Studies have indicated that men have a higher overall risk of VTE than women. In previous studies, we have noted that risk factors for VTE, such as alcohol consumption and physical activity, can ...differ between sexes.
The aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence of first-ever VTE and the association of traditional cardiovascular risk factors with VTE risk in men and women separately.
Inhabitants of Västerbotten County in northern Sweden, who had participated in a health examination between 1985 and 2014 were included. The mean age at inclusion was 46.3 years (range 26–65 years). All first-ever VTE events experienced by the participants from the health examination to September 5, 2014 were identified and validated.
A total of 1110 men and 944 women had an objectively verified first-ever VTE event. The incidence of VTE was 1.54 (95% CI 1.45–1.63) per 1000 years of follow-up for men and 1.22 (95% CI 1.14–1.30) for women. Higher age, weight and body mass index were associated with increased risk of VTE in both sexes. Men with hypertension had a lower risk of VTE, HR 0.75 (95% CI 0.65–0.87) and men with more than secondary school education had a higher risk of VTE. Taller women had an increased risk of VTE.
In the studied age group, we found that men had a higher incidence of first-ever VTE than women. Notably, we also found that hypertension was associated with lower risk of VTE in men but not in women.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Previous observational studies have shown a moderately increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with high self-reported alcohol consumption. However, self-reported data ...tend to underestimate alcohol consumption. Phosphatidylethanol is a specific biomarker reflecting alcohol intake during the last month and correlates with the amount of alcohol consumed. The present study aimed to investigate the association between phosphatidylethanol levels and the risk of future ICH.
METHODS:This population-based nested case-referent study was conducted within the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Cohort. At baseline, all participants underwent a health examination, including a questionnaire with questions about alcohol consumption. A blood sample was collected and stored at −80°C, and phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1 levels were measured in packed erythrocytes. Cases (n=97) were diagnosed with a first-ever ICH between 1985 and 2007. Two referents (n=180) were matched to each case.
RESULTS:The mean age at baseline was 55 years, 39% of participants were women, and the mean time from blood sampling to ICH was 7.3 years. Only phosphatidylethanol and hypertension remained independently associated with ICH in a multivariable model. Participants with phosphatidylethanol >0.30 μmol/L had an increased risk of ICH compared with those with phosphatidylethanol <0.01 μmol/L (odds ratio, 4.64 95% CI, 1.49–14.40).
CONCLUSIONS:High blood concentrations of phosphatidylethanol were associated with an increased risk of future ICH. This association was independent of hypertension and other risk factors for ICH. Our findings suggest that phosphatidylethanol, as a marker of alcohol consumption, may be used as a risk marker of future ICH.
•Problem drinking was associated with increased atrial fibrillation (AF) risk in men.•A moderate or higher alcohol intake was associated with an increased AF risk in men.•Alcohol intake was not ...associated with AF risk in women.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common tachyarrhythmia. High alcohol consumption is associated with increased AF risk. It remains unclear whether lower levels of alcohol consumption are also associated with AF risk, and whether the association differs between men and women. In this study, we investigated the association between low to moderate levels of alcohol consumption and AF risk in men and women.
We performed a population-based cohort study of 109,230 health examination participants in northern Sweden. Data regarding alcohol intake were obtained using a questionnaire administered at the health examination. Incident AF cases were identified from the Swedish National Patient Registry.
AF was diagnosed in 5,230 individuals during a total follow-up of 1,484,547 person-years. Among men, AF risk increased over quartiles of weekly alcohol consumption (P for trend 0.001). Men with alcohol consumption in the highest quartile (≥4.83 standard drinks each drink containing 12 gs of ethanol per week; SDW) had a HR of 1.21 (95% CI 1.09–1.34) for AF compared to men in the lowest quartile (<0.90 SDW). In men, problem drinking was also associated with an increased AF risk (HR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.10–1.39). Among women, AF risk was not significantly associated with alcohol consumption (P for trend 0.09 for decreasing risk of AF over quartiles of weekly alcohol consumption) or problem drinking (HR: 1.00; 95% CI 0.70–1.42).
Self-reported alcohol consumption and problem drinking were associated with an increased risk of AF among men, but not in women.
Previous studies have shown an increased risk for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter (AF) in people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. It is unclear whether this increase in AF risk is ...independent of other risk factors for AF.
To investigate the association between diabetes and different prediabetic states, as independent risk factors for onset of AF.
We performed a population-based cohort study in Northern Sweden, including data on fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, major cardiovascular risk factors, medical history, and lifestyle factors. Participants were divided into six groups depending on glycemic status and followed through national registers for AF diagnosis. Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the association between glycemic status and AF, using normoglycemia as reference.
