Long-term trends in Indigenous deaths from chronic diseases in the Northern Territory: a foot on the brake, a foot on the accelerator

OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in Northern Territory Indigenous mortality from chronic diseases other than cancer. DESIGN: A comparison of trends in rates of mortality from six chronic diseases (ischaemic heart disease [IHD], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], cerebrovascular disease [CVD], diabetes mellitus [DM], renal failure [RF] and rheumatic heart disease [RHD]) in the NT Indigenous population with those of the total Australian population. PARTICIPANTS: NT Indigenous and total Australian populations, 1977-2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimated average annual change in chronic disease mortality rates and in mortality rate ratios. RESULTS: Death rates from IHD and DM among NT Indigenous peoples increased between 1977 and 2001, but this increase slowed after 1990. Death rates from COPD rose before 1990, but fell thereafter. There were non-significant declines in death rates from CVD and RHD. Mortality rates from RF rose in those aged > or = 50 years. The ratios of mortality rates for NT Indigenous to total Australian populations from these chronic diseases increased throughout the period. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality rates from IHD and DM in the NT Indigenous population have been increasing since 1977, but there is evidence of a slower rise (or even a fall) in death rates in the 1990s. These early small changes give reason to hope that some improvements (possibly in medical care) have been putting the brakes on chronic disease mortality among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.     

Sudden infant death syndrome: factors contributing to the difference in incidence between Victoria and Tasmania.

OBJECTIVE: To examine how much of the difference in incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) between Tasmania and Victoria could be accounted for by the effect of differing climatic temperature and the effect of the differing prevalence of maternal and infant characteristics in the two State populations. DESIGN: A two population ecological comparison. Two previously published predictive models were applied to quantify the contribution of several factors to the higher incidence of SIDS in Tasmania compared with Victoria. SETTING: A population based study involving the two Australian States of Tasmania and Victoria. PATIENTS: The characteristics of the 1985 to 1987 live birth cohorts of Tasmania and Victoria were examined. Cases were defined as all infants dying in 1985 to 1987 whose cause of death was stated as SIDS. RESULTS: The rate of SIDS for Tasmania and Victoria 1985 to 1987 was 3.76 per 1000 live births and 2.18 per 1000 live births respectively. Adjustment of the Tasmanian rate for the effect of the interstate difference in climatic temperature resulted in a lower Tasmanian rate of 2.92 per 1000 live births. Adjustment for the effect of interstate differences in maternal age, birthweight, infant sex, month of birth and intention to breast-feed at hospital discharge decreased the Tasmanian rate to 2.47 per 1000 live births. CONCLUSION: Approximately 82% of the interstate difference in SIDS incidence between Tasmania and Victoria from 1985 to 1987 can be accounted for by differences in climatic temperature, maternal age, birth-weight, infant sex, month of birth and feeding intention at hospital discharge.     

Recent trends in acute care hospital utilization in Ontario for diseases of the circulatory system.

OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in the use of acute care hospital services for diseases of the circulatory system in Ontario. DESIGN: Observational study. DATA EXTRACTION: Information on diagnoses, procedures and demographic characteristics was obtained from routinely collected computerized abstracts of separations from all acute care hospitals in Ontario during 1979-80, 1983-84 and 1988-89. The data were combined with population estimates to calculate overall separation rates and rates specific for age, diagnosis and procedure. Resource intensity weights were used to estimate changes in resource use. MAIN RESULTS: The overall separation rate increased by 3% and the resource-intensity-weighted separation rate by 12% from 1979-80 to 1988-89. The overall medical separation rate increased by 2%, whereas the surgical rate increased by 12%. The surgical separation rate increased among patients 55 to 79 years of age but decreased in all the other adult age groups. The separation rates for coronary artery bypass surgery and cardiac valve surgery increased rapidly among patients 65 years of age or older. The medical separation rate decreased for patients of all ages except those less than 5 years and those 80 years or more. The medical separation rates decreased by less than 1% for diagnoses related to ischemic heart disease (IHD) and increased dramatically for coronary artery revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing elderly population has not resulted in large increases in acute care hospital utilization for diseases of the circulatory system. The impact of an aging population has been balanced by decreased utilization rates in the younger groups. The intensity of hospital care has risen primarily because of increases in surgical rates, especially in the elderly population. The large decrease in the rate of death from IHD over the past two decades has not been associated with similar decreases in acute care hospital utilization for this disorder.     

Climatic temperature and variation in the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome between the Australian states.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between climatic temperature and the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for the Australian States and examine the extent to which differences in climatic temperature might explain the regional variation of SIDS in Australia. DESIGN: Case series study. A generalised linear model was used to model the association between monthly average temperature and the incidence of SIDS. SETTING: The report is population based. Data are available from all Australian States. SUBJECTS: Cases of SIDS from birth to less than 12 months of age occurring in Queensland (1981-1987), New South Wales (1981-1987), Victoria (1984-1987), Tasmania (1975-1989), South Australia (1980-1989), and Western Australia (1980-1988). RESULTS: Every one degree Celsius decrease in average monthly temperature within the range 9 degrees C to 25 degrees C is associated with a 10.6% (95% confidence interval, 9.6%-11.7%) increase in the incidence of SIDS. Climatic temperature accounts for 84% of the interstate variation in the rate of SIDS. After controlling for the effect of temperature, a significant overall difference in SIDS incidence remains (P less than 0.0001) for the Australian States. CONCLUSION: Climatic temperature accounts for most but not all of the regional variation of SIDS incidence in the Australian States. The remaining variation may reflect differences in the maternal and infant characteristics of the State populations.     

Recent development of ischaemic heart disease in sex difference

Despite a dramatic decline in mortality over the past years, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the world. At the same time, with the great improvement of medical science, there is a growing population of postmyocardial infarction, postrevascularisation and heart failure survivors. Furthermore, there are rising rates of cigarette smoking, obesity, hypertension and the metabolic syndrome in the world. All the above contribute to the rising incidence rates of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) among women and men. This review highlights sex-specific issues in IHD presentation, evaluation and outcomes, with several new results published from the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation study. New evidence on traditional and novel risk markers as well as sex-specific differences in symptoms and diagnostic approaches have also been discussed.     

Death and readmission in the year after hospital admission with cardiovascular disease: the Hunter Area Heart and Stroke Register

OBJECTIVES: To compare outcomes one year after hospital admission for patients initially discharged with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), other ischaemic heart disease (other IHD), congestive heart failure (CHF) or stroke. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Hunter Area Heart and Stroke Register, which registers all patients admitted with heart disease or stroke to any of the 22 hospitals in the Hunter Area Health Service in New South Wales. PATIENTS: 4981 patients with AMI, other IHD, CHF or stroke admitted to hospital as an emergency between 1 July 1995 and 30 June 1997 and followed for at least one year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Death from any cause or emergency hospital readmission for cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality varied from 1% of those with other IHD to 22% of those with stroke. Almost a third of all patients discharged alive (and 38% of those aged 70 or more) had died or been readmitted within one year. This varied from 22% of those with stroke to 49% of those with CHF. The causes of death and readmission were from a spectrum of cardiovascular disease, regardless of the cause of the original hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this population register show the poor outcome, especially with increasing age, among patients admitted to hospital with cardiovascular disease. This should alert us to determine whether optimal secondary prevention strategies are being adopted among such patients.     

A regional prospective study of in-hospital mortality associated with coronary artery bypass grafting. The Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group

OBJECTIVE--A prospective regional study was conducted to determine if the observed differences in in-hospital mortality rates associated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are solely the result of differences in patient case mix. DESIGN-Regional prospective cohort study. Data including patient demographic and historical data, body surface area, cardiac catheterization results, priority of surgery, comorbidity, and status at hospital discharge were collected. This study presents data for 3055 CABG patients between July 1, 1987, and April 15, 1989. SETTING--This study includes data from all surgeons performing cardiothoracic surgery in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont; the data were collected from five regional medical centers. PATIENTS--Data were collected from all consecutive isolated CABG surgery patients during the study period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Crude and adjusted in-hospital mortality rates associated with CABG. MAIN RESULTS--The overall crude in-hospital mortality rate for isolated CABG was 4.3%. The rate varied among centers (range, 3.1% to 6.3%) and among surgeons (range, 1.9% to 9.2%). Predictors of in-hospital mortality included increased age, female gender, small body surface area, greater comorbidity, reoperation, poorer cardiac function as indicated by a lower ejection fraction, increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure and emergent or urgent surgery. After adjusting for the effects of potentially confounding variables, substantial and statistically significant variability was observed among medical centers (P = .021) and among surgeons (P = .025). CONCLUSION--We conclude that the observed differences in in-hospital mortality rates among institutions and among surgeons in northern New England are not solely the result of differences in case mix as described by these variables and may reflect differences in currently unknown aspects of patient care. Understanding this variation requires a detailed understanding of the processes of care.     

