The validity of Maori mortality statistics

Data from an Auckland coronary heart disease register have been used to assess the validity of Maori mortality statistics produced by the National Health Statistics Centre. During the period 1983-4, 804 people aged 35-64 years and resident in the Auckland statistical region, were identified by both the register and death registration data as having died of coronary heart disease. The coronary heart disease register failed to classify the ethnicity of thirteen of these people. Of the remaining 791 cases, the register classified 80 as Maori while only 44 were classified as Maori in the national death registration data; over the period 1983-4 Maori mortality due to coronary heart disease in the Auckland statistical region was understated by 82% (80-44/44). Although some of this discrepancy may be due to differences in classification of ethnicity, the major reason for the understatement is missing information on the death registration form. Simple changes in the documentation of ethnicity could markedly reduce the degree of underreporting.     

Coronary heart disease mortality in Auckland Maori and Europeans

This paper investigates the differential between Maori and European coronary heart disease mortality in Auckland by analysing data from an Auckland register of coronary heart disease. The age standardised coronary heart disease mortality rate for Maori men is 1.6 times higher than for European men, and the rate for Maori women is 4.2 times higher than that of European women. Maori mortality is disproportionately high for women, and for the younger age groups. Maori and European who died of definite myocardial infarction in Auckland between 1983-86 showed little difference in severity of coronary artery occlusion at post mortem, and the likelihood of cardiomyopathy contributing a major part to Maori heart disease mortality is small.     

Perinatal mortality statistics in Harare 1980-1989.

Perinatal and neonatal mortality rates, in the Greater Harare Maternity Unit, which showed a modest decline from 1980 to 1985, have rise dramatically since then. Half of the rise in neonatal mortality rate is due to increased numbers and an increased mortality rate in babies of birth weight less than 1001g. There is also an increase in the numbers of deaths of large babies. There is a strong case for a broad-based on-going enquiry into the reasons for such changes.     

Social class mortality differences in Maori and non-Maori men aged 15-64 during the last two decades

AIMS: This investigation uses data from 1996-97 to update previous studies of social class mortality differences in Maori and non-Maori New Zealand men aged 15-64 years. METHODS: Numerator data were obtained from the national death registrations and denominator data were from the 1976, 1986 and 1996 censi. For each social class, age standardised death rates in Maori and non-Maori men were calculated for amenable, non-amenable and all causes of mortality. RESULTS: Maori male mortality was significantly higher than non-Maori mortality in each social class and for the total population for amenable (overall RR = 5.3(CI = 4.0-6.9)), non-amenable (overall RR = 2.4(2.2-2.6)) and all causes of mortality (overall RR = 2.4(2.3-2.6)). The social class mortality differences within Maori (relative index of inequality was 3.3) were markedly greater than non-Maori class differences (RII = 1.5). CONCLUSIONS: The persistently high Maori mortality rates, when controlled for social class, indicate that the poor state of Maori health cannot be explained solely by relative socioeconomic disadvantage. The high Maori rate of potentially preventable deaths indicates that the health sector is still not meeting the serious health needs of many Maori. The social class mortality gradient within Maori underlines the need to address disparities within Maori.     

简析化学药品注册分类改革对药品研发的影响

国家食品药品监督管理总局于2016年调整了化学药品注册分类。分析化学药品新旧注册分类中的新药、仿制药概念、内涵以及技术标准的变化。与2007年版法规相比,新法规对新药和仿制药的定义均发生了明显变化,新药的范围缩小,要求更为严格和准确,仿制药的适用范围扩大,在技术标准方面达到国际要求。药品注册制度改革对医药研发产生了深远影响：促使国内医药市场重新洗牌,鼓励企业加大研发和创新力度,加快进入国际市场的步伐。     

Closing the loop of the medication use process using electronic medication administration registration

Recent reports and studies of errors in the medication process have raised the awareness of the threat to public health. An essential step in this multi-stage process is the actual administration of a medicine to the patient. The closed loop system is thought to be a way of preventing medication errors. Current information technology can facilitate this process. This article describes the way barcode technology is being used to facilitate medication administration registration on several wards in our hospital and nursing home.