The increasing global popularity of smartphone usage has increased concerns about the negative effects of smartphone addiction, such as lack of sleep, sedentary life, bad eating habits, anxiety, stress, and depression, especially among the young population. These problems caused by smartphone addiction are also well-known risk factors for atherosclerosis. However, according to our observation, there is no research in the literature that directly shows the relationship between smartphone addiction and subclinical atherosclerosis. In this study, carotid intima-media thickness, an important surrogate marker in demonstrating subclinical atherosclerosis, was used to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction and subclinical atherosclerosis.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 96 high school students aged between 13 and 22 years. A smartphone addiction questionnaire consisting of 33 questions was applied to measure smartphone addiction. Along with the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients, factors such as eating habits, sleep patterns, and activity levels were also questioned. The mean carotid intima-media thickness was measured by an experienced sonographer according to the published and accepted methods.

When we set the threshold for smartphone addiction at over 66 points, we discovered that the group with smartphone addiction had considerably thicker carotid intima-media (0.68 ± 0.2 versus 0.45 ± 0.1; p < 0.001). In addition, logistics regression analysis had shown that smartphone addiction level independently affects the carotid intima-media thickness (odds ratio:1.111; %95 GA:1.057–1.168, p < 0.001).

Smartphone addiction may help prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis via carotid intima-media thickness among teenagers.

Atherosclerosis can result in serious cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is associated with inflammation and psychopharmacological treatment in bipolar disorder.

We attempt to investigate the effects of lithium and inflammation on the atherosclerotic development in older bipolar adults at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

The euthymic out-patients with bipolar I disorder aged over 45 years and concurrent endocrine or cardiovascular disease were recruited to measure their bilateral carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and circulating levels of lithium, valproate, sTNF-R1, sIL-6R, and lipid profile. All clinical information were obtained by directly interviewing patients and reviewing all medical records.

Forty eight patients with mean 48.3 years old and mean 27.2 years of age at illness onset were recruited. After controlling for the body mass index, multivariate regression analyses showed that older age, lower lithium level, and higher plasma sTNF-R1 level were associated with higher CIMT and collectively accounting for 33.1% of the variance in CIMT. Blood level of low density lipid or valproate has none relationship with CIMT.

Lithium treatment may protect older bipolar patient, even those at high risk for CVD, from atherosclerotic development. Furthermore, persistent inflammatory activation, particularly macrophage activation, may be associated with the accelerating development of atherosclerosis.

No significant relationships.

This study aimed to determine the effect of donor-transmitted atherosclerosis on the late aggravation of cardiac allograft vasculopathy in paediatric heart recipients aged ≥7 years.

In total, 48 patients were included and 23 had donor-transmitted atherosclerosis (baseline maximal intimal thickness of >0.5 mm on intravascular ultrasonography). Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for donor-transmitted atherosclerosis. Rates of survival free from the late aggravation of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (new or worsening cardiac allograft vasculopathy on following angiograms, starting 1 year after transplantation) in each patient group were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. The effect of the results of intravascular ultrasonography at 1 year after transplantation on the late aggravation of cardiac allograft vasculopathy, correcting for possible covariates including donor-transmitted atherosclerosis, was examined using the Cox proportional hazards model.

The mean follow-up duration after transplantation was 5.97 ± 3.58 years. The log-rank test showed that patients with donor-transmitted atherosclerosis had worse survival outcomes than those without (p = 0.008). Per the multivariate model considering the difference of maximal intimal thickness between baseline and 1 year following transplantation (hazard ratio, 22.985; 95% confidence interval, 1.948–271.250; p = 0.013), donor-transmitted atherosclerosis was a significant covariate (hazard ratio, 4.013; 95% confidence interval, 1.047–15.376; p = 0.043).

Paediatric heart transplantation recipients with donor-transmitted atherosclerosis aged ≥7 years had worse late cardiac allograft vasculopathy aggravation-free survival outcomes.

Patients with schizophrenia have a reduced life expectancy compared to the general population, and cardiovascular diseases contribute to this. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with excess all-cause mortality and specifically with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The risk factors for PAD, such as diabetes, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity, are more common among patients with schizophrenia which could contribute to a possibly higher prevalence of PAD among patients with schizophrenia.

To investigate PAD utilizing toe brachial index (TBI) in a population of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia with the purpose of establishing prevalence rates amongst newly diagnosed as well as more chronic patients.

A cross-sectional study of patients with schizophrenia (ICD10-diagnosis F20 or F25) with a study population of 57 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia within the last 2 years, psychiatric healthy controls matched by age, sex and smoking status and 142 patients with a schizophrenia diagnosis more than 10 years ago. The primary outcome is TBI in patients with schizophrenia stratified to the two subpopulations. The TBI will be calculated from the arm and toe systolic pressures. The toe pressures were measured using photoplethysmography (SysToe®, Atys Medical).

