Peak oxygen uptake, ventilatory threshold, and arterial stiffness in adolescents.

Purpose: To investigate the associations of peak oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) and [Formula: see text] at ventilatory threshold ([Formula: see text] at VT) with arterial stiffness in adolescents.

Methods: The participants were 55 adolescents (36 girls, 19 boys) aged 16-19 years. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIx%) were measured by non-invasive oscillometric device from right brachial artery level.

Are Metabolically Healthy Overweight/Obese Men at Increased Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death?

Objective: To the association between metabolically healthy overweight/obesity and the risk of sudden cardiac death in middle-aged men.

Participants And Methods: This prospective study was based on a population sample of 2185 men aged 42 to 60 years from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Participants were divided into 4 groups on the basis of body mass index and metabolic health status.

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 circulatory, cardiovascular, and immune functions.

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, 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 2361 men aged 42-61 years from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease study.

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 (VO) during progressive exercise testing to volitional fatigue.

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.

Longitudinal associations of sauna bathing with inflammation and oxidative stress: the KIHD prospective cohort study.

Purpose: We sought to determine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of frequency of sauna bathing with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen, leucocyte count and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT).

Design: Baseline sauna bathing habits were assessed in 2269 men aged 42-61 years. Concentrations of hsCRP, fibrinogen, leucocyte count, and GGT were determined at baseline and 11 years later.

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.

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

Objective: To assess the association between frequency of sauna bathing and risk of future stroke.

Methods: Baseline 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.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and risk of dementia: a prospective population-based cohort study.

Dementia is considered to be one of the major public health problems in light of the ageing population. Little is known about directly measured cardiorespiratory fitness as measured by maximal oxygen uptake and the risk of dementia. Our aim was to examine the relationship of cardiorespiratory fitness, as indicated by maximal oxygen uptake, with subsequent incidence of dementia.

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.

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.

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.

Long-Term Change in Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Relation to Atrial Fibrillation and Heart Failure (from the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study).

The benefits of aerobic fitness in relation to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality is well established; however, the associations of long-term change in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with incident heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) have not been studied before. The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study is a prospective cohort comprising men aged 42 to 60 years from the city of Kuopio and its surroundings, with a baseline examination between 1984 and 1989 (V1), a re-examination at 11 years (V2), and up to 15 years of follow-up from V2. CRF, as assessed by VOmax, was measured at both visits using respiratory gas exchange during maximal exercise tolerance test.

Inverse association between serum albumin and future risk of venous thromboembolism: interrelationship with high sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the prospective association of serum albumin with venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk and evaluate if the association is independent of or modified by inflammation, as measured by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).

Design: We analysed data of 2176 men aged 42-61 years free from VTE in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease study, with serum albumin concentrations measured at baseline using Coulter's bromocresol purple colorimetric assays. Hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CI]) were calculated for VTE.

High Leisure-Time Physical Activity Is Associated With Reduced Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death Among Men With Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness.

Background: We studied the independent and joint associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among middle-aged men.

Methods: The participants were 2656 randomly selected men aged 42-60 years at baseline who were followed for 19 years. LTPA was assessed using a questionnaire modified from the Minnesota LTPA Questionnaire and CRF using a respiratory gas exchange analyzer during maximal exercise test.

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.

Acute effects of sauna bathing on cardiovascular function.

Emerging evidence suggests beneficial effects of sauna bathing on the cardiovascular system. However, the effects of sauna bathing on parameters of cardiovascular function and blood-based biomarkers are uncertain. We aimed to investigate whether sauna bathing induces changes in arterial stiffness, blood pressure (BP), and several blood-based biomarkers.

All-cause mortality and major cardiovascular outcomes comparing percutaneous coronary angioplasty versus coronary artery bypass grafting in the treatment of unprotected left main stenosis: a meta-analysis of short-term and long-term randomised trials.

Objective: We compared percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for the treatment of left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: RCTs of PCI versus CABG in patients with LMCA stenosis were identified from MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library and search of bibliographies to November 2016. Study-specific HRs with 95% CIs were aggregated for all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), and other cardiovascular events at time points of 30 days, 1 year and 3 years and beyond.

Frequent sauna bathing may reduce the risk of pneumonia in middle-aged Caucasian men: The KIHD prospective cohort study.

Objective: Emerging evidence suggests sauna bathing to be linked with numerous health benefits. Having frequent sauna baths has been found to be associated with reduced risk of acute and chronic disease conditions. Sauna bathing may reduce the risk of respiratory diseases; however, the evidence is uncertain.

Sauna bathing and systemic inflammation.

We aimed to investigate whether frequency of sauna bathing is associated with the levels of serum C-reactive protein. C-reactive protein is a leading blood marker of systemic inflammation. The study consisted of 2084 men (42-60 years) without acute or chronic inflammation.