RESUMO
Canine cutaneous and subcutaneous soft tissue sarcomas (STS) account for 20.3% of malignant neoplasms of the skin. This article makes recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up in dogs with STS, using evidence-based medicine concepts. Although our review of the literature on the management of canine STS found many of the studies to be less than rigorous, board-certified specialists in internal medicine, surgery, pathology, oncology, and radiation oncology were able to make several recommendations based on the literature review: cytology and biopsy are important for presurgical planning; wide (>3 cm margins) surgical excision decreases the likelihood of tumor recurrence; the use of a histologic grading scale is useful in predicting biologic behavior; and, in select cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be beneficial adjunct treatments to surgical excision. More research is necessary to determine minimum size of surgical margins, the impact of radiation therapy on incompletely resected tumors, the ideal chemotherapy protocol for high grade STS, and the optimal methods of monitoring dogs for tumor recurrence and metastasis.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/uso terapêutico , Doenças do Cão/terapia , Sarcoma/veterinária , Neoplasias de Tecidos Moles/veterinária , Animais , Cães , Medicina Baseada em Evidências , Sarcoma/terapia , Neoplasias de Tecidos Moles/terapiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: We examined risk factors for falls among older people according to indoor and outdoor activity at the time of the fall and explored risk factors for seriously injurious falls. METHODS: Data came from MOBILIZE Boston, a prospective cohort study of 765 community-dwelling women and men, mainly aged 70 years or older. Over 4.3 years, 1737 falls were recorded, along with indoor or outdoor activity at the time of the fall. RESULTS: Participants with poor baseline health characteristics had elevated rates of indoor falls while transitioning, walking, or not moving. Healthy, active people had elevated rates of outdoor falls during walking and vigorous activity. For instance, participants with fast, rather than normal, gait speed, had a rate ratio of 7.36 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.54, 21.28) for outdoor falls during vigorous activity. The likelihood of a seriously injurious fall also varied by personal characteristics, activity, and location. For example, the odds ratio for serious injury from an outdoor fall while walking outside compared to inside a participant's neighborhood was 3.31 (95% CI = 1.33, 8.23). CONCLUSIONS: Fall prevention programs should be tailored to personal characteristics, activities, and locations.
Assuntos
Acidentes por Quedas/prevenção & controle , Acidentes por Quedas/estatística & dados numéricos , Atividades Cotidianas , Idoso , Boston/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Razão de Chances , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e Questionários , Ferimentos e Lesões/epidemiologia , Ferimentos e Lesões/etiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To compare characteristics of indoor and outdoor recurrent fallers and explore some implications for clinical practice, in which a fall risk assessment for all recurrent fallers has been recommended. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect, and Zest in the Elderly of Boston Study, a study of falls etiology in community-dwelling older individuals from randomly sampled households in the Boston, Massachusetts, area. PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred thirteen women and men, mostly aged 70 and older, with at least 1 year of follow-up. MEASUREMENTS: Data at baseline and from an 18-month follow-up examination were collected by questionnaire and comprehensive clinic examination. During follow-up, participants recorded falls on daily calendars. A telephone interview queried location and circumstances of each fall. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five participants reported recurrent falls (≥2) during the first year. Those who had fallen only outdoors had good health characteristics, whereas those who had fallen only indoors were generally in poor health. For instance, 25.5% of indoor-only recurrent fallers had gait speeds of slower than 0.6 m/s, compared with 2.9% of outdoor-only recurrent fallers; the respective percentages were 44.7% and 8.8% for Berg balance score less than 48. Recurrent indoor fallers generally had poor health characteristics regardless of their activity at the time of their falls, whereas recurrent outdoor fallers who fell during vigorous activity or walking were especially healthy. A report of any recurrent falls in the first year did not predict number of positive findings on a comprehensive or abbreviated fall risk assessment at the 18-month follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: Characteristics of community-dwelling older people with recurrent indoor and outdoor falls are different. If confirmed, these results suggest that different types of fall risk assessment are needed for specific categories of recurrent fallers.
