Associations of diabetes mellitus with site-specific cancer mortality in the Asia-Pacific region.

BACKGROUND: Owing to the increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes in Asia, and the paucity of studies, we examined the influence of raised blood glucose and diabetes on cancer mortality risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six cohort Asian and Australasian studies provided 367, 361 participants (74% from Asia); 6% had diabetes at baseline. Associations between diabetes and site-specific cancer mortality were estimated using time-dependent Cox models, stratified by study and sex, and adjusted for age. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 4.0 years, there were 5992 deaths due to cancer (74% Asian; 41% female). Participants with diabetes had 23% greater risk of mortality from all-cause cancer compared with those without: hazard ratio (HR) 1.23 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12, 1.35]. Diabetes was associated with mortality due to cancer of the liver (HR 1.51; 95% CI 1.19, 1.91), pancreas (HR 1.78; 95% CI 1.20, 2.65), and, less strongly, colorectum (HR 1.32; 95% CI 0.98, 1.78). There was no evidence of sex- or region-specific differences in these associations. The population attributable fractions for cancer mortality due to diabetes were generally higher for Asia compared with non-Asian populations. CONCLUSION: Diabetes is associated with increased mortality from selected cancers in Asian and non-Asian populations.

Auckland Stroke Outcomes Study. Part 1: Gender, stroke types, ethnicity, and functional outcomes 5 years poststroke.

BACKGROUND: Studying long-term stroke outcomes including body functioning (neurologic and neuropsychological impairments) and activity limitations and participation is essential for long-term evidence-based rehabilitation and service planning, resource allocation, and improving health outcomes in stroke. However, reliable data to address these issues is lacking. METHODS: This study (February 2007-December 2008) sourced its participants from the population-based incidence study conducted in Auckland in 2002-2003. Participants completed structured self-administered questionnaires, and a face-to-face interview including a battery of neuropsychological tests. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze associations between and within functional outcomes and their potential predictors. RESULTS: Of 418 5-year stroke survivors, two-thirds had good functional outcome in terms of neurologic impairment and disability (defined as modified Rankin Score <3), 22.5% had cognitive impairment indicative of dementia, 20% had experienced a recurrent stroke, almost 15% were institutionalized, and 29.6% had symptoms suggesting depression. Highly significant correlations were found between and within various measurements of body functioning (especially neuropsychological impairments), activity, and participation. Age, dependency, and depression were independently associated with most outcomes analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The strong associations between neuropsychological impairment and other functional outcomes and across various measurements of body functioning, activity, and participation justify utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to studying and managing long-term stroke outcomes. Observed gender and ethnic differences in some important stroke outcomes warrant further investigations.

Auckland Stroke Outcomes Study. Part 2: Cognition and functional outcomes 5 years poststroke.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the extent of long-term neuropsychological deficits poststroke and their contribution to functional outcomes is essential for evidence-based rehabilitation and resource planning, and could improve stroke outcomes. However, most existing neuropsychological stroke data are not population-based, examine limited outcomes, and have short-term follow-up. METHODS: This population-based long-term stroke follow-up study examined associations between neuropsychological deficits (memory, executive function, information processing speed [IPS], visuoperceptual/construction ability, language), depression, and a range of functional outcomes and their interrelationships 5 years poststroke. RESULTS: The greatest proportion of the 307 participants exhibited neuropsychological functioning within the average range, and about 30%-50% performed at lower levels on most measures; few performed above the average range. Deficits were most common in executive functioning and IPS, and 30.4% of participants were depressed. While correlation analyses indicate all cognitive domains are significantly related to functional outcomes, multiple regression analyses showed that only IPS and visuoperceptual ability made significant independent contributions to functional outcomes over and above age, depression, and current Barthel Index. Depression also made a significant and independent contribution to functional outcomes. CONCLUSION: A considerable proportion of 5-year stroke survivors experience neuropsychological deficits, with these being more likely to involve IPS and executive functioning. Visuoperceptual/construction abilities, visual memory, and IPS were independently associated with handicap, disability, and health-related quality of life over and above contributions made by age, depression, and stroke severity, suggesting these areas are important targets for rehabilitation to improve overall stroke recovery and should be evaluated in future randomized controlled trials.

A comparison of the associations between risk factors and cardiovascular disease in Asia and Australasia.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is already the leading cause of death in many Asian populations. Relationships between vascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease may differ in Asian and western populations. Previously, a lack of prospective data has prevented the reliable quantification of such differences, which, if they were shown to exist, would suggest that novel cardiovascular prevention and treatment strategies are required for Asia. DESIGN: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 32 studies from the Asia-Pacific region involving 331 100 subjects (75% from Asia; 25% from the predominantly Caucasian populations of Australia and New Zealand). METHODS: Outcomes were death from coronary heart disease, ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Hazard ratios were estimated from Cox models for systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index, diabetes and current cigarette smoking, stratified by study and sex and adjusted for age, the other risk factors and regression dilution. RESULTS: After an average period of follow-up of 4 years there were 2082 deaths from coronary heart disease, 600 from haemorrhagic stroke and 420 from ischaemic stroke. The direction and strength of the associations between risk factors and cardiovascular outcomes were similar in the two regions, although in two cases there were significant differences. Triglycerides were more strongly associated with coronary heart disease in Australia and New Zealand (P = 0.03), whereas SBP showed a stronger relationship with haemorrhagic stroke in Asia (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Classical vascular risk factors act similarly in Asian and Caucasian populations; prevention and treatment strategies should thus be similar. Blood pressure reduction should be particularly effective in Asia.

[Degree of nutritional training of intensive care physicians. A survey in public hospitals of Asunción]. / Nivel de formación en nutrición de médicos intensivistas. Encuesta en hospitales púiblicos de Asunción.

UNLABELLED: Nutritional support in the critically ill patient is an important mainstay within the specialty of intensive care medicine. Patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are usually hypercatabolic and require an adequate nutritional support. Usually, the intensive care physician prescribes nutrition type, its amount, and follow-up of patients; however, the qualification of these physicians regarding clinical nutrition is unknown. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the degree of knowledge on artificial nutrition and the interest on nutrition of intensive care physicians. METHODOLOGY: a prospective survey was done on 60 intensive care physicians from three public hospitals of Asunción (22 staff physicians and 38 internal residents), with a mean age of 34 +/- 6 years, and a mean professional practice of 5.8 +/- 6 years. The survey contained 10 questions and multiple-choice answers to determine the degree of knowledge depending on the grade obtained, and 5 questions on personal training and attitude towards nutritional support in the ICU. RESULTS: 98.3% of surveyed physicians considered that nutritional support of the ICU-admitted patient has an effect on morbidity and mortality of patients. Nevertheless, 88.3% of physicians considered their nutritional training in the ICU as insufficient. Seventy percent do not usually read papers on nutrition on scientific journals. Only 25% of them formulate parenteral nutrition, and 30% have attended a course on nutrition in the ICU within the last 5 years. The final grade for the 10 questions, the maximum grade possible being 10, was 6.1 +/- 1.9 for staff physicians, and 5.59 +/- 2.3 for internal residents (p = 0.3). When analyzing the correct answers by years of practice, the mean grade was 5.2 +/- 2.3 in those with less than 2 years of practice versus 6.4 +/- 1.7 in those with more than 2 years of practice (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: nutritional training in intensive care medicine is incomplete and the degree of knowledge on nutrition in the critically ill patient is insufficient, being lower in physicians with a limited practice in the ICU. These results suggest the urgent need for training on clinical nutrition of intensive care physicians for the care of the critically ill patient being complete.

Nivel de formación en nutrición de médicos intensivistas. Encuesta en hospitales públicos de Asunción / Degree of nutritional training of intensive care physicians. A survey in public Hospitals of Asunción

El soporte nutricional del paciente crítico constituye un pilar importante dentro de la especialidad de medicina intensiva. Los pacientes en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) son frecuentemente hipercatabólicos y requieren de un soporte nutricional adecuado. La prescripción del tipo de nutrición, la cantidad y el seguimiento de los pacientes suele ser indicada generalmente por el médico intensivista, no obstante, no se conoce la calificación de estos médicos en relación a nutrición clínica. Objetivo: Investigar el grado de conocimiento sobre nutrición artificial y el interés por la nutrición en médicos intensivistas. Metodología: La encuesta prospectiva fue realizada a 60 médicos intensivistas de tres hospitales públicos de Asunción (22 especialistas y 38 residentes), con una edad media de 34 ± 6 años y con una experiencia media profesional de 5,8 ± 6 años. La encuesta constaba de 10 preguntas y respuestas de selección múltiple para determinar el grado de conocimiento según la calificación obtenida y 5 preguntas sobre formación propia y actitud frente al soporte nutricional en UCI. Resultados: El 98,3% de los encuestados consideraron que el tratamiento nutricional del paciente internado en la UCI incide sobre la morbimortalidad de los pacientes. A pesar de ello el 88,3% de los médicos consideraron insuficiente su formación en nutrición en UCI. El 70% no lee regularmente artículos de nutrición en revistas científicas. Sólo un 25% de los encuestados formulan nutrición parenteral y un 30% ha participado en algún curso de nutrición en UCI en los últimos 5 años. La calificación final de las 10 preguntas, para el valor máximo de 10, fue de 6,1 ± 1,9 para especialistas en UCI frente a 5,59 ± 2,3 para residentes (p = 0,3). Al analizar las repuestas correctas según los años de experiencia encontramos una media de 5,2 ± 2,3 en los que tienen menos de dos años de experiencia versus 6,4 ± 1,7 en los que tenían más de dos años de experiencia. (p = 0,02). Conclusiones: la formación en nutrición en medicina intensiva no es completa y el grado de conocimiento de nutrición en pacientes críticos es insuficiente, menor en los de experiencia limitada en UCI. Estos resultados apuntan la necesidad inmediata de educación y capacitación en nutrición clínica de los médicos intensivistas para que la atención al paciente crítico sea completa (AU)

