Quitting smoking does not increase the risk of major depressive episodes among users of Internet smoking cessation interventions.

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence has suggested that quitting smoking increases the incidence of major depressive episodes (MDEs), particularly for smokers with a history of depression. Further evidence for this increase would have important implications for guiding smoking cessation. METHOD: Spanish- and English-speaking smokers without a current MDE (n=3056) from an international, online smoking cessation trial were assessed for abstinence 1 month after their initial quit date and followed for a total of 12 months. Incidence of screened MDE was examined as a function of abstinence and depression history. RESULTS: Continued smoking, not abstinence, predicted MDE screened at 1 month [smoking 11.5% v. abstinence 7.8%, odds ratio (OR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.78, p=0.02] but not afterwards (smoking 11.1% v. abstinence 9.8%, OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.77-1.45, p=0.74). Depression history predicted MDE screened at 1 month (history 17.1% v. no history 8.6%, OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.29-2.27, p<0.001) and afterwards (history 21.7% v. no history 8.3%, OR 3.87, 95% CI 2.25-6.65, p<0.001), although the interaction between history and abstinence did not. CONCLUSIONS: Quitting smoking was not associated with increased MDE, even for smokers with a history of depression, although a history of depression was. Instead, not quitting was associated with increased MDE shortly following a quit attempt. Results from this online, large, international sample of smokers converge with similar findings from smaller, clinic-based samples, suggesting that in general, quitting smoking does not increase the incidence of MDEs.

Tobacco industry targeting youth in Argentina.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Argentina has one of the highest cigarette smoking rates among both men and women in the Americas and no legislated restrictions on tobacco industry advertising. The tobacco industry has traditionally expanded markets by targeting adolescents and young adults. The objective of this study was to determine whether and how the tobacco industry promotes cigarettes to adolescents in Argentina. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of tobacco industry documents available through the internet dated between 1995 and 2004 using standard search terms to identify marketing strategies in Argentina. A selected review of the four leading newspapers and nine magazines with reported high readership among adolescents was completed. The selected print media were searched for tobacco images and these were classified as advertisements if associated with a commercial product or as a story if not. RESULTS: The tobacco industry used market segmentation as a strategy to target Argentinean consumers. British American Tobacco (BAT) undertook a young adult psychographic study and classified them as "progressives", "Jurassics" or "conservatives" and "crudos" or "spoiled brats". BAT marketed Lucky Strike to the "progressives" using Hollywood movies as a vehicle. The tobacco industry also targeted their national brands to the conservatives and linked these brands with "nationalistic values" in advertising campaigns. Philip Morris promoted Marlboro by sponsoring activities directed at young people and they launched the 10 cigarettes packet as a starter vehicle. CONCLUSIONS: The tobacco industry used psychographic segmentation of the population and developed advertising strategies focused on youth. Tobacco control researchers and advocates must be able to address these strategies in counter-marketing interventions.

Litigation in Argentina: challenging the tobacco industry.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the processes and outcomes of tobacco litigation in Argentina and to analyse the strategies of the tobacco industry to oppose litigation using tobacco industry documents. METHODS: A systematic search of tobacco industry documents on the internet dating from 1978 to 2002. Law library searches using Argentinean official and unofficial reports systems were combined with computerised online searches. RESULTS: There have been at least 15 failed litigation cases in Argentina and the tobacco industry presented a concerted defence in every claim regardless of cost. We categorised 11 cases as product liability and nicotine addiction, two as health care reimbursement, and two as criminal law and secondhand smoke. Industry strategies included hiring legal consultants from prestigious international and Argentinean law firms and developing litigation prevention programmes. Industry monitored legal academic meetings, controlled the development of new product liability legislation, obtained favourable opinions from experts, and closely observed the development of litigation in Argentina. CONCLUSION: The strategies used by the industry have been successful in preventing recovery for tobacco injuries through litigation. Argentinean health advocates and lawyers need to be aware of the roles and strategies of the tobacco industry in order to develop effective litigation in Argentina.

Tobacco industry successfully prevented tobacco control legislation in Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how transnational tobacco companies, working through their local affiliates, influenced tobacco control policymaking in Argentina between 1966 and 2005. METHODS: Analysis of internal tobacco industry documents, local newspapers and magazines, internet resources, bills from the Argentinean National Congress Library, and interviews with key individuals in Argentina. RESULTS: Transnational tobacco companies (Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Lorillard, and RJ Reynolds International) have been actively influencing public health policymaking in Argentina since the early 1970s. As in other countries, in 1977 the tobacco industry created a weak voluntary self regulating code to avoid strong legislated restrictions on advertising. In addition to direct lobbying by the tobacco companies, these efforts involved use of third party allies, public relations campaigns, and scientific and medical consultants. During the 1980s and 1990s efforts to pass comprehensive tobacco control legislation intensified, but the organised tobacco industry prevented its enactment. There has been no national activity to decrease exposure to secondhand smoke. CONCLUSIONS: The tobacco industry, working through its local subsidiaries, has subverted meaningful tobacco control legislation in Argentina using the same strategies as in the USA and other countries. As a result, tobacco control in Argentina remains governed by a national law that is weak and restricted in its scope.

The limited value of symptoms and signs in the diagnosis of vaginal infections.

The etiology of vaginitis can be difficult to prove. To determine the relationship between clinical criteria (symptoms and signs) and three causes of vaginitis, we prospectively evaluated 22 criteria in 123 unselected symptomatic patients. Diagnoses of Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis infection were based on culture. Bacterial vaginosis was defined by the presence of 3 of 4 clinical criteria. Only 49% of our patients received diagnoses, and itching was the only symptom more frequently noted among those with diagnoses. Symptoms did not differ among the three infections, and lack of vaginal odor in yeast infection was the only significantly different physical sign. Yeast and trichomonads were seen on microscopy in 63% and 75% of culture-positive specimens. Bacterial vaginosis had no significant clinical criteria beyond those that defined the diagnosis. We conclude that presenting symptoms and signs in vaginitis evaluation have limited value, and that half of the women with vaginitis may lack a microbiologic diagnosis.

Antimycobacterial therapy for disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

BACKGROUND--Antimycobacterial therapy for disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (DMAC) in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) may ameliorate symptoms and decrease bacteremia. However, no studies have demonstrated improved survival in patients with AIDS treated for DMAC. We assessed the effects of treatment of DMAC on the survival of patients with AIDS. METHODS--We retrospectively reviewed records of patients with AIDS and DMAC seen at two San Francisco, Calif, hospitals between January 1, 1988, and January 1, 1990. The treatment group (N = 76) consisted of patients who received 2 weeks or more of antimycobacterial therapy with at least three agents. The untreated group (N = 74) received either no therapy or isoniazid alone. Patients in both groups lived a minimum of 2 weeks after the diagnosis of DMAC. RESULTS--The median survival in the treatment group was 191 days, compared with 80 days in the untreated group. In a multivariate proportional hazards model (N = 145), both treatment of DMAC (relative hazard = 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.23 to 0.51) and treatment with zidovudine (relative hazard = 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.36 to 0.82) were associated with improved survival. CONCLUSION--Patients with AIDS and DMAC who are treated with antimycobacterial drugs may survive longer than untreated patients. We recommend that a randomized trial be conducted to evaluate the optimal treatment of DMAC.

Self-reported use of cancer screening tests among Latinos and Anglos in a prepaid health plan.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate self-reported use of cancer screening tests by Latino and Anglo prepaid health plan members, we conducted telephone interviews about the knowledge of, use of, and reason for Papanicolaou (Pap) smear, clinical breast examination, mammogram, rectal examination, fecal occult blood test, and sigmoidoscopy. METHODS: Cross-sectional telephone survey of randomly selected Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program members in San Francisco and Alameda Counties, California. A total of 844 Latinos (432 men and 412 women) and 510 Anglos (208 men and 302 women), between 35 and 74 years of age, completed the interview. RESULTS: Overall, 97.4% of Latinas reported having had at least one Pap smear compared with 99.7% of Anglo women; 90% in each group reported a Pap smear within 3 years. A clinical breast examination within 2 years was reported by 87% of Latina and 90% of Anglo women. Seventy-six percent of Latina and 85% of Anglo women aged 35 years or more reported having had at least one mammogram; and 65% of Latina and 75% of Anglo women reported a mammogram within 2 years. Among members 40 to 74 years of age, a lower proportion of Latinos compared with Anglos reported having had at least one digital rectal examination (67% vs 80%) and one fecal occult blood test (46% vs 54%); among those 50 to 74 years of age, fewer Latinos reported at least one sigmoidoscopy (29% vs 41%). After adjusting for age, education, employment, perceived health status, marital status, and county of residence, Latinos were significantly less likely to report having had at least one digital rectal examination (odds ratio; 0.60, 95% confidence interval, 0.45, 0.79), fecal occult blood test (odds ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.59-1.01), and sigmoidoscopy (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.52, 0.95). After adjusting for the same variables, Latinos were more likely than Anglos to claim forgetfulness/carelessness (75% vs 60%; odds ratio, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.41-2.40) as a reason for not obtaining cancer screening tests. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that, within this prepaid health plan without direct financial barriers to cancer screening services, Latinos are less likely than Anglos to obtain selected recommended cancer screening tests.

Depression in medical outpatients. Underrecognition and misdiagnosis.

Depression is a common problem in medical outpatients, yet primary care physicians recognize the disorder in only about half of their depressed patients. We compared physician recognition of depression (defined by chart notation or prescription of antidepressants) with diagnoses generated by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) in 265 medical outpatients. Using DIS criteria, diagnoses of major depression in the past year or dysthymia (chronic minor depression) were made in 70 patients. Physicians recognized as depressed only 25 (35.7%) of the 70 DIS-depressed patients. However, 36 patients who were not depressed according to DIS were "recognized" as depressed by physicians. Patients misdiagnosed as depressed by physicians were older, less educated, had more outpatient visits, and were prescribed more medications. Receiver operating characteristic curves of two self-report depression scales suggest that these scales may assist physicians in recognizing depressed outpatients. We conclude that physicians underrecognize and misdiagnose depression in medical outpatients.

Prevalence of diabetes in Mexican Americans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1982-1984.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes among Mexican Americans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans in the United States and compare these estimates to data from prior surveys for U.S. non-Hispanic whites and blacks. Data for this study are from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a multipurpose cross-sectional survey of three U.S. Hispanic populations conducted in 1982-1984. The interviewed sample of people aged 20-74 yr included 3935 Mexican Americans in the southwest, 1134 Cubans in Florida, and 1519 Puerto Ricans in the New York City area. The diabetes component consisted of interview questions on diabetes diagnosis and treatment and an oral glucose tolerance test administered to a subsample. The prevalence of diabetes was two to three times greater for Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans than for non-Hispanic whites surveyed in 1976-1980. In Cubans, the prevalence was similar to that for non-Hispanic whites. In men and women 45-74 yr of age, the prevalence of diabetes was extremely high for both Mexican Americans (23.9%) and Puerto Ricans (26.1%) compared with Cubans (15.8%) or non-Hispanic whites (12%). The total prevalence of diabetes was not significantly different for Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans but was significantly lower for Cubans. The relatively lower prevalence of diabetes among Cubans and the high prevalence in both Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans may be related to socioeconomic, genetic, behavioral, or environmental factors.

Effectiveness of disseminating culturally appropriate smoking-cessation information: Programa Latino Para Dejar de Fumar.

BACKGROUND: The need for a culturally appropriate smoking-cessation intervention for Latinos is based on data on current patterns of tobacco use, possible targeting by the tobacco industry, and the lack of smoking-cessation interventions that are appropriate to the cultural characteristics of Latino smokers. PURPOSE: Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Programa Latino Para Dejar de Fumar (PLDF) in disseminating smoking-cessation information in San Francisco's Latino community. METHODS: Annual cross-sectional telephone surveys were conducted from 1986 to 1993 of Latino adults, 18-65 years of age, living in census tracts with at least 10% Latinos. Surveys in 1986 and 1987 formed the base line for comparison of PLDF effects. RESULTS: Awareness of a Hispanic smoking-cessation program (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-1.14), awareness of PLDF specifically (OR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.10-1.17), awareness of available printed information to help smokers quit (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.06-1.12), and having a copy of the Guía Para Dejar de Fumar (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.05-1.14) were significantly associated with year of survey. In addition, those same variables were significantly associated with a lower acculturation score (respective ORs = 3.95, and 95% CI = 3.57-4.37; OR = 5.40, and 95% CI = 4.86-6.01; OR = 0.63, and 95% CI = 0.58-0.69; and OR = 4.54, and 95% CI = 3.89-5.30). Women were more likely than men to report awareness of a Hispanic smoking-cessation program (OR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.81-0.96), awareness of PLDF (OR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.77-0.92), and awareness of available printed information (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.72-0.85). Cigarette-smoking prevalence decreased from 1986 through 1990, stabilized in 1991, and appeared to increase among all groups in 1993. Prevalence of smoking cessation remained stable overall, but it showed a steady increase among less acculturated respondents. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a culturally appropriate community intervention to promote nonsmoking can be successful at disseminating information about smoking cessation. Latino community norms about smoking are evolving, leading to decreased social acceptability.

