Associations of TSH, free T3, free T4, and conversion ratio with incident hypertension: results from the prospective Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the association of TSH, free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4), and conversion (FT3:FT4) ratio values with incident hypertension. Materials and methods: The study included data from participants of the ELSA-Brasil study without baseline hypertension. Serum TSH, FT4 and FT3 levels, and FT3:FT4 ratio values were assessed at baseline, and incident hypertension (defined by blood pressure levels ≥ 140/90 mmHg) was estimated over a median of 8.2 years of follow-up. The risk of incident hypertension was evaluated considering a 1-unit increase in TSH, FT4, FT3, and conversion ratio values and after dividing these variables into quintiles for further analysis using Poisson regression with robust variance. The results are presented as relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) before and after adjustment for multiple variables. Results: The primary analysis incorporated data from 5,915 euthyroid individuals, and the secondary analysis combined data from all euthyroid individuals, 587 individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism, and 31 individuals with subclinical hyperthyroidism. The rate of incident hypertension was 28% (95% CI: 27%-29.3%). The FT4 levels in the first quintile (0.18-1.06 ng/dL) were significantly associated with incident hypertension (RR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06) at follow-up. The association between FT4 levels in the first quintile and incident hypertension was also observed in the analysis of combined data from euthyroid individuals and participants with subclinical thyroid dysfunction (RR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07). The associations were predominantly observed with systolic blood pressure levels in euthyroid individuals. However, in the combined analysis incorporating euthyroid participants and individuals with subclinical thyroid dysfunction, the associations were more pronounced with diastolic blood pressure levels. Conclusion: Low FT4 levels may be a mild risk factor for incident hypertension in euthyroid individuals and persons with subclinical thyroid dysfunction.

Parental body mass index and maternal gestational weight gain associations with offspring body composition in young women from the Nutritionists' Health Study

ABSTRACT Objective: Intrauterine environment can induce fetal metabolic programming that predisposes to adiposity-related chronic diseases in its lifespan. We examined the associations of parental nutritional status and gestational weight gain with offspring body composition in early adulthood. Materials and methods: This is cross-sectional analysis of female participants of the NutriHS who were submitted to questionnaires, clinical examinations and body composition assessed by DXA. Association of pre-conception parental BMI and maternal gestational weight gain (exposures) with body composition measurements (outcomes) were analyzed using multiple linear models adjusted for Directed Acyclic Graphs-based covariables (maternal and paternal educational level, maternal age, and tobacco, alcohol and/or drugs use). The sample included 124 women (median 28 (24-31) years) with a mean BMI of 25.4 ± 4.7 kg/m2. Results: No association between previous paternal BMI and offspring's body composition was detected. In the fully adjusted linear regression model, maternal BMI was associated with offspring's total lean mass (β = 0.66, p = 0.001), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) (β = 0.11, p = 0.003) and fat mass index (FMI) (β = 0.03, p = 0.039). Gestational weight gain was associated with increased offspring's BMI (OR 1.12 [95% CI 1.02-1.20], p = 0.01). The linear regression model adjusted for maternal age and maternal and paternal education levels showed associations of gestational weight gain with offspring's ASMI (β = 0.42, p = 0.046), FMI (β = 0.22, p = 0.005) and android-to-gynoid fat ratio (β = 0.09, p = 0.035). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that preconception maternal BMI could influence lean mass and general adiposity of young adult female offspring and that gestational weight gain could be useful for predicting centrally distributed adiposity.

Onde os brasileiros obtiveram os medicamentos para o diabetes na pandemia de COVID-19? Resultados da DIABETESvid / Where did Brazilians get their diabetes drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic? DIABETESvid results

O acesso aos medicamentos para o diabetes é fundamental para o controle da doença. Contudo, o distanciamento social na pandemia de COVID-19 pode ter limitado a provisão de medicamentos e insumos. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as fontes de obtenção dos medicamentos para o diabetes na pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil. Os dados são oriundos da pesquisa DIABETESvid e nesta análise considerou-se a amostra de conveniência de 1608 participantes que responderam ao questionário divulgado em mídias sociais de sociedades científicas relacionadas ao diabetes. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, conduzido na forma de websurvey, no período de 1 de setembro a 19 de outubro de 2020. O desfecho analisado foi as fontes de obtenção dos medicamentos para o diabetes categorizadas em farmácias do Sistema Único de Saúde, farmácias do programa "Aqui Tem Farmácia Popular", bem como, farmácias e drogarias privadas e outras fontes. A maioria dos participantes autorreferiu diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus tipo 1 (49,8%), usava insulina (61,9%) e possuía plano privado de saúde (68,7%). As farmácias e drogarias privadas e outras fontes foram os principais locais de provisão dos medicamentos para o diabetes (47,5%). Os participantes que residiam na região Centro-Oeste do país apresentaram menor frequência de provisão em farmácias do programa "Aqui tem Farmácia Popular" (0,57; IC95% 0,36-0,92). Verificou-se, na amostra estudada, maior frequência de provisão dos medicamentos para o diabetes em farmácias e drogarias privadas e outras fontes com redução na frequência em farmácias públicas na pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil.

