Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Berg, J. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Berg, J. E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Occupational Medicine 1996;46:299-303
© 1996 Society of Occupational Medicine

A Comparison of Cardiovascular Risk as Measured by Compound Blood Lipid Indices and Two Indices including Lifestyle Factors in Occupational Health Service

J. E. Berg

Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Oslo PO Box 1130 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway

Healthy employees in a non-manufacturing firm (n = 252) were divided into low and high cardiovascular risk subjects in order to compare different indices of cardiovascular risk for use in occupational health service. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), a compound index of blood lipid components, the ‘atherogenic index’ (ATH-index) defined as ([TC-HDLc] x [apoB])/(HDLc] x [apoA]), and two other compound indices, one Norwegian (Westlund) and one Scottish (Dundee score) were compared. Information on smoking habits and blood pressure were part of the two last indices. Out-off values to separate between low and high risk subjects were defined with TC = 6.5mmol/l, HDLc = 0.9mmol/l, apoA = 1.8g/l and apoB = 1.3g/l, all values based on clinical guidelines in Norway. No smoking and a systolic blood pressure < l50mmHg was included as cut-off of the combined indices. According to the three indices (ATH, Westund and Dundee) 102, 25 and 116 employees were allocated to the increased risk group. Persons allocated to the increased risk group by the combined indices and not by the compound index were practically all smokers. Systolic blood pressure differed between indices only for persons with extreme pressures. A compound blood lipid index of CV risk, which may be drawn easily in an occupational health setting in an unfasting state and sent by post to a laboratory, mimics the allocation of persons to an increased risk group using combined indices. Smokers with normal lipid values would be allocated to increased risk by the combined indices, but not necessarily by the compound index. The use of the compound index together with advice to stop smoking is suggested as a time-saving strategy.

Keywords      Cardiovascular risk; prevention; smoking

Received       25 January 1996
Accepted       11 June 1996

Correspondence and reprint requests to: John E. Berg, Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1130 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway. Phone: 47–22 85 06 21; Fax: 47–22 85 06 20


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.