Objective-To examine the associations between physical activity and a wide range of risk factors for ischaemic heart disease including fibrinogen concentration and viscosity.Design-Cross sectional evidence from the 2398 men aged 50-64 years in the Caerphilly Prospective Heart Disease Study.Methods-Validated questionnaires were used to quantify energy expenditure on leisure activities and to grade activities related to occupation. Risk factors for heart disease examined included blood pressure, lipids, fibrinogen, and plasma viscosity. Possible confounding variables included smoking, employment, and prevalent heart disease (angina, previous myocardial infarction, and electrocardiographic evidence of ischaemia).Results-Fibrinogen concentration was lower by 0-24 gil and viscosity by 0-026 cP in the third of men who were most active in leisure activities (about 0 25 x 1 SD). A weak positive relation was found with high density lipoprotein cholesterol, but none with total chlolesterol or fasting glucose concentrations or blood pressure. Triglyceride concentrations seem to be substantially lower in the most active men, although the evidence for this is not consistent. Work related activity showed relation with the lipid concentration but not with the haemostatic tests.Conclusions-Leisure activities of all levels seem to affect haemostatic and lipid factors beneficially. These effects correspond to a difference in the risk of heart disease for an active man and a sedentary man of at least 7% or 8%. Fasting triglyceride concentrations have already been shown to be strongly predictive of heart disease in this cohort of men, and the effect of exercise on this factor is also likely to confer benefit.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, viscosity, fibrinogen, and blood pressure were determined in 117 men aged 44 to 60 yr selected from the general population who also completed 7-day weighed dietary records. Associations between these measurements and a number of dietary factors were assessed by multiple regression analysis, allowing where necessary for the effects of age, body mass index, and smoking habit. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was associated positively with both alcohol and fish consumption and negatively with saturated fat intake. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol expressed as a percentage of total cholesterol was associated negatively with the percentage of energy from fat and positively with fish consumption. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was associated positively with the percentage of energy from fat and negatively with fish consumption. Fibrinogen and systolic blood pressure were inversely related to cereal fiber intake.

SUMMARY Data for 387 men who had completed seven-day weighed dietary records as part of the Caerphilly Heart Study were examined for relations of alcohol, diet, body mass index (BMI), and other variables to blood pressure. These included age, smoking, exercise, and social class. For men not on antihypertensive treatment (n = 356) regression analysis showed that age (p < 00O1), BMI (p < 0 05), and alcohol intake (p < 0-01) were significantly related to systolic blood pressure, and BMI (p <0001) and alcohol intake (p<001) to diastolic blood pressure. In addition, protein intake (p < 0 05) was significantly and inversely related to the risk of being hypertensive, but other dietary variables were not related to blood pressure. For men on antihypertensive treatment (n=31) significant inverse correlations were observed between diastolic blood pressure and the intakes of potassium (p < 0 01), fibre (p < 0-001), polyunsaturated fat (p < 0 01), and a number of other dietary variables. Reasons for these differences are discussed.The risk of heart disease and stroke increases with blood pressure, even within the 'normal' range.' Against this background, primary prevention of hypertension by nutritional-hygienic means has been advocated,2 but the evidence is inconclusive. Relations to blood pressure have been described positively for salt3 and alcohol;'9 negatively for potassium,'0 " fibre,'2 polyunsaturated rather than saturated fats,'3 and vegetarianism;'4 and both positively and negatively for calcium.' '8 Many of the studies relating diet to blood pressure have relied on dietary methodology (such as 24-hour recall) of questionable validity for within population comparisons.'9 We believe that this is the first study to examine this question using the seven-day weighed dietary inventory method, which is considered the best method available for epidemiological surveys.'9 We were able to explore the independent effects of diet, alcohol, and obesity, and to take account of a number of variables potentially confounding the diet-blood pressure relation, including exercise, social class, and smoking. MethodsThe Caerphilly Heart Study is a longitudinal study of all men aged 45 to 59 years living in Caerphilly, South Wales. From the 2512 men taking part in the main study (90% response rate) a systematic 3 in 10 sample was selected, and these men were asked to complete a seven-day weighed dietary record. This report presents data from the first 387 men; data from a further nine men were excluded for incomplete or doubtful records. Response rate for this part of the study was also 90%.Men were invited to an evening clinic, where examination included height determination by Holtain stadiometer and weight (in light clothing) on a beam balance. At the end of the clinic visit, one "casual" supine reading of blood pressure was measured by a single observer. Diastolic blood pressure was taken at the disappearance of the Korotkoff sounds (phase V); blood pressure values were not corrected for ambient temperature. Men taking antihyperte...

Associations have been reported between Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity and both acute and chronic obstructive airway diseases. Plasma specimens collected between 1979 and 1983 from 1, 773 men 45 to 59 yr of age in Caerphilly, South Wales, were tested for IgG and IgA antibodies to C. pneumoniae (TW183) by microimmunofluorescence. Subsequent mortality and medication for obstructive airway disease were ascertained at 5-yr follow-up examinations. Spirometry was performed at the first and second examinations and analyzed both cross-sectionally and longitudinally; 642 men (36%) had IgG antibodies at a titer of 1:16 or above, of whom 362 also had detectable IgA antibodies. No statistically significant associations were found between either IgG titer or IgA titer and any of the outcome measures: inhaler therapy at entry; commencement of inhalers during follow-up; death from respiratory causes; baseline FEV(1), FVC, and FEV(1)/FVC ratio; and decline in FEV(1) (p > 0.1 throughout). Men with high IgG titers (>/= 1:64) had a slower rate of decline of FEV(1) than did seronegative subjects (adjusted mean difference in 5-yr change in FEV(1): +22 ml, 95% confidence interval: -31 ml to +76 ml). Men with high IgA titers (>/= 1:16) had a slightly faster rate of decline (-12 ml, - 96 ml to +71 ml). This first prospective assessment suggests that chronic C. pneumoniae infection is not a major risk factor for progressive airflow obstruction.