Impact of Peer Support on Acute Care Visits and Hospitalizations for Individuals With Diabetes and Depressive Symptoms: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Comorbid depression is associated with increased health care utilization and cost. We examined the effects of peer support on acute care (AC) and hospital utilization in individuals with diabetes with or without depressive symptoms. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted in 2010-2012, with the clusters being practices and their surrounding communities. Adults with type 2 diabetes who wanted help with self-management were eligible to participate. Those without a doctor, with limited life expectancy, with plans to move within the next year, and with an unwillingness to work with a peer advisor were excluded. Intervention participants received 1 year of peer support. Control participants received usual care. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) (range 0-24; 5 indicates mild and 10 indicates moderate depressive symptoms) assessed depressive symptoms. AC and hospital utilization were measured by self-report. Data were collected at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Quasi-Poisson regression using generalized estimating equations examined differences in utilization per year attributable to the intervention for those with and without mild depressive symptoms (and separately, moderate depressive symptoms), controlling for imbalance across treatment arms. RESULTS: At baseline, half of the sample reported mild depressive symptoms (52% intervention and 48% control, P = 0.37), a quarter reported moderate depressive symptoms (25% intervention and 26% control, P = 1.0), and there were no significant differences in utilization. A total of 168 intervention (six clusters) and 187 control (five clusters) participants had follow-up data. In individuals with mild depressive symptoms, the incident rate ratio (IRR) for hospitalization among intervention compared with control was 0.26 (95% CI 0.08-0.84) per 10 patient-years. The IRR for AC was 0.55 (95% CI 0.28-1.07) per 10 person-years. Findings were similar for individuals with moderate depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Peer support lowered AC visits and hospitalizations for individuals with depressive symptoms but not for those without depressive symptoms; these findings can guide resource allocation for population health management.

Lipid management among individuals with inflammatory arthritis in the national REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort.

Objective Hyperlipidemia guidelines do not currently identify inflammatory arthritis (IA) as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor. We compared hyperlipidemia treatment of individuals with and without IA (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis) in a large national cohort. Methods Participants from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study were classified as having IA (without diabetes or hypertension); diabetes (but no IA); hypertension (but no diabetes or IA); or no IA, diabetes, or hypertension. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the odds of medical treatment among those with hyperlipidemia. Results Thirty-nine participants had IA, 5423 had diabetes, 7534 had hypertension, and 5288 had no diabetes, hypertension, or IA. The fully adjusted odds of treatment were similar between participants with IA and those without IA, hypertension, or diabetes. Participants with diabetes and no IA and participants with hypertension and no IA were twice as likely to be treated for hyperlipidemia as those without IA, diabetes, or hypertension. Conclusion Despite their higher CVD risk, patients with IA were as likely to be treated for hyperlipidemia as those without diabetes, hypertension, or IA. Lipid guidelines should identify IA as a CVD risk factor to improve CVD risk optimization in IA.

Vulnerabilities to Health Disparities and Statin Use in the REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) Study.

BACKGROUND: Statins may be underutilized in certain vulnerable populations, but the effect of cumulative vulnerabilities within 1 individual is not well described. We sought to determine the likelihood of receiving statins with an increasing number of vulnerabilities in an individual, after controlling for factors known to influence health services utilization. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified 18 216 participants from the REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) study who had a statin indication or who were taking statins, as verified by pill bottle review. Statin use was assessed with respect to 5 major vulnerability domains alone and in combination: older age, black race, female sex, high area-level poverty, and lack of health insurance. The study included 5286 white men, 4180 black men, 2791 white women, and 4194 black women; 5.6% of the sample had no vulnerabilities, 20.6% had 1 vulnerability, 29.2% had 2 vulnerabilities, 27.3% had 3 vulnerabilities, and 17.3% had 4 or 5 vulnerabilities. All race-sex groups were less likely than white men to use statins; prevalence of use was 0.80 in black women with reference to white men (P<0.0001). In both unadjusted and adjusted models, as the number of vulnerabilities increased, statin use steadily decreased. After adjusting for factors that influence health services utilization, compared with those without any vulnerabilities, statin use prevalence was 0.91, 0.83, 0.74 and 0.68 (P<0.0001) in those with 1, 2, 3, and 4 or 5 vulnerabilities, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Participants with more simultaneously occurring vulnerabilities experienced the greatest disparities in statin use. Black women and those without health insurance were at particularly high risk of underutilization.