Coronary artery bypass grafting in Canada: hospital mortality rates, 1992-1995

BACKGROUND: Rates of in-hospital death after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have been studied in many regions of Canada as possible indicators of hospital-specific quality of care. This nationwide study examined observed and risk-adjusted death rates for 23 Canadian hospitals performing CABG. METHODS: Hospital discharge data were obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and were used to identify all CABG procedures performed in Canadian hospitals in fiscal years 1992/93 through 1995/96. Cases from Quebec hospitals were not studied because hospitals in that province do not report to the institute. Observed death rates were evaluated, and a logistic regression model was used to calculate a risk-adjusted death rate for each hospital for the 4-year period studied. Changes over time in hospital-specific death rates were also examined. RESULTS: A total of 50,357 CABG cases were studied, with an overall death rate of 3.6%. Interhospital comparisons showed that average severity of illness varied considerably across hospitals. Despite risk adjustment accounting for this variable severity, there was considerable variation in adjusted death rates across the 23 hospitals, from 1.95% to 5.76% (p < 0.001 for difference across hospitals). For some hospitals, death rates decreased between 1992/93 and 1995/96, whereas for others the rates were stable or increased. INTERPRETATION: Risk-adjusted rates of in-hospital death after CABG vary widely across Canadian hospitals. There may be differences in quality of care across hospitals, and focused quality-improvement initiatives may be necessary in some institutions.     

Trends in hospital admissions and mortality from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Australia, 1993-2003

OBJECTIVE: To examine evolving changes in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in South Australia and Australia as a whole from the perspective of hospital admissions, ventilatory support and mortality data. DESIGN: Retrospective analyses, for the period 1993-2003, of hospital separations data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Integrated South Australian Activity Collection, and mortality data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and South Australian hospital morbidity collection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hospital separations, ventilatory support episodes, mortality rates, burden-of-disease rankings. RESULTS: Between 1993 and 2003, in SA and nationally, hospital separations for asthma declined but separations for COPD increased significantly. Falling mortality rates from asthma in both men and women, and from COPD in men, contrast with increasing rates of COPD-related hospitalisation and mortality in women. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital admissions and mortality associated with asthma have fallen. Admission rates for COPD are declining for men, but there is no indication that admission rates for women have reached a peak. There is a need for higher prioritisation of COPD, including policies to reduce smoking in women, and medical practice initiatives to support primary and secondary prevention, pulmonary rehabilitation and appropriate drug therapies.     

Racial and community factors influencing coronary artery bypass graft surgery rates for all 1986 Medicare patients.

OBJECTIVE--This study examines the differences in the rates of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between white and black Medicare patients. DESIGN--This is a cross-sectional study with data from the 1986 Health Care Financing Administration hospital claims records on all Medicare patients, the 1988 update of the Bureau of Health Professions area resource file, and the 1985 Census Bureau's county population estimates file. SETTING--Data are from all Medicare patients in the United States in 1986. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Sex- and age-adjusted CABG rates for whites and blacks over the age of 65 years were computed for each of 50 states and 305 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs). RESULTS--Nationally the CABG rate was 27.1 per 10,000 for whites (40.4 for white men and 16.2 for white women), but only 7.6 for blacks (9.3 for black men and 6.4 for black women). Racial differences were greater in the Southeast, particularly in nonmetropolitan areas, than in other regions. Neither white nor black SMSA rates were associated with the rate of admission for acute myocardial infarction (an indication of the amount of coronary artery disease). White rates, but not black rates, were associated with the number of thoracic surgeons per 100,000 people. CONCLUSIONS--For patients insured by Medicare, race is strongly associated with CABG rates, and this association is greater for men than for women and greater in the Southeast than in other parts of the country. Physician supply may relate to the CABG rates for whites.     

