CHRONIC DISEASE IN FORMER COLLEGE STUDENTS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Paffenbarger, R. S., Jr. (Calif. State Dept. Public Health, Berkeley, Calif. 94704) and A. L Wing. Chronic disease in former college students. X. The effects of single and multiple characteristics on risk of fatal coronary heart disease. Amer. J. Epid., 1969, 90: 527–535.—Review of college records of former students from Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania identified characteristics associated with increased risk of fatal coronary heart disease. Six characteristics—cigarette smoking, non-participation in varsity sports, higher levels of blood pressure, heavier weight for height, shorter body stature, and early death of a parenH-were evaluated for their independent and cumulative effects on coronary mortality at ages 30–44, 45–54, and 55–69 years. A total of 1, 146 coronary decedents were contrasted with 2, 292 classmates in assessing the relative strength of the characteristics. Both cigarette smoking and non-participation in sports were associated with a 50% increased risk of coronary death; systolic blood pressure levels of 130+ mm Hg with a 40% increased risk; and height divided by cube root of weight below 12.9, height less than 68 inches, and early parental death each were associated with a 30% increased risk, all relative to the risks without these respective characteristics. In comparing youngest, middle, and oldest subjects, excess risks of coronary mortality were similar by age for early parental death; they decreased by age for smoking, ponderosity, short stature, and non-sports status; and they increased by age for higher blood pressure. In all age groups, the combination of any two or more characteristics further increased the risk of fatal coronary disease over the risks in the presence of any one or none of them.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: