Background: Children whose 11 th fetal week falls in pollen season (spring) reportedly have an in... more Background: Children whose 11 th fetal week falls in pollen season (spring) reportedly have an increased risk of sensitisation to food allergens. No such finding has been reported for pet allergens. Objective: The aim of the study was to 1) evaluate the incidence of pet (dog and cat) sensitisation according to the season of the 11 th fetal week and 2) whether the association between pet exposure and respective sensitisation is modified by the coincidence of the 11 th fetal week with pollen season. Methods: The study population comprised all children (born between 2001 and 2006) in the province of South Karelia, Finland (N=5920). Their data of IgE and skin prick tests to pet allergens (N=538) were collected from patient records and linked with questionnaire data on pet exposure. Results: The seasonal incidence peak of cat sensitisation was observed in children whose 11 th fetal week occurred in June (7.4%) and that of dog sensitisation in April (3.8%) and June (4.7%). The relative rate (RR) for cat sensitisation was 2.92 (95% CI 1.40-6.08) in children with cat exposure alone, 8.53 (4.07−17.86) in children with cat and fetal pollen exposures, and 0.61 (0.20−1.83) in children exposed to pollen alone, compared with children without these exposures. The respective RRs for dog sensitisation were 2.17 (1.13-4.19), 4.40 (2.19−8.83) and 1.65 (0.77−3.53). Conclusions and clinical relevance: Coincidence of the first fetal trimester with pollen season strengthens the association between pet exposure and respective sensitisation. Pollen exposure at early pregnancy may deviate immune system towards Th2 type reactivity promoting development of specific allergy in case allergen exposure occurred. Therefore, primary prevention of allergic diseases may need to begin during early pregnancy.
The Sámi people in northernmost Finland have lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases than th... more The Sámi people in northernmost Finland have lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases than the main population of Finland. Chronic infections caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori, both quite recently discovered gram-negative bacteria, have been associated with atherosclerosis. We studied the prevalence of these infections in Sámi and Finnish men by analysing the C. pneumoniae and H. pylori specific serum IgG and IgA antibodies using microimmune fluorescence and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay methods, respectively. The frequency of C. pneumoniae IgG antibodies and the age adjusted geometric mean titres differed significantly between these groups. The Finns were more often sero-positive than the Sámi (76% vs. 67%, respectively), the age adjusted geometric mean titre being 71.6 in the Finns and 38.3 in the Sámi; p = 0.001. No significant difference was found in the H. pylori IgG and IgA antibody prevalences, nor in the geometric mean titres between these groups. The difference in cardiovascular mortality between the Sámi and Finns may be partly explained by the lower incidence of chlamydial infections in the Sámi.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Jul 1, 2007
Purpose: There is general concern about the low level of physical activity and the high amount of... more Purpose: There is general concern about the low level of physical activity and the high amount of time devoted to sedentary behavior among adolescents. This study aimed to determine the proportion of young Finns meeting the current guidelines for youth physical activity (Q 60 min of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity per day) and TV viewing (G 2 hId j1) and to examine associations between physical activity and different sedentary behaviors. Methods: The study population consisted of 6928 boys and girls, members of the northern Finland birth cohort 1986 who, in 2001-2002, at age 15-16 yr, responded to a mailed questionnaire inquiring about their time spent in moderate to vigorous (MVPA), light (LPA), and commuting (CPA) physical activity, and different sedentary behaviors. Results: Fifty-nine percent of the boys and 50% of the girls reported 60 min or more of total physical activity per day. Only 23% of boys and 10% of girls reported 60 min of MVPA per day. Fortyeight percent of boys and 44% of girls reported more than 2 h of daily TV viewing. High amounts of TV viewing and computer use were associated with lower levels of physical activity in both genders. Conclusion: Many adolescents exceeded the recommended level of TV viewing and did not meet current recommendations for health-related physical activity. The inverse associations of physical activity with TV viewing and computer use suggest that measures aimed to reduce sedentary behaviors may, at least partly, increase physical activity among youth.
