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Biomedical subjects

H Wedel

Publications and source records attributed to H Wedel.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Social influences and cardiovascular risk factors as determinants of plasma fibrinogen concentration in a general population sample of middle aged men.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relation between fibrinogen concentration and social class and other social factors found to be related to mortality. The results regarding cardiovascular disease are unpublished, as yet. DESIGN: Cross sectional population study. SETTING: City of Gothenburg, Sweden. SUBJECTS: 639 Men from a population sample of 1016 men aged 50 in 1983. They were all employed and had no history of myocardial infarction or stroke. Fibrinogen values were available for all of them. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Fibrinogen concentration in relation to socioeconomic state according to occupation, and other social influences determined as number of people in the household and scores of social activities and activities in and outside the house. RESULTS: Men with low scores for activities at home had a mean plasma fibrinogen concentration of 3.34 g/l (95% confidence interval 3.21 to 3.47), whereas those with an intermediate score had a mean concentration of 3.16 (3.00 to 3.32) g/l and those with a high score 3.02 (2.95 to 3.10) g/l. Similar inverse relations were noted for the two other activity scores and for occupational class (class 1 being unskilled and semiskilled workers and class 5 professionals and executives) and the number of people in the household. Smoking exerted a strong influence on fibrinogen concentration, the relations between fibrinogen concentration and social factors being evident only in non-smokers. The mean difference in fibrinogen value between the non-smokers with the lowest activity scores at home and those with the highest scores was 0.36 (0.19 to 0.54) g/l, and similar differences were seen for the two other activity scores. Multiple regression analyses showed smoking, body mass index, the sum of all activities (inverse relation), and diabetes to be independently associated with fibrinogen value, whereas occupational class (p = 0.81) and the number of people in the household (p = 0.09) were not. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial influences seem to influence the coagulation system in the body in a way that is associated with cardiovascular disease and premature death.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed1990

The J-shaped relationship between coronary heart disease and achieved blood pressure level in treated hypertension: further analyses of 12 years of follow-up of treated hypertensives in the Primary Prevention Trial in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The relationship between the blood pressure level achieved through antihypertensive treatment and the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) was studied in 686 middle-aged hypertensive men. The patients studied came from a random population sample and were followed-up for 12 years, yielding a total of 6563 patient-years for the study. Eighty-seven patients suffered a non-fatal myocardial infarction or died from CHD. The incidence of CHD showed a J-shaped distribution in relation to achieved treated systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels. The incidence of CHD, adjusted for entry characteristics, age, serum cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking habits, decreased with reductions in blood pressure achieved through treatment, to a level of about 150/85 mmHg, below which the incidence rate again increased. This J-shaped pattern was also observed when data from patients with pre-existing signs or symptoms of ischemic heart disease at entry were excluded. Using a quadratic term as the best fit to the observed relationship between achieved treated diastolic blood pressure level and the incidence of CHD, a Cox regression analysis showed that the nadir of the J-shaped incidence curve was at a diastolic blood pressure value of 81 mmHg. There did not seem to be any association between the absolute size of the blood pressure reduction during treatment and the incidence of CHD. Although we cannot exclude the possibility that the increased incidence of CHD in patients with a low treated blood pressure is due primarily to pre-existing but subclinical ischemic heart disease, our findings indicate that an excessive lowering of blood pressure in hypertensive patients may be harmful.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed1989

Patient involvement in decision-making in surgical and orthopaedic practice: the Project Perioperative Risk.

As part of the Project Perioperative Risk (PROPER), which is a clinical and epidemiological study of surgical complications, patient involvement in the decision to operate was evaluated by means of a questionnaire. The sample of 666 patients, on the waiting list for an operation, received a questionnaire on a broad range of issues concerning their involvement in the decision-making process one week before the operation. The results show that 41% regarded the decision to have an operation as a joint patient-doctor decision, in 29% of the cases the doctor advocated an operation and in 8% the patient asked to be operated. A clear majority, 73% felt involved in the decision-making as much as they wished. Two groups--women and immigrants from non-European countries--were least satisfied with their involvement and they also found the decision more difficult to make. In the discussion, it is argued that the comparatively high degree of patient satisfaction with involvement in the decision-making process cannot be taken as evidence of a high level of influence in an absolute sense. In a normative perspective--and considering the fact that the increased responsibility of the health sector is aimed at involving patients in decision-making in health matters--patient satisfaction can just as well be understood as resulting from low expectations with respect to one's own influence. The results also indicate that patient's information needs when facing surgery relate to three issues; possible complications, precise nature of the operation as such, and nature and consequences of anaesthetic procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Marital status and mortality in middle-aged Swedish men.

