RISK-FACTORS FOR CARDIORESPIRATORY AND ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY IN MEN ANDWOMEN IN URBAN SCOTLAND - 15-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Study objective. To describe the relationship between risk factors, ri sk behaviours, symptoms and mortality from cardiorespiratory diseases in an urban area with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation. A coho rt study of 15,411 men and women aged 45-64, comprising 80% of the gen eral population of Paisley and Renfrew, Scotland. Outcomes: Mortality after 15 years from coronary heart disease(ICD 410-4), stroke(ICD 430- 8), respiratory disease(ICD 460-519) and all causes. Main results: Mor tality rates from all causes were 19% in men aged 45-49, 31% in men ag ed 50-54, 42% in men aged 55-59 and 57% in men aged 60-64. The rates a re considerably higher than those reported in previous UK prospective studies. For women the rates were 12%, 18%, 25% and 38% respectively. In general men and women showed similar relationships between risk fac tor levels and mortality rates. People in manual occupations had highe r mortality rates. Raised levels of systolic and diastolic blood press ure were associated with increased coronary, stroke and all cause mort ality rates. Plasma cholesterol had no such association with all cause mortality rates. High and low levels of body mass index were associat ed with higher mortality rates than intermediate levels. A relationshi p between short stature and increased mortality rates was observed in men and women. FEV(1) expressed as a percentage of the expected value showed the strongest relationship with mortality rates, particularly f or respiratory disease, but also for deaths from coronary heart diseas e, stroke and all causes.Conclusions A similar pattern of relationship between risk factor levels and mortality, rates exists in men and wom en in Renfrew and Paisley. Respiratory impairment as measured by FEV1% predicted appears to be the most likely explanation of the observed h igh all cause mortality rates in this population.