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The prevalence and incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus in Birmingham, England. Relationship to ethnicity and country of birth.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the point prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on January 1, 1992, and the incidence of SLE during 1991, in Birmingham, England, a large city with a broad ethnic mix. METHODS: Six sources were used to ascertain patients with diagnosed SLE, including notification by attending and primary care physicians, the lupus patient support group, and hospital inpatient and laboratory data. RESULTS: There were 242 SLE patients (227 females, 15 males) identified: prevalence rate 27.7/100,000 (95% confidence interval 24.2-31.2/100,000) in the population and 206.0/100,000 in Afro-Caribbean females. No significant differences in female ethnic prevalence rates by place of birth were observed. Thirty-three patients developed SLE in 1991: incidence rate 3.8/100,000/year (95% confidence interval 2.5-5.1/100,000/year). CONCLUSION: This study illustrates dramatic differences in incidence and prevalence rates in the UK, depending on ethnic group and irrespective of place of birth.

Adolescent↗

Blood transfusion, smoking, and obesity as risk factors for the development of rheumatoid arthritis: results from a primary care-based incident case-control study in Norfolk, England.

OBJECTIVE: To examine a range of demographic, social, and clinical risk factors for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Population-based case-control study in Norfolk, England, involving adult patients, ages 18-70, with an inflammatory polyarthritis of <12 months' duration who were recruited from the Norfolk Arthritis Register. Controls, matched for sex and date of birth, were selected from the primary care register of the Norwich Health Authority. Both cases and controls completed identical self-administered questionnaires. Matched analysis of the 165 case-control sets was conducted for the whole group and for the subset in which the cases satisfied the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA. RESULTS: The controls were of higher socioeconomic status than the cases. This was probably due to response bias. Having a body mass index > or =30 was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.74 for developing RA (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.14-12.27). RA was also associated with a history of blood transfusion (OR 4.83, 95% CI 1.29-18.07). Even after correcting for social class, a history of having ever smoked was associated with a higher risk of developing RA (OR 1.66, 95% CI 0.95-3.06). There was no difference between cases and controls in previous exposure to childhood infections, certain surgical procedures, or reproductive history variables. CONCLUSION: RA has a number of potential environmental triggers, including smoking, obesity, and blood transfusion.

Adult↗

Splenectomy in childhood: a review in England and Wales, 1960-4.

An investigation was carried out of 821 children under the age of 16 years who were subjected to splenectomy in England and Wales during the 5 years 1960-4. A postal follow-up study provided satisfactory information concerning 96 per cent of these. Excluding early postoperative deaths, practically all the cases were followed up for 2 years or more and 70 per cent for more than 5 years. Forty-nine children had died since operation, 32 from underlying disease and 17 from infection. Fifty children (6 per cent of the survivors) had major infections considered to be due to the primary condition aggravated by splenectomy. Seven died, all from the primary disease. Sixteen children (2 per cent) developed septicaemic illnesses and 10 died. In these the effect of splenectomy was considered to be the primary factor. Fourteen of the 16 had been operated on in the first 4 years of life. Practically all the serious infections occurred within 3 years of operation and pneumococcus was the organism most frequently implicated. Ninety per cent of the splenectomies in childhood were performed for accidental injury, congenital haemolytic anaemia or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Accidental injury to the spleen rarely occurs in very young children, and in the other two conditions splenectomy can usually be safely delayed untile over the age of 3 years. If this is achieved it is estimated that the unavoidable risk of dangerous infection is less than 1 per cent. One in 10 splenectomies will be carried out for severe and potentially fatal illnesses and in this situation the risk from operation is of secondary importance. Many such conditions carry increased susceptibility to infection per se or because corticosteroids or other immune suppressants are used in their management. It is recommended that splenectomy be avoided if at all possible during the early years of life. It is further recommended that prophylactic penicillin be administered for 3 years following operation whatever its indication and whatever the age of the patient. If the underlying condition itself carries risk of infection more active and more prolonged prophylaxis may be indicated.

Adolescent↗

Adult small intestinal transplantation in England and Wales.

BACKGROUND: In 1996 two transplantation centres in the UK were commissioned by the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group for England and Wales to assess small intestinal transplantation in adults. The joint experience of the two centres is presented. METHODS: Patients with irreversible small intestinal failure and complications of parenteral nutrition, and those with abdominal disease requiring extensive visceral resection, were assessed as candidates and where appropriate listed for surgery. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were assessed for small intestinal transplantation and, of these, 14 underwent surgery. Twelve patients survived the transplantation procedure. Of these, seven patients were alive at 1 year, five at 3 years and three at 5 years. Three patients remain alive. Patient and graft survival improved with experience; the 1-year survival rate improved in the last 4 years of this experience from 43 to 57 per cent, and the 3-year survival rate from 29 to 43 per cent. CONCLUSION: Small intestinal transplantation is associated with a high mortality rate but may benefit carefully selected patients in whom conservative management is likely to carry a greater mortality rate.

