Cancer incidence in the United States and Puerto Rico

This study compares cancer incidence in the United States National Survey areas and Puerto Rico for the period of 1969 to 1974. There are several differences between the 2 areas. Puerto Rico has a higher incidence of cancer of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, cervix uteri, vulva, and penis. The Survey areas have higher incidences of cancer of the colon, rectum, lung, corpus uteri, female breast, and ovary. The differences between sexes are more or less the same as in other countries.

Interrelationship of serum lipids with relative weight, blood glucose, and physical activity

Serum cholesterol, serum glyceride, blood glucose, relative weight, physical activity, percent calories from fat, percent calories from carbohydrate, and polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratio were determined in 1780 rural and 4023 urban fasting men aged 45-64 years being followed prospectively to ascertain reasons for the low prevalence of coronary heart disease mortality in Puerto Rico as compared to other countries. Lipid and glucose levels and relative weight were higher and physical activity lower in urban men. Glyceride was positively correlated with cholesterol, glucose, and relative weight, and negatively correlated with physical activity. Cholesterol was positively correlated with glyceride, glucose, and relative weight, and not correlated with physical activity. Percent calories from fat and P/S ratio were significantly higher and percent carbohydrates from starch significantly lower in urban men. These variables taken together were not significant in predicting the differences between urban and rural serum cholesterol or glyceride values. Relative weight was the most significant variable in explaining urban-rural differences in serum glyceride and cholesterol levels. These findings confirm the importance of weight control in dietary management for reduction of serum lipids.

Risk factors and prevalence of coronary heart disease in Puerta Rico

In spite of an apparently increasing mortality rate from coronary heart disease in Puerto Rico, the age-specific mortality rate from this illness is considerably lower in the island than in the U. S. mainland. Examination of 9,814 Puerto Rican urban and rural men in the 45 to 64-year age group revealed sizable and statistically significant differences in monthly income, cigarette smoking, ingestion of fats, blood pressure, heart rate, relative weight, serum cholesterol, serum glycerides, prevalence of diabetes, and prevalence of hypertension (lower in rural dwellers), and also in vital capacity, consumption of calories per unit body weight, and physical activity (higher in rural area). No urban-rural difference in coronary heart disease prevalence was found, but the prevalence of definite myocardial infarction, established on basis of electrocardiographic criteria alone, was significantly higher in the 45 to 54-year urban group. Follow-up of this population to study incidence of disease and the influence of the various factors upon the development of disease is being conducted.