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Mortality Estimates (mortality + estimate)
Selected AbstractsSalmonella or Campylobacter gastroenteritis prior to a cancer diagnosis does not aggravate the prognosis: a population-based follow-up studyAPMIS, Issue 2 2010KIM O. GRADEL Gradel KO, Nørgaard M, Schønheyder HC, Dethlefsen C, Ejlertsen T, Kristensen B, Nielsen H. Salmonella or Campylobacter gastroenteritis prior to a cancer diagnosis does not aggravate the prognosis: a population-based follow-up study. APMIS 2010; 118: 136,42. We hypothesized that preceding zoonotic Salmonella or Campylobacter gastroenteritis aggravated the prognosis in cancer patients. Exposed patients comprised all of those diagnosed with first-time Salmonella/Campylobacter gastroenteritis from 1991 and with first-time cancer diagnosis thereafter (through 2003) in two Danish counties. These patients were matched for main cancer type, gender, age and calendar period to unexposed cancer patients, i.e. those without Salmonella/Campylobacter gastroenteritis. We compared cancer stage by age- and comorbidity-adjusted logistic regression analysis, survival by comorbidity-adjusted Cox's regression analysis and mortality dependent on the time period between Salmonella/Campylobacter gastroenteritis and cancer by spline regression curves. The study cohort comprised 272 Salmonella/Campylobacter -exposed cancer patients and 2681 unexposed cancer patients. Prevalence odds ratios [95% confidence intervals (CI)] in exposed as compared with unexposed patients were 0.96 (0.74,1.25) for localized tumours, 1.15 (0.87,1.54) for regional spread and 1.14 (0.84,1.55) for metastases. Adjusted mortality rate ratios (95% CI) were 0.93 (0.75,1.16) for 0,1 year, 1.08 (0.84,1.39) for 2,5 years and 1.02 (0.60,1.73) for the remaining period. Mortality estimates did not change in relation to the time period between gastroenteritis and cancer. Salmonella/Campylobacter gastroenteritis prior to cancer was associated with neither the cancer stage nor a poorer prognosis. [source] The Need for Double-Sampling Designs in Survival Studies: An Application to Monitor PEPFARBIOMETRICS, Issue 1 2009Ming-Wen An Summary In 2007, there were 33.2 million people around the world living with HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS/WHO, 2007). In May 2003, the U.S. President announced a global program, known as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), to address this epidemic. We seek to estimate patient mortality in PEPFAR in an effort to monitor and evaluate this program. This effort, however, is hampered by loss to follow-up that occurs at very high rates. As a consequence, standard survival data and analysis on observed nondropout data are generally biased, and provide no objective evidence to correct the potential bias. In this article, we apply double-sampling designs and methodology to PEPFAR data, and we obtain substantially different and more plausible estimates compared with standard methods (1-year mortality estimate of 9.6% compared to 1.7%). The results indicate that a double-sampling design is critical in providing objective evidence of possible nonignorable dropout and, thus, in obtaining accurate data in PEPFAR. Moreover, we show the need for appropriate analysis methods coupled with double-sampling designs. [source] Enhancing catch-and-release science with biotelemetryFISH AND FISHERIES, Issue 1 2008Michael R. Donaldson Abstract Catch-and-release (C&R) angling is widely practised by anglers and is a common fisheries management strategy or is a by-product of harvest regulations. Accordingly, there is a growing body of research that examines not only the mortality associated with C&R, but also the sublethal physiological and behavioural consequences. Biotelemetry offers a powerful means of remotely monitoring the behaviour, physiology and mortality of fish caught and released in their natural environment, but we contend that its usefulness is still underappreciated by scholars and managers. In this study, we review the applications of biotelemetry in C&R science, identify novel research directions, opportunities and challenges. There are now about 250 C&R studies but only one quarter of these utilize biotelemetry. In fact, almost all of the C&R studies that have used biotelemetry have been conducted within the last decade. We found that the majority of C&R telemetry studies used either radio or acoustic telemetry, while comparatively few studies have used satellite technologies. Most C&R biotelemetry studies have been used to assess mortality rates, behavioural impairments or to evaluate the effects of displacement on fish. A small fraction of studies (<8%) have used physiological sensors despite the fact that these