Heart and Skeletal Muscles: Linked by Autonomic Nervous System.

Background Resting sympathetic hyperactivity and impaired parasympathetic reactivation after exercise have been described in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the association of these autonomic changes in patients with HF and sarcopenia is unknown. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of autonomic modulation on sarcopenia in male patients with HF. Methods We enrolled 116 male patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%. All patients underwent a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Maximal heart rate was recorded and delta heart rate recovery (∆HRR) was assessed at 1st and 2nd minutes after exercise. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSN…

Exercise cardiac power and the risk of myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease events in men.

Standalone sauna vs exercise followed by sauna on cardiovascular function in non‐naïve sauna users: A comparison of acute effects

Background and aimsSauna bathing and aerobic exercise have each been shown to affect cardiovascular function. However, direct comparisons between standalone sauna bathing and a combination of exercise and sauna on vascular indices remain limited. Therefore, we conducted a cross-over study using matched durations to explore the hemodynamic changes of sauna exposure when compared to a combination of aerobic exercise and sauna exposure.MethodsParticipants (N = 72) with at least one cardiovascular risk factor underwent, on two separate occasions: (a) a 30-minute sauna at 75°C (SAUNA) and (b) the combination of a 15-minute cycling exercise at 75% maximum heart rate followed by 15-minute sauna ex…

The validity of heart failure diagnoses in the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register.

Background: Contemporary validation studies of register-based heart failure diagnoses based on current guidelines and complete clinical data are lacking in Finland and internationally. Our objective was to assess the positive and negative predictive values of heart failure diagnoses in a nationwide hospital discharge register. Methods: Using Finnish Hospital Discharge Register data from 2013–2015, we obtained the medical records for 120 patients with a register-based diagnosis for heart failure (cases) and for 120 patients with a predisposing condition for heart failure, but without a heart failure diagnosis (controls). The medical records of all patients were assessed by a physician who c…

Heart failure risk reduction : is fit and overweight or obese better than unfit and normal weight?

This article refers to ‘Cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index and heart failure incidence’ by P. Kokkinos et al., published in this issue on pages 436–444.

Physical activity may not be associated with long-term risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Background: While it is well established that physical activity is associated with reduced risk of vascular and non-vascular outcomes as well as mortality, evidence on the association between physical activity and dementia is inconsistent. We aimed to assess the associations of physical activity with the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Material and methods: We analysed data on 2,394 apparently healthy men with good baseline cognitive function from the prospective population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease study. We assessed habits of physical activity at baseline using a 12-month leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) questionnaire. Using Cox regression, we calculated haza…

Sauna Bathing and Risk of Psychotic Disorders : A Prospective Cohort Study

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Objective:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Sauna bathing has been suggested to promote mental well-being and relaxation, but the evidence is uncertain with respect to mental disorders. We aimed to assess the association of frequency of sauna bathing with risk of psychosis in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective population-based study. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Subjects and Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Baseline sauna bathing habits were assessed in 2,138 men aged 42–61 years who had no history of psychotic disorders. Participants were classified into three groups based on the frequency of sauna bathing (once, 2–3, and 4–7 times per week). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;…

Association between ideal cardiovascular health and risk of sudden cardiac death and all-cause mortality among middle-aged men in Finland

Background Strong associations have been demonstrated between the American Heart Association’s cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and various cardiovascular outcomes, but the association with sudden cardiac death (SCD) is uncertain. We examined the associations between these CVH metrics and the risks of SCD and all-cause mortality among men in Finland. Methods and results We used the prospective population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease cohort study, which consists of men between 42 and 60 years of age at baseline. CVH metrics were computed for 2577 men with CVH scores at baseline ranging from 0 to 7, categorized into CVH scores of 0–2 (poor), 3–4 (intermediate) and 5–7 (ideal). Mult…

Leisure-time cross-country skiing and the risk of venous thromboembolism: A prospective cohort study

[No abstract]

Effects of HRV-Guided vs. Predetermined Block Training on Performance, HRV and Serum Hormones

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare heart rate variability -guided (HRVG) and predetermined (PD) block periodization of high intensity aerobic training (HIT). Endurance performance, neuromuscular performance, heart rate variability (HRV) and serum hormone concentrations were measured before, in the middle and after the 8-week training period in 24 endurance trained males. Both groups improved significantly maximal treadmill velocity (Vmax) (p&lt;0.001) and 3000 m running performance (HRVG; p&lt;0.001 and PD; p=0.001). The relative changes in Vmax and countermovement jump were significantly greater in HRVG (p&lt;0.05). Nocturnal heart rate decreased in both groups (p&lt;0.01), but H…

Global electrical heterogeneity as a predictor of cardiovascular mortality in men and women

Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of depolarization and repolarization abnormalities, specially abnormalities in global electrical heterogeneity of heart in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Methods and results Eight hundred and forty men and 911 women, average age of 63 years participated in this study with average follow-up was 14 years. Six electrocardiogram/vector electrocardiogram (ECG/VECG) markers QRS-duration, QTc-interval, QRST-angle, sum of absolute QRST integral (SAI QRST), T-wave roundness, and TV1-amplitude were estimated from VECG measurements. Hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD events (164 deaths) and all-cause mortality (383 deaths) …

Genetically elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase and Alzheimer's disease

Observational epidemiological evidence supports a linear and independent association between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) concentrations and the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the causality of this association has not been previously investigated. We sought to assess the causal nature of this association using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Using inverse-variance weighted MR analysis, we assessed the association between GGT and AD using summary statistics for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-AD associations obtained from the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project of 17,008 individuals with AD and 37,154 controls. We used 26 SNPs significantly associ…

The electrocardiographic ‘triangular QRS-ST-T waveform’ pattern : a marker of severe haemodynamic compromise in Takotsubo syndrome : a case report

Abstract Background Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by transient regional systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, mimicking myocardial infarction. Although systolic left ventricular (LV) function normalizes in most cases, the outcome is not always favourable. Recently, a rare electrocardiogram (ECG) finding, lambda wave ST elevation or ‘triangular QRS-ST-T waveform’, was suggested as a possible marker of poor outcome in Takotsubo patients Case summary After a brief episode of chest pain and shortness of breath, a 67-year-old woman developed cardiogenic shock. Her resting ECG showed widespread ST elevations, which soon evolved into a pattern of triangular QRS-ST-T waveforms in …

