Interaction of maternal smoking and gestational diabetes mellitus on newborn head circumference and birthweight.

INTRODUCTION: Maternal smoking during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have opposite effects on fetal growth during pregnancy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the interaction of smoking during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus on head circumference and birthweight of newborns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included all primiparous women with singleton pregnancies (n = 290 602) without previously diagnosed diabetes or hypertension in Finland between 2006 and 2018. The information on gestational diabetes mellitus, newborn birthweight and head circumference, and maternal smoking and backgrounds was derived from the Finnish Medical Birth Register. Linear regression models were used in the analyses. RESULTS: In total 8.0% of parturients quit smoking during the first trimester and 9.9% continued smoking thereafter. The prevalence of GDM was 8.9% (n = 25 948). Newborns of women who continued smoking had a smaller head circumference (b = -0.24, SE = 0.01, p < 0.0001) and birthweight (b = -0.28, SE = 0.01, p < 0.0001) compared to newborns of women who did not smoke. Head circumference and birthweight were greater in newborns of women with GDM (b = 0.09, SE = 0.01, p < 0.0001 and b = 0.16, SE = 0.01, p < 0.0001, respectively) compared to newborns of women without GDM. In the interaction analyses, head circumference (b = -0.13, SE = 0.01, p < 0.0001) was smaller and birthweight (b = -0.13, SE = 0.02, p < 0.0001) was lower in newborns of women with GDM who continued smoking compared to newborns of women without GDM who did not smoke. CONCLUSIONS: Although smoking and GDM have opposite effects on fetal growth, the negative effects of exposure to smoking are also seen in newborns of women with GDM. Compared to smoking after the first trimester of pregnancy, cessation of smoking during the first trimester was associated with greater head circumference and birthweight in newborns.

The Relationship of Kidney Function, Cardiovascular Morbidity, and All-Cause Mortality: a Prospective Primary Care Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Lower-than-normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is associated with the risk for all-cause mortality and adverse cardiovascular events. In this regard, the role of higher-than-normal eGFR is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: Investigate long-term clinical consequences across the levels of eGFR calculated by the creatinine-based Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation among apparently healthy cardiovascular risk subjects. DESIGN: Prospective study. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n=1747) of a population-based screening and intervention program for cardiovascular risk factors in Finland during the years 2005-2007. MAIN MEASURES: Cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality. KEY RESULTS: Over the 14-year follow-up, subjects with eGFR ≥105 ml/min/1.73 m2 (n=97) had an increased risk for all-cause mortality [HR 2.15 (95% CI: 1.24-3.73)], incident peripheral artery disease [HR 2.62 (95% CI: 1.00-6.94)], and atrial fibrillation/flutter [HR 2.10 (95% CI: 1.21-3.65)] when compared to eGFR category 90-104 ml/min after adjustment for cardiovascular and lifestyle-related risk factors. The eGFR category ≥105 ml/min was also associated with a two-fold increased mortality rate compared to the Finnish general population. CONCLUSIONS: Renal hyperfiltration defined as eGFR ≥105 ml/min/1.73 m2 is a frequent and important finding in patients commonly treated in primary care. These patients should be followed closely for timely interventions, such as strict BP and blood glucose regulation.

New insights into smoking and urinary tract infections during pregnancy using pregnancy-pair design: A population-based register study.