Adult↗

Decline in admission rates for acute appendicitis in England.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of acute appendicitis declined in western countries between the 1930s and the early 1990s. The aim of this study was to determine time trends in hospital admissions for acute appendicitis in England between 1989-1990 and 1999-2000, and in population mortality rates for appendicitis from 1979 to 1999. METHODS: : Hospital Episode Statistics for admissions were obtained from the Department of Health and mortality data from the Office for National Statistics. RESULTS: Between 1989-1990 and 1999-2000, age-standardized hospital admission rates for acute appendicitis decreased by 12.5 per cent in male patients and by 18.8 per cent in female patients. The proportions of admissions that resulted in operation remained stable. Admission rates for non-specific mesenteric lymphadenitis fell. Admission rates for abdominal pain increased between 1989-1990 and 1995-1996, at which time the International Classification of Diseases codes changed. Between 1995-1996 and 1999-2000, admission rates for abdominal pain declined. Analysis of age-specific admission rates for acute appendicitis and abdominal pain from 1989-1990 to 1995-1996 showed that the decline in acute appendicitis could not be accounted for by a change in diagnostic practice. Mortality rates for acute appendicitis remained stable over the study period. CONCLUSION: Admission rates for acute appendicitis declined over the study period. This decline cannot be explained by reclassification.

Acute Disease↗

Trends in mortality and hospital admission rates for abdominal aortic aneurysm in England and Wales, 1979-1999.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate trends in population-based mortality, hospital admission and case fatality rates for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) from 1979 to 1999. METHODS: This was an analysis of routine statistics from 79 495 death certificates in England and Wales and 3217 hospital inpatient admissions in the Oxford Region. RESULTS: Mortality rates for all AAAs increased between 1979 and 1999 from 13 to 25 per million in women and from 80 to 115 per million in men. Admission rates increased in the same time interval from three to 22 admissions per million per year in women, and from 52 to 149 per million per year in men. Case fatality rates for all non-ruptured AAAs that were operated on decreased from 25.8 to 9.0 per cent and for all ruptured AAAs from 69.9 to 54.4 per cent. CONCLUSION: Mortality rates and hospital admission rates for AAA rose in men and even more so in women between 1979 and 1999. Perioperative mortality for ruptured AAA declined a little during the study but nonetheless was still very high at the end. This reinforces the importance of detecting and treating AAA before rupture occurs.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate: reanalysis of a three-generation family study from England.

The study population consists of 424 three-generation families originally ascertained through nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL +/- P) surgical probands by Carter et al [J Med Genet 19:246-261, 1982] in London, England. Carter et al proposed that the multifactorial threshold model (MF/T) could explain the data. The goal of our study was to test that hypothesis, plus alternatives, rigorously. Two approaches were used: 1) Carter et al had proposed that these data were consistent with the predictions of the MF/T as presented by Carter [Br Med Bull 25:52-57, 1969]. However, we tested those predictions using standard chi 2 tests and found statistically significant departures from the predictions in these families. 2) Complex segregation analysis under the mixed model was performed. Again, the MF/T model could be rejected, as could a model of a major locus alone. The best-fitting model included both major locus and multifactorial components. When the data were analyzed in two parts based on the proband's phenotype (CL vs CL + P) there was some evidence of heterogeneity in that there was a significant proportion of sporadic cases in the families of CL probands but not in the families of CL + P probands. Our results provide no support for the MF/T model. The results from segregation analyses of CL +/- P in these families were most consistent with autosomal major gene inheritance plus multifactorial contributions.

Cleft Lip↗

Old age mental health services in England: implementing the National Service Framework for Older People.

BACKGROUND: There is much variation in the services provided for older people with mental health problems. In England, the National Service Framework for Older People (NSFOP) sought to address these inconsistencies and improve care. This study describes the situation three years after its publication. METHODS: A postal survey of old age psychiatrists collected data on the NSFOP mental health model: the range of specialist mental health provision, the nature of the specialist:generic service interface and the degree of interdisciplinary/interagency working. RESULTS: Three hundred and eighteen (72%) consultants responded. Considerable differences existed in the deployment of key professionals within community teams, with more than a third lacking ring-fenced social work time. Few services had dedicated rehabilitation beds and nearly a third lacked separate facilities for people with organic and functional illnesses. Increasing numbers of consultants had access to a memory clinic and there was some suggestion that liaison services were developing, but little indication of increased support for care homes. Several services had yet to agree protocols with primary care, or to implement measures promoting effective information-sharing and integrated care, and there was little evidence that the introduction of the Single Assessment Process (SAP) had significantly changed practice. Although just over half of consultants reported that mental health services were improving, less than a quarter considered community provision adequate. CONCLUSIONS: Three years after the publication of the NSFOP there remained significant gaps in services for older people with mental health problems and substantial variation in provision between districts.

