyond the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), to non-fasting markers of glycemia, specifically, HbA1c, fructosamine (FA) and glycated albumin (GA). Emerging data suggest that in African descent populations, the combination of HbA1c and GA is superior to the combination of HbA1c and FA. However, the diagnosis of Abnl-GT is usually based on tests which are performed only once. As reproducibility of Abnl-GT diagnosis by HbA1c, fructosamine (FA) and glycated albumin (GA) is unknown, reproducibility of Abnl-GT diagnosis by HbA1c, FA and GA were assessed in 209 African-born Blacks living in America.
Methods
At Visits 1 and 2 (9 ± 4 days apart), samples were obtained for HbA1c, FA and GA levels. Glucose tolerance status was determined at Visit 1 by OGTT. Reproducibility was based on the К-statistic and paired t-tests. Thresholds for the diagnosis of Abnl-GT by FA and GA which corresponded to an HbA1c of 5.7% were 235umol/L and 14.6%, respectively.
Results
Abnl-GT occurred in 38% (80/209). Diagnostic reproducibility was excellent for HbA1c (К≥0.86) and GA (К≥0.89), but only moderate for FA (К=0.59). Neither HbA1c nor GA levels varied between visits (both P≥0.3). In contrast, FA was significantly lower at Visit 2 than Visit 1(P<0.01).
Conclusion
As HbA1c and GA provided similar diagnostic results on different days and FA did not, HbA1C and GA are superior to FA in both clinical care settings and epidemiologic studies.
Background
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is frequently a precursor to dementia, affecting aspects of cognition such as language, thinking, or memory. Lifestyle interventions are increasingly studied as potential means to slow the progression from MCI to dementia.
Objective
A systematic review was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of home-based lifestyle interventions in reducing cognitive decline in older adults with MCI.
Methods
A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to identify home-based lifestyle interventions for individuals with MCI from 1980 to 2023. These interventions were either single-component or multi-component and included diet, physical activity, stress-reduction, or cognitive stimulation treatments to assess their impact on cognition. We performed a comprehensive search in the PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Embase, and MEDLINE databases.
Results
From 320 abstracts, 20 (6.25%) studies met the criteria for inclusion, with five multi-component and fifteen single-component studies. Eighteen home-based lifestyle interventions for MCI patients were focused on physical activity, diet, and/or cognitive training, while two studies were identified that incorporated stress reduction training as a method to improve cognitive function. Nineteen studies reported significant improvements in cognitive performance between the experimental and control groups post-intervention for at least one aspect of cognition. Four studies reported nonsignificant improvements in cognitive function between the two groups for at least one area of cognition.
Conclusions
Home-based lifestyle interventions have the potential to improve cognition in elderly patients with MCI. However, future RCTs with larger sample sizes and longer intervention durations are needed to confirm these findings.
Individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes are susceptible to communicable diseases (CDs) as the current COVID-19 pandemic illustrates. The co-occurrence of diabetes as well as other co-morbid conditions with COVID-19 augurs greater risk for severe outcomes and mortality. Hence, NCD and CD pandemics are closely linked and require global efforts to thwart and disrupt their nexus before the next viral outbreaks occurs. This will require steadfast dedication and resolve to address NCDs previously committed to by the global community.
