christina chrysohoou | National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (original) (raw)

Papers by christina chrysohoou

Angiology, 2019

The association between lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and 10-year first fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular d... more The association between lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and 10-year first fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in apparently healthy men and women was evaluated. The ATTICA prospective study was conducted during 2001-2012 and included n = 1514 men and n = 1528 women (age >18 years) from the greater Athens area, Greece. Follow-up CVD assessment (2011-2012) was achieved in n = 2020 participants (n = 317 cases); baseline Lp(a) was measured in n = 1890 participants. The recommended threshold of 50 mg/dL was used to define abnormal Lp(a) status. Ten-year CVD-event rate was 14% and 24% in participants with Lp(a) <50 and Lp(a) ≥50 mg/dL, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that participants with Lp(a) ≥50 mg/dL versus Lp(a) <50 mg/dL had about 2 times higher CVD risk (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11, 4.28). The sex-based analysis revealed that the independent Lp(a) effect was retained only in men (HR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.19, 2.56); in women, si...

Molecules, 2019

Tea is one of the most-widely consumed beverages in the world with a number of different benefici... more Tea is one of the most-widely consumed beverages in the world with a number of different beneficial health effects, mainly ascribed to the polyphenolic content of the tea catechins. The aim of this study was to examine the consumption of green, black, or no tea, in relation to the previously validated successful ageing index (SAI; higher values “healthier” ageing) in a combined analysis of adults aged >50 years old from the ATTICA (n = 1128 adults from Athens, Greece metropolitan area) and the MEDiterranean Islands Study (MEDIS) (n = 2221 adults from various Greek island and Mani) studies. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and coffee consumption, green tea was positively associated with SAI (b ± SE: 0.225 ± 0.055, p < 0.001), while black tea was negatively associated with SAI (unstandardized b coefficient ± Standard error: −0.807 ± 0.054, p < 0.001). Green tea (vs black tea) consumption, had higher odds of a SAI of over 3.58 out of 10 (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.38–2.28). Gre...

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 2007

Throughout the past decade, several epidemiological and cross-cultural studies have provided impo... more Throughout the past decade, several epidemiological and cross-cultural studies have provided important insight into the physical and psychological well-being of citizens throughout Europe (

Endocrine, 2017

Purpose: Adiponectin is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular-protective propert... more Purpose: Adiponectin is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular-protective properties. Existing epidemiological evidence is conflicting on the exact relationship between adiponectin and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Our aim was to prospectively assess whether circulating adiponectin is associated with long-term incident CVD. Methods: A population-based, prospective study in adults (>18 years) without previous CVD history (ATTICA study). Circulating total adiponectin levels were measured at baseline (2001-2002) in a sub-sample (n=531; women/men: 222/309; age: 40±11 years) of the ATTICA cohort and complete 10-year follow-up data were available in 366 of these participants (women/men: 154/212; age: 40±12 years). Results: After adjusting for multiple factors, including age, sex, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, physical activity, Mediterranean diet adherence, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, our logistic regression analysis indicates that an increase in circulating total adiponectin levels by 1 unit was associated with 36% lower CVD risk (relative risk [RR]: 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42-0.96; p=0.03). Further adjusting for interleukin-6 plasma levels had no significant impact (RR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.38-0.94; p=0.03), while additional adjustment for circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) modestly attenuated this association (RR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40-0.99; p=0.046). Conclusions: In our study elevated circulating total adiponectin levels were associated with lower 10-year CVD risk in adults without previous CVD, independently of other established CVD risk factors. This association appeared to be modestly attenuated by CRP, yet was not mediated by interleukin-6 which is the main endocrine/circulating pro-inflammatory cytokine.

Atherosclerosis, 2018

2583 of the 3042 initial participants were reassessed during this follow-up An independent positi... more 2583 of the 3042 initial participants were reassessed during this follow-up An independent positive association between LAP and long-term CVD incidence in CVD-free Caucasian adults from the general population was revealed. LAP was positively associated with with 10-year CVD incidence, even after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, physical activity, Mediterranean diet adherence, and key pro-inflammatory biomarkers (Hazard Ratios per 10 cm⋅mmol/L of LAP ranging from 1.1 to 1.21, p=0.04). LAP predicted CVD risk better than common obesity indices (BMI, WC, waist-to-hip, waist-to-height ratio). LAP is considered to expand on the concept of the hypertriglyceridemic waist as regards C VD risk

Central European journal of public health, 2018

The aim of the study was to understand determinants of ageing in relation to future cardiovascula... more The aim of the study was to understand determinants of ageing in relation to future cardiovascular disease (CVD) events at population level, and to explore determinants of healthy ageing and its relation to 10-year CVD incidence among apparently healthy individuals. In the context of the ATTICA study 453 apparently healthy men (45±13 years) and 400 women (44±18 years) with complete psychological evaluation were studied and followed during 2002-2012. Healthy Ageing Index (HAI) (range 0-7) was calculated based on socio-economical, bio-clinical, psychological, and lifestyle characteristics (i.e. dietary habits and physical activity) of the participants during the baseline examination. CVD incidence during the follow-up period was defined according to ICD-10 criteria. Healthy Ageing Index was inversely associated with higher 10-year CVD risk (OR per 1/7 (95% CI): 0.47 (0.28, 0.80). Age and sex-adjusted determinants of healthy ageing were abnormal waist to hip ratio (p<0.001), increas...

