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PubMed2002

Natural experiment examining impact of aggressive screening and treatment on prostate cancer mortality in two fixed cohorts from Seattle area and Connecticut.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the more intensive screening and treatment for prostate cancer in the Seattle-Puget Sound area in 1987-90 led to lower mortality from prostate cancer than in Connecticut. DESIGN: Natural experiment comparing two fixed cohorts from 1987 to 1997. SETTING: Seattle-Puget Sound and Connecticut surveillance, epidemiology, and end results areas. PARTICIPANTS: Population based cohorts of male Medicare beneficiaries aged 65-79 drawn from the Seattle (n=94 900) and Connecticut (n=120 621) areas. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of screening for prostate cancer, treatment with radical prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy, and prostate cancer specific mortality. RESULTS: The prostate specific antigen testing rate in Seattle was 5.39 (95% confidence interval 4.76 to 6.11) times that of Connecticut, and the prostate biopsy rate was 2.20 (1.81 to 2.68) times that of Connecticut during 1987-90. The 10 year cumulative incidences of radical prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy up to 1996 were 2.7% and 3.9% for Seattle cohort members compared with 0.5% and 3.1% for Connecticut cohort members. The adjusted rate ratio of prostate cancer mortality up to 1997 was 1.03 (0.95 to 1.11) in Seattle compared with Connecticut. CONCLUSION: More intensive screening for prostate cancer and treatment with radical prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy among Medicare beneficiaries in the Seattle area than in the Connecticut area was not associated with lower prostate cancer specific mortality over 11 years of follow up.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Chiropractic-primary care, neuromusculoskeletal care, or musculoskeletal care? Results of a survey of chiropractic college presidents, chiropractic organization leaders, and Connecticut-licensed doctors of chiropractic.

BACKGROUND: The Connecticut Chiropractic Association authorized an ad hoc committee to study Connecticut chiropractic scope of practice in January 1999. This committee was chaired by Richard Duenas, DC, and included 4 other Connecticut-licensed doctors of chiropractic who responded to an appeal to participate. OBJECTIVE: Committee members investigated the terms primary care, primary care provider (PCP) (clinician, physician), neuromusculoskeletal care, neuromusculoskeletal care provider (clinician, physician), musculoskeletal care, and musculoskeletal care provider (clinician, physician) to determine which, if any, apply to the practice of chiropractic. DATA SOURCES: A literature review was performed with in-depth analysis of the definitions of these terms and an interpretation of Connecticut Statutes for chiropractic, comparing the legal description of chiropractic practice to the term definitions. The literature review produced several detailed definitions of primary care and/or primary care provider (clinician, physician); however, no accurate description of neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) care or musculoskeletal care was found. RESULTS: Two opinion surveys were conducted: 1 survey included presidents of accredited chiropractic colleges, as well as leaders of chiropractic organizations throughout the world. The other survey was sent to doctors of chiropractic (DC) licensed in the State of Connecticut. Survey topics addressed definitions of primary care and PCP, the formulation of these terms, neuromusculoskeletal care and neuromusculoskeletal care provider, individual rights in selecting a PCP, and the types of practitioners considered PCPs. The consensus among chiropractic college presidents, organization leaders, and Connecticut-licensed doctors of chiropractic was that the doctor of chiropractic is qualified to provide primary care. Most considered any definition of primary care invalid if the chiropractic profession was not involved in its formulation. The overwhelming majority felt the patient should retain the ultimate choice in determining who should be their PCP. Mission statements of accredited chiropractic colleges were reviewed, paying particular attention to educational goals and professional qualifications of graduates. The committee found these institutions strive to train students in all aspects of primary care. CONCLUSIONS: Upon review of the literature and term definitions, interpretation of the statutes pertaining to chiropractic practice, results of both surveys, and review of the chiropractic college mission statements, the committee concluded that the Connecticut-licensed DC, by education, licensure, definition, and intraprofessional consensus, qualifies as a PCP.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1976

Principles for dentist-pharmacist relationships: guidelines developed in Connecticut.

