URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-IPR-15006559.

Objective: It is unclear whether uterine fibroids are associated with the occurrence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the association between uterine fibroids and HDP in a prospective cohort. Methods: Overall, 2404 pregnant women who received antenatal care were enrolled in a prospective cohort in China between 2014 and 2016; 2277 women met the inclusion criteria of this study. The clinical characteristics of participants were assessed via questionnaires and physical examinations at baseline (before the 20th week of gestation), 21st–27th, 28th–34th, and 35th–39th gestational weeks. Ultrasound examination was performed before the 20th week of pregnancy to determine the presence of uterine fibroids. Linear mixed-effect and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyze the association of uterine fibroids with blood pressure and HDP. Results: Of 2277 pregnant women, 242 (10.6%) had uterine fibroids, and 45 (2.0%) subsequently developed HDP. The incidence of HDP in women with and without uterine fibroids was 5% ( n = 12) and 1.6% ( n = 33), respectively. The longitudinal SBPs and DBPs were significantly higher in women with uterine fibroids than in those without. The multivariable Cox model showed that the presence of uterine fibroids was associated with increased HDP risk (adjusted hazard radio: 2.95, 95% confidence interval: 1.35–6.44). Conclusion: Uterine fibroids in early pregnancy were associated with an increased HDP risk. Blood pressure of women with uterine fibroids should be closely monitored, and HDP preventive measures are crucial.

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Background: Animal models demonstrate circulating aldosterone leads to aortic dissection and aneurysm, whereas data from humans are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to examine the associations of plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) with aortic dissection and aneurysm. Methods: We identified patients with aortic dissection and aneurysm with assessed PAC before disease onset from hospital-based electronic database and set as case group. Simultaneously, age and gender-matched cohort with PAC measurement whereas without aortic dissection and aneurysm were selected as control group using ratio of 1:4. Multi-variable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship of PAC with aortic dissection and aneurysm. Results: Totally, 133 cases and 531 controls (all hypertensive) were enrolled between 2004 and 2021, with 77.9% men, mean age of 55.5 years and PAC of 13.9 ng/dL. Case group showed significantly higher PAC(14.51 versus 13.65 ng/dL, P =0.012) than did control group. In logistic regression analysis, higher PAC exhibited 1.68-fold higher odds (95% CI, 1.14–2.48, P =0.008) for presence of aortic dissection and aneurysm, significant in adjusted model (odds ratio, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.11–2.57], P =0.015). In stratified analysis, the association between the 2 was observed in women of all ages and in men with coronary artery disease. Sensitivity analysis by excluding those under interfering agents at PAC measurement and those with primary aldosteronism did not change the relationship of the 2. Conclusions: Higher PAC is associated with the increased odd for aortic dissection and aneurysm in patients with hypertension, even in the absence of primary aldosteronism, implying that PAC might be a target for prevention.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and renal impairment in patients with both hypertension and abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM). Methods: The longitudinal observational study included 2033 hypertensive individuals with AGM who did not have chronic kidney disease (CKD) at baseline. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 and/or positive proteinuria. Directed acyclic graphs and LASSO regression analyses were applied to identify adjusted sets. Cox proportional hazard models and linear regression were used to evaluate the association of PAC with CKD and its components including decreased renal function (DRF) and proteinuria. Mediation analysis was used to examine the role of blood pressure (BP) in the association between the two. Results: During total follow-up of 5951 person-years with a median follow-up of 31 months, 291 participants developed CKD. The incidence of CKD was increased with the elevation in tertile PAC. Multivariable Cox model showed that PAC was positively associated with increased CKD risk (hazard ratio = 1.76 for natural log-transformed PAC, P < 0.001), and with increased risk of DRF and proteinuria. SBP mediated 7.5–17.9% of the association between PAC and renal impairment. Overall results remained consistent and significant in sensitivity analysis by excluding those with suspicious primary aldosteronism, too short follow-up time and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists use. Conclusion: Higher PAC was associated with increased CKD risk in patients with hypertension and AGM, even in the absence of suspicious primary aldosteronism. The results indicate PAC may serve as a potential therapeutic target in this population.

