孕期膳食与小于胎龄儿的关系

目的 研究孕妇不同孕期膳食摄入对小于胎龄儿（SGA）发生风险的影响。方法 收集2012年3月至2016年9月在山西医科大学第一医院产科住院分娩孕妇的一般人口学特征、孕早、中、晚期膳食摄入能量、蛋白质、脂肪、碳水化合物以及新生儿基本信息。纳入研究对象8 102例，SGA组961例，适于胎龄儿（AGA）组7 141例。按照中国食物成分表将摄入食物转化为每日膳食营养素摄入量，以AGA组膳食营养素摄入量的三分位数划分为高摄入量组、中等摄入量组及低摄入量组。通过非条件logistic回归分析孕早、中、晚期膳食摄入营养素对SGA的影响。结果 相对于中等摄入量组，孕早期（<51.60 g/d）、孕中期（<52.69 g/d）及孕晚期蛋白质摄入量低（<52.65 g/d）是SGA的危险因素（OR=1.534，95% CI：1.217～1.934；OR=1.268，95% CI：1.005～1.599；OR=1.310，95% CI：1.036～1.655）。按孕前BMI分层后，孕前BMI<18.5 kg/m²的孕妇早期蛋白质摄入量低（<51.60 g/d）及总能量摄入低（<1 146.22 kcal/d）是SGA的危险因素（OR=1.872，95% CI：1.033～3.395；OR=1.754，95% CI：1.125～2.734）；孕前18.5≤BMI<24.0 kg/m²的孕妇，孕早期膳食蛋白质摄入量低（<51.60 g/d）是SGA的危险因素（OR=1.465，95% CI：1.089～1.972）；在孕前BMI≥24.0 kg/m²的孕妇中未发现膳食摄入与SGA有关联。结论 孕期膳食摄入影响SGA的发生风险，且不同孕前BMI人群膳食摄入对SGA的影响有差异，孕早期是膳食摄入对SGA作用的关键期。     

孕期增重及总增重与妊娠期糖尿病关系的队列研究

目的 探讨孕期增重及其总增重与妊娠期糖尿病（GDM）的关系。方法 采用前瞻性队列研究,于2013年3-9月选取成都市妇幼医疗机构产前门诊829名单胎健康孕妇作为基线调查对象,通过问卷调查于首次纳入时收集孕妇孕前等基线资料,于孕第（12±1）、（28±1）、（36±1）周及分娩前分别收集孕妇锻炼习惯、膳食摄入情况等信息和测量孕妇体重,分娩后收集分娩孕周等分娩信息。GDM诊断按中国妊娠合并糖尿病防治指南（2014）,采用多因素logistic回归分析孕早、中、晚期增重和孕期总增重与GDM的关系。结果 共682名孕妇纳入数据分析。控制生育年龄、孕前BMI、糖尿病家族史、高血压家族史、孕早期锻炼、产次、文化程度、家庭人均月收入及膳食能量等混杂因素后,多因素logistic回归分析显示：与孕早期增重适宜组相比,孕早期增重不足组和增重过多组GDM发生风险均增加（分别为OR=1.23,95% CI：0.63～2.38和OR=2.20,95% CI：1.12～4.35）;与孕中期增重适宜组相比,孕中期增重不足组和过多组GDM发生风险均降低（OR=0.47,95% CI：0.18～1.19和OR=0.78,95% CI：0.43～1.42）;与孕晚期增重适宜组相比,孕晚期增重不足组GDM发生风险增加（OR=1.48,95% CI：0.77～2.84）,增重过多组GDM发生风险降低（OR=0.53,95% CI：0.28～0.99）;与孕期总增重适宜组相比,总增重不足组GDM发生风险增加（OR=2.16,95% CI：1.04～4.46）,总增重过多组GDM发生风险降低（OR=0.74,95% CI：0.38～1.46）。结论 孕早期增重不足和过多均可能增加GDM发生风险,孕早期可能是影响GDM发生的关键时期,孕中晚期增重对GDM的影响还有待进一步论证。     