Assuntos
Acidentes por Quedas/estatística & dados numéricos , Meio Ambiente , Atividades Cotidianas , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Comorbidade , Feminino , Seguimentos , Indicadores Básicos de Saúde , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Masculino , Estudos Prospectivos , Recidiva , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors for indoor and outdoor falls. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: The MOBILIZE Boston Study, a study of falls etiology in community-dwelling older individuals. PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred sixty-five women and men, mainly aged 70 and older, from randomly sampled households in the Boston, Massachusetts, area. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline data were collected by questionnaire and comprehensive clinic examination. During follow-up, participants recorded falls on daily calendars. The location and circumstances of each fall were asked during telephone interviews. RESULTS: Five hundred ninety-eight indoor and 524 outdoor falls were reported over a median follow-up of 21.7 months. Risk factors for indoor falls included older age, being female, and various indicators of poor health. Risk factors for outdoor falls included younger age, being male, and being relatively physically active and healthy. For instance, the age- and sex-adjusted rate ratio for having much difficulty or inability to perform activities of daily living relative to no difficulty was 2.57 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.69-3.90) for indoor falls but 0.27 (95% CI = 0.13-0.56) for outdoor falls. The rate ratio for gait speed of less than 0.68 m/s relative to a speed of greater than 1.33 m/s was 1.48 (95% CI = 0.81-2.68) for indoor falls but 0.27 (95% CI = 0.15-0.50) for outdoor falls. CONCLUSION: Risk factors for indoor and outdoor falls differ. Combining these falls, as is done in many studies, masks important information. Prevention recommendations for noninstitutionalized older people would probably be more effective if targeted differently for frail, inactive older people at high risk for indoor falls and relatively active, healthy people at high risk for outdoor falls.
Assuntos
Acidentes por Quedas/estatística & dados numéricos , Vida Independente , Inteligência , Equilíbrio Postural , Acidentes Domésticos/estatística & dados numéricos , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To identify nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns associated with stress fracture risk and changes in bone density among young female distance runners. DESIGN AND SETTING: Two-year, prospective cohort study. Observational data were collected in the course of a multicenter randomized trial of the effect of oral contraceptives on bone health. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and twenty-five female competitive distance runners ages 18-26 years. ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS: Dietary variables were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Bone mineral density and content (BMD/BMC) of the spine, hip, and total body were measured annually by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Stress fractures were recorded on monthly calendars, and had to be confirmed by radiograph, bone scan, or magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Seventeen participants had at least one stress fracture during follow-up. Higher intakes of calcium, skim milk, and dairy products were associated with lower rates of stress fracture. Each additional cup of skim milk consumed per day was associated with a 62% reduction in stress fracture incidence (P < .05); and a dietary pattern of high dairy and low fat intake was associated with a 68% reduction (P < .05). Higher intakes of skim milk, dairy foods, calcium, animal protein, and potassium were associated with significant (P < .05) gains in whole-body BMD and BMC. Higher intakes of calcium, vitamin D, skim milk, dairy foods, potassium, and a dietary pattern of high dairy and low fat were associated with significant gains in hip BMD. CONCLUSIONS: In young female runners, low-fat dairy products and the major nutrients in milk (calcium, vitamin D, and protein) were associated with greater bone gains and a lower stress fracture rate. Potassium intake was also associated with greater gains in hip and whole-body BMD.
