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Biomedical subjects

A Menotti

Publications and source records attributed to A Menotti.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

The prediction of coronary heart disease mortality as a function of major risk factors in over 30 000 men in the Italian RIFLE pooling Project. A comparison with the MRFIT primary screenees. The RIFLE research group.

BACKGROUND: Few risk functions for the prediction of coronary heart disease mortality have been produced in Italy. This study used a large population sample to evaluate the effect of major risk factors on coronary mortality. METHODS: Coronary deaths in 45 cohorts of men (n = 31317, aged 30-69 years) were studied and related to selected cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: After 6 years, 1089 men had died, of whom 239 were coronary fatalities. Univariate and multivariate (Cox model) analyses conducted on each age group (30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69 years) showed a positive association between coronary deaths and systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol level and cigarette smoking, with few exceptions. A multiple logistic model was produced for men aged 35-57 years, assessing the role of age, serum cholesterol, cigarettes smoked per day and diastolic instead of systolic blood pressure, using the same endpoint as that employed in a similar model published from the analysis of MRFIT primary screenees in the USA to facilitate valid comparison. The coefficients in the present study were similar to those in the US cohort: no statistically significant differences could be detected when comparing the pairs of coefficients. CONCLUSION: Coefficients relating cholesterol, blood pressure and cigarette smoking to coronary mortality in Italian men are similar to those in American men from the same age groups.

Adult↗

Association of blood lead to blood pressure in men aged 55 to 75 years: effect of selected social and biochemical confounders. NFR Study Group.

The association of blood lead (B-Pb) concentration to blood pressure was investigated in men aged 55 to 75 years living in the Rome area, who had no history of exposure to lead in the workplace and who participated between 1989 and 1990 in an epidemiologic survey for coronary heart disease (New Risk Factor Project). Of the 1856 individuals eligible for the study, 59 were excluded from analyses because not all relevant data were available; and 478 were excluded because they were treated for hypertension. In the remaining subjects (n = 1319) the median B-Pb concentration was 113 micrograms/l (range: 40-442 micrograms/l). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) averaged 140 +/- 18 (standard deviation) mm Hg (range 98-220) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 84 +/- 9 mm Hg (range 56-118). Median B-Pb values increased significantly from 111 micrograms/l in subjects with normal blood pressure (n = 668) to 113.5 micrograms/l in subjects with borderline high blood pressure (n = 373) and to 120 micrograms/l in subjects with increased blood pressure (n = 278). After log-normal conversion of B-Pb, the linear correlation coefficient between In[B-Pb(ug/l)] and both SBP and DBP was statistically significant (r = 0.1332, p < 0.001 and r = 0.0737, p = 0.007, respectively). The linear regression coefficient was 6.8 mm Hg/In(micrograms/l) for SBP and 1.8 mm Hg/In(microgram/l) for DBP. Multiple regression analyses revealed that, after correction for body mass index (BMI), age, heart rate, skinfold thickness, serum lipids, and glucose levels; blood lead was still a significant predictor of increased SBP and DBP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

[The ECCIS study: the epidemiology and clinical picture of silent ischemic cardiopathy. Epidemiologia e Clinica della Cardiopatia Ischemica Silente].

BACKGROUND: The ECCIS project (Epidemiology and Clinic of Silent Ischemic Heart Disease) is an italian epidemiological study based on a population sample of 4,842 totally asymptomatic men aged 40-59 whose primary aim is the evaluation of the prevalence of totally silent myocardial ischemia and silent myocardial infarction. METHODS: The systemic search for markers of silent ischemia and infarction was pursued along 3 screening stages: the 1st stage included resting electrocardiogram, hyperventilation test, exercise electrocardiogram and 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram; the 2nd stage included echocardiogram, thallium-201 scintigraphy in conjunction with exercise test or dypiridamole test, exercise radionuclide ventriculography and ergometrine test; the 3rd stage included coronary angiography. After the completion of the 1st stage procedures 439 men (9.1%) with abnormal results and low probability of disease were invited to the 2nd stage and 387 accepted to undergo the diagnostic procedures. After the completion of the 2nd stage, 104 men with moderate or high suspicion of silent myocardial ischemia or infarction were invited to perform coronary angiography but only 62 men accepted to undergo the 3rd stage procedures (participation rate 59.6%). RESULTS: The final diagnosis of totally silent myocardial ischemia or infarction on the basis of predefined criteria was established in 25 patients. The prevalence of silent ischemic heart disease on the overall original 4,842 men was 0.52% (95% CL, 0.32 and 0.72%), while the final estimate after adjusting for participation rates at 2nd and 3rd stages was 0.89% (95% CL, 0.6 and 1.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the ECCIS study show that the prevalence of silent myocardial ischemia is definitely lower than that revealed by prior epidemiological studies in Norway and in USA.

Adult↗

Is diet an independent risk factor for mortality? 20 year mortality in the Italian rural cohorts of the Seven Countries Study.

The relation of diet to mortality is examined using the data of the Italian rural cohorts of the Seven Countries Study, a prospective investigation of factors related to cardiovascular disease. The present analysis includes 1536 men aged 45-64 years, whose dietary habits and food consumption, including alcoholic beverages, were measured in 1965. Of the 1536, 668 (43.5%) died during a follow-up period of 20 years. Large differences in survival probabilities were observed for different dietary patterns (i.e. for different intakes of energy and nutrients). The dietary pattern that corresponded to the lowest mortality rate (27% after 20 years) was: more than 2800 kcal/d (11.7 MJ/d), with more than 41% of the calories coming from carbohydrates, more than 9% from proteins, between 16% and 23% from unsaturated lipids, and between 13% and 19% from alcohol. As the number of disagreements from the previous conditions increases, the mortality rate increases to reach 69% in 20 years in the worst case. Differences in mortality persisted after adjustment for confounders and some major established mortality risk factors.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Epidemiology of silent myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic middle-aged men (the ECCIS Project).

To evaluate the prevalence of type I silent myocardial ischemia and silent myocardial infarction, 4,842 men aged 40 to 59 years, identified in occupational samples in Florence and Rome, and free from major heart disease, severe illnesses and chest pain, underwent a 3-stage diagnostic procedure. The first stage included resting electrocardiogram, hyperventilation test, exercise electrocardiogram and 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram. The subjects who were suspected of having type 1 silent myocardial ischemia or previous silent infarction at the first stage (n = 439; 9.1%) were entered into the second stage, which included echocardiogram, thallium 201 scintigraphy in conjunction with exercise testing or dipyridamole test, exercise radionuclide ventriculography and ergonovine test. Three hundred eighty-seven men participated in the second stage; after the diagnostic procedures were performed, 104 men (2.1%) were still suspected of having type 1 silent myocardial ischemia or infarction on the basis of predefined criteria. Sixty-two men continued on into the third diagnostic workup including coronary angiography. The final diagnosis of type 1 silent myocardial ischemia or infarction was reached in 25 patients (prevalence 0.52%; adjusted estimate 0.89%). Of these 25, 19 had coronary atherosclerotic disease, 1 had Kawasaki disease, 1 had coronary anomaly, 1 had induced focal coronary spasm, and 2 had normal coronary arteriograms despite the presence of unquestionable old myocardial infarction. Altogether, 6 patients with silent myocardial infarction were identified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Indexes of obesity and all-causes mortality in Italian epidemiological data.

BACKGROUND: The relationships of body mass index and skinfold thickness to all-causes mortality during a 10-year follow-up were assessed in 8,341 men and 1,100 women ages 30-69 years from different Italian population samples. RESULTS: Among men, both univariate and multivariate analyses showed a clear-cut parabolic (inverse J-shaped) relationship, whose left branch became less steep after the exclusion of smokers, people carrying severe diseases at entry, those who died during the first 5 years, or all of them. The minimum risk was almost always located around 28 units of body mass index, and it decreased to smaller levels of body mass index when the exclusions were adopted. The analysis of skinfold thickness showed similar but less clear-cut results. Among women, due to the limited number of fatal events, the analysis was unable to show any clear relationship of body mass index or skinfold thickness to all-causes mortality. The multivariate analysis showed a similar parabolic relationship of body mass index to all-causes mortality. The estimated multivariate risk of death broken down into five quintiles was unrelated to the mean level of body mass index for each quintile. From the multivariate model it was estimated that an excess of 10 kg in body weight (above the body mass index corresponding to the minimum risk level and everything else being equal) carries the same excess of risk produced by 5 mm Hg of systolic blood pressure or by less than 5 cigarettes smoked per day. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high levels of obesity indicators are only slightly associated with an excess mortality and that overweight and obesity are health hazards only if they are accompanied by an elevation of other risk factors, mainly of blood pressure.

Adult↗

Inter-cohort differences in coronary heart disease mortality in the 25-year follow-up of the seven countries study.

Sixteen cohorts of men aged 40-59 years at entry were examined with the measurement of some risk factors and then followed-up for mortality and causes of death for 25 years. These cohorts were located in the USA (1 cohort), Finland (2), the Netherlands (1), Italy (3), the former Yugoslavia (5), Greece (2), and Japan (2), and included a total of 12,763 subjects. Large differences in age-adjusted coronary heart disease (CHD) death rates were found, with extremes of 45 per 1000 in 25 years in Tanushimaru, Japan, to 288 per 1000 in 25 years in East Finland. In general, higher rates were found in the US and Northern European cohorts as compared to the Southern European and Japanese cohorts. However, during the last 10 years of follow-up large increases of CHD death rates were found in some Yugoslavian areas. Out of 5 measured entry characteristics treated as age-adjusted levels (serum cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, cigarette smoking, body mass index and physical activity at work), only serum cholesterol was significant in explaining cohort differences in CHD death rates. Over 50% of the variance in CHD death rates in 25 years was accounted for by the difference in mean serum cholesterol. This association tended to decline with increasing length of follow-up, but this was due to the great changes in mean serum cholesterol in the two Yugoslavian cohorts of Velika Krsna and Zrenjanin. When these two cohorts were excluded the association increased with time. Changes in mean serum cholesterol between year 0 and 10 helped in explaining differences in CHD death rates from year 10 onward. It can be concluded that this study suggests that mean serum cholesterol is the major risk factor in explaining cross-cultural differences in CHD.

Adult↗

Alcohol and blood pressure. The effects of age. Findings from the Italian Nine Communities Study. The Research Group ATS-RF2 of the Italian National Research Council.

This report analyzes the role age in the association between alcohol consumption and blood pressure in a large sample (n = 6165) of Italian men and women, aged 20 to 59 years, who participated in a multicenter study on risk factors for arteriosclerosis. Age-stratified analysis indicated that both men and women aged 50 to 59 years showed the strongest positive association between alcohol consumption and blood pressure. While in men the association between systolic blood pressure and alcohol consumption increased linearly with age, in women the association between systolic blood pressure and alcohol increased sharply in the oldest (50 to 59 year) age group.

Adult↗

Long-term prediction of coronary heart disease mortality in two rural Greek populations.

In 1960-61 two pooled Greek rural populations totalling 1215 men aged 40-59 years were followed-up for 25 years. A Cox model analysis of fatal coronary events over 15 years showed that serum cholesterol in men aged 40-59 years, cholesterol in men aged 45-64 years, and systolic blood pressure in men aged 50-69 played a predictive role. The coefficient of age became more significant with advancing age and that of cigarette smoking only at 25 years follow-up. The coefficient of cholesterol decreased stepwise and became negative for men aged 50-69; body mass index was without effect in any follow-up of these cohorts. Systolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol increased in these populations by 5.4 mmHg and 23.5 mg.dl-1 (0.61 mmol.l-1), respectively between the years 0 and 10, whereas cigarette consumption decreased minimally. These changes were used to test the predictability of coronary events occurring between years 10 and 25 of follow-up when added to the model containing the factors at entry. Of these changes only systolic blood pressure significantly increased the predictability of coronary deaths. It is concluded that even minor alterations in systolic blood pressure above or below the entry levels can be associated with marked modifications in coronary mortality above or below those occurring naturally in the 15 years after the changes occurred.

Adult↗

Time changes in predictability of coronary heart disease in an Italian aging population.

A pool of two Italian rural population samples made up of 1,712 men aged 40-59 at entry was studied in 1960 and than followed up for 25 years. The multivariate analysis of the first major coronary event using the Cox model showed, in men aged 40-59, 45-64 and 50-69, the significant predictive role of age, systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol and cigarette smoking, but not of body mass index, without marked differences attributable to the aging process. Changes in systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol and cigarette smoking occurring between year 0, 5 and 10 of follow-up, as defined by two different indicators, increased significantly the predictability of coronary events occurring between years 10 and 25 of follow-up when added to the model including the baseline factors. It is inferred that increases and decreases (even of relative nature) of the three major risk factors around the entry levels are associated with higher and lower levels of coronary risk in the 15 years after the changes have occurred.

Adult↗

Multivariate prediction of the first major cerebrovascular event in an Italian population sample of middle-aged men followed up for 25 years.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the incidence and prediction of a first major cerebrovascular (fatal or nonfatal) event. METHODS: The study population included the two Italian rural samples of the Seven Countries Study (namely, Montegiorgio and Crevalcore), accounting for a total of 1,712 men aged 40-59 years at entry and followed up for mortality and morbidity for 25 years. A number of individual variables measured at baseline, at the fifth year, and at the tenth year of follow-up and possibly related to cerebrovascular events were considered. Of the 1,709 subjects free from major cerebrovascular events at entry 171 developed a first major cerebrovascular event, but for the multivariate Cox model analysis only 1,572 subjects and 152 events were employed due to some exclusions for missing data. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure, indexes of respiratory function (protective), and physical activity at work (protective) demonstrated significant predictive roles for all ages and all lengths of follow-up considered. Other factors (presence of arrhythmias, presence of arcus senilis, and skinfold thickness [protective]), significantly contributed to the prediction, but in only some models. Time-related changes in systolic blood pressure significantly improved the prediction of cerebrovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: The multivariate prediction performed in this report allowed the validation of three risk factors (systolic blood pressure, respiratory function indexes, and physical activity at work) whose predictive powers remain stable with aging. The need for further studies specifically aimed at discriminating hemorrhagic from thrombotic events is suggested.

Adult↗

Association of serum copper and zinc with serum electrolytes and with selected risk factors for cardiovascular disease in men aged 55-75 years. NFR Study Group.

Serum Cu (S-Cu) and Zn (S-Zn) levels were determined in 1468 out of 1856 male subjects aged 55-75 years living in the Rome area who participated, between 1989 and 1990, in the second examination in an epidemiological (New Risk Factors) survey. Mean S-Cu and S-Zn concentrations were 15.98 mumol/l (mean +/- 2SD: 10.38-21.58 +/- mumol/l) and 13.69 mumol/l (mean +/- 2SD: 8.94-18.44 mumol/l), respectively. S-Cu levels were directly related to serum calcium levels (S-Ca), serum magnesium levels (S-Mg), daily cigarette consumption, total cholesterol and age (years). S-Zn levels were directly related to S-Ca, S-Mg and cholesterol and inversely related to age. A weak inverse linear relationship existed between S-Zn and S-Cu. After adjustment for body mass index (BMI), smoking habit, alcohol consumption and blood biochemistry in a multiple linear regression model, the relationship of S-Cu (direct) and S-Zn (inverse) to age remained statistically significant.

Aged↗

[Treatment of smoking in myocardial infarction survivors].

Cigarette smoking is a well known primary risk factor of myocardial infarction. Many studies have shown that it is also a secondary risk factor able to predict the short and medium term occurrence of reinfarction and mortality. A number of observational studies suggest that patients who survive a first myocardial infarction have a halved risk of dying or of recurrence as compared to those who continue to smoke. Presently it is estimated that about 80% of smokers surviving a myocardial infarction quit smoking in short time. The intervention against smoking habits must be primarily conducted using advice and psychological means by the physician, with the help of other health personnel and of the social support of the family and friends.

Humans↗

Coronary heart disease deaths in 25 years. The experience in the three Serbian cohorts of the Seven Countries Study.

Three cohorts of men aged 40-59 at entry examination were enrolled between 1962 and 1964 in the Serbian section of the Seven Countries Study of Cardiovascular Diseases. They were a sample in the rural village of Velika Krsna (n = 511), the workers in an agro-industrial cooperative in the city of Zrenjanin (n = 516), and the University professors of Belgrade (n = 536). At entry examination and then after 5 and 10 years, some cardiovascular risk factors were measured while the follow-up for mortality and causes of death was continued for 25 years. The 25 year standardized death rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) were higher in Zrenjanin (177 per 1000) and lower in Belgrade (118) and Velika Krsna (122). The multivariate prediction of CHD mortality by the Cox model in the lumped samples showed significant coefficients for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure and cigarette consumption. The coefficient of serum cholesterol did not reach a statistically significant level. An unknown but significantly protective factor was identified for the Belgrade sample, likely bound to the higher social class of this group. Changes of systolic blood pressure in the first 10 years of follow-up were positively and highly related to the deaths occurred in the subsequent 15 years. The three population groups showed, between year 0 and year 10 follow-up, large increases in mean levels of blood pressure and mainly of serum cholesterol (+30 mg/dl in Velika Krsna; +36 mg/dl in Belgrade and +61 mg/dl in Zrenjanin). The sample in Zrenjanin started from intermediate levels (168.7 mg/dl) but attained the greatest increase and reached the highest CHD death rate in 25 years.

Adult↗

Association of selected social, environmental and constitutional factors to blood lead levels in men aged 55-75 years.

Blood lead (B-Pb) levels were determined in 1802 out of 1856 non-occupationally exposed men aged 55-75 years living in the Rome area who participated, between 1989 and 1990, in an epidemiological survey for coronary heart disease (New Risk Factors Project). The median B-Pb level was 113 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 74-180 micrograms/l) and only 0.7 per cent (n = 14) of the subjects had B-Pb values higher than 300 micrograms/l. B-Pb levels were significantly and positively associated to alcohol consumption. Moderate and heavy drinkers had median B-Pb level of 143 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 92-233) and 165 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 102-285) respectively, whereas non-drinkers had a median B-Pb level of 96 micrograms/l (10th-90th centiles: 66-143). The influence of smoking habits was less relevant. Subjects who never smoked and subjects smoking more than 20 cigarettes daily had median B-Pb levels of 103 and 133 micrograms/l, respectively. Individuals classified as habitual car-drivers had slightly higher Pb levels than non-drivers. Subjects classified as manual workers had higher B-Pb levels in comparison with non-manual workers and retired subjects. B-Pb levels were directly related to HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C, r = 0.2252) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT, r = 0.2207) serum levels. The alleged alcohol consumption was more related to B-Pb level (r = 0.3848) than to serum level of HDL-C (r = 0.2474) or gamma-GT (r = 0.2469). A significant correlation (r = 0.2409) also existed between B-Pb and blood cadmium levels (B-Cd). Subjects with a low Gaensler ratio, an index of respiratory function, had higher B-Pb levels. In multiple regression analyses alcohol intake was the most important predictor of B-Pb level, explaining more (14.27%) of the total variance than did B-Cd (4.98%), HDL-C (1.89%), driving habits (1.46%), gamma-GT (1.09%), skinfold thickness (0.96%), and Gaensler index (0.38%). The risk ratio of having B-Pb level higher than 180 micrograms/l (90th centile of B-Pb distribution in our subjects) was 5.3 (95% CI: 2.7-10.4) for drinkers versus non-drinkers and 1.9 (95% CI: 1.2-3.1) for current smokers versus subjects who had never smoked. B-Pb was, at least in our subjects, a more specific and sensitive objective index of alcohol consumption than gamma-GT and HDL-C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aged↗

The prediction of coronary heart disease in different population samples.

Two population samples of men aged 46-65 years were examined for the measurement of some cardiovascular risk factors and followed up for 6.5 years. The two groups were: 1) 3338 men belonging to occupational groups examined in Rome (ROG) in 1979-81 and 2) 1543 men belonging to two demographic samples of rural areas located in northern and central Italy (IRA) examined in 1965. In men free from previous myocardial infarction the rate of fatal coronary events was 18.0 in the ROG group and 17.5 per 1000 in the IRA group. Five established risk factors (age, systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, cigarette consumption and body mass index) were used in a multivariate model for predicting coronary deaths. The coefficients of the multiple logistic function were similar in the two populations group. However, when the IRA coefficients were applied to the ROG factors, they predicted 43 events instead of 58 (under-estimation of 26%; p < 0.05), whereas the ROG coefficients predicted 31 events instead of 26 in the IRA sample (over-estimation of 19%; p = n.s.). A model which included the pool of the two populations and a dummy-variable for the identification of each of them, suggested that being a member of the ROG group is accompained, everything else being equal, by an extra risk of 26%.

Coronary Disease↗