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Population specific associations between cardiovascular disease with various risk factors including pre-hypertension and hypertension were reported. We aimed to investigate the association of higher than optimal blood pressure with measures of dysglycemia, dyslipidemia, and markers of inflammation in non-diabetic Saudi adults hoping to improve current Saudi guidelines to prevent cardiovascular disease. Volunteers were recruited randomly from public healthcare centers in Jeddah. Demographic information, blood pressure (BP), and anthropometric measurements were taken. Fasting blood samples were drawn, then again following 1-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Glycated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), lipid profile, highly sensitive C- reactive protein, gamma glutamyl transferase, and 1-hour plasma glucose were measured. Complete data was found for 742 men and 592 women. Pre-hypertension was found in 47.2% of men, and 24.7% of women, while 15.1% of men, and 14.6% of women were hypertensive. Means of measured variables differed significantly between normotensive, pre-hypertensive, and hypertensive groups of men and women in gender specific manner. Association between measured variables and elevated BP, and hypertension were assessed using logistic regression models. After adjustment for age, body mass index and waist circumference, elevated blood pressure was associated with elevated triglycerides in men, while hypertension was significantly associated with elevated fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein- cholesterol, and low high density lipoprotein- cholesterol in men, and elevated triglycerides, and total cholesterol in women. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to measure lipid profile, specifically TG, for all diagnosed pre-hypertensive and hypertensive patients in addition to FPG for men.

The North Karelia Project was launched in 1972 to carry out a comprehensive community-based programme to reduce the high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in North Karelia, Finland. Among the main intermediate objectives was the reduction of smoking rates, especially among the male population which had much higher CVD and smoking rates than the female population of the area. The intervention was based on the application of behavioral and social theories in a community setting, with emphasis upon a broad range of activities and upon community participation. The programme was evaluated by standardized examination of large representative cross-sectional population samples in 1972, 1977 and 1982, in North Karelia and in a matched reference area. The proportion of current smokers among 30- to 59-year-old men in North Karelia decreased from 52% in 1972 to 44% in 1977, and to 38% in 1982. In the reference area the respective smoking rates were 50, 45 and 45%. About 27% of male smokers in North Karelia stopped smoking during the project period, while in the reference area the proportion was 10% (P<0.001). Among women the initially low smoking rates increased in both areas by 7%—due to new birth cohorts with higher smoking rates entering the age group of the study. At the same time, the prevalence of ex-smokers among women at the outset.

The North Karelia Project was launched in 1972 to carry out a comprehensive community-based programme to reduce the high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in North Karelia, Finland. Among the main intermediate objectives was the reduction of smoking rates, especially among the male population which had much higher CVD and smoking rates than the female population of the area. The intervention was based on the application of behavioral and social theories in a community setting, with emphasis upon a broad range of activities and upon community participation. The programme was evaluated by standardized examination of large representative cross-sectional population samples in 1972, 1977 and 1982, in North Karelia and in a matched reference area. The proportion of current smokers among 30- to 59-year-old men in North Karelia decreased from 52% in 1972 to 44% in 1977, and to 38% in 1982. In the reference area the respective smoking rates were 50, 45 and 45%. About 27% of male smokers in North Karelia stopped smoking during the project period, while in the reference area the proportion was 10% (P < 0.001). Among women the initially low smoking rates increased in both areas by 7%—due to new birth cohorts with higher smoking rates entering the age group of the study. At the same time, the prevalence of ex-smokers among women increased markedly, especially among the younger females. The net reduction in North Karelia in the mean amount of daily smoking (per inhabitant) among men was 28% (P < 0.001) and in women 14% (n.s.). Serum thiocyanate was used to validate the self-reports of smoking. In 1982 the mean was among men 71 mmol/1 in North Karelia and 81 mmol/1 in the reference area (P < 0.001) and among women 55 and 58 (n.s.) respectively. It is concluded that a well-conceived community-based programme can have a favorable long-term effect on smoking rates in the community, and that in North Karelia the effect was demonstrated among the male population, which had much higher smoking rates than were observed among women, at the outset.

Abstract Objectives: To estimate the extent to which changes in the main coronary risk factors (serum cholesterol concentration, blood pressure, and smoking) explain the decline in mortality from ischaemic heart disease and to evaluate the relative importance of change in each of these risk factors. Design: Predicted changes in ischaemic heart disease mortality were calculated by a ligistic regression model using the risk factor levels assessed by cross sectional population surveys, in 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, and 1992. These predicted changes were compared with observed changes in mortality statistics. Setting: North Karelia and Kuopio provinces, Finland. Subjects: 14 257 men and 14 786 women aged 30–59 randomly selected from the national population register. Main outcome measures: Levels of the risk factors and predicted and observed changes in mortality from ischaemic heart disease. Results — The observed changes in the risk factors in the population from 1972 to 1992 predicted a decline in mortality from ischaemic heart disease of 44% (95% confidence interval 37% to 50%) in men and 49% (37% to 59%) in women. The observed decline was 55% (51% to 58%) and 68% (61 to 74) respectively. Conclusion: An assessment of the data on the risk factors for ischaemic heart disease and mortality suggests that most of the decline in mortality from ischaemic heart disease can be explained by changes in the three main coronary risk factors.