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Biomedical subjects

A Vedin

Publications and source records attributed to A Vedin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A retrospective study of low-back pain in 38- to 64-year-old women. Frequency of occurrence and impact on medical services.

The occurrence of low-back pain (LBP) was investigated in a retrospective cross sectional study of a random sample of 1,760 38 to 64-year-old women. The lifetime incidence of LBP was 66% and the prevalence was 35%. Neither the lifetime incidence nor the prevalence rates were significantly associated with age. Inability to work because of LBP was found in 2.6% of the women in the 38- to 49-year age group and 5.9% among 50- to 64-year-old women (P less than 0.05). The utilization of medical services because of LBP was high, but only 1% of all investigated women had had a back operation. Forty-seven percent of the women in the prevalence group had experienced leg pain (sciatica), the frequency being significantly higher among the older women (P less than 0.01). Increased LBP when performing certain activities of daily living was common, and significantly more pronounced in the older age group.

Absenteeism

Ten years of clinical experience with metoprolol.

Metoprolol has been on the market for 10 years; the research, however, started nearly 20 years earlier and clinical research some 17 years ago. Metoprolol has been and is still subject to intensive research, which has resulted in evidence for its cardiovascular protective effects in coronary heart disease, cardiovascular hypertrophy and atherosclerosis. The properties making the beta 1-selective blocker metoprolol a cardioprotective drug and pharmaceutical development improving the qualities of the substance are also discussed in this review.

Cardiovascular Diseases

The relation between platelet reactivity and coronary angiographic findings in young female survivors of acute myocardial infarction.

In 31 women who had survived their first acute myocardial infarction (MI) studies of platelet reactivity were related to coronary angiographic findings. The results were compared to those obtained from 38 age-matched control women. According to the cardioangiographic findings the group of MI was subdivided into: 9 patients with 1-vessel disease (VD), 10 patients with 2-VD, and 5 patients with 3-VD; 7 subjects did not reveal significant coronary stenosis. When each of these 4 subgroups of MI-patients were compared with the control material significant difference with respect to PF4 was found only for subjects with 1-VD (20.0 +/- 4.8 vs. 10.3 +/- 0.6 ng/ml). As regards BTG the difference was significant for 1-VD and 2-VD patients (69 +/- 12 and 59 +/- 3, respectively vs. 40 +/- 2 ng/ml). The cumulative frequency for secondary aggregation differed only as regards 1-VD patients (78 vs 40%).

Adenosine Diphosphate

The influence of early intervention in acute myocardial infarction on long-term mortality and morbidity as assessed in the Göteborg metoprolol trial.

The mortality and morbidity were assessed during a 2-year follow-up in an acute intervention trial in suspected acute myocardial infarction with metoprolol (a selective beta 1-blocker). On admission to the trial, the 1395 participating patients were randomly allocated to metoprolol or placebo for 3 months. Thereafter, if there was no contraindication, patients with infarction and/or angina pectoris were continued on metoprolol for 2 years. A lower mortality was observed after 3 months in patients randomised to metoprolol. The difference remained after 2 years. The difference in 2-year mortality rate was restricted to patients randomised early after onset of pain. Late infarction was observed more often in the placebo group during the first 3 months. When the two groups thereafter were treated similarly, the difference successively declined and did not remain after 2 years. A similar incidence of angina pectoris was observed in the two groups at each check up. During the early recovery period, more patients in the metoprolol group returned to work. No such difference was observed later on.

Adult

The multifactor primary prevention trial in Göteborg, Sweden.

The effect of a multifactorial intervention programme on coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke incidence and total mortality was determined in a random sample of men, 47-55 years old at entry. The intervention group comprised 10 004 men, and the two control groups were of similar size. The intervention consisted of antihypertensive treatment in subjects with screening blood pressure above 175 mmHg systolic or 115 mmHg diastolic, dietary advice to men with serum cholesterol levels above 260 mg per 100 ml (= 6.8 mMol l-1), advice to stop smoking to subjects who smoked more than 15 cigarettes per day. The intervention was applied for 10 years during which time CHD and stroke incidence and mortality were followed by means of special registers. Participation rate at first screening examination was 75%. The risk factor levels, i.e. blood pressure, serum cholesterol and smoking decreased markedly during 10 years in the intervention group, but also among the control groups. Total mortality, stroke and CHD incidence did not differ significantly between the intervention group and any of the two control groups. We conclude that a decrease has taken place in all three major risk factors for CHD in the general male population in Göteborg, Sweden. Strategies other than intervention on high-risk individuals must be chosen if a major impact on disease incidence is to be achieved in the general population.

Aged

Trends in coronary heart disease mortality in New Zealand and Sweden. Why the difference?

Coronary heart disease mortality has shown a downward trend in New Zealand during the 1970s as in most western countries. In contrast, Sweden, which has a similar health care system to New Zealand, has shown a continuing increase in coronary mortality for males during the same period. Medical and surgical management of ischaemic heart disease in Sweden is very similar to that found in New Zealand and possibly more intensive in some respects. Hypertension detection and control measures have been successfully applied in Sweden as in New Zealand and a similar reduction in cigarette smoking has occurred in both countries. However, whereas significant beneficial changes have occurred in the New Zealand diet during the past two decades, dietary change, although actively promoted, has not occurred in Sweden for various reasons. The lack of dietary change in Sweden has been coupled with a probable reduction in habitual physical activity in the adult population. Diet appears to be a principal determinant of coronary disease incidence, and population dietary change an important prerequisite for effective primary prevention. In the absence of dietary change, the effect of primary and secondary preventive measures may be limited. The reasons that appropriate dietary recommendations have not been successful in Sweden can be examined and are instructive for effective prevention in all countries.

Adult

Medical treatment of ischaemic heart disease--beta-blockers.

A wealth of evidence supports the use of beta-blockers in stable angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, both early and late. The situation in unstable angina is less well illuminated, but forthcoming results of trials will hopefully close some of this gap.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

Cessation of smoking after myocardial infarction in women. Effects on mortality and reinfarctions.

Among 262 women with a first myocardial infarction discharged alive from hospital in Göteborg, Sweden between 1968 and 1977, 161 (61%) were smokers at the time of infarction. Postinfarction smoking was established after three months. In relation to smoking status three months after the infarction, subsequent survival and reinfarction rate were calculated by comparing those who smoked before infarction and later stopped (52%) with those who continued to smoke after the infarction (48%). There were no differences in preinfarction characteristics between quitters and continuing smokers. Women who stopped smoking after the infarction had higher serum enzymes during the acute phase than those who continued to smoke. The cumulative five-year survival rate was 85% among those who stopped smoking compared to 73% among those who continued to smoke (p less than 0.05). No significant difference was found in the cumulative reinfarction rate between the two groups with different smoking habits.

Adult

Recurrent myocardial infarction. 1. Natural history of fatal and non-fatal events.

1306 men below 68 years of age who survived a first myocardial infarction (MI) during 1968-1977 were followed up between 2 and 12 years after discharge from hospital. The mean follow-up time was 6.5 years. The patients were unselected and paid regular visits to a Post-MI Clinic where treatment was standardized. The diagnosis of a non-fatal reinfarction was based on conventional clinical criteria, and the diagnosis of a fatal reinfarction on autopsy findings of a recent myocardial injury and/or a fresh coronary thrombus. The autopsy rate was high and the follow-up of endpoints was complete. The total cumulative rate of endpoint free patients was 64% at 5 years and 50% at 10 years follow-up. The total mortality rate was 19% at 5 years and 33% at 10 years follow-up. The total cumulative rate of a first reinfarction was 28% at 5 years and 37% at 10 years follow-up (80% non-fatal and 20% fatal). 63 patients suffered more than one reinfarction. The mortality rate was strongly associated with age. In contrast the rate of non-fatal reinfarctions was independent of age.

Adult

Recurrent myocardial infarction. 2. Possibilities of prediction.

1306 men less than 68 years of age who survived a first myocardial infarction (MI) during 1968-1977 were followed up between 2 and 12 years. The mean follow-up time was 6.5 years. The patients were unselected and paid regular visits to a Post-MI Clinic where treatment was standardized. The autopsy rate was high and the follow-up of endpoints was complete. The diagnosis of a non-fatal reinfarction was based on conventional clinical criteria, and the diagnosis of a fatal reinfarction on autopsy findings of a recent myocardial injury and/or a fresh coronary thrombus. The patients were randomly assigned to two halves. One was used only for derivation of the predictive models, and the other only for validation. Common clinical variables judged to be prognostically important were selected. Among variables available at discharge from hospital a history of hypertension, angina pectoris or diabetes before the MI and the maximal serum ASAT during the MI were independently related to reinfarctions during the follow-up. A predictive index was formed and validated. The rate of reinfarction among risk quartiles in the validation sample increased from 24 to 38% (P = 0.003). The aetiologic fraction (the percent of reinfarctions predicted by the index) was 24%. Among variables from the follow-up only cessation of smoking after the MI had independent predictive power. A new predictive index including this variable was formed and validated. The reinfarction rate in the risk quartiles increased from 15 to 39% (P less than 0.001). The aetiologic fraction was 44%. When only reinfarctions occurring before the median follow-up time of 21 months were considered, the aetiologic fraction was 62%.

Adult

Plasma concentrations of platelet-specific proteins and serum thromboxane B2 production in response to treatment with dipyridamole. A pilot study of 27 post-myocardial infarction patients.

In the present study 27 post-myocardial infarction patients were treated with Persantin capsules (Depot-Kapseln, sustained release form), containing 200 mg dipyridamole, b.i.d. over a period of 3 weeks. Baseline levels for plasma beta-thromboglobulin (BTG), platelet factor 4 (PF4), and serum thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were obtained on day 0 and subsequently on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21. The baseline levels for plasma BTG and PF4 as well as for serum TXB2 significantly exceeded those for a control group consisting of healthy subjects. The plasma values for BTG and PF4 remained unchanged during the whole study period. During the first week of study the levels for serum X TXB2 were unchanged; however, on days 14 and 21 the means for TXB2 dropped significantly. There is experimental work to suggest that dipyridamole may exert an inhibitory effect on platelet thromboxane biosynthesis. The present results support this concept.

Adult

ADP-induced platelet aggregation in young female survivors of acute myocardial infarction and their female controls.

Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation was studied in 35 young female survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) 14-46 (median 30) months after the infarction. The results were compared to those obtained for 35 control females of comparable age. Five different final ADP concentrations (0.2-1.0 microM) were employed, and the object was to assess the slope for the primary wave of aggregation as well as the threshold ADP concentration for secondary aggregation. The results showed that AMI patients and control subjects did not differ with respect to the primary wave of aggregation. However, secondary platelet aggregation was recorded to a significantly higher extent (p less than 0.02) in AMI patients than in their controls. The results therefore support the concept that enhanced platelet reactivity is present in patients with documented ischemic heart disease.

Adenosine Diphosphate