Assuntos
Densidade Óssea , Dieta , Fraturas de Estresse/epidemiologia , Corrida/lesões , Adolescente , Adulto , Estudos de Coortes , Anticoncepcionais Orais , Feminino , Fraturas de Estresse/diagnóstico , Humanos , Estado Nutricional , Fatores de Risco , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Poor medication adherence is associated with negative health outcomes. We investigated whether poor medication adherence increases the rate of falls as part of Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect, and Zest in the Elderly of Boston (MOBILIZE Boston), a prospective, community-based cohort recruited for the purpose of studying novel risk factors for falls. METHODS: A total of 246 men and 408 women (mean age, 78 years) were followed for the occurrence of falls (median follow-up, 1.8 years). Adherence was assessed by the Morisky scale based on the following four questions: whether an individual ever forgets, is careless at times, stops taking medications when feels better, or stops taking medications when feels worse. Low adherence was defined as a "yes" answer to one or more questions. High adherence was defined as a "no" answer to every question. RESULTS: Forty-eight percent of subjects were classified as having low medication adherence. The rate of falls in the low adherence group was 1.1 falls/person-year (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-1.3) compared with 0.7 falls/person-year (95% CI: 0.6-0.8) in the high adherence group. After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, alcohol use, cognitive measures, functional status, depression, and number of medications, low medication adherence was associated with a 50% increased rate of falls compared with high medication adherence (rate ratio = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.9; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Low medication adherence may be associated with an increased rate of falls among older adults. Future studies should confirm this association and explore whether interventions to improve medication adherence might decrease the frequency of falls and other serious health-related outcomes.
Assuntos
Acidentes por Quedas , Adesão à Medicação , Acidentes por Quedas/estatística & dados numéricos , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Cognição , Intervalos de Confiança , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Adesão à Medicação/estatística & dados numéricos , Análise Multivariada , Razão de Chances , Estudos Prospectivos , Testes Psicológicos , Análise de Regressão , Fatores SexuaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Whether certain types of footwear, such as slippers, socks without shoes, and going barefoot, increase the risk for falls among the elderly is uncertain. Our purpose was to examine the relationship between footwear and falls within the home in MOBILIZE Boston, a prospective cohort study of falls etiology among non-institutionalized women and men, mainly aged 70 years and older, from the Boston MA, USA area. METHODS: The 765 participants were from households randomly selected from town lists. They were followed for a median of 27.5 months. At baseline, participants were administered a questionnaire that included questions on footwear usually worn, and were given a comprehensive examination that included measurement of many risk factors for falls. During follow-up participants were asked to record each day whether they had fallen; those reporting falls were asked about their footwear when they fell. RESULTS: At the time of in-home falls, 51.9% of people were barefoot, wearing socks without shoes, or wearing slippers; 10.1% of people reported that their usual footwear was one of these types. Among those who fell in their own home, the adjusted odds ratio for a serious injury among those who were shoeless or wearing slippers compared to those who were wearing other shoes at the time of the fall was 2.27 (95% confidence interval 1.21-4.24). CONCLUSIONS: It may be advisable for older individuals to wear shoes in their home whenever possible to minimize the risk of falling. Further research is needed to identify optimal footwear for falls prevention.
RESUMO
Fractures in older people are important medical problems. Knowledge of risk factors is essential for successful preventive measures, but when fracture sites of diverse etiology are combined, risk factors for any one site are difficult to identify and may be missed entirely. Among older people, incidence rates of hip, proximal humerus, and vertebral fractures increase with age, but not rates of distal forearm and foot fractures. Low bone mineral density is strongly associated with hip, distal forearm, vertebral, and proximal humerus fractures, but not foot fracture. Most fractures of the hip, distal forearm, and proximal humerus result from a fall, whereas smaller proportions of fractures of the foot and vertebrae follow a fall. Frail people are likely to fracture their hip or proximal humerus, while healthy, active people tend to fracture their distal forearm. We strongly recommend that studies identify risk factors on a site-specific basis.
Assuntos
Fraturas Ósseas/etiologia , Acidentes por Quedas , Idoso , Feminino , Traumatismos do Pé/etiologia , Traumatismos do Antebraço/etiologia , Fraturas Ósseas/patologia , Fraturas Espontâneas/etiologia , Fraturas do Quadril/etiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Osteoporose/complicações , Osteoporose Pós-Menopausa/complicações , Fatores de Risco , Fraturas do Ombro/etiologia , Fraturas da Coluna Vertebral/etiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: We developed a method to evaluate geographic and temporal variations in community-level obesity prevalence and used that method to identify communities in Massachusetts that should be considered high priority communities for obesity control. METHODS: We developed small-area estimation models to estimate community-level obesity prevalence among community-living adults 18 years or older. Individual-level data from the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System from 1999 to 2005 were integrated with community-level data from the 2000 US Census. Small-area estimation models assessed the associations of obesity (body mass index >or= 30 kg/m(2)) with individual- and community-level characteristics. A classification system based on level and precision of obesity prevalence estimates was then used to identify high-priority communities. RESULTS: Estimates of the prevalence of community-level obesity ranged from 9% to 38% in 2005 and increased in all communities from 1999 to 2005. Fewer than 7% of communities met the Healthy People 2010 objective of prevalence rates below 15%. The highest prevalence rates occurred in communities characterized by lower income, less education, and more blue-collar workers. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to the rest of the nation, Massachusetts faces a great challenge in reaching the national obesity control objective. Targeting high-priority communities identified by small-area estimation may maximize use of limited resources.
Assuntos
Obesidade/prevenção & controle , Saúde Pública , Características de Residência , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Índice de Massa Corporal , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Massachusetts/epidemiologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Modelos Estatísticos , Estado Nutricional , Obesidade/epidemiologia , Vigilância da População , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Fatores de Tempo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: We developed a method to evaluate geographic and temporal variations in community-level risk factors and prevalence estimates, and used that method to identify communities in Massachusetts that should be considered high priority communities for smoking interventions. METHODS: We integrated individual-level data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 1999 to 2005 with community-level data in Massachusetts. We used small-area estimation models to assess the associations of adults' smoking status with both individual- and community-level characteristics and to estimate community-specific smoking prevalence in 398 communities. We classified communities into 8 groups according to their prevalence estimates, the precision of the estimates, and temporal trends. RESULTS: Community-level prevalence of current cigarette smoking among adults ranged from 5% to 36% in 2005 and declined in all but 16 (4%) communities between 1999 and 2005. However, less than 15% of the communities met the national prevalence goal of 12% or less. High smoking prevalence remained in communities with lower income, higher percentage of blue-collar workers, and higher density of tobacco outlets. CONCLUSIONS: Prioritizing communities for intervention can be accomplished through the use of small-area estimation models. In Massachusetts, socioeconomically disadvantaged communities have high smoking prevalence rates and should be of high priority to those working to control tobacco use.
Assuntos
Serviços de Saúde Comunitária , Promoção da Saúde , Nicotiana , Prática de Saúde Pública/estatística & dados numéricos , Saúde Pública , Prevenção do Hábito de Fumar , Marketing Social , Tabagismo/prevenção & controle , Intervalos de Confiança , Humanos , Massachusetts/epidemiologia , Razão de Chances , Vigilância da População , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Fumar/epidemiologia , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Fatores de Tempo , Tabagismo/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Conducting research in elderly populations is important, but challenging. In this paper, the authors describe specific challenges that have arisen and solutions that have been used in carrying out The MOBILIZE Boston Study, a community-based, prospective cohort study in Massachusetts focusing on falls among 765 participants aged 70 years or older enrolled during 2005-2007. To recruit older individuals, face-to-face interactions are more effective than less personal approaches. Use of a board of community leaders facilitated community acceptance of the research. Establishing eligibility for potential participants required several interactions, so resources must be anticipated in advance. Assuring a safe and warm environment for elderly participants and offering a positive experience are a vital priority. Adequate funding, planning, and monitoring are required to provide transportation and a fully accessible environment in which to conduct study procedures as well as to select personnel highly skilled in interacting with elders. It is hoped that this paper will encourage and inform future epidemiologic research in this important segment of the population.
