Hemostatic factors as predictors of stroke and cardiovascular diseases: the FINRISK '92 Hemostasis Study.

We carried out a prospective cohort study to determine whether the plasma levels of fibrinogen, plasminogen, factor VII and lipoprotein (a) are predictors of ischemic stroke and all cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. The FINRISK '92 Hemostasis Study included a random sample of 2372 participants, who were followed-up from winter 1992 to 31 December 2001. During the follow-up, 75 ischemic stroke and 145 coronary events occurred. Of these, 169 were observed among participants free of known CVD at baseline. In this group, fibrinogen and plasminogen were positively associated with the risk of a CVD event with hazard ratios of 1.22 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-1.41] and 1.22 (95% CI, 1.03-1.44), respectively, after adjusting for age, sex and conventional risk factors. Factor VII:C was associated with risk of a future CVD event only among persons with positive history of CVD at baseline (hazard ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.00-1.73). Factor VII antigen was not associated with CVD risk. None of the measured hemostatic factors was a predictor of ischemic stroke events, with the possible exception of lipoprotein (a), which had a borderline significant association (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.99-1.58). In conclusion, the present study supports the observations that fibrinogen and plasminogen are significant predictors of CVD events, independently of conventional risk factors.     

Sex-specific cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a cohort treated for hypertension

OBJECTIVE: Incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in men than in women. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the gender differential can be modified by pharmacological intervention in a population-based setting. DESIGN AND METHOD: In a prospective population-based cohort--the Malm? Diet and Cancer study--a total of 3608 hypertensives (1559 men, 2049 women), 45-73 years old, with a mean of 10 years' treatment at baseline examination, participated in the study. Information on blood pressure-lowering medication was collected in a questionnaire. Incidences of first-ever cardiac event, stroke or CVD death were followed. The mean period of follow-up was 7.4 years. RESULTS: During follow-up, 341 first-ever CVD events and 128 CVD deaths occurred. The risk of CVD morbidity or mortality was significantly higher in hypertensive men than in hypertensive women: cardiac event [relative risk (RR) = 3.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.13-4.54], stroke (RR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.01-2.22) and CVD death (RR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.86-4.20). However, the gender gap in CVD risks was reduced with advancing age. Two background factors--single household and concomitant diabetes--are apt to have an independent sex-specific impact on CVD risk. CONCLUSIONS: Gender remains a strong independent predictor for CVD morbidity and mortality, irrespective of antihypertensive intervention or other risk factors. Increased clinical attention should be given to hypertensive men living alone and hypertensive women with diabetes.     

Sex differences in the relationships between BMI, WHR and incidence of cardiovascular disease: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE: Body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the risk could be very different for individuals with the same body mass. The present study explored whether regional fat distribution, as measured by waist-hip ratio (WHR), could modify the impact of BMI on the risk of CVD in men and women. DESIGN: Prospective population-based study. SUBJECTS: A total of 10 369 men and 16 638 women, 45-73 years old, from general population in Malm?, Sweden.Measurements:All subjects were followed over 7 years for the incidences of first-ever cardiac event (CE) and ischemic stroke in relation to BMI category (<25.0, 25.0-29.9, > or =30.0) and WHR. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 39.4 and 13.0%, respectively. During follow-up, 1280 subjects suffered a CVD event (750 CE, 530 ischemic stroke). The risk of CVD in women increased with increasing levels of WHR, irrespective of BMI category. In men, WHR (per 1 s.d. increase) was associated with increased incidence of CVD in those with normal weight (relative risk (RR)=1.24; 95% CI: 1.13-1.37) after adjustments for confounding factors. However, WHR was not related to CVD in overweight men (RR=1.06; 95%CI: 0.94-1.20) or obese men (RR=1.04; 95%CI: 0.87-1.24). A significant interaction was observed between sex and WHR on the CVD risk. CONCLUSION: The effect of WHR on incidence of CVD is modified by the overall body weight and by gender. WHR adds prognostic information on the cardiovascular risk in women at all levels of BMI, and in men with normal weight.     

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF COAGULATION FACTORS, INHIBITORS AND ACTIVATION MARKERS: THE THIRD GLASGOW MONICA SURVEY II. RELATIONSHIPS TO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS AND PREVALENT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Coagulation factor activity (fibrinogen, VII, VIII and IX), coagulation inhibitor activity (antithrombin, protein C, protein S), and coagulation activation markers (prothrombin fragment F1, 2; thrombin–antithrombin complexes) were measured in 746 men and 816 women aged 25–74 years, randomly sampled from the north Glasgow population in the Third MONICA Survey. After age-adjustment, significant associations with cardiovascular risk factors were observed. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride were associated with increases in factors VII and IX, as well as antithrombin, protein C and protein S; and with increased fibrinogen and factor VIII in women. Apart from factor VIII (related to blood pressure in men, but not in women), similar associations were observed for blood pressure and body mass index. Smoking status and/or smoking markers were related to fibrinogen, factor IX, antithrombin and protein S. Alcohol intake was related to protein S, and inversely to fibrinogen and antithrombin in men. Low social class was associated with fibrinogen, factor VIII, factor IX, and with antithrombin, protein S, and low protein C in men. Serum vitamin C was associated inversely with coagulation factors and coagulation inhibitors. The only associations of activation markers were with low serum vitamin C, and with alcohol consumption and low social class in men. Prevalent cardiovascular disease was associated only with fibrinogen.
These associations of coagulation factors and inhibitors with cardiovascular risk factors are plausibly relevant to thrombotic risk in cardiovascular disease. In general, 'worse' values of risk factors are associated with increased plasma levels of both coagulation factors and inhibitors, without significant increase in coagulation activation markers. However, the association of lower serum vitamin C with increased coagulation activation markers is of potential therapeutic interest.     

Menstrual cycle irregularity and risk for future cardiovascular disease

Cross-sectional studies suggest that women who have irregular menstrual cycles and hyperandrogenism may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, prospective data are lacking on the relationship between menstrual cycle irregularity and subsequent CVD risk. The objective of this study was to assess prospectively the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke associated with a history of irregular menstrual cycles. The study design was a prospective cohort study of 82,439 female nurses who provided information in 1982 on prior menstrual regularity (at ages 20-35 yr) and were followed through 1996 for cardiovascular events. Incident reports of nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal CHD, and nonfatal and fatal stroke were made. Medical records were reviewed for confirmation. During 14 yr (1,155,915 person-yr) of follow-up, there were 1417 incident cases of CHD and 838 incident cases of stroke, including 471 cases of ischemic stroke. Compared with women reporting a history of very regular menstrual cycles, women reporting usually irregular or very irregular cycles had an increased risk for nonfatal or fatal CHD [age-adjusted relative risks (RR), 1.25 and 1.67, respectively; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.07-1.47 and 1.35-2.06, respectively]. Increased risks for CHD associated with prior cycle irregularity remained significant after adjustment for body mass index and several potential confounders. There was a nonsignificant increase in overall stroke risk (RR, 1.30; 95% CI = 0.97-1.74) and in ischemic stroke risk (RR, 1.40; 95% CI = 0.97-2.04) associated with very irregular cycles. Menstrual cycle irregularity may be a marker of metabolic abnormalities predisposing to increased risk for CVD.     

Ankle-arm index as a predictor of cardiovascular disease and mortality in the Cardiovascular Health Study. The Cardiovascular Health Study Group

