Anticoagulation Therapy After Biologic Aortic Valve Replacement.

Thromboembolism prophylaxis after biologic aortic valve replacement (BAVR) is recommended for 3 months postoperatively. We examined the continuation of oral anticoagulation (OAC) treatment and its effect on the long-term prognosis after BAVR. We used nation-wide register data from 4,079 individuals who underwent BAVR.

Associations of healthy food choices with gut microbiota profiles.

Background: Diet has a major influence on the human gut microbiota, which has been linked to health and disease. However, epidemiological studies on associations of a healthy diet with the microbiota utilizing a whole-diet approach are still scant.

Objectives: To assess associations between healthy food choices and human gut microbiota composition, and to determine the strength of association with functional potential.

Unsupervised hierarchical clustering identifies a metabolically challenged subgroup of hypertensive individuals.

The current classification of hypertension does not reflect the heterogeneity in characteristics or cardiovascular outcomes of hypertensive individuals. Our objective was to identify distinct phenotypes of hypertensive individuals with potentially different cardiovascular risk profiles using data-driven cluster analysis. We performed clustering, a procedure that identifies groups with similar characteristics, in 3726 individuals (mean age 59.

Population trends in aortic valve surgery in Finland between 2001 and 2016.

. To investigate nationwide changes in procedure rates, patient selection, and prognosis after all surgical aortic valve replacements. .

Population trends in mitral valve surgery in Finland between 1997 and 2014: the finnish CVD register.

Objectives: Contemporary, nationwide data on trends in mitral valve surgery are scarce. Our aim was to investigate changes in procedure rates, patient selection, and post-procedural prognosis of open-heart mitral valve surgery in Finland.

Design: We combined data from three nationwide administrative registers with compulsory reporting.

Trends in rates, patient selection and prognosis of coronary revascularisations in Finland between 1994 and 2013: the CVDR.

Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the 20-year trends in rates, patient selection and prognosis of coronary revascularisations in Finland.

Methods And Results: We identified patients from nationwide registers who had undergone first-ever percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between 1994 and 2013. We examined changes in procedure rates, patient characteristics and estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for cardiovascular events during this period.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of active and healthy aging (AHA) in octogenarian men.

Objectives: To investigate clinical and laboratory variables associated with good subjective and objective health ("active and healthy aging", AHA) in a cohort of octogenarian men.

Design: Cross-sectional analyses of a longitudinal study.

Setting: The Helsinki Businessmen Study in Finland.

Low midlife blood pressure, survival, comorbidity, and health-related quality of life in old age: the Helsinki Businessmen Study.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the long-term impact of midlife blood pressure (BP) on mortality, comorbidity, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in old age.

Methods: These are longitudinal analyses of the Helsinki Businessmen Study, a cohort of business executives, born in 1919-1934, whose BP was measured between 1964 and 1973 (n = 3267). Comorbidity and HRQoL with RAND-36 [Short Form (SF)-36] were assessed from questionnaires in 2000; mortality up to 31 July 2012 was ascertained from national registers.

The "obesity paradox," frailty, disability, and mortality in older men: a prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

An inverse relationship between overweight and mortality (the "obesity paradox") is well documented, but there are scarce data on how body weight during the life course affects this relationship. In the Helsinki Businessmen Study, we examined the effect of weight trajectories on incident disability, frailty, and mortality by stratifying 1,114 men (mean age of 47 years in 1974) into the following 4 groups based on body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)(2)) values measured twice, in 1974 and 2000: 1) constantly normal weight (n = 340, reference group); 2) constantly overweight (n = 495); 3) weight gain (n = 136); and 4) weight loss (n = 143). Twelve-year mortality rates (from 2000 to 2012) and frailty and mobility-related disability in late life were determined.

Comparison of normal fasting and one-hour glucose levels as predictors of future diabetes during a 34-year follow-up.

Introduction: Early identification of those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is essential. We examined how normoglycemic levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and 1-hour glucose predict the development of diabetes among men initially at low risk.

Methods: In the Helsinki Businessmen Study (men born in 1919- 1934), 1,145 men had normal FBG (< 5.

Leisure-time physical activity in midlife is related to old age frailty.

Background: There are scarce studies of the long-term associations between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in midlife and phenotypic frailty in old age.

Methods: We studied healthy Caucasian men of high socioeconomic status (N = 514), who had participated in health checkups during the 1960s (the Helsinki Businessmen Study, Finland). In 1974, they were examined with questionnaires and clinical examinations, and LTPA was collapsed into three categories: low (n = 87), moderate (n = 256), and high (n = 171).

