Processed meat and coronary heart disease (CHD).

CHD risk: Data was provided by 2 cohorts, including 1,481 cases. Significantly increased risks were found in both cohorts. The average RR = 1.51.
Effect modification: No data was found.
CHD mortality: Data was provided by 2 cohorts, including 970 cases. A significant protective effect was found among men in one cohort (Iso H [19]). No other associations were found. The average RR = 0.75.
Effect modification: No data was found.

Conclusion: Significantly increased CHD risks of processed meat were found in 2 cohorts, one of which was of very small size. Suggestive evidence was found that processed meat consumption increases CHD risk (+ 51%). Associations with CHD mortality were not in line with the previous findings. No evidence was found for an association between processed meat consumption and CHD mortality.

Prospective studies of processed meat and heart disease risk:
AuthorCohort nameCasesRelative Risk (RR)
18 Burke V (2007)No cohort name defined130HR = 2.21 (1.05-4.63; P = 0.04).
6) Liu J (2003)The Nurses' Health Study1,351RR = 1.44 (1.20-1.73; P = < 0.01).
Total number of cases: 1,481Average RR = 1.51


Prospective studies of processed meat and heart disease mortality:
AuthorCohort nameCasesRelative Risk (RR)
19) Iso H (2007)The JACC Study529 men, and

350 women
Men: HR = 0.66 (0.49-0.87; P = < 0.01).

Women: HR = 0.76 (0.53-1.11).
12) Whiteman D (1999)The OXCHECK Study91RR = 1.28 (0.46-3.54).
Total number of cases: 970Average RR = 0.75