BACKGROUNDThe baseline characteristics of patients in a multinational trial are possibly related to cardiovascular outcome. This study compared the baseline characteristics of patients recruited in China with those recruited in other countries.

METHODSA total of 508 Chinese hypertensive men and 728 women over the age of 80 years who entered the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET) were compared with those in 860 men and 1348 women who entered the trial in other countries.

RESULTSThe Chinese subjects were slightly younger, had less previous hypertension but more previous strokes than the subjects from other countries. The Chinese subjects smoked more than those from other countries, but drank less alcohol. They had less previous episodes of myocardial infarction and were, on average, lighter and shorter. The Chinese had lower mean concentrations of blood urea, uric acid and creatinine as well as higher concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The concentration of total cholesterol was, on average, lower in the Chinese subjects as was blood glucose. The levels of serum sodium and potassium, blood hematocrit and hemoglobin were all, on average, lower in the Chinese subjects.

CONCLUSIONSCalorie restriction, compared with the rest of the world, may have resulted in lower stature and weight, and recent increases in calorie intake have not changed the metabolic profile of the very elderly hypertensive patients in China. Some of these biochemical differences may reflect different dietary lifestyle in the Chinese.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; drug therapy ; Male

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a blood marker for neuroaxonal damage. We assessed the association between serum NfL and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), which is highly prevalent in elderly individuals and a major cause of stroke and vascular cognitive impairment. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, we studied 53 and 439 patients with genetically defined SVD (Cerebral Autosomal-Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy [CADASIL]) and sporadic SVD, respectively, as well as 93 healthy controls. Serum NfL was measured by an ultrasensitive single-molecule array assay. We quantified magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of SVD, i.e., white matter hyperintensity volume, lacune volume, brain volume, microbleed count, and mean diffusivity obtained from diffusion tensor imaging. Clinical characterization included neuropsychological testing in both SVD samples. CADASIL patients were further characterized for focal neurological deficits (National Institutes of Health stroke scale [NIHSS]) and disability (modified Rankin scale [mRS]). RESULTS: Serum NfL levels were elevated in both SVD samples (P < 1e-05 compared with controls) and associated with all SVD MRI markers. The strongest association was found for mean diffusivity (CADASIL, R2=0.52, P=1.2e-09; sporadic SVD, R2=0.21, P < 1e-15). Serum NfL levels were independently related to processing speed performance (CADASIL, R2=0.27, P=7.6e-05; sporadic SVD, R2=0.06, P=4.8e-08), focal neurological symptoms (CADASIL, NIHSS, P=4.2e-05) and disability (CADASIL, mRS, P=3.0e-06). CONCLUSIONS: We found serum NfL levels to be associated with both imaging and clinical features of SVD. Serum NfL might complement MRI markers in assessing SVD burden. Importantly, SVD needs to be considered when interpreting serum NfL levels in the context of other age-related diseases.
Academies and Institutes ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; Brain ; CADASIL ; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases ; Cognition Disorders ; Complement System Proteins ; Dementia, Vascular ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Humans ; Intermediate Filaments* ; Leukoencephalopathies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Stroke ; White Matter