Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

O Impivaara

Publications and source records attributed to O Impivaara.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Dynamic balance in former elite male athletes and in community control subjects.

Dynamic balance was studied in 105 former elite athletes (aged 45-68) and in 966 community control subjects (aged 27-67). Subjects walked barefoot along a 5-m-long test track, stepping only on two pads which they alternately put down in front of them and picked up from behind while standing on one foot. A better test result (short completion time) was associated with lower body mass index (in both groups), with jumping height and physical activity during the previous year (in former athletes), and with younger age, better general health, and better perceived physical fitness (in control subjects). Test results in former athletes were, on average, comparable to those of 24-30 years younger community control subjects.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Airway obstruction in relation to symptoms in chronic respiratory disease--a nationally representative population study.

We examined the severity of airway obstruction and the occurrence of respiratory symptoms in a large, nationally representative population sample and in a subgroup of subjects with chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema to obtain information for developing national prevention and treatment strategies for these diseases. The study population comprised of 7217 randomly selected subjects (aged 30 years and older) who participated in a comprehensive health examination survey. The 'cases' were subjects diagnosed as having chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema. The survey methods comprised of questionnaires, interviews, physical measurements, including spirometry, and clinical examinations. In the whole study population, the age-adjusted prevalence of chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema was 22% among men and 7% among women, whilst clinically relevant airways obstruction (FEV1/FVC%< or = 69) was present in 11% of men and in 5% of women. The occurrence of chronic cough and phlegm production was lowest among the 'cases' with pronounced obstruction (in 68% of men with severe and in 60% of women with moderate obstruction), whereas cold air-associated dyspnoea aggravation showed an inverse relationship, occurring most commonly in men (80%) with severe obstruction. Unexpectedly, half of the bronchitic women had never smoked. We conclude that the occurrence of certain bronchitic symptoms, such as chronic cough and phlegm production and cold air-associated dyspnoea aggravation, may to some degree indicate different stages of the disease. Smoking was not closely associated with airflow limitation in women here.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizer genotype as a potential modifier of smoking behaviour.

Some 3-10% of Caucasians are deficient in CYP2D6 metabolism (poor metabolizers), due to inheritance of two defective alleles, whereas amplification of the CYP2D6 gene results in ultrarapid metabolism in 1-2% of Caucasian populations. To examine the possible association between CYP2D6 polymorphism and individual smoking behaviour, we analysed the prevalence of CYP2D6 genotypes among 292 long-term heavy smokers, 382 individuals with more variable smoking histories, and 302 never-smokers. The prevalence of ultrarapid metabolizers in heavy smokers (7.9%) was twofold compared to individuals with variable smoking habits (3.7%; odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.2-4.4), and fourfold compared with never-smokers (2.0%) (odds ratio 4.2, 95% confidence interval 1.8-9.8). The frequency of poor metabolizer genotype was approximately 2%, in each smoker group. However, when men and women were studied separately, the prevalence of poor metabolizer genotype was higher in male never-smokers (3.6%) than in variable smokers (2.7%) and heavy smokers (2.2%). Moreover, a trend test, adjusted by age, gender and cancer status, revealed a significant trend for the increased tobacco usage with increased metabolic capacity. Our results are in agreement with the assumption that increased CYP2D6 activity may contribute to the probability of being addicted to smoking.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2000

Coffee consumption, rheumatoid factor, and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that smoking is a risk factor for rheumatoid factor (RF) positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Being overweight, high serum cholesterol, and dietary factors have in some studies been found to be associated with the risk of RA. No attention, however, has been paid to coffee consumption as a risk determinant, though it is a shared covariate of the alleged risk factors. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at examining coffee consumption for its associations with RF positivity and with the risk of RA. METHODS: Coffee consumption was studied, firstly, for its association with RF (sensitised sheep cell agglutination titre >/=128) in a cross sectional survey of 6809 subjects with no clinical arthritis, and secondly, for its prediction of RA in a cohort of 18 981 men and women who had neither arthritis nor a history of it at the baseline examination in 1973-76. Up to late 1989, 126 subjects of the cohort study had developed RA, of whom, 89 were positive for RF by the time of diagnosis. RESULTS: In the cross sectional survey the number of cups of coffee drunk daily was directly proportional to the prevalence of RF positivity. Adjusted for age and sex this association was significant (p value for linear trend, 0.008), but after further adjustment for smoking the linear trend declined below significance (p=0.06). In the cohort study there was an association between coffee consumption and the risk of RF positive RA that was not due to age, sex, level of education, smoking, alcohol intake, body mass index, or serum cholesterol. After adjustment for these potential confounders the users of four or more cups a day still had a relative risk of 2.20 (95% confidence interval 1.13 to 4.27) for developing RF positive RA compared with those drinking less. Coffee consumption did not predict the development of RF negative RA. CONCLUSION: Coffee consumption may be a risk factor for RA, possibly through mechanisms contributing to the production of RF. This hypothesis remains to be tested in further studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Factors associated with hip joint rotation in former elite athletes.

OBJECTIVES: To study factors associated with passive hip rotation range of motion (ROM) in former elite male athletes. METHODS: Athletes were interviewed about hip pain, disability, lifetime occupational loading, and athletic training. The passive hip rotation was measured with a Myrin inclinometer in 117 former elite male long distance runners, soccer players, weight lifters, and shooters aged 45-68 years. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to detect hip osteoarthritis. RESULTS: There were no differences in passive hip rotation ROM between the four athlete groups nor between diverging lifetime loading patterns associated with occupational or athletic activities. Among the subjects without hip osteoarthritis, hip pain, and hip disability according to a stepwise linear regression analysis, the only factor that was associated with the passive hip rotation ROM was body mass index (BMI), explaining about 21% of its variation. Subjects with high BMI had lower passive hip rotation ROM than those with low BMI. There was no right-left difference in the mean passive hip rotation ROM in subjects either with or without hip osteoarthritis as determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Nevertheless, hip rotation ROM was clearly reduced in a few hips with severe caput deformity. CONCLUSIONS: Long term loading appears to have no association with passive hip rotation ROM. On the other hand, the hip rotation value was lower in subjects with high BMI than in those with low BMI. A clear right-left difference in hip rotation was found only in those subjects who, according to our magnetic resonance imaging criteria, had severe hip osteoarthritis. These findings should be taken into account when hip rotation ROM is used in the clinical assessment of hip joints.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Milk hypersensitivity in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of milk hypersensitivity in Finnish adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Two hundred men and 206 women aged 27 y randomly recruited from the population register in southwestern Finland. INTERVENTIONS: The subjects were interviewed about their dairy product consumption, abdominal discomfort after dairy product intake and lactose intolerance. From serum samples, serum reactivity to milk protein and milk-specific IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgA were measured. RESULTS: About 20% of the subjects reported abdominal discomfort after dairy product intake, whereas only 6.4% had been diagnosed to have lactose intolerance. The amount of milk consumed correlated well with the serum assay results in subjects reporting abdominal discomfort but not in subjects who were free from these symptoms. Among subjects with no record of dairy product restriction or lactose intolerance, those experiencing abdominal discomfort after dairy product intake had significantly higher serum reactivity to milk protein than those without such discomfort. The concentrations of serum milk-specific antibodies did not differ between these two groups. The prevalence of milk hypersensitivity in this population was estimated to be 3-6%. CONCLUSIONS: Milk hypersensitivity may be as common in adults as in infants. The measurement of serum reactivity to milk protein may prove useful in screening milk hypersensitivity in subjects who have not restricted their dairy product consumption.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1999

