Importance of arterial pulse pressure as a predictor of coronary heart disease risk in PROCAM.

AIMS: To investigate pulse pressure (PP) as an independent predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: On the basis of a 10-year follow-up of 5389 men aged 35-65 at recruitment into PROCAM, we used a proportional hazards model to calculate the effect of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and PP on CHD risk after correcting for age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, smoking, diabetes, and family history of premature CHD. Increases of 10 mmHg in DBP, SBP, and PP were associated with an increased CHD hazard ratio (HR) of approximately 10%. When the group was divided into the age groups <50, 50-59, and >59 years, this relationship was seen in the age group 50-59 years for DBP, SBP, and PP and in men aged > or =60 for PP only (25% increase in HR). Overall, CHD risk in men with PP > or =70 mmHg was more three times that of men with PP <50 mmHg. This increased risk was not apparent at age <50 years, was greatest at age >60 years, and was also present in men who were normotensive at recruitment (SBP < or =160 mmHg, DBP < or =95 mmHg). CONCLUSION: In older European men, increased PP is an important independent determinant of coronary risk, even among those initially considered normotensive.     

Treating blood pressure to prevent strokes: The age factor

The importance of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse pressure (PP), on the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke are known. However, the importance of blood pressure (BP)-age shifts regarding the stroke incidence is not clearly known. The BP changes with the advancement of age from the predominance of DBP in the young to the predominance of SBP in the old. This change is due to the stiffening of the large arteries as a result of the aging process and the replacement of the elastic fibers with collagen fibers. This change results in the loss of compliance and the elastic recoil of these vessels leading to increase in pulse wave velocity, central SBP and widening of pulse pressure leading to an increased incidence of CHD and strokes. It has been demonstrated epidemiologically that the SBP rises linearly with age, whereas the DBP rises up to the age of 45-50 years, and then begins to decline after the age of 60 years leading to a progressive widening of PP. Several studies have shown an inverse relationship between DBP and CHD, whereas no such relationship has been demonstrated for stroke. However, a recent study showed an inverse relationship with DBP and stroke when it dropped below 71 mmHg in subjects 50 years of age or older. In contrast, there was a positive association between BP and stroke when both SBP and DBP were ≥ 71 mmHg. These findings suggest that intreating systolic hypertension in the elderly to reduce stroke risk, attention should be paid on the potential harm of low DBP and the widening of PP regarding CHD and stroke. The implications of BP shifts with age and the potential risks of low DBP regarding the risk of stroke will be discussed in this concise review.     

中老年正常高值血压水平与冠状动脉性心脏病相关

目的探讨中老年正常高值血压人群血压水平与冠状动脉性心脏病(冠心病)的相关性。方法选取316例50岁以上接受冠状动脉造影检查的正常高值血压者,按照冠状动脉造影结果分为冠心病组(n=129)和非冠心病组(n=187)。对所有对象进行血压、身高、体质量测量,检测血脂指标。结果冠心病组舒张压低于非冠心病组[(73.1±8.9)比(77.0±8.0)mmHg],脉压高于非冠心病组[(55.9±10.5)比(51.2±9.5)mmHg]。对性别、年龄等常见冠心病危险因素调整后,较高的收缩压(≥130mmHg)、较低的舒张压(≤85mmHg)以及较大的脉压(≥60mmHg)与冠心病的发生相关,OR(95%CI)分别为1.60(1.04～2.46)、1.52(1.07～2.16)、1.90(1.06～3.39),均P<0.05。多因素Logistic逐步回归分析发现脉压≥60mmHg是冠心病的独立危险因素。结论在中老年正常高值血压人群中,较高的收缩压、较低的舒张压以及脉压增大与冠心病发生风险相关联,脉压≥60mmHg是冠心病的独立危险因素。     

Influence of height,leg and trunk length on pulse pressure,systolic and diastolic blood pressure

