Life-style and environmental determinants of cardiovascular diseases in a spanish cohort study. Coordinated.

Duration

2009-2011

Coordinator

Jaume Marrugat, FIMIM, Barcelona

Funded by

Fundació La Marató de TV3

Theoretical framework / Primary objective:

The equations that are currently used to predict a person’s risk of suffering a cardiovascular disease do not identify over 50% of patients who will end up developing a cardiovascular disease in the future. Dietary factors, physical activity and anthropometric measurements are not currently included in these equations, nor are environmental factors such as, for example, exposure to high levels of air pollution. Neopterin and oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL) could also improve prediction.



This coordinated interdisciplinary project aims to:



Sub-project 1: determine if the addition of anthropometry, dietary habits and physical activity, neopterin and oxLDL in classic cardiovascular risk prediction functions improves the final prediction.

Sub-project 2: determine if new risk factors inserted into the equations predict preclinical measurements of cardiovascular disease, such as, for example, carotid artery thickness, arterial rigidity and the ankle-brachial index (ABI)

Sub-project 3: determine the role of air pollution and noise exposure in the development of cardiovascular diseases.



In order to reach these objectives, cases of myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular disease, mortal or not, and chest angina will be identified in a 10 year follow-up of a cohort of 4,804 Spanish participants. Neopterin and oxLDL will be measured in plasma samples obtained at the beginning of the study. In addition, in a subsample of 2,000 participants cardiovascular risk factors, carotid artery thickness and the ankle-brachial index will be measured. Long term exposure to air and noise pollution will be based on the measurements obtained in the homes of some of the participants combined with geostatistical modelling.

The study’s contribution to determining cardiovascular disease risk will probably be very valuable for prevention. Traffic-related air pollution and noise and their relationship with cardiovascular diseases will be researched together for the first time in Spain, a fact which may have vast international impact on pollution policies.