Do diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension predispose to left ventricular free wall rupture in acute myocardial infarction?

Diabetes and systemic hypertension had no influence on left ventricular free wall rupture complicating acute myocardial infarction. Age <65 years and a history of coronary artery disease offers some protection from protection.

Microalbuminuria and its relation to cardiovascular disease and risk factors. A population-based study of 1254 hypertensive individuals

Microalbuminuria has been proposed as a potential atherosclerotic risk factor in hypertensive individuals. The aim of this cross-sectional population study was to analyse whether microalbuminuria is related to a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, and a more atherogenic risk profile, and reversely related to the use of antihypertensive drugs. In a major health screening at the State University Hospital in Copenhagen, including urinary albumin excretion, glomerular filtration rate, blood pressure (BP), electrocardiogram, body mass index, plasma lipoproteins, fibrinogen, and albumin, and information regarding a history of acute myocardial infarction, smoking, and antihypertensive drugs, 1254 participants without diabetes mellitus or renal/urinary tract disease had arterial hypertension. Age range was 30-70 years. Microalbuminuria (nocturnal urinary albumin excretion >15 microg/min) occurred in 5%, and cardiovascular disease (previous acute myocardial infarction or electrocardiographic Q-waves) also in 5% of the study population. Microalbuminuric hypertensive subjects were characterized by higher age and systolic BP, and a male predominance, as compared to normoalbuminuric hypertensive subjects. The frequency of cardiovascular disease was similar in the two groups. In contrast, when analysed as a continuous variable, a one unit increase in the logarithmically transformed urinary albumin excretion significantly increased the likelihood of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.32 (1.02-1.70); P < 0.05), and this relation was independent of age, sex, and conventional atherosclerotic risk factors. Participants who were effectively treated with antihypertensive drugs did not have a lower urinary albumin excretion than insufficiently treated or untreated participants. It is concluded that slightly elevated albumin excretion in the urine is not only a pressure-dependent functional phenomenon in the glomerular vessel walls, but associated with permanent atherosclerotic abnormalities in the entire vascular system.

Activation of hepatitis B virus S promoter by the viral large surface protein via induction of stress in the endoplasmic reticulum

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) codes for three forms of surface protein. The minor, large form is translated from transcripts specified by the preS1 promoter, while the middle and small forms are translated from transcripts specified by the downstream S promoter. When the large surface protein is overexpressed, the secretion of both subviral and virion particles is blocked within the secretory pathway. We show here that overexpression of the large surface protein leads to up to a 10-fold activation of the S promoter but not of an unrelated promoter. Neither the middle nor the small surface protein, nor a secretable form of the large surface protein, activates the S promoter, but agents that induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress have an effect similar to that of the large surface protein. The large surface protein also activates the S promoter in the context of the entire viral genome. Therefore, it appears that HBV has evolved a feedback mechanism, such that ER stress induced by accumulation of the large surface protein increases the synthesis of the middle and small surface proteins, which in combination with the large surface protein can form mixed, secretable particles. In addition, like other agents that induce ER stress, the large surface protein can activate the cellular grp78 and grp94 promoters, raising the possibility that it may alter the physiology of the host cell.

Heterozygous lipoprotein lipase deficiency: frequency in the general population, effect on plasma lipid levels, and risk of ischemic heart disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with mutations on both alleles of the lipoprotein lipase gene resulting in complete lipoprotein lipase deficiency exhibit the chylomicronemia syndrome with severe hypertriglyceridemia and increased risk of pancreatitis and possibly of ischemic heart disease. This study examined frequency, lipid levels, and risk of ischemic heart disease for heterozygous carriers of lipoprotein lipase mutations known to cause the chylomicronemia syndrome in the homozygous state.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Two mutations were screened for in 9259 individuals in a general population sample and in 948 patients with verified ischemic heart disease. The percent frequencies of heterozygous individuals with the Gly188-->Glu and Ile194-->Thr substitutions in the general population were 0.06% (95% CI, 0.04% to 0.23%) and 0% (95% CI, 0.00% to 0.12%), respectively. The Gly188-->Glu substitution was associated with an increase in plasma triglycerides of 0.8+/-0.3 mmol/L (mean+/-SEM) and a decrease in plasma HDL cholesterol, apo A-I, and glucose levels of 0.45+/-0.07 mmol/L, 17+/-6 mg/dL, and 1.1+/-0.2 mmol/L, respectively. On multiple logistic regression analysis allowing for age, sex, plasma cholesterol, plasma lipoprotein (a), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and body mass index, both plasma triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels were independent predictors of ischemic heart disease. Finally, the Gly188-->Glu substitution was more common among patients with verified ischemic heart disease (percent frequency of heterozygous individuals, 0.32%) than among individuals from the general population (odds ratio, 4.9; 95% CI, 1.2 to 19.6). The effects of the Gly188-->Glu substitution were more pronounced than those of the common Asn291-->Ser substitution.

CONCLUSIONS

Heterozygous lipoprotein lipase deficiency due to the Gly188-->Glu substitution appears to increase plasma triglycerides and reduce HDL levels and may thereby predispose carriers to ischemic heart disease.

ACE gene polymorphism as a risk factor for ischemic cerebrovascular disease

BACKGROUND

Researchers have suggested that the deletional allele of the ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) gene insertion-deletion polymorphism is a potent risk factor for myocardial infarction. This association could not be confirmed in the Copenhagen City Heart Study, in which 10,150 persons were studied. The ACE gene polymorphism has also recently been suggested as a potent risk factor for ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between ACE gene polymorphism and ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

DESIGN

Two case-referent studies and a cross-sectional study.

SETTING

University hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark.

PARTICIPANTS

Case-referent study 1: 35 women and 38 men who developed ischemic cerebrovascular disease before 50 years of age compared with 1454 women and 1737 men from a general population sample. Case-referent study 2: 82 women and 137 men with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and carotid stenosis greater than 40% compared with 4273 women and 3091 men from the general population sample. Cross-sectional study of the general population sample: 67 women and 93 men with ischemic cerebrovascular disease compared with 4077 women and 3156 men without such disease.

MEASUREMENTS

Genotype; age; body mass index; smoking habits; levels of lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, and fibrinogen; and diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

RESULTS

Odds ratios for ischemic cerebrovascular disease by ACE genotype classes were not significantly different from 1.0 in women or men in any of the three studies, separately or combined. In a logistic regression analysis that controlled for age and conventional cardiovascular risk factors, odds ratios in either sex still did not significantly differ from 1.0 in any study, separately or combined.

CONCLUSION

In two case-referent studies, a cross-sectional study, and the three studies combined, no statistically significant difference was found in the development of ischemic cerebrovascular disease between genotype classes of the ACE gene polymorphism in women or men.

Age-related mortality, clinical heart failure, and ventricular fibrillation in 4259 Danish patients after acute myocardial infarction

AIMS

To evaluate the prognosis of patients > or = 80 years old, we analysed a large, community-based population with acute myocardial infarction who received intensive observation and similar pharmacotherapy regardless of age.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a 12-year period, before the introduction of thrombolysis, 4259 consecutive patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction from the same hospital in Denmark were prospectively registered. Their complications and mortality in hospital, and 1 and 5 years after discharge were analysed retrospectively. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 11% for patients less than < 50 years old, 22% for patients 60-69 years old and 43% for patients > or = 80 years old. Two thirds of patients > or = 80 years old had heart failure, and cardiogenic shock was twice as common in this age group than in patients 60-69 years. Heart failure was a strong independent risk, factor for post-discharge mortality, particularly in the oldest age groups. Four out of eight patients > or = 80 years survived one year if discharged alive after experiencing in-hospital ventricular fibrillation.

CONCLUSION

The life-saving potential of preventing or treating heart failure seems considerable even in the oldest patient groups. Patients > or = 80 years old who survive in-hospital ventricular fibrillation have an acceptable prognosis 1 year post-discharge.

Cardiovascular risk factor profile in subjects with familial predisposition to myocardial infarction in Denmark

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To identify possible modifiable mediators of familial predisposition to myocardial infarction (MI) by assessing the risk factor profile in individuals without MI in relation to parental occurrence of MI.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Cross sectional survey of the general population. The odds of an adverse cardiovascular risk factor profile in subjects reporting parental occurrence of MI versus subjects not reporting parental occurrence were estimated by logistic regression models.

SETTING

The Copenhagen Centre for Prospective Population Studies, where subjects investigated in three Danish prospective population studies are integrated.

PARTICIPANTS

Subjects were 9306 females and 11,091 males aged 20-75 years with no history of MI. A total of 1370 subjects reported maternal MI and 2583 reported paternal MI.

MAIN RESULTS

Increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, increased cholesterol level, low ratio between high density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol (TC), and heavy smoking, were more frequent in subjects with parental occurrence of MI than in controls irrespective of sex and age of the subjects. Maternal MI was more predictive for increased cholesterol and decreased HDL/ TC ratio than paternal MI, and the risk of an increased cholesterol level was higher in subjects aged 20-39 years than in older subjects. No differences in body mass index, triglycerides, and physical inactivity were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjects free of previous MI who reported a parental occurrence of MI had an adverse cardiovascular risk factor profile regarding systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, the ratio between HDL and total cholesterol, and smoking. Thus, these modifiable risk factors may be mediators of the familial predisposition to MI.

ACE gene polymorphism: ischemic heart disease and longevity in 10,150 individuals. A case-referent and retrospective cohort study based on the Copenhagen City Heart Study

BACKGROUND

Homozygosity for the deletion allele (D) of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion-deletion polymorphism has been suggested to be a potent risk factor for myocardial infarction. With one exception, the samples studied so far have been small and/or ethnically heterogeneous, and most investigators have studied men only.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We investigated the association between ACE genotype and myocardial infarction as well as other manifestations of ischemic heart disease for both women and men in a case-referent study (n = 10,150) as well as in a retrospective cohort study (n = 7263). The cohort was from the ethnically homogeneous Danish population. Case subjects were from the same geographic area and had ischemic heart disease. Irrespective of the assumed degree of relative penetrance of the D allele, the odds ratios were not significantly different from 1.0 (P > .05) for ischemic heart disease, severe stenosis on coronary angiography, or myocardial infarction. There was also no association between ACE genotype and phenotypic variation in recognized risk factors for ischemic heart disease. Finally, the relative frequency of the D allele did not change as a function of age in subjects aged from 20 to > or = 80 years.

CONCLUSIONS

In two large studies, a case-referent study and a retrospective cohort study in an ethnically homogeneous white population, there was no evidence for a statistically significant difference in the development of myocardial infarction or any other manifestations of ischemic heart disease between genotype classes of the ACE gene polymorphism in either women or men.

Randomised study of effect of ibopamine on survival in patients with advanced severe heart failure. Second Prospective Randomised Study of Ibopamine on Mortality and Efficacy (PRIME II) Investigators

BACKGROUND

Drugs that improve symptoms in patients with heart failure must also be assessed for their effects on survival. Ibopamine stimulates DA-1 and DA-2 receptors and causes peripheral and renal vasodilatation; the drug improves symptoms of heart failure. We assessed the effect of ibopamine on survival in patients with advanced heart failure in a multicentre, randomised placebo-controlled study.

METHODS

Patients with advanced severe heart failure (New York Heart Association classes III and IV) and evidence of severe left-ventricular disease, who were already receiving optimum treatment for heart failure, were randomly allocated oral ibopamine 100 mg three times daily or placebo. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The study was designed to recruit 2200 patients, and the minimum duration of treatment would be 6 months. We did intention-to-treat and on-treatment analyses; a post-hoc subgroup analysis was also done.

FINDINGS

After we had recruited 1906 patients the trial was stopped early, because of an excess of deaths among patients in the ibopamine group. 232 (25%) of 953 patients in the ibopamine group died, compared with 193 (20%) of 953 patients in the placebo group (relative risk 1.26 [95% CI 1.04-1.53], p = 0.017). The average length of follow-up was 347 days in the ibopamine group and 363 days in the placebo group. In multivariate analysis, only the use of antiarrhythmic drugs at baseline was a significant independent predictor of increased fatality in ibopamine-treated patients.

INTERPRETATION

Ibopamine seems to increase the risk of death among patients with advanced heart failure who are already receiving optimum therapy, but the reasons for this increase are not clear. Our finding that antiarrhythmic treatment was a significant predictor of increased mortality in ibopamine-treated patients may be important, but exploratory analyses must be interpreted with caution.

Urinary albumin excretion and history of acute myocardial infarction in a cross-sectional population study of 2,613 individuals

BACKGROUND

Preliminary studies have suggested that microalbuminuria--a slightly increased urinary excretion of albumin--is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to examine whether an association exists between urinary excretion of albumin and a history of acute myocardial infarction, in a major population sample.

METHODS

The study was performed as a part of the 3rd Copenhagen City Heart Study, Denmark, 1992-1994, and included 2,613 participants aged 30-70 years, and without diabetes mellitus, renal or urinary tract disease or haematuria. The study programme included measurement of urinary albumin excretion rate, acquisition of information regarding previous acute myocardial infarction (verified by the Danish Hospital Register) and tobacco and alcohol consumption, 12-lead resting electrocardiogram, and measurement of blood pressure, body mass index, waist:hip ratio, plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and fibrinogen, serum albumin concentration and glomerular filtration rate.

RESULTS

Among the participants, 3.6% presented with a history of acute myocardial infarction. There was a positive association between urinary albumin excretion rate (logarithmically transformed) and acute myocardial infarction (odds ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.70, n = 2, 613; P = 0.01), which was independent of age, sex conventional atherosclerotic risk factors, and glomerular filtration rate. The odds ratio for acute myocardial infarction associated with microalbuminuria (urinary albumin excretion rate exceeding the upper decile in the entire study population) was 2.06 (95% confidence interval 1.20 to 3.55, n = 2,613; P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

There exists a positive and independent association between urinary excretion of albumin and a history of acute myocardial infarction. Follow-up analyses should determine the time sequence of this association.

Apoptosis induced in human colorectal carcinoma by anti-Fas antibody

BACKGROUND

Apoptosis or programmed cell death has been shown to play an important role in the progression from polyps to carcinomas. Fas/APO-1 is a cell surface protein that can induce apoptosis in a variety of cell types upon specific binding. In this study seven human colorectal carcinoma (HCRC) cell lines of varying differentiation were analyzed for cell surface Fas expression. Fas-mediated apoptosis, and correlation of apoptosis with bcl-2 expression.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using flow cytometry, all seven lines expressed varying amounts of cell surface Fas antigen. Exposure to anti-Fas antibody induced cell death in all the cell lines, albeit to varying degrees. The rate of apoptosis was quantitated using flow cytometry with propidium iodide staining of nuclear DNA. The poorly differentiated cell lines had a significantly decreased (p < 0.05) anti-Fas sensitivity as compared with the well-differentiated lines. Measurement of bcl-2 expression by flow cytometry showed an inverse correlation with anti-Fas sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that HCRC cell lines express Fas antigen and, more importantly, provides the first evidence that exposure to anti-Fas antibody can induce apoptosis. Fas-mediated apoptosis in HCRC cell lines may be regulated by bcl-2 and may correlate with the degree of differentiation.

Serum albumin is predictive of 30-day survival after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes have been used since 1980 in patients who require prolonged enteral feeding.

PURPOSE

To identify factors associated with poor survival (defined as survival < 30 days) post-PEG.

METHODS

We assessed a cohort of 64 patients consecutively referred for a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube in a single, tertiary care hospital. Prior to PEG tube placement, we evaluated relevant clinical variables in each patient to determine their effect on 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Of the cohort, 43 of 64 (67.2%) survived at least 30 days after tube placement. One death was attributable to tube placement. Bivariate analyses showed that 30-day survival correlated directly with serum albumin (r = .253; p = .049) and inversely with creatinine (r = -0.255; p = .042). Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, only albumin was identified as an independent predictor of 30-day survival (p = .044). Eighty-three percent of patients with a serum albumin > or = 3.0 g/dL survived 30 days compared with 58% with an albumin < 3.0, a difference of 25% (95% CI, -2% to 54%; p = .07).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, serum albumin appears to be a predictor of early survival in individuals undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement.

Detecting microalbuminuria by urinary albumin/creatinine concentration ratio

BACKGROUND

Microalbuminuria, i.e. a subclinical increase of the albumin excretion rate in urine, may be a novel atherosclerotic risk factor. This study aimed to test whether microalbuminuria can be identified by measurement of urinary albumin concentration or urinary albumin/creatinine concentration ratio, instead of the usual measurement of the albumin excretion rate in a timed urine collection.

METHODS

All 2579 subjects analysed were screened in a population based epidemiological study. Participants with diabetes mellitus, renal disease, haematuria, or urinary tract infection were not included. Urinary albumin (Ualb) and creatinine (Ucreat) concentrations were measured in an overnight collected sample by enzyme-linked immunosorbent and colorimetric assays, respectively. Urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and urinary albumin/creatinine concentration ratio (Ualb/Ucreat) were calculated.

RESULTS

The correlation between Ualb and UAER was 0.72 (n = 2579, P < 0.001), and the correlation between Ualb/Ucreat and UAER was 0.81 (n = 2579, P < 0.001). In the detection of microalbuminuria, the nosographic sensitivity and specificity, and the diagnostic specificity were 58%, 97%, and 66% for Ualb, and 73%, 97%, and 73% for Ualb/Ucreat, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that measurement of the albumin/creatinine concentration ratio is a specific and quite sensitive alternative to measurement of the urinary albumin excretion rate in timed collections, when screening for microalbuminuria.

The Medication Reduction Project: combating polypharmacy in South Dakota elders through community-based interventions

The Medication Reduction Project (MED RED) is a community-based program addressing polypharmacy issues in elders. Using educational presentations and one-on-one medication reviews conducted by a pharmacist specializing in geriatrics, MED RED reached over 1,100 older adults in rural and urban southeastern South Dakota communities during 1993. Analysis of the longitudinal data indicate that older adults participating in one-on-one reviews were on fewer medications, had dosage reductions, were more likely to take their medications as directed, and increased their use of non-pharmacological alternatives. These elders also reported feeling better, spent less money per month on medications, and offered indications of improved functioning and increased levels of independence. These findings suggest that education about medication use is a dynamic tool in empowering community-based older adults to be assertive participants in their own health care.

Trends in mortality, incidence and case fatality of ischaemic heart disease in Denmark, 1982-1992

BACKGROUND

In Denmark, as in many other Western countries, a decline in mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) has been observed. The present study assesses whether the decline in IHD mortality is due to a decrease in incidence and/or case-fatality, and whether parallel changes occurred in the various manifestations of IHD requiring hospitalization.

METHODS

The National Patient Register of hospital discharges and the Causes-of-Death Register were linked and all cases of first admission for IHD including AMI and fatal first manifestations of IHD since 1977 in the entire Danish population were identified. Cases of AMI and IHD were considered as incident cases if no admission for these diagnoses had occurred during the preceding 5 years. Sex-specific, age-standardized annual mortality, incidence and case-fatality rates of AMI (ICD8 code 410), narrowly defined IHD (NIHD, ICD8 codes 410-4) and broadly defined IHD (BIHD, ICD8 codes 410-4, 427 and 795-6) were calculated for the period 1982-1992.