Introduction We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the updated evidence regarding prediabetes for predicting mortality, macrovascular and microvascular outcomes. Research design and methods We identified English language studies from MEDLINE, PubMed, OVID and Cochrane database indexed from inception to January 31, 2020. Paired reviewers independently identified 106 prospective studies, comprising nearly 1.85 million people, from 27 countries. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality (ACM), cardiovascular mortality (CVDM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. Secondary outcomes were heart failure, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and retinopathy. Results Impaired glucose tolerance was associated with ACM; HR 1.19, 95% CI (1.15 to 1.24), CVDM; HR 1.21, 95% CI (1.10 to 1.32), CVD; HR 1.18, 95% CI (1.11 to 1.26), CHD; HR; 1.13, 95% CI (1.05 to 1.21) and stroke; HR 1.24, 95% CI (1.06 to 1.45). Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) 110-125 mg/dL was associated with ACM; HR 1.17, 95% CI (1.13 to 1.22), CVDM; HR 1.20, 95% CI (1.09 to 1.33), CVD; HR 1.21, 95% CI (1.09 to 1.33), CHD; HR; 1.14, 95% CI (1.06 to 1.22) and stroke; HR 1.22, 95% CI (1.07 to 1.40). IFG 100-125 mg/dL was associated with ACM; HR 1.11, 95% CI (1.04 to 1.19), CVDM; HR 1.14, 95% CI (1.03 to 1.25), CVD; HR 1.15, 95% CI (1.05 to 1.25), CHD HR; 1.10, 95% CI (1.02 to 1.19) and CKD; HR; 1.09, 95% CI (1.01 to 1.18). Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 6.0%-6.4% was associated with ACM; HR 1.30, 95% CI (1.03 to 1.66), CVD; HR 1.32, 95% CI (1.00 to 1.73) and CKD; HR 1.50, 95% CI (1.32 to 1.70). HbA1c 5.7%-6.4% was associated with CVD HR 1.15, 95% CI (1.02 to 1.30), CHD; HR 1.28, 95% CI (1.13 to 1.46), stroke; HR 1.23, 95% CI (1.04 to 1.46) and CKD; HR 1.32, 95% CI (1.16 to 1.50). Conclusion Prediabetes is an elevated risk state for macrovascular and microvascular outcomes. The prevention and management of prediabetes should be considered.
Whether an OGTT reproducibly detects either type 2 diabetes (T2D) or prediabetes in Africans in unknown. Therefore, 131 Africans had two OGTT. Diagnostic reproducibility for T2D was excellent (κ = 0.84), but only moderate for prediabetes (κ = 0.51). A single OGTT positive for T2D may be sufficient to guide clinical care and inform epidemiologic study design. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001853.
Aims:
To examine the clinical utility of 30-min plasma glucose (30-min-PG) measurement during an oral glucose tolerance (OGTT) in predicting type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
Research design and methods:
Data from a 3-year, randomized, controlled, primary prevention trial among 548 Asian Indians with prediabetes were analyzed. Participants underwent OGTT with PG measurements at fasting, 30-min, and 2-h at baseline and annually until the end of the study. Multivariable Cox regression models were constructed to calculate the risk of developing diabetes based on 30-min-PG levels. Improvement in prediction performance gained by adding an elevated level of 30-min-PG over prediabetic categories was calculated using the area-under-curve (AUC), net-reclassification (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) statistics.
Results:
At the end of follow-up, 30.4% of individuals had been diagnosed with T2DM by ADA criteria. Based on the maximally selected log-rank statistics, the optimal 30-min-PG cut point for predicting incident T2DM was >182 mg/dl. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models showed an independent association between elevated 30-min-PG (>182 mg/dl) and incident diabetes (hazard ratio (95% CI): 1.85 [1.32, 2.59]; Dxy = 0.353, c-statistic = 0.676). The addition of an elevated 30-min-PG (>182 mg/dl) model significantly improved the prediction of diabetes (Δdeviance: −15.4; ΔAUC: 0.11; NRIcontinuous: 0.51; IDI: 0.08) compared with IFG model alone) in individuals with prediabetes.
Conclusion:
In prediabetic individuals, baseline 30-min-PG independently predicted T2DM and significantly improved reclassification and discrimination. Therefore, 30-min-PG should be considered as part of the routine testing in addition to FPG and 2-h-PG for better risk stratification.
