Cardiovascular Risk Factors Cluster in Children and Adolescents with Low Physical Fitness: The European Youth Heart Study (EYHS)

The aim of this study was to assess the association between physical fitness and clustering of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in boys and girls aged 9 years (children) and 15 years (adolescents). Subjects were 1020 randomly selected children and adolescents. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by a maximal cycle ergometer test. A subject was defined as having a risk factor if he/she belonged to the upper quartile of risk within age and gender group for that risk factor. Clustering was analysed in relation to being at risk in a) three or more and b) four or more of five possible risk factors (TC:HDL ratio, insulin:glucose ratio, triglyceride, systolic BP and sum of four skinfolds. Physical fitness was weakly related to single CVD risk factors except sum of skinfolds where the relationship was strong. Low fitness increased the risk of having three or more CVD risk factors with odds ratios (OR) using the upper quartile of fitness as reference of 1.9 (95% CI: 0.8–4.1), 3.0 (95% CI: 1.4–6.3) and 11.4 (95% CI: 5.7–22.9), respectively. Using the criterion of four or more risk factors, an OR of 24.1 (95% CI 5.7–101.1) was found in the low fit group.

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Physical activity, physical fitness, and cardiovascular health

10.1093/med/9780199232482.003.0025 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Jos Twisk ◽

Isabel Ferreira

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Hdl Cholesterol ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Apo B

The incidence of morbidity and mortality related to CVD is rather low in a paediatric population. Studies investigating the relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, and cardiovascular health in children and adolescents are therefore mostly limited to CVD risk factors as outcome measures. For this reason, this chapter will focus on the association of physical activity and physical fitness with CVD risk factors in children and adolescents. These risk factors can be divided into the so-called traditional CVD risk factors; that is, lipoproteins [total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG)], blood pressure, body fatness, and diabetes, and ‘new’ CVD risk factors; that is, other lipoproteins [lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), apolipoprotein (apo)B, and apoA-1], coagulation and inflammation markers [fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP)], homocysteine, and heart rate variability.

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Abstract MP007: Epicardial Fat Thickness: Distribution of and Associations With Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the Framingham Heart Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.amp007 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽

Author(s):

Michael L Chuang ◽

Philimon Gona ◽

Noriko Oyama-Manabe ◽

Carol J Salton ◽

Udo Hoffmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Odds Ratios ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Epicardial Fat Thickness ◽

Heart Study ◽

Fat Thickness ◽

Fat Volume

Introduction: High pericardial fat volume (fatVOL) is associated with excess cardiovascular disease (CVD), but analyses for true fat volume can be time-consuming and require specialized software. Linear epicardial fat thickness (fatTHK) can be measured quickly from cardiac magnetic resonance (MRI) images and may serve as a surrogate for fatVOL. We sought to determine the distribution and CVD risk factor correlates of high fatTHK and to compare fatTHK with fatVOL in a community-dwelling adult cohort. Methods: Participants were drawn from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort (N=995, aged 65±9 years, 54% women) and underwent cardiac MRI (SSFP sequence) and multidetector CT during 2002-2005. Clinical and risk factor covariates were obtained at the preceding cycle 7 examination (1998-2001). FatVOL was determined from volumetric MDCT data. FatTHK was measured from the MRI 4-chamber view over the midlevel right ventricular free wall at end-diastole. A healthy referent subsample (N=328), free of major CVD risk factors, was used to determine sex-specific cut points for high fatTHK. Odds ratios for high (>90th percentile) fatVOL and fatTHK versus common CVD risk factors were determined. Results: FatTHK was greater in men than women and increased with age in both sexes. FatTHK correlated with fatVOL at r=0.45 (p less than 0.001) High fatTHK was >=16.0 mm in men and >=13.3 mm in women, with 20.1% prevalence in men and 18.1 % in women. In both sexes, high fatVOL was associated ( Table ) with obesity, metabolic syndrome, dysglycemia, hypertension, prevalent CVD and hypertriglyceridemia. Similar associations, with slightly lower odds ratios, were seen for fatTHK. Conclusions: Greater fatTHK is associated with an excess burden of multiple CVD risk factors. Although correlation between linear fatTHK and true fatVOL was relatively modest, both measures appear to have similar associations with common CVD risk factors. FatTHK may be advantageous in that it can be determined quickly using standard MRI sequences for ventricular function. Table. Odds Ratios for High Pericardial Fat vs. Common CVD Risk Factors fatVOL: Men fatVOL: Women fatTHK: Men fatTHK: Women Obesity, BMI >=30 kg/m2 4.34 (2.78–6.78) 3.13 (2.03–4.82) 2.52 (1.77–3.60) 2.62 (1.84–3.74) Metabolic Syndrome 3.72 (2.38–5.83) 2.60 (1.65–4.08) 2.59 (1.75–3.84) 2.21 (1.53–3.17) Dysglycemia, FPG >=100 mg/dL 2.64 (1.72–4.06) 3.05 (1.98–4.68) 1.75 (1.22–2.50) 1.56 (1.10–2.23) Hypertension, S>=140 or D>=90 mmHg 2.51 (1.66–3.78) 1.96 (1.30–2.97) 2.10 (1.48–2.98) 1.58 (1.13–2.22) Prevalent CVD 1.94 (1.17–3.21) 2.48 (1.41–4.38) 1.73 (1.17–2.55) 1.83 (1.19–2.81) Triglycerides >=150 mg/dL 1.89 (1.25–2.86) 2.21 (1.43–3.42) 1.64 (1.15–2.34) 1.98 (1.38–2.82) Low HDL: M<40, W<50 mg/dL 1.57 (1.03–2.38) 1.44 (0.91–2.28) 1.40 (0.98–1.99) 2.57 (1.80–3.67)

