Incidence and lifetime prevalence of Bell's palsy in two Sicilian municipalities

Introduction – In a door-to-door two-phase survey of common neurologic diseases conducted in two Sicilian municipalities, we investigated the incidence and the lifetime prevalence of Bell's palsy (BP). Material & methods – During phase 1, we administered a screening instrument for facial palsy to 11,901 adult persons. During phase 2, study neurologists using specified diagnostic criteria evaluated those subjects who screened positive. Results – We found 73 subjects who had experienced BP during their life. The lifetime prevalence as of November 1, 1987, was 642.8 cases per 100,000 population age 15 years and above. The prevalence increased with age and was similar in men and women. Eighteen episodes of BP occurred in the three years preceding the prevalence day. The average annual incidence rate was 52.8 new episodes per 100,000 population age 15 years and above. Incidence increased with age. Conclusion – Comparison with other incidence studies suggests some geographic variability.     

The development of cohort studies in epidemiology: A review

An historical outline of the evolution of cohort (or incidence) studies spans well over 100 years, from the work of Farr and Snow in the 1850s, through an appraisal of analytical methods in 1977, after which the literature mushroomed. Since the early 1950s, analysis has conventionally taken the form of comparing subcohorts that had suffered varying degrees of exposure to factor(s) under investigation. For this purpose the “subject-years” approach to data reduction has now become virtually universal. Usually, some population's mortality (or morbidity) experience is used as reference, but there is continuing controversy over the choice of reference population, while difficulties arise in relation to study intervals, periods over which exposures should be measured, etc. The material for analysis becomes age- and periodic-specific ratios of disease, which, collapsed over ages and periods, lead to Standardized Mortality (or Morbidity) Ratios. For the analysis itself, Poisson regression models are efficient. From the late 1970s, analysis by case-referent methods has become common; here, the debate centres on how closely, and in what ways, referents should be matched with the cases. Logistic regression is the most common form of analysis. As there have been excellent recent summaries of methods of analysis (for both approaches), little emphasis is placed here on those aspects of development. Comparisons are made of research designs, and some possibilities for future development are outlined.     

疟疾发病率变化趋势的曲线拟合分析

目的 :探寻适合我区疟疾发病特征的相对最优曲线拟合模型。方法 :利用 10种曲线模型 (指数模型、对数模型、幂函数模型等 )拟合疟疾发病率曲线。结果 :通过对拟合优度的计算可知 ,幂函数模型相对最优 ,在 10种模型中最适合于我区疟疾发病率资料的拟合。结论 :幂函数模型能较好地分析该地疟疾发病情况 ,该地已由疟疾高发区转变为疟疾低发区 ,未来 3年疫情将继续逐年下降     

不同人群的女性尿失禁调查分析

目的　调查分析不同人群女性尿失禁的发病情况。　方法　采用亚太地区尿控咨询委员会提供的成人尿失禁问卷表先后对北京社区、乌鲁木齐维族地区和北京大学第一医院职工 6 6 8位成人女性进行抽样调查。　结果　三类人群的尿失禁总发生率分别为北京社区 4 6 .5 % (94 / 2 0 2 )、维族地区 4 3.8% (134/ 30 6 )、医院职工 4 0 .6 % (5 8/ 14 3) ,P >0 .0 5。其中压力性尿失禁及混合性尿失禁在北京社区被调查者中占 93.6 % (88/ 94 ) ;维族被调查者 99.3% (133/ 134) ;医院被调查者 93.1%(5 4 / 5 8) ,P >0 .0 5。三组人群有就医意向者分别为 2 4 .5 % (2 3/ 94 )、2 9.1% (39/ 134)、13.8% (8/ 5 8) ,P <0 .0 5。　结论　不同职业及不同医疗环境的女性人群尿失禁的发病率相似 ,均以压力性尿失禁或混合性尿失禁为主。     

Incidence and Clinical Characterization of Unprovoked Seizures in Adults: A Prospective Population-Based Study

In a population-based prospective study of epileptic seizures in adults aged ≥17 years, we identified 563 patients with possible seizures in a period of 34 months. Seizures were unprovoked in 160 patients, an incidence of 56 in 100,000 person-years. There was no difference in incidence between sexes. Age-specific incidences of unprovoked seizures increased sharply in men from age 60 years and in women from age 70 years. The incidence of unprovoked seizures in those aged ≥65 years was 139 (men 166, women 116). The cumulative incidence of unprovoked seizures between the ages of 17 and 84 years was 4.6%. The proportion with an identified presumptive cause for unprovoked seizures increased with advancing age. A presumed etiology was identified in 77% of persons aged ≥60 years. Stroke was the most common etiology, detected in 30% (incidence 16) and in 45% at ages ≥60 years. Tumors were detected in 11% (incidence 6) and Alzheimer's disease was detected in 7% (incidence 4). Eighteen percent of patients were demented. Unprovoked seizures were partial in 68% of cases (incidence 38), and generalized in 16% (incidence 9). Another 13% of patients had generalized seizures, but seizure onset was not witnessed (incidence 7). In 16%, there was a delay of ≥1 year from the first unprovoked seizure to initial diagnosis.     

Prevalence and incidence of clinically significant patulous Eustachian tube: A population-based study using the Korean National Health Insurance Claims Database

Objectives

The aim of this study is to estimate the entire population-based prevalence and incidence of Patulous Eustachian tube (PET) using the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) claims database. The annual trends of prevalence and incidence of PET were also investigated.

Monetary costs and hospital burden associated with the management of invasive fungal infections in Mexico: a multicenter study

Background

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) affect >1.5 million people per year. Nevertheless, IFIs are usually neglected and underdiagnosed. IFIs should be considered as a public-health problem and major actions should be taken to tackle them and their associated costs. Aim To report the incidence of IFIs in four Mexican hospitals, to describe the economic cost associated with IFIs therapy and the impact of adverse events such as acute kidney injury (AKI), liver damage (LD), and ICU stay.

上海宝山农村地区中老年人群高血压8年随访分析

目的 研究上海宝山农村地区中年人群高血压患病率及脑卒中发病率和死亡率。方法 于1991年,对上海宝山区农村977例中老年人进行血压普查,随访8年后复查血压,同时调查脑卒中发病率和死亡率。结果 同一组人群8年高血压患病率增加42％,脑卒中发病率和死亡率分别为403／10万和341／10万,在SBP＜130mmHg和DBP＜90mmHg组中脑卒中发病率和死亡率较低。结论 高血压患病率随年龄增加而增高,应在中老年人群中加强高血压干预来降低脑卒中发病率和死亡率。     

广州市近50年伤寒、副伤寒流行趋势分析

目的 研究广州市伤寒、副伤寒近50年的流行特征和趋势。方法 对1950～1999年广州市传染病年报的伤寒病资料进行统计分析。结果 显示近50年发病率在1．27／10万-61．33／10万水平波动,逐代年下降,50年代发病率38、70／10万为最高,60年代后呈明显下降趋势,90年代为3．04／10万;死亡率、病死率逐年代大幅下降,50年代死亡率和病死率分别为0．89／10万、2．32％,1987年后仅1999年有1例死亡病报告。病例分布广泛,从90年代以前以市区为主转变为90年代的以市辖县为主状态;全年均有病例,8月份为最高峰;男性发病高于女性;年龄分布以0—9岁组为主,占总病例的31．01％,并有向大年龄组推移的趋势;职业分布以儿童、工人、学生为主,农民和干部职员有增加倾向。结论 广州市伤寒、副伤寒发病呈下降趋势,结果提示21世纪广州市伤寒病的防治应以农村和儿童青少年为重点。