Nutritional support in the critically ill patient is an important mainstay within the specialty of intensive care medicine. Patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are usually hypercatabolic and require an adequate nutritional support. Usually, the intensive care physician prescribes nutrition type, its amount, and follow-up of patients; however, the qualification of these physicians regarding clinical nutrition is unknown. Objective: to investigate the degree of knowledge on artificial nutrition and the interest on nutrition of intensive care physicians. Methodology: a prospective survey was done on 60 intensive care physicians from three public hospitals of Asunción (22 staff physicians and 38 internal residents), with a mean age of 34 ± 6 years, and a mean professional practice of 5.8 ± 6 years. The survey contained 10 questions and multiple-choice answers to determine the degree of knowledge depending on the grade obtained, and 5 questions on personal training and attitude towards nutritional support in the ICU. Results: 98.3% of surveyed physicians considered that nutritional support of the ICU-admitted patient has an effect on morbidity and mortality of patients. Nevertheless, 88.3% of physicians considered their nutritional training in the ICU as insufficient. Seventy percent do not usually read papers on nutrition on scientific journals. Only 25% of them formulate parenteral nutrition, and 30% have attended a course on nutrition in the ICU within the last 5 years. The final grade for the 10 questions, the maximum grade possible being 10, was 6.1 ±  1.9 for staff physicians, and 5.59 ± 2.3 for internal residents (p = 0.3). When analyzing the correct answers by years of practice, the mean grade was 5.2 ± 2.3 in those with less than 2 years of practice versus 6.4 ± 1.7 in those with more than 2 years of practice (p = 0.02). Conclusions: nutritional training in intensive care medicine is incomplete and the degree of knowledge on nutrition in the critically ill patient is insufficient, being lower in physicians with a limited practice in the ICU. These results suggest the urgent need for training on clinical nutrition of intensive care physicians for the care of the critically ill patient being complete (AU)

A comparison of lipid variables as predictors of cardiovascular disease in the Asia Pacific region.

PURPOSE: Many guidelines advocate measurement of total or low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglycerides (TG) to determine treatment recommendations for preventing coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This analysis is a comparison of lipid variables as predictors of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Hazard ratios for coronary and cardiovascular deaths by fourths of total cholesterol (TC), LDL, HDL, TG, non-HDL, TC/HDL, and TG/HDL values, and for a one standard deviation change in these variables, were derived in an individual participant data meta-analysis of 32 cohort studies conducted in the Asia-Pacific region. The predictive value of each lipid variable was assessed using the likelihood ratio statistic. RESULTS: Adjusting for confounders and regression dilution, each lipid variable had a positive (negative for HDL) log-linear association with fatal CHD and CVD. Individuals in the highest fourth of each lipid variable had approximately twice the risk of CHD compared with those with lowest levels. TG and HDL were each better predictors of CHD and CVD risk compared with TC alone, with test statistics similar to TC/HDL and TG/HDL ratios. Calculated LDL was a relatively poor predictor. CONCLUSIONS: While LDL reduction remains the main target of intervention for lipid-lowering, these data support the potential use of TG or lipid ratios for CHD risk prediction.

Blood glucose and risk of cardiovascular disease in the Asia Pacific region.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the shape and strength of the association between usual blood glucose and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Asian and Australasian cohorts and to determine the impact of adjusting for other determinants of CVD risk and excluding people with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Relative risk estimates and 95% CIs were calculated from Cox models, stratified by sex and cohort, and adjusted for age at risk on individual participant data from 17 cohort studies. Repeat measurements of blood glucose were used to adjust for regression dilution bias. RESULTS: Fasting blood glucose data were available for 237,468 participants, and during approximately 1.2 million person-years of follow-up, there were 1,661 stroke and 816 ischemic heart disease (IHD) events. Data were also available on 27,996 participants with nonfasting glucose measurements. Continuous positive associations were demonstrated between usual fasting glucose and the risks of CVD down to at least 4.9 mmol/l. Overall, each 1 mmol/l lower usual fasting glucