Other Potential Risk Factors (other + potential_risk_factor)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Assessing the balance capabilities of people with profound intellectual disabilities who have experienced a fall

JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2007
L. Hale
Abstract Background Although it is common for people with intellectual disability (ID) to fall, the reasons for this have not yet been identified. This pilot study aimed to explore the balance capabilities of a sample of adults with profound ID who had experienced a fall, in order to identify possible reasons for falling and to identify potential tests that could be used to quantify balance capabilities in this population group. Methods The neuromuscular systems and balance capabilities of 20 adults with profound ID were comprehensively assessed with a battery of tests, including computerized posturography. Results Of the 20 participants, 15 described themselves as frequent fallers, and 10 participants reported serious injuries as a result of falling. Formalized assessment of the neuromuscular and balance capabilities proved to be challenging, with many participants unable to comprehend what was required of them in the performance of a number of the tests. All participants were observed to have an abnormal pattern of walking. Nine participants completed posturography testing, the main finding of which was that low motor control composite scores indicated a slowing of motor responses to postural perturbations. Other potential risk factors identified were concurrent medical problems, medication, the context and environment of falling, movement impulsiveness and distractibility, and visual deficits. Conclusion The reason why people with ID frequently fall appears complex and multifactorial. Larger studies are required to verify the potential risk factors identified in this pilot study. Many of the standardized outcome measures commonly used in physiotherapy practice to quantify balance capabilities are not suitable for use in this population group, as participants found it difficult to comprehend what was required of them. Allowing the person to become familiarized with both the test and the tester may help to alleviate this problem. Videotaping and quantifying observations of strategies people use to perform common movements such as walking or turning maybe a more appropriate measurement tool of balance capabilities of people with ID than current standardized measures. This method would require rigorous development. [source]


Genetic and environmental interactions on oral cancer in Southern Thailand

ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 2 2001
Suparp Kietthubthew
Abstract Many countries are interested in understanding the relationship between genetic susceptibility and their prevalent environmental cancers for disease prevention. In Thailand we conducted a population-based case-control study of 53 matched pairs to assess the risk of oral cancer in relation to genetic polymorphism of the glutathione-S-transferase genes (GSTM1 and GSTT1) in cigarette smokers, alcohol drinkers, and betel quid chewers. Interaction of the genes with other potential risk factors such as local bean consumption were also elucidated. Homozygous deletion of GSTM1 has a frequency of 56.6% (n = 30 over 53) among the patients and 30.2% (16/53) among the controls. This gene is associated with a 2.6-fold higher risk for development of oral cancer (95% CI 1.04,6.5). Among the null GSTM1 individuals, those who smoke, consume alcohol, and/or chew betel quid have a significantly increased risk for oral cancer with an odd ratio (OR) = 4.0 (95% CI = 1.2,13.7), OR = 7.2 (95% CI = 1.5,33.8), and OR = 4.4 (95% CI = 1.1,17.8), respectively. Interactions between any two of the lifestyle habits for oral cancer risk, however, are not found. The frequency of the GSTT1 null genotype is 34.0% (18/53) among the patients and 47.2% (25/53) among our controls. There is no association between the GSTT1 null allele and oral cancer risk. In conclusion, our study provides data to indicate that individuals who have homozygous deletion of the GSTM1 gene have increased risk for oral cancer. The risk increases further when these individuals are exposed to environmental toxicants such as chemicals in cigarette smoke, alcohol, and betel quid. These baseline data can be applied to a larger population-based study, both to verify the observation and to conduct mechanistic investigations. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 37:111,116, 2001 © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Risk factors for faecal sand excretion in Icelandic horses

EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2005
L. HUSTED
Summary Reasons for performing study: Sandy soil is often mentioned as a risk factor in the development of sand-related gastrointestinal disease (SGID) in the horse. There are other variables, but few studies confirm any of these. Objective: To investigate soil type, pasture quality, feeding practice in the paddock, age, sex and body condition score as risk factors for sand intake in the horse. Methods: Faeces were collected from 211 Icelandic horses on 19 different studs in Denmark together with soil samples and other potential risk factors. Sand content in faeces determined by a sand sedimentation test was interpreted as evidence of sand intake. Soil types were identified by soil analysis and significance of the data was tested using logistic analysis. Results: Of horses included in the study, 56.4% showed sand in the faeces and 5.7% had more than 5 mm sand as quantified by the rectal sleeve sedimentation test. Soil type had no significant effect when tested as main effect, but there was interaction between soil type and pasture quality. Significant interactions were also found between paddock feeding practice and pasture quality. Conclusion: To evaluate the risk of sand intake it is important to consider 3 variables: soil type, pasture quality and feeding practice. Pasture quality was identified as a risk factor of both short and long grass in combination with sandy soil, while clay soil had the lowest risk in these combinations. Feeding practice in the paddock revealed feeding directly on the ground to be a risk factor when there was short (1,5 cm) or no grass. Also, no feeding outdoors increased the risk on pastures with short grass, while this had no effect in paddocks with no grass. More than 50% of all horses investigated in this study had sand in the faeces. Potential relevance: The identification of risk factors is an important step towards prevention of SGID. Further research is necessary to determine why some horses exhibit more than 5 mm sand in the sedimentation test and whether this is correlated with geophagic behaviour. [source]


Old and new risk factors for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 11 2005
J. W. BLOM
Summary.,Background: Well known risk factors for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis are the presence of a central venous catheter (CVC) and malignancy, but other potential risk factors, such as surgery, injury and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), have not yet been explored. Methods: We performed a population-based case-control study including 179 consecutive patients, aged 18,70 years with upper extremity deep venous thrombosis and 2399 control subjects. Participants reported on acquired risk factors in a questionnaire and factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210A mutation were ascertained. Information on CVC was obtained from discharge letters. Results: Forty-two patients (23%) and one control subject (0.04%) had a CVC (ORadj: 1136, 95% CI: 153,8448, adjusted for age and sex). Cancer patients without a CVC had an eightfold increased risk of venous thrombosis of the arm (ORcrude: 7.7, 95% CI: 4.6,13.0). Other evident risk factors were prothrombotic mutations, surgery, immobilization of the arm (plaster cast), oral contraceptive use and family history, with odds ratios varying from 2.0 up to 13.1. The risk in the presence of injury and during puerperium was twofold or more increased, although not significantly. In contrast HRT, unusual exercise, travel and obesity did not increase the risk. Hormone users had an increased risk in the presence of prothrombotic mutations or surgery. Obese persons (BMI > 30 kg m,2) undergoing surgery had a 23-fold increased risk of arm thrombosis compared with non-obese persons not undergoing surgery. Conclusion: A CVC is a very strong risk factor for arm thrombosis. Most risk factors for thrombosis in the leg are also risk factors for arm thrombosis. [source]


Risk factors for readmission after initial diagnosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia,

PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 3 2008
Tamra L. Slone MD
Abstract Background Specific hospital discharge criteria following the initial diagnosis of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have not been reported. This retrospective cohort study was designed to identify risk factors for readmission during induction therapy, to assist with development of discharge guidelines. Procedure We reviewed the records of 142 consecutive children with newly diagnosed B-precursor ALL and found 129 eligible patients. Chi square, t -test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to compare differences in absolute neutrophil count (ANC), NCI risk status, age, type of corticosteroid administered, and other potential risk factors for readmission during induction therapy. Results ANC at initial hospital discharge was the only significant predictor of readmission for fever during induction therapy (P,=,0.006) by multivariate analysis. Specifically an ANC ,200/mm3 at discharge had the strongest association with readmission for fever (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.422, 7.729). Conclusion An ANC >200/mm3, in a clinically stable patient, is associated with minimal risk of readmission during induction therapy following the initial diagnosis of ALL. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:375,379. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Achilles tendon rupture and its association with fluoroquinolone antibiotics and other potential risk factors in a managed care population

PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 11 2006
DrPH, John D. Seeger Pharm D
Abstract Background Case reports and observational studies have implicated fluoroquinolone antibiotic exposure as a risk factor for Achilles tendon rupture (ATR), an uncommon condition for which there are few formal studies. We sought to quantify the strength of association between exposure to fluoroquinolone antibiotics and the occurrence of ATR, accounting for other risk factors. Methods This was a case-control study nested within a health insurer cohort. Cases of ATR were identified and confirmed using patterns of health insurance claims that were validated through sampled medical record review. Information on risk factors, including fluoroquinolone exposure, came from health insurance claims. Results There were 947 cases of ATR and 18,940 controls. A dispensing of a fluoroquinolone antibiotic in the past 6 months was more common among ATR cases than controls, although not significantly so (odds ratio (OR),=,1.2; 95% confidence interval (CI),=,0.9,1.7), and exposure to a higher cumulative fluoroquinolone dose was more strongly associated (OR,=,1.5, 95%CI,=,1.0,2.3). Other risk factors for ATR were trauma (OR,=,17.2, 95%CI,=,14.0,20.2), male sex (OR,=,3.0, 95%CI,=,2.6,3.5), injected corticosteroid administration (OR,=,2.2, 95%CI,=,1.6,2.9), obesity (OR,=,2.0, 95%CI,=,1.2,3.1), rheumatoid arthritis (OR,=,1.9, 95%CI,=,1.0,3.7), skin or soft tissue infections (OR,=,1.5, 95%CI,=,0.9,2.3), oral corticosteroids (OR,=,1.4, 95%CI,=,1.0,1.8), and non-fluoroquinolone antibiotics (OR,=,1.2, 95%CI,=,1.1,1.5). Conclusions The elevation in ATR risk associated with fluoroquinolones was similar in magnitude to that associated with oral corticosteroids or non-fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Trauma and male sex were more strongly associated with ATR, as were obesity and injected corticosteroids. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Risk factors for non-syndromic holoprosencephaly in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study,,§

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Issue 1 2010
Eric A. Miller¶
Abstract Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a complex structural brain anomaly that results from incomplete cleavage of the forebrain. The prevalence of HPE at birth is low, and risk factors have been difficult to identify. Using data from a large multi-state population-based case-control study, we examined risk factors for non-syndromic HPE. Data from maternal telephone interviews were available for 74 infants with HPE and 5871 controls born between 1997 and 2004. Several characteristics and exposures were examined, including pregnancy history, medical history, maternal diet and use of nutritional supplements, medications, tobacco, alcohol, and illegal substances. We used ,2 -tests and logistic regression (excluding women with pre-existing diabetes) to examine associations with HPE. Except for diet (year before pregnancy) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (throughout pregnancy), most exposures were examined for the time period from the month before to the third month of pregnancy. HPE was found to be associated with pre-existing diabetes (,2,=,6.0; P,=,0.01), aspirin use [adjusted odds ratio (aOR),=,3.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6,6.9], lower education level (aOR,=,2.5; 95%CI 1.1,5.6), and use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) (crude OR,=,4.2; 95%CI 1.3,13.7). Consistent maternal folic acid use appeared to be protective (aOR,=,0.4; 95%CI 0.2,1.0), but the association was of borderline statistical significance. While some of these findings support previous observations, other potential risk factors identified warrant further study. Published 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Increased cell-free DNA concentrations in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

PSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 6 2008
Chol Shin md
Aim:, Blood concentrations of cell-free DNA, which is considered to be released during apoptosis, are elevated under some pathological conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cell-free DNA concentrations has not been reported so far. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between OSA and plasma DNA concentrations. Methods:, A case,control study was conducted using a total of 164 men aged 39,67 years, who were free of coronary heart disease and cancer. Laboratory-based overnight polysomnography was performed for all participants. Results:, On the basis of polysomnography, patients with an apnea,hypopnea index (AHI) = 5,30 events/h were defined as having mild,moderate OSA (n = 33) and those with >30 events/h were defined as having severe OSA (n = 49). All 82 controls had AHI < 5 events/h. Plasma DNA concentrations from all participants were analyzed for the ,-globin gene using fluorescence-based real-time polymerase chain reaction. Patients with severe OSA had significantly higher plasma DNA concentrations than persons with mild,moderate OSA and those without OSA (P < 0.05). AHI was significantly associated with body mass index (P < 0.001), hypertension (P < 0.001), and plasma DNA concentration (P < 0.05). Conclusion:, After taking into account hypertension and other potential risk factors, persons with high plasma DNA concentrations (>8 µg/L) had approximately fourfold higher odds of OSA than those with low DNA levels. Further data are warranted to confirm the association for men and to evaluate the association for women. [source]


Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: A national estimate of frequency in systemic lupus erythematosus and other rheumatic diseases

