Cardiovascular Disease-specific Mortality Research Articles

Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Whole-Grain, Cereal Fiber, Bran, and Germ Intake and the Risks of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease-Specific Mortality Among Women With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus”

We appreciate the interest of Dr Thornton in our analyses on the intakes of whole grain and its components in relation to all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-specific mortality among women with type 2 diabetes.1 In his letter, Dr Thornton noted that high fluid intake might decrease insulin resistance, improve cardiovascular regulation, and lead to decreased cardiovascular mortality. One potential mechanism is that increasing fluid intake increases blood volume, which in turn lowers plasma levels of …

Peak aerobic capacity predicts prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease

It is unknown if contemporary preventive treatments such as statins or primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) have rendered obsolete the use of measured exercise capacity for assessment of future risk and prognosis. Using a sample of patients from 2 clinical sites, most of whom were taking beta-blockade, antiplatelet, and statin therapy, we hypothesized that peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2)) would remain a strong and independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular-specific mortality in men and women with CHD. We studied 2,812 patients with CHD between 1996 and 2004. All-cause and cardiovascular disease-specific mortality served as end points. In all men and women and in a subgroup of patients following evidence-based care, peak Vo(2) remained a strong predictor of all-cause death, with every 1 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1) increase in peak Vo(2) associated with an approximate 15% decrease in risk of death. Among men, a peak Vo(2) (mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) below approximately 15 was associated with the highest risk, whereas a peak Vo(2) above approximately 19 was associated with a low rate and risk for annual all-cause mortality. Among women, a peak Vo(2) below approximately 12 was associated with the highest risk, whereas a peak Vo(2) above approximately 16.5 was associated with the lowest rate and risk for annual all-cause mortality. In men and women with CHD, peak Vo(2) remains an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular-specific mortality.