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PubMed2005

[Secular trends of growth of schoolchildren from Paulínia, São Paulo-Brazil (1979/80 - 1993/94)].

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the secular trends in height, weight and weight/height of schoolchildren from the city of Paulínia, São Paulo, Brazil between 1979/80 and 1993/94. METHODS: Anthropometric measurements (height, weight and weight/height) of 1,903 children (6.5-12.5 y); 51.5% M: 48.5% F, from Paulínia public schools were compared with data from a previous study carried out in the same city 15 years earlier. Decade increments were calculated and data was smoothed by the technique of means and medians (3H3H3). RESULTS: Height and weight mean values were always greater than those of the previous study, with positive increments. Height increments ranged from 1.13 to 5.0 cm in boys and from 1.2 to 4.33 cm in girls. Weight increments ranged from 0.53 to 4.13 kg in males and from 0.87 to 3.0 kg in females. In the two studies, weight/height means were very similar for both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Increments in height and weight during this period are an indicator of development on the economical and health levels. A positive secular trend was also observed in developed countries after the 2nd World War and in the Brazilian people.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1988

Secular trends of obesity in early life: the Bogalusa Heart Study.

Secular changes in height and weight measurements were examined in five- to 14-year-olds from 1973 to 1984. The age-sex specific 85th percentile was used to classify persons as overweight (based on ponderal index; kg/m3). Secular increases in weight (2.5 kg), and ponderosity (0.5-0.7 kg/m3) were found. Gains in ponderosity over the 11-year period were greater at the 75th percentile than at the 25th percentile, and the prevalence of overweight increased from 15 per cent to 24 per cent.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

Secular trends of sizes at birth in Japanese healthy infants born between 1962 and 1988.

Body sizes at birth are important clinical indicators widely used for evaluation of prenatal growth. Japan had significant socioeconomic improvement around the 1960s, and these environmental changes may influence physiologically prenatal growth. Furthermore, in Japan, measurements of size at birth for birth certificates are weight and height. Thus, we can refer to annual data on weight and height, but not on head and chest circumference at birth. In this study we measured the weight, height, and head and chest circumference at birth among 6,563 Japanese singleton healthy infants, annually in 1962 and 1988, and examined secular trends of these anthropometric measurements. The boys consistently exceeded the girls in all four variables. Birth weight and height increased significantly from the 1960s to '70s, but did not differ between the '70s and '80s in both boys and girls. Secular trends of head and chest circumference were different from them. In both boys and girls, head and chest circumference increased significantly from the '60s to the '70s, but decreased significantly from the '70s to the '80s. No difference of head circumference during the '60s and '80s was found, but the difference of chest circumference was found. Size at birth was likely to increase from the '60s to '70s in Japan. These findings suggest that the environmental changes such as socioeconomic improvements influence the prenatal growth.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1996

Characteristics of participants in secular organizations for sobriety (SOS).

Self-help groups have assisted many in their recovery from alcohol use disorders. Although Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the largest self-help organization for addressing alcohol problems, no single organization can be suited to the needs of all alcohol abusers. For example, some alcoholics have chosen not to affiliate with AA because of objections to religious or spiritual references in the 12 steps of AA. It was largely for this reason that a secular self-help organization-Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS)-was established. This article provides an overview of SOS. Also described are the results of a survey of SOS participants. These data provide a preliminary picture of SOS members and will, we hope, stimulate further research on this organization and its effectiveness.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Secular trends in menopause age.