No results are available yet. The cohort will be described by age, sex, smoking status, body fat percentage and physical comorbidities. The TBI of the two subpopulations will be compared with psychiatrically healthy controls using paired t-tests if data is normally distributed. If transformation is unsuitable, Wilcoxon test will be carried out instead.

No results are available yet. Results will be presented at the EPA’s congress 2021.

No significant relationships.

To investigate the association between the Children’s Dietary Inflammatory Index (C-DIITM) scores and atherogenic risk in Brazilian schoolchildren.

A cross-sectional representative study. Three 24-h dietary recalls were performed to evaluate food consumption and to calculate C-DII scores. Blood samples were collected for the lipid profile analysis (serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (TAG)) and to determine atherogenic indexes (Castelli risk indexes I and II, lipoprotein combined index (LCI), and atherogenic index of plasma and atherogenic coefficient (AC)). A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic characteristics and screen time. Body fat was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We compared the distributions of outcomes by C-DII categories using multivariable linear regression.

Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Three hundred seventy-eight children between the ages of 8 and 9 years.

The mean C-DII score was 0·60 ± 0·94, and the prevalence of dyslipidaemia was 70 %. Children with hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia had higher C-DII scores. The C-DII was directly associated with atherogenic risk. Every 1 sd of C-DII was associated with a 0·07 (0·01, 0·13), 1·94 (0·20, 3·67), 0·06 (0·002, 0·12) and 0·12 (0·02, 0·22) units higher TC:HDL cholesterol ratio, LCI, AC and accumulation of altered dyslipidaemia markers (high TC + high LDL-cholesterol + high TAG + low HDL-cholesterol), respectively.

Dietary inflammatory potential, as estimated by the C-DII, is directly associated with atherogenic risk in Brazilian schoolchildren. This results reinforce the importance of effective nutritional policies to promote healthy eating habits and improve children’s lipid profiles.

To evaluate whether Kawasaki disease predisposes to premature atherosclerosis and to assess status of coronary artery abnormalities at least 10 years after diagnosis.

A prospective study was carried out on 21 patients who were diagnosed with Kawasaki disease at least 10 years back and are on regular follow-up. The study was conducted on 128 Slice Dual Source computed tomography scanner with electrocardiography-triggered radiation optimised protocols for assessment of coronary artery abnormalities and calcifications.

Study cohort had 21 subjects – 15 males and 6 females (age range: 11–23 years; mean: 15.76 + 3.72 years). Mean age at time of diagnosis was 3.21 + 2.48 years. Mean time interval from diagnosis of Kawasaki disease to computed tomography coronary angiography was 12.59 + 2.89 years. Four children had evidence of coronary artery abnormalities on transthoracic echocardiography at time of diagnosis. Of these, two had persistent abnormalities on computed tomography coronary angiography. One subject (4.76%) had coronary calcification that was localised to abnormal coronary artery segment. Four coronary artery abnormalities (one saccular; three fusiform aneurysms) were noted in two subjects.

Prevalence of coronary artery calcification is low and, if present, is localised to abnormal segments. This calcification is likely dystrophic rather than atherosclerotic. It appears that coronary artery abnormalities can persist for several years after acute episode of Kawasaki disease. Periodic follow-up by computed tomography coronary angiography is now a feasible non-invasive imaging modality for long term surveillance of patients with Kawasaki disease who had coronary artery abnormalities at time of diagnosis.

To identify dietary patterns associated with subclinical atherosclerosis measured as coronary artery calcification (CAC).

Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health. Dietary data were assessed using a FFQ, and a principal component factor analysis was used to derive the dietary patterns. Scree plot, eigenvalues > 1 and interpretability were considered to retain the factors. CAC was measured using a computed tomography scanner and an electrocardiography-gated prospective Ca score examination and was categorised into three groups based on the CAC score: 0, 1–100 and >100 Agatston units. Multinomial regression models were conducted for dietary patterns and CAC severity categories.

Brazil, São Paulo, 2008–2010.

Active and retired civil servants who lived in São Paulo and underwent a CAC exam were included (n 4025).

Around 10 % of participants (294 men, 97 women) had a detectable CAC (>0), 6·5 % (182 men, 73 women) had a CAC of 1–100 and 3·5 % (110 men, 23 women) had a CAC > 100. Three dietary patterns were identified: convenience food, which was positively associated with atherosclerotic calcification; plant-based and dairy food, which showed no association with CAC; and the traditional Brazilian food pattern (rice, legumes and meats), which was inversely associated with atherosclerotic calcification.

Our results showed that a dietary pattern consisting of traditional Brazilian foods could be important to reducing the risk of atherosclerotic calcification and prevent future cardiovascular events, whereas a convenience dietary pattern was positively associated with this outcome.