Subject(s)
Legislation as Topic , Nicotiana , Plants, Toxic , Smoking Prevention , Adolescent , Child , Humans , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease mortality in the Philippines was studied from the existing vital statistics for 1963-76. Death rates from rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease remained unchanged, those for cerebrovascular diseases decreased, whereas mortality rates of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and hypertensive disease (HPN) increased enormously both in men and women. This increase in IHD and HPN mortality was seen in all age groups. The age-standardized IHD mortality rate in men rose from 33.3 in 1964 to 78.0 in 1976, and that of women from 15.4 to 34.5. The age-standardized HPN mortality rate in men rose from 21.0 in 1964 to 45.6 in 1976, and that of women from 15.6 to 25.5. The male to female ratios in the age-standardized death rates for IHD, HPN and also for all causes increased during this 12-year period. Age-standardized all causes mortality increased clearly in the male population but decreased in the female population of the Philippines. This excess mortality in males is mostly due to the increased cardiovascular disease death rate. This is a clear example of how chronic non-communicable diseases are becoming major health problems in countries where they previously have not been prevalent. Immediate preventive measures are needed in order to control cardiovascular diseases in these countries where disease rates are rapidly increasing.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality , Adult , Aged , Cerebrovascular Disorders/mortality , Coronary Disease/mortality , Female , Humans , Hypertension/mortality , Male , Middle Aged , Philippines , Rheumatic Heart Disease/mortality , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Two groups of epidemiologists (in Moscow and Prague) and a group of clinicians in Moscow evaluated independently of each other 283 electrocardiograms. Comparison has shown considerable agreement in the views of epidemiologists of both groups, especially as regards evaluation of cicatricial changes in the myocardium and of ischaemic-type T-wave changes. Intra-group differences in the evaluation of ECG signs of IHD were among epidemiologists substantially smaller than among clinicians. ECG criteria of IHD signs, used by epidemiologists, have a higher specificity than clinical criteria but smaller sensitivity, which corresponds to the demands placed on cross-sectional mass population studies. Possibilities were further examined of using a computer for automated ECG analysis. Comparison of the evaluations of 388 ECGs by two specialists and a computer showed a high proportion of true positive findings of marked cicatricial (93.3%) and ischaemic-type (63.7-76.4%) changes in the myocardium, detected by a Siemens computer.
Subject(s)
Coronary Disease/diagnosis , Electrocardiography , Adult , Coronary Disease/prevention & control , Czechoslovakia , Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Mass Screening , Middle Aged , MoscowABSTRACT
Casual blood pressures were evaluated in 13 475 children and adolescents of elementary and secondary schools in the district of Prague 4. Measurements in an unselected children population determined mean systolic and diastolic pressures and standard deviations in different age groups. Children with elevated blood pressure were selected according to arbitrarily chosen criteria. Blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 mmHg (17.3/10.6 kPa) occurred in 0.6% of children aged 6-10 years, greater than 135/80 mmHg (17.9/10 kPa) in 2.0% of children aged between 11-15 years, and greater than 145/85 mmHg (19.2/11.3 kPa) in 0.4% of adolescents under 19 years.
Subject(s)
Blood Pressure , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Diastole , Female , Humans , Male , Reference Values , Sex Factors , SystoleSubject(s)
Coronary Disease/diagnosis , Exercise Test , Coronary Disease/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , PrognosisABSTRACT
Screening for the risk factors of ischaemic heart disease among the male residents of the district of Prague 4 aged 40--49 years was undertaken under the "National multifactorial primary preventive study of myocardial infarction and stroke". Of the 11 091 men invited, 5395 met the defined criteria and were admitted to the study. 58% of them were included in the risk group. The level of attained school education was ascertained at the initial examination. The lowest percentage of persons with hypercholesterolaemia, overweight, elevated blood pressure and smokers was found among university graduates. The results are compared with data of other studies and possible causes of the findings are discussed.
