title: Analysis of selected risk factors of coronary artery disease in a healthy population aged 35-55 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This report comprises an analysis of results of examinations performed as a part of a cardiovascular disease prevention programme funded by the National Health Fund.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid metabolism abnormalities in an ethnically homogeneous population of males and females aged 35 to 55 years with sense of full health without prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out in the population of a 175,000-resident city during 9 months, involving 1080 subjects (696 females and 384 males) aged 35 to 55 years (mean age - 47.2+/-5.4). The following variables were assessed: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body weight and height, BMI, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The studied male population had significantly higher blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and lower HDL cholesterol levels compared to age-matched females. The female population was found to have a more prominent relationship between increased BMI and blood pressure, blood glucose and serum cholesterol levels than males. Significant differences in favour of females regarding systolic blood pressure, blood glucose and serum cholesterol failed to be present in the obese women subgroup (no statistically significant differences were found compared to obese males). In females aged 45 to 55 years, significantly higher body weight, blood pressure as well as blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels were observed than in younger women (35-45 years old).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight and obesity are associated with increase of arterial blood pressure, lipid metabolism disturbances and elevation of blood glucose. The relationship between BMI and studied risk factors was influenced by age and gender. Menopause is associated with increasing body weight and unfavourable evolution of studied risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, City Hospital, Olsztyn, Poland. rtarg@op.pl
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Targoński
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buciński
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romaszko
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zakrzewski
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romaszko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose