Incidence of Type 2 diabetes among occupational classes in Sweden: a 35-year follow-up cohort study in middle-aged men.

AIMS: To assess if low occupational class was an independent predictor of Type 2 diabetes in men in Sweden over a 35-year follow-up, after adjustment for both conventional risk factors and psychological stress. METHODS: A random population-based sample of 6874 men aged 47-56 years without a history of diabetes was divided into five occupational classes and the men were followed from 1970 to 2008. Diabetes cases were identified through the Swedish inpatient and death registers. Subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs) and 95% CIs from competing risk regressions, cumulative incidence and conditional probabilities were calculated, after accounting for the risk of death attributed to other causes. RESULTS: A total of 907 (13%) men with diabetes were identified over 35 years with a median follow-up of 27.9 years. The cumulative incidence of diabetes, when taking into account death as a competing event, was 11% in high officials, 12% in intermediate non-manual employees, 14% in assistant non-manual employees, 14% in skilled workers, and 16% in unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Men with unskilled and semi-skilled manual occupations had a significantly higher risk of diabetes than high officials (reference) after adjustment for age, BMI, hypertension, smoking and physical activity (SHR 1.39, 95% CI 1.08-1.78). Additional adjustment for self-reported psychological stress did not attenuate the results. CONCLUSIONS: A low occupational class suggests a greater risk of Type 2 diabetes, independently of conventional risk factors and psychological stress.

Trends in mortality after first hospitalization with atrial fibrillation diagnosis in Sweden 1987 to 2006.

BACKGROUND: To examine trends in 3-year mortality after a first hospitalization with diagnosed atrial fibrillation in a large cohort with and without important comorbidities. METHODS: The Swedish Hospital Discharge and Cause of Death Registries were linked to investigate trends in mortality for all patients 35 to 84 years hospitalized for the first time with a discharge diagnosis (principal or contributory) of atrial fibrillation in Sweden during 1987 to 2006.We performed an analysis of temporal trends in mortality stratified for presence or absence of co-morbidities affecting survival. RESULTS: Exactly 376,000 patients (56% male, mean age 72 years) with a first diagnosis of atrial fibrillation during 1987­2006 were identified and followed for 3 years. Patients with one or more of the prespecified comorbidities had the highest mortality and the largest absolute decline in mortality, but patients without these comorbidities had a slightly larger relative decline (absolute risk reduction in 3-year mortality (AAR) from 42.5 to 34.7%, Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.76; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.74 to 0.77 versus ARR 16.2% to 11.7%, HR 0.71; 0.68 to 0.74. In patients aged below 65 years,with no comorbidities, there was minimal change inmortality, and they still had a 2 times increased mortality compared to the general population (SMR 1.95; 1.84-2.06). CONCLUSIONS: Survival after a first hospitalization with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation improved regardless comorbidities. Patients aged < 65 years old without diagnosed comorbidities still had a poor prognosis compared to the general population.

Increasing evidence-based treatments to reduce coronary heart disease mortality in Sweden: quantifying the potential gains.

OBJECTIVES: Between 1986 and 2002, coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in Sweden fell by more than 50%. Approximately one-third (4800 fewer deaths) of this decline in age-adjusted CHD mortality could be attributed to treatments in patients with CHD and primary prevention medications. High treatment levels were achieved in some cases, but in others, only 50-80% of eligible patients received appropriate therapy. We therefore examined to what extent increasing the use of specific treatments in eligible patients might have reduced CHD mortality rates in Sweden. DESIGN AND METHODS: We used the previously validated IMPACT CHD model to combine data on CHD patient numbers, medical and surgical uptake levels and treatment effectiveness. We estimated the number of deaths prevented or postponed for 2002 (baseline scenario) and for an alternative scenario (if at least 60% of eligible patients were treated). RESULTS: If treatments were increased to consistently cover at least 60% of eligible patients, approximately 8900 deaths could have been postponed or prevented, representing a potential gain of approximately 4100 fewer deaths than actually occurred in 2002. Approximately 45% of the 4100 gain would have come from primary prevention with statins, 23% from acute coronary syndrome treatments, 15% from secondary prevention therapies and 15% from treatments for heart failure. CONCLUSION: Increasing the proportion of eligible patients with CHD who receive evidence-based treatment could have resulted in approximately 4100 fewer deaths in 2002, almost doubling the actual mortality reduction. These findings further emphasize the importance of aggressively identifying and treating patients with CHD and high-risk individuals.

Twenty-year trends in incidence and 1-year mortality in Swedish patients hospitalised with non-AMI chest pain. Data from 1987-2006 from the Swedish hospital and death registries.

OBJECTIVE: To study trends for 20 years in incidence and 1-year mortality in hospitalised patients who received a diagnosis of either angina or unexplained chest pain (UCP) in Sweden. DESIGN AND SETTING: Register study of all patients aged 25-84 years identified from the Swedish National Hospital Discharge Register who were hospitalised with a first-time diagnosis of UCP or angina pectoris during 1987 to 2006. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 378 454 patients, 235 855 with UCP and 142 599 with angina. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 1-Year mortality and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs). RESULTS: From the period 1987-1991 to 2002-2006, the observed 1-year mortality rate in men and women with UCP aged 25-74 years decreased from 2.19% to 1.45% and from 1.85% to 0.91%, respectively. SMRs decreased from 1.67 (95% CI 1.39 to 1.95) and 1.63 (1.27 to 2.00) to 1.09 (0.96 to 1.23) and 0.88 (0.75 to 1.00). Corresponding decreases in 1-year mortality for a discharge diagnosis of angina were from 6.50% to 2.49% in men and from 4.80% to 1.68% in women, with SMRs decreasing from 2.69 (2.33-3.05) and 2.59 (2.06-3.12) to 1.09 (0.93-1.25) and 1.05 (0.81-1.29), respectively. Similar changes occurred in patients aged 75-84 years. Only men with UCP aged 75-84 years still retained a slightly increased mortality (SMR 1.14 (1.01-1.28)). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients admitted with chest pain in which acute myocardial infarction has been ruled out has improved for the past 20 years, such that the 1-year mortality of these patients is now similar to that in the general population.

Systematically missing confounders in individual participant data meta-analysis of observational cohort studies.

One difficulty in performing meta-analyses of observational cohort studies is that the availability of confounders may vary between cohorts, so that some cohorts provide fully adjusted analyses while others only provide partially adjusted analyses. Commonly, analyses of the association between an exposure and disease either are restricted to cohorts with full confounder information, or use all cohorts but do not fully adjust for confounding. We propose using a bivariate random-effects meta-analysis model to use information from all available cohorts while still adjusting for all the potential confounders. Our method uses both the fully adjusted and the partially adjusted estimated effects in the cohorts with full confounder information, together with an estimate of their within-cohort correlation. The method is applied to estimate the association between fibrinogen level and coronary heart disease incidence using data from 154,012 participants in 31 cohorts

Trends in overweight and obesity from 1985 to 2002 in Göteborg, West Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To study secular trends in overweight and selected correlates in men and women in Göteborg, Sweden. DESIGN: Cross-sequential population-based surveys. SUBJECTS: A total of 2931 female and 2691 male subjects aged 25-64 y participated in WHO MONICA surveys (1985, 1990, 1995) and the INTERGENE study (2002). MEASUREMENTS: Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), prevalence of overweight (BMI> or =25 kg/m(2)), and obesity (BMI> or =30 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Mean body weight increased by 3.3 kg for women and 5 kg for men, with a significant upward trend for BMI in men but not women over the 17-y observation period. The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased significantly in both sexes over the period. The largest increase was observed in men, and in women aged 25-34 y. In 2002, the prevalence of overweight was 38% in women and 58% in men, and the prevalence of obesity was 11% in women and 15% in men. No significant secular trends were observed for WHR, but there was an upward trend in prevalence of WHR>0.85 in women. A decreased prevalence of smoking in both sexes was observed together with an increase in reported leisure time physical activity. No significant secular trends were observed in rates of self-reported diabetes, although the risk of diabetes attributable to obesity was 24%. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that 25-64-y-olds in the recent survey were more overweight and obese than earlier studied MONICA participants. The increase in BMI was more pronounced in men while abdominal obesity increased principally in women. Although obesity and overweight are clearly important risk factors for type 2 diabetes, the number of diabetics remains low and any secular increase is not yet apparent.

Risk of coronary events by baseline factors during 28 years follow-up and three periods in a random population sample of men.