Assuntos
Acidentes por Quedas/estatística & dados numéricos , Vigilância da População/métodos , Idoso , Boston/epidemiologia , Seguimentos , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Morbidade/tendências , Seleção de Pacientes , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
PURPOSE: To examine the effect of oral contraceptives (OC) on body weight, fat mass, percent body fat, and lean mass in young female distance runners. METHODS: The study population consisted of 150 female competitive distance runners aged 18-26 yr who had participated in a 2-yr randomized trial of the effect of the OC Lo/Ovral (30 microg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.3 mg of norgestrel) on bone health. Weight and body composition were measured approximately yearly by balance beam scales and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, respectively. RESULTS: Women randomized to the OC group tended to gain slightly less weight (adjusted mean difference (AMD) = -0.54 +/- 0.31 kg.yr, P = 0.09) and less fat (AMD = -0.35 +/- 0.25 kg.yr, P = 0.16) than those randomized to the control group. OC assignment was associated with a significant gain in lean mass relative to controls among eumenorrheic women (those who had 10 or more menstrual cycles in the year before baseline; AMD = 0.77 +/- 0.17 kg.yr, P < 0.0001) but not among women with fewer than 10 menstrual cycles in that year (AMD = 0.02 +/- 0.35 kg.yr, P = 0.96). Treatment-received analyses yielded similar results. CONCLUSION: This randomized trial confirms previous findings that OC use does not cause weight or fat mass gain, at least among young female runners. Our finding that this OC is associated with lean mass gain in eumenorrheic runners, but not in those with irregular menses, warrants examination in other studies.
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Composição Corporal/efeitos dos fármacos , Peso Corporal/efeitos dos fármacos , Anticoncepcionais Orais/farmacologia , Corrida/fisiologia , Adaptação Fisiológica , Tecido Adiposo , Adolescente , Adulto , Amenorreia/metabolismo , Tolerância ao Exercício/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Humanos , Oligomenorreia/metabolismo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Both musculoskeletal disorders and diseases of the oral cavity are common and potentially serious problems among older persons, yet little attention has been given to the links between them. Several musculoskeletal diseases, including osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and arthritic disorders, may directly involve the oral cavity and contiguous structures. Drugs used to treat musculoskeletal diseases, including corticosteroids and bisphosphonates, increase the risk of suppression of the immune system and osteonecrosis of the jaw, respectively. Many people with disabling osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions have difficulty practicing good oral hygiene and traveling to dental offices for professional help. Various inexpensive measures can help such individuals, including education of their caregivers and provision of antimicrobial mouthwashes and special toothbrushes.
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Doenças Maxilomandibulares/epidemiologia , Saúde Bucal , Higiene Bucal , Osteíte Deformante/epidemiologia , Osteonecrose/epidemiologia , Doenças Reumáticas/epidemiologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Artrite Reumatoide/epidemiologia , Comorbidade , Assistência Odontológica para Idosos/organização & administração , Feminino , Promoção da Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Osteoartrite/epidemiologia , Prevenção Primária/estatística & dados numéricos , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
PURPOSE: To identify risk factors for stress fracture among young female distance runners. METHODS: Participants were 127 competitive female distance runners, aged 18-26, who provided at least some follow-up data in a randomized trial among 150 runners of the effects of oral contraceptives on bone health. After completing a baseline questionnaire and undergoing bone densitometry, they were followed an average of 1.85 yr. RESULTS: Eighteen participants had at least one stress fracture during follow-up. Baseline characteristics associated (P<0.10) in multivariate analysis with stress fracture occurrence were one or more previous stress fractures (rate ratio [RR] [95% confidence interval]=6.42 (1.80-22.87), lower whole-body bone mineral content (RR=2.70 [1.26-5.88] per 1-SD [293.2 g] decrease), younger chronologic age (RR=1.42 [1.05-1.92] per 1-yr decrease), lower dietary calcium intake (RR=1.11 [0.98-1.25] per 100-mg decrease), and younger age at menarche (RR=1.92 [1.15-3.23] per 1-yr decrease). Although not statistically significant, a history of irregular menstrual periods was also associated with increased risk (RR=3.41 [0.69-16.91]). Training-related factors did not affect risk. CONCLUSION: The results of this and other studies indicate that risk factors for stress fracture among young female runners include previous stress fractures, lower bone mass, and, although not statistically significant in this study, menstrual irregularity. More study is needed of the associations between stress fracture and age, calcium intake, and age at menarche. Given the importance of stress fractures to runners, identifying preventive measures is of high priority.
