BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). HHCY may interact with hypertension (HTEN) and an unfavorable cholesterol profile (UNFAVCHOL) to alter the risk of CVD. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalences of HHCY (1) isolated and (2) in combination with UNFAVCHOL and/or HTEN in different age categories. To provide information that may improve the screening and treatment of subjects at risk of CVD. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data on 12,541 men and 12,948 women aged 20 + y were used from nine European studies. RESULTS: The prevalence of isolated HHCY was 8.5% in subjects aged 20-40 y, 4.7% in subjects aged 40-60 y and 5.9% in subjects aged over 60 y. When combining all age groups, 5.3% had isolated HHCY and an additional 5.6% had HHCY in combination with HTEN and/or UNFAVCHOL. The combinations of risk factors increased with age and, except for HHCY&UNFAVCHOL, were more prevalent than predicted by chance. Of the young subjects (20-40 y), 24% suffered from one or more of the investigated CVD risk factors. This figure was 75.1% in the old subjects (60+ years). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of subjects in selected European populations have HHCY (10.9%). In half of these cases, subjects suffer also from other CVD risk factors like UNFAVCHOL and HTEN. Older people in particular tend to have more than one risk factor. Healthcare professionals should be aware of this when screening and treating older people not only for the conventional CVD risk factors like UNFAVCHOL and HTEN but also HHCY, as this can easily be reduced through increased intake of folic acid via supplement or foods fortified with folic acid.
BACKGROUND:Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). HHCY may interact with hypertension (HTEN) and an unfavorable cholesterol profile (UNFAVCHOL) to alter the risk of CVD. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalences of HHCY (1) isolated and (2) in combination with UNFAVCHOL and/or HTEN in different age categories. To provide information that may improve the screening and treatment of subjects at risk of CVD. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data on 12,541 men and 12,948 women aged 20 + y were used from nine European studies. RESULTS: The prevalence of isolated HHCY was 8.5% in subjects aged 20-40 y, 4.7% in subjects aged 40-60 y and 5.9% in subjects aged over 60 y. When combining all age groups, 5.3% had isolated HHCY and an additional 5.6% had HHCY in combination with HTEN and/or UNFAVCHOL. The combinations of risk factors increased with age and, except for HHCY&UNFAVCHOL, were more prevalent than predicted by chance. Of the young subjects (20-40 y), 24% suffered from one or more of the investigated CVD risk factors. This figure was 75.1% in the old subjects (60+ years). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of subjects in selected European populations have HHCY (10.9%). In half of these cases, subjects suffer also from other CVD risk factors like UNFAVCHOL and HTEN. Older people in particular tend to have more than one risk factor. Healthcare professionals should be aware of this when screening and treating older people not only for the conventional CVD risk factors like UNFAVCHOL and HTEN but also HHCY, as this can easily be reduced through increased intake of folic acid via supplement or foods fortified with folic acid.
Authors: Z Li; X Guo; S Chen; L Zheng; H Yang; G Sun; S Yu; W Li; L Zhou; J Wang; W Hu; Y Sun Journal: J Hum Hypertens Date: 2015-07-09 Impact factor: 3.012
Authors: J P van Wijngaarden; R A M Dhonukshe-Rutten; E M Brouwer-Brolsma; A W Enneman; K M A Swart; S C van Dijk; P H In 't Veld; N M van Schoor; N van der Velde; R de Jonge; P Lips; A G Uitterlinden; L C P G M de Groot Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2017 Impact factor: 4.075
Authors: S C van Dijk; R T de Jongh; A W Enneman; A C Ham; K M A Swart; J P van Wijngaarden; N L van der Zwaluw; E M Brouwer-Brolsma; N M van Schoor; R A M Dhonukshe-Rutten; P Lips; C P G M de Groot; Y M Smulders; H J Blom; E J Feskens; J M Geleijnse; A H van den Meiracker; F U S Mattace Raso; A G Uitterlinden; M C Zillikens; N van der Velde Journal: J Bone Miner Metab Date: 2015-03-25 Impact factor: 2.626
Authors: S C van Dijk; K M A Swart; A C Ham; A W Enneman; J P van Wijngaarden; E J Feskens; J M Geleijnse; R T de Jongh; H J Blom; R A M Dhonukshe-Rutten; L C P G M de Groot; N M van Schoor; P Lips; A G Uitterlinden; F U S Mattace Raso; Y M Smulders; A H van den Meiracker; N van der Velde Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2015-08 Impact factor: 4.075
Authors: Annelies C Ham; Anke W Enneman; Suzanne C van Dijk; Sadaf Oliai Araghi; Karin M A Swart; Evelien Sohl; Janneke P van Wijngaarden; Nikita L van der Zwaluw; Elske M Brouwer-Brolsma; Rosalie A M Dhonukshe-Rutten; Natasja M van Schoor; Tischa J M van der Cammen; M Carola Zillikens; Robert de Jonge; Paul Lips; Lisette C P G M de Groot; Joyce B J van Meurs; André G Uitterlinden; Renger F Witkamp; Bruno H C Stricker; Nathalie van der Velde Journal: Drugs Aging Date: 2014-08 Impact factor: 3.923
Authors: Janneke P van Wijngaarden; Rosalie A M Dhonukshe-Rutten; Natasja M van Schoor; Nathalie van der Velde; Karin M A Swart; Anke W Enneman; Suzanne C van Dijk; Elske M Brouwer-Brolsma; M Carola Zillikens; Joyce B J van Meurs; Johannes Brug; André G Uitterlinden; Paul Lips; Lisette C P G M de Groot Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2011-12-02 Impact factor: 3.921
Authors: J P van Wijngaarden; E L Doets; A Szczecińska; O W Souverein; M E Duffy; C Dullemeijer; A E J M Cavelaars; B Pietruszka; P Van't Veer; A Brzozowska; R A M Dhonukshe-Rutten; C P G M de Groot Journal: J Nutr Metab Date: 2013-02-20