The cohort consisted of 88,889 participants who underwent a total of 139,661 health examinations. In the model adjusted for age and sex, there was a significant association between glycemic status and development of AF in all groups except the IGT group, with the strongest association for the group with known diabetes (p value <0.001). In a model adjusted for sex, age, systolic blood pressure, BMI, antihypertensive drugs, cholesterol, alcohol, smoking, education level, marital status, and physical activity, there was no significant association between glycemic status and AF.
The association between glycemic status and AF disappears upon adjustment for potential confounders. Diabetes and prediabetes do not appear to be independent risk factors for AF. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
•We performed a cohort study of self-rated health and risk of venous thrombosis.•The study was performed in northern Sweden and included 108,025 participants.•The risk of thrombosis was higher in men ...and women with lower self-rated health.•The association remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders.
Poor self-rated health (SRH) is associated with various adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease. Little is known about SRH and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as predictors of first-time venous thromboembolism (VTE). Our aim was to investigate the association between SRH, HRQoL, and risk of VTE in a whole cohort, as well as in women and men separately.
A total of 108,025 middle-aged inhabitants (51 % women) of Västerbotten, Sweden, participated in a health examination between 1985 and 2014. Data on SRH, HRQoL, and potential confounders were collected by questionnaire. Participants were followed as a cohort and validated first-time VTE events were registered. The mean follow-up time was 13.9 years, during which 2054 participants experienced a first-time VTE. Overall, 27 % of participants reported their health as very good, 46 % as good, 20 % as average, 5 % as somewhat bad, and 1 % as bad. In a multivariable analysis, compared with participants who self-rated as having very good SRH, hazard ratios (95 % confidence intervals) for VTE were 1.17 (1.02–1.33) with good SRH, 1.27 (1.09–1.47) with average SRH, and 1.48 (1.00–2.18) with bad SRH. The risk of VTE increased with lower SRH for both men (p for trend 0.02) and women (p for trend 0.04). In a fully adjusted model, we also found significant associations between four aspects of HRQoL (general health, bodily pain, vitality, emotional well-being) and VTE risk.
In conclusion, lower perceived health is associated with an increased risk of VTE in both men and women.
To examine the incidence of atrial fibrillation in individuals with type 2 diabetes compared with age- and sex-matched controls from the general population and its variation in relation to glycaemic ...control and renal function.
A total of 421,855 patients with type 2 diabetes from the Swedish National Diabetes Registry and 2,131,223 controls from the Swedish Population Registry, matched for age, sex and county, were included and followed from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2013.
Overall, 8.9% of individuals with type 2 diabetes and 7.0% of controls were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation during follow-up, unadjusted incidence risk ratio (IRR) 1.35 (95% 1.33-1.36). Women < 55 years old with type 2 diabetes had an IRR of 2.36 (95% CI 2.10-2.66), in relation to controls, whereas the corresponding value for men < 55 years old with type 2 diabetes was IRR 1.78 (95% CI 1.67-1.90). In the fully adjusted Cox regression, the risk of type 2 diabetes on incident atrial fibrillation was 28% greater vs controls, hazard ratio (HR) 1.28 (95% CI 1.26-1.30), p < 0.0001. The excess risk of atrial fibrillation in individuals with type 2 diabetes increased with worsening glycaemic control and renal complications. For individuals with HbA1c ≤ 6.9% (≤ 52 mmol/mol) and normoalbuminuria the excess risk vs controls was still increased, adjusted HR 1.16 (95% CI 1.14-1.19); p < 0.0001.
Individuals with type 2 diabetes had an overall 35% higher risk of atrial fibrillation compared to age- and sex-matched controls from the general population. The excess risk for atrial fibrillation increased with renal complications or with poor glycaemic control. Individuals with type 2 diabetes with good glycaemic control and normoalbuminuria had slightly increased risk.
Background
Anthropometric factors are reported to be risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF), but it is unclear whether weight change in mid‐life is associated with AF. We aimed to study the ...possible associations of weight, height, and weight change with the risk of incident AF in men and women.
Methods
Our study cohort included 108 417 persons (51% women) who participated in a population‐based health examination in northern Sweden at 30, 40, 50, or 60 years of age. The health examination included weight and height measurement and collection of data regarding cardiovascular risk factors. Within this cohort, 40 275 participants underwent two health examinations with a 10‐year interval. We identified cases with a first‐ever diagnosis of AF through the Swedish National Patient Registry.
Results
During a total follow‐up of 1 469 820 person‐years, 5154 participants developed incident AF. The mean age at inclusion was 46.3 years, and mean age at AF diagnosis was 66.6 years. After adjustment for potential confounders, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and body surface area (BSA) were positively associated with risk of incident AF in both men and women. Among participants who underwent two health examinations 10 years apart, 1142 persons developed AF. The mean weight change from baseline was a gain of 4.8%. Weight gain or weight loss was not significantly associated with risk of incident AF.
