Impact of investment case on equitable access to maternal and child health services in Nepal: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in the use of maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) services remain a concern in Low- and Middle-Income countries such as Nepal. Commonly observed disparities exist in education, income, ethnic groups, administrative regions and province-level in Nepal. In order to improve equitable outcomes for MNCH and to scale-up quality services, an Investment Case (IC) approach was lunched in the Asia Pacific region. The study assessed the impact of the IC intervention package in maternal and child health outcomes in Nepal. METHODS: The study used a quasi-experimental design extracting data from the Nepal Demographic Health Surveys - 2011 (pre-assessment) and 2016 (post-assessment) for 16 intervention and 24 control districts. A Difference in Difference (DiD) analysis was conducted to assess the impact of the intervention on maternal and child health outcomes. The linear regression method was used to calculate the DiD, adjusting for potential covariates. The final models were arrived by stepwise backward method including the confounding variables significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The results of the DiD analyses showed at least four antenatal care visits (ANC) decreased in the intervention area (DiD% = - 4.8), while the delivery conducted by skilled birth attendants increased (DiD% = 6.6) compared to control area. However, the adjusted regression coefficient showed that these differences were not significant, indicating a null effect of the intervention. Regarding the child health outcomes, children with underweight (DiD% = 6.3), and wasting (DiD% = 5.4) increased, and stunting (DiD% = - 6.3) decreased in the intervention area compared to control area. The adjusted regression coefficient showed that the difference was significant only for wasting (ß = 0.019, p = 0.002), indicating the prevalence of wasting increased in the intervention group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The IC approach implemented in Nepal did not show improvements in maternal and child health outcomes compared to control districts. The use of the IC approach to improve MCH in Nepal should be discussed and, if further used, the process of implementation should be strictly monitored and evaluated.

Reproductive factors, intima media thickness and carotid plaques in a cross-sectional study of postmenopausal women enrolled in the population-based KORA F4 study.

BACKGROUND: Reproductive events may affect the onset of chronic diseases. We examined the possible association between reproductive parameters and intima media thickness (IMT) or carotid plaques in the common carotid artery in a population-based sample. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analysed data of 800 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 81 years of the population-based KORA F4 study, conducted between 2006 and 2008 in Southern Germany. Reproductive parameters were obtained by standardised interviews. RESULTS: Age at menarche below 12 years compared to 12-15 years was significantly associated with carotid plaques (age-adjusted OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.13-4.43, p-value 0.018, multivariable adjusted 2.11, 1.05-4.26, 0.037), but not with IMT. Ever use of hormone replacement therapy was inversely associated with carotid plaques (age-adjusted 0.60, 0.44-0.81, p = 0.001, multivariable-adjusted 0.62, 0.45-0.86, 0.003) and IMT in the age-adjusted model (mean 0.89, 95% CI 0.88-0.90, p = 0.033) but not in the multivariable-adjusted model (mean 0.89, 95% CI 0.88-0.90, p = 0.075). Parity, age at menopause, time since menopause, duration of fertile period, current use of hormone replacement therapy, ever use of oral contraceptives, hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, hot flashes and depressive mood in relation to the menopausal transition were not associated with carotid plaques or IMT. CONCLUSION: Our study showed, that there may be an independent association between the reproductive parameters age at menarche and ever use of hormone replacement therapy with carotid plaques in the common carotid artery, but not with IMT. Further research, especially in studies with prospective population-based study design, is necessary to assess in detail what events in women's life lead to increased IMT or CP.

Educational level, prevalence of hysterectomy, and age at amenorrhoea: a cross-sectional analysis of 9536 women from six population-based cohort studies in Germany.

