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Risk factors for coronary heart disease in middle-aged men in Crete in 1982
C Aravanis1, R P Mensink, A Corcondilas
1Medical Center of Athens, Greece.
Insights
Coronary heart disease risk factors in Cretan men show increased body mass index and smoking rates compared to a previous generation. Despite low current incidence, these changes suggest a potentially higher future risk for heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular epidemiology
- Public health research
- Lifestyle and disease risk
Background:
- Examining coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in contemporary middle-aged Cretan men.
- Comparing current risk factor profiles with a previous generation from the 1960 Seven Countries Study cohort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in CHD risk factors over time in a Cretan male population.
- To evaluate the current risk profile for CHD in middle-aged Cretan men.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing data from 1982 with 1960 cohort data.
- Analysis of risk factors including cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and smoking prevalence.
- Multiple regression analysis to identify independent relationships between risk factors and HDL-cholesterol/triglycerides.
Main Results:
- Increased mean body mass index (22.6 to 26.9 kg/m2) and smoking percentage (57.4% to 74.1%) observed.
- Higher serum cholesterol and slightly lower blood pressure compared to 1960, with methodological changes noted as a potential confounder.
- Body mass index, skinfold ratio, and smoking were negatively associated with HDL-cholesterol; BMI correlated positively with triglycerides.
Conclusions:
- Despite a persistently low incidence of coronary heart disease in Crete, the observed shifts in risk factors indicate a potential increase in future CHD risk.
- Public health strategies may be needed to address rising obesity and smoking rates to mitigate future cardiovascular disease burden.
Abstract:
Risk factors for coronary heart disease were studied in healthy middle-aged Cretan men in order to compare them with the middle-aged men of a previous generation studied in 1960 as the Cretan cohort of the Seven Countries Study (1960). In the present cohort mean values for total cholesterol were 5.48 mmol/L, for HDL-cholesterol 1.26 mmol/L, for triglycerides 1.41 mmol/L, for systolic blood pressure 128 mmHg, and for diastolic blood pressure 77 mmHg. Serum cholesterol was higher and blood pressure slightly lower than the values observed in 1960. However, it is uncertain whether these changes were real or caused by changes in methodology. The mean body mass index has increased from 22.6 in 1960 to 26.9 kg/m2 in 1982, due to an increase in fatness. The percentage of smokers had increased from 57.4% to 74.1%. Upon multiple regression analysis the body mass index, the subscapular to triceps skinfold ratio and smoking were negatively and independently related with HDL-cholesterol. Body mass index correlated positively with serum triglycerides. Although the incidence of coronary heart disease is still low in Crete, it is concluded that there is nothing in the risk profile of these middle-aged men to suggest that they are at a low risk for coronary heart disease.