Prevalence and control of arterial hypertension in the south-east of Spain: A radical but still insufficient improvement

Stroke mortality rates in Spain are one of the highest in all of Europe. At the same time, the Murcia region (south-east Spain) shows, for both genders, the highest age-adjusted stroke mortality rates in all of Spain. The earliest available hypertension figure estimations for this area go back to 1981, when a high prevalence combined with an almost nonexistent control was detected. One decade later, updated prevalence estimations of hypertension are presented jointly with their degree of control and their association with other risk factors based on the results of a prevalence survey in a random population sample (n = 3,091). Arterial blood pressure was measured following the MONICA protocol, maintaining a tight quality control on between and within-observer variability. As hypertensive was considered as any person with systolic blood pressure (SBP) 140 mmHg or with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 90 mmHg or with antihypertensive pharmacological treatment. Detected prevalence rises to 32.3% (CI 95%: 29.1%–35.5%) among males and to 23.7% (CI 95%: 21.4%– 26%) among females, maintaining its level regarding figures observed back in 1981. However, its control has been increased, especially among hypertensive women [from less than 5% in 1981 to 35% (95% CI: 32%–37.8%) at present]. Hypertension is strongly associated to hipercholesterolemia, overweight, obesity and diabetes (p < 0.01). On the contrary, it shows an opposite association with current smoking, higher educational level and leisure time physical activity (p < 0.01). The highest educational level was associated with better hypertension treatment and control. In summary, while hypertension prevalence is stabilized in our population, its control has improved in a measurable but still insufficient way. These results are in accordance with a decreasing trend in stroke mortality registered in the Murcia Region along the last decade.     

Physical Recreation of Women with Turner Syndrome (TS)

Objective. The aim of the study is physical activity evaluation of women with Turner Syndrome in Poland. Material and method. Direct survey method was introduced to evaluate 176 cases of women with TS older than 18 years old. The study was carried out between March 01, 1995 and June 30, 1997 in Consulting Room For Women With TS, and then from July 01, 1997 to December 07, 2002 in Outpatient Clinic For Women With Turner Syndrome in Bytom. Objects of evaluation. 1 – participation in physical activity, 2 – volume of exercises, 3 – forms (kinds) of physical recreation. Data from points 1 and 2 were related to analogous data concerning women from Polish general population as well as to previously collected data from TS women. Results. Fory two percent women being evaluated didn’t participate in any form of physical recreation and 41% participated it occasionally. But 17% patient went in for physical activity on regular basis and in sufficient volume (about 3h a week). Forms of activities were diverse. Patients specified 33 kinds of it. Among the most frequent there were gymnastics, swimming, cycling and strolling. Conclusions. 1 – Despite that only part of women with TS practice physical recreation on regular basis and in proper volume, there are still many more of them comparing to Polish general population. 2 – More and more patients practice physical recreation in a proper volume in time. 3 – Forms of physical recreations are diverse.     

A Comparison of the Sodium Content of Supermarket Private-Label and Branded Foods in Australia

Supermarket private-label products are perceived to be lower quality than their branded counterparts. Excess dietary sodium in foods contributes to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Sodium concentrations in products are an important indicator of quality. We compared the sodium content of 15,680 supermarket private-label and branded products, available in four Australian supermarkets between 2011–2013, overall and for 15 food categories. Mean sodium values were compared for: (1) all products in 2013; (2) products in both 2011 and 2013; and (3) products only in 2013. Comparisons were made using paired and unpaired t tests. In each year the proportion of supermarket private-label products was 31%–32%, with overall mean sodium content 17% (12%–23%) lower than branded products in 2013 (p ≤ 0.001). For products available in both 2011 and 2013 there was a ≤2% (1%–3%) mean sodium reduction overall with no difference in reformulation between supermarket private-label and branded products (p = 0.73). New supermarket private-label products in 2013 were 11% lower in sodium than their branded counterparts (p = 0.02). Supermarket private-label products performed generally better than branded in terms of their sodium content. Lower sodium intake translates into lower blood pressure; some supermarket private-label products may be a good option for Australians needing to limit their sodium intake.     