Black-White Differences in Incident Fatal, Nonfatal, and Total Coronary Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Blacks have higher coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality compared with whites. However, a previous study suggests that nonfatal CHD risk may be lower for black versus white men. METHODS: We compared fatal and nonfatal CHD incidence and CHD case-fatality among blacks and whites in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (ARIC), the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), and the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study (REGARDS) by sex. Participants 45 to 64 years of age in ARIC (men=6479, women=8488) and REGARDS (men=5296, women=7822), and ≥65 years of age in CHS (men=1836, women=2790) and REGARDS (men=3381, women=4112), all without a history of CHD, were analyzed. Fatal and nonfatal CHD incidence was assessed from baseline (ARIC=1987-1989, CHS=1989-1990, REGARDS=2003-2007) through up to 11 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Age-adjusted hazard ratios comparing black versus white men 45 to 64 years of age in ARIC and REGARDS were 2.09 (95% confidence interval, 1.42-3.06) and 2.11 (1.32-3.38), respectively, for fatal CHD, and 0.82 (0.64-1.05) and 0.94 (0.69-1.28), respectively, for nonfatal CHD. After adjustment for social determinants of health and cardiovascular risk factors, hazard ratios in ARIC and REGARDS were 1.19 (95% confidence interval, 0.74-1.92) and 1.09 (0.62-1.93), respectively, for fatal CHD, and 0.64 (0.47-0.86) and 0.67 (0.48-0.95), respectively, for nonfatal CHD. Similar patterns were present among men ≥65 years of age in CHS and REGARDS. Among women 45 to 64 years of age in ARIC and REGARDS, age-adjusted hazard ratios comparing blacks versus whites were 2.61 (95% confidence interval, 1.57-4.34) and 1.79 (1.06-3.03), respectively, for fatal CHD, and 1.47 (1.13-1.91) and 1.29 (0.91-1.83), respectively, for nonfatal CHD. After multivariable adjustment, hazard ratios in ARIC and REGARDS were 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.36-1.24) and 1.00 (0.54-1.85), respectively, for fatal CHD, and 0.70 (0.51-0.97) and 0.70 (0.46-1.06), respectively, for nonfatal CHD. Racial differences in CHD incidence were attenuated among older women. CHD case fatality was higher among black versus white men and women, and the difference remained similar after multivariable adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: After accounting for social determinants of health and risk factors, black men and women have similar risk for fatal CHD compared with white men and women, respectively. However, the risk for nonfatal CHD is consistently lower for black versus white men and women.

Comparison of Expert Adjudicated Coronary Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality With the National Death Index: Results From the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study.

BACKGROUND: The National Death Index (NDI) is widely used to detect coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths, but its reliability has not been examined recently. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared CHD and CVD deaths detected by NDI with expert adjudication of 4010 deaths that occurred between 2003 and 2013 among participants in the REGARDS (REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) cohort of black and white adults in the United States. NDI derived CHD mortality had sensitivity 53.6%, specificity 90.3%, positive predictive value 54.2%, and negative predictive value 90.1%. NDI-derived CVD mortality had sensitivity 73.4%, specificity 84.5%, positive predictive value 70.6%, and negative predictive value 86.2%. Among NDI-derived CHD and CVD deaths, older age (odds ratios, 1.06 and 1.04 per 1-year increase) was associated with a higher probability of disagreement with the adjudicated cause of death, whereas among REGARDS adjudicated CHD and CVD deaths a history of CHD or CVD was associated with a lower probability of disagreement with the NDI-derived causes of death (odds ratios, 0.59 and 0.67, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The modest accuracy and differential performance of NDI-derived cause of death may impact CHD and CVD mortality statistics.

Race-Sex Differences in Statin Use and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Control Among People With Diabetes Mellitus in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study.