Handgrip strength is inversely associated with fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events

Purpose: We aimed to assess the associations of handgrip strength (HS) with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and whether adding data on HS to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors is associated with improvement in CVD mortality prediction. Design: Handgrip strength was assessed in a population-based sample of 861 participants aged 61–74 years at baseline. Relative HS was obtained by dividing the absolute value by body weight. Results: During a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 17.3 (12.6–18.4) years, 116 fatal coronary heart diseases (CHDs), 195 fatal CVDs and 412 all-cause mortality events occurred. On adjustment for several risk factors, the hazard ratios (95% confidence…

Ideal cardiovascular health and risk of acute myocardial infarction among Finnish men

Background and aims: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high mortality globally and remains a public health burden. We sought to investigate the relation between the American Heart Association’s cardiovascular health metrics (CVH) and the risk of AMI among middle-aged Finnish men. Methods: We used the ongoing population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease cohort study comprising men aged 40 to 62 years at baseline. The CVH metrics was computed among 2584 participants at baseline with health scores ranging from 0 to 7. This was categorized into three groups of CVH metrics as poor (0-2), intermediate (3-4) and ideal (≥5). Multivariate Cox regression models were used to esti…

Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cardiorespiratory fitness is not associated with risk of venous thromboembolism: a cohort study

Objectives. The inverse and independent association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and arterial thrombotic disease is well established. However, the potential association between CRF and venous thromboembolism (VTE) is not well known. We aimed to assess the prospective association of CRF with the risk of VTE. Design. Cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured by maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), was assessed using a respiratory gas exchange analyser in 2,249 men aged 42-61 years without a history of VTE at baseline in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort. Cox-regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for VTE. We correcte…

Effects of sauna bath on heart failure : A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Sauna bath has potential as a lifestyle treatment modality for heart failure (HF). It is important to analyze the current evidence to help suggest paths of future study and potential for clinical application. Hypothesis: Sauna bath has a positive effect on HF patients. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases were searched to identify randomized and nonrandomized controlled studies to compare effects of sauna bath with no sauna bath. Studies were searched for both infrared sauna bath and Finnish sauna bath. The strength of evidence was rated using a modified GRADE approach. Out of 1444 studies, nine met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Seve…

Handgrip strength is not associated with risk of venous thromboembolism: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives. Consistent evidence suggests an inverse and independent association between handgrip strength and arterial thrombotic disease. However, whether handgrip strength is related to future risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is uncertain. We sought to assess the prospective association between handgrip strength and VTE risk. Design. Handgrip strength was assessed using a hand dynamometer in a population-based sample of 864 men and women aged 61–74 years without a history of VTE at baseline in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort study. Handgrip strength was allometrically scaled to account for the effect of body weight (handgrip strength/body weight2/3) and to normali…

Cardiovascular Benefits of Group Sport Interventions: Importance of Improved Fitness in Risk Reduction

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease worldwide. Group sport participation offers a unique, engaging approach for delivering physical activity interventions, but its overall effect on cardiometabolic risk factors is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the pooled effects of community-based, recreational-level group sports on cardiometabolic risk factors and fitness parameters among adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: We systematically searched electronic databases for English articles reporting the effectiveness of recreational-level group sports, published between January 1, 1965 and January 17, 2017. We extracted baseline and end of intervention means for…

The Effect of 16-Minute Thermal Stress and 2-Minute Cold Water Immersion on the Physiological Parameters of Young Sedentary Men

This study aimed to determine the effect of 16 minutes of thermal stress followed by 2 minutes of cold water immersion on the physiological parameters of fifty-five sedentary men (mean age 20.15±1.30 years), who were exposed to 16 minutes of sauna (temperature: 90-91℃; relative humidity: 14-16%) followed by 2 minutes of cold water immersion (12℃). The participants' somatic characteristics were determined before entering the sauna, and their body mass and blood pressure were measured before and after sauna treatment. Physiological parameters were monitored during the 16-minute sauna session and the 2-minute cold water immersion (CRIO) or shower. The subjects perspired 0.21-0.27 litres during…

Orderly display of limb lead ECGs raises Chinese intern’s diagnostic accuracy when determining frontal plane QRS axis

Background: There is limited information on whether the orderly display of limb lead ECGs (electrocardiograms) can facilitate students to determine frontal plane QRS complex wave electrical axis. Objectives: The study investigated whether the orderly display of limb lead ECGs can raise Chinese undergraduate intern’s diagnostic accuracy when determining frontal plane axis. Design: A total of 147 fifth-year undergraduate interns aged between 21 and 25 years were randomly arranged into 2 groups: one group was given classically displayed ECGs of limb leads while the other group was given orderly displayed ECGs of limb leads. They were then taught to determine frontal plane axis with one of the …

Cross-Country Skiing and Running’s Association with Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality:A Review of the Evidence

A large body of evidence demonstrates positive, graded effects of PA on cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality with increasing intensity compared with lower PA intensity. Running is often designated as a high-intensity PA with substantial evidence supporting its health benefits. Cross-country skiing is among the most demanding aerobic endurance exercises and requires engaging the upper- and lower-body. Cross-country skiing is often regarded as high-intensity PA, which has been associated with significant health benefits. However, a robust body of evidence identifying the dose-response relation between cross-country skiing volume and health outcomes is sparse. Therefore, this r…

Heart failure risk reduction:hydrophilic or lipophilic statins?

