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Biomedical Engineering Letters Nov 2023Appropriate blood pressure (BP) management through continuous monitoring and rapid diagnosis helps to take preventive care against cardiovascular diseases (CVD). As...
Appropriate blood pressure (BP) management through continuous monitoring and rapid diagnosis helps to take preventive care against cardiovascular diseases (CVD). As hypertension is one of the leading causes of CVDs, keeping hypertension under control by a timely screening of subjects becomes lifesaving. This work proposes estimating BP from motion artifact-affected photoplethysmography signals (PPG) by applying signal processing techniques in realtime. This paper proposes a deep neural network-based methodology to accurately classify PPG signals using a Fourier theory-based time-frequency (TF) spectrogram. This work uses the Fourier decomposition method (FDM) to transform a PPG signal into a TF spectrogram. In the proposed work, the last three layers of the pre-trained deep neural network, namely, GoogleNet, DenseNet, and AlexNet, are modified and then used to classify the PPG signal into normotension, pre-hypertension, and hypertension. The proposed framework is trained and tested using the MIMIC-III and PPG-BP databases using five-fold training and testing. Out of the three deep neural networks, the proposed framework with the DenseNet-201 network performs best, with a test accuracy of 96.5%. The proposed work uses FDM to compute the TF spectrogram to accurately separate the motion artifacts and noise components from a noise-corrupted PPG signal. Capturing more frequency components that contain more information from PPG signals makes the deep neural networks extract better and more meaningful features. Thus, training a deep neural network model with clean PPG signal features improves the generalized capability of a BP classification model when tested in realtime.
PubMed: 37872982
DOI: 10.1007/s13534-023-00296-6 -
The Indian Journal of Medical Research Jan 2024Shompens are one of the two mongoloid tribes of Nicobar district. There is little information about their recent health status since the last survey which was conducted...
BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES
Shompens are one of the two mongoloid tribes of Nicobar district. There is little information about their recent health status since the last survey which was conducted in 1998. Hence, a comprehensive health and nutritional survey was conducted in March 2017 to assess the changes. The survey was carried out by a joint team of various organizations including the ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre and Tribal Welfare and Health Department both located in Port Blair.
METHODS
A detailed health and nutrition survey of the Shompen community was planned by deputing a field research team. The survey included demographic data, anthropometric data, clinical examination, screening for the markers of infectious diseases, respiratory pathogens, tuberculosis and haemoglobinopathies.
RESULTS
About half of the Shompen adults (both males and females) had a body mass index (BMI) of ≥23. However, Shompen children had a good nutritional status with no child suffering from undernutrition. As per BMI for age, none of the children <5 yr were under-nourished, while in the 5-17 yr group, 12 per cent of children were undernourished. Anaemia prevalence was about 48.3 per cent, with 54 per cent prevalence in females and 43.8 per cent in males. Fungal infection of the skin, acute respiratory infection and abdominal pain were the common morbidities observed. None had active pulmonary tuberculosis. Of 38 Shompens screened for IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies, 42.1 and 18.4 per cent were positive for measles and rubella, respectively. Seroprevalence of Leptospira was 35.5 per cent. The prevalence of hypertension was 13.2 per cent, whereas another 28.9 per cent were pre-hypertensive.
INTERPRETATION CONCLUSIONS
The population structure of the Shompen is not skewed and under nutrition was not widely prevalent among the children of <5 yr. The other positive observations were the absence of malaria, filariasis and dengue. However, there was natural infection of measles and rubella. Fungal skin infection and intestinal parasitic infestations were widely prevalent. Although cardiovascular risk profile was low, there were signs of emerging risk of over-weight, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. These together with the high prevalence of smokeless tobacco use may have a serious effect on the cardiovascular disease susceptibility of the Shompen population in the future.
Topics: Adult; Child; Female; Male; Humans; Nutritional Status; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Health Status; Malnutrition; Measles; Hypertension; Rubella
PubMed: 38439124
DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_3193_21 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024Pre-hypertension is a prevalent condition among the adult population worldwide. It is characterized by asymptomatic elevations in blood pressure beyond normal levels but...
INTRODUCTION
Pre-hypertension is a prevalent condition among the adult population worldwide. It is characterized by asymptomatic elevations in blood pressure beyond normal levels but not yet reaching the threshold for hypertension. If left uncontrolled, pre-hypertension can progress to hypertension, thereby increasing the risk of serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, and others.
OBJECTIVE
The precise mechanisms driving the progression of hypertension remain unknown. Thus, identifying the metabolic changes associated with this condition can provide valuable insights into potential markers or pathways implicated in the development of hypertension.
METHODS
In this study, we utilized untargeted metabolomics profiling, which examines over 1,000 metabolites to identify novel metabolites contributing to the progression from pre-hypertension to hypertension. Data were collected from 323 participants through Qatar Biobank.
RESULTS
By comparing metabolic profiles between pre-hypertensive, hypertensive and normotensive individuals, six metabolites including stearidonate, hexadecadienoate, N6-carbamoylthreonyladenosine, 9 and 13-S-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODE), 2,3-dihydroxy-5-methylthio- 4-pentenoate (DMTPA), and linolenate were found to be associated with increased risk of hypertension, in both discovery and validation cohorts. Moreover, these metabolites showed a significant diagnostic performance with area under curve >0.7.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest possible biomarkers that can predict the risk of progression from pre-hypertension to hypertension. This will aid in early detection, diagnosis, and management of this disease as well as its associated complications.
PubMed: 38390445
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1284114 -
Indian Heart Journal Jun 2024Prehypertension (PHT) is a cardiovascular health risk defined by blood pressure (BP). Arterial stiffness (AS) provides beyond brachial BP inference on vascular ageing...
BACKGROUND
Prehypertension (PHT) is a cardiovascular health risk defined by blood pressure (BP). Arterial stiffness (AS) provides beyond brachial BP inference on vascular ageing and pulse wave analysis (PWA) can measure it non-invasively.We compared association between AS and PHT using age and gender matched case-controls.
METHODS
This is a sub analysis of previous PWA studies of hypertensives and non-hypertensives. Using oscillometric PWA by Mobil-o-Graph (IEM, Stolberg, Germany), parameters of AS (augmentation pressure and index, reflection magnitude, aortic pulse wave velocity, pulse pressure amplification), brachial hemodynamics (BH), and central hemodynamics (CH; aortic BP, cardiac output related parameters, stroke work) were derived. Age and gender matched case controls were compared as: 1) Nonhypertensives with BP at prehypertensive level (PHT) versus normotensives (NT) (n = 217 each), 2) Under treatment hypertensives with BP at prehypertensive level (PHT-T) versus untreated, nonhypertensives with BP at prehypertensive level (PHT-UT) (n = 74 each).
RESULTS
PHTs had higher AS, BH and CH than NTs, with statistical significance for all but few parameters. PHT-T had comparable BH but higher AS, CH than PHT-UT with significance for few parameters.
CONCLUSION
Pulse wave analysis derived arterial stiffness is associated with prehypertension compared to normal, after age and gender matching. In hypertensives, arterial stiffness is significantly higher despite being treated to prehypertension level as compared to control. It hints arterial stiffness to be better parameter than brachial BP to study prehypertension.
PubMed: 38871217
DOI: 10.1016/j.ihj.2024.06.007 -
TheScientificWorldJournal 2024This study aims to compare HRV variables across three cohorts: normotensive (NT), prehypertensive (pre-HT), and hypertensive (HT) and to assess the relationship between... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVES
This study aims to compare HRV variables across three cohorts: normotensive (NT), prehypertensive (pre-HT), and hypertensive (HT) and to assess the relationship between the blood pressure (BP) and HRV parameters.
METHODS
Employing a cross-sectional design, 64 older participants were categorized based on the Joint National Committee's criteria into NT ( = 10), pre-HT ( = 33), and HT ( = 21) groups. Anthropometric data, lipid profiles, and HRV indices were evaluated. HRV data were obtained from the Polar V800 chest strap device using HRV Kubios software for data analysis of short-term recordings lasting 10 minutes. This analysis encompasses both time and frequency domain assessments. The time domain includes the standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), the root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD), and the percentage of successive RR intervals differing by over 50 ms (pNN50). The frequency domain includes low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and the ratio of LF-to-HF power (LF/HF). Data were statistically analyzed via one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation.
RESULTS
The HT group exhibited significantly lower values in SDNN, pNN50, LF power, and HF power in comparison to the NT group ( < 0.05). Moreover, the HT group had a significantly lower SDNN value compared to the pre-HT group ( < 0.05). Inverse associations were uncovered between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and SDNN, pNN50, and HF power ( < 0.05). Multiple regression further highlighted the significance of systolic and pulse pressure concerning HF power ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
HRV indices are reduced in Thai older adults with HT compared with those with NT. Monitoring HRV in older adults can provide valuable insights into autonomic function and cardiovascular disease risk.
Topics: Humans; Hypertension; Male; Heart Rate; Female; Aged; Thailand; Blood Pressure; Middle Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prehypertension; Southeast Asian People
PubMed: 38808160
DOI: 10.1155/2024/9631390 -
Methods and Protocols Mar 2024As an important way to translate cardiovascular disease prevention efforts, worksite intervention programs can be used to effectively facilitate healthy food choices,...
As an important way to translate cardiovascular disease prevention efforts, worksite intervention programs can be used to effectively facilitate healthy food choices, health education, and social support among employees, in a targeted approach to improve health outcomes and physical activity levels of employees. In this study, the effectiveness of a canteen and a behavioral intervention on cardiometabolic risk among prediabetic and prehypertensive employees at two multinational worksites in South Africa will be measured. This two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be structured to provide a six-week intervention at two multinational companies spread across eight worksites and will include a canteen and behavioral arm (CB) and a canteen only (CO) arm. Participants who are either prediabetic or prehypertensive will complete the baseline assessments, which will include anthropometry, a demographic and lifestyle survey, the global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ) and the 24 h food recall. Participants will be randomized into the CO and the canteen and CB intervention groups. The CO group will receive six weeks of canteen intervention [changes to enable a healthy food environment], while the CB group will receive six weeks of canteen intervention along with a behavioral intervention. The behavioral intervention will include an intense six-week lifestyle program aligned to the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). This study will assess the added benefit of environmental-level changes aimed at lowering cardiometabolic risk in a low-middle-income country (LMIC) and has the potential for scale-up to other worksites in South Africa and globally.
PubMed: 38525779
DOI: 10.3390/mps7020021 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024Although Hypertension (HTN) is considered to be a cardiovascular disease caused by multiple factors, the cause of it is still unknown. In this study, we aim to find out...
BACKGROUND
Although Hypertension (HTN) is considered to be a cardiovascular disease caused by multiple factors, the cause of it is still unknown. In this study, we aim to find out whether circulating immune cell characteristics have an impact on susceptibility to HTN.
METHODS
This study employed a comprehensive two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal association between immune cell characteristics and HTN. Utilizing publicly accessible genetic data, we examined the causal relationship between HTN and the susceptibility to 731 immune cell signatures. To ensure the reliability and validity of the findings, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess heterogeneity, confirm the robustness of the results and evaluate the presence of horizontal pleiotropy.
RESULTS
After FDR correction, immune phenotype had an effect on HTN. In our study, one immunophenotype was identified as being positively associated with HTN risk significance: HLA DR on CD33- HLA DR+. In addition, we examined 8 immune phenotype with no statistically significant effect of HTN, but it is worth mentioning that they had an unadjusted low -value phenotype.
CONCLUSIONS
Our MR study by genetic means demonstrated the close relationship between HTN and immune cells, thus providing guidance for future clinical prediction and subsequent treatment of HTN.
PubMed: 38859818
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1375704 -
PsyCh Journal Feb 2024Research shows a reduced responsivity to implicit as well as explicit facial emotion recognition (emotional dampening) in prehypertensives and hypertensives. This study...
Research shows a reduced responsivity to implicit as well as explicit facial emotion recognition (emotional dampening) in prehypertensives and hypertensives. This study explored auditory and audiovisual emotion recognition in prehypertensives and hypertensives. Participants (N = 175) who were normotensives, prehypertensives, and hypertensives (n = 57, 58, and 60, respectively) completed an auditory implicit task (matching auditory target with auditory distractors) and two cross-modal implicit tasks (matching visual target with auditory distractors, and vice-versa), and an auditory explicit task (labelling emotions in audio-clips). Findings showed an aberrant speed-accuracy trade-off, where prehypertensives focused more on accuracy at the cost of speed while hypertensives showed the opposite. Discriminant function analysis revealed that blood pressure (BP)-associated emotional dampening is a highly specific but moderately sensitive correlate of hypertension. Our study highlights that prehypertensives and hypertensives demonstrate emotional dampening in implicit (but not explicit) auditory emotion recognition and a greater deficit for auditory than visual recognition of implicit emotions. Findings show emotional dampening as an observable correlate of elevated BP and hypertension.
Topics: Humans; Emotions; Hypertension; Recognition, Psychology; Facial Recognition
PubMed: 37942991
DOI: 10.1002/pchj.704 -
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders Feb 2024Hypertension and prehypertension have been widely recognized as the main contributors of global mortality. Evidence shows mindfulness-based interventions may reduce... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Hypertension and prehypertension have been widely recognized as the main contributors of global mortality. Evidence shows mindfulness-based interventions may reduce blood pressure and improve mental health. However, the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on blood pressure and mental health has not been fully understood.
METHODS
Potential studies published before May 24th 2023 were identified by searching Embase, Ovid Emcare, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, and VIP China Science. Additionally, two grey databases were searched: Mednar, WorldWideScience.org. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool. The random-effects meta-analyses were conducted using Review Man 5.4 software and the key outcomes are presented as mean difference or standard mean difference and the 95% confidential interval.
RESULTS
Searches returned 802 studies in total, of which 12 were included (N = 715). The duration of interventions was 8 weeks in 10 trials and 6 weeks in one trial. Pooled effect sizes indicated reductions in systolic blood pressure (MD = - 9.12, 95% CI [- 12.18, - 6.05], p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (MD = - 5.66, 95% CI [- 8.88, - 2.43], p < 0.001), anxiety (SMD = - 4.10; 95% CI [- 6.49, - 1.71], p < 0.001), depression (SMD = - 1.70, 95%CI [- 2.95, - 0.44], p < 0.001) and perceived stress (SMD = - 5.91, 95%CI [- 8.74, - 3.09], p < 0.001) at post-intervention. The findings from subgroup analyses are favorable for mindfulness-based interventions regardless of gender and baseline blood pressure with regard to BP reduction, with a more profound effect observed in participants with higher pre-intervention blood pressure.
CONCLUSIONS
The results provide evidence for the positive role of mindfulness-based interventions in hypertension management. More large randomized control trials with sufficient statistical power and long-term follow-up are needed.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
The protocol had been registered with Prospero on October 2nd 2021 (registration NO. CRD42021282504 ).
Topics: Male; Humans; Mindfulness; Prehypertension; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Anxiety; Hypertension
PubMed: 38350849
DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-03746-w -
European Journal of Medical Research Aug 2023Much less is known about the importance of blood pressure (BP) trajectories concerning the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in people with disabilities. Our aim...
BACKGROUND
Much less is known about the importance of blood pressure (BP) trajectories concerning the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in people with disabilities. Our aim was to evaluate this association.
METHODS
This cohort study surveyed 5711 adults from the Shanghai Disability Health Survey from June 2012 to June 2019. The latent class growth mixture model was used to examine distinct BP trajectories. We evaluated the association of BP trajectories with the risk of CHD by Cox proportional hazard models. The model for CHD risk fitted to BP trajectories was compared with models fitted to other BP-related indicators by goodness-of-fit, discrimination, and calibration.
RESULTS
During a median follow-up of 71.74 months, 686 cases (median age was 49.03 (54.49, 58.55) years, 51.90% female) with CHD were identified, with a cumulative incidence of 12.01%. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were categorized into three classes, respectively. A statistically significant association was only observed between SBP trajectories and CHD. Compared with the normotensive stable SBP group (n = 1956), the prehypertension-stable group (n = 3268) had a higher risk (adjust hazards ratio (aHR) = 1.266, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.014-1.581), and the stage 1 hypertension-decreasing group (n = 487) had the highest risk (aHR = 1.609, 95%CI 1.157-2.238). Among the BP-related indicators, the SBP trajectory was the strongest predictor of new-onset CHD. Findings were similar when sensitivity analyses were conducted.
CONCLUSIONS
SBP trajectory was a more important risk factor for CHD than other BP-related indicators and stringent BP control strategies may be effective for primary CHD prevention in the disabled population.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Male; Blood Pressure; Cohort Studies; Hypertension; China; Coronary Disease; Risk Factors; Disabled Persons
PubMed: 37553723
DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01240-1