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of height, leg and trunk length on pulse pressure (PP), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in men and women. DESIGN: Prospective, population-based, birth cohort study. SETTING: England, Scotland and Wales. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1472 men and 1563 women aged 53 years and followed since their birth in 1946. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PP, SBP and DBP at age 53 years. RESULTS: PP increased linearly with decreasing height and leg length in men and women [shortest compared with the tallest height (leg length) group, men 54.6 versus 51.0 mmHg (55.8 versus 50.7 mmHg), women 52.9 versus 48.4 mmHg (53.3 versus 48.6 mmHg); P for trend < or = 0.001 in each case]. Adjustment for adult confounding factors and childhood social class or birth weight only slightly weakened these results (P for trend < or = 0.01 in each case). SBP, but not DBP, showed similar but weaker trends in men and women, except for the association with height in men, which lost statistical significance after adjustment. Trunk length was not associated with any outcome measure in men or women. CONCLUSIONS: Short height and leg length are associated with increased PP and SBP, but not DBP, in middle-aged men and women. PP is a potential mediator between short height and leg length and increased risk of coronary heart disease. Future studies of the association between shortness and coronary heart disease should consider the role of arterial hemodynamics.     

Pulse pressure compared with other blood pressure indexes in the prediction of 25-year cardiovascular and all-cause mortality rates: The Chicago Heart Association Detection Project in Industry Study

We compared the relations of 4 blood pressure (BP) indexes (pulse pressure [PP], systolic BP [SBP], diastolic BP [DBP], and mean arterial pressure [MAP]) with 25-year mortality rates for coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and all causes in younger, middle-aged, and older men and women by using data from a long-term prospective epidemiological study of employed persons who were screened between 1967 and 1973. A single supine BP measurement was obtained at baseline. Vital status was determined through 1995. We report on 5 groups (total, 28 360 participants) consisting of men age 18 to 39, 40 to 59, and 60 to 74 years and of women age 40 to 59 and 60 to 74 years who were not receiving antihypertensive treatment, had no history of CHD, and did not have diabetes. Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to determine multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios with a 1-SD higher value for each BP index; Wald chi(2) tests were used to compare the strength of relations. Relations of PP were less strong than were those of SBP for all end points in all age/gender groups. SBP or MAP showed the strongest relations to all end points in all age/gender groups (hazard ratio, 1.17 to 1.36). The relations of SBP to death were stronger than were those of DBP, except for middle-aged men and for CVD in women. DBP showed significant positive associations with death, after control for SBP, in middle-aged participants. In conclusion, these data indicate that the long-term risk of high BP should be assessed mainly on the basis of SBP or of SBP and DBP together, not on the basis of PP, in apparently healthy adults.     

Microalbuminuria,cardiovascular disease and risk factors in a nondiabetic/nonhypertensive population. The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT, 1995-97), Norway

Abstract. Romundstad S, Holmen J, Hallan H, Kvenild K, Krüger Ø, Midthjell K (HUNT Research Centre, Verdal, Norway; Levanger Hospital, Levanger, Norway; and Nærøy Health Centre, Nærøy, Norway). Microalbuminuria, cardiovascular disease and risk factors in a nondiabetic/nonhypertensive population. The Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT, &1995–97), Norway. J Intern Med 2002; 252 : 164–172. Objective. Microalbuminuria (MA) as an independent marker of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in nondiabetic/nonhypertensive individuals is under international debate. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between MA and known cardiovascular risk factors/markers and disease in a randomly selected nondiabetic/nonhypertensive sample. Design. Cross‐sectional study. Setting. Participants in the population‐based Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), Norway (n = 65 258). Subjects. A total of 2113 individuals (≥20 years), randomly selected without diabetes and treated hypertension, delivered three morning urine samples for MA analysis. Main outcome measures. MA expressed as albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (ACR), cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Results. Increasing age, pulse pressure, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and coronary heart disease (CHD) significantly predicted MA in men and increasing pulse pressure, SBP and DBP were associated with MA in women, adjusted for other cardiovascular risk factors/markers. After excluding individuals with known CHD and untreated hypertension (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg, DBP ≥ 90 mmHg) and hence a high total risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), only increasing age was associated with ACR in men and increasing SBP and pulse pressure in women. Smoking, elevated lipid and glucose levels were strongly associated with MA in individuals with a high total risk of CVD than in individuals with a low total risk. Conclusion. MA was associated with increasing blood pressure in both genders, age and CHD in men. Other cardiovascular risk factors/markers might be more influential in predicting ACR variation in nondiabetic/nonhypertensive individuals with a high total risk of CVD than in individuals with a low total risk.     

