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PubMedDate not supplied

Age at menarche and urbanization in Cameroon: current status and secular trends.

Status quo data on the age at menarche were obtained on samples of Cameroonian girls living in urban (Yaoundé) (n = 205), suburban (n = 505) and rural areas (n = 201). Mean ages at menarche, estimated by probit analysis, are 13.18 years (SD 1.08) in Yaoundé, 13.98 years (SD 1.55) in the suburban area, and 14.27 years (SD 1.65) in the rural area. The early menarcheal age observed in Yaoundé girls attending 'privileged schools' (12.72 years, SD 1.18) substantiates the hypothesis that in good environmental conditions Africans are as early-maturing as Asiatic or Mediterranean populations. Comparison with retrospective data on age at menarche during previous decades reveals the presence of a clear secular trend towards earlier maturation, at a rate of 2.5-3.2 months per decade, only in the main cities of the country (Yaoundé/Douala) and a lack of temporal variation in rural areas. The degree of urbanization influences maturational age and its evolution, probably through improvements in the nutritional standards.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Secular trends in sports: participation and attitudes among adolescents in Sweden from 1974 to 1995.

AIM: To study the secular trend (time changes) in participation in leisure-time sports activities and in attitudes towards sports activities and physical education in a representative sample of Swedish adolescents between 1974 and 1995. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to 16-y-old girls and boys (n = 395 in 1974, n = 542 in 1995) to assess participation in leisure-time sports activity, attitudes towards sports activities and attitudes towards physical education at school. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. RESULTS: Compared with 1974, more subjects in 1995 answered that they were engaged in leisure-time sports activities, and that they were members of sports clubs. BMI increased from 1974 to 1995. By 1995, adolescents participated in and had become more interested in individual sports activities, including keep-fit activities (e.g. strength training and aerobics) compared with 1974. A gender difference in the feeling of anxiety towards physical education, with more girls experiencing it, appeared in 1995, but not in 1974. CONCLUSION: Although more adolescents participated in leisure-time sports activity in 1995 than in 1974, the lifestyle of adolescents between sports training sessions may have become more sedentary. This is negative in a health perspective, since the benefits of physical activity on health are largely correlated to the total energy expenditure. However, the increased interest in keep-fit activities is important, since these activities have the potential to be continued into adulthood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Secular change in adult stature has come to a halt in northern Europe and Italy.

AIM: To investigate whether the increase in adult stature in European countries is continuing. METHODS: The secular trend in growth after 1990 for various European countries was assessed by national conscript data. RESULTS: In Scandinavia and the Netherlands, the height has reached a plateau at 179-181 cm, and in Italy a plateau at 174 cm. In Belgium, Portugal and Spain, height continued to increase. CONCLUSION: Only in the northern European countries and Italy height has ceased to increase.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Comparing reporting rates of adverse events between drugs with adjustment for year of marketing and secular trends in total reporting.

The Food and Drug Administration has collected spontaneous reports on adverse events (AE) from manufacturers and individuals. These data provide useful information on the safety of marketed drugs. Due to many unique characteristics of this reporting system, the information is difficult to evaluate. Incidence rates for specific adverse events and drug combinations cannot be estimated. However, reporting rates (number of reports per market share) based on prescriptions can be computed. These reporting rates provide signals of serious adverse experience that may deserve attention. When the ratio of reporting rates is used for the comparison of two drugs of the same drug class, adjustments are needed for the marketing year and secular trends of all-drug-all-AE reporting. The Mantel-Haenszel procedure is used to combine the multiyear data into one summary statistic. Application of this analysis is illustrated on reports of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation, and ulcer associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as given in Rossi et al. (12).

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differential rates of secular increase of five major primary abilities.

A number of studies have shown that mean intelligence levels have been increasing at a rate of around 3 IQ points per decade during the last half-century. This paper presents data for cohorts of 9-11 year olds in Northern Ireland tested in 1978 and 1988 and shows that the rates of increase differ markedly for different primary abilities. Verbal comprehension has shown virtually no increase, while there have been large increases in spatial relations and perceptual speed. Moderate increases have taken place in the numerical and reasoning primaries. The results are interpreted as supporting a nutrition theory of the secular increases in intelligence.

Aptitude↗
PubMed1997

Secular trends in the epidemiology of nosocomial fungal infections at a teaching hospital in Taiwan, 1981 to 1993.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence and patterns of nosocomial fungal infection in a large teaching hospital in Taiwan. DESIGN: Prospective, hospitalwide nosocomial surveillance data from 1981 through 1993 were analyzed to show the secular trend in nosocomial fungal infection rates and to identify the most common pathogens and sites of infection (other than skin) in this hospital. SETTING AND PATIENTS: The National Taiwan University Hospital is a medical school-affiliated hospital in the city of Taipei, Taiwan, with a 1200-bed capacity before 1991 and 1500 beds since 1992. It provides both primary and tertiary medical care. RESULTS: The overall nosocomial fungal infection rate rose from 0.9 infections per 1000 discharges in 1981 to 6.6 per 1000 discharges in 1993, with the highest rate at the medical intensive-care unit (26.5/1000 discharges in 1993). This increase in infection rate was found at four major anatomic sites of infection, particularly including the bloodstream (0.08-2.19/1000 discharges) and the urinary tract (0.36-2.95/1000 discharges). Of 256 pathogens causing nosocomial fungemia from 1981 through 1993, Candida albicans was the most commonly isolated (50.8%), followed by Candida tropicalis (17.6%). Candida parapsilosis (11.7%), and Candida glabrata (8.2%). As compared to isolates from 1981 through 1988, the proportion of C parapsilosis and C glabrata isolated between 1989 and 1993 increased more than sixfold and fourfold, respectively. The increasing importance of fungal infections was confirmed further by the increased use of amphotericin B and azoles in this hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Candida species and other yeasts have become a prominent cause of nosocomial infections in this hospital. These fungal pathogens accounted for a higher proportion of nosocomial bloodstream and urinary infections than any single bacterial species. Therefore, it is important to conduct a prospective epidemiological study and to establish in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing to enhance efforts to control nosocomial fungal infections and to minimize the risk of emergence of antifungal resistance.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1988

Secular trends in body mass index and skinfold thickness with socioeconomic factors in young adult women.

Secular trends in the relationship of body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thickness to educational and income levels were examined for white and black women aged 18-34 y over the period 1960-80 with data from three successive national surveys: NHES Cycle I, NHANES I, and NHANES II. Statistical models were fitted to assess the variability in mean BMI over time within levels of education or income. Mean BMI and skinfold thickness were negatively associated with both education and income. Over the 20-y period mean BMI increased for both white and black women at all levels of income and education. Because the increase in mean BMI was greater at lower educational levels, the differentiation of BMI by educational level increased over time, yielding a stronger negative association. In contrast differentiation of BMI by income category decreased over time. Black-white differences in mean BMI at comparable educational and income levels persisted over this period.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Evidence for a secular change in obesity, height, and weight among Navajo Indian schoolchildren.

A survey measuring heights and weights of 1969 schoolchildren residing on the Navajo Indian Reservation was conducted in 1989. The findings were compared with National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference data and with surveys of Navajo children from 1955, 1968, and 1981. Approximately twice as many children exceeded the 95th percentile of weight-for-age (11.2% of girls, 12.5% of boys) than would be expected for the NCHS reference population. The mean weight-for-height z scores exceeded those for the NCHS reference population for all ages in both sexes. Compared with data from 1955, mean heights increased 6.1% among boys and 4.4% among girls whereas mean weights increased 28.8% among boys and 18.7% among girls across all age groups. The data suggest that there has been a secular change in height, weight, and obesity in Navajo Indian children over the past 35 y.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Secular trends in dietary intakes and cardiovascular risk factors of 10-y-old children: the Bogalusa Heart Study (1973-1988).

Dietary intakes of 10-y-old children were examined in six cross-sectional surveys to observe secular trends in energy, macronutrient, cholesterol, sodium, and fatty acid intakes. Total energy intake remained unchanged from 1973 to 1988; however, when expressed as energy/kg body wt, intake decreased from 275.1 kJ (65.5 kcal) in 1973 to 254.9 kJ (60.7 kcal) in 1988 because children's weight increased. Linear trends over this time period were also noted for total fat (negative), saturated fatty acid (negative), polyunsaturated fatty acid (positive), dietary cholesterol (negative), and sodium intake (positive). There was a significant increase in percent energy from protein and carbohydrate and a significant decrease in percent energy from fat, primarily saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. An apparent increase over time is noted in the percent of children meeting dietary recommendations for total fat, saturated fatty acid, and cholesterol. Yet, few children meet the prudent diet recommendations.

Black People↗
PubMed2006

Secular trends in patterns of self-reported food consumption of adult Americans: NHANES 1971-1975 to NHANES 1999-2002.

BACKGROUND: The contributors to trends in increasing prevalence of obesity in the US population are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: We examined secular trends in food consumption behaviors to understand their possible contribution to increasing energy intakes and adiposity in the American population. DESIGN: We used dietary data from 4 consecutive National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) to examine trends (1971-2002) in frequency of eating episodes, meal and snack consumption, quantity of food consumed, and the energy density of foods reported by adult Americans (n = 39 094). Logistic and linear regression methods were used to adjust for multiple covariates and survey design. RESULTS: The reported number of all eating episodes increased slightly in women from 4.90 in 1971-1975 to 5.04 in 1999-2002 (P for trend = 0.002). The amount (in g) of foods and beverages consumed, the energy density of foods, and energy intake per eating episode increased, but the mention of breakfast declined in both sexes (P for trend < 0.0001). The observed trends in mention of a snack (in men) and percentage of energy from evening food intake (in women) were downward. The amount (in g) of foods and their energy density were independent positive correlates of obesity in combined data from all surveys (P for trend < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support large increases in eating frequency, snacking, or evening eating by the American population from 1971 to 2002. The quantity of foods and their energy density increased beginning in NHANES III (1988-1994) with trajectories roughly parallel to the rates of prevalence of obesity in the US population. However, we urge cautious interpretation of these results because of concurrent changes in dietary methods during this period.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Secular trends in malocclusion in Austrian men.

A comparison between occlusal deviations in the permanent dentition in the skulls of 94 19th century and 157 present-day Austrian males was made by means of the PAR Index. It was found that the contemporary dentitions showed significantly higher malocclusion scores than the 19th century sample (weighted PAR Index 11.79 and 6.62, respectively). The results show that secular changes in malocclusion have occurred during the last 100 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

The impact of standalone call centres and GP cooperatives on access to after hours GP care: a before and after study adjusted for secular trend.

BACKGROUND: The After Hours Primary Medical Trials were initiated by the Australian government to redress difficulties in after hours (AH) GP care in areas of high need. The study's objective is to study the impact of two standalone call centres and one GP cooperative offering comprehensive services, in improving consumer access to services for residents of a defined geographic area. METHODS: A pre-post design was used to evaluate their impact after adjusting for secular trend at a national level. Access was considered in terms of availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability and responsiveness of care. Unmet need and ease of obtaining AH telephone professional medical advice were also considered. Pre-trial and post-trial telephone surveys of two separate random samples of approximately 350 households using AH services in each trial area as well as in a national sample outside the trial areas. RESULTS: Consumer acceptability and affordability increased in residents in the area served by the GP cooperative. Access, however measured, did not improve in either of the standalone call centre areas. Reduction in unmet need approached but did not achieve statistical significance in most but not all trial areas. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in access in the GP cooperative conformed to expectations based on current and pre-existing AH care arrangements put in place. Absence of improvements in access in the standalone call centres did not conform to expectations but may be partly explained by the reductions in consumer acceptability, following introduction of telephone triage systems reported elsewhere.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Secular movements in sex ratios of adults and of births in populations during the past half-century.

There is some evidence for a small overall negative correlation across populations between sex ratio (proportion male) at birth and adult sex ratio. There seems to be no systematic correlation within populations across time of sex ratio at birth with adult sex ratio during the past 50 years. So even if adult sex ratios play some part in determining the overall level of the sex ratio at birth, they apparently have played little role in the recent widespread secular changes in sex ratio at birth. It is shown here that there is a strong cohort effect in adult sex ratios: if a woman is in a marriage squeeze (i.e. in a cohort with a relative abundance of women) at age 15 years, she will remain in such a squeeze for the rest of her reproductive life. In England and Wales, the maternal age-specific sex ratios at birth moved roughly in parallel across time during the years 1950-1995. This suggests that sex ratio at birth is not a cohort phenomenon (as it would be if it were affected by adult sex ratio) but is subject to some agents which change with time and affect women (parents) of all ages roughly equally.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Public opinion regarding oocyte donation in Turkey: first data from a secular population among the Islamic world.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to reveal the general attitudes of Turkish people toward various aspects of oocyte donation. METHODS: This descriptive study was carried out in two separate districts of a large Turkish city. Four hundred participants were chosen by cluster sampling methods. The questionnaires were performed by 4th year medical students face to face with the participants. RESULTS: The participants consisted of 232 women (58%) and 168 men (42%); 65% were married, 5% were divorced; 64% had children, 15 (4%) had infertility problems, 263 (66%) were graduates of high school or university; 269 (67%) considered themselves religious. Only less than one-third of the respondents actually knew what oocyte donation meant. Approval of oocyte donation was high in our study sample. Only 61 (15%) respondents showed complete objection to oocyte donation and more men were in favour than women. Less than half of the participants thought that their religion would prevent oocyte donation if they needed it. More than half of the participants would prefer the use of oocyte donation treatment rather than adoption of a child. CONCLUSION: This is the first report on the attitudes towards oocyte donation from a country having a secular constitution and whose population is mainly Muslim. The most important conclusion to be drawn from the present study is the fact that most of the participants did not have any objection to oocyte donation treatments.

