Biomedical subjects

H C Kemper

Publications and source records attributed to H C Kemper.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Tracking of activity and fitness and the relationship with cardiovascular disease risk factors.

PURPOSE: To analyze tracking of daily physical activity and physical fitness (both cardiopulmonary [VO2max] and neuromotor fitness) and the longitudinal relationship with biological risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), i.e., total serum cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the TC:HDL ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and the sum of four skinfolds. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study; an observational longitudinal study with six repeated measurements over a period from 13 to 27 yr of age (N = 181). The statistical analyses were carried out with generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Low to moderate tracking (both stability and predictability of early measurements) was observed for daily physical activity and VO2max, whereas good tracking was observed for neuromotor fitness. Daily physical activity was positively related to HDL (P < 0.01), and inversely to the TC:HDL ratio (P < 0.05) and to the sum of four skinfolds (P < 0.01). VO2max was also inversely related to the TC:HDL ratio (P < 0.01) and to the sum of four skinfolds (P < 0.01). In addition, VOmax was also inversely related to TC (P < 0.01). Neuromotor fitness was inversely related to the sum of four skinfolds (P < 0.01), and positively to systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The longitudinal development of physical activity and VO2max were related to a healthy CVD risk profile. For the development of neuromotor fitness, the picture was less clear. The relationships among physical activity, physical fitness, and lipoproteins and blood pressure were highly influenced by body fatness.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Physical activity of young people: the Amsterdam Longitudinal Growth and Health Study.

PURPOSE: To describe the natural development of habitual physical activity behavior (HPA) of young Dutch male and female subjects between the ages of 13 and 27, using data from the Amsterdam Longitudinal Growth and Health Study. METHODS: HPA was measured by means of a structured interview at ages 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, and 27 and concerned all activities (at work, school, during leisure, organized and nonorganized sports, and active transportation) exceeding a level of intensity of 4 METs. Complete longitudinal data concern 98 female and 83 male subjects. MANOVA for repeated measurements were done for total HPA (expressed in min x wk(-1) and in METs x wk(-1)). Similar analyses were done for organized sports activities, leisure time activities, and all "other" activities separately (also min x wk(-1) and METs x wk(-1)), as well as for weekly time at three different levels of intensity of HPA, i.e. 4-7 MET (moderate), 7-10 MET (vigorous), and >10 MET (very vigorous). RESULTS: Our data showed regarding total HPA (min x wk(-1)) in male, but not in female, subjects a significant decrease in weekly time spent on HPA between the ages of 13 and 27. Regarding the three different levels of intensity in male and female subjects, a significant increase was found in time spent on moderate activities, where female subjects were spending significantly more time on moderate activities than male subjects; both in male and female subjects, a significant decrease was found in time spent on vigorous activities: in male subjects a significant decrease was found in time spent on very vigorous activities, whereas in female subjects time spent at this level of activity remained more or less stable. For the total weighted activity score (METs x wk(-1)), a significant decrease was found for both male (42%) and female subjects (17%). This decrease was significantly greater for male than for female subjects. Regarding more specific activities, it was found that in the course of time organized sports activities became relatively more important contributors to both weekly HPA time and energy expenditure, both in male and female subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show a considerable decrease in HPA over a 15-yr period of time, both in male and female subjects. Differences between male and female subjects are predominantly caused by differences in time spent in moderate and very vigorous activities. In the course of time, organized sports activities became a relatively more important contributor of weekly HPA.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Development and stability of alcohol consumption from adolescence into adulthood: the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study.

When studying long-term effects of alcohol consumption on health, the stability of alcohol consumption should be known. In this paper the development and stability of alcohol consumption were investigated. Seven measurements of alcohol consumption were carried out over a period of 20 years, starting at age 13 years, in a cohort of 65 men and 85 women. Effects of age, gender, and type of beverage on the stability of drinking as a dichotomous variable (drink or abstain) and on the stability of relative amounts of alcohol consumption were analyzed. The stability of the drink/abstain dichotomy was high (odds ratios>4) and increased with age. The stability of relative amounts of alcohol consumption was moderate (rS<0.6), and no effect of age was found. No sex effects were found, while the consumption of beer often showed higher stability than that of wine and spirits.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

The effect of exercise training programs on bone mass: a meta-analysis of published controlled trials in pre- and postmenopausal women.

With the aging of the population, the medical and social costs of skeletal fragility leading to fractures will cause an immense burden on society unless effective prophylactic and therapeutic regimens can be developed. Exercise is suggested as a possible regimen against involutional bone loss. The purpose of the present meta-analysis is to address a quantitative review of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized controlled trials (CTs) on the effects of exercise training programs on bone mass, measured as bone mineral density (BMD) or bone mineral content (BMC), of the lumbar spine (LS) and the femoral neck (FN) in pre- and postmenopausal women. The literature from 1966 through December 1996 was searched for published RCTs and CTs. Study treatment effect is defined as the difference between percentage change in bone mass per year in the training group and the control group. Overall treatment effects (OTs) with the 95% confidence intervals of these study treatment effects were calculated using inverse-variance weighting. Of the 62 articles identified, 25 met the inclusion criteria and were maintained for further analyses. The weighted OTs for the RCTs showed very consistently that the exercise training programs prevented or reversed almost 1% of bone loss per year in both LS and FN for both pre- and postmenopausal women. The two OTs that could be calculated for strength training programs did not reach significance. The OTs for the CTs were almost twice as high as those for the RCTs, which gives an indication of the confounding introduced by the nonrandom allocation of the subjects to groups.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

The long-term effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a research synthesis.

OBJECTIVE: To present a critical review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating the long-term effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DATA SOURCES: A database of articles published over the last 45 years, compiled by using medical subject heading key words pulmonary, obstructive, rehabilitation, and exercise. Articles not written in English, Dutch, or German and abstracts were excluded. STUDY SELECTION: Selected studies (1) evaluated the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation, (2) included patients with asthma or COPD older than 18 years, (3) evaluated outcome measures of exercise capacity or health related quality of life (HRQL), and (4) included a control condition lacking exercise training. DATA EXTRACTION: Independent extraction by two reviewers. DATA SYNTHESIS: For each outcome, summary effects were computed by pooling standardized mean differences as well as raw mean differences. Significant improvements were found for all outcomes (p < .001). Sensitivity analyses for methodological quality of the selected studies did not change summary effect sizes. Effect sizes were significantly heterogeneous for the outcome endurance time (p < .0001). Pooling raw mean differences revealed overall effects in 6-minute walking distance (49+/-26 m) and all 4 dimensions of the chronic respiratory questionnaire (range, 0.5+/-0.3 to 0.8+/-0.3 points), indicating substantial improvements in these outcomes. Significant summary effect sizes were found up to 9 months after finishing rehabilitation for maximal exercise capacity (p < .003) and 6-minute walking distance (p < .005). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with asthma and COPD benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation.

Asthma↗

PubMed1999

Changes in daily hassles and life events and the relationship with coronary heart disease risk factors: a 2-year longitudinal study in 27-29-year-old males and females.

To investigate the relationship between changes in daily hassles and life events and biological (lipoproteins, blood pressure, body fat, and body fat distribution) and lifestyle (physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption) risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) 166 subjects were measured twice, at 27 and 29 years of age. The results showed that changes in daily hassles were positively related to changes in lipoprotein levels, daily physical activity, and to smoking behavior. These relationships were more pronounced for subjects with a "rigid" coping style and subjects with type A behavior. Changes in life events were also positively related to lipoprotein levels, but only for subjects with a "rigid" coping style and only when the subjective appraisal of life events was taken into account. It was concluded that the relationships seemed to be mediated by different coping styles and type A behavior, that daily hassles were more important in these relationships than life events, and that the relationships with biological CHD risk factors were not influenced by lifestyle.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1999

Longitudinal relationships between lifestyle and cardiovascular and bone health status indicators in males and females between 13 and 27 years of age; a review of findings from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study.