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy itself predisposes to urinary tract infections (UTI). There appears to be a higher prevalence of infections and genitourinary diseases among pregnant smokers than among non-smokers. The present study is a retrospective observational register study aiming to investigate whether maternal smoking is associated with the prevalence of UTIs during pregnancy by utilizing a pregnancy-pair analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information about pregnancies and maternal smoking was obtained from the Finnish Medical Birth Register. The study sample consisted of all singleton pregnancies (n = 723 433) of women giving birth between January 2006 and December 2018 in Finland. Information on maternal smoking was collected in three categories: (1) non-smoking; (2) quit smoking during the first trimester; and (3) continued smoking throughout the pregnancy. Information about maternal UTI diagnoses during pregnancy was received from the Hospital Discharge Register and the Medical Birth Register. UTIs were categorized as lower and upper UTIs according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD)-10 diagnosis codes. Risks were calculated as odds ratios (OR) by logistic regression with 95% confidence intervals (CI) further adjusted for maternal characteristics (aOR). Finally, pregnancy-pair analyses were performed: mothers who had changed smoking status (no smoking/any smoking) between consecutive pregnancies (n = 27 246 pregnancy-pairs) were analyzed as one cluster and compared with non-smokers. RESULTS: Smokers had UTIs more often compared with the non-smokers. The association was even stronger among those who continued to smoke (aOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.51-1.70) than among those who smoked only during the first trimester (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.18-1.37) compared with non-smokers. In pregnancy-pair analysis, smoking was associated with upper UTIs during pregnancy (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.05-2.12) compared with non-smokers, but after the adjustments this association was attenuated (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 0.88-1.82). No association in lower UTIs was observed in the pregnancy-pair design. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal smoking was associated with a higher prevalence of UTIs during pregnancy in the standard comparison. The observed association was fully attenuated in the pregnancy-pair analysis, in which smoking was dichotomized. This study suggests that the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and adverse maternal health effects might be more complex than previously thought.

Temporal changes in self-reported sleep quality, sleep duration and sleep medication use in relation to temporal changes in quality of life and work ability over a 1-year period among Finnish municipal employees.

In this prospective follow-up study, we aimed to examine whether changes in self-reported sleep quality, sleep duration, and sleep medication use are temporally associated with changes in quality of life and work ability in municipal employees when several confounding factors are considered. The study was conducted in Finland among 637 municipal employees (88% women, mean [SD] age 48 [10] years) in 2014 and 2015. Information about the participants was collected by self-administered questionnaire and from medical history. Predicting variables were changes in self-reported sleep quality, sleep duration, and sleep medication use. Outcome variables were changes in the EUROHIS-QOL eight-item index and the Work Ability Score. Improved or unchanged sleep quality compared to worse sleep quality were associated with a preferable change in quality of life (both p < 0.001). No change in sleep duration compared to a decrease and no change in sleep medication use compared to increased use were also associated with favourable changes in quality of life. Increased use of sleep medication was associated with a decline in work ability, and the change in Work Ability Score also differed significantly between improved and worsened sleep quality. In this study, changes in sleep were widely associated with changes in quality of life and work ability of municipal employees. Programmes aiming for better sleep health would probably be beneficial both from a health-oriented and an economical point of view. Special attention should be paid to employees with a need for sleep medication.

Body surface area may explain sex differences in findings from the oral glucose tolerance test among subjects with normal glucose tolerance.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Current guidelines on prediabetes and diabetes (T2D) recommend to regularly perform an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) on subjects at risk of T2D. However, it is not known why women tend to have relatively higher 2-h post-load plasma (2hPG) glucose concentrations during OGTT than men. The aim of the present study is to investigate if there are sex differences in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2hPG concentrations in relation to body size in apparently healthy non-diabetic subjects with normal glucose tolerance. We hypothesized that sex differences in glucose tolerance are physiological and related to different body surface area (BSA) in men and women. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 2-h 75 g OGTT was performed on 2010 subjects aged 45-70 years. Their BSA was calculated using the Mosteller formula. Men and women were separately divided into five BSA levels. Within the normal 2hPG range, women had higher mean 2hPG concentrations during the OGTT than men in all BSA levels estimated by sex-standardized BSA (p for linearity < 0.001). BSA adjusted for age, waist circumference, leisure-time physical activity, and smoking, showed an inverse association with 2hPG concentration in both sexes. Mean FPG concentrations were higher in men than in women. CONCLUSIONS: Body size has a negative inverse association with 2hPG concentration in an OGTT even within a physiological plasma glucose range. This may cause underestimation of glucose disorders in individuals with larger BSA and overestimation in individuals with smaller BSA when using an OGTT.

Design of a prospective follow-up study on early parenthood and smoking behaviour during pregnancy in Finnish primary healthcare.