Shoulder joint impairment among Finns aged 30 years or over: prevalence, risk factors and co-morbidity.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence, risk factors and consequences of shoulder joint impairment in the population. METHODS: A representative sample (n = 7217) of the Finnish population aged > or = 30 yr participated in a health examination survey (the Mini-Finland Health Survey). The design of the survey allowed an independent assessment of disability, reported shoulder pain, shoulder joint impairment and major chronic co-morbidity. RESULTS: Shoulder impairment was observed in 8.8%, while pain was reported by 30%. The prevalence of shoulder pain decreased among the elderly, whereas impairments increased up to 20% of those aged 75-80 yr. In addition to age, sex, previous injury to the shoulder joint and a history of physically heavy work, diabetes was associated with shoulder impairment (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1). Shoulder impairment was associated with disability (adjusted OR 2.0, CI 1.6-2.5). CONCLUSIONS: Shoulder impairment is an important component of ill health among the elderly, and cannot be reduced to reported pain alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Bone mineral density in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and insulin treatment on bone mineral density (BMD) in middle-aged and elderly men and women. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We measured BMD and evaluated known determinants of osteoporosis in 56 type 1 and 68 type 2 diabetic patients and 498 nondiabetic community control subjects. All patients, aged 52-72 years, developed diabetes after the age of 30 years (i.e., after achievement of peak bone mass) and were treated with insulin. BMD was measured at the proximal femur with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Among both sexes, BMD values were significantly lower in type 1 diabetic patients than in type 2 diabetic patients or the control subjects. When adjusted for age and BMI, the differences between type 1 diabetic patients and control subjects remained essentially unchanged in both sexes, whereas the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetic subjects were significant only in men. After further adjustments for confounding factors, the average BMD values were still lower in type 1 diabetic subjects than in type 2 diabetic subjects although with lesser significance. Past low-energy fractures were more common in type 1 diabetic women than in type 2 diabetic women. CONCLUSIONS: The lower BMD in type 1 versus type 2 diabetic patients and control subjects probably results from more rapid bone loss after the onset of type 1 diabetes. This cannot be explained by insulin treatment, which was prescribed for both types of patients. Because the causes of low BMD in type 1 diabetes are unknown, these patients should be evaluated for the risk of osteoporosis and related fractures and offered appropriate preventive measures.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1998

Observer variation in classifying chest radiographs for small lung opacities and pleural abnormalities in a population sample.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess inter-and intraobserver variation in the radiographic categories of small lung opacities (profusion) and pleural abnormalities classified according to the ILO classification of pneumoconioses with some modifications. METHODS: Chest radiographs derived from a representative adult population sample (n = 7,095) were classified by two radiologists. Observer variation was assessed on the basis of kappa (kappa)-type statistics. RESULTS: The observers agreed on profusion categories in 69% of cases of the total material. Up to 98% of the classifications fell into the same category or deviated by no more than one category. The corresponding kappa (kappa) coefficient was 0.48 (95% CI = 0.46=0.49) and the weighted kappa 0.72. When a selected subsample was reclassified by the observers, the proportions of crude agreement on profusion of small opacities ranged from 42% to 47% (weighted kappa 0.52-0.55). The proportions of agreement on the main pleural abnormalities were 92% or over, and the corresponding kappa coefficients at least 0.73. CONCLUSION: The classification of lung opacities was subject to considerable observer variation, which calls for caution when results from different studies are compared. This variation, however, rarely exceeded one category, and thus appears to be small enough for meaningful comparisons between groups, at least within a single study.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Clodronate is effective in preventing corticosteroid-induced bone loss among asthmatic patients.

Clodronate is a novel drug used for inhibiting osteoclastic activity. The aim of the present double-blind study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of clodronate (Leiras, Finland) in corticosteroid-induced bone loss among asthmatic patients. Seventy-four adult patients (41 women and 33 men, mean age 57.3 years) having a long history (mean 8.1 years) of oral and inhaled corticosteroid therapy were randomized to four parallel treatment groups: clodronate 800, 1600, or 2400 mg/day, or an identical placebo. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L2-4), femoral neck, and trochanter were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absortiometry at entry, 6 months, and 12 months. The baseline BMDs did not differ significantly between the study groups. In the lumbar spine, the mean BMD increased significantly between the baseline and 12-month visit in the clodronate groups of 1600 and 2400 mg/day, 2.6% (0.02 g/cm2, p < 0.02) and 3.0% (0.03 g/cm2, p < 0.01), respectively, but not in the placebo and clodronate 800 mg/day groups. The test for a linear trend (BMD percent change for L2-4) at 12 months was significant (p < 0.02), indicating a dose response to clodronate. The mean BMD values of the femoral neck increased significantly in the 2400 mg/day group, 4.3% (0.03 g/cm2, p < 0.0001), as well as in the trochanter region 2.8% (0.02 g/cm2, p < 0.02). Gastric irritation was the most common adverse effect noted on a clodronate dose of 2400 mg/day. We conclude that oral clodronate is effective in preventing bone loss or increasing bone mass in asthmatic patients having a long history of continuous peroral and inhaled corticosteroid administration.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1998

Intensity of physical activity and respiratory function in subjects with and without bronchial asthma.

