Biomedical subjects

J Kaprio

Publications and source records attributed to J Kaprio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Trait components provide tools to dissect the genetic susceptibility of migraine.

The commonly used "end diagnosis" phenotype that is adopted in linkage and association studies of complex traits is likely to represent an oversimplified model of the genetic background of a disease. This is also likely to be the case for common types of migraine, for which no convincingly associated genetic variants have been reported. In headache disorders, most genetic studies have used end diagnoses of the International Headache Society (IHS) classification as phenotypes. Here, we introduce an alternative strategy; we use trait components--individual clinical symptoms of migraine--to determine affection status in genomewide linkage analyses of migraine-affected families. We identified linkage between several traits and markers on chromosome 4q24 (highest LOD score under locus heterogeneity [HLOD] 4.52), a locus we previously reported to be linked to the end diagnosis migraine with aura. The pulsation trait identified a novel locus on 17p13 (HLOD 4.65). Additionally, a trait combination phenotype (IHS full criteria) revealed a locus on 18q12 (HLOD 3.29), and the age at onset trait revealed a locus on 4q28 (HLOD 2.99). Furthermore, suggestive or nearly suggestive evidence of linkage to four additional loci was observed with the traits phonophobia (10q22) and aggravation by physical exercise (12q21, 15q14, and Xp21), and, interestingly, these loci have been linked to migraine in previous studies. Our findings suggest that the use of symptom components of migraine instead of the end diagnosis provides a useful tool in stratifying the sample for genetic studies.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed2006

Weight cycling of athletes and subsequent weight gain in middleage.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of repeated cycles of weight loss and regain as young adults on long-term weight development. DESIGN: A follow-up study with questionnaires in 1985, 1995 and 2001. SETTING: Finland. SUBJECTS: A national cohort of 1838 male elite athletes who had represented Finland in major international sport competitions in 1920-1965, including 370 men engaged in sports in which weight-related performance classes are associated with weight cycling (boxers, weight lifters and wrestlers; further called as weight cyclers), and 834 matched control men with no athletic background. OUTCOME MEASURE: Weight change since the age of 20 years, body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of obesity and overweight. RESULTS: The weight cyclers gained 5.2 BMI units from age 20 years to their maximum mean weight, which was at age 58.7 years. Corresponding figures for the controls were 4.2 BMI units at 58.5 years and for other athletes 3.3 BMI units at age 62.5 years. The proportion of obese (BMI> or =30 kg/m(2)) subjects was greatest among the weight cyclers both in 1985 and 1995. In 2001, the weight cyclers were more often obese than other athletes, but did not differ from the controls. The odds ratio for the weight cyclers to be obese compared to other athletes in 1985 was 3.18 (95% confidence intervals 2.09-4.83), and compared to the controls 2.0 (1.35-2.96). The enhanced weight gain of the weight cyclers was not accounted for by present health habits (smoking, alcohol use, use of high-fat milk or physical activity) or weight at age 20 years. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated cycles of weight loss and regain appear to enhance subsequent weight gain and may predispose to obesity. Chronic dieting with weight cycling may be harmful for permanent weight control.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Physical activity and the risk of pneumonia in male smokers administered vitamin E and beta-carotene.

It has been proposed that moderate exercise may enhance the immune system. We evaluated whether physical activity at work or at leisure is associated with the risk of pneumonia, and whether the antioxidants vitamin E and beta-carotene affect pneumonia risk in physically active people. A cohort of 16 804 male smokers aged 50-69 years and working at study entry was drawn from the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study, which examined the effect of vitamin E, 50 mg/day, and beta-carotene, 20 mg/day, on lung and other cancers. Physical activity at work, and the type of leisure-time exercise, were recorded at study entry. We retrieved the first occurrence of hospital-treated pneumonia during a 3-year follow-up from the National Hospital Discharge Register (133 cases). Physical activity at work and at leisure had no association with the risk of pneumonia. In participants with physically loading jobs, neither vitamin E nor beta-carotene affected the risk of pneumonia. In participants carrying out moderate or heavy exercise at leisure, beta-carotene had no effect, but vitamin E reduced the risk of pneumonia by 50% (95% CI: 16-70%). Previously, exercise has been shown to affect diverse laboratory measures of the immune system which are, however, only surrogate markers for the resistance to infections. The lack of association between physical activity and the risk of pneumonia observed in our study emphasizes the problem of drawing conclusions from surrogate end points. The finding that vitamin E reduced the risk of pneumonia in persons carrying out leisure-time exercise warrants further study.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Effects of coffee consumption on glucose tolerance, serum glucose and insulin levels--a cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Coffee has several metabolic effects that could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Our objective was to examine the effects of coffee consumption on glucose tolerance, glucose and insulin levels. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A subsample of subjects aged 45 to 64 years in 1987 and in 1992 from the population-based FINRISK study (12,287 individuals) was invited to receive the standard oral glucose tolerance test at baseline. Plasma samples were taken after an overnight fast, and a two-hour oral glucose tolerance test was administered. Fasting and two-hour plasma glucose and insulin were measured in 2434 subjects with data on coffee use and potential confounders. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounding factors (age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, occupational, commuting and leisure time physical activity, alcohol and tea drinking, smoking), coffee consumption was significantly and inversely associated with fasting glucose, two-hour plasma glucose, and fasting insulin in both men and women. Coffee consumption was significantly and inversely associated with impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose regulation, and hyperinsulinemia among both men and women and with isolated impaired glucose tolerance among women. CONCLUSIONS: In this cross-sectional analysis, coffee showed positive effects on several glycemia markers.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2006

Testing of variants of the MTHFR and ESR1 genes in 1798 Finnish individuals fails to confirm the association with migraine with aura.

Among the few independently replicated genetic associations in migraine are polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and oestrogen receptor (ESR1) genes. We studied the contribution of these genes to migraine susceptibility by genotyping six MTHFR and 26 ESR1 polymorphisms in 898 unrelated migraine with aura (MA) patients and in 900 unrelated healthy controls. There were no differences in the genotype distributions of the previously migraine-associated SNPs C677T (MTHFR) and G2014A (ESR1) between cases and controls (P-values 0.83 and 0.55, respectively). Thus, we were not able to replicate the previous findings, although our study had considerable power. However, five of the ESR1 SNPs (rs6557170, rs2347867, rs6557171, rs4870062 and rs1801132) that were in strong linkage disequilibrium were nominally associated with MA (uncorrected P-values 0.007-0.034). These results did not, however, remain significant after taking multiple testing into account. Thus it seems unlikely that the studied genes are involved in migraine susceptibility, at least in this sample.

