ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To estimate mortality attributable to higher-than-optimal blood cholesterol in New Zealand in 1997, and the mortality burden that could be potentially avoided in 2011 if modest reductions in mean population blood cholesterol concentrations were achieved. DESIGN: Comparative risk assessment methodology was used to estimate the attributable and avoidable mortality due to higher-than-optimal total blood cholesterol (> 3.8 mmol/L). Disease outcomes assessed were deaths from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and ischaemic stroke. RESULTS: Overall, higher-than-optimal blood cholesterol contributed to 4,721 deaths in New Zealand in 1997 (17% of all deaths). This included 4,096 IHD deaths (64%) and 625 ischaemic stroke deaths (38%). Modest reductions in mean population blood cholesterol concentrations (e.g. 0.1 mmol/L) could potentially prevent 300 deaths (261 IHD and 39 ischaemic stroke) each year from 2011. CONCLUSIONS: Higher-than-optimal blood cholesterol concentrations are a leading cause of mortality in New Zealand. Modest reductions in blood cholesterol levels could have a major impact on population health within a decade.
Subject(s)
Cost of Illness , Hypercholesterolemia/mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Causality , Comorbidity , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Hypercholesterolemia/prevention & control , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardial Ischemia/mortality , Myocardial Ischemia/prevention & control , New Zealand/epidemiology , Risk Assessment/methods , Risk Factors , Sex Distribution , Stroke/mortality , Stroke/prevention & controlABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine ethnic differences in diet and dietary associations with clinical markers of prostate disease in New Zealand men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1031 males (616 New Zealand European, 230 Maori and 185 Pacific Islands) aged 40-69 years, with no history of prostate cancer, completed a questionnaire covering diet. A serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood analysis was also undertaken. Regression models were developed to examine the ethnic-specific levels of selected dietary components, and their relationship with PSA and urinary symptom scores. RESULTS: The results confirmed previously found ethnic differences in the New Zealand diet. Combined tomato intake was positively-correlated with free PSA and % free PSA (p=0.021, r=0.197 and p=0.011, r=0.096 respectively). Beer intake was negatively-correlated with total PSA (p=0.028, r=-0.071) and free PSA (p=0.004, r=-0.094). CONCLUSION: Ethnic differences found in the consumption of foods (associated with prostate cancer) highlight the possible importance of dietary interactions for ethnic prostate cancer risk. Associations between specific foods and PSA warrant further investigation.