Use of cancer-screening tests in the San Francisco Bay area: comparison of Latinos and Anglos.

BACKGROUND: Compared with Anglos (non-Latino whites), incidences of breast and colorectal cancers are lower for Latinos and incidences of cervical cancer are higher for Latinos. In regional and national studies, Latinos obtain fewer cancer screening tests for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancers when compared with Anglo populations. It remains unclear if these differences are due solely to socioeconomic status. PURPOSE: To evaluate self-reported use of these tests by ethnicity, we conducted telephone interviews about the use of the Pap smear, clinical breast examination, mammogram, rectal examination, fecal occult blood test, and sigmoidoscopy. METHODS: Cross-sectional, random-digit dialing telephone surveys of Latino and Anglo adults, 35-74 years of age, living in San Francisco and Alameda Counties, Calif. were used. A total of 798 Latinos (398 men and 408 women) and 436 Anglos (214 men and 222 women) completed the interview. RESULTS: Age-adjusted rates showed that 82.0% of Latinas reported a Pap smear within 3 years compared with 85.1% of Anglo women. A clinical breast examination within 2 years was reported by 82.1% of Latinas and by 88.9% of Anglo women. Screening mammograms within 2 years were reported by 57.8% of Latinas and by 72.3% of Anglo women (difference = -14.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -21.5, -7.5). Compared with Anglos, fewer Latinos reported digital-rectal examinations within 2 years (44.6% versus 61.8%; difference = -17.2%; 95% CI = -22.6, -11.8). There were no significant differences by ethnicity in obtaining a fecal occult blood test within 2 years (32.3% versus 34.0%) and sigmoidoscopy within 5 years (18.9% versus 21.5%). After adjusting for age, education, health insurance, employment, marital status, county of residence, and self-perceived health status, Latino ethnicity was a significant predictor only for digital-rectal examination within 2 years (odds ratio [OR] = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.49-0.86) and digital-rectal examination ever (OR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.40-0.74). Latinos were significantly more likely to cite forgetfulness, lack of transportation, long wait for appointments, and need for child care as reasons for not having cancer screening tests. CONCLUSION: We conclude that after accounting for socioeconomic factors, Latino ethnicity is a relatively minor predictor of use of cancer screening tests. Increasing the availability of culturally appropriate educational materials and providing universal health care coverage are more important priorities to promote appropriate use of cancer screening tests by Latinos.

Psychosocial correlates of smoking among immigrant Latina adolescents.

Young immigrant Latinas, compared with non-Latina white adolescents, are at greater risk to begin smoking and experimenting with other substances; yet little is known about the contributing factors that place them at this risk. To identify psychosocial predictors of smoking, a sample of 447 self-identified Latinas and 160 non-Latina white adolescents aged 13-18 years from San Francisco and San Mateo counties, Calif., answered a 30-minute face-to-face questionnaire. Significant predictors of smoking status for the entire sample were (a) self-efficacy to avoid smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 10; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5-21; P < .001), (b) intention to smoke even if it is risky (OR = 10; 95% CI = 5-20; P < .001), (c) usage of free time (OR = 4; 95% CI = 2-8; P < .001), (d) personal approval of others' smoking (OR = 3; 95% CI = 1-5; P < .01), and (e) peer's smoking approval (OR = 2; 95% CI = 1-4; P < .05). The majority of the adolescent smokers in this study reported low levels of self-efficacy for avoiding smoking and believed that they would continue to smoke even if it was risky. They spent more of their free time with friends or alone, reported higher personal approval of significant others' smoking, and reported stronger perceived peer's approval of smoking than nonsmokers. For non-Latina whites, personal approval of others' smoking and having serious problems were associated with smoking.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Use of Spanish surnames to identify Latinos: comparison to self-identification.

Difficulties in identification of Latinos from secondary datasets have often been addressed by the use of a Spanish surname list. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the 1980 U.S. Census Spanish surname list in correctly identifying Latino ethnicity, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of adult members of a prepaid health plan in the San Francisco Bay Area. We compared a randomly selected list of 1345 Spanish surnames and 717 non-Spanish surnames from health plan membership lists with their self-identified race and ethnicity obtained by telephone interviews. The sample was stratified according to surname group (Spanish or non-Spanish), sex, age, and county. Compared with self-identified ethnicity, a Spanish surname was 88.4% sensitive in identifying Latino men and 70.4% sensitive in identifying Latina women. The non-Spanish surname list was 94.1% sensitive and 95.0% specific in correctly identifying non-Latinos. Although the overall negative predictive value was 97.8%, the positive predictive value of a Spanish surname was only 68.3% for men and 55.7% for women. The low positive predictive value was largely due to the 316 (61%) Filipinos among the 517 persons with Spanish surnames who were not Latinos. We conclude that the use of the Spanish surname list alone to ascertain race and ethnicity in the San Francisco Bay Area both falsely identifies a large number of non-Latino persons as Latino and fails to identify a small proportion of Latinos. Although the level of sensitivity and specificity for Spanish surnames will vary with the area under study, this source of inaccuracy must be considered in studies that plan to use data based on Spanish surnames.

Dietary practices, alcohol consumption, and smoking behavior: ethnic, sex, and acculturation differences.

Current knowledge is scarce on Latino dietary practices. This study compared the dietary practices, alcohol consumption, and smoking behavior of Latinos and non-Latino whites in two randomly selected samples. Telephone surveys of adults 35-74 years of age from the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program (Latinos = 844; non-Latino whites = 510) and from census tract-based areas (Latinos = 806; non-Latino whites = 436) were conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area. Latino ethnicity was a significant predictor of dietary and alcohol consumption practices in multivariate logistic regression models after adjustment for sex, education, age, employment, health insurance, martial status, county of residence, and self-perceived health status. Compared with non-Latino whites, Latinos were significantly less likely to report eating vegetables and more likely to eat rice, beans, and fried foods and to drink whole milk. Less acculturated Latinos were more likely to eat fruits, rice, beans, meat, and fried foods and to drink whole milk than more acculturated Latinos. Latino men were significantly more likely to be binge drinkers, and Latina women were significantly more likely to abstain from drinking alcohol during the month prior to the interview. As Latina women acculturate to the U.S. mainstream, they report more cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Although Latinos reported higher levels of selected high-fiber foods, the low consumption of vegetables, widespread use of saturated fat, and the heavy drinking and smoking among Latino men, which are associated with the level of acculturation, may increase the risk for cancer. Educational messages targeting less acculturated Latinos should focus on maintaining their current healthy dietary practices of eating fruits, rice, and beans and decreasing their fat consumption. For more acculturated Latinos, emphasis should be placed on resuming the traditional diet.

Epidemiology of cancer among Hispanics in the United States.

BACKGROUND: There are very limited data on cancer among U.S. Hispanics. The data that are available seldom appear outside individual registry reports. Without coalescing and assessing such information, the epidemiology of cancer among Hispanics cannot be understood. PURPOSE: This article presents an overall view of the epidemiology of cancer among Hispanic populations in the United States. METHODS: Major types of cancer were reviewed from geographic areas with 1) large Hispanic/Latino populations and 2) population-based cancer registries that cover 68% of the U.S. Hispanic population. Age-standardized rates, standardized rate ratios, and ranks of the top cancers are presented for Hispanics and non-Hispanics by sex. RESULTS: Hispanic men had consistently lower rates of cancers of the lung, prostate, colon, rectum, and oral cavity as well as of melanoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma than non-Hispanic men. Among Hispanic men, higher rates were observed for cancers of the stomach, liver, and gallbladder. Compared with the rates in non-Hispanic women, Hispanic women had consistently lower rates of cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, endometrium, lung, ovary, and oral cavity, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and melanoma and higher rates of cancers of the uterine cervix, stomach, liver, and gallbladder. Perhaps more importantly, however, was that, within U.S. Hispanic populations, the top five sites of cancer for women were breast, colon, lung, cervix, and uterine corpus. For men, the top sites were usually prostate, lung, colon, stomach, and rectum. Furthermore, some geographic areas showed differences in the order of importance within these five sites, while in other areas, the top five cancers for Hispanic men included kidney and bladder cancers, liver cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. For women, other leading cancers mentioned were ovarian cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and gallbladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanics had consistently lower rates of breast, lung, prostate, and colon cancers than non-Hispanics. In some geographic regions, however, differences in cancer incidence rates with respect to specific sites existed between the heterogenous Hispanic populations. Furthermore, the rankings demonstrated that, even if Hispanics have lower rates of the most common cancers than non-Hispanics, such sites are still the most important cancers among Hispanic populations. IMPLICATIONS: Cancer is a major problem among U.S. Hispanic populations. The information given in this article can be used to develop etiologic studies and cancer control interventions. Data limitations and recommendations for improving data quality are presented.