The "Guiding principles for dentist-pharmacist relationships in Connecticut" was prepared under the auspices of the Connecticut Joint Dental-Pharmaceutical Committee of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Association. The committee is made up of six dentists and six pharmacists who represent their respective state associations. The committee provides a forum in which practicing, academic licensing, and supervisory representatives of both professions meet voluntarily to discuss scientific objects of mutual interest, make pertinent recommendations on matters of professional and public concern and, on request, attempt to resolve occasional differences that arise between responsible pharmacists and dentists. The "Guide" was prepared because of the significant increase in prescription writing by practicing dentists in Connecticut. Further, with the increased involvement of third party programs, the committee thought that the relationship between dentists and pharmacists should be formalized to establish that prescription writing is a significant part of dental practice. The "Guide" was approved by the executive committee of the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Association in January 1975 and the house of delegates of the Connecticut State Dental Association in May 1975.

Connecticut↗
PubMed2001

The Connecticut Cardiovascular Consortium: a unique, state-wide research collaboration to advance clinical outcomes in patients with heart disease.

The establishment of "best clinical practices" founded upon evidence-based medicine has become an increasingly important priority. Frequently, management guidelines are derived from published research data and disseminated among practitioners to help optimize patient care. The ultimate clinical impact of these guidelines in the "real world," however, is often clouded by an incomplete assessment of patient outcomes throughout the continuum of health-care delivery models. In order to address this gap in clinical outcome assessment, we propose to establish the Connecticut Cardiovascular Consortium. The Consortium will consist of a collaborative partnership among all 31 Connecticut hospitals working in concert with Connecticut Office of Health Care Access (OHCA). The primary objective of the Consortium will be to assess, compare, and optimize clinical outcomes among Connecticut residents with cardiovascular disease. As an initial goal for the Consortium, we further propose to undertake a prospective, observational study of Connecticut residents who present with ST Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Recent advances in pharmacologic and mechanical reperfusion for STEMI have resulted in a need to define the optimal use of these therapies in the community at large. The primary purpose of this study will be to determine the relative merits of different treatment patterns for STEMI with regard to the use of fibrinolytic therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Particular emphasis will be placed on assessing the relative benefits of urgent mechanical revascularization performed at the state's seven tertiary facilities with PCI capability compared to all other treatment modalities. Successful completion of this unique collaborative endeavor is expected to have significant impact on improved patient care and on current health-care policy for medical resource allocation. Moreover, continued collaboration of health-care providers within the Connecticut Cardiovascular Consortium infrastructure should serve as a useful mechanism for ongoing improvements in evidence-based cardiovascular medicine and clinical research in the state of Connecticut.

Connecticut↗
PubMed1991

The epidemiology of AIDS in Connecticut.

From 1980 to 30 September 1990, 1,769 Connecticut cases of AIDS have been diagnosed and reported. The epidemiology of AIDS in Connecticut continues to differ from national patterns in several important ways. Intravenous drug users (IVDUs) have been the most prominent source of new cases since 1986 and made up 49% of all cases reported in 1990. Women comprise 20% of the total adult caseload; twice the national average. Connecticut's pediatric cases are 3.3% of total cases, the highest proportion among US reporting areas with 100 or more total AIDS cases. Blacks and Hispanics comprise 55% of cases, although they represent only 11% of the total population of Connecticut. The most recent annual incidence rate for Connecticut is similar to that for the country as a whole (13.3/100,000). However, Connecticut's three central cities had annual incidence rates that are much higher: Bridgeport, 28.7/100,000; New Haven, 55.5/100,000; and Hartford, 64.9/100,000. The Department of Health Services estimates that approximately 12,000 persons in Connecticut are currently infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). About 4,200 intravenous drug users are already infected. In addition, we estimate that approximately 800 new infections will occur in adults and adolescents each year. Data from various New Haven based seroprevalence studies indicate that seropositivity is high. Among patients in clinics for sexually transmitted diseases, one in every 25 was infected with HIV; among women attending women's health clinics, one in 91 was infected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Lyme disease knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors--Connecticut, 1992.