[No abstract]

Leisure-time cross-country skiing and risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke:a prospective cohort study

[No Abstract]

Temporal changes in personal activity intelligence and mortality : data from the aerobics center longitudinal study

Background Personal activity intelligence (PAI) is a metric developed to simplify a physically active lifestyle for the participants. Regardless of following today's advice for physical activity, a PAI score ≥100 per week at baseline, an increase in PAI score, and a sustained high PAI score over time were found to delay premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality in a large population of Norwegians. However, the association between long-term temporal change in PAI and mortality in other populations have not been investigated. Objective To test whether temporal change in PAI is associated with CVD and all-cause mortality in a large population from the United States. Method…

Effect of Omega-3 Dosage on Cardiovascular Outcomes : An Updated Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression of Interventional Trials

Objectives:To quantify the effect of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids oncardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and the effect of dosage. Methods:This study is designed as a random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression of ran-domized control trials with EPA/DHA supplementation. This is an update and expanded analysis ofa previously published meta-analysis which covers all randomized control trials with EPA/DHAinterventions and cardiovascular outcomes published before August 2019. The outcomes includedare myocardial infarction (MI), coronary heart disease (CHD) events, CVDevents (a composite ofMI, angina, stroke, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, sudden de…

Associations of Sex Hormones and Hormonal Status With Arterial Stiffness in a Female Sample From Reproductive Years to Menopause

ObjectiveLoss of sex hormones has been suggested to underlie menopause-associated increment in cardiovascular risk. We investigated associations of sex hormones with arterial stiffness in 19–58-years-old women. We also studied associations of specific hormonal stages, including natural menstrual cycle, cycle with combined oral contraceptives (COC) and menopausal status with or without hormone therapy (HT), with arterial stiffness.MethodsThis study includes repeated measurements of 65 healthy women representing reproductive (n=16 natural, n=10 COC-users) and menopause (n=5 perimenopausal, n=26 postmenopausal, n=8 HT-users) stages. Arterial stiffness outcomes were aortic pulse wave velocity (…

Underweight and obesity are related to higher mortality in patients undergoing coronary angiography: The KARDIO invasive cardiology register study

Background: In patients with some cardiovascular disease conditions, slightly elevated body mass index (BMI) is associated with a lower mortality risk (termed “obesity paradox”). It is uncertain, however, if this obesity paradox exists in patients who have had invasive cardiology procedures. We evaluated the association between BMI and mortality in patients who underwent coronary angiography. Methods: We utilised the KARDIO registry, which comprised data on demographics, prevalent diseases, risk factors, coronary angiographies, and interventions on 42,636 patients. BMI was categorised based on WHO cut-offs or transformed using P-splines. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI…

Leisure-time cross-country skiing is associated with lower incidence of hypertension:A prospective cohort study

Abstract Objective: The prospective relationship between cross-country skiing and hypertension is uncertain. We aimed to assess the associations of leisure time cross-country skiing habits with incident hypertension in a general population. Methods: The frequency, average duration, and intensity of leisure cross-country skiing were assessed at baseline using a 12-month physical activity questionnaire in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective study of 1809 middle-aged men without hypertension. Hazard ratios [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] were calculated. Results: New onset diagnosis of hypertension was observed in 279 participants during a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 2…

American Heart Association’s Cardiovascular Health Metrics and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among a Middle-aged Male Scandinavian Population

Background: The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prompted the American Heart Association to develop a cardiovascular health (CVH) metric as a measure to assess the cardiovascular status of the population. We aimed to assess the association between CVH scores and the risk of CVD mortality among a middle-aged Finnish population. Methods: We employed the prospective population-based Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease cohort study comprising of middle-aged men (42–60 years). CVH scores were computed among 2607 participants at baseline and categorized as optimum (0–4), average (5–9), or inadequate (10–14) CVH. Multivariate cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 9…

Effects of heat and cold on health, with special reference to Finnish sauna bathing.

Environmental stress such as extremely warm or cold temperature is often considered a challenge to human health and body homeostasis. However, the human body can adapt relatively well to heat and cold environments, and recent studies have also elucidated that particularly heat stress might be even highly beneficial for human health. Consequently, the aim of the present brief review is first to discuss general cardiovascular and other responses to acute heat stress, followed by a review of beneficial effects of Finnish sauna bathing on general and cardiovascular health and mortality as well as dementia and Alzheimer's disease risk. Plausible mechanisms included are improved endothelial and …

Sauna bathing reduces the risk of stroke in Finnish men and women : A prospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo assess the association between frequency of sauna bathing and risk of future stroke.MethodsBaseline habits of sauna bathing were assessed in 1,628 adult men and women aged 53–74 years (mean age, 62.7 years) without a known history of stroke in the Finnish Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort study. Three sauna bathing frequency groups were defined: 1, 2–3, and 4–7 sessions per week. Hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were estimated for incident stroke.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 14.9 years, 155 incident stroke events were recorded. Compared with participants who had one sauna bathing session per week, the age- and sex-adjusted HR (95% CI) fo…

Leisure-time cross-country skiing is associated with lower incidence of type 2 diabetes:A prospective cohort study

Background Cross-country skiing is associated with reduction in risk of adverse vascular outcomes, but its association with type 2 diabetes is uncertain. We aimed to assess the associations between leisure-time cross-country skiing habits and incident type 2 diabetes. Methods We analysed the data of 2483 middle-aged men with no history of diabetes at baseline in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective study. The frequency, average duration, and intensity of leisure cross-country skiing were assessed at baseline using a 12-month physical activity questionnaire. Hazard ratios (HRs) (95% CIs) for type 2 diabetes were estimated. Results During a median follow-up of 21.6 years, 539 men dev…

Is sauna bathing protective of sudden cardiac death? A review of the evidence

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a global public health burden accounting for 15–20% of all deaths. Though established atherosclerotic risk factors explain a large proportion of the risk of SCD, these factors are often absent in a large proportion of SCD victims and the pathogenesis of SCD is still not fully established. It therefore appears that additional factors may be involved. Sauna bathing is a traditional Finnish activity that is mainly used for the purposes of relaxation and pleasure. Beyond its use for these purposes, sauna bathing has been linked with several health benefits. Emerging evidence suggests that sauna bathing is associated with reduced risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) …

HFvalidsupplement_210319_SJPH – Supplemental material for The validity of heart failure diagnoses in the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register

Supplemental material, HFvalidsupplement_210319_SJPH for The validity of heart failure diagnoses in the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register by Matti A. Vuori, Jari A. Laukkanen, Arto Pietilä, Aki S. Havulinna, Mika Kähönen, Veikko Salomaa and Teemu J. Niiranen in Scandinavian Journal of Public Health

Is low cardiorespiratory fitness a feature of metabolic syndrome in children and adults?