Prevalence and magnitude of classical risk factors for coronary heart disease in a cohort of 4400 Chinese steelworkers over 13.5 years follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and mortality of cardiovascular disease among Orientals are very different than among Caucasians. This study addresses the prevalence and magnitude of classic cardiovascular disease risk factors associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) in an Oriental cohort of at-risk men (blood pressure, total cholesterol, Body Mass Index [BMI] and smoking), compared to Caucasian populations. We also address which blood pressure index (SBP, DBP, mean arterial pressure [MAP] and pulse pressure [PP]) is the best predictor of CHD. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cohort of 5092 male steelworkers (18-74 years old) recruited between 1974-1980 was followed up for an average of 13.5 years. The prevalence of risk factors was lower in Orientals than in Caucasians, except for smoking. The relative risks (RRs) of CHD associated with classic risk factors in this Oriental population were similar to Caucasians, except for blood pressure. The RRs of CHD associated with both SBP and DBP in this Oriental group were higher than in Caucasians; RR of CHD was approximately 3 for each 40 mmHg rise of SBP versus approximately 2 in Caucasians. SBP was the single best predictor for CHD, followed by MAP, and DBP. The population attributable risk (PAR%) for hypertension (140/90 mmHg) was 42.4. CONCLUSION: Our results would indicate that the lower incidence of CHD in Orientals is at least partly due to the lower prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity. The magnitude of the risk associated with these factors is similar to that in Caucasians, except perhaps for a greater risk associated with hypertension. The most predictive BP index for CHD is SBP. These results are based on indirect comparisons only and should be studied further in prospective multi-ethnic cohorts.     

Pulse pressure predicts cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Pulse pressure (PP), a marker of arterial stiffness, is a better predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk than systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in older adults. Whether this is also true in subjects with type 2 diabetes, who are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, is unknown. METHODS: Data on 2911 type 2 diabetic subjects relating to blood pressure (BP), other risk factors, and cardiovascular events were abstracted from The Cardiff Diabetes Database. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship among BP components and the risk of CHD, cerebrovascular (CVD), and peripheral vascular (PVD) events after correction for age, gender, cholesterol, and smoking status. RESULTS: In the 4-year follow-up period there were 574 CHD, 168 CVD, and 157 PVD events. Both PP and SBP, but not DBP, were positively associated with the risk of all event types. However, PP emerged as the best predictor of CHD events, and SBP as the best predictor of CVD and PVD events. Total and HDL-cholesterol were the most important variables associated with PP after age. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, PP is a better predictor of CHD events than SBP in persons with type 2 diabetes, but the converse is true for CVD and PVD.     

高血压患者动态脉压指数与冠状动脉病变的相关性分析

目的探讨高血压患者动态脉压指数（pluse pressure index,PPI）与冠状动脉病变的相关性。方法纳入2010年4月～2013年4月实施冠状动脉造影（CAG）的高血压患者355例。根据CAG结果将患者分为冠心病组（n=237）及非冠心病组（n=118）。对所有研究对象均进行24 h动态血压监测,记录收缩压（SBP）、舒张压（DBP）和脉压（PP）,计算脉压指数（PPI,PPI=PP/SBP）。分析上述因素与冠状动脉病变的相关性。结果与非冠心病组相比,冠心病组患者PP及PPI水平更高,分别为（77.8±8.7）mmHg vs.（64.7±7.6）mmHg,（0.52±0.08） vs.（0.45±0.10）,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。在冠心病患者中,PPI值越高,患者冠脉病变数值越高（P＜0.01）。Logistic分析结果显示, PPI（OR=1.39）、PP（OR=1.23）、SBP（OR=1.27）均为冠状动脉病变发生的危险因素（P均＜0.01）。结论 PPI值有助于预测高血压患者冠状动脉病变的严重程度。     

24小时动态脉压与冠状动脉病变严重程度的相关性研究

目的：探讨24小时动态脉压(PP)水平与冠状动脉(冠脉)病变严重程度的关系。方法：对156例入选病例均行冠脉造影术。冠脉病变的严重程度用冠脉病变的血管支数及 Gensini 积分表示。所有病例均在术前、术后测量肱动脉血压,术后进行24小时动态血压监测。结果：高血压患者较非高血压患者冠心病患病率明显增高(73.6%比58.4%P=0.038)。高血压患者冠脉三支血管病变的患病率显著高于非高血压患者(35.2%比12.3%,P=0.001)。冠脉狭窄患者,无论肱动脉测压、还是24小时动念测压,其收缩压(SBP)、脉压均显著高于冠脉正常组,有显著差异(P＜0.05),且收缩压与脉压随着血管狭窄支数的增加而逐渐增加。结论：脉压是冠心病冠脉狭窄发生发展的相关因素,且24小时动态 PP 的预测价值更大。     

