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Biomedical subjects

C S Guest

Publications and source records attributed to C S Guest.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Food habits in Aborigines and persons of European descent of southeastern Australia.

As part of a study of risk factors for glucose intolerance and heart disease in Australian Aborigines and persons of European descent, we elicited the prevalence of food habits that may be associated with high fat and high salt intakes. Interview data were gathered from population-based samples in country towns and visitors to an Aboriginal health service in a state capital city, all in southeastern Australia. Among persons aged 13 years and over, the frequency of eating takeaway food as a meal was categorised as monthly or less, weekly, more than once per week, and daily or more often. The prevalence of eating such meals was higher among city Aborigines than those living in the country town; the prevalence was lowest among the country-town Europeans (chi 2 = 184, 6 df, P < 0.001). The prevalence of adding salt during cooking and food consumption was higher among Aborigines compared with Europeans. Among country-town Aboriginal males aged 35 or under, 25 of 40 (63 per cent) added salt to cooked food 'most of the time', compared with 66 of 185 (36 per cent) Europeans (chi 2 = 9.8, P = 0.002). Among Aboriginal females, 47 of 64 (64 per cent) were in the highest category of salt use, compared with 35 of 190 (18 per cent) of Europeans (chi 2 = 66.3, P < 0.001). About one-third of country-town Aboriginal males used dripping to fry food, but in the other ethnicity, gender and location groups, vegetable oil was the most frequent choice. The main differences in food habits were associated with ethnicity, rather than location.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Mortality of former prisoners of war and other Australian veterans.

OBJECTIVE: This second summary article from an epidemiological review of the health of former prisoners of war (POWs) and other Australian veterans, commissioned by the Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation, reports on studies of mortality. DATA SOURCES: The MEDLARS database, from 1966 to the present, under the terms military personnel, veterans, veterans' disability claims, combat disorders and prisoners (matched against war); databases of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (Victoria) and the Central Library, Commonwealth Department of Defense, under the term "prisoner of war"; and the microfiche listings of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, under "prisoner of war" and "repatriation". Only studies in English or French were reviewed, reaching a total of 172. STUDY SELECTION: Four studies in this paper constitute the main evidence about postwar mortality in Australians who were POWs of World War II or Vietnam veterans. Other mortality studies are cited in the complete literature review published elsewhere. DATA EXTRACTION: Only the data with an epidemiological basis are considered here. DATA SYNTHESIS: All-cause mortality rates were no greater in former POWs or Vietnam veterans than in the general Australian male population. There was, however, evidence of increased mortality among former POWs compared with other non-POW veterans, and among Vietnam veterans in one particular corps compared with veterans of the same era who served in Australia. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated early postwar mortality of young former POWs implicates diseases with short latent periods (including psychiatric disorders). This is consistent with the greater health risks of this group of survivors that were identified in the earlier review of morbidity. Mortality among former POWs and other veterans requires continued surveillance because a "healthy worker effect" (or exclusion of unfit persons from the armed forces) may partly conceal increased morbidity or mortality that should be attributed to war service.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The prevalence of glucose intolerance in aborigines and Europids of south-eastern Australia.

Based on oral glucose tolerance testing, the prevalence of diabetes in Australian adults has ranged from 2.3% in Europids in 1966 to 20% in small surveys of Aborigines. We have surveyed Aborigines and Europids simultaneously for further comparison of diabetes prevalence between these population groups. The samples were drawn from two adjacent country towns in south-eastern Australia, where Aborigines and Europids have been in contact for 150 years. By the 2-h (post-75 g oral glucose load) criterion (venous plasma glucose greater than or equal to 11.1 mmol/l), the crude prevalence of diabetes among 306 Aborigines was 7.8%, significantly higher than the 3.4% among 553 Europids (P less than 0.01). The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was similar in both groups (6.9% in Aborigines, 6.0% in Europids, no significant difference). Adjustment for the marked differences in age distribution between Aborigines and Europids by direct standardization to the 1980 world population increased the apparent differences, with the finding of a four-fold greater prevalence among Aborigines (8.1% compared with 1.9%). The greater frequency of glucose intolerance among Aborigines appears to persist despite the higher proportion of Europid genetic mix with these urbanized south-eastern groups than with Aborigines from remote settings.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Diabetes in aborigines and other Australian populations.

The aetiology of diabetes mellitus is reviewed in the light of Australian epidemiological studies. The prevalence of diabetes has been studied in a wide variety of Australian settings. Comparisons of prevalences in Aborigines and other populations suggest that occurrence of this disease has both genetic and environmental determinants. Diet and obesity are associated with diabetes, but to increase physical exercise may be the most feasible intervention. Public health approaches are discussed.

Australia↗
PubMed1992

Smoking in aborigines and persons of European descent in southeastern Australia: prevalence and associations with food habits, body fat distribution and other cardiovascular risk factors.

As part of a population-base study of risk factors for heart disease, we aimed to establish the prevalence of smoking and to identify associations between smoking and other risk factors in Australian Aborigines (n = 306) and persons of European descent (n = 553) in two country towns. Smoking prevalence was first analysed as a dichotomy (current smokers compared with nonsmokers), and according to three levels of exposure (< 10, 10-20 and > 20 cigarettes per day), and two levels of nonexposure (never and former smoker). Other behavioural, biochemical and physical variables were included in multivariable analyses. Of the Aborigines, 64.4 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 59.0 per cent to 69.8 per cent) were current cigarette smokers, compared with 22.8 per cent of non-Aborigines (CI 19.3 per cent to 26.3 per cent). For persons aged 13 to 54 years, using the five categories of exposure, smoking in Aborigines again far exceeded that in non-Aborigines in all age groups (for males chi 2 = 72.8, for females chi 2 = 94.6, 4 df, P = < 0.0001 for both sexes). In non-Aboriginal females, the highest prevalence was in the youngest group (56 per cent of those aged 13 to 17 years). Food habit was associated with smoking. Subjects who ate meat without trimming the fat were more likely to smoke. In Australian country towns, Aborigines and all young women need smoking cessation programs. The nutritional status of smokers requires further study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Chronic morbidity of former prisoners of war and other Australian veterans.

OBJECTIVE: This report is the first summary article from a review of studies on long-term morbidity associated with war service or internment, commissioned by the Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation. DATA SOURCES: The Medlars database, from 1966 to the present, under the terms military personnel, veterans, veterans' disability claims, combat disorders and prisoners (matched against war); databases of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (Victoria) and the Central Library, Commonwealth Department of Defence, using the term "prisoner of war"; and the microfiche listings of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, under "prisoner of war" and "repatriation". Only studies in English or French were reviewed, reaching a total of 172. STUDY SELECTION: Forty-eight studies are considered in the present summary, presenting the most significant evidence about long-term morbidity attributable to war-time experiences. Studies concerning Australian veterans are emphasised. DATA EXTRACTION: Studies considered valid were summarised for an annotated bibliography, but only reports of major public health significance are reviewed here. DATA SYNTHESIS: The review confirms that strongyloidiasis, peptic ulcer, anxiety states, depression and hepatitis B are more prevalent in former prisoners of war than in relevant comparison groups. We have not identified further diagnoses that should be attributed specifically to war-time exposures. Attribution of long-term neurological and musculoskeletal disorders to war-time exposures remains uncertain. CONCLUSIONS: Former prisoners of war and veterans constitute a population of survivors highly selected by the rigours of war and imprisonment. Occurrence of the five conditions listed above may be reasonably attributed to war-time exposure. We recommend further research on ageing (including neurological, visual, hearing and musculoskeletal disability), family disruption and rehabilitation strategies in these groups.

Australia↗