This study analyzed a cohort of 1,182 people in New Zealand who were identified as having inadequate housing based on hospital admission records from 2002-2014. 10.7% of the cohort died during a median follow-up of 5.7 years. The median survival of the cohort was 63.5 years, about 20 years less than the general population. Within the cohort, Māori individuals and those diagnosed with substance use disorders or diabetes were at significantly higher risk of premature death.
This study examined health care use patterns before and after being granted disability pension due to common mental disorders in Sweden. The researchers analyzed data from two time periods: 2005-2006 and 2009-2010, before and after stricter granting criteria were introduced. They found that the incidence of disability pension was six times higher before the stricter criteria. Healthcare use, including inpatient and specialized outpatient care, generally increased in the years leading up to being granted disability pension and then declined after. Healthcare use was higher overall in the later time period when stricter criteria were in place. Less than 50% of individuals received specialized care in the year before being granted disability pension.
DP due to CMD and suicidal behaviour_Rahman et al_2016Syed Rahman
This study examined the association between disability pension (DP) due to common mental disorders and subsequent suicidal behavior using data from Swedish nationwide registers. The study cohort included 46,515 individuals aged 19-64 who received a DP due to conditions like depression, anxiety or stress in 2005. The individuals were followed through 2010 to assess suicide attempts requiring hospitalization and completed suicides. The study found that having a main DP diagnosis of depression, or a secondary diagnosis of substance abuse or personality disorder, were risk factors for later suicidal behavior. Receiving a full-time versus part-time DP was also associated with increased suicide attempt risk in some groups. The results suggest certain DP diagnoses and characteristics may help identify those at higher risk of suicide who warrant
Risk factors for suicidal behavior in people on disability pension due to common mental disorders in Sweden.
Socio-demographic risk factors for suicide attempts included being female, younger age, lower education levels, and living single. Health care factors included previous outpatient or inpatient mental health diagnoses and treatment, as well as a history of suicide attempts. Medication use, including antidepressants, anxiolytics alone or combined, also increased risk. Risk factors for completed suicide included being male, living single, previous inpatient mental health treatment, and a history of suicide attempts. Antianxiety medication use alone or combined with antidepressants also increased suicide risk.
Stigmatisation, avoidance behaviour and difficulties in coping are common amo...tloanphan
This study explored quality of life, coping, depression, and experiences of stigmatization among 96 patients with vitiligo compared to 23 controls. Key findings include:
1) Stigmatization was common among patients, with 90% reporting questions/approaches about their skin and 24% experiencing nasty comments. 66.7% avoided social situations or concealed white spots due to vitiligo.
2) Patients scored higher than controls on all quality of life and coping questionnaires, indicating more impairment and difficulties. However, depression scores were similar.
3) Treatment with pro-pseudocatalase reduced social anxiety/avoidance, depressed mood, and depression scores.
4) Patients who
Factors associated with development of vitiligo in patients with halo nevustloanphan
This study aimed to identify factors associated with the development of vitiligo in patients with halo nevus (HN). The researchers performed a retrospective study of 212 patients with HN, 101 of whom also had vitiligo (HNV group). Univariate analysis found that a personal history of thyroid disease and younger age of HN onset were associated with vitiligo. Multivariate analysis identified the Koebner phenomenon (skin depigmentation in areas of friction or trauma), multiple HN lesions, and a familial history of vitiligo as independent risk factors for vitiligo in HN patients. The study suggests HN patients with these risk factors should be monitored more closely for signs of vitiligo.
Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of childhood vitiligo a study of...tloanphan
This study analyzed clinical and epidemiological data from 701 children with vitiligo who were seen at a dermatology clinic in Brazil between 2006-2014. The main findings were:
1) Vitiligo was more common in females (62% of cases) and the average age of onset was 5.9 years.
2) The most common subtype was generalized vitiligo (53.8% of cases) and the most common initial site was the head/neck region (44.2% of cases).
3) Associated autoimmune diseases, family history of vitiligo, and the Koebner phenomenon were present in 6.5%, 16.9%, and 38.2% of
Abstract—Prevalence of degenerative dementias and dementias associated with cerebrovascular disease is increasing with the time. Dementia is one of the most significant public health problems. Demographic data, medical history, general biochemical data and serum total homocysteine (tHcy) levels was used in this study to examine the differences between dementia and normal control groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 236 individuals who were above the age of 65 years. These participants went through the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), demographic characteristics, biochemical data and tHcy level. Each of the above mentioned factors was assessed. There were significant differences in the history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, marital status, alcohol consumption (AC), BMI value, and triglyceride (TG) and serum tHcy levels. The logistic regression analysis showed significant differences in marital status, AC and tHcy. So it can be concluded that elevated serum tHcy, no AC and no partner are associated with the risk of dementia in elders of Southern Taiwan. It needs further researches to identify and reduce the risk of dementia.
Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of childhoodtloanphan
This study analyzed clinical and epidemiological data from 701 children with vitiligo who were seen at a dermatology clinic in Brazil between 2006-2014. The main findings were:
1) Most patients were female (62%) and the average age of onset was 5.9 years. The most common subtype was generalized vitiligo (53.8%).
2) The most affected initial site was the head/neck region (44.2%). Emotional stressors were reported as triggering factors in 67% of patients.
3) Segmental and nonsegmental vitiligo differed significantly in characteristics like age of onset, presence of the Koebner phenomenon, associations with autoimmune diseases, and family
This study examined health care use patterns before and after being granted disability pension due to common mental disorders in Sweden. The researchers analyzed data from two time periods: 2005-2006 and 2009-2010, before and after stricter granting criteria were introduced. They found that the incidence of disability pension was six times higher before the stricter criteria. Healthcare use, including inpatient and specialized outpatient care, generally increased in the years leading up to being granted disability pension and then declined after. Healthcare use was higher overall in the later time period when stricter criteria were in place. Less than 50% of individuals received specialized care in the year before being granted disability pension.
DP due to CMD and suicidal behaviour_Rahman et al_2016Syed Rahman
This study examined the association between disability pension (DP) due to common mental disorders and subsequent suicidal behavior using data from Swedish nationwide registers. The study cohort included 46,515 individuals aged 19-64 who received a DP due to conditions like depression, anxiety or stress in 2005. The individuals were followed through 2010 to assess suicide attempts requiring hospitalization and completed suicides. The study found that having a main DP diagnosis of depression, or a secondary diagnosis of substance abuse or personality disorder, were risk factors for later suicidal behavior. Receiving a full-time versus part-time DP was also associated with increased suicide attempt risk in some groups. The results suggest certain DP diagnoses and characteristics may help identify those at higher risk of suicide who warrant
Risk factors for suicidal behavior in people on disability pension due to common mental disorders in Sweden.
Socio-demographic risk factors for suicide attempts included being female, younger age, lower education levels, and living single. Health care factors included previous outpatient or inpatient mental health diagnoses and treatment, as well as a history of suicide attempts. Medication use, including antidepressants, anxiolytics alone or combined, also increased risk. Risk factors for completed suicide included being male, living single, previous inpatient mental health treatment, and a history of suicide attempts. Antianxiety medication use alone or combined with antidepressants also increased suicide risk.
Stigmatisation, avoidance behaviour and difficulties in coping are common amo...tloanphan
This study explored quality of life, coping, depression, and experiences of stigmatization among 96 patients with vitiligo compared to 23 controls. Key findings include:
1) Stigmatization was common among patients, with 90% reporting questions/approaches about their skin and 24% experiencing nasty comments. 66.7% avoided social situations or concealed white spots due to vitiligo.
2) Patients scored higher than controls on all quality of life and coping questionnaires, indicating more impairment and difficulties. However, depression scores were similar.
3) Treatment with pro-pseudocatalase reduced social anxiety/avoidance, depressed mood, and depression scores.
4) Patients who
Factors associated with development of vitiligo in patients with halo nevustloanphan
This study aimed to identify factors associated with the development of vitiligo in patients with halo nevus (HN). The researchers performed a retrospective study of 212 patients with HN, 101 of whom also had vitiligo (HNV group). Univariate analysis found that a personal history of thyroid disease and younger age of HN onset were associated with vitiligo. Multivariate analysis identified the Koebner phenomenon (skin depigmentation in areas of friction or trauma), multiple HN lesions, and a familial history of vitiligo as independent risk factors for vitiligo in HN patients. The study suggests HN patients with these risk factors should be monitored more closely for signs of vitiligo.
Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of childhood vitiligo a study of...tloanphan
This study analyzed clinical and epidemiological data from 701 children with vitiligo who were seen at a dermatology clinic in Brazil between 2006-2014. The main findings were:
1) Vitiligo was more common in females (62% of cases) and the average age of onset was 5.9 years.
2) The most common subtype was generalized vitiligo (53.8% of cases) and the most common initial site was the head/neck region (44.2% of cases).
3) Associated autoimmune diseases, family history of vitiligo, and the Koebner phenomenon were present in 6.5%, 16.9%, and 38.2% of
Abstract—Prevalence of degenerative dementias and dementias associated with cerebrovascular disease is increasing with the time. Dementia is one of the most significant public health problems. Demographic data, medical history, general biochemical data and serum total homocysteine (tHcy) levels was used in this study to examine the differences between dementia and normal control groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 236 individuals who were above the age of 65 years. These participants went through the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), demographic characteristics, biochemical data and tHcy level. Each of the above mentioned factors was assessed. There were significant differences in the history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, marital status, alcohol consumption (AC), BMI value, and triglyceride (TG) and serum tHcy levels. The logistic regression analysis showed significant differences in marital status, AC and tHcy. So it can be concluded that elevated serum tHcy, no AC and no partner are associated with the risk of dementia in elders of Southern Taiwan. It needs further researches to identify and reduce the risk of dementia.
Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of childhoodtloanphan
This study analyzed clinical and epidemiological data from 701 children with vitiligo who were seen at a dermatology clinic in Brazil between 2006-2014. The main findings were:
1) Most patients were female (62%) and the average age of onset was 5.9 years. The most common subtype was generalized vitiligo (53.8%).
2) The most affected initial site was the head/neck region (44.2%). Emotional stressors were reported as triggering factors in 67% of patients.
3) Segmental and nonsegmental vitiligo differed significantly in characteristics like age of onset, presence of the Koebner phenomenon, associations with autoimmune diseases, and family
Crimson Publishers-Longterm Mortality among Chronic Complex Patients with pol...CrimsonPublishersGGS
Longterm Mortality among Chronic Complex Patients with polypharmacy: Results of Community- Based Prospective Study by Clua Espuny in Gerontology & Geriatrics studies
This document summarizes the challenges encountered during a West Nile virus outbreak at a hospital in 2012. It found 55 cases of West Nile infection, including 12 cases of West Nile fever and 43 cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease. Many patients presented without a documented fever, which challenged the application of diagnostic criteria. Neurological symptoms like altered mental status, headache and seizures were common in neuroinvasive disease cases. The outbreak resulted in a high mortality rate of 21% among neuroinvasive disease patients. Diagnosing and classifying West Nile virus infections proved difficult, highlighting challenges in outbreak response.
This document describes a psychological autopsy study conducted on Inuit suicide cases in Nunavut, Canada. It discusses the high suicide rates among Inuit populations and the need for more research in this area. The study used a retrospective case-control design and psychological autopsy method to investigate 120 suicide cases among Inuit from 2003-2006. It interviewed 498 individuals and reviewed medical records. The psychological autopsy method was found to be accepted by participants and able to identify psychiatric disorders and risk factors. The study aimed to help understand the causes of suicide among Inuit by adapting psychological autopsy methods for use in their cultural context.
Core practices that are moving from a pilot state to implementation at scale: Many of the
barriers facing HIV programs are common across countries. PEPFAR’s ECTs (described below in
Sections 2.3.2 and 2.3.3) identified common issues affecting countries at various levels of
epidemic control and then developed a compendium of evidence-based solutions, approaches
and case-studies that highlight successful means of addressing common barriers. Additional
evidence-based approaches and case-studies will be incorporated into this living compendium
over time. As highlighted in this PEPFAR Solutions Platform, these practices can be rapidly
adapted and scaled to move countries forward.
Key considerations for all PEPFAR programs include:
• Bringing Interventions to Scale with Fidelity: Getting to HIV epidemic control is dependent on
several factors; not the least of which is the ability to rapidly scale successful interventions with
fidelity and demonstrated impact. However, the logistics of cost- effective programmatic scale
have proven challenging, with several implementation barriers. Implementation science
defines scalability as the capacity to expand or extend an intervention to account for a growth
factor that aims to fill a gap or address unmet need in a defined population group/geographic
area.
• Data and Information Technology: The enabling environment for data and information
technology is rapidly maturing across countries, creating space, opportunity, and needed
political will to harness the Data Revolution for epidemic control. OUs should consider
innovative ways to use data and information technology to improve efficiency and
sustainability in achieving epidemic control, beyond immediate PEPFAR indicator data
collection needs. As highlighted in the Data Revolution Innovation Toolkit, available on the
PEPFAR SharePoint, OUs are encouraged to explore, adapt, and scale these and other data
driven approaches to move country epidemic control forward.
A Study of Clinical and Socio-Demographic Profile of Patients with Dissociati...iosrjce
The document summarizes a study on the clinical and socio-demographic profile of patients with dissociative disorder. Key findings include:
1) Dissociative disorder was more prevalent among females (75%) between the ages of 30-40 years, who were married housewives with low socioeconomic status and education.
2) The most common presentations were trance and possession (30%) and motor dissociation (25%).
3) Most patients were from rural areas (62.25%) and of lower socioeconomic status (65%), highlighting dissociative disorder is more common in developing countries.
Violence against Women living with HIV A Cross Sectional Study in NepalNabaraj Mudwari
This study examined violence against women living with HIV in Nepal through interviews with 43 HIV-positive women. The study found that the vast majority (93%) of participants had experienced at least one form of violence, and prevalence of violence increased sharply after being diagnosed with HIV (93% vs 54% before diagnosis). Husbands and mothers-in-law were the most common perpetrators, and consequences included self-humiliation and health/treatment problems. This cross-sectional study suggests violence is highly prevalent among HIV-positive women in Nepal.
The document summarizes the results of a survey of 1000 residents in Barnet, UK that was conducted to understand residents' perceptions of health and healthcare services. Some key findings from the survey include:
- 35-44 year olds were most likely to rate their health as good, while 18-24 year olds were least likely.
- Respondents of white ethnicity were more likely than non-white respondents to rate their health as good.
- Satisfaction with healthcare services, including GPs, was generally higher among white respondents, older respondents, and those in lower socioeconomic groups, while satisfaction was lower among ethnic minorities, younger people, and those in higher socioeconomic groups.
The rise of non-communicable diseases and their impact in low- and middle-income countries has gained increased attention in recent years.A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 369 villagers to assess the prevalenceof risk factors for non-communicable diseases at Dhamrai, Dhaka. About 252(68.3%) respondents had knowledge regarding HTN, 247(66.9%) about DM, 193(52.3%) about cancer and among them more than fifty percent respondents gave opinion that smoking as the cause of non communicable disease.Regarding awareness of risk factors of HTN and DM more than sixty percent respondents gave opinion on age advancement,near fifty percent on familialand significant strongassociations were found between NCDs and the risk factors. About 258(39.3%) of the rural participants got information from television.Finally, the need for health system reform to strengthen primary care at rural setting is highlighted as a major policy to reduce the toll of this rising epidemic.
Women are diagnosed with bipolar disorder on average 3.2 years later than men and are more likely to experience a delay in seeking treatment. They are also more likely to have a depressive first episode and experience more rapid cycling of moods. Women tend to have more severe depressive episodes and mixed episodes than men. Improving recognition of gender differences and barriers to recovery such as unemployment, lack of social support and exploitation could help enhance quality of life and management of symptoms for women living with bipolar disorder.
Access to subsidised nicotine replacement therapy in South AucklandSimon Thornley
1) The study examined rates of subsidized nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) claimed in Counties Manukau District Health Board in 2007 and found that overall, NRT was infrequently claimed, with only about 0.5% of residents obtaining NRT that year.
2) When adjusted for demographic factors, Pacific peoples were 60% less likely than Europeans to claim NRT, despite having higher smoking rates. Māori also had lower rates of NRT claims than Europeans after adjusting for smoking prevalence.
3) The majority (74%) of those who claimed NRT only obtained one month's supply, suggesting most smokers are not using NRT long enough (guidelines recommend at least 8 weeks
Medical Co Morbidities in Patients of Frontal Temporal Dementia -A Hospital B...CrimsonpublishersMedical
Medical Co Morbidities in Patients of Frontal Temporal Dementia -A Hospital Based Study by Manjunadh Muralleedharan in Research in Medical & Engineering Sciences
This study compared the quality of life of caregivers of patients with chronic psychiatric disorders and chronic medical illnesses. It found that the quality of life of caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients was significantly poorer than that of caregivers of chronic medical patients, especially in the psychological domain. Caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients experienced greater burdens and impairments to their quality of life compared to caregivers of chronic medical patients. The study was conducted in India and its results were consistent with other previous studies that also found poorer quality of life for caregivers of those with chronic psychiatric illnesses.
This document summarizes findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 regarding the burden of depressive disorders by country, sex, age, and year. Some key findings include:
1. Depressive disorders, specifically major depressive disorder and dysthymia, were the second leading cause of years lived with disability globally in 2010.
2. Major depressive disorder accounted for 8.2% of global years lived with disability and 2.5% of global disability-adjusted life years. Dysthymia accounted for 1.4% of years lived with disability and 0.5% of disability-adjusted life years.
3. There was more regional variation in burden for major depressive disorder than dysthymia,
PREVAILENCE OF MIGRIANE IN A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY OF KARACHIJing Zang
Migraine is the most common problem affecting large population, with prevalence frequency 10-12 %. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of migraine in a low income community in Karachi from June-Oct, 2013. Three hundred and seven participants were involved in this study. For this purpose cross-sectional community based questionnaire was designed in accordance with the diagnostic criteria given by International Headache Society. Data collection was carried out by personal visit to patients and through clinics. It was observed that females (65.5%) are more affected from migraine then male. 32.9% housewives reported that they are suffering from migraine. This medical problem is common among youngsters (38.1%) than old citizens. Employees working in different organizations (39.7%), were found to be mostly affected from migraine then self employed persons. Majority of the migraine patients (41%) reported that they are suffering from common symptoms including: photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, vomiting etc. Dietary habits of individuals were found to be closely associated with migraine such as use of caffeine, chocolate are prominent; and their use is common among 75% patients cumulatively. It was evaluated that certain disease conditions i.e. stress (33.6%), depression (22.1%) and anxiety (18.9%) are more common among sufferers of migraine.
Introduction: Migraine is a chronic disease evolving through recurrent attack; it constitutes a frequent reason of consultation in
neurology. It has a signifi cant impact that can affect all spheres of life. Thus, it is one of the most disabling primary headaches.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of migraine in population of Brazzaville
Background: Diabetes affects millions of people each year, it is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide.
Periodontal disease has recently been recognized as the “sixth complication” of diabetes mellitus, the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease is actually bi-directional. Generally, poor oral hygiene, a long history of diabetes, greater age, and poor metabolic control are associated with more severe periodontal disease. Method: The study is an analytical cross-sectional study, 406 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus selected through systematic random sampling from 5 UNRWA health centers. The World Health Organization’s basic methods tools were used to collect data and assess oral health.
This study examined risk factors for suicidal behavior in 46,745 individuals in Sweden who received disability pensions due to common mental disorders from 2005-2010. The researchers found that 1,046 (2.2%) individuals attempted suicide and 210 (0.4%) committed suicide during the follow-up period. Younger age, lower education, and living alone were associated with higher risks of suicide attempt and suicide. Having received inpatient mental health treatment or treatment for a prior suicide attempt from 2001-2005, as well as being prescribed both antidepressants and anxiolytics in 2005, were strongly linked to later suicide attempts and suicide. The researchers concluded that both socio-demographic characteristics and previous healthcare and medication history should be considered when
Assessment of level of cognitive impairment among stroke patientspharmaindexing
The study assessed the level of cognitive impairment in 30 stroke patients who were discharged from the hospital. It found that 21 patients (70%) had mild cognitive impairment, while 9 patients (30%) had normal cognitive ability. The study also found statistically significant associations between greater cognitive impairment and older age, male gender, and having comorbid conditions like hypertension or diabetes. The study concluded that nurses should consider factors like age, gender, and medical history when planning care and education for stroke patients.
Background and objective: One of the diseases that increase the risk of seizures in the person is multiple sclerosis. Several studies have reported multiple sclerosis as a risk factor for seizure. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of seizure types in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) referred to Alavi hospital in Ardebil city north-west of Iran.
This document discusses assessing awareness of overweight and lifestyle modification in patients with non-communicable diseases. It aims to assess awareness of overweight, evaluate lifestyle modification, and examine the association between overweight and lifestyle changes. A descriptive survey was conducted using standardized questionnaires on 305 non-communicable disease patients. The results found moderate awareness of overweight in most patients, poor lifestyle modification in majority of patients, and significant associations between awareness/lifestyle and gender/occupation.
West West Auckland Integrated Care Project - Locality and Cluster AnalysisJonathan Simon onzm
This document provides a summary of health data and population characteristics for the West Auckland locality and three clusters within it - Henderson, Massey, and New Lynn. Some key findings include:
1) The West Auckland locality has a growing and increasingly diverse population, with higher deprivation than the overall Waitemata DHB region.
2) Life expectancy is lower in West Auckland compared to the overall DHB region, and varies between ethnic groups.
3) Both primary and secondary health care utilization is higher in West Auckland compared to the DHB as a whole. Rates of long-term conditions and hospital admissions are also generally higher.
4) There is variation in health indicators within the three clusters, with the
Crimson Publishers-Longterm Mortality among Chronic Complex Patients with pol...CrimsonPublishersGGS
Longterm Mortality among Chronic Complex Patients with polypharmacy: Results of Community- Based Prospective Study by Clua Espuny in Gerontology & Geriatrics studies
This document summarizes the challenges encountered during a West Nile virus outbreak at a hospital in 2012. It found 55 cases of West Nile infection, including 12 cases of West Nile fever and 43 cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease. Many patients presented without a documented fever, which challenged the application of diagnostic criteria. Neurological symptoms like altered mental status, headache and seizures were common in neuroinvasive disease cases. The outbreak resulted in a high mortality rate of 21% among neuroinvasive disease patients. Diagnosing and classifying West Nile virus infections proved difficult, highlighting challenges in outbreak response.
This document describes a psychological autopsy study conducted on Inuit suicide cases in Nunavut, Canada. It discusses the high suicide rates among Inuit populations and the need for more research in this area. The study used a retrospective case-control design and psychological autopsy method to investigate 120 suicide cases among Inuit from 2003-2006. It interviewed 498 individuals and reviewed medical records. The psychological autopsy method was found to be accepted by participants and able to identify psychiatric disorders and risk factors. The study aimed to help understand the causes of suicide among Inuit by adapting psychological autopsy methods for use in their cultural context.
Core practices that are moving from a pilot state to implementation at scale: Many of the
barriers facing HIV programs are common across countries. PEPFAR’s ECTs (described below in
Sections 2.3.2 and 2.3.3) identified common issues affecting countries at various levels of
epidemic control and then developed a compendium of evidence-based solutions, approaches
and case-studies that highlight successful means of addressing common barriers. Additional
evidence-based approaches and case-studies will be incorporated into this living compendium
over time. As highlighted in this PEPFAR Solutions Platform, these practices can be rapidly
adapted and scaled to move countries forward.
Key considerations for all PEPFAR programs include:
• Bringing Interventions to Scale with Fidelity: Getting to HIV epidemic control is dependent on
several factors; not the least of which is the ability to rapidly scale successful interventions with
fidelity and demonstrated impact. However, the logistics of cost- effective programmatic scale
have proven challenging, with several implementation barriers. Implementation science
defines scalability as the capacity to expand or extend an intervention to account for a growth
factor that aims to fill a gap or address unmet need in a defined population group/geographic
area.
• Data and Information Technology: The enabling environment for data and information
technology is rapidly maturing across countries, creating space, opportunity, and needed
political will to harness the Data Revolution for epidemic control. OUs should consider
innovative ways to use data and information technology to improve efficiency and
sustainability in achieving epidemic control, beyond immediate PEPFAR indicator data
collection needs. As highlighted in the Data Revolution Innovation Toolkit, available on the
PEPFAR SharePoint, OUs are encouraged to explore, adapt, and scale these and other data
driven approaches to move country epidemic control forward.
A Study of Clinical and Socio-Demographic Profile of Patients with Dissociati...iosrjce
The document summarizes a study on the clinical and socio-demographic profile of patients with dissociative disorder. Key findings include:
1) Dissociative disorder was more prevalent among females (75%) between the ages of 30-40 years, who were married housewives with low socioeconomic status and education.
2) The most common presentations were trance and possession (30%) and motor dissociation (25%).
3) Most patients were from rural areas (62.25%) and of lower socioeconomic status (65%), highlighting dissociative disorder is more common in developing countries.
Violence against Women living with HIV A Cross Sectional Study in NepalNabaraj Mudwari
This study examined violence against women living with HIV in Nepal through interviews with 43 HIV-positive women. The study found that the vast majority (93%) of participants had experienced at least one form of violence, and prevalence of violence increased sharply after being diagnosed with HIV (93% vs 54% before diagnosis). Husbands and mothers-in-law were the most common perpetrators, and consequences included self-humiliation and health/treatment problems. This cross-sectional study suggests violence is highly prevalent among HIV-positive women in Nepal.
The document summarizes the results of a survey of 1000 residents in Barnet, UK that was conducted to understand residents' perceptions of health and healthcare services. Some key findings from the survey include:
- 35-44 year olds were most likely to rate their health as good, while 18-24 year olds were least likely.
- Respondents of white ethnicity were more likely than non-white respondents to rate their health as good.
- Satisfaction with healthcare services, including GPs, was generally higher among white respondents, older respondents, and those in lower socioeconomic groups, while satisfaction was lower among ethnic minorities, younger people, and those in higher socioeconomic groups.
The rise of non-communicable diseases and their impact in low- and middle-income countries has gained increased attention in recent years.A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 369 villagers to assess the prevalenceof risk factors for non-communicable diseases at Dhamrai, Dhaka. About 252(68.3%) respondents had knowledge regarding HTN, 247(66.9%) about DM, 193(52.3%) about cancer and among them more than fifty percent respondents gave opinion that smoking as the cause of non communicable disease.Regarding awareness of risk factors of HTN and DM more than sixty percent respondents gave opinion on age advancement,near fifty percent on familialand significant strongassociations were found between NCDs and the risk factors. About 258(39.3%) of the rural participants got information from television.Finally, the need for health system reform to strengthen primary care at rural setting is highlighted as a major policy to reduce the toll of this rising epidemic.
