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Do socioeconomic differences in mortality persist after retirement? 25 year follow up of civil servants from the first Whitehall study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of death associated with work based and non-work based measures of socioeconomic status before and after retirement age. DESIGN: Follow up study of mortality in relation to employment grade and car ownership over 25 years. SETTING: The first Whitehall study. SUBJECTS: 18,133 male civil servants aged 40-69 years who attended a screening examination between 1967 and 1970. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Death. RESULTS: Grade of employment was a strong predictor of mortality before retirement. For men dying at ages 40-64 the lowest employment grade had 3.12 times the mortality of the highest grade (95% confidence interval 2.4 to 4.1). After retirement the ability of grade to predict mortality declined (rate ratio 1.86; 1.6 to 2.2). A non-work based measure of socioeconomic status (car ownership) predicted mortality less well than employment grade before retirement but its ability to predict mortality declined less after retirement. Using a relative index of inequality that was sensitive to the distribution among socioeconomic groups showed employment grade and car ownership to have independent associations with mortality that were of equal magnitude after retirement. The absolute difference in death rates between the lowest and highest employment grades increased with age from 12.9 per 1000 person years at ages 40-64 to 38.3 per 1000 at ages 70-89. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic differences in mortality persist beyond retirement age and in magnitude increase with age. Social differentials in mortality based on an occupational status measure seem to decrease to a greater degree after retirement than those based on a non-work measure. This suggests that alongside other socioeconomic factors work itself may play an important part in generating social inequalities in health in men of working age.

Adult↗

Bicycle helmet use among American children, 1994.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate ownership and use of bicycle helmets among children in the US in 1994. METHODS: As part of a 1994 national telephone survey of 5,238 randomly dialed households, adult respondents reported data on bicycle helmet ownership and helmet use among 1,645 child bicyclists. Data were weighted to provide national estimates. RESULTS: It is estimated that 72.7% of children 5-14 year olds ride bicycles, that is, 27.7 million child bicyclists. Of the bicyclists, 50.2% have a helmet and 25.0% reportedly always wore their helmet when cycling. Reported helmet ownership and use increased with income and educational level and decreased with age. Among regions of the US, those with the highest proportion of states with helmet use laws in 1994 also had the highest proportion of helmet use among children. Among child bicyclists who had been seen by a health care provider in the preceding 12 months, 43.9% of those counseled to wear a bicycle helmet were reported to comply compared with 19.1% of those seen by a provider but not so counseled (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: To meet the year 2000 objective of 50% of bicyclists wearing helmets, use among American children will have to double. Concerted and increased efforts to promote the wearing of bicycle helmets are necessary.

Adolescent↗

The "Let's Get Alarmed!" initiative: a smoke alarm giveaway programme.

OBJECTIVES: To reduce fires and fire related injuries by increasing the prevalence of functioning smoke alarms in high risk households. SETTING: The programme was delivered in an inner London area with above average material deprivation and below average smoke alarm ownership. The target population included low income and rental households and households with elderly persons or young children. METHODS: Forty wards, averaging 4000 households each, were randomised to intervention or control status. Free smoke alarms and fire safety information were distributed in intervention wards by community groups and workers as part of routine activities and by paid workers who visited target neighbourhoods. Recipients provided data on household age distribution and housing tenure. Programme costs were documented from a societal perspective. Data are being collected on smoke alarm ownership and function, and on fires and related injuries and their costs. RESULTS: Community and paid workers distributed 20,050 smoke alarms, potentially sufficient to increase smoke alarm ownership by 50% in intervention wards. Compared with the total study population, recipients included greater proportions of low income and rental households and households including children under 5 years or adults aged 65 and older. Total programme costs were 145,087 Pounds. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to implement a large scale smoke alarm giveaway programme targeted to high risk households in a densely populated, multicultural, materially deprived community. The programme's effects on the prevalence of installed and functioning alarms and the incidence of fires and fire related injuries, and its cost effectiveness, are being evaluated as a randomized controlled trial.