血压的各种指标对中老年人心脑血管病死亡事件的预测价值

目的探讨中、老年人收缩压(SBP)、舒张压(DBP)、脉压(PP)、平均动脉压(MAP)水平对远期心脑血管死亡事件预测价值的差异。方法对中老年人群10786例进行基线调查,随访8年,应用Cox回归分析4个血压指标对远期心脑血管死亡事件预测价值的差异。结果校正其他因素后,MAP和SBP分别为中、老年人最强烈的预测远期心脑血管病死亡事件危险程度的血压指标。中老年人4个血压指标每升高1个标准差(SD),其发生心脑血管病死亡危险的相对危险度(RR)由高到低分别为:(1)中年组:MAP(1.837),SBP(1.782),DBP(1.775),PP(1.750);(2)老年组:SBP(1.345),MAP(1.343),DBP(1.219),PP(1.215)。结论4个血压指标对心脑血管死亡事件的预测在不同的年龄段是不同的。中年人应着重于总体血压的控制,老年人应首先控制SBP。     

Pulse hypertension: a new component of the metabolic syndrome in elderly women?

The classification of arterial hypertension (HT) to define metabolic syndrome (MS) is unclear in that different cutoffs of blood pressure (BP) have been proposed. We evaluated the categorization of HT most qualified to define MS in relationship with coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality at a population level. A total of 3257 subjects aged > or =65 years were followed up for 12 years. MS was defined according to the criteria of the National Education Cholesterol Program using three different categories of HT: MS-1 (systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or =130 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > or =85 mm Hg), MS-2 (SBP > or =130 or DBP > or =85 mm Hg) and MS-3 (pulse pressure (PP) > or =75 mm Hg in men and > or =80 mm Hg in women). Gender-specific adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for CHD mortality was derived from Cox analysis in the three MS groups, both including and excluding antihypertensive treatment. In women with MS untreated for HT, the risk of CHD mortality was always significantly higher than in those without MS, independent of categorization; the HR of MS was 1.73 (CI 1.12-2.67) using MS-1, 1.75 (CI 1.10-2.83) using MS-2 and 2.39 (CI 3.71-1.31) using MS-3. In women with MS treated for HT, the HR of CHD mortality was significantly increased only in the MS-3 group (1.92, CI 1.1-2.88). MS did not predict CHD in men. In conclusion, MS can predict CHD mortality in elderly women with untreated HT but not in those with treated HT; in the latter, PP is the most predictive BP value.     

中老年病人血压参数与冠心病的关系

目的　探讨中、老年病人中各血压参数与冠心病 (CHD)的关系。方法　对行冠状动脉造影的病人记录血压、性别、糖尿病等危险因素分组进行Logistic回归、逐步回归分析 ,比较各OR值。结果　 <60岁病人组 ,舒张压 (DBP)的OR值最大 ( 1 2 0 ;95 %CI:1 14～ 1 2 8) ,DBP每增加 5mmHg ,CHD发病率增加率增加 2 0 %。 >60岁病人组 ,脉压 (PP)的OR值最大 ( 1 11;95 %CI :1 0 7～ 1 14 ) ,PP每增加 5mmHg ,冠心病发病率增加率增加 11%。逐步回归分析表明 ,DBP和PP分别是 <60岁病人组和 >60岁病人组CHD发病的重要影响因子。结论　中青年病人中 ,DBP高者CHD发病率较高 ,老年病人中 ,PP高者CHD发病率较高     

Should diastolic and systolic blood pressure be considered for cardiovascular risk evaluation: a study in middle-aged men and women