Geography of diabetes mellitus mortality in Mexico: an epidemiologic transition analysis

BACKGROUND: The worldwide prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) will increase from 135 to 300 million cases by the year 2025. In Mexico, DM is the third cause of general mortality and the primary cause of mortality in the 55- to 64-year-old age group. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of DM mortality trends in Mexico from 1980 to 2000 in the context of this epidemiologic transition. METHODS: Age-adjusted mortality rates were estimated for DM as underlying cause of death using World Health Organization (WHO) reference population. To evaluate magnitude of risks, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated; prematurity of mortality was evaluated by means of potential lost life years index (PLLYI). Diabetes mortality trends in the U.S. were calculated with information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) public registry and were age-adjusted for comparison. RESULTS: Total number of deaths due to DM during the period was 582,826. Standardized mortality ratio by state showed higher mortality in the northern Mexican states; PLLYI was higher in the northern states. Mortality trends in Mexico showed a rapid increase during the 1980s followed by a less acute increment in the 1990s. Age-adjusted mortality rate trends in the U.S. were lower than those in Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows an increase in DM age-adjusted mortality trends during the years 1980-2000 in Mexico. The observed pattern of mortality varies widely throughout the country, probably due to differences in socioeconomic conditions and in access to healthcare.     

Interstate differences in trends in coronary mortality and risk factors in Australia

Mortality from coronary heart disease has declined by approximately 50% in Australia over the past 20 years and now accounts for approximately 25% of all deaths. Most of the decline in mortality from all causes in each State of Australia over the period 1972-1988 is due to the decline in mortality from coronary heart disease. In Tasmania, the rate of decline in mortality from all causes is significantly less in both sexes (P less than 0.01) than in the mainland States, and the discrepancy is due to a lesser decline in mortality from coronary heart disease (P less than 0.01). Trends in deaths related to hypertension show no differences between Tasmania and the other States, which suggests that the discrepancy with coronary heart disease is due to factors other than the prevalence and/or treatment of hypertension. Analysis of trends data on cigarette smoking prevalence, and cross-sectional data on plasma cholesterol levels and diet, shows that Tasmanian differences in food intake (including fat and cholesterol), in plasma cholesterol levels and (to a lesser extent) in cigarette smoking are consistent with, but are unlikely to explain completely, the slower rate of decline in mortality from coronary heart disease.     

Trends in the use of hospital beds by older people in Australia: 1993-2002

OBJECTIVE: To determine trends in use of Australian acute hospital inpatient services by older patients. DESIGN AND DATA SOURCES: Secondary analysis of hospital data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in the period 1993-94 to 2001-02, with population data for this period from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. OUTCOME MEASURES: Population-based rates of hospital separations and bed utilisation. RESULTS: The Australian aged population (65 years and older) increased by 18% compared with total population growth of 10%, yet the proportion of hospital beds occupied by older patients remained stable at 47%. The most substantial changes were observed in the population aged 75 years and older, with separations increasing by 89%, length of stay reducing by 35% and bed utilisation increasing by 23%. However, rates of bed utilisation (in relation to population) declined among older groups (10% decline in per capita use in population 75 years and older), but increased in the younger population (1% increase in per capita use in people younger than 65 years). CONCLUSION: Important trends in use of inpatient services were identified in this study. These trends are contrary to common perception. Ageing of the Australian population was not associated with an increase in the proportion of hospital beds used by older patients.     

Differences in mortality from coronary artery bypass graft surgery at five teaching hospitals

OBJECTIVE. To measure hospital- and surgeon-specific mortality rates for patients with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and to examine possible reasons for any differences. DESIGN. Cohort study using hospital discharge abstracts and itemized bills. SETTING. Five major teaching hospitals in Philadelphia, Pa. PATIENTS. Consecutive sample of all 4613 patients over a 30-month period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE. In hospital mortality rates. RESULTS. We observed differences in hospital mortality rates for patients who underwent coronary artery catheterization and CABG surgery during the same admission (diagnosis related group 106) but not for patients who underwent only CABG surgery during the admission (diagnosis related group 107). There were threefold differences in surgeon-specific mortality rates. The hospital mortality rates for coronary artery catheterization and CABG surgery during the same admission changed during the study and coincided with moves of surgeons among study hospitals. Our measures of illness severity did identify patients who were more likely to die, but differences in severity of illness did not explain differences in hospital- or surgeon-specific mortality rates. Patient mortality rates were not associated with the volume of procedures performed by individual surgeons. We found inconclusive evidence for an association with surgeons' clinical skills, and to a lesser extent, with the hospital's volume of procedures and the hospital's organization and staffing. A greater intensity of hospital services was not necessary for a lower mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS. We conclude that studies of CABG mortality should examine mortality rates by diagnosis related group, collect data from more than 1 year, examine associations with surgeons' clinical skills, include information on hospital organization and staffing, and cautiously explore more efficient ways of providing care.     