Nutrition Journal, 2003

Background: The relation between diet and human health has long been investigated. The aim of thi... more Background: The relation between diet and human health has long been investigated. The aim of this work is to evaluate the association between CHD risk and the consumption of fruit and vegetable, in a large sample of cardiac patients and controls. Methods: Stratified sampling from all Greek regions, consisted of 848 (700 males, 58 ± 10 years old and 148 females, 65 ± 9 years old) randomly selected patients, admitted to the cardiology clinic for a first event of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In addition we selected 1078 frequency paired, by sex-age-region, controls in the same hospitals but without any clinical suspicion of CHD. Using validated food-frequency questionnaires we assessed total diet, including fruit and vegetable intake, on a weekly basis. Multiple logistic regression analysis estimated the relative risk of developing ACS by level of fruits and vegetables intake after taking into account the effect of several potential confounders. Results: Data analysis revealed that the benefit of fruit or vegetable consumption increases proportionally by the number of servings consumed (P for trend < 0.001). After adjusting for the conventional cardiovascular risk factors, those in the upper quintile of fruit consumption (5 or more items/day) had 72% lower risk for CHD (odds ratio = 0.28, 95% CI 0.11-0.54, P < 0.001), compared with those in the lowest quintile of intake (<1 items/day). Similarly, consumption of vegetable more than 3 days / week was associated with 70% lower risk for CHD (odds ratio = 0.30, 95% CI 0.22-0.40, P < 0.001), compared with those that they did not consume vegetables. Of particular interest, a 10% reduction in coronary risk was observed for every one piece of fruit consumed per day (odds ratio = 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.97, P = 0.004). Conclusions: Consumption of fruits and vegetables seems to offer significant protection against CHD.

Diabetes & metabolic syndrome, Jan 3, 2017

Body fat accumulation is implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our objec... more Body fat accumulation is implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our objective was to explore potential associations between anthropometric indices and the 10-year CVD incidence in Greek adults without previous CVD. During 2001-2, we enrolled 3042 adults without CVD from the general population of Attica, Greece. In 2011-2, the 10-year study follow-up was performed, recording the CVD incidence in 1958 participants with baseline body mass index (BMI) ≥18.5kg/m(2). The study 10-year CVD incidence was 15.8%, exhibiting a gradual increase according to the baseline body mass index (BMI) category. Baseline BMI ≥30kg/m(2) was related with significantly higher 10-year CVD risk compared to BMI <25kg/m(2), even after adjustment for age and other known CVD risk factors. Baseline BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip-to-height ratio were independently associated with the 10-year CVD risk in multi-adjusted models. Gender-spe...

The Review of Diabetic Studies, 2016

AIM: To identify dietary patterns among apparently healthy individuals and to determine their lon... more AIM: To identify dietary patterns among apparently healthy individuals and to determine their long-term effect on diabetes incidence. METHODS: During 2001-2002, a random sample of 3,042 men and women (18-89 years old), living in greater Athens, was randomly selected to participate in the study. During 2011-2012, the 10-year follow-up was performed in 2,583 participants (15% drop-out rate). After excluding participants with diabetes at baseline and those for whom no information on diabetes status was available at follow-up, the working sample consisted of 1,485 participants. Dietary habits were assessed by means of a validated semiquantitative, food frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis was performed to extract dietary patterns from 18 food groups. RESULTS: Diabetes diagnosis at follow-up was made in 191 participants, yielding an incidence rate of 12.9%. Six factors (i.e. dietary patterns) were identified that explained 54% of the variation in consumption. After adjusting for major confounders, and stratification by age-group, logistic regression revealed that the most healthful pattern consisted of the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, bread, rusk, and pasta which reduced the 10-year diabetes risk by 40%, among participants aged 45-55 years. The association reached marginal statistical significance (95% CI: 0.34, 1.07), while no significant association was observed for the other age-groups. When the analysis was additionally adjusted for carbohydrate percentage, statistical significance was lost completely, suggesting a possibly mediating effect of this macronutrient. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the potentially protective effect of a plant-based dietary pattern in the primary prevention of diabetes, in particular among middle-aged people. Carbohydrate content may be a specific factor in this relationship; other micronutrients found in plant-based food groups may also play a role.

The Review of Diabetic Studies, 2016

BACKGROUND: Prediabetes has been related to an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiova... more BACKGROUND: Prediabetes has been related to an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of the Mediterranean diet on diabetes and CVD risk in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG, i.e. fasting plasma glucose 100-125 mg/dl). METHODS: During 2001-2002, 3042 men and women (>18y) were enrolled for the study. The participants showed no clinical evidence of CVD or any other chronic disease, and were living in the greater Athens (Greece) area. In 2011 and 2012, the 10-year follow-up examinations were performed, including a working sample of n = 1875 participants without diabetes at baseline. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet at baseline evaluation was assessed using the MedDietScore (range 0-55). RESULTS: The prediabetic subjects (n = 343) had a significantly higher incidence of diabetes (25% vs. 10%, p < 0.001) and CVD (17.8% vs. 12.3%, p = 0.007) compared with subjects with normal glucose values. A significant trend towards lower diabetes and CVD incidence was observed with medium and high adherence to the Mediterranean diet compared with low adherence (p < 0.001). High adherence to the Mediterranean diet (>35/55 score) was associated with lower 10-year incidence of diabetes and CVD. In multiple logistic regression models, participants with high levels of adherence to the Mediterranean diet were significantly less affected by diabetes and CVD than those with low adherence levels. CONCLUSION: High adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a low risk of developing diabetes and CVD in prediabetic subjects.

