Sex-related Risk Factors Research Articles

Occurrence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among Canadians and sex-related risk factors

The etiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been fully understood. This analysis assessed the prevalence of COPD and its risk factors among Canadian men and women. The analysis was based on the data from 7210 subjects aged 35 to 64 years who participated in the first cycle of National Population Health Survey in 1994–1995. COPD was considered present if an affirmative response was given to the question: “Do you have chronic bronchitis or emphysema diagnosed by a health professional?” In order to take the complex survey design into account, analytic weights incorporating a design effect were used in all statistical analyses. The prevalence of COPD was 2.1% in nonsmokers, 2.7% in ex-smokers, and 8.2% in smokers in women. In men, the corresponding prevalence was 0.8%, 2.9%, and 3.5%, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio for current smoking men and women who started smoking before age of 18 years was 3.0 and 5.9 compared with their nonsmoking counterparts. Overweight women demonstrated a 2.4-fold increase in the prevalence of COPD compared with women with normal weight. Men from low-income families had an odds ratio of 3.7 compared with those from high-income families. A history of allergy was significantly related to COPD in both men and women. COPD was common among Canadian women. Early initiation of smoking and being overweight had stronger relationships to the prevalence of COPD in women than in men. On the contrary, household income was more strongly related to COPD for men than for women.

Age- and Sex-Related Risk Factors for Adolescent Suicide

To examine the impact of age and sex on adolescent suicide risk. A standard psychological autopsy protocol was used to compare 140 suicide victims with 131 community controls. The risk factors for older (> or = 16 years) and younger, and for male and female suicide were compared. Mood disorders, parental psychopathology, lifetime history of abuse, availability of a gun, and past suicide attempt conveyed significant risk for suicide across all 4 demographic groups. Psychopathology, particularly substance abuse (alone and comorbid with mood disorder), was more common and conveyed a much higher risk for suicide in the older versus younger adolescents. Younger suicide victims showed lower suicidal intent. Males chose more irreversible methods, and conduct disorder was both more prevalent and a more significant risk factor in males. The increased rate of suicide in older versus younger adolescents is due in part to greater prevalence of psychopathology, namely substance abuse, and greater suicidal intent in the older population. The increased rate in males is less easily explained, but it may stem from method choice and the greater prevalence of and risk conveyed by conduct disorder in males.

Meningococcal carriage: Prevalence and sex-related risk factors

A retrospective analysis was done to examine whether sexual behaviour was associated with meningococcal carriage. Over the 4 month period from January to April 1994, 136 (27.4%) of the 496 consecutive new/re-registered genito-urinary medicine clinic attenders showed meningococcal carriage. Two (15.4%) of 13 homosexual men compared with 134 (27.7%) of 484 heterosexual men and women had evidence of meningococcal carriage. Relative risk (RR) of meningococcal carriage was 1.8 with > 10 lifetime partners and 1.2 with 3-10 partners (P < 0.007). RR with age group of 16-25 was 4.2 and for 26-35 it was 3.5. There was no relationship with meningococcal carriage and pharyngeal symptoms, sexual orientation, intravenous drug use, number of partners per month and orogenital sex. Further longitudinal studies may be of value in order to determine whether a high number of sexual partners is a marker for meningococcal carriage. In addition, further study may show whether there is an increased risk of meningococcal carriage and disease in those who live with meningococcal carriers.

Trends in use of barium enema examination, colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy: is use commensurate with risk of disease?

To assess replacement of barium enema examination with colonoscopy in relation to age- and sex-related risk factors, place of service, physician specialty, and cost. Between 1985 and 1992, 894,777 insurance claims for barium enema examination and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy were retrospectively examined. Changes in use were investigated. Use of proctosigmoidoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy, two office-based endoscopic procedures, was also examined. Use of diagnostic colonoscopy increased from 191 to 406 services per 100,000 persons; colonoscopy with biopsy, from 77 to 183 services; and colonoscopy with lesion removal, from 77 to 202 services. Barium enema examination use declined from 929 to 511 services per 100,000 persons; diagnostic proctosigmoidoscopy, from 854 to 193 services; and diagnostic flexible sigmoidoscopy, from 656 to 620 services. Increases in use of colonoscopy in patients aged younger than 40 years were greater than overall increases. Colonoscopy has been replacing barium enema examination as the initial colorectal examination since 1985. Increased use of colonoscopy in patients with lower risk of neoplasia suggests that indications have become overly broad.

Prevalence of fungal corneal ulcers in northern India.

Fungal corneal ulcer is common in India due to the tropical climate and a large agrarian population that is at risk. Various factors such as trauma, the injudicious use of topical antibiotics and corticosteroids are involved. Many of the age and sex-related risk factors also play a minor role. This 6-year study from Northern India revealed that fungi were detected in 61 (8.4%) out of 730 patients investigated. Direct microscopy was positive in 51 (7%) and culture in 53 (7.3%) patients. Aspergillus spp. were the most common causative agents accounting for 25 (40.1%) of the isolates, followed by Fusarium sp. with ten (16.4%), Curvularia sp. with five (8.2%), Candida albicans with five (8.2%), Acremonium sp. with four (6.6%), Paecilomyces sp. with three (4.9%), Penicillium sp. with two (3.3%), Alternaria sp. with two (3.3%), Fonsecaea pedrosoi var. cladosporium with two isolates (3.3%) and Pseudallescheria boydii, Drechslera sp. and Aureobasidium pullulans with one isolate (1.6%) each. The prevalence of fungal ulcers in males was three times higher than in females. The affected individuals had a rural background and were in the 51-60 year age group.