Adoption↗
PubMed1987

The influence of secular effects and gravidity on the rate of ectopic pregnancy in a Norwegian population.

In order to assess the influence of secular effects and gravidity on the incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy, information from reproductive history questionnaires was obtained for 7804 gravid females identified through the Norwegian Twin Panel. The overall ectopic pregnancy incidence rate was 5.6 per 1000 estimated conceptions, with rates increasing for women born after 1950. Women experiencing their first pregnancy were at lowest risk for that pregnancy being ectopic. When women were stratified by whether they were born before or after 1950, gravidity still had an effect on the incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy. Conversely, year of birth was influential when stratifying by gravidity. The results obtained here suggest that the recent increase in the incidence of ectopic pregnancy is unrelated to the number of prior pregnancies.

Diseases in Twins↗
PubMed1988

Secular trends of infectious disease mortality in The Netherlands, 1911-1978: quantitative estimates of changes coinciding with the introduction of antibiotics.

Secular trends of mortality from 21 infectious diseases in the Netherlands were studied by inspection of age/sex-standardized mortality curves and by log-linear regression analysis. An attempt was made to obtain quantitative estimates for changes coinciding with the introduction of antibiotics. Two possible types of effect were considered: a sharp reduction of mortality at the moment of the introduction of antibiotics, and a longer lasting (acceleration of) mortality decline after the introduction. Changes resembling the first type of effect were possibly present for many infectious diseases, but were difficult to measure exactly, due to late effects on mortality of World War II. Changes resembling the second type of effect were present in 16 infectious diseases and were sometimes quite large. For example, estimated differences in per cent per annum mortality change were 10% or larger for puerperal fever, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, erysipelas, otitis media, tuberculosis, and bacillary dysentery. No acceleration of mortality decline after the introduction of antibiotics was present in mortality from 'all other diseases'. Although the exact contribution of antibiotics to the observed changes cannot be inferred from this time trend analysis, the quantitative estimates of the changes show that even a partial contribution would represent a substantial effect of antibiotics on mortality from infectious diseases in the Netherlands.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Secular trends in serum cholesterol, high density lipoproteins and triglycerides 1964-1987.

Total mortality from cardiovascular disease in Denmark has decreased over the last 20 years for women and the last ten years for men. The possible role of simultaneous changes in serum total cholesterol has been investigated. Secular trends in serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, 1964-1987, are presented on the basis of four studies of 30-, 40-, 50- and 60-year-old men and women, some 8737 subjects in all. A significant decrease of 1% per year in total serum cholesterol (p less than 0.05) in both sexes and in all age groups up to 1982 was detected followed by a subsequent stabilization, 1982-1987. The decrease is not a result of methodological bias. The impact of storage at -20 degrees C for 13-24 months compared to immediate analysis of sera was studied as well as differences in analysis methods over time. The fall in population cholesterol levels might be associated with changes in polyunsaturated/saturated fat (P/S) ratio rather than total fat content of the diet, but other lifestyle changes have taken place as well.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Secular trends in mortality from asthma in Japan, 1979-1988: comparison with the United States.

To determine whether mortality from asthma in Japan has increased, and to examine the age-, sex-, and race-specific mortality rates from this disease and their secular trends in both Japan and the US, vital statistics from 1979 through 1988 were studied. Overall, rates were highest among Japanese and decreased from 1979 to 1988, while rates in the US were lower and increased somewhat, especially among Blacks (whose rates were intermediate, in general, between Japanese and US Whites). Age-specific rates showed the greater asthma mortality in Japan to be due to deaths at ages greater than 50 or 60 years. The downward trend in the Japanese, unlike US Blacks and Whites, was due specifically to decreasing rates among the youngest and the oldest age group between the earlier and later years of the period, 1979-1988.

Adolescent↗