German Origin Clusters for High Cardiovascular Risk in an Italian Enclave

Abstract

SUMMARYMortality and morbidity appear to be higher in a Cimbrian population representing an enclave of people who migrated from medieval Germany to the secluded Leogra valley in Italy.A population-based study was organized, recruiting 881 elderly subjects of Cimbrian origin and comparing them with a standard control population (SCP, n = 3282) having comparable general characteristics and lifestyle. Serum lipids and glucose, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory function, ECG abnormalities, and historical events were used as risk indicators.Age-adjusted systolic and pulse pressure were higher in the Cimbrians than in the SCP, while diastolic blood pressure was comparable. The prevalences of arterial hypertension, isolated systolic hypertension, and pulse hypertension were significantly more represented among Cimbrians than SCP. The prevalences of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia were higher among the former than the latter. The ratio between apolipoproteins B and A1 was also higher, while the HDL fraction was significantly lower in Cimbrians than in the SCP. In Cimbrians, the relative risk (RR) for ischemic heart disease was 1.92 (1.57-2.34) in women, 2.30 (1.54-3.43) in men and 1.03 (1.00-1.06) in women for stroke, 2.43 (1.54-3.83) in men and 1.45 (1.01-1.12) in women for atrial fibrillation, 3.85 (2.83-5.24) in men and 1.39 (1.20-1.60) in women for respiratory disease, 1.97 (1.32-2.94) in men and 6.81 (4.38-10.60) in women for intermittent claudication, and 3.31 (2.44-4.50) in men and 2.30 (1.76-3.01) in women for left ventricular hypertrophy.The subjects living in the secluded Leogra valley are at higher cardiovascular risk than the standard controls. Whether this depends on genetic factors, lifestyle, or both will need to be clarified by further analysis. (Int Heart J 2005; 46: 489-500)

Prognostic Value of Ambulatory Heart Rate Revisited in 6928 Subjects From 6 Populations

“…For this reason, we are presently collecting outcome results in additional cohorts, although to our knowledge no prospective population data are available in black subjects. [35][36][37] Second, the 6 populations differed in anthropometric characteristics and lifestyle, and conventional heart rate was only available in 82.9% of our Hypertension was a conventional blood pressure of Ն140 mm Hg systolic or 90 mm Hg diastolic or the use of antihypertensive drugs. All of the hazard ratios were stratified by cohort and adjusted for age, systolic blood pressure measured over the same interval as heart rate, body mass index, smoking and drinking, serum total cholesterol, history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and treatment with antihypertensive drugs.…”

Electrocardiographic criteria of left ventricular hypertrophy in general population

“…General protocol of the study The here described analysis was performed in the frame of the CArdiovascular STudy in the Elderly (CASTEL) and of the Last Evidences Of Genetic Risk factors in the Aged (LEOGRA) [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] studies. The aim of these studies was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension, the cardiovascular risk pattern and the feasibility of a program for hypertension control in general population.…”

Prognostic superiority of daytime ambulatory over conventional blood pressure in four populations: a meta-analysis of 7030 individuals

“…Studies were eligible for inclusion, if they involved a random population sample, if information on the conventional and ambulatory blood pressures and cardiovascular risk factors were available at baseline, and if the subsequent follow-up included fatal and nonfatal outcomes. An electronic search of the English literature, using 'ambulatory blood pressure monitoring' and 'population' as search terms identified eleven studies [11][12][13][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Seven were excluded because follow-up was still ongoing [17,[19][20][21][22][23] or because follow-up did not include nonfatal events [12].…”