Back pain from the epidemiological point of view

Summary In the last decades back pain has reached dramatic proportions in industrialized countries. Disorders of the back are nowadays the leading cause of direct and indirect health care costs. Accurate prevalence estimates are needed to serve as a basis for health care evaluations. A review of epidemiologic studies in the general population reveals that back pain has reached a prevalence of 40 % for current pain. 7 to 18 % are “frequently”, “often”, “daily” or “constantly” affected. 75 % of the adult population suffers from back pain during the last year. 80 to 90 % of the adult population in industrialized countries experience back pain ever. Gender specific differences are only present in severe, chronic forms which are more often experienced by women. Back pain has a prevalence maximum at 50 to 64 years. Older persons display lower prevalence estimates. The prevalence maximum in men is one decade earlier than in women. There are several potential explanations for this prevalence pattern that are discussed in the article. Back pain can be classified by location, temporal characteristics, pain intensity and pain history. Currently, for none of these dimensions generally accepted, uniformly employed and validated definitions are available. In most of the industrialized countries back pain is one of the most expensive symptoms. 75–90 % of the direct and indirect health care costs were caused by those 5–10 % of patients who are disabled. As predictors of back pain a history of back pain and job satisfaction play by far a more important role than the extensively studied mechanical factors. For a first episode of back pain the prognosis is favorable. If the pain persist for more than three months the prognosis is unfavorable. After six months of absenteeism because of back pain more than half of the afflicted never return to work. Rarely back pain is present as a single symptom. In more than 80 % back pain is associated with pain in at least one joint. It remains to be studied if back pain may be viewed as an entity or as part of a more complex pain syndrome.      

Hip fracture incidence in the canton of Vaud,Switzerland, 1986–1991

The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of hip fracture in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland (total population 584 000), for the period 1986–1991 using routine hospital discharge data collected by the Cantonal Service of Statistical Research and Information (SCRIS). For the survey period, the estimated average annual crude incidence rate of hip fractures was 167 per 100 000 persons aged 20 or older (241 for women and 84 for men). For the population aged 50 years or older, the crude incidence rate was 388 per 100 000 persons (546 for women and 185 for men). The average annual age-specific rates rose exponentially by successive 5-year age groups. The median age of patients at the time of the fracture was 82 years in women and 74 years in men. There was no significant difference between the total number of cervical and trochanteric fractures. Between the ages of 20 and 84 years, the cumulative risk for a woman to be admitted to hospital with a hip fracture was twice that of a man (15.8% vs 7.8%). From 1986 to 1991, the age- and sex-adjusted incidence, like the ratio of cervical to trochanteric fractures, did not show any significant trend, although it was consistent with an increase in men (p=0.09). However, the annual number of fractures rose from 644 to 776, particularly among very aged men. The mean length of stay in the acute care hospital fell from 38 days in 1986 to 25 days in 1991. Finally, the comparison of these results with those obtained in 1986 for the same population from more exhaustive sources has confirmed the provision of a consistent, although overestimated, assessment of hip fracture incidence by means of these routine hospital statistics in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland.     

Serologic evidence for human ehrlichiosis in Africa

Human ehrlichiosis is a recently recognized rickettsial disease. It is caused byEhrlichia chaffeensis, an intraleucocytic Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterium, grouped within the genusEhrlichiae. Most human cases of ehrlichiosis have been diagnosed in the USA. Two cases have been reported outside of the USA, one in Europe and one in Africa. From 1 January to 30 June 1992, 765 sera from blood donors or other asymptomatic subjects in 8 African countries, including Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali, Central African Republic, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Commores Islands, were tested by indirect immunofluorescence for the presence ofE. chaffeensis antibodies. Positive sera were confirmed by Western immunoblotting. Only two of 765 sera tested were positive. One serum obtained from Burkina Faso had an IgG titer of 1:200 and one from Mozambique had an IgG titer of 1:80. Human ehrlichiosis seems to occur infrequently in Africa, although many more sera from additional African countries need to be evaluated.     

广东省传染性非典型肺炎流行病学特征初步调查

目的 了解广东省局部地区流行的传染性非典型肺炎(SARS)的流行病学特征，为制定预防控制对策和措施提供科学依据。方法 采用统一的流行病学个案调查表对病例进行调查。利用EPI6．0软件分析SARS病例在广东省的流行过程，地区、时间、人群分布及聚集性等特征。结果 SARS在广东省的发病率为1．72／10万，病死率为3．64％。发病主要集中在1月下旬至2月下旬(2月上旬达到高峰)，占病例总数的61．88％。地区分布以经济发达、人口流动频繁的珠江三角洲地区为主，占病例总数的96．66％；患者以青壮年居多；医务人员是高发人群，占病例总数的24．9％；有明显的家庭和医院聚集，聚集性病例占37．1％。结论 SARS是一种呼吸道传播为主的传染病，目前发现传染源是人，潜伏期1—12天，中位数4天；通过短距离飞沫和密切接触传播；人群普遍易感，病例主要集中在经济发达、人口流动频繁的珠江三角洲地区。     

Psychiatric morbidity among people aged 85+ in 1987. A follow-up study at two and a half years: Associations with changes in psychiatric morbidity

This article reports findings from a longitudinal survey of very elderly people living at home in London. The research aimed to identify social, psychological and physical characteristics associated with positive ageing and successful survival in the community in later life and its converse—negative ageing—as well as the associated policy implications. Associations with psychiatric morbidity, measured using the General Health Questionnaire, among sample members without cognitive impairment between the baseline interviews in 1987 and at follow-up, two and a half years later in 1990, are reported. Twenty-five per cent of survivors scored over the threshold of the GHQ in 1987 and 30% scored over the threshold in 1990. Half of those with a score over the threshold in 1990 also scored over the threshold in 1987. Hierarchical regression (using residualized change analysis) was used to estimate the effects of the independent variables on changes in psychiatric morbidity. The most significant predictor of psychiatric morbidity (GHQ score) in 1990 was baseline GHQ score, followed by health and functional status scores. Health and functional status were also the strongest predictors of baseline (1987) GHQ scores. The uniqueness of the study lies in the collection of follow-up data on a sample of very elderly people, given that most surveys are corss-sectional and contain too few people aged 85+ to merit separate analysis. It contributes to the small body of literature on outcome of depression. The lack of consistent associations with recovery from psychiatric morbidity in the literature enhances the importance of studies aiming to identify factors associated with different outcomes.     

Tuberculosis in children: a 13-year follow up of 1714 patients in a Belgian home care centre

From May 1970 to September 1983, 1714 children with different forms of primary tuberculosis were referred to the paediatric home care centre (Enfants soignés au Foyer, E.S.F.) of the Brussels University Hospital St.-Pierre. They were subdivided in five groups: asymptomatic (33%), symptomatic (28%), dubious tuberculous infections (35%), high-risk contacts (3%) and unestablished diagnosis (1%). They were aged from 10 days to 19 years, and 82% of them were migrants of low socio-economic level. Fifty percent of the symptomatic infections, mainly pulmonary, appeared in children under 3 years of age. An adult source of contamination was identified in 33% of the case (48% of the symptomatic children). Diagnosis was based on tuberculin screening with a 2IU intradermal test. Gastric aspirates yieldedMycobacterium tuberculosis in 15% of our patients, 11% of them showing resistance to one or more tuberculostatic drugs. Treatment was given to 1359 patients with excellent results. Therapy was shortened during the last 2 years of the study from 12 to 6 months for the asymptomatic patients and from 12 to 9 months for the symptomatic infections. Few complications were observed. Tuberculosis remains a serious cause of morbidity particularly in migrant children. Correct diagnosis and treatment of the disease is very important.     

Hygiene in Operationsabteilungen – Empfehlungen des Nationalen Referenzzentrums für Krankenhaushygiene

Zusammenfassung. Viele Hygienema?nahmen in Operationsabteilungen sind durch wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen nicht belegt. Die in dieser Arbeit vom Nationalen Referenzzentrum für Krankenhaushygiene, das 1996 vom Bundesgesundheitsministerium eingerichtet wurde, zusammengestellten Empfehlungen stützen sich auf die Ergebnisse wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen und trennen so die unbedingt notwendigen von den weniger bzw. nicht sinnvollen Ma?nahmen.

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Summary. Many hygienic procedures performed in operation units are not supported by scientific investigations. The following recommendations by the National Reference Center for Hospital Epidemiology, founded by the German Ministry of Health in 1996, are based on the scientific literature and separate necessary from less necessary and unnecessary procedures.

     

广东省SARS家庭聚集性病例流行病学分析

目的　了解广东省传染性非典型肺炎 (SARS)家庭聚集性病例的流行病学特征 ,探讨家庭因素在本病传播方面的作用。方法　采用统一个案调查表 ,用描述性流行病学方法对广东省SARS家庭聚集性病例进行分析。结果　截至 5月 1 5日止 ,在广东省 1 5 1 2例SARS病例中 ,6 0户家庭出现聚集性病例 ,共 1 91例 ,占全省病例总数的1 2 6 %。家庭聚集性病例的病死率为 9 9% ,高于全省平均病死率 (3 7% ) (P <0 0 1 )。家庭聚集性病例主要发生在2 0 0 3年 1月至 3月 ,占家庭聚集性病例总数的 90 6 % (1 73/ 1 91 )。病例以 30～ 4 9岁青壮年为主 ,占 5 2 9% (1 0 1 / 1 91 ) ;职业以干部职员为主 ,占 1 3 6 % (2 6 / 1 91 ) ,其次为饮食、服务人员 ,占 1 2 6 % (2 4 / 1 91 )。 4 1 7%家庭的首发病例在发病前两周有明确或可疑接触史。在 1 2 9例家庭聚集二代感染病例中可能因陪护或探病感染发病的有 4 2户 ,共 92例 ,占71 3%。首发病例与二代病例发病时间间隔中位数为 7d。结论　家庭聚集性病例的病死率较高 ,家庭聚集性病例有较大比例可能在医院内感染 ,但家庭密切接触也是造成疫情传播的原因之一 ,控制医院内感染和及早对病例进行家庭隔离可以减少聚集性病例的出现     

心血管病流行病学研究必需的基础和专业知识

本文从心血管病流行病学研究工作的实际体会中提出:当前要提高科研工作水平的关键是提高研究防治队伍的科学素质.其中包括:应具备流行病学和生物统计学的基本知识,必要的心血管病临床知识和实践经验,关心常见心血管病的基础研究进展,和学习有关专业的知识,如营养学、行为医学、遗传学等.解决的办法除集中培训,个人努力学习外,更需组织有不同专业基础而有志于心血管病流行病学研究工作的人员密切合作,相互学习,取长补短,以达到共同提高.     

实验动物大白鼠型流行性出血热流行病学和临床症状调查

本文对59名接触实验动物大白鼠引起23例流行性出血热(EHF)的流行病学和临床症状进行了调查,发病率为38.98%。发病的有副教授、讲师、助教、研究生等。发病多在春季,年龄组在21～40岁,男多于女。经间接免疫荧光技术检查,大白鼠肺EHFV抗原阳性率为32.69%。临床分型以中型为多,其次为重型和轻型。临床症状以发热、头痛、腰痛、全身痛、食欲不振、酒醉貌为主,没有死亡病例。血清间接免疫荧光抗体IgG在1:320～1:5 120之间的占91.30%。