Somatic risk factors for myocardial infarction among Swedish railway engine drivers

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated an increased incidence of myocardial infarction among railway engine drivers. OBJECTIVE: To analyse whether somatic risk factors for myocardial infarction among male drivers in different geographical areas in Sweden differed from that in general population samples drawn from the same geographical areas. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study comparing drivers and men from the general population. METHODS: Engine railway drivers aged 25-59 years (n = 2318) were compared with randomly selected men (n = 3016) with respect to their serum cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and smoking habits. RESULTS: The levels of the risk factors did not differ between engine drivers and the reference groups except for the Stockholm area which showed a higher percentage of tobacco smokers as well as higher means for systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The risk ratio compared with the reference samples was significantly elevated in Stockholm but not in any of the other areas. CONCLUSIONS: These somatic risk factors for myocardial infarction do not explain the approximately 40% reported increase in myocardial infarction incidence among railway engine drivers. In the following study, psychosocial factors will also be examined.     

Psychosocial risk factors for myocardial infarction among Swedish railway engine drivers [corrected

BACKGROUND: Several earlier investigations have found an increased incidence of myocardial infarction among male drivers and, not least, among railway engine drivers. In a previous study we found that increased serum cholesterol, blood pressure or tobacco smoking did not explain this increased risk. OBJECTIVE: To investigate psychosocial factors and primarily work-related factors among male engine drivers. DESIGN: Engine drivers were compared with random population samples in a cross-sectional study. METHOD: Two thousand three hundred and eighteen engine drivers aged 25-59 years were compared with 331 randomly selected men who were mainly from the G?teborg MONICA population study. Job demands and job decision latitude as well as social support were the main factors compared. RESULTS: Job demands were reported as being significantly lower by both younger and older engine drivers compared to their referents (P = 0.002 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Decision latitude was reported as being lower by both younger and older engine drivers than among controls (P = 0.0001 for both groups). Engine drivers experienced deficient support from their superiors compared to the referents (P = 0.0001 for younger as well as older engine drivers). Low decision latitude was associated with significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.11 and P = 0.0001), but otherwise there were no significant relationships between psychosocial work characteristics and somatic risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of low decision latitude and low social support seems to be a key factor in the increased risk of myocardial infarction among railway engine drivers. They generally undertake shift work which may be an additional risk factor for myocardial infarction.     

Risk factors for myocardial infarction among Swedish railway engine drivers during 10 years follow-up

BACKGROUND: Railway engine drivers have had an increased risk of myocardial infarction which could be due to reported low decision latitude and low social support but not to elevated somatic risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To study somatic and psychosocial risk factors for myocardial infarction among railway engine drivers prospectively. DESIGN: A prospective study of 2318 drivers followed for 10 years. METHODS: Risk factors were surveyed in conjunction with periodic health checks at 15 different centres but with common methodology and commonly used questionnaires. Questionnaire and register information on myocardial infarction during follow-up was recorded. RESULTS: Within this group of engine drivers, age, family history of myocardial infarction, systolic blood pressure and low body height were independent predictors of myocardial infarction, but diabetes, elevated serum cholesterol and smoking were not. Neither were a longer time in the occupation or work-related psychosocial factors. The drivers were all at the lower end of the decision authority and latitude scale and had low social support. With this limited span, it may be difficult to detect these variables as risk factors within this group. CONCLUSIONS: Several well-known, somatic risk factors for myocardial infarction were documented in this study, whereas psychosocial working conditions, which were common to all the drivers, were not significantly related to outcome.     

Preventive study of atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease risk factors among Kaunas school-children

In a series of 1,216 Kaunas school-children aged 10-15 years, a study was conducted of risk factors for atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease (elevated blood pressure, overweight, reduced physical activity, and smoking), and of the influence of nonmedicamentous measures on the risk factors' level. After three-years intensive health education concentrated on school-children and their parents, the number of smokers and subjects with reduced physical activity among school-children significantly decreased and the number of overweight school-children also dropped in the preventive intervention district, compared to the control district. The study showed the need for regular examinations of school-children for detecting the presence of risk factors, and the effectiveness of primary non-medicamentous prevention of atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease, carried out from school-age.     

Acute risk factors for myocardial infarction

Increased knowledge concerning the triggering of acute cardiovascular diseases has yielded a change in philosophical approach to this field. During the last decade, clinical evidence suggested that the term acute risk factors can be used for the activities and events that suddenly and transiently increase the risk of acute cardiac diseases. External triggers, such as heavy physical activity, emotional stress, eating, cold or heat exposure, coffee or alcohol consumption, cocaine or marijuana use and sexual intercourse are recognized as most important acute risk factors. It is likely that the morning hours may be considered as an endogenous, external triggering independent acute risk factor related to physiological sympathetic arousal. The features of triggering have been best described for an acute myocardial infarction whose moment of onset appears to be the result of a dynamic interaction between an endogenous response to acute risk factors and patient vulnerability. In this article, pathophysiological changes implicated as internal triggering mechanisms are summarized and the terms sympathetic and parasympathetic triggering patterns are introduced. A highly individual approach tailored both to protect against acute risk factors and to reduce patient vulnerability could provide a more complete protection from myocardial infarction and other coronary incidents. Lifestyle modifications, regular physical activity and adequate drug regimens may at least prove able to defer the occurrence of coronary thrombosis, thereby providing time for the development of collateral vessels, plaque stabilization or invasive/surgical treatment.     

天津市市区成人心肌梗死的流行病学特征及相关因素分析

目的了解天津市市区成人心肌梗死的流行病学特征和相关危险因素,为天津市市区心肌梗死的防治和干预提供科学依据。方法以整群随机抽样方法,抽取天津市市内六区的30个街道居委会作为调查点,对每个调查点≥18岁的常住居民进行问卷调查和体格检查。结果共调查28515人,其中心肌梗死患者315人,患病率为1．1％,标化患病率为634．59／10万。心肌梗死患病率随年龄增加而上升（X^2=294．335,P〈0．005）。高血压、糖尿病、血脂异常为心肌梗死的危险因素,而水果摄人为其保护因素。结论天津市区居民心肌梗死患病率较高,应提高居民对心肌梗死危险因素的认识,做好一、二级预防。     

Genetic risk factors in myocardial infarction at young age

The role of genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) seems to be quite important in young patients. In the last years the attention has been focused on polymorphisms influencing some biological functions (coagulation and fibrinolysis, platelets, vascular function, lipid metabolism, inflammation). The study of prothrombotic polymorphisms has kindled a deep interest. The role of atherosclerosis and thrombosis is different in the different ages. In all the studies we examined, the polymorphism G20210A in the prothrombin gene was associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in young people, especially when other risk factors were present. Contradictory results have been found in the studies on Factor V Leiden: according to many authors the activated protein C resistance (APCR) is associated with an increased risk of AMI only in smokers, above all if women. On the other hand, some polymorphisms of the Factor VII gene seem to be protective. Young AMI could be also caused by a reduction of the fibrinolytic activity, as it was found when the allele 4G in the promoter of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) gene is present. The attention has also been focused on the effects of variations in genes that influence platelet functions. According to a metanalysis of studies published up to 1999, there is no association between the polymorphism PlA1/A2 of the GP IIIa gene and young AMI, whereas there is doubt about the role of the polymorphism in the GP IIb e GP Ib genes. Moreover, it seems to be present an association with the polymorphisms in the thrombopoietin gene (C4830A and A5713G). Also the role of some genes coding for proteins influencing the vascular functions has been valued. Few studies were performed on genetics of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the results are insufficient and contradictory, such as those about the association between the polymorphism G894T in the eNOS gene or the polymorphism C677T in the MTHFR gene and young AMI. Genes coding for proteins involved in the lipid metabolism have been closely examined. Many polymorphisms were discovered in the Apo B gene: the variant C-516T was found to be associated with increased LDL levels, whereas the results about the association between this and other polymorphisms in the same gene (I/D of LAL sequence, PvuII, MspI, Asp4311Ser) and young AMI are discordant. On the other hand, the variant e4 of the ApoE gene was associated with an increased risk of AMI at young age in many works. In the last years, a particular interest has kindled the study of the relationship between inflammation, atherosclerosis and CAD. Even if the studies performed are few, it was found an association between young AMI and polymorphism C-260T in the CD14 gene, between coronarics atherosclerosis and polymorphism A516C in the E Selectin gene or polymorphisms Leu125Val and Ser563Asn in the PECAM1 gene.     

CAD risk factors and acute myocardial infarction in Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in adult patients under the age of 45 is relatively unusual. Recent studies have shown a higher prevalence of AMI in young South Asian migrants. Data on South Asians in South Asia on cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients is lacking. The purpose of this study is to look at the classical risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD) in young men and women and their older counterparts who presented to the emergency service of the Aga Khan university hospital (AKUH) and were diagnosed with AMI. METHODS: 976 consecutive patients admitted to AKUH with AMI between January 2000-December 2002 were divided into two groups: < 45 years (young) and > 45 years (old). Demographic factors, clinical symptoms and presence of risk factors for CAD were recorded with the help of pre-tested data extraction forms. RESULTS: Young patients represented 16.1% of all patients with AMI. 93.1% of the young patients were men. Young male patients were more likely to be smokers and have high cholesterol levels as compared to their young female counterparts. Young AMI patients when compared to old AMI patients, were more likely to have hypertension, positive family history of coronary artery disease, high cholesterol, high LDL and high triglycerides. CONCLUSION: In this study, the risk factor profile between young and old patients and between the two genders was found to be different. Thus adult management protocols for AMI should be different from the ones for older patients and gender difference should also be considered.     

