Sex-specific Prevalence Rates Research Articles

Evaluation in terms of annual incidence rate of lung cancer within the ULSSs of the Veneto region (Italy) from hospital discharge data (years 1980-1982).

The annual incidence of lung cancer in aggregated territories (ULSS and Veneto Region) was assessed by a retrospective analysis of hospital discharge data from 1980-1982. The 1982 regional age and sex-specific prevalence and incidence rates (X 100,000 inhabitants), the deaths in period and the cumulative incidence rates were determined. Also calculated were the standardized incidence ratios, distinctly for sex and a truncated age range (35-64 years) and on the total as well as the standard errors. The results obtained demonstrated that the incidence rate in the Veneto is among the highest in Italy and that there is a nonhomogeneous distribution of incidence/prevalence in the various ULSSs within the Veneto. Previously help opinions on the effects of sex and age were also confirmed. Comparison of the results with those obtained from the deaths in period showed the method used for analysis to be reasonably practical and reliable. It could provide an alternative method to the more complex and expensive system currently adopted by the Population Registries.

Parkinson's disease in a nationwide twin cohort.

The Finnish Twin Cohort includes all Finnish same-sexed twins born before 1958 and alive in 1967; the number of individuals alive in 1975 was 33,247. We performed a search for cases with Parkinson's disease among this cohort by linking the Twin Cohort Register with the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register and the Finnish Sickness Insurance Register. We ascertained altogether 42 cases of Parkinson's disease occurring in 41 twin including 18 monozygotic pairs, 14 dizygotic pairs, and nine pairs of undetermined zygosity. Only one dizygotic pair was concordant for Parkinson's disease; all other pairs were discordant. In 1981, the expected number of cases among the Twin Cohort, calculated according to the age- and sex-specific prevalence rates of Parkinson's disease in Finland, was 33. At the same time, the observed number of patients alive was 35. This study, further substantiating the low concordance for Parkinson's disease in monozygotic as well as in dizygotic twins and indicating that the prevalence of Parkinson's disease in twins compares with the prevalence in the general population, suggests that Parkinson's disease is an acquired disease not caused by a hereditary process.

Control of endemic dracontiasis by provision of water supply in rural communities of Imo state, Nigeria

A field study was carried out in Ohaozara, Imo State, Nigeria to determine the effectiveness of a rural water supply project in the control of endemic dracontiasis in the area. In pilot studies prior to the water installation project, 5,058 individuals were examined. A total of 2,422 (47.9%) individuals had either Dracunculus blisters or ulcers. Sex-specific prevalence rates were 50.5% for males and 45.4% for females. Age-related prevalence rates ranged between 20.9% to 27.8% among individuals below 20 years and between 64.5% and 70.0% among older individuals above 20 years. Eighteen months after the installation of the water supply, male prevalence rate fell to 14.9% with a reduction rate of 70.5%, while female prevalence fell to 11.9% with a reduction rate of 73.8%. A higher reduction rate of between 77.3% and 83.7% occurred in individuals less than 20 years old, while a lower reduction rate 40.5%–56.3% occurred in older elements above 20 years. An overall reduction of 71.8% was achieved in 18 months following water supply provision. Seasonal copepod population dynamics and their infection rates may be related to the seasonal transmission of Dracunculus both before and after the water supply installation.

Screening for hypertension: Results of the Munich blood pressure program

The Munich Blood Pressure Program (MBP) is a community hypertension control program for the metropolitan area of Munich. It tries to improve “incidental screening” in doctors' offices in the city through continuing education programs for physicians and auxiliary personnel and, in addition, emphasizes worksite screening to bring high-risk hard-to-reach groups under treatment and control. Blood pressure (BP) is measured at the worksite under standardized conditions. Those with values ⩾140 mm Hg systolic BP and/or ⩾90 mm Hg diastolic BP at the first visit have BPs measured again within 1–5 days. If their BP values are still elevated, they are referred to their family physicians for further assessment. At the same time, they are given a postage-paid card on which their doctors are asked to note the BP value measured in their offices. This postcard is returned to the MBP for evaluation. A computer-based reminder system informs all MBP participants at certain time intervals to have their BP checked. The text of the letters and the time interval between them depend on the most recent BP and treatment status data available to the MBP. In 1983, screenings were performed in seven firms. Participation rates of up to 57% were achieved for this entirely voluntary examination (3,948 participants). Age- and sex-specific prevalence rates (for the pooled data of the seven firms) were similar to those of a random sample of the Munich population (Munich Blood Pressure Study 1). Seventy-four percent of those with elevated BP at first visit participated in the remeasurement at a second visit. Only 58% of these showed elevated BP values the second time. More than half ( n = 101) of those second-visit hypertensives (⩾ 160/95 mm Hg; n = 183) returned at least one completed postcard. The examining physician confirmed the hypertensive BP values in 60 of those cases. Of the 101, 57 were under treatment, 19 controlled and 38 uncontrolled. The follow-up period considered here lasted until May 1984 and varied from 5 to 15 months according to the date of screening in the respective firm. Only the first returned card has been evaluated thus far.

