Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among Swedish Sami--a controlled cohort study

To investigate the occurrence of clinical, psychosocial and behavioural risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among reindeer herding (RS) and non-reindeer herding Sami (NRS).

A retrospective cohort study, comparing risk factors behind CVD between Sami and non-Sami, RS and NRS, and Sami men and women.

A cohort of 611 Swedish Sami (276 men and 335 women) was constructed from national population registers. A twice as large control cohort of non-Sami was created, matched by age, gender and area of residence. Information on risk factors was obtained from a database containing clinical and psychosocial-behavioural data from a regional CVD preventive programme for the period 1990-2001.

The Sami and the non-Sami showed similar risk factor patterns. The main differences were related to working conditions and lifestyle factors of the RS. The RS men had lower blood pressure, were more physically active and had higher job demand and decision latitude. The RS women showed more negative scores on the indices of the job strain model.

Previously reported differences in CVD mortality between Sami and non-Sami, and Sami men and women, can only partly be explained by different exposure to the psychosocial and behaviour risk factors investigated in this study.