Objectives Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been inversely associated with risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, there are no studies comparing the independent associations of CRF scaled by body size and composition using different approaches with cardiometabolic risk factors between children and adults. We therefore investigated these associations in children and adults using same measures for CRF and cardiometabolic risk factors. Design Cross-sectional. Methods A total of 352 children (47.2 % girls) and 572 men were included in the study. Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) was measured during a maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer and was scaled by total body mass (BM−1), total f…

Associations of Sex Hormones and Hormonal Status With Arterial Stiffness in a Female Sample From Reproductive Years to Menopause

Objective: Loss of sex hormones has been suggested to underlie menopause-associated increment in cardiovascular risk. We investigated associations of sex hormones with arterial stiffness in 19–58-years-old women. We also studied associations of specific hormonal stages, including natural menstrual cycle, cycle with combined oral contraceptives (COC) and menopausal status with or without hormone therapy (HT), with arterial stiffness. Methods: This study includes repeated measurements of 65 healthy women representing reproductive (n=16 natural, n=10 COC-users) and menopause (n=5 perimenopausal, n=26 postmenopausal, n=8 HT-users) stages. Arterial stiffness outcomes were aortic pulse wave veloc…

Physical activity and risk of venous thromboembolism: systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

The inverse association between physical activity and arterial thrombotic disease is well established. Evidence on the association between physical activity and venous thromboembolism (VTE) is divergent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational prospective cohort studies evaluating the associations of physical activity with VTE risk. MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and manual search of relevant bibliographies were systematically searched until 26 February 2019. Extracted relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the maximum versus minimal amount of physical activity groups were pooled using random effects meta-analysis. Twelve article…

Physical activity reduces the risk of pneumonia : systematic review and meta-analysis of 10 prospective studies involving 1,044,492 participants

The beneficial effects of regular physical activity in promoting health and preventing chronic diseases are well documented. The relationship between regular physical activity and the risk of pneumonia is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the magnitude and specificity of the prospective association between regular physical activity and the risk of pneumonia using a systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational cohort studies in general populations. Relevant studies with at least 1 year of follow-up were sought from inception until 15 September 2021 in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and manual search of relevant articles. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (C…

Is Cardiorespiratory Optimal Point Measured During the Maximal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test a Relevant Indicator of Sports Performance?

Extracellular vesicles and high‐density lipoproteins: Exercise and oestrogen‐responsive small RNA carriers

Decreased systemic oestrogen levels (i.e., menopause) affect metabolic health. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Both oestrogens and exercise have been shown to improve metabolic health, which may be partly mediated by circulating microRNA (c-miR) signalling. In recent years, extracellular vesicles (EV) have increased interest in the field of tissue crosstalk. However, in many studies on EV-carried miRs, the co-isolation of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles with EVs has not been considered, potentially affecting the results. Here, we demonstrate that EV and HDL particles have distinct small RNA (sRNA) content, including both host and nonhost sRN…

Fitness, body composition and blood lipids following 3 concurrent strength and endurance training modes

This study investigated changes in physical fitness, body composition, and blood lipid profile following 24 weeks of 3 volume-equated concurrent strength and endurance training protocols. Physically active, healthy male and female participants (aged 18–40 years) performed strength and endurance sessions on different days (DD; men, n = 21; women, n = 18) or in the same session with endurance preceding strength (ES; men, n = 16; women, n = 15) or vice versa (SE; men, n = 18; women, n = 14). The training volume was matched in all groups. Maximal leg press strength (1-repetition maximum (1RM)) and endurance performance (maximal oxygen consumption during cycling), body composition (dual-energy X…

Effect of Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in Overweight/Obese Men Aged 42 to 60 Years

The purpose of this study was to examine the subject and combined associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (fitness) and body mass index (BMI) with the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in middle-aged men. This prospective study was based on a population sample of 2,357 men aged 42 to 60 years, who were followed up in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease cohort study. Fitness was directly measured by peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) during progressive exercise testing to volitional fatigue. Participants were divided into 4 groups (fit-normal weight, unfit-normal weight, fit-overweight/obese, and unfit-overweight/obese) based on the median values of fitness and BMI. A total of 253 (10.7%) SCDs oc…

Acute effects of exercise and sauna as a single intervention on arterial compliance

Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing:A Review of the Evidence

Sauna bathing, an activity that has been a tradition in Finland for thousands of years and mainly used for the purposes of pleasure and relaxation, is becoming increasingly popular in many other populations. Emerging evidence suggests that beyond its use for pleasure, sauna bathing may be linked to several health benefits, which include reduction in the risk of vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and neurocognitive diseases; nonvascular conditions such as pulmonary diseases; mortality; as well as amelioration of conditions such as arthritis, headache, and flu. The beneficial effects of sauna bathing on these outcomes have been linked to its effect on circu…

Cardiac reinnervation influences exercise training outcomes in heart transplant patients.

Personal activity intelligence and mortality : Data from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study

Importance Personal activity intelligence (PAI) is a novel activity metric that can be integrated into self-assessment heart rate devices, and translates heart rate variations during exercise into a weekly score. Previous studies relating to PAI have been conducted in the same populations from Norway where the PAI metric has been derived, limiting generalizability of the results. Objective To test whether PAI is associated with total and cause-specific mortality in a large cohort from the United States. Design Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS) - a prospective cohort between January 1974 and December 2002 with a mean follow-up of 14.5 years. Setting Population-based. Participants 56,…

Sleep Duration and Risk of Fatal Coronary Heart Disease, Sudden Cardiac Death, Cancer Death, and All-Cause Mortality

Background: Sleep duration has been shown to be associated with all-cause mortality, however its relationship with cause-specific fatal events remains uncertain. We examined the relationship between sleep duration and risk of fatal coronary heart disease (CHD), sudden cardiac death, cancer related death and all-cause mortality. Methods Sleep duration was self-reported at baseline examinations performed between March 20, 1984 and December 5, 1989 in 2,361 men aged 42-61 years old from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease study. Of these 1734 (73.4%) men were free from CHD and cancer at baseline. Results: A total of 802 all cause deaths, 202 fatal coronary heart disease events, 141 sudden cardia…

A potential case for the routine assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness level in clinical practice

The effect of prolonged thermal stress on the physiological parameters of young, sedentary men and the correlations with somatic features and body composition parameters.

Little is known about the effect of prolonged thermal stress on the physiological parameters of young and sedentary men. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of prolonged thermal stress on the physiological parameters of young men and the correlations with somatic features and body composition parameters. Forty-two sedentary men aged 20.24 ± 1.68 years were exposed to 10-, 12- and 14-minute sauna sessions (temperature: 90-91 °C; relative humidity: 14-16%). The participants' body composition parameters were determined pre-sauna exposure, and their body mass and blood pressure were measured pre and post-sauna treatment. Physiological parameters were monitored during each sauna ses…

Short-term effects of Finnish sauna bathing on blood-based markers of cardiovascular function in non-naive sauna users

Emerging evidence suggests that sauna bathing is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events. However, the biochemical pathways by which sauna bathing might confer its effects on cardiovascular function are not certain. We aimed to study the acute effects of Finnish sauna bathing on various blood-based cardiovascular biomarkers. The study included 102 non-naive sauna users (54% male) with mean age of 51.9 years, who had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Participants underwent a 30-min single sauna session (mean temperature, 73 °C). Biochemical profiling was conducted before, immediately after sauna and 30-min post-sauna. Overall median N-terminal pro…

Sports and exercise medicine clinic in public hospital settings: A real-life concept and experiences of the treatment of the first 1151 patients

AbstractExercise has been shown to have a multitude of health-promoting effects, including improvements in cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, function, symptoms and risk factors. Furthermore, exercise may slow down, stop or even reverse the progression of various non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Despite the overwhelming evidence, exercise is still not comprehensively used as a treatment component either in primary care or in hospital settings. The outpatient Sports and Exercise Medicine Clinic (SEMC) is the first specialized clinic in Finland to use exercise as part of patient protocols in the public health care system. Patients needing specialist attention due to NCDs, usually combin…

Combined Effect of Sauna Bathing and Cardiorespiratory Fitness on the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Deaths in Caucasian Men: A Long-term Prospective Cohort Study

Both cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and frequency of sauna bathing (FSB) are each strongly and independently associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk. However, the combined effect of CRF and FSB on SCD risk has not been previously investigated. We evaluated the joint impact of CRF and FSB on the risk of SCD in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort study of 2291 men aged 42-61 years at recruitment. Objectively measured CRF and self-reported sauna bathing habits were assessed at baseline. CRF was categorized as low and high (median cutoffs) and FSB as low and high (defined as ≤2 and 3-7 sessions/week respectively). Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with confide…

Association between ideal cardiovascular health and risk of sudden cardiac death and all-cause mortality among middle-aged men in Finland.

Abstract Background Strong associations have been demonstrated between the American Heart Association’s cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics and various cardiovascular outcomes, but the association with sudden cardiac death (SCD) is uncertain. We examined the associations between these CVH metrics and the risks of SCD and all-cause mortality among men in Finland. Methods and results We used the prospective population-based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease cohort study, which consists of men between 42 and 60 years of age at baseline. CVH metrics were computed for 2577 men with CVH scores at baseline ranging from 0 to 7, categorized into CVH scores of 0–2 (poor), 3–4 (intermediate) and 5–7 (ide…

Nurse‐led counseling for coronary artery disease patients: A 1‐year follow‐up study

Nurse-led counseling and systematic follow-up has been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk factor levels. The study aim was to investigate if cardiovascular risk factor levels could be reduced in patients with coronary artery disease with a nurse-led intervention and to report patients’ evaluations of nurse-led counseling. The study design was a real-life longitudinal follow-up counseling intervention. Data were collected from November 2017 to May 2020. The nurse-led intervention and patients’ follow-up time was one year. Of the 78 patients recruited, 74 completed the study. The most significant findings were in the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and trigly…

Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is a Risk Factor for Death

Differences in cardiometabolic risk profiles between Chinese and Finnish older adults with glucose impairment and central obesity.

Abstract Background Obesity and ethnicity play important roles in cardiovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to compare cardiometabolic risk profiles between Chinese and Finnish older adults of central obesity with prediabetes or T2DM. Methods Study subjects were 60–74 years old and originated from two population samples. The Finnish subjects came from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease (KIHD) study (n = 1089), and the Chinese subjects came from the Shanghai High-risk Diabetic Screen (SHiDS) study (n = 818). The KIHD and SHiDS studies used similar questionnaires to determine participants’ baseline characteristics regarding the history of m…

Acute Neuromuscular and Hormonal Responses to Different Exercise Loadings Followed by a Sauna.

Rissanen, JA, Hakkinen, A, Laukkanen, J, Kraemer, WJ, and Hakkinen, K. Acute neuromuscular and hormonal responses to different exercise loadings followed by a sauna. J Strength Cond Res 34(2): 313-322, 2020-The purpose of this study was to investigate acute responses of endurance (E + SA), strength (S + SA), and combined endurance and strength exercise (C + SA) followed by a traditional sauna bath (70° C, 18% relative humidity) on neuromuscular performance and serum hormone concentrations. Twenty-seven recreationally physically active men who were experienced with taking a sauna participated in the study. All the subjects performed a sauna bath only (SA) first as a control measurement follo…

Should inflammatory pathways be targeted for the prevention and treatment of hypertension?

Hypertension is the most common modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD)1 and is a leading cause of death globally.2 Hypertension and CVD share common antecedent risk factors which include physical inactivity, obesity and excess alcohol intake.3 Though these established risk factors explain a large proportion of hypertension risk, its pathogenesis is still not fully established as it appears that other additional lifestyle and genetic factors may be involved. There is therefore a need to identify and evaluate putative risk factors that may increase our knowledge of hypertension development, may have causal or predictive relevance, and which will help develop preventive and ma…

Running away from cardiovascular disease at the right speed: The impact of aerobic physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness on cardiovascular disease risk and associated subclinical phenotypes

Higher levels of physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with lower risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship of aerobic PA and CRF with risk of atherosclerotic CVD outcomes and heart failure (HF) seem to be distinct. Furthermore, recent studies have raised concerns of potential toxicity associated with extreme levels of aerobic exercise, with higher levels of coronary artery calcium and incident atrial fibrillation noted among individuals with very high PA levels. In contrast, the relationship between PA levels and measures of left ventricular structure and function and risk of HF is more linear. Thus, personalizing exercise …

Joint effect of blood pressure and C-reactive protein and the risk of sudden cardiac death : a prospective cohort study

Background Both blood pressure and C-reactive protein (CRP) are each independently related to mortality risk. However, the combined effect of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and CRP on sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk has not been studied. Patients and methods We studied the joint impact of SBP and CRP and the risk of SCD in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort study of 1953 men aged 42–61 years with no history of ischemic heart disease. Baseline investigations were conducted between March 1984 and December 1989. SBP and CRP were measured. SBP was divided based on median values to low and high (median cutoffs 132 mmHg) and CRP as low and high (median cut-off 1.30 mg/L). Hazard …

