The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Danish school children.

In 14 Danish municipalities physicians have gathered weight and height data from 7541 9th grade students (86.7% of all students in 9th grade participating). Overall 25.2% of the population were overweight (body mass index > 90th percentile). Boys were more frequently overweight than girls (29.3% vs. 21.1%) (P < 0.05). 14.1% of the boys and 8.2% of the girls were obese (body mass index > 97th percentile). Categorizing the participating municipalities by socioeconomic status students in municipalities with low status had a significantly higher prevalence of overweight than students in municipalities with high status. Overweight and obesity among Danish school children is a major concern and there are significant social differences in the prevalence of overweight.

[Perinatal audit in the county of Viborg 1994-1996]. / Perinatal audit i Viborg Amt 1994-1996.

The purpose of this article is to present the results of the perinatal audit in Viborg County during the years 1994-1996. The perinatal deaths in Viborg County were classified according to commonly used classifications in perinatal audit evaluations, and mortality rates were calculated according to international definitions and compared with data from the Danish National Birth Register, 1995. During 1994-1996 the perinatal mortality rate decreased from 9.4/1000 deliveries to 6.5/1000 deliveries and the neonatal mortality rate decreased from 3.2/1000 deliveries to 2.4/1000 deliveries. The reductions were not statistically significant. No significant difference in mortality rates between Viborg County and overall national mortality rates in 1995 was shown.

[Transient arterial hypertension following an adder bite in a six six-year-old boy]. / Forbigående arteriel hypertension efter hugormebid hos en knap seks år gammel dreng.

A case of arterial hypertension following an adder bite (Vipera Berus) in a six year-old boy is presented. Initially he had gross local symptoms and mild systemic symptoms, but was not treated with viper venom antiserum. Ten days after the initial admittance he developed symptoms of high blood pressure. Microscopic haematuria was found, and renal function was mildly impaired. It was concluded that the adder bite had caused the temporary rise in arterial blood pressure and renal dysfunction. Treatment with viper venom antiserum is recommended if local symptoms progress to involve the trunk or if systemic symptoms evolve.

Obesity as a predictor of postpartum urinary symptoms.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between pre-pregnancy obesity, and urinary symptoms, especially urinary incontinence, before, during, and 6-18 months after delivery. METHODS: Body Mass Index extracted from obstetric records. Postal questionnaire. MATERIAL AND SETTING: One hundred and eight women with Body Mass Index of at least 30 kg/m2 delivered at the Obstetric Department, Herning Central Hospital, October 1994 to September 1995. As control served 108 matched, normal weight women delivering during the same period. RESULT: Response rate was 83%. Stress incontinence, urgency and the feeling of having a hygienic problem was significantly more common after delivery in both groups, but at any time significantly more common among obese women. Urge incontinence was a numerically small problem after delivery. CONCLUSION: Obesity is a potent risk factor for several urinary symptoms after pregnancy and delivery, and a substantial number of women still have problems 6-18 months postpartum.

The influence of infant birth weight on post partum stress incontinence in obese women.

One hundred ninety four women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 30 kg/m2 who were delivered vaginally between 01 10 93 and 30 09 95 at the obstetric department, Herning Central Hospital, were sent a postal questionnaire about stress incontinence. The response rate was 89.2%. In the heavy birth weight group (n = 4000 g or more) stress incontinence increased from 10.6% before pregnancy to 34.0% post partum. In the low birth weight group 6.9% suffered from stress incontinence before pregnancy increasing to 30.6% post partum. There was no difference in the reporting of mixed or urge incontinence between the two groups.

[Biological monitoring in chromium-plating industry]. / Biologisk monitorering ved forkromningsarbejde.

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the role of biological monitoring as a means of surveillance of exposure in the Danish chromium-plating industry. We collected spot urine samples from 47 employees in five electro-plating plants near Aarhus and compared the results wide 40 non-exposed workers. We found no increase of chromium in urine during a work shift (mean = 0.11 nmol chromium/mmol creatinine, p = .46). The mean urine chromium value among the chromium workers was twice the mean value of the referent population (p = 0.001). There was, however, a considerable overlap between the two populations. All of the urine chromium values were much lower than the proposed American biological exposure indices. The results do not indicate any need for implementation of biological monitoring in the Danish chromium-plating industry, but longitudinal studies concerning possible accumulation of chromium at present occupational exposure levels should be carried out.