Showing papers by "Calle Bengtsson published in 2001"

Larger hip circumference independently predicts health and longevity in a Swedish female cohort.

Abstract: Objective: The waist circumference is widely viewed as a simple but effective measure for assessing obesity-related health risks, whereas measurement of the hip circumference is not currently prioritized. This study examines health risks associated specifically with hip circumference in a cohort of Swedish women, to determine whether information may be lost by excluding the hip circumference from health surveys. Research Methods and Procedures: The subjects described in this report constitute a population-based sample of 38- to 60-year-old women who underwent anthropometric examinations in 1968. The 24-year incidence rates have been ascertained for myocardial infarction, combined cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. All-cause, cardiovascular, and myocardial infarction mortality also were evaluated. Results: Hip circumference was a significant independent inverse risk estimator for all endpoints studied. Using Cox regression with adjustment for age, smoking, body mass index, and waist circumference, the remaining variability associated with larger hips was associated with significantly fewer adverse health outcomes. The hip circumference became statistically informative after body mass index adjustment. The strongest protective associations were observed for cardiovascular disease and diabetes endpoints, although significant trends were also seen for total mortality. Considering hip and waist simultaneously, the strength of the inverse association for large hips generally exceeded the positive association for waist. Discussion: Recent interest in the waist circumference as an effective screening tool has taken the focus off of the hip circumference. The present results suggest that collection of hip measurements should not be discontinued in assessment of obesity-related risk status and health promotion.

Cancer risk in Swedish women: the relation to size at birth.

Abstract: The relationship between fetal growth as indicated by weight and length at birth, and cancer risk in 1080 adult Swedish women was examined. Birth factors were retrieved from original midwife records for the years 1914, 1918, 1922 and 1930, and primary cancer cases were identified by matching with national and regional cancer registries through the year 1998. A positive and statistically significant increased risk for cancer was found with increasing birth weight or birth length for all site cancer and non-hormone related cancer, defined as all cancer sites excluding breast, uterus and ovary. Addition of factors suspected to influence cancer risk, maternal proteinuria, birth order, own parity and age at menarche, did not attenuate this relation. Previously only breast cancer has been reported to be related to size at birth in adult women and this is the first study to report that cancer sites other than the major hormone-related sites may be influenced by size at birth, as measured by either weight or length at birth; these findings warrant further investigation. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com

Socioeconomic status and mortality in Swedish women : opposing trends for cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Abstract: We examined relations between socioeconomic status and cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes mellitus in a 24-year prospective study of 1,462 Swedish women. Two socioeconomic indicators were ...

Evaluation of “Live for Life”, a health promotion programme in the County of Skaraborg, Sweden

Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate a health promotion programme, combining a population and individual based strategy, in the County of Skaraborg, Sweden, with special attention to outcome. DESIGN The evaluation was subdivided into structure, process and outcome. The evaluation procedure as a total is described here, but the results presented refer only to outcome. In order to study the potential effect of the individually based health examination, 35 year old subjects who had participated five years previously were in 1994–1996 compared with 35 year old subjects who had not participated before, and compared with their own values five years earlier. The results during 1995–1996 were compared with those of 1989–1990 for corresponding ages in order to study the effect of, particularly, the population based strategy. SETTING The County of Skaraborg in the south western part of Sweden with about 270 000 inhabitants. In addition to population strategy, involving the total county, men and women aged 30 and 35 years were invited to an individually based examination. MAIN RESULTS Factors related to body weight increased during the study period, while other factors mostly changed in the direction wanted. As a whole the changes were rather modest. There were favourable changes in lifestyle variables, for example, concerning smoking and dietary habits. CONCLUSIONS There were beneficial effects from the health promotion programme, but there is a need for continuous improvement of methods of intervention referred to lifestyle.

Microproteinuria and Long-term Prognosis with Respect to Renal Function and Survival in Normotensive and Hypertensive Women: A 24-year Follow-up of a Representative Population Sample of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to assess albuminuria and subclinical proteinuria, their association with hypertension and their role as predictors of hypertension, impaired renal function and mortality. Material and Methods: A baseline population study comprising 1462 women in five different age groups in Gothenburg, Sweden, was carried out in 1968-69. Comprehensive clinical examinations and laboratory tests were performed, including blood pressure measurement and an Albustix test. A systematic subsample of women additionally collected a 24 h urine sample for quantitative protein analysis. Values of urinary protein (u-protein) excretion between 80 and 300 mg/24 h were defined as microproteinuria. The results described in this paper are based on a 24-year follow-up. Results: The baseline Albustix test was positive in 6.8% of 1458 women, from whom a urine sample was obtained. Of 741 baseline urine collections for u-protein excretion, 16.9% were in the microproteinuric range (80-300 mg/24 h), 1.1% in the macrop...

No connection between the number of amalgam fillings and health. Epidemiological observations from a population study of women in Gothenburg

Abstract: Number of dental amalgam fillings and baseline serum mercury concentration were assessed with respect to a number of health related variables as part of a population study of women. There was no increased incidence of symptoms, no derangement of laboratory variables of clinical significance, nor any increased mortality or increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes or cancer in women with many amalgam fillings compared with those with few fillings, nor in women with higher serum mercury concentration compared with those with lower serum mercury concentration.