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Methylmercury exposure and mortality in southern Japan: a close look at causes of death.

This study examines mortality patterns by cause of death to investigate the effect of exposure to methylmercury in a small area of Minamata City (Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan), which has the highest concentration of patients with Minamata disease. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) are computed by cause of death for the study area, using the age specific rates of the entire city as a standard. The SMRs for liver cancer and chronic liver disease in the study area are significantly higher than unity and are consistent with the mortality patterns of registered Minamata disease patients. While an excess mortality is observed for cerebral haemorrhage, mortality from cerebral infarction and other cerebrovascular diseases is considerably lower in the study area. The multiple risk factors of liver related diseases and a possible explanation for the cerebrovascular mortality patterns are discussed to suggest further investigation.

Female↗

Two centuries of mortality in ten large families with Huntington disease: a rising impact of gene carriership.

To estimate the impact of the Huntington gene on mortality, we studied ten families with Huntington disease, whose records started before 1800. We investigated mortality from 1800 to 1997 in 257 carriers of the Huntington gene and 474 potential carriers. Follow-up extended from age 20 years to the date of death or end-of-study date. The observed deaths were compared with those expected on the basis of the general population, adjusted for sex, age, and calendar time. To study the influence of the family and parental transmission, we calculated hazard ratios adjusted for sex, probability of carrying the gene, and year of birth. In 25,013 person-years, 420 deaths occurred, whereas 278 deaths were expected [standardized mortality ratio = 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4-1.7]. Excess mortality was confined to ages 40-70 years (standardized mortality ratio = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.9-2.4). To study the evolution of mortality over time in this age group, we calculated absolute mortality rates per calendar period. From 1800 onward, mortality rates in the general population continuously declined, but among the families with Huntington disease this decline was absent. There were only small differences in risk between families, and the relative risk for paternal over maternal transmission was 1.2 (95% CI = 0.9-1.5). Our main finding is that persons who carry the Huntington gene and reach middle age have not benefited from advances in medical care and overall increase in life expectancy.

Adult↗

[Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. A population-based study on prevalence and mortality among Danish HHT patients].

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a dominantly inherited disease characterized by telangiectatic lesions. The disease manifestations are variable in severity. Early death due to complications has been described. We report an investigation of the prevalence and mortality of HHT in a Danish population, based on two cross-sectional surveys in combination with a long-term follow-up study. The prevalence of HHT in the county of Funen was 13.8 per 100,000 January 1. 1974 and 15.6 per 100,000 January 1. 1995. In the HHT group as a whole we found a slightly increased mortality, however among the HHT patients younger than 60 years at inclusion the mortality of HHT patients was twice the expected. The excess mortality was fully explained by severe HHT symptoms contributing to death. Future research should aim at identification of HHT patients at particular risk of developing severe complications.

Adult↗

[Mortality study of asbestos cement workers in Emilia-Romagna].

OBJECTIVE: The present study updates to 06/30/1998 the cohort mortality study of 3358 workers employed in 10 asbestos cement production plants in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna. PARTICIPANTS: The cohort includes 2712 males and 646 females. RESULTS: Overall mortality was significantly increased (SMR=131, IC95%:108-127). Excess mortality has been observed for all malignant neoplasms (SMR=131, IC95%: 115-149, 250 observed) and for respiratory diseases (SMR=153, IC: 105-216, 32 observed), 3 deaths due to asbestosis. Mortality for all respiratory tract neoplasms (SMR=179, IC: 148-215, 114 observed), pulmonary cancer (SMR=157, IC: 126-192, 90 observed) and pleural cancer (SMR=1922, IC: 1139-3038, 18 observed) are significantly increased. DISCUSSION: This study confirms the previous cohort study observation of increased mortality for all causes, all neoplasm and cancer affecting lungs and pleura.

Asbestos↗

[Age as a prognostic factor in intensive care].

In order to define the prognostic impact of the age of critical patients as well as its association with the initial severity of illness (SAPS index) and therapeutic effort (TISS index), we studied 1.102 patients older than 14 years admitted consecutively to 3 general intensive care units. The oldest patients (more than 65 years) showed a higher mean SAPS (11.00 versus 8.58, p less than 0.0001) and mortality (odds ratio = 1.99, p less than 0.0001) than the younger ones. The association between age and mortality showed a "dose-response" pattern, even after controlling for the effect of initial severity (p less than 0.0001). The effect of age was stronger in the groups of patients with low SAPS (odds ratio = 2.94, p = 0.0007) or admitted for acute myocardial infarction (odds ratio = 3.28, p less than 0.0001). The oldest group showed a lower TISS/SAPS ratio and a shorter stay in the intensive care unit than younger patients, suggesting a low relative therapeutic effort in the latter. The differential therapeutic effort did not explain, however, the mortality excess in the oldest group, because the gradient of mortality increased after adjusting for TISS/SAPS ratio (adjusted odds ratio = 2.42, p less than 0.0001).

Adolescent↗

[Obesity and cardiovascular risk].

Epidemiological studies on the relationship of obesity, morbidity and mortality revealed the following results: In life insurance studies, excess mortality of obese people was found with more than 30 percent overweight. Mortality was caused by cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Obesity at issue of the policy in younger age was a greater risk than in the older age group. In prospective studies with long follow-up periods (greater than 16 years) it could be shown that obesity alone was a risk factor for coronary heart disease, the risk being greatest for men and middle aged women. However, the prevalence of accepted risk factors in an obese population is so high that the question whether obesity alone is a risk factor for coronary heart disease is of little interest. The correlations between obesity and risk factors were of minor magnitude; therefore other factors, such as age or HDL-cholesterol, should be considered in the elucidation of the relationship between obesity and coronary heart disease. HDL-cholesterol appears to be a powerful independent protective factor which is diminished in obesity. Despite the fact that studies proving a prolongation of life by treating obesity are not available, the treatment of obesity may be beneficial for the patient by diminishing risk factors.

Adult↗

Cancer mortality among electric utility workers exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether excess mortality from cancer, malignant melanoma of the skin, and cancers of the brain and liver in particular, is associated with long term occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). METHODS: An epidemiological study of mortality was conducted among 138,905 men employed for at least six months between 1950 and 1986 at five electrical power companies in the United States. Exposures were assessed by panels composed of workers, hygienists, and managers at each company, who considered tasks performed by workers in 28 job categories and estimated weekly exposures in hours for each job. Poisson regression was used to examine mortality in relation to exposure to electrical insulating fluids containing PCBs, controlling for demographic and occupational factors. RESULTS: Neither all cause nor total cancer mortality was related to cumulative exposure to PCB insulating fluids. Mortality from malignant melanoma increased with exposure; rate ratios (RRs) relative to unexposed men for melanoma were 1.23 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.56 to 2.52), 1.71 (0.68 to 4.28) and 1.93 (0.52 to 7.14) for men with < 2000, > 2000-10,000, and > 10,000 hours of cumulative exposure to PCB insulating fluids, respectively, without consideration of latency. Lagging exposure by 20 years yielded RRs of 1.29 (0.76 to 2.18), 2.56 (1.09 to 5.97), and 4.81 (1.49 to 15.50) for the same exposure levels. Mortality from brain cancer was modestly increased among men with < 2000 hours (RR 1.61, 95% CI 0.86 to 3.01) and > 2000-10,000 hours exposure (RR 1.79, 95% CI 0.81 to 3.95), but there were no deaths from brain cancer among the most highly exposed men. A lag of five years yielded slightly increased RRs. Mortality from liver cancer was not associated with exposure to PCB insulating fluids. CONCLUSIONS: This study was larger and provided more detailed information on exposure than past investigations of workers exposed to PCBs. The results suggest that PCBs cause cancer, with malignant melanoma being of particular concern in this industry.

Follow-Up Studies↗

Simple parametric and nonparametric models for excess and relative mortality.

This paper studies two classes of hazard-rate-based models for the mortality in a group of individuals taking normal life expectancy into account. In a multiplicative hazard model, the estimate for the relative mortality generalises the standardised mortality ratio, and the adequacy of a model with constant relative mortality can be tested using a type of total time on test statistic. In an additive hazard model, continuous-time generalisations of a "corrected" survival curve and a "normal" survival curve are obtained, and the adequacy of a model with constant excess mortality can again be tested using a type of total time on test statistic. A model including both the multiplicative hazard model and the additive hazard model is briefly considered. The use of the models is illustrated on a set of data concerning survival after operation for malignant melanoma.

Biometry↗

[Mortality among lead-zinc miners in Val Seriana].

