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F Gyntelberg

Publications and source records attributed to F Gyntelberg.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Determinants of long-term neuropsychological symptoms. The Danish Gulf War Study.

INTRODUCTION: Compared with controls, up to six years after their return, Danish Gulf War Veterans have a significantly higher prevalence of self-reported neuropsychological symptoms. Independent associations are found for concentration or memory problems, repeated fits of headache, balance disturbances or fits of dizziness, abnormal fatigue not caused by physical activity, and problems sleeping all night. We investigated whether psychosocial, physical, chemical or biological exposures were associated with these symptoms. METHODOLOGY: This study is a prevalence study using retrospective data on exposure. Some 686 subjects who had been deployed in the Persian Gulf within the period August 2 1990 until December 31 1997 were included; the control group comprised 257 subjects matched according to age, gender and profession. All participants underwent clinical and paraclinical examinations, and were interviewed by a physician based on a completed questionnaire. RESULTS: A clustering of three to five of the above symptoms were found in 21.4% of Gulf War Veterans vs. 6.2% in controls, p < 0.001. Psychosocial and physico-chemical factors were strongly associated with neuropsychological symptoms, and a significant interaction of the two was found, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Although the results of this study are based on self-report the factors identified seem plausible. It may be impossible even in peace-keeping missions to avoid hostile events. However, the results also suggest that psychosocial work conditions known to be important in civilian life, and also environmental factors, should be improved to minimize the risk of long-term neuropsychological symptoms.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1998

[Genetic markers for stomach ulcer. A study of 3,387 men aged 54-74 years from The Copenhagen Male Study].

BACKGROUND: Knowledge on the genetic risk of peptic ulcer has predominantly been based on hospital materials. To minimize selection bias, we tested the association between some genetic markers and the risk of peptic ulcer in a large-scale epidemiologic design. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Some 3,387 white men aged 54-74 years were investigated and reported their history of peptic ulcer. Information about hospitalization and operation was collected from registers. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of peptic ulcer in men with Lewis phenotype Le(a + b-) and non-secretors of ABH antigen was 15%, significantly higher than others, 11%, p; the risk in phenotypes O and A were equally high, 12%, and among other ABO phenotypes, 7%, p < 0.05. Men with phenotype O had significantly higher risk of hospitalization than others, p < 0.01. The atributable risk of peptic ulcer in men who were Le(a + b-) or non-secretors, with O or A phenotypes, was 37%. No association was found with with complement C3, MNS blood group, or Rhesus blood group phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The Le(a + b-) phenotype and the ABH non-secretor trait are relevant genetic markers of peptic ulcer. We suggest that these men have an increased subceptibility to Helicobacter pylori infection. 2) This study challenges the importance of the ABO blood group: lifetime prevalence was equally high among men with O and A phenotype, with more severe cases in men with phenotype O.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Triglyceride concentration and ischemic heart disease: an eight-year follow-up in the Copenhagen Male Study.

BACKGROUND: The role of triglycerides as a risk factor of ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains controversial. For the present study, we examined the relation between fasting triglycerides and risk of IHD in the Copenhagen Male Study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Baseline measurements of fasting lipids and other IHD risk factors were obtained for 2906 white men (age range, 53 to 74 years) who were initially free of overt cardiovascular disease. During an 8-year follow-up period, 229 men had a first IHD event. Crude cumulative incidence rates of IHD were 4.6% for the lowest, 7.7% for the middle, and 11.5% for the highest third of triglyceride levels (P for trend <.001). Compared with the lowest third level and adjusted for age, body mass index, alcohol, smoking, physical activity, hypertension, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, social class, and LDL and HDL cholesterol, relative risks of IHD (95% confidence interval) were 1.5 (1.0 to 2.3; P=.05) and 2.2 (1.4 to 3.4; P<.001) for the middle and highest third of triglyceride levels, respectively. When triglyceride levels were stratified by HDL cholesterol levels (triglyceride third multiplied by HDL cholesterol third), a clear gradient of risk of IHD was found with increasing triglyceride levels within each level of HDL cholesterol, including high HDL cholesterol level, which are thought to provide protection against IHD. CONCLUSIONS: In middle-aged and elderly white men, a high level of fasting triglycerides is a strong risk factor of IHD independent of other major risk factors, including HDL cholesterol.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Job strain and cardiovascular risk factors among members of the Danish parliament.

Sudden cardiovascular events among well-known politicians attract much attention--from the mass media and from the public. No previous studies have assessed the job strain profile and level of known cardiovascular risk factors among parliamentary politicians. The study was carried out within the frameworks of the Copenhagen City Heart Study. Some 102 members of the Danish parliament (70 men and 32 women) agreed to participate, giving a response rate of 55%. Three sex- and age-matched participants were drawn for each politician from the Copenhagen City Heart Study. In addition to the completion of large questionnaires on health and working conditions, all participants had a thorough examination, including measurements of height and weight and blood pressure and the drawing of a venous blood sample for the determination of serum lipids, ApolipoproteinA1 and ApolipoproteinB and fibrinogen. Job strain factors and established cardiovascular risk factors were the main outcome factors. Politicians reported much higher job demands, but also much more influence on their job than others. Politicians smoked less, consumed more wine, had higher levels of ApolipoproteinA1, and were taller. With respect to other major cardiovascular risk factors, serum lipids, blood pressure and physical activity, there was no difference between politicians and controls. Politicians had greater job demands, but also more control over their job than others, indicating that the job strain phenomenon should not increase their risk of cardiovascular disease. Other cardiovascular risk factors, job related or conventional, which were unevenly distributed between politicians and controls all favoured politicians. In conclusion, politicians had a more beneficial cardiovascular risk factor profile than a matched random sample from a comparable background population.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1997

[Low back pain problems among steelworkers].

The associations between low-back pain and occupational work loads, life-style factors, and sociodemographic factors were examined in 469 steel plant workers (436 males, 33 females), mean age (sd): 40 (12) years. Fifty-one per cent had experienced low-back pain during the preceding year. The strongest associations were found between recent low-back pain and domestic recreational activities (> or = h/wk vs 0-2 h/wk), and between recent low-back pain and work pace (too fast vs. adequate), odds ratios (95% confidence limits) being respectively 3.0 (1.5-5.8), and 2.3 (1.2-4.2). We considered a subject to have a particularly severe history of low-back pain if he or she due to low-back trouble (i) had ever been admitted to a hospital, (ii) had ever had to change work or, (iii) had had more than one week's sick-leave accumulated during the preceding year. There was a strong association between a severe low-back pain history and life-time occupational exposure to heavy and frequent lifting on the job. Forty-seven per cent of severe low-back pain events could be ascribed to heavy and frequent lifting, provided the associations were causal. We conclude that domestic recreational activities may be an important potential confounder in studies on occupational risk factors for low-back pain, and that, based on the results of this and of other studies, a case for prevention still seems to exist regarding lifting of heavy burdens in the work environment.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Alcohol consumption, S-LDL-cholesterol and risk of ischemic heart disease. 6-year follow-up in The Copenhagen Male Study].

A high intake of saturated fat is associated with an increase in serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and an increase in risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). In some parts of France a high intake of fat is not associated with increased risk of IHD, an apparent discrepancy named the French paradox. It has been suggested, but never tested prospectively, that regular use of alcohol might explain this low risk. We investigated the interplay between use of alcohol, LDL and risk of IHD in a prospective study controlling for a number of relevant confounders including other lipid fraction, including 2,826 males aged 53-74 years without overt IHD. The incidence of IHD during a six year follow-up period was registered. One hundred and seventy-two men (6.1%) had a first IHD event. There was an overall inverse association between alcohol intake and risk of IHD. The association was highly dependent on LDL. In men with a high LDL (> or = 5.25 mmol/l), cumulative incidence rates of IHD were 16.4% for abstainers, 8.7% for those who drank 1-21 beverages/week and 4.4% for those who drank 22+. Using abstainers as reference, adjusted for confounders, corresponding relative risks (95% CI) were 0.4 (0.2-1.0), p < 0.05, and 0.2 (0.1-0.8), p < 0.01. In men with a low LDL (< 3.63 mmol/l) use of alcohol was not associated with risk. The attributable risk (AR) of IHD among men with LDL > or = 3.63 mmol/l who abstained from drinking alcohol was calculated; AR with 95% confidence limits was 43% (10-64%). To conclude, in middleaged and elderly men the inverse association between alcohol consumption and risk of IHD was highly dependent on the level of LDL. These results support the suggestion that alcohol intake may at least in part explain the French paradox.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Mortality and morbidity of potentially misclassified smokers.

OBJECTIVE: Misclassification of smokers as non-smokers may bias estimates of the excess morbidity and mortality associated with smoking. The issue has been given little, if any, attention in prospective epidemiological studies. This study examined characteristics of potentially misclassified smokers with respect to mortality, morbidity, and risk factors. METHOD: A prospective study (within The Copenhagen Male Study, Denmark) used serum cotinine as an objective marker of use of tobacco. A serum concentration of 100 ng/ml was regarded as a relevant threshold for active smoking. In all, 3270 males aged 53-74 years who reported their previous and current tobacco habits, including the use of chew tobacco and snuff, were included. Incidence of all causes of mortality (ACM) during 9 years and death due to ischaemic heart disease (IHD) during 8 years of follow-up were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: Overall cumulative incidence rates of ACM and IHD were 19.1% and 4.3%, respectively. Of 1405 men who reported being non-tobacco users, i.e. no current smoking and no use of chewing tobacco or snuff, 1377 had levels < 100 ng/ml, 28 men (2%) had levels equal to or above this threshold value and were considered potentially misclassified smokers. They had significantly higher mortality rates, 35.7% versus 14.7%, P < 0.001, than other self-reported non-tobacco users, and a slightly higher prevalence of tobacco-related cancer, and a highly significant higher prevalence of myocardial infarction, P < 0.001. Compared to non-tobacco users with low cotinine, age-adjusted relative risks (95% CI) were 2.4 (1.3-4.5), P < 0.01, for ACM, and 5.3 (95% CI : 2.1-13.4), P < 0.001, for IHD. CONCLUSIONS: Potentially misclassified smokers deviated strongly from other non-smokers with respect to mortality and morbidity. The importance of this reporting bias when estimating the risk associated with active or passive smoking is discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Strong mediators of social inequalities in risk of ischaemic heart disease: a six-year follow-up in the Copenhagen Male Study.

OBJECTIVE: Large social inequalities exist in risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in Western populations; inequalities which are only little accounted for by established risk factors. We wished to find out if some newly identified cardiovascular risk factors in concert with established factors might contribute further to the explanation. DESIGN AND SETTING: A 6-year follow-up in the Copenhagen Male Study. SUBJECTS: Some 2974 males aged 53-75 years (mean 63) without overt cardiovascular disease were included in the study. Potential confounders included were: alcohol, physical activity, smoking, serum lipids, serum cotinine, serum selenium, lifetime occupational exposure to soldering fumes and organic solvents, body mass index, blood pressure, hypertension, use of sugar in hot beverages, use of diuretics, and Lewis phenotypes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: During the 6-year follow-up period (1985/1986-1991), 184 men (6.2%) had a first IHD event. Compared to higher social classes (classes I, II and III), lower classes (classes IV and V) had a significantly (P < 0.05) increased risk of IHD; age-adjusted relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence limits was 1.44 (1.1-1.9), P = 0.02. After multivariate adjustment for age, blood pressure, serum lipids, physical activity, and smoking, the RR dropped to 1.38 (1.0-1.9), P = 0.05. Some newly identified risk factors were significantly associated with increased risk of IHD as well as with low social class: a low serum selenium concentration, a low level of leisure time physical activity in midlife, long-term exposure to soldering fumes, and abstention from or a low consumption of wine and strong spirits. After adjustment for these factors also, the RR dropped to 1.12 (P = 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that potentially modifiable risk factors associated with lifestyle and working environment are strong mediators of social inequalities in risk of ischaemic heart disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Allergy risk in an enzyme producing plant: a retrospective follow up study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk of enzyme sensitisation and clinical allergy in workers exposed to enzymes at Novo Nordisk A/S. METHODS: The study was a retrospective follow up study based on medical history and test data originally collected at routine screenings for enzyme allergy by the Occupational Health Service (OHS) of Novo Nordisk A/S during the period 1970-92. Workers were exposed to proteases, lipases, cellulases, and carboxyhydrases. Medical records of 3815 subjects were registered in the OHS database. According to criteria including possible enzyme exposure, allergy tests at the time of engagement, and participation in the allergy screening programme 1064 were selected for the present study. Outcomes were allergy symptoms, specific IgE test (radioallergosorbent test (RAST)) to enzymes, skin test reactions to common allergens and enzymes, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC). Potential risk factors were smoking habits, workplace, type of job, age, and sex. RESULTS: Sensitisation occurred to all types of enzymes handled in the plant, most often in production areas and laboratories; 8.8% developed clinical enzyme allergy during the first three years of employment. The risk declined during the period. The frequency of enzyme sensitisation, expressed as RAST values > 0.5 SU, was 36%, and the frequency of significant RAST values > or = 2 SU was 8%. Ranking diagnoses of enzyme allergy by severity, the frequency of asthma was 5.3%, rhinitis 3.0%, and urticaria 0.6%. Half of the cases occurred within the first 15 months of exposure. Smoking was an independent risk factor for clinical enzyme allergy (odds ratio (OR) = 2.3 (95% exact confidence interval (95% CI) 1.4 to 3.9), measurable RAST > or = 0.5 SU (OR = 1.5 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.1)), and RAST > or = 2 SU (OR = 4.5 (95% CI 2.2 to 8.4)). Atopic predisposition at the time of engagement was not a significant risk factor for enzyme allergy. This could be due to various selection mechanisms.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1997

Relation of high TG-low HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol to the incidence of ischemic heart disease. An 8-year follow-up in the Copenhagen Male Study.

High triglyceride (TG) and low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) is the characteristic dyslipidemia seen in insulin-resistant subjects. We examined the role of this dyslipidemia as a risk factor of ischemic heart disease (IHD) compared with that of high LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in the Copenhagen Male Study. In total 2910 white men, aged 53 to 74 years, free of cardiovascular disease at baseline, were subdivided into four groups on the basis of fasting concentrations of serum TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C. "High TG-low HDL-C" was defined as belonging to both the highest third of TG and the lowest third of HDL-C; this group encompassed one fifth of the population. "High LDL-C" was defined as belonging to the highest fifth of LDL-C. A control group was defined as not belonging to either of these two groups. "Combined dyslipidemia" was defined as belonging to both dyslipidemic groups. Age-adjusted incidence of IHD during 8 years of follow-up was 11.4% in high TG-low HDL-C, 8.2% in high LDL-C, 6.6% in the control group, and 17.5% in combined dyslipidemia. Compared with the control group, relative risks of IHD (95% confidence interval), adjusted for potentially confounding factors or covariates (age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and social class), were 1.5 (1.0-2.1), P < .05; 1.3 (0.9-2.0), P = .16; and 2.4 (1.5-4.0), P < .01, in the three dyslipidemic groups, respectively. In conclusion, the present results showed that high TG-low HDL-C, the characteristic dyslipidemia seen in insulin-resistant subjects, was at least as powerful a predictor of IHD as isolated high LDL-C. The results suggest that efforts to prevent IHD should include intervention against high TG-low HDL-C, and not just against hypercholesterolemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Weight changes and risk of ischaemic heart disease for middle aged and elderly men. An 8-year follow-up in the Copenhagen Male study.

BACKGROUND: Weight gain and weight loss are determined by a complex interplay of health, lifestyle and genetic factors. There is controversy concerning whether weight changes are associated with an increased risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). METHODS: The Copenhageri Male Study was initiated in 1970/1971. This paper presents the results of a prospective study using a baseline comprising survivors examined 15 years later in 1985/1986 including 2903 men (aged 53-74 years) without cardiovascular disease. They were classified according to their weight change from 1970/1971 to 1985/1986. RESULTS: There were no differences among the incidences of IHD during the period 1985/1986-1993 for men who had lost weight (> 5% weight loss), men whose weight had remained constant (within +/-5%) and men who had gained weight (> 5% weight gain); the incidence rates were 7.8, 8.4 and 7.6%, respectively, NS. Adjustment for age and confounders including disease history had no influence on this result. Only for men who had already been overweight at the time of initial study in 1970/1971 (body mass index > 28 kg/m2) was there a slightly increased risk of IHD among those who gained weight. Men in this group who gained weight were characterized by a significantly (P < 0.05) larger tendency to have the Lewis phenotype Le(a-b-), a genetic marker previously shown to be associated with an increased risk of IHD mortality. With respect to death from all causes, only those who lost weight had a significantly increased risk compared with that of the constant weight group; the incidence rates were 25.0 and 12.6%, respectively, age-adjusted P < 0.001. The incidence rate of IHD among those who gained weight was 11.8%, NS. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that an increase or decrease in weight from middle age to old age is of little clinical importance in the prediction of IHD among men without cardiovascular disease.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1997

Genetic markers for peptic ulcer. A study of 3387 men aged 54 to 74 years: the Copenhagen Male Study.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge on the genetic risk of peptic ulcer has predominantly been based on hospital materials. To minimize selection bias, we tested the association between some genetic markers and the risk of peptic ulcer in a large-scale epidemiologic design. METHODS: Some 3387 white men aged 55-74 years were investigated and reported their history of peptic ulcer. Information about hospitalization and operation was collected from registers. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of peptic ulcer in men with the Lewis phenotype Le(a + b-) and non-secretors of ABH antigen was 15%, significantly higher than others, 11% (P < 0.01); the risk in phenotypes O and A were equally high, 12%, and among other ABO groups, 7% (P < 0.05). Men with phenotype O had significantly higher risk of hospitalization than others (P < 0.01). Compared with others, the attributable risk of peptic ulcer in men who were Le(a + b-) or non-secretors, with O or A phenotypes, was 37%. No association was found with complement C3, MNS, or Rhesus blood groups. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The Le(a + b-) phenotype and the ABH non-secretor trait are relevant genetic markers of peptic ulcer. We suggest that these men have increased susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori infection. 2) This study challenges the importance of the ABO blood group: lifetime prevalence was equally high among men with O and A phenotypes, with more severe cases in men with phenotype O.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1996

Alcohol consumption, serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, and risk of ischaemic heart disease: six year follow up in the Copenhagen male study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the interplay between use of alcohol, concentration of low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and risk of ischaemic heart disease. DESIGN: Prospective study with controlling for several relevant confounders, including concentrations of other lipid fractions. SETTING: Copenhagen male study, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 2826 men aged 53-74 years without overt ischaemic heart disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence of ischaemic heart disease during a six year follow up period. RESULTS: 172 men (6.1%) had a first ischaemic heart disease event. There was an overall inverse association between alcohol intake and risk of ischaemic heart disease. The association was highly dependent on concentration of low density lipoprotein cholesterol. In men with a high concentration (> or = 5.25 mmol/l) cumulative incidence rates of ischaemic heart disease were 16.4% for abstainers, 8.7% for those who drank 1-21 beverages a week, and 4.4% for those who drank 22 or more beverages a week. With abstainers as reference and after adjustment for confounders, corresponding relative risks (95% confidence interval) were 0.4 (0.2 to 1.0; P<0.05) and 0.2 (0.1 to 0.8; P<0.01). In men with a concentration <3.63 mmol/l use of alcohol was not associated with risk. The attributable risk (95% confidence interval) of ischaemic heart disease among men with concentrations > or = 3.63 mmol/l who abstained from drinking alcohol was 43% (10% to 64%). CONCLUSIONS: In middle aged and elderly men the inverse association between alcohol consumption and risk of ischaemic heart disease is highly dependent on the concentration of low density lipoprotein cholesterol. These results support the suggestion that use of alcohol may in part explain the French paradox.

Aged↗