Background Several characteristics or conditions are associated with increased risk for heart fai... more Background Several characteristics or conditions are associated with increased risk for heart failure (HF). In recent years we have witnessed gradually improved cardiovascular prevention and treatment. However, how the risk profile of HF has changed during the last decades remains inadequately studied. Purpose To compare risk factors for heart failure in two generations of middle-aged men from the general population born 30 years apart. Methods Two cohorts of randomly selected men born in 1913 (n=855) and in 1943 (n=798) and resident in Gothenburg, Sweden were first examined at 50 years of age in 1963 and 1993, respectively, and followed longitudinally over 21 years until age 71. Data about medical history, concomitant diseases and general health were collected by questionnaires, repeated medical examinations and review of individual medical records. The outcome was defined as hospitalization with HF as a discharge diagnosis or HF reported on the death certificate. Cox-regression an...
BackgroundResting heart rate (RHR), a known cardiovascular risk factor, changes with age. However... more BackgroundResting heart rate (RHR), a known cardiovascular risk factor, changes with age. However, little is known about the association between changes in RHR and the risk of cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study was therefore to assess the impact of RHR at baseline, and the change in RHR over time, on the risk of all-cause death and cardiovascular events.DesignA random population sample of men born in 1943 who were living in Gothenburg, Sweden was prospectively followed for a 21-year period.MethodsParticipants were examined three times: first in 1993 and then re-examined in 2003 and 2014. At each visit, a clinical examination, an ECG and laboratory analyses were performed. Change in RHR between 1993 and 2003 was defined as a decrease if RHR decreased by 5 beats per minute (bpm), an increase if RHR increased by 5 bpm or stable if the RHR change was <4bpm).ResultsParticipants with a baseline RHR of >75 bpm in 1993 had about a twofold higher risk of all-cause death (...
Journal of the American Heart Association, Jan 19, 2018
Despite a decline in mortality rates from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the past few decades, t... more Despite a decline in mortality rates from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the past few decades, the burden of CVD in a contemporary population remains inadequately addressed. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate secular trends in mortality from coronary artery disease and all-cause mortality over 2 decades, by comparing 2 cohorts of men born 30 years apart and evaluate the prediction of the risk of CVD and all-cause death in a contemporary random sample of Swedish men. Two cohorts of randomly selected men born in 1913 (855 men) and 1943 (798 men) were first examined at age 50 in 1963 and 1993, respectively, and followed longitudinally over 21 years. All-cause mortality and coronary artery disease death were lower in 50- to 71-year-old men born in 1943 compared with those born in 1913, with unadjusted hazard ratios of 0.57 (0.45-0.71) and 0.34 (0.22-0.53), respectively. After adjustment for risk factors (smoking, serum cholesterol, hypertension, systolic blood pressure, dia...
In elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), a gap exists between widespread use of lowe... more In elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), a gap exists between widespread use of lower doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) and β-blockers (BBs) and guideline recommendations. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether patients receiving ≥50% target dose outperform those receiving <50% target dose, despite maximum up-titration, and whether the target dose outperforms all other doses. Patients (n=185) aged ≥80 years with CHF and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% referred (between January 2000 and January 2008) to two CHF outpatient clinics at two university hospitals, were included and retrospectively studied. Of the study population, 53% received the target dose of ACEIs/ARBs, whereas 26% received <50% of the target dose. Half received <50% of the target dose of BBs and 21% received the target dose. After ≥5 years of follow-up, all-cause mortality was 76.8%. Patients who rece...
Although several biomarkers including natriuretic peptides and inflammatory biomarkers have prove... more Although several biomarkers including natriuretic peptides and inflammatory biomarkers have proven to be useful prognostic predictors in patients with heart failure (HF), their predictive value for incident HF has not been extensively studied. "The study of Men Born in 1943" is a longitudinal, prospective study of men living in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. A panel of biomarkers consisting of interleukin-6 (IL-6), cystatin C, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was analyzed from blood samples collected in 1993 in men aged 50 years. Incident HF was recorded using multiple sources, including an echocardiographic assessment in 2014. In this study 747 (94%) of the 798 participants with no previous history of HF were included. Of these 747 participants, 85 (11.4%) developed HF over a 21-year follow-up. After adjustment for body mass index (BMI) and hypertension at baseline, NT-proBNP ≥25 ng/L was asso...
