Association of low-insulin sensitivity measured by quantitative insulin sensitivity check index with hair loss in 55-year-old men. A Finnish population-based study.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Alopecia↗
Biomedical subjects
L Hiltunen
Publications and source records attributed to L Hiltunen.
Risk factors for cryptogenic ischaemic stroke.
This case-control study was designed to identify risk factors for cryptogenic brain infarction. We assessed the frequency of prothrombotic states, homocysteine, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and other lipids and the apolipoprotein E phenotype together with conventional risk factors in 46 patients (19 women and 27 men) with cryptogenic brain infarction aged from 15 to 60 years and in 104 community-based controls. Multivariate odds ratios (ORs) for risk factors and 95% CIs were calculated by logistic regression. Hypertension (OR 4.5; 95% CI, 1.5-13.2; P = 0.006), current smoking (OR 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2-6.8; P = 0.012), low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) (OR 5.4; 95% CI, 1.1-25.5; P = 0.035) and high clotting factor VIII activity (OR 3.6; 95% CI, 1.1-12.2; P = 0.041) were variables associated with cryptogenic brain infarction. These risk factors were not equally frequent in women and men. Low HDL-C and high factor VIII activity in the women, and hypertension, current smoking and a low level of plasma folate in the men were risk factors for cryptogenic stroke. Several of the observed risk factors for cryptogenic brain infarction were lifestyle-associated, which emphasizes the role of health education in addition to pharmacological treatment in the prevention of stroke.
Adolescent↗
Increased risk of intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants with thrombophilia.
The multifactorial etiology of cerebral intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) may involve coagulation disturbances and venous infarction. We tested whether coagulation abnormalities associated with adult venous thrombosis would constitute a risk factor for IVH in newborn infants. In 22 infants (gestational age 24.3--39.9 wk, median 28.0 wk) with neonatal IVH grade II to IV, the frequencies of congenital resistance to activated protein C due to a point mutation in the factor V gene (Gln506-FV) and a polymorphism in the prothrombin gene (G20210A-FII) were assessed and compared with those observed in 29 premature newborn infants without IVH and in 302 (Gln506-FV) or 526 (G20210A-FII) healthy adults. In infants with IVH, four (18%) heterozygous carriers of Gln506-FV and one (5%) heterozygous carrier of G20210A-FII were found. One infant without IVH was heterozygous for Gln506-FV (3%). When compared with the frequency of Gln506-FV in the general population, the odds ratio for being a carrier of Gln506-FV for patients with IVH was 5.9 (95% confidence interval 1.7--20.3, p = 0.013) and for patients without IVH 0.9 (95% confidence interval 0.1--7.6, p > 0.99). The absolute risk of IVH in a newborn infant with heterozygous Gln506-FV and born before 30 wk of gestation was estimated at 80%, whereas the corresponding risk for all infants born before 30 wk was 14%. Gln506-FV was more common in newborn infants with IVH than in the general population, whereas there was no difference in the frequencies of Gln506-FV in infants without IVH and in the general population. Thus, Gln506-FV may be a risk factor of IVH. The risk of IVH in a premature infant with Gln506-FV or other established thrombophilic coagulation abnormality may be considerable.
Case-Control Studies↗
Does glucose tolerance affect quality of life in an elderly population?
The aim of the present study was to describe the associations between glucose tolerance and quality of life in an unselected non-institutionalised elderly population aged 73 years or over (n = 259, of whom 93 were men). Diabetes was assessed on the basis of self-reports and 2-h oral glucose tolerance tests (1985 WHO criteria). Quality of life was evaluated with the Nottingham Health Profile instrument (NHP). A greater proportion of the previously diagnosed diabetic patients reported to have problems on all the three energy items, on nearly all the physical mobility items and on half of the pain items compared to the subjects with undiagnosed diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance or normal glucose tolerance. The results of the second part of the NHP were in line with those of the first part, showing that more of the persons with previously diagnosed diabetes had problems on the following items: jobs around the house, hobbies and holidays compared to the other study groups. As for the six quality of life dimensions in the first part of the NHP, the previously diagnosed diabetic persons scored clearly higher on the energy, pain and physical mobility dimensions of the NHP compared to all the other subjects. To conclude, elderly subjects with previously diagnosed diabetes had a poorer quality of life compared to those with undiagnosed diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance or normal glucose tolerance.