Aims: The primary aim of the study is to explore different factors affecting parents' smoking behaviour, and especially how smoking may be connected with individual differences in the psychological process of becoming a parent. In the current paper, we present the study design together with basic information on the study population. Methods: The Central Satakunta Maternity and Child Health Clinic (KESALATU) Study is an ongoing prospective follow-up study in primary healthcare of the Satakunta region of southwest Finland. Families were recruited during their first maternity clinic visit between 1 September 2016 and 31 December 2019, and participation will continue until the child is 1.5 years of age. The study combines different sources and types of data: e.g. routine data obtained from primary healthcare clinic records, specific parental self-report data and data from a new exhaled carbon monoxide meter indicating maternal smoking. The data are collected using frequently repeated assessments both during pregnancy and postnatally. The methods cover the following areas of interest: family background factors (including smoking and alcohol use), self-reported parental-foetal/infant attachment and mentalization, self-reported stress, depression and quality of life. Results: 589 pregnant women and their partners were asked to participate in the study during the collection time period. The final study population consisted of 248 (42.1%) pregnant women and 160 (27.1%) partners. Conclusions: The new methods and study design have the potential to increase our understanding about the link between early parenting psychology, prenatal psychosocial risk factors and parental health behaviour.

The feasibility and outcome of a community-based primary prevention program for cardiovascular disease in the 21st century.

OBJECTIVE: There is no evidence that systematic screening and risk factor modification in an unselected, asymptomatic population will reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a primary care CVD prevention program on mortality during a 13-year follow-up. DESIGN: A risk factor survey was sent, followed by a nurse-led lifestyle counselling to respondents with at least one CVD risk factor, and a general practitioner's (GP) appointment for high-risk persons. Screening and interventions were performed during 2005-2006. SETTING: A public health care centre in the town of Harjavalta, Finland. SUBJECTS: All home-dwelling 45-70-year old inhabitants without manifested CVD or diabetes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All-cause and CVD mortality. RESULTS: Altogether 74% (2121/2856) inhabitants responded to the invitation. The intervention was received by 1465 individuals (52% of the invited population): 398 risk persons had an appointment with a nurse, followed by an appointment with a GP for 1067 high-risk persons. During the follow-up, 370 persons died. Mortality among the non-respondents was twofold compared to the participants'. In subjects who received the intervention, the age- and gender-adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.44 (95% CI: 0.36 to 0.54) compared to the subjects who did not receive the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing mortality is possible in a primary care setting by raising health awareness in the community with screening, by targeted lifestyle counselling and evidence-based preventive medication for persons at high risk for CVD. Subjects not willing to participate in health surveys have the worst prognosis.Key PointsPreviously, there is no evidence that systematic screening and risk factor modification in an unselected, asymptomatic population will reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.With a stepwise screening program it is possible to scale the magnitude of CVD prevention in the community.Reducing mortality in a community is possible by screening, targeted lifestyle counselling, and by evidence-based preventive medication for high-risk persons.Subjects not willing to participate in health surveys have the worst prognosis.

Maternal Smoking and Hospital Treatment During Pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Previous research suggests that young maternal age, smoking, hospitalization during a previous pregnancy, and poor self-rated health could be risk factors for prenatal hospitalization. METHODS: The objective of this retrospective observational register study was to investigate if maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with mother's need for hospital treatment during pregnancy. The study population consists of all singleton pregnancies (n = 961 127) in 1999-2015 in Finland. Information on maternal smoking was received from the Medical Birth Register in three classes: nonsmoker, quit smoking in the first trimester, and continued smoking throughout the pregnancy. These data were linked with the Hospital Discharge Register data and analyzed according to ICD-10 chapters. RESULTS: 10.7% of women continued to smoke after the first trimester. After adjusting for confounding factors women in both smoking groups had more hospital treatment compared with nonsmokers. Especially outpatient treatment was more common among mothers who continued to smoke compared to those who quit smoking in the first trimester in several ICD-10 chapters. Compared to non-smokers, aOR for mental and behavioral disorders (F00-F99) was 2.14 (95% confidence interval 2.00-2.30) in the quit smoking group and 3.88 (3.71-4.06) in the continued smoking group. Similarly, aOR for respiratory diseases (J00-J99) was 1.26 (1.15-1.39) and 1.61 (1.52-1.71), respectively and aOR for genitourinary diseases (N00-N99) was 1.10 (1.03-1.17) and 1.29 (1.23-1.35), respectively. Some similar findings were made also in inpatient care. Some similar findings were made also in inpatient care. CONCLUSIONS: Women who smoke during pregnancy seem to require more hospital care for various reasons. These findings emphasize the importance of actions for smoking cessation during pregnancy and women should be encouraged to quit as early as possible. IMPLICATIONS: Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with greater rates of both outpatient and inpatient hospital care during pregnancy. Women who quit smoking had a similar risk for hospital care during pregnancy with nonsmokers in certain diagnosis chapters, which is very motivational and could be used as an informational tool in prenatal clinics to encourage smoking cessation as it is never too late to quit smoking during pregnancy.