Annals Journal Club: Cumulative Incidence of False-Positive Results in Repeated,Multimodal Cancer Screening

PURPOSE Multiple cancer screening tests have been advocated for the general population; however, clinicians and patients are not always well-informed of screening burdens. We sought to determine the cumulative risk of a false-positive screening result and the resulting risk of a diagnostic procedure for an individual participating in a multimodal cancer screening program.METHODS Data were analyzed from the intervention arm of the ongoing Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening on disease-specific mortality. The 68,436 participants, aged 55 to 74 years, were randomized to screening or usual care. Women received serial serum tests to detect cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), transvaginal sonograms, posteroanterior-view chest radiographs, and flexible sigmoidoscopies. Men received serial chest radiographs, flexible sigmoidoscopies, digital rectal examinations, and serum prostate-specific antigen tests. Fourteen screening examinations for each sex were possible during the 3-year screening period.RESULTS After 14 tests, the cumulative risk of having at least 1 false-positive screening test is 60.4% (95% CI, 59.8%–61.0%) for men, and 48.8% (95% CI, 48.1%–49.4%) for women. The cumulative risk after 14 tests of undergoing an invasive diagnostic procedure prompted by a false-positive test is 28.5% (CI, 27.8%–29.3%) for men and 22.1% (95% CI, 21.4%–22.7%) for women.CONCLUSIONS For an individual in a multimodal cancer screening trial, the risk of a false-positive finding is about 50% or greater by the 14th test. Physicians should educate patients about the likelihood of false positives and resulting diagnostic interventions when counseling about cancer screening.     

Reference Ranges of Glycemic Variability in Infants after Surgery—A Prospective Cohort Study

We aimed to define reference ranges of glycemic variability indices derived from continuous glucose monitoring data for non-diabetic infants during post-operative intensive care treatment after cardiac surgery procedures. We performed a prospective cohort intervention study in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Non-diabetic infants aged 0–12 months after corrective cardiovascular surgery procedures were fitted upon arrival to the PICU with a continuous glucose monitoring system (iPro2, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Thirteen glycemic variability indices were calculated for each patient. Complete recordings of 65 patients were collected on the first postoperative day. During the first three postsurgical days 5%, 24% and 43% of patients experienced at least one hypoglycemia episode, and 40%, 10% and 15%—hyperglycemia episode, respectively, in each day. Due to significant differences between the first postoperative day (mean glycemia 130 ± 31 mg/dL) and the second and third day (105 ± 18 mg/dL, 101 ± 22.2 mg/dL; p < 0.0001), we proposed two separate reference ranges—for the acute and steady state patients. Thus, for individual glucose measurements, we proposed a reference range between 85 and 229 mg/dL and 69 and 149 mg/dL. For the mean daily glucose level, ranges between 122 and 137 mg/dL and 95 and 110 mg/dL were proposed. In conclusion, rt-CGM revealed a very high likelihood of hyperglycemia in the first postsurgical day. The widespread use of CGM systems in a pediatric ICU setting should be considered as a safeguard against dysglycemic episodes; however, reference ranges for those patients should be different to those used in diabetes care.     

Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunctions: Results from a Decade of Research

Ten years of research that has provided data regarding the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions is reviewed. A thorough review of the literature identified 52 studies published in the 10 years since an earlier review by Spector and Carey (Arch. Sex. Behav. 19(4): 389–408, 1990). Community samples indicate a current prevalence of 0%–3% for male orgasmic disorder, 0%–5% for erectile disorder, and 0%–3% for male hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Pooling current and 1-year figures provides community prevalence estimates of 7%–10% for female orgasmic disorder and 4%–5% for premature ejaculation. Stable community estimates of the current prevalence of other sexual dysfunctions remain unavailable. Prevalence estimates obtained from primary care and sexuality clinic samples are characteristically higher. Although a relatively large number of studies has been conducted since the earlier review, the lack of methodological rigor of many studies limits the confidence that can be placed in these findings.     

