Aim. To study the epidemiological characteristics and changes of hypertension (HTN), as well as factors associated with HTN in the Russian population aged 35-74 years.Material and methods. The Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and their Risk Factors in Regions of Russian Federation-3 (ESSE-RF3) study examined a representative sample of the population aged 35-74 years of 15 Russian regions with a response >70% (n=28611). Modular design questionnaire was used. Blood pressure (BP) was measured twice after a 5-minute rest in a sitting position on the right arm with an Omron blood pressure monitor. There were following criteria for hypertension: systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mm Hg, and/or antihypertensive therapy. The effectiveness of treatment was considered the proportion (%) of people who achieved target blood pressure values among those being treated, while the control was considered the proportion (%) of patients with a BP <140/90 mm Hg of the total number of hypertensive patients. HTN changes were studied in a single age range of 35-64 years with the inclusion of materials from the ESSE-RF (2012-14) and ESSE-RF2 (2017) studies, carried out using the same methodology as ESSE-RF3. Statistical analysis was carried out using the open-source R 3.6.1 environment. Analysis of the association between factors and a binary variable was performed using logistic regression. The significance level for all tested hypotheses was 0,05.Results. According to ESSE-RF3, the average levels of SBP and DBP in the population were 131,9±18,7 and 84,4±10,9 mm Hg, respectively, while the proportion of those with BP ≥140/90 mm Hg — 38,8% (men: 44,8%, women: 33,9%). Prevalence of hypertension was 53,9% (men: 56,0%, women: 52,1%), awareness — 77,7% (men: 71,5%, women: 82,3%), while the treatment received 63,4%, significantly higher among women than among men: 72,3 vs 53,3%. The effectiveness of treatment was 44,0%, higher among women compared to men (48,2 vs 37,4%). In addition, 27,9% of patients have controlled HTN.Conclusion. The problem of controlled HTN in Russia remains unresolved in the 21st century. The following significant sex differences remain: the prevalence of HTN is higher among men, but awareness of the disease, treatment rate and its effectiveness are lower compared to women.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal codominant disorder, characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels causing premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. About 2900 variants of LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9 genes potentially associated with FH have been described earlier. Nevertheless, the genetics of FH in a Russian population is poorly understood. The aim of this study is to present data on the spectrum of LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9 gene variants in a cohort of 595 index Russian patients with FH, as well as an additional systematic analysis of the literature for the period of 1995–2020 on LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 gene variants described in Russian patients with FH. We used targeted and whole genome sequencing to search for variants. Accordingly, when combining our novel data and the data of a systematic literature review, we described 224 variants: 187 variants in LDLR, 14 variants in APOB, and 23 variants in PCSK9. A significant proportion of variants, 81 of 224 (36.1%), were not described earlier in FH patients in other populations and may be specific for Russia. Thus, this study significantly supplements knowledge about the spectrum of variants causing FH in Russia and may contribute to a wider implementation of genetic diagnostics in FH patients in Russia.

Previous studies have shown significant differences in the health status of the population depending on the place of residence. Despite the ongoing preventive measures, there is no improvement in the epidemiological situation in relation to noncommunicable diseases, including due to unfavorable living conditions. This study is a continuation of the following earlier studies: Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases in Regions of Russian Federation (ESSE-RF) and ESSE-RF-2.Aim. To assess the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, various risk factors (RFs) of these diseases and their association in Russian regions with different economic, climate and geographic characteristics to determine the risk profile of the region and develop approaches to targeted prevention programs specific to the regions.Material and methods. The study selected 30 regions representing each federal district of the Russian Federation. The survey of participants is carried out in three stages as follows: survey using an original modular questionnaire; measurements, including anthropometry, hand grip strength test, blood pressure and heart rate assessment; blood sampling, followed by biobanking and laboratory tests.Conclusion. The results obtained will allow deepening knowledge about the RF profile specific to a particular region, evaluating the effectiveness of preventive programs, and planning new ones taking into account regional and socio-demographic characteristics. This will become the basis for a better understanding of the socio-economic burden of noncommunicable diseases and the economic damage of RFs.

