Trial of early nifedipine in acute myocardial infarction: the Trent study.

Over 30 months 9292 consecutive patients admitted to nine coronary care units with suspected myocardial infarction were considered for admission to a randomised double blind study comparing the effect on mortality of nifedipine 10 mg four times a day with that of placebo. Among the 4801 patients excluded from the study the overall one month fatality rate was 18.2% and the one month fatality rate in those with definite myocardial infarction 26.8%. A total of 4491 patients fulfilled the entry criteria and were randomly allocated to nifedipine or placebo immediately after assessment in the coronary care unit. Roughly 64% of patients in both treatment groups sustained an acute myocardial infarction. The overall one month fatality rates were 6.3% in the placebo treated group and 6.7% in the nifedipine treated group. Most of the deaths occurred in patients with an in hospital diagnosis of myocardial infarction, and their one month fatality rates were 9.3% for the placebo group and 10.2% for the nifedipine group. These differences were not statistically significant. Subgroup analysis also did not suggest any particular group of patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction who might benefit from early nifedipine treatment in the dose studied.     

Decline in ischaemic heart disease in Iceland and change in risk factor levels.

OBJECTIVE--To monitor trends in mortality and morbidity due to ischaemic heart disease and compare these with observed levels of risk factors from population surveys. DESIGN--Analysis of trends in death rates from ischaemic heart disease in Iceland compared with expected rates computed from population surveys. Risk factor levels together with beta factors obtained from Cox''s regression analysis were used to compute expected death rates. Trends in morbidity due to acute myocardial infarction were assessed and secular trends in dietary consumption compared with trends in cholesterol concentrations. SETTING--Reykjavik, Iceland (total population 250,000; over half the population live in Reykjavik). SUBJECTS--12,814 randomly selected residents in the Reykjavik area aged 45-64 (6623 men, 6191 women; 72% and 80% of those invited). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Age adjusted rates of myocardial infarction and deaths from ischaemic heart disease. Expected risk from risk factor levels (smoking, total serum cholesterol concentration, systolic blood pressure) at each unique survey visit. RESULTS--Mortality from ischaemic heart disease has decreased by 17-18% since 1970. During 1981-6 the myocardial infarction attack rate in men under 75 decreased by 23%. A decrease occurred in the level of all three major risk factors after 1968. The fall in the serum cholesterol concentration coincided with a reduction in consumption of dairy fat and margarine. The calculated reduction in risk for the age group 45-64 was about 35%, which was closely similar to the observed decrease in mortality due to ischaemic heart disease in that age group. CONCLUSION--The reduction in mortality from ischaemic heart disease was substantially due to a decreased incidence of myocardial infarction and could be attributed largely to the reduction in risk factors.     

Statement of the ad hoc committee on the laboratory diagnosis of infectious and serum hepatitis.

A prospective study was carried out to determine the prognostic factors in patients with second-degree and complete heart block following acute myocardial infarction and to re-examine the indications for artificial transvenous pacing. Of the 117 consecutive patients with proved acute myocardial infarction, 15 developed advanced heart block (second degree and complete). The presence of the following factors, either alone or in combinations, were attended with poor prognosis: preceding Stokes-Adams syndrome, cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure, complications secondary to cardiac arrest, anterior infarction and wide QRS complex. In the nine cases requiring artificial transvenous pacemaker because of Stokes-Adams attacks, congestive heart failure or frequent multifocal ventricular ectopic beats, there were five deaths. The remaining six patients, who were without complications and were not paced, all survived; these patients had normal QRS duration with heart rates above 60 per minute. This study indicates that prophylactic transvenous catheter insertion in acute heart block does not appear justified unless specific indication(s) arise. Postmortem studies revealed significant narrowing of all the major coronary vessels in all five fatalities. The overall mortality in this series of cases of acute heart block was 33%.     

Cardiovascular Toxicity of Multi-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Advanced Solid Tumors: A Population-Based Observational Study

Background

Treatment with small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has improved survival in many cancers, yet has been associated with an increased risk of adverse events. Warnings of cardiovascular events are common in drug labels of many TKIs. Despite these warnings, cardiovascular toxicity of patients treated with TKIs remains unclear. Here, we evaluate the cardiovascular outcomes of advanced cancer patients treated with small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Methods

A population based cohort study was undertaken involving adults aged >18 years in Ontario, Canada, diagnosed with any advanced malignancy between 2006 and 2012. Data were extracted from linked administrative governmental databases. Adults with advanced cancer receiving TKIs were identified and followed throughout the time period. The main outcomes of interest were rates of hospitalization for ischemic heart disease (acute myocardial infarction and angina) or cerebrovascular accidents and death.

Results

1642 patients with a mean age of 62.5 years were studied; 1046 were treated with erlotinib, 166 with sorafenib and 430 with sunitinib. Over the 380 day median follow-up period (range 6-1970 days), 1.1% of all patients had ischemic heart events, 0.7% had cerebrovascular accidents and 72.1% died. Rates of cardiovascular events were similar to age and gender-matched individuals without cancer. In a subgroup analysis of treatment patients with a prior history of ischemic heart disease, 3.3% had ischemic heart events while 1.2% had cerebrovascular accidents.

Conclusions

TKIs do not appear to increase the cause-specific hazard of ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular accidents compared to age and gender-matched individuals without advanced cancer.     

Relation of low diastolic blood pressure to coronary heart disease death in presence of myocardial infarction: the Framingham Study.

OBJECTIVE--To examine the hypothesis that a J curve relation between blood pressure and death from coronary heart disease is confined to high risk subjects with myocardial infarction. DESIGN--Cohort longitudinal epidemiological study with biennial examinations since 1950. SETTING--Framingham, Massachusetts, USA. SUBJECTS--5209 subjects in the Framingham study cohort followed up by a person examination approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Coronary heart disease deaths and non-cardiovascular disease deaths in men and women with or without myocardial infarction relative to blood pressure. RESULTS--Among subjects without myocardial infarction non-cardiovascular disease deaths were twice to three times as common as coronary heart disease deaths. Furthermore, there was no significant relation between non-cardiovascular disease death and diastolic or systolic blood pressure. Also coronary heart disease deaths were linearly related to diastolic and systolic blood pressures. Among high risk patients (that is, people with myocardial infarction but free of congestive heart failure) death from coronary heart disease was more common than non-cardiovascular disease death. There was a significant U shaped relation between coronary heart disease death and diastolic blood pressure. Although there was an apparent U shaped relation between coronary heart disease death and systolic blood pressure, it did not attain statistical significance when controlling for age and change in systolic blood pressure from the pre-myocardial infarction level. None of the above conclusions changed when adjustments were made for risk factors such as serum cholesterol concentration, antihypertensive treatment, and left ventricular function. The U shaped relation between diastolic blood pressure and high risk subjects existed for both those given antihypertensive treatment and those not. CONCLUSIONS--These data suggest that an age and sex independent U curve relation exists for diastolic blood pressure and coronary heart disease deaths in patients with myocardial infarction but not for low risk subjects without myocardial infarction. The relation seems to be independent of left ventricular function and antihypertensive treatment.     

Cardiac predictors of death after non-cardiac surgery evaluated by intention to treat.

Cardiac risk factors were studied among patients who were admitted to hospital with appendicitis or a fracture of the proximal femur less than one year after being admitted with myocardial infarction. Of 99 patients with myocardial infarction and appendicitis, 87 underwent appendicectomy; and of 221 with myocardial infarction and hip fracture, 179 were operated on. The patients were studied on an intention to treat basis. The mortality within one month was 9% and 16% respectively. A history of congestive heart failure was the dominating risk factor, while ischaemic heart disease (recent myocardial infarction or angina pectoris) had no independent association with mortality. If the ventricular function is known additional preoperative information about the heart is of negligible value when estimating the mortality of non-cardiac surgery.     

Apport de l’IRM cardiaque à l’exploration des cardiopathies ischémiques

This article presents the current and future possibilities of the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the ischemic heart disease. It is not an emergency technique, but is becoming an element of decision for an acute myocardial infarction. It makes it possible to visualize the extent of the myocardial lesions in post acute infarction, to appreciate functional recovery and to uncover a nonsymptomatic coronary stenosis or of atypical clinical presentation. The visualization of the coronary arteries in MRI is realizable, but remains experimentation field. The cardiac MRI place is to be defined by each medical team according to their diagram of ischemic heart disease follow-up.     

Nine-year comparison of presentation and management of acute coronary syndromes in Ireland: a national cross-sectional survey

Background

Awareness of the significance of peripheral arterial disease is increasing, but quantitative estimates of the ensuing burden and the impact of other risk factors remains limited. The objective of this study was to fill this need.

Methods

Morbidity and mortality were examined in 16,440 index patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease in Saskatchewan, Canada between 1985 and 1995. Medical history and patient characteristics were available retrospectively to January 1980 and follow-up was complete to March 1998. Crude and adjusted event rates were calculated and Kaplan-Meier survival curves estimated. Cox proportional hazards analyses were conducted to examine the effect of risk factors on these rates. Patients suffering a myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke in Saskatchewan provided two reference populations.

Results

Half of the index patients were male; the majority was over age 65; 73% had at least one additional risk factor at index diagnosis; 10% suffered a subsequent stroke, another 10% a myocardial infarction, and 49% died within the mean follow-up of 5.9 years. Annual mortality (8.2%) was higher among patients with PAD than after a myocardial infarction (6.3%) but slightly lower than that in patients suffering a stroke (11.3%). Index patients with comorbid disease (e.g., diabetes) were at highest risk of death and other events.

Conclusion

A diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease is critical evidence of more widespread atherothrombotic disease, with substantial risks of subsequent cardiovascular events and death. Given that the majority has additional comorbidities, these risks are further increased.     

Acute Myocardial Infarction in Doncaster. II—Delays in Admission and Survival

The speed of admission of patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction was observed over a period of 12 months during which a “no refusal” coronary care scheme was functioning, with emphasis on minimizing delay. During the same period the duration of survival of cases diagnosed as coronary thrombosis by the coroner''s pathologist was measured. Comparison of the two series shows that 75% to 80% of the coroner''s cases had died before the median time of notification of the general practitioner by those patients referred to hospital.We argue that the provision of mobile coronary care on request from general practitioners is unlikely to have an appreciable effect in preventing deaths from acute myocardial infarction outside hospital.     

Myocardial infarction size: measurement and modification

The majority of in-hospital deaths from acute myocardial infarction occur as a result of the “power failure” syndrome (severe congestive heart failure and cardiogenic shock), which results from extensive loss of myocardium. The death of myocardial cells is sequential over many hours. Surrounding the central zone of necrosis in an acute myocardial infarction is a zone of ischemic myocardium whose fate might be altered by interventions during the early phase of the infarction. ST-segment mapping, serial measurement of the serum concentration of creatine phosphokinase and myocardial imaging by means of radionuclides are being developed for the noninvasive assessment of infarct size in animals and humans. A number of interventions appear to limit infarct size in animals. There have been relatively few studies in humans to date, but preliminary results suggest that infarct size might be limited by certain interventions. The research has provided important practical benefits in terms of understanding the course of acute myocardial infarction and the potential effects of conventional therapies. For the present, interventions designed to limit infarct size remain in the realm of clinical research; routine clinical use would be inappropriate.     

Lipoprotein (a) and coronary heart disease: a prospective case-control study in a general population sample of middle aged men.

OBJECTIVE--To examine the association between the serum lipoprotein (a) concentration and subsequent coronary heart disease. DESIGN--Prospective case-control study based on a six year follow up of a general population sample of men aged 50 at baseline in 1983-4. Serum samples were frozen at the time of the baseline examination and kept at -70 degrees C for six years, after which the lipoprotein (a) concentrations in the samples were measured in cases and controls. SETTING--City of Gothenburg, Sweden. SUBJECTS--26 Men, from a general population sample of 776 men, who had sustained a myocardial infarction or died of coronary heart disease during the six years and 109 randomly selected controls from the same sample who had remained free of myocardial infarction. In neither cases nor controls was there a history of myocardial infarction at baseline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Proportion of myocardial infarction or deaths from coronary heart disease, or both, in relation to the serum lipoprotein (a) concentration. RESULTS--Men who suffered coronary heart disease had significantly higher serum lipoprotein (a) concentrations than controls (mean difference 105 mg/l; 95% confidence interval 18 to 192 mg/l). Men with the highest fifth of serum lipoprotein (a) concentrations (cut off point 365 mg/l) suffered a coronary heart disease rate which was more than twice that of men with the lowest four fifths of concentrations. Logistic regression analysis showed the serum lipoprotein (a) concentration to be significantly associated with coronary heart disease independently of other risk factors. CONCLUSION--The serum lipoprotein (a) concentration in middle aged men is an independent risk factor for subsequent myocardial infarction or death from coronary heart disease.     