The mortality experience of 1392 lead-zinc-silver miners (Gorno, Northern Italy) employed in the period 1/1/1950-31/12/1980 and followed-up to 31/12/1986 was examined. Two separate estimates of the radon exposure level are available: 0.60 and 0.36 working levels respectively. The silica exposure level was not assessed. Vital status was ascertained for 95.6% of the cohort members and their mortality was compared with expected deaths based on national rates. Significant excess mortality from esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, respiratory tuberculosis, respiratory diseases and deaths from external causes was found among underground miners. Surface workers show significantly increased mortality from liver and bile ducts cancer, hepatic cirrhosis, respiratory tuberculosis and respiratory diseases. Based on the 16.4 excess lung cancer cases among underground miners and their cumulative radon exposure, an attributable risk estimate ranging from 9.78 and 16.31 cases per million person-years and WLM (Working Level Month) was calculated.

Adolescent↗

Improving prognosis of type 1 diabetes. Mortality, accidents, and impact on insurance.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with type 1 diabetes applying for insurance (life, health, accident, etc.) may either see their application being declined by the insurance company or find their premiums being substantially higher than the standard premium. During the last 40-50 years, the prognosis of patients with type 1 diabetes has improved dramatically, partly as a consequence of improved metabolic regulation and partly due to introduction of better treatment for late diabetic complications. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the increased premiums paid by diabetic patients for life insurance and accident insurance reflect the true risk of a diabetic individual. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Mortality: 3,000 type 1 diabetic patients were followed for 12-51 years. The impact of age, sex, year of diagnosis, and development of nephropathy on excess mortality was analyzed. Accidents: A cohort of nearly 7,000 members of the Danish Diabetes Association participating in group accident insurance was followed for 3 years. The risk and outcome of accidents in the diabetic group was compared with similar risks in a nondiabetic group. RESULTS: Mortality: Over a 40-year period, the median life expectancy of type 1 diabetic patients increased by more than 15 years. The decrease was predominantly explained by a decreasing incidence of nephropathy, so that a simple model for estimating insurance premiums (including age of diagnosis, sex, and presence or absence of diabetic nephropathy) could be established. Accident insurance: Individuals with type 1 diabetes experienced a risk of accidents that was not in excess of that found in two control groups, and the outcome (degree of disability) after the accidents did not differ between the diabetic and the nondiabetic group. CONCLUSIONS: Type 1 diabetic patients still have a mortality in excess of nondiabetic individuals. Life insurance premiums should, however, always reflect the changing prognosis of type 1 diabetes and thus, continuous monitoring and revisions are needed. For accident insurance, we found no increased risk of accidents; thus, diabetic individuals should be offered accident insurance on normal terms.

Cohort Studies↗

Increased risk for male bladder cancer among a cohort of male and female hairdressers from Geneva.

A cohort of 703 male and 677 female hairdressers born from 1880 onwards, who started to run salons in Geneva between 1900 and 1964 was followed-up to the end of 1982. Cause-specific mortality was analysed from 1942 to 1982 and a significant excess mortality from bladder cancer (observed deaths = 10, expected deaths = 3.9) was found among males. Cancer incidence recorded for the years 1970 to 1980 showed a significant increase among males for all neoplasms (O = 65, E = 51.4), cancer of the buccal cavity and pharynx (O = 6, E = 2.5), cancer of the prostate (O = 12, E = 6.1), and bladder cancer (O = 11, E = 5.3). Among female hairdressers no significant increase in mortality or in cancer incidence was found. Mean age at diagnosis of the 18 deaths and/or incident cases from bladder cancer found among the male hairdressers was 68.6 years (range 51-88) and mean latency period since first exposure was 52.2 years (range 24-73). Occupational history was obtained for most of the 18 cases and of 54 controls randomly selected from the cohort. Little evidence was found of a causal relationship between exposure to hair dyes and the excess risk for bladder cancer among the male hairdressers. It is a suggestion that this excess might be related to some colouring agent(s) in brilliantines which were widely used in men's hairdressing salons in Geneva until about 1950.