European journal of preventive cardiology, 2017

Background Chronic stress frequently manifests with anxiety and/or depressive symptomatology and ... more Background Chronic stress frequently manifests with anxiety and/or depressive symptomatology and may have detrimental cardiometabolic effects over time. As such, recognising the potential links between stress-related psychological disorders and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is becoming increasingly important in cardiovascular epidemiology research. The primary aim of this study was to explore prospectively potential associations between clinically relevant depressive symptomatology and anxiety levels and the 10-year CVD incidence among apparently healthy Greek adults. Design A population-based, health and nutrition prospective survey. Methods In the context of the ATTICA Study (2002-2012), 853 adult participants without previous CVD history (453 men (45 ± 13 years) and 400 women (44 ± 18 years)) underwent psychological evaluations through validated, self-reporting depression and anxiety questionnaires. Results After adjustment for multiple established CVD risk factors, both reported ...

Preventive Medicine, 2016

Impact of physical activity category on incidence of cardiovascular disease; results from the 10-... more Impact of physical activity category on incidence of cardiovascular disease; results from the 10-year follow-up of the

Atherosclerosis, Jan 18, 2015

To better understand the metabolic syndrome (MS) spectrum through principal components analysis a... more To better understand the metabolic syndrome (MS) spectrum through principal components analysis and further evaluate the role of the Mediterranean diet on MS presence. During 2001-2002, 1514 men and 1528 women (>18y) without any clinical evidence of CVD or any other chronic disease, at baseline, living in greater Athens area, Greece, were enrolled. In 2011-2012, the 10-year follow-up was performed in 2583 participants (15% of the participants were lost to follow-up). Incidence of fatal or non-fatal CVD was defined according to WHO-ICD-10 criteria. MS was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment panel III (revised NCEP ATP III) definition. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the MedDietScore (range 0-55). Five principal components were derived, explaining 73.8% of the total variation, characterized by the: a) body weight and lipid profile, b) blood pressure, c) lipid profile, d) glucose profile, e) inflammatory factors. All component...

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2015

The ATTICA Study group BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to investigate the ass... more The ATTICA Study group BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to investigate the association between coffee drinking and diabetes development and potential mediation by oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In 2001-2002, a random sample of 1514 men (18-87 years old) and 1528 women (18-89 years old) were selected to participate in the ATTICA study (Athens metropolitan area, Greece). A validated food-frequency questionnaire was used to assess coffee drinking (abstention, casual, habitual) and other lifestyle and dietary factors. Evaluation of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers was also performed. During 2011-2012, the 10-year follow-up of the ATTICA study was carried out. The outcome of interest in this work was incidence of type 2 diabetes, defined according to American Diabetes Association criteria. RESULTS: During follow-up, 191 incident cases of diabetes were documented (incidence 13.4% in men and 12.4% in women). After various adjustments, individuals who consumed ⩾ 250 ml of coffee (≈1.5cup) had 54% lower odds of developing diabetes (95% confidence interval: 0.24, 0.90), as compared with abstainers. A dose-response linear trend between coffee drinking and diabetes incidence was also observed (P for trend = 0.017). When controlling for several oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers, the inverse association between habitual coffee drinking and diabetes was found to be mediated by serum amyloid-A levels. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights the significance of long-term habitual coffee drinking against diabetes onset. The antiinflammatory effect of several coffee components may be responsible for this protection.

Lipids in Health and Disease, 2015

Background: The traditional view on the relationship between lipid biomarkers and CVD risk has ch... more Background: The traditional view on the relationship between lipid biomarkers and CVD risk has changed during the last decade. However, it is not clear whether novel lipid biomarkers are able to confer a better predictability of CVD risk, compared to traditional ones.Under this perspective, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the predictive ability of blood lipids' profile on all cause mortality as well as 10-year incidence of CVD, in a sample of apparently healthy adults of the ATTICA epidemiological study. Methods: From May 2001 to December 2002, 1514 men and 1528 women (>18 y) without any clinical evidence of any other chronic disease, at baseline, were enrolled. In 2011-12, the 10-year follow-up was performed in 2583 participants (85 % follow-up participation rate). Incidence of fatal or non-fatal CVD was defined according to WHO-ICD-10 criteria. Baseline serum blood lipids' profile (Total-C, HDL-, non HDL-, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein (Apo)A1 and B, and lipoprotein-(a) levels were also measured. Results: The 10-year all-cause mortality rate was 5.7 % for men and 2.0 % for women (p = 0.55). The, 10-year CVD incidence was 19.7 % in men and 11.7 % in women (p < 0.001). Multi-adjusted analysis revealed that TC, non-HDL-C, TG and TG/HDL-C ratio, were independent predictors of all cause mortality (RR per 1 mg/dL or unit (95 %

Nutrition & metabolism, Oct 14, 2004

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest a non-monotonic effect of alcohol consumption on card... more BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest a non-monotonic effect of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular risk, while there is strong evidence concerning the involvement of homocysteine levels on thrombosis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the association between usual ethanol consumption and homocysteine levels, in cardiovascular disease free adults. METHODS: From May 2001 to December 2002 we randomly enrolled 1514 adult men and 1528 women, without any evidence of cardiovascular disease, stratified by age - gender (census 2001), from the greater area of Athens, Greece. Among the variables ascertained we measured the daily ethanol consumption and plasma homocysteine concentrations. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed a J-shape association between ethanol intake (none, <12 gr, 12 - 24 gr, 25 - 48 gr, >48 gr per day) and total homocysteine levels (mean +/- standard deviation) among males (13 +/- 3 vs. 11 +/- 3 vs. 14 +/- 4 vs. 18 +/- 5 vs. 19 +/- 3 mumol/L, respectively, p &l...

Hellenic journal of cardiology : HJC = Hellēnikē kardiologikē epitheōrēsē

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CV... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a population-based sample of Greek adults. From May 2001 to December 2002, 1514 men and 1528 women (age >18 y), living in the Attica region of Greece, were enrolled in the ATTICA cohort study. In 2006, the 5-year follow up was performed (941 of the 3042 participants, 31%, were lost to follow up). The prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity, smoking and physical inactivity, was assessed in both examinations through established procedures. Development of CVD (coronary heart disease, acute coronary syndromes, stroke, or other CVD) during the followup period was defined according to the WHO-ICD-10 criteria. During 2001-2006 there were 88 male and 102 female cases with hypertension per 1000 individuals, 237 male and 177 female cases with hypercholesterolemia per 1000 individuals, 58 male and 53 female cases with diabetes per 1000 individuals. ...

Cardiology Research and Practice, 2011

Background. The aim was to examine the association of depressive symptoms with fish eating habits... more Background. The aim was to examine the association of depressive symptoms with fish eating habits, in elderly individuals. Methods. From June to October of 2009, we studied 330 men and 343 women, aged 65 to 100 years, permanent inhabitants of Ikaria Island. Among several characteristics, depression was assessed with the Geriatric Depression scale (GDS range 0-15), while dietary habits through a valid semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Results. Women had significantly higher values of the GDS compared to men (4.8 ± 3.5 versus 3.3 ± 3.1, P = .001). Participants in the upper tertile of depression scale ate less frequent fish and consumed higher quantities of alcohol, compared to those in the lowest tertile (all P < .05). Regarding fish consumption, 50% of the individuals reported consuming 1-2 times weekly, 32% 3 to 5 times weekly, 11% 2-3 times monthly, while the rest reported rare (4.5%) and everyday (1.2%) consumption. Logistic regression showed that increased fish consumption (>3 times/week versus never/rare) was inversely associated with the odds of having GDS greater the median value (i.e., 4) (odds ratio = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.61), after controlling for several cofounders. Conclusion. Frequent fish consumption in elderly seems to moderate depression mood.

The Open Hypertension Journal, 2014

Introduction: Health attitudes and beliefs have long been associated with lower risk of various d... more Introduction: Health attitudes and beliefs have long been associated with lower risk of various diseases, better compliance to medication and less likelihood of relapsing. The aim of this work was to study health beliefs and attitudes of hypertensive subjects in relation to the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Methods: The Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society ran a project where during 2006-2012, 10,141 individuals (39 ± 15 years, 47% men, i.e., 0.01% of the Greek population), from all areas of the country, were voluntarily enrolled and participated into a face-toface interview that gathered information about their beliefs and attitudes on diet, smoking and physical activity, as well as management of CVD disorders. Results: Self-reported prevalence of hypertension was 16.7% in men and 13.2% in women. Hypertensive subjects had lower educational level than non-hypertensive (11 ± 5 vs. 13 ± 4.5 years of school, p<0.001). Hypertensive participants as compared to n...

QJM, 2009

Background: The influence of different types of exercise on risk factors for cardiovascular disea... more Background: The influence of different types of exercise on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases has rarely been investigated. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of adding resistance exercise to aerobic activities on lipid-lipoprotein profile, in a representative sample of men and women from the province of Attica, Greece. Methods: We randomly enrolled 1514 and 1528 healthy men and women, respectively, stratified by city, age and gender distribution. Participants were classified as inactive (INA), sufficiently active (SA) and highly active for either aerobic activities (HAA) alone or a combination of aerobic plus resistance exercise (HAC). The main outcome measures are lipid-lipoprotein profile [total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein-A1, apolipoprotein-B] and anthropometric indices. Results: From those participating in aerobic activities, 480 (31.7%) men and 502 (32.9%) women were classified as SA, 100 men (6.6%) and 93 women (6.1%) as HAA and 90 men (5.9%) and 49 women (3.2%) as HAC. After various adjustments were made, men from the HAC group had an average of 23% lower plasma triacylglycerol concentration (P = 0.04) and 10% lower LDL-cholesterol (P = 0.01) when compared with the HAA group. Moreover, women from the HAC group had 13% lower LDL-cholesterol when compared with HAA group (P = 0.051). Conclusions: These data suggest that combining aerobic and resistance-type activities may confer a better effect on lipoprotein profile in healthy individuals than aerobic activities alone.

