This study was designed to investigate the current prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy) and its association with hypertension in rural adults of Northeast China. A cross-sectional study was performed in subjects aged⩾35 years in a general Chinese population. Demographic data, laboratory examination of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and self-reported information on lifestyle factors, such as physical activities, current smoking and drinking status, dietary habits and familial factors were collected by trained personnel. A total of 7130 participants (3317 men and 3813 women) were included in this study and the mean Hhcy level of the whole population was 17.39±12.34 mmol l(-1), which was 20.99±14.83 mmol l(-1) in males and 14.19±8.51 mmol l(-1) in females, respectively. Prevalence of Hhcy in total population was 41.3%. Stratified by gender, the prevalence of Hhcy was higher in males than in females (59.0 vs 25.8%, P<0.05). After adjustment for conventional risk factors including age, salt intake, smoking, body mass index, diabetes, dyslipidemia, activity time and family history, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that Hhcy was independently associated with the risk of hypertension in males (odds ratio (OR)=1.501, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.012-2.227; P<0.001), but not in females in this population (OR=1.182; 95% CI, 0.993-1.407; P=0.060). In conclusion, a high prevalence of Hhcy in the general adult population of rural northeast China was detected and Hhcy may be a risk factor for hypertension, particularly in males.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors for elevating homocysteine during pregnancy and the relative effects on preeclampsia.Method: This is a prospective study that only covers pregnant women withsingletonwho received regular prenatal care from July to September 2018 exclusively at IPMCH(N=1142). Homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 were tested in the 1st trimester (10-14 weeks), 2nd trimester (24-28 weeks), and 3rd trimester(30-34 weeks), respectively, and MTHFR genes (rs1801133, rs1801131, rs17367504) were detected. Therefore, the analysis of this case includesthe variation in Hcylevels during pregnancy, risk factors for elevating homocysteine and the risk factors on preeclampsia.Results: (1) Homocysteinewas lowest in the 1st trimester. (2) Homocysteine was negatively correlated with folic acid (r=-0.17, p<0.001) and vitamin B12 (r=-0.15, p<0.001) in the same trimester. (3) Heterozygous CT (p=0.025, 95% CI 0.018,0.275) and homozygous TT (p<0.001, 95% CI 0.185,0.501) in MTHFR rs1801133 both caused an increase inHcy. G-spot mutations in MTHFR rs17367504 caused a decline inhomocysteine. (4) Homocysteine in the 3rd trimester significantly increased the risk of preeclampsia (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.01,1.42), particularly early-onset preeclampsia (OR = 3.63, 95% CI 1.71,7.71) and severe preeclampsia (OR = 3.63, 95% CI 1.71,7.71).Conclusions: The variation inhomocysteine level has a direct impact on preeclampsia,especially early-onset preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia, in the3rd trimester, and MTHFR, folic acid and vitamin B12 were the three most critical factors responsible for the changing homocysteine levelsduring pregnancy.