Yield of elective coronary angiography; gender differences, patient history, risk factors and angiographic findings in a primary care population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess yield of elective coronary angiography and gender differences in primary care patients suspected to have stable coronary artery disease (SCAD). DESIGN: Information was gathered from an angiography registry, referral texts of the general practitioners and medical records made by the cardiologists in secondary care. SETTING: Angiography registry data analyses of the Turku University Hospital, Finland, in the year 2011. SUBJECTS: Two hundred forty-six patients who were referred from primary care to secondary care and underwent coronary angiography for suspected SCAD symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gender differences and diagnostic yield of coronary angiography for obstructive CAD. RESULTS: Obstructive CAD was identified in 73%, more often in males than in females (51% vs. 84%, p < 0.001). Thirteen per cent of the patients were over 80 years of age, and 94% of them had obstructive CAD. The prevalence of hypertension was 60%, treatment goal was achieved by 25%. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic yield of elective coronary angiography was low in women compared to men although there were no substantial differences in evidence-based medication, risk factors or anticipated angina symptoms between genders. Key Points Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death globally. Invasive cardiology has expanded rapidly since the 1990s. Among symptomatic primary care patients who underwent elective coronary angiography in secondary care, obstructive CAD was identified in 73% Diagnostic yield of coronary angiography was low in women compared to men. GPs treat their male and female patients suspected of having stable CAD equitably regarding evidence-based medication.

Ideal cardiovascular health and psychosocial risk factors among Finnish female municipal workers.

AIMS: Ideal cardiovascular health has been defined by the American Heart Association as the absence of disease and the presence of seven key health factors and behaviours. However, little is known about the mental aspects associated with ideal cardiovascular health metrics. The objective of this study was to assess the relationships between psychosocial risk factors and ideal cardiovascular health metrics among Finnish women at municipal work units. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Finland among 732 female employees (mean±SD age 48±10 years) from ten work units in 2014. Ideal cardiovascular health metrics were evaluated with a physical examination, laboratory tests, medical history and self-administrated questionnaires. Psychosocial risk factors (social isolation, stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, hostility and type D personality) were assessed with core questions as suggested by the European Society of Cardiology. RESULTS: The prevalence of having 5-7 ideal cardiovascular health metrics was 183 (25.0%), of whom 54.1% had at least one psychosocial risk factor. Anxiety (31.3%), work stress (30.7%) and type D personality (26.1%) were the most prevalent of the psychosocial risk factors. The prevalence of depressive symptoms ( p<0.001) and type D personality ( p=0.049) decreased linearly according to the sum of ideal cardiovascular health metrics after adjustment for age and years of education. CONCLUSIONS: Even women with good cardiovascular health are affected by psychosocial risk factors at municipal work units. Although the association is possibly bidirectional, screening and treating depression and dealing with type D personality might be crucial in improving cardiovascular health among women.