The question of whether or not there has been a secular trend in age of menopause in Europe and the United States from the 1940s to the 1990s has intrigued many investigators. However, since 1978, no attempt has been made to update Flint's 1978 study, from 1948 to 1964, of menopause ages in Denmark, England, France, Germany and the United States. This paper will attempt to describe the problems of doing secular trend research. These include methodological problems such as the use of retrospective dates and population representations, as well as the factors that affect the natural biological age of this reproductive landmark. Suggestions are made for ways to standardize menopause age research cross-culturally. These include having large enough populations studied to be statistically significant and then randomly selecting the same populations in specific areas of a country and studying them every 10 years or more; studying generations of women in same families in various areas of a particular country; or studying cohorts of women, both cross-sectionally and prospectively. An International Menopause Index for worldwide ages of menopause is also proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Secular trends in legal and illegal substance use among 16 to 20 year old adolescents in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Data targeting trends in legal and illegal substance use by adolescents are scarce. Using the data from two similar large national surveys run in 1993 and 2002, this paper assesses secular trends in rates of substance use among 16-20-year-old Swiss adolescents. METHODS: Self-reported regular use of tobacco, alcohol misuse, regular cannabis use (01 occasion over last 30 days) and lifetime use of psychoactive medication, LSD, ecstasy, cocaine and heroine were assessed through identical questions using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. 9268 (1993) and 7428 (2002) high school students and apprentices were included in the analyses. RESULTS: There is a higher proportion of regular smokers among apprentices than among students (p <0.001). Between 1993 and 2002 the increase in regular tobacco consumption was significant among both female and male apprentices (p <0.001) but not among students. Between 1993 and 2002 alcohol misuse significantly increased in all four groups (p <0.001). It is more prevalent among males than among females (p <0.001) and higher among apprentices than among students (p <0.001). Regular use of cannabis has increased in the four groups (p <0.0001). It is higher among males than among females (p <0.001), while it is largely the same among students and apprentices. While the increase in ecstasy use is highly significant in all four groups (p <0.001), the increase in LSD and cocaine use is significant among apprentices only (p <0.001). Use of LSD, ecstasy and cocaine is more prevalent among males than among females (<0.001) and higher among apprentices than among students (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: The secular increase in psychoactive substance use among older Swiss adolescents calls for the implementation of effective strategies both from individual and public health viewpoints.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Secular increases in weight, height and body mass index among school children of Hat Yai, Thailand: a 5 years follow-up study.

Upward trend of growth and overweight has been reported from developed countries. As Thailand has been undergoing rapid economic transition over the previous decade, we conducted an analysis to demonstrate the secular changes of growth over five years follow-up. Subjects were a cohort of 2,252 primary school children recruited in 1992 for the Hat Yai childhood obesity study. Baseline demographic and family data were collected by a questionnaire completed by parents. To quantify the cohort effect, a generalized estimating equations analysis for a cross sectional time series data was undertaken with weight, height, and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) as a dependent variable and containing a quadratic term of age, sex, year of birth and family variables. One thousand and ninety-four (48.5%) children completed 6 anthropometric measurements. Graphs of median weight, height, BMI and overweight prevalence of each birth cohort against age showed secular increases of growth and overweight, and an age effect. For each one-year younger cohort, the median weight, median height and median BMI increased by 1.22 kg, 1.25 cm and 0.23 kg/m2, respectively. An increasing trend of childhood overweight reported here may signify a need for preventing overweight and reducing weight in childhood adolescence in the future.

Body Height↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Secular growth trends in children and youth of Warsaw in the last twenty years].

The aim of the study was to preliminarly evaluate the secular trend in Warsaw children and youth during the last 20 years. Mean values of body height, weight and chest circumference and weight to height percentile curves of children and youth aged I month to 18 years, examined in Department of Growth and Development of Children and Youth of the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw in 1976-80 and 1996-99, were compared. Secular changes in body height and weight and especially in chest circumference were observed in the studied population during the last 20 years. In children and youth growth acceleration occurred, but in infants a deceleration was observed. At all ages a slight tendency toward slimness was visible. The changes in the values of anthropometric growth indices, which occurred during the last 20 years have shown that there is a need for prospective growth monitoring and upgrading of growth standards.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Secular trends of sex ratios at birth in Japan].

OBJECTIVE: To describe secular trends of change in sex ratio at birth in Japan during the 100 years from 1899 to 1998. METHODS: Data on sex ratios (number of males to females at birth by prefecture) from 1899 to 1998 were obtained from the vital statistics of Japan. We used moving averages (9-years averages) to minimize the effects of yearly fluctuation on the sex ratio and calculated simple linear regression coefficients to examine trends in change for the period between 1925 and 1969 and between 1970 and 1998. RESULTS: The male: female sex ratio in Japan increased during the period through 1925 to about 1970 and thereafter decreased. The increase was the case for all prefectures with few exception, while these but Fukushima, Ibaraki, Fukui, Yamanashi and Kumamoto demonstrated subsequent decrease. The prefectures with strong decrease in the sex ratio from about 1970 at largely distributed facing the Sea of Japan; e.g. Akita, Toyama, Ishikawa, Kyoto, Shimane and Fukuoka. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed a decline in the male: female sex ratio at birth in recent decades in Japan as a whole and in most prefectures. Although we do not know whether this is an effect of environmental pollution due to chemical substances, monitoring of secular trends in sex ratios should be continued with due attention to counsel to government.