Background: Few longitudinal data characterize kidney function decline among South Asians, one of the world's largest population groups. We aimed to identify estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) trajectories in a population-based cohort from India and assess predictors of rapid kidney function decline. Methods: We used 6-year longitudinal data from participants of a population-representative study from Delhi and Chennai, India who had at least two serum creatinine measures and baseline CKD-EPI eGFR> 60 ml/min/1.73m2 (n=7779). We used latent class trajectory modeling to identify patterns of kidney function trajectory (CKD-EPI eGFR) over time. In models accounting for age, sex, education, and city, we tested the association between 15 hypothesized risk factors and rapid kidney function decline. Findings: Baseline mean eGFR was 108 (SD 16); median eGFR was 110 [IQR: 99-119] ml/min/1.73m2. Latent class trajectory modeling and functional characterization identified three distinct patterns of eGFR: class-1 (no decline; 58%) annual eGFR change 0.2 [0.1, 0.3]; class-2 (slow decline; 40%) annual eGFR change −0.2 [−0.4, −0.1], and class-3 (rapid decline; 2%) annual eGFR change −2.7 [−3.4, −2.0] ml/min/1.73m2. Albuminuria (>30 mg/g) was associated with rapid eGFR decline (OR for class-3 vs class-1: 5.1 [95% CI: 3.2; 7.9]; class-3 vs. class-2: 4.3 [95% CI:2.7; 6.6]). Other risk factors including self-reported diabetes, cardiovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, and metabolic biomarkers such as HbA1c and systolic blood pressure were associated with rapid eGFR decline phenotype but potential ‘non-traditional’ risk factors such as manual labor or household water sources were not. Interpretation: Although mean and median eGFRs in our population-based cohort were higher than those reported in European cohorts, we found that a sizeable number of adults residing in urban India are experiencing rapid kidney function decline. Early and aggressive risk modification among persons with albuminuria could improve kidney health among South Asians. Funding: The CARRS study has been funded with federal funds from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, under Contract No. HHSN2682009900026C and P01HL154996. Dr. Anand was supported by NIDDK K23DK101826 and R01DK127138.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing the highest anticipate increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the world and has the highest percent of people living with T2D who are undiagnosed. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment need prioritization. However, pharmacological hypoglycemics are often unavailable and bariatric surgery is not an option. Therefore, the ability to induce T2D remission through lifestyle intervention alone (LSI-alone) needs assessment. This scoping review evaluated trials designed to induce T2D remission by LSI-alone. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and CINAHL databases were searched for trials designed to induce T2D remission through LSI-alone. Of the 928 identified, 63 duplicates were removed. With abstract review, 727 irrelevant articles were excluded. After full-text review, 112 inappropriate articles were removed. The remaining 26 articles described 16 trials. These trials were published between 1984 and 2021 and were conducted in 10 countries, none of which were in Africa. Remission rates varied across trials. Predictors of remission were 10% weight loss and higher BMI, lower A1C and shorter T2D duration at enrollment. However, LSI-alone regimens for newly diagnosed and established T2D were very different. In newly diagnosed T2D, LSI-alone were relatively low-cost and focused on exercise and dietary counseling with or without calorie restriction (~1500 kcal/d). Presumably due to differences in cost, LSI-alone trials in newly diagnosed T2D had higher enrollments and longer duration. For established T2D trials, the focus was on arduous phased dietary interventions; phase 1: low-calorie meal replacement (<1000 kcal/day); phase 2: food re-introduction; phase 3: weight maintenance. In short, LSI-alone can induce remission in both newly diagnosed and established T2D. To demonstrate efficacy in Africa, initial trials could focus on newly diagnosed T2D. Insight gained could provide proof of concept and a foundation in Africa on which successful studies of LSI-alone in established T2D could be built.