妊娠期并发贫血影响因素的巢式病例对照研究

目的 探讨妊娠期并发贫血的影响因素。方法 将2013年6月至2014年11月在湖南省浏阳市医疗机构接受首次孕期保健,且经体检排除"贫血"的孕妇（怀孕≤ 12周）纳入孕妇人群队列,对观察对象进行基线调查,并随访至孕妇分娩。采用前瞻性巢式病例对照研究,将本次随访期间新发生贫血的380例孕妇作为病例组,按照1：2频数匹配,随机抽取年龄、孕期、常住地基本相同的760例正常孕产妇作为对照组,采用t检验、χ²检验和条件logistic回归分析方法,分析妊娠期并发贫血的影响因素。结果 多因素logistic回归模型分析结果表明,家庭人均年收入低（OR=2.08,95%CI：1.22~3.59）、文化程度低（OR=2.09,95%CI：1.22~3.59）、孕前烫发/染发（OR=2.23,95%CI：1.63~3.05）、早孕呕吐反应（OR=2.51,95%CI：1.56~4.03）是妊娠期并发贫血的危险因素;摄入维生素、微量元素补充剂（OR=0.69,95%CI：0.50~0.94）,肉、鱼、虾、蛋类摄入频率高（OR=0.68,95%CI：0.49~0.92）,豆奶、牛奶摄入频率高（OR=0.51,95%CI：0.27~0.95）是妊娠期并发贫血的保护因素。结论 妊娠期并发贫血与孕妇家庭经济、文化程度、有毒有害物质接触、早孕呕吐反应、营养物质的摄入等因素有关,应加强对孕妇妊娠期发生贫血影响因素的控制。     

孕前体质指数和孕期增重与子痫前期及其临床亚型的关系

目的 探讨孕前BMI和孕期增重与子痫前期（PE）及其临床亚型的发生风险的关系。方法 选取2012年3月至2016年9月在山西医科大学第一医院妇产科分娩的孕妇,根据纳入排除标准,共纳入9 274例孕妇,901例PE孕妇作为病例组,8 373例非PE孕妇作为对照组。收集一般人口学特征、孕前身高和体重、孕期生活方式、生育史和疾病史等资料,计算孕前BMI及孕期增重。采用非条件logistic回归分析孕前BMI和孕期增重与PE及其临床亚型的关系。结果 PE中早发型PE （EOPE）401例、晚发型PE （LOPE）500例,轻度PE （MPE）178例、重度PE （SPE）723例。PE孕妇和非PE孕妇在年龄、居住地、产次、妊娠期糖尿病及高血压家族史等方面差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。调整以上因素后,logistic回归分析结果显示,孕前BMI<18.5 kg/m²和孕期增重不足是PE的保护因素（OR=0.74,95%CI：0.56~0.98;OR=0.78,95%CI：0.62~0.99）,孕前BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m²和孕期增重过多是PE的危险因素（OR=1.82,95%CI：1.54~2.14;OR=1.82,95%CI：1.54~2.15）。对PE临床亚型分析后结果显示,孕前BMI<18.5 kg/m²是EOPE和MPE的保护因素（OR=0.52,95%CI：0.32~0.83;OR=0.47,95%CI：0.23~0.97）,孕前BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m²和孕期增重过多是PE临床亚型的危险因素。按孕前BMI分层后,孕前18.5 kg/m² ≤ BMI<24.0 kg/m²和孕前BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m²的孕妇中孕期增重过多（OR=1.86,95%CI：1.51~2.30;OR=1.90,95%CI：1.39~2.60）均是PE的危险因素;孕前BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m²的孕妇中孕期增重不足（OR=0.55,95%CI：0.34~0.89）是PE的保护因素。孕前BMI<18.5 kg/m²的孕妇中孕期增重过多（OR=4.05,95%CI：1.20~13.69）是EOPE的危险因素;孕前18.5 kg/m² ≤ BMI<24.0 kg/m²的孕妇中孕期增重过多是PE各临床亚型的危险因素;孕前BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m²的孕妇中孕期增重不足是EOPE和MPE的保护因素（OR=0.39,95%CI：0.19~0.80;OR=0.29,95%CI：0.11~0.77）,孕期增重过多是EOPE、LOPE和SPE的危险因素（OR=1.60,95%CI：1.06~2.42;OR=2.20,95%CI：1.44~3.37;OR=2.28,95%CI：1.58~3.29）。结论 孕前BMI和孕期增重影响PE及其临床亚型的发生风险,且不同孕前BMI人群孕期增重对PE的影响有差异,提倡同时关注孕前BMI和孕期体重变化,从而减少PE发生。     

我国成年居民膳食胆固醇摄入量与血清总胆固醇水平关系的研究

目的 了解我国成年居民膳食胆固醇摄入量与血清总胆固醇(TC)水平的关系。 方法 资料来源于2009年第八轮“中国健康与营养调查”。将参加2009年中国健康与营养调查并有完整个人信息的18~65岁成年居民作为调查对象。分析调查对象膳食胆固醇摄入量与TC水平的相关关系, 探讨膳食胆固醇摄入对TC水平的影响及膳食胆固醇摄入过量人群高胆固醇血症的患病风险。结果 我国成年居民膳食胆固醇摄入量与TC水平及LDL-C水平呈显著正相关(均P<0.05);多元回归分析显示, 成年居民膳食胆固醇摄入量是影响TC水平(P<0.05)及女性LDL-C水平的重要因素(P=0.01);调整混杂因素后, 膳食胆固醇摄入过量(≥300 mg/d)的男女性人群发生高胆固醇血症的危险性明显增高(OR=1.21, 95%CI: 1.03~1.42, P=0.019;OR=1.18, 95%CI: 1.00~1.40, P=0.044)。结论 我国成年居民膳食胆固醇摄入量与其TC水平存在一定关联, 降低居民膳食胆固醇摄入量可以预防高胆固醇血症的发生。     

我国孕妇孕早、中期睡眠质量及其影响因素

目的 了解我国孕妇孕早、中期睡眠质量和变化及其影响因素,为有针对性地提高孕妇睡眠质量和健康水平提供科学依据。方法 选取中国孕产妇队列研究·协和（CPWCS）孕早、中期孕妇数据。问卷调查获取一般人口学特征、怀孕意向、健康相关行为、抑郁和睡眠质量信息。描述孕早期、孕中期睡眠质量并比较其在不同人群特征下的分布情况,logistic回归探究孕早、中期睡眠质量的影响因素。结果 共调查3 618名孕妇,孕早、中期睡眠障碍发生率为28.2%和28.7%;13.0%的孕妇在孕早、中期持续存在睡眠障碍,15.2%的孕妇睡眠质量下降。睡眠质量差、入睡时间长、存在睡眠障碍、日间困倦是我国孕妇睡眠的主要问题。孕早期规律饮食（OR=0.75,95% CI：0.62~0.92）、孕期在业（OR=0.84,95% CI：0.71~0.99）是孕妇睡眠质量的保护因素;孕妇年龄≥ 30岁（OR=1.19,95% CI：1.03~1.37）、孕早期被动烟草暴露（OR=1.18,95% CI：1.02~1.36）、抑郁症状（OR=2.25,95% CI：1.95~2.61）是孕妇睡眠质量的危险因素。结论 我国孕妇孕早期、孕中期睡眠障碍发生率较高,部分孕妇存在孕早、中期睡眠质量下降或持续存在睡眠障碍的情况。关注高龄孕妇、鼓励孕妇规律饮食、减少被动吸烟,减轻抑郁症状可能有助于孕妇睡眠质量的提高。     

浙江省孕妇巨大儿相关知识的流行病学调查

目的 了解浙江省孕妇对巨大儿相关知识的知晓率及影响因素,为有针对性地开展孕前、孕期保健指导提供科学依据。方法 采用多阶段整群随机抽样方法,用自行设计的调查问卷,对浙江省20个县(市、区)1 512名孕妇进行面对面调查,分析巨大儿知晓率及其影响因素。结果 共回收有效问卷1 494份,巨大儿诊断标准的知晓率为40.7%(95%CI:38.2%~43.2%);巨大儿发生原因知晓率为55.0%(95%CI:52.4%~57.6%)、预防知识知晓率为62.4%(95%CI:59.9%~64.9%),两者均知晓的比例为49.0%(95%CI:46.4%~51.6%)。多因素logistic回归分析显示,孕晚期(OR=1.906,95%CI:1.128~3.221)、城市户籍(OR=1.335,95%CI:1.014~1.756)、教育程度为大专(OR=2.474,95%CI:1.635~3.744)和本科及以上(OR=2.072,95%CI:1.338~3.209)、参加孕期保健知识培训(OR=1.936,95%CI:1.509~2.484)和自学孕期保健知识(OR=2.065,95%CI:1.338~3.189)能够提高孕妇对巨大儿诊断标准和预防知识的知晓率。高龄孕妇(OR=2.103,95%CI:1.330~3.323)对巨大儿发生原因和预防知识知晓率高于低年龄者。结论 浙江省孕妇对巨大儿诊断标准的知晓率不到50%,应加强对育龄妇女的孕前、孕期宣传教育和保健指导,特别是在农村地区多开展孕期保健知识培训。     

