Hartonderzoek Vlagtwedde 1970 [Heart survey Vlagtwedde 1970]

After an introduction and a description of objectives of the heart study Vlagtwedde 1970 a short survey is given of theprevalence of a number of possible symptoms of ischemic heart disease and risk indicators. The high percentage (29) of thepopulation studied (males aged 20-49 yrs) with a high serum cholesterol (? 280 mg%) and the high percentage (26.6) ofsaturated dietary fat are striking. Compared with other studies prevalence of possible manifestations of coronary heart disease isof the same order (2% WHO angina pectoris and 4% Minnesota ECG codings suggestive for ischemic heart disease).
Some results are summarized of the investigation into relationships of several coronary risk indicators and possible coronarysymptoms. The importance of obesity for blood pressure and serum lipid variables was striking. The significance of the negativerelationship between Quetelet index (for obesity) and total of calories in the diet (age taken into account) is discussed.Cholesterol intake was the only nutritional variable showing a (positive) relationship with serum cholesterol. Presence of arcuscorneae was positively related to serum cholesterol level; xanthelasmata showed a positive (though lower) relation to serumtriglyceride level. Heart rate and physical inactivity were also positively related to serum triglyceride level. Diabetes mellitusshowed a positive relationship with both serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride level. The ECG (Sokolow index, QRS duration)was positively related to systolic but not to diastolic blood pressure. It proved not possible to detect hypercholesterolaemics (?300 mg%) and hypertriglyceridaemics (? 180 mg%) on the basis of simple data (obtained with non-invasive methods). Serumtriglyceride level was positively related to presence of possible manifestations of coronary heart disease. This relationshipdisappeared when the variable dyspnea was taken into account. Emotional factors and/or physical inactivity may play a role.