BACKGROUND: Hysterectomy prevalence has been shown to vary by education level. Hysterectomy influences age at amenorrhoea. The aim of this study was to examine these associations in Germany within population-based data sets. METHODS: Baseline assessments in six population-based cohorts took place from 1997 through 2006 and included 9,548 women aged 20-84 years. All studies assessed hysterectomy history, school and professional degrees. Degrees were categorized into three levels each. Adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated. RESULTS: Prevalences were higher in West Germany than East Germany, increased by age, and leveled off starting at 55-64 years. The age- and study-adjusted prevalence ratio (lowest versus highest school level) was 2.61 (95% CI: 1.28-5.30), 1.48 (95% CI: 1.21-1.81), and 1.01 (95% CI: 0.80-1.28) for women aged 20-45, 45-64, and 65 and more years respectively. The estimated adjusted prevalence ratios per one unit decrement of the educational qualification score (range 1 = lowest, 8 = highest) were 1.29 (95% CI: 1.02-1.64), 1.08 (95% CI: 1.04-1.12), and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.93-1.03) for women aged 20-44, 45-64, and 65-84 years respectively. Age at amenorrhoea was on average 6.2 years lower (43.5 years versus 49.7 years) among women with a history of hysterectomy than those without. CONCLUSIONS: Lower educational level was associated with a higher hysterectomy prevalence among women aged 20-64 years. Several mediators associated with educational level and hysterectomy including women's disease risk, women's treatment preference, and women's access to uterus-preserving treatment may explain this association. At population level, hysterectomy decreases the age of amenorrhoea on average by 6.2 years.

Association of adiposity genetic variants with menarche timing in 92,105 women of European descent.

Obesity is of global health concern. There are well-described inverse relationships between female pubertal timing and obesity. Recent genome-wide association studies of age at menarche identified several obesity-related variants. Using data from the ReproGen Consortium, we employed meta-analytical techniques to estimate the associations of 95 a priori and recently identified obesity-related (body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)(2)), waist circumference, and waist:hip ratio) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with age at menarche in 92,116 women of European descent from 38 studies (1970-2010), in order to estimate associations between genetic variants associated with central or overall adiposity and pubertal timing in girls. Investigators in each study performed a separate analysis of associations between the selected SNPs and age at menarche (ages 9-17 years) using linear regression models and adjusting for birth year, site (as appropriate), and population stratification. Heterogeneity of effect-measure estimates was investigated using meta-regression. Six novel associations of body mass index loci with age at menarche were identified, and 11 adiposity loci previously reported to be associated with age at menarche were confirmed, but none of the central adiposity variants individually showed significant associations. These findings suggest complex genetic relationships between menarche and overall obesity, and to a lesser extent central obesity, in normal processes of growth and development.

Acceptance of routine or case-based inquiry for intimate partner violence: a mixed method study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and detrimental health effects of intimate partner violence have resulted in international discussions and recommendations that health care professionals should screen women for intimate partner violence during general and antenatal health care visits. Due to the lack of discussion on routine or case-based inquiry for intimate partner violence during antenatal care in Germany, this study seeks to explore its acceptability among pregnant German women. METHODS: A mixed methods approach was used, utilizing a self-administered survey on the acceptability of routine or case-based inquiry for intimate partner violence in a university hospital's maternity ward in Munich and in-depth interviews with seven women who experienced violence during pregnancy. RESULTS: Of the 401 women who participated in the survey, 92 percent were in favor of routine or case-based inquiry for intimate partner violence during antenatal care. Acceptance of routine or case-based inquiry for intimate partner violence during antenatal care was significantly associated with women's experiences of child sexual abuse, being young, less educated, single or divorced and smoking during pregnancy. Open-ended survey questions and in-depth interviews stressed adequate training for screening, sufficient time and provision of referral information as important conditions for routine or case-based inquiry for intimate partner violence. CONCLUSIONS: Women in this study showed an overwhelming support for routine or case-based screening for intimate partner violence in antenatal care in Germany. Until adequate training is in place to allow providers to inquire for intimate partner violence in a professional manner, this study recommends that health care providers are made aware of the prevalence and health consequences of violence during pregnancy.

Intimate partner violence and its association with pregnancy loss and pregnancy planning.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of physical partner violence on pregnancy loss and unplanned pregnancy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, self-reported questionnaire survey. SETTING: A maternity ward of a university hospital in Munich, Germany. SAMPLE: Women who gave birth within the previous seven days. METHODS: The effects of physical partner violence on pregnancy loss and unplanned pregnancy were estimated using descriptive statistics based on χ(2) tests, bivariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical partner violence was assessed using the Abuse Assessment Screen, information on pregnancy loss was derived from women's medical files and the assessment of pregnancy planning was based on women's self-reports. RESULTS: The survey had a response rate of 73%; 29% of the women experienced pregnancy loss, 13% reported that their last pregnancy was unplanned and 4% revealed physical violence by a current or previous partner. Physical partner violence was significantly associated with pregnancy loss (odds ratio 8.33, 95% confidence interval 2.01-34.59) and unplanned last pregnancy (odds ratio 5.03, 95% confidence interval 1.21-21.26), even after adjusting for other commonly known explanatory factors, such as number of children, women's age and women's and their partners' education level and employment, marital status, financial situation and support during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Physical partner violence is an important factor in understanding pregnancy loss and unplanned pregnancy. Inquiring about the existence of intimate partner violence among these women might help to identify women in need of domestic violence services.

