Seven countries study. first 20-year mortality data in 12 cohorts of six countries

Alessandro Menotti, Ancel Keys, Christ Aravanis, Henry Blackburn, Anastasios Dontas, Flaminio Fidanza, Martti J. Karvonen, Daan Kromhout, Srecko Nedeljkovic, Aulikki Nissinen, Juha Pekkanen, Sven Punsar, Fulvia Seccareccia, Hironori Toshima

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

88 Scopus citations

Abstract

Out of the original 16 cohorts in the Seven Countries Study on Cardiovascular Diseases, 12 population samples in six countries have reached the 20 year follow-up deadline. Data on mortality became fully available for a total of 8287 men aged 40-59 at entry examination (two cohorts in Finland, one in the Netherlands, three in Italy, two in Yugoslavia, two in Greece, and two in Japan). Death rates from CHD as well as from all causes follow the traditional falling north to south trend (18 fold between the extremes for CHD; 2.7 fold for total mortality). The differences in all causes mortality are, however, largely accounted for by the variation in CHD mortality. The mean entry levels of serum cholesterol and representative levels of the consumption of saturated fats, mono-unsaturated fats, poly-unsaturated fats and carbohydrates explain a large proportion of inter-cohort difference in CHD mortality (81% for saturated fats). By applying the proportional hazards model to the pools of national cohorts, with CHD deaths as end-point and five risk factors as covariates, only age and mean blood pressure are universally significant predictors of fatal events. Cholesterol, smoking habits, body mass index and physical activity play some part but not in all the pools. Age and mean blood pressure are also the only universal risk factors for all causes of death.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)175-179
Number of pages5
JournalAnnals of Medicine
Volume21
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1989

Keywords

  • Coronary heart disease
  • Epidemiology
  • Prediction
  • Risk factors
  • Total mortality

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