125例新生儿先天性甲状腺功能减低症围产因素分析

目的 探讨围产期相关因素与先天性甲状腺功能减低(甲减)症(CH)的关系。方法采用病例对照研究。选择2012年1月至2013年12月在福建省新生儿疾病筛查中心诊断为CH的新生儿125例为病例组,按1:3比例随机选择非CH的新生儿为对照组。采用单因素及二项分类logistic同归模型分析CH的围产期相关危险因素。结果 单因素分析显示,病例组中母亲妊娠期高血压、妊娠期糖尿病、妊娠合并甲状腺疾病、高龄产妇的发生率高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05);病例组新生儿在女性、早产儿、过期儿、低出生体重儿、巨大儿、双胎及多胎、伴发其他出生缺陷和感染的发生率均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析显示,高龄产妇(OR=2.518,95%CI:1.186~5.347)、妊娠期糖尿病(OR=1.904,95%CI:1.190~3.045)、妊娠合并甲减(OR=12.883,95%CI:2.055~80.751)或甲亢(OR=30.797,95%CI:3.309~286.594)、早产儿(OR=4.238,95%CI:1.269~14.155)、过期儿(OR=12.799,95%CI:1.257~130.327)、低出生体重儿(OR=3.505,95%CI:1.059~11.601)、巨大儿(OR=3.733,95%CI:1.415~9.851)、双胎及多胎(OR=5.493,95%CI:1.701~17.735)、伴发其他出生缺陷(OR=3.665,95%CI:1.604~8.371)和胎儿窘迫(OR=3.130,95%CI:1.317~7.440)为新生儿CH的高危因素(均P<0.05)。结论 新生儿CH与母亲孕龄、妊娠期糖尿病、妊娠合并甲状腺疾病以及新生儿出生体重、胎龄、胎数、胎儿窘迫、伴发其他出生缺陷等有一定关系,应加强围孕期保健,减少高危因素,降低CH发病率。     

孕前体重指数和孕中期体重增加对妊娠期糖尿病发病影响的队列研究

目的 探讨孕前BMI和孕中期体重增加对妊娠期糖尿病(GDM)患病的影响。方法 采用以孕妇人群作为基础的队列研究, 在安徽省马鞍山市妇幼保健院围生期门诊选取首次孕期体检、孕周≤14周、马鞍山市常住户口的孕妇, 首次、孕中期和孕晚期体检时分别填写问卷、测量身高和体重, 在24～28周接受75 g口服糖耐量试验(OGTT)进行GDM诊断, 并追踪记录分娩结局。使用t检验、方差分析、χ²检验和logistic回归模型进行分析。结果 孕妇GDM的发生率为14.73%, 孕前BMI与孕中期增重呈负相关(r=-0.085, P<0.01)。GDM孕妇孕中期增重多于正常孕妇。孕妇年龄≥35岁、孕前超重和肥胖及孕早期血糖水平升高是GDM的危险因素, OR值(95%CI)分别为3.06(1.68～5.58)、2.08(1.38～3.13)、3.73(1.84～7.56)和2.17(1.57～3.00)。结论 孕前超重和肥胖以及孕期体重增加是GDM的危险因素.     

孕妇孕晚期心理健康现状及其影响因素的研究

目的 了解孕妇孕晚期焦虑、抑郁和孤独等心理健康现状,并探究其影响因素。方法 以中国孕产妇队列研究·协和项目中的575名孕妇为研究对象,在孕早期收集孕妇的一般人口学特征和妊娠信息,采用爱丁堡产后抑郁量表、焦虑自评量表和孤独感自评量表随访调查其孕晚期的心理健康状况,应用多因素非条件logistic回归分析孕妇心理健康的影响因素。结果 研究对象孕晚期抑郁的发生率为16.52%,焦虑的发生率为11.13%,孤独的发生率为26.26%。Logistic回归分析结果显示,与初中及以下文化程度孕妇相比,大专或本科（OR=0.418,95%CI：0.184~0.950）及硕士及以上（OR=0.116,95%CI：0.027~0.503）文化程度的孕妇,其出现孤独的可能性较低;家庭年收入（万元）较高的孕妇出现抑郁（≥20 vs. <10：OR=0.527,95%CI：0.279~0.998）、焦虑（10~20 vs. <10：OR=0.363,95%CI：0.180~0.731;≥20 vs.<10：OR=0.271,95%CI：0.132~0.554）及孤独（≥20 vs. <10：OR=0.477,95%CI：0.276~0.826）的可能性均较低。结论 孕妇的文化程度和家庭年收入对于孕晚期的心理健康状况有影响,医护人员应加强开展针对性的孕期心理指导,以改善孕妇孕期的心理健康情况。     

Calcium intake in the elderly: validation of a dietary questionnaire

Epidemiological studies of calcium and osteoporosis have been hampered by the lack of a suitable tool for assessing calcium intake. This report describes a new frequency and amount questionnaire for measuring present and past calcium intake in the elderly. The validity of the questionnaire was tested against two commonly used standards of dietary assessment, five-day duplicate diets and seven-day weighed dietary inventories. The resulting correlation coefficients were, respectively, r = 0.76 and r = 0.69, while that for repeatability was r = 0.84. Furthermore, the questionnaire categorized subjects into thirds of the distribution of intake with almost no gross misclassification. It is suggested that the present findings may be extended to the majority of normal, healthy elderly subjects, implying wide application for the questionnaire in the assessment of calcium intake in the elderly.     

The human drama of genetics: 'hard' and 'soft' media representations of inherited breast cancer

This paper examines media coverage of 'breast cancer genetics', and explores its implications for public understanding. We present a content analysis of coverage in British newspapers and look at a variety of popular forms, including women's magazines, television soap opera and radio drama. Genetic/inherited risk receives a great deal of coverage across a wide range of media formats and outlets. Much of this attention has focused on individuals from 'high risk families' and dilemmas around prophylactic mastectomies. Through examining media coverage, combined with interviews with media personnel and their sources, we show why this story proved so attractive to the media and highlight the different production values which influence coverage. Finally, we introduce preliminary findings from focus group discussions to demonstrate how such 'human interest' framing has engaged audience attention and influenced public understandings. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications for analysing, predicting, and engaging with, media representations of science.     

The occurrence of antimicrobial substances in toilet,sink and shower drainpipes of clinical units: A neglected source of antibiotic residues

Antibiotics represent one of the most important drug groups used in the management of bacterial infections in humans and animals. Due to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, assurance of the antibacterial effectiveness of these substances has moved into the focus of public health. The reduction in antibiotic residues in wastewater and the environment may play a decisive role in the development of increasing rates of antibiotic resistance. The present study examines the wastewater of 31 patient rooms of various German clinics for possible residues of antibiotics, as well as the wastewater of five private households as a reference.To the best of our knowledge, this study shows for the first time that in hospitals with high antibiotic consumption rates, residues of these drugs can be regularly detected in toilets, sink siphons and shower drains at concentrations ranging from 0.02?μg·L^?1 to a maximum of 79?mg·L^?1. After complete flushing of the wastewater siphons, antibiotics are no longer detectable, but after temporal stagnation, the concentration of the active substances in the water phases of respective siphons increases again, suggesting that antibiotics persist through the washing process in biofilms. This study demonstrates that clinical wastewater systems offer further possibilities for the optimization of antibiotic resistance surveillance.     

Worker education in the primary prevention of occupational dermatoses

This paper reports the evaluation of a skin care education programmeconducted on a fine chemicals manufacturing site where over1,000 employees are located. Approximately 60% are involvedin chemical manufacture. Over a 12 month period production staffreceived training in prevention of occupational dermatoses linkedto a site-wide poster initiative. The incidence of new casesof occupational dermatoses fell from 0.055 (70 cases in 1,277employees) to 0.021 (27 cases in 1,277 employees) before andafter the intervention respectively (p<0.0001). After otherfactors such as chemicals handled, observer bias and changesin reporting related to socioeconomic climate were taken intoaccount it is concluded that this study demonstrates the importanceof worker education as a tool for primary prevention of disease.Training materials such as video and poster presentations maybe effectively used in the chemical manufacturing industry asan adjunct to prevention and control of exposure to substanceshazardous to the skin. Such methods may also be used in otherindustries where there are significant risks of dermatoses.     

