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Biomedical subjects

E Barrett-Connor

Publications and source records attributed to E Barrett-Connor.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

Prospective study of patients hospitalized with head injury in San Diego County, 1978.

The characteristics of 1311 head-injured patients admitted to 10 selected San Diego hospitals are detailed. Fifty patients who subsequently died are included. Glasgow coma scale scores were strongly related to survival. After adjustment for the Glasgow coma scale score, there was an independent association between age and survival, but not between sex and survival. The four characteristics associated with head injury that bore the highest case fatality ratios (all greater than 30%) in descending order were spinal cord injury, obstructed airway, difficulty breathing, and shock. Previous unconsciousness and transport by private vehicle were predictive of survival. None of the four adverse predictors or multiple injury showed an independent association with mortality when the Glasgow coma scale score was taken into account.

Adolescent↗

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in an adult community as determined by history or fasting hyperglycemia.

In this study the prevalence of diabetes in an adult community was determined using historical criteria and fasting hyperglycemia as definitions of known and previously unknown disease, respectively. Among the 4944 participants ages 30 to 95 years, the prevalence of known diabetes rose from less than 2% in persons less than 45 years of age to 6% in persons over 75 years of age. The prevalence of previously unknown diabetes, defined as a fasting plasma glucose greater than or equal to 140 mg/dl, was less than the prevalence of known diabetes, and relatively stable at 3-4% in persons over age 50. In this population, nearly twice as many men as women had diabetes. This sex ratio was associated with more excessive obesity in men.

Adult↗

Factors associated with the distribution of fasting plasma glucose in an adult community.

The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was measured in 4170 nondiabetic adult residents of a suburban California community. At all ages the median FPG in men was higher (103-107 mg/dl) than the median FPG in women (96-104 mg/dl). FPG levels correlated weakly with obesity, and male-female differences persisted after adjustment for body mass index. In women, FPG levels rose at the age of menopause and tended to be lower in sex hormone-using women, suggesting that the male-female differences were related to estrogen. The FPG rose little with age (0.7 mg/dl/decade in men; 2.0 mg/dl/decade in women) in contrast to the 6-15 mg/dl/decade increment reported for glucose tolerance tests. These data suggest that the normal range of FPG is relatively independent of age and body mass, and that the male-female differences are not sufficiently great to necessitate sex-specific standards.

Adult↗

Alterations of plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels associated with consumption of selected medications. The Lipid Research Clinics Program Prevalence Study.

From the 10 North American study populations of the Lipid Research Clinics Program, mean levels of plasma high-density (HDL) cholesterol were contrasted between users of eight categories of prescribed medications and a control group of nonusers of those categories matched for age, sex, study population and ponderosity. Women taking propranolol had a mean HDL cholesterol level 12 mg/dl lower than nonusers (p < 0.05). Men taking phenytoin had a mean HDL cholesterol level more than 18 mg/dl higher than nonusers (p < 0.05). Men taking benzodiazepine derivatives had a mean HDL cholesterol level 3.3 mg/dl lower than nonusers (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between users and nonusers of thiazide diuretics, chlorthalidone, barbiturates, sympathomimetics or antihistamines.

Barbiturates↗

Altered plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels associated with oral contraceptive and oestrogen use. Report from the Medications Working Group of the Lipid Research Clinics Program.

In a study of women attending ten North American Lipid Research Clinics plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density (L.D.L.), very low density (V.L.D.L.), and high density (H.D.L.) lipoprotein levels in those taking oral contraceptives (O.C.) and in those taking oestrogens for menopausal symptoms were compared with those in women not taking gonadal hormones, after adjustment for age, educational attainment, and body-mass index, O.C. and oestrogen users were leaner than non-users. Compared with controls, O.C. users showed increased cholesterol, triglyceride, and L.D.L.-cholesterol and V.L.D.L.-cholesterol levels, but H.D.L.-cholesterol levels were similar. Cholesterol, triglyceride, and H.D.L.-cholesterol and V.L.D.L.-cholesterol levels were positively associated with the quantity of the oestrogen component of the O.C. preparations. Compared with non-users, menopausal oestrogen users had slightly lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, significant decreases in L.D.L.-cholesterol and V.L.D.L.-cholesterol, and a significant increase in H.D.L.-cholesterol.