Primary risk factors in patients with myocardial infarction.

A predicted probability of suffering myocardial infarction based on a multiple risk function involving serum cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and tobacco consumption, was allocated retrospectively to 270 men who survived a primary myocardial infarction. The infarction patients were representative of all surviving, diagnosed cases of primary infarction in men in certain age groups in G?teborg, Sweden, during the years 1968-70. The patients were divided into three groups-low, moderate, and high risk. A large number of patients had suffered infarction despite relatively low risk, but the patients showed a tendency toward higher risk in comparison with the risk distribution in a representative population sample. In order to study whether other variables, not included in the risk function, could "explain" the infarction in patients with relatiely low risk, the different risk groups were compared. A high degree of mental stress, diabetes mellitus, and dyspnea on exertion, and possibly also raised triglycerides, contributed to "explain" the infarctions in the low-risk group. Low physical activity during leisure time was probably also of importance.     

急性脑梗死和心肌梗死危险因素的对比分析

目的 探讨急性脑梗死与急性心肌梗死危险因素的异同.方法 分析115例急性脑梗死患者和108例急性心肌梗死患者的性别、年龄、高血压病史、糖尿病史、生活方式因素等以及入院后血糖、血脂、尿酸、纤维蛋白原等生化资料.结果 急性脑梗死患者高血压病发病率、血清胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平高于急性心肌梗死患者(P＜0.05);急性心肌梗死患者尿酸(UA)、纤维蛋白原(FIB)水平高于脑梗死患者(P＜0.01或P＜0.05).结论 高血压与TC、LDL-C水平作为发病危险因素与脑梗死的密切程度高于心肌梗死;纤维蛋白原和尿酸异常在急性心肌梗死的发病中可能有更明显的作用.     

急性心肌梗死患者医院感染危险因素分析

目的分析急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者医院感染的特点及相关危险因素,探讨降低其医院感染发生率的防控措施。方法回顾性调查分析2008年1月至2010年12月循环内科收治的289例急性心肌梗死患者的临床资料。结果共发生医院感染46例,51例次,感染发生率15．92％,例次感染率17．65％;感染部位以呼吸道为主,占52．94％,其他依次为泌尿道（17．65％）、胃肠道（13．73％）等;检出的病原菌以G-杆菌为主,占51．43％,G＋球菌占34．29％,真菌占11．43％;高龄、心功能不全（Ⅲ～Ⅳ级）、住院时间长、合并其他疾病、侵人性操作、预防性应用抗菌药物、多壁心肌梗死等是发生医院感染的危险因素。结论急性心肌梗死患者医院感染发生率高,危险因素多。加强基础疾病治疗、纠正心力衰竭、对高龄患者密切监测、缩短住院时间、减少侵入性操作、合理应用抗菌药物等是降低急性心肌梗死患者医院感染发生的有效措施。     

A register of acute myocardial infarction: its incidence and mortality in Kaunas

A study of acute myocardial infarction morbidity and mortality in Kaunas, using a WHO-recommended method, demonstrated that total mortality rate dropped from 43.9 to 31.7% between 1972 and 1986. An increase in morbidity was recorded among young men, which was due to increasing number of patients with the first myocardial infarction. Mortality changes follow an undulating pattern.     

High prevalence of thrombophilia among young patients with myocardial infarction and few conventional risk factors