Adult↗

Dementia and disability: impact on mortality. The Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Dementia is known to be associated with excess mortality. Physical disability, as a marker of dementia severity, is often considered the last step on the way from disease to death. The objective of this study was to investigate the direct effect of dementia on mortality in a population-based study, carried out in Italy, with a sample of 5,632 individuals aged 65-84 years. At 4-year follow-up, 998 participants had died. The independent predictors of death were: age (75-84 years; HR 2.63, CI = 2.11-3.27), male sex (HR 1.45, CI = 1.22-1.74), coronary heart disease (HR 1.61, CI = 1.34-1.94), moderate and severe instrumental activities of daily living disability (HR 1.98, CI = 1.30-3.03 and HR 3.26, CI = 2.09-5.09, respectively), diabetes in subjects with a survival time greater than 23 months (HR 0.68, CI = 0.43-1.08) and dementia (HR 2.07, CI = 1.62-2.66). These data provide evidence that dementia per se, independently from physical disability, is a strong predictor of death in the elderly.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Association of medical, physiological, behavioural and socio-economic factors with elevated mortality in men of Irish heritage in West Scotland.

BACKGROUND: Men with patrilineal Irish descent from the immigrations of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have higher death rates from 'all-causes' and, specifically, cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population of the West of Scotland. METHODS: A total of 5766 male employees from 27 workplace settings were examined between 1970 and 1973. Surname analysis identified 15 per cent of these men as of patrilineal Irish heritage. For those who have since died, the date and cause of death was obtained. Cox's proportional hazards model was used to compare the mortality risk of those with Irish and non-Irish surnames, and to investigate established medical, physiological, behavioural and socio-economic risk factors (acting in early and later life) as possible explanations for this excess mortality. RESULTS: The relative risk of death from all causes for the Irish of 1.26 (95 per cent confidence interval (CI) (1.12, 1.43)) was reduced to 1.12 (95 per cent CI (0.99, 1.26)) by including established risk factors in the model. The relative risk of CVD mortality of 1.51 (95 per cent CI (1.29, 1.77)) for the Irish was reduced to 1.35 (95 per cent CI (1.14, 1.58)) by the same adjustments. The elevated all-cause mortality of the Irish was mainly attributable to cardiovascular deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smoking was only able to 'explain' a small amount of the excess all-cause and CVD mortality of men with patrilineal Irish descent. Relative deprivation during childhood and adulthood contributed to the high Irish mortality. However, there remains a substantial excess of premature deaths among Irish men which is unaccounted for by established risk factors.

Adult↗

A controlled study of postoperative radiotherapy for patients with completely resected nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. Groupe d'Etude et de Traitement des Cancers Bronchiques.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative radiotherapy is commonly used to treat patients with completely resected nonsmall cell lung carcinoma, but its effect on overall survival has not been established. METHODS: After undergoing complete surgical resection, 728 patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (221 Stage I, 180 Stage II, and 327 Stage III) were randomized to receive either postoperative radiotherapy at a total dose of 60 gray or observation only . The main end point was overall survival. RESULTS: At the reference date, 218 of 355 patients in the control group had died and 262 of 373 in the radiotherapy group had died. Five-year overall survival was 43% for the control group and 30% for the radiotherapy group (P = 0.002, log rank test; relative risk [RR]: 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-1.59). This result was not modified by adjustment for potential prognostic factors. The excess mortality rate for the radiotherapy group was due to an excess of intercurrent deaths (P = 0.0001; RR: 3.47; the 5-year intercurrent death rate was 8% for the control group and 31% for the radiotherapy group). Radiotherapy had no significant effect on local recurrence (RR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.64-1.14) and no effect on metastasis (RR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.85-1.31). The rate of non-cancer-related death increased with the dose per fraction delivered.

Aged↗

Rheumatoid arthritis and mortality. A longitudinal study in Pima Indians.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on mortality rates. METHODS: Longitudinal analyses of data from a cohort of Pima Indians from the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona, who were followed up during the period February 1965 through December 1989. RESULTS: Among 2,979 study subjects aged > or = 25 years, there were 858 deaths, 79 of which occurred in subjects with RA (36 men, 43 women). Age- and sex-adjusted mortality rates were slightly higher in subjects with RA than in those without (mortality rate ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.01-1.62). Among those with RA, mortality rates were higher in older subjects (mortality rate ratio 1.51 per 10-year increase in age, 95% CI 1.22-1.88), in male subjects (mortality rate ratio 2.23, 95% CI 1.44-3.45, adjusted for age), and in subjects with proteinuria (mortality rate ratio 1.88, 95% CI 1.02-3.46, adjusted for age and sex). Mortality rate ratios for these risk factors were similar in subjects without RA. In addition, among subjects with RA, rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity was predictive of death (mortality rate ratio 1.94, 95% CI 1.10-3.43), and the excess mortality was found primarily among subjects who were seropositive. The death rate from cardiovascular disease (mortality rate ratio 1.77, 95% CI 1.10-2.84) and from liver cirrhosis or other alcohol-related disease (mortality rate ratio 2.52, 95% CI 1.06-6.01) was increased in persons with RA. CONCLUSION: The results of this population-based study suggest that although the risk of mortality in subjects with RA is significantly higher than in those without RA, the risk ratio is in the lower range of that described previously in studies of clinic-based cohorts. RF positivity as a predictor of early death among subjects with RA indicates that the immunologic processes in seropositive RA may contribute to the events that eventually lead to early death.

