Objectives: To investigate the association between a plant-based diet and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Chinese adults. Methods: Based on the data from the 2004–2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey and the corresponding edition of China Food Composition, we calculated the healthy plant-based diet indices (hPDI) and unhealthy plant-based diet indices (uPDI). The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MetS. Mediation analysis was further conducted to explore the mediator role of Body Mass Index (BMI) in the association between hPDI and MetS. Results: We included 10,013 participants, and over a median follow-up of 5 years, 961 patients (9.60%) developed MetS. Compared to those in the lowest quintile of hPDI score, we found that those in the highest quintile of hPDI score had a 28% lower ([HR]: 0.72, 95% CI 0.56–0.93, Ptrend = 0.021) risk of developing MetS and had a 20% lower (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.80, 95% CI 0.70–0.92, Ptrend = 0.004) risk of developing abdominal obesity. No significant associations were observed between uPDI and the MetS, but those in the highest quintile of uPDI score had a 36% higher (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.36, 95% CI 1.20–1.64, Ptrend < 0.001) risk of developing abdominal obesity, compared to those in the lowest quintile of uPDI score. In exploratory analysis, we observed that BMI at baseline mediated 27.8% of the association between hPDI and incident MetS, and BMI at baseline mediated 29.7% of the association between hPDI and abdominal obesity. Conclusion: The current findings reveal a possible causal relationship between a healthy plant-based diet and a reduced risk of MetS, especially abdominal obesity. It is observed that BMI may mediate the relationship between hPDI score and MetS. Controlling early dietary patterns and BMI may help reduce the risk of MetS.

Backgrounds The goal of this study is to explore the transmission dynamics for recent large-scale COVID-19 outbreaks in Shaanxi Province on the Chinese mainland. Furthermore, the potential effects of the Spring Festival travel rush on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic were depicted. Methods This study uses baseline data from a large cohort to investigate the characteristics of the recent COVID-19 epidemic in Shaanxi province. A cluster sampling method was used to recruit the study participants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shaanxi province since Dec. 1st, 2022. A total of 44 sampling cluster (11 village in rural areas and 33 residences in urban areas) were chosen for enrollment of study participants. A self-developed questionnaire was applied to data collection of socio-demographic and COVID-19 pandemic related information. Results A total of 14,744 study participants were enrolled in the baseline survey and 12,111 completed survey data were extracted for analysis. The cumulative infection attack rate (IAR) of COVID-19 among the study participants was 84.7%. The cumulative IAR in urban and rural areas were 85.6% and 83.7%, respectively. A peak of COVID-19 self-reported diagnosis could be observed from Dec. 15th, 2022 to Jan. 1st, 2023 in the provincial level. Beside this major peak of the recent epidemic (around Dec.20th, 2022), a small but steep rise could also be identified between Jan 13th to 14th, 2023. Individuals who escaped the first wave of COVID-19 outbreaks may face danger of infection from returnees during the 2023 Spring Festival. Conclusion According to the COVID-19 cumulative IAR data, the herd community was primarily achieved in Shaanxi province's urban and rural areas. The epidemic in Shaanxi province has been exacerbated by mass population movement during the Spring Festival travel rush in both urban and rural areas. Further surveillance should be performed to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Background. Dietary modulation is a primary lifestyle approach for reducing the risk of hypertension. However, evidence of the potential role that a dietary taste preference plays in the risk of hypertension remains limited. Methods. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted based on the Shaanxi baseline survey of the Regional Ethnic Cohort Study. We used self-reported salt consumption and intensity preferences for sourness and spiciness to calculate the taste preference score, which was categorized into bland, moderate, and strong. A generalized linear mixed model and quantile regression were performed to estimate associations between taste preferences and hypertension/blood pressure. Results. Among 27,233 adults, 72.2% preferred a moderate taste and 21.4% preferred a strong taste. Compared with a bland taste, a stronger taste preference might be associated with a higher risk of hypertension (adjusted OR for a moderate taste = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.49; adjusted OR for a strong taste = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.71; Ptrend = 0.002), especially in females (adjusted OR for a moderate taste = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.66; adjusted OR for a strong taste = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.32, 1.83; P t r e n d < 0.001 ). Quantile regression showed that the taste preference was positively associated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P5-P80) in females, with an average increase of 3.31 mmHg for a strong taste (β = 3.31, P < 0.001 ) and 1.77 mmHg for a moderate taste (β = 1.77, P = 0.008). Conclusions. A preference for stronger multitastes of salty, sour, and spicy might be associated with a higher risk of hypertension, especially in females. This relationship possibly occurs through increasing DBP. Dietary modulation with the promotion of a bland taste is encouraged.

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the association between sleep duration, sleep problems, and depression in Northwest China.MethodDepression was diagnosed at the hospital and self-reported by the participants in the baseline survey. Sleep duration and problems, including difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, early morning awakening, daytime dysfunction, use of sleeping pills or drugs, and any sleep problems, were obtained by a self-reported questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for exploring the association between sleep duration, sleep problems, and depression, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and health behaviors. The association between depression and sleep duration was also evaluated continuously with restricted cubic spline curves based on logistic models.Results36,515 adults from Regional Ethnic Cohort Study in Northwest China were included. About 24.04% of participants reported short sleep duration (&lt;7 h), and 15.64% reported long sleep duration (≥9 h). Compared with standard sleep duration (7–9 h), short sleep duration was associated with a higher risk of depression (OR: 1.69, 95%CI: 1.26–2.27, p = 0.001). Self-reported sleep problems were also related to four times depression risk increased (OR: 4.02, 95%CI: 3.03–5.35, p &lt; 0.001) compared with no sleep problems. In addition, a nonlinear relationship was found between sleep duration and depression after adjusting covariates (p = 0.043).ConclusionSleep duration and sleep problems are associated with depression. Enough sleep time and healthy sleep habits in life course might be a practical health promotion approach to reduce depression risk in Northwest Chinese adults. A further study from cohort study is needed to verify the temporal association.

BackgroundTo examine the association between daily physical activity (PA) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in northwest China.MethodsThe data in this analysis were part of the baseline survey of the Regional Ethnic Cohort Study in Northwest China from June 2018 to May 2019 in Shaanxi Province. This study used standardized self-reported total physical activity (continuous and categorical variables) and self-reported outcomes of MACEs. All analyses were conducted using the logistic regression model and stratified by age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and region. The dose-response relationships were assessed with a restricted cubic spline.ResultsThe average level of total PA was 17.60 MET hours per day (MET-h/d). Every increase of four MET-h/d of total PA was associated with a lower risk of MACEs [adjusted OR = 0.95 (95% CI, 0.93~0.98)]. Compared with participants in the bottom quartile of total PA, a lower risk of MACEs was observed in the top quartile group [≥23.3 MET-h/d, 0.68 (0.55~0.83)]. Stratified analyses showed similar results in males, females, participants over 45 years old, participants in the rural region, and normal weight range participants (BMI &lt; 24 kg/m2). Total participants also observed a dose-response relationship after adjusting for socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.ConclusionsA higher level of PA was associated with a lower MACE risk. Future research should examine the longitudinal association of prospectively measured PA and the risk of MACEs.