Adolescent↗

Heart disease risk factors and hormone use in postmenopausal women.

A population of 1,496 women aged 55 to 74 years was studied for the distribution of heart disease risk factors in the presence or absence of postmenopausal estrogens. Current hormone use was reported by 39%. Hormone users were significantly slimmer than nonusers at all ages. After adjustment for the effect of obesity, hormone users had significantly lower mean levels of plasma cholesterol and higher mean levels of plasma triglycerides than nonusers. Blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose concentration tended to be lower among hormone users, although the differences were not statistically significant in all age groups. This article discusses the theoretical implications of these observations for cardiovascular disease mortality and contrasts them with the cancer risk of postmenopausal estrogen use.

Age Factors↗

The epidemiology of tuberculosis in physicians.

The incidence of tuberculosis in physicians was determined by mailed questionnaire. Since 1950 tuberculosis infection preceding entry into medical school has decreased by 73%; at the same time, infection after beginning recent graduates exceeded 1% per year, and age-specific infection rates among physicians were at least twice the US average. Tuberculosis developed in nearly one in ten physicians infected after medical school entry; in two thirds, disease preceded or coincided with recognized tuberculin positivity. No tuberculosis occurred in physicians who used isoniazid chemoprophylaxis, but two thirds of tuberculin-negative physicians did not have annual skin tests, 56% of known recent converters used no chemoprophylaxis, and 25% of those initiating isoniazid prophylaxis did not complete a 12-month course. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine recipients had 80% less tuberculosis than unimmunized physicians infected after beginning medical school.

Adult↗

Methods for determining long-term survival in a population based study.

A 98.8% response rate was achieved in a follow-up study of a community based health survey. The follow-up methodology used in contacting the residents of 1700 households in a suburban upper-middle class community is presented. Study subjects, who were predominantly white, older adults, participated in the original health survey during 1972 and 1973. When the follow-up study was conducted three years later to determine the vital status of study participants, 30% of the households had moved. Follow-up response of two sets of mailings totaled 76.1%. An additional 12.1% response was obtained by calling residents at their last known address. The final 10.5% of the contacted households were located by intensive telephone tracing. A wide variety of sources of information, both local and non-local, were used to locate these "hard to trace" households. They were different from all other contacted households with respect to mobility rate, household size, and death rate. A 15.5% underestimate of the three-year death rate would have occurred if the hard to trace group had not been contacted. These results emphasize the importance of complete follow-up in prospective studies.

Adolescent↗

Latent and chronic infections imported from Southeast Asia.

This review is intended to remind physicians of exotic infections with latency of at least one year that could cause illness in refugees or US citizens exposed in Southeast Asia. Tuberculosis, melioidosis, and leprosy are the major chronic infections of bacterial origin. Intestinal protozoa, roundworms, and flatworms are considered with regard to pathogenic, potential and duration of infection. Malaria, filariasis, and schistosomiasis may be seen on occasion. Paragonimiasis and Chinese liver fluke infections are more common and may simulate other less exotic diseases.

Asia, Southeastern↗

Differences between respondents and non-respondents in a population-based cardiovascular disease study.

The differences in cardiovascular health status between participants and non-participants were examined in a population-based cardiovascular study. Telephone interviews with non-respondents revealed generally more cardiovascular disease but less hyperlipidemia and family history of cardiovascular disease. Non-respondents did not differ regarding known hypertension, diet or drug therapy for hyperlipidemia, or egg use. Non-respondents were more likely to be cigarette smokers. Because the amount of non-respondent bias in the study was small while the response rate was high, respondents were generally representative of the target population. However, the observed differences could have produced spuriously high estimates of risk factor prevalence, low estimates of disease prevalence, and biased relative risks if the non-response rate and/or the baseline differences had been considerably larger.

Adult↗