AIMS: To investigate the predictive value of risk factors for coronary events measured in midlife during three separate periods over a follow-up period extending through 28 years. METHODS: A total of 7437 men aged 47-55 years and free of myocardial infarction at baseline were examined. Risk of coronary events (nonfatal myocardial infarction and coronary deaths) was analysed for the entire period and for 0-15, 16-21 and 22-28 years' follow-up, using age-adjusted and multiple Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: Age, diabetes, elevated blood pressure and serum cholesterol were all independently associated with increased risk of coronary events for the entire 28 years as well as for each of the periods. A family history of coronary events amongst fathers, mothers and siblings was independently significant for the entire follow-up period, and the risk did not decline with extended follow-up. Effort-related chest pain was a strong and independent risk factor for the first 21 years but not thereafter. The importance of smoking decreased over time and was not significantly associated with outcome during the last period. Stress was also significant for the entire 28 years, but in selected periods only up to 21 years. Body mass index, low physical activity and low social class were inconsistently or not at all related to outcome in multiple analyses.

Heart failure in the general population of men--morbidity, risk factors and prognosis.

AIMS: To analyse the prevalence, aetiology and prognosis of heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: A random population sample of men (n=7495) was examined at baseline in 1970-73 and followed until 1996. During up to 27 years, 937 men were hospitalized for heart failure. For the statistical analysis, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, multivariate logistic regression and time-dependent Cox analysis were used. The incidence rate was 2.1, 9.1 and 11.5 per 1000 person-years in the age groups 55-64, 65-74 and 75-79, and the prevalences were 0.6, 2.8 and 6.2%, respectively. Valvular heart disease was the aetiology in 5.8%, coronary heart disease only or in combination with hypertension in 58.8%, and hypertension only in 20.3%, and various combinations with diabetes in 4.5%. Of the remaining 12.1%, 96% were smokers and 64% were registered for alcohol abuse. Risk factors were increasing age, myocardial infarction in the family, diabetes mellitus, chest pain, tobacco smoking, high coffee consumption, alcohol abuse, high body mass index, high blood pressure as well as treatment for hypertension, but not high total cholesterol or psychological stress. Mortality after the diagnosis was increased eight times. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary heart disease and hypertension were the most common concomitant diseases. Risk factors were similar to those in coronary heart disease, and also alcohol abuse, but not high total cholesterol, low physical activity or psychological stress. Mortality was high.

Hospitalizations for atrial fibrillation in the general male population: morbidity and risk factors.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the incidence, prevalence, aetiology, risk factors and prognosis of hospitalizations for atrial fibrillation. SUBJECTS: A random population sample of 7495 men aged 47-55 years was first examined in 1970-73. During follow-up until 1996 (mean 25.2 years) 754 men were hospitalized with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: In the age groups of 55-64, 65-74 and 75-79 years, the incidence rate was 2.0, 5.8 and 17.3 per 1000 person years, and the prevalence 1.2, 4.2 and 8.0%, respectively. Definite or possible coronary heart disease was diagnosed in 46.0%, heart failure in further 20.2% and valvular heart disease or cardiomyopathy in 4.5%. In bivariate analysis adjusted for age, the following factors were significantly associated with future hospitalization for fibrillation: a family history of myocardial infarction, stroke in mother, dyspnoea at entry, alcohol abuse, high body stature and body weight, high blood pressure but not diabetes, high serum cholesterol, high heart rate, smoking, coffee consumption or psychological stress. Significant risk factors in multivariate analysis were age, odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] -1.11 (1.07, 1.16) per year, hospitalization for coronary heart disease or heart failure -6.77 (5.17, 8.87), stroke in mother - 1.49 (1.15, 1.93), high body stature -1.04 (1.03, 1.06) per cm, high body mass index (BMI) -1.07 (1.04, 1.10) per kg m(-2), as well as hypertension -1.33 (1.07, 1.65). After a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, mortality was increased by 3.3 times. CONCLUSION: In spite of a clinical association with coronary heart disease, risk factors for atrial fibrillation were only partly the same. Prevention includes avoidance of weight gain and control of blood pressure as well as prevention of myocardial infarction and heart failure.

Independent importance of psychosocial factors for prognosis after myocardial infarction.

