Mortality from asthma in Western Australia

From a cohort of all 5760 male and 4979 female patients who were admitted to WA hospitals and were discharged with a diagnosis of asthma between 1976 and 1980, 265 deaths in men and 189 deaths in women were identified by the end of 1982. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for all causes of death for this cohort was 1.6 for men (P less than 0.001) and 1.7 for women (P less than 0.001). Both sexes showed a significant increase in deaths that were attributable to asthma (SMR, 57.9), chronic airflow obstruction (SMR, 9.3) and ischaemic heart disease (SMR, 1.3). The excess death rates for asthma were observed in all age groups, but those for chronic airflow obstruction and ischaemic heart disease were present in older age groups only. These findings indicate that asthma remains a potentially fatal disease in the Australian community. The excess mortality ratios for chronic airflow obstruction that were observed in patients who were admitted to hospital with asthma also suggest that asthma may result in irreversible airflow obstruction.     

Short QTc in epilepsy patients without cardiac symptoms

Epilepsy patients have a higher mortality rate than the general population. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major cause of mortality for these patients. The possibility of cardiac involvement in the pathogenesis of SUDEP has been suggested by many previous studies. This study compared the QT interval in epilepsy patients and normal controls, and identified the factors that affected the QT interval. Standard 12-lead ECGs were recorded from 70 consecutive epilepsy patients from the neurology clinic of HUKM and 70 age, race and gender matched controls. The mean QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) was calculated and compared. The mean QTc among the epilepsy patients was 0.401 +/- 0.027s. It was significantly shorter than the QTc (0.420 +/- 0.027s) in the control group (p<0.0005). Thirty five epilepsy patients (50%) and 17 matched controls (24.3%) had a mean QTc shorter than 0.40s (p=0.001). Among the epilepsy patients, the mean QTc did not significantly differ between patients in the duration (F=0.836, p=0.438) of the epilepsy, frequency (F=0.273, p=0.845) and types of seizures (p=0.633). There was no significant difference in the mean QTc between the epilepsy patients on different number of antiepileptic agents (F=0.444, p=0.643). Patients with cryptogenic epilepsy had a mean QTc of 0.392 +/- 0.029s, which was significantly shorter than patients with symptomatic epilepsy (QTc = 0.410 +/- 0.027s, p = 0.015). The mean QTc of the same subjects showed no significant interobserver difference (p=0.661). This study, for the first time, demonstrates that epilepsy patients have a significantly shorter QTc than controls, particularly in the subgroup of patients with cryptogenic epilepsy.     

Snoring as a risk factor for ischaemic heart disease and stroke in men

The association of snoring with ischaemic heart disease and stroke was studied prospectively in 4388 men aged 40-69. The men were asked, in a questionnaire sent to them, whether they snored habitually, frequently, occasionally, or never. Hospital records and death certificates were checked for the next three years to establish how many of the men developed ischaemic heart disease or stroke: the numbers were 149 and 42, respectively. Three categories of snoring were used for analysis: habitual and frequent snorers (n = 1294), occasional snorers (n = 2614), and non-snorers (n = 480). The age adjusted relative risk of ischaemic heart disease between habitual plus frequent snorers and non-snorers was 1.91 (p less than 0.01) and for ischaemic heart disease or stroke, or both, 2.38 (p less than 0.001). There were no cases of stroke among the non-snorers. Adjustment for age, body mass index, history of hypertension, smoking, and alcohol use did not significantly decrease the relative risks, which were 1.71 (p greater than 0.05) for ischaemic heart disease and 2.08 (p less than 0.01) for ischaemic heart disease and stroke combined. At the beginning of follow up in 1981, 462 men reported a history of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. For them the relative risk of ischaemic heart disease between habitual plus frequent snorers and non-snorers was 1.30 (NS); for men without previous ischaemic heart disease 2.72 (p less than 0.05). Snoring seems to be a potential determinant of risk of ischaemic heart disease and stroke.     

