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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Geographical variations in mortality due to diseases amenable to medical intervention in Europe--Commission of European Communities: atlas of avoidable deaths].

The urgent need to develop measures of the outcome of health-care services has led to the collaboration of 10 countries of the European Community in the production of the European Community atlas of avoidable death (1974-1978). Seventeen disease groups were chosen for which it was considered that death within specified age groups should be either wholly or substantially avoidable when appropriate medical care is sought and provided in good time. Mortality from these causes was compared across 360 health-service administrative areas in the participating countries. For all diseases there was considerable variation in mortality both within and between the countries of the European Community and it is suggested that high levels of mortality from these causes should be viewed by health authorities as warning signals of potential failures of health-care services. Work is in progress on a further edition of the Atlas for the years 1980-1984. Changes in avoidable mortality over time could indicate which health authorities have persistent problems and which authorities are succeeding in reducing avoidable mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Assisted labor among non European community pregnant women at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of the Verona University].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the role and the prevalence of the non-European Community pregnant women in our Institute during the period 1992-1998. The peculiarity of the female immigration in the world and particularly in Italy is stressed from the point of view of the different cultural, ethnic and religious problems of these women. METHODS: During the observed period 8972 women delivered; 434 of them came from non-European Community countries and their individual (age, country) and obstetric (parity, physiological or pathological evaluation of pregnancy, mode of delivery) data were observed. On the basis of the different countries of provenance these women have been subdivided into five groups (East Europe, North Africa and Middle East, Central Africa, Far East and Latin America). RESULTS: The percentages of preterm births (24.2% vs 23.1%), of < or = 1500 g newborns (6.9% vs 5.3%) and of caesarean sections (34.3% vs 27.7%) are higher in the non-European Community women that delivered in our Institute. In 222 (51.1%) cases the women delivered without induction of labour; while in 14.5% of cases it was induced. The length of labour and the genital conditions (episiotomy, tearing) were considered in all ethnic groups of women. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the literature and of the analysis of our data, some suggestions about the management of labour and delivery of non-European Community women in Italy are proposed. In particular, the problems of linguistic communication and of the hospital staff preparation in the assistance to labour and delivery are stressed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Commission of the European Communities "Europe Against Cancer" Programme. European school of oncology advisory report. Cancer treatment in the elderly.

Within the EC approximately one million cases of cancer are diagnosed every year. At present, more than 55% of cancers occur in subjects aged over 65 years. There has been little clinical attention to the problem of neoplasia in the elderly. They are not receiving the same standard of specialised oncological care as younger patients. Other diseases (co-morbidity conditions) associated with cancer, and influencing its treatment and outcomes are not being properly considered. Information on surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy in younger patients exists for all cancers and could be adapted for the elderly. Controversial aspects of neoplasia in the elderly concern the intensity of chemotherapy, extent of surgery and the relative roles of specialised cancer centres, community hospitals and primary care providers. Future research should aim to replace subjective opinions on presence of frailty with objective instruments such as the multidimensional geriatric assessment scale. New trials could then seek to improve treatment in well-defined populations in terms of both efficacy and quality of life. Funding priorities should firstly consider that clinical trials for tumours in the elderly must be organised from cancer institutes and specialised referral centres in collaboration with geriatricians, primary care and community hospital physicians. Continuing education of doctors should be reported. A document such as this with appropriate modifications might be used as an initial message on neoplasia in the elderly to be published for information to clinicians and the public throughout Europe. Specific measures of quality assurance need financial support to evaluate the improvements in patterns of care. The 10 points of the 'Europe Against Cancer Guidelines' need reemphasising.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Prevalence of asthma and asthma symptoms in a general population sample from northern Italy. European Community Respiratory Health Survey--Italy.

The European Community Respiratory Health Survey is an international survey of the general population which aims to establish whether there are significant variations in the prevalence of asthma among European countries. The present paper reports the prevalence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms in a sample of subjects living in three areas of northern Italy: Turin, Pavia, and Verona. Samples of residents 20-44 years old (3000 subjects in Turin and Verona and 1000 in Pavia) stratified by sex (M:F = 1/1) were randomly selected from local health authority lists in the three participating areas. To correct the observed prevalence estimate for nonresponse bias, a method proposed by Drane was applied. Of the sampled subjects, 86% (6031) participated in the survey. Two different definitions of asthma were adopted: 1) prevalence of asthma attack in the last 12 months; 2) prevalence of asthma attack or treatment with antiasthmatic drugs, or both wheezing apart from the common cold and wheezing with shortness of breath. This combination of symptoms has been called current asthma. According to these definitions, the prevalence of asthma attack was 3.47% (3.74% in men and 3.14% in women), and the prevalence of current asthma was 5.01% (5.07% in men and 4.90% in women). The lowest prevalence was found in Pavia; the highest in Turin. Our findings support the hypothesis that the difference in prevalence reflects the difference in mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Medicine and the European community on January 1st 1993].