Assuntos
Densidade Óssea/efeitos dos fármacos , Anticoncepcionais Orais Hormonais/uso terapêutico , Fraturas de Estresse/etiologia , Corrida/lesões , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Cálcio da Dieta/análise , Feminino , Fraturas de Estresse/prevenção & controle , Humanos , Resistência Física/fisiologia , Modelos de Riscos Proporcionais , Fatores de Risco , Corrida/fisiologia , Inquéritos e Questionários , Estados UnidosRESUMO
PURPOSE: To determine the effect of oral contraceptives (OC) on bone mass and stress fracture incidence in young female distance runners. METHODS: One hundred fifty competitive female runners ages 18-26 yr were randomly assigned to OC (30 microg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.3 mg of norgestrel) or control (no intervention) for 2 yr. Bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) were measured yearly by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Stress fractures were confirmed by x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, or bone scan. RESULTS: Randomization to OC was unrelated to changes in BMD or BMC in oligo/amenorrheic (N=50) or eumenorrheic runners (N=100). However, treatment-received analyses (which considered actual OC use) showed that oligo/amenorrheic runners who used OC gained about 1% per year in spine BMD (P<0.005) and whole-body BMC (P<0.005), amounts similar to those for runners who regained periods spontaneously and significantly greater than those for runners who remained oligo/amenorrheic (P<0.05). Dietary calcium intake and weight gain independently predicted bone mass gains in oligo/amenorrheic runners. Randomization to OC was not significantly related to stress fracture incidence, but the direction of the effect was protective in both menstrual groups (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 0.57 [0.18, 1.83]), and the effect became stronger in treatment-received analyses. The trial's statistical power was reduced by higher-than-anticipated noncompliance. CONCLUSION: OC may reduce the risk for stress fractures in female runners, but our data are inconclusive. Oligo/amenorrheic athletes with low bone mass should be advised to increase dietary calcium and take steps to resume normal menses, including weight gain; they may benefit from OC, but the evidence is inconclusive.
Assuntos
Densidade Óssea/efeitos dos fármacos , Anticoncepcionais Orais Hormonais/uso terapêutico , Fraturas de Estresse/prevenção & controle , Corrida/lesões , Adolescente , Adulto , Amenorreia/complicações , Amenorreia/tratamento farmacológico , Anticoncepcionais Orais Hormonais/efeitos adversos , Ingestão de Energia/fisiologia , Feminino , Fraturas de Estresse/epidemiologia , Fraturas de Estresse/etiologia , Humanos , Oligomenorreia/complicações , Oligomenorreia/tratamento farmacológico , Medição de Risco , Corrida/fisiologia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: We examined the relation between measures of body size and mortality in a predominantly White cohort of 8029 women aged 65 years and older who were participating in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. METHODS: Body composition measures (fat and lean mass and percentage body fat) were calculated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Anthropometric measures were body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) and waist circumference. RESULTS: During 8 years of follow-up, there were 945 deaths. Mortality was lowest among women in the middle of the distribution of each body size measure. For BMI, the lowest mortality rates were in the range 24.6 to 29.8 kg/m2. The U-shaped relations were seen throughout the age ranges included in this study and were not attributable to smoking or measures of preexisting illness. Body composition measures were not better predictors of mortality than BMI or waist girth. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support applying the National Institutes of Health categorization of BMI from 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 as overweight in older women, because women with BMIs in this range had the lowest mortality.
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Índice de Massa Corporal , Mortalidade/tendências , Idoso , Antropometria , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , HumanosRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Although risk factors for indoor falls among older individuals have been well studied, little is known about the etiology of outdoor falls. We examined risk factors for outdoor falls among middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: We analyzed data on the most recent fall during the past year among participants aged 45 years and older in the control group (N=2193) of a case-control study of fractures. The study was conducted at 5 Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers between 1996 and 2001. RESULTS: Falls occurred outdoors more often than indoors among most age groups. Study participants who reported more leisure-time physical activity had a higher risk for outdoor falls, and participants who were in poorer health had a greater risk for indoor falls. Most outdoor falls (73%) were precipitated by environmental factors, such as uneven surfaces and tripping or slipping on objects, and usually occurred on sidewalks, curbs, and streets. Walking (47.3%) was the most common fall-related activity. CONCLUSIONS: Outdoor falls among adults aged 45 years and older were frequently attributable to modifiable environmental factors. With the widespread promotion of active lifestyles among older people, improvements in their outdoor environment are urgently needed.