UNLABELLED: The Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study is longitudinal co-hort study on 181 males and females initially aged 13 years, with follow-up measurements at ages 14, 15, 16, 21 and 27 years. METHODS: Anthropometrical, biological and lifestyle parameters, and age 27 also bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L2-L4), were measured repeatedly. Adolescent dietary intake and physical activity was related to adult cardiovascular and bone health status indicators by MLR; longitudinal relationships between physical activity and dietary intake, and cardiovascular health status indicators were assessed hy GEE-analysis. RESULTS: Adolescent physical activity was not related to most of the indicators of adult cardiovascular health status, with the exception of a positive relationship with the waist-to-hip in females; in males 'energetic' adolescent physical activity contributed significantly to adult BMD; both in males and females, when taking the entire longitudinal period into account, peak strain physical activity was a relatively more important predictor of adult BMD than 'energetic' physical activity; calcium intake during adolescence was not a significant predictor of bone health status measured at age 27, both in males and females; a consistent significant positive longitudinal relationship was found between physical activity and serum HDL-cholesterol and significant negative longitudinal relationships were found with the subscapular skinfold and with body fat mass; a positive longitudinal relationship was found between serum total cholesterol (TC) and cholesterol intake, saturated fat (SFA) intake and the Keys-score; a negative longitudinal relationship was found between TC and polyunsaturated fit and total energy intake; for HDL a positive longitudinal relationship was found with SFA intake; low tracking was found for physical (in-) activity and dietary intake variables.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Lifestyle and obesity in adolescence and young adulthood: results from the Amsterdam Growth And Health Longitudinal Study (AGAHLS).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if there is a longitudinal relationship between the development of fat mass in males and females (aged between 12-28 y) and their lifestyle, with respect to diet and physical activity. DESIGN: In the Amsterdam Growth And Health Longitudinal Study (AGAHLS), a group of 500 boys and girls are being followed from the age of 13 y (mean age 13.5 y), over a period of 20 y until the age of 32 y (mean age 32.5 y). SUBJECTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Data from AGAHLS are analysed of six repeated measurements of growth (body height, body mass, four skinfolds), health parameters with respect to cardiovascular disease (CVD) (obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia) and two important lifestyle tractors: physical activity (PA) (weighted energy output) and dietary intake (DI) (total energy intake, contribution of fat, carbohydrate and protein) of about 200 males and females between the ages of 13-27 y. RESULTS: The longitudinal results of PA show a steep decrease in the energy expenditure from the age of 13 y from about 4500 Mets per week to 3000 Mets per week at the age of 27 y in both sexes. The longitudinal results of DI also show a decrease in energy intake per kilogram body mass from about 225 kJ per day at the age of 13 y to about 155 kJ at the age of 27 y. During adolescence, boys show a 15% higher energy intake and a 20% higher energy expenditure than girls. At the age of 27 y, the difference between the sexes in energy intake is reduced to 10% and the difference in energy expenditure disappears. Results of tracking analyses over the period of 15y indicate a low stability coefficient of PA (0.34; 0.19-0.49), but higher coefficients of DI (0.55; 0.45-0.64) and fat mass (0.63; 0.56-0.71). The search for important lifestyle factors that can discriminate high- from low-risk participants for a high fat mass, estimated from the sum of four skinfolds and body mass (BM), resulted in an Odds Ratio (OR) of 1.5 (1.2-1.8) with daily intake of proteins and an OR of 0.81 (0.69-0.96) with PA. Surprisingly the fat mass is negatively related with the daily intake of energy per kg BM (OR: 0.37; 0.28-0.49). The longitudinal relation between fat mass and PA (corrected for DI) between the ages of 13-27 y, showed a significant inverse relationship (P<0.01) if fat mass was estimated from the sum of four skinfolds, but not if estimated from the body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSIONS: Over the adolescent and young adult period from 13-27 y, fat mass indicates a fairly good predictability. A high PA in both sexes is related with a low fat mass. Therefore promotion of habitual physical activity in the adolescent period seems effective in the early prevention of obesity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Job rotation as a factor in reducing physical workload at a refuse collecting department.