Regional Variation in Travel-related Illness acquired in Africa,March 1997–May 2011

To understand geographic variation in travel-related illness acquired in distinct African regions, we used the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database to analyze records for 16,893 ill travelers returning from Africa over a 14-year period. Travelers to northern Africa most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses and dog bites. Febrile illnesses were more common in travelers returning from sub-Saharan countries. Eleven travelers died, 9 of malaria; these deaths occurred mainly among male business travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of illness varied substantially by region: malaria predominated in travelers returning from Central and Western Africa; schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and dengue from Eastern and Western Africa; and loaisis from Central Africa. There were few reports of vaccine-preventable infections, HIV infection, and tuberculosis. Geographic profiling of illness acquired during travel to Africa guides targeted pretravel advice, expedites diagnosis in ill returning travelers, and may influence destination choices in tourism.     

Self-reported health problems among Swedish miners one year after unemployment

Unemployment is considered to be a public health concern sincedeterioration in the health of the unemployed is often anticipated.However, for some groups, such as miners, unemployment mightimprove health due to a cessation of potentially harmful occupationalexposures. This study evaluates the health of 79 miners in oneSwedish iron-ore mine, and 226 age-matched controls from thegeneral population, during one year after the closure of themine. The participants received a questionnaire regarding medicalhistory and subjective symptoms at the beginning of the studyperiod, and after one year. Statistically significant negativeeffects on self-reported health attributable to unemploymentwere not found, although neuropsychiatric symptoms were morecommon among the unemployed miners. The miners reported a statisticallysignificant improvement in grip force (p=0.031). They had asignificantly higher prevalence of symptoms associated withmining related exposures when compared with the population controls;pain in the upper extremities [relative risk (RR)=2.27, 95%confidence interval (Cl)=1.44–3.59), back pain (RR=1.84;Cl=1.237–2.75), vasospastic disease of the fingers (RR=2.05;Cl=1.18–3.57) and obstructive respiratory symptoms (attacksof dyspnea and wheezing: RR=3.67; Cl=1.167–11.6).     

Excès de cas humains et animaux de tularémie en France au cours de l’hiver 2007–2008 : émergence ou phénomène isolé ?

Context

Tularemia is a zoonosis affecting humans and hares in France. We describe the results of surveillance in both species, in 2007 and 2008.

Methods

Human tularemia cases are mandatorily notifiable in France since 2003. In hares, surveillance relies on volunteer hunter associations in all districts of the country. Data from mandatory reports and volunteer surveillance in 2007/2008 were analyzed and compared with previous results.

Results

In 2007/2008, 144 cases were reported in humans and 117 cases in hares. This was a 100% increase compared to previous years. Human cases differed from those of previous years only by the frequency of contact with breeding animals. Human cases without any documented risk exposure were also more frequent.

Conclusion

An increase of tularemia cases occurred in 2007/2008 in both species. Complementary studies are needed to identify the species reservoir in France to understand the causes of this peak of cases.     

深圳公立医院管理体制改革制度设计

深圳公立医院管理体制改革实行政事分开、管办分开,在理事会架构下按法定机构模式组建市医管中心,落实公立医院运营管理自主权.作者从当前公立医院管理体制的弊端入手,介绍了深圳市进行公立医院管理体制改革的基本思路及改革方案设计的主要举措,深入剖析了的改革方案的特点,并对改革效果进行了预测.     

Fatigue and health in a seafaring population

Background Occupational fatigue is relatively common withinthe general population and has been linked to reduced performance,injury and longer term ill-health. Despite growing acknowledgementof this problem in the maritime sector, little research hasbeen conducted into the risk factors, prevalence and consequencesof seafarers' fatigue. Aims To examine the prevalence of fatigue among seafarers, identifypotential risk factors and assess possible links with poor performanceand ill-health. Methods Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of seafarers workingin the offshore oil support, short-sea and deep-sea shippingindustries. A number of tools were used including the fatiguesubscale of the profile of fatigue-related symptoms, the CognitiveFailures Questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire andthe SF36 General Health scale. Results In all, 1855 questionnaires were completed giving anoverall response rate of 20%. Fatigue symptoms were associatedwith a range of occupational and environmental factors, manyunique to seafaring. Reporting a greater number of risk factorswas associated with greater fatigue [e.g. OR = 2.53 (1.90–3.35)for those with three or four risk factors and OR = 9.54 (6.95–13.09)for those with five or more risk factors]. There was also astrong link between fatigue and poorer cognitive and healthoutcomes, with fatigue the most important of a number of riskfactors, accounting for 10–14% of the variance. Conclusions Seafarers' fatigue could impact on safety withinthe industry and may be linked to longer term individual ill-health.It can only be addressed by considering how multiple factorscombine to contribute to fatigue.