Investment case approach for equitable access to maternal neonatal and child health services: Stakeholders' perspective in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Investment Case is a participatory approach that has been used over the years for better strategic actions and planning in the health sector. Based on this approach, a District Investment Case (DIC) program was launched to improve maternal, neonatal and child health services in partnership with government, non-government sectors and UNICEF Nepal. In the meantime, this study aimed to explore perceptions and experiences of local stakeholders regarding health planning and budgeting and explore the role of the DIC program in ensuring equity in access to maternal and child health services. METHODS: This study adopted an exploratory phenomenography design with a purposive sampling technique for data collection. Three DIC implemented districts and three comparison districts were selected and total 30 key informant interviews with district level stakeholders and six focus groups with community stakeholders were carried out. A deductive approach was used to explore the perception of local stakeholders of health planning and budgeting of the health care expenses on the local level. RESULTS: Investment Case approach helped stakeholders in planning systematically based on evidence through collaborative and participatory approach while in comparison areas previous year plan was mainly primarily considered as reference. Resource constraints and geographical difficulty were key barriers in executing the desired plan in both intervention and comparison districts. Positive changes were observed in coverage of maternal and child health services in both groups. A few participants reported no difference due to the DIC program. The participants specified the improvement in access to information, access and utilization of health services by women. This has influenced the positive health care seeking behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The decentralized planning and management approach at the district level helps to ensure equity in access to maternal, newborn and child health care. However, quality evidence, inclusiveness, functional feedback and support system and local resource utilization should be the key consideration.

Relationship between sleep disturbances and multimorbidity among community-dwelling men and women aged 65-93 years: results from the KORA Age Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Although the association of disturbed sleep with specific chronic conditions is well known, the relationship between sleep disturbances and multiple diseases is less clear. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to examine the independent relationships of various sleep disturbances with 1) multimorbidity (≥2 chronic conditions) and 2) commonly co-occurring pairs of chronic conditions. METHODS: Analyses were based on data from 4127 individuals aged ≥65 years participating in the population-based cross-sectional Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) Age Study conducted from 2008 to 2009 in Germany. Sex-specific odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated from sequential logistic regression models. RESULTS: Neither short nor long daily sleep duration was significantly associated with multimorbidity among men; a significant positive relationship was identified regarding short sleep duration among women (OR 2.16, 95% CI: 1.42-3.30). While insomnia and all unique symptoms of insomnia were connected to multimorbidity among women in the multivariable models, the relationship concerning trouble falling asleep no longer remained significant after adjustment for all covariables among men. Regarding commonly co-occurring pairs of conditions, the clearest associations were observed between insomnia and daytime tiredness with joint diseases/eye diseases in men and joint diseases/heart diseases in women. CONCLUSIONS: There seems to be sex-specific particularities in the relationship between sleep disturbances and sleep duration with multimorbidity and commonly co-occurring pairs of chronic conditions in older adults from the general population.

Plasma Concentrations of Afamin Are Associated With Prevalent and Incident Type 2 Diabetes: A Pooled Analysis in More Than 20,000 Individuals.