Aim. To study the prevalence of dyslipidemias and their association with various risk factors in the Russian population of men and women aged 35-74 years in 2020-2022.Material and methods. This work was carried out as part of the Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and their Risk Factors in Regions of Russian Federation-3 (ESSE-RF3) study. The sample included 28731 men and women aged 35-74 years living in 15 Russian regions. Hypercholesterolemia (HC) was diagnosed with total cholesterol (TC) ≥5,0 mmol/l, while elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was considered ≥3,0 mmol/l, hypertriglyceridemia — with triglyceride levels ≥1,7 mmol/l, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) <1,0 mmol/l in men and <1,2 mmol/l in women. Associations were assessed using logistic regression after adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics, drinking status, presence of hypertension (HTN) and stroke.Results. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia in the Russian Federation in 2020-2022 was 58,8%, hypertriglyceridemia — 32,2%. The incidence of lipid-lowering therapy increased with age from 1% in the group of 35-44 years to 16% in the group of 65-74 years. On average, only 7,6% of study participants received lipid-lowering therapy. Significant associations of HC with HTN, obesity and alcohol abuse were identified. Similar results were obtained for elevated LDL-C levels, with the exception of alcohol abuse. In turn, a reduced HDL-C level was significantly associated with the lack of higher education, marriage, physical activity, smoking and the presence of diseases.Conclusion. The prevalence of lipid disorders in the Russian Federation in 2020-2022 remained at a high level. These disorders occurred more often in women, and they were better informed about their cholesterol levels and more often received lipid-lowering therapy. HTN, obesity, and some behavioral and social risk factors were associated with dyslipidemia.

Aim. To study the problem of obesity at the national level.Material and methods. The ESSE-RF3 study examined a representative sample of the population of 15 Russian regions aged 35-74 years with a response >70% (n=28731). Modular design questionnaire was used. The study received approval from the Independent Ethics Committee of the National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine. Signed informed consent was obtained from each participant. Body mass (BM) was measured once with an accuracy of 100 g. The height was measured with an accuracy of 0,5 cm once in a standing position without shoes. Waist circumference was measured with a standard measuring tape with an accuracy of 0,5 cm. There were following BM categories: insufficient (BM index (BMI) 40). Abdominal obesity (AO) was assessed using the following criteria: waist circumference ≥102 cm and ≥88 cm for men and women, respectively. The changes of obesity were studied with the inclusion of materials from the ESSE-RF (2012-14) and ESSE-RF2 (2017) studies, carried out using the same methodology with ESSE-RF3 in the same age range of 35-64 years. Statistical analysis was carried out using the open-source R 3.6.1 environment. Analysis of associations between factors and a binary variable was carried out using the logistic regression method. The significance level for all tested hypotheses was 0,05.Results. Mean BMI values is 28,2±4,6 kg/m² among men and 28,9±5,9 kg/m² among women. The prevalence of overweight is 44,0 and 33,7%, obesity — 30,0 and 39,5%, AO — 30,9 and 55,1% among men and women, respectively. In addition, 30,3% have a combination of obesity and AO; obesity and/or AO — 49,1%. Obesity statistics did not significantly change, but in each section the rates are higher among women. The closest associations were found between obesity and hypertension (men: odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval) 2,88 (2,66-3,12), women: OR 3,03 (2,81-3,27) (p<0,001) and hyperuricemia for women (OR 4,21 (3,74-4,75) (p<0,001).Conclusion. A third of the Russian population is obese, and half has obesity and/or AO. This severity of the problem requires the development and adoption of a strategy to monitor obesity at the national level.

The success and quality of large-scale epidemiological studies depends entirely on biomaterial quality. Therefore, when arranging the third Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and their Risk Factors in Regions of Russian Federation (ESSE-RF-3) study, increased attention was paid to specifics of collection, processing and further transportation of biological samples and related clinical and anthropometric data of participants from regional collection centers to Biobank.Aim. To develop a methodology for collection of high-quality biomaterials within the large-scale epidemiological study, involving the sampling, processing, freezing of blood and its derivatives (serum, plasma) in the regions, followed by transportation and storage of obtained biomaterial in the Biobank of National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine (Moscow).Material and methods. To conduct the ESSE-RF-3 study, a design was developed, according to which the collection of venous blood samples in a total volume of 29,5 ml from each participant is planned in all participating regions in order to obtain and store samples of whole blood, serum and two types of plasma.Results. On the basis of international biobanking standards, ethical norms, experience from ESSE-RF and ESSE-RF-2, and literature data, a protocol for biobanking of blood and its derivatives was developed. The type and number of serum and plasma aliquots obtained, the required standard technical means and consumables, as well as logistic biomaterial requirements were determined. Training programs for regional participants were developed. By the beginning of August 2021, 180 thousand samples of whole blood, serum and plasma from more than 23 thousand participants from 28 Russian regions were collected, processed and stored.Conclusion. The presented work made it possible to assess and confirm the compliance of developed biobanking protocol with quality requirements. However, due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, by August 2021, the Biobank did not reach the maximum effectiveness predicted for the ESSE-RF-3 project.