Quality improvement report: Safety and efficacy of nurse initiated thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction

ProblemDelay in starting thrombolytic treatment in patients arriving at hospital with chest pain who are diagnosed as having acute myocardial infarction.DesignAudit of “door to needle times” for patients presenting with chest pain and an electrocardiogram on admission that confirmed acute myocardial infarction. A one year period in each of three phases of development was studied.

Background and setting

The goal of the national service framework for coronary heart disease is that by April 2002, 75% of eligible patients should receive thrombolysis within 30 minutes of arriving at hospital. A district general hospital introduced a strategy to improve door to needle times. In phase 1 (1989-95), patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction, referred by general practitioners, were assessed in the coronary care unit; all other patients were seen first in the accident and emergency department. In phase 2 (1995-7), all patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction were transferred directly to a fast track area within the coronary care unit, where nurses assess patients and doctors started treatment.

Key measures for improvement

Median door to needle time in phase 1 of 45 minutes (range 5-300 minutes), with 38% of patients treated within 30 minutes. Median door to needle time in phase 2 of 40 minutes (range 5-180 minutes), with 47% treated within 30 minutes

Strategies for change

In phase 3 (1997-2001), all patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction were transferred directly to the fast track area and assessed by a “coronary care thrombolysis nurse.” If electrocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, the nurse could initiate thrombolytic therapy (subject to guidelines and exclusions determined by the consultant cardiologists).

Effects of change

Median door to needle time in phase 3 of 15 minutes (range 5-70 minutes), with 80% of patients treated within 30 minutes. Systematic clinical review showed no cases in which a nurse initiated inappropriate thrombolysis.

Lessons learnt

Thrombolysis started by nurses is safe and effective in patients with acute myocardial infarction. It may provide a way by which the national service framework''s targets for door to needle times can be achieved.     

Late outcome of patients with myocardial infarction complicated by mural thrombi in the left heart ventricle]

The study was aimed at the evaluating of the remote clinical course and death rate in patients with myocardial infarction, in whom mural thrombi in the left cardiac ventricle were diagnosed during hospitalization. During a 24-month follow up, 23 (20%) out of 116 patients died, including 10 (43.5%) patients with myocardial infarction complicated with mural thrombi during hospitalization. There were 39% of sudden deaths. Ninety three (80%) patients, including 27 (29%) patients of the group with myocardial infarction complicated with mural thrombi in left ventricle during hospitalization, were reported for the ambulatory examination. Features of the postinfarction heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, the second myocardial infarction or exacerbations of the coronary disease which required hospitalization were significantly more frequent in this group.     

Specific and gender differences between hospitalized and out of hospital mortality due to myocardial infarction

In this paper, the authors evaluate gender related differences of myocardial infarction mortality before and after hospital admittance. Myocardial infarction mortality in the Clinical Hospital Split in the seven years period between 2000 and 2006, have been analyzed together with out of hospital sudden death patients with acute myocardial infarction established during autopsy. During the seven year period between 2000 and 2006, 3434 patients were treated for myocardial infarction in the Split Clinical Hospital, 2336 (68%) males and 1098 (32%) females with a 12% total mortality (427 patients). The annual number of hospitalized persons has been increasing during that period (474 in yr. 2000 us. 547 in yr. 2006), while mortality decreased from 15% in 2000 to 9.6% in 2006. Female patients had significantly higher hospital mortality than male patients, (228 or 21% vs. 202 or 9%, p<0.05). Women also had significantly higher total AMI mortality (23.7% vs. 15,7%, p <0.05). Anterior myocardial infarction with ST elevation in precordial leads had significantly higher mortality (19%) compared to patients with lateral (11%), inferior (10%) myocardial infarction with ST elevation and also NSTEMI (4%) mortality p<0.05. Female patients more frequently die in hospital, 84% (230) than out of hospital 16% (43). From the total number of AMI deaths (388) in male patients, 56% (217) were in hospital and 44% (171) out of hospital (p<0.001). Men had significantly higher prehospital mortality rate than women (81% vs. 19%, p<0.05). Men also more frequently died from ventricular fibrillation (22% vs. 10%, p<0.05), while women died more frequently of heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and myocardial rupture (33% vs. 15% p<0.05). Regarding the total number of deaths from myocardial infarction men had significantly higher prehospital mortality compared to women (178 or 7.3% vs. 43 or 3.7%, p<0.05). Anterior myocardial infarction had a significantly higher rate in patients dying pre-hospital (58%), in contrast to inferior (36%) and lateral myocardial infarction with ST elevation (6%) p<0.05. We have concluded that male patients die more frequently within the first few hours of AMI mostly due to malignant arrhythmias, while female patients died in sub acute stage due to heart failure while being hospitalized. Nevertheless total mortality of AMI remains significantly higher in women.     