OBJECTIVE: The human vitamin E-binding glycoprotein afamin is primarily expressed in the liver and has been associated with prevalent and incident metabolic syndrome. These data were in line with observations in transgenic mice. We thus investigated whether afamin concentrations are associated with prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance (IR). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Individual-level baseline (n = 20,136) and follow-up data (n = 14,017) of eight prospective cohort studies were investigated. Study-level data were combined using random-effects meta-analyses. Main outcomes were prevalent and incident type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and IR. Discrimination and reclassification of participants was analyzed for incident type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Mean afamin concentrations between studies ranged from 61 to 73 mg/L. The eight studies included 1,398 prevalent and 585 incident cases of type 2 diabetes. Each increase of afamin by 10 mg/L was associated with prevalent type 2 diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 1.19 [95% CI 1.12-1.26], P = 5.96 × 10-8). Afamin was positively associated with IR assessed by HOMA-IR (ß 0.110 [95% CI 0.089-0.132], P = 1.37 × 10-23). Most importantly, afamin measured at baseline was an independent predictor for 585 incident cases of type 2 diabetes (OR 1.30 [95% CI 1.23-1.38], P = 3.53 × 10-19) and showed a significant and valuable gain in risk classification accuracy when added to this extended adjustment model. CONCLUSIONS: This pooled analysis in >20,000 individuals showed that afamin is strongly associated with IR, prevalence, and incidence of type 2 diabetes independent of major metabolic risk factors or parameters. Afamin might be a promising novel marker for the identification of individuals at high risk for the development of type 2 diabetes.

Regional Variability of Lifestyle Factors and Hypertension with Prediabetes and Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Population-Based KORA-F4 and SHIP-TREND Studies in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) shows regional differences in Germany. The purpose of the project was to compare the prevalence of prediabetes and undiagnosed T2D in two regions in Germany, the Northeast and the South, and to evaluate their associations with regional variations in lifestyle factors and hypertension. METHODS: Data from the KORA-F4 study (South Germany, 2006-2008) and the SHIP-TREND study (Northeast Germany, 2008-2012) were used. Participants aged 35-79 years without T2D with an overnight fasting of more than 8 hours and an oral glucose tolerance test were included: KORA-F4: n = 2,616 and SHIP-TREND: n = 1,968. RESULTS: The prevalence of prediabetes/newly diagnosed T2D was especially high in men (about 60%) and women (about 50%) in the Northeast, followed by men (about 50%) and women (about 30%) in the South. Lifestyle factors associated with T2D varied between the regions: more participants in the Northeast were active smokers and the percentages of people with overweight or obesity were greater than in their southern counterparts. However, these differences could not explain the striking disparity in prediabetes/newly diagnosed T2D. The frequency of hypertension was also distinctly higher in the Northeast than in the South and clearly associated with prediabetes/newly diagnosed T2D. Especially in men living in the Northeast, screening individuals with blood pressure ≥ 140/90mmHg might reveal up to 70% of those with prediabetes/newly diagnosed T2D. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about regional variability in T2D and related risk factors is important for the planning of diabetes prevention programs. In our analyses, common lifestyle factors did not nearly explain these variations between the northern SHIP-TREND and the southern KORA-F4 studies. Further examinations of regional socioeconomic, political, environmental and other aspects are needed. Meanwhile, targeted diabetes prevention strategies with a special focus on men living in the northern parts of Germany are reasonable.

Symptoms of Insomnia and Sleep Duration and Their Association with Incident Strokes: Findings from the Population-Based MONICA/KORA Augsburg Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between symptoms of insomnia and sleep duration and incident total (non-fatal plus fatal) strokes, non-fatal strokes, and fatal strokes in a large cohort of men and women from the general population in Germany. METHODS: In four population-based MONICA (monitoring trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease)/KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) surveys conducted between 1984 and 2001, 17,604 men and women (aged 25 to 74 years) were asked about issues like sleep, health behavior, and medical history. In subsequent surveys and mortality follow-ups, incident stroke cases (cerebral hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, unknown stroke type) were gathered prospectively until 2009. Sex-specific hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using sequential Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 14 years, 917 strokes (710 non-fatal strokes and 207 fatal strokes) were observed. Trouble falling asleep and difficulty staying asleep were not significantly related to any incident stroke outcome in either sex in the multivariable models. Among men, the HR for the association between short (≤5 hours) and long (≥10 hours) daily sleep duration and total strokes were 1.44 (95% CI: 1.01-2.06) and 1.63 (95% CI: 1.16-2.29), after adjustment for basic confounding variables. As for non-fatal strokes and fatal strokes, in the analyses adjusted for age, survey, education, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, the increased risks persisted, albeit somewhat attenuated, but no longer remained significant. Among women, in the multivariable analyses the quantity of sleep was also not related to any stroke outcome. CONCLUSION: In the present study, symptoms of insomnia and exceptional sleep duration were not significantly predictive of incident total strokes, non-fatal strokes, and fatal strokes in either sex.

