The association between fasting plasma insulin level and coronary heart disease (CHD) was studied in 909 non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients, aged 45-64 years, and in 1,373 nondiabetic control subjects. Both diabetic and nondiabetic subjects with various manifestations of CHD had higher plasma insulin levels than did subjects free of CHD. By plasma insulin quintiles formed according to values in nondiabetic subjects, the age-adjusted prevalence of CHD defined by symptoms and/or electrocardiographic changes in diabetic men was 48.2% in quintiles I + II (lowest), 54.8% in quintiles III + IV, and 65.7% in quintile V (highest) (p = 0.006). The respective prevalences in diabetic women were 53.5%, 59.1%, and 73.3% (p = 0.004); in nondiabetic men, 28.1%, 33.7%, and 43.3%, respectively (p = 0.016); and in nondiabetic women, 28.1%, 34.9%, and 44.3%, respectively (p = 0.007). An essentially similar association was observed between plasma insulin level and definite or possible myocardial infarction (MI). In diabetic subjects, a positive association between plasma insulin level and CHD manifestations was also found when insulin strata were formed using quintile cutoff points determined separately from diabetic subjects. The association between plasma insulin level and the prevalence of CHD or MI disappeared or was weaker, especially in men, when adjustment was made for body mass index, hypertension, and triglyceride or high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level. The association between high plasma insulin level and CHD was significant in diabetic subjects with a body mass index greater than 27 kg/m2 but not in those diabetics with a body mass index less than or equal to 27 kg/m2. A significant clustering of hypertension, high triglyceride values, and low HDL cholesterol levels was observed in diabetic subjects in the highest insulin quintiles. The results suggest that hyperinsulinemia is an indicator of CHD in both NIDDM patients and nondiabetic subjects. Hyperinsulinemia may be directly atherogenic, but it is more probable that hyperinsulinemia reflects insulin resistance, which may be a factor enhancing atherogenesis by causing adverse changes in many CHD risk factors.

Body Mass Index↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Atherosclerotic vascular disease in middle-aged, insulin-treated, diabetic patients. Association with endogenous insulin secretion capacity.

The prevalence of atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) and its risk factors were investigated in 263 insulin-treated diabetic patients, ages 45 to 64 years, who were older than 30 years when their diabetes was diagnosed. The patients were divided into two groups based on the degree of endogenous insulin secretion capacity: Group A: glucagon-stimulated plasma C-peptide less than 0.20 nmol/l and Group B: C-peptide greater than or equal to 0.20 nmol/l. The age-adjusted prevalence of definite myocardial infarction was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (16.8% vs. 5.2%, p less than 0.01). A similar difference between Groups A and B was found for definite or possible coronary heart disease (54.6% vs. 32.9%, p less than 0.001) and stroke (9.3% vs. 2.0%, p less than 0.05). In multivariate analysis, high glucagon-stimulated plasma C-peptide level (greater than or equal to 0.20 nmol/l) was positively associated with definite or possible coronary heart disease independently of other cardiovascular risk factors. Our results indicate that among insulin-treated patients with a late onset of diabetes, the prevalence of ASVD is markedly higher in those with persistent endogenous insulin secretion (noninsulin-dependent diabetes) than in those with low or no insulin secretion (insulin-dependent diabetes).

Arteriosclerosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of handicapping hearing loss in an aging population.

The mean hearing thresholds of 369 Finnish inhabitants, 65 years, and born in 3 consecutive years on two elected days each year, were studied in high standard measurement conditions. Eighty-nine of these subjects were reexamined 3 years later. They represented a typical partly industrialized white population with a high standard of living. With the criteria for hearing rehabilitation for presbycusis set at a mean hearing threshold of 30 dB or worse at 500 to 1,000 to 2,000 Hz, and/or 50-dB hearing loss at 2,000 Hz, the prevalence of rehabilitation need was 3.2%. Conductive hearing losses were found in 6% of the subjects.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical, social, and psychological factors and outcome in a 5-year follow-up study of 276 patients hospitalized because of suspected lumbar disc herniation.

The study consisted of 276 patients who were hospitalized between 1980 and 1982 because of suspected lumbar disc herniation. No randomization of treatment was used. On the basis of clinical indications 179 patients were operated on and 97 had further conservative treatment. Results of physical, social, and psychological examinations performed after 1 year were related to the 5-year outcome defined by occupation handicap of the WHO system. For operated patients, subjective working incapacity, sensory deficit of leg, tightness of hamstrings, age, and pain in lumbar extension predicted a poor outcome. Predictive factors for non-operated patients were increased occurrence of occupational hazards and co-morbidity.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Permanent endocardial pacing. Seven years' experience.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adams-Stokes Syndrome↗