The effects of propranolol on cognitive function and quality of life: a randomized trial among patients with diastolic hypertension.

PURPOSE: We sought to determine whether propranolol has adverse effects on cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and sexual function in patients treated for diastolic hypertension. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed a placebo-controlled trial among 312 men and women, 22 to 59 years of age, who had untreated diastolic hypertension (90 to 104 mm Hg). Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with propranolol (80 to 400 mg/day) or matching placebo tablets. Thirteen tests of cognitive function were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. Five tests measured reaction time to, or accuracy in, interpreting visual stimuli; one test measured the ability to acquire, reproduce, and change a set of arbitrary stimulus-response sets; and seven tests measured memory or learning verbal information. Depressive symptoms and sexual function were assessed by questionnaires at baseline and 12 months. RESULTS: There were no significant differences by treatment assignment for 11 of the 13 tests of cognitive function at either 3 or 12 months of follow-up. Compared with placebo, participants treated with propranolol had slightly fewer correct responses at 3 months (33 +/- 3 [mean +/- SD] versus 34 +/- 2, P = 0.02) and slightly more errors of commission at 3 months (4 +/-5 versus 3 +/- 3, P = 0.04) and at 12 months (4 +/- 4 versus 3 +/- 3, P = 0.05). At 12 months, depressive symptoms and sexual function and desire did not differ by treatment assignment. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of hypertension with propranolol had limited adverse effects on tests of cognitive function that were of questionable clinical relevance, and there were no documented adverse effects on depressive symptoms or sexual function. Selection of beta-blockers for treatment of hypertension should be based on other factors.

Hormone replacement therapy for African American women: missed opportunities for effective intervention.

OBJECTIVES: Because of the potential benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), information about the efficacy of HRT in different groups of women is important to patients and providers. The objectives of this study were to review the evidence on the benefits and risks of HRT in African American women and to present a quantitative analysis of the potential reduction in mortality from osteoporotic fractures and coronary heart disease and the potential increase in risk of breast and endometrial cancer. METHODS: A MEDLINE search of English-language observational studies and clinical trials on the effects of HRT on osteoporotic fractures and coronary heart disease (CHD) was conducted for the time period from 1966 to September 1998. Using available CHD mortality data for African American women and white women, potential reductions in mortality with HRT were explored for African American and white women. RESULTS: In the 30 studies on CHD and HRT, African American women were known to comprise only 173 (0.1%) of 148,437 participants. In 11 studies of HRT and osteoporotic fractures, only 128 (0.4%) of 40,299 participants were known to be African American women. An analysis of CHD mortality by decade intervals indicated that African American women, aged 55 to 64, are more likely to die from CHD each year than white women. Despite a lower incidence of breast and endometrial cancer among African American women, the mortality rates of African American women with these cancers is higher compared with white women. CONCLUSIONS: With the higher underlying CHD mortality rate among African American women, HRT is an important potential preventive therapy. The absence of African American women and other non-white women from clinical studies of HRT makes it difficult to fully assess the risks and benefits of HRT in this group of women.

Maternal birthplace, ethnicity, and low birth weight in California.