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the legs, measured noninvasively by the ankle-arm index (AAI) is associated with clinically manifest cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors. To determine risk of total mortality, coronary heart disease, or stroke mortality and incident versus recurrent CVD associated with a low AAI, we examined the relationship of the AAI to subsequent CVD events in 5888 older adults with and without CVD. The AAI was measured in 5888 participants >/=65 years old at the baseline examination of the Cardiovascular Health Study. All participants had a detailed assessment of prevalent CVD and were contacted every 6 months for total mortality and CVD events (including CVD mortality, fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, angina, stroke, and hospitalized PAD). The crude mortality rate at 6 years was highest (32.3%) in those participants with prevalent CVD and a low AAI (P<0.9), and it was lowest in those with neither of these findings (8.7%, P<0.01). Similar patterns emerged from analysis of recurrent CVD and incident CVD. The risk for incident congestive heart failure (relative risk [RR]=1.61) and for total mortality (RR=1.62) in those without CVD at baseline but with a low AAI remained significantly elevated after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Hospitalized PAD events occurred months to years after the AAI was measured, with an adjusted RR of 5.55 (95% CI, 3.08 to 9.98) in those at risk for incident events. A statistically significant decline in survival was seen at each 0.1 decrement in the AAI. An AAI of <0.9 is an independent risk factor for incident CVD, recurrent CVD, and mortality in this group of older adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study.     

Associations of dietary magnesium intake with mortality from cardiovascular disease: the JACC study

The authors sought to investigate the relationship between dietary magnesium intake and mortality from cardiovascular disease in a population-based sample of Asian adults. Reported findings are based on dietary magnesium intake in 58,615 healthy Japanese aged 40-79 years, in the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study. Dietary magnesium intake was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire administered between 1988 and 1990. During the median 14.7-year follow-up, we documented 2690 deaths from cardiovascular disease, comprising 1227 deaths from strokes and 557 deaths from coronary heart disease. Dietary magnesium intake was inversely associated with mortality from hemorrhagic stroke in men and with mortality from total and ischemic strokes, coronary heart disease, heart failure and total cardiovascular disease in women. The multivariable hazard ratio (95% CI) for the highest vs. the lowest quintiles of magnesium intake after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factor and sodium intake was 0.49 (0.26-0.95), P for trend = 0.074 for hemorrhagic stroke in men, 0.68 (0.48-0.96), P for trend = 0.010 for total stroke, 0.47 (0.29-0.77), P for trend < 0.001 for ischemic stroke, 0.50 (0.30-0.84), P for trend = 0.005 for coronary heart disease, 0.50 (0.28-0.87), P for trend = 0.002 for heart failure and 0.64 (0.51-0.80), P for trend < 0.001 for total cardiovascular disease in women. The adjustment for calcium and potassium intakes attenuated these associations. In conclusion, dietary magnesium intake was associated with reduced mortality from cardiovascular disease in Japanese, especially for women.     

Predictive value of waist-to-hip ratio on cardiovascular risk events

BACKGROUND: A central distribution of adipose tissue is frequently associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors. METHODS: Clinical usefulness of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) for predicting the risk of cardiovascular events, estimated with models based on data from the Framingham and Prospective Cardiovascular Münster (PROCAM) studies was evaluated. SUBJECTS: These were 552 men and 160 women, asymptomatic and at risk for CVD, aged 30-74 y, recruited from an ongoing risk factor screening program conducted at worksites. RESULTS: Abdominal fatness was a strong predictor of cardiovascular complications in subjects whose WHR was in the top quintile (> 0.98 for men and > 0.91 for women). The estimated percentage rate of coronary heart disease (CHD, P <0.01) and death (P < 0.01), myocardial infarction (P < 0.01), stroke (P < 0.01), total CVD (P < 0.001) and death (P < 0.01) increased with increasing quintile of WHR in men and women. In the highest WHR, the number of subjects exceeding a 15% risk of developing a coronary event over the next 10 y was more than two-fold greater (odds ratio (OR) 2.60 (confidence intervals (CI) 1.09-6.54) than in the lowest WHR quintiles. Similar six-year myocardial infarction (MI) risks at each quintile of WHR were observed in men in both Framingham and PROCAM models. In the overall population, CHD estimates increased with increasing quintiles of WHR with the Framingham model and an adapted model for estimating probabilities of disease in the French population of the Prevention Cardiovasculaire en Médecine du Travail (PCV-METRA) group. CONCLUSION: Abdominal deposition of fat assessed by WHR may be of strong clinical value for predicting high risk of cardiovascular events.     

Population correlates of plasma fibrinogen and factor VII, putative cardiovascular risk factors.