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Neck circumference and clustered cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents: cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016048 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (9) ◽

pp. e016048 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

José Castro-Piñero ◽

Alvaro Delgado-Alfonso ◽

Luis Gracia-Marco ◽

Sonia Gómez-Martínez ◽

Irene Esteban-Cornejo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Body Composition ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Screening Tool ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Cross Sectional

ObjectiveEarly detection of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, such as obesity, is crucial to prevent adverse long-term effects on individuals’ health. Therefore, the aims were: (1) to explore the robustness of neck circumference (NC) as a predictor of CVD and examine its association with numerous anthropometric and body composition indices and (2) to release sex and age-specific NC cut-off values to classify youths as overweight/obese.DesignCross-sectional study.Setting23 primary schools and 17 secondary schools from Spain.Participants2198 students (1060 girls), grades 1–4 and 7–10.MeasuresPubertal development, anthropometric and body composition indices, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), cardiorespiratory fitness, blood sampling triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), glucose and inflammatory markers. Homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and cluster of CVD risk factors were calculated.ResultsNC was positively correlated with all anthropometric and body composition indices. NC was negatively associated with maximum oxygen consumption (R2=0.231, p<0.001 for boys; R2=0.018, p<0.001 for girls) and positively associated with SBP, DBP, TC/HDL-c, TG, HOMA, complement factors C-3 and C-4, leptin, adiponectin and clustered CVD risk factor in both sexes (R2from 0.035 to 0.353, p<0.01 for boys; R2from 0.024 to 0.215, p<0.001 for girls). Moreover, NC was positively associated with serum C reactive protein, LDL-c and visfatin only in boys (R2from 0.013 to 0.107, p<0.05).ConclusionNC is a simple, low-cost and practical screening tool of excess of upper body obesity and CVD risk factors in children and adolescents. Paediatricians can easily use it as a screening tool for overweight/obesity in children and adolescents. For this purpose, sex and age-specific thresholds to classify children and adolescents as normal weight or overweight/obese are provided.