Background: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem affecting at least 26 million peo... more Background: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem affecting at least 26 million people worldwide and one of the leading causes of disability and death. Aims: To identify characteristics associated with improved or worsened prognosis in patients with established HF and to study factors associated with higher risk for the incidence of HF in the general population. Methods and Results: This thesis consists of four papers. Paper I was designed to study the impact of different dose levels of beta-blockers (BBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) on long-term mortality in elderly patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (EF). The study cohort included 184 HF patients aged ≥80 years with EF ≤40%. The target ACEI/ARB dose was associated with reduced all-cause mortality compared to <50% of target dose. There were no signifi cant differences in survival between the different BB doses. In Paper II, a comparison o...
Abstract The relationship between various categories of blood pressure (BP), subtypes of hyperten... more Abstract The relationship between various categories of blood pressure (BP), subtypes of hypertension, and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have not been extensively studied. Therefore, our study aimed to explore this relationship in a random population sample of men born in 1943, living in Sweden and followed over a 21-year period. Participants were examined for the first time in 1993 (age 50 years), where data on medical history, concomitant diseases, and general health were collected. The examination was repeated in 2003 and with additional echocardiography also in 2014. Classification of participants according to their BP at the age of 50 years was as follows: optimal-normal BP (systolic blood pressure [SBP] <130 and diastolic BP [DBP] <85 mmHg), high-normal BP (130 ≤ SBP < 140, 85 ≤ DBP < 90 mmHg), isolated systolic-diastolic hypertension (ISH-IDH) (SBP ≥140 and DBP <90 or SBP <140 and DBP ≥90 mmHg), and systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH) (SBP ≥140 and DBP ≥90 mmHg). During the follow-up, the incidence of heart failure (HF), CVD, and coronary heart disease were all lowest for those with optimal-normal BP. Participants with high-normal BP showed greater wall thickness and left ventricular mass index, larger LV size and larger left atrial size when compared with the optimal-normal BP group. Furthermore, those with high-normal BP, ISH-IDH, and SDH had a higher risk of CVD than those with optimal-normal BP. The adjusted relative risk of CVD was highest for SDH (hazard ratio [HR] 1.95; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.37–2.79), followed by ISH-IDH (HR 1.34; 95% CI 0.93–1.95) and high-normal BP (HR 1.31; 95% CI 0.91–1.89). Over a 21-year follow-up, the participants with high-normal BP or ISH-IDH had a higher relative risk of CVD than those with optimal-normal BP.
ObjectiveTo compare two cohorts of middle-aged men from the general population born 30 years apar... more ObjectiveTo compare two cohorts of middle-aged men from the general population born 30 years apart for incidence and predictors of heart failure (HF).MethodsTwo population samples of men, born in 1913 (n=855) and in 1943 (n=797), were examined at 50 years of age and followed up for 21 years (1963–1994 and 1993–2014). Cox regression analysis was used to examine the impact of different factors on the risk of developing HF.ResultsEighty men born in 1913 (9.4%) and 42 men born in 1943 (5.3%) developed HF during follow-up; adjusted HRs comparing the two cohorts (born 1943 vs 1913) were: 0.46 (95% CI 0.28 to 0.74, p=0.002). In both cohorts, higher body mass index, higher diastolic blood pressure, treatment for hypertension, onset of either atrial fibrillation (AF), ischaemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus were associated with higher risk of HF. Higher heart rate was associated with an increased risk only in men born in 1913, whereas higher systolic blood pressure (SBP), smoking, high...
Background Knowledge about long-term risk factors and the prevalence of heart failure stages in g... more Background Knowledge about long-term risk factors and the prevalence of heart failure stages in general population is limited. We aimed to study the prevalence of cardiac dysfunction and heart failure in 71-year-old men and potential risk factors in the past two decades. Design This research was based on a randomized selected population study with longitudinal follow-up. Methods A random sample of men born in 1943 in Gothenburg, Sweden were examined in 1993 (at 50 years of age) and re-examined 21 years later in 2014 (at 71 years of age). Cardiac dysfunction or heart failure was classified into four stages (A–D) according to American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines on heart failure. Results Of the 798 men examined in 1993 (overall cohort), 535 (67%) were re-examined in 2014 (echo cohort). In the echo cohort 122 (23%) men had normal cardiac function, 135 (25%) were at stage A, 207 (39%) men were at stage B, 66 (12%) men were at stage C, and five (1%) men we...
Background Several characteristics or conditions are associated with increased risk for heart fai... more Background Several characteristics or conditions are associated with increased risk for heart failure (HF). In recent years we have witnessed gradually improved cardiovascular prevention and treatment. However, how the risk profile of HF has changed during the last decades remains inadequately studied. Purpose To compare risk factors for heart failure in two generations of middle-aged men from the general population born 30 years apart. Methods Two cohorts of randomly selected men born in 1913 (n=855) and in 1943 (n=798) and resident in Gothenburg, Sweden were first examined at 50 years of age in 1963 and 1993, respectively, and followed longitudinally over 21 years until age 71. Data about medical history, concomitant diseases and general health were collected by questionnaires, repeated medical examinations and review of individual medical records. The outcome was defined as hospitalization with HF as a discharge diagnosis or HF reported on the death certificate. Cox-regression an...
BackgroundResting heart rate (RHR), a known cardiovascular risk factor, changes with age. However... more BackgroundResting heart rate (RHR), a known cardiovascular risk factor, changes with age. However, little is known about the association between changes in RHR and the risk of cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study was therefore to assess the impact of RHR at baseline, and the change in RHR over time, on the risk of all-cause death and cardiovascular events.DesignA random population sample of men born in 1943 who were living in Gothenburg, Sweden was prospectively followed for a 21-year period.MethodsParticipants were examined three times: first in 1993 and then re-examined in 2003 and 2014. At each visit, a clinical examination, an ECG and laboratory analyses were performed. Change in RHR between 1993 and 2003 was defined as a decrease if RHR decreased by 5 beats per minute (bpm), an increase if RHR increased by 5 bpm or stable if the RHR change was <4bpm).ResultsParticipants with a baseline RHR of >75 bpm in 1993 had about a twofold higher risk of all-cause death (...
Journal of the American Heart Association, Jan 19, 2018
Despite a decline in mortality rates from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the past few decades, t... more Despite a decline in mortality rates from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the past few decades, the burden of CVD in a contemporary population remains inadequately addressed. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate secular trends in mortality from coronary artery disease and all-cause mortality over 2 decades, by comparing 2 cohorts of men born 30 years apart and evaluate the prediction of the risk of CVD and all-cause death in a contemporary random sample of Swedish men. Two cohorts of randomly selected men born in 1913 (855 men) and 1943 (798 men) were first examined at age 50 in 1963 and 1993, respectively, and followed longitudinally over 21 years. All-cause mortality and coronary artery disease death were lower in 50- to 71-year-old men born in 1943 compared with those born in 1913, with unadjusted hazard ratios of 0.57 (0.45-0.71) and 0.34 (0.22-0.53), respectively. After adjustment for risk factors (smoking, serum cholesterol, hypertension, systolic blood pressure, dia...
In elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), a gap exists between widespread use of lowe... more In elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), a gap exists between widespread use of lower doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) and β-blockers (BBs) and guideline recommendations. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether patients receiving ≥50% target dose outperform those receiving <50% target dose, despite maximum up-titration, and whether the target dose outperforms all other doses. Patients (n=185) aged ≥80 years with CHF and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% referred (between January 2000 and January 2008) to two CHF outpatient clinics at two university hospitals, were included and retrospectively studied. Of the study population, 53% received the target dose of ACEIs/ARBs, whereas 26% received <50% of the target dose. Half received <50% of the target dose of BBs and 21% received the target dose. After ≥5 years of follow-up, all-cause mortality was 76.8%. Patients who rece...
Although several biomarkers including natriuretic peptides and inflammatory biomarkers have prove... more Although several biomarkers including natriuretic peptides and inflammatory biomarkers have proven to be useful prognostic predictors in patients with heart failure (HF), their predictive value for incident HF has not been extensively studied. "The study of Men Born in 1943" is a longitudinal, prospective study of men living in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. A panel of biomarkers consisting of interleukin-6 (IL-6), cystatin C, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was analyzed from blood samples collected in 1993 in men aged 50 years. Incident HF was recorded using multiple sources, including an echocardiographic assessment in 2014. In this study 747 (94%) of the 798 participants with no previous history of HF were included. Of these 747 participants, 85 (11.4%) developed HF over a 21-year follow-up. After adjustment for body mass index (BMI) and hypertension at baseline, NT-proBNP ≥25 ng/L was asso...
Background: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem affecting at least 26 million peo... more Background: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem affecting at least 26 million people worldwide and one of the leading causes of disability and death. Aims: To identify characteristics associated with improved or worsened prognosis in patients with established HF and to study factors associated with higher risk for the incidence of HF in the general population. Methods and Results: This thesis consists of four papers. Paper I was designed to study the impact of different dose levels of beta-blockers (BBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) on long-term mortality in elderly patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (EF). The study cohort included 184 HF patients aged ≥80 years with EF ≤40%. The target ACEI/ARB dose was associated with reduced all-cause mortality compared to <50% of target dose. There were no signifi cant differences in survival between the different BB doses. In Paper II, a comparison o...
Abstract The relationship between various categories of blood pressure (BP), subtypes of hyperten... more Abstract The relationship between various categories of blood pressure (BP), subtypes of hypertension, and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have not been extensively studied. Therefore, our study aimed to explore this relationship in a random population sample of men born in 1943, living in Sweden and followed over a 21-year period. Participants were examined for the first time in 1993 (age 50 years), where data on medical history, concomitant diseases, and general health were collected. The examination was repeated in 2003 and with additional echocardiography also in 2014. Classification of participants according to their BP at the age of 50 years was as follows: optimal-normal BP (systolic blood pressure [SBP] <130 and diastolic BP [DBP] <85 mmHg), high-normal BP (130 ≤ SBP < 140, 85 ≤ DBP < 90 mmHg), isolated systolic-diastolic hypertension (ISH-IDH) (SBP ≥140 and DBP <90 or SBP <140 and DBP ≥90 mmHg), and systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH) (SBP ≥140 and DBP ≥90 mmHg). During the follow-up, the incidence of heart failure (HF), CVD, and coronary heart disease were all lowest for those with optimal-normal BP. Participants with high-normal BP showed greater wall thickness and left ventricular mass index, larger LV size and larger left atrial size when compared with the optimal-normal BP group. Furthermore, those with high-normal BP, ISH-IDH, and SDH had a higher risk of CVD than those with optimal-normal BP. The adjusted relative risk of CVD was highest for SDH (hazard ratio [HR] 1.95; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.37–2.79), followed by ISH-IDH (HR 1.34; 95% CI 0.93–1.95) and high-normal BP (HR 1.31; 95% CI 0.91–1.89). Over a 21-year follow-up, the participants with high-normal BP or ISH-IDH had a higher relative risk of CVD than those with optimal-normal BP.
ObjectiveTo compare two cohorts of middle-aged men from the general population born 30 years apar... more ObjectiveTo compare two cohorts of middle-aged men from the general population born 30 years apart for incidence and predictors of heart failure (HF).MethodsTwo population samples of men, born in 1913 (n=855) and in 1943 (n=797), were examined at 50 years of age and followed up for 21 years (1963–1994 and 1993–2014). Cox regression analysis was used to examine the impact of different factors on the risk of developing HF.ResultsEighty men born in 1913 (9.4%) and 42 men born in 1943 (5.3%) developed HF during follow-up; adjusted HRs comparing the two cohorts (born 1943 vs 1913) were: 0.46 (95% CI 0.28 to 0.74, p=0.002). In both cohorts, higher body mass index, higher diastolic blood pressure, treatment for hypertension, onset of either atrial fibrillation (AF), ischaemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus were associated with higher risk of HF. Higher heart rate was associated with an increased risk only in men born in 1913, whereas higher systolic blood pressure (SBP), smoking, high...
Background Knowledge about long-term risk factors and the prevalence of heart failure stages in g... more Background Knowledge about long-term risk factors and the prevalence of heart failure stages in general population is limited. We aimed to study the prevalence of cardiac dysfunction and heart failure in 71-year-old men and potential risk factors in the past two decades. Design This research was based on a randomized selected population study with longitudinal follow-up. Methods A random sample of men born in 1943 in Gothenburg, Sweden were examined in 1993 (at 50 years of age) and re-examined 21 years later in 2014 (at 71 years of age). Cardiac dysfunction or heart failure was classified into four stages (A–D) according to American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines on heart failure. Results Of the 798 men examined in 1993 (overall cohort), 535 (67%) were re-examined in 2014 (echo cohort). In the echo cohort 122 (23%) men had normal cardiac function, 135 (25%) were at stage A, 207 (39%) men were at stage B, 66 (12%) men were at stage C, and five (1%) men we...
Uploads
Papers by Constantinos Ergatoudes