Estrogen Receptor alpha↗

PubMed2006

Adolescent flexibility, endurance strength, and physical activity as predictors of adult tension neck, low back pain, and knee injury: a 25 year follow up study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether adolescent flexibility, endurance strength, and physical activity can predict the later occurrence of recurrent low back pain, tension neck, or knee injury. METHODS: In 1976, 520 men and 605 women participated in a sit and reach test (flexibility) and a 30 second sit up test (endurance strength). In 1976 and 2001 (aged 37 and 42 years) they completed a questionnaire. Lifetime occurrence and risk of self reported low back pain and self reported, physician diagnosed tension neck and knee injury were calculated for subjects divided into tertiles by baseline results of strength and flexibility tests. RESULTS: Men from the highest baseline flexibility tertile were at lower risk of tension neck than those from the lowest tertile (odds ratio (OR) 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28 to 0.93). Women from the highest baseline endurance strength tertile were at lower risk of tension neck than those from the lowest tertile (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.91). Men from the highest baseline endurance strength tertile were at higher risk of knee injury than those from the lowest tertile (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.64). Men who at school age participated in physical activity were at lower risk of recurrent low back pain (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.88) than those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Overall good flexibility in boys and good endurance strength in girls may contribute to a decreased risk of tension neck. High endurance strength in boys may indicate an increased risk of knee injury.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Heritability of model-derived parameters of beta cell secretion during intravenous and oral glucose tolerance tests: a study of twins.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The genetic architecture of model-derived parameters of beta cell function has never been assessed. Therefore, we estimated heritability (h(2)) for model-derived phenotypes of insulin secretion in twins. METHODS: Thirty-three monozygotic (MZ) and 23 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs from the Finnish Twin Cohort Study underwent an OGTT (plasma glucose/C-peptide at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min). A subset of the twin pairs (21 MZ/20 DZ) also underwent an IVGTT (frequent sampling of plasma glucose/insulin from 0 to 60 min) followed by a 160-min euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp (45 mU.min(-1).m(-2)). Mathematical modelling was applied to the IVGTT and the OGTT to assess first-phase (readily releasable insulin [RRI]) and second-phase (sigma) secretion (IVGTT), and a global index of beta cell performance (OGTT beta index). Intraclass correlation coefficients and genetic and non-genetic components for trait variances were computed to assess the h(2) of model-derived parameters. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficients in MZ twins were 0.78 for RRI, 0.67 for sigma and 0.57 for OGTT beta index. In DZ twins the correlation coefficients were 0.23, 0.32 and 0.42, respectively. Using the most parsimonious model for each trait, the h(2)--the proportion of variance accounted for by genetic factors--was 76% (95% CI: 53-88%) for RRI, 28% (34-80%) for sigma and 53% (26-72%) for OGTT beta index. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our findings demonstrate that model-derived parameters of insulin secretion have a substantial genetic component and may be used in the search for genetic determinants of beta cell function in humans.

Databases, Factual↗

PubMed2005

Associations between self-estimated and measured physical fitness among 40-year-old men and women.

The aim was to evaluate whether 40-year-old men and women are able to estimate their level of fitness compared with actual measured physical fitness. Twenty-nine men and 35 women first completed a questionnaire at home and then their physical fitness was measured at laboratory. The index of self-estimated physical fitness was calculated by summing up the scores of self-estimated endurance, strength, speed and flexibility. The index of self-estimated endurance was calculated by summing up the scores of self-estimated endurance and those of the self-estimated distance they could run, cycle, ski and walk. The index of measured physical fitness was calculated by summing up the z-scores of a submaximal bicycle ergometer test, ergojump tests (counter-movement jump and jumping in 15 s), a 30-s sit-up test, hand-grip tests and a sit-and-reach test. The correlation (Spearman) between the indices of self-estimated and measured physical fitness was 0.54 for both sexes, and that between self-estimated endurance and measured endurance was 0.53 for both sexes. Maximal oxygen uptake estimated based on submaximal ergometer test was higher among those with longer self-estimated distance of running, cycling, skiing and walking (P for linear trend <0.001). Our study shows that 40-year-old adults can estimate at group level their fitness according to different categories moderately well. They can also estimate at group level their endurance moderately well by estimating the distance they can run, cycle, ski or walk. However, in some individuals self-estimation of fitness is not in agreement with the results of fitness tests.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Expression of fatty-acid-handling proteins in human adipose tissue in relation to obesity and insulin resistance.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Protein-mediated trans-membrane and intracellular fatty acid trafficking are becoming increasingly recognised as biochemically and physiologically important concepts. Obesity and insulin resistance are polygenic disorders, heavily influenced by environmental and life-style factors, and are virtually always associated with disturbed fatty acid metabolism in adipose and other tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate mRNA expression levels of fatty-acid-handling proteins in adipose tissue in relation to markers of genetic and acquired obesity and insulin resistance. METHODS: We quantified mRNA expression of subcutaneous adipose tissue fatty-acid-handling proteins (ALBP, KLBP, FATP1, FATP4, CD36, ACS1) in 17 monozygotic twin-pairs with a range of intra-pair differences (Delta) in BMI and detailed measures of obesity and insulin resistance, allowing influences of genetic and non-genetic factors to be distinguished. RESULTS: In acquired obesity FATP4 expression was up-regulated independently of genetic background (DeltaFATP4 versus DeltaBMI; r=0.50, p=0.04; DeltaFATP4 versus Deltabody fat; r=0.59, p=0.01). Similarly, CD36 and FATP1 expression correlated with acquired differences in HDL cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations respectively. Moreover, FATP4 and CD36 expression levels correlated with measures of obesity and insulin resistance that are influenced by both genetic and non-genetic factors (FATP4 versus BMI: r=0.53, p=0.0001; FATP4 versus body fat: r=0.51, p=0.002; FATP4 versus homeostasis model assessment [HOMA]: r=0.49, p=0.001; CD36 versus BMI: r=0.50, p=0.02; CD36 versus body fat: r=0.63, p=0.001; CD36 versus HOMA: r=0.34, p=0.06). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These findings indicate that expression of specific adipose tissue fatty-acid-handling proteins is related to obesity and insulin resistance, and that, in particular, FATP4 plays a role in acquired obesity. Our results suggest that facilitated fatty acid trafficking is a physiologically and pathologically relevant phenomenon in man.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2004

Life dissatisfaction and subsequent work disability in an 11-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders are associated with disability, but the long-term effects of low subjective well-being on work ability in general population are not known. In this study we investigated whether self-reported life dissatisfaction predicts work disability. METHOD: A nationwide sample of Finnish twins aged 18-54 years (N = 22,136), unselected for health status responded to a health questionnaire with a four-item life satisfaction scale (range 4-20) covering interest, happiness, easiness and loneliness of life in 1975 and 1981. Cox regression for all subjects and conditional logistic regression for discordant twin pairs were used to compare the risk of subsequent work disability (N = 1200) (Nationwide Disability Register) between the dissatisfied and satisfied. RESULTS: Life dissatisfaction predicted subsequent (1977-87) work disability pension due to psychiatric and non-psychiatric causes among the healthy at baseline, and that due to psychiatric causes among the ill. After controlling for age, marital status, social class and health behaviour, these risks remained significant. Repeatedly reported (1975 and 1981) life dissatisfaction was strongly associated with increased (age-adjusted) risk of subsequent (1982-87) work disability due to psychiatric and also that due to non-psychiatric causes among the healthy. When twin pairs discordant for end-point disability status were analysed, risk differences related to life satisfaction were only slightly decreased, but they did not differ significantly between monozygotic and dizygotic pairs. CONCLUSION: Life dissatisfaction predicts subsequent work disability especially among the healthy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Intentional weight loss and smoking in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether current smoking and lifetime snuff use are associated with a lifetime history of major (>/=5 kg) intentional weight loss in young adults, and to examine the dependence of this association on familial factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based questionnaire survey of young adult Finnish twins participating in the fourth wave of the longitudinal FinnTwin-16-study in 2000-2002. SUBJECTS: A total of 4521 young adult Finnish twins aged 23-27 y. MEASUREMENTS: Questionnaire data on the number of intentional weight-loss episodes and on body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking and snuff use, educational level, and number of subjects' own children. RESULTS: Current daily smoking was strongly associated with a history of two or more intentional major weight-loss episodes (lost >/=5 kg twice or more lifetime) both in women odds ratio (OR 1.87; 95%; confidence interval (CI) 1.39-2.50) and in men (OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.37-2.90). Frequent lifetime snuff use was statistically significantly associated with recurrent intentional weight loss episodes in men (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.08-2.13). Among the twin pairs discordant for daily smoking, the smoking twin was more likely than the nonsmoking co-twin to have recurrent intentional weight-loss episodes (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.03-2.41). These episodes were also strongly associated with high BMI. Education was inversely related to recurrent intentional weight-loss episodes in men. CONCLUSION: Tobacco use is strongly associated with a lifetime history of recurrent intentional major weight-loss episodes in early adulthood. This represents a major challenge to existing attitudes on smoking prevention and the promotion of healthful weight control.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Hippocampal MRI volumetry in cognitively discordant monozygotic twin pairs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hippocampal atrophy, a proxy for incipient Alzheimer's disease, can be detected in non-demented monozygotic co-twins of demented twins by using volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Seven pairs of monozygotic female twins discordant for cognitive function (mean (SD) age 75 (4) years), and 10 age and education matched healthy controls (seven women, three men; mean age 73 (3) years) were studied with volumetric MRI. RESULTS: The mean normalised right hippocampal volume was 31% lower (p = 0.002) in the demented twins, and 6% lower (p = 0.45) in the non-demented twins than in the controls. In the left hippocampus, the mean normalised volume was 36% lower (p<0.001) in the demented twins, and 9% lower (p = 0.13) in the non-demented twins than in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Significant hippocampal atrophy was detected in the demented twins compared with the controls. This is in line with previous imaging and pathological studies, with hippocampus showing the early changes in Alzheimer's disease. In the non-demented twins, only a minor, non-significant reduction was observed in the hippocampal volumes compared with the controls. This could reflect gene-environment interactions that have protected the non-demented twins longer than their demented co-twins and contributed to the relative preservation of their hippocampal volumes, or it could be a sign of preclinical Alzheimer's disease in the non-demented twins.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Subclinical vestibulocerebellar dysfunction in migraine with and without aura.

OBJECTIVE: In patients with migraine, neurotologic symptoms and signs occur commonly. The authors' aim was to determine whether neurotologic findings are in accordance with the type of migraine and whether test findings differ from those of healthy controls. METHODS: The authors examined 36 patients with various types of migraine classified by International Headache Society criteria. Comprehensive neurotologic tests were performed between attacks: video-oculography (VOG), electronystagmography, static posturography, and audiometry on 12 patients with migraine with aura (MA) and 24 patients with migraine without aura (MO). Results were compared to those of test-specific nonmigrainous control groups. Only eight migraineurs (six with MA and two with MO) had vertigo or dizziness. RESULTS: Despite the absence of clinical neurotologic symptoms, most of the patients with migraine (83%) showed abnormalities in at least one of these tests. Both migraine types differed significantly from the control group (in VOG, in saccadic accuracy, and in static posturography). Vestibular findings tended to be more severe in MA than in MO. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that interictal neurotologic dysfunction in MA and MO share similar features and that the defective oculomotor function is mostly of vestibulocerebellar origin.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Self-reported happiness in life and suicide in ensuing 20 years.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-reported unhappiness and suicide. METHODS: A sample of adult Finns unselected for health status (N = 29,067) responded to a question on happiness in life with five alternatives: very happy (15.9 %), fairly happy (63.4 %), cannot say (12.9 %), fairly unhappy (6.9 %), very unhappy (1 %). Cox regression was used to study the suicide risk. RESULTS: From 1976 to 1995, 182 suicides occurred. At baseline, unhappiness was associated with older age, male gender, sickness, living alone, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and belonging to intermediate social class. The risk of suicide increased with decreasing happiness. The very unhappy compared with the very happy had an age-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 10.84 (95 % CI 3.93-29.94) for suicide. After adjusting for the above-mentioned factors this HR was 7.01 (95% CI 2.44-20.08). CONCLUSION: Self-reported unhappiness is strongly associated with subsequent suicide in a long follow-up. Moreover, it seems to indicate also cumulative health hazards.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Life events and depressiveness - the effect of adjustment for psychosocial factors, somatic health and genetic liability.

OBJECTIVE: To study the nature of the relationship of life events with depressiveness. METHOD: In 1990, 9947 Finnish adult twins aged 33-60 years participated in a questionnaire study, with no missing data on the analysed variables. The relationship between stressful life-events and depressiveness, based on Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) classified as normal, mild or moderate, was analysed using multinomial regression for all subjects with adjustment for the effect of age, sex, health status, social support, marital status, social class, and personality variables. These same factors were analyzed among 643 twin pairs discordant for depressiveness. RESULTS: High BDI score categories were strongly associated with stressful life events in all individuals and equally strongly within discordant twin pairs, both monozygotic and dizygotic. Poor somatic health and lack of social support also increased depressiveness. CONCLUSION: The effect of life events predicting depressiveness was independent of social support, somatic disease, sex and genetic liability.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