Adult↗

The attributable mortality of acute renal failure in critically ill patients with liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine outcome and mortality risk related to acute renal failure (ARF) in critically ill patients with cirrhosis. DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective cohort analysis and two independent case-control analyses in a medical ICU. PATIENTS: 41 and 32 patients who developed mild and severe ARF, respectively, matched (1:2 ratio) with cirrhotic patients without ARF during their ICU stay. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Cirrhotic patients with ARF had higher MELD, APACHE II, and SOFA scores at baseline that those without ARF. They had more respiratory failure and cardiovascular failure during ICU stay, longer stay in ICU, and a greater crude hospital mortality rate (65% vs. 32%). Multivariate survival analysis identified ARF (hazard ratio, HR, 4.1), alcohol abuse or dependency, and severe sepsis or septic shock as independent predictors of death. In case-control studies both mild and severe ARF were independently associated with mortality (HR, 2.6, and 4.2, respectively). Cirrhotic patients with mild ARF patients had a higher risk of death than those without ARF (relative risk, RR, 2.0). Severe ARF was associated with an increase matched risk of death (RR 2.6), higher mortality of 51%, and higher risk-adjusted mortality rate (2.1 vs. 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: ICU patients with liver cirrhosis still have a high crude mortality. In this specific population ARF is associated with an excess mortality, depending on the severity of renal dysfunction.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Estimation of AIDS adult mortality by verbal autopsy in rural Malawi.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate AIDS-related adult mortality using verbal autopsies (VA) in a rural sub-Saharan African setting with high HIV prevalence. DESIGN: VA data were collected from relatives and neighbors that described the circumstances leading to death for 92 adults in three rural areas of Malawi. These adults were initially interviewed in 1998 as part of a longitudinal social survey of a sample of 1554 women and 1126 men, and their deaths occurred between then and a 3-year follow-up interview in 2001. METHODS: AIDS-related deaths were identified using a standard World Health Organization (WHO) algorithm and this observed number of deaths was compared with the expected number. The expected number is derived from a comparison of adult mortality in this sample with the pre-AIDS mortality levels measured in the 1987 Malawi census, giving an 'excess mortality factor' that can be considered to be AIDS related. It was calculated that 74.9% of observed deaths in 1998-2001 would be from AIDS. RESULTS: According to the WHO algorithm, 75.5% of the VA deaths could be categorized as AIDS deaths. The gender-specific figures were 75.1% for females and 76.3% for males. CONCLUSIONS: Results are consistent with those found in studies conducted in other areas of sub-Saharan Africa at earlier stages in the epidemic. They confirm that VA data can be used to estimate with a reasonable degree of confidence the distribution of AIDS- and non-AIDS-related deaths in the aggregate, even in a rural population with relatively low levels of education.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Comparing cause-specific infant mortality in a West German state and the United States of America.

The infant mortality rate in North Rhine Westphalia (NRW), the most populous West German state, has continuously been around 10% higher than the German national average in the post-war period. Using white singleton data from the US 1980 National Infant Mortality Surveillance project (NIMS) and similar 1980/1981 data from NRW we compared infant mortality by birthweight and cause to describe the distribution of excess mortality in NRW. The US infant mortality rate was 8.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared with 13.1/1,000 for NRW (rate difference: 4.3/1,000). Of the 4.3/1,000 overall rate difference, 1.9/1,000 was attributable to neonatal deaths, 2.4/1,000 to postneonatal deaths. A major proportion, 2.0/1,000, of the overall rate difference of 4.3/1,000 was attributable to normal birthweight deaths postneonatally. 0.85/1,000 of this 2.0/1,000 rate difference was attributable to SIDS, 0.44/1,000 to external causes and 0.42/1,000 to infections.

Birth Weight↗