Hemoglobin Concentration during Early Pregnancy as an Accurate Predictor of Anemia during Late Pregnancy

It is undetermined which blood variables related to iron storage during the first trimester of pregnancy could efficiently predict anemia occurring during the third trimester. Red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, ferritin, iron, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were assessed longitudinally during the first, second, and third trimesters of 231 healthy Japanese women. None of the patients had anemia in the first trimester and none used iron supplementation before the second trimester blood test. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin (Hb) < 11 g/dL for the first trimester and Hb < 10.0 g/dL for the third trimester. Forty-seven (20%) women developed anemia in the third trimester. The first trimester RBC, Hb, hematocrit, and ferritin levels were significantly lower in women with third-trimester anemia than those without anemia. The first trimester hemoglobin level exhibited a greater area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve for prediction of the third trimester anemia than other blood variables; the optimal cut-off (12.6 g/dL) of hemoglobin yielded a sensitivity of 83% (39/47). First trimester hemoglobin levels were significantly better predictors of anemia during the third trimester than the indices of iron storage, including serum iron, ferritin, and TIBC levels.     

Individual and neighbourhood determinants of social participation and social capital: a multilevel analysis of the city of Malmö, Sweden

The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of neighbourhood on individual social capital (measured as social participation). The study population consisted of 14,390 individuals aged 45–73 that participated in the Malmö diet and cancer study in 1992–1994, residing in 90 neighbourhoods of Malmö, Sweden (population 250,000). A multilevel logistic regression model, with individuals at the first level and neighbourhoods at the second level, was performed. The study analysed the effect (intra-area correlation and cross-level modification) of the neighbourhood on individual social capital after adjustment for compositional factors (e.g. age, sex, educational level, occupational status, disability pension, living alone, sick leave, unemployment) and, finally, one contextual migration factor. The prevalence of low social participation varied from 23.0% to 39.7% in the first and third neighbourhood quartiles, respectively. Neighbourhood factors accounted for 6.3% of the total variance in social participation, and this effect was reduced but not eliminated when adjusting for all studied variables (−73%), especially the occupational composition of the neighbourhoods (−58%). The contextual migration variable further reduced the variance in social participation at the neighbourhood level to some extent. Our study supports Putnam's notion that social capital, which is suggested to be an important factor for population health and possibly for health equity, is an aspect that is partly contextual in its nature.     

Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in different groups of workers operating hand-held vibrating tools

In eight groups of subjects operating various hand-held vibrating tools and aged from 30 to 59 years, the prevalence rates of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) and numbness, pain, or stiffness in the upper and lower extremities were investigated. Hand-transmitted vibration levels (HTVLs) were measured on the back of the hand, by means of unidirectional (x-axis) vibration dosimeters, and the frequency-weighted acceleration levels [(L_h,w)_eq,t] were determined as the vibration levels. The prevalence rates of VWF and numbness of the hands in these subjects were compared to the prevalence rates of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and numbness of the hands in 1027 males and 1301 females not occupationally exposed to vibration (age range: 30–59 years). It was observed that in subjects exposed to HTVLs of between 1.1 and 2.5 m/s², the prevalence of VWF was between 0.0% and 4.8%. The prevalence of VWF reached 9.6% in a group of workers exposed to HTVLs of 2.7–5.1 tn/s². The latter group showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the prevalence of VWF compared to the 2.7% prevalence of RP in male subjects of the general population. The prevalence of VWF in female subjects exposed to vibration (4.3%) was not significantly different from the prevalence of RP in females of the general population (3.4%). The prevalence rates of numbness of the hands were in the range of 6.5%–30.4% in the exposed groups and in the range of 13.4%–29.5% in the general population. Among the subjective symptoms, only VWF showed a significant positive correlation with HTVLs (R ² = 0.5, P < 0.05). It was concluded that in decisions concerning quantitative recommendations for vibration exposure, the prevalence of VWF should be employed. With a view to decreasing the risk of developing VWF, estimated vibration safety values for 4 h and 2 h daily exposures are discussed.     

Renal elimination of verbenols in man following experimental α-pinene inhalation exposure

Summary The renal elimination of verbenols after experimental exposure to (+) and (–)-pinene was studied in humans following exposure to 10, 225, and 450 mg · m^–3 terpene in an exposure chamber. The pulmonary uptake was about 60%. About 8% was eliminated unchanged in exhaled air. Depending on the exposure level, about 1%–4% of the total uptake was eliminated as cis and trans-verbenol. Most of the verbenols were eliminated within 20 h after a 2-h exposure. The renal excretion of unchanged -pinene was less than 0.001%.     