Self-rated health as an indicator of ideal cardiovascular health among working-aged women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between self-rated health (SRH) and the American Heart Association's (AHA) concept of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) among female municipal employees. Studies about the association are scarce, even though AHA recommends to use SRH status surveys in clinical practice and research settings of CVH. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted in 2014. SETTING: SRH was assessed with a one-item question and the data of seven ideal CVH measurements (nonsmoking, body mass index <25.0 kg/m2, healthy diet, physical activity at goal, blood pressure <120/80 mmHg, cholesterol <5.18 mmol/l and glucose (HbA1c < 6.0%)) was gathered with a physical examination, laboratory tests, medical history and self-administrated questionnaires. SUBJECTS: A total of 725 female subjects from 10 work units of the city of Pori, Finland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SRH and ideal CVH. RESULTS: Of the study subjects, 28.8% reported ill-health (poor/fair SRH). The sum of ideal CVH metrics was positively associated with good SRH driven by favorable health behaviors (nonsmoking, normal body mass index, healthy diet and physical activity). A linear decrease in the prevalence of 0-2 ideal CVH metrics, and a linear increase in 5-7 metrics was associated with better SRH. Nonsmoking and normal weight were the most potent indicators of good SRH in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the subjects with 0-3 of the seven CVH metrics at ideal level were dissatisfied with their health. Since unhealthy lifestyle factors accumulate mainly to people feeling ill-health, the value of SRH is worth recognizing especially in primary health care.

High-intensity physical activity, stable relationship, and high education level associate with decreasing risk of erectile dysfunction in 1,000 apparently healthy cardiovascular risk subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is especially common in men with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the data are scarce concerning populations without manifested CVD. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe factors associated with ED, especially those associated with decreasing risk of ED, in men with cardiovascular risk factors but without CVD, diabetes, or chronic renal disease. METHODS: In 2004 to 2007, a cross-sectional population-based sample of men 45 to 70 years old in two rural towns in Finland was collected. Men with previously diagnosed CVD, diabetes, or kidney disease were not invited to the study. In total 1,000 eligible men with cardiovascular risk factors, i.e., central obesity, high scores in the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score, high blood pressure, antihypertensive medication, or family history of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, or stroke, were included in the analysis. Questionnaires, clinical measurements, and laboratory tests were obtained. The prevalence of ED was studied comparing the means, and risk factors were studied using multivariate logistic regression analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The rate of ED was defined by the International Index of Erectile Function short form (IIEF-5) and by two questions (2Q) about the ability to achieve and to maintain an erection. RESULTS: The prevalence of ED was 57% or 68% using IIEF-5 or 2Q, respectively. Age (odds ratio [OR]: up to 9.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.00-16.79; P < 0.001), smoking (OR: 1.41; 95% CI, 1.04-1.91; P = 0.028), depressive symptoms (OR: 4.04 for moderate and severe; 95% CI,1.22-13.45; P = 0.001), high-intensity physical activity (OR: 0.50; 95% CI, 0.29-0.86; P = 0.045), high education (OR: 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33-0.83; P = 0.013), and stable relationship (OR: 0.43; 95% CI, 0.21-0.88; P = 0.046) were associated with ED. CONCLUSIONS: In apparently healthy men with cardiovascular risk factors, decreasing risk of ED is associated with high-intensity physical activity, stable relationship, and high education level.

Body mass index and health-related quality of life in apparently healthy individuals.

PURPOSE: Obesity is known to be associated with a range of chronic medical comorbidities, but little is known about the impact of overweight and obesity on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons without chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess HRQoL, body mass index (BMI) and health behavior patterns in a community sample of subjects who had no long-lasting medical comorbidities METHODS: We assessed HRQoL in 1,187 apparently healthy individuals (mean age 57 ± 7 years), of whom 24 % were classified as normal weight, 49 % as overweight, 20 % as obese and 7 % as very obese. Two different instruments of HRQoL were used: the generic Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire and the preference-based instrument EuroQol (EQ-5D). RESULTS: All physical components of the SF-36 decreased linearly according to BMI categories in women. In men, only poorer physical functioning scale showed linearity with rising BMI. Scores on the mental components of the SF-36 did not differ by BMI categories in either gender. The EQ-5D index and EuroQol visual analogue scale scores decreased linearly with rising BMI only in women. CONCLUSIONS: In apparently healthy middle-aged subjects, physical HRQoL decreases with increasing level of BMI and more so in women than in men. Mental components of HRQoL do not differ between the categories of BMI in either gender.

Weight change and health related quality of life: population-based longitudinal study of the effects of health related quality of life on the success of weight management.