tools are highly applicable to understanding the multiple sublethal consequences of C&R and are useful for providing mechanistic insights into endpoints such as death. We conclude that C&R science has the potential to benefit greatly from biotelemetry technology, particularly with respect to providing more robust short-term and delayed mortality estimates and adopting a more integrative and comparative approach to understanding the lethal and sublethal impacts of C&R. However, there are still a number of challenges including (i) the need for appropriate controls and methodological approaches, (ii) the need for accounting for tagging and handling stress and mortality, and (iii) the need for certainty in assessing mortality. However, the benefits associated with C&R biotelemetry outweigh its disadvantages and limitations and thereby offer C&R researchers a suite of new tools to enhance fisheries management and conservation. [source] What is the impact of missing Indigenous status on mortality estimates?AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2009An assessment using record linkage in Western Australia Abstract Background: The analysis aimed to assess the Indigenous status of an increasing number of deaths not coded with a useable Indigenous status from 1997 to 2002 and its impact on reported recent gains in Indigenous mortality. Methods: The Indigenous status of WA death records with a missing Indigenous status was determined based upon data linkage to three other data sources (Hospital Morbidity Database System, Mental Health Information System and Midwives Notification System). Results: Overall, the majority of un-coded cases were assigned an Indigenous status, with 5.9% identified as Indigenous from the M1 series and 7.5% from the M2 series. The significant increase in Indigenous male LE of 5.4 years from 1997 to 2002 decreased to 4.0 and 3.6 years using the M1 and M2 series, respectively, but remained significant. For Indigenous females, the non-significant increase in LE of 1.8 years from 1997 to 2002 decreased to 1.0 and 0.6 years. Furthermore, annual all-cause mortality rates were higher than in the original data for both genders, but the significant decline for males remained. Conclusion: Through data linkage, the increasing proportion of deaths not coded with a useable Indigenous status was shown to impact on Indigenous mortality statistics in Western Australia leading to an overestimate of improvements in life expectancy. Greater attention needs to be given to better identification and recording of Indigenous identifiers if real improvements in health status are to be demonstrated. A system that captures an individual's Indigenous status once and is reflected in all health and administrative data systems needs consideration within Australia. [source] Epidemiology of conjunctival melanocytic neoplasmsACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2008T KIVELÄ Purpose To summarise the epidemiology of conjunctival melanocytic neoplasms. Methods Review of population-based data on 85 patients with primary conjunctival melanoma (CM) and recently published literature. Results CM accounts for 5-7% of ocular melanoma in Europe. Its age-adjusted incidence has increased 2-fold in North Europe (Finland, from 0.40 to 0.80/million) and North America (USA, from 0.27 to 0.54) during the last 25 y. In both regions, age-adjusted incidence is higher in men. Different rates between regions result from differences in registries, ethnicity and solar radiation. Age-adjusted incidence of CM is 3-fold in non-Hispanic Caucasians and 2-fold in Hispanics relative to Asians, African Americans and American Indians; among non-Hispanic Caucasians it increases 2.5-fold from 48 deg. (e.g. Paris) to 21 deg. (e.g. Mecca) of latitude. CM is rare below 30 y of age (age-specific incidence, 0.06) but increases steadily thereafter (0.48, 1.05 and 1.57 for 30-49, 50-70 and >70 y, respectively). Median age at diagnosis is 58-60 y. Most CM arise in limbal (57-64%) followed by bulbar (12-13%), palpebral (7-9%) and caruncular (3%) conjunctiva. Tumor-specific 5-and 10-y mortality estimates are 14-20% and 29-38%, respectively. Non-limbal location, increasing tumor thickness and local recurrence are consistently associated with higher mortality. Clinically detectable primary acquired melanosis (PAM) and nevus precede or accompany CM in 57-61% and 7-23% of patients, respectively. Median age at diagnosis of PAM is 56 y. The risk of malignant change is not precisely known and depends heavily on subtype of PAM, ranging from 10 to 90%. Conclusion Recent studies provide epidemiological data on CM which are remarkably consistent. The epidemiology of conjunctival nevi and PAM is less precisely known. [source] | ||||||||||