Women are diagnosed with bipolar disorder on average 3.2 years later than men and are more likely to experience a delay in seeking treatment. They are also more likely to have a depressive first episode and experience more rapid cycling of moods. Women tend to have more severe depressive episodes and mixed episodes than men. Improving recognition of gender differences and barriers to recovery such as unemployment, lack of social support and exploitation could help enhance quality of life and management of symptoms for women living with bipolar disorder.
Access to subsidised nicotine replacement therapy in South AucklandSimon Thornley
1) The study examined rates of subsidized nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) claimed in Counties Manukau District Health Board in 2007 and found that overall, NRT was infrequently claimed, with only about 0.5% of residents obtaining NRT that year.
2) When adjusted for demographic factors, Pacific peoples were 60% less likely than Europeans to claim NRT, despite having higher smoking rates. Māori also had lower rates of NRT claims than Europeans after adjusting for smoking prevalence.
3) The majority (74%) of those who claimed NRT only obtained one month's supply, suggesting most smokers are not using NRT long enough (guidelines recommend at least 8 weeks
Medical Co Morbidities in Patients of Frontal Temporal Dementia -A Hospital B...CrimsonpublishersMedical
Medical Co Morbidities in Patients of Frontal Temporal Dementia -A Hospital Based Study by Manjunadh Muralleedharan in Research in Medical & Engineering Sciences
This study compared the quality of life of caregivers of patients with chronic psychiatric disorders and chronic medical illnesses. It found that the quality of life of caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients was significantly poorer than that of caregivers of chronic medical patients, especially in the psychological domain. Caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients experienced greater burdens and impairments to their quality of life compared to caregivers of chronic medical patients. The study was conducted in India and its results were consistent with other previous studies that also found poorer quality of life for caregivers of those with chronic psychiatric illnesses.
This document summarizes findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 regarding the burden of depressive disorders by country, sex, age, and year. Some key findings include:
1. Depressive disorders, specifically major depressive disorder and dysthymia, were the second leading cause of years lived with disability globally in 2010.
2. Major depressive disorder accounted for 8.2% of global years lived with disability and 2.5% of global disability-adjusted life years. Dysthymia accounted for 1.4% of years lived with disability and 0.5% of disability-adjusted life years.
3. There was more regional variation in burden for major depressive disorder than dysthymia,
PREVAILENCE OF MIGRIANE IN A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY OF KARACHIJing Zang
Migraine is the most common problem affecting large population, with prevalence frequency 10-12 %. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of migraine in a low income community in Karachi from June-Oct, 2013. Three hundred and seven participants were involved in this study. For this purpose cross-sectional community based questionnaire was designed in accordance with the diagnostic criteria given by International Headache Society. Data collection was carried out by personal visit to patients and through clinics. It was observed that females (65.5%) are more affected from migraine then male. 32.9% housewives reported that they are suffering from migraine. This medical problem is common among youngsters (38.1%) than old citizens. Employees working in different organizations (39.7%), were found to be mostly affected from migraine then self employed persons. Majority of the migraine patients (41%) reported that they are suffering from common symptoms including: photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, vomiting etc. Dietary habits of individuals were found to be closely associated with migraine such as use of caffeine, chocolate are prominent; and their use is common among 75% patients cumulatively. It was evaluated that certain disease conditions i.e. stress (33.6%), depression (22.1%) and anxiety (18.9%) are more common among sufferers of migraine.
Introduction: Migraine is a chronic disease evolving through recurrent attack; it constitutes a frequent reason of consultation in
neurology. It has a signifi cant impact that can affect all spheres of life. Thus, it is one of the most disabling primary headaches.
Objective: To evaluate the impact of migraine in population of Brazzaville
Background: Diabetes affects millions of people each year, it is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide.
Periodontal disease has recently been recognized as the “sixth complication” of diabetes mellitus, the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease is actually bi-directional. Generally, poor oral hygiene, a long history of diabetes, greater age, and poor metabolic control are associated with more severe periodontal disease. Method: The study is an analytical cross-sectional study, 406 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus selected through systematic random sampling from 5 UNRWA health centers. The World Health Organization’s basic methods tools were used to collect data and assess oral health.
This study examined risk factors for suicidal behavior in 46,745 individuals in Sweden who received disability pensions due to common mental disorders from 2005-2010. The researchers found that 1,046 (2.2%) individuals attempted suicide and 210 (0.4%) committed suicide during the follow-up period. Younger age, lower education, and living alone were associated with higher risks of suicide attempt and suicide. Having received inpatient mental health treatment or treatment for a prior suicide attempt from 2001-2005, as well as being prescribed both antidepressants and anxiolytics in 2005, were strongly linked to later suicide attempts and suicide. The researchers concluded that both socio-demographic characteristics and previous healthcare and medication history should be considered when
Assessment of level of cognitive impairment among stroke patientspharmaindexing
The study assessed the level of cognitive impairment in 30 stroke patients who were discharged from the hospital. It found that 21 patients (70%) had mild cognitive impairment, while 9 patients (30%) had normal cognitive ability. The study also found statistically significant associations between greater cognitive impairment and older age, male gender, and having comorbid conditions like hypertension or diabetes. The study concluded that nurses should consider factors like age, gender, and medical history when planning care and education for stroke patients.
Background and objective: One of the diseases that increase the risk of seizures in the person is multiple sclerosis. Several studies have reported multiple sclerosis as a risk factor for seizure. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of seizure types in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) referred to Alavi hospital in Ardebil city north-west of Iran.
This document discusses assessing awareness of overweight and lifestyle modification in patients with non-communicable diseases. It aims to assess awareness of overweight, evaluate lifestyle modification, and examine the association between overweight and lifestyle changes. A descriptive survey was conducted using standardized questionnaires on 305 non-communicable disease patients. The results found moderate awareness of overweight in most patients, poor lifestyle modification in majority of patients, and significant associations between awareness/lifestyle and gender/occupation.
West West Auckland Integrated Care Project - Locality and Cluster AnalysisJonathan Simon onzm
This document provides a summary of health data and population characteristics for the West Auckland locality and three clusters within it - Henderson, Massey, and New Lynn. Some key findings include:
1) The West Auckland locality has a growing and increasingly diverse population, with higher deprivation than the overall Waitemata DHB region.
2) Life expectancy is lower in West Auckland compared to the overall DHB region, and varies between ethnic groups.
3) Both primary and secondary health care utilization is higher in West Auckland compared to the DHB as a whole. Rates of long-term conditions and hospital admissions are also generally higher.
4) There is variation in health indicators within the three clusters, with the
This document summarizes a study on mortality trends among type 2 diabetes patients in two hospitals in Nigeria. The study found that diabetic foot ulcer had the highest percentage of deaths at 42.8% of cases. Other leading causes of death were diabetic ketoacidosis, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. Married patients accounted for the majority of diabetes-related deaths at both hospitals. The study aimed to identify causes of premature death in diabetes patients to help reduce complications and mortality.