STAT蛋白在心脏疾病中作用的研究进展

细胞信号转导途径JAK-STAT通路是细胞因子由细胞膜外向细胞核内传递信号的主要途径,参与了介导细胞生长,增殖分化,炎症反应,细胞凋亡等多种病理生理过程。STAT蛋白是JAK-STAT通路的核心分子,且所有的STAT蛋白在心脏中均有表达,改变其分子结构能调节STAT蛋白的生物学活性。目前,已有大量文献报道了STAT1、STAT3在心脏疾病中的作用,缺血性心脏疾病、缺血再灌注引起心肌损伤、心肌肥大、心肌梗塞后的心脏衰竭以及缺血预/后处理介导的心脏保护作用等均与STAT蛋白密切相关。本文主要就近年来STAT蛋白在心脏疾病中作用的研究进展进行了综述。     

National trends in rates of death and hospital admissions related to acute myocardial infarction,heart failure and stroke, 1994–2004

Background

Rates of death from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases have been steadily declining over the past few decades. Whether such declines are occurring to a similar degree for common disorders such as acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and stroke is uncertain. We examined recent national trends in mortality and rates of hospital admission for these 3 conditions.

Methods

We analyzed mortality data from Statistic Canada’s Canadian Mortality Database and data on hospital admissions from the Canadian Institute for Health Information’s Hospital Morbidity Database for the period 1994–2004. We determined age- and sex-standardized rates of death and hospital admissions per 100 000 population aged 20 years and over as well as in-hospital case-fatality rates.

Results

The overall age- and sex-standardized rate of death from cardiovascular disease in Canada declined 30.0%, from 360.6 per 100 000 in 1994 to 252.5 per 100 000 in 2004. During the same period, the rate fell 38.1% for acute myocardial infarction, 23.5% for heart failure and 28.2% for stroke, with improvements observed across most age and sex groups. The age- and sex-standardized rate of hospital admissions decreased 27.6% for stroke and 27.2% for heart failure. The rate for acute myocardial infarction fell only 9.2%. In contrast, the relative decline in the inhospital case-fatality rate was greatest for acute myocardial infarction (33.1%; p < 0.001). Much smaller relative improvements in case-fatality rates were noted for heart failure (8.1%) and stroke (8.9%).

Interpretation

The rates of death and hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and stroke in Canada changed at different rates over the 10-year study period. Awareness of these trends may guide future efforts for health promotion and health care planning and help to determine priorities for research and treatment.Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, is the leading cause of death globally. Therefore, changes in the incidence and mortality of these disorders have a major impact on the overall health of a country’s population and on the health care system.¹ Rates of death from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease have been steadily declining in Western Europe and North America for the past 3 decades.^2,3 Whether this decline is occurring to a similar degree for common conditions such as acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and stroke is uncertain. Although these 3 conditions are associated with several common risk factors, the relative importance of risk factors such as smoking, hypertension and hyperlipidemia differs between them.⁴ Furthermore, the rate of new therapeutic advances for these conditions has varied in both the acute, in-hospital setting and in the outpatient setting, where primary and secondary prevention of events occurs.A comparative evaluation of recent population-based trends in incidence and mortality would provide an assessment of the relative progress achieved in preventing and treating these important conditions. Furthermore, the substantial economic impact of cardiovascular disease, including stroke, on the health care system — estimated at $18 billion per year in direct and indirect costs in Canada in 1998⁵ — underscores the need for continued monitoring of cardiovascular disease and treatment outcomes. A study of temporal trends could also help guide future health promotion activities and health care planning.We conducted a study of recent trends in the rates of death and hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and stroke in Canada from 1994 to 2004. We also studied whether changes in these trends occurred at similar rates in younger and older Canadians and in both sexes.     

