OBJECTIVE -Optimal initial antihypertensive drug therapy in people with the metabolic syndrome is unknown. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -We conducted a subgroup analysis of the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) to compare metabolic, cardiovascular, and renal outcomes in individuals assigned to initial hypertension treatment with a thiazide-like diuretic (chlorthalidone), a calcium channel blocker (CCB; amlodipine), or an ACE inhibitor (lisinopril) in nondiabetic individuals with or without metabolic syndrome.RESULTS -In participants with metabolic syndrome, at 4 years of follow-up, the incidence of newly diagnosed diabetes (fasting glucose Ն126 mg/dl) was 17.1% for chlorthalidone, 16.0% for amlodipine (P ϭ 0.49, chlorthalidone vs. amlodipine) and 12.6% for lisinopril (P Ͻ 0.05, lisinopril vs. chlorthalidone). For those without metabolic syndrome, the rate of newly diagnosed diabetes was 7.7% for chlorthalidone, 4.2% for amlodipine, and 4.7% for lisinopril (P Ͻ 0.05 for both comparisons). There were no differences in relative risks (RRs) for outcomes with amlodipine compared with chlorthalidone in those with metabolic syndrome; in those without metabolic syndrome, there was a higher risk for heart failure (RR 1.55 [95% CI 1.25-1.35]). In comparison with lisinopril, chlorthalidone was superior in those with metabolic syndrome with respect to heart failure (1.31 [1.04 -1.64]) and combined cardiovascular disease (CVD) (1.19 [1.07-1.32]). No significant treatment group-metabolic syndrome interaction was noted.CONCLUSIONS -Despite a less favorable metabolic profile, thiazide-like diuretic initial therapy for hypertension offers similar, and in some instances possibly superior, CVD outcomes in older hypertensive adults with metabolic syndrome, as compared with treatment with CCBs and ACE inhibitors.

Background A standard therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) includes fluoropyrimidine (FP)-based neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT). Previous studies have inconsistently demonstrated that baseline neutrophil- and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR and PLR) are predictive of response to nCRT or prognostic of outcomes in LARC. Methods We reviewed patients with LARC undergoing nCRT followed by surgery from 2005 to 2013 across 8 Canadian cancer centres. Outcome measures of interest were pathological complete response (pCR), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess for associations between baseline hematologic variables and outcomes. Results Of 1527 identified patients, 1237 (81%) were included in the DFS/OS analysis. Median age was 62 (range 23–88), 69% were male, and 80% had performance status (PS) 0–1. Twenty-six percent had elevated NLR (≥ 4), and 66% had elevated PLR (≥ 150). Ninety-seven percent of patients received FP-based nCRT, with 96% receiving ≥44 Gy. 81% completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 95% completed neoadjuvant radiotherapy, with a pCR rate of 18%. After a median follow-up time of 71 months, 8% developed local recurrence, 22% developed distant recurrence and 24% died. 5-year DFS and OS were 69% (95% CI 66–72%) and 79% (95% CI 77–82%), respectively. In multivariate analyses, elevated baseline NLR and PLR were neither prognostic for DFS and OS nor predictive of pCR. Conclusions NLR and PLR were not found to be independently prognostic for DFS or OS and did not predict for pCR in patients with LARC undergoing nCRT followed by surgery.

758 Background: A standard therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) includes fluoropyrimidine (FP)-based neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT). Previous studies have inconsistently demonstrated that baseline neutrophil- and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR and PLR) are predictive of response to nCRT or prognostic of outcomes in LARC. Methods: We performed a review of patients with LARC undergoing nCRT followed by surgery with curative intent from 2005-2013 in 3 academic cancer centers from 2 Canadian provinces. Data regarding demographics, staging, baseline hematologic variables (<4 weeks prior/up to 2 weeks after initiating nCRT) and treatment details were collected. Outcome measures of interest were pathological complete response (pCR), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess for an association between baseline hematologic variables and outcomes. Results: Of 1081 identified patients, 845 were included in the DFS/OS analysis. Median age was 61 (range 23-87), 70% male, 85% performance status (PS) 0-1. 31% and 67% had clinical stage II and III disease, respectively. 25% had elevated NLR (≥ 4), and 64% had elevated PLR (≥ 150). 98% of patients received FP-based nCRT, with 96% receiving ≥ 44 Gy (median 50 Gy [range 20-74]). 80% completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 94% completed neoadjuvant radiotherapy, with a pCR rate of 23%. After a median follow up time of 64 months, 6% developed local recurrence, 20% developed distant recurrence and 19% have died. 5-year OS and DFS were 78% (95% CI 74-81%) and 76% (95% CI 73-79%), respectively. In multivariate analyses, elevated baseline NLR and PLR were not prognostic for OS or DFS. Elevated NLR was a negative predictor of pCR (OR 0.61, p=0.037, 95% CI 0.38-0.97); there was no association with elevated PLR. Conclusions: Elevated NLR was a negative predictor of pCR, but not prognostic for DFS and OS. PLR was neither predictive nor prognostic.

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