Adolescent↗

Inequality in health and health service use for mothers of young children in south west England. Survey Team of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood Team.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the degree of association between relative deprivation and any variation in condition specific morbidity and in consultations with general practitioners for mothers of young children. STUDY DESIGN: Condition specific morbidity and general practitioner consultation (GP) rates were recorded by means of self reports on a postal questionnaire. Subjects were asked to record whether they had suffered from any of 16 common conditions and, if so, whether they had consulted the GP. Relative deprivation was measured using indicators such as home ownership, overcrowded living conditions, car ownership, and partners' employment status. Information was also collected about the women's own employment status, their ages, and parity. SETTING: The three district health authorities of Bristol. All women expecting a baby between April 1991 and December 1992 were invited to participate. SUBJECTS: Altogether 11040 mothers who completed questionnaires about their own health and well being at 8 months postpartum as part of the Avon longitudinal study of pregnancy and childhood. OUTCOME MEASURES: The percentage of mothers reporting any of 16 common conditions since the birth of their child and the proportion of them who consulted the GP if a condition was reported. chi 2 tests of independence were used to examine the association between condition specific morbidity and social, demographic, and maternal characteristics. Latent class analysis was used to "cluster" mothers according to the particular configuration of social, demographic, and maternal characteristics associated with levels of morbidity for each of the six most commonly reported conditions. The probability of consulting a GP was then compared between clusters. RESULTS: Relative deprivation had a greater impact on morbidity and GP consultation for stress related conditions such as depression, anxiety, and headache/migraine. For all these conditions, higher levels of self reported morbidity and a greater probability of consulting the doctor were associated with a cluster of social disadvantage-living in rented accommodation, non-employment, younger age, and lower educational status. For other conditions such as backache, haemorrhoids, and cough/cold, however, higher morbidity was associated with a cluster of advantage-home ownership, uncrowded living conditions, use of car, and partner in employment. Where there was variation in the probability of consulting the GP for these conditions, it was linked to parity rather than socioeconomic factors. Higher levels of morbidity for all but one condition (backache) were also associated with having more than one child, but this cross-cut socioeconomic and demographic cluster characteristics; both more affluent, older mothers and younger, more deprived mothers were likely to be multiparous. CONCLUSIONS: Relative deprivation was associated with poorer mental but not physical health for this population of mothers of young children. These findings have implications for a more targeted approach to reducing inequality in health. The importance of examining inequality in health for women in relation to their own material circumstances, their employment status, and parity, is emphasised.

Adult↗

Own education, current conditions, parental material circumstances, and risk of myocardial infarction in a former communist country.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between own education, adult and parental circumstances and the risk of myocardial infarction in a former communist country. DESIGN: Population based case-control study. SETTING: General population of five districts of the Czech Republic in the age group 25-64 years. PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of population (938 men and 1048 women, response rate 77%) served as controls to 282 male and 80 female cases of non-fatal first myocardial infarctions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Myocardial infarction was defined by the WHO MONICA criteria based on ECG, enzymes and symptoms. The following socioeconomic indicators were studied: own education, crowded housing conditions (more than one person per room), car ownership, and education and occupation of mother and father. RESULTS: There was a weak correlation between education and car ownership, and a strong association between own education and parental education and occupation. Crowding was not related to other socioeconomic factors. The risk of myocardial infarction was inversely related to education, and was unrelated to material conditions and parental education and occupation. The age-sex-district adjusted odds ratios for apprenticeship, secondary, and university education, compared with primary education, were 0.87, 0.74 and 0.46, respectively (p for trend 0.009); odds ratios for car ownership and crowding were 1.01 (95% confidence intervals 0.77, 1.34) and 0.92 (0.76, 1.12), respectively. Further adjustment for parental circumstances and adult height did not change these estimates but adjustment for coronary risk factors reduced the gradient. Increased height seemed, anomalously, to confer a small increased risk. CONCLUSIONS: In this population, the social gradient in non-fatal myocardial infarction is only apparent for own education. Materialist explanations for this gradient seem unlikely but behaviours seem responsible for a part of the gradient.

Adult↗

Symptoms of asthma and the home environment. The ISAAC I and III cross-sectional surveys in Münster, Germany.

BACKGROUND: The indoor home environment has been shown to be associated with the presence of respiratory symptoms and atopic disease. METHODS: Two cross-sectional surveys (1995-2000) were conducted, using data from the ISAAC phase I and III surveys, collected in Münster, Germany (n = 6,996, response 81.8%). We analyzed the prevalence ratio (PR) for several indoor exposures and asthma-related outcomes in 6- to 7-year-old children, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Positive associations were observed regarding exposure to molds, environmental tobacco smoke, cooking with gas and space heating with fossil fuels, but most associations were not statistically significant. Surprisingly, presence of a carpet was negatively associated with most respiratory conditions. When restricting the analysis to participants without avoidance of a carpet due to a history of atopic disease, the protective associations disappeared. Mostly, present pet ownership did not show positive associations with respiratory symptoms. However, ownership at different times in life revealed positive associations, particularly in regard to birds owned in the first year of life (PR 1.51, 95% CI 1.11-2.06, for sleep disturbance due to wheeze and PR 1.28, 95% CI 1.01-1.63, for wheeze during the last 12 months, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Only few indoor factors were positively associated with the studied outcomes. The change of associations in participants that reported allergy-related avoidance of carpets suggests that the observed effects are a result of asthmatics' changed behavior. The effect of allergy-related change in behavior and the results observed concerning the ownership of pets at different ages underline the need of establishing a precise temporal relationship between disease and exposure.

Animals↗

Sensitization to rabbit allergens in Italy--a multicentre study in atopic subjects without occupational exposure.

BACKGROUND: Rabbits as pets are becoming popular in Italy, but few data are available on sensitization to rabbits in patients without occupational exposure. In a multicentre study, we assessed the prevalence of rabbit sensitization in atopic subjects and their modality of exposure. METHODS: Allergists from the whole country were required to assess the presence of skin prick test positivity to rabbits in about 100 consecutive patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. In the rabbit-positive patients, clinical history, pet ownership and modality of exposure were assessed. RESULTS: Skin tests were performed on 2,329 outpatients, of whom 1,602 had at least one positivity. Among them, 39 (2.43%) were sensitized to rabbit dander (4 monosensitized). The prevalence of sensitization ranged between 0.65 and 4.72%. Nineteen patients reported direct rabbit contact (10 for ownership and 9 for occasional contact) and 5 patients only indirect exposure through the contact with rabbit owners. Fifteen subjects denied any direct or indirect exposure. All the monosensitized patients were rabbit owners and had persistent (moderate-severe) respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitization to rabbit in Italy is not to be neglected. In atopic subjects without occupational exposure, contact and indirect exposure to rabbits may induce sensitization. A progressive increase in rabbit sensitization is expected in the future as consequence of the increased rabbit ownership.

Adolescent↗

Parental knowledge and children's use of bicycle helmets.

Helmet use protects against head injury. Our objective was to assess whether parental knowledge of helmet safety is associated with helmet use in children, and whether a relationship exists between helmet ownership and other safety behaviors. Three hundred forty-one surveys were distributed to parents of third through fifth graders; 97% of parents believed that a helmet confers protection; 49% of parents reported that their child owns a helmet. Of the helmet owners, 27% reported that the child wears it more than 75% of the time. Seat belt usage was associated with helmet ownership (p=0.02) and frequency of wearing a helmet (p=0.04). Although parents are aware of the benefits, a barrier between helmet ownership and usage exists.

Bicycling↗

Automated external defibrillators in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Athletics.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death in athletes. Evidence on current sudden cardiac death prevention through preparticipation history, physicals, and noninvasive cardiovascular diagnostics has demonstrated a low sensitivity for detection of athletes at high risk of sudden cardiac death. Data are lacking on automated external defibrillator programs specifically initiated to respond to rare dysrhythmia in younger, relatively low-risk populations. METHODS: Surveys were mailed to the head athletic trainers of all National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletics programs listed in the National Athletic Trainers' Association directory. In all, 303 surveys were mailed; 186 departments (61%) responded. RESULTS: Seventy-two percent (133) of responding National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletics programs have access to automated external defibrillator units; 54% (101) own their units. Proven medical benefit (55%), concern for liability (51%), and affordability (29%) ranked highest in frequency of reasons for automated external defibrillator purchase. Unit cost (odds ratio = 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.0), donated units (odds ratio = 1.92; confidence interval, 3.66-1.01), institution size (odds ratio =.0001; confidence interval, 1.3 E-4 to 2.2E-05), and proven medical benefit of automated external defibrillators (odds ratio = 24; confidence interval, 72-8.1) were the most significant predictors of departmental defibrillator ownership. Emergency medical service response time and sudden cardiac death event history were not significantly predictive of departmental defibrillator ownership. The majority of automated external defibrillator interventions occurred on nonathletes. CONCLUSIONS: Many athletics medicine programs are obtaining automated external defibrillators without apparent criteria for determination of need. Usage and maintenance policies vary widely among departments with unit ownership or access. Programs need to approach the issue of unit acquisition and implementation with knowledge of the surrounding emergency medical service system, geography of their individual sports medicine facilities, numbers and relative risk of their athletes, and budgetary constraints.

Chi-Square Distribution↗

Public-private partnerships in the siting of hazardous waste facilities: the importance of trust.

As the need for hazardous waste management facilities becomes critical, several strategies including public-private partnership have been suggested and adopted by states to diffuse public opposition, and facilitate the siting of these facilities. Public-private partnership involves state ownership of the facility, and its operation by a private company. Proponents of this strategy contend that state ownership of facility and therefore an assumption of long-term liability would reduce public concerns regarding site maintenance. Also, that state or public ownership of the land on which the facility is built would thwart any local land use regulation that may be enacted to derail the site selection process. This paper, through a case study provides an analysis of this strategy, and surmised that factors identified in past research-public trust in institutions of government, in the perceived competence and integrity of the developer, and in the waste treatment technology to pose minimal risks to public health and the environment, are necessary to enhance the efficacy of public-private partnership in the siting of hazardous waste management facilities.

Decision Making↗

Relationship between adherence to study and clinic visits in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: data from the LUMINA cohort.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between nonadherence with study visits and with regularly scheduled clinic visits after adjusting for other patient and disease characteristics. One hundred and forty-one LUMINA patients with appointment data in the institutions' computerized systems (UAB and UTH) were studied. 'No shows' were assessed as the percentage of appointments not attended for either rheumatology, other clinics and LUMINA visits (from zero to 100%). Eighty-nine percent of the patients were women, 40% were Caucasians, 55% African-Americans and 5% Hispanics. 'No shows' to rheumatology were associated with non-Caucasian ethnicity, younger age, single marital status, lack of home ownership, 'no shows' to other clinics and to the LUMINA study, greater disease activity and to some disease manifestations (serositis, renal involvement, positive anti-dsDNA antibodies). In multivariable analyses, features predictive of rheumatology 'no shows' were lack of home ownership, 'no shows' to LUMINA study visits, renal involvement and serosal manifestations. Nonadherence with study visits and with regularly scheduled care at rheumatology clinics were associated. Other factors predictive of nonadherence to recommended care were lack of home ownership (a measurement of low socioeconomic status) and the presence of disease manifestations (i.e., renal or serosal involvement). These data should be considered when caring for patients with SLE.

Adult↗

Multiple sclerosis and housedogs: a case-control study.

A case-control study was conducted to examine the possible association between ownership of housedogs early in life and later development of multiple sclerosis (MS). Sixty MS patients were compared with 60 neighborhood controls matched for age, sex, and race. There was no significant difference between cases and matched controls in housedog ownership, duration of ownership, or age at first exposure to housedogs over the interval from birth to 19 years of age.

Adolescent↗

Suicide by gunshot in the United Kingdom: a review of the literature.

This paper reviews the research literature on gunshot suicide in the United Kingdom and the international literature with reference to strategies aimed at preventing gunshot suicides. Trends in gun ownership and changes in firearm legislation in the UK over the past 20 years are described. Most UK gunshot suicides are male, middle-aged and living with a partner and involve the use of shotguns. They are less likely to have current or past mental health problems, or a previous act of self-harm, than people who commit suicide by other methods, and their suicide is more likely to have been precipitated by a relationship dispute. Where alcohol is consumed the amount tends to be large. The international literature provides evidence of a strong association between rates of gun ownership and gunshot suicide, and some evidence of a reduction in firearm suicide rates following the introduction of restrictive firearm legislation. Over the past 20 years the number of gunshot suicides in the UK has declined by over 50% to a little over a hundred deaths per annum. At the same time, firearm legislation has become progressively more restrictive and rates of gun ownership have declined. Measures, which might further reduce the prevalence of gunshot suicides in the UK, are discussed.

Death Certificates↗

High allergen exposure as a risk factor for asthma and allergic disease.

The association between pet ownership in childhood and subsequent asthma and sensitization is very controversial. Intriguing, but contradictory, reports have caused considerable uncertainty in parents who wish to avoid asthma and allergic disease in their children. This article argues that high allergen exposure is a risk factor for asthma and allergic disease. It describes dispersal of pet allergens in society and critically assesses epidemiological studies regarding how early exposure to pet allergens affects subsequent immunoglobulin E-sensitization and allergic diseases. Additionally, this article evaluates the effects of allergen exposure in already sensitized subjects with asthma. Cat and dog allergens are ubiquitous in society and may induce sensitization and allergic symptoms in predisposed individuals, regardless of pet ownership. This, in combination with selection mechanisms for pet ownership in families with a history of allergic diseases, makes it difficult to study associations between early exposure to pets and subsequent allergic disease. Nevertheless, exposure to pet allergens worsens asthma in already sensitized children. Thus, it is clear that clinicians should advise sensitized asthmatics that avoidance of exposure to indoor allergens is an important element in the treatment of allergic disease.

Allergens↗

Suicide and firearm prevalence: are youth disproportionately affected?

The effect of firearm availability on suicide may differ among age groups. We used regression analysis to examine the relationship between suicide rates and household firearm ownership for four age groups in the nine census regions from 1979 to 1994, adjusting for regional divorce rates, education, unemployment, and urbanicity. Results showed that firearm ownership levels are correlated with suicide rates among 15- to 24-year-olds and 65- to 84-year-olds, but not among 25-to 64-year-olds. The findings suggest that if the relationship is causal, a 10% fall in regional firearm ownership levels would lead to a 3.0% decrease in suicide rates.

Adolescent↗

Firearm safety counseling in primary care pediatrics: a randomized, controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Physicians have been encouraged to counsel families about risks associated with gun ownership, but the effectiveness of physician counseling regarding gun safety is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of gun safety counseling during well-child care visits. DESIGN: Group randomized, controlled trial. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants were randomized to either the intervention group or a control group. SETTING: Group Health Cooperative, a staff-model health maintenance organization. Patients. Consecutive sample of families (n = 1295) seen for a scheduled appointment for well-child care for a child <18 years of age. Of the families originally scheduled for a visit, 80. 3% were seen and completed the outcomes surveys. INTERVENTION: Each family in the intervention group was given a 60-second message by their practitioner that depended on the presence of guns in the home. Families without guns were informed of the health risks associated with gun ownership and given a standard information pamphlet. Families with guns were given the same information about risks and were told that if they chose to keep a gun, they should store it locked and unloaded. They were given instructions on storage and a folder with material, including the same pamphlet, a letter from the police department, written storage guidelines, and discount coupons for gun storage devices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Changes in the following self-reported events: 1) acquisition of a safe storage device; 2) removal of firearms from the home; and 3) acquisition of firearms. Results. There were no important differences between intervention and control groups in the rate of acquisition of new guns (intervention: 1.3% vs control:.9%) after the intervention. Among households with guns at baseline, there were also no differences between groups in the removal of guns (intervention: 6.7% vs control: 5.7%), but there was a fairly large nonsignificant difference in the proportion who purchased trigger locks (intervention: 8.0% vs control: 2.5%). CONCLUSIONS: A single firearm safety-counseling session during well-child care, combined with economic incentives to purchase safe storage devices, did not lead to changes in household gun ownership and did not lead to statistically significant overall changes in storage patterns.