Conclusions
Height, weight, BMI, and BSA showed positive associations with risk of incident AF in both men and women. Midlife weight change was not significantly associated with AF risk.
In a prospecitve population‐based cohort study height, weight, BMI, and BSA showed positive associations with risk of incident AF in both men and women. Midlife weight change was not significantly associated with AF risk.
Low weight has been associated with increased mortality risks in type 1 diabetes. We aimed to investigate the importance of weight and weight gain/loss in the Swedish population diagnosed with type 1 ...diabetes.
Patients with type 1 diabetes (
= 26,125; mean age 33.3 years; 45% women) registered in the Swedish National Diabetes Registry from 1998 to 2012 were followed from the first day of study entry. Cox regression was used to calculate risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD), major CVD events, hospitalizations for heart failure (HF), and total deaths.
Population mean BMI in patients with type 1 diabetes increased from 24.7 to 25.7 kg/m
from 1998 to 2012. Over a median follow-up of 10.9 years, there were 1,031 deaths (33.2% from CVD), 1,460 major CVD events, and 580 hospitalizations for HF. After exclusion of smokers, patients with poor metabolic control, and patients with a short follow-up time, there was no increased risk for mortality in those with BMI <25 kg/m
, while BMI >25 kg/m
was associated with a minor increase in risk of mortality, major CVD, and HF. In women, associations with BMI were largely absent. Weight gain implied an increased risk of mortality and HF, while weight loss was not associated with higher risk.
Risk of major CVD, HF, CVD death, and mortality increased with increasing BMI, with associations more apparent in men than in women. After exclusion of factors associated with reverse causality, there was no evidence of an obesity paradox.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease caused by T-cell mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Eosinophils are found in pancreatic tissue from individuals with T1D. Eosinophilic ...suppression of T cells is dependent of the protein galectin-10. Little is known when it comes to the role of eosinophil granulocytes in type 1 diabetes. Here we show that individuals with long-standing T1D had lower levels of galectin-10
eosinophils and a subgroup of galectin-10
eosinophils were entirely absent in all T1D patients. In addition, 7% immature eosinophils were present in the circulation of T1D patients whereas 0.8% in healthy individuals. Furthermore, higher levels of CD4+CD8+ T cells and Th17 cells were observed in patients with T1D. Blood samples from 12 adult individuals with long-standing T1D and 12 healthy individuals were compared using cytometry by time-of-flight. Lower levels of galectin-10
eosinophils, which are potent T cell suppressors, in individuals with T1D could indicate that activated T cells are enabled to unrestrictedly kill the insulin producing beta cells. This is the first study showing absence of galectin-10
eosinophilic subgroup in individuals with T1D compared with healthy controls. This study is a first important step toward unraveling the role of the eosinophils in patients with T1D.
Background:
Recent guidelines have been developed for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics in persons with diabetes. To understand what glucose profiles should be judged as normal in clinical ...practice and glucose-lowering trials, we examined the glucose profile of healthy individuals using CGM.
Methods:
Persons without diabetes or prediabetes were included after passing a normal oral glucose tolerance test, two-hour value <8.9 mmol/L (160 mg/dL), fasting glucose <6.1 mmol/L (110 mg/dL), and HbA1c <6.0% (<42 mmol/mol). CGM metrics were evaluated using the Dexcom G4 Platinum.
Results:
In total, 60 persons were included, mean age was 43.0 years, 70.0% were women, mean HbA1c was 5.3% (34 mmol/mol), and mean body mass index was 25.7 kg/m2. Median and mean percent times in hypoglycemia <3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL) were 1.6% (IQR 0.6-3.2), and 3.2% (95% CI 2.0; 4.3), respectively. For glucose levels <3.0 mmol/L (54 mg/dL), the corresponding estimates were 0.0% (IQR 0.0-0.4) and 0.5% (95% CI 0.2; 0.8). Median and mean time-in-range (3.9-10.0 mmol/L 70-180 mg/dL) was 97.3% (IQR 95.4-98.7) and 95.4% (95% CI 94.0; 96.8), respectively. Median and mean standard deviations were 1.04 mmol/L (IQR 0.92-1.29) and 1.15 mmol/L (95% CI 1.05; 1.24), respectively. Measures of glycemic variability (standard deviation, coefficient of variation, mean amplitude of glycemic excursions) were significantly greater during daytime compared with nighttime, whereas others did not differ.
Conclusions:
People without prediabetes or diabetes show a non-negligible % time in hypoglycemia, median 1.6% and mean 3.2%, which needs to be accounted for in clinical practice and glucose-lowering trials. Glycemic variability measures differ day and night in this population.
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