Background: Ambient air pollution from anthropogenic sources is a main cause of mortality from re... more Background: Ambient air pollution from anthropogenic sources is a main cause of mortality from respiratory disease worldwide, but little is known about the role of pollen. Objective: To test a priori hypothesis that exposure to allergenic pollen from trees and grass increases the risk of death from respiratory diseases. Methods: We conducted a time-series analysis of the relations between daily levels of allergenic pollen and mortality from respiratory causes in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland, 1994-2014. The study population provided by the Statistics Finland comprised 153 378 deaths, 9 742 (6.4%) from respiratory causes. Daily (average) pollen counts for alder, birch, mugwort, and grass were from the Helsinki University Hospital monitoring stations and air quality data from the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority. The main outcome was daily respiratory mortality. Results: The average number of daily deaths was 20.0 (SD 4.78) for all causes, and 1.3 (SD1.25) for respiratory diseases. In quasi-Poisson regression analysis adjusting for long-term trends, ambient temperature, and main air pollutants, abundant daily concentrations of alder increased significantly the risk of death from respiratory diseases, with an 11.9% increase (95% CI 7.8-16.1) for previous day abundant level and 9.1% (3.2-15.3) for 0-4 days’ cumulative exposure. No associations were seen for other pollen. Conclusions: Our results provide new evidence of relation between daily levels of alder pollen and respiratory mortality. These findings identify an important global public health impact and the results support development of population-based prevention through alarm systems and personalised medical advice at the clinics.
The survival of people suffering an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) aged 45-74 years in Finland... more The survival of people suffering an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) aged 45-74 years in Finland was examined using information on hospital discharges and deaths during the period 1974-1985. There were 128,922 cases of initial AMI events, including 37,041 deaths that occurred outside hospital. The 3-day, 1-month and 1-year survival rates in 1981-1985 were 67%, 60% and 54% for males, and 73%, 65% and 58% for females. The overall risk of dying declined by 22% between 1974-1975 and 1984-1985, but this varied by age and follow-up time. The greatest decline (28%) was attained in 3-day mortality at ages 45-54 years while very little improvement occurred between the third day and the first month following the attack, possibly due to selection during the first few days. It is concluded that survival after AMI in Finland has improved substantially, and this should have affected mortality in the general population to a significant extent.
likelihood of coughing (OR: 6.02; 95%CI: 1.4-24.6) (unadjusted). Men were more likely to experien... more likelihood of coughing (OR: 6.02; 95%CI: 1.4-24.6) (unadjusted). Men were more likely to experience chronic cough (OR: 3.42; 95%CI: 0.98-11.96) (unadjusted). Conclusions: PM 4 levels were not exceeding legislated limits. Associations between personal PM 4 levels and respiratory symptoms were not significant; this may be due to the small sample size as there was a reluctance to participate in the study. Further focus should be given to mineral composites and soot exposure.
OBJECTIVES To study the role of distance in public primary health service use in rural and urban ... more OBJECTIVES To study the role of distance in public primary health service use in rural and urban local residential areas (1 km² grids) among the young adults of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (N = 4503). STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study of a cohort born in Northern Finland in 1966. METHODS Use of local health centres was surveyed by postal questionnaire in 1997, and distance from study subjects' home to health centre was calculated along road network. The crude and adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated for distance, predisposing and illness-level variables. Distance-related health inequity indices were calculated. RESULTS The IRRs indicated 1.5-fold higher rate of health centre visits among subjects living farther than 10 km compared to subjects living within 2 km from health centre in urban areas. In rural areas, IRRs indicated no significant association with distance and health centre use. No distance-related inequity in the use of health centre services was found. CONCLUSIONS Distance does not seem to be major barrier in health service use among these 31-year old adults. However, closer study of some groups, such as the rural unemployed, might be valuable.
Elsevier has created a COVID-19 resource centre with free information in English and Mandarin on ... more Elsevier has created a COVID-19 resource centre with free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The COVID-19 resource centre is hosted on Elsevier Connect, the company's public news and information website. Elsevier hereby grants permission to make all its COVID-19-related research that is available on the COVID-19 resource centre-including this research content-immediately available in PubMed Central and other publicly funded repositories, such as the WHO COVID database with rights for unrestricted research re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for free by Elsevier for as long as the COVID-19 resource centre remains active.
and changes during the country's transition". We found the referees' comments very helpful and ha... more and changes during the country's transition". We found the referees' comments very helpful and have edited the manuscript according to their advice. We hope it could now be accepted for publication in BMC Public Health. The detailed responses to the referees are below.