In a large primary prevention trial among middle-aged men in Gothenburg, Sweden, register data were used to establish marital status, alcohol abuse, and economic problems for nearly all of the study population in 1970-1973. Married men had a higher participation rate in the examinations for the trial than non-married men, with non-married alcoholic men having the lowest participation rates. Among the participants, 26% of divorced men, but only 5% of married men were registered with the social authorities for alcohol problems. Serum cholesterol, body mass index, and diabetes were not associated with marital status, but smoking was more common among widowers and divorced men. Nonfatal myocardial infarction was not related to marital status among participants, after a mean follow-up of 11.8 years. Death from coronary heart disease was more common in non-married men in univariate analysis, but not when other risk factors were taken into consideration. In participants, married men had a mortality rate of 9%, compared with 20% for divorced men. After adjustment for other risk factors, including registration for alcohol problems, smoking, and occupational class, the association between marital status and total mortality was still highly significant. Among nonparticipants in the trial, 13% of married men were registered for alcohol problems, compared with 41% of divorced men. Nonparticipants had higher all-cause mortality, 18% for married men and 33% for divorced men.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Patients' and health care professionals' views of complications after elective surgery.

In this study, which is a part of a clinical-epidemiological study of post-operative complications, the Project Peri-operative Risk (PROPER), patients' and health professionals' perceptions of complications during the patients' stay in hospital are analysed. Five hundred and ten patients admitted for elective (= planned) surgery and attending a pre-operative outpatient clinic set up for this project were seen pre-operatively and then monitored closely during and after surgery. Three months after having been operated on, they were sent a postal questionnaire in which they were asked to indicate whether they had suffered post-operative complications and to evaluate the care process. The incidence of complications reported by patients and staff was similar, but there were large differences at the individual level. Two-thirds of the staff-reported complications were not reported by the patients and vice versa. Patients generally classified complications as more severe than the staff did. Patients' evaluation of the care process was clearly related to reported complications. Most dissatisfied were those patients who reported complications not reported by the staff, and the most satisfied were those who had complications according to the staff but no complications according to themselves. The implication of these findings is discussed.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1989

CHD in Sweden: mortality, incidence and risk factors over 20 years in Gothenburg.

Mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) increased among Swedish men between 1968 and 1981, but after that, began to decline. CHD mortality in women decreased slightly, mostly among older women. From 1980, the incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) started to decrease among men. Among middle-aged women, however, there was a significantly increased incidence. Mortality during the two years following hospital discharge decreased both in men and women between 1968 and 1985 in Gothenburg. Between one-sixth and one-fifth of major CHD events occur among patients with previous MI or angina pectoris. Serum cholesterol and smoking habits increased among middle-aged men from 1963 to 1973, but decreased thereafter. Blood pressure decreased, and the percentage of people on treatment increased. Blood pressure and serum cholesterol decreased among middle-aged women, but smoking and triglycerides increased. These different trends might explain an increasing CHD incidence among younger women but decreasing incidence and mortality among older women.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Coronary heart disease and mortality in middle aged men from different occupational classes in Sweden.

In the Gothenburg primary prevention study 7083 middle aged men were classified into five categories by occupational state. A retrospective analysis of the data showed that low occupational class was associated with slight increases in smoking rates, systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol concentration, body mass index, and heart rate. Alcohol abuse was strongly associated with low occupational class. After a mean of 11.8 years' follow up the incidence of coronary heart disease was found to be strongly and inversely related to occupational class. For death from coronary heart disease this association fell just below significance when other risk factors were taken into account, but the inverse association between non-fatal myocardial infarction and occupational class persisted even in multivariate analysis. A weak but independent inverse relation was found between occupational class and fatal cancer. Mortality from all causes in the lowest occupational class was 12% compared with 6% in the highest class, and this difference could only partly be explained by other factors. After 10 years a sub-sample of the men were examined again. Risk factors had decreased in all occupational classes, but the changes in risk were not associated with occupational class. Social class, defined by occupation, in Sweden is clearly related to the incidence of coronary heart disease.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1988

Factors of importance for prognosis in men with angina pectoris derived from a random population sample. The Multifactor Primary Prevention Trial, Gothenburg, Sweden.

A random population sample of middle-aged men from the Primary Prevention Trial was followed for 11.3 years from a first screening when different factors known to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) were analyzed. Men with uncomplicated angina pectoris (AP) (n = 167) derived from this population had an incidence of fatal and nonfatal CAD events 3 times higher than that of men without AP or myocardial infarction (n = 5,774). Men with myocardial infarction with or without AP had an incidence of CAD events 7 to 8 times higher than that of men without AP or myocardial infarction. Similar differences were found for new cases of uncomplicated AP (n = 128) and myocardial infarction detected at a second screening after 4 years and followed for 7.3 years. Pooled data from this series of men with uncomplicated AP showed the following factors to be associated in multivariate analysis with nonfatal or fatal CAD endpoints during follow-up: elevated serum cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, smoking and attack score. The risk increase associated with the first 3 factors was similar to the general population. These findings indicate that the same factors affecting prognosis after a first appearance of AP affect similarly patients with myocardial infarction and clinically healthy subjects. Preventive measures against these risk factors seem to be of similar importance among patients with AP, post-infarct patients and healthy subjects.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed1988

Separate and combined effects of smoking and alcohol abuse in middle-aged men.

Alcohol abuse is a major predictor of premature death, and also an independent risk factor for coronary death. Alcoholics are often heavy smokers. In a large primary prevention trial in middle-aged men with 7,495 participants, registration data were used to identify subjects with alcohol problems. Smokers had slightly lower blood pressure and were somewhat leaner than non-smokers, but had slightly higher serum cholesterol levels. Alcohol-registered subjects also tended to have lower blood pressure levels, and higher serum cholesterol. The relative risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction during the follow-up period of 11.8 years was essentially doubled in smokers compared to non-smokers, regardless of registration for alcohol problems. Among the non-alcoholic subjects, the relative risk of coronary death in smokers was double that of non-smokers, whereas the risk in non-smoking alcoholic subjects was not significantly increased. In smoking alcoholics the relative risk was substantially raised to 4.2 (3.0-7.0; 95% c.i.). In multivariate analysis both smoking and alcohol abuse were independently associated with coronary death. A possible mechanism might be through a combination of tobacco-induced coronary arteriosclerosis and the cardiotoxic effects of alcohol. As to total mortality, a smoking non-alcoholic man had a relative risk of dying almost double that of a non-alcoholic non-smoker. Among non-smoking alcoholics the risk was three times and, in smoking alcoholics over four times that of the non-alcoholic non-smokers.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Risk factors for angina pectoris in a population study of Swedish men.

The Primary Preventive Trial in Göteborg, Sweden, a study of a random population sample of middle-aged men, made it possible to analyse the risk factor pattern cross-sectionally in 166 men with uncomplicated angina pectoris (AP) and compare with 5735 men without angina pectoris or myocardial infarction (MI). A prospective analysis was also performed concerning the risk factor pattern in 128 cases with uncomplicated AP and 34 cases with complicated AP (following an MI) respectively, appearing during a follow-up time of 4 years. At cross-sectional analysis, uncomplicated AP was related to elevated serum cholesterol, elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, increased relative body weight, smoking, diabetes mellitus, low physical activity during leisure time, dyspnea and mental stress. However at multivariate, prospective analysis only dyspnea, stress, diabetes mellitus and increased relative body weight were predictors for uncomplicated AP. In contrast, elevated serum cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and high physical activity at work were predictors for complicated AP. Possible reasons for the apparent risk factor differences and different mechanisms in AP and MI are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Mortality and morbidity in relation to systolic blood pressure in two populations with different management of hypertension: The Study of Men Born in 1913 and the Multifactorial Primary Prevention Trial.

Total mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity during 10 years of follow-up in relation to systolic blood pressure (SBP) at entry were compared between a random sample of 7455 men, aged 47-54 years at entry, in whom multifactorial risk-factor intervention including intense efforts to detect and treat hypertension had been performed [the Primary Prevention Trial (PPT)], and a similar population (from an observational study) in which intervention, on CVD risk factors was kept to a minimum (the Study of Men Born in 1913). Total mortality, CVD mortality, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke incidence increased with SBP in both populations, but levelled off above the cut-off point for antihypertensive treatment in the population subjected to multifactorial CVD risk factor intervention. In this population total mortality was reduced by 30%, CVD mortality by 37%, CHD morbidity by 13% and stroke morbidity by 30% above the cut-off point for blood pressure intervention compared with the incidence predicted from the observational study. These findings indicate that multifactorial intervention, and especially antihypertensive treatment, have preventive effects in the hypertensive part of the middle-aged male population.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Beta-blockers versus diuretics in hypertensive men: main results from the HAPPHY trial.

Men aged 40-64 years with mild to moderate hypertension [diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 100-130 mmHg] were randomized to treatment with a diuretic (n = 3272) or a beta-blocker (n = 3297), with additional drugs if necessary, to determine whether a beta-blocker based treatment differs from thiazide diuretic based treatment with regard to the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) events and death. Patients with previous CHD, stroke or other serious diseases, or with contraindications to diuretics or beta-blockers were excluded. If normotension (DBP less than 95 mmHg) was not achieved by monotherapy, other antihypertensive drugs were added, but the two basic drugs were not crossed over. Patients were assessed at 6-monthly intervals. The mean follow-up for end-points was 45.1 months. Blood pressure (BP) side effects and end-points were recorded in a standardized manner. Entry characteristics and the BP reduction achieved were very similar in both treatment groups. All analyses were made on an intention-to-treat basis. The incidence of CHD did not differ between the two treatment groups. The incidence of fatal stroke tended to be lower in the beta-blocker treated group than in the diuretic treated group. Total mortality and the total number of end-points were similar in both groups. The percentage of patients withdrawn due to side effects was similar, whereas the number of reported symptoms, according to a questionnaire, was higher for patients on beta-blockers. The incidence of diabetes did not differ between the two groups. Subgroup analyses did not detect a difference in the effect of beta-blockers compared with diuretics in smokers as opposed to non-smokers, and beta-blockers also had the same effects as diuretics in the quartile with the highest predicted risk for CHD. Beta-blockers and thiazide diuretics were approximately equally well tolerated. The two drugs had a similar BP reducing effect although additional drugs had to be given more often in the diuretic group. Antihypertensive treatment based on a beta-blocker or on a thiazide diuretic could not be shown to affect the prevention of hypertensive complications, including CHD, to a different extent.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1986

Peak expiratory flow and risk of cardiovascular disease and death. A 12-year follow-up of participants in the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden.

A longitudinal population study of 1,462 women, aged 38-60 years at entry, was begun in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1968-1969. This paper deals with the first 12-year follow-up period. In univariate analysis, peak expiratory flow showed a significant negative correlation with the 12-year incidences of myocardial infarction, electrocardiographic changes suggesting ischemic heart disease, stroke, and death. The association with incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and death remained in multivariate analysis, and was independent of age, body height, body mass index, adipose tissue distribution, chest deformity, history of pulmonary disease, smoking habit, serum cholesterol concentration, serum triglyceride concentration, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and physical activity. The findings indicate that measuring peak expiratory flow is a simple procedure to identify women with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease or death. It seems urgent to find out what preventive measures might be taken as a consequence of these observations.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The multifactor primary prevention trial in Göteborg, Sweden.

