Long-term consumption of a healthy plant-based diet can help young adults and older women reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to 2 new studies published in the 

Journal of the American Heart Association.

, researchers aimed to determine whether the long-term intake of a plant-based diet and shifting toward such a diet starting in young adulthood was associated with a lower risk of CVD in midlife.

“Earlier research was focused on single nutrients or single foods, yet there is little data about a plant-centered diet and the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease,” said lead author Yuni Choi, PhD, postdoctoral researcher, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, in an 

Choi and colleagues analyzed diet and the incidence of CVD in 4946 adults (54.9% women, 50.7% Black) enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Participants were aged between 18 and 30 years and did not have CVD at the time of enrollment (1985-1986).

There were 8 follow-up exams conducted from 1987-1988 to 2015-2016 that included laboratory tests, physical measurements, medical histories, and lifestyle factors.

Plant‐centered diet quality was assessed utilizing the A Priori Diet Quality Score (APDQS), in which higher scores indicate higher intake of nutritionally rich plant foods and limited intake of high‐fat meat products and less healthy plant foods.

APDQS was comprised of 46 food groups which were classified into beneficial (eg, fruit, avocado, vegetables, whole grains), adverse (eg, fried fish/poultry, high-fat red meats, pastries), and neutral (eg, potatoes, refined grains, lean meats, shellfish) based on their known link to CVD.

During the 32-year follow-up, 289 participants were diagnosed with CVD.

Participants who scored in the top 20% of the APDQS—meaning those who consumed the most nutritionally rich plant-based foods and fewer adversely rated animal products—were 52% less likely to develop CVD.

Between years 7 and 20 of the study, when participants were aged between 25 and 50 years, those with a “beneficial” APDQS score were 61% less likely to develop CVD in the subsequent 12 years compared to those with an “adverse” diet quality score, according to the study.

“Our findings support a recommendation of eating primarily nutritionally rich plant foods, but allowing small amounts of animal products (eg, low‐fat dairy products, nonfried fish, and nonfried poultry), to prevent early cardiovascular disease,” wrote study authors.

, researchers followed over 123 000 postmenopausal women participating in the Women’s Health Initiative. Participants were initially free of CVD from 1993-2017 to determine whether higher adherence to the “Portfolio Diet”—consuming more plant-based foods that lower cholesterol—is associated with a decreased risk of CVD. Average age was 62 years at enrollment.

Researchers found that a higher Portfolio Diet score was associated with a 11%, 14%, and 17% lower risk of total CVD, coronary heart disease, and heart failure, respectively, but no associated was found with stroke or atrial fibrillation.

“These findings provide the strongest evidence to date on the long‐term benefits of a Portfolio Diet in the primary prevention of CVD, although our Portfolio Diet score needs to be assessed in other cohorts/populations to confirm these findings. Evidence from randomized trials with clinical CVD events is also needed,” concluded researchers.

Plant‐centered diet and risk of incident cardiovascular disease during young to middle adulthood

Relationship between a plant-based dietary portfolio and risk of cardiovascular disease: Findings from the women's health initiative prospective cohort study

Articles

Eating a more plant-centered diet was associated with lower risk for CVD among both young adults and postmenopausal women, according to two new studies. 

A Plant-based Diet May Decrease Risk of CVD in Young Adults, Older Women

How widespread is the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) in the US?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

, as of August 3, 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant makes up 

The CDC estimates as of August 3, 2021, the 5 states with the highest unweighted proportion of new cases attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant are:

How many people in the US have been vaccinated against COVID-19?

 as of today, August 5, 2021, at 1:35 PM, EDT:

The 5 states with the highest percentage of population fully vaccinated are:

How many cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the US?

, as of today, August 5, 2021 at 2:21 PM, EDT, there have been:

The 5 states with the highest total confirmed cases are:

 California has the highest number of deaths due to COVID-19

 with 64 671 reported fatalities, followed by 

How many cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed globally?

Data from the CDC on the Delta variant and US vaccination rates and from the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 interactive map on cases and deaths in the US and worldwide.

COVID-19 Updates: Delta Variant, US Vaccinations, & Global Data as of August 5, 2021

The Framingham Heart Study continues to provide a rich well of epidemiologic data that over the past 20 years has provided definitive evidence of what we now accept as fact, such as that occurrence of heart disease or stroke by age 65 years in a parent increases the risk of heart disease and stroke 2- to 3-fold in offspring. The research has broadened and deepened and now includes collaborative genetic research with other groups in large consortia that has identified hundreds of new genetic loci that contribute to the risk of developing risk factors and heart disease and stroke.

The slide show that follows picks up in the year 2000 and offers, at-a-glance, the myriad contributions made by FHS data to understanding human health and disease. 

Slideshows

As FHS continues, advanced technology leads to discovery of genetic CVD risk; imaging studies refine risk assessment; gamification enters FHS research; and a 2019 grant ensures the future.    