Investigation of antihypertensive class, dementia, and cognitive decline: a meta-analysis

ObjectiveHigh blood pressure is one of the main modifiable risk factors for dementia. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the best antihypertensive class for optimizing cognition. Our objective was to determine whether any particular antihypertensive class was associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline or dementia using comprehensive meta-analysis including reanalysis of original participant data.MethodsTo identify suitable studies, MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO and preexisting study consortia were searched from inception to December 2017. Authors of prospective longitudinal human studies or trials of antihypertensives were contacted for data sharing and collaboration.…

Endocrine effects of sauna bath

Sauna bath brings about numerous acute changes in hormone levels, partly akin to other stressful situations, partly specific for sauna. Norepinephrine increases in those accustomed to sauna bath. Sweating increases the production of antidiuretic hormone, and the renin-angiotensin system becomes activated. Of the anterior pituitary hormones, growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) secretion is increased. Also β-endorphin has been frequently reported to increase, whereas the responses of ACTH and cortisol are variable, probably depending on the type of sauna exposure. Sperm production decreases in particular in sauna-naïve men, but reduced fertility has not been associated with regular sauna …

Recovery from sauna bathing favorably modulates cardiac autonomic nervous system

Objective: Sauna bathing is becoming a common activity in many countries and it has been linked to favorable health outcomes. However, there is limited data on the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses to an acute sauna exposure. Design: We conducted a single-group, longitudinal study utilizing a pre-post design to examine acute effects of sauna bathing on the autonomic nervous system as reflected by HRV. A total of 93 participants (mean [SD] age: 52.0 [8.8] years, 53.8% males) with cardiovascular risk factors were exposed to a single sauna session (duration: 30 min; temperature: 73 °C; humidity: 10–20%) and data on HRV variables were collected before, during and after …

Exercise intensity assessment and prescription in cardiovascular rehabilitation and beyond : why and how : a position statement from the Secondary Prevention and Rehabilitation Section of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology

Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2021. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Cross-country skiing and the risk of acute myocardial infarction: A prospective cohort study

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and BMI with arterial health in middle‐aged men and women

Abstract We investigated the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), physical activity (PA) with regard to aerobic and resistance training, and body mass index (BMI) with pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) in middle‐aged adults with at least one cardiovascular risk factor. A total of 84 (46 men and 38 women) participated in the study. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured using a maximal graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer and was defined as maximal power output (Wmax) normalized for body weight‐0.35. Participation in aerobic and resistance training was assessed by a detailed questionnaire and BMI was calculated as weight (kg)/[height (m2)]. Pulse wave ve…

Fit Is It for Cardiovascular Disease Prediction, Prevention, and Treatment

Does cardiorespiratory fitness really influence venous thromboembolism risk?

[No Abstract]

Physical activity may not be associated with long‐term risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Background While it is well established that physical activity is associated with reduced risk of vascular and non‐vascular outcomes as well as mortality, evidence on the association between physical activity and dementia is inconsistent. We aimed to assess the associations of physical activity with the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Material and methods We analysed data on 2,394 apparently healthy men with good baseline cognitive function from the prospective population‐based Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease study. We assessed habits of physical activity at baseline using a 12‐month leisure‐time physical activity (LTPA) questionnaire. Using Cox regression, we calculated hazar…

Exercise cardiac power and the risk of heart failure in men: A population-based follow-up study.

Little is known about exercise cardiac power (ECP), defined as the ratio of directly measured maximal oxygen uptake with peak systolic blood pressure during exercise, on heart failure (HF) risk. We examined the association of ECP and the risk of HF.This was a population-based cohort study of 2351 men from eastern Finland. The average time to follow-up was 25 years. Participants participated at baseline in an exercise stress test. A total of 313 cases of HF occurred.Men with low ECP (9.84 mL/mmHg, the lowest quartile) had a 2.37-fold (95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.68-3.35, p0.0001) hazards ratio of HF as compared with men with high ECP (13.92 mL/mmHg, the highest quartile), after adjust…

Relative peak exercise oxygen pulse is related to sudden cardiac death, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in middle-aged men

Background Preliminary evidence suggests that peak exercise oxygen pulse – peak oxygen uptake/heart rate-, a variable obtained during maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing and a surrogate of stroke volume, is a predictor of mortality. We aimed to assess the associations of peak exercise oxygen pulse with sudden cardiac death, fatal coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Design A prospective study. Methods Peak exercise oxygen pulse was assessed in a maximal cycling test at baseline in 2227 middle-aged men of the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease cohort study using expired gas variables and electrocardiograms. Relative peak exercise oxygen pulse was obtain…

Identification of Gut Microbial Lysine and Histidine Degradation and CYP-Dependent Metabolites as Biomarkers of Fatty Liver Disease

Numerous studies have described specific metabolites as biomarkers ofsevere liver diseases, but very few have measured gut microbiota (GM)-produced metab-olites in fatty liver disease. We aimed atfinding GM signatures and metabolite markersin plasma and feces related to high liver fat content. Based on imaging, we dividedstudy participants into low (,5%, LF,n= 25) and high (.5%, HF,n= 39) liver fatgroups. Fecal (LFn= 14, HFn= 25) and plasma (LFn= 11, HFn= 7) metabolomes ofsubsets of participants were studied using liquid chromatography/high resolution massspectrometry. The GM were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Additionally,blood clinical variables and diet were studied. Dyslipide…

Prognostic Relevance of Cardiorespiratory Fitness as Assessed by Submaximal Exercise Testing for All-Cause Mortality: A UK Biobank Prospective Study

Objective: To investigate if the inverse associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population vary among individuals who are at different pre-test risk. Patients and Methods: CRF was assessed through submaximal bike tests in 58,892 participants aged 40-69 years who completed baseline questionnaires between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2010 in the UK Biobank study. Participants were categorized into risk categories, which determined allocation to an individualized bike protocol. These were “minimal risk (1)”, “small risk (2)” and “medium risk (3)” groups (i.e., those who cycled at 50%, 35% of predicted maximal workload and …

Physical activity and risk of atrial fibrillation in the general population : meta-analysis of 23 cohort studies involving about 2 million participants

Regular physical activity is well established to be associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease outcomes. Whether physical activity is associated with the future risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains a controversy. Using a systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational cohort studies in general populations with at least one-year of follow-up, we aimed to evaluate the association between regular physical activity and the risk of AF. Relevant studies were sought from inception until October 2020 in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and manual search of relevant articles. Extracted relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the maximum versus the …

TV viewing and venous thromboembolism: Risk or red herring?