Recent prospective investigations have reported that higher plasma fibrinogen concentrations and higher factor VII coagulant activity are associated with greater risk of cardiovascular disease. To discover what characteristics may influence fibrinogen and factor VII, we analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study obtained from over 12,000 men and women, aged 45-64 years, from four communities in December 1986 to June 1989. Fibrinogen was higher in blacks than whites and in women than men; in general, it increased with age, smoking, body size, diabetes, fasting serum insulin, LDL cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), leukocyte count, and menopause, and it decreased with ethanol intake, physical activity, HDL cholesterol, and female hormone use. Factor VII was higher in women than men and, in women, increased with age; in both sexes, it increased with body size, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol, and it decreased with ethanol intake. These findings indicate that elevations in fibrinogen and factor VII may be modifiable through appropriate lifestyle changes.     

Migraine and risk of cardiovascular disease in men

BACKGROUND: The vascular component of the migraine-specific physiologic profile and the observed adverse cardiovascular risk profile in migraineurs suggest an association between migraine and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In women, migraine has been associated with increased risk of CVD, including coronary events. Compatible data in men are lacking. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of 20 084 men aged 40 to 84 years participating in the Physicians' Health Study. In yearly questionnaires, men were asked for information on migraine, risk factors, and the occurrence of study end points. We classified men as having migraine if they indicated migraine during the first 5 years, after which time follow-up began. Information on aura was not available. All the men were free of CVD at the start of follow-up. During a mean of 15.7 years, we followed up participants for the occurrence of a first major CVD event (nonfatal ischemic stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or death from ischemic CVD). We also evaluated the individual end points, coronary revascularization, and angina. RESULTS: A total of 1449 men (7.2%) reported migraine, and during follow-up, 2236 major CVD events occurred. Compared with nonmigraineurs, men who reported migraine had multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 1.24 (1.06-1.46; P = .008) for major CVD, 1.12 (0.84-1.50; P = .43) for ischemic stroke, 1.42 (1.15-1.77; P<.001) for myocardial infarction, 1.05 (0.89-1.24; P = .54) for coronary revascularization, 1.15 (0.99-1.33; P = .068) for angina, and 1.07 (0.80-1.43; P = .65) for ischemic cardiovascular death. CONCLUSION: In this large prospective cohort of apparently healthy men, migraine was associated with increased risk of major CVD, which was driven by increased risk of myocardial infarction.     

Chronic psychosocial stress predicts long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in middle-aged men.

AIMS: To prospectively investigate the association between self-reported psychosocial stress and long-term cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in a population-based cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Malm? Preventive Project is a population-based screening and intervention programme for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Between 1974 and 1980, a total of 13,609 (2741 women) individuals, mean age 45 years, had self-reported chronic stress determined by questionnaire. CV morbidity and mortality were followed up in national registries. Median follow-up time was 21 years. The risk ratio (RR) for a fatal or nonfatal CV incident in the men and women of the group reporting chronic stress was 1.27 (95% CI 1.15-1.39). After stepwise adjustments for known CV risk factors, the RR was reduced to 1.14 (1.02-1.28). The highest RR was found for fatal stroke in men reporting chronic stress, 2.04 (1.07-3.88). For women alone, there was no significant increase in risk after adjustments. CONCLUSION: Self-reported chronic stress is an independent risk factor for CVD, particularly fatal stroke, in middle-aged men; it continues to be a risk factor after adjustment for several other known risk factors. The adjustment itself might reflect mechanisms whereby psychosocial stress directly or indirectly exerts its effects on the body, indicating a possible over-adjustment.     