Lyme disease (LD), caused by infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States (1). Because no vaccine is available and effective measures to control tick populations are experimental, education is the most important approach to preventing LD. LD was identified in Connecticut in 1975 (2); in 1991, Connecticut had the highest rate of LD in the United States (36 per 100,000 population), and cases were reported in residents from 134 of Connecticut's 169 cities. To assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to LD, the State of Connecticut Department of Health Services and the University of Connecticut conducted a telephone survey of adults in Connecticut during the first 2 weeks of May 1992. This report summarizes the results of the survey.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The first fifty years of the Connecticut Tumor Registry: reminiscences and prospects.

The first fifty years of the Connecticut Tumor Registry (1935-1985) have seen unprecedented progress in the collection of standardized data on cancer patients and in the processing of these data, from paper documents to punch cards and magnetic tapes. The need for collecting such information was first recognized, in the early 1930s, by a group of physicians, health professionals, and laymen in New Haven who observed alarming increases in cancer rates and poor survival of cancer patients in this city. This paper recalls the growth and development of the registry and the role played by the Connecticut legislature, the State Medical Society, the Connecticut Department of Health, and the National Cancer Institute in this process. For half a century, the registry has provided assistance to practitioners, hospitals, and research scientists, not only in Connecticut but across the country and around the world. By making available reliable data on incidence and survival, the registry has played a key role in patient management, clinical trials, and etiologic studies. It has also demonstrated the value and served as an exemplary model of a population-based registry. At this juncture in its history, prospects for the future of the Connecticut Tumor Registry appear bright. Its data base will be an essential resource for the recently established Cancer Control Research Unit (CCRU) in the state and for new intervention studies by investigators at Yale, the University of Connecticut, and the State Health Department.

Connecticut↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of nurses' smoking habits: the 1975 DHEW survey and Connecticut nurses, 1981.

In a 1975 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 38.9 percent of the nurses surveyed were smokers--a substantially higher percentage than among women in the general U.S. population and higher than among other groups of health professionals. In a 1981 study of a 3-percent random sample of Connecticut nurses, only 25.5 percent of the nurses reported that they smoked. There are limitations to comparisons of the two studies. The 1975 sample was a national population, and the Connecticut study was limited to nurses in one State and may not reflect the habits and attitudes of this occupational group throughout the country. In the more recent study, however, there appear to be several differences in nurses' smoking habits. A trend toward a decrease in smoking seems to be emerging among nurses. The percentage of smokers among the Connecticut nurses resembles the prevalence in two other recent surveys: 25.8 percent in the American Cancer Society, Rhode Island Division study, and 23.6 percent in the University of Michigan Hospital survey. In the U.S. female population, 29.4 percent of the women are smokers. The percentage of former smokers in both the U.S. and this Connecticut population seems to be rising, and there appears to be a trend toward increasingly larger percentages of former smokers in each successive age group. Smoking more (25 or more cigarettes per day) was reported by 28 percent of the Connecticut nurses compared with 16 percent in the earlier study. Compared with the 1975 sample, significantly fewer Connecticut nurses who smoked agreed that a nurse should set a good example by not smoking and that most cigarette smokers can stop if they want to.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1996

Rabies postexposure prophylaxis--Connecticut, 1990-1994.

In Connecticut, the first case of animal rabies associated with the ongoing raccoon rabies epizootic was identified in March 1991; since then, cases of animal rabies have been confirmed in all eight counties of the state. Because of heightened awareness of the potential for rabies and the nearly always fatal outcome of this disease, the numbers of persons in Connecticut receiving rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) was suspected to have increased substantially during 1990-1994. In Connecticut, PEP is administered with pharmaceuticals obtained through retail channels. In 1994, the Connecticut Department of Public Health surveyed Connecticut hospitals and the two pharmaceutical manufacturers that produce human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) to estimate the number of persons receiving PEP during 1990-1994 and the costs associated with treatment. This report summarizes the survey findings, which suggest an increasing trend in the administration of PEP in Connecticut corresponding with the statewide spread of raccoon rabies.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Breast cancer surveillance using gridded population units, Connecticut, 1992 to 1995.

