Guest guest Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 The p values in this piece refer to the likelihood that the two groups (male and female) for each element examined have no difference between them. So, for example, in the first case, assuming that men and women in fact have the same rates of MI, the data obtained or more extreme (more separated) data would only be obtained by chance in one case out of a hundred. So the smaller the p value, the less likely that the null hypothesis--that there is no difference between the groups in question--will find data to substantiate it. p < 0.05 is the typical benchmark for " significance, " by convention. Maco At 01:19 PM 3/15/2007, you wrote: Hi All, How about the below paper? Toyofuku M, Goto Y, Matsumoto T, Miyao Y, Morii I, Daikoku S, Itoh A, Miyazaki S, Nonogi H. [Acute myocardial infarction in young Japanese women] J Cardiol. 1996 Dec;28(6):313-9. Japanese. PMID: 8986854 http://tinyurl.com/2o6ymy The fraction of patients of age younger than 50 years among all age groups was lower in female than in male acute myocardial infarction patients (5% vs 13%, p < 0.01). The increase of the coronary risk factors, hypercholesterolemia (25% vs 55%, p < 0.05) and cigarette smoking (17% vs 96%, p < 0.05) were less common in women. In female patients, the serum total cholesterol level was lower (195 +/- 50 vs 216 +/- 48 mg/dl, p = 0.06), and the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was higher (50 +/- 12 vs 39 +/- 12 mg/dl, p < 0.05) than in male patients. Other risk factors did not differ significantly between the two groups. Angiography 1 month after myocardial infarction showed fewer diseased coronary arteries (> 75% stenosis) in female than male patients (0.8 +/- 0.9 vs 1.8 +/- 1.0, p < 0.01), and normal coronary arteries were seen in 35% of female patients (male 6%, p < 0.05). Ten female patients (42%) had obviously non-atherosclerotic causes of acute myocardial infarction: Takayasu aortitis in three patients, coronary embolism in two, acute dissection of the aorta in two, and idiopathic coronary artery dissection, Kawasaki disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus in one each. In contrast, among male patients, only one had coronary embolism (1%). In-hospital mortality was higher in women (17%) than in men (2%, p < 0.05). Young female patients (< 50 years) with acute myocardial infarction have a low incidence of hyperlipidemia and normal coronary arteries or involvement of the left main trunk are more common compared with male patients (< 50 years). Although 42% of female patients had obvious non-atherosclerotic etiology of acute myocardial infarction, the causes varied widely. --- Rodney <perspect1111@... > wrote: > Hi folks: > > The question this very interesting post (the one > about 5% of heart > attacks being caused by non-athersclerotic > constriction of the > coronary artery) seems to raise is: " In cases like > this there > presumably isn't plaque that can break off and > travel downstream to > block the coronary artery. So in these cases what > is the substance > that plugs the already-constricted artery, and what > is its origin? " > > The 5% number is interesting also. Because I > believe in Japan just > 6% of deaths are from cardiac causes. Is this the > 6% of them who > have non-atherosclerotic arterial anomalies? If so > then they have > pretty much zero problems with arteries getting > clogged with plaque. > Which presumably says even more about the benefits > of japanese > lifestyle for CVD. > > Rodney. > > > > > > > > Live and learn, " I did not know that " (think > ny Carson). Your > point is > > taken. > > > > However, I was defending the wider idea that heart > attacks don't > happen in > > the absence of underlying pathology and inasmuch > as the below > mechanisms are > > all pathological, the general point is reinforced. > > > > Al -- Al Pater, PhD; email: Alpater@... __________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Beta. http://advision.webevents./mailbeta/newmail_tools.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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