Prevalence and mortality rates of systemic lupus erythematosus and causes of death in SLE patients in Finland.

Nationwide prevalence and mortality rates in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were estimated using a computer file of all hospital discharge records and cause of death statistics from 1972 to 1978. Age-specific and sex-specific prevalence rates obtained from 1976 to 1978 and mortality rates from 1972 to 1978. In December 1978 the prevalence of SLE was 28:100 000. The overall mortality rate was 4.7 per million person-years in 1972-78. Active lupus nephritis, vascular events and infections were the most frequent causes of death in SLE patients.

Reported prevalence of alcohol dependence in South-Verona: A case register study

In this study all patients who received from 1979 to 1982 the diagnosis of “alcohol dependence” have been selected from the South-Verona Psychiatric Case Register. The register area coincides with the health care area of a well-integrated community psychiatric Service, set up in 1978 under the new Italian Mental Health Act. The reported prevalence rates of alcoholic patients decreased in this 4-year period, this decrease being due mainly to the diminuition of male patients contacting a psychiatric agency. Age- and sex-specific prevalence rates are reported, as are patterns of inpatient and out-patient care and 1-year inception rates. Within the overall reported prevalence the ratio between patients who received community care only and those who had also or only inpatient care shows that about half of alcoholic patients contacting a psychiatric agency receive out-patient care only.

Prevalence of schizophrenia in the Labadi District of Ghana.

Age- sex-specific point prevalence rates for schizophrenia are presented for an area in Ghana. Sources of case material included local mental hospitals, general health clinics, shrines of traditional healers, and roaming eccentrics. Denominators are projected from the 1970 census. Diagnosis was made by a single psychiatrist from interview and chart review.

An epidemiological study of leprosy among children in a rural area.

Children numbering 2095 residing in 6 leprosy endemic villages of Pondicherry Union Territory were examined for evidence of leprosy by going door to door. The prevalence of leprosy among children was 32.46 per thousand. Sex specific prevalence rates were 29.40 and 35.58 per thousand for boys and girls respectively. Harijan children showed the highest prevalence rate of 53.73 per thousand. Only 25.9 percent gave the history of contact The type specific prevalence rates were found to be 7.63 per thousand for indeterminate leprosy, 23.38/1000 for tuberculoid leprosy and 1.43/1000 for borderline leprosy. Single skin lesion was the commonest presenting symptom and was seen in 67.65 percent of the cases. Leprosy disability rate was 1.47 percent.

Cholelithiasis and carcinoma of the colon.

Cholelithiasis and carcinoma of the colon have similar geographic distributions and common dietary and chemical pathogenetic factors. A study was done to test whether an association between cholelithiasis and colonic cancer existed in the population of Rochester, Minnesota. During the period from 1950-1969, 2413 new cases of cholelithiasis were identified in this population. Because the age- and sex-specific prevalence rates of colorectal cancer in this population were also available, the authors calculated the expected number of cases of colorectal cancer at the time of diagnosis of cholelithiasis. The relative risk (observed/expected) of colonic cancer among persons of all ages and both sexes with cholelithiasis was 1.52 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.0). Although the association seems significant, there is a potential bias in that the identification of asymptomatic cases of cholelithiasis might be facilitated in patients who have an operation or frequent follow-up examinations for colonic cancer. When the analysis was repeated separately for symptomatic and asymptomatic cases of cholelithiasis, all the excess (and statistical significance) was confined to the asymptomatic group, and apparent confirmation of the suggested bias. Therefore, the authors believe that no real association exists between cholelithiasis and carcinoma of the colon.