PURPOSE: To assess geographic variation in invasive breast cancer across Connecticut using gridded population areas to enumerate cases and the population at-risk. METHODS: The state's land mass was divided into 5168, 1-by-1 square mile areas and the population of women, 20+ years of age, within each location was estimated by areal interpolation of the 1990 US Census Block Group STF-3A data file. Using information on breast cancer incidence, 1992 to 1995, from the Connecticut Tumor Registry, latitude-longitude coordinates for place of residence at the time of breast cancer diagnosis were determined for 8530 records and assigned to appropriate grid locations. A spatial scan statistic was used to detect variation in incidence and test the significance of observed differences across the state. Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs) described the proportional change in the age-adjusted breast cancer incidence rate across gridded locations. RESULTS: The statewide age-adjusted invasive cancer incidence rate was 163.6/100,000 women/year. The spatial scan statistic identified three locations around Connecticut with significantly low incidence rates and four places where rates were significantly high. The most probable place of low incidence was rural Northeastern Connecticut where risk of disease, relative to elsewhere around the state, was 0.73 (p = 0.001). The most probable location of elevated incidence was a suburban location in Southwestern Connecticut with a relative risk of 2.02 (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Visual representation of disease incidence and underlying populations at-risk according to gridded units provides a useful tool for assessing small area variation in disease patterns.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Scrotal carcinoma in Connecticut metalworkers: sequel to a study of sinonasal cancer.

An excess risk for sinonasal cancer among Connecticut metalworkers with potential exposure to cutting oils led to the hypothesis of a relationship between the same occupational category and squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum. Cases of this latter tumor (n = 45) diagnosed in 1935-1973 were identified by the Connecticut Tumor Registry. For decedents, male controls from Connecticut death certificates were matched to decedent cases on age, year of birth, and availability of occupational information; for living subjects, male controls from records of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles were matched on the above variables and town of residence. Death certificates and city directories provided occupational information. For the narrowly defined indicator of cutting oil exposure (toolmaker, setter, set-up man, hardener, polisher, automatic screw machine operator), the odds ratio for squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum was 4.9, 95% confidence limits (CL): 1.8, 15.9. The broad indicator of cutting oil exposure (not otherwise specified) categories plus machinist and machine operator (not otherwise specified) had an odds ratio of 10.5, 95% CL: 4.0, 36.9 and explained 57% of the cancers. For this broad category, the risk persisted in the most recent time period of diagnosis, 1966-1973 (OR = 18.6). For this broad category, major biases could not be detected when the following additional covariables were taken into account individually where possible: source of occupation, nativity, town of residence, stage at diagnosis, and cause of death. City directory and death certificate information implied that at least 80% of cases in the high risk category worked in the Connecticut region before age 40.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Mammography underutilization among older women in Connecticut.

OBJECTIVES: The primary goals were to examine mammography use rates among older women in Connecticut and to determine if there was significant variation among different areas and racial groups in the state. The secondary goal was to examine what impact the initiation of Medicare reimbursement for mammography screening has had on mammography use. DESIGN: Statewide use rates were determined by retrospective Medicare Part B mammography claims analysis. Small area analysis methodology (SAA) was used to identify mammography rates for 23 hospital service areas (HSAs), representing all of the catchment areas for Connecticut's acute care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Female Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older with Part B coverage residing in Connecticut during the study period. MEASUREMENTS: The main outcome (the use of at least one mammogram) was calculated for the calendar years 1991, 1992, and 1993. Mean annual use rates in 1993 were generated for the 23 HSAs and the different racial groups in Connecticut. To examine the effect that Medicare reimbursement for screening mammograms has had on mammography use, rates were calculated for women who met Medicare reimbursement criteria in 1991 through 1993. The rates in 1992 and 1993 were then compared with those in 1991, when the reimbursement program was first initiated. MAIN RESULTS: The mean statewide annual rates among women aged 65 years and older were 23.4% (1991), 24.5% (1992), and 24.9% (1993). The mammography use rates among black women 65 years and older were significantly lower than their white peers in 1991 (18.8% black vs 23.8% white, P < .001), 1992 (20.6% vs 24.7%, P < .001), and 1993 (22.0% vs 25.1%, P < .001). Significant variation was identified among hospital service areas (HSAs) within the state for each time interval studied. The use rates among women aged 65 years and older who were eligible for Medicare screening mammography reimbursement increased significantly from 14.6% in 1991, when Medicare reimbursement for screening mammograms was first initiated, to 18.9% in 1992 (P < .001). The rates in 1993 (17.4%) also increased from the baseline year 1991 (P < .001). However, the observed increases since 1991 have been limited in magnitude. CONCLUSIONS: Low mammography use persists among older women in Connecticut and, in particular, among older black women. The initiation of Medicare reimbursement for screening mammograms in 1991 has had some impact on mammography use although its effects are still limited. Through the use of small area analysis methodology, significant underutilization of mammography in localized areas of the state was identified. These findings have facilitated local outreach interventions. Additional research is needed to understand if health service barriers are contributing to the local variation in rates observed in this study.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1991

