In sickness and in health: Cardiovascular disease in couples

Date:
August 25, 2020
Source:
University of Tsukuba
Summary:
Researchers show that the wives of men with major cardiovascular
disease risk factors, namely hypertension, diabetes, and
dyslipidemia, are more prone to suffer from the same disorders.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, killing
nearly 18 million people annually, which is approximately the entire
population of the New York metropolitan area. Now, researchers at the University of Tsukuba have shown that men bearing any or all of the
major risk factors -- hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia -- are
more likely to have wives who suffer from the same diseases.


==========================================================================
The World Health Organization lists ischemic heart disease and stroke
as the number 1 and 2 killers; together they account for 85% of all cardiovascular- related deaths and have occupied top position for over
three decades.

Cardiovascular disease is both genetically and environmentally determined,
with the latter exerting a greater influence. Hypertension, diabetes,
and dyslipidemia are among the major risk factors and, though modifiable
by drug therapy and behavioral change, are unfortunately becoming
increasingly common.

In Japan, where over 83% of deaths occur after the age of 70, alleviating
these chronic diseases will ensure that life is as healthy as it is long.

Westernization of the diet, specifically reduced salt, has resulted in
a drop in the incidence of hypertension, but causes increased obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.

"Married couples share food preferences and meal patterns, lifestyle with regard to levels of activity, attitudes to physical exercise, and usage of cigarettes and alcohol," explains Professor Takehiro Sugiyama. "Concordant disease patterns within couples may refer to risks of chronic diseases
that could be reduced by changing daily habits, rather than unmodifiable genetic risks." The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of
86,941 married couples over the age of 40, across Japan. Using logistic regression, they modeled husbands undergoing treatment for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia as the exposure and their wives undergoing
therapy for the same disease as the outcome. Features that could skew
the results such as residence, education, age, habits, expenditure, and
access to healthcare and health groups were also factored in to determine
the degree of spousal concordance. Because spouses often influence
personal habits, the researchers also evaluated models excluding the
wife's smoking and alcohol history. The findings were clear: wives were significantly more likely to be receiving therapy for the same diseases
as their husbands.

Professor Nanako Tamiya, senior author, highlights their inferences. "Our findings stress that healthcare professionals should target not only
patients' blood-relatives, but also their spouses. Medical information
should include the partner's data. In addition to optimizing individual therapy, family-based interventions are needed. Couples too need to
appreciate their influence on each other's health patterns."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Tsukuba. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Taeko Watanabe, Takehiro Sugiyama, Hideto Takahashi, Haruko Noguchi,
Nanako Tamiya. Concordance of hypertension, diabetes and
dyslipidaemia in married couples: cross-sectional study using
nationwide survey data in Japan. BMJ Open, 2020; 10 (7): e036281
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036281 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200825110631.htm

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