The effect of job rotation on the physical workload was investigated for male employees working at a refuse collecting department. Before the introduction of job rotation, an employee worked as a street sweeper, as a refuse collector or as a driver. After the introduction of job rotation, every employee was allowed to alternate between two of the three possible jobs during the day, i.e. refuse collecting/street sweeping, refuse collecting/driving or street sweeping/driving. Two non-rotation groups (i.e. refuse collectors and street sweepers) and two rotation groups (i.e. refuse collectors/street sweepers and street sweepers/drivers) were mutually compared. The physical workload was determined by measuring the perceived load, energetic load and postural load during a full working day. Job rotation resulted in a significant decrease of the perceived load and energetic load and a slight decrease of the postural load. The results indicate that the total amount of work performed by means of job rotation resulted in an overall reduced physical workload of the employees of the refuse collecting department.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Association of a central pattern of body fat with blood pressure and lipoproteins from adolescence into adulthood. The Amsterdam Growth and Health Study.

The association between the change in a central pattern of body fat and blood pressure and lipoprotein levels was investigated longitudinally in a healthy population of young males and females over 15 years. The subjects (males, n = 84; females, n = 98), participants in the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study, were measured six times between the mean ages of 13 and 27 years. As an indicator of a central pattern of body fat, subscapular/triceps skinfold ratio (S/T ratio) was used as an independent variable. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total serum cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and TC/HDL-C ratio were used as dependent variables. Longitudinal associations were analyzed by generalized estimating equations (GEE) in which data of the six periods of measurement were included simultaneously. Between ages 13 and 27 years, and after adjustment for the sum of four skinfolds, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol intake, the increase of the S/T ratio was significantly associated with an increase in SBP in males and females and with a decrease in level of HDL-C in males only. The change in central pattern of body fat negatively affects the change in established risk factors for cardiovascular diseases early in life.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1998

Skeletal maturation in adolescence: a comparison between the Tanner-Whitehouse II and the Fels method.

UNLABELLED: In this longitudinal study, skeletal ages assessed with the Fels method and the Tanner-Whitehouse II method (TW II) were compared for boys (n = 30) and girls (n = 30) with a mean chronological age between 12 and 16 years. The subjects, participating in the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study, were measured annually between 1977 and 1980, which resulted in four radiographs of the left hand and wrist of every individual. For boys, the mean TW II skeletal age was 0.32 years older than the mean Fels skeletal age (sd 0.50). Tested at the subsequent chronological ages, the mean TW II skeletal ages were 0.05-0.47 years older, the differences being statistically significant at the mean ages of 13, 14 and 15 years. For girls, the mean TW II skeletal age was 0.20 years younger than the mean Fels skeletal age (sd 0.69). At the subsequent chronological ages, the mean TW II skeletal ages were 0.03 to 0.35 year younger, the differences being statistically significant at the mean chronological ages of 14 and 15 years. As a consequence of the differences between the methods, application of the Fels method resulted in classifying a smaller percentage of boys (10%) as rapid maturers, and a higher percentage (6.7%) of boys as normal maturers in comparison to the TW II method. For girls, a higher percentage of female adolescents were classified as rapid (16.7%) and slow maturers (13.3%), but a smaller percentage was classified as normal mature (30%). Differences in the skeletal ages can be ascribed to differences in maturation of the reference population, but also to fundamental differences in the statistical methods of the scoring system and the scales of maturity. CONCLUSION: There is no agreement in skeletal ages assessed according to the TW II method and the Fels method in adolescence.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Methodological aspects of physical activity assessment in epidemiological studies.

A range of epidemiological studies conducted over the past decades has produced strong support for the view that lack of physical activity is associated with increased risks of several chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, etc. Much is still unknown about the type and degree of activity that is required to influence the risk of specific diseases. Furthermore, physical activity can act as a confounder in relationships between other exposure variables (e.g. diet) and disease. Thus, the measurement of physical activity in epidemiological studies is of great importance. The questionnaire is the most frequently used method in epidemiological research. Before using a questionnaire on a large scale, validity and reproducibility should be assessed in a representative population. Some practical and methodological aspects of physical activity validation studies are described, together with the possible implications of the results.