Purpose. This study was aimed at investigating the association between baseline plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations and the risk of the first ischemic stroke (IS) and at investigating any possible influential modifying factors in hypertensive patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods. Cox proportional hazards regression was employed to investigate the relationship between plasma Hcy concentration and the first IS. A generalized additive model was applied to determine the nonlinear relationship. In addition, we conducted subgroup analysis. Results. A total of 2350 hypertensive patients with OSA without a history of IS were enrolled in this study. At a median follow-up of 7.15 years, we identified 93 cases of the first IS. After adjusting for potential confounding, the findings revealed that plasma Hcy concentration was strongly and positively associated with the occurrence of the first IS (per SD increment; HR = 1.37 , 95% CI: 1.30-1.44). A nonlinear relationship was found between plasma Hcy concentration and the risk of developing the first IS with inflection points for plasma Hcy of 5 μmol/L. In stratified analysis, a greater positive correlation was found between baseline plasma Hcy concentrations and new-onset IS in patients with DBP ≥ 90   mmHg (per SD increment; HR = 1.48 , 95% CI: 1.33-1.65 vs. <90 mmHg: HR = 1.20 , 95% CI: 1.02-1.42; P ‐ interaction = 0.04 ) and BMI ≥ 24 and <28 kg/m2 (per SD increment; HR = 1.46 , 95% CI: 1.26-1.70 vs. <24 kg/m2: HR = 1.13 , 95% CI: 0.95-1.33 vs. ≥28 kg/m2: HR = 1.46 , 95% CI: 1.25-1.70; P ‐ interaction = 0.03 ). Conclusion. Elevated plasma Hcy concentrations are independently associated with the risk of the first IS in hypertensive patients with OSA. Plasma Hcy concentrations ≥ 5   μ mol / L surely increased the risk of the first IS in hypertensive patients with OSA.

Background: Previous studies have reported that biomarkers of liver injury and renal dysfunction were associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). However, the associations of these biomarkers in early pregnancy with the risk of HDP and longitudinal blood pressure pattern during pregnancy were rarely investigated in prospective cohort studies.Methods: A total of 1,041 pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. BP was assessed in four stages throughout pregnancy. The following biomarkers were measured at early pregnancy before 18 weeks gestation: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio (AST/ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), uric acid (UA), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Linear mixed-effects and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of these biomarkers with longitudinal BP pattern during pregnancy and HDP incidence, respectively.Results: In unadjusted models, higher serum UA, GGT, ALP, and LDH levels, as well as lower eGFR and AST/ALT, were associated with higher BP levels during pregnancy and an increased risk of HDP. After adjustment for maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI and other potential confounders, UA, GGT, ALP, and LDH remained positively associated with both BP and HDP. However, eGFR and AST/ALT were not associated with HDP after adjusting for potential confounders. When including all 6 biomarkers simultaneously in multivariable analyses, increased UA, GGT, and ALP significantly associated with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.Conclusion: This study suggests that increased UA, GGT, and ALP in early-pregnancy are independent risk factors of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Relationship between hypertension and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) remains undetermined in population from less-developed regions. We aimed to explore whether hypertension is associated with MCI in this specific population. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled subjects aged ≥18 years using multistage random sampling from Emin, China, in 2019. Participants underwent questionnaires and data collection including mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and blood pressure measurement. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Finally, 31,329 subjects were included, with 11,270 hypertensives. Compared with normotensive subjects, hypertensives were characterized by significantly older age (55.19 ± 12.25 vs. 43.26 ± 12.71), more men (52.5% vs. 42.9%), low education attainment (≤primary education: 42.4% vs. 26.3%), more abdominal obesity (39.7% vs. 19.1%), poor sleep quality (39.1% vs. 28.7%), and chronic kidney disease (6.6% vs. 3.4%, <i>p</i> for all &#x3c;0.001). Prevalence of MCI in hypertensives was significantly higher than that of normotensive subjects (24.3% vs. 15.6%, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed in a fully adjusted model that the odds for MCI were significantly increased in hypertensives than in normotensive population (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.30, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) and independent of all the parameters studied including age, education level, and stroke. In the age-stratified regression model, presence of hypertension significantly increased the odds of MCI by 1.17-fold (95% CI: 1.03, 1.33, <i>p</i> = 0.020) and by 1.22-fold (95% CI: 1.04, 1.44, <i>p</i> = 0.016) in middle-aged and elderly population. Sensitivity analysis of excluding those with stroke history showed that hypertension was still a risk factor for MCI in total, middle-aged, and elderly population. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Hypertension is in independent negative association with MCI in middle-aged and elderly population from underdeveloped regions.