Table 2 IHD in relation to RF and traditional IHD risk factors among 567 men and 589 women from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study
Men (n = 567)Women (n = 589)
IHD +veNo (%)Unadjusted OR (95% CI)Mutually adjusted OR (95% CI)IHD +ve No (%)Unadjusted OR (95% CI)Mutually adjusted OR (95% CI)
RF positive (⩾6 IU/ml vs <6 IU/ml)22 (23.9)3.1 (1.7 to 5.4)2.9 (1.6 to 5.3)8 (11.0)1.3 (0.6 to 2.8)1.3 (0.6 to 2.8)
Ex-smoker vs never smoker39 (13.1)1.3 (0.7 to 2.4)1.2 (0.6 to 2.2)16 (9.5)1.1 (0.6 to 2.0)1.0 (0.5 to 1.9)
Current smoker vs never smoker9 (9.6)0.9 (0.4 to 2.2)1.0 (0.4 to 2.3)6 (9.8)1.1 (0.4 to 2.8)1.1 (0.4 to 2.9)
Family history of myocardial infarction* (yes vs no)13 (19.7)2.1 (1.1 to 4.1)1.9 (0.9 to 3.9)13 (12.3)1.5 (0.8 to 2.9)1.3 (0.7 to 2.6)
Previously/newly diagnosed diabetes (yes vs no)9 (23.1)2.5 (1.1 to 5.5)1.7 (0.7 to 4.1)6 (14.0)1.7 (0.7 to 4.2)1.2 (0.4 to 3.1)
High blood pressure (yes vs no)43 (22.3)4.4 (2.5 to 7.5)3.9 (2.2 to 6.8)32 (14.0)2.5 (1.4 to 4.5)2.3 (1.2 to 4.1)
BMI (z score increase)1.1 (0.9 to 1.5)1.0 (0.7 to 1.3)1.3 (1.0 to 1.7)1.2 (0.9 to 1.6)
Total fasting cholesterol (z score increase)0.8 (0.6 to 1.1)0.8 (0.6 to 1.1)
Total cholesterol:HDL ratio (z score decrease)1.1 (0.9 to 1.5)1.1 (0.8 to 1. 5)1.1 (0.8 to 1.4)1.0 (0.8 to 1.4)
  • BMI, body mass index; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; IHD, ischaemic heart disease; OR, odds ratio; RF, rheumatoid factor.

  • Total cholesterol and HDL:LDL ratio were correlated; HDL:LDL ratio was included in mutually adjusted models.

  • *Premature myocardial infarction in a first-degree relative (before age 55 years in men, before age 65 years in women).