Overweight and obesity in preschool children in New York City

In an effort to ascertain the prevalence of obesity in young children, 48 nursery schools in Manhattan and Queens, New York City were surveyed. The weights and heights of 2606 children, ages 3 to 6 yr, were obtained. Three-hundred seventeen children (12.2%) were above 120% of ideal body weight and 122 (4.7%) were above 130% of ideal weight. Twenty percent of the children from schools attended by youngsters from low income families, 12% from schools attended by pupils from middle income families, and 5% from schools with pupils from families with a high income were classified as obese. Of the obese children's actual body weights 90% were at or greater than the 75th percentile for age while mean higher percentiles of the obese and nonobese children were not significantly different. Sex specific prevalence rates were similar for boys and girls. These data indicate that obesity is already prevalent in the nursery school population and that such obese children can be easily identified from weight and height measurements at a time when programs for successful permanent weight reduction and maintenance may be feasible.

Epidemiological studies of diabetes mellitus in Denmark. II. A prevalence study based on insulin prescriptions.

The study aimed at tracing the population of insulin-treated diabetics living in the Funen County, Denmark (approximately 450000 inhabitants) on 1 July 1973. It was based on a recording of insulin prescriptions among all prescriptions handled by the pharmacies in Funen County during a five-month period. Through information from medical records and public registries the verification of the diagnosis and the identity of the insulin prescription holders were checked, and it is estimated that the completeness of the study material was above 98%. Age- and sex-specific prevalence rates of insulin-treated diabetes mellitus were calculated. The overall prevalence rate for males was 3.6 per 1,000 and that for females 3.3 per 1,000.

A further prevalence study of multiple sclerosis in north-east Scotland.

A second epidemiological study of multiple sclerosis (MS) in north-east Scotland has confirmed that the area has the highest prevalence rate in the world for any population of comparable size. On 1 December 1973 the prevalence was 144 per 100000 population. The age and sex specific prevalence rates are the highest ever recorded, one in every 306 of the population aged 40 to 59 years being affected. All patients have been tabulated in the National Health Service Central Register to facilitate future studies. The MS mortality rate in north-east Scotland is similar to the rate for the whole of Scotland. Throughout most of Scotland, therefore, MS probably is as prevalent as it is in the north-east.

Multiple sclerosis in Rochester, Minn. A 60-year appraisal.

A review of the Rochester, Minn, resident population (provided by the unified record system of the Mayo Clinic) revealed no appreciable increase in the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) from 1905 through 1964. Prevalence for the ten-year intervals from 1935 through 1964 was approximately 60 per 100,000 for those with onset in Rochester. Sex-specific incidence and prevalence rates were greater for women, 1.6 to 1.0. The 25-year survival of the MS population was 74% compared to the expected survival of 86% for a group of this age and sex distribution. Two thirds of the surviving patients were ambulatory 25 years after onset. The identification of patients with milder MS through more complete case ascertainment in a community can provide a better prognosis than ordinarily noted in a neurologic clinic or hospital.

The prevalence of coronary heart disease and associated factors in an Australian rural community.

3,410 adults of the community of Busselton, Western Australia, representing 91% of the target population, were screened over a two-week period in 1966. Standard questionnaires for angina pectoris and myocardial infarction recommended by the WHO were used, but a modified interpretation improved specificity. Eectrocardiographic findings were recorded in the Minnesota Code. The overall prevalence rate of “probable” coronary heart disease was 68 per 1,000 for males and 58 per 1,000 for females. The age- and sex-specific prevalence rates were very similar to those of Tecumseh, USA. Risk factors were analyzed using age- and sex- specific eightieth percentile values to simplify the data into “upper” and “lower” ranges. In both sexes, “upper range” serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels after a glucose load were each significantly and independently associated with coronary heart disease; the risk-ratio for each being approximately twofold. In males only, “upper range” serum uric add levels showed a strong relationship of similar magnitude to, and independent from, the association of “upper range” blood pressures. In common with other prevalence studies no significant association was found with obesity nor with current cigarette smoking and coronary heart disease.