Angiology, 2019

The association between lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and 10-year first fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular d... more The association between lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and 10-year first fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in apparently healthy men and women was evaluated. The ATTICA prospective study was conducted during 2001-2012 and included n = 1514 men and n = 1528 women (age >18 years) from the greater Athens area, Greece. Follow-up CVD assessment (2011-2012) was achieved in n = 2020 participants (n = 317 cases); baseline Lp(a) was measured in n = 1890 participants. The recommended threshold of 50 mg/dL was used to define abnormal Lp(a) status. Ten-year CVD-event rate was 14% and 24% in participants with Lp(a) <50 and Lp(a) ≥50 mg/dL, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that participants with Lp(a) ≥50 mg/dL versus Lp(a) <50 mg/dL had about 2 times higher CVD risk (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11, 4.28). The sex-based analysis revealed that the independent Lp(a) effect was retained only in men (HR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.19, 2.56); in women, si...

Molecules, 2019

Tea is one of the most-widely consumed beverages in the world with a number of different benefici... more Tea is one of the most-widely consumed beverages in the world with a number of different beneficial health effects, mainly ascribed to the polyphenolic content of the tea catechins. The aim of this study was to examine the consumption of green, black, or no tea, in relation to the previously validated successful ageing index (SAI; higher values “healthier” ageing) in a combined analysis of adults aged >50 years old from the ATTICA (n = 1128 adults from Athens, Greece metropolitan area) and the MEDiterranean Islands Study (MEDIS) (n = 2221 adults from various Greek island and Mani) studies. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and coffee consumption, green tea was positively associated with SAI (b ± SE: 0.225 ± 0.055, p < 0.001), while black tea was negatively associated with SAI (unstandardized b coefficient ± Standard error: −0.807 ± 0.054, p < 0.001). Green tea (vs black tea) consumption, had higher odds of a SAI of over 3.58 out of 10 (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.38–2.28). Gre...

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 2007

Throughout the past decade, several epidemiological and cross-cultural studies have provided impo... more Throughout the past decade, several epidemiological and cross-cultural studies have provided important insight into the physical and psychological well-being of citizens throughout Europe (

Endocrine, 2017

Purpose: Adiponectin is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular-protective propert... more Purpose: Adiponectin is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular-protective properties. Existing epidemiological evidence is conflicting on the exact relationship between adiponectin and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Our aim was to prospectively assess whether circulating adiponectin is associated with long-term incident CVD. Methods: A population-based, prospective study in adults (>18 years) without previous CVD history (ATTICA study). Circulating total adiponectin levels were measured at baseline (2001-2002) in a sub-sample (n=531; women/men: 222/309; age: 40±11 years) of the ATTICA cohort and complete 10-year follow-up data were available in 366 of these participants (women/men: 154/212; age: 40±12 years). Results: After adjusting for multiple factors, including age, sex, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, physical activity, Mediterranean diet adherence, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, our logistic regression analysis indicates that an increase in circulating total adiponectin levels by 1 unit was associated with 36% lower CVD risk (relative risk [RR]: 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42-0.96; p=0.03). Further adjusting for interleukin-6 plasma levels had no significant impact (RR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.38-0.94; p=0.03), while additional adjustment for circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) modestly attenuated this association (RR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40-0.99; p=0.046). Conclusions: In our study elevated circulating total adiponectin levels were associated with lower 10-year CVD risk in adults without previous CVD, independently of other established CVD risk factors. This association appeared to be modestly attenuated by CRP, yet was not mediated by interleukin-6 which is the main endocrine/circulating pro-inflammatory cytokine.

Atherosclerosis, 2018

2583 of the 3042 initial participants were reassessed during this follow-up An independent positi... more 2583 of the 3042 initial participants were reassessed during this follow-up An independent positive association between LAP and long-term CVD incidence in CVD-free Caucasian adults from the general population was revealed. LAP was positively associated with with 10-year CVD incidence, even after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, physical activity, Mediterranean diet adherence, and key pro-inflammatory biomarkers (Hazard Ratios per 10 cm⋅mmol/L of LAP ranging from 1.1 to 1.21, p=0.04). LAP predicted CVD risk better than common obesity indices (BMI, WC, waist-to-hip, waist-to-height ratio). LAP is considered to expand on the concept of the hypertriglyceridemic waist as regards C VD risk

Central European journal of public health, 2018

The aim of the study was to understand determinants of ageing in relation to future cardiovascula... more The aim of the study was to understand determinants of ageing in relation to future cardiovascular disease (CVD) events at population level, and to explore determinants of healthy ageing and its relation to 10-year CVD incidence among apparently healthy individuals. In the context of the ATTICA study 453 apparently healthy men (45±13 years) and 400 women (44±18 years) with complete psychological evaluation were studied and followed during 2002-2012. Healthy Ageing Index (HAI) (range 0-7) was calculated based on socio-economical, bio-clinical, psychological, and lifestyle characteristics (i.e. dietary habits and physical activity) of the participants during the baseline examination. CVD incidence during the follow-up period was defined according to ICD-10 criteria. Healthy Ageing Index was inversely associated with higher 10-year CVD risk (OR per 1/7 (95% CI): 0.47 (0.28, 0.80). Age and sex-adjusted determinants of healthy ageing were abnormal waist to hip ratio (p<0.001), increas...

