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Abstract Background The increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in diabetic compared to non-diabetic subjects seems to decrease with age. Whether this age-related reduction applies to CVD risk factors, and whether it is limited to established diabetes mellitus (DM) or also applies to pre-diabetic conditions are not well known. Methods Using a cross-sectional design we compared the strength of the correlation between glucometabolic disturbances (by grouping), CVD risk factor burden and self-rated health, in two age groups: middle-aged (57-69 years) and older (70-86 years) subjects, (63% men), participating in the Malmö Preventive Project Re-examination Study (n = 18,238). Simple (unadjusted) logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate between-group differences and trends. Interaction analysis was applied to estimate differences between age groups. Results CVD risk factor burden and the proportion of subjects reporting poor self-rated health increased with increasing glucometabolic disturbance for men and women in both age groups (p-trend < 0.0001 for all). The slope of the trend curve with increasing CVD risk factor burden was significantly steeper for older women than for older men (p-interaction = 0.002). The slope of the trend curve for poor self-rated health was significantly steeper for middle-aged than for older men (p-interaction = 0.005), while no difference was observed between the age groups among women (p-interaction = 0.97). Conclusions We found no reduction in risk factor accumulation with increasing glucometabolic disturbance between middle-aged and older subjects. Our results indicate life-long CVD risk factor clustering with increased glucometabolic disturbance, and suggest that previously observed age-related reduction in excess CVD risk for subjects with DM might be due to a survival bias. However, our observations indicate more pronounced risk factor clustering and worse self-rated health with increased glucometabolic disturbance in older women than in older men.

Abstract Background Indications for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation have expanded considerably in recent years, resulting in steadily growing numbers of ICD recipients worldwide. The aim of this study was to review the overall experience with ICDs in Iceland. Methods This was a retrospective single centre study set at the University Hospital in Iceland. Data on all ICD implantations in Iceland from the first implantation in 1992 till the end of 2002 was reviewed. Results Sixty-two patients (71% male) received an ICD during this period. There was an increase in the number of implants by year and the number of new implants in 2001 and 2002 amounted to 56 and 38 per million, respectively. The mean age at implantation was 58 (+/-14) years. Forty patients (65%) had coronary artery disease. The most common indications for ICD implantation were cardiac arrest, 32 (52%) and another 26 (42%) had experienced ventricular tachycardia without cardiac arrest. The most common adverse event was inappropriate shocks. Twenty-eight patients (45%) received therapy from their ICDs, with the majority receiving appropriate therapy. Of the thirteen patients deceased before or during the study period, no case of sudden arrhythmic death was observed. Conclusion This study shows that the experience with ICDs in Iceland is in most respects similar to other Western countries.