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 12 2009
Eamonn S. Molloy
Objective Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, typically fatal, central nervous system demyelinating disease that results from reactivation of the JC virus, which generally occurs in immunosuppressed hosts. The aim of this study was to generate a national estimate of the frequency of PML among patients with rheumatic diseases. Methods Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. This is a 20% sample of all hospital discharges, weighted to represent the entire US inpatient population. Data were analyzed for the years 1998,2005 inclusive, representing 297,797,180 hospital discharges. Cases of PML, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and other rheumatic diseases were identified by diagnostic codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. Results A total of 9,675 cases of PML were identified. The majority were associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; 7,934 patients [82.00%]), hematologic cancers (813 patients [8.40%]), and solid cancers (274 patients [2.83%]). Among the rheumatic diseases, 43 cases of PML (0.44%) were associated with SLE, 24 (0.25%) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 25 (0.26%) with other connective tissue diseases (CTDs). When patients with other potential risk factors for PML (HIV, malignancy, bone marrow or other organ transplantation) were excluded, the rates of PML per 100,000 discharges coded for SLE, RA, and other CTDs were 4, 0.4 and 2, respectively, compared with a rate of PML in the background population of 0.2/100,000 discharges. Conclusion This study was confined to hospitalized patients with rheumatic diseases, and it was also limited by the lack of information regarding immunosuppressive therapy. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that, although rare overall, PML occurs more commonly in SLE than in other rheumatic diseases. [source]


Suicidal risk in bipolar I disorder patients and adherence to long-term lithium treatment

BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 5p2 2006
Ana Gonzalez-Pinto
Objectives:, Among the well-established treatments for bipolar disorder (BPD), lithium continues to offer an unusually broad spectrum of benefits that may include reduction of suicidal risk. Methods:, We examined the association of suicidal acts with adherence to long-term lithium maintenance treatment and other potential risk factors in 72 BP I patients followed prospectively for up to 10 years at a Mood Disorders Research Center in Spain. Results:, The observed rates of suicide were 0.143, and of attempts, 2.01%/year, with a 5.2-fold (95% CI: 1.5,18.6) greater risk among patients consistently rated poorly versus highly adherent to lithium prophylaxis (11.4/2.2 acts/100 person-years). Treatment non-adherence was associated with substance abuse, being unmarried, being male, and having more hypomanic,manic illness and hospitalizations. Suicidal risk was higher with prior attempts, more depression and hospitalization, familial mood disorders, and being single and younger, as well as treatment non-adherence, but with neither sex nor substance abuse. In multivariate analysis, suicidal risk was associated with previous suicidality > poor treatment adherence > more depressive episodes > younger age. Conclusions:, The findings support growing evidence of lower risk of suicidal acts during closely monitored and highly adherent, long-term treatment with lithium and indicate that treatment adherence is a potentially modifiable factor contributing to antisuicidal benefits. [source]


Clinical efficacy of prophylactic strategy of long-term low-dose acyclovir for Varicella-Zoster virus infection after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation,

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2008
Dong Hwan Kim
Abstract:, Varicella-Zoster virus infection (VZV) has a high incidence post-allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT). However, data regarding long-term acyclovir prophylaxis for VZV prevention are limited. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of long-term low-dose acyclovir prophylaxis for VZV infection after allogeneic PBSCT at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Canada and the Kyungpook National University Hospital (KNUH), Korea. The acyclovir prophylaxis regimen at PMH was acyclovir 400 mg/d orally until engraftment, and at KNUH was acyclovir 800 mg/d orally until immunosuppression discontinuation. Long-term acyclovir prophylaxis was given to 26/193 (14%) patients in the PMH group and 73/79 (92%) patients in the KNUH group. In the PMH group, 42 cases (22%) developed VZV infection, while six cases (8%) had VZV infection in the KNUH group (p = 0.005). With a median of 26.5 months of follow-up, the incidences of VZV infection at one and two yr were 15.8% and 20.7% in the PMH group, and 2.5% and 5.8% in the KNUH group, respectively (p = 0.001). By controlling the other potential risk factors for VZV infection in multivariate analysis, the use of long-term acyclovir was the only protective factor for VZV infection after allogeneic PBSCT (p = 0.04, hazard ratio = 0.296). Long-term use of acyclovir appears to be protective for VZV infection after allogeneic PBSCT, especially during the period of immunosuppressive therapy. [source]