The aim of this study was to assess the intensity of physical activity of asthmatic adults in Finland and the associations between the intensity of physical activity and respiratory function in asthmatic and nonasthmatic persons. The study population (n=8000) was drawn from the population register to represent the Finnish population aged 30 years or over. Adequate information was available from 7193 subjects (89.9% of the sample). Physical activity at work, at leisure and during commuting was recorded with a standard questionnaire. The responses to the questionnaire were expressed as MET values. Asthma was defined on the basis of self-reports of chronic diseases previously diagnosed by a physician. The spirometric values (VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV%, and PEF) were negatively correlated with age. The results showed clear and significant associations between spirometric values and intensities of physical activity at work and during leisure time in asthmatic men. Although healthier subjects may select more physically demanding activities, it is an equally possible hypothesis that physical activity may improve respiratory function in subjects with and without bronchial asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Subjective quality of sleep and use of hypnotics in an elderly urban population.

To investigate the characteristics and subjective quality of sleep, the use of hypnotics and their correlates in an urban elderly population, a structured interview was administered to a stratified random sample of 600 elderly subjects in five age groups. Interrupted sleep and napping were common; nonetheless, 88% of the subjects considered their sleep at least satisfactory. According to specific criteria, 17% were good, 72% moderate and 11% poor sleepers. Habitual insomnia was reported by 12% of the subjects. Quality of sleep did not differ between age groups or genders. Hypnotics were habitually used by 8% of the men and 25% of the women. Consumption increased with age in both sexes, and 77% of the hypnotics were benzodiazepines. In multivariate regression analyses, insomnia and habitual use of hypnotics were associated with poor health, but only the latter with age and gender. As a conclusion, most of the subjects considered their sleep satisfactory, and aging itself did not seem to have an effect on the quality of sleep. The use of hypnotics was common, more prevalent in women and increased with age. Aging and poor health were independently associated with the use of hypnotics, but not with poor quality of sleep or insomnia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Lifetime musculoskeletal symptoms and injuries among former elite male athletes.

We studied the lifetime occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms in former elite male athletes: 29 weight-lifters, 31 soccer players, 28 long-distance runners, and 29 shooters, 45-68 years of age. The proportion of subjects with monthly back pain during the past year was smaller among runners than among the other athletes, although not statistically significant. Monthly back pain was more common in weight-lifters with lifetime training hours above the median as compared with those below the median. The average intensity of the worst back pain during the past year was clearly higher in weight-lifters and soccer players, than in runners and shooters. Knee pain at least once a month during the past year was reported by 52% (CI 33-70%) of the soccer players, 31% (CI 15-51%) of the weight lifters, 21% (CI 8-41 %) of the runners, and 17% (CI 6-36%) of the shooters (p = 0.019). Soccer players had the highest number of sports-related knee injuries (p < 0.0001). Past knee injuries were associated with knee pain in later adulthood (p = 0.048). More runners reported having had hip pain episodes during their lifetime than other athletes, but no differences were found in the occurrence of hip pain during the past year. In conclusion, compared with shooters, athletes formerly exposed to heavy exercise did not report more frequent back pain during the past year, whereas a high intensity of back pain was typical of soccer players and weight-lifters. A predisposition to knee injuries in soccer players appears to increase the risk of future knee pain. Similarly, knee pain later in life seems to be more common in weight-lifters than in runners and shooters. Long-distance runners, on the other hand, are prone to an increased lifetime risk of hip pain.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Radiographic small lung opacities and pleural abnormalities in relation to smoking, urbanization status, and occupational asbestos exposure in Finland.

The role of smoking and an urban living environment in the etiology of radiographic pleural and pulmonary abnormalities was studied in a population sample that was representative of the Finnish adult population. A total of 7095 full-size chest radiographs were classified according to the International Labor Organization's 1980 classification of radiographs of pneumoconioses, with some modifications. The risk of bilateral pleural plaques was significantly higher among urban men (RR, 2.0) and women (RR, 3.8), even when adjusted for age and probability of occupational asbestos exposure and smoking. The risks of small lung opacities and abnormalities of the visceral pleura were not higher in urban areas. Risks of small lung opacities and thickening of the visceral pleura were positively associated with smoking, and the risk of small lung opacities was also higher among smokers than never-smokers in the population fraction with unlikely occupational asbestos exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Low back pain and subsequent cardiovascular mortality.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study based on data of the Mini-Finland Health Examination Survey collected between 1978 and 1980, with follow-up until the end of 1991. OBJECTIVE: A number of studies have revealed associations between smoking, cardiovascular diseases, and low back pain. Therefore, it has been suggested that atherosclerosis could be involved in the etiology of low back pain. Low back pain was studied for its prediction of mortality and, in particular, deaths from cardiovascular disease. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Of a nationally representative sample of 8000 people older than 29 years, 7217 (90%) participated in a comprehensive health examination. At interviews, 5459 (76%) had a history of low back pain. In a standardized clinical examination, 1253 (17%) were diagnosed as having chronic low back pain. METHODS: The follow-up information on mortality and causes of death was obtained from the Central Statistical Office of Finland. RESULTS: By the end of 1991, 1487 of the examinees had died, 815 from any cardiovascular disease and 501 from coronary heart disease. Neither the history of back complaints nor chronic low back pain predicted mortality. CONCLUSION: That low back pain does not affect longevity disagrees with the hypothesis that atherosclerosis resulting in death from cardiovascular disease is etiologically linked to low back pain.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Knee osteoarthritis in former runners, soccer players, weight lifters, and shooters.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between different physical loading conditions and findings of knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: We selected 117 male former top-level athletes (age range 45-68 years) who had participated in sports activities with distinctly different loading conditions: 28 had been long-distance runners, 31 soccer players, 29 weight lifters, and 29 shooters. Histories of lifetime occupational and athletic knee loading, knee injuries, and knee symptoms were obtained, and subjects were examined clinically and radiographically for knee findings of OA. RESULTS: The prevalence of tibiofemoral or patellofemoral OA based on radiographic examination was 3% in shooters, 29% in soccer players, 31% in weight lifters, and 14% in runners (P = 0.016 between groups). Soccer players had the highest prevalence of tibiofemoral OA (26%), and weight lifters had the highest prevalence of patellofemoral OA (28%). Subjects with radiographically documented knee OA had more symptoms, clinical findings, and functional limitations than did subjects without knee OA. By stepwise logistic regression analysis, the risk for having knee OA was increased in subjects with previous knee injuries (odds ratio [OR] 4.73), high body mass index at the age of 20 (OR 1.76/unit of increasing body mass index), previous participation in heavy work (OR 1.08/work-year), kneeling or squatting work (OR 1.10/work-year), and in subjects participating in soccer (OR 5.21). CONCLUSION: Soccer players and weight lifters are at increased risk of developing premature knee OA. The increased risk is explained in part by knee injuries in soccer players and by high body mass in weight lifters.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Poor applicability of the Friedewald formula in the assessment of serum LDL cholesterol for clinical purposes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of the estimation of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration by the Friedewald formula. METHODS: Modifications of the calculation formula are presented on the basis of ultracentrifugal separation of serum high-density lipoprotein and LDL cholesterol in the specimens collected (n = 1215) in a nationwide health survey. RESULTS: The formulas obtained from different subject groups differed relatively little from each other. The accuracy of the original Friedewald formula was poor; in about 36% of the subjects the error was more than 5% compared with ultracentrifugally obtained results. By applying the currently recommended coronary heart disease (CHD) risk categorizations, high proportions (5%-28%) of the subjects were classified into wrong CHD risk categories when LDL cholesterol was calculated with any of the formulas. At high serum triglyceride levels, misclassifications were especially common. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that even the most accurate LDL cholesterol calculation methods should be used with caution while classifying subjects into categories of CHD risk. In hypertriglyceridemic subjects, the calculation formulas probably should not be used at all.

Cholesterol, LDL↗