Access to diabetes medications is critical to disease control. However, social distancing in the COVID-19 pandemic may have limited the provision of medicines and supplies. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the sources of obtaining diabetes drugs in the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. The data came from the DIABETESvid survey, and this analysis considered a convenience sample of 1608 participants who responded to the questionnaire published on social media of scientific societies related to diabetes. This is a cross-sectional study, conducted in the form of a web survey, from September 1 to October 19, 2020. The outcome analyzed was the sources for obtaining diabetes drugs categorized in pharmacies of the "Sistema Único de Saúde", pharmacies of the "Aqui tem Farmácia Popular" program, as well as private pharmacies and drugstores and other sources. Most participants self-reported a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (49.8%), used insulin (61.9%), and had a private health plan (68.7%). Private pharmacies and drugstores and other sources were the main places where medicines for diabetes were supplied (47.5%). Participants residing in the Midwest region of the country had a lower frequency of supply in pharmacies in the "Aqui tem Farmácia Popular" program (0.57; 95%CI 0.36-0.92). In the studied sample, there was a higher frequency of supply of diabetes drugs in private pharmacies and drugstores and other sources with a reduction in frequency in public pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

Diabetes and covid-19: more than the sum of two morbidities

ABSTRACT The coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) pandemic has caused a public health emergency worldwide. Risk, severity and mortality of the disease have been associated with non-communicable chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. Accumulated evidence has caused great concern in countries with high prevalence of this morbidity, such as Brazil. This text shows the picture of diabetes in Brazil, followed by epidemiological data and explanatory hypothesis for the association between diabetes and covid-19. We emphasized how the burden of these two morbidities in a middle-income country has aggravated this pandemic scenario. The comprehension of this association and biological plausibility may help face this pandemic and future challenges.

Efeitos de um programa de intervenção no estilo de vida sobre o perfil de risco cardiometabólico de uma população nipo-brasileira de alto risco cardiovascular / Effects of an intervention program in lifestyle on the risk profile cardiometabólico of a Japanese-Brazilian population of high cardiovascular risk

Introdução: Altas prevalências de diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e outros fatores de risco cardiovascular previamente detectadas na população nipo-brasileira motivaram a implementação de um programa de intervenção em mudança de estilo de vida. Objetivos: Avaliar os efeitos de 2 anos de intervenção comportamental sobre o perfil cardiometabólico desses indivíduos, independente da condição de tolerância à glicose no início do estudo. Métodos: A existência de dados relativos a 2000-2005 permitiu conhecer o comportamento de variáveis no período pré-intervenção. Em 2005, 728 indivíduos iniciaram o seguimento, sendo, 650 reavaliados em 2006 e 500 em 2007. Nestas ocasiões, os indivíduos foram submetidos a exames médico e laboratorial e consulta com nutricionista e educador físico. O programa constou de atendimentos individualizados e em grupo, enfocando as metas do programa: redução 5 por cento de peso corporal; prática de 150minutos/semana de exercício; ingestão de < 10 por cento de ácidos graxos saturados do valor calórico total; ingestão de 400g/dia de frutas, verduras ou legumes. Resultados: Comparado ao período pré-intervenção, o comportamento de variáveis antropométricas e metabólicas durante o programa foi significantemente mais favorável. O impacto do programa dependeu do alcance de metas em indivíduos sem diabetes. As frequências de intolerância à glicose e diabetes reduziram após um ano de intervenção (de 58,4 por cento para 35,4 por cento; p < 0,001 e de 30,1 por cento para 21,7 por cento; p < 0,001, respectivamente). Após excluir os indivíduos com diabetes no início do estudo, 71,7 por cento dos participantes mantiveram ou regrediram seu estado de tolerância à glicose ("non-progressors") no final de 2 anos de seguimento.