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Acidentes por Quedas/estatística & dados numéricos , Planejamento Ambiental , Nível de Saúde , Medição de Risco , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , California/epidemiologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Planejamento Ambiental/normas , Feminino , Sistemas Pré-Pagos de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Atividades de Lazer , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e Questionários , Caminhada/lesõesRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In July 2002, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) published results that led to early termination of the randomized controlled trial of estrogen plus progestin in postmenopausal women with an intact uterus. Subsequently, the trial of estrogen only also was terminated early, and the results were published in April 2004. The present study examines the impact of both sets of results on menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) prescription patterns, as well as the characteristics of women who did and did not change their MHT behavior after publication of results. METHODS: We examined the number of MHT prescriptions filled in the months before and after each set of results was published, using claims data from 24,446 women aged 50-79 years continuously enrolled in a health maintenance organization (HMO) at Henry Ford Health System from January 2000 through December 2004. RESULTS: After July 2002, a statistically significant (p < 0.05) drop occurred in the rate of MHT prescriptions filled; 29% of the women stopped MHT for at least 4 months, but 24% of these women resumed use by December 2004. Successful stoppers tended to be older. Twenty-one percent of users in April 2004 stopped in May 2004 for at least 4 months; 25% of these had restarted by December. Women continued to initiate MHT after July 2002, but at lower rates in 2003 and 2004 (73% and 77% decreases, respectively, compared with 2001). The types of MHT prescriptions obtained by new users changed after 2001: fewer initiated MHT with oral Premarin (Wyeth, St. David's, PA) and Prempro or Premphase (Wyeth-Ayerst, Philadelphia, PA), and more initiated MHT with Premarin and Estrace (Warner Chilcott, Rockaway, NJ) creams. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the goals of the WHI study, the publication of results on estrogen plus progestin in July 2002 impacted overall rates of MHT use, as did, to a lesser extent, the estrogen only results published in May 2004. Although women continued to initiate MHT after the results were published, they were less likely to use the formulations from the WHI and instead used formulations for which there is less information about effectiveness and long-term health consequences.
Assuntos
Terapia de Reposição de Estrogênios , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Sistemas Pré-Pagos de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Menopausa , Satisfação do Paciente/estatística & dados numéricos , Saúde da Mulher , Idoso , Terapia de Reposição de Estrogênios/efeitos adversos , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Participação do Paciente/estatística & dados numéricos , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto , Medição de Risco , Estados UnidosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: A long-held view links higher socioeconomic status (SES) to higher rates of childhood leukaemia. Some recent studies exhibit associations in the opposite direction. METHODS: We reviewed journal literature through August 2002 for associations between childhood leukaemia and socioeconomic measures. We determined the direction of each association and its P-value. We described the results with regard to study design, calendar period, geographic locale, and level of the socioeconomic measures (individual or ecological). For measures with sufficient number of results, we computed summary P-values across studies. RESULTS: Case-control studies conducted in North America since 1980 have involved subject interviews or self-administered questionnaires and have consistently reported inverse (negative) associations of childhood leukaemia with individual-level measures of family income, mother's education, and father's education. In contrast, associations have been consistently positive with father's occupational class in record-based case-control studies and with average occupational class in ecological studies. CONCLUSIONS: Connections of SES measures to childhood leukaemia are likely to vary with place and time. Validation studies are needed to estimate SES-related selection and participation in case-control studies. Because different socioeconomic measures (such as income and education) and individual-level and ecological-level measures may represent different risk factors, we advise researchers to report these measures separately rather than in summary indices of social class.