Nutrition Journal, 2003

Background: The relation between diet and human health has long been investigated. The aim of thi... more Background: The relation between diet and human health has long been investigated. The aim of this work is to evaluate the association between CHD risk and the consumption of fruit and vegetable, in a large sample of cardiac patients and controls. Methods: Stratified sampling from all Greek regions, consisted of 848 (700 males, 58 ± 10 years old and 148 females, 65 ± 9 years old) randomly selected patients, admitted to the cardiology clinic for a first event of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In addition we selected 1078 frequency paired, by sex-age-region, controls in the same hospitals but without any clinical suspicion of CHD. Using validated food-frequency questionnaires we assessed total diet, including fruit and vegetable intake, on a weekly basis. Multiple logistic regression analysis estimated the relative risk of developing ACS by level of fruits and vegetables intake after taking into account the effect of several potential confounders. Results: Data analysis revealed that the benefit of fruit or vegetable consumption increases proportionally by the number of servings consumed (P for trend < 0.001). After adjusting for the conventional cardiovascular risk factors, those in the upper quintile of fruit consumption (5 or more items/day) had 72% lower risk for CHD (odds ratio = 0.28, 95% CI 0.11-0.54, P < 0.001), compared with those in the lowest quintile of intake (<1 items/day). Similarly, consumption of vegetable more than 3 days / week was associated with 70% lower risk for CHD (odds ratio = 0.30, 95% CI 0.22-0.40, P < 0.001), compared with those that they did not consume vegetables. Of particular interest, a 10% reduction in coronary risk was observed for every one piece of fruit consumed per day (odds ratio = 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.97, P = 0.004). Conclusions: Consumption of fruits and vegetables seems to offer significant protection against CHD.

Diabetes & metabolic syndrome, Jan 3, 2017

Body fat accumulation is implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our objec... more Body fat accumulation is implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our objective was to explore potential associations between anthropometric indices and the 10-year CVD incidence in Greek adults without previous CVD. During 2001-2, we enrolled 3042 adults without CVD from the general population of Attica, Greece. In 2011-2, the 10-year study follow-up was performed, recording the CVD incidence in 1958 participants with baseline body mass index (BMI) ≥18.5kg/m(2). The study 10-year CVD incidence was 15.8%, exhibiting a gradual increase according to the baseline body mass index (BMI) category. Baseline BMI ≥30kg/m(2) was related with significantly higher 10-year CVD risk compared to BMI <25kg/m(2), even after adjustment for age and other known CVD risk factors. Baseline BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip-to-height ratio were independently associated with the 10-year CVD risk in multi-adjusted models. Gender-spe...

The Review of Diabetic Studies, 2016

AIM: To identify dietary patterns among apparently healthy individuals and to determine their lon... more AIM: To identify dietary patterns among apparently healthy individuals and to determine their long-term effect on diabetes incidence. METHODS: During 2001-2002, a random sample of 3,042 men and women (18-89 years old), living in greater Athens, was randomly selected to participate in the study. During 2011-2012, the 10-year follow-up was performed in 2,583 participants (15% drop-out rate). After excluding participants with diabetes at baseline and those for whom no information on diabetes status was available at follow-up, the working sample consisted of 1,485 participants. Dietary habits were assessed by means of a validated semiquantitative, food frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis was performed to extract dietary patterns from 18 food groups. RESULTS: Diabetes diagnosis at follow-up was made in 191 participants, yielding an incidence rate of 12.9%. Six factors (i.e. dietary patterns) were identified that explained 54% of the variation in consumption. After adjusting for major confounders, and stratification by age-group, logistic regression revealed that the most healthful pattern consisted of the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, bread, rusk, and pasta which reduced the 10-year diabetes risk by 40%, among participants aged 45-55 years. The association reached marginal statistical significance (95% CI: 0.34, 1.07), while no significant association was observed for the other age-groups. When the analysis was additionally adjusted for carbohydrate percentage, statistical significance was lost completely, suggesting a possibly mediating effect of this macronutrient. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the potentially protective effect of a plant-based dietary pattern in the primary prevention of diabetes, in particular among middle-aged people. Carbohydrate content may be a specific factor in this relationship; other micronutrients found in plant-based food groups may also play a role.

The Review of Diabetic Studies, 2016

BACKGROUND: Prediabetes has been related to an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiova... more BACKGROUND: Prediabetes has been related to an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of the Mediterranean diet on diabetes and CVD risk in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG, i.e. fasting plasma glucose 100-125 mg/dl). METHODS: During 2001-2002, 3042 men and women (>18y) were enrolled for the study. The participants showed no clinical evidence of CVD or any other chronic disease, and were living in the greater Athens (Greece) area. In 2011 and 2012, the 10-year follow-up examinations were performed, including a working sample of n = 1875 participants without diabetes at baseline. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet at baseline evaluation was assessed using the MedDietScore (range 0-55). RESULTS: The prediabetic subjects (n = 343) had a significantly higher incidence of diabetes (25% vs. 10%, p < 0.001) and CVD (17.8% vs. 12.3%, p = 0.007) compared with subjects with normal glucose values. A significant trend towards lower diabetes and CVD incidence was observed with medium and high adherence to the Mediterranean diet compared with low adherence (p < 0.001). High adherence to the Mediterranean diet (>35/55 score) was associated with lower 10-year incidence of diabetes and CVD. In multiple logistic regression models, participants with high levels of adherence to the Mediterranean diet were significantly less affected by diabetes and CVD than those with low adherence levels. CONCLUSION: High adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a low risk of developing diabetes and CVD in prediabetic subjects.

