Multiethnic differences in smoking in Israel: pooled analysis from three national surveys

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a major public health risk and information regarding high-risk groups is needed to plan, implement and evaluate interventions aimed at lowering the number of smokers. METHODS: During the years 1999-2001 data was collected regarding the smoking behaviour of the Israeli population in three national surveys. All three surveys included ages 25-64 and two included also ages 21-25 and over 64. RESULTS: Smoking was associated with age, sex, ethnicity, education and religiosity after adjusting for the various demographic characteristics of the survey population. The prevalence of smoking among Arab and immigrant men from the former Soviet Union is higher than among Jewish men. Among women the opposite association exists. The older, religious and more educated reported smoking less frequently. In the Jewish population respondents, defining themselves as secular, reported higher rates of smoking. Only in women was marital status associated with smoking. A few specific high-risk groups for smoking can be identified such as young, less educated men, Arab men, single Jewish women and young immigrant men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The three ethnic groups residing in Israel differ in the prevalence of smoking; each has a distinct pattern of smoking, positioning them at different stages within the conceptual framework of the larger smoking pandemic. Ethnicity, religiosity, age and education are associated with smoking in both sexes. This calls for specific tailored interventions aimed at younger men with less education, Arab men, and young immigrants.     

Crohn's disease in the Kinneret sub-district,Israel, 1960–1990

Crohn's disease has been predominant in Jewish patients in some countries (USA, UK, Sweden). The purposes of this study were: to continue to map the morbidity in Israel and the trends of the rate over time. The mean annual incidence rate in the Kinneret sub-district among Jews was 1.96/100,000 during 1960–1990 and 2.98/100,000 in the last decade. The prevalence rate in 1990 among Jews was 45.9/100,000 and was twofold among European-American-born compared to other ethnic groups. No cases were found among Arabs, although they make up about 25% of the area's population. The conclusions are: (1) morbidity rate of Crohn's disease increased over time, and (2) in the last decade incidence rates among Jews of Asian-African origin are similar to, or even higher than those of European-American origin.     

Help seeking and barriers to utilisation of medical and health social work services among ageing immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Union

The study aimed to examine utilisation of medical and health social work services among ageing recent and long-term immigrants, to identify barriers to service utilisation, and to examine factors related to utilisation. Participants (n = 402) recruited from a random community sample of immigrants from the former Soviet Union in Israel, aged 55 and over, residing in urban areas throughout the country were interviewed by telephone. Using an expanded framework of Andersen's behavioural model, the independent variables included predisposing, enabling and need variables, and additional variables--barriers to utilisation or difficulties encountered during utilisation of services. For multivariate analyses of the dependent variables, a linear multiple regression model was employed for utilisation of medical services and a logistic regression model for utilisation of social work services. The main findings show that utilisation rates were high for medical services, but low for social work services. Recent immigrants had similar utilisation rates of medical services but utilised more social work services than long-term immigrants. There were few barriers but numerous difficulties in utilisation of medical services, while there were barriers but negligible difficulties in utilisation of social work services. Predisposing and need variables explained utilisation of medical services, whereas a combination of predisposing, enabling and need variables explained utilisation of social work services. The findings suggest that different factors are associated with the use of non-discretionary versus discretionary (social work) services. There is a need to reduce difficulties in utilisation of medical services and to enhance awareness about health social work services among the immigrants.     

福州市老年人慢性病现状调查

目的了解福州市社区老年人的慢性病患病情况及其相关因素为开展社区老年人的预防保健工作提供依据.方法制定专门调查表于2002年4月～5月对福州市1767老年人慢性病患病现状进行问卷调查.结果老年人的总患病率为89.41%,其中患1种慢性病的占55.16%,同时患2种慢性病的占23.57%,患3种及以上慢性病的占21.27%.患病率随着年龄的增加而升高(P＜0.05).其中慢性支气管炎、脑血管意外男性明显高于女性,骨关节病女性明显高于男性(P＜0.05).结论福州市老年人慢性病患病率与年龄组呈线性上升趋势,其中主要以心血管疾病和肌肉骨骼系统性疾病为主,积极开展社区医疗保健服务及以高血压为主的老年人慢性病的综合防治是当务之急.     