Aims: Diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism cause metabolic, neural and circulatory disturbanc... more Aims: Diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism cause metabolic, neural and circulatory disturbances that may predispose to adverse cooling and related symptoms during the cold season. This study assessed the prevalence of cold-related cardiorespiratory symptoms in the general population according to glycaemic status. Methods: The study population consisted of 2436 men and 2708 women aged 45-74 years who participated in the National FINRISK cold sub-studies in 2002 and 2007. A questionnaire assessed cold-related symptoms (respiratory, cardiac, peripheral circulation). Glycaemic status was determined based on fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance tests or reported diagnosis of diabetes and categorized into normal glucose metabolism, impaired fasting blood glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, screening-detected type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Results: Type 2 diabetes was associated with increased odds for cold-related dyspnoea [Adjusted OR 1.72 (95% CI, 1.28-2.30)], chest pain [2.10 (1.32-3.34)] and respiratory symptoms [1.85 (1.44-2.38)] compared with normal glucose metabolism. Screened type 2 diabetes showed increased OR for cold-related dyspnoea [1.36 (1.04-1.77)], cough [1.41 (1.06-1.87)] and cardiac symptoms [1.51 (1.04-2.20)]. Worsening of glycaemic status was associated with increased odds for cold-related dyspnoea (from 1.16 in impaired fasting glucose to 1.72 in type 2 diabetes,
Numerous studies have explored the association between educational inequalities and stillbirth bu... more Numerous studies have explored the association between educational inequalities and stillbirth but most have failed to elaborate how low educational attainment leads to an increased risk of stillbirth. We hypothesised that use of biomass fuels and consumption of unsafe water related to low educational attainment could explain the stillbirth burden in Ghana attributable to socioeconomic disadvantage. Data from the 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey, a nationally representative population-based survey were analysed for this study. Of the10 370 women aged 15-49 years interviewed via structured questionnaires for the survey, 7183 primiparous and multiparous women qualified for inclusion in the present study. In a logistic regression analysis that adjusted for age, area of residence, marital status and ethnicity of women, lower maternal primary education was associated with a 62% (OR=1.62; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.52) increased lifetime risk of stillbirth. Biomass fuel use and consumption of unsa...
Cold causes cardiopulmonary stress often perceived as shortness of breath or chest pain, and caus... more Cold causes cardiopulmonary stress often perceived as shortness of breath or chest pain, and causes exacerbation of these symptoms in persons suffering heart or lung disease. We investigated the prevalence of these symptoms and their association with sex, age and cold exposure in a population-based sample of 1,785 persons who lived in three areas of Finland. The exposure to cold was measured by the annual number cold days (mean daily temperature below 0 degree C) in the resident locality and weekly hours spent in the cold in winter. Shortness of breath was 25% and chest pain 52% more common in females than in males, and their prevalence increased by 24% and 77%, respectively, for every 10 years of age. The prevalence of shortness of breath increased by 5% and chest pain by 6% for every 10 cold days in the resident locality, and by 6% and 7% for every 10 hours spent in the cold, respectively. We suggest that environmental cold, measured by the number of cold days throughout the year ...
Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been associated with atherosclerosis by seroepidemiolo... more Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been associated with atherosclerosis by seroepidemiological studies. Further, acute bacterial infections are known to influence lipid metabolism. To clarify the possible pathogenetic mechanisms of this association, we studied serum lipids and the C. pneumoniae IgG antibody titers of 1,053 males who participated in the reindeer herders health survey in Northern Finland in 1986-1989. The mean age of the study group was 47 years (range 20-87). When comparing nonsmoking C. pneumoniae antibody-positive (IgG > or = 32) subjects to those with no antibodies, the age-adjusted mean concentration of triglycerides was increased (1.34 vs. 1.04 mmol/l; p = 0.03) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was decreased (1.24 vs. 1.35 mmol/l; p < 0.001). HDL:total cholesterol ratio was also decreased (0.20 vs. 0.23; p = 0.01). In smokers changes were very similar, but not statistically significant. Thus, C. pneumoniae antibodies seem to correlate with an alt...
