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Biomedical subjects

S Näyhä

Publications and source records attributed to S Näyhä.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Body mass index and weight change from adolescence into adulthood, waist-to-hip ratio and perceived work ability among young adults.

OBJECTIVES: To study how body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) at 14 and 31 years (y) changes in BMI between 14 and 31 y, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) at 31 y are associated with poor perceived working ability at 31 y. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: A population-based cohort, originally 11637 people, born in Northern Finland in 1966 was resurveyed at 14 and 31 y. MEASUREMENTS: Perceived work ability (measured by modified work ability index, WAI), BMI, WHR, alcohol intake, smoking, basic education and work history were recorded at 31 y and BMI also at 14 y. RESULTS: Low WAI (15% of lowest values) at 31 y showed a U-shaped association with BMI at 14 y, and also with BMI at 31 y, except in obese males. Low WAI similarly had a U-shaped association with WHR, but in males only, while in females, the probability of low WAI increased almost linearly with WHR. Low WAI was more common among smokers and people with a low level of education. The pattern for alcohol intake was more equivocal, with a nonsignificant finding in males and an almost linear decrease of low WAI with increasing alcohol intake in females. CONCLUSIONS: Work ability, health habits and anthropometric measures should be evaluated regularly in young workers, and preventive measures against diseases leading to premature retirement should be taken in time, for example by the occupational health-care service.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Change in the level of physical activity from adolescence into adulthood and obesity at the age of 31 years.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how a change in the level of leisure-time physical activity from adolescence into adulthood is associated with overall and abdominal obesity at the age of 31 y. DESIGN: Prospective follow-up study of Northern Finland birth cohort of 1966. SUBJECTS: In all, a population of 2834 males and 2872 females aged 31 y was studied. MEASUREMENTS: At the age of 31 y, overweight was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2) and obesity as a BMI of 30.0 kg/m(2) or more. The cutoff points of waist circumference for mild and severe abdominal obesity were 94.0 and 102.0 cm in males and 80.0 and 88.0 cm in females. The change in the level of physical activity (at least moderately active vs inactive) was evaluated by inquiries conducted at the ages of 14 and 31 y. The odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) obtained from logistic regression were adjusted for maternal BMI before pregnancy, BMI at the age of 14 y, alcohol intake, occupational physical activity, smoking, and, in the case of females, for parity at age 31 y. RESULTS: Becoming inactive during the transition from adolescence to adulthood was associated with overall overweight in males (OR 1.49, CI 1.18-1.89), overall obesity in males (OR 1.53, CI 0.99-2.37) and females (OR 1.51, CI 0.94-2.44), and with severe abdominal obesity in females (OR 1.80, CI 1.13-2.86). Being persistently inactive from adolescence to adulthood was associated with mild abdominal obesity in males (OR 1.83, CI 1.13-2.95), but not with other obesity measures in either gender after adjustment for confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Becoming inactive during the transition from adolescence to adulthood is related to overall obesity in both genders, and to severe abdominal obesity in females at the age of 31 y. The results emphasize the role of continued physical activity from adolescence into adulthood in the prevention of adult obesity.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2004

Cardiorespiratory fitness of males and females of northern Finland birth cohort of 1966 at age 31.

This study aimed to measure cardiorespiratory fitness of about 9000 males and females at age 31, to produce the reference values and relate them to the level of physical activity and body mass index (BMI). Study population was the Northern Finland birth cohort of 1966. At age 31, 8786 persons responded to a postal inquiry including questions about physical activity and 5497 of them also performed a step test. A sample of 123 persons performed a maximal exercise test with direct measurement of peak oxygen uptake (VO(2peak)). This was done to develop VO(2peak) prediction models on the basis of heart rate after a step test, BMI and frequency of brisk physical activity. These models were used to calculate VO(2peak) for the whole study population. Mean VO(2peak) +/- standard deviation was 43.0 +/- 4.6 ml.kg(-1).min(-1) in 4071 males and 34.3 +/- 4.3 ml.kg(-1).min(-1) in 4367 females. A graded dose-response relationship was observed in males and females between the frequency of participation in brisk exercise and VO(2peak). Similar dose-response relationship was also observed in overweight and obese persons, although the level of VO(2peak) was lower in persons with increased BMI. At age 31, very low levels of VO(2peak) seemed to be associated with a combination of infrequent participation in brisk exercise and increased BMI. These reference values can be used in the interpretation of fitness test results and in physical activity counselling.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Changes in summer temperature and heat-related mortality since 1971 in North Carolina, South Finland, and Southeast England.

Three climatically diverse regions were studied to determine the impact of temperature change on heat-related mortality from 1971 to 1997. Median regressions showed that May-August temperatures in North Carolina rose by 1.0 degrees C (95% CL 0.0-2.0 degrees C) from 23.5 degrees C (74.3 degrees F), were unchanged in South Finland at 13.5 degrees C (56.3 degrees F), and rose in Southeast England 2.1 degrees C (0.3-4.0 degrees C) from 14.9 degrees C (58.8 degrees F). After determining for each region the daily temperature (as a 3 degrees C band) at which the mortality was the lowest, annual heat-related mortality was obtained as excess mortality per million at temperatures above this. Annual heat-related mortality per million (among the population at risk, aged 55+) fell in North Carolina by 212 (59-365) from 228 (140-317) to only 16 (not significant, NS); fell in South Finland by 282 (66-500) from 382 (257-507) to 99 (NS); and fell in Southeast England by 2.4 (NS) from 111 (41-180) to 108 (41-176). The falls in North Carolina and South Finland remained significant after allowances were made for changes in age, sex, and baseline mortality. Increased air conditioning probably explains the virtual disappearance of heat-related mortality in the hottest region, North Carolina, despite warmer summers. Other lifestyle changes associated with increasing prosperity probably explain the favorable trends in the cooler regions.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Outdoor clothing: its relationship to geography, climate, behaviour and cold-related mortality in Europe.

It has been suggested, that the inhabitants of northern European regions, who experience little cold-related mortality, protect themselves outdoors by wearing more clothing, at the same temperature, than people living in southern regions where such mortality is high. Outdoor clothing data were collected in eight regions from 6583 people divided by sex and age group (50-59 and 65-74 years). Across Europe, the total clothing worn (as assessed by dry thermal insulation and numbers of items or layers) increased significantly with cold, wind, less physical activity and longer periods outdoors. Men wore 0.14 clo (1 clo = 0.115 m2 K W-1) more than women and the older people wore 0.05 clo more than the younger group (both P < 0.001). After allowance for these factors, regional differences in insulation and item number were correlated (r = -0.74, P = 0.037; r = -0.74, P = 0.036 respectively), but not those in clothing layers (r = -0.21; P = 0.61), with indices of cold-related mortality. Cold weather most increased the wearing of gloves, scarves and hats. The geographical variation in the wearing of these three together items more closely matched that in cold-related mortality (r = -0.89, P = 0.003). A possible explanation for this may be that they protect the head and hands, where stimulation by cold greatly increases peripheral vasoconstriction causing a rise in blood pressure that procedure haemoconcentration and raised cardiovascular risk.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Small-area variation in mortality in the city of Oulu, Finland, during the period 1978--1995.

The aim of the present work was to explore small-area differences in mortality from all causes among males and females within the city of Oulu during the period 1978--1995 and to identify areas where mortality has been persistently high or low. Analyses carried out using Geographical Information System techniques with geo-referenced mortality data produced at a resolution of 1 x 1 km showed significant regional variations in mortality within the city. The differences were wide enough to suggest variations of several years in longevity, and were probably indicative of marked variations in the incidences of diseases. Observed mortality differences may reflect the influence of the rapidly changing urban structure and consequent health effects based on selection, lifestyles, work exposures and deprivation.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed2001

Serum lipid levels and M/L55 allele distribution of HDL paraoxonase gene in Saami and Finnish men.

Paraoxonase (PON) is an antioxidative enzyme, which eliminates lipid peroxides. The mutation in codon 55 of PON1 gene causes a change of methionine (M-allele) to leucine (L-allele) and influences PON activity. The Saami are a population living in the northern part of Fennoscandia. In previous studies their death rate from coronary artery disease (CAD) was found to be low. We compared PON M/L55 allele frequencies of 68 Saami and 68 Finnish men and related the PON genotypes to plasma lipid levels and to the levels of autoantibodies against oxidized LDL. The M/L55 genotypes were determined by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. ELISA was used to measure antibodies against oxidized LDL. The L- and M-allele frequencies were 64% and 36% in Saami population and 64% and 36% in Finnish men, respectively (p = NS, Fisher's exact test). There were also no significant differences in plasma lipid levels or in antibody levels against oxidized LDL between PON genotypes or between Saami and Finnish men. Our results indicate that the PON M/L55 genotype is not associated with plasma lipid levels or the levels of autoantibodies against oxidized LDL in these populations. The Saami men have the same PON M/L55 allele distribution as the Finnish men and the PON genotype might thus not be one factor protecting Saami against CAD.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2000

Winter mortality in relation to climate.

We report further details of the Eurowinter survey of cold related mortalities and protective measures against cold in seven regions of Europe, and review these with other evidence on the relationship of winter mortality to climate. Data for the oldest subject group studied, aged 65-74, showed that in this vulnerable group, high levels of protection against indoor and outdoor cold at given outdoor temperatures were found mainly in countries with cold winters, and were associated with low levels of excess mortality at a given level of outdoor cold. Regions such as London that had poor protection against cold and/or high baseline mortalities had higher levels of winter excess mortality than expected for the coldness of their winters.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Seasonal variation of deaths in Finland--is it still diminishing?