重庆城市社区慢性阻塞性肺疾病流行病学调查

目的 获得重庆市城市地区慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患病率及其影响因素,为COPD早期防治提供依据.方法 2007年12月- 2008年1月,采用多级整群随机抽样方法,对重庆市南岸区城区南湖社区和裕华社区≥40岁常住居民2 133人进行问卷调查和肺功能检查,筛查其中的COPD患者,采用修订后的阻塞性肺疾病负担研究(BOLD)问卷进行调查.结果 2 024人调查问卷和肺功能检查合格,COPD患病率为7.9％( 160/2 024),男性患病率15.5％ (123/792),女性患病率3.0％ (37/1 232);吸烟者COPD患病率达15.9％ (118/743),COPD患者73.8％(118/160)有吸烟史;男性、高龄、低体质指数、有吸烟史、吸烟指数高、14岁以前经常咳嗽史、采用煤或生物燃料烹饪时无通风设备是COPD的重要危险因素,均OR＞1,差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.01);COPD患者中,仅58.8％曾经被诊断为COPD等呼吸气流受限疾病,仅24.4％曾经进行过肺功能检查,23.1％ COPD患者无症状.结论 重庆市城区COPD患病率高,漏诊多,肺功能检查率低;吸烟是COPD主要危险因素;应重视COPD的早期诊断,早期防治.     

Lung cancer histology in major ethnic groups among the Jews. Israel, 1962–1982

Lung cancer rates in Israel are lower than in other Western countries, not explainable by smoking habits. Due to the different relation of Squamous cell carcinoma (SgCC) and Adenocarcinoma (AC) with smoking it was of interest to study the histologic distribution in Israel. A total of 7508 histologically confirmed lung cancer cases among Jews were studied in the period 1962–82. SgCC was the leading tumor-type in Jewish men and AC in Jewish women. European-American born males in the last study period showed a decrease in SgCC rate while Asian-African born males showed a steep increase in SgCC rate, most prominent among the younger age-groups. Rates of AC increased in both, European-American and Asian-African males, but more steeply in the latter in most age-groups. Only for Large cell carcinoma were the overall rates higher in Asian-African than in European-American born males. SgCC increased in European-American born females and also steeply increased in the over 55 years old Asian-African born females. AC increased in European-American born females (both young and old), but only in the young Asian-African born females (decreasing in the older). European-American born Jews still have higher rates of both, more and less smoking related lung cancer histological types, than Asian-African born Jews. The steep increase in rates of some of the histological types m the latter with the pronounced increase in the younger age-groups is expected to cause a change in the ethnic rate-ratio which has already been demonstrated for the overall lung cancer rates. This probably reflects the acquisition of Western habits (mainly smoking) by the Jews from less developed countries.Corresponding author.     

昆明市铁路职工慢性肾脏病流行病学分析

目的研究云南省昆明市铁路系统职工慢性肾脏病(CKD)的患病情况及相关危险因素。方法在昆明市铁路系统职工中采用分层整群抽样方法,共抽取1 204人,进行CKD及相关危险因素问卷调查、体格检查和血尿检测。结果在资料完整的1 103人中,经过人口年龄、性别构成比校正后,白蛋白尿患病率为6.94%;血尿患病率为7.56%;肾功能下降患病率为1.83%,CKD患病率为14.61%;多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,高血压、糖尿病、高脂血症、高尿酸血症、年龄和性别是白蛋白尿的独立危险因素;高血压、高尿酸血症、性别和年龄是肾功能下降的独立危险因素;性别是血尿的独立危险因素。结论昆明市铁路系统职工CKD的患病情况与中国其他大城市及发达国家基本相似。     

农村居民慢性阻塞性肺疾病危险因素分析

目的 了解湖北省南部地区农村居民慢性阻塞性肺疾病(Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,COPD)患病率及危险因素,为防治慢性阻塞性肺疾病提供科学依据.方法 采用统一的流行病学调查表,以多阶段抽样方法,抽取湖北省南部地区农村居民1 883人进行调查,并进行体检和肺功能检测,对慢性阻塞性肺疾病的危险因素进行单因素和多因素Logistic分析.结果 共检出慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者186例,总患病率为9.88%,其中男性为13.68%,女性6.46%,男性高于女性(X2=27.48,P＜0.001);随年龄增高患病率逐渐上升(X2=79.22,P＜0.001).多因素分析表明,性别(OR=1.3010,95%CI=1.040 8～1.626 0,P=0.021)、年龄(OR=1.850 6,95%CI=1.041 9～3.287 0,P=0.036)、吸烟(OR=3.011 8,95%CI=1.552 3～5.844 3,P=0.000)、做饭频率(OR=1.765 1,95%CI=1.103 6～2.823 0,P=0.018)、家族史(OR=1.527 8,95%CI=1.150 7～2.028 3.P=0.003)、14岁以前经常咳嗽(OR=2.896 5,95%CI=1.130 1～7.423 8,P=0.026)为慢性阻塞性肺疾病的危险因素.结论 湖北省南部农村慢性阻塞性肺疾病患病率较高,应针对危险因素采取综合干预措施降低发病率.     

Mortality among young immigrants to California: injury compared to disease deaths

According to a variety of indicators, immigrants are in better health than the U.S.-born population. Little research, however, has investigated foreign- and U.S.-born differentials in mortality. We investigated adolescent and young adult immigrants' risk of death due to disease and injury, the leading cause of death of young persons in the United States. The death certificates of 15- to 34-year-old California residents who died from 1989 through 1993 comprised the study population. Disease and injury deaths were identified using ICD-9 codes on the California Master Mortality data files. Frequencies and gender-standardized rates and risk ratios were calculated by nativity (U.S., non-U.S.) and by ethnicity and nativity. Immigrants are represented appropriately in unintentional injury deaths but underrepresented in suicides and overrepresented in homicides among 15- to 34-year-old California residents. Hispanics appear to account for the foreign- and U.S.-born differences in suicide and homicide. By contrast, immigrants constitute a lower proportion of disease deaths than expected. Empirical data about health risks to immigrants are needed to develop informed policy. These data indicate that young immigrants, at least in terms of mortality, do not constitute a burden in that they are at lower or similar risk of death than U.S.-born youth. Homicide is the sole exception to this pattern.     

The relative prevalence of disease symptoms for ill persons: evidence from Benin

In developing countries, the usual modelling of the correlates of health problems is not a good fit for the health phenomena encountered and the available data. Indeed, three common situations occur: (a) it is often the observed symptoms that are used to determine medical interventions instead of specific disease diagnostics or general health indicators; (b) the ill persons described by the data are often affected by multiple health problems; and (c) the correlates of the full spectrum of all symptoms need to be considered together. In this paper, these issues are dealt with by proposing a statistical approach based on competing scores of symptoms that explain their relative prevalence among the observed ill persons. Using multinomial logit models, the relative prevalence of four symptoms was estimated for four age classes of ill persons in Benin. Socio-demographic characteristics, household equipment and consumption behaviour are shown to influence the relative prevalence of symptoms and therefore could be used to decide what treatment to use. Moreover, living standards and economic activities are important and the pattern of symptoms among poor or agricultural ill persons differs from that of the rich or the non-peasants. The proposed method can be used to assist the definition of target groups and to guide the allocation of scarce resources in poor countries.     

Understanding of cardiovascular disease risk factors among Bangladeshi immigrants in New York City

Objectives: Among all South Asians, Bangladeshis have the highest prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The purpose of our study was to compare the understanding of CVD risk factors among Bangladeshi immigrants to the general Caucasian population in the U.S.

