Insulin resistance predicts early cardiovascular morbidity in men without diabetes mellitus, with effect modification by physical activity.

to assess how well insulin resistance predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) in non-diabetic men and women and to explore the influence of physical activity

Association between self-reported alcohol consumption and diastolic dysfunction : a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: While alcohol consumption is associated with common risk factors for diastolic dysfunction the independent impact of low levels of alcohol consumption on this condition in a community setting is still unclear.Thus, the aim of this study was to explore this association in a representative population sample employing optimal echocardiographic techniques.DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study in community-based population.SETTINGS, PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Participants between 30 and 75 years of age were consecutively invited to a physical examination, interview, conventional echocardiography, including Tissue Velocity Imaging. Diastolic dysfunction was defined according to the European Society of Cardiology criteria, excluding subjects with ejection fraction <45%, self-reported history of heart failure or atrial fibrillation on ECG. Self-reported alcohol intake using a validated questionnaire was categorised as no intake, low and medium-high intake. RESULTS: In total, 500 men and 538 women (mean age 55.4±13) were successfully examined. Diastolic dysfunction was identified in 16% (79/500) of the men and 13% (58/538) of the women. The multivariable adjusted model revealed a strong and independent association between alcohol intake and diastolic dysfunction. In fact, using no alcohol intake as reference, diastolic dysfunction was independently associated with alcohol consumption in a dose-dependent fashion; low consumption, OR 2.3 (95% CI 1.3 to 4.0) and medium-high consumption OR 3.1 (95% CI 1.6 to 6.2), respectively. CONCLUSION: There was a significant association between alcohol consumption and diastolic dysfunction starting already at low levels that was supported by a dose-dependent pattern. These results need confirmatory studies and are important in public health policies

C-reactive protein concentrations and level of physical activity in men and women with normal and impaired glucose tolerance : A cross-sectional population-based study in Sweden

Background: We aimed to explore the association between self-reported leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in men and women with and without impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a random sample (n = 2,816) was examined with an oral glucose tolerance test, CRP and information about LTPA. Those with IGT or normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and CRP value ≤10 mg/L were selected (n = 2,367) for the study. Results: An inverse association between LTPA and CRP concentrations was observed in the population (P <.001), though, only in men with IGT (P = .023) and in women with NGT. Men with IGT, reporting slight physical activity up to 4 hours a week presented significantly higher CRP concentrations than normoglycemic men (Δ0.6 mg/L, P = .004). However, this difference could not be found in men with IGT reporting more intense physical activity (Δ0.01 mg/L, P = .944). Conclusions: Physical inactivity seems to have greater inflammatory consequences for men (vs. women) with IGT. More importantly, although 4 hours of physical activity per week is more than the usual minimum recommendation, an even greater intensity of LTPA appears to be required to limit subclinical inflammation in men with IGT

The 10-year incidence of hypertension across blood pressure categories in a population-based cohort in southwestern Sweden

Background: To explore the determinants of incident hypertension, and especially the impact of baseline blood pressure categories, in a representative Swedish population. Methods: A 10-year longitudinal study of residents aged 30–74. Blood pressures were measured and categorized according to ESH guidelines with optimal blood pressure < 120/80 mmHg, normal 120–129/80–84 mmHg, and high normal 130–139/85–89 mmHg. Incident hypertension was defined as ongoing treatment or three consecutive blood pressure readings ≥ 140/ ≥ 90 mmHg (one or both) at follow-up, while those with ≥ 140 and/or ≥ 90 mmHg at only one or two visits were labelled as unstable. After excluding subjects with hypertension, ongoing blood pressure lowering medication or a previous CVD event at baseline, 1099 remained for further analyses. Results: Sixteen (2.6%) subjects with optimal baseline blood pressure had hypertension at follow up. Corresponding numbers for subjects with normal, high normal and unstable blood pressure were 55 (19.4%), 50 (39.1%) and 46 (74.2%), respectively. Compared with subjects in optimal group those in normal, high normal and unstable blood pressure categories had significantly higher risk to develop manifest hypertension with odds ratios OR and (95% CI) of 7.04 (3.89–12.7), 17.1 (8.88–33.0) and 84.2 (37.4–190), respectively, with adjustment for age, BMI and family history for hypertension. The progression to hypertension was also independently predicted by BMI (p < 0.001), however, not by age. Conclusions: Subjects with high normal or unstable blood pressure should be identified in clinical practice, evaluated for global hypertension risk and offered personalized advice on lifestyle modification for early prevention of manifest hypertension and cardiovascular disease

Endothelin-1 as a predictor of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes - A longitudinal study in the Vara-Skövde Cohort

We addressed whether endothelin-1, a marker of endothelial dysfunction, predicts impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a population study in south-western Sweden. Follow-up after 9.7 years showed an association between circulating endothelin-1 levels at baseline and development of IGT/T2DM in women but not in men

Circulating concentrations of endothelin-1 predict coronary heart disease in women but not in men: a longitudinal observational study in the Vara-Skövde Cohort.

The vasoconstricting peptide endothelin-1 has been proposed to be a marker of cardiovascular disease. Our aim was to investigate whether circulating endothelin-1 levels predict coronary heart disease (CHD) in Sweden