Background: Children whose 11 th fetal week falls in pollen season (spring) reportedly have an in... more Background: Children whose 11 th fetal week falls in pollen season (spring) reportedly have an increased risk of sensitisation to food allergens. No such finding has been reported for pet allergens. Objective: The aim of the study was to 1) evaluate the incidence of pet (dog and cat) sensitisation according to the season of the 11 th fetal week and 2) whether the association between pet exposure and respective sensitisation is modified by the coincidence of the 11 th fetal week with pollen season. Methods: The study population comprised all children (born between 2001 and 2006) in the province of South Karelia, Finland (N=5920). Their data of IgE and skin prick tests to pet allergens (N=538) were collected from patient records and linked with questionnaire data on pet exposure. Results: The seasonal incidence peak of cat sensitisation was observed in children whose 11 th fetal week occurred in June (7.4%) and that of dog sensitisation in April (3.8%) and June (4.7%). The relative rate (RR) for cat sensitisation was 2.92 (95% CI 1.40-6.08) in children with cat exposure alone, 8.53 (4.07−17.86) in children with cat and fetal pollen exposures, and 0.61 (0.20−1.83) in children exposed to pollen alone, compared with children without these exposures. The respective RRs for dog sensitisation were 2.17 (1.13-4.19), 4.40 (2.19−8.83) and 1.65 (0.77−3.53). Conclusions and clinical relevance: Coincidence of the first fetal trimester with pollen season strengthens the association between pet exposure and respective sensitisation. Pollen exposure at early pregnancy may deviate immune system towards Th2 type reactivity promoting development of specific allergy in case allergen exposure occurred. Therefore, primary prevention of allergic diseases may need to begin during early pregnancy.
The Sámi people in northernmost Finland have lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases than th... more The Sámi people in northernmost Finland have lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases than the main population of Finland. Chronic infections caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori, both quite recently discovered gram-negative bacteria, have been associated with atherosclerosis. We studied the prevalence of these infections in Sámi and Finnish men by analysing the C. pneumoniae and H. pylori specific serum IgG and IgA antibodies using microimmune fluorescence and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay methods, respectively. The frequency of C. pneumoniae IgG antibodies and the age adjusted geometric mean titres differed significantly between these groups. The Finns were more often sero-positive than the Sámi (76% vs. 67%, respectively), the age adjusted geometric mean titre being 71.6 in the Finns and 38.3 in the Sámi; p = 0.001. No significant difference was found in the H. pylori IgG and IgA antibody prevalences, nor in the geometric mean titres between these groups. The difference in cardiovascular mortality between the Sámi and Finns may be partly explained by the lower incidence of chlamydial infections in the Sámi.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Jul 1, 2007
Purpose: There is general concern about the low level of physical activity and the high amount of... more Purpose: There is general concern about the low level of physical activity and the high amount of time devoted to sedentary behavior among adolescents. This study aimed to determine the proportion of young Finns meeting the current guidelines for youth physical activity (Q 60 min of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity per day) and TV viewing (G 2 hId j1) and to examine associations between physical activity and different sedentary behaviors. Methods: The study population consisted of 6928 boys and girls, members of the northern Finland birth cohort 1986 who, in 2001-2002, at age 15-16 yr, responded to a mailed questionnaire inquiring about their time spent in moderate to vigorous (MVPA), light (LPA), and commuting (CPA) physical activity, and different sedentary behaviors. Results: Fifty-nine percent of the boys and 50% of the girls reported 60 min or more of total physical activity per day. Only 23% of boys and 10% of girls reported 60 min of MVPA per day. Fortyeight percent of boys and 44% of girls reported more than 2 h of daily TV viewing. High amounts of TV viewing and computer use were associated with lower levels of physical activity in both genders. Conclusion: Many adolescents exceeded the recommended level of TV viewing and did not meet current recommendations for health-related physical activity. The inverse associations of physical activity with TV viewing and computer use suggest that measures aimed to reduce sedentary behaviors may, at least partly, increase physical activity among youth.
