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Biomedical subjects

H Markowe

Publications and source records attributed to H Markowe.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Changing trends in the epidemiology of malignant melanoma: gender differences and their implications for public health.

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer has been identified as a key area in the English health strategy. Review of trends in the epidemiology of melanoma by age, sex and social class can contribute to ensuring that preventive efforts are targeted appropriately and subsequently to monitoring the effects of campaigns. METHODS: Descriptive epidemiological study using data for both sexes from cancer registrations by age (England & Wales 1971-1989), and from mortality statistics by age (England & Wales 1951-1970, England 1969-1992) and by social class (England & Wales 1970-1972 for men and women, England & Wales 1979-1980, 1982-1983 for men and Great Britain 1979-1980, 1982-1983 for women). Analysis used age-standardized and age-specific registration rates by sex, age-standardized and age-specific mortality rates by sex and standardized mortality ratios by sex and by social class. Cohort effects are presented based on model fitting of age- and cohort-specific mortality rates for the period 1950-1989. RESULTS: Registration rates of new cases of malignant melanoma increased sharply in both sexes between 1971 and 1989 by 190% in men and 137% in women. Between 1970/1972 and 1990/1992 age-standardized mortality rates increased by 92% in men and 43% in women. In the 15-34 age group mortality rates have declined in women since the late 1970s whilst remaining level in men. The pattern of significantly higher mortality for both men and women in non-manual occupational groups had by the early 1980s diminished in women although it remained in men. In non-manual groups the mortality rate was higher in men than in women whilst for manual groups the opposite was true. CONCLUSION: A difference in trends in mortality from malignant melanoma between the sexes was demonstrated. Men are an important target group for preventive efforts despite their lower incidence of melanoma. They have a higher mortality rate which is increasing, less knowledge about appropriate primary and secondary preventive measures, present later with disease and respond less to traditional health education approaches. The findings have implications for the planning of primary and secondary prevention programmes.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Smoking and blood pressure in the leg.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the calf:brachial ratio for systolic blood pressure is reduced in both current and ex-smokers of cigarettes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of the calf:brachial systolic blood pressure ratio and smoking history. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and ten male and 138 female civil servants aged 35-59 years working in the Department of the Environment Building, London. RESULTS: In men the systolic blood pressure ratio (Doppler calf:auscultatory brachial) decreased above the age of 50 years. However, different patterns were observed in those who had smoked at some time and those who had never smoked. In those who had never smoked the ratio in men aged 35-44 years was lower than that in men aged 55-59 years. In those who had smoked the average ratio rose from the age of 35-44 years to the age of 45-49 years and then fell to below the former value at the age of 55-59 years. There was a significant difference between lifelong non-smokers and current smokers at age 55-59 years. The pattern was similar in both male ex- and current smokers, and ex-smokers had results intermediate between those for current smokers and those who had never smoked. In women who had never smoked the ratio increased from the age of 35-44 years to the age of 50-59 years. In women aged 50-59 who currently smoke or used to smoke cigarettes the average ratio was close to that for women aged 35-44 years who had never smoked. CONCLUSIONS: The calf:brachial systolic blood pressure ratio is a simple measurement that may prove useful in detecting the early adverse effects of smoking on peripheral vascular disease. Lower ratios at older ages occurred in both current and ex-smokers, and the effects of smoking on peripheral arterial disease may not be easily reversible at older ages.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Stroke risk from alcohol consumption using different control groups.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our aim in this study was to investigate the relation between chronic alcohol consumption and stroke. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out using two hospital-based control groups and the results of a community-based survey of alcohol consumption. Hospital-based control subjects were chosen either from "general" medical admissions or a subset of "select" admissions that excluded possible alcohol-related admissions. Cases were selected from hospital inpatients. RESULTS: The relative risk for stroke associated with alcohol consumption greater than 300 grams per week for general control subjects was 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-3.49) compared with 1.30 (95% CI, 0.42-4.05) for select control subjects. The odds ratio was further increased to 1.93 (95% CI, 0.87-4.28) using data from the community-based survey. None of these estimates were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These results illustrate how the risk associated with alcohol consumption varies depending on the choice of control groups and may explain the contradictory results from previous case-control studies. Because of different biases associated with control selection, we believe that the results of this study are consistent with those of other studies that demonstrate a modest increased risk for stroke associated with alcohol consumption.

Adult↗