Epidemiologic Methods↗

PubMed1998

Coping, personality and the development of a central pattern of body fat from youth into young adulthood: The Amsterdam Growth and Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that coping behaviour, in particular a defeat reaction to stress, is a determinant of the central pattern of body fat. To verify this hypothesis, this study investigated if coping behaviour, and associated personality traits, are associated with a central pattern of body fat or total body fatness in a healthy population of males (n=83) and females (n=98) early in life. METHODS: Problem-focused, emotion-focused and type A behaviour were measured at the mean ages of 21 y and 27 y. Personality traits (inadequacy, social inadequacy, dominance, rigidity and debilitating anxiety), a central pattern of body fat (subscapular/triceps, (S/T) ratio) and total body fatness (sum of four skinfolds (SSF): biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac) were measured six times between the ages of 13-27 y. RESULTS: In both genders, no association was found between either coping strategy and a central pattern of body fat or total body fatness. In males, type A behaviour was significantly negatively correlated with the S/T ratio (r = -0.27, P=0.01) after adjustment for total body fatness, at the mean age of 27 y. In a longitudinal analysis, adjusted for total body fatness, dominance and rigidity were negatively associated with the S/T ratio (beta = -0.09, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) (-0.17; -0.00) and beta = -0.11, 95% CI (-.19; -0.02), respectively) between the ages of 13-21 y in males. These associations of type A behaviour, dominance and rigidity, with a central pattern of body fat, were weaker and did not reach statistical significance with total body fatness. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study justify further research on the association between coping behaviour, personality and the development of a central pattern of body fat.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1998

Body fatness: longitudinal relationship of body mass index and the sum of skinfolds with other risk factors for coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the longitudinal relationships between body mass index (BMI)/sum of skinfolds (SSF) and biological and lifestyle risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). DESIGN: An observational longitudinal study; that is, the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study. SUBJECTS: 181 males and females, initially aged 13 y. Over a period of 15 y, six repeated measurements were carried out. MEASUREMENTS: BMI and SSF, biological CHD risk factors; that is, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), TC:HDL ratio, systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) and cardiopulmonary fitness (VO2-max) and lifestyle CHD risk factors (that is, daily physical activity, dietary parameters, smoking, and alcohol consumption). The longitudinal relationships were analysed by an autoregressive model, in which the value of the outcome variable at time-point t is not only related to the value of the predictor variable at t, but also to the value of the outcome variable at t-1. RESULTS: Both BMI and SSF were positively related to TC and the TC:HDL ratio. Only BMI was positively related to SBP and only SSF was negatively related to VO2-max. Physical activity was negatively related to SSF. None of the other lifestyle parameters were related to SSF and/or BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Both BMI and SSF were related to a high risk profile regarding CHD. Different relationships for SSF and BMI are found, because BMI not only reflects body fatness, but also lean body mass. Analyses with BMI as an indicator for body fatness should therefore be interpreted cautiously.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Behavioral variables and development of a central pattern of body fat from adolescence into adulthood in normal-weight whites: the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study.

Associations were investigated between the amount of physical activity, energy and macronutrient intake, smoking behavior, alcohol intake, and a central pattern of body fat (subscapular skinfold thickness and waist circumference) measured six times between the mean ages of 13 and 27 y in a healthy white population. Subjects (84 males, 98 females) were participants in the longitudinal Amsterdam Growth and Health Study. In longitudinal analyses, alcohol intake was positively associated with the subscapular skinfold thickness (beta = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.16) in males. In females, the subscapular skinfold thickness was negatively associated with physical activity (beta = -0.10. 95% CI: -0.15, -0.05) and, unexpectedly, energy intake (beta = -0.25, 95% CI: -0.31,-0.19), whereas a positive association was found with carbohydrate intake (beta = 0.09. 95% CI: 0.02, 0.16). In both sexes, the mean value of behavioral variables, obtained from the mean value in adolescence and the values obtained at 21 and 27 y of age was not significantly associated with the subscapular skinfold thickness or waist circumference at the mean age of 27 y, except for a small positive association between physical activity and the subscapular skinfold thickness in males (R2 = 2.3%).