Our aim was to investigate how health related quality of life (HRQoL) influence on the success of weight management and how to utilize this information. Population-based longitudinal study. A community sample of apparently healthy middle-aged individuals living in Western Finland were invited to clinical survey in order to assess total cardiovascular risk among people who had at least one cardiovascular risk factor but no previous diagnoses of any long-lasting disease. A total of 2,752 individuals, aged 45-70 years, enrolled. The individuals completed HRQoL questionnaire before laboratory tests were completed and overweight people were instructed to lose weight at least 5 %. A physician examined 1950 high risk people during the years 2005-2007. Three years later a trained nurse invited them for a control examination, 1,287 high risk subjects participated, 1,049 had completely filled the questionnaires and 906 of them were overweight or obese at baseline. We assessed the success in weight management in this group of participants. The subjects (53 % women with mean age of 59 ± 7 years) had mean body mass index of 39.6 ± 4.6 kg/m². During the 3 years follow-up period 18 % of them had lost weight ≥5, 70 % had stabilized their weight and 12 % had gained weight ≥5 %. Subjects who had gained weight had worse results in every item of HRQoL both mental and physical at baseline. The results of the HRQoL questionnaire suggested that obesity and deteriorating quality of life interrelate.

Primary care-based, targeted screening programme to promote sustained weight management.

OBJECTIVE: To identify overweight and obese subjects at increased cardiovascular risk in the community, and provide them with lifestyle counselling that is possible to implement in real life. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: The communities of Harjavalta and Kokemäki in south-western Finland. SUBJECTS: A tape for measurement of waist and a risk factor questionnaire was mailed to home-dwelling inhabitants aged 45-70 years (n = 6013). Of the 4421 respondents, 2752 with at least one cardiovascular risk factor were examined by a public health nurse. For the subjects with high cardiovascular risk (n = 1950), an appointment with a physician was scheduled. The main goal of lifestyle counselling for the 1608 high-risk subjects with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) was weight reduction of at least 5%. Among these, 906 had completed self-administrated questionnaires at baseline and form the present study population. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Success in weight management. RESULTS: At the three-year follow-up visit, 18% of subjects had lost ≥ 5% of their initial weight and 70% had stabilized their weight, while 12% had gained weight ≥ 5%. Newly diagnosed glucose disorder (OR 1.37 [95% CI 1.02-1.84]) predicted success in weight management, whereas depressive symptoms (OR 0.61 [95% CI 0.42-0.90]), excess alcohol use (OR 0.63 [95% CI 0.44-0.90]), and number of drugs used (OR 0.91 [95% CI 0.83-0.99]) at baseline predicted poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: A primary care screening programme to identify overweight or obese individuals can promote sustained weight management. Psychological factors, especially depressive symptoms, are a critical component to consider before attempts to change the lifestyle of an individual.

Body surface area is positively associated with ankle-brachial index.

BACKGROUND: Ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement is a widely used diagnostic test for lower extremity artery disease. Previously, a larger body surface area (BSA) has been associated with lower blood pressure and lower 2-h post-load glucose concentrations in the oral glucose tolerance test. Our aim was to evaluate whether BSA has an impact on ABI and the prevalence of lower ABI values. METHODS: ABI measurements were performed on 972 subjects aged 45 to 70 years at high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Subjects with previously diagnosed kidney disease, CVD, and diabetes were excluded. Their BSA was calculated by the Mosteller formula. Study subjects were divided into five BSA levels corresponding to 12.5th, 25th, 25th, 25th, and 12.5th percentiles of the total distribution. Effect modification by BSA in ABI between sexes was derived from a four-knot restricted cubic splines regression model. RESULTS: After adjustments for age, sex, pulse pressure, glucose regulation, waist circumference, alcohol intake, smoking status, leisure-time physical activity and medication, BSA level had a positive linear relationship with ABI (p for linearity <0.001). When BSA was less than 2.0 m2, there was no difference between the sexes, but when BSA was higher than 2.0 m2, men had higher ABI. CONCLUSION: BSA shows a positive linear relationship with ABI in CVD risk subjects without manifested CVD. The difference in ABI between men and women is modified by BSA and is appreciable when BSA is larger than 2.0 m2.

Glycemic status and effect on mortality: Multifactorial prevention programme for cardiovascular disease in Finnish primary care.

AIMS: To compare 13-year mortality rates in normoglycemic, prediabetic and diabetic subjects attending a community-based screening and intervention programme. METHODS: Population survey identified 2569 cardiovascular disease (CVD) white risk subjects aged 45-70 years and without manifested CVD or diabetes. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed, and multifactorial intervention was provided. Effect of glycemic status on mortality was estimated in models adjusted for age, gender, education years, smoking, body mass index, mean arterial pressure, total cholesterol, and physical activity. RESULTS: Of the subjects, 2055 (77 %) were normoglycemic, 380 (14 %) had prediabetes and 224 (9 %) diabetes. Compared to the normoglycemic group, the fully adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality were 1.34 (95 % CI: 0.98-1.83) in the prediabetes group and 2.31 (95 % CI: 1.62-3.31) in the diabetes group. Standardized mortality rates were 0.63 (95 % CI: 0.54-0.73), 0.91 (95 % CI: 0.69-1.18), and 1.55 (95 % CI: 1.19-2.02) in the normoglycemic, prediabetes, and diabetes groups, respectively. The most common cause of death was cancer (42 % of all deaths), followed by CVD (28 %). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Screen-detected diabetes carries a substantial risk of death even after primary care intervention. The pattern of excess mortality has shifted towards cancer deaths.

Multifactorial prevention program for cardiovascular disease in primary care: hypertension status and effect on mortality.

The aim of this study was to investigate if mortality during a 13-year follow-up varied between normotensive subjects, screen-detected hypertensive subjects, and subjects with antihypertensive medication at baseline. A population-based screening and intervention program identified 2659 apparently healthy, middle-aged cardiovascular-risk persons in southwestern Finland. Screen-detected hypertension was verified by home blood pressure measurements. Lifestyle counseling was provided for all participants and preventive medications were started or intensified if needed. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality were obtained from the official statistics. Screen-detected hypertension was diagnosed in 17% of the participants, 51% were normotensive and 32% had antihypertensive medication at baseline. The screen-detected hypertensives had higher mean blood pressure and cholesterol levels than the two other groups. Altogether 289 subjects died during the follow-up, 83 (29%) from cardiovascular disease. Those with screen-detected hypertension had decreased cardiovascular mortality risk compared to the medicated hypertensives [sHR 0.40 (95% CI: 0.19 to 0.88, p = 0.023)], and comparable with that of the normotensives [sHR 0.53 (95% CI: 0.24 to 1.15)]. Newly diagnosed diabetes at baseline was a powerful predictor of cardiovascular mortality [sHR 2.71 (95% CI: 1.57 to 4.69)]. Early detection of hypertension and timely multifactorial intervention seem to be important in preventing hypertension-related mortality.

Cardiac symptoms and yield of diagnostic tests among primary care patients with and without diabetes.

AIMS: To compare the symptoms, diagnostic tests used, and clinical diagnoses made among diabetic and non-diabetic patients. METHODS: This is a register-based study of 704 primary care patients referred electively to cardiology specialists in the city of Turku, Finland, during the year 2016. The patient's medical history, cardiovascular medication use, risk factors, cardiac symptoms, diagnostic tests applied, and diagnoses made were gathered from the medical records. The angiography data was derived from the Hospital District of Southwest Finland data pool. RESULTS: Of the cohort, 120 (17 %) patients had diabetes mellitus. They were on average older (67 vs. 63 years, p = 0.009) and more often females (62 % vs. 38 %, p = 0.042) than the non-diabetic patients. Chest pain or discomfort was the most prevalent symptom in the diabetic patients and a sense of arrhythmia in the non-diabetic subjects. Ischemic heart disease was diagnosed more often in the person with diabetes (15 %) than in the non-diabetic (6 %) patients (p = 0.004). Cardiac arrhythmias were diagnosed in 26 % of the non-diabetic and 20 % of the diabetic subjects (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms that might indicate heart disease, especially chest pain/discomfort, are common in both the diabetic and the non-diabetic patients in primary care. Several diagnostic tests are applied, possibly not to miss a life-threatening disease. However, many patients do not get a specific diagnosis for their concerns.