Breakfast skipping and health-compromising behaviors in adolescents and adults.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate which sociodemographic factors and behaviors are associated with breakfast skipping in adolescents and adults. DESIGN: Five birth cohorts of adolescent twins and their parents received an extensive behavioral and medical self-report questionnaire that also assessed breakfast-eating frequency. SETTING: Finland, 1991-1995. SUBJECTS: A population sample of 16-y-old girls and boys (n=5448) and their parents (n=4660). RESULTS: Parental breakfast eating was the statistically most significant factor associated with adolescent breakfast eating. Smoking, infrequent exercise, a low education level at 16, female sex, frequent alcohol use, behavioral disinhibition, and high body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with adolescent breakfast skipping. In adults, smoking, infrequent exercise, low education level, male sex, higher BMI, and more frequent alcohol use were associated with breakfast skipping. In the adult sample, older individuals had breakfast more often than younger ones. Both adults and adolescents who frequently skipped breakfast were much more likely to exercise very little compared to those who skipped breakfast infrequently. Breakfast skipping was associated with low family socioeconomic status in adults and adolescent boys, but not in girls. Breakfast skipping clustered moderately with smoking, alcohol use, and sedentary lifestyle in both adults and adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Breakfast skipping is associated with health-compromising behaviors in adults and adolescents. Individuals and families who skip breakfast may benefit from preventive efforts that also address risk behaviors other than eating patterns. SPONSORSHIP: National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA08315), Academy of Finland (44069), European Union Fifth Framework Program (QLRT-1999-00916), Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation, and Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Lifestyle differences in twin pairs discordant for basal cell carcinoma of the skin.

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is a multifactorial disease with a complex interplay of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors, including patterns of solar exposure, with childhood exposure being of particular relevance. Case-control studies in disease-discordant twin pairs adjust for familial factors and improve the power of conventional case-control studies. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the roles of sociodemographic, dietary, medication, hormonal and other lifestyle factors in the aetiology of BCC. METHODS: The study base comprised all same-sex twins who had answered the baseline health questionnaire of the Finnish Adult Twin Cohort Study in 1975. Information on all histologically confirmed cases of BCC was retrieved from the nationwide cancer registry. The first twin to have BCC was defined as the case and his/her co-twin (alive at the time of diagnosis) as the control. Only pairs with the first BCC between 1976 and 1999 were included in the study (n = 333). Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to assess BCC risk by study factors. RESULTS: A significantly increased risk was associated with smoking status in females but not in males. The risk was higher in dizygotic than in monozygotic females, possibly indicating the presence of a gene-smoking interaction. Suggestive but statistically nonsignificant increases in risk were observed for higher education, urticaria and atopic eczema, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and coffee. A suggestive risk decrease was observed for outdoor work. No clear effects were observed for marital status, body mass index, use of alcohol, tea, fruit and vegetables or oral contraceptives. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a role for smoking and possibly also for other lifestyle factors in the risk of contracting BCC.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Factors associated to lifestyle and risk of adult onset asthma.

BACKGROUND: Asthma prevalence has been increasing especially in developed countries. The change seems to be associated with changes in lifestyle. We have made a prospective study to assess the effect of lifestyle factors, including smoking, educational level, physical activity and obesity on adult onset asthma. METHODS: A population of 10,597 adult twins, initially free of asthma was followed for 9 years. The main outcome measure was questionnaire-based report of physician diagnosed asthma. Logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of asthma predicted by lifestyle factors, with adjustment for atopy and respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: Obesity at baseline increased asthma risk (multivariable adjusted OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.64-5.50 for those with BMI > or = 30 compared to those with normal weight BMI: 20-24.99). Taller height was associated to lower asthma incidence. Leisure time physical activity had a slightly protective effect on asthma risk among men (P for trend = 0.037) while smoking and education did not have significant effects on the risk of adult onset asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity was associated to the risk of adult onset asthma, while short height and low leisure time physical activity can be considered as other potential risk factors.

Adult↗