Aged↗

The recognition of dementia in "non-EMI" nursing home residents in South East England.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the agreement between nursing staff's recognition of dementia and results of MMSE assessment in a probability sample of non-specialist nursing home residents in South East England, and to identify correlates of disagreement. METHODS: Prospective survey. The most senior nurse on duty was interviewed about each resident sampled, and optionally about their own training and experience. Residents were interviewed using the MMSE, and assessed using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, the Barthel ADL index, and the Behave-AD scale for behavioural problems. RESULTS: 135 nurses were interviewed about 445 residents-116 reported on of the 291 residents scoring 23 or less on the MMSE-34% of these were acknowledged to have dementia. 46.4% of those with MMSE scores of 15 or less were acknowledged to have dementia. "Missed dementia" was associated with higher MMSE and lower Behave-AD scores, and inversely associated with RMN training and private home ownership for profit. It was not associated with training or duration of staff employment. CONCLUSIONS: Most cognitive impairment in non-specialist nursing homes appeared to be unrecognised. This has implications for the prospects of good dementia care in these homes.

Aged↗

The determinants of hospital utilisation: implications for resource allocation in England.

Since 1976 various attempts have been made to ensure that NHS resources available for hospital and related services in England are allocated in proportion to the health care needs of different areas. The current method is based on analyses of the links between observed patterns of in-patient utilization and the characteristics of the populations of small areas. There are a number of practical difficulties with this approach, however, and so the search continues for new analytical techniques. The purpose of this paper is to explore how household survey data about 12,729 English adults could be used to inform resource allocation decisions. Health care need indicators can be developed based on Census information and odds ratios derived from logistic regression analyses of the relationships between hospital utilization, health status, socio-demographic characteristics and area indicators of supply. The results suggest that health status is the most important determinant of hospital utilization, although demographic and socio-economic factors also have some influence. In addition to the personal characteristics of individual respondents, area correlates of health care supply are also positively associated with reported utilization. The final part of the paper illustrates how weighted population estimates might be calculated on the basis of empirically-derived indicators of health care need.

Adult↗

The impact of health economics on health policy in England, and the impact of health policy on health economics, 1972-1997.

This paper contains a review of the impact of health economics on health policy in England during the past 25 years. Some health economists have expressed disappointment with the scale of the impact that health economics has had on policy but the record set out below suggests that there is modest cause for celebration. That is not to say that there is cause for complacency. There is still a long way to go before all important health policies are based on sound economics reasoning and evidence. The paper begins with some definitions and background; it covers nine areas of health policy, and health policy making, where past impacts of health economics have been postulated; it covers briefly the reciprocal impact of health policy on health economics; and it concludes with a discussion about the findings.

Economics, Medical↗

Does problem drinking affect employment? Evidence from England.

In this paper, we use data from the Health Survey of England to show that problem drinking is negatively and significantly associated with the probability of being in work, once the endogenous relationship between these outcomes is accounted for. Being a problem drinker leads to a substantial reduction in the probability of working by between 7 and 31%, the former figure being roughly equivalent to the positive effect of having a degree relative to no qualifications in our data. This finding is robust to a variety of identifying restrictions and definitions of problem drinking. Moreover, we find that problem drinking defined by the observed psychological and physical symptoms of alcohol is an important predictor of employment, and allows for the fact that individuals differ in their tolerance or susceptibility to alcohol. Our results suggest that there may be important labour market benefits from public health policies aimed at the prevention and treatment of problem drinking.

Alcoholism↗

Monitoring regional performance in general hospital psychiatry: England, Wales and Czechoslovakia.

The purpose of this article is to consider how the regional performance of general hospital psychiatry may be adequately monitored using routine information. Limitations on the types of information available for monitoring regional performance are discussed, in the context of the main functions which a routine information service may be expected to fulfill. English and Welsh routine data are used in a study of the utilisation of general hospital psychiatric beds, and then compared with similar data for Czechoslovakia. The findings suggest that regional equity in the provision of beds: as measured by the coefficient of variation of the bed supply rate, and national performance, as measured by the 'marginal throughput' of these beds; is superior in Czechoslovakia despite recent additions to such beds in England and Wales. The model of utilisation, which was used to assess national performance, may be used to identify the regions whose performance is substandard when compared to other regions or countries. Finally, the relevance of these proposals for monitoring Health Service performance generally is discussed.