Aged↗
Changes in glucose tolerance during three years' follow-up in an elderly population.
The aim of this study was to describe changes in glucose tolerance over 3 y and to establish the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in an unselected non-institutionalised elderly population aged 70 y or over at the beginning of the study. Diabetes was assessed on the basis of self-reports and 2 h oral glucose tolerance tests which were classified according to the 1985 WHO criteria. At the end of the follow-up period, 15% (n=14) of the men were diagnosed as having previously diagnosed diabetes, 8% (n=7) as having previously undiagnosed diabetes, 36% (n=33) as having IGT and the remaining 41% (n=38) as having normal glucose tolerance. The corresponding figures for the women were: 22% (n=37), 8% (n=13), 37% (n=61) and 34% (n=56), respectively. More than one third of the people with baseline normal glucose tolerance (NGT) had progressed to impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or diabetes mellitus (DM) (n=44). Almost one third of those with baseline IGT had reverted to NGT (n=24), half had persisting IGT (n=41) and one fifth had progressed to DM (n=14). Almost one fifth of the subjects with baseline DM had reverted to IGT (n=12), and only one had reverted to NGT. In conclusion, a comparatively high proportion of both previously diagnosed diabetes, previously undiagnosed diabetes and IGT were found in the follow-up examinations of this elderly study population. The rate of deterioration of glucose tolerance during 3 y follow-up was also moderately high among these elderly subjects.
Age Factors↗
Glucose tolerance and mortality in an elderly Finnish population.
The aim of this study was to describe the association between glucose tolerance status and mortality in an elderly (> 70 years) Finnish community-living population (n = 379, of whom 141 were men). The baseline examination in 1991-1992 consisted of a postal questionnaire, a physical examination, and a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test. The follow-up was continued until death or 31 May 1996. The deaths were ascertained from official death certificates; 31% (n = 44) of the men and 18% (n = 40) of the women died within 4 years. The cumulative 4-year mortalities were 42% in previously diagnosed diabetic men, 25% in previously undiagnosed diabetic men, 27% in men with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 31% in men with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). The corresponding figures for women were: 26%, 29%, 19%, and 8%, respectively. After adjusting for age, gender, smoking, body mass index and exercise by the Cox proportional hazards model in the total population, the estimated relative mortality rate was 2.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2 to 4.1) in previously diagnosed diabetic subjects, 1.7 (95% CI 0.8 to 3.7) in subjects with previously undiagnosed diabetes, and 1.2 (95% CI 0.7 to 2.1) in the IGT group, respectively, all in comparison to the NGT subjects. In separate modelling by gender these relative mortalities were higher in women than in men, but the gender difference could well be explained by chance variation. In conclusion, the results suggest that previously diagnosed diabetes is associated with increased mortality among the elderly and, particularly among elderly women, undiagnosed diabetes and even IGT may be associated with increased mortality.
Aged↗
Progression of normal glucose tolerance to impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes in the elderly.
Factors predicting impared glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes (DM) were studied in a community-living population aged 70 years or over, with initial normal glucose tolerance (NGT). The baseline examinations from 1991 to 1992 included an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), physical examinations and questionnaires. The follow-up examinations in 1994 and 1995 comprised of an OGTT. One hundred and thirteen of the eligible 134 subjects, with baseline NGT, participated in the re-examinations. Thirty six percent of these subjects progressed to IGT and 3% to DM. Obesity was the best predictor of IGT or DM, and central obesity was also associated with them. In addition, abnormal progression of glucose tolerance was also associated with those aged greater than 80 years, with systolic blood pressure greater than 160 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mmHg, fasting blood glucose value of greater than 5.3 mmol/l, and 2 h of blood glucose value greater than 6.8 mmol/l.