Prognosis in adult asthma: a national study

Although one million people consult their general practitioners for asthma each year, data on the prognosis of this disease are scarce, particularly in adults. Mortality was studied among 2547 adult asthmatics attending a national sample of 60 general practices between 1970 and 1976; they were compared with a matched group of non-asthmatic patients. Mortality from all causes was significantly raised in the asthmatic cohort (189 deaths v 112 among controls; relative risk 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 2.0), especially in women (92 v 42 deaths; relative risk 2.2 (1.5 to 3.1)), and in the oldest age group (55-59 years). In both sexes the predominant cause of excess mortality was respiratory disease, particularly asthma (25 v 0 deaths) and chronic obstructive airways disease (37 v 4 deaths; relative risk 8.8 (2.8 to 23)). Overall, 94% of the asthmatic cohort survived the mean follow up period of eight years compared with 96% of the controls. In contrast to previous findings, the risk of death due to malignant neoplasms was not significantly reduced overall (34 v 36 deaths), though the risk was significantly reduced among those aged under 45 years (2 v 10 deaths; relative risk 0.2 (0.02 to 0.9)) and there was a significant trend of lowering of relative risk with younger age (p less than 0.01).     

Total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol in the serum and risk of mortality: evidence of a threshold effect

The association of serum total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol values with 15 year mortality was examined in a cohort of 10 059 Israeli male civil servants and municipal employees aged 40 and above. In 618 of 1664 deaths in the cohort (37%) coronary heart disease was documented as the cause of death. Risk of mortality was analysed by quintiles. Neither total mortality nor coronary heart disease mortality rose with serum cholesterol concentrations up to 5.6 mmol/1 (216 mg/100 ml), representing 60% of the sample. Rates rose appreciably only in the highest quintile (cholesterol concentration greater than 6.2 mmol/1; greater than 241 mg/100 ml). High density lipoprotein cholesterol was similarly, although inversely, associated with total mortality when expressed as a percentage of total cholesterol. The inverse association of high density lipoprotein cholesterol with coronary heart disease mortality was, in contrast, continuous. These data support the hypothesis that over most of the range of cholesterol values coronary mortality risk and total mortality risk are nearly independent of total cholesterol and most probably independent of low density lipoprotein cholesterol values. In multivariate analysis a low concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol appeared to be more predictive of mortality than a high concentration of total cholesterol. The latter was very weakly related to mortality from all causes after multivariate adjustment. It is concluded that the findings of this and other major epidemiological studies support the notion of a "threshold effect." Success in reducing mortality through the pharmacological reduction of serum cholesterol in hypercholesterolaemic patients does not warrant a similar approach in people with average or slightly above average values. These findings appear to provide support for a "high risk strategy" in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.     

Fatal ischaemic heart disease in Belfast: a comparison of two community surveys

Data from two community surveys in Belfast were used to compare all deaths attributed to ischaemic heart disease during two one-year periods (1965/66 and 1981/82). There was an increase in mortality in men of all ages from 3.3 to 4.4 per 1,000 population (33%) and in women from 1.6 to 3.1 per 1,000 population (94%). Only in men aged less than 70 years was the mortality rate unchanged (2.2 per 1,000 population). The proportion of deaths in persons whose fatal attack began outside the hospital was virtually unchanged (65% in 1965/66 compared with 69% in 1981/82). Survival time was markedly decreased in the later survey, as were delay times in initiating medical care. The increase in mortality probably is due to an increase in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction. The introduction of mobile coronary care in Belfast in 1965 seems to have had equal effects in reducing mortality inside and outside hospital.     

Cardiovascular mortality in Peninsular Malaysia: 1950-1989.

Mortality statistics of Peninsular Malaysia for the period 1950-1989 have been studied in relation to cardiovascular diseases, with particular emphasis on coronary heart disease as an important cause of death. It was observed that among six major disease groups reviewed, cardiovascular diseases which occupied third place as a cause of death in 1950 emerged as the number one killer during the 1970s and has remained so since (with exception in 1980). In contrast, infectious diseases which ranked first in 1950 dropped to fourth position in 1980. Between 1960 and 1980, mortality due to cardiovascular diseases was higher in males than in females. This tendency became less apparent during 1985-1989. With reference to race, the incidence of cardiovascular deaths was highest in Indians followed by Chinese and Malays. Among the specific cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart and cerebrovascular diseases accounted for the main causes of mortality. Mortality due to coronary heart disease has increased by more than three fold over the last 40 years and is still rising. However, mortality incidence due to rheumatic heart disease and hypertension decreased during the same period. In 1965, mortality due to coronary heart disease was highest in the 55-59 age group. In recent years (1985 to 1989), it shifted to the older age group (i.e. 65-69). There was a tendency for higher mortality due to coronary heart disease in males compared to females. Indians had a higher mortality due to coronary heart disease than Chinese and Malays.     

The changing face of death: recent trends in Australian mortality

The principal causes of death for persons aged between 55 and 64 years are identified from Australian mortality data for 1966 and 1977. Four conditions--ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, bronchial carcinoma, and chronic airways disease--account for 62% of deaths in this age group, with 36% of deaths being attributed to ischaemic heart disease. Changes in age-specific mortality rates during the period from 1966 to 1977 are described for each of these four conditions. There have been substantial reductions in mortality from vascular disease in both sexes, and this trend has accelerated since 1974. A recent fall in mortality from bronchial carcinoma and chronic airways disease is indicated for males, while death rates from these disorders continue to increase rapidly for females. The introduction of beta-blockade in the treatment of vascular disease, and changes in the pattern of cigarette smoking are discussed in relation to these mortality trends.     

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.     

Changes in incidence and prognosis of ischaemic heart disease in Finland: a record linkage study of data on death certificates and hospital records for 1972 and 1981

The components of the decline in mortality from ischaemic heart disease in Finland were studied by analysing the changes in incidence and prognosis between 1972 and 1981. Using personal identification numbers, hospital discharge records and death certificates were linked for all men and women aged 40-64. During this period mortality decreased 15.9% in men and 23.5% in women, incidence 14.2% in men and 19.3% in women, being greatest among 40-49 year olds living in urban areas, and case fatality 7.3% in men and 10.3% in women, owing primarily to a decrease in patients dying of ischaemic heart disease without being admitted to hospital; survival was also better among patients admitted to hospital. Factors explaining these changes remain unknown because data on risk factors and factors influencing prognosis are limited and largely ecological.     

Type A behaviour and ischaemic heart disease in middle aged British men

The Bortner questionnaire, which measures aspects of type A (coronary prone) behaviour was completed by 5936 men aged 40-59 selected at random from one general practice in each of 19 British towns. The presence of ischaemic heart disease was determined at initial examination and the men were followed up for an average of 6.2 years for morbidity and mortality from myocardial infarction and for sudden cardiac death. Non-manual workers had significantly higher scores (more type A) than manual workers and the score decreased (less type A) with increasing age. After adjustment for social class and age men with higher scores had higher prevalences of ischaemic heart disease less marked for electrocardiographic evidence and more marked for response to a chest pain questionnaire (angina or possible myocardial infarction). A man's recall of a doctor's diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease, however, did not relate to his Bortner score. There was no significant relation between the Bortner score and the attack rate or incidence of major ischaemic heart disease events. In this study type A behaviour, as measured by the Bortner questionnaire, did not predict major ischaemic heart disease events in British middle aged men.     

