Demographic adjustments for the Spanish version of the WAIS-III.

The Spanish version of the third edition of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III) by TEA Ediciones is an excellent addition to available instruments for Spanish speakers. The Spanish norms function similarly to US norms for individuals aged 16-35. The norms become increasingly different for individuals 35 and older, seemingly because of the lower levels of formal education of the older Spanish cohorts. Using data from a random half of the Spanish sample, the authors developed regression equations to adjust the scaled scores for individuals with a low level of education. The adjustment is made to the level that would have been expected if the individual had 12 years of education, the median level of education of the US norms. The article includes the methodology and values necessary to make the adjustments. The scaled scores were then adjusted for individuals on the second random half of the Spanish sample and compared to the United States norms. The results showed the adjustments succeed in bringing the Spanish norms closer to the US norms.

Relation of heart rate with cardiovascular disease in normal-weight individuals: the Chicago Heart Association Detection Project in Industry.

The authors investigated the association of resting heart rate (RHR) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and mortality among normal-weight individuals. Using data from our cohort (baseline examination in 1967-1973), individuals with a body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2) (men [n=3724] and women [n=4929] aged 18-39; men [n=1959] and women [n=3735] aged 40-59), were grouped by RHR: <75, 75-84, and > or =85 beats per minute (bpm). A lower RHR was associated with lower mean blood pressure (BP) and cigarette use in each subgroup and total cholesterol (TC) and diabetes in men (P<.05). After a 32-year follow-up, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for CVD mortality for an RHR <75 compared with > or =85 bpm adjusted for age, race, education level, BP, cigarette use, diabetes, and TC were 0.58 (0.34-0.84), 0.73(0.56-0.95), and 0.77 (0.61-0.98) for men aged 18 to 39 and men and women aged 40 to 59, respectively. In women aged 18 to 39, the relationship was not significant. In general, normal-weight individuals with lower RHRs have lower levels of CVD risk factors and mortality.