RESULTS

During the entire period the age-standardized mortality of AMI, NIHD and BIHD decreased in both men and women. The incidence of AMI and NIHD decreased, while the incidence of BIHD remained constant. Case fatality of AMI decreased in both men and women, while case fatality of NIHD and BIHD decreased in men and in women aged 0-64 years only.

CONCLUSION

The declining mortality from IHD in Denmark may be partly due to declining incidence as well as declining case fatality, but changes in disease manifestation or diagnostic drift may also contribute because more broadly defined diagnostic groups showed less or no decline in incidence.

Antibiotic resistance in Shigella and Salmonella in a region of Lithuania

To gather information on the antibiotic susceptibility of Shigella and Salmonella in the Baltic countries, 98 Shigella and 100 Salmonella isolates collected consecutively in 1994 were examined. All Shigella isolates were resistant to at least two of 12 antibacterial agents: 100% were resistant to oxytetracycline, 92% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, 64% to chloramphenicol, and 64% to ampicillin. Five different resistance patterns were observed.

The changing scene of social work in hospitals: a report of a national study by the Society for Social Work Administrators in Health Care and NASW

The Society for Social Work Administrators in Health Care and NASW collaborated on a national study of the changes affecting social work services in a sample of 340 hospitals drawn from the member list of the American Hospital Association. The findings suggest that the changes affecting social work need to be viewed within the context of the dramatic changes occurring in the hospital and health care field. Although social work departments are experiencing decreases, these decreases often are not occurring at the same rate as those within the hospital overall. Growth is occurring in the types and scope of services. Social work is not being singled out for change, but it is critical that these trends continue to be monitored and proactive strategies used to enhance social work viability within a changing hospital environment.

Adaptive changes in the acute haemodynamic effects of cilazapril during chronic treatment. Comparison with long-term clinical effect

OBJECTIVE

To study the adaptive changes in the acute haemodynamic response to ACE inhibition during chronic treatment in CHF.

METHODS

The acute and chronic effects of oral cilazapril (CLZ) treatment, an ACE-inhibitor with prolonged duration on haemodynamic measures (PCWP, PAP, RAP, CI and SVR) and clinical parameters (Quality-of-Life and NYHA class) were investigated in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in CHF. One hundred and thirty five patients (112 completing) in NYHA Classes II-III, on digitalis and diuretic treatment, were randomised after 2 weeks of placebo run-in, to receive either placebo or CLZ 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg or 2.5 mg daily for 12 weeks, followed by 2 week placebo wash-out. Haemodynamic studies, including exercise tests before and 3 h after medication, were performed on the first and last days of treatment. Measurements were performed at rest and at the maximum exercise level.

RESULTS

In ACEI-naive patients oral CLZ 0.5 and 1 mg/d caused a dose dependent decrease in PCWP and diastolic PAP, and a significant reduction of SVR mg. A slight increase in CI was observed in all groups. The maximum effect was observed 3-5 h post dose. After 12 weeks of oral treatment, the acute response was similar but was attenuated relative to the first dose. Exercise tolerance improved in a dose dependent manner. The NYHA classification remained unchanged or improved in the majority of patients. Entry into the 2.5 mg group had to be terminated at an early stage due to severe adverse events observed after the first dose.

CONCLUSION

During chronic treatment, the haemodynamic response to oral cilazapril was attenuated, indicating that continued clinical improvement in patients with CHF on CLZ is independent of to its acute haemodynamic effects.

Prediction of risk of liver disease by alcohol intake, sex, and age: a prospective population study

The association between self-reported alcohol intake and the risk of future liver disease was studied in a large population-based prospective cohort with 12-year follow-up. Alcohol intake was assessed in 13,285 men and women aged 30 to 79 years by a self-administered questionnaire. Diagnoses indicating alcohol-induced liver disease (n = 261) or alcohol-induced cirrhosis (n = 124) were obtained from death certificates and the hospital discharge register, and data were analyzed by multiplicative Poisson regression models. The total cumulated observation time was 130,558 person-years. The overall incidence rates of alcohol-induced cirrhosis were 0.2% per year in men and 0.03% per year in women. The nadir of the estimated relative risk of developing liver disease was observed at an alcohol intake of 1 to 6 beverages per week, and above this level a steep increase in relative risk was observed. The risk function was independent of age and stable over time. The level of alcohol intake above which the relative risk was significantly greater than 1 was observed at 7 to 13 beverages per week for women and 14 to 27 beverages per week for men. Women had a significantly higher relative risk of developing alcohol-related liver disease than men for any given level of alcohol intake. We observed a dose-dependent increase in relative risk of developing alcohol-induced liver disease for both men and women, with the steepest increase among women. In the general population, self-reported current alcohol intake is a good predictor of the future risk of alcohol-induced liver disease.

Clonal chromosome aberrations in myeloid leukemia after styrene exposure

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the study was to determine the risk of myeloid leukemia subclassified according to clonal chromosome aberrations in styrene-exposed workers.

METHODS

A nested case-referent study was carried out on 19 myeloid leukemia patients, of which 12 showed clonal chromosome aberrations, and 57 referents ascertained within the Danish reinforced plastics industry and similar industries with no styrene exposure.

RESULTS

A 2.5-fold increased risk for myeloid leukemia with clonal chromosome aberrations (95% confidence interval 0.2-25.0) was found among workers of companies with styrene exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that styrene may cause leukemia through a clastogenic effect. But similar findings could also have been found if the exposure was associated with a specific subtype of leukemia prone to develop the chromosome aberrations in question. Due to the few observations and the lack of detailed exposure data, additional studies are needed to corroborate or refute the present suggestive findings.

