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Ischaemic Heart Disease and Associated Risk Factors in 40 Year Old Men in Edinburgh and Stockholm
Author(s) -
Oliver M. F.,
Nimmo I. A.,
Cooke Margaret,
Carlson L. A.,
Olsson A. G.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1975.tb00483.x
Subject(s) - ischaemic heart disease , demography , incidence (geometry) , medicine , coronary heart disease , ethnic group , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology , physics , sociology , anthropology , optics
. The incidence of ischaemic heart disease in men in their early forties is approximately three times greater in Edinburgh than in Stockholm. To gain more information about some of the possible reasons for this striking difference, a random sample of apparently healthy men aged 40 was selected from each city. Identical clinical and biochemical measurements were made and interlaboratory variations were eliminated by making each analysis in the same laboratory. Serum triglycerides were higher in Edinburgh men than in Stockholm men, and the shapes of the‐distribution curves were significantly different. Serum cholesterol concentrations were similar in the two cities. Fasting plasma glucose concentrations were the same in the two cities. After a standardised glucose load, the mean plasma glucose decreased in men in both cities and significantly more in Edinburgh. There were significantly more men in Edinburgh with high insulin values. There were significantly more cigarette smokers in Edinburgh. This is possibly the most clear‐cut difference between the cities. Edinburgh men were shorter than Stockholm men. Analysis of the distributions of high risk characteristics showed that Edinburgh had more putative high risk individuals for ischaemic heart disease. This study is exploratory in nature and the differences found cannot by themselves explain the greater incidence of ischaemic heart disease in Edinburgh compared with Stockholm. Nor are they likely to be independent of such influences as diet, physical activity and ethnic origin. The fact that such marked differences can be found emphasises the potential value of studying in this way populations with dissimilar incidence of disease.