Effects of Social Distancing Measures during the First Epidemic Wave of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Infection,Greece

Greece imposed a nationwide lockdown in March 2020 to mitigate transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 during the first epidemic wave. We conducted a survey on age-specific social contact patterns to assess effects of physical distancing measures and used a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered model to simulate the epidemic. Because multiple distancing measures were implemented simultaneously, we assessed their overall effects and the contribution of each measure. Before measures were implemented, the estimated basic reproduction number (R₀) was 2.38 (95% CI 2.01–2.80). During lockdown, daily contacts decreased by 86.9% and R₀ decreased by 81.0% (95% credible interval [CrI] 71.8%–86.0%); each distancing measure decreased R₀ by 10%–24%. By April 26, the attack rate in Greece was 0.12% (95% CrI 0.06%–0.26%), one of the lowest in Europe, and the infection fatality ratio was 1.12% (95% CrI 0.55%–2.31%). Multiple social distancing measures contained the first epidemic wave in Greece.     

Blood pressure during adolescence: A study among Belgian adolescents selected from a high cardiovascular risk population

Introduction: the Belgian province of Luxembourg has a high incidence of cardiovascular (CV) disease according to the MONICA register. Surveys conducted in adults and children have also found high CV risk factor levels in this province. Design: cross-sectional study. Objective of the present study: to collect data about blood pressure (BP) and its determinants in adolescents from this high CV risk population and to analyse their relationship. Participants: 1526 adolescents (12–17 years) in 24 secondary schools of the province. Results: mean systolic BP levels were 125 mm Hg (sd = 12 mm Hg) and 122 mm Hg (sd = 11 mm Hg) for boys and girls, respectively. Mean diastolic BP was equal to 74 mm Hg (sd = 10 mm Hg) in both genders. Systolic BP increased with age and differed significantly between genders from 15 years onwards. Body fatness indices increased with age except waist-to-hip ratio in girls and triceps skinfold in boys. Regression models including age, anthropometric indices and physical activity explained a small percentage of BP variance (for systolic BP, ² = 0.21 and 0.12 for boys and girls, respectively). Weight was the first parameter related to BP in correlation and regression analyses. Conclusions: this study showed high BP and body fatness indices in adolescents from a high CV risk population. The model under study showed a moderate relationship between body fatness and BP. This finding suggests other influences as a genetic component to account for the high levels observed.     

Herd Immunity against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in 10 Communities,Qatar

We investigated what proportion of the population acquired severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and whether the herd immunity threshold has been reached in 10 communities in Qatar. The study included 4,970 participants during June 21–September 9, 2020. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected by using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Seropositivity ranged from 54.9% (95% CI 50.2%–59.4%) to 83.8% (95% CI 79.1%–87.7%) across communities and showed a pooled mean of 66.1% (95% CI 61.5%–70.6%). A range of other epidemiologic measures indicated that active infection is rare, with limited if any sustainable infection transmission for clusters to occur. Only 5 infections were ever severe and 1 was critical in these young communities; infection severity rate of 0.2% (95% CI 0.1%–0.4%). Specific communities in Qatar have or nearly reached herd immunity for SARS-CoV-2 infection: 65%–70% of the population has been infected.     

