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Biomedical subjects

D Wigle

Publications and source records attributed to D Wigle.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Evolution of Quebec's mortality rates, by cause of death].

"The evolution of mortality in Quebec over the past three decades is reviewed. Life expectancies and potential years of life lost from birth to age 75 are calculated. Also, interprovincial comparisons of mortality are included. Quebec's mortality experience, in comparison to the other provinces, is poor. Causes of death that are of particular concern are suicide and lung cancer. Mortality rates for cerebrovascular diseases, stomach cancer and kidney diseases have markedly declined, for males as well as females." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)

Americas↗

Asbestos and drinking water in Canada.

Samples of raw, treated and distributed tap water were collected from 71 municipalities across Canada and analyzed for asbestos content by transmission electron microscopy. Chrysotile asbestos was identified as the major asbestos type present in drinking water with some 5% of public water supplies containing asbestos at concentrations greater than 10 million fibres per litre. Improvement factors of up to 300 were observed for the removal of chrysotile fibres from drinking water during treatment, indicating that coagulation/filtration treatment is efficient for this purpose. In certain cases there is evidence to suggest that erosion of asbestos from pipe material is taking place. Age-standardized mortality rates for gastro-intestinal cancers were calculated for each city for the period of 1966 to 1976. Rates for the 2 localities with the highest (congruent to 10(8)/L) concentrations of asbestos fibres in treated drinking water were compared with the weighted average of the rates for the 52 localities with asbestos concentrations not significantly greater than zero. Eleven localities had intermediate concentrations of asbestos and six were too small for meaningful statistical analysis. Relatively high mortality rates were apparent amongst males in city 1 for cancer of the large intestine except rectum, and in both sexes in city 1 and males in city 2 for stomach cancer. It is felt that these findings are probably related to occupational exposure to asbestos. Further statistical analyses are required, however, before the significance of these observations can be fully assessed.

Asbestos↗

Late results of aortocoronary bypass grafts in 100 patients with stable angina pectoris.

From March 1969 to December 1972, 314 patients underwent elective aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass graft surgery at the Toronto General Hospital for the relief of stable disabling angina refractory to medical management. Inhospital mortality was 2.5%. Of these patients 100 agreed to return for follow-up hemodynamic and angiographic assessment at a mean interval of 19.7 months after operation. Seventy-four percent of patients were asymptomatic or had angina only with strenuous exertion at the time of follow-up. Seventy-five percent of the 142 grafts were patent, though a few had significant narrowings. Clinical improvement could be correlated with successful myocardial revascularization. Myocardial infarction was diagnosed by the presence of new Q waves after operation in 15% of patients. Many of these patients had patent grafts at follow-up and all were improved. Dyslipoproteinemia was not found to be a factor affecting late graft patency. Total left ventricular function was not shown to be improved by segmental revascularization. The trend toward improved survival in the intervening period for the total operated group is encouraging.

Adult↗

Recent trends in morbidity and mortality rates for abdominal aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVES: To examine recent trends in mortality and morbidity rates from aortic aneurysms among Canadian seniors. DESIGN: Retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS: Men and women age 65 years or older who were hospitalized in Canada with a primary diagnosis of aortic aneurysm or whose underlying cause of death was aortic aneurysm. MAIN RESULTS: Unlike other circulatory diseases which have shown marked declines, mortality and morbidity rates from aortic aneurysms have remained constant over the last 10 years. Risks for male seniors are 4-5 times greater than for females. CONCLUSIONS: Since mortality and morbidity from aortic aneurysms have not decreased and screening offers potential benefits, costs and benefits of screening need to be quantified.

Aged↗

A telephone survey to measure risk factor prevalence in communities across Canada.

From 1985 to 1988, 10 Canadian community health units, in conjunction with Health and Welfare Canada, conducted a standardized telephone survey to assess the prevalence of health risk factors among persons aged 15 and over. Seatbelt use, hypertension awareness, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use, cancer screening status and sociodemographic variables were ascertained in each community. Although prevalence rates for most of the major risk factors varied significantly among the survey communities, little clustering of high or low risk levels was observed in any particular locale. Periodic administration of the risk factor survey in communities across Canada would provide a valuable data base for both public health planners and researchers.

Adolescent↗