Biomarkers of iron metabolism are independently associated with impaired glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes: the KORA F4 study.

OBJECTIVE: Iron has been suggested to play a role in the etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Except for ferritin, evidence is sparse for other markers of iron metabolism that are regulated differently and might act through independent pathways. We therefore investigated the associations of serum ferritin, transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), transferrin saturation (TSAT), sTfR-to-log10ferritin (sTfR-F) index, and iron with impaired glucose metabolism (IGM/'prediabetes'), T2DM, and four continuous glucose and insulin traits. DESIGN AND METHODS: Data from 2893 participants of the population-based Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) F4 study (Germany) was investigated through regression analysis. The results were adjusted for socio-demographic, life-style, and obesity measures as well as metabolic, inflammatory, and other iron biomarkers following a step-wise approach. Non-linearity was tested by adding a non-linear spline component to the model. RESULTS: Ferritin and transferrin were positively associated with IGM (fourth vs first sex-specific quartile: ferritin odds ratio (OR)=2.08 (95% CI 1.43-3.04) and transferrin OR=1.89 (95% CI 1.32-2.70)), T2DM (ferritin OR=1.98 (95% CI 1.22-3.22) and transferrin OR=2.42 (95% CI 1.54-3.81)), and fasting as well as 2-h glucose. TSAT (OR=0.55 (95% CI 0.34-0.88)) and iron (OR=0.61 (95% CI 0.38-0.97)) were inversely associated with T2DM, sTfR-F-index was inversely associated with IGM (OR=0.67 (95% CI 0.48-0.95)). There was no strong evidence for non-linear relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The observed associations of several markers of iron metabolism with hyperglycemia and insulin resistance suggest that iron stores as well as iron-related metabolic pathways contribute to the pathogenesis of IGM and T2DM. Moreover, TSAT levels are decreased in T2DM patients.

Correlation between a positive family risk score and peripheral artery disease in one case-control and two population-based studies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between a family history of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases or risk factors and the presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD). METHODS: Participants were recruited within one PAD case-control study (CAVASIC, n = 481) and two population-based studies (KORA-F3, n = 3118; KORA-F4, n = 1325). In the KORA studies, an ankle-brachial-index <0.9 and/or symptomatic claudication was defined as PAD. For myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, PAD, and obesity, family risk scores (FamRS) were calculated taking into account the number and age of diseased parents and siblings and regressed on prevalent PAD or ankle-brachial-index. RESULTS: A significant association with PAD was found for family history of myocardial infarction and hypertension in a combined analysis of all studies and for family history of PAD in the case-control study. A combined family history score was derived from FamRS myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and PAD. A positive family history of at least two and/or a strong positive family history of at least one of these diseases was found to be associated with increased risk of prevalent PAD in all three studies, even after adjustment for classical risk factors (OR = 1.93, 95%CI = [1.53-2.44], p = 2.6 × 10(-8)). CONCLUSION: The presence of a positive family history for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases or risk factors was shown to be associated with the presence of PAD. A FamRS calculation tool that considers age and family size can guide a physician to perform extended examinations to prevent complications and progression of PAD.

Reproductive factors and its association with peripheral arterial disease in women aged 52-81 years: the KORA F4 study.

OBJECTIVE: Sex differences in the onset of cardiovascular disease disappear in the postmenopause, suggesting that reproductive factors could be influential. The aim of the present study was to examine the possible association between reproductive parameters and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in a female population-based sample. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study data of 887 women aged 52-81 years participating in the population-based KORA F4 study (conducted in 2006-2008) was analyzed. Reproductive parameters were obtained by standardized interviews. PAD was assessed by measuring noninvasively the ankle-brachial index and using a cut-off value of 0.9 and by assessing the presence of claudication by the Edinburgh questionnaire. RESULTS: In multivariable logistic regression analyses later age at menarche (>15 years) compared to age at menarche between 12 and 15 years was significantly associated with about half the probability for PAD (OR = 0.48; 95%CI 0.24-0.98). The presence of hot flashes was positively associated with PAD (OR = 2.09; 95%CI 1.11-3.92). Further reproductive parameters, such as parity, age at menopause, time since menopause, duration of fertility, ever use or current use of hormone replacement therapy, ever use of oral contraceptives, history of hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy and depressive mood in relation to menopausal transition showed no significant association with PAD. CONCLUSIONS: Later age at menarche was inversely related to PAD and the presence of hot flashes was associated with an increased presence of PAD. Prospective population-based studies in women are needed to assess the impact of reproductive parameters on the development of PAD and subsequently cardiovascular disease.