European journal of preventive cardiology, 2017

Background Chronic stress frequently manifests with anxiety and/or depressive symptomatology and ... more Background Chronic stress frequently manifests with anxiety and/or depressive symptomatology and may have detrimental cardiometabolic effects over time. As such, recognising the potential links between stress-related psychological disorders and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is becoming increasingly important in cardiovascular epidemiology research. The primary aim of this study was to explore prospectively potential associations between clinically relevant depressive symptomatology and anxiety levels and the 10-year CVD incidence among apparently healthy Greek adults. Design A population-based, health and nutrition prospective survey. Methods In the context of the ATTICA Study (2002-2012), 853 adult participants without previous CVD history (453 men (45 ± 13 years) and 400 women (44 ± 18 years)) underwent psychological evaluations through validated, self-reporting depression and anxiety questionnaires. Results After adjustment for multiple established CVD risk factors, both reported ...

Preventive Medicine, 2016

Impact of physical activity category on incidence of cardiovascular disease; results from the 10-... more Impact of physical activity category on incidence of cardiovascular disease; results from the 10-year follow-up of the

Atherosclerosis, Jan 18, 2015

To better understand the metabolic syndrome (MS) spectrum through principal components analysis a... more To better understand the metabolic syndrome (MS) spectrum through principal components analysis and further evaluate the role of the Mediterranean diet on MS presence. During 2001-2002, 1514 men and 1528 women (>18y) without any clinical evidence of CVD or any other chronic disease, at baseline, living in greater Athens area, Greece, were enrolled. In 2011-2012, the 10-year follow-up was performed in 2583 participants (15% of the participants were lost to follow-up). Incidence of fatal or non-fatal CVD was defined according to WHO-ICD-10 criteria. MS was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment panel III (revised NCEP ATP III) definition. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the MedDietScore (range 0-55). Five principal components were derived, explaining 73.8% of the total variation, characterized by the: a) body weight and lipid profile, b) blood pressure, c) lipid profile, d) glucose profile, e) inflammatory factors. All component...

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2015

The ATTICA Study group BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to investigate the ass... more The ATTICA Study group BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to investigate the association between coffee drinking and diabetes development and potential mediation by oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In 2001-2002, a random sample of 1514 men (18-87 years old) and 1528 women (18-89 years old) were selected to participate in the ATTICA study (Athens metropolitan area, Greece). A validated food-frequency questionnaire was used to assess coffee drinking (abstention, casual, habitual) and other lifestyle and dietary factors. Evaluation of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers was also performed. During 2011-2012, the 10-year follow-up of the ATTICA study was carried out. The outcome of interest in this work was incidence of type 2 diabetes, defined according to American Diabetes Association criteria. RESULTS: During follow-up, 191 incident cases of diabetes were documented (incidence 13.4% in men and 12.4% in women). After various adjustments, individuals who consumed ⩾ 250 ml of coffee (≈1.5cup) had 54% lower odds of developing diabetes (95% confidence interval: 0.24, 0.90), as compared with abstainers. A dose-response linear trend between coffee drinking and diabetes incidence was also observed (P for trend = 0.017). When controlling for several oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers, the inverse association between habitual coffee drinking and diabetes was found to be mediated by serum amyloid-A levels. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights the significance of long-term habitual coffee drinking against diabetes onset. The antiinflammatory effect of several coffee components may be responsible for this protection.

Lipids in Health and Disease, 2015

Background: The traditional view on the relationship between lipid biomarkers and CVD risk has ch... more Background: The traditional view on the relationship between lipid biomarkers and CVD risk has changed during the last decade. However, it is not clear whether novel lipid biomarkers are able to confer a better predictability of CVD risk, compared to traditional ones.Under this perspective, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the predictive ability of blood lipids' profile on all cause mortality as well as 10-year incidence of CVD, in a sample of apparently healthy adults of the ATTICA epidemiological study. Methods: From May 2001 to December 2002, 1514 men and 1528 women (>18 y) without any clinical evidence of any other chronic disease, at baseline, were enrolled. In 2011-12, the 10-year follow-up was performed in 2583 participants (85 % follow-up participation rate). Incidence of fatal or non-fatal CVD was defined according to WHO-ICD-10 criteria. Baseline serum blood lipids' profile (Total-C, HDL-, non HDL-, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein (Apo)A1 and B, and lipoprotein-(a) levels were also measured. Results: The 10-year all-cause mortality rate was 5.7 % for men and 2.0 % for women (p = 0.55). The, 10-year CVD incidence was 19.7 % in men and 11.7 % in women (p < 0.001). Multi-adjusted analysis revealed that TC, non-HDL-C, TG and TG/HDL-C ratio, were independent predictors of all cause mortality (RR per 1 mg/dL or unit (95 %