天津市滨海新区塘沽居民2011-2015年心脏病死亡趋势与分布

Objective: To analyze the trend and distribution of heart disease death rate in Tanggu district inTianjinBinhai new area from 2011 to 2015, and to provide the basis for prevention and control of heart disease. Methods: 4553 cases of the death report of heart disease in the Binhai new areaTangguof Tianjin from 2011 to 2015 were analyzed. Firstly, The death rate was standardized with the results of China’s sixth population census in 2010. And thenaccording to the icd-10 heart disease classification, age, gender and regional distribution of heart disease deaths were described, and the changes in the death rates of different types of heart disease were analyzed. Finally, the mortality and composition ratio were compared by X² test.Results:Heart disease was the second important factor leading to the death of Tanggu residents in Binhai new area. From 2011 to 2015, the heart disease mortality increased with the increase of age. And the mortalities of elderly group and middle-aged group were higher than that of the youth.Heart disease mortality in winter season washigher than those in summer and fall. Heart disease mortalities of acute myocardial infarction and other coronary heart disease (CHD) were higher than the mortalities ofother types of heart disease.Other coronary artery disease mortality rate of women was higher than that of men.Conclusion:Heart disease is a serious threat to the elderly.The community should strengthen the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease in the middle-aged and elderly population and improve the quality of life of residents.     

Coronary artery bypass grafting in Canada: national and provincial mortality trends, 1992-1995

BACKGROUND: Despite a body of research on outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Canada, little is known about Canada-wide outcome trends and interregional differences in outcome. The objectives of this study were to examine Canadian trends in rates of in-hospital death after CABG and to compare provincial risk-adjusted death rates. METHODS: Hospital discharge data were obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and were used to identify complete cohorts of patients who underwent CABG in 8 provinces in fiscal years 1992/93 through 1995/96. Data from Quebec hospitals were not available. A logistic regression model was used to calculate risk-adjusted death rates by year, province, and province and year. RESULTS: A total of 50,357 CABG cases were studied, with an overall death rate of 3.6%. A national trend of decreasing mortality was found, with a risk-adjusted death rate of 3.8% in 1992/93 versus 3.2% in 1995/96 (relative decrease of 17%) (p < 0.001 for difference across years). Some provinces (e.g., Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario) achieved overall declines in death rates over the study period, whereas others (e.g., British Columbia and Saskatchewan) did not. The average severity of illness of patients who underwent CABG differed considerably across provinces. Despite risk adjustment for these differences, provincial death rates varied significantly (p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION: Rates of death after CABG in Canada decreased significantly in a relatively short period. Despite this encouraging finding, there were interprovincial differences in severity of illness and risk-adjusted death rates. This finding raises the possibility of unequal access to CABG and variable quality of care for patients undergoing the surgery across Canadian provinces.     

Long-term trends in cancer mortality for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory

OBJECTIVE: To examine long-term trends in cancer mortality in the Indigenous people of the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia. DESIGN: Comparison of cancer mortality rates of the NT Indigenous population with those of the total Australian population for 1991-2000, and examination of time trends in cancer mortality rates in the NT Indigenous population, 1977-2000. PARTICIPANTS: NT Indigenous and total Australian populations, 1977-2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cancer mortality rate ratios and percentage change in annual mortality rates. RESULTS: The NT Indigenous cancer mortality rate was higher than the total Australian rate for cancers of the liver, lungs, uterus, cervix and thyroid, and, in younger people only, for cancers of the oropharynx, oesophagus and pancreas. NT Indigenous mortality rates were lower than the total Australian rates for renal cancers and melanoma and, in older people only, for cancers of the prostate and bowel. Differences between Indigenous and total Australian cancer mortality rates were more pronounced among those aged under 64 years for most cancers. NT Indigenous cancer mortality rates increased over the 24-year period for cancers of the oropharynx, pancreas and lung, all of which are smoking-related cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer is an important and increasing health problem for Indigenous Australians. Cancers that affect Indigenous Australians to a greater extent than other Australians are largely preventable (eg, through smoking cessation, Pap smear programs and hepatitis B vaccination).