Insulin sensitivity in clinically healthy individuals with microalbuminuria

In epidemiologic studies microalbuminuria is associated with increased atherosclerotic risk profile, morbidity, and mortality. In order to examine whether such association could be explained by impaired insulin sensitivity, 23 clinically healthy subjects with microalbuminuria (urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) of 6.6 to 150 micrograms/min) and 24 age- and sex-matched controls with normoalbuminuria (UAER < or = 6.6 micrograms/min) underwent a 3 h hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp investigation using an intravenous insulin infusion rate on 2 mU/(kg body weight x min). Insulin sensitivity (whole body glucose disposal) was similar in the two groups ((mean (95% C.I.)) 351 (321-381) vs. 364 (339-388) mg/(m2 x min); P = 0.51). Among urinary albumin excretion rate, blood pressure, serum lipid concentrations, body mass index waist-hip ratio, fasting concentrations of serum insulin and blood glucose, tobacco and alcohol consumption, physical activity, and age and sex, fasting serum insulin concentration was the only variable independently associated with insulin sensitivity (r = -0.55; P = 0.0001). It is concluded that microalbuminuria is not associated with impaired insulin sensitivity in clinically healthy individuals. The effect of microalbuminuria as predictor of atherosclerotic vascular disease may be mediated through other factors.

Treatment of renovascular hypertension: one year results of renal angioplasty

During the ten year period from 1981 to 1991, percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) was performed in 180 renal arteries in 137 patients, where the underlying renovascular disease was fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) in 30 patients (22%) and arteriosclerotic vascular disease (AVD) in 107 (78%). A preinterventional work-up and a re-evaluation of the patients after one year was designed for the assessment of the clinical, functional and technical outcome. Successful technical dilatation was achieved in 97% of procedures with FMD patients and in 82% of procedures with AVD patients. A beneficial effect on the blood pressure and the renal function was registered in both groups. The overall cure and improvement rate for hypertension was 86% in the FMD group and 64% in the AVD group after one year's follow-up. A significant gain in the total renal function was registered in both groups, the average increase in glomerular filtration rate being 13% (P < 0.001) for the FMD group and 11% (P < 0.001) for the AVD group one year after PTRA. Renal function was improved or unchanged in 89% of FMD patients and 74% of AVD patients. The improvement in renal function was made by the revascularized kidney. Renal vein renin investigation predicted the clinical outcome with an excellent diagnostic accuracy as no renin negative patient became normotensive, and renin positive patients, who did not turn normotensive, were in almost 90% of the cases affected by technical failure or restenosis/contralateral stenosis. Thus, the sensitivity of renal vein renin investigation was 95% and the specificity 75%. The outcome for patients with hypertension and renal insufficiency was considerably poorer than for the whole group of patients, with only a 20% success rate for hypertension, but 50% in this group had increased or unchanged GFR after intervention. The angiographic one-year follow-up revealed a recurrence rate of 6.7% for FMD and 15.1% for AVD. For the entire series of patients, the incidence of major complications was 5.4%, including one indirect fatality, while the incidence of minor complications was 5%. In conclusion, PTRA will cure or improve blood pressure in most patients with renovascular hypertension, and it preserves and even improves renal function in these patients. Complications and recurrence are in fact not very common and PTRA appears be the best first approach in all but ostial lesions for treatment of renovascular hypertension.

Gray hair, baldness, and wrinkles in relation to myocardial infarction: the Copenhagen City Heart Study

To investigate a possible relation between aging signs such as graying of the hair, baldness, and facial wrinkling and myocardial infarction (MI), we analyzed data from The Copenhagen City Heart Study. During the 12-year follow-up, 750 cases of first-time MI were observed. After statistical adjustment for possible confounders, we found a correlation between graying of the hair, facial wrinkling, and frontoparietal baldness and crown-top baldness and MI in men. For example, the relative risk was 1.4 (95% CI, 0.9 to 2.0) for men with moderately gray hair compared with men with no gray hair and 1.9 (1.2 to 2.8) for men with completely gray hair (p < 0.001). With regard to gray hair, a similar although weaker and not statistically significant trend was seen in women. We conclude that, in addition to established coronary risk factors, aging signs like graying of the hair, male baldness, and facial wrinkling indicate an additional risk of MI.

Reduced glomerular size- and charge-selectivity in clinically healthy individuals with microalbuminuria

The pathophysiologic mechanism behind microalbuminuria, a potential atherosclerotic risk factor, was explored by measuring fractional clearances of four endogenous plasma proteins of different size and electric charge (albumin, beta 2-microglobulin, immunoglobulin G, and immunoglobulin G4). Twenty-eight clinically healthy individuals with microalbuminuria, defined as a urinary albumin excretion of 6.6-150 micrograms min-1, and 60 matched control subjects were studied. Fractional immunoglobulin G clearance was higher (geometric means (95% confidence intervals)) 3.0 (2.3-3.9) x 10(-6), n = 28, vs. 2.1 (1.8-2.4) x 10(-6), n = 60; P = 0.02), whereas the ratio immunoglobulin G clearance/immunoglobulin G4 clearance was lower (geometric means (95% confidence intervals)) 1.8 (1.4-2.2), n = 28, vs. 2.3 (2.0-2.5), n = 60; P = 0.03) in microalbuminuric than in normoalbuminuric individuals. Fractional beta 2-microglobulin clearance was similar in the two groups. Since total IgG and the IgG4 subclass are of similar size and configuration but electrically neutral and negative, respectively; these findings indicate that microalbuminuria is associated with decreased size- and charge-selectivity of the glomerular vessel wall. Hypothetically, such alterations may reflect generalized vascular abnormalities linking microalbuminuria to atherogenesis.

Maternal smoking during childhood and increased risk of smoking in young adulthood

BACKGROUND

Effective prevention of smoking depends on the identification of factors that determine smoking onset. We examined the influence of family factors during childhood (household income, parents' education and smoking behaviour) on the subsequent risk of smoking in young adults.

METHODS

In 1979, 1300 children aged 6-18 years, whose parents were randomly selected for participation in the Copenhagen City Heart Study were invited to a health examination. Information about health and smoking behaviour was obtained from 73% of the children. A random sample of 579 of the children were invited to a follow-up examination 13 years later. In all, 486 (84%) participated in the follow-up.

RESULTS

The influence of household income, parents' smoking behaviour and education on the child's risk of becoming a smoker in young adulthood was estimated. Household income and parents' education did not significantly affect the risk of adult smoking. Maternal smoking during childhood increased the risk in comparison with the mother being a non-smoker (adjusted odds ratio = 1.95; 95% confidence interval: 1.07-3.58).

CONCLUSION

Maternal smoking during childhood increases children's risk of becoming young adult smokers, independent of age and smoking behaviour in childhood, gender and social background. In Denmark 28% of smoking in young adults could be attributed to maternal smoking.