Czechoslovakia↗

The importance of knowledge transfer between specialist and generic services in improving health care: a cross-national study of dementia care in England and The Netherlands.

Knowledge transfer (KT) between specialist and generic services is widely seen as an important strategy for improving the quality of integrated dementia care. This article elaborates on intra- and inter-organizational features associated with successful KT. A provisional conceptual framework is suggested, based on literature about inter-organizational networks and knowledge management. Professional and organizational cultures, domain perceptions, perceived dependency and the availability of resources are suggested as significant influences upon the motivation and perceived capacity to engage in KT. Personal and organizational continuity is identified as an important process quality. Data from four local case studies in England and The Netherlands are used to develop and specify the provisional framework. A conceptual model is built to explain the relative success or failure of KT.

Delivery of Health Care, Integrated↗

Identification of rare and novel mutations in the CFTR genes of CF patients in southern England.

Cystic fibrosis patients referred to two genetics centres in southern England and not found to carry common CF-associated mutations in one or both of their CFTR genes have been subjected to an extensive mutation search. The whole of the coding region of the CFTR gene, all intron-exon boundaries and 5' and 3' untranslated regions have been examined by a combination of single stranded conformational polymorphism analysis and chemical mismatch detection; 48 chromosomes with rare mutations have been identified, including 7 novel mutations, 182delT in exon 1, G27X in exon 2, Q151X in exon 4, Q220X in exon 6a, Q525X in exon 10, 3041delG in exon 16, and 4271delC in exon 23.

Base Sequence↗

Death rates from ecstasy (MDMA, MDA) and polydrug use in England and Wales 1996-2002.

The present study reports on all deaths related to taking ecstasy (alone, or in a polydrug combination) occurring in England and Wales in the time frame August 1996-April 2002. Data presented here are based on all information recorded in the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD) database. The np-SAD regularly receives all information on drug related deaths in addicts and non addicts from coroners. A total of 202 ecstasy-related fatalities occurred in the chosen time-frame, showing a steady increase in the number of deaths each year. The ratio male:female was 4:1 and 3 of 4 victims were younger than 29. In 17% of cases ecstasy was the sole drug implicated in death and in the remaining cases a number of other drugs (mostly alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines and opiates) have been found. According to toxicology results, MDMA accounted for 86% of cases and MDA for 13% of cases; single deaths were associated with MDEA and PMA. This is the largest sample of ecstasy related deaths so far; possible explanations are given for the observed steady increase in ecstasy-related deaths and a tentative 'rationale' for this polypharmacy combination is then proposed.

3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine↗

Lifelong vegetarianism and risk of breast cancer: a population-based case-control study among South Asian migrant women living in England.

To investigate the role of lifelong vegetarianism on the aetiology of female breast cancer, we conducted a population-based case-control study among South Asian migrant women from the Indian subcontinent resident in England. A total of 240 South Asian breast cancer cases were identified from 2 cancer registries during 1995-1999. For each case, 2 age-matched South Asian controls were randomly selected from the age-sex register of the case practice. Lifelong vegetarians had a slight reduction, although not statistically significant, in the odds of breast cancer relative to lifelong meat-eaters, which persisted after adjustment for socio-demographic and reproductive variables [odds ratio (OR)=0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.50-1.18]. Analysis by food group revealed no linear trend in the odds of breast cancer with increasing consumption of meat (p=0.10) but the odds were higher for women in the top 75%. In contrast, there were strong inverse trends in the odds of breast cancer with increasing intake of vegetables (p=0.005), pulses (p=0.007) and fibre [non-starch polysaccharides, NSP (p=0.02)], with women in the highest 25% of intake of these foods having about 50% of the odds of those in the lowest ones. Adjustment for intake of vegetables and pulses reverted the odds of breast cancer in lifelong vegetarians relative to lifelong meat-eaters (OR=1.04; 95% CI=0.65-1.68) and attenuated the quartile-specific estimates for meat intake, whereas the inverse trends in the odds of breast cancer with intake of vegetables and pulses remained after adjustment for type of diet or meat intake. These findings suggest that lifelong vegetarianism may be associated with a reduction in the risk of breast cancer through its association with a higher intake of vegetables and pulses. Although it is not possible to exclude the possibility that lifelong meat abstention may also play a role, the findings provide evidence that a diet rich in vegetables and pulses, such as those typically found in South Asian diets, may be protective against this cancer.

Age Factors↗