Background: In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the disproportionate and long-standing health disparities experienced by Black communities. Although it is acknowledged that social determinants of health (SDOH) rather than biological factors likely contribute to this disparity, few studies using rigorous analytic approaches in large, information-rich community-based data sets are dedicated to understanding the underlying drivers of these racial disparities. Objective: The overall aim of our study is to elucidate the mechanisms by which racial disparities in severe COVID-19 outcomes arise, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Methods: In this protocol, we outline a convergent parallel mixed methods approach to identifying, quantifying, and contextualizing factors that contribute to the dramatic disparity in COVID-19 severity (ie, hospitalization, mortality) in Black versus white COVID-19 patients within the integrated health care system of Kaiser Permanente Georgia (KPGA). Toward this end, we will generate two quantitative cohorts of KPGA members with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis between January 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021: (1) an electronic medical record (EMR) cohort including routinely captured data on diagnoses, medications, and laboratory values, and a subset of patients hospitalized at Emory Healthcare to capture additional in-hospital data; and (2) a survey cohort, where participants will answer a range of questions related to demographics (eg, race, education), usual health behaviors (eg, physical activity, smoking), impact of COVID-19 (eg, job loss, caregiving responsibilities), and medical mistrust. Key outcomes of interest for these two cohorts include hospitalization, mortality, intensive care unit admission, hospital readmission, and long COVID-19. Finally, we will conduct qualitative semistructured interviews to capture perceptions of and experiences of being hospitalized with COVID-19 as well as related interactions with KPGA health care providers. We will analyze and interpret the quantitative and qualitative data separately, and then integrate the qualitative and quantitative findings using a triangulation design approach. Results: This study has been funded by a Woodruff Health Sciences grant from December 2020 to December 2022. As of August 31, 2022, 31,500 KPGA members diagnosed with COVID-19 have been included in the EMR cohort, including 3028 who were hospitalized at Emory Healthcare, and 482 KPGA members completed the survey. In addition, 20 KPGA members (10 Black and 10 white) have been interviewed about their experiences navigating care with COVID-19. Quantitative and qualitative data cleaning and coding have been completed. Data analysis is underway with results anticipated to be published in December 2022. Conclusions: Results from this mixed methods pilot study in a diverse integrated care setting in the southeastern United States will provide insights into the mechanisms underpinning racial disparities in COVID-19 complications. The quantitative and qualitative data will provide important context to generate hypotheses around the mechanisms for racial disparities in COVID-19, and may help to inform the development of multilevel strategies to reduce the burden of racial disparities in COVID-19 and its ongoing sequelae. Incorporating contextual information, elucidated from qualitative interviews, will increase the efficacy, adoption, and sustainability of such strategies.
Objective: Sparse data exist on population distributions of serum fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) levels from developing, middle-income economies. FGF23 levels may differ substantially across regions based on differences in diet and urbanization. In a population-based study from North India, we tested the hypothesis that urinary phosphate excretion and FGF23 levels are lower among rural compared with urban participants, and among vegetarian compared with nonvegetarian participants. Methods: We measured 24-hour urinary phosphate, and serum parathyroid hormone and FGF23 in a subsample of the population-based Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in South Asia and Indian Council of Medical Research Coronary Heart Disease surveys. We categorized participants according to diet and residence: urban nonvegetarians (n = 70), urban vegetarians (n = 564), and rural vegetarians (n = 558). Using least square means, we compared the groups' 24-hour urinary phosphate (with urban vegetarians as reference) and FGF23 levels after accounting for age, sex, diabetes, and body mass index. Results: Among 1,192 study participants, mean FGF23 was 41 ± 18 pg/mL, median parathyroid hormone was 44 (interquartile range [IQR] 31-60) pg/mL, and median 24-hour urinary phosphate excretion was 419 (IQR: 47-622) mg/day. Urinary phosphate was significantly higher in rural compared with urban vegetarians (median, 503; IQR, 334-543 versus 365; IQR, 199-399 mg/day), but adjusted mean FGF23 levels did not differ across study groups. Conclusion: In rural and urban India, urinary phosphate excretion was low, but FGF23 levels did not differ by residence or dietary preference. Homogenously low dietary phosphate intake across different settings and diets may partly explain the lack of differences in FGF23.