Dietary magnesium intake and risk of cardiovascular disease among women

This study assessed the hypothesis that greater magnesium intake is associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, in a large prospective cohort of women. In 1993, a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess magnesium intake in 39,876 female health professionals aged 39 to 89 years who had no history of CVD or cancer. During a median of 10 years of follow-up, 1,037 incident cases of CVD were identified, including 280 nonfatal MIs and 368 strokes. After adjustment for age and randomized treatment status, magnesium intake was not significantly associated with risk for incident CVD. Comparing the highest quintile of magnesium intake (median 433 mg/day) with the lowest quintile (median 255 mg/day), the relative risks were 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72 to 1.05, p for trend = 0.24) for total CVD, 0.88 (95% CI 0.70 to 1.12, p for trend = 0.34) for coronary heart disease (CHD), 1.03 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.49, p for trend = 0.96) for nonfatal MI, 1.11 (95% CI 0.61 to 2.00, p for trend = 0.95) for CVD death, and 0.87 (95% CI 0.64 to 1.18, p for trend = 0.55) for total stroke. Additional adjustment for other CVD risk factors did not materially change the observed null associations. In conclusion, the results do not support the hypothesis that magnesium intake reduces the development of CHD, although a modest inverse association with stroke cannot be ruled out.     

Lifestyle and cardiovascular disease in middle-aged British men: the effect of adjusting for within-person variation.

AIMS: To examine the effect that within-person variation has on the estimated risk associations between cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, and increased body mass index (BMI) and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in middle-aged British men. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, 6452 men aged 40-59 with no prior evidence of CVD were followed for major CVD events (fatal/non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke) and all-cause mortality over 20 years; lifestyle characteristics were ascertained at regular points throughout the study. A major CVD event within the first 20 years was observed in 1194 men (18.5%). Use of baseline assessments of cigarette smoking and physical activity in analyses resulted in underestimation of the associations between average cumulative exposure to these factors and major CVD risk. After correction for within-person variation, major CVD rates were over four times higher for heavy smokers (> or =40 cigarettes/day) compared with never smokers and three times higher for physically inactive men compared with moderately active men. Major CVD risk increased by 6% for each 1 kg/m(2) increase in usual BMI. If all men had experienced the risk levels of the men who had never regularly smoked cigarettes, were moderately active, and had a BMI of < or =25 kg/m(2) (6% of the population), 66% of the observed major CVD events would have been prevented or postponed (63% before adjustment for within-person variation). Adjustment for a range of other risk factors had little effect on the results. Similar results were obtained for all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: Failure to take account of within-person variation can lead to underestimation of the importance of lifestyle characteristics in determining CVD risk. Primary prevention through lifestyle modification has a great preventive potential.     

The prospective association of serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-1 levels with all cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in older adults: the Rancho Bernardo Study

The IGF system has been implicated in cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. The prospective association of serum IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) with all cause, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and non-IHD CVD mortality was examined in 633 men and 552 nonestrogen-using postmenopausal women, aged 51-98 yr (mean, 74 yr) in 1988-1992, who were followed through July 2001 (96% follow-up). During the 9- to 13-yr follow-up, there were 522 deaths; 224 were attributed to CVD, and 105 were caused by IHD. IGF-I and IGFBP-1 were independently and jointly related to risk of IHD mortality. In a proportional hazards model including both IGF-I and IGFBP-1 and adjusting for CVD risk factors, the relative risk of IHD mortality was 38% higher for every 40 ng/ml (1 SD) decrease in IGF-I (95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.76; P = 0.005) and 3.11 times greater for those in the lowest quintile of IGFBP-1 (95% confidence interval, 1.74-5.56; P < 0.001) compared with those with higher IGFBP-1 levels. IGF-I and IGFBP-1 (alone or in combination) were not related to risk of all cause or non-IHD CVD mortality. We conclude that low baseline levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-1 increase the risk of fatal IHD among elderly men and women independent of prevalent IHD and CVD risk factors.     

White blood cell count and risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in nationwide sample of Japanese--results from the NIPPON DATA90.