Prevalence rates of gallstone disease in Italy

The prevalence of gallstone disease and associated factors in the entire population of subjects aged 15–65 years born and resident in Chianciano Terme (Siena — Tuscany) was examined in the years 1985 and 1986. The investigation included gallbladder ultrasonography, administration of a questionnaire on personal and family history, physical examination and blood chemistry. A total of 1809 subjects (attendance rate 87.7%) participated in the study. Personal history and physical examination showed that Chianciano inhabitants have a low prevalence of obesity (4.3%) and only 4.4% of the female population had more than two pregnancies. Overall prevalence of gallstone disease (cholecystectomy + cholelithiasis) was 5.9% (3.7% for males and 8.4% for females). Age standardized relative risk of gallstone disease for females was 2.25 (95% confidence limits=1.68–2.68). Prevalence of cholelithiasis was 3.5% (2.7% for males and 4.2% for females). Prevalence of gallstone disease increased with increasing age in both sexes, being extremely low in the age interval of 15–29 years (0.25%). The overall gallstones/cholecystectomy ratio was found to be lower (1:1) in females than in males (2.7:1). Although subjects with gallstones reported more frequently biliary colics and nonspecific dyspeptic symptoms, the diagnostic power of all symptoms in identifying cholelithiasis was very poor due to low sensitivity. Only one third of subjects with gallstones was aware of having the disease. Age, obesity and number of pregnancies were positively associated with gallstone disease in univariate analyses. The association with obesity and parity disappeared in multivariate analysis. Blood lipids and glucose were not associated with the disease both in univariate and multivariate analyses. Our data show that the prevalence of gallbladder disease in Chianciano is lower than that previously reported in Italy. This difference could be related to a lower prevalence of obesity and to a smaller number of pregnancies or to the effect of environmental and genetic factors.     

Occupational exposure to hexahydrophthalic anhydride: air analysis,percutaneous absorption,and biological monitoring

Summary Urinary hexahydrophthalic acid (HHP acid) levels were determined in 20 workers occupationally exposed to hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) air levels of 11–220g/m³. The levels of HHP acid in urine increased rapidly during exposure and the decreases were also rapid after the end of exposure. The elimination half-time of HHP acid was 5h, which was significantly longer than in experimentally exposed volunteers, possibly indicating distribution to more than one compartment. There was a close correlation between time-weighted average levels of HHPA in air and creatinine-adjusted levels of HHP acid in urine collected during the last 4 h of exposure (r = 0.90), indicating that determination of urinary HHP acid levels is suitable as a method for biological monitoring of HHPA exposure. An air level of 100 g/m³ corresponded to a postshift urinary HHP acid level of ca. 900 nmol/mmol creatinine in subjects performing light work for 8h. Percutaneous absorption of HHPA was studied by application of HHPA in petrolatum to the back skin of three volunteers. The excreted amounts of HHP acid in urine, as a fraction of the totally applied amount of HHPA, were within intervals of 1.4%–4.5%, 0.2%–1.3%, and 0%–0.4% respectively, indicating that the contribution from percutaneous absorption is of minor importance in a method for biological monitoring.     

Live Births Resulting from Unintended Pregnancies: An Evaluation of Synthetic State-Based Estimates

Objectives: Most states lack information on the proportion of live births resulting from unintended pregnancies. We evaluated a potential solution to the lack of data, a synthetic state-based estimate of the percentage of live births resulting from unintended pregnancies for the state of Georgia. Methods: We constructed the synthetic estimate by standardizing the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth data by the race, marital status, and age distribution of Georgia residents ages 15–44 years who delivered a live birth during 1990–1994. Two surveys conducted in Georgia during the same period that collected information on unintended pregnancies were used for comparison: the Georgia Women's Health Survey (GWHS) and the Georgia Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Results: The synthetic estimate (35.2%, 95% CI = 33.5%–36.7%) was not statistically different from the GWHS estimate (39.6%, 95% CI = 35.7%–43.5%), but was significantly lower than the Georgia PRAMS estimate (49.0%, 95% CI = 45.5%–52.5%). When we stratified by race, marital status, and age, the synthetic and GWHS estimates were statistically similar except for married females and females ages 25–34 years, for whom the synthetic estimates were lower. For all groups of females, the synthetic estimates were statistically lower than the Georgia PRAMS estimates. Conclusions: The synthetic estimate can be a useful method for states that need to know the overall magnitude of the percentage of live births resulting from unintended pregnancy for purposes such as program planning.     