Design: We surveyed Bangladeshi immigrants in Queens, New York using a CVD risk factor knowledge instrument used in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study to assess awareness of risk factors. Using multivariate regression modeling, we compared scores on the knowledge instrument between Bangladeshis we surveyed and Caucasians from the CARDIA study, controlling for potential confounders. We subsequently examined the frequency of mentioning each risk factor to understand what was driving the difference in the overall score.

Results: The proportion of Bangladeshis scoring low on the knowledge assessment was 0.53, where as the proportion of whites scoring low in the CARDIA study was 0.32 (p value?<?.001). Whites were 34% more likely to score high than Bangladeshis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19–1.52). Bangladeshis were more likely to mention diet and cholesterol as risk factors and less likely to mention lack of exercise, being overweight, and smoking as risk factors.

Conclusion: Understanding of cardiovascular disease risk factors was lower among Bangladeshis than whites. This was driven by Bangladeshis having less awareness regarding how exercise and being overweight contribute to CVD. Community based interventions and community health partnerships should target these behavioral risk factors in the Bangladeshi population.     

怒族的体质调查

  目的  分析2016年云南省≥15岁怒族居民慢性病患病及其影响因素。  方法  采用整群随机抽样的方法,于2016年在云南省怒族集聚地贡山县丙中洛乡抽取1个居（村）民委员会209户家庭236名≥15岁怒族居民,采用统一的调查表对个人的健康与行为生活方式进行问卷调查,采用非条件logistic回归进行多因素分析。  结果  2016年云南省≥15岁怒族居民超重或肥胖、高血压、糖尿病、血脂异常和脑卒中患病率分别为4.9 %、12.4 %、5.8 %、7.3 %和0.5 %。单因素分析结果显示,性别、职业、家庭年收入、现在吸烟、医学体检、父亲患有高血压、母亲患有高血压、兄弟/姐妹患有高血压、兄弟/姐妹患有冠心病等9个变量与≥15岁怒族居民慢性病患病有统计学关联（P < 0.1）,排除其他变量的影响后,家庭年收入为15 000～19 999元（OR = 0.046,P = 0.008）是2016年≥15岁怒族居民慢性病患病的保护因素。  结论  云南省≥15岁怒族居民慢性病患病状况不容忽视,家庭年收入状况是影响云南省≥15岁怒族居民慢性病患病的主要因素。     

禹州市退休教师慢性非传染性疾病现状调查

目的通过对禹州市2 051名退休教师慢性疾病患病情况的调查和对比分析,掌握禹州市退休教师慢性疾病的患病现状。方法 2011年3月至4月,对禹州市教育系统退休教师2 051名进行既往病史调查和健康体检,统计分析血脂异常,脂肪肝,高血压病,糖尿病与冠心病5种慢性疾病的患病率。结果血脂异常342人,患病率为16.67%,脂肪肝429人,患病率为20.92%,高血压为671人,患病率为32.72%,糖尿病263人,患病率12.82%,冠心病166人,患病率为8.09%。结论禹州市退休教师总体患病率较高。     

长庆油田职工慢性疾病现状调查

目的通过对长庆油田24 556名职工慢性疾病患病情况的调查和对比分析,掌握长庆油田职工慢性疾病的患病现状。方法 2008年4月-2009年7月,对长庆油田陇东、陕北、西安部分单位24 556名在职职工进行既往病史调查和健康体检,统计分析血脂异常、脂肪肝、高血压病、糖尿病与冠心病5种慢性疾病的患病率。结果血脂异常5 476人,患病率为22.3%,脂肪肝3 929人,患病率为16.0%,高血压3 284人,患病率为13.4%,糖尿病993人,患病率为4.0%,冠心病1 397人,患病率为5.7%。结论长庆油田职工慢性疾病总体患病率较高。     

Serological markers of Hepatitis B and C among juvenile immigrants from Albania settled in Greece