Babesia microti, human babesiosis, and Borrelia burgdorferi in Connecticut.

Babesia microti was isolated from a white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) that was captured in southeastern Connecticut in 1988, when the first human case of babesiosis acquired in Connecticut was recognized. To date, 13 cases of babesiosis have been reported in Connecticut, the largest number of human cases reported on the mainland United States. Two of nine patients quiried remembered a prior tick bite. Since Babesia parasites are known to be vectored only by ticks, we surmise that 12 of these infections were acquired via tick bites; 1 was obtained by blood transfusion (the patient was 46 years of age) from an endemically infected donor. The ages of the patients with tick-acquired babesiosis ranged from 61 to 95 years. Two patients died with active infections, and one patient died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease soon after treatment with clindamycin and quinine. Indirect fluorescent-antibody titers of blood samples drawn at the time of hospitalization for 11 patients and at the time of active infection for 1 asymptomatic person ranged from 1:1,024 to 1:4,096. Five of eight patients with babesiosis also had significant immunoglobulin G or immunoglobulin M titers (1:640 to 1:5,120) to Borrelia burgdorferi. B. microti was isolated in Syrian hamsters inoculated with blood from 7 of 12 patients tested and was also isolated from mice captured in six towns. The peridomestic nature of the disease was demonstrated by isolating the parasite from white-footed mice captured in or near the yards of eight different patients. Of 59 mice tested, 27 were positive and 25 were coinfected with B. burgdorferi. The isolation of B. microti from a white-footed mouse captured in north-central Connecticut (West Hartford), away from the focus of human infections in southeastern Connecticut, suggests that this pathogen may spread into other areas where Ixodes dammini, the tick vector, becomes established.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Use of state hospital discharge data to assess the morbidity from rotavirus diarrhea and to monitor the impact of a rotavirus immunization program: A pilot study in Connecticut.

OBJECTIVES: Now that rotavirus vaccines have been licensed and recommended for routine immunization of US infants, there is an urgent need for data to assess the morbidity from rotavirus diarrhea and to monitor the impact of a rotavirus immunization program. In a pilot study, we have assessed the usefulness of state hospital discharge data on diarrhea in children to provide this information by examining data from Connecticut. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of discharge records from acute care, nongovernmental hospitals in Connecticut. Patients. Children 1 month through 4 years of age with a diarrhea-associated diagnosis listed on the discharge record. Setting. Connecticut, 1987 through 1996. RESULTS: During the 10-year study period, a total of 11 324 diarrhea-associated hospitalizations (49.4 hospitalizations per 10,000 children) were reported. Diarrhea-associated hospitalizations peaked during February through April, especially among children 4 to 35 months of age. The seasonality and age distribution of diarrhea-associated hospitalizations of presumed noninfectious and viral etiologies resembled those of rotavirus-associated hospitalizations. During 1993 to 1996, rotavirus was coded for 10.4% of diarrhea-associated hospitalizations increasing from 8.6% in 1993 to 14.7% in 1996. The unadjusted median cost of a diarrhea-associated hospitalization during 1987 to 1996 and 1993 to 1996 was $1,941 and $2,428, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Diarrhea causes substantial morbidity in children from Connecticut. The winter seasonal peak of diarrhea-associated hospitalizations in children 4 to 35 months of age coinciding with the peak of rotavirus-specific hospitalizations suggests that rotavirus is an important contributor to the overall morbidity. Although our findings suggest incomplete coding of rotavirus cases, state hospital discharge data should provide sensitive and timely information to monitor the impact of a rotavirus immunization program in Connecticut.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1999

The HUSKY program: an opportunity to insure Connecticut's children.