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Abstract P113: Female Gender is Associated with a Low Ankle Brachial Index in the General Population

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.133.suppl_1.p113 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 133 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Ridhima Kapoor ◽

Colby Ayers ◽

Jacquelyn Kulinski

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Gender Differences ◽

General Population ◽

Ankle Brachial Index ◽

Hdl Cholesterol ◽

Female Gender ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Health And Nutrition ◽

And Gender

Background: The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a predictor of cardiovascular events, mortality and functional status. Gender differences in ABI have been reported in some population studies. Differences in height might account for these observed gender differences, but findings are conflicting. Objective: This study investigated the association between gender, height and ABI in the general population, independent of traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Methods: Participants ≥ 40 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004 with ABI data, were included. A low ABI was defined as a value < 1.0 (including borderline values). Sample-weighted multivariable logistic regression modeling was performed with low ABI as the dependent variable and height and gender as primary predictor variables of interest. A backward elimination model selection technique was performed to identify significant covariates. Results: There were 3,052 participants with ABI data (mean age 57, 51% female (1570 of 3052). The sample-weighted mean (±SE) ABI was 1.09 (±0.006) and 1.13 (±0.005) for females and males, respectively. Women were more likely to have a low ABI compared to men, 42% (659 of 1570) versus 28% (415 of 1482), respectively (p<0.0001). Female gender was associated with a low ABI (OR 1.34, [95% CI, 1.04-1.72]; p=0.025), independent of traditional CVD risk factors (see Figure). Age, diabetes, tobacco use, known CVD, BMI and black race were also associated with a low ABI (all p<0.003). Self-reported hypertension and non-HDL cholesterol levels, however, were not associated with a low ABI. An interaction between height and body mass index (BMI) was identified. Conclusions: Female gender is associated with a low ABI in the general population. This association appears to be independent of height and other traditional CVD risk factors and warrants further investigation.

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Abstract P400: The Association Between Cross-sex Hormone Therapy and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Male-to-female Transgender Persons in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.141.suppl_1.p400 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Rebecca L Molinsky ◽

Kanokwan Kulprachakarn ◽

Sakaewan Ounjaijean ◽

Ryan Demmer ◽

Kittipan Rerkasem

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Hormone Therapy ◽

Sex Hormone ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Transgender Persons ◽

The Relationship ◽

Male To Female

Background: Cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT) is prescribed to transition secondary sexual characteristics among individuals undergoing male-to-female (MtF) transitions (age range 18-41, mean age=24). Limited data exist to inform the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor profile associated with CSHT. We investigated the relationship between CSHT and cardiovascular risk factors in MtF transgender persons and hypothesize that CSHT will be associated with adverse CVD risk factor profiles. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 1 st , 2018 to November 30 th , 2018 in 100 MtF transgender people not receiving CSHT vs. 100 receiving CSHT. CSHT use was defined by self-report use of up to 23 medications. Serum testosterone and 17-beta estradiol were assessed to validate CSHT use. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured. Lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), C-reactive protein, cardiac troponin I and pro b-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) were assessed from fasting blood. Non-invasive arterial examinations included: carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), ankle-brachial index (ABI), cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Multivariable linear regression models, regressed CVD risk factors on CSHT status. Among the subgroup of CSHT users, we assessed the relationship between duration of use and CVD risk factors. Multivariable models included age, gender, education, income, drinking, smoking, exercise, and BMI. Results: Participant mean age was 24±0.38 years and did not differ by CSHT use. Mean±SE values of testosterone were in the CSHT vs. control group were 4.8±0.3 vs. 5.8±0.3 ng/ml, p=0.06 and 17-beta estradiol levels were 45.6±14.9 vs. 34.7±14.8, p=0.7). CIMT was modestly lower among CSHT vs. controls (0.35±0.01 vs. 0.38±0.01, p=0.09). The average duration of CSHT use was 6.65±0.522 years. Among CSHT users, for every 1-year increase in duration of CSHT use total cholesterol decreased by -2.360 ± 1.096, p=0.0341 mg/dL, LDL-cholesterol decreased by -3.076 ± 1.182, p=0.0109 mg/dL, ABI decreased by -0.006 ± 0.002, p=0.0087 while FPG increased by 2.558 ± 0.899 mg/dL, p=0.0055. Conclusion: Among MtF transgender persons, using CSHT was not associated with increased CVD risk factors levels.

