[Cardiovascular risk factors. I. Review of possible causes of heart and vascular diseases].
Despite the decline in the past 30 years in age-adjusted mortality, cardiovascular disease is still the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western world and increasingly so in the non-Western world. The decreased mortality rate is attributed to increased knowledge of the risk factors, a concomitant healthier life style and improved treatment for the risk factors. It has been clearly demonstrated that increased serum levels of cholesterol, increased blood pressure, the presence of diabetes, physical inactivity and smoking increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The role of estrogens, homocysteine, thrombotic and inflammatory factors is currently the subject of considerable research. It seems likely that a certain genetic constitution enhances the susceptibility to the effects of other risk factors. New candidate genes are being suggested daily. Until now, no clearly decisive results have been achieved in determining the relations between the investigated genetic polymorphisms and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. The consumption of foodstuffs that are rich in anti-oxidants seems to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but randomised research into the effects of anti-oxidants as food supplements suggests that this does not affect the development of cardiovascular disease.
Universitair Medisch Centrum, Julius Centrum voor Gezondheidswetenschappen en Eerstelijns Geneeskunde, Postbus 80.035, 3508 GA, Utrecht. j.g.vanderbom@jc.azu.nl
J G
JG
van der Bom
M L
ML
Bots
D E
DE
Grobbee
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D002784:Cholesterol