BACKGROUND: The association of white blood cell (WBC) count with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality were examined in the National Integrated Project for Prospective Observation of Non-communicable Disease and Its Trends in the Aged (NIPPON DATA) 90. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 6,756 Japanese residents (2,773 men and 3,983 women) throughout Japan without a history of CVD were followed for 9.6 years. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). We documented 576 deaths with 161 deaths from CVD. Overall, after adjusting for several confounders including age, sex, body mass index at baseline, smoking status, alcohol consumption, regular exercise, diastlic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and hemoglobin A1c, a graded association between WBC count and higher risk of all-cause mortality was observed (WBC of 9,000-10,000 cells/mm(3) vs WBC of 4,000-4,900: RR =1.61, 95% CI: 1.07-2.40, p for trend =0.02). Elevated WBC count was almost significantly associated with high risk of CVD mortality (WBC of 9,000-10,000 vs WBC of 4,000-4,900: RR =1.79, 95% CI: 0.97-3.71). These associations strengthened among women. Stratified by smoking status, never-smokers with WBC counts of 9,000-10,000 had a 3.2 fold elevated risk for CVD death compared with those with WBC counts of 4,000-4,900. CONCLUSIONS: The WBC count may have potential as a predictor for all-cause mortality, particularly CVD mortality.     

Metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in an elderly Caucasian cohort: the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging

BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is represented by a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In spite of its high frequency and strong association with morbidity and mortality in the adult population, little is known about its magnitude in elderly persons. METHODS: We assessed the prevalence of MetS by diabetic status and sex in the participants in the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA), a population-based study on a sample of 5632 individuals 65-84 years old at baseline (1992). We measured the association of MetS with stroke, coronary heart disease, and diabetes at baseline and with CVD mortality at 4-year follow-up. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS was 25.9% in nondiabetic men and 55.2% in nondiabetic women; in diabetic individuals it was 64.9% and 87.1% in men and women, respectively. At baseline, in both men and women there was a significant association with stroke (odds ratio [OR]=1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-2.75 in men and OR=1.72, CI, 1.01-2.93 in women) and diabetes (OR=4.58, CI, 3.12-6.74 in men and OR=5.15, CI, 3.23-8.20 in women). A significant association with chronic heart disease was found in men only (OR=1.40; CI, 1.02-1.97). During the approximately 4-year follow-up, nondiabetic men with MetS had a risk of CVD mortality 12% higher compared to those without MetS, whereas no significant differences were found in women. CONCLUSIONS: MetS is very common in aged Italians, and it is associated with stroke and diabetes in both sexes, and with chronic heart disease in men. In men, it increases significantly the risk of CVD mortality.     

Echocardiographic determinants of clinical outcome in subjects with coronary artery disease (the Framingham Heart Study).

Echocardiographic predictors of clinical outcome were examined in subjects from the Framingham Heart Study with overt coronary artery disease. The study population consisted of 185 men and 147 women with coronary artery disease who underwent M-mode echocardiography and were followed for a mean of 3.90 years. At baseline, 37 men (18.4%) and 16 women (10.9%) had reduced fractional shortening, 43 men (23.2%) and 28 women (19%) had left ventricular (LV) dilatation, and 76 men (41%) and 76 women (51.7%) had LV hypertrophy. During the follow-up period new cardiovascular disease events (coronary disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, claudication, heart failure and deaths from cardiovascular disease) occurred in 60 men (32%) and 58 women (39%). With use of age-adjusted proportional hazards analyses, LV mass/height in men (relative risk [RR] = 1.25/50 g/m increment, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 1.55) and LV end-diastolic diameter in women (RR = 1.36/5 mm increment, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.76) were predictors of new cardiovascular disease events. Cardiovascular risk was also associated with LV end-systolic diameter in both sexes (in men RR = 1.28/1 SD increment, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.63; in women RR = 1.40/1 standard deviation increment, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.82). Reduced fractional shortening alone (RR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.31) and in combination with LV dilatation (RR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.02) was associated with the incidence of new cardiovascular disease outcomes in men.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Associations of blood rheology and interleukin-6 with cardiovascular risk factors and prevalent cardiovascular disease