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Abstract 14592: Pregnancy Loss and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Early Adulthood: Preliminary Findings From Add Health

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.142.suppl_3.14592 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Yamnia I Cortes ◽

Shuo Zhang ◽

Diane C Berry ◽

Jon Hussey

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Pregnancy Loss ◽

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Add Health ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Live Births

Introduction: Pregnancy loss, including miscarriage and stillbirth, affect 15-20% of pregnancies in the United States annually. Accumulating evidence suggests that pregnancy loss is associated with greater cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden later in life. However, associations between pregnancy loss and CVD risk factors in early adulthood (age<35 years) have not been assessed. Objective: To examine associations between pregnancy loss and CVD risk factors in early adulthood. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis using the public-use data set for Wave IV (2007-2009) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Our sample consisted of women, ages 24-32 years, with a previous pregnancy who completed biological data collection (n=2,968). Pregnancy loss was assessed as any history of miscarriage or stillbirth; and as none, one, or recurrent (≥2) pregnancy loss. Dependent variables included physical measures and blood specimens: body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, diabetes status, and dyslipidemia. Associations between pregnancy loss and each CVD risk factor were tested using linear (for BMI) and logistic regression adjusting for sociodemographic factors, parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking during pregnancy, and depression. Results: Six hundred and ninety-three women (23%) reported a pregnancy loss, of which 21% reported recurrent pregnancy loss. Women with all live births were more likely to identify as non-Hispanic White (73%) and report a higher annual income. After adjusting for sociodemographics (age, race/ethnicity, education, income), pregnancy loss was associated with a greater BMI (ß=0.90; SE,0.39). In fully-adjusted models, women with recurrent pregnancy loss were more likely to have hypertension (AOR, 2.50; 95%CI, 1.04-5.96) and prediabetes (AOR, 1.93; 95%CI. 1.11-3.37) than women with all live births; the association was non-significant for women with one pregnancy loss. Conclusions: Pregnancy loss is associated with a more adverse CVD risk factor profile in early adulthood. Findings suggest the need for CVD risk assessment in young women with a prior pregnancy loss. Further research is necessary to identify underlying risk factors of pregnancy loss that may predispose women to CVD.

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Smoking cessation is associated with lower disease activity and predicts cardiovascular risk reduction in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Rheumatology ◽

10.1093/rheumatology/kez557 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 59 (8) ◽

pp. 1997-2004 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ida K Roelsgaard ◽

Eirik Ikdahl ◽

Silvia Rollefstad ◽

Grunde Wibetoe ◽

Bente A Esbensen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Never Smokers ◽

Event Rates ◽

Lower Disease Activity

Abstract Objectives Smoking is a major risk factor for the development of both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and RA and may cause attenuated responses to anti-rheumatic treatments. Our aim was to compare disease activity, CVD risk factors and CVD event rates across smoking status in RA patients. Methods Disease characteristics, CVD risk factors and relevant medications were recorded in RA patients without prior CVD from 10 countries (Norway, UK, Netherlands, USA, Sweden, Greece, South Africa, Spain, Canada and Mexico). Information on CVD events was collected. Adjusted analysis of variance, logistic regression and Cox models were applied to compare RA disease activity (DAS28), CVD risk factors and event rates across categories of smoking status. Results Of the 3311 RA patients (1012 former, 887 current and 1412 never smokers), 235 experienced CVD events during a median follow-up of 3.5 years (interquartile range 2.5–6.1). At enrolment, current smokers were more likely to have moderate or high disease activity compared with former and never smokers (P < 0.001 for both). There was a gradient of worsening CVD risk factor profiles (lipoproteins and blood pressure) from never to former to current smokers. Furthermore, former and never smokers had significantly lower CVD event rates compared with current smokers [hazard ratio 0.70 (95% CI 0.51, 0.95), P = 0.02 and 0.48 (0.34, 0.69), P < 0.001, respectively]. The CVD event rates for former and never smokers were comparable. Conclusion Smoking cessation in patients with RA was associated with lower disease activity and improved lipid profiles and was a predictor of reduced rates of CVD events.