Effect of cholesterol on mortality and quality of life up to a 46-year follow-up.

The effect of cholesterol level on the health of older people is a matter of debate, probably because of the bidirectional association. We investigated this paradox in a long-term study. The baseline assessments of the Helsinki Businessmen Study (a cohort of mainly business executives, born 1919 to 1934) included the total cholesterol value and other cardiovascular risk factors from 1964 to 1973.

Leisure-time physical activity, cardiovascular risk factors and mortality during a 34-year follow-up in men.

Unlabelled: The inverse relationship between physical activity and mortality may be confounded by socioeconomic factors, cardiovascular risk factors and inverse causality. We investigated long-term association between self-reported regular physical activity and mortality in a socioeconomically homogeneous, initially healthy middle-aged (mean age 47) male cohort (the Helsinki Businessmen Study). In 1974, the men were assessed with questionnaires, clinical and laboratory examinations.

Explaining the obesity paradox: cardiovascular risk, weight change, and mortality during long-term follow-up in men.

Aims: To examine life-long weight trajectories behind the 'obesity paradox', and whether cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk contributes.

Methods And Results: Cardiovascular disease risk and body mass index (BMI) at mean ages of 25, 47 (year 1974), and 73 years (year 2000) were available of a socioeconomically homogenous sample of 1114 men, without chronic diseases and diabetes in 1974. Overweight was defined as BMI > 25 kg/m(2), and 7-year mortality (2000-06) from the mean age of 73 years determined (188 deaths).

The effect of smoking in midlife on health-related quality of life in old age: a 26-year prospective study.

Background: Smoking shortens life expectancy by 7 to 10 years. However, it is unclear whether the enhanced longevity of nonsmokers produces increased disability and decreased quality of life during these extra final years. This study evaluates the long-term effect of smoking in midlife on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in old age.

Alcoholic beverage preference, 29-year mortality, and quality of life in men in old age.

Background: Harms of excessive alcohol consumption are obvious, but moderate wine consumption is frequently advocated for prevention of cardiovascular diseases. We compared 29-year mortality and quality of life in old age by alcoholic beverage preference (beer, wine, or spirits) in a cohort of men whose socioeconomic status was similar in their adult life.

Methods: In 1974, cardiovascular risk factors and beverage preference were assessed in 2468 businessmen and executives aged 40-55 years.

Cardiovascular risk in midlife and psychological well-being among older men.

Background: Negative and positive affects influence the prognosis in the elderly, but underlying mechanisms are obscure. We investigated whether cardiovascular disease risk in midlife is related to psychological well-being in older men (aged 69-84 years old).

Methods: A socioeconomically homogeneous volunteer sample of men, born from 1919 through 1934, was followed up for 29 years.

Trends in hypertension care in eastern and south-western Finland during 1982-2002.

Objective: To assess the trends in blood pressure (BP) levels and the control of hypertension in eastern and south-western Finland during 1982-2002.

Design: Five independent cross-sectional population surveys conducted in 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2002.

Setting: The provinces of North Karelia and Kuopio in eastern Finland and the region of Turku-Loimaa in south-western Finland.

Alcohol consumption, 29-y total mortality, and quality of life in men in old age.

Background: The negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption are well known, but moderate alcohol consumption is advocated for health reasons.

Objective: We compared 29-y total mortality and quality of life in old age by alcohol consumption in midlife.

Design: Cardiovascular disease risk factors and alcohol consumption were assessed in 1974 in 1808 men (aged 40-55 y) of high socioeconomic status.

Low cholesterol, mortality, and quality of life in old age during a 39-year follow-up.

Objectives: We assessed the impact of serum cholesterol level in early midlife on total mortality during up to 39 years of follow-up and on the quality of life (QoL) in old age.

Background: Total effects of low serum cholesterol on health have been in dispute, especially in elderly persons, and there are few data on the long-term effects of low cholesterol on QoL.

Methods: The cohort consisted of 3,277 healthy businessmen age 30 to 45 years at baseline (1960s).

A follow-up study found that cardiovascular risk in middle age predicted mortality and quality of life in old age.

Objective: Cardiovascular risk reduction, while saving lives, may prolong the time with disability and impair the quality of life in survivors. We compared the consequences of middle age cardiovascular risk in old age.

Study Design And Setting: In 1974, risk was low in 593 (low-risk group) and high in 610 men (high-risk group).