A study of 8 year neonatal deaths (1982-1989) of Toa Payoh Hospital

A study of 233 neonatal deaths out of 30910 livebirths over an 8 year period in the Toa Payoh Hospital is done. The Hospital has since ceased providing obstetric and neonatal intensive services from April 1990 due to restructuring of hospital care. The Neonatal Mortality Rates (NNMR) from 1982-1989 ranged from 6.52 to 9.55 and there was no significant fall in trend (p = 0.13). One hundred and thirteen (48.5%) neonates who died were below 1500gm (VLBW). Various causes of neonatal deaths were examined and there was a decline in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) death rates (p less than 0.0002). Deaths due to asphyxia (p greater than 0.05) and infections (p greater than 0.05) have not declined significantly over the same period. It is also observed that less VLBW babies died over this 8 year period and the VLBW mortality rates (p less than 0.02) have declined. However, the congenital malformation mortality has also not declined significantly (p = 0.92) though early study (1972-1981) showed an increasing trend of malformation deaths among total neonatal deaths (p less than 0.02). Improvement in VLBW and RDS management has not contributed to a significant decline in NNMR. It is observed that more VLBW babies were born during this 8 year period (p = 0.01) especially so in the less than 1000 gm group (p = 0.0005) and the survival of VLBW babies has improved (45.5% to 75.8% alive) as a result of advances in neonatal intensive care. The reasons for increase in incidence of VLBW births in the past few years are not known.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

长沙地区12万人口1985,1986两年死亡调查报告

本文报告长沙地区12万人口中1985,1986两年30岁以上死亡者共1494人;其主要死因为心血管疾病,脑中风、肿瘤次之。心血管疾病中,以肺源性心脏病死亡率最高,冠状动脉性心脏病次之。猝死111人,60岁以上者猝死率明显增加。     

Systolic and diastolic blood pressures as predictors of coronary heart disease mortality in the Whitehall study

Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were compared as predictors of death due to coronary heart disease using data on the 10 year mortality outcome from the 18 403 male civil servants, aged 40-64, in the Whitehall study. There were 727 deaths due to coronary heart disease. At entry to the study the systolic pressure in these men was significantly higher than the diastolic pressure, and a standardised index of relative risk for death from coronary heart disease was greater for systolic blood pressure. After adjustment for age the top quintile of systolic pressure (greater than 151 mm Hg) identified 5% more men at risk of death from coronary heart disease than for the top diastolic quintile (greater than 95 mm Hg). The findings suggested that clinicians should pay more attention to systolic levels as a criterion for making diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.     

抗癫痫药物与血脂异常相关性的Meta分析

目的 运用Meta分析方法评估抗癫痫药物与血脂异常的相关性,为合理选择抗癫痫药物及明确抗癫痫药物对血脂异常的不良影响提供更为有利的依据.方法 以"抗癫痫药"、抗惊厥药"及"血脂"为关键词对万方、维普及中国知网三大数据库建库至2017年3月所有文献进行检索.仅纳入关于抗癫痫药物与血脂异常的病例对照研究及队列研究.对所纳入的文献进行客观的评价质量后,采用RevMan5.3分析软件进行数据分析.结果 最终纳入18篇研究,共878例研究对象,涉及到的抗癫痫药物包括丙戊酸钠、卡马西平、苯妥英钠、苯巴比妥、拉莫三嗪及托吡酯.Meta分析结果示丙戊酸钠会导致总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)及低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)水平的增加,差异具有显著统计学意义(P<0.01);卡马西平会增加TC、甘油三酯(TG)、HDL-C及LDL-C的水平,差异有显著统计学意义(P<0.01).苯妥英钠会降低TC、TG及LDL-C的血清水平,差异具有显著统计学意义(P<0.01).结论 抗癫痫药可能会改变癫痫患者血脂水平,尤其是卡马西平、丙戊酸钠及苯妥英钠.临床医生及癫痫患者都需提高对血脂异常的管理,从而避免血管疾病的发生.     

Using verbal autopsy to identify and proportionally assign cause of death in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria

Reliable and accurate data remain scarce on the cause and rates of mortality among adults in sub-Saharan Africa. The Idikan Adult Mortality Study, a prospective community-based study was initiated in order to obtain the overall as well as cause-specific mortality data for a community of adults (15 years and above). Standardised verbal autopsy questionnaire was used to investigate and assign the mode and cause of death. There were 232 reported deaths in the baseline population of 4127 adults over 5 years, giving an unadjusted death rate of 11.2 per 1000 per year. Thirty-nine (16.8% ) of these death occurred suddenly. The commonest known cause of death was due to cardiovascular disease, which was responsible for 43 (18.5% ) of all deaths. It was also the commonest known cause of sudden death accounting for 30.8% of such deaths. Infection was responsible for 28 (12.1% ) deaths while injury accounted for 7 (2.6% ) deaths. Subjects, 50 years and above were more likely to die and also die suddenly than were the younger subject (p<0.0001, p<0.0001) and significantly more death occurred in males than females (6.9% versus 4.7% ) (P<0.01). Deaths were also more likely to have occurred at home and outside the hospital, increasing the probability of these deaths being underreported. Following multivariate logistic regression analysis, respondents between the age of 20 -49 years had significantly reduced risk of dying (p=0.029), while cigarette smoking significantly increased the risk of dying (p=0.012). In the absence of the urgently needed vital statistics, use of verbal autopsies is a potentially useful investigative method for identifying and assigning cause of adult deaths in a community.     

急性脑卒中患者发病24h内血压变化与其早期病死率的关系

目的: 探讨急性脑卒中患者发病24 h内血压(收缩压和舒张压)的变化与早期病死率(1个月)及病死原因之间的关系。方法: 研究3年来第一次确诊急性脑卒中患者46,监测发病24 h内血压(收缩压和舒张压),随访1个月。结果: 急性缺血或出血性脑卒中患者的病死率与入院时收缩压和舒张压成"U"关系。急性脑卒中患者急性期有一个最佳血压:缺血性为121~140/81~90 mmHg,出血性为141~160/91~100 mmHg,大于或小于该血压病死率均增高(P<0.05~P<0.01)。发病24 h内收缩压低于等于"U"形线低点的患者最常见的病死原因是心血管疾病,高于"U"形线低点的则是严重脑损伤。结论: 急性缺血或出血性脑卒中患者发病24 h内血压过低或过高均与早期病死率增加有关,血压低者高病死率与心脏疾病有关;血压高者高病死率与脑水肿致严重脑损伤有关。     

Observation on anti-brain antibody in serum of 110 epileptics.

Cerebrocyte antigens of human embryo and indirect assay of solid phase ELISA were applied to measure concentrations of IgG subunit of serum anti-brain antibody (ABA) and other immunological indexes in 110 epileptics, 36 neurasthenic patients and 52 normal individuals. The results showed that the levels and abnormal rate of serum ABA in epileptic patients was much higher than those of controls (P less than 0.001). However there was no difference among the controls (P greater than 0.05). It suggested that epilepsy might be caused by certain factors resulting in the exposure of the sealed brain antigen which in turn stimulates ABA production and autoimmune responses. The serum level of ABA was correlated with that of serum IgG and IgA (P less than 0.05), but not with age, duration of disease, seizure types and the use or nonuse of anticonvulsive drugs (P greater than 0.05).

     

Recent changes in attack and survival rates of acute myocardial infarction (1975 through 1981). The Worcester Heart Attack Study

A communitywide study was conducted in all 16 acute general hospitals in the metropolitan Worcester, Mass, area during the calendar years 1975, 1978, and 1981 to examine time trends in the attack and case-fatality rates of patients hospitalized with validated acute myocardial infarction as well as of the occurrence of out-of-hospital coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths. Between 1975 and 1981, there was an increase in the age-adjusted attack rates of initial events of acute myocardial infarction (1975, 254/100,000; 1981, 280/100,000) as well as recurrent events (1975, 133/100,000; 1981, 156/100,000). These overall increases were due to an increase among those 65 years of age and older, with no significant changes observed in those less than 65 years old. The age-adjusted in-hospital case-fatality rates declined from 22.1% in 1975 to 20.3% in 1978 and 17.4% in 1981. In examining long-term prognosis, no significant differences were seen over an eight-year follow-up period between patients discharged in 1975, 1978, and 1981. The age-adjusted mortality rates of out-of-hospital CHD deaths significantly declined between 1975 (229/100,000) and 1981 (147/100,000). The results of this population-based survey suggest that recently observed declines in the mortality rates of CHD may reflect decreases in out-of-hospital coronary deaths and improving trends in the in-hospital survival of patients with acute myocardial infarction.