Microalbuminuria reflects a generalized transvascular albumin leakiness in clinically healthy subjects

1. In epidemiological studies microalbuminuria, i.e. slightly elevated urinary albumin excretion rate, predicts increased atherosclerotic vascular morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that microalbuminuria in clinically healthy subjects is associated with a systemic transvascular albumin leakiness. In animal experiments the outflux of albumin and lipids to the arterial wall are highly correlated, and both are elevated in atherosclerosis. 2. All participants were recruited at random from a population-based epidemiological study, where the upper decile of urinary albumin excretion rate was 6.6 micrograms/min. Twenty-seven patients with persistent microalbuminuria (urinary albumin excretion rate 6.6-150 micrograms/min), and 56 age- and sex-matched control subjects with persistent normoalbuminuria (UAER < or = 6.6 micrograms/min) were studied. 3. The systemic transvascular albumin leakage was measured as the fractional disappearance rate of 125I-labelled albumin from the total plasma compartment in 1 h after intravenous injection. 4. The fractional disappearance rate of albumin from the plasma compartment was higher in the microalbuminuric than in the normoalbuminuric group [5.8 (95% confidence interval 5.3-6.2; n = 27) versus 5.0 (4.6-5.5; n = 56)%/h, P < 0.05]. The positive correlation between urinary albumin excretion rate on continuous scale (logarithmically transformed) and the fractional disappearance rate of albumin from the plasma compartment [slope 0.4 (95% confidence interval 0.1-0.7; n = 83), r = 0.29, P < 0.005] was independent of age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure, body size, plasma volume, plasma albumin concentration and concentrations of blood glucose, serum insulin and serum lipids. 5. In conclusion, microalbuminuria is an independent marker of systemic transvascular albumin leakiness in clinically healthy subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mortality associated with moderate intakes of wine, beer, or spirits

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between intake of different types of alcoholic drinks and mortality.

DESIGN

Prospective population study with baseline assessment of alcohol intake, smoking habit, income, education, and body mass index, and 10-12 years' follow up of mortality.

SETTING

Copenhagen city heart study, Denmark.

SUBJECTS

6051 men and 7234 women aged 30-70 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Number and time of cause-specific deaths from 1976 to 1988.

RESULTS

The risk of dying steadily decreased with an increasing intake of wine--from a relative risk of 1.00 for the subjects who never drank wine to 0.51 (95% confidence interval 0.32 to 0.81) for those who drank three to five glasses a day. Intake of neither beer nor spirits, however, was associated with reduced risk. For spirits intake the relative risk of dying increased from 1.00 for those who never drank to 1.34 (1.05 to 1.71) for those with an intake of three to five drinks a day. The effects of the three types of alcoholic drinks seemed to be independent of each other, and no significant interactions existed with sex, age, education, income, smoking, or body mass index. Wine drinking showed the same relation to risk of death from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease as to risk of death from all causes.

CONCLUSION

Low to moderate intake of wine is associated with lower mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and other causes. Similar intake of spirits implied an increased risk, while beer drinking did not affect mortality.

The effect of mobilization on cervical headaches

Headaches of cervical origin are often treated with mobilization. Mobilization of the upper cervical spine, occiput-C3, and effect on frequency, duration, and intensity of cervical headaches were studied utilizing an A-B-A single case design. Ten subjects who met the operational criteria of cervical headaches completed the study. A headache log was used to document headache frequency, duration, and intensity throughout all three phases (A-B-A). The baseline phase (A) lasted approximately 1 month, and no intervention was performed. The intervention phase (B) consisted of 9-12 treatment sessions, two times per week for 3-4 weeks. Visual analysis of data plots revealed a decrease in headache frequency, duration, and intensity from the baseline phase to the treatment phase. This improvement continued through the second A phase for frequency but leveled off for both duration and intensity. A one-way analysis of variance supported the findings from the visual analysis. In these 10 subjects, mobilization had a therapeutic effect on cervical headaches.

Aspects of haemostatic function in healthy subjects with microalbuminuria--a potential atherosclerotic risk factor

Microalbuminuria, i.e., slightly elevated urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), notifies increased risk for atherosclerotic disease and may reflect an early generalized vascular abnormality in healthy subjects. This study was designed in order to examine whether such abnormality is associated with a shift of the haemostatic balance in prothrombotic direction. The following haemostatic factors were measured in two representative groups of clinically healthy subjects, 28 with microalbuminuria (UAER of 6.6-150 micrograms/min) and 60 age- and sex-matched controls with normoalbuminuria (UAER < 6.6 micrograms/min): Coagulation factors: blood platelet count and mean volume, plasma Factor VII antigen concentration and coagulant activity, and plasma concentrations of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, thrombin-antithrombin III complexes, fibrinogen, and fibrinopeptide A; fibrinolytic and endothelial factors: plasma concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 antigen; and endothelial factor: plasma von Willebrand factor antigen concentration. The fibrinolytic and endothelial factors were measured both before and after 10 minutes of venous occlusion of the arm. None of the haemostatic factors were significantly altered in the microalbuminuric group. Plasma fibrinogen concentration tended to be elevated but not statistically significant ((mean (95% C.I.) 7.8 (7.2-8.3) vs. 7.2 (6.9-7.5) mumol/l; p < 0.1). Neither did any of the haemostatic factors correlate with UAER in regression analyses. It is concluded that the haemostatic balance is unaltered in healthy subjects with microalbuminuria. It is unlikely that a prothrombotic state is present as an intermedial factor early in a causal chain between microalbuminuria and atherosclerotic vascular disease.

Atherosclerotic risk factors are increased in clinically healthy subjects with microalbuminuria

Increased morbidity and mortality from atherosclerotic vascular disease were observed in subjects with slightly elevated urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), known as microalbuminuria. Therefore, the association between microalbuminuria and established atherogenic risk factors was studied in clinically healthy subjects. All healthy 40-65 year-old participants with microalbuminuria, examined within the first 21 months of The Copenhagen City Heart Study, were invited, and 28 were studied. An age- and sex-matched group of 60 randomly chosen subjects with normoalbuminuria served as control. Microalbuminuria was defined as a UAER of 6.6-150 micrograms/min, and normoalbuminuria as a UAER < or = 6.6 micrograms/min. In the microalbuminuric group, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were both elevated (mean (95% C.I.) 128 (123-134) vs. 119 (116-122) mmHg; P = 0.005, and 75 (71-78) vs. 69 (67-71) mmHg; P = 0.008, respectively), and serum apolipoprotein (apo) A-1 concentration was lower (1.30 (1.20-1.37) vs. 1.42 (1.36-1.47) milligrams; P = 0.02) in comparison with the normoalbuminuric group. Furthermore, serum HDL-cholesterol concentration tended to be lower, whereas body weight, body mass index and fasting serum insulin concentration were slightly elevated in the microalbuminuric group but not statistically significant. It is concluded that microalbuminuria in clinically healthy subjects is associated with increased levels of atherogenic risk factors. This may contribute to the increased vascular morbidity and mortality observed in these individuals.