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in cardiovascular mortality for different systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels in middle-aged men and women. BACKGROUND: In middle-aged subjects it is unclear whether DBP, in addition to SBP, should be considered for risk evaluation. METHODS: Subjects (77,023 men; 48,480 women) aged 40 to 70 years old, had no major cardiovascular disease, no antihypertensive treatment and were examined at the Centre d'Investigations Preventives et Cliniques between 1972 and 1988. Mortality was assessed for an 8- to 12-year period. RESULTS: In both genders, cardiovascular mortality increased with the SBP level. In men and women with normal SBP levels, DBP did not influence cardiovascular mortality after adjustment for age and SBP. In men with systolic hypertension, a U-shaped curve relationship between cardiovascular mortality and DBP was observed, with the lowest mortality rates in the group with DBP 90 to 99 mm Hg. Compared with this group, age- and SBP-adjusted cardiovascular mortality was higher by 73% (p < 0.02) in the group with DBP <90 mm Hg and by 65% (p < 0.001) in the group with DBP > or =110 mm Hg. In women with systolic hypertension, however, DBP was positively correlated with cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In middle-aged subjects, classification of cardiovascular risk according to DBP levels should take into account gender, especially when SBP levels are elevated. Men with systolic hypertension are at higher risk when their DBP is "normal" than when they present a mild to moderate increase in DBP. In women of the same age, however, systolic-diastolic hypertension represents a higher risk than isolated systolic hypertension.     

24小时动态脉压与冠状动脉病变的相关性分析

目的探讨24h动态脉压水平与冠状动脉(冠脉)病变程度的关系。方法对156例入选病例均行冠脉造影术。冠脉病变的严重程度用冠脉病变的血管支数及Gensini积分表示。所有病例均在术前、术后进行24h动态血压监测。结果高血压患者较非高血压患者冠心病患病率明显增高(73.6%比58.4%,P=0.038)。高血压患者冠脉3支血管病变的患病率显著高于非高血压患者(35.2%比12.3%,P=0.001)。冠脉狭窄患者,24h动态测压,其收缩压脉压均显著高于冠脉正常组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),且收缩压与脉压随着血管狭窄支数的增加而逐渐增加。结论脉压与冠心病冠脉狭窄程度呈正相关。24h动态脉压在预测冠脉病变程度的严重性方面优于肱动脉脉压。     

脉压水平与冠状动脉病变程度的相关性研究

目的探讨脉压(PP)、收缩压(SBP)、舒张压(DBP)水平与冠状动脉(冠脉)狭窄程度的关系.方法对418例入选病例均行冠脉造影及冠脉狭窄评分,根据冠脉造影结果将患者分为冠脉狭窄组、非冠脉狭窄组,测量收缩压、舒张压及脉压,应用统计学方法评定其与冠脉狭窄程度的关系.结果冠脉狭窄组脉压显著高于非冠脉狭窄组,有极显著性差异(P＜0.01),多因素logistic逐步回归分析表明脉压是冠心病冠脉狭窄发生发展的独立危险因素.结论脉压可作为预测冠心病冠脉狭窄严重程度的指标之一.     

血清尿酸与四年后血压变化及高血压发病的关系

目的　探讨中年人群血清尿酸(SUA)与四年后血压变化及高血压(HYP)发病的关系。方法　在1984年基线调查的35～59岁血压正常(低于135/85mmHg)、有SUA值的1656名男女中,1988年有1480人（男性609,女性871）参加了复查,以此为队列人群,观察高血压的发病率及血压变化。结果　随防四年高血压发病率为13.1%。无论男女,按尿酸四分位分析显示高血压发病率随分位数增加而升高。多元Logistic回归分析,当控制年龄后在男性SUA增加1个标准差（1.14mg/dl）是显著地增加HYP发病危险（HYP发病相对危险RR=1.40,95%可信限1.12～1.74）。当BMI、吸烟、饮酒和基线SBP加入模型,SUA与HYP发病的关系减弱但仍有统计学显著性（RR=1.28,95%可信限1.01～1.61）。多元线性回归分析,在男性基线年龄、SUA、BMI、和体重变化与4年的SBP变化呈正的显著关联。在女性SUA与高血压发病及血压变化均无显著关联。结论结果表明在男性SUA对血压升高及高血压发病是个独立于体重指数（BMI）、吸烟和饮酒的危险因素。     