Nutrition & metabolism, Oct 14, 2004

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest a non-monotonic effect of alcohol consumption on card... more BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest a non-monotonic effect of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular risk, while there is strong evidence concerning the involvement of homocysteine levels on thrombosis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the association between usual ethanol consumption and homocysteine levels, in cardiovascular disease free adults. METHODS: From May 2001 to December 2002 we randomly enrolled 1514 adult men and 1528 women, without any evidence of cardiovascular disease, stratified by age - gender (census 2001), from the greater area of Athens, Greece. Among the variables ascertained we measured the daily ethanol consumption and plasma homocysteine concentrations. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed a J-shape association between ethanol intake (none, <12 gr, 12 - 24 gr, 25 - 48 gr, >48 gr per day) and total homocysteine levels (mean +/- standard deviation) among males (13 +/- 3 vs. 11 +/- 3 vs. 14 +/- 4 vs. 18 +/- 5 vs. 19 +/- 3 mumol/L, respectively, p &l...

Hellenic journal of cardiology : HJC = Hellēnikē kardiologikē epitheōrēsē

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CV... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a population-based sample of Greek adults. From May 2001 to December 2002, 1514 men and 1528 women (age >18 y), living in the Attica region of Greece, were enrolled in the ATTICA cohort study. In 2006, the 5-year follow up was performed (941 of the 3042 participants, 31%, were lost to follow up). The prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity, smoking and physical inactivity, was assessed in both examinations through established procedures. Development of CVD (coronary heart disease, acute coronary syndromes, stroke, or other CVD) during the followup period was defined according to the WHO-ICD-10 criteria. During 2001-2006 there were 88 male and 102 female cases with hypertension per 1000 individuals, 237 male and 177 female cases with hypercholesterolemia per 1000 individuals, 58 male and 53 female cases with diabetes per 1000 individuals. ...

Cardiology Research and Practice, 2011

Background. The aim was to examine the association of depressive symptoms with fish eating habits... more Background. The aim was to examine the association of depressive symptoms with fish eating habits, in elderly individuals. Methods. From June to October of 2009, we studied 330 men and 343 women, aged 65 to 100 years, permanent inhabitants of Ikaria Island. Among several characteristics, depression was assessed with the Geriatric Depression scale (GDS range 0-15), while dietary habits through a valid semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Results. Women had significantly higher values of the GDS compared to men (4.8 ± 3.5 versus 3.3 ± 3.1, P = .001). Participants in the upper tertile of depression scale ate less frequent fish and consumed higher quantities of alcohol, compared to those in the lowest tertile (all P < .05). Regarding fish consumption, 50% of the individuals reported consuming 1-2 times weekly, 32% 3 to 5 times weekly, 11% 2-3 times monthly, while the rest reported rare (4.5%) and everyday (1.2%) consumption. Logistic regression showed that increased fish consumption (>3 times/week versus never/rare) was inversely associated with the odds of having GDS greater the median value (i.e., 4) (odds ratio = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.61), after controlling for several cofounders. Conclusion. Frequent fish consumption in elderly seems to moderate depression mood.

The Open Hypertension Journal, 2014

Introduction: Health attitudes and beliefs have long been associated with lower risk of various d... more Introduction: Health attitudes and beliefs have long been associated with lower risk of various diseases, better compliance to medication and less likelihood of relapsing. The aim of this work was to study health beliefs and attitudes of hypertensive subjects in relation to the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Methods: The Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society ran a project where during 2006-2012, 10,141 individuals (39 ± 15 years, 47% men, i.e., 0.01% of the Greek population), from all areas of the country, were voluntarily enrolled and participated into a face-toface interview that gathered information about their beliefs and attitudes on diet, smoking and physical activity, as well as management of CVD disorders. Results: Self-reported prevalence of hypertension was 16.7% in men and 13.2% in women. Hypertensive subjects had lower educational level than non-hypertensive (11 ± 5 vs. 13 ± 4.5 years of school, p<0.001). Hypertensive participants as compared to n...

QJM, 2009

Background: The influence of different types of exercise on risk factors for cardiovascular disea... more Background: The influence of different types of exercise on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases has rarely been investigated. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of adding resistance exercise to aerobic activities on lipid-lipoprotein profile, in a representative sample of men and women from the province of Attica, Greece. Methods: We randomly enrolled 1514 and 1528 healthy men and women, respectively, stratified by city, age and gender distribution. Participants were classified as inactive (INA), sufficiently active (SA) and highly active for either aerobic activities (HAA) alone or a combination of aerobic plus resistance exercise (HAC). The main outcome measures are lipid-lipoprotein profile [total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein-A1, apolipoprotein-B] and anthropometric indices. Results: From those participating in aerobic activities, 480 (31.7%) men and 502 (32.9%) women were classified as SA, 100 men (6.6%) and 93 women (6.1%) as HAA and 90 men (5.9%) and 49 women (3.2%) as HAC. After various adjustments were made, men from the HAC group had an average of 23% lower plasma triacylglycerol concentration (P = 0.04) and 10% lower LDL-cholesterol (P = 0.01) when compared with the HAA group. Moreover, women from the HAC group had 13% lower LDL-cholesterol when compared with HAA group (P = 0.051). Conclusions: These data suggest that combining aerobic and resistance-type activities may confer a better effect on lipoprotein profile in healthy individuals than aerobic activities alone.