Abstract

Background: Greece is a place of settlement for a large number of immigrants, particularly from Albania, which constitute special community groups for public health policies. Objectives: This study was designed to assess the seroprevalence of serological markers for Hepatitis B and C among juvenile immigrants from Albania settled in Greece. Methods: The study population included 504 subjects, 418 males and 86 females, aged 10–23 years old who have emigrated from Albania to Pogoniani-Greece and participated voluntarily in vaccination programmes against Hepatitis B. The serum samples were examined with enzyme immune assays for the immunological markers HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV. HBsAg positive samples were further tested for IgM anti-HBc, HBeAg and anti-HBe. Results: Among the examined subjects, 40.5% were found positive for anti-HBc, indicating an HBV contamination. Specifically, 11.7% were carriers of HBsAg, whereas 28.8% were negative for HBsAg but positive for anti-HBc. Only 6.5% was positive exclusively for anti-HBs. The rest (53.0%) presented no positive serological markers. Among the HBsAg positive patients, 8.5% were found positive for HBeAg, while 5.1% was positive for IgM anti-HBc. Finally, only 0.6% of the sample presented antibodies against HCV.

Conclusion: The examined migratory population is described by a high prevalence of Hepatitis B. Therefore, specific public health measures are necessary. However, no data was found that indicate potential public health dangers regarding hepatitis C.     

西部地区农村居民慢性病患病率多因素分析

目的：分析影响西部地区农村居民慢性病患病率的多种因素，为提高西部地区农村居民健康状况提供建议。方法：根据西部省份社会与经济发展监测研究部分调查数据，对影响西部地区农村居民慢性病患病率的多种因素进行logistic回归分析，建立回归模型。结果：对西部地区农村居民慢性病患病率产生显著影响的多种因素中以年龄因素最为重要：结论：积极应对人口老龄化问题、提高农村居民经济收入、提高卫生厕所和自来水普及率、改善农村居民娱乐设施和交通状况、提高医疗保险履盖率等，有助于降低西部地区农村居民的慢性病患病率，改善当地居民健康状况。     

The feasibility of using local general practice data to estimate the prevalence of childhood disabling conditions

Aims This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using general practice data to estimate the prevalence of potentially disabling conditions in young people aged 0–18 years. Background There are limited data that estimate the prevalence of disabling conditions in children and young people and are suitable to inform service planning. This has been highlighted by several government documents and parent groups. The current study analysed anonymized data from 5 general practices in Bristol, UK (n = 10 756 children and young people aged 0–18 years). A comprehensive Read Code list was created to identify children and young people with potentially disabling conditions and the severity of conditions was compared with General Practitioner completed free text within the computerized system. Results Across these practices an average 4.9% (95% confidence intervals 4.5–5.3) of children and young people had a significant physical or mental difficulty that could impact on their daily living. The most common disabling conditions in our sample were in the ICF category of mental function 36% (including general and specific developmental delays and mental health diagnoses). Conclusion This study suggests that routinely collected data may provide much needed robust information to inform service provision for some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our communities. It also highlights the need for improved data systems for disability services.     

Milk consumption and prevalence of coronary heart disease in men and women from the Scottish Heart Health Study

This report uses cross-sectional results from the Scottish Heart Health Study to investigate whether milk consumption has an independent effect on the prevalence of coronary heart disease. Milk consumption was assessed by questionnaire in men and women aged 40–59 years (n = 10359) who participated in a survey of risk factors for coronary heart disease between 1984 and 1986. Odds ratios for coronary heart disease were calculated according to volume and type of milk consumed for subjects with and without symptoms of coronary heart disease. Statistical adjustment was made for the classicial risk factors.
A higher percentage of men and women with diagnosed coronary heart disease (CHD) usually consume low-fat milk, compared with asymptomatic controls. Odds ratios for having undiagnosed heart disease did not differ significantly with volume or type of milk. However, the odds ratios for having diagnosed heart disease were lower in the moderate (0.5–1 pint/d) milk consumption group. Patterns of milk consumption in patients diagnosed as having CHD are likely to be confounded by dietary changes post-diagnosis. Milk consumption appears to have little independent effect on the prevalence of coronary heart disease in this Scottish population.