BACKGROUND: Statin therapy is a cornerstone of cardiovascular disease risk reduction for people with diabetes mellitus. Past reports have shown race-sex differences in statin use in general populations, but statin patterns by race and sex in those with diabetes mellitus have not been thoroughly studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: Our sample of 4288 adults ≥45 years of age with diagnosed diabetes mellitus who had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >100 mg/dL or were taking statins recruited for the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study from 2003 to 2007. Exposures included race-sex groups (white men [WM], black men [BM], white women [WW], black women [BW]) and factors that may influence healthcare utilization. Proportions and prevalence ratios were calculated for statin use and LDL-C control. Statin use for WM, BM, WW, and BW was 66.0%, 57.8%, 55.0%, and 53.6%, respectively (P<0.001). After adjustment for healthcare utilization factors, statin use was lower for BM, WW, and BW compared with WM (prevalence ratios [95%CI]: 0.96 [0.89-1.03], 0.86 [0.80-0.92], and 0.87 [0.81-0.93], respectively, P<0.001). LDL-C control among those taking statins for WM, BM, WW, and BW was 75.3%, 62.7%, 69.0%, and 56.0%, respectively (P<0.001). After adjustment, LDL-C control was lower for BM, WW, and BW compared with WM (prevalence ratios [95%CI]: 0.85 [0.79-0.93], 0.89 [0.82-0.96], and 0.73 [0.67-0.80], respectively, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Race-sex disparities in statin use and LDL-C control were only partly explained by factors influencing health services utilization. Healthcare provider awareness of these disparities may help to close the observed race-sex gaps in statin use and LDL-C control among people with diabetes mellitus.

Prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities based on hypertension severity and blood pressure levels: the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study.

We evaluated the prevalence of major and minor electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities based on blood pressure (BP) control and hypertension (HTN) treatment resistance. We analyzed data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study of 20,932 participants who were divided into presence of major (n = 3782), only minor (n = 8944), or no (n = 8206) ECG abnormalities. The cohort was stratified into normotension (n = 3373), pre-HTN (n = 4142), controlled HTN (n = 8619), uncontrolled HTN (n = 3544), controlled apparent treatment-resistant HTN (aTRH, n = 400), and uncontrolled aTRH (n = 854) groups, and the prevalence ratios (PRs) of major and minor ECG abnormalities were assessed separately for each BP group. The full multivariable adjustment included demographics, risk factors, and HTN duration. Compared with normotension, the PRs of major ECG abnormalities for pre-HTN, controlled HTN, uncontrolled HTN, controlled aTRH, and uncontrolled aTRH groups were 1.01 (0.90-1.14), 1.30 (1.16-1.45), 1.37 (1.23-1.54), 1.42 (1.22-1.64), and 1.44 (1.26-1.65), respectively (P < .001), whereas the PRs of minor ECG abnormalities among each of the above BP groups were similar. Detection of major ECG abnormalities among hypertensive persons with poor control and treatment resistance may help improve their cardiovascular risk stratification and early intervention.

Stroke symptoms and risk for incident coronary heart disease in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

BACKGROUND: Many adults without cerebrovascular disease report a history of stroke symptoms, which is associated with higher risk for stroke. Because stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) share many risk factors, we examined the association between a history of stroke symptoms and incident CHD. METHODS: We analyzed data from 8999 black and 12,499 white REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study participants without a prior myocardial infarction, stroke or transitory ischemic attack enrolled in 2003-2007 (total participants=21,498, all ≥45years of age). A history of stroke symptoms (i.e., unilateral weakness, unilateral numbness, full-field vision loss, half-field vision loss, understanding problems and communication problems) was assessed at baseline using the Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status. Participants were followed for incident CHD and CHD death through December 2011. RESULTS: Overall, 3432 (16.0%) participants reported a history of stroke symptoms (1771 [19.7%] blacks and 1661 [13.3%] whites). There were 701 incident CHD events including 209 CHD deaths over a median follow-up of 5.8years. After adjustment for CHD risk factors, hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [95% CI]) for incident CHD associated with reporting any versus no stroke symptoms were 1.26 (1.04-1.51) in the overall population, 1.28 (0.99-1.65) among blacks and 1.23 (0.94-1.61) among whites. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for CHD death associated with any versus no stroke symptoms were 1.50 (1.10-2.06) overall, 1.58 (1.07-2.32) among blacks and 1.41 (0.82-2.43) among whites. CONCLUSION: A history of stroke symptoms is associated with a higher incidence of CHD among black and white adults.

Is there an association between the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and severity and control of hypertension? The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study.

The association of atrial fibrillation (AF) with the severity and control of hypertension (HTN) remains unclear. We analyzed data from the national biracial cohort of REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study. The AF prevalence ratios were estimated and full multivariable adjustment included demographics, risk factors, medication adherence, HTN duration, and antihypertensive medication classes. Of the 30,018 study participants (8.6% with AF), 4386 had normotension (4.3% with AF), 5916 had prehypertension (4.3 with AF%), 12,294 had controlled HTN (11.2% with AF), 5587 had uncontrolled HTN (8.1% with AF), 547 had controlled apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH) (19.2% with AF), and 1288 had uncontrolled aTRH (15.5% with AF). Compared with normotension, the AF prevalence ratios for prehypertension, controlled HTN, uncontrolled HTN, controlled aTRH, and uncontrolled aTRH groups in fully adjusted model were 1.01 (95% confidence interval: 0.84, 1.21), 1.42 (1.18, 1.71), 1.37 (1.14, 1.65), 1.17 (0.86, 1.58), and 1.42 (1.10, 1.84), respectively (P < .001). The prevalence of AF was similar among persons with HTN regardless of blood pressure level and antihypertensive treatment resistance.

Volunteer peer support, diabetes, and depressive symptoms: Results from the ENCOURAGE trial.

AIMS: Depression in diabetes mellitus (DM) is common and is associated with poor health outcomes. Peer support DM interventions include encouraging interactions that could improve depressive symptoms. We examined intervention effects for those with and without depressive symptoms in a peer support trial. METHODS: The 1-year ENCOURAGE trial included 424 persons with DM living in rural Alabama. Intervention participants worked with community volunteers who encouraged participants to engage in daily self-management; control arm participants received usual care. Outcomes included HbA1c, body mass index (BMI) and quality of life (QoL) with EuroQuol-5D (range 0.0-1.0). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8, range 0-24). Generalized Additive Models (GAM) examined control-intervention differences in changes in HbA1c, BMI, and QoL for those with PHQ-8 ≥ 5 and PHQ-8 < 5. RESULTS: Of the 424 participants enrolled at baseline, 355 completed follow-up and had data were that could be included into the study; they were aged 60.2 ± 12.1 years, 87% African American, 75% female, and 39% insulin-treated. In an overall GAM adjusting for imbalance across trial arms and time-related covariates, depressive symptoms improved for all, but after 15 months of follow-up intervention, participants experienced greater reduction in PHQ-8 score than control participants (p = 0.01). In stratified analyses, those with PHQ-8 ≥ 5 had unchanged HbA1c, lost weight (p = 0.03) and improved QoL (p = 0.04). Those with PHQ-8 < 5 also had unchanged HbA1c and lost weight, but did not improve QoL (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Peer support improved depressive symptoms for all, but resulted in greater weight loss and gains in QoL for those with baseline depressive symptoms compared to those without.

Peer Coaches to Improve Diabetes Outcomes in Rural Alabama: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

PURPOSE: It is unclear whether peer coaching is effective in minority populations living with diabetes in hard-to-reach, under-resourced areas such as the rural South. We examined the effect of an innovative peer-coaching intervention plus brief education vs brief education alone on diabetes outcomes. METHODS: This was a community-engaged, cluster-randomized, controlled trial with primary care practices and their surrounding communities serving as clusters. The trial enrolled 424 participants, with 360 completing baseline and follow-up data collection (84.9% retention). The primary outcomes were change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (BP), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), body mass index (BMI), and quality of life, with diabetes distress and patient activation as secondary outcomes. Peer coaches were trained for 2 days in community settings; the training emphasized motivational interviewing skills, diabetes basics, and goal setting. All participants received a 1-hour diabetes education class and a personalized diabetes report card at baseline. Intervention arm participants were also paired with peer coaches; the protocol called for telephone interactions weekly for the first 8 weeks, then monthly for a total of 10 months. RESULTS: Due to real-world constraints, follow-up was protracted, and intervention effects varied over time. The analysis that included the 68% of participants followed up by 15 months showed only a significant increase in patient activation in the intervention group. The analysis that included all participants who eventually completed follow-up revealed that intervention arm participants had significant differences in changes in systolic BP (P = .047), BMI (P = .02), quality of life (P = .003), diabetes distress (P = .004), and patient activation (P = .03), but not in HbA1c (P = .14) or LDL-C (P = .97). CONCLUSION: Telephone-delivered peer coaching holds promise to improve health for individuals with diabetes living in under-resourced areas.

Race-sex differences in the management of hyperlipidemia: the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study.

BACKGROUND: Lipid management is less aggressive in blacks than whites and women than men. PURPOSE: To examine whether differences in lipid management for race-sex groups compared to white men are due to factors influencing health services utilization or physician prescribing patterns. METHODS: Because coronary heart disease (CHD) risk influences physician prescribing, Adult Treatment Panel III CHD risk categories were constructed using baseline data from REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study participants (recruited 2003-2007). Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hyperlipidemia were examined for race-sex groups across CHD risk categories. Multivariable models conducted in 2013 estimated prevalence ratios adjusted for predisposing, enabling, and need factors influencing health services utilization. RESULTS: The analytic sample included 7,809 WM; 7,712 white women; 4,096 black men; and 6,594 black women. Except in the lowest risk group, black men were less aware of hyperlipidemia than others. A higher percentage of white men in the highest risk group was treated (83.2%) and controlled (72.8%) than others (treatment, 68.6%-72.1%; control, 52.2%-65.5%), with black women treated and controlled the least. These differences remained significant after adjustment for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Stratified analyses demonstrated that treatment and control were lower for other race-sex groups relative to white men only in the highest risk category. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperlipidemia was more aggressively treated and controlled among white men compared with white women, black men, and especially black women among those at highest risk for CHD. These differences were not attributable to factors influencing health services utilization.

Characteristics and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction by discharge diagnosis: the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study.

PURPOSE: To compare the characteristics and prognosis of acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) that were not the primary reason for hospitalization, and thus not primary discharge diagnosis, to AMIs that were the primary reason for hospitalization. METHODS: Primary discharge diagnoses for Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study participants (black and white men and women age ≥45 years) with adjudicated AMIs were categorized as "AMI" or "other". Cox models were used to compare mortality up to 5 years post-AMI between primary discharge diagnoses of AMI and other. RESULTS: Of 871 AMIs, primary discharge diagnosis was not AMI in 550 (63%). When primary discharge diagnosis was not AMI, average troponin elevations were smaller and heart failure was more common. Adjusted for participant and hospitalization characteristics, all-cause, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease mortality after AMI were similar between groups (hazard ratios [95% confidence intervals]: 1.08 [0.80-1.47]; 1.29 [0.76-2.18]; and 0.86 [0.58-1.27], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Studies limited to individuals with primary discharge diagnosis of AMI may underestimate the burden of AMI and exclude a group with elevated risk of all-cause, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease mortality.

Statin underuse and low prevalence of LDL-C control among U.S. adults at high risk of coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Statins reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in individuals with a history of CHD or risk equivalents. A 10-year CHD risk >20% is considered a risk equivalent but is frequently not detected. Statin use and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) control were examined among participants with CHD or risk equivalents in the nationwide Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study (n = 8812). METHODS: Participants were categorized into 4 mutually exclusive groups: (1) history of CHD (n = 4025); (2) no history of CHD but with a history of stroke and/or abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (n = 946); (3) no history of CHD or stroke/AAA but with diabetes mellitus (n = 3134); or (4) no history of the conditions in (1) through (3) but with 10-year Framingham CHD risk score (FRS) >20% calculated using the third Adult Treatment Panel point scoring system (n = 707). RESULTS: Statins were used by 58.4% of those in the CHD group and 41.7%, 40.4% and 20.1% of those in the stroke/AAA, diabetes mellitus and FRS >20% groups, respectively. Among those taking statins, 65.1% had LDL-C <100 mg/dL, with no difference between the CHD, stroke/AAA, or diabetes mellitus groups. However, compared with those in the CHD group, LDL-C <100 mg/dL was less common among participants in the FRS >20% group (multivariable adjusted prevalence ratio: 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.62-0.85). Results were similar using the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association cholesterol treatment guideline. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that many people with high CHD risk, especially those with an FRS >20%, do not receive guideline-concordant lipid-lowering therapy and do not achieve an LDL-C <100 mg/dL.

Assessing peer advisor intervention fidelity using video skits in a peer support implementation trial.

