Scottish Medical Journal

Study objective: To describe the distribution of risk factors, risk behaviours, symptoms and the prevalence of cardiorespiratory disease in men and women in an urban area with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation. A cross-sectional survey of 15,411 men and women aged 45–64, comprising an 80% response rate from the general population in Paisley and Renfrew, Scotland

Main results: The main characteristics of the male Renfrew/Paisley population, compared to previous British studies, were shorter stature, higher blood pressure, a higher proportion of smokers who continue to smoke, lower FEV₁ and higher levels of reported angina, breathlessness on effort and chronic bronchitis. In comparison with men, the main characteristics of the female Renfrew/Paisley population were shorter stature, higher plasma cholesterol, lower FEV_1′ fewer current and ex-smokers, and a higher prevalence of breathlessness on effort. There were only small differences between men and women in the prevalence of angina, ECG evidence of myocardial ischaemia and chronic bronchitis.

Conclusions: Middle-aged men and women in an urban area with high levels of socio-economic deprivation have different cardio- respiratory risk and disease profiles compared to previous population studies in the UK, based on occupational groups and random national samples.

Study objective: To describe the relationship between risk factors, risk behaviours, symptoms and mortality from cardiorespiratory diseases in an urban area with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation. A cohort study of 15,411 men and women aged 45–64, comprising 80% of the general 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: Mortality rates from all causes were 19% in men aged 45–49, 31% in men aged 50–54, 42% in men aged 55–59 and 57% in men aged 60–64. The rates are 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 factor levels and mortality rates. People in manual occupations had higher mortality rates. Raised levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were associated with increased coronary, stroke and all cause mortality rates. Plasma cholesterol had no such association with all cause mortality rates. High and low levels of body mass index were associated with higher mortality rates than intermediate levels. A relationship between short stature and increased mortality rates was observed in men and women. FEV₁ expressed as a percentage of the expected value showed the strongest relationship with mortality rates, particularly for respiratory disease, but also for deaths from coronary heart disease, stroke and all causes.

Conclusions A similar pattern of relationship between risk factor levels and mortality rates exists in men and women in Renfrew and Paisley. Respiratory impairment as measured by FEV 1% predicted appears to be the most likely explanation of the observed high all cause mortality rates in this population.

Clinical exercise testing has been used mainly to assess the cardiac response to exercise. Integrative cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) involving the measurement of the ventilatory, circulatory and metabolic response to exercise has largely been a research tool. We analysed the results of one hundred tests randomly chosen from a total of 472 exercise tests performed between January 1992 and June 1993 as clinical investigation in a pulmonary function laboratory. CPET was used (a) to identify the cause of effort limitation in patients where more than one illness could be relevant (26); (b) to obtain an objective measure of the exercise capacity of patients with respiratory or cardiac disease (31); (c) as monitor of response to treatment (11) and (d) in the investigation of unexplained dyspnoea (32). In 94 of the 100 cases CPET was able to provide an answer to the specific clinical question posed. In patients with unexplained dyspnoea CPET identified a group who exhibit an inappropriate hyperventilatory response to exercise with no supportive evidence of cardiopulmonary disease. In a small minority of cases CPET gave non-specific results. We conclude that CPET is a useful investigation in the management of patients with cardiopulmonary disease and complements the various other investigations offered by a pulmonary function laboratory.

Intracranial neoplasms presenting during pregnancy are uncommon. We report the case of a woman with a giant acoustic neuroma, presenting with hyperemesis gravidarum, and detail the surgical excision of the tumour during the third trimester. The case illustrates the unusual presentation and that such surgery can be performed safely without detriment to mother or fetus.

James Jeffray, Regius Professor of Anatomy at Glasgow University from 1790–1848, worked at a time when the only legal supply of material for dissection was the bodies of hanged criminals. The Napoleonic Wars created a large demand for anatomical teaching and Jeffray saw the height of the body-snatching era. At Glasgow University, Jeffray supervised the establishment of the Hunterian Museum, negotiated a separate Chair of Botany and was a prime mover in founding the Botanic Gardens. The fetal circulation was a special interest and he is remembered as the inventor of the chain saw, which he designed from a watch chain for use in excision of diseased joints in an effort to prevent amputation.