Framingham Heart Study in the New Millennium: Deeper Dives into CVD Risk 

 as of today, August 4, 2021, at 4:07 PM, EDT:

, as of today, August 4, 2021 at 4:21 PM, EDT, there have been:

 with 64 640 reported fatalities, followed by 

COVID-19 Updates: Delta Variant, US Vaccinations, & Global Data as of August 4, 2021

Recent study findings—many of which were presented at the recent American Diabetes Association (ADA) 81st Scientific Sessions—have demonstrated cardioprotective effects of sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In the slides below, find concise summaries of the more significant developments in the use of diabetes drugs for ASCVD prevention.

These concise summaries highlight the latest findings on the cardioprotective effects of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 RA in patients with diabetes. 

Diabetes Drugs and Cardioprotection: A Summary for Primary Care

Videos

Experts discuss key takeaways from the review article “Role of Bempedoic Acid in Clinical Practice”, clinical implications, and the greatly anticipated CLEAR Outcomes trial.

Role of Bempedoic Acid in Clinical Practice

Experts examine the safety and efficacy data presented within the review article “Role of Bempedoic Acid in Clinical Practice”. 

Efficacy and Safety Data for Bempedoic Acid

The Framingham Heart Study (FHS) was launched in 1948 with a federal grant of just $500 000 with the purpose of identifying common factors or characteristics that contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD). In the early 1900s, heart disease was the leading cause of death and treatment was rendered only after a serious event--and was not always successful. 

It was an original FHS investigator who introduced the concept of "risk factors" for CVD and the idea that with treatment their impact on CV health could be mitigated. Risk factors identified based on FHS data include elevated LDL, smoking, hypertension, diabetes. Positive influences identified include the benefits of exercise and the protective properties of HDL cholesterol. 

FHS is multigenerational and multiracial/multiethnic. In the slides that follow, we provide an at-a-glance look at the first 50 years of breakthroughs. 

Findings from the Framingham Heart Study since its 1948 beginning have led to identification of and treatment for dozens of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Which ones?  

The Framingham Heart Study: Research to Clinical Practice Timeline  

A new cross-sectional, population-based, case-controlled study identified independent risk factors for severe adult-onset asthma, including smoking, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD), and male sex.

“Early detection of the risk factors contributing to severe adult-onset asthma is important to decrease morbidity and costs,” wrote authors led by Sanna Toppila-Salmi, MD, PhD, researcher, department of pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki.“Most previous results have focused on one or a few risk factors, although the phenotypes of asthma are multi-factorial.”

As background for their research, the authors point to the comparatively sparse research on adult-onset asthma and also to the limited knowledge of a common combination of risk factors that lead to development of the severe phenotype.

To further identify these risk factors, researchers used data from Finnish national registries to aggregate a sample of 1350 patients (mean age, 54.4 years; 62.1% women) with adult-onset asthma, of which 100 (7.4%) had severe asthma.

For purposes of the study, severe asthma was defined as self-reported severe asthma and asthma symptoms and regular impairment and ≥1 oral corticosteroid (OCS) course per year or regular OCS use or sleep disruption due to asthma symptoms or wheezing a few times per month.

Researchers selected 16 covariates that included personal characteristics, education, lifestyle, early-life factors, asthma characteristics, and multiple morbidities to assess the associations with severe asthma.

In a univariate analysis, severe asthma was significantly associated with male sex, age, low education level, no professional training, smoking, having ≥2 siblings, having ≥1 chronic comorbidity, and NERD (

Researchers also stated there was a trend for an association with severe childhood infection, the presence of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and being the first-born child (

In a multivariate regression model, severe asthma was significantly associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR]=1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–3.3), ever smoking (OR=1.98; 95% CI, 1.11–3.52), comorbidities (OR=2.68; 95% CI, 1.35–5.31), NERD (OR=3.29; 95% CI, 1.75–6.19), and having ≥2 siblings (OR=2.51; 95% CI, 1.17–5.41). There was a dose-response effect of all these risk factors on severe asthma (OR=2.3; 95% CI, 1.81–2.93) for each additional unit increase (

“Although these results need validation in other populations, in terms of clinical implications, they reinforce the need for smoking cessation and the importance of diagnostics and the management of NERD and other comorbidities to prevent severe asthma in adult-onset asthma patients,” researchers concluded.

Toppila-Salmi S, Lemmetyinen R, Chanoine S, et al. 

Risk factors for severe adult-onset asthma: a multi-factor approach. 

A new study found several risk factors associated with severe adult-onset asthma, including smoking, NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease, and sibling count.  

Smoking, NSAID-exacerbated Respiratory Disease Among Risk Factors for Severe Asthma Identified in New Study

, as of July 20, 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant makes up 

The CDC estimates as of July 27, 2021, the 5 states with the highest unweighted proportion of new cases attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant are:

 as of today, August 3, 2021, at 2:36 PM, EDT:

, as of today, August 3, 2021 at 3:20 PM, EDT, there have been:

 with 64 558 reported fatalities, followed by 