Background: Ambient air pollution from anthropogenic sources is a main cause of mortality from re... more Background: Ambient air pollution from anthropogenic sources is a main cause of mortality from respiratory disease worldwide, but little is known about the role of pollen. Objective: To test a priori hypothesis that exposure to allergenic pollen from trees and grass increases the risk of death from respiratory diseases. Methods: We conducted a time-series analysis of the relations between daily levels of allergenic pollen and mortality from respiratory causes in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland, 1994-2014. The study population provided by the Statistics Finland comprised 153 378 deaths, 9 742 (6.4%) from respiratory causes. Daily (average) pollen counts for alder, birch, mugwort, and grass were from the Helsinki University Hospital monitoring stations and air quality data from the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority. The main outcome was daily respiratory mortality. Results: The average number of daily deaths was 20.0 (SD 4.78) for all causes, and 1.3 (SD1.25) for respiratory diseases. In quasi-Poisson regression analysis adjusting for long-term trends, ambient temperature, and main air pollutants, abundant daily concentrations of alder increased significantly the risk of death from respiratory diseases, with an 11.9% increase (95% CI 7.8-16.1) for previous day abundant level and 9.1% (3.2-15.3) for 0-4 days’ cumulative exposure. No associations were seen for other pollen. Conclusions: Our results provide new evidence of relation between daily levels of alder pollen and respiratory mortality. These findings identify an important global public health impact and the results support development of population-based prevention through alarm systems and personalised medical advice at the clinics.
The survival of people suffering an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) aged 45-74 years in Finland... more The survival of people suffering an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) aged 45-74 years in Finland was examined using information on hospital discharges and deaths during the period 1974-1985. There were 128,922 cases of initial AMI events, including 37,041 deaths that occurred outside hospital. The 3-day, 1-month and 1-year survival rates in 1981-1985 were 67%, 60% and 54% for males, and 73%, 65% and 58% for females. The overall risk of dying declined by 22% between 1974-1975 and 1984-1985, but this varied by age and follow-up time. The greatest decline (28%) was attained in 3-day mortality at ages 45-54 years while very little improvement occurred between the third day and the first month following the attack, possibly due to selection during the first few days. It is concluded that survival after AMI in Finland has improved substantially, and this should have affected mortality in the general population to a significant extent.
likelihood of coughing (OR: 6.02; 95%CI: 1.4-24.6) (unadjusted). Men were more likely to experien... more likelihood of coughing (OR: 6.02; 95%CI: 1.4-24.6) (unadjusted). Men were more likely to experience chronic cough (OR: 3.42; 95%CI: 0.98-11.96) (unadjusted). Conclusions: PM 4 levels were not exceeding legislated limits. Associations between personal PM 4 levels and respiratory symptoms were not significant; this may be due to the small sample size as there was a reluctance to participate in the study. Further focus should be given to mineral composites and soot exposure.
OBJECTIVES To study the role of distance in public primary health service use in rural and urban ... more OBJECTIVES To study the role of distance in public primary health service use in rural and urban local residential areas (1 km² grids) among the young adults of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (N = 4503). STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study of a cohort born in Northern Finland in 1966. METHODS Use of local health centres was surveyed by postal questionnaire in 1997, and distance from study subjects' home to health centre was calculated along road network. The crude and adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated for distance, predisposing and illness-level variables. Distance-related health inequity indices were calculated. RESULTS The IRRs indicated 1.5-fold higher rate of health centre visits among subjects living farther than 10 km compared to subjects living within 2 km from health centre in urban areas. In rural areas, IRRs indicated no significant association with distance and health centre use. No distance-related inequity in the use of health centre services was found. CONCLUSIONS Distance does not seem to be major barrier in health service use among these 31-year old adults. However, closer study of some groups, such as the rural unemployed, might be valuable.
Elsevier has created a COVID-19 resource centre with free information in English and Mandarin on ... more Elsevier has created a COVID-19 resource centre with free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The COVID-19 resource centre is hosted on Elsevier Connect, the company's public news and information website. Elsevier hereby grants permission to make all its COVID-19-related research that is available on the COVID-19 resource centre-including this research content-immediately available in PubMed Central and other publicly funded repositories, such as the WHO COVID database with rights for unrestricted research re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for free by Elsevier for as long as the COVID-19 resource centre remains active.
and changes during the country's transition". We found the referees' comments very helpful and ha... more and changes during the country's transition". We found the referees' comments very helpful and have edited the manuscript according to their advice. We hope it could now be accepted for publication in BMC Public Health. The detailed responses to the referees are below.