Are diabetes risk scores useful for the prediction of cardiovascular diseases? Assessment of seven diabetes risk scores in the KORA S4/F4 cohort study.

AIM: To evaluate the utility of diabetes prediction models for CVD prediction as stated in two earlier studies. METHODS: 845 subjects from the population based German KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) S4/F4 cohort study (aged 55 to 74 years, without diabetes, former stroke, and former myocardial infarction at baseline) were followed for up to ten years for incident stroke and myocardial infarction. Seven diabetes risk scores developed from four different studies were applied to the KORA cohort to assess their predictive ability for CVD. RESULTS: Areas under the receiver-operating curve (AROCs) for the prediction of CVD ranged from 0.60 to 0.65 when diabetes risk scores were applied to the KORA cohort. When diabetes risk scores were used to predict CVD and type 2 diabetes, respectively, AROCs for the prediction of CVD were 0.09 to 0.24 lower than AROCs for the prediction of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, we used KORA data to develop prediction models for either diabetes or CVD, and found that they differed widely in selected predictor variables. CONCLUSION: In the older population, diabetes risk scores are not useful for the prediction of CVD, and prediction models for diabetes and CVD, respectively, require different parameters.

Older subjects with diabetes and prediabetes are frequently unaware of having distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy: the KORA F4 study.

OBJECTIVE: Distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) is a severe complication of type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of unawareness of DSPN in prediabetes and diabetes in a sample of the older population of Augsburg, Germany. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Glucose tolerance status was determined in 61- to 82-year-old participants of the population-based KORA F4 Study (2006-2008) (n = 1,100). Clinical DSPN was defined as the presence of bilaterally impaired foot-vibration perception and/or bilaterally impaired foot-pressure sensation. DSPN case subjects were considered unaware of their condition when answering "no" to the question, "Has a physician ever told you that you are suffering from nerve damage, neuropathy, polyneuropathy, or diabetic foot?" RESULTS: Clinical DSPN was prevalent in 154 (14%) participants, 140 of whom were unaware of their disorder. At a prevalence of 23.9% (95% CI 12.6-38.8), participants with combined impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance had the highest prevalence of DSPN. Of these, 10 of 11 (91%) were unaware of having clinical DSPN. Participants with known diabetes had an equally high prevalence of DSPN [22.0% (16.2-28.9)], with 30 of the 39 (77%) DSPN case subjects unaware of having the disorder. Among subjects with known diabetes who reported to have had their feet examined by a physician, 18 of 25 (72%) clinical DSPN case subjects emerged unaware of having DSPN. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed a high prevalence of unawareness of having clinical DSPN among the prediabetic and diabetic groups and an insufficient frequency of professional foot examinations, suggesting inadequate attention to diabetic foot prevention practice.

Reproductive factors and serum uric acid levels in females from the general population: the KORA F4 study.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperuricemia is associated with an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. There are pronounced sex differences in the levels of uric acid. It is largely unknown whether or not reproductive parameters which induce hormonal changes are responsible for this. We examined if there are associations between reproductive parameters and uric acid levels in a female population-based sample. METHODS: In this cross-sectional analysis, data of 1530 women aged 32 to 81 years participating in the KORA F4 study, conducted between 2006 and 2008 in Southern Germany were used. Reproductive parameters were obtained by standardized interviews. Uric acid levels were tested by the uricase method. The whole study sample and stratified in pre- and postmenopausal women was analyzed. RESULTS: Menopausal status and earlier age at menarche were associated with higher serum uric acid levels (age-adjusted: p-values 0.003, <0.001 respectively; after multivariable adjustment, including BMI: p-values 0.002, 0.036). A history of oral contraceptive use showed an association with uric acid levels only after multivariable adjustment (p-value 0.009). Hot flushes showed an association with uric acid levels only after age-adjustment (p-value 0.038), but lost significance after adding other confounders. Other reproductive factors, including parity, current or ever use of hormone replacement therapy, current use of oral contraceptives, hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or depressive mood related to menopausal transition were not associated with uric acid levels. CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal status, earlier age at menarche and a history of oral contraceptive use were independently associated with higher serum uric acid concentrations in women from the general population. Further studies, especially longitudinal population-based studies investigating the relationship of female reproductive parameters with uric acid levels are necessary to confirm our findings.