Birth Rate↗
PubMed2000

[Secular trends of height in adulthood of children born in the city of São Paulo, Brazil from 1950-1976].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the secular trend/change in the height of young males born in the city of S. Paulo between 1950 and 1976 and measured in the year they turn 18 years. METHODS: A random and representative sample (6,942 individuals) was evaluated in military draft. Statistical analyses included Shapiro-Wilk test for normality of height distribution in each birth cohort, and linear regression analysis for trend on heights. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Stature has increased 3.42 centimeters during the 27 years covered by the study (1.26 cm/decade). The trend was not linear: in the 50s, there was a statistically significant increase (0.84 cm/decade); in the 60s, a smaller but non-significant increase (0.5 cm/decade) was seen; in the period of 1970-76, a greater increase in heights (2.9 cm/decade) was observed. The secular change rate observed was comparable to the rate seen in other countries. The most recent birth cohorts (1975 and 1976) achieved the higher statures in the study (approximately 175 cm). Despite these height increments, deficits of 1.8 e 6.2 cm were seen when the taller cohorts of the study were compared to American young males born in 1961 (NCHS) and Dutch men born in 1972. If there won't be any changes in the accelerated rates of the 70s, young people of São Paulo may overcome these deficits in about one or three decades.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Secular trends in birth weight in the city of São Paulo, Brazil (1976-1998)].

OBJECTIVE: Data from two household surveys on infant and child health status undertaken in the mid-80s and mid-90s, complemented with previous data collected from maternity hospitals records and more recent data provided by the state system on birth registries, allowed to characterize and analyse secular trends in birth weight in the city of S. Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: The household surveys included random samples of children under 5 years old (n = 1,016 children in 1984-85 and n = 1,280 children in 1995-96). A random sample of births that took place in the city's hospitals in the year of 1976 (n = 5,734) was drawn from the hospital records. Birth registries refer to children born in the city between 1993 and 1998 (around 200,000 per year). The study of the social distribution of birth weight took into account the per capita family income and maternal schooling. For the analysis of the determinants of secular trends, hierarchical causal models, multivariate regression analyses and calculations analogous to the ones used to assess population attributable risks were applied. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Birth weight distribution in S. Paulo city (an average of 3,160 g and 8.9% of the values < 2,500 g) is below the expected for optimum fetal growth conditions (average 3,400-3,500 g and 4-5% of the values < 2,500 g). The birth weight distribution did not change substantially along the study period (1976-1998). However, there are evidences of changes when different socioeconomic strata are considered separately. Among the lower strata trends have been positive and this seems to be due to increases in intrauterine growth as a result of an improvement in family's purchasing power, women's weight and height, prenatal care and, possibly, the reduction in smoking. Among the higher socioeconomic strata, birth weight trends have been negative apparently due to an increase in premature births of unknown origin.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed2000

[Secular trends in malnutrition and obesity among children in the city of São Paulo, Brazil (1974-1996)].

OBJECTIVE: Data from three household surveys undertaken in the city of S. Paulo, Brazil, from mid-80s to mid-90s allow to characterize and analyse secular trends in malnutrition and obesity among infants and children. METHODS: The three surveys included random population samples aged from zero to 59 months (1,008 children in the period of 1974-75; 1,016 in 1984-85 and 1,280 in 1995-96). The malnourished status was diagnosed when height-for-age and/or weight-for-height indices were below two standard deviation of the mean values expected according to the international growth reference. The obesity status was determined when weight-for-height indices fell two standard deviations above the reference. The study of the social distribution of malnutrition and obesity in each survey took into account tertiles of the per capita family income. For the study of the determinants of secular trends, hierarchical causal models, multivariate regression analyses and calculations analogous to the ones used to assess population attributable risks were applied. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: In the period of 22 years covered by the three surveys, child malnutrition was controlled in the city and became relatively rare even among the poorest families. The risk of obesity remained low and restricted to the richest families. Positive changes in distal (family income and maternal schooling) and intermediate determinants (sanitation, access to heath services and reproductive past history) of child nutritional status substantially explained part of the decline in the prevalence of malnutrition seen in the mid-80s to mid-90s.

Body Height↗
PubMed2000

[Secular trends in childhood in the city of São Paulo, Brazil (1984-1996)].

OBJECTIVE: Data from two consecutive households surveys undertaken in mid-80s and mid-90s allow to characterize and analyse secular trends in infant and child anaemia in the city of S. Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: The two surveys included random population samples aged from zero to 59 months (1,016 in the period of 1984-85 and 1,280 in 1995-96). Capillary blood samples, collected by digital puncture in the two surveys, were analysed regarding their haemoglobin concentration. The anaemic status was determined when haemoglobin concentration was below 11 g/dL. For each survey, the study of the social distribution of child anaemia took into account tertiles of the per capita family income. For the study of the determinants of secular trends, hierarchical causal models, multivariate regression analyses and calculations analogous to the ones used to assess population attributable risks were applied. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: In the time span from the first to the second survey, there was a significant reduction in the average haemoglobin concentration (from 11.6 g/dl to 11.0 g/dl), as well as a considerable increase in anaemia prevalence (from 35.6% to 46.9%). Unfavourable trends were observed in both sexes, all age groups and all income strata. Trends were still less favourable among the poorest families, aggravating the social burden related to child anaemia. Changes in distal (family income and maternal schooling) and proximal determinants (breast or bottle-feeding) of child anaemia were positive in the study period and therefore they cannot explain the increase in the disease. A low iron diet could explain the high prevalence of anaemia in both surveys but could not explain its further increase.

Anemia↗
PubMed2000

[Secular trends in diarrhea disease of childhood in the city of São Paulo, Brazil (1984-1996)].

OBJECTIVE: Data from two consecutive household surveys undertaken in mid-80s and mid-90s allow to characterize and analyse secular trends in infant and child diarrhea in the city of S. Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: The two surveys included random population samples aged from zero to 59 months of age (1,016 in the period of 1984-85 and 1,280 in 1995-96). In both surveys the instant prevalence of diarrhea (proportion of examined individuals reporting three or more episodes of liquid stools in 24 hours) and the annual incidence of hospitalizations due to the disease were calculated. These two indicators were estimated from household interviews conducted by pediatricians with the children's mothers. In both surveys the interviews were distributed throughout a period of almost 12 months to assure a uniform coverage of the various areas of the city during the four seasons. For each survey, the study of the social distribution of the disease took into account tertiles of the per capita family income. For the study of the determinants of secular trends, hierarchical causal models, multivariate regression analyses and calculations analogous to the ones used to assess population attributable risks were applied. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: In the time span from the first to the second survey, there was substantial reduction in both the prevalence of diarrhea (from 1.70% to 0.90%) and the hospitalizations due to the disease (from 2.21 to 0.79 hospitalizations per 100 children-year). A more significant reduction was observed among the third poorest families, narrowing the social gradient relative to the disease. An increase in family income and improvement in water supply could substantially explain part of the decline in the disease and, for children under two years of age, a discrete increase in breast-feeding may have also played a positive role.

Brazil↗
PubMed2000

[Secular trends in intestinal parasitic diseases of childhood in the city of São Paulo, Brazil (1984-1996)].

OBJECTIVE: Data from two consecutive household surveys undertaken in mid-80s and mid-90s allow to characterize and analyse secular trends in infant and child intestinal parasitic diseases in the city of S. Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: The two surveys included random population samples aged from zero to 59 months (1,016 in the period of 1984-85 and 1,280 in 1995-96). Stool samples were collected in both surveys and examined by sedimentation techniques using both unstained and Lugol-stained preparations. For each survey, the study of the social distribution of the parasitic diseases took into account tertiles of the per capita family income. For the study of the determinants of secular trends, hierarchical causal models, multivariate regression analyses and calculations analogous to the ones used to assess population attributable risks were applied. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: In the time span from the first to the second survey, there was a substantial reduction in the prevalence of all parasites (from 30.9% to 10.7%), helminths in general (from 22.3% to 4.8%), giardiasis (from 14.5% to 5.5%) and two or more species of parasites (from 13.1% to 0.5%). A significant decline in prevalence was observed in all social strata and the inverse association between income and intestinal parasites was kept unchanged in the period. Positive changes in distal (family income and maternal schooling) and intermediate determinants (housing, sanitation, and access to health care) of helminthic disease could substantially explain part of its decline in the period. The decline in giardiasis was attributed to improvement in maternal schooling, housing and sanitation. The duplication in the attendance rate to day care nurseries may have restricted the decline rate in the giardiasis prevalence in the study period.