Uninsured children in Connecticut represent a diverse group, and insuring them is a monumental task. In August 1997, President Clinton signed into law the Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides $47 billion in funds to states over the next 10 years to insure the nation's low-income children. Connecticut has been a leader in modeling the federal Children's Health Insurance Program into action. Connecticut's version of the program, Healthcare for UninSured Kids and Youth, (HUSKY), was enacted over the summer, and, to date, has enrolled over 4,000 children in the program. Connecticut's HUSKY program provides a timely opportunity for the state, as well as community health centers and other primary-care facilities, to reach those uninsured children in Connecticut's communities and move the children into the HUSKY program. In order to achieve this goal, innovative outreach strategies need to be designed that utilize cultural and community resources to locate and insure these children.

Child↗
PubMed2002

Temporal trends of risk factors associated with low birth weight--national and state of Connecticut: 1992-1998.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the magnitude of the problem of low birth weight in the U.S. and the State of Connecticut. To describe the temporal trends of selected risk factors associated with low birth weight (LBW) from 1992-1998. METHODS: Retrospective, descriptive study utilizing reports from birth certificate data from National Center for Health Statistics and Annual Registration Reports for the State of Connecticut. RESULTS: Over the seven-year period (1992-1998), the birth rate decreased from 15.9% to 14.6% at the national level and from 14.5% to 13.4% in Connecticut. However, percent of low birth weight increased from 7.1% to 7.6% at the national level and from 6.9% to 7.8% in Connecticut. There was an increase in the percent of premature infants nationally. Significant changes in the LBW risk factors at both the national level and in Connecticut were increased births to mothers > or = 35 years (P < 0.0001) and increased multiple births (P = 0.0001).

Birth Weight↗
PubMed2002

Occupational disease in Connecticut, 2000.

BACKGROUND: Occupational illnesses in Connecticut are tracked to better understand patterns and trends by industry, cause, and time, which allows for interventions such as cluster investigations and education. METHODS: Data were collected for occupational illnesses from three data sources: the Connecticut Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) annual survey, workers' compensation reports, and physician reports. FINDINGS: There were 6,396 reports of occupational illness in Connecticut in 2000. Reports increased sharply based on two of the three databases. Reports were dominated by musculo-skeletal disorders (MSD), followed by lung conditions. Manufacturing, the State of Connecticut, and municipalities tended to have the highest number of cases and rates. Acute respiratory conditions were the most common lung condition, followed by occupational asthma and asbestos-related conditions. CONCLUSION: Occupational illnesses are very prevalent in Connecticut and appear to be increasing. Improved diagnosis and reporting are needed to improve patient care and to direct preventive efforts.

Connecticut↗
PubMed1996

Birth-weight percentiles by gestational age, Connecticut 1988-1993.

Extreme birth weights are associated with increased infant mortality and morbidity. Identifying infants of extreme birth weight is important for both clinical assessment and public health research. This study aimed to produce charts of birth-weight percentiles by gestational age for male and female, black and white infants in Connecticut. Data were obtained from registrations of live births to Connecticut residents in Connecticut, 1988-1993. During this period 263,032 births were registered to black and white women. Birth weight was missing in only 90 records but gestational age was missing in 29,865 (11%) records. An additional 0.5% of births were excluded because the recorded birth weight was an extreme outlier for the recorded gestational age. Birth records with missing gestational age had lower mean birth weights and proportionately more births < or = 1500 g when compared to birth records where gestation was reported; however the magnitude of the differences was small. Our charts provide population-based birth-weight percentiles by gestational age based on the most recent Connecticut birth data available. They are the most appropriate population norms available for Connecticut clinicians and researchers.

Birth Weight↗