In community-based interventions involving lay health workers, or "community health workers," peer-client interactions are not typically observed by investigators, creating challenges in assessing intervention fidelity. In the context of a community-based randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of peer support on diabetes outcomes of people with diabetes in rural Alabama, a region characterized by poverty and low literacy, we developed a video assessment tool that assessed participant perceptions of peer-client interactions. The video assessment consisted of four short skits on areas of emphasis during peer training: directive versus nondirective counseling style and setting a specific versus a more general goal. The video tool was evaluated for association with questionnaire-derived measures of counseling style and goal setting among 102 participants. For counseling style, 44% of participants reported that their peer advisor was most similar to the nondirective skit. For goal setting, 42% reported that their peer advisor was most similar to the specific goal skit. There was no statistically significant relationship between skit selection and questionnaire-derived measures. The video assessment was feasible, but results suggest that video and questionnaire assessments in this population yield different results. Further validation to better understand the differences between questionnaire reports and video assessment is warranted.

Is pulse pressure an independent risk factor for incident acute coronary heart disease events? The REGARDS study.

BACKGROUND: Increased attention has been given to pulse pressure (PP) as a potential independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined the relationship between the three indices of blood pressure consisting of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and PP (= SBP - DBP), respectively, and incident acute coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Participants in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study, a national cohort study of 30,239 black and white participants > 45 years of age, were enrolled between 2003 and 2007. The participants' SBP, DBP, and PP values were separated into the four groups of < 45mm Hg, 45-54.9mm Hg, 55-64.9mm Hg, and ≥ 65mm Hg, and were analyzed on a groupwise basis. Reported CHD events were confirmed by expert adjudication. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association of incident CHD (first acute CHD event) for the four groups of BP measurements with multivariate-adjusted sociodemographic and clinical risk factors. RESULTS: Analyses were done for 22,909 men and women (40.4% black, 44.6% male) ≥ 45 years of age (mean age = 64.7±9.4 years) without prevalent CHD at baseline. Associations were found for 681 CHD events, over a mean 3.4 years of follow-up (maximum 6 years), with each unadjusted PP group (hazard ratio [HR] with 95% confidence limits for PP of 45-54.9mm Hg, 55-64.9mm Hg, and ≥ 65mm Hg, respectively, of 3.82, 3.08, and 4.73 as compared with PP < 45mm Hg; P < 0.0001 for linear trend), and this persisted after full adjustment, including that for SBP (1.50, 1.08, 2.09; P trend < 0.01). Subgroup analyses showed no statistically significant differences across age, race, or region of the country, but did suggest the possibility that men were more sensitive to PP than were women. CONCLUSIONS: Pulse pressure is positively and independently (particularly so with regard to independence from SBP) associated with incident CHD, and there were no significant racial or regional differences in this association.

Perceived stress is associated with incident coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality in low- but not high-income participants in the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study.

BACKGROUND: Perceived stress may increase risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and death, but few studies have examined these relationships longitudinally. We sought to determine the association of perceived stress with incident CHD and all-cause mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were from a prospective study of 24 443 participants without CHD at baseline from the national Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study cohort. Outcomes were expert-adjudicated acute CHD and all-cause mortality. Over a mean follow-up of 4.2 (maximum 6.9) years, there were 659 incident CHD events and 1320 deaths. Analyses were stratified by income level because of significant interactions with stress. For individuals with low income, 3529 (35.4%) reported high stress, and for those with high income, 2524 (22.1%) did so. Compared with reporting no stress, those reporting the highest stress had higher risk for incident CHD if they reported low income (sociodemographic-adjusted HR 1.36, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.78) but not high income (sociodemographic-adjusted HR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.57, 1.16); the finding in low income individuals attenuated with adjustment for clinical and behavioral factors (HR 1.29, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.69, P=0.06). After full adjustment, the highest stress category was associated with higher risk for death among those with low income (HR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.31, 1.82) but not high income (HR 1.13, 95% CI: 0.88, 1.46). CONCLUSIONS: High stress was associated with greater risks of CHD and death for individuals with low but not high income.