Aims: Diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism cause metabolic, neural and circulatory disturbanc... more Aims: Diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism cause metabolic, neural and circulatory disturbances that may predispose to adverse cooling and related symptoms during the cold season. This study assessed the prevalence of cold-related cardiorespiratory symptoms in the general population according to glycaemic status. Methods: The study population consisted of 2436 men and 2708 women aged 45-74 years who participated in the National FINRISK cold sub-studies in 2002 and 2007. A questionnaire assessed cold-related symptoms (respiratory, cardiac, peripheral circulation). Glycaemic status was determined based on fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance tests or reported diagnosis of diabetes and categorized into normal glucose metabolism, impaired fasting blood glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, screening-detected type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Results: Type 2 diabetes was associated with increased odds for cold-related dyspnoea [Adjusted OR 1.72 (95% CI, 1.28-2.30)], chest pain [2.10 (1.32-3.34)] and respiratory symptoms [1.85 (1.44-2.38)] compared with normal glucose metabolism. Screened type 2 diabetes showed increased OR for cold-related dyspnoea [1.36 (1.04-1.77)], cough [1.41 (1.06-1.87)] and cardiac symptoms [1.51 (1.04-2.20)]. Worsening of glycaemic status was associated with increased odds for cold-related dyspnoea (from 1.16 in impaired fasting glucose to 1.72 in type 2 diabetes,
Numerous studies have explored the association between educational inequalities and stillbirth bu... more Numerous studies have explored the association between educational inequalities and stillbirth but most have failed to elaborate how low educational attainment leads to an increased risk of stillbirth. We hypothesised that use of biomass fuels and consumption of unsafe water related to low educational attainment could explain the stillbirth burden in Ghana attributable to socioeconomic disadvantage. Data from the 2007 Ghana Maternal Health Survey, a nationally representative population-based survey were analysed for this study. Of the10 370 women aged 15-49 years interviewed via structured questionnaires for the survey, 7183 primiparous and multiparous women qualified for inclusion in the present study. In a logistic regression analysis that adjusted for age, area of residence, marital status and ethnicity of women, lower maternal primary education was associated with a 62% (OR=1.62; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.52) increased lifetime risk of stillbirth. Biomass fuel use and consumption of unsa...
Cold causes cardiopulmonary stress often perceived as shortness of breath or chest pain, and caus... more Cold causes cardiopulmonary stress often perceived as shortness of breath or chest pain, and causes exacerbation of these symptoms in persons suffering heart or lung disease. We investigated the prevalence of these symptoms and their association with sex, age and cold exposure in a population-based sample of 1,785 persons who lived in three areas of Finland. The exposure to cold was measured by the annual number cold days (mean daily temperature below 0 degree C) in the resident locality and weekly hours spent in the cold in winter. Shortness of breath was 25% and chest pain 52% more common in females than in males, and their prevalence increased by 24% and 77%, respectively, for every 10 years of age. The prevalence of shortness of breath increased by 5% and chest pain by 6% for every 10 cold days in the resident locality, and by 6% and 7% for every 10 hours spent in the cold, respectively. We suggest that environmental cold, measured by the number of cold days throughout the year ...
Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been associated with atherosclerosis by seroepidemiolo... more Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been associated with atherosclerosis by seroepidemiological studies. Further, acute bacterial infections are known to influence lipid metabolism. To clarify the possible pathogenetic mechanisms of this association, we studied serum lipids and the C. pneumoniae IgG antibody titers of 1,053 males who participated in the reindeer herders health survey in Northern Finland in 1986-1989. The mean age of the study group was 47 years (range 20-87). When comparing nonsmoking C. pneumoniae antibody-positive (IgG > or = 32) subjects to those with no antibodies, the age-adjusted mean concentration of triglycerides was increased (1.34 vs. 1.04 mmol/l; p = 0.03) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was decreased (1.24 vs. 1.35 mmol/l; p < 0.001). HDL:total cholesterol ratio was also decreased (0.20 vs. 0.23; p = 0.01). In smokers changes were very similar, but not statistically significant. Thus, C. pneumoniae antibodies seem to correlate with an alt...
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