AIMS: As a primary aim it was tested whether the 10-year prognosis after a myocardial infarction is related to psychological stress, lack of social support, anxiety, and/or depressive tendency. A secondary aim was to analyse the prognostic importance of a series of other psychosocial factors as well as interactions. METHODS: Non-selected patients aged below 65 years with a first infarction (230 men and 45 women) were followed for 10 years with 100% assessment of morbidity and cause-specific mortality. Baseline somatic and psychosocial variables were collected with the aid of standard, validated questionnaires. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, factors increasing risk for coronary mortality included female sex (hazard ratio, +/- 95% confidence interval) 2.47 (1.06, 5.71), signs of left ventricular failure 3.93 (1.87, 8.26), ventricular dysrhythmia 3 months after the infarction 5.45 (2.21, 13. 42), high depression scores 3.16 (1.38, 7.25) and lack of social support 2.75 (1.29, 5.89). All-cause mortality was significantly related to left ventricular failure, ventricular dysrhythmias, and high depression scores with borderline significance for female sex and social support. Prognosis was affected during the entire follow-up period. It was not significantly associated with age, marital status, education, extra work, mental strain at work or in the marriage, anxiety, dissatisfaction with family life, problems with children, dissatisfaction with the financial situation, life events, anger-in, irritability, type A behaviour, or health locus of control. Incidence of nonfatal infarction was not associated with any of the baseline variables. CONCLUSION: In addition to known somatic predictors of prognosis after a myocardial infarction, prognosis is strongly influenced by depression and lack of social support, but not to a series of other psychosocial factors. It is recommended to use self-reporting scales to detect prognostically important psychosocial problems.

Does immigration contribute to decreasing CHD incidence? Coronary risk factors among immigrants in Göteborg, Sweden.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if an increasing proportion of immigrants may have contributed to the decreasing trend in coronary heart disease (CHD) in Sweden during the last few decades and to analyse the cardiovascular risk factor pattern in immigrants compared to Swedish-born subjects. POPULATION AND METHODS: CVD risk factors were investigated within the framework of the WHO MONICA project. A random sample of 1618 men and women aged 25-64 years responded to the invitation to a screening procedure including questionnaires and physical and laboratory examination. Data on myocardial infarctions (MI) were collected from the Göteborg Myocardial Infarction Register. Data from the City Council secretariat were used to estimate the number of immigrants in the total population. RESULTS: In 1995, immigrants constituted 22.4% of the population between 25 and 64 years of age in Göteborg. The incidence of MI in immigrants, 21.7%, was similar to that in Swedish-born subjects. Non-Finnish immigrants reported more unemployment, low physical activity during leisure time and psychological stress than Swedish subjects. Immigrant men also smoked more. BMI and WHR were significantly higher in immigrant women and Finnish immigrants had higher blood pressure than Swedes. Total- and LDL-cholesterol were higher in Finnish men. HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower and s-triglycerides significantly higher in non-Finnish immigrants of both genders. CONCLUSION: The decreasing trend in CHD in Sweden during the last few decades is not due to an increasing number of immigrants from 'low-risk countries'. On the contrary, the immigrants in the present study seem to have a worse CVD risk factor profile than Swedes.

[Prognosis is often poor in chest pain not interpreted as angina pectoris. Simultaneous occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors increases the risk of premature death]. / Prognosen ofta dålig vid bröstsmärta som inte tolkas som angina pectoris. Samtidig förekomst av kardiovaskulära riskfaktorer ökar risken för förtidig död.

BACKGROUND: Typical angina pectoris is easy to recognize, but coronary insufficiency may present with nonspecific chest discomfort. AIMS OF STUDY: We wanted to investigate long-term prognosis in men with different types of chest pain. METHODS: A random population sample comprising 5,773 men aged 51-57 years at baseline were followed for 16 years. RESULTS: Mortality due to coronary heart disease was 8.0% among men without chest pain, 19.5% (total mortality 44%) among those with non-specific chest pain, 24.8% (total mortality 45%) among those with typical angina and 48.5% among those with a history of myocardial infarction at baseline. CONCLUSION: Non-specific chest pain is associated with poor prognosis, and coronary risk factors have strong predictive value.

Calcaneal ultrasound measurements are determined by age and physical activity. Studies in two Swedish random population samples.

