Malmö Study

Background:

This treatment and cohort study of CVD risk was made from the University of Lund, Sweden and initiated in 1969 among men of Malmö born in 1914, in the pattern used in the study of men of Goteborg born in 1913.

Method:

All men born in even-numbered months in 1914 were invited for risk factor screening. Treatment was based on hypertension and smoking habits of 809 invited, 703 participated and those with defined blood pressure of 165/110 or heavy smokers were invited for subsequent evaluation and treatment. Of 804 individuals in the community of Malmö born in uneven numbered months in 1914, mortality was followed without any invitation for screening.

Results:

Overall mortality was 1.3% and there was no difference between the participant and non-participant groups versus the control group. Specific comparisons of the intervention group with the control group revealed significantly lower cumulative mortality in the treated group. Follow up was made of 76% of the survivors in 1982-83 who were re-invited for an assessment of diabetes and peripheral arterial disease. The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease was 29% vs. 12% in diabetics versus non-diabetics. About 1/3 of the men had asymptomatic leg artery disease defined by brachial-ankle index. Glucose intolerance was associated with an increased prevalence of leg artery disease.

Conclusions:

This study is one of the few of diabetes and peripheral artery disease risk in a population-based community study. (HB)