Introduction: The objective of this work is to study the epidemiological and clinical aspects of erectile dysfunction in a population of diabetic patients in the Thies region.
A study on awareness of diabetic complications among type 2 diabetes patientsiosrjce
IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences is one of the speciality Journal in Dental Science and Medical Science published by International Organization of Scientific Research (IOSR). The Journal publishes papers of the highest scientific merit and widest possible scope work in all areas related to medical and dental science. The Journal welcome review articles, leading medical and clinical research articles, technical notes, case reports and others.
1. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases account for a large burden of disease in Nepal. NCDs represent over 80% of outpatient cases and over 88% of inpatient cases based on national data.
2. Risk factors for NCDs such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity are highly prevalent in Nepal. Surveys show over one-third of the population uses tobacco and over one-quarter consumes alcohol harmfully.
3. While Nepal has drafted an NCD policy and strategy, urgent action is needed to implement prevention and control efforts for NCDs given their growing burden
This study analyzed US health care spending from 1996-2013 using 183 data sources to estimate spending for 155 conditions stratified by age, sex, and type of care. The key findings were:
1) Diabetes had the highest spending in 2013 at $101.4 billion, with 57.6% spent on pharmaceuticals and 23.5% on ambulatory care.
2) Ischemic heart disease and low back/neck pain had the second and third highest spending in 2013.
3) Spending increased for 143 of 155 conditions from 1996-2013, with the largest increases for diabetes ($64.4 billion) and low back/neck pain ($57.2 billion).
4) Emergency
This study assessed behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases among adolescents in Chitwan District, Nepal. The researchers surveyed 1650 adolescents aged 15-19 years using questionnaires about substance use, dietary habits, and physical activity. They found high levels of behavioral risk factors. Specifically, about 50% of males and 30% of females reported using substances like tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. Only 14% of respondents reported satisfactory levels of physical activity. Additionally, a high percentage of adolescents consumed too much salt and fat in their diets. The high prevalence of behavioral risk factors suggests the need for awareness programs to educate adolescents on healthy behaviors.
This document analyzes health data from Jamaica to examine chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) among working-aged and retirement-aged cohorts. It finds that between 47-51% of all deaths in Jamaica from 2002-2008 were due to CNCDs, with the majority (55-65%) occurring among those aged 60+. Specifically, the retirement-aged cohort (ages 60+) had a CNCD prevalence rate of 37.6%, compared to 8.2% for the working-aged cohort. Comorbidity (multiple conditions) affected 27.4% of the retirement cohort and 15.6% of the working cohort. The study aims to inform policies that address CNCDs in a targeted manner based
The life expectancy of people with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is estimated to be 34 years, which is significantly lower than the general population's life expectancy of 79 years for men and 83 years for women. The leading causes of death for people with FAS are external causes such as suicide, accidents, and poisoning, which account for 44% of deaths. Diseases of the nervous system, respiratory system, and digestive system are also common causes of death for this group. Their mortality rate is 7.4 to 73 times higher than the general population, depending on age group.
A study on clinical presentation and various risk factors associated with pht...IjcmsdrJournal
Background: Tuberculosis is one of the most ancient infectious diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The population most affected is the young and economically productive one. The social factors include poor quality of life, poor housing, overcrowding, population explosion, under nutrition, lack of education, and last but not the least lack of awareness of cause of illness.
Aims and Objectives:
1. To study the clinical presentation of tuberculosis in patients.
2. To study various risk factors of tuberculosis.
Material and Methods: This study was conducted at selected designated microscopic centre (DMCs) Kanpur Nagar district has a population of 45.73lakh ( Census 2011).All the patients who were registered in the selected DMCs in the last one month of the year 2016 ( between April and May) were taken into consideration for the present study. Data was collected on predesigned and pretested questionnaire using direct personal interview method of patients at DMCs on the DOTS days of the week i.e Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Informed consent of the study subjects was taken before interview. A total of 105 registered patients were interviewed personally and also the treatment card of patients was obtained from their respective DMCs.
Results: Out of 105 cases of tuberculosis which reported at DMCs maximum no. of patients belongs to age group between 21-40 yrs of age group (58%). Majority of cases were married (65.7%) cases. (62%) cases were Hindu by religion and (58%) belongs to other backward caste. In the study we found majority of patient was illiterate (34.3%). Most common clinical presentation was cough, fever and cough with expectoration, anorexia was reported in (61.9 %) of cases (77%) were cigarette/bidi smokers, 60% were tobacco chewer. Diabetes was reported in (12.4%) cases and (3.8%) cases were HIV positive.
Clinical profile of paediatric patients with rheumatic heart disease at moi t...Alexander Decker
This document summarizes a study on the clinical profile of pediatric patients with rheumatic heart disease at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. The study found that the most common symptoms in new patients were dyspnea, easy fatigability, palpitations, cough and orthopnea. The most common signs were systolic murmurs, thrills and tachycardia. Most new patients presented with severe disease in NYHA class 3 or 4. Mitral regurgitation alone or combined with aortic regurgitation were the most common valve lesions. The results suggest that most new patients have advanced valvular disease and complications due to late presentation, highlighting the need for early detection
Clinical profile of paediatric patients with rheumatic heart disease at moi t...Alexander Decker
This document summarizes a study on the clinical profile of pediatric patients with rheumatic heart disease at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. The study found that 84 pediatric patients had rheumatic heart disease, with more female patients than male. New patients most commonly presented with dyspnea, easy fatigability, and palpitations. Signs like systolic murmurs and tachycardia were also common in new patients. Most new patients were in NYHA classes 3 and 4, indicating severe valvular disease and late presentation. The study recommends emphasis on early detection and prevention of rheumatic heart disease.
Epidemiology of Hypertension among Adults in Al-Azhary Area in Khartoum-State...inventionjournals
Hypertension (HT) is one of the most important risk factors in cardiovascular disease which causes early death in adults. Hypertension is a common disease associated with high mortality and morbidity. Hypertension a silent killer as it is symptomless and remains undiagnosed, and not controlled if diagnosed. This is a descriptive cross - sectional community based study was conducted in Al-Azhary area in Khartoum StateSudan, with aim to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and to identify the possible risk factors associated with hypertension among adults. Data were collected from 303 participants (53.5% females and 46.5% males) using structured pretested questionnaire and blood pressure. The prevalence of hypertension was 19.1% (95% CI 0.61-1.93).There was no significant sex difference in the prevalence rate OR 1.09 (95% CI 0.61-1.93, P = 0.767). The results showed there was strong association between age group and hypertension (P = 0.0001), also there was statistical association between marital status, family history and hypertension positivity P.values =(0.0001 and 0.027) respectively. There was a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension among participants with diabetes, Vascular diseases and kidneys problems OR= (5.44(95% CI 1.89- 15.69, P = 0.017), 4.4(95% CI 0.86 - 2.39, P = 0.074) and 3.56 (95% CI 0.92-13.68, P = 0.05) respectively. Conclusion: one out of every five respondents of the study had hypertensive (19.1%). Age group, marital status, family history, history of (diabetes, vascular diseases and kidneys problems)were statistically significant predictors of hypertension positivity.