Uric acid is more strongly associated with impaired glucose regulation in women than in men from the general population: the KORA F4-Study.

OBJECTIVE: High serum uric acid (UA) levels are associated with the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is largely unknown whether there are gender-specific differences regarding the association between UA and prediabetic states. We examined the possible association between UA levels and known as well as newly diagnosed diabetes (NDD), isolated impaired fasting glucose (i-IFG), isolated impaired glucose tolerance (i-IGT), and combined IFG/IGT in a population-based sample of 32-to-81-year-old men and women. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: An oral glucose tolerance test was carried out in all 2,740 participants without known diabetes of the Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) F4 Study conducted between 2006 and 2008 in Southern Germany. Serum UA was analysed by the uricase method. RESULTS: In women after multivariable adjustment the associations between UA and i-IFG (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.15-2.14), IFG/IGT (OR 1.52, 1.07-2.16), NDD (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.28-2.17), and known diabetes (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.18-1.82) remained significant, but the association with i-IGT (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.95-1.36) lost significance. In contrast in men, after multivariable adjustment there was only a significant association between UA levels and i-IFG (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.21-1.84), all other associations were non-significant (i-IGT: OR 1.09, IFG/IGT: OR 1.06, NDD: OR 0.91, known diabetes: OR 1.04; all p-values>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum UA concentrations were associated with different categories of impaired glucose regulation in individuals from the general population, particularly in women. Further studies investigating the role of UA in the development of derangements in glucose metabolism are needed.

Postchallenge hyperglycemia is positively associated with diabetic polyneuropathy: the KORA F4 study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) in an older population and to examine its relationship with prediabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Glucose tolerance status was determined in 61- to 82-year-old participants (n = 1,100) of the population-based Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) F4 Survey (2006-2008). Clinical DSPN was defined as bilaterally impaired foot-vibration perception and/or foot-pressure sensation. RESULTS: Prevalence of clinical DSPN was similar in subjects with known diabetes (22.0%) and subjects with combined impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (23.9%). Among prediabetic subgroups, IFG-IGT, but not isolated-IFG and -IGT, was associated with a higher risk of clinical DSPN, compared with normal glucose tolerance. A J-shaped association was observed between clinical DSPN and quartiles of 2-h postchallenge glucose, but not with fasting glucose and HbA(1c) levels. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with IFG-IGT and known diabetes had a similar prevalence of clinical DSPN. Elevated 2-h postload glucose levels appeared important for disease risk.

Age at menarche and its association with the metabolic syndrome and its components: results from the KORA F4 study.

OBJECTIVE: The metabolic syndrome is a major public health challenge and identifies persons at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to examine the association between age at menarche and the metabolic syndrome (IDF and NCEP ATP III classification) and its components. DESIGN: 1536 women aged 32 to 81 years of the German population based KORA F4 study were investigated. Data was collected by standardized interviews, physical examinations, and whole blood and serum measurements. RESULTS: Young age at menarche was significantly associated with elevated body mass index (BMI), greater waist circumference, higher fasting glucose levels, and 2 hour glucose (oral glucose tolerance test), even after adjusting for the difference between current BMI and BMI at age 25. The significant effect on elevated triglycerides and systolic blood pressure was attenuated after adjustment for the BMI change. Age at menarche was inversely associated with the metabolic syndrome adjusting for age (p-values: <0.001 IDF, 0.003 NCEP classification) and additional potential confounders including lifestyle and reproductive history factors (p-values: 0.001, 0.005). Associations remain significant when additionally controlling for recollected BMI at age 25 (p-values: 0.008, 0.033) or the BMI change since age 25 (p-values: 0.005, 0.022). CONCLUSION: Young age at menarche might play a role in the development of the metabolic syndrome. This association is only partially mediated by weight gain and increased BMI. A history of early menarche may help to identify women at risk for the metabolic syndrome.