AIM: To present reference values and correlations with body composition, blood variables and lifestyle factors. SUBJECTS: Two random population samples from Göteborg, Sweden, one comprising 184 men and 455 women aged 25-64 years (MONICA) and the other 860 women aged 55-82 years (BEDA) were studied. METHODS: Calcaneal ultrasound measurement (LUNAR Achilles) and bioimpedance were measured. Smoking habits, coffee consumption, physical activity, psychological stress, education and marital status, as well as blood lipids, blood pressure, and fractures were studied. RESULTS: Broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness were higher in men than in women (P < 0. 001), but speed of sound did not differ between sexes. Speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness decreased with age (P < 0.001). In both sexes speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness correlated positively to body size variables, and negatively with smoking in women after adjustment for age. Speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness were positively related to physical activity in both sexes, and these relationships were the only ones that remained in multivariate analyses in addition to age (negative). Osteoporotic fractures increased with age. Speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness were lower amongst women with osteoporotic fractures. CONCLUSION: Speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness decreased with age and increased with physical activity, but body weight and height were not correlated in multivariate analyses. Osteoporotic fractures increased with age and were associated with lower calcaneal ultrasound values.

Somatic risk factors for myocardial infarction among Swedish railway engine drivers.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated an increased incidence of myocardial infarction among railway engine drivers. OBJECTIVE: To analyse whether somatic risk factors for myocardial infarction among male drivers in different geographical areas in Sweden differed from that in general population samples drawn from the same geographical areas. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study comparing drivers and men from the general population. METHODS: Engine railway drivers aged 25-59 years (n = 2318) were compared with randomly selected men (n = 3016) with respect to their serum cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and smoking habits. RESULTS: The levels of the risk factors did not differ between engine drivers and the reference groups except for the Stockholm area which showed a higher percentage of tobacco smokers as well as higher means for systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The risk ratio compared with the reference samples was significantly elevated in Stockholm but not in any of the other areas. CONCLUSIONS: These somatic risk factors for myocardial infarction do not explain the approximately 40% reported increase in myocardial infarction incidence among railway engine drivers. In the following study, psychosocial factors will also be examined.

Psychosocial risk factors for myocardial infarction among Swedish railway engine drivers [corrected].

BACKGROUND: Several earlier investigations have found an increased incidence of myocardial infarction among male drivers and, not least, among railway engine drivers. In a previous study we found that increased serum cholesterol, blood pressure or tobacco smoking did not explain this increased risk. OBJECTIVE: To investigate psychosocial factors and primarily work-related factors among male engine drivers. DESIGN: Engine drivers were compared with random population samples in a cross-sectional study. METHOD: Two thousand three hundred and eighteen engine drivers aged 25-59 years were compared with 331 randomly selected men who were mainly from the Göteborg MONICA population study. Job demands and job decision latitude as well as social support were the main factors compared. RESULTS: Job demands were reported as being significantly lower by both younger and older engine drivers compared to their referents (P = 0.002 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Decision latitude was reported as being lower by both younger and older engine drivers than among controls (P = 0.0001 for both groups). Engine drivers experienced deficient support from their superiors compared to the referents (P = 0.0001 for younger as well as older engine drivers). Low decision latitude was associated with significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.11 and P = 0.0001), but otherwise there were no significant relationships between psychosocial work characteristics and somatic risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of low decision latitude and low social support seems to be a key factor in the increased risk of myocardial infarction among railway engine drivers. They generally undertake shift work which may be an additional risk factor for myocardial infarction.

Risk factors for myocardial infarction among Swedish railway engine drivers during 10 years follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Railway engine drivers have had an increased risk of myocardial infarction which could be due to reported low decision latitude and low social support but not to elevated somatic risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To study somatic and psychosocial risk factors for myocardial infarction among railway engine drivers prospectively. DESIGN: A prospective study of 2318 drivers followed for 10 years. METHODS: Risk factors were surveyed in conjunction with periodic health checks at 15 different centres but with common methodology and commonly used questionnaires. Questionnaire and register information on myocardial infarction during follow-up was recorded. RESULTS: Within this group of engine drivers, age, family history of myocardial infarction, systolic blood pressure and low body height were independent predictors of myocardial infarction, but diabetes, elevated serum cholesterol and smoking were not. Neither were a longer time in the occupation or work-related psychosocial factors. The drivers were all at the lower end of the decision authority and latitude scale and had low social support. With this limited span, it may be difficult to detect these variables as risk factors within this group. CONCLUSIONS: Several well-known, somatic risk factors for myocardial infarction were documented in this study, whereas psychosocial working conditions, which were common to all the drivers, were not significantly related to outcome.

