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Biomedical subjects

M Kornitzer

Publications and source records attributed to M Kornitzer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Prevention of coronary heart disease: how far is the Belgian population from the recommended nutritional goals and ideal serum cholesterol levels?

For 15 years, recommendations concerning the primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) have been made by international bodies or national agencies. In a national Belgian nutritional study (the B.I.R.N.H. Study), the authors review how far the Belgian population is from the recommended nutritional goals and ideal serum cholesterol. They also make comparisons between genders and look at differences according to the linguistic background (French- or Dutch-speaking subjects). Only a small percentage of the Belgian population reach the nutritional goals for total fat intake in males (8.4%) and females (7%), saturated fat intake (7.0% and 6.2%, respectively), and P/S ratio (13.5% and 12.4%, respectively). The percentages reaching nutritional goals are somewhat higher for polyunsaturated fat intake (27.9% and 28.6%, respectively) and dietary cholesterol (39.4% and 54.6%, respectively). A total of 29.9% of the male population, and 32.7% of the female population are at 'high risk' of CHD according to their serum cholesterol levels. In general the results are better for the Dutch-speaking population than for their French-speaking counterparts. In conclusion, despite modifications in eating patterns and a decrease in CHD mortality in Belgium during the 1970s, a very high percentage of males and females are still far from the recommended nutritional goals and ideal serum cholesterol levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The Belgian Heart Disease Prevention Project: 10-year mortality follow-up.

The Belgian Heart Disease Prevention Project was a controlled, randomized multifactorial intervention trial in middle-aged men which lasted 6 years. Significant net differences between intervention and control groups were observed in change in risk profile, in total mortality and in CHD incidence. The net difference in risk profile change was greatest at two years, intermediate at four years and minimal at six years. Total and cause-specific mortality rates were systematically followed from the 6th to the 10th year. Follow-up at 10 years was 99.3% complete. The differences between intervention and control groups in total, coronary and cardiovascular mortality reduced from the 6th to the 10th year. The results suggest that changes in risk profile are rapidly followed by changes in cardiovascular mortality, but this applies in both directions. Thus risk reduction should be maintained in order to achieve a long-lasting preventive effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of the attack rates of acute myocardial infarction in two Belgian towns.

Comparison of the attack rates for acute myocardial infarction in two Belgian towns AMI attack rates in two Belgian towns. Belgium is divided in two main regions: Flanders in the North with a Dutch-speaking population, and Wallonia in the South with a French-speaking community. From 1982 onwards, a register of acute myocardial infarction has been in operation in Ghent, a Flemish town, and in Charleroi in Wallonia, following the procedures of the MONICA (Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Diseases) study. Annual attack rates of myocardial infarction are presented for a 5-year period. During this period, the annual attack rates for men are 10-20% higher in Charleroi than Ghent. In women, the ratio between the two cities is less clear. The results of this community registers confirms the regional differences observed previously in Belgium using other epidemiological techniques.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A double blind study of 2 mg versus 4 mg nicotine-gum in an industrial setting.

In a double blind randomised trial to aid smoking cessation a 2 mg nicotine gum (n = 101) was compared with a 4 mg gum (n = 98), in smokers of at least 15 cigarettes/day. The trial involved blue and white collar workers and took place at their working place (industrial setting). Intervention during the one year follow-up period was minimal. At 3 months 36.2% of the 2 mg nicotine gum group reported to have stopped smoking, against 44.8% in the 4 mg group (non-significant difference). At one year in the 2 and 4 mg groups respectively 22.3 and 32.2% reported smoking abstinence (non significant difference). However in a sub-group with a higher nicotine-dependence score, only 18.5% were abstainers at one year in the 2 mg nicotine gum group against 32.9% in the 4 mg nicotine gum, which is a significant difference at the p = 0.05 level. This is however a post-hoc finding and should be taken with caution.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1987

Protection against ischemic heart disease in the Belgian Physical Fitness Study: physical fitness rather than physical activity?

Occupational and leisure time physical activity and conventional risk factors were determined in the Belgian Physical Fitness Study, a prospective study of 2,363 healthy male factory workers who were aged 40-55 years at entry in 1976-1978 and who were followed for five years. Physical fitness, defined as the interpolated physical working capacity at heart rate 150 beats per minute, was measured in 2,109 subjects. In this subgroup, there were 31 myocardial infarctions and sudden deaths. Smoking, physical fitness, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) were independent risk indicators for subsequent ischemic heart disease, while both physical activity scores were not. It is concluded that in this healthy, predominantly sedentary population, the fitness level, but not the physical activity pattern, is an independent protective factor against ischemic heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Ischemic heart disease and regional variations of socio-cultural characteristics in Belgium.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) can be considered as a 'cultural disease'. It is surprising to see how IHD is differentially distributed in Belgium on both sides of the linguistic frontier, with higher prevalence, incidence and mortality rates in the South as compared to the North. Therefore, various socio-cultural characteristics have been under investigation in two samples of middle-aged men, in order to determine the most discriminative ones, according to the subjects' cultural belonging. The largest differences are found in the professional activities area, suggesting that stress related to profession might be responsible for the geographical distribution of the disease.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

How does stress exert its effects--smoking, diet and obesity, physical activity?

Using a job stress questionnaire a negative correlation was found between job stress and physical fitness and a positive one with Type A behaviour. No correlation was found between job stress and obesity, nutritional patterns or physical activity. Subjects with angina had higher scores on the job stress questionnaire than normal controls. The job stress score was not predictive of future coronary heart disease.

Behavior↗
PubMed1985

WHO European Collaborative Trial of multifactorial prevention of coronary heart disease.

Results are reported from a trial of multifactorial prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) in occupational groups, involving randomization of 66 factories to intervention and control (49,781 men ages 40 to 59) in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, and Poland. Net average reductions in the intervention factors were 1.2% (plasma cholesterol), 8.9% (daily cigarettes), 0.4% (weight), 2% (systolic blood pressure), and 11% for a combined risk estimate. Reductions were larger in high-risk men (19% for the combined estimate). Red blood cell fatty acid profiles were substantially changed. There was a net overall reduction of 7.4% in fatal CHD and 2.7% in total deaths. Benefits were larger in centers achieving larger risk factor reductions, and in one country--Belgium--the net decreases in CHD incidence and total deaths were significant at the 5% level. Benefit was at least as great in men with established ECG abnormality. It is concluded that CHD risk in middle-aged men seems to be reducible by simple and cost-effective means.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1985

Evolution of coronary heart disease mortality from 1958 in Belgium.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality increased during the 1950s and 1960s but then showed a steady decline over time, starting in 1970. The author reviews the evidence relating this decline in CHD mortality to a favourable evolution of the major coronary risk factors. Monitoring of trends and determinants in CHD incidence is currently in progress in two major Belgian cities.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Pilot project for registering acute myocardial infarctions in Belgium.

In order to prepare Belgian participation in the International Study "Monitoring of trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease (MONICA)", a pilot project for registration of acute myocardial infarctions was organized in the Flemish city of Ghent and the Walloon city of Charleroi. Thanks to the collaboration of 449 general practitioners and 17 hospitals, 790 acute coronary events (fatal and non-fatal) were registrated during one year among the 251 000, 25 to 69 year old, inhabitants of Ghent and Charleroi. The registration procedures, strictly standardized between the two cities, allowed comparison of the incidence data. In males, the total incidence of acute myocardial infarction is 10% higher in Charleroi than in Ghent. In the female population, the incidence is 37% higher in the Walloon city compared to the Flemish city.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Prevention of coronary heart disease: health knowledge, health attitude and fat consumption in a random sample of Belgian physicians.

Health knowledge, health attitude and fat consumption has been explored in a random sample of 2150 Belgian physicians below age 71; the response rate was 60.7%. Health knowledge, health attitude and fat consumption are significantly intercorrelated. Comparing general practitioners (G.Ps) to specialists, non significant differences were observed in terms of health knowledge whereas health attitude was more positive in G.Ps who, on the other hand, had a lower saturated fat intake score. Dutch speaking physicians had a higher health knowledge score whereas their fat intake score was significantly lower (less saturated fats) compared to their French counterparts. Differences in eating patterns between the French and Dutch speaking Belgian population are also observed in Belgian physicians.

Adult↗