The seasonal variation of deaths in Finland during the period 1961-1995, and its possible diminution over time was examined on a daily and monthly basis. The daily pattern of deaths over the year was asymmetric, with a very steep rise in December (peak on December 26), a slow rise in late winter and spring, a secondary rise in June (peak on June 24) and a trough in late August. The December peak was 26% higher than the August trough and showed no diminution over the period studied. The second peak in June was 12% higher than the annual minimum and was particularly pronounced in deaths from ischaemic heart disease and among people dying at ages 35 to 64 years. The winter excess in all natural mortality was estimated to be 7.4% of all annual deaths, and it showed some diminution over time, from 8.4% in 1961 to 6.3% in 1995, mainly because of the steeper decline in mortality in late winter in the 1980s and 1990s compared with the previous periods.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Dependence of cold-related coronary and respiratory symptoms on age and exposure to cold.

Cold causes cardiopulmonary stress often perceived as shortness of breath or chest pain, and causes exacerbation of these symptoms in persons suffering heart or lung disease. We investigated the prevalence of these symptoms and their association with sex, age and cold exposure in a population-based sample of 1,785 persons who lived in three areas of Finland. The exposure to cold was measured by the annual number cold days (mean daily temperature below 0 degree C) in the resident locality and weekly hours spent in the cold in winter. Shortness of breath was 25% and chest pain 52% more common in females than in males, and their prevalence increased by 24% and 77%, respectively, for every 10 years of age. The prevalence of shortness of breath increased by 5% and chest pain by 6% for every 10 cold days in the resident locality, and by 6% and 7% for every 10 hours spent in the cold, respectively. We suggest that environmental cold, measured by the number of cold days throughout the year and weekly hours spent in the cold, may provoke cardiopulmonary symptoms independent of sex and age.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with elevated serum lipids.

Helicobacter pylori causes a chronic gastric infection, which has been associated with coronary heart disease. To evaluate the mechanisms of this association, we studied whether the infection affects serum lipid levels as previously shown in acute infections. We analysed the serum samples of 880 males who participated in a reindeer herders' health survey in Northern Finland in 1989. H. pylori IgG and IgA antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and triglyceride, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations by routine enzymatic methods. A total of 52% of the subjects were positive for both H. pylori specific IgG and IgA and 31% were antibody-negative. The serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in the males with positive IgG and IgA antibody titres for H. pylori than in the males with no signs of infection (1.20 vs. 1.03 mmol/l, P < 0.001 and 6.59 vs. 6.11 mmol/l, P < 0.001, respectively). The associations remained statistically significant in non-smokers after the adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI) and social class. The finding supports the hypothesis that chronic infections may modify the serum lipid profile in a way that increases the risk of atherosclerosis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Surveying mortality in northern Finland: two towns with contrasting trends.

Mortality was compared in two major towns in northern Finland (Kemi and Oulu), which according to previous studies have high and low mortalities, respectively. In 1991-1995 life expectancy at birth in Oulu exceeded the national average by 0.7 years in males and 0.4 years in females but in Kemi it fell short of the national average in both sexes by 2.5 years. The shorter life-time in Kemi resulted from a slower-than-average decline in male mortality since the 1960's and an increase in female mortality by a factor of 1/5 in 1981-1995. In the 1990's, Kemi as marked by ischaemic heart disease (excess over national mortality 10% in males, 18% in females), pneumonia among the elderly (excess 2-fold), cancer in females (excess 30%), accidents (excess 24% in males, 82% in females) and male suicides (excess 76%), most of which in Oulu were below the national figures. Surveys are underway to clarify reasons for this mortality difference between the two towns.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Apolipoprotein A-IV polymorphism in Saami and Finns: frequency and effect on serum lipid levels.

Apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) is a glycoprotein constituent of triglyceride-rich and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and may thus play an important role in lipid metabolism. In Finland two common isoforms (A-IV-1 and A-IV-2) of apoA-IV have been found. The isoforms are the result of the G to T substitution in the third base of the codon 360 in the apoA-IV-2 allele of the apoA-IV gene. The purpose of the study was to determine the apoA-IV allele frequencies in the Saami and the Finns, and to relate the apoA-IV phenotypes to serum lipids. The sample was drawn in connection with a Reindeer Herders' Health Survey performed in northern Finland in 1989. The study group included 248 men with known ethnic origin, Saami and Finns, who lived in the area of the nine northernmost municipalities of Finland. ApoA-IV phenotypes from 71 Saami (both parents Saami) and 177 Finns (both parents Finns) were determined by isoelectric focusing and Western blotting. Serum lipids were determined enzymatically. ApoA-IV allele frequencies in the Saami and the Finns were for A-IV-1 0.894 vs 0.944 and for A-IV-2 0.106 vs 0.056, respectively (chi2-test, P < 0.05). The effect of the apoA-IV phenotype on serum HDL-cholesterol levels differed significantly between the Saami and the Finns (two-way ANCOVA, interaction between ethnicity and apoA-IV phenotype, P < 0.02). In the Saami, HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the apoA-IV-2/1 than in the apoA-IV-1/1 phenotypes (ANCOVA, P < 0.05). Mean total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels did not differ statistically significantly between the Saami and the Finns. Yet, there was a trend in the Saami of having higher mean total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels than the Finns among the apoA-IV-2/1 phenotypes, while there was only a small difference in these parameters between the Saami and the Finns among the apoA-IV-1/1 phenotypes. In conclusion, the Saami have a higher frequency of the apoA-IV-2 allele than the Finns and most of the other studied populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies associated with altered serum lipid profile.

Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been associated with atherosclerosis by seroepidemiological studies. Further, acute bacterial infections are known to influence lipid metabolism. To clarify the possible pathogenetic mechanisms of this association, we studied serum lipids and the C. pneumoniae IgG antibody titers of 1,053 males who participated in the reindeer herders health survey in Northern Finland in 1986-1989. The mean age of the study group was 47 years (range 20-87). When comparing nonsmoking C. pneumoniae antibody-positive (IgG > or = 32) subjects to those with no antibodies, the age-adjusted mean concentration of triglycerides was increased (1.34 vs. 1.04 mmol/l; p = 0.03) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was decreased (1.24 vs. 1.35 mmol/l; p < 0.001). HDL:total cholesterol ratio was also decreased (0.20 vs. 0.23; p = 0.01). In smokers changes were very similar, but not statistically significant. Thus, C. pneumoniae antibodies seem to correlate with an altered serum lipid profile considered to increase the risk of atherosclerosis. This finding supports the proposal that infections, in this case C. pneumoniae infection, may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Health trends in northern Finland.

Along with the process of the epidemiological transition, northern Finland has experienced an increase of cardiovascular diseases, some types of cancer, and accidental and suicidal deaths, particularly in the male population, while the females of northern Finland have shown rather favourable trends during the post-war period. Northern Finland shows a clustering of severe health problems such as coronary heart disease, accidents and suicides in smaller areas, e.g. in north-central Lapland, which records mortality rates 2-3 times higher than areas of lowest mortality. There is some indication of a high prevalence of smoking, increased serum lipids, blood pressure, body weight and alcohol consumption in the areas of highest morbidity and mortality, but evidence based on representative population samples is missing. Accidents and suicides are also common in the Sâmi (Lapp) area but coronary heart disease is rare, despite the unfavourable risk factor patterns.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1997

Chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is associated with a serum lipid profile known to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been associated with coronary heart disease. To evaluate the mechanisms of this association, we studied whether chronic C. pneumoniae infection affects serum lipid values similarly to acute infections. Triglyceride, total and HDL cholesterol concentrations, and C. pneumoniae antibodies were measured from paired serum samples of 415 Finnish males taken 3 years apart. Chronic infection, defined as persistent IgG and IgA antibodies, was found in 20%, and the antibodies were negative (IgG < 32 and IgA < 16 in both samples) in 15% of the cases studied. The serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations were higher in the subjects with a chronic C. pneumoniae infection than in the subjects with no antibodies (1.23 versus 1.03 mmol/L and 6.41 versus 6.31 mmol/L, respectively). The HDL cholesterol concentrations and the ratios of HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol were significantly decreased in the subjects with chronic infection (1.24 versus 1.36 mmol/L, P = .026; and 0.19 versus 0.22, P = .018, respectively). Chronic C. pneumoniae infection seems to be associated with a serum lipid profile considered to increase the risk of atherosclerosis. This finding supports the hypothesis that infections play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori infections in Sámi and Finnish reindeer herders.

The Sámi people in northernmost Finland have lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases than the main population of Finland. Chronic infections caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori, both quite recently discovered gram-negative bacteria, have been associated with atherosclerosis. We studied the prevalence of these infections in Sámi and Finnish men by analysing the C. pneumoniae and H. pylori specific serum IgG and IgA antibodies using microimmune fluorescence and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay methods, respectively. The frequency of C. pneumoniae IgG antibodies and the age adjusted geometric mean titres differed significantly between these groups. The Finns were more often sero-positive than the Sámi (76% vs. 67%, respectively), the age adjusted geometric mean titre being 71.6 in the Finns and 38.3 in the Sámi; p = 0.001. No significant difference was found in the H. pylori IgG and IgA antibody prevalences, nor in the geometric mean titres between these groups. The difference in cardiovascular mortality between the Sámi and Finns may be partly explained by the lower incidence of chlamydial infections in the Sámi.

Adult↗