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Reversal Rate of Clustering of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome in the General Population: The Niigata Preventive Medicine Study

Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1155/2010/623593 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shinsuke Okada ◽

Akiko Suzuki ◽

Hiroshi Watanabe ◽

Toru Watanabe ◽

Yoshifusa Aizawa

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Fasting Blood Glucose ◽

Reversal Rate ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome

The reversal rate from clustering of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors—components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not known.Methods and Results. Among 35,534 subjects who received the annual health examinations at the NiigataHealth Foundation (Niigata, Japan), 4,911 subjects had clustering of 3 or more of the following CVD risk factors: (1) body mass index (BMI) ≥25 Kg/m2, (2) blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg in systolic and/or ≥85 mm Hg in diastolic, (3) triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL, (4) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≤40 mg/dL in men, ≤50 mg/dL in women, and (5) fasting blood glucose ≥100 mg/dL. After 5 years 1,929 subjects had a reversal of clustering (39.4%). A reversal occurred more often in males. The subjects with a reversal of clustering had milder level of each risk factor and a smaller number of risk factors, while BMI was associated with the least chance of a reversal.Conclusion. We concluded that a reversal of clustering CVD risk factors is possible in 4/10 subjects over a 5-year period by habitual or medical interventions. Gender and each CVD risk factor affected the reversal rate adversely, and BMI was associated with the least chance of a reversal.

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Associations between Health-Related Physical Fitness and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese University Staff

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17239031 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (23) ◽

pp. 9031

Author(s):

Jiangang Chen ◽

Yuan Zhou ◽

Xinliang Pan ◽

Xiaolong Li ◽

Jiamin Long ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽

University Staff ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Health Related

Purpose: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between health-related physical fitness (HPF) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in overweight and obese university staff. Methods: A total of 340 university staff (109 women, mean age 43.1 ± 9.7 years) with overweight (n = 284) and obesity (n = 56) were included. The HPF indicators included skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), body fat percentage (BFP), grip strength (GS), sit-and-reach test (SRT), and vital capacity index (VCI). CVD risk factors were measured, including uric acid (UA), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and glucose (GLU). Results: BFP, SMI, and GS were positively associated with UA level (β = 0.239, β = 0.159, β = 0.139, p < 0.05). BFP was positively associated with TG and TG/HDL-C levels (β = 0.421, β = 0.259, p < 0.05). GS was positively associated with HDL-C level (β = 0.244, p < 0.05). SRT was negatively associated with GLU level (β = −0.130, p < 0.05). Conclusions: In overweight and obese university staff, body composition, muscle strength, and flexibility were associated with CVD risk factors. An HPF test may be a practical nonmedical method to assess CVD risk.

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Trends in the co-occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors by education in Finland, 1997–2017

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.642 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

L Paalanen ◽

T Härkänen ◽

J Kontto ◽

H Tolonen

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Factor Score ◽

Cvd Risk Factors ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Education Group ◽

Educational Differences ◽

Risk Factor Score ◽

Education Groups ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background Understanding on sociodemographic variation of the co-occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors is crucial for planning public health policy and future prevention strategies. We aimed at examining 1) the co-occurrence of smoking, hypertension, elevated cholesterol and obesity by education, and 2) the trends in educational differences in the co-occurrence of these risk factors in Finland. Methods We used cross-sectional health examination surveys carried out every five years among the general adult population: for 1997-2012 the National FINRISK Study and for 2017 the FinHealth 2017 Survey. Respondents aged 25-64 years were included in the analyses (n = 25,036). Current smoking, obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2), hypertension (≥140/≥90 mmHg or medication) and elevated serum total cholesterol (≥5.0 mmol/l or medication) were used for the risk factor accumulation score with categories 1) zero, 2) one, 3) two, and 4) three or four elevated risk factors. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate predicted probabilities for each category. Results Overall, the risk factor score was more favourable among women than men, and among high education groups than low education groups in both sexes. The lowest risk factor score class became more prevalent in all education groups in both sexes over time. The change in educational differences was not significant. However, the intermediate education group approached the highest education group over time. Conclusions Our data indicate an overall transition towards a more favourable risk factor score in Finland, in 1997-2017. The score among the intermediate education group approached that among the highest education group. The tendency of risk factor accumulation among those with least education remained during the study period, which raises a need to develop and implement interventions and public health policies that would be effective in decreasing the risk factor burden particularly in this group. Key messages Overall, a favourable trend of diminishing risk factor prevalence was seen. The tendency of accumulation of major CVD risk factors among the least educated subjects remained from 1997 to 2017.

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