[No abstract]

Pulmonary embolism location is associated with the co-existence of the deep venous thrombosis.

Multiple studies have shown that in approximately half of individuals with pulmonary embolism (PE), the deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is not evident at the moment of PE diagnosis. The underlying factors and the origin of PE in these patients are not completely understood: missed DVT, embolization of DVT in its entirety, or de-novo PE being possible explanations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in PE patient with or without co-existing DVT. Sixty-three consecutive PE patients were included. Whole leg bilateral Doppler compression ultrasound was performed to all patients. The PE location and extension, C-reactive protein, platelet count, hemostatic markers FV, FVIII, FXII…

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and blood pressure with arterial stiffness in adolescent, young adult, and middle-aged women.

AbstractFew studies have investigated whether higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) or favourable body composition are related to lower arterial stiffness in women. We therefore investigated the associations of CRF, body fat percentage (BF%), fat free mass index (FFMI), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) with arterial stiffness in 146 women aged 16–58 years. CRF was assessed by a maximal exercise test with respiratory gas analysis either on a cycle ergometer or a treadmill. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao), augmentation index (AIx%), and MAP were assessed by a non-invasive oscillometric device and BF% and FFMI by a bioelectrical impedance or DXA device. CRF was inversely associated with PW…

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation

Abstract Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is well-documented and justified integral part of disease management in stable coronary heart disease patients. CR programs are defined as multifactorial and comprehensive, with physical activity counseling and exercise training as key components in all rehabilitation and preventive interventions. The physiological and clinical benefits of exercise-based CR are widely established with similar benefits for women and men and advanced aged patients as well. In patients with cardiovascular disease, exercise-based CR elicits favorable effects on the cardiac function, endothelium and skeletal muscle resulting to an improvement of quality of life…

Endocrine effects of sauna bath

Abstract Sauna bath brings about numerous acute changes in hormone levels, partly akin to other stressful situations, partly specific for sauna. Norepinephrine increases in those accustomed to sauna bath. Sweating increases the production of antidiuretic hormone, and the renin–angiotensin system becomes activated. Of the anterior pituitary hormones, growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) secretion is increased. Also β-endorphin has been frequently reported to increase, whereas the responses of antidiuretic hormone and cortisol are variable, probably depending on the type of sauna exposure. Sperm production decreases in particular in sauna-naive men, but reduced fertility has not been assoc…

Longitudinal associations of physical activity, sedentary time, and cardiorespiratory fitness with arterial health in children – the PANIC study

We investigated the longitudinal associations of physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with arterial health among children. In our primary analyses, we investigated 245 children (girls 51.8%) aged 6-9 years participating in the baseline examinations who had data on arterial health at 2-year follow-up. We also utilized a subsample of 90 children who had a complete arterial health data at baseline and 2-year follow-up. ST (≤1.5 METs), light PA (>1.5-4 METs), moderate PA (>4-7 METs), vigorous PA (>7METs), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA, >4 METs) were assessed by combined movement and heart rate monitoring and CRF by maximal exercise testing on a cy…

Exercise, Sports &amp; Cardiovascular Health: Relevant Questions and Answers

Introduction Currently, it is quite common for a clinical cardiologist to be questioned about exercise and sports, topics that are rarely discussed during formal medical education. In this regard, there is a clear need to access high-quality data and evidence-based information to give patients and family members the best advice. Aiming to present the state-of-the art scientific information on the topic, we have invited several experts from different countries, all of them “knowledge-producers” in exercise and sports cardiology, to contribute [...]

Lipoprotein(a) is not associated with venous thromboembolism risk.

Objectives. Evidence from case-control studies as well as meta-analyses of these study designs suggest elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] to be associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Prospective evidence on the association is limited, uncertain, and could be attributed to regression dilution bias. We aimed to assess the prospective association of Lp(a) with risk of VTE and correct for regression dilution. Design. We related plasma Lp(a) concentrations to the incidence of VTE in 2,180 men of the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease cohort study. Hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CI]) were assessed and repeat measurements of Lp(a) at 4 and 11 years from baseline…

In reply : Sauna Bathing and Healthy Sweating

Is 're-calibration' of standard cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk algorithms the panacea to improved CVD risk prediction and prevention?

This editorial refers to ‘Equalization of four cardiovascular risk algorithms after systematic recalibration: individual-participant meta-analysis of 86 prospective studies’, by L. Pennells et al., doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy653.

Serum Albumin and Future Risk of Hip, Humeral, and Wrist Fractures in Caucasian Men:New Findings from a Prospective Cohort Study

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Objective:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Low serum albumin concentration is associated with poor health outcomes, but its relationship with the risk of fractures has not been reliably quantified. We aimed to assess the prospective association of serum albumin with the risk of fractures in a general population. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Subjects and Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Baseline serum albumin concentrations were measured in 2,245 men aged 42–61 years in the Kuopio Is­chemic Heart Disease study. Hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals) were calculated for incident fractures. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; A total of 121 fractures (hip, humeral, or wrist) were rec…

Association between estimated pulse wave velocity and the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in men.

[No Abstract]

Sauna exposure leads to improved arterial compliance: Findings from a non-randomised experimental study.

Background Heat therapy has been suggested to improve cardiovascular function. However, the effects of hot sauna exposure on arterial compliance and the dynamics of blood flow and pressure have not been well documented. Thus, we investigated the short-term effects of sauna bathing on arterial stiffness and haemodynamics. Design The design was an experimental non-randomised study. Methods There were 102 asymptomatic participants (mean age, 51.9 years) who had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Participants were exposed to a single sauna session (duration: 30 min; temperature: 73℃; humidity: 10–20%). Pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, heart rate, blood pressure, mean arterial pres…

Impact of Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Survival in Men with Low Socioeconomic Status

Abstract Aims Although both low socioeconomic status (SES) and poor cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with increased chronic disease and heightened mortality, it remains unclear whether moderate-to-high levels of CRF are associated with survival benefits in low SES populations. This study evaluated the hypothesis that SES and CRF predict all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality and that moderate-to-high levels of CRF may attenuate the association between low SES and increased mortality. Methods This study included 2368 men, who were followed in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Study cohort. CRF was directly measured by peak oxygen uptake during progressive exe…

Acute Hemodynamic Responses to Combined Exercise and Sauna.

