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Biomedical subjects

M Mallaghan

Publications and source records attributed to M Mallaghan.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Coronary risk factor prevalence in a high incidence area: results from the Belfast MONICA Project.

Northern Ireland remains at the top of the world mortality league for ischaemic heart disease. The Province is providing a centre for the World Health Organisation's MONICA Project. Registration of coronary heart disease events began in 1983 and the first of three population surveys took place in 1983-4. A total of 2,361 men and women aged 25-64 years was screened. Subjects were shorter and heavier than their fellow citizens in Great Britain. The estimated mean cholesterol levels in the 25-64-year-old population (5.80 mmol/l in males and 5.85 mmol/l in females) were similar to those reported from Great Britain. Although mean systolic blood pressures were lower, mild diastolic hypertension was considerably more common; cigarette smoking levels were similar. The results were consistent with those expected for an area with a high coronary heart disease mortality, with more than 80% of subjects being at increased risk in terms of the three major factors (cigarette smoking, hypertension and raised cholesterol). Public concern about coronary heart disease has grown and recently the Department of Health and Social Services (NI) has launched a 10-year prevention programme which will primarily employ a population approach.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Deaths from ischaemic heart disease in Belfast.

There were 1323 deaths due to ischaemic heart disease in Belfast from 20 July 1981 to 19 July 1982. Some 496 (37%) of these were in persons aged less than 70 years. By World Health Organisation criteria 247 (19%) of these deaths were classified as definite myocardial infarction and 749 (57%) as possible myocardial infarction. Dyspnoea, collapse, and typical pain were the main symptoms at the onset of the fatal attack. In hospital only 12% of deaths in persons aged less than 70 years and 14% of those aged greater than or equal to 70 years were due to presumed primary rhythm disturbance, whereas outside hospital these proportions were 78% and 59% respectively. The median survival time was 84 minutes and was shortest in men aged less than 70 years (62 minutes). Outside hospital a relative was the most likely aid sought initially (70%) and the median delay time from onset of symptoms to calling for medical aid was eight minutes. Among 128 witnessed deaths in persons aged less than 70 years occurring outside hospital due to presumed primary rhythm disturbance the median survival time was 8 X 25 minutes. Improvements in facilities available for resuscitation including public education could result in the prevention of a proportion of deaths caused by primary rhythm disturbances.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Some behavioural changes in 493 patients after an acute myocardial infarction.

A retrospective study of behavioural changes in 493 consecutive patients who had survived a first acute myocardial infarction was carried out. The changes in behaviour that were studied related to smoking, physical activity, and weight loss. The personalities of the patients were also studied by means of the Eysenck personality inventory to find out if there was any relationship between the personality factors, extroversion and neuroticism, and the changes in behaviour. Sixty-six per cent of the men and 59% of the women reduced or stopped smoking, 60% of the men and 81% of the women reduced their physical activity, and 67% of the men and 56% of the women lost weight. Some significant associations were found between these changes and the medical advice given, the patients' views of the value of the change in behaviour, and the severity of the illness. Personality factors as assessed were not associated with any of the observed changes, except in the case of physical activity. Those who increased or decreased their physical activity had a significantly higher mean neuroticism score than those who did not change their behaviour in this respect.

Adult↗