The European Community single act will come into effect on January 1st 1993 in the twelve countries belonging to the Community. It will have many outcomes in the health field. Some aspects concerning, in the name of the free circulation of goods and persons, are raised: certifications and training harmonization, drugs, food products, and all kinds of chemicals, regulations, standards for diagnosis and treatment equipment, blood products, methods of sampling, manufacturing and selling, etc. In the Community, priority is given to economic considerations, health problems are not much taken into account, administrative complexities will increase. So it is not sure that the Community will protect citizens' health better than the member States in their own countries.

Europe↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biomedical engineering programme of the European Community.

The objective of this article is to inform readers of the European Community's programme of work on medical engineering research. An outline of the history of the European Community and its research programme is given. More specific information is then included on the current programme of work and, finally, an Appendix is given naming the national delegates to whom comments can be addressed and from whom further information can be obtained.

Europe↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Revocation of authorizations on GMO under the precautionary principle (with special attention to the Justice Tribunal of the European Communities].

During the last decade, the european institutions have done a great effort in order to introduce the precautionary principle, applicable to the management of serious and uncertain risks. Under the protection of the precautionary principle, european authorities and authorities of the member states have partially modified, suspended or revoked authorizations relative to genetically modified organisms. Is it rightful this use of the precautionary principle? This is the matter that the European Communities Justice Court has faced when the affected companies have lodge their appeals against this decisions.

European Union↗
PubMed1988

Cancer registration in the European community.

A survey of population-based cancer registries in the European Community (EC) is reported: 82 (92%) of 89 registries replied. In 3 of the 12 EC countries (Denmark, Netherlands, UK), general cancer registration applies to the entire population; national registration for childhood neoplasms also applies in 3 countries (FRG, Ireland, UK). About 350,000 new cancers were recorded each year during 1982-1985 in the 32% of the EC population which is covered by general registration. It is estimated that during this period about 988,000 new cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) occurred each year in the 10 EC countries for which incidence data are available. Most registries report 90-95% completeness of cancer registration, but there is evidence of imprecision in these estimates. Risk factors for cancer are recorded in 43 registries, in particular occupation (38), but recording of occupation is often incomplete. The use of international or compatible systems of coding occupation would facilitate screening of cancer registration data for occupational hazards in the European Community. The quality of cancer information in the Community would be greatly improved by the systematic and widespread use of simple methods to estimate completeness of registration and by allowing registries confidential access to death certificates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The regulatory approach of the EEC to air quality. Directorate General for Environment and Civil Protection, Commission of the European Communities.

The environment Policy of the European Community, which started in 1972, reflects the worldwide concerns about man-made ecological deterioration. Europe's governments have recognized that joined actions and regulatory decisions have to be taken. Policy means priorities and the following question then arises: "How and with what success can the twelve Member States decide which environmental issues are of the greatest collective urgency and benefit and how does it fit in with national specific problems?" The different considerations in this paper are an attempt to provide elements for an answer to the problem.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1983

European Communities. Health and safety at work: protection of workers exposed to lead.

This is the first specific directive adopted by the Council for the protection of workers from the risks to exposure to chemical, physical, and biological agents at work. The full "framework" Directive was published in the 23 August 1982 Official Journal of the European Communities, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. A technical memo highlighting the main elements of the Directive, their practical implications and the relation of this Directive to other Community actions in the field of health and safety at work is reprinted here as received from the Health and Safety Directorate, Commission of the European Communities.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1990

Cancer in the European Community and its member states.

The European Community (EC) mounted the "Europe Against Cancer" programme in 1987 to control cancer. Information on mortality rates is available for all member countries and the incident number of cancers was estimated for each site, for each country and for the EC as a whole. In 1980 there were 730,000 deaths from cancer and an estimated 1,222,120 [corrected] new cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). Among men, cancer of the lung is the leading cancer site with some 135,000 cases per year followed by prostate, colon and bladder cancer. Breast cancer is the leading site in women, with 135,000 cases per year, followed by colon, stomach and genital cancer. Among men, melanoma of the skin, and lung, pancreas and rectum cancer are more frequent in the north in contrast to larynx, oesophagus, buccal cavity and liver cancer, which are more frequent in the south. There are additional contrasts between Southern European countries. The contrasts are less striking for women. This study provides an estimate of the true number of cases only. The establishment of a network of European cancer registries should eventually lead to more comprehensive incidence information form the EC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Practices and attitudes towards quality assurance, inspection and accreditation in blood collection establishments in the European community.

In the framework of a European Community (EC)-supported project, a survey of practices and attitudes towards quality assurance, inspection and accreditation in Blood Collection Establishments (BCEs) in the EC member states was carried out. Analysis of 352 responses to a structured questionnaire revealed a preference for national standards over international, and an introspective and reactive view to quality management. Four broad categories of operational performance in relation to safety were formed: initial, repeatable, managed and optimising, with the majority of responses (209) being characterized as initial. Although a direct relationship between the size of the BCE and the range and level of quality management practices is apparent in the data, further analysis shows that small BCEs have much higher ratio of personnel per blood unit collected/processed than large BCEs and thus seem to have an inherent potential for improvement. Overall, a clear preference for inspection and accreditation by professional peers at the national level was indicated.

Accreditation↗
PubMed2001

Symptoms of asthma, bronchial responsiveness and atopy in immigrants and emigrants in Europe. European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Migration studies on asthma may provide information on its environmental causes. The European Community Respiratory Health Survey has potential advantages due to the number of countries involved, standardized collection of information, assessment of directionality of migration, and availability of physiological data on bronchial responsiveness and atopy. Prevalence rates of symptoms associated with asthma were compared for immigrants, emigrants and nonmigrants living in centres mostly in western Europe. Similar analyses were carried out for bronchial responsiveness (provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second and slope) and atopy. Medication and use of health services were also explored. Overall, 1,678 (8.6%) of 19,516 participants were immigrants in the 18 countries participating in the study, of whom 581 were emigrants from one of the participating countries. Rates of asthma symptoms were higher in immigrants (odds ratio (OR): 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.51) and emigrants (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.96-1.51) compared to nonmigrants after controlling for area, sex, age and smoking status. However, bronchial responsiveness and atopy were equally distributed between immigrants, emigrants and nonmigrants. Use of health services was observed to be similar in migrants and nonmigrants with asthma. In the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, migrants reported more asthma symptoms, but had similar bronchial responsiveness, atopy, and use of health services when compared with the nonmigrant population.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

European Community Respiratory Health Survey calibration project of dosimeter driving pressures.

Two potential sources of systematic variation in output from Mefar dosimeters, the system used in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) study have been evaluated: individual nebulizer characteristics and dosimeter driving pressure. Output variation from 366 new nebulizers produced in two batches for the second ECRHS were evaluated, using a solute tracer method, at a fixed driving pressure. The relationship between dosimeter driving pressure was then characterized and between-centre variation in dosimeter driving pressure was evaluated in an Internet-based survey. A systematic difference between nebulizers manufactured in the two batches was identified. Batch one had a mean+/-SD output of 7.0+/-0.8 mg x s(-1) and batch two, 6.3+/-0.7 mg x s(-1) (p<0.005). There was a wide range of driving pressures generated by Mefar dosimeters as set, ranging between 70-245 kPa, with most outside the quoted manufacturer's specification of 180+/-5%. Nebulizer output was confirmed as linearly related to dosimeter driving pressure (coefficient of determination (R2)=0.99, output=0.0377 x driving pressure-0.4151). The range in driving pressures observed was estimated as consistent with a variation of about one doubling in the provocative dose causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second. Systematic variation has been identified that constitutes potentially significant confounders for between-centre comparisons of airway responsiveness in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, with the dosimeter driving pressure representing the most serious issue. This work confirms the need for appropriate quality control of both nebulizer output and dosimeter driving pressure, in laboratories undertaking field measurements of airway responsiveness. In particular, appropriate data on driving pressures need to be collected and factored into between-centre comparisons. Comprehensive collection of such data to optimize quality control is practicable and has been instigated by the organizing committee for the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II.

Aerosols↗