Survival in acute myocardial infarction; factors observed in 318 patients

Factors influencing survival in a group of 318 cases of acute myocardial infarction were analyzed. The mortality rate for the entire series was 41 per cent. Among the men it was 39.5 per cent; among women, 44.4 per cent. The mortality rate increased with the age of the patient. Twenty-six per cent of all deaths occurred within the first 24 hours, 44 per cent within 72 hours, and 71 per cent within the first week following hospital admission. Increased mortality rate was associated with previous history of congestive failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension or cardiomegaly. As to circumstances immediately preceding an infarction, the only ones that seemed to be related to a high mortality rate were hemorrhage and the postoperative state. Not only the presence but the degree of shock, congestive failure, cyanosis and dyspnea adversely influenced chances for survival. Duration, location, radiation and number of attacks of pain did not appear to be associated with extraordinary mortality rates. Anterior was slightly more common than posterior infarctions, and the mortality rate was much higher. Thromboembolic complications and certain disorders of rhythm and of conduction definitely worsen prognosis. Comparison of average mortality data as reported in different studies on acute myocardial infarction is improper and misleading because of the great differences between the kinds of patients included in various series reported upon. A standard method of grading the severity of acute myocardial infarction would help toward sounder comparisons.     

Dietary fat and risk of coronary heart disease in men: cohort follow up study in the United States.

OBJECTIVE--To examine the association between fat intake and the incidence of coronary heart disease in men of middle age and older. DESIGN--Cohort questionnaire study of men followed up for six years from 1986. SETTING--The health professionals follow up study in the United States. SUBJECTS--43 757 health professionals aged 40 to 75 years free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease or diabetes in 1986. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Incidence of acute myocardial infarction or coronary death. RESULTS--During follow up 734 coronary events were documented, including 505 non-fatal myocardial infarctions and 229 deaths. After age and several coronary risk factors were controlled for significant positive associations were observed between intake of saturated fat and risk of coronary disease. For men in the top versus the lowest fifth of saturated fat intake (median = 14.8% v 5.7% of energy) the multivariate relative risk for myocardial infarction was 1.22 (95% confidence interval 0.96 to 1.56) and for fatal coronary heart disease was 2.21 (1.38 to 3.54). After adjustment for intake of fibre the risks were 0.96 (0.73 to 1.27) and 1.72 (1.01 to 2.90), respectively. Positive associations between intake of cholesterol and risk of coronary heart disease were similarly attenuated after adjustment for fibre intake. Intake of linolenic acid was inversely associated with risk of myocardial infarction; this association became significant only after adjustment for non-dietary risk factors and was strengthened after adjustment for total fat intake (relative risk 0.41 for a 1% increase in energy, P for trend < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS--These data do not support the strong association between intake of saturated fat and risk of coronary heart disease suggested by international comparisons. They are compatible, however, with the hypotheses that saturated fat and cholesterol intakes affect the risk of coronary heart disease as predicted by their effects on blood cholesterol concentration. They also support a specific preventive effect of linolenic acid intake.     

Diseases of the heart in a working population; a study of morbidity and mortality in relation to cardiac status and nature of job

A sample consisting of 2,252 persons among 20,199 Los Angeles civil service employees was observed for the occurrence of heart disease. The first examination measured the prevalence. Based upon the diagnosis of 165 cases of heart disease, the prevalence was 73 per 1,000 persons examined. Two reexaminations, at intervals of 12 to 18 months, of persons with normal heart on the first examination were carried out and 52 additional cases were diagnosed. There were also 13 deaths of heart disease in persons first diagnosed as having normal heart, making a total of 65 "new" cases (36.6 per 1,000) during the 30-month period of observation. An annual estimated heart disease incidence of 15 per 1,000 appears reasonable. Based on 89 deaths, the cardiovascular disease death rate was 11 per 1,000 among persons entering the study with normal heart, and 133 per 1,000 persons diagnosed as having heart disease at entry. The ratio of newly diagnosed cases to deaths of heart disease was 4 to 1.Among men diagnosed as having normal heart there was little difference in death rates whether their jobs were physically strenuous or sedentary. Among the men with heart disease, however, the highest death rates are observed among those employed at sedentary jobs and at light exertion. This may, of course, be an indication of the employee's selection of the job rather than the effect of inactivity. The relative usefulness of minifilm x-ray, electrocardiograms and questioning as to history were considered.