Recent Life Changes and Coronary Heart Disease in East versus West Finland.

摘要

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is not equally prevalent in East versus West Finland. Substantially higher CHD rates are found in East Finland, and these higher rates are only partially explained by differences in physiological 'risk factors' such as body mass, blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and serum cholesterol levels between persons in these two regions. Recent life changes magnitudes were assessed for representative groups of men living in these two areas of Finland. East Finns reported approximately 84% higher life change magnitude than West Finns. Subjects' life changes magnitudes were essentially unrelated to their physiological risk factors. The relatively increased life change levels seen for East Finns may constitute an environmental risk factor for CHD. (Author)