Psychiatric disorders in HIV Positive individuals in urban Uganda by Mugerwa ...Hidzuan Hashim
1) The study found a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders (82.6%) among HIV-positive individuals attending an AIDS support clinic in Uganda based on standardized psychiatric interviews. The most common disorders were major depression (54.3%) and panic disorder (32.6%).
2) AIDS counselors at the clinic estimated a much lower prevalence of mental illness among their patients. Many counselors believed they saw no patients with psychiatric problems.
3) The study examined counselors' training and comfort dealing with mental illness. It found counselors had low awareness of the high burden of psychiatric disorders among their HIV-positive patients.
This study assessed the prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases among adolescents in Parsa District, Nepal. Nearly half of males and one-third of females were using substances like tobacco, alcohol or drugs. Overweight and obesity levels were high, with 66% of males and 15.5% of females overweight by BMI criteria. Blood pressure measurements found 12% pre-hypertensive and 5% hypertensive. Risk factors like overweight/obesity were associated with increased blood pressure. The study suggests urgent health programs are needed for primordial prevention of non-communicable diseases in this population.
Copyright 2016 American Medical Association. All rights reservAlleneMcclendon878
Copyright 2016 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Association Between Rotating Night Shift Work and Risk
of Coronary Heart Disease Among Women
Céline Vetter, PhD; Elizabeth E. Devore, ScD; Lani R. Wegrzyn, ScD; Jennifer Massa, ScD; Frank E. Speizer, MD;
Ichiro Kawachi, MD, ScD; Bernard Rosner, PhD; Meir J. Stampfer, MD, DrPH; Eva S. Schernhammer, MD, DrPH
IMPORTANCE Prospective studies linking shift work to coronary heart disease (CHD) have
been inconsistent and limited by short follow-up.
OBJECTIVE To determine whether rotating night shift work is associated with CHD risk.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective cohort study of 189 158 initially healthy
women followed up over 24 years in the Nurses’ Health Studies (NHS [1988-2012]:
N = 73 623 and NHS2 [1989-2013]: N = 115 535).
EXPOSURES Lifetime history of rotating night shift work (�3 night shifts per month in
addition to day and evening shifts) at baseline (updated every 2 to 4 years in the NHS2).
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Incident CHD; ie, nonfatal myocardial infarction, CHD
death, angiogram-confirmed angina pectoris, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, stents,
and angioplasty.
RESULTS During follow-up, 7303 incident CHD cases occurred in the NHS (mean age at
baseline, 54.5 years) and 3519 in the NHS2 (mean age, 34.8 years). In multivariable-adjusted
Cox proportional hazards models, increasing years of baseline rotating night shift work was
associated with significantly higher CHD risk in both cohorts. In the NHS, the association
between duration of shift work and CHD was stronger in the first half of follow-up than in the
second half (P=.02 for interaction), suggesting waning risk after cessation of shift work.
Longer time since quitting shift work was associated with decreased CHD risk among ever
shift workers in the NHS2 (P<.001 for trend).
Baseline History of Rotating Night Shift Work P Value
for
TrendNone <5 y 5-9 y ≥10 y
NHS cohort
CHD incidence ratea 425.5 435.1 525.7 596.9
HR (95% CI)b 1 [Reference] 1.02 (0.97-1.08) 1.12 (1.02-1.22) 1.18 (1.10-1.26) <.001
First half of follow-up
CHD incidence ratea 367.3 382.4 483.1 494.4
HR (95% CI)b 1 [Reference] 1.10 (1.01-1.21) 1.19 (1.03-1.39) 1.27 (1.13-1.42) <.001
Second half of
follow-up
CHD incidence ratea 436.6 424.8 520.7 556.2
HR (95% CI)b 1 [Reference] 0.98 (0.92-1.05) 1.08 (0.96-1.21) 1.13 (1.04-1.24) .004
NHS2 cohort
CHD incidence ratea 122.6 130.6 151.6 178.0
HR (95% CI)b 1 [Reference] 1.05 (0.97-1.13) 1.12 (0.99-1.26) 1.15 (1.01-1.32) .01
a Age-adjusted rates per 100 000 person-years.
b Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among women who worked as registered nurses, longer
duration of rotating night shift work was associated with a statistically significant but small
absolute increase in CHD risk. Further research is needed to explore whether the association
is related to specific work hours and individual characteristics.
JAMA. 2016;315(16):1726-1734. ...
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Unintentional Injuries Among Old People i...Scientific Review SR
Objective: To describe the KAP (knowledge, attitude and practice, KAP) and explore the influence factors for UIs (unintentional injuries, UIs) among the elderly (aged>﹦60 years) in urban districts of Zunyi, China. Methods: Using random cluster sampling method, a survey was conducted with questionnaires, to collect UIs and related KAP in the elderly and analyze its influencing factors. Results: The annual incidence of UIs (falls, burns, traffics, etc.) was 17.46% in some urban districts of Zunyi. Among them, 27.94% elderly regarded UI as a type of disease; the channels to acquire related knowledge through TV (79.05%), listening to others’ narration (56.83%), community publicity (26.03%), books or newspapers (22.86%) and internet (9.84%). While 76.51% of the elderly believed that UIs were preventable; 81.59% old people worried about UIs; 93.97% of the elderly chose to seek help when they suffered UIs; and 95.25% of elderly people followed traffic rules when crossing the road. In the case of gas use, 25.77% of the cases were checked and closed each time, 40% and 20% old people would check the time before taking the medicine, and purchasing food. Factors affecting the occurrence of UIs were age, heart disease (both P<0.05). Moreover, the living condition had an effect on “whether considering UIs as a kind of disease” (P=0.003). Conclusion: The KAP of UIs in the elderly is not optimistic, though most elderly people think the damage can be prevented; prevention on UIs related behavior needs to be enhanced. We should arouse the public to pay more attentions to keep elderly people far away UIs risk factors in this area.
This study analyzed over 300,000 fractures in 18 bones to identify risk factors for fracture nonunion using a large US health claims database. The overall nonunion rate was 4.9%. Certain fractures like scaphoid, tibia/fibula and femur fractures had nonunion rates over 10%. Multiple risk factors were associated with increased odds of nonunion on multivariate analysis, including open fractures, multiple concurrent fractures, prescription NSAID and opioid use, anticoagulant use, and osteoarthritis with rheumatoid arthritis - all increasing the risk of nonunion by over 50%. The probability of nonunion can be estimated based on patient characteristics and fracture severity available at initial presentation.
