Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with carotid disease according to NHLBI/AHA and IDF criteria: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been related to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Different criteria for diagnosis of MetS have been recommended, but there is no agreement about which criteria are best to use. The aim of the present study was to investigate agreement between the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, American Heart Association (NHLBI/AHA) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definitions of MetS in patients with symptomatic carotid disease and to compare the frequency of cardiovascular risk factor in patients with MetS diagnosed by these two sets of criteria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was a cross-sectional one involving 644 consecutive patients with verified carotid disease who referred to the Vascular Surgery Clinic Dedinje in Belgrade during the period April 2006 - November 2007. Anthropometric parameters blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and lipoproteins were measured using standard procedures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MetS was present in 67.9% of participants, according to IDF criteria, and in 64.9% of participants, according to the NHLBI/AHA criteria. A total of 119 patients were categorized differently by the two definitions. Out of all participants 10.7% had MetS by IDF criteria only and 7.8% of patients had MetS by NHLBI/AHA criteria only. The overall agreement of IDF and NHLBI/AHA criteria was 81.5% (Kappa 0.59, <it>p </it>< 0.001). In comparison with patients who met only IDF criteria, patients who met only NHLBI/AHA criteria had significantly more frequently cardiovascular risk factors with the exception of obesity which was significantly more frequent in patients with MetS diagnosed by IDF criteria.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The MetS prevalence in patients with symptomatic carotid disease was high regardless of criteria used for its diagnosis. Since some patients with known cardiovascular risk factors were lost by the use of IDF criteria it seems that NHLBI/AHA definition is more suitable for diagnosis of MetS. Large follow-up studies are needed to test prognostic value of these definitions.</p

Cardiovascular diseases mortality in the population of Belgrade aged 30-69 years for 1990-2002 period

During the period between 1990 and 2002 in Belgrade population, almost every second person aged 30-69 years, died of some cardiovascular disease (CVD). Men, as compared to women, had higher standardized mortality rates from CVD (1.7 times), ischemic heart diseases (2.5 times), other heart diseases (1.6 times), and cerebrovascular diseases (1.3 times). During that period, the mortality from CVD increased by 18.6% in men, and by 10.0% in women. The increase in cerebrovascular disease mortality was 32.6% for men and 17.2% for women. Mortality from ischemic heart disease decreased twice as much in men (17.0%) than in woman (8.5%). In both sexes, the average age-specific mortality rates from CVD creased with the age. In women, the average age-specific mortality rates were 5 years behind those in men. In both sexes aged 30-34 years, the average mortality rate from CVD increased by 22.2% in men and by 14.1% in women, respectively

Some parental characteristics and habits of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus children

The aim of this case-control study conducted in Belgrade during 1994-1997 was to investigate whether parental demographic characteristics and habits are associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Case group comprised 105 children up to 16 years old with IDDM and control group comprised 210 children with skin diseases. Cases and controls were individually matched by age (± one year), sex and place of residence (Belgrade). According to %l test results, children with IDDM significantly had five or more family members and they also significantly more frequently had poor socio-economic status than their controls. Higher education of fathers was significantly more frequently reported in diabetic children, in comparison with their controls. Parents of diabetic children were significantly more frequently occupationally exposed to radiation petroleum, and its derivates, organic solvents, dyes and lacquers. During pregnancy mothers of diabetic children significantly more frequently smoked cigarettes and consumed coffee, coca-cola, alcohol and foods containing nitrosamines. Fathers of diabetic children more frequently consumed alcohol

Mortality rate of gastric cancer in the population of Belgrade for 1990-2002 period

Background. Worldwide, gastric cancer is the fourth leading cause of diseases, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Aim. To analyze the differences between men and women in mortality rate of gastric cancer in Belgrade from 1990−2002. Methods. Mortality rates standardized directly to the „World population“, and regression analysis were used. Results. In Belgrade population, 29.2% out the total number of deaths attributable to cancer were caused by gastric cancer. Gastric cancer was the second most common cause of death among digestive tract cancers. In women, in the period between 1990 and 1993, an average annual decline of mortality was 9.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.9−13.1), and between 1994 and 2002, an average annual increase was 10.3% (CI = 8.4−12.6). Mortality rate series of gastric cancer in men did not fit any of the usual trend functions. The male/female gastric cancer mortality ratio was 1.7 : 1. Mortality rates for gastric cancer rose with age in both sexes and they were highest in the age group of 70 and more years. From 1990−2002, in both sexes aged 70 years and more, mortality from gastric cancer rose by 67.2% (CI = 58.0−76.4) in men and by 69.6% (CI = 60.6−78.6) in women. During the same period, the death rates in men decreased by 75.9 % (CI = 67.5−84.4) in the age group of 30−39 years, and by 48.1% (CI = 38.4−57.9) in women aged 50−59 years. In both sexes mortality rate series of all other age groups did not fit any of the usual trend functions. Conclusions. The increase in mortality rate of gastric in women over the past few years, showed the necessity of instituting primary and secondary preventive measures

Diet and gastric cancer

The aim of this case-control study, conducted in Serbia during the period 1998-2000, was to investigate whether diet was associated with the development of gastric cancer. The case group consisted of 131 patients with histologically confirmed gastric cancer, and the control group of 131 patients with orthopedics diseases and injuries. Cases and controls were individually matched by age (±± 2 years), gender, and place of residence. On the basis of multivariate logistic regression analysis, following factors were found as independent risk factors for gastric cancer: more frequent consumption of high-fat milk [Odds ratio (OR) =1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.99-2.16]; mutton, lamb and/or calf meat (OR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.11-5.47), sugar (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.43-3.18), semi-white bread (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.25-3.50), and salting food (OR = 5.72, 95% CI = 2.63-12.42). Factors found as protective were: more frequent consumption of margarine (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.25-0.69), „other“ cheeses (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.29 - 0.77), and fish (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.19-0.76)

The prevalence of polyvascular disease in patients with carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains the major cause of mortality in the Western World. Aims: We aimed to assess the prevalence of polyvascular disease in patients with carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD), and to determine the risk profile of patients with polyvascular disease. Methods: The study included 1045 consecutive patients presenting to our department with carotid disease or PAD. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric parameters, and data on cardiovascular risk factors were collected in all patients. On the basis of medical history, patients were classified into those who had only symptomatic carotid disease or symptomatic PAD and those who had symptomatic polyvascular disease. Results: Carotid disease alone was reported in 366 participants (35%), PAD alone, in 199 (19%), and polyvascular disease, in 480 (46%). Compared with carotid disease, PAD was more often a component of polyvascular disease (P = 0.002) and was combined with a higher number of other atherosclerotic diseases (P = 0.02). Compared with patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic disease in only 1 territory, patients with various types of polyvascular disease more often had hypertension (P from 0.03 to &lt; 0.001), dyslipidemia (P &lt; 0.001), high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein levels of 3 mg/l or higher (P = 0.005), and more often were current smokers (P &lt; 0.001) or former smokers (P from 0.03 to 0.001). Conclusions: We showed a high prevalence of symptomatic polyvascular disease in patients with carotid disease or PAD. The risk profile was worse in patients with polyvascular disease than in those with a disease in a single vascular territory