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Pulmonary function as a predictor of coronary heart disease
E B Marcus1, J D Curb, C J MacLean
1Honolulu Heart Program, Kuakini Medical Center, HI 96817.
American Journal of Epidemiology
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Pulmonary function, measured by %PFEV1, predicts coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in Japanese-American men. This association is primarily driven by cigarette smoking, which impacts both lung health and heart disease development.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pulmonary function is increasingly recognized for its systemic health implications.
- The relationship between lung health and cardiovascular disease risk warrants further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine pulmonary function as an independent predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Japanese-American men.
- To investigate the influence of smoking status on the association between pulmonary function and CHD incidence.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study within the Honolulu Heart Program (1965-1983).
- Inclusion of 5,924 men aged 45-68, free of CHD at baseline.
- Measurement of pulmonary function (specifically %PFEV1) and follow-up for CHD events over 15-18 years.
Main Results:
- A significant inverse relationship was observed between %PFEV1 and CHD incidence in the total cohort, even after adjusting for age and other risk factors (p < 0.0001).
- %PFEV1 predicted CHD risk only in current and former smokers, not in never-smokers (p = 0.36).
- The findings suggest that cigarette smoking underlies the observed association between pulmonary function and CHD.
Conclusions:
- Pulmonary function, particularly %PFEV1, is a significant predictor of coronary heart disease incidence in Japanese-American men.
- The predictive role of pulmonary function for CHD is largely attributable to the effects of cigarette smoking.
- This highlights the critical impact of smoking on both respiratory and cardiovascular health.