Cardioprotective medication use and risk factor control among US adults with unrecognized myocardial infarction: the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with unrecognized myocardial infarction (UMI) have similar risks for cardiovascular events and mortality as those with recognized myocardial infarction (RMI). The prevalence of cardioprotective medication use and blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control among individuals with UMI is unknown. METHODS: Participants from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study who were recruited between May 2004 and October 2007 received baseline twelve-lead electrocardiograms (n = 21,036). Myocardial infarction (MI) status was characterized as no MI, UMI (electrocardiogram abnormalities consistent with MI without self-reported history; n = 949; 4.5%), and RMI (self-reported history of MI; n = 1574; 7.5%). RESULTS: For participants with no MI, UMI, and RMI, prevalence of use was 38.4%, 44.4%, and 75.7% for aspirin; 18.0%, 25.8%, and 57.2% for beta blockers; 31.7%, 38.7%, and 55.0% for angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers; and 28.1%, 33.9%, and 64.1% for statins, respectively. Participants with RMI were 35% more likely to have low-density lipoprotein cholesterol < 100 mg/dL than participants with UMI (prevalence ratio = 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.19-1.52). Blood pressure control (,140/90 mmHg) was similar between RMI and UMI groups (prevalence ratio = 1.03, 95% confidence interval 0.93-1.13). CONCLUSION: Although participants with UMI were somewhat more likely to use cardioprotective medications than those with no MI, they were less likely to use cardioprotective medications and to have controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than participants with RMI. Increasing appropriate treatment and risk factor control among individuals with UMI may reduce risk of mortality and future cardiovascular events.

Association of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality and hospitalization among Hurricane Katrina survivors with end-stage renal disease.

OBJECTIVES: We determined the association of psychiatric symptoms in the year after Hurricane Katrina with subsequent hospitalization and mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. METHODS: A prospective cohort of ESRD patients (n = 391) treated at 9 hemodialysis centers in the New Orleans, Louisiana, area in the weeks before Hurricane Katrina were assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms via telephone interview 9 to 15 months later. Two combined outcomes through August 2009 (maximum 3.5-year follow-up) were analyzed: (1) all-cause and (2) cardiovascular-related hospitalization and mortality. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of participants screened positive for PTSD and 46% for depression; 158 participants died (79 cardiovascular deaths), and 280 participants were hospitalized (167 for cardiovascular-related causes). Positive depression screening was associated with 33% higher risk of all-cause (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06, 1.66) and cardiovascular-related hospitalization and mortality (HR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.76). PTSD was not significantly associated with either outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Depression in the year after Hurricane Katrina was associated with increased risk of hospitalization and mortality in ESRD patients, underscoring the long-term consequences of natural disasters for vulnerable populations.

Association of race and sex with risk of incident acute coronary heart disease events.

CONTEXT: It is unknown whether long-standing disparities in incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) among US blacks and whites persist. OBJECTIVE: To examine incident CHD by black and white race and by sex. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective cohort study of 24,443 participants without CHD at baseline from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort, who resided in the continental United States and were enrolled between 2003 and 2007 with follow-up through December 31, 2009. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Expert-adjudicated total (fatal and nonfatal) CHD, fatal CHD, and nonfatal CHD (definite or probable myocardial infarction [MI]; very small non-ST-elevation MI [NSTEMI] had peak troponin level <0.5 µg/L). RESULTS: Over a mean (SD) of 4.2 (1.5) years of follow-up, 659 incident CHD events occurred (153 in black men, 138 in black women, 254 in white men, and 114 in white women). Among men, the age-standardized incidence rate per 1000 person-years for total CHD was 9.0 (95% CI, 7.5-10.8) for blacks vs 8.1 (95% CI, 6.9-9.4) for whites; fatal CHD: 4.0 (95% CI, 2.9-5.3) vs 1.9 (95% CI, 1.4-2.6), respectively; and nonfatal CHD: 4.9 (95% CI, 3.8-6.2) vs 6.2 (95% CI, 5.2-7.4). Among women, the age-standardized incidence rate per 1000 person-years for total CHD was 5.0 (95% CI, 4.2-6.1) for blacks vs 3.4 (95% CI, 2.8-4.2) for whites; fatal CHD: 2.0 (95% CI, 1.5-2.7) vs 1.0 (95% CI, 0.7-1.5), respectively; and nonfatal CHD: 2.8 (95% CI, 2.2-3.7) vs 2.2 (95% CI, 1.7-2.9). Age- and region-adjusted hazard ratios for fatal CHD among blacks vs whites was near 2.0 for both men and women and became statistically nonsignificant after multivariable adjustment. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for incident nonfatal CHD for blacks vs whites was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.51-0.91) for men and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.58-1.15) for women. Of the 444 nonfatal CHD events, 139 participants (31.3%) had very small NSTEMIs. CONCLUSIONS: The higher risk of fatal CHD among blacks compared with whites was associated with cardiovascular disease risk factor burden. These relationships may differ by sex.