Systolic Blood Pressure Predicts Cardiovascular Mortality in a Farming but Not in a Fishing Community - A 40-Year Follow up of the Japanese Cohorts of the Seven Countries Study -

Abstract

Background: Blood pressure (BP) is a strong determinant of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The strength of this association in 2 Japanese communities with different intakes of fish was investigated. Methods and Results:The analysis was carried out in the Japanese cohorts of the Seven Countries Study (Tanushimaru and Ushibuka), which were followed for 40 years. We included 1,006 subjects for whom data on baseline BP and relevant potential confounders were available. Data were analysed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. In Tanushimaru men, the systolic BP level was strongly directly related to risk of stroke and CVD mortality, with hazard ratios (HR) of 4.42 (2.02-9.70) for stroke and 3.05 (1.73-3.25) for CVD for BP levels ≥140 mmHg compared to <120 mmHg. In Ushibuka, the HR were 1.74 (0.91-3.32) for stroke mortality and 1.66 (1.01-2.75) for CVD mortality for high vs. low systolic BP. With regard to diastolic BP, the associations with stroke and CVD mortality were similar in Tanushimaru and Ushibuka subjects. Conclusions:This study showed that the well-known relationship of systolic BP with stroke and CVD mortality was more pronounced in the Japanese farming community than in the fishing community. This brings up the hypothesis that the detrimental effect of raised systolic BP could be attenuated by a high intake of fish. (Circ J 2011; 75: 1890 - 1896

Serum Albumin and Cerebro-cardiovascular Mortality During a 15-year Study in a Community-based Cohort in Tanushimaru, a Cohort of the Seven Countries Study

“…The information was carefully independently coded in accordance with the rules of the Seven Countries Study (12). …”

“…This was a cohort of the Seven Countries Study (12). As previously reported, the demographic background of the subjects in this area is similar to that of the general Japanese population (13).…”

Plasma Endothelin-1 Level Is a Predictor of 10-Year Mortality in a General Population

“…Causes of death were determined based on a review of obituaries, medical records, death certificates, hospital charts, and interviews with primary care physicians, families of the deceased and other witnesses. The information was coded independently following the rules of the Seven Countries Study, 15 and using the World Health Organization's 10 th Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (WHO-ICD). 20 Follow-up data through the end of June 2010 were used in this study.…”

Some Caution When Conducting Long-Term Follow-up Study of Cardiovascular Mortality

“…1 The study group continuously had these events checked, mainly by official death certificates. I think that the numbers of events is satisfactory for Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, but some additional information would support the understanding of this important epidemiological study.…”