Adolescent↗

Family practice patients' attitudes toward firearm safety as a preventive medicine issue: a HARNET Study. Harrisburg Area Research Network.

BACKGROUND: Firearm-related deaths are expected to outnumber motor-vehicle-related deaths within the next 5 years. The goal of this project was to document gun ownership and safety habits among patients of family physicians and to determine patients' attitudes toward physician counseling about firearm safety. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients of 11 family practices affiliated with a research network. Patients (or parents of children) were asked to complete a 23-item questionnaire that asked about gun ownership, storage, sources of information about gun safety, and attitudes about gun safety, and the role of their physician. RESULTS: Of the 1359 questionnaires distributed, 1214 (89%) were returned. Gun ownership varied by location (urban, suburban, and rural) and ranged from 16% to 59%. Only 8% of respondents believed that their physician has a responsibility to discuss firearm safety. Most (91%) patients did not view their physician as a source of firearm safety information, and only 14% thought their physician was knowledgeable regarding gun safety. Most gun owners (71%) did not think they would follow their physicians' advice about gun storage. Most patients (5%) responded that gun safety should not be discussed during the office visit. CONCLUSION: With regard to firearm safety, family physicians lack credibility in the eyes of their patients. These patients do not appear to be receptive to information about firearm safety, and efforts to decrease firearm-related injury might be more effective if focused elsewhere.

Adult↗

Medicare and Medicaid; miscellaneous Medicare and Medicaid amendments--HCFA. Confirmation and amendment of interim final rules.

These rules confirm interim final rules published in October 1982, and make the following changes: Provide that a physician who serves without compensation as an officer or director of any home health agency (HHA) is not, for that reason alone, considered to have a significant financial or contractual relationship with the HHA and therefore is not prohibited from certifying the need for home health services and establishing and reviewing a plan of treatment for services to be furnished by that HHA. Remove the provision that a physician who is a partner in an HHA organized as a partnership is, for that reason alone, considered to have a significant ownership interest in the HHA. Under the revised rule, a partner is not prohibited from certifying the need for home health services and establishing and reviewing a plan of treatment for services to be furnished by that HHA, unless he or she has an ownership interest of 5 percent or more. Provide that, effective July 18, 1984, the "significant ownership interest in, or significant financial or contractual relationship with" prohibition does not apply to an HHA that is a sole community HHA, and set forth conditions and procedures for classification as a sole community HHA. Clarify that salaries employment (as well as a contract for services) is a business transaction subject to the $25,000 or 5 percent limitation. Reflect two amendments made by section 952 of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-499). Those amendments provide that a doctor of podiatric medicine (as well as a doctor of medicine or osteopathy) may, if specified conditions are met--Establish a plan of treatment for home health services; and Be considered a physician for fulfilling the requirement that home health services be furnished while the beneficiary is "under the care of a physician". A conforming change was required in section 409.52(b) of the Medicare rule. A conforming change was required in section 409.42(b)(2) of the Medicare rules. Restore provisions that pertain to the timing and signature of certification of need for home health services. Those provisions were contained in previous rules and were unintentionally omitted in the October 1982 revisions. Clarify that--A plan of treatment for speech pathology services may be established only by a physician or by the speech pathologist who will furnish the services to the particular individual; A physician must review a plan established by a speech pathologist; and It is not the intent to require that the plan be established or reviewed by a particular physician. The first and third changes are required to implement recent statutory amendments which provide exemptions from

Home Care Services↗