Aged↗
Self-perceived health and symptoms of elderly persons with diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance.
The aim of this study was to describe self-perceived health and symptoms of elderly persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and to explore whether there are special symptoms associated with undiagnosed DM or IGT. The study population consisted of community-living northern Finnish persons aged 70 years of over (n=379). Poor self-perceived health and high number of symptoms were most common among previously diagnosed diabetic persons. Undiagnosed diabetes and especially IGT did not predict poorer self-perceived health or higher number of symptoms compared with non-diabetic status. We conclude that in older subjects neither undiagnosed diabetes nor IGT can be traced by worsened health perceptions or on the basis of symptoms.
Aged↗
Functional ability of elderly persons with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance.
OBJECTIVE: To describe functional ability of elderly persons with diabetes (DM) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and to describe associations between functional ability and glucose tolerance. DESIGN: A survey among an unselected non-institutionalized elderly population. Diabetes was assessed on the basis of self-reports and 2-h oral glucose tolerance tests. Functional ability was assessed in interviews by four items on mobility, five items on activities of daily living, and four items on instrumental activities of daily living. SETTING: Three municipalities in northern Finland. SUBJECTS: All non-institutionalized persons aged 70 years or over (n = 483; 180 men). The participation rate was 79%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mobility, activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living. RESULTS: The functional ability of the diabetic persons was poorer than that of the non-diabetic persons. The subjects with IGT also graded their functional ability as somewhat poorer than the non-diabetic subjects. When adjusted for age, gender, history of cardiovascular disease or stroke, these associations became weaker. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired functional ability is associated not only with diabetes but also with IGT in the elderly, but, in addition to age, cardio- and/or cerebrovascular disease is the best predictor of decreased functional ability in the elderly.
Activities of Daily Living↗
Incidence rate of falls in an aged population in northern Finland.
The total elderly population aged 70 years or over living in five rural districts in northern Finland, 1159 persons in all, were monitored by 'phone prospectively for 1 year, all falls being recorded separately for those living at home and in institutions. Of those living at home, 30% fell at least once during the year, 19% just once, this proportion not depending on age or sex. The home-dwelling men and women experienced 368/1000 PY and 611/1000 PY falls, respectively, the incidences tending to increase with advancing age. The men in institutions experienced 2021 falls/1000 PY and the women 1423/1000 PY, without clear age dependence. The home-dwelling women had a greater risk of falling repeatedly than the men, but the sex differences disappeared with advancing age. The falls among home-dwellers were concentrated in the day-time, whereas no variation with time of day was found in the institutions. Falls are common in the elderly, but their incidence and certain characteristics differ considerably between the home-dwellers and those living in institutions.
Accidental Falls↗
Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in an elderly Finnish population.
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was investigated in a northern Finnish community population aged 70 years or over. Of the eligible 483 persons, 78.5% (n = 379) took part in the study. The presence of diabetes mellitus was assessed by questions about the participants' previously diagnosed diabetes and 2 h oral glucose tolerance tests, which were performed according to the current WHO criteria. Only the participants who were on oral hypoglycaemic drugs or insulin treatment were excluded from the 2 h oral glucose tolerance tests. In the total population the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes was 22.0% among men and 28.2% among women; the difference between sexes was not significant (women's risk ratio (RR) 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-1.9). Among those aged 80 years or over the risk ratio for women was 11.3 compared with men (95% CI 1.6-79.5). Among men the prevalence was higher in the age group 70-79 years compared with those aged 80 years or over (RR 8.1, 95% CI 1.2-57.1). By contrast, among women, diabetes was less common among those aged 70-79 years compared with those aged 80 years or over (RR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-1.0). The proportion of undiagnosed diabetes was clearly over one-third among men and just over one-third among women. Of men, 31.9% suffered from impaired glucose tolerance; the corresponding figure for women was 35.3%. The comparatively high proportion of undiagnosed diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance among elderly people lends support to the more frequent use of the 2 h glucose tolerance test in clinical practice.
Age Factors↗