Haemorheological variables (whole-blood, plasma and relative blood viscosity, haematocrit, red cell aggregation, white cell count and fibrinogen) were measured in 753 men and 821 women aged 25-74 years, and related to cardiovascular risk factors and prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD). Men had higher levels than women of blood viscosity, haematocrit, corrected viscosity and relative viscosity. Post-menopausal women had higher levels than pre-menopausal women of blood viscosity, haematocrit, corrected blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and fibrinogen: each of these differences was completely or partly abolished by use of hormone replacement therapy. Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index and smoking markers showed positive associations with most rheological variables, whereas HDL-cholesterol, plasma vitamin C and social class showed inverse associations. Rheological variables were associated with prevalent CVD after age-adjustment. However, after multiple risk factor adjustment only plasma viscosity and red cell aggregation showed significant (P<0.04) associations in both men and women (comparing top to bottom quarters). Plasma interleukin-6 (measured in a 25% subsample of 196 men and 221 women) correlated significantly with age, fibrinogen, white cell count, plasma and blood viscosity, current smoking, and (in men) with low serum vitamin C levels; but not with other major risk factors or with prevalent cardiovascular disease.     

Prognostic value of ECG findings for total, cardiovascular disease, and coronary heart disease death in men and women

OBJECTIVE: To study abnormalities in the resting ECG as independent predictors for all cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in a population based random sample of men and women, and to explore whether their prognostic value is different between sexes. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: An age and sex stratified random sample was selected from the total Belgian population aged 25 to 74 years. Baseline data were gathered and resting ECGs were classified according to Minnesota code criteria. The sample was then followed for at least 10 years with respect to cause specific death. Results are based on observations from 5208 men and 4746 women free from prevalent CHD at the start of the follow up period. RESULTS: Although the prevalence of major abnormalities in general was comparable between sexes, women had more ischaemic findings, ST segment changes, and abnormal T waves on their baseline ECG, while men showed more arrhythmias, bundle branch blocks, and left ventricular hypertrophy. Fitting the multiplicative effect on subsequent mortality between all ECG classifications under study and sex indicated that the prognostic value of ECG changes was equal in women and men. Independently of other risk factors and other major ECG changes, almost all ECG classifications were significantly related to all cause, CVD, and CHD mortality. The most predictive ECG findings for CVD death were ST segment depression (risk ratio (RR) 4.71), major ECG findings (RR 3.26), left ventricular hypertrophy (RR 2.79), bundle branch blocks (RR 2.58), T wave flattening (RR 2.47), ischaemic ECG findings (RR 2.35), and arrhythmias (RR 2.15). The prognostic value of major ECG findings for CVD and CHD death was more powerful than well established cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities in the baseline ECG are strongly associated with subsequent all cause, CVD, and CHD mortality. Their predictive value was similar for men and women.     

Serum uric acid level as an independent risk factor for all‐cause,cardiovascular, and ischemic stroke mortality: A chinese cohort study

Objective

The association between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular events has been documented in high‐risk groups, but is still undetermined in general populations, especially Chinese. This study assessed the temporal association between serum uric acid level, hyperuricemia, and cardiovascular mortality.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of 41,879 men and 48,514 women ages ≥35 years was conducted using data from the MJ Health Screening Centers in Taiwan. Mortality from all causes, total cardiovascular disease (CVD), ischemic stroke, congestive heart failure, hypertensive disease, and coronary heart disease were compared according to increasing serum uric acid levels.

Results

A total of 1,151 (21.2%) events of 5,427 total deaths were ascribed to CVD (mean followup 8.2 years). Hazard ratios (HRs) for hyperuricemia (serum uric acid level >7 mg/dl) were estimated with Cox regression model after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, cholesterol, triglycerides, diabetes, hypertension, heavy cigarette smoking, and frequent alcohol consumption. In all patients, HRs were 1.16 (P < 0.001) for all‐cause mortality, 1.39 (P < 0.001) for total CVD, and 1.35 (P = 0.02) for ischemic stroke. In subgroup analysis, the HRs for cardiovascular risk remained significant in patients with hypertension (1.44, P < 0.001) and in patients with diabetes (1.64, P < 0.001). In addition, in a low metabolic risk subgroup, the HRs for all‐cause mortality and total cardiovascular morbidity were 1.24 (P = 0.02) and 1.48 (P = 0.16), respectively.

Conclusion

Hyperuricemia was an independent risk factor of mortality from all causes, total CVD, and ischemic stroke in the Taiwanese general population, in high‐risk groups, and potentially in low‐risk groups.