Improving long-term survival of patients with acute myocardial infarction from 1977-1988 in a region of Denmark

The aim of this investigation was to study secular trends in long-term survival following myocardial infarction (MI). Five thousand one hundred and fifty-seven consecutive cases of MI in 3942 patients were recorded in a well-defined region in the study period 1977-1988. The study period ended before thrombolytic therapy was introduced in the hospital. One and 5-year survival (+/- 95% confidence limits) was 61 +/- 2% and 42 +/- 2% in 1977-1980. These figures changed to 61 +/- 2% and 44 +/- 2% in 1981-1984, and to 64 +/- 2 and 46 +/- 2% in 1985-1988. The improvement with time was statistically significant (P < 0.001). In a Cox proportional hazard model, time of infarction was an independent predictor of survival. Patients were subdivided into a high risk group suffering from either congestive heart failure or cardiac arrest during hospitalization, and a low risk group without these complications. Year of infarction was without importance in the high risk group but highly significant in the low risk group. Long-term survival following MI gradually improved prior to the introduction of thrombolytic therapy. The improvement was confined to low risk patients without cardiac arrest or congestive heart failure.

[The association of alcohol and mortality. Significance of gender,age, weight and smoking]

The aim of the study was to examine the association between self-reported alcohol intake and subsequent mortality from all causes, and to examine if the effect of alcohol intake on the risk of death was modified by sex, age, body mass index, and smoking habits. In a prospective population study of 7,234 women and 6,051 men aged 30-79 years alcohol- and tobacco consumption and body mass index were assessed in the period 1976-1978, and the population was followed until 1.1.1988 for mortality. A U-shaped curve described the relation between alcohol intake and mortality. The nadir of the risk function was observed at one to six beverages per week (relative risk set at 1.00). Abstainers had a relative risk of 1.37 (95% confidence intervals: 1.20-1.56), whereas those drinking more than 70 beverages per week had a relative risk of 2.29 (1.75-3.00). Among the drinkers, the risk was significantly higher than 1 only among those drinking more than 42 beverages per week. Neither sex, age, body mass index, nor smoking significantly modified the risk function. Our findings suggest that simple messages about the benefits of total abstinence may not be appropriate.

Renovascular resistance in primary hypertension: experimental variations detected by means of Doppler ultrasound

OBJECTIVE

To gauge the influence of renovascular resistance changes on blood flow velocity pulsatility in kidneys of hypertensive patients by means of the ultrasonic colour and pulsed-wave Doppler method, since we have previously shown in normotensive subjects that the blood flow velocity pulsatility in renal interlobar arteries varies with changes in renovascular resistance.

METHODS

In six male patients with primary hypertension, renal blood flow velocity profiles were investigated by means of duplex ultrasound. Single-kidney renovascular resistance was assessed by measurements of split renal function (gamma-camera renography), renal plasma flow (steady-state para-aminohippurate clearance) and cuff blood pressure. The pulsatility index of the blood flow velocity spectrum in the renal interlobar artery and renovascular resistance were measured either at rest, during infusion of angiotensin II, or after angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition.

RESULTS

A significant correlation existed between pulsatility index and renovascular resistance (r = 0.50, P < 0.002), which did not improve after correction for the blood pressure pulsatility. Changes of pulsatility index were more closely related (r = 0.64, P < 0.001) to the corresponding changes in renovascular resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

With the two-dimensional image-guided colour and pulsed-wave Doppler method it is possible to assess semiquantitatively small intra-individual changes in renovascular resistance in hypertensive patients by means of pulsatility index measurements. Pharmacologically induced alterations in renovascular haemodynamics may therefore be evaluated with this technique.

Myocardial infarction 1979-1988 in Denmark: secular trends in age-related incidence, in-hospital mortality and complications

All admissions to a coronary care unit (CCU) in Copenhagen County were prospectively registered over a 10-year period, from 1979 to 1988, i.e. after the introduction of CCUs but before the era of intervention with thrombolytic or prophylactic medical treatment. The catchment area remained nearly constant throughout the study period; all patients with MI were admitted to the CCU regardless of age and concomitant diseases, and treatment and discharge policy of the department was unchanged. A total of 4176 MI admissions were registered. During the study period, the age-specific incidence of MI decreased in males above 50 years of age, but was virtually unchanged in females, increasing the proportion of women in the MI population from 26 to 33%. In-hospital and 30-day mortality was unchanged. The occurrence of atrial fibrillation during the admission increased significantly (from 11 to 18%), while the incidence of ventricular fibrillation, heart failure and pulmonary oedema was unchanged.

Microalbuminuria: an important diagnostic tool

The concept of microalbuminuria is reviewed. Measuring the urinary albumin excretion rate and testing for microalbuminuria is well established in the control and treatment of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Microalbuminuria predicts nephropathy and early cardiovascular death. In the presence of microalbuminuria frequent examinations are warranted for early detection of retinopathy, blood-pressure rise, and for optimizing the glycemic control. In patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes, the independent value of microalbuminuria as a cardiovascular risk factor is not yet clarified. The urinary albumin excretion rate should be measured at diagnosis, because the indications are that presence of microalbuminuria reinforces the urge to intervene against other well-documented cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, tobacco, and obesity). In the nondiabetic population, there is accumulating evidence that an elevated urinary albumin excretion rate is associated with early cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Large scale cross-sectional and prospective studies are needed in order to clarify further the role of microalbuminuria as an independent risk factor in the background population.

Influence of sex, age, body mass index, and smoking on alcohol intake and mortality

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between self reported alcohol intake and subsequent mortality from all causes and if the effect of alcohol intake on the risk of death is modified by sex, age, body mass index, and smoking.

DESIGN

Prospective population study with baseline assessment of alcohol and tobacco consumption and body mass index, and 10-12 years' follow up of mortality.

SETTING

Copenhagen city heart study, Denmark.

SUBJECTS

7234 women and 6051 men aged 30-79 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Number and time of deaths from 1976 to 1988.

RESULTS

A total of 2229 people died, 1398 being men. A U shaped curve described the relation between alcohol intake and mortality. The lowest risk was observed at one to six alcoholic beverages a week (relative risk set at 1). Abstainers had a relative risk of 1.37 (95% confidence interval 1.20 to 1.56) whereas those drinking more than 70 beverages a week had a relative risk of 2.29 (1.75 to 3.00). Among the drinkers, the risk was significantly increased only among those drinking more than 42 beverages a week. Sex, age, body mass index, and smoking did not significantly modify the risk function. The risk among heavy drinkers was slightly reduced when smoking was controlled for. The risk function was similar in the first and second period of six years of observation.

CONCLUSION

Alcohol intake showed a U shaped relation to mortality with the nadir at one to six beverages a week. The risk function was not modified by sex, age, body mass index, or smoking and remained stable over 12 years.

The health insurance picture in 1993: some rare good news

Based on a national survey conducted in spring 1993 of 1,953 private and public employers, this DataWatch examines the design of employer-sponsored health benefits and how they have changed during the past five years. We contrast cost of coverage, employee cost sharing, and premium increases among small, mid-size, and large firms. Premiums increased 8.5 percent from 1992 to 1993, the lowest rate of increase since 1986-1987. Future premium increases should be modest by historical standards. Small firms and conventional plans experienced larger premium increases last year. Managed care plans now constitute 51 percent of enrollment, up from 29 percent in 1988. If current trends continue, even without health care reform legislation, the health care system of the future will contrast strikingly with the system most Americans remember from past decades.

[Microalbuminuria--a valuable diagnostic parameter]

The concept of microalbuminuria is reviewed. Measuring the urinary albumin excretion rate and testing for microalbuminuria is well established in the control and treatment of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Microalbuminuria predicts nephropathy and early cardiovascular death. In the presence of microalbuminuria, frequent examinations are warranted for early detection of retinopathy, hypertension and for optimizing the glycaemic control. In patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes, the independent value of microalbuminuria as a cardiovascular risk factor is not yet clarified. The urinary albumin excretion rate should be measured at diagnosis, because the indications are that presence of microalbuminuria reinforces the urge to intervene against other well-documented cardiovascular risk-factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, tobacco and obesity). In the non-diabetic population there is accumulating evidence that an elevated urinary albumin excretion rate is associated with early cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Large scale cross-sectional and prospective studies are needed in order to further clarify the role of microalbuminuria as an independent risk factor in the background population.

[Screening of microalbuminuria with the Micral-Test. A semi-quantitative urinary dipstick]

Microalbuminuria, defined as a urinary albumin excretion rate of 20-200 micrograms/min, predicts diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients. An increased urinary albumin excretion rate is probably also associated with cardiovascular disease in non-diabetic subjects. Thus, screening for microalbuminuria is of major importance. A semi-quantitative urinary dipstick method, Micral-Test, has been developed for this purpose. In a urine sample collected overnight from each of 1359 subjects the Micral-Test was evaluated with a quantitative ELISA-method as the standard. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic specificity in detecting microalbuminuria was 92, 58 and 12% respectively. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 5.6%. In conclusion, the Micral-Test is highly sensitive in detecting microalbuminuria, but at the expense of a relatively high number of false positive tests.

Urinary albumin excretion in a population based sample of 1011 middle aged non-diabetic subjects. The Copenhagen City Heart Study Group

Increased urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) especially in the range of 20-200 micrograms min-1, termed microalbuminuria, has been proposed as a risk marker and predictor for cardiovascular disease in non-diabetic subjects. Thus it would be of importance to describe the distribution of UAER in the non-diabetic population. Among 1011 30-70-year-old subjects without diabetes mellitus or urinary tract infection, who were invited to participate in a population based epidemiological study, the albumin concentration was measured in an overnight urine sample. The measurement was performed by an ELISA method. The UAER was calculated in units of micrograms min-1 as urinary albumin concentration x urine volume/urine collection time. The distribution of UAER was positively skewed with a median value of 2.3 micrograms min-1 and a 5-95 interpercentile range of 0-11.0 micrograms min-1. The UAER held constant with age, but males had higher UAER than females, 2.6 (0-13.5) micrograms min-1 vs 2.2 (0-8.3) micrograms min-1; p < 0.005. The prevalence of microalbuminuria, defined as an UAER in the range of 15-150 micrograms min-1 in an overnight urine sample, was 3% (95% C.I. interval: 1.9-4.0). These findings suggest, that the level of UAER which might notify increased cardiovascular risk, is lower than in patients with diabetes mellitus, if it is considered to be of any clinical relevance.

[No increase in the prevalence of vertebral fractures among postmenopausal women over a 10-year period]

We examined whether the prevalence of vertebral fracture in otherwise healthy, 70-year-old Danish women had increased over a period of ten years. The population-based, epidemiological study included two age-matched, representative samples of postmenopausal women. Group 1 (1979) consisted of 173 healthy women without secondary causes of osteoporosis, Group 2 (1989) of 387 women. X-rays of the thoraco-lumbar spine were assessed for vertebral fracture by five radiological methods. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the prevalence of vertebral fracture and the 95% confidence intervals overlapped completely in all methods. The prevalence rates varied by method from 35% to 80% but the distribution of fracture types was similar in the two groups. We conclude that the prevalence of vertebral fractures due to postmenopausal osteoporosis has not increased since 1979 in suburban Copenhagen, and that comparison of prevalences requires the same method of radiological assessment.

[Tobacco, lung cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease. Results from the Osterbro study]

Data from The Copenhagen City Heart Study, a prospective population study, were analysed to investigate the influence of the type of tobacco and inhalation on mortality from lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study sample comprised 2986 plain cigarette smokers, 3222 filter cigarette smokers, 1578 smokers of cheroots/cigars, 433 male pipe smokers and 773 smokers smoking more than one type of tobacco. From 1976 to the end of 1989 we observed 268 deaths from lung cancer and 195 deaths, where COPD was considered as either the main or the contributory cause of death. Current smokers of all types of tobacco had a significantly higher risk of mortality from the investigated diseases than never-smokers. In both sexes the risks of death from both lung cancer and COPD were lower in cheroot/cigar smokers and in pipe smokers than in cigarette smokers, but these differences were markedly diminished after an adjustment for the inhalation habit. The present study substantiates that tobacco smoking increases pulmonary mortality. The small differences between the various types of tobacco are probably caused by different inhalation patterns.