Effects of physical activity, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference on total mortality risk in the Swedish National March Cohort

International audienceThe health benefits of physical activity (PA) have been well documented. However, there is less research investigating whether or not these health benefits might differ among males and females or among subjects characterized by different levels of body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist circumference (WC). Baseline total PA, BMI, WHR and waist circumference were measured in 14,585 men and 26,144 women who participated in the Swedish National March. Their effects on all-cause mortality were analyzed with a follow-up time of almost 10 years. Sedentary men with a BMI ≥ 30 had a 98% (95% CI: 30-201%) increased risk of mortality compared to normal weight men with a high level of total PA. The same trend was observed for sedentary men with high WHR or waist circumference, compared to lean and highly active men. Sedentary women with a waist circumference of 88 cm or more had almost doubled, i.e. 97% (95% CI: 35-189%) increased mortality risk compared to physically active women with a waist circumference below 80 cm. BMI in men, but waist circumference in women better forecast all-cause mortality. We found no substantial effect modification between different measures of adiposity and physical activity--physical inactivity and obesity seem to increase total mortality risk independently and additively

Association of A561C and G98T polymorphisms in E-selectin gene with coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis.

ObjectiveE-selectin (SELE) mediates the rolling and adhesion of leukocytes on activated endothelial cells and plays a critial role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Associatons between the A561C and G98T polymorphisms of the SELE gene and CAD risk were investigated broadly, but the results were inconsistent. In the present study, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the associations between the two polymorphisms and the risk of CAD.MethodsComprehensive research was conducted to identify relevant studies. The fixed or random effect model was selected based on the heterogeneity among studies, which was evaluated with Q-test and Ι(2). Meta-regression was used to explore the potential sources of between-study heterogeneity. Peters's linear regression test was used to estimate the publication bias.ResultsOverall, 24 articles involving 3694 cases and 3469 controls were included. After excluding articles deviating from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls and sensitive analysis, our meta-analysis showed a significant association between the A561C ploymprphism and CAD in dominant (OR= 1.84, 95% CI = 1.56-2.16) and codominant (OR= 1.74, 95% CI= 1.49-2.03) models. As for the G98T polymorphism, significantly increased CAD risk was observed in dominant (OR = 1.47, 95% CI= 1.16-1.87) and codominant (OR= 1.48, 95% CI = 1.18-1.86) models, but after subgroup analysis, the association was not significant among Caucasians in dominant (OR= 1.58, 95% CI= 0.73-3.41) and codominant (OR= 1.58, 95% CI= 0.79-3.20) models.ConclusionsDespite some limitations, our meta-analysis suggested that the SELE gene polymorphisms (A561C, G98T) were significantly associated with increased risk of CAD. However, after subgroup analysis no significant association was found among Caucasians for the G98T polymorphism, which may be due to the small sample size and other confounding factors. Future investigations with multicenter, large-scale, and multi-ethnic groups are needed