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1998

Tracking of lung function parameters and the longitudinal relationship with lifestyle.

The purpose of this study was to analyse tracking (i.e. relative stability over time/predictability of future values by early measurements) of lung function parameters and their longitudinal relationship with lifestyle (smoking, alcohol consumption, daily physical activity, neuromotor and cardiopulmonary fitness, and dietary intake of retinol and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)). Data were obtained from the observational Amsterdam Growth and Health Study, a longitudinal study with six repeated measurements between ages 13-27 yrs (n=167). The statistical analyses were carried out with generalized estimating equations. The following "stability" coefficients were found: for forced vital capacity (FVC) in males 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.54-0.77) and in females 0.51 (95% CI: 0.43-0.60); for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in males 0.65 (95% CI: 0.50-0.80), in females 0.53 (95% CI 0.46-0.60); for peak expiratory flow (PEF) in both males and females 0.41 (95% CI: 0.31-0.51). Positive relationships were found between alcohol consumption and FVC and FEV1 and between neuromotor fitness and PEF and (only for males) with FVC and FEV1. Physical activity was inversely related to PEF and the intake of PUFA positively related to FVC and FEV1. Smoking was related to a decrease in FVC and FEV1; changes in physical activity positively correlated to changes in FVC. In conclusion, high to moderate stability/tracking was observed for forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second; for peak expiratory flow it was slightly lower. Preventive strategies regarding improvements of lung function should focus on smoking cessation and improving daily physical activity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Physical activity and cardiovascular disease risk profile in women.

In a population of 4,576 Dutch women aged 49-70 years who participated in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) in 1993-1995, the relation between physical activity and the presence of cardiovascular disease risk indicators was assessed cross-sectionally. Physical activity was determined from a self-administered questionnaire, while blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, and waist circumference were measured at the study center. Mean risk indicator levels were calculated for different activity categories. Blood pressure was most clearly associated with time spent in sports (mean systolic blood pressure, adjusted for age, level of education, and smoking, 128.9 mmHg in the highest sports tertile, and 132.1 mmHg in the lowest sports tertile; mean diastolic blood pressure, 77.8 mmHg and 79.0 mmHg, respectively). Body mass index, waist/hip ratio, and waist circumference showed an inverse relation with cycling, gardening, do-it-yourself-activities, and sports. In this population, leisure-time activity was inversely related to cardiovascular disease risk indicators, but work activity and housework were not. The authors conclude that if investigators wish to measure physical activity in women over age 50 years with the aim to identify high- and low-risk groups for cardiovascular disease, they should consider not only housework activity, but also leisure-time activities such as cycling, sports, and do-it-yourself activities.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Tracking of risk factors for coronary heart disease over a 14-year period: a comparison between lifestyle and biologic risk factors with data from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study.

Because the magnitude of tracking coefficients (i.e., stability coefficients and tracking for subjects at risk) greatly depends on the initial age of subjects, the number and spacing of longitudinal measurements, and the length of the total time period, it is difficult to compare tracking coefficients from different studies with each other. Because in the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study both biologic (i.e., lipoproteins, blood pressure, body fatness, and cardiopulmonary fitness) and lifestyle (i.e., dietary intake, daily physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption) risk factors for coronary heart disease were measured, this study gives the unique possibility of comparing tracking coefficients of biologic and lifestyle risk factors within one data set. In the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study, six repeated measurements were carried out on 181 subjects over a period from 13 to 27 years of age, beginning in 1977. The results indicated that, over a period of 14 years covering adolescence and young adulthood, both stability coefficients and tracking for subjects at risk for lifestyle risk factors were low (except for smoking), indicating low predictability of early measurements for values later in life. For the biologic risk factors cardiopulmonary fitness and blood pressure, tracking was also low, while for the lipoproteins and body fatness, tracking was much better, indicating good predictability.

Adolescent↗