Brazil↗
PubMed2000

[Secular trends in respiratory diseases of childhood in the city of São Paulo, Brazil (1984-1996)].

OBJECTIVE: Data from two consecutive household surveys undertaken in mid-80s and mid-90s allow to characterize and analyse secular trends in infant and child respiratory diseases in the city of S. Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: The two surveys included random population samples aged from zero to 59 months (1,016 in the period of 1984-85 and 1,280 in 1995-96). In both surveys the instant prevalence of high respiratory diseases (above the epiglottis) and low respiratory diseases with or without wheezing were calculated. All sampled children were examined in their household at a random day by trained pediatricians using standardized procedures. The examinations included medical history, past respiratory diseases and a complete physical examination. In both surveys the examinations were distributed throughout a period of almost 12 months to assure a uniform coverage of the various areas of the city along the four seasons of the year. For each survey, the study of the social distribution of the diseases took into account tertiles of the per capita family income. For the study of the determinants of secular trends, hierarchical causal models, multivariate regression analyses and calculations analogous to the ones used to assess population attributable risks were applied. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: In the time span from the first to the second survey, there was a substantial increase in the prevalence of both low (from 22.2% to 38.8%) and high respiratory diseases (from 6.0% to 10.0% and from 0.8% to 2.8%, without and with wheezing, respectively). In the case of high respiratory disease and low respiratory disease without wheezing, an increase in prevalence was observed among all social strata, which did not interfere with the slightly less favourable situation of the lower income groups. In the case of low respiratory disease with wheezing, the increase was only observed among middle and low-income groups, being particularly high among the lower income group, yielding a significant inverse gradient between income and respiratory disease. Positive changes in distal (family income and maternal schooling) and in intermediate determinants related to housing characteristics would have resulted in a decline, not an increase, in the prevalence of respiratory diseases in the city. The duplication in the attendance rate to day care nurseries seen in the period could have counterbalanced the positive effect due to socioeconomic and housing variables but would not be enough to explain an increase in the disease.

Brazil↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measuring the secular changes of the concentration of death causes.

In this paper, the authors introduce several kinds of measuring numbers for the analysis of changes in the causes of death. Under certain conditions, the so called diversity indices are good for this purpose. The authors discuss the results of their concrete studies on the basis of the patterns of tables of events made up according to age groups and types of indices. Comparing the-causes of death of the US for 1968 and 1975 death statistics, there is a tendency for secular increase in the latter. This can be observed in the majority of the important disease sections, thus it is of a divided character. The age group characteristics of the secular change in concentration can also be seen in the diagrams published. The described diagrams offer an opportunity for more detailed study of the changes in the causes of death from a human, biological point of view.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

[Secular trend of puberty].

The aim of our study was to evaluate the age of the onset of pubertal characteristics in a population of Northern Italy and to compare our data with the pubertal staging scale defined by Tanner in 1976. These observations may help us to verify if even in Italy there is a positive secular change in sexual maturation, as has been observed in many European countries. We studied 3510 children (1868 males and 1642 females) aged 6-15 years, born between 1983 and 1996. In every subject sexual maturity was evaluated according to Tanner stages. We calculated the percentile distribution for ages of attainment of B2 and PH2 stages for females and G2, PH2 and testicular volume = or >4 ml (VT4) for males. In females the percentile values for B2 were: 3rd=8.1, 50th=10.5, and 97th=12.6 years. In males the percentile values for G2 and VT4 were: 3rd=8.8 and 9.1 years respectively, 50th=11 years, and 97th=13.4 and 13.3 years respectively. 3rd, 50th, and 97th centiles for pubic hair stage 2 were 8.1, 10.6 and 12.6 years for females and 8.8, 11.2 and 13.4 years for males. For all stages an earlier pubertal development was seen in comparison with Tanner data. One hundred-twenty-five girls had already reached menarche. Median (interquartile range) age at menarche was 11.9 (11.4-12.4) years showing a decrease compared with Tanner values. Our data clearly demonstrate a positive secular trend in pubertal development and point out the need of having updated references values of the timing of sexual maturation for the whole Italian population.

Adolescent↗