More young people in Canada are visiting EDs because of drinking alcoholΔρ. Γιώργος K. Κασάπης
More people are visiting emergency departments after drinking alcohol, a new study finds. Researchers looked at more than 765,000 ED visits in Ontario, Canada’s largest province, and found a 175% increase in such visits between 2003 and 2016 among 25- to 29-year-olds. That spiked to a 240% increase in alcohol-related ED visits for young women, who were also more likely than men to be under Canada’s legal drinking age of 19. For both young men and women, visiting the ED for alcohol-related problems also led to more hospital admissions than other types of ED visits. Other countries, including the U.S., have experienced similar increases in alcohol-related visits to the ED, the authors behind the new study write, urging more research into the reasons behind the growing trend.
1) Indoor air pollution levels were measured before, during, and after a national smoking ban was implemented in New Zealand prisons.
2) Fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations were measured in a staff area of a maximum-security prison.
3) The geometric mean PM2.5 level declined from 6.58 μg/m3 before the ban to 5.17 μg/m3 during a tobacco sales ban, and further declined to 2.44 μg/m3 after a complete smoking ban was enforced - a 57% overall reduction.
Mental Health and Carbohydrate consumptionSimon Thornley
This document discusses the link between dopamine release in the midbrain and psychosis, addiction, and reward. It hypothesizes that consumption of refined carbohydrates may stimulate the same mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway in the brain, rewarding overeating and resulting in obesity. The theory also aims to explain weight gain from antipsychotic drugs in people with psychosis. It suggests that modified carbohydrate diets could help treat psychosis symptoms as an adjunct to medication.
Sweet Misery. Cover story featured in 'North and South'Simon Thornley
A major print magazine in New Zealand read our book and asked nutrition researchers in New Zealand for comment. This was published in the November edition of 'North and South'. It is hosted here with permission from the editor-at-large Donna Chisholm.
This document summarizes the evidence linking sugar intake to cardiovascular disease risk. It finds relatively consistent evidence that markers of sugar intake are associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the disease itself. In contrast, the evidence linking saturated fat and salt to cardiovascular outcomes is weaker. The document also reviews the history of dietary guidelines focusing on fat and sugar, and how views have changed over time regarding sugar's role in disease risk.
This document summarizes a study that assessed the validity of diabetes prevalence data derived from health records by comparing it to a primary care database called PREDICT. The study found:
1) The diabetes prevalence rates from the algorithm and PREDICT were similar at 20.1% and 20.9% respectively.
2) There was good agreement between the two data sources, with the algorithm showing 86% sensitivity and 96% specificity compared to PREDICT.
3) Using capture-recapture analysis, the algorithm undercounted diabetes prevalence by around 15% compared to 10% for PREDICT, suggesting the algorithm provides an accurate and cost-effective method for determining diabetes prevalence.
This document discusses sugar consumption trends in New Zealand and the potential health risks of high sugar intake. It notes that average daily sugar consumption in New Zealand increased 25% between 1961 and 2005, exceeding World Health Organization recommendations. While sugar provides calories, its high fructose content may impair glycemic control and metabolic health when consumed in large amounts. The document argues that sugar exhibits properties of an addictive substance and that population-level interventions, like sugar taxes, may be needed to curb consumption and related health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
The document discusses addiction from multiple perspectives. It defines key features of addiction like loss of control, withdrawal symptoms, and tolerance. It explains how nicotine causes addiction in the brain and smoking cessation methods like nicotine replacement therapy and behavioral support. While food consumption can show addictive-like behaviors for some, whether obesity is truly an addiction at a population level is still controversial.
This document summarizes a study that compared the effects of a 4-mg nicotine pouch to nicotine gum and a placebo pouch on relieving tobacco withdrawal symptoms. 30 adult smokers participated in a randomized, crossover trial where they reported withdrawal symptoms before and after using each product on separate study days. The nicotine pouch was found to reduce craving and irritability more than the gum. Participants also rated the pouch as more helpful for stopping smoking and more pleasant to use than the gum. The results suggest the nicotine pouch is as effective as gum at relieving craving and withdrawal and may be a preferable product for some smokers.
Regional and individual differences in cycling participationSimon Thornley
This document summarizes a study that analyzed census data from New Zealand from 1991 to 2006 to examine regional and individual differences in cycling and walking to work. The key findings were:
- Over 80% of New Zealanders drove to work privately, while 7% walked and 3% cycled. Driving increased while active commuting decreased from 1991-2006.
- Auckland had the lowest rates of cycling and walking to work, while Wellington and Nelson saw increases in walking, possibly due to infrastructure investments.
- Cycling declined with age nationally, while walking was U-shaped. Younger cycling and older walking declined substantially from 1991-2006.
- More men cycled while more women walked
The document discusses strategies for reducing tobacco harm in New Zealand. It agrees that increasing options for smokers who find quitting difficult is urgent. However, it argues that more can be done with existing nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) before introducing new tobacco products like Swedish snus. Specifically, the document suggests exploring longer-term NRT treatment and faster-acting NRT products first to help more smokers reduce harm from tobacco use. Introducing snus raises concerns about evidence of effectiveness, impacts on indigenous Māori populations, ties to the tobacco industry, and potential health risks from tobacco-specific nitrosamines.
The importance of treating tobacco dependenceSimon Thornley
1) Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Stopping smoking significantly reduces this risk and provides both short-term and long-term health benefits.
2) Healthcare providers should identify smokers and ensure they receive evidence-based cessation treatments including behavioral support and pharmacotherapy to maximize chances of long-term abstinence.
3) Physicians play a key role by advising patients to quit smoking and offering cessation support through brief counseling and recommending combinations of behavioral support and medication.
This document describes a mathematical model of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission applied to the New Zealand Tongan population. The model predicts that with current infant vaccination coverage of 53%, chronic HBV prevalence will plateau at 2% over 250 years. However, 73% vaccination coverage is needed to eliminate HBV long-term. Improving coverage to 85% through targeted vaccination could arrest transmission within a generation and eliminate HBV, similar to outcomes in Taiwan and Alaska with similar policies. Screening and disease management may also help reduce the HBV burden, though its precise impact is hard to quantify. Mathematical models can help evaluate different control strategies for high prevalence populations.
Taupo bicycle study: fluoro colours and crash riskSimon Thornley
The document summarizes the methods and preliminary findings of the Taupo Bicycle Study, a longitudinal study of cyclists in New Zealand. The study involved an online survey of 2,469 cyclists who participated in the annual Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. The survey collected data on demographics, cycling habits, and self-reported bicycle crashes over the past year that led to injuries requiring at least one day of missed daily activities or medical care. Preliminary findings showed that the annual incidence of injurious crashes was 0.5 per cyclist and the average days of work missed due to crashes was 0.39 per cyclist. Wearing fluorescent colors was associated with a lower rate of days off work due to crashes after