AbstractThis study investigated acute hemodynamic, plasma volume and immunological responses to four loading protocols: sauna only, and sauna after endurance, strength or combined endurance and strength exercise. Twenty-seven healthy, slightly prehypertensive men (age 32.7±6.9 years) were measured at PRE, MID (after exercise), POST, POST30min and POST24h. The measurements consisted systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and concentrations of high-sensitive C-reactive protein, white blood cells and plasma volume measurements. Endurance+sauna showed significant decreases in systolic blood pressure at POST (–8.9 mmHg), POST30min (–11.0 mmHg) and POST24h (–4.6 mmHg)…

Exercise cardiac power and the risk of heart failure in men : A population-based follow-up study

Background Little is known about exercise cardiac power (ECP), defined as the ratio of directly measured maximal oxygen uptake with peak systolic blood pressure during exercise on heart failure (HF) risk. We examined the association of ECP and the risk of HF. Methods This was a population-based cohort study of 2351 men from eastern Finland. The average time to follow-up was 25 years. Participants participated at baseline in an exercise stress test. A total of 313 cases of HF occurred. Results Men with low ECP (13.92 mL/mmHg, highest quartile), after adjusting for age. Low ECP was associated with a 1.96-fold risk (95%CI: 1.38 − 2.78, p < 0.001) of HF after additional adjustment for conventio…

P640Sex differences in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older participants of a medically-supervised exercise program

Abstract Background Physical inactivity has been shown to be associated with all-cause mortality in both healthy and unhealthy middle-aged and older individuals. While regular exercise is equally recommended for men and women, it is virtually unknown if sex influences the long-term survival among participants of a medically-supervised exercise program (MSEP). Purpose To evaluate if cardiovascular and all-cause mortality differs between men and women who participates in a MSEP. Methods Retrospective data from an open cohort of individuals aged 36 to 85 years old (66% men) who participated in a private MSEP between March 1994 and December 2018 were analyzed. The participants were free to atte…

The Duke treadmill score with bicycle ergometer: Exercise capacity is the most important predictor of cardiovascular mortality

Background The Duke treadmill score, a widely used treadmill testing tool, is a weighted index combining exercise time or capacity, maximum ST-segment deviation and exercise-induced angina. No previous studies have investigated whether the Duke treadmill score and its individual components based on bicycle exercise testing predict cardiovascular death. Design Two populations with a standard bicycle testing were used: 3936 patients referred for exercise testing (2371 men, age 56 ± 13 years) from the Finnish Cardiovascular Study (FINCAVAS) and a population-based sample of 2683 men (age 53 ± 5.1 years) from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease study (KIHD). Methods Cox regression was applied for…

Silencing of C3G increases cardiomyocyte survival inhibition and apoptosis via regulation of p-ERK1/2 and Bax.

Experimental studies have shown that overexpression of Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (C3G) plays pro-survival and anti-apoptotic roles through molecule phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in cardiomyocytes. However, it is still unclear if silencing of C3G may increase cell survival inhibition and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, and whether C3G silence induced injuries are reduced by the overexpression of C3G through regulation of p-ERK1/2 and pro-apoptotic molecule Bax. In this study, the rat-derived H9C2 cardiomyocytes were infected with C3G small hairpin RNA interference recombinant lentiviruses, which silenced the endogenous C3G expression in the ca…

Marriage Dissatisfaction and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death Among Men

Conflicts in marriage have been associated with potential risk of cardiovascular disease; however, there is lack of prospective evidence on the association between marriage satisfaction and sudden cardiac death (SCD). We aimed to assess the association between perceived level of marriage satisfaction and risk of SCD. This study employed the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease study, an ongoing prospective population-based study in Finland. Perceived level of marriage satisfaction was assessed in 2,262 men using a well-structured self-administered questionnaire. Multivariable adjusted Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) for SCD. During a median …

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and the Risk of Serious Ventricular Arrhythmias: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease outcomes. However, the relationship of CRF with risk of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) is unknown. We aimed to assess the prospective association of CRF with the risk of serious VAs. Cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured by maximal oxygen uptake, was assessed using a respiratory gas exchange analyzer in 2299 middle-aged men in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort. We corrected for within-person variability in CRF levels using data from repeated measurements 11 years apart. During median follow-up of 25.3 years (interquartile range, 18.7-27.2 years), 73 serious VAs were recorded. The age-…

Response to letter by Peng-Wu and Ma on: the relationship of cardiorespiratory fitness and venous thromboembolism: yes or no?

Sir,We thank Peng-Wu and Ma for their letter [1] regarding our recently published article [2]. Their concern is that our findings cannot be generalized because it was based on only men and conducte...

Overweight and obesity are associated with cardiac adverse structure remodeling in Chinese elderly with hypertension

AbstractThere is limited information on the association of overweight and obesity with cardiac remodeling in elderly population. Therefore, we investigated whether overweight and obesity are associated with cardiac geometric structures and function in Chinese elderly. A total of 1183 hospitalized patients (aged 65–99 years) with primary hypertension were collected retrospectively in a cross-sectional study, and divided into underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity patient groups according to their body mass index (BMI). Cardiac echocardiographic parameters were compared between the groups. BMI was 17.2 ± 1.2, 21.4 ± 1.2, 25.1 ± 1.2, 30.2 ± 2.6 kg/m2 in underweight, normal weight, …

American heart association’s cardiovascular health metrics and risk of cardiovascular disease mortality among a middle-aged male Scandinavian population

Background: The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prompted the American Heart Association to develop a cardiovascular health (CVH) metric as a measure to assess the cardiovascular status of the population. We aimed to assess the association between CVH scores and the risk of CVD mortality among a middle-aged Finnish population. Methods: We employed the prospective population-based Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease cohort study comprising of middle-aged men (42–60 years). CVH scores were computed among 2607 participants at baseline and categorized as optimum (0–4), average (5–9), or inadequate (10–14) CVH. Multivariate cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 9…