The effect of a multifactorial intervention programme on coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke incidence and total mortality was determined in a random sample of men, 47-55 years old at entry. The intervention group comprised 10 004 men, and the two control groups were of similar size. The intervention consisted of antihypertensive treatment in subjects with screening blood pressure above 175 mmHg systolic or 115 mmHg diastolic, dietary advice to men with serum cholesterol levels above 260 mg per 100 ml (= 6.8 mMol l-1), advice to stop smoking to subjects who smoked more than 15 cigarettes per day. The intervention was applied for 10 years during which time CHD and stroke incidence and mortality were followed by means of special registers. Participation rate at first screening examination was 75%. The risk factor levels, i.e. blood pressure, serum cholesterol and smoking decreased markedly during 10 years in the intervention group, but also among the control groups. Total mortality, stroke and CHD incidence did not differ significantly between the intervention group and any of the two control groups. We conclude that a decrease has taken place in all three major risk factors for CHD in the general male population in Göteborg, Sweden. Strategies other than intervention on high-risk individuals must be chosen if a major impact on disease incidence is to be achieved in the general population.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Cessation of smoking after myocardial infarction in women. Effects on mortality and reinfarctions.

Among 262 women with a first myocardial infarction discharged alive from hospital in Göteborg, Sweden between 1968 and 1977, 161 (61%) were smokers at the time of infarction. Postinfarction smoking was established after three months. In relation to smoking status three months after the infarction, subsequent survival and reinfarction rate were calculated by comparing those who smoked before infarction and later stopped (52%) with those who continued to smoke after the infarction (48%). There were no differences in preinfarction characteristics between quitters and continuing smokers. Women who stopped smoking after the infarction had higher serum enzymes during the acute phase than those who continued to smoke. The cumulative five-year survival rate was 85% among those who stopped smoking compared to 73% among those who continued to smoke (p less than 0.05). No significant difference was found in the cumulative reinfarction rate between the two groups with different smoking habits.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Recurrent myocardial infarction. 1. Natural history of fatal and non-fatal events.

1306 men below 68 years of age who survived a first myocardial infarction (MI) during 1968-1977 were followed up between 2 and 12 years after discharge from hospital. The mean follow-up time was 6.5 years. The patients were unselected and paid regular visits to a Post-MI Clinic where treatment was standardized. The diagnosis of a non-fatal reinfarction was based on conventional clinical criteria, and the diagnosis of a fatal reinfarction on autopsy findings of a recent myocardial injury and/or a fresh coronary thrombus. The autopsy rate was high and the follow-up of endpoints was complete. The total cumulative rate of endpoint free patients was 64% at 5 years and 50% at 10 years follow-up. The total mortality rate was 19% at 5 years and 33% at 10 years follow-up. The total cumulative rate of a first reinfarction was 28% at 5 years and 37% at 10 years follow-up (80% non-fatal and 20% fatal). 63 patients suffered more than one reinfarction. The mortality rate was strongly associated with age. In contrast the rate of non-fatal reinfarctions was independent of age.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Recurrent myocardial infarction. 2. Possibilities of prediction.

1306 men less than 68 years of age who survived a first myocardial infarction (MI) during 1968-1977 were followed up between 2 and 12 years. The mean follow-up time was 6.5 years. The patients were unselected and paid regular visits to a Post-MI Clinic where treatment was standardized. The autopsy rate was high and the follow-up of endpoints was complete. The diagnosis of a non-fatal reinfarction was based on conventional clinical criteria, and the diagnosis of a fatal reinfarction on autopsy findings of a recent myocardial injury and/or a fresh coronary thrombus. The patients were randomly assigned to two halves. One was used only for derivation of the predictive models, and the other only for validation. Common clinical variables judged to be prognostically important were selected. Among variables available at discharge from hospital a history of hypertension, angina pectoris or diabetes before the MI and the maximal serum ASAT during the MI were independently related to reinfarctions during the follow-up. A predictive index was formed and validated. The rate of reinfarction among risk quartiles in the validation sample increased from 24 to 38% (P = 0.003). The aetiologic fraction (the percent of reinfarctions predicted by the index) was 24%. Among variables from the follow-up only cessation of smoking after the MI had independent predictive power. A new predictive index including this variable was formed and validated. The reinfarction rate in the risk quartiles increased from 15 to 39% (P less than 0.001). The aetiologic fraction was 44%. When only reinfarctions occurring before the median follow-up time of 21 months were considered, the aetiologic fraction was 62%.

Adult↗