Prevalence of left ventricular diastolic filling abnormalities in adult cardiac surgical patients: an intraoperative echocardiographic study.

The incidence of left ventricular (LV) diastolic abnormalities in adult cardiac surgical patients has not previously been adequately investigated. The present study was performed to characterize LV diastolic filling patterns by performing transesophageal Doppler echocardiographic (TEE) studies in patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures and thus indirectly assess diastolic function in these patients. Doppler TEE studies were performed and transmitral flow (TMF) and pulmonary venous flow (PVF) velocities were recorded in 104 patients intraoperatively. Peak early (E) and late (A) TMF velocities and systolic (S) and diastolic (D) forward PVF velocities were assessed and deceleration time (DT) was measured in all patients. For analysis, the study patients were classified into three groups according to the ratio of the TMF E to A velocity curves: group I with E/A ratio less than 1.0, group II with E/A ratio of 1.0 to less than 2.0, and group III with E/A ratio of 2.0 or greater. A filling pattern of abnormal LV relaxation was found in 73 patients (E/A < 1.0), a normal or pseudonormal pattern was present in 27 patients (1.0 < or = E/A < or = 2.0), and restrictive filling in 4 patients (E/A > 2.0). Patients with impaired relaxation had a greater incidence of recent myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure (CHF) than those with normal or pseudonormal filling patterns. Within group II, patients with CHF had higher TMF E deceleration rates and lower PVF S/D ratios compared with those without CHF (P < .05). Doppler echocardiographic examination of TMF and PVF velocities suggests that abnormalities in diastolic function are prevalent in adult cardiac surgical patients.

Relative importance of improved hospital treatment and primary prevention. Results from 20 years of the Myocardial Infarction Register, Göteborg, Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse to what extent declines in incidence and mortality of coronary artery disease can be attributed to improved hospital and post-hospital treatment in contrast to how much is due to primary prevention. DESIGN: A register for non-fatal and fatal myocardial infarction and sudden coronary death registered in in-hospital as well as out-of-hospital events between 1975 and 1994. SETTING: City of Göteborg, Sweden, with 450,000 inhabitants. RESULTS: Seventy-one per cent of the decline in attacks could be attributed to a decline in first infarctions. Of the decrease in coronary deaths, 63% was due to a decline in out-of-hospital mortality. Previous registrations for myocardial infarction were considerably more common amongst people who died in hospital (29%) than amongst those who died out-of-hospital (11-16%) or who survived an infarction (11-13%). Out-of-hospital resuscitation contributed to about half of the reduction in out-of-hospital mortality. Thus, most of the decline in incidence and about half of the decline in sudden coronary deaths was due to primary preventive measures. Population data on risk factors indicate a decline of 37% between 1963 and 1995 in coronary risk amongst consecutive cohorts of 50-year-old men in the community. CONCLUSION: Out-of-hospital resuscitation, treatment in coronary care units and post-infarct treatment improved considerably, but changes in primary risk factors were also of major importance for the decline in incidence and mortality.

Job control, job demands and social support at work in relation to cardiovascular risk factors in MONICA 1995, Göteborg.

BACKGROUND: Job control and work environment are related to risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but there is limited understanding of the independent risks associated with these factors. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between psychosocial work characteristics and biological risk factors for both sexes for a random population sample in Göteborg, Sweden. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: We used an age-stratified random sample of men and women aged 25-64 years comprising 1200 men and 1412 women, from which 746 men and 872 women responded to the invitation for screening, which included questionnaires and physical/laboratory investigations in 1995. RESULTS: Women had lower job control than did men (P=0.00001); job demands were equal and social support at work slightly higher among women (P=0.04). Job control was positively related to education and social group. Smoking women had low job control and high job demands. Women with high grades of psychological stress had low job control and low social support at work (P=0.001 and P=0.01). For both sexes job demands were high (P=0.0001) among those who reported high psychological stress. Men with high job control and high social support at work were more physically active during leisure time. Subjects with job strain had low social support (P=0.01). Job-stress factors were not related to biological coronary risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Women had lower job control than did men. Job control was positively related to education, social class and physical activity. Psychosocial factors were not related to biological coronary risk factors.