BACKGROUND: Although immigrants to the United States are usually ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged, foreign-born women generally have lower rates of low birth weight infants than do US-born women. OBJECTIVE: To measure the relationship between maternal birthplace, ethnicity, and low birth weight infants. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of birth certificate data. SETTING: California, 1992. SUBJECTS: Singleton infants (n = 497 868) born to Asian, black, Latina, and white women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Very low birth weight (500-1499 g), moderately low birth weight (1500-2499 g), and normal birth weight (2500-4000 g, reference category). RESULTS: Foreign-born Latina women generally had less favorable maternal characteristics than US-born Latinas, yet foreign-born Latina women were less likely to have moderately low birth weight infants (odds ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-0.96) than US-born Latinas after adjusting for maternal age, education, marital status, parity, tobacco use, use of prenatal care, and gestational age. While foreign-born Asian women generally had a less favorable profile of maternal characteristics than US-born Asians, there was no statistically significant difference in the odds of very low birth weight or moderately low birth weight infants between foreign- and US-born Asian women. Foreign-born black women had more favorable maternal characteristics than US-born women, but there was no significant nativity difference in very low birth weight or moderately low birth weight between foreign- and US-born black women after adjusting for maternal and infant factors. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between maternal birthplace and low birth weight varies by ethnicity. Further study is needed to understand the favorable pregnancy outcomes of foreign-born Latina women.

Testing the epidemiologic paradox of low birth weight in Latinos.

BACKGROUND: Rates of low-birth-weight (LBW) infants are similar between Latina and white women, an epidemiologic paradox. However, few studies have analyzed the relationship between ethnicity, Latino subgroup, confounding variables, and LBW. METHODS: We analyzed 395070 singleton livebirths to Latina and non-Latina white women in California during 1992. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risks due to Latino ethnicity and Latino subgroup for very LBW (VLBW, 500-1499 g) and moderately LBW (MLBW, 1500-2499 g) outcomes. RESULTS: Latina and white women had similar unadjusted rates of VLBW (0.7% vs. 0.6%) and MLBW infants (3.7% vs. 3.4%). After adjusting for maternal age, education, birthplace, marital status, parity, tobacco use, use of prenatal care, infant sex, and gestational age, there was no difference in the odds of VLBW infants between Latina and white women (OR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.81-1.071). Latina women had minimally elevated odds of MLBW infants (OR, 1.06 [95% CI, 1.01-1.11]) compared with white women. By Latino subgroup, there was no difference in the adjusted odds of VLBW infants among Central and South American, Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and white women. The adjusted odds of MLBW infants were elevated among Central and South American (OR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.05-1.25]) and Puerto Rican women (OR, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.12-1.78]), relative to white women. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiologic paradox of LBW in Latinos is valid. New conceptual models are needed to identify Latina women who are at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Counseling smoking parents of young children: comparison of pediatricians and family physicians.

BACKGROUND: Secondhand smoke is a major cause of morbidity in young children, and exposure to smoking parents is the principal source. Physician visits for young children present an opportunity to effect behavioral change among smoking parents. OBJECTIVE: To survey pediatricians and family physicians in their knowledge and practice of smoking cessation counseling with parents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mail survey. SETTING: Urban California. PARTICIPANTS: Pediatricians and family physicians in urban areas of California, younger than 65 years, practicing in an ambulatory setting, and randomly selected from the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reported frequency of asking about tobacco use, using cessation counseling techniques with smokers, and perceived barriers to providing cessation services. RESULTS: Of the 1000 mailed surveys, 899 were eligible and 499 (56% response rate) were returned and completed. A higher proportion of pediatricians compared with family physicians were women (44% vs 29%; P<.01) and nonwhite (44% vs 32%; P =.01). Family physicians compared with pediatricians were more likely to report referring a parent to a smoking cessation program (41% vs 30%), giving pamphlets on smoking cessation (40% vs 28%), asking for a quit date (41% vs 18%), scheduling a follow-up visit to discuss quitting (27% vs 5%), and recommending nicotine replacement therapy (41% vs 13%) (for each comparison, P<.001). Pediatricians were more likely to report recording in the medical record smoking by a parent as a problem for the child (65% vs 48%; P<.001), but a higher proportion of pediatricians perceived that parents would ignore the advice (39% vs 24%; P<.001) and lacked interest in quitting smoking (45% vs 27%; P<.001). Pediatricians were more likely to agree that they lacked smoking cessation counseling skills (26% vs 7%; P<.001). Multivariate models showed that pediatricians were less likely to report performing 5 of 14 smoking cessation techniques in at least 50% of smoking parents. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians appear to lack training to implement smoking cessation counseling with smoking parents. Physicians in private practice are less likely to counsel smoking parents. Educational interventions for pediatricians are needed to decrease secondhand smoke exposure for young children.