BACKGROUND: Thrombophilia refers to series of acquired and inherited conditions that confer a tendency to thrombus formation. The exact relationship between thrombophilia and MI is not well established. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of thrombophilia in young patients with their first MI and few conventional risk factors. METHODS: We evaluated the baseline characteristics and the thrombophilia profile, including anti-cardiolipin antibodies, activated protein C resistance (APCR) with the factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin G20210A mutation, protein C, protein S, and antithrombin-III levels, among 85 consecutive patients (<50 year old) who were admitted to CCU with their first MI. Patients were divided into two groups: group A-patients with < or =1 risk factor and group B-patients with > or =2 risk factors. RESULTS: 92% were male and 55% with anterior wall MI. Overall, the risk factor profile was: smoking in 60%, hyperlipidemia in 42%, positive family history in 29%, hypertension in 18%, diabetes mellitus in 13%, and obesity in 8%. Forty-seven percent of patients had < or =1 risk factor (n=40, group A) and 53% had > or =2 risk factors (n=45, group B). The prevalence of the prothrombin mutation was 15% in group A compared to 7% in group B (p=0.12). APCR secondary to a heterozygous genotype of factor V Leiden mutation was found in 20% in group A compared to 2% in group B (p<0.01). Anti-cardiolipin antibodies were found in 16% in group A compared to 22% in group B (p=ns). Finally, we have found that the likelihood of identifying at least one thrombophilia marker was 50% in group A compared to 29% in group B (p=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: The likelihood to detect at least one thrombophilia marker in young patients with MI and few conventional risk factors is significantly high. Thrombophilia may contribute to the development of MI in this specific group of young patients.     

早发冠心病心肌梗死型与非心肌梗死型危险因素差异分析

目的探讨早发冠心病中心肌梗死型与非心肌梗死型的危险因素差异。方法回顾性分析2004年1月至2009年12月在沈阳医学院附属奉天医院心血管内科住院并确诊的45岁及以下冠心病患者165例,分为急性心肌梗死(AMI)组和非AMI组。对两组患者的相关临床资料及危险因素进行统计分析。结果 AMI组吸烟史比例、男性比率、血浆纤维蛋白原及D-二聚体均高于非AMI组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),两组的血脂异常率、血小板计数(PLT)、血小板压积、凝血酶原时间(PT)、国际标准化比值(INR)和活化部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)的差异无统计学意义。结论吸烟、男性性别、血脂水平异常是早发冠心病重要危险因素;血浆纤维蛋白原水平增高对于预测早发冠心病心肌梗死可能具有一定的临床意义。     

The risk of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction among older adults.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine the risk of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a large, nationally representative sample of very old men and women. METHODS: We utilized secondary analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Aging. Baseline (1984) in-person interview data were linked to Medicare hospitalization records for 1984-1991. Subjects were 6,071 noninstitutionalized adults 70 years old or older at baseline. Hospitalization for AMI was defined as having primary discharge diagnoses containing ICD9-CM 410 codes. Multivariable proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the epidemiologic risks for all persons, and separately for women, men, self-respondents, those with no previous AMIs, and those with no history of coronary heart disease. RESULTS: Of the sample, 357 persons (5.9%; 172 women and 185 men) had at least one primary discharge diagnosis of AMI. Significant (p<.05) risk factors for being hospitalized with an AMI (adjusted hazards ratios in parentheses) from the pooled analysis were male gender (1.86), having no more than a grade school education (1.35), atherosclerosis (1.43), hypertension (1.29), coronary heart disease (1.63), angina (1.60), previous AMI (1.52), diabetes (1.89), and four or more lower body limitations (1.43). The gender-specific analyses, however, revealed that hypertension, angina, diabetes, and lower body limitations were risk factors only for women, and that having no more than a grade school education was a risk factor only for men. CONCLUSION: Men, especially those with low education, women with diabetes, angina, hypertension, or lower body limitations, and either men or women with previous AMIs, coronary heart disease, or atherosclerosis have elevated risks for AMI resulting in hospitalization, and they should be considered for evaluation and monitoring. Current protocols for therapeutic management should be adopted, and compliance should be encouraged.     

Genetic risk factors for development of myocardial infarction in young men living in North-West region of Russia

With the aim to detect genetic factors of risk of development of early myocardial infarction (MI) we studied 29 allele variants of 19 genes in 206 men who had survived MI in the age before 45 years and in 195 men of similar age without cardiovascular diseases. All subjects were inhabitants of North-West region of Russia. The following factors were associated with history of myocardial infarction: genotype RR191 of paraoxonase-1 (PON1) gene (RR 2.8 [95% CI: 1.24 - 6.30]), P1A2 allele of glycoprotein (GP) IIIa subunit of platelet fibrinogen receptor GPIIb/IIIa (RR 1.8 [95% CI: 1.11 - 2.93]), and Met145 allele of GPIbalpha platelet von Willebrand factor receptor gene. Genotype CC ( - 108) PON1 was associated with lowered risk of MI development (RR 0.6 [95% CI: 0.40 - 0.91]). During 7 years of follow-up 30 men from MI group died of recurrent acute coronary syndromes. In the group of those who died we noted increased prevalence of P1A2 GPIIIa allele compared with those who survived (p < 0.03). The results allow to suggest that contribute to development of MI in young men factors associated with elevation of functional state of platelets and levels of oxidized lipids in blood plasma.