The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) has been shown to vary across different occupational, social, and ethnical groups, between geographic regions, and over time; those variations, however, can only partly be explained by between-group differences in the risk factors hypertension, hyperlipidimi, and smoking. A large number of other risk factors - some of them work related - have also been suggested. The present case-referent study will test several hypotheses concerning risk factors for MI, such as occupational exposure to chemical and/or psychosocial factors, social and environmental factors, dietary and smoking habits, and biological/medical factors. Special attention is paid to potential interaction between the various factors. The study will compromise approximately 2100 cases (1400 men and 700 women) of acute MI (first episode) in the Stockholm county area and the referents are chosen from the general population. Exposure information is collected through questionnaires and biomedical examination.
Several research and clinical units are cooperating in the project - Institute of Environmental Medicine and Department of Social Medicine at Karolinska Institute, the National Institute for Working Life and the National Institute of Psychosocial Factors and Health, Stockholm County units of Environmental Health, Social Medicine, and Occupational Health, Karolinska Hospital and the Departments of Medicine at each of the ten emergency hospitals in the Stockholm County area. Exposure information was collected 1992-1994 and the first results will be reported in 1996.
Financial support by Stockholm County Council, The Social Research Council, and The Medical Research Council.