Modern military school education sociomedical analysis

The sociomedical status of senior military school students was studied, by examining the formed stereotype of a healthy lifestyle, spiritual and patriotic values, as well as physical health indices. It was established that among the significant spiritual and patriotic values, most (62.3%) cadets reported love for their country in the first three places: 68.4% of the schoolchildren called physical health; 47.6% put a readiness at defending the motherland in the first three places while 53.9% named physical health. Psychoemotional studies revealed a low level of anxiety and neurotization in the cadets than in the schoolchildren. Physical health studies (hand muscle strength, vital capacity, hypoxic resistance) indicated that the senior military school students had higher fitness than the general educational school children. These differences in the physical health indices of the adolescents are chiefly associated with the greater attention given by the cadets to their physical education than that shown by the general educational schoolchildren.     

Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis within three population groups in La Plata, Argentina

The prevalence of intestinal parasites was studied as a function of socioeconomic conditions within La Plata, Argentina. Age, sex, and environmental factors were considered. Thus, from each of three areas within the city – the first a 'marginal' zone, the second a lower-income suburb, the third a middle-income urban district – 100, 101, and 91 children up to 14 years old, respectively, were examined for intestinal parasites. Giardia lamblia was the most frequent species found. The respective prevalences of intestinal parasites overall (73, 54.4, and 35.1%), of poly-parasitism (61.6, 27.2, and 12.5%), and of helminthic infection (32, 10.9, and 0.0%) were the highest within the population group having significantly inferior sanitary and environmental conditions. A positive statistical association between the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis and age was observed in all three of the neighborhoods. We also noted a correspondence between the frequency of such infections and school attendance in the two suburban districts. Management practices in accordance with the specific characteristics of an urban environmental and sociocultural ecosystem are thus important for the control of intestinal-parasite infection within municipal populations.     

A tuberculosis nationwide prevalence survey in Gambia, 2012

ObjectiveTo estimate the population prevalence of active pulmonary tuberculosis in Gambia.MethodsBetween December 2011 and January 2013, people aged ≥ 15 years participating in a nationwide, multistage cluster survey were screened for active pulmonary tuberculosis with chest radiography and for tuberculosis symptoms. For diagnostic confirmation, sputum samples were collected from those whose screening were positive and subjected to fluorescence microscopy and liquid tuberculosis cultures. Multiple imputation and inverse probability weighting were used to estimate tuberculosis prevalence.FindingsOf 100 678 people enumerated, 55 832 were eligible to participate and 43 100 (77.2%) of those participated. A majority of participants (42 942; 99.6%) were successfully screened for symptoms and by chest X-ray. Only 5948 (13.8%) were eligible for sputum examination, yielding 43 bacteriologically confirmed, 28 definite smear-positive and six probable smear-positive tuberculosis cases. Chest X-ray identified more tuberculosis cases (58/69) than did symptoms alone (43/71). The estimated prevalence of smear-positive and bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis were 90 (95% confidence interval, CI: 53–127) and 212 (95% CI: 152–272) per 100 000 population, respectively. Tuberculosis prevalence was higher in males (333; 95% CI: 233–433) and in the 35–54 year age group (355; 95% CI: 219–490).ConclusionThe burden of tuberculosis remains high in Gambia but lower than earlier estimates of 490 per 100 000 population in 2010. Less than half of all cases would have been identified based on smear microscopy results alone. Successful control efforts will require interventions targeting men, increased access to radiography and more accurate, rapid diagnostic tests.     

Dairy Food at the First Occasion of Eating Is Important for Total Dairy Food Intake for Australian Children

The cross-sectional 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey collected detailed dietary information from a representative sample of more than 4400 children by 24-h dietary recall. Dairy food intake by Australian children is substantially lower than recommendations, and decreases as a percentage of energy intake as children grow older. Children aged 2 to 16 years are, on average, 2.3 times more likely to have a dairy food at the first daily occasion of eating, than at the second occasion. For children who consumed any dairy food at the first occasion of eating, the total daily intake of dairy foods was 129% (95% CI 120%–138%) greater than for children who did not consume a dairy food at the first occasion of eating. Their dairy food intake for the rest of the day following the first occasion of eating was also greater by 29% (95% CI 21%–37%). Younger age group, male sex, location of eating being at home or in a residence and starting the first occasion of eating from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. are all jointly associated with having a dairy food at the first occasion of eating. A simple strategy to increase Australian children’s intake from the dairy and alternatives food group may be to make sure that the first occasion of eating each day includes a dairy food or a nutritional equivalent.