主动脉脉压及脉压指数与冠状动脉病变严重程度的相关性

目的：探讨主动脉脉压（PP）、脉压指数（PPI）与冠心病严重程度的相关性。方法：选择我院行冠状动脉造影（CAG）患者198例，根据结果分为冠心病及非冠心病组。按年龄分为老年组和非老年组。冠状动脉病变的严重程度用冠状动脉病变Gensini评分系统表示。造影前测定主动脉根部收缩压（SBP）和舒张压（DBP），计算出PP及PPI，两组比较应用t检验；以Pearson相关分析主动脉PP、PPI与冠脉病变程度的相关性；并以冠脉病变程度评分为因变量，其它参数为自变量进行多元逐步回归分析。结果：冠心病组主动脉SBP、DBP、PP及PPI与非冠心病患者相比差异具有显著性（P〈0．05）。老年组主动脉SBP、DBP、PP及PPI与非老年组相比差异具有显著性（P〈0．01）。主动脉PP、PPI与冠脉病变的严重程度密切相关（rPP=0．592、rPPI=0．658，P〈0．01）；回归分析发现，主动脉PPI和年龄进入回归方程，提示主动脉PPI及年龄是冠脉病变的危险因素。结论：主动脉PP及PPI与冠状动脉病变的严重程度密切相关，可预测冠状动脉病变严重程度。     

Possible risk factors of carotid artery atherosclerosis in the Japanese population: a primary prevention study in non-diabetic subjects

OBJECTIVE: Hyperinsulinemia has been associated with the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and renal disease in nondiabetic subjects. However, direct evidence that hyperinsulinemia per se is directly associated with atherosclerosis has been conflicting. The present study was designed to investigate the cross-sectional association of carotid artery atherosclerosis with insulin, independent of well-known cardiovascular risk factors, in nondiabetic subjects. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Between 1996 and 1997, 1,335 subjects (620 men and 715 women) were recruited from one Japanese community, interviewed, and examined. Clinical measurements in the study included intimal-medial thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery, fasting plasma insulin, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin type HbA1c, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and body mass index (BMI). We divided the subjects of both genders into three subgroups according to age (40-49 years of age; 50-59; and 60-69). RESULTS: Using simple regression analysis, we found that IMT was significantly correlated with at least one of TC, LDL-C, HbA1c, SBP, DBP, and BMI in each subgroup. The results of multivariate analysis showed that IMT was independently correlated with TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, SBP and BMI in males and with TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, HbA1c, SBP, DBP, and BMI in females. Insulin levels showed no correlation with IMT in either males or females. CONCLUSION: Fasting hyperinsulinemia does not appear to be correlated with carotid artery atherosclerosis based on the present cross-sectional results.     

Prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart disease in a mountain community in northern Italy.

We performed a population survey in the Valle Sabbia mountain community, a highly industrialized area in the province of Brescia, in northern Italy, in order to estimate the prevalence of the main risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) among middle-aged men and women. A random sample of 1497 subjects (747 males) aged 40-59 were interviewed and underwent a physical examination. A blood sample was also taken to test total serum cholesterol. Personal histories of hypertension and CHD were given by 20.3 and 4.6% of men, and by 23 and 2.4% of women, respectively. A personal history of diabetes mellitus was reported by 5.2% of men and 4% of women. The mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), total cholesterol, number of cigarettes smoked per day and BMI were, respectively: 135.1 and 84.1 mmHg, 219.2 mg/dl, 10.2 cig/day and 26.2 in men, and 136.8 and 83.9 mmHg, 214.3 mg/dl, 2.4 cig/day and 25.1 in women. Among men, 45.0% had SBP > or = 140 or DBP > or = 90, 32.3% had total cholesterol > or = 240 mg/dl, 29.3% were current smokers and 60.7% had a BMI higher than 25. Among women, 48.7% had SBP > or = 140 or DBP > or = 90, 26.0% had total cholesterol > or = 240 mg/dl, 16.8% were current smokers and 44.3% had a BMI higher than 25. When considering the prevalence of high SBP or DBP, high total cholesterol or cigarette smoking, 72.3% of men and 67.7% of women had at least one of the main risk factors for CHD, usually higher values of SBP or DBP, whereas 29.3% of men and 21.2% of women had two or more factors. Overall, prevalences of the most common CHD risk factors in this community were similar to those found in other surveys carried out in Italy in the last decade.