Temporal trends and sex differences in sudden cardiac death in the Copenhagen City Heart Study

ObjectiveMore knowledge about the development of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the general population is needed to develop meaningful predictors of SCD. Our aim with this study was to estimate the incidence of SCD in the general population and examine the temporal changes, demographics and clinical characteristics.MethodsAll participants in the Copenhagen City Heart Study were followed from 1993 to 2016. All death certificates, autopsy reports and national registry data were used to identify all cases of SCD.ResultsA total of 14 562 subjects were included in this study. There were 8394 deaths with all information available, whereof 1335 were categorised as SCD. The incidence of SCD decreased during the study period by 41% for persons aged 40–90 years, and the standardised incidence rates decreased from 504 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 447 to 569) to 237 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 195 to 289). The incidence rate ratio of SCD between men and women ≤75 years was 1.99 (95% CI 1.62 to 2.46). The proportion of SCD of all cardiac deaths decreased during the observation period and decreased with increasing age. Men had more cardiovascular comorbidities (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.68, p<0. 01), and SCD was the first registered manifestation of cardiac disease in 50% of all cases.ConclusionThe incidence of SCD in the general population has declined significantly during the study period but should be further investigated for more recent variations as well as novel risk predictors for persons with low to medium risk of SCD.

Age- and sex-based normal values of layer-specific longitudinal and circumferential strain by speckle tracking echocardiography: the Copenhagen City Heart Study

Aims Technical advancements in 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) have allowed for quantification of layer-specific global longitudinal strain (GLS) and circumferential strain (GCS) of the left ventricle (LV). The aim of this study was to establish age- and sex-based reference ranges of peak systolic layer-specific GLS and GCS and to assess normal values of regional strain. Methods and results We performed 2DSTE analysis of 1997 members of the general population from the fifth round of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, who were free of cardiovascular disease and risk factors. The mean age was 46 ± 16 years (range 21–97) and 62% were female. Mean values for peak systolic whole wall GLS (GLSWW.Sys), endomycardial (GLSEndo.Sys), and epimyocardial (GLSEpi.Sys) were 19.9 ± 2.1% (prediction interval [PI]: 15.8–24.0%), 23.5 ± 2.5% (PI: 18.6–28.4%), and 17.3 ± 1.9% (PI: 13.6–21.1%), respectively. Mean peak systolic whole wall GCS (GCSWW.Sys), was 21.6 ± 3.7% (PI: 14.3–28.9%), endomyocardial (GCSEndo.Sys) was 31.9 ± 4.7% (PI: 22.7–41.1%), and epimyocardial (GCSEpi.Sys) was 14.3 ± 3.8% (PI: 6.8–21.8%). A significant discrepancy in normal strain values between males and females was observed. Men had lower mean values and lower reference limits for all strain parameters. Furthermore, GLS and GCS changed differently with age in males and females. Finally, regional LS decreased from the apical to the basal LV region in both sexes, and regional CS varied significantly by LV segment. Conclusion In this study, we reported age- and sex-based reference ranges of layer-specific GLS and GCS. These reference ranges varied significantly with sex and age.

Low high-density lipoprotein and increased risk of several cancers: 2 population-based cohort studies including 116,728 individuals

Background Increasing evidence suggests that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) may play a role in cancer development. We tested the hypothesis that low HDL levels are associated with increased risk of cancer. Methods Individuals from two population-based cohorts, the Copenhagen General Population Study (2003–2015, N = 107 341), and the Copenhagen City Heart Study (1991–1994, N = 9387) were followed prospectively until end of 2016 to assess low plasma HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 as risk factors for cancer using Cox proportional hazard regression. Results During up to 25 years follow-up, we observed 8748 cancers in the Copenhagen General Population Study and 2164 in the Copenhagen City Heart Study. In the Copenhagen General Population Study and compared to individuals with HDL cholesterol ≥ 2.0 mmol/L (≥ 77 mg/dL), multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for any cancer were 1.13 (95% confidence interval 1.04–1.22) for individuals with HDL cholesterol of 1.5–1.99 mmol/L (58–77 mg/dL), 1.18 (1.08–1.30) for HDL cholesterol of 1.0–1.49 mmol/L (39–58 mg/dL), and 1.29 (1.12–1.48) for individuals with HDL cholesterol < 1.0 mmol/L (< 39 mg/dL). Correspondingly, compared to individuals with apolipoprotein A1 ≥ 190 mg/dL, HRs for any cancer were 1.06 (0.96–1.17) for individuals with apolipoprotein A1 of 160–189 mg/dL, 1.18 (1.07–1.30) for apolipoprotein A1 of 130–159 mg/dL, and 1.28 (1.13–1.46) for individuals with apolipoprotein A1 < 130 mg/dL. Among 27 cancer types, low HDL cholesterol and/or apolipoprotein A1 were associated with increased risk of multiple myeloma, myeloproliferative neoplasm, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, and nervous system cancer. Results were overall similar in women and men separately, and in the Copenhagen City Heart Study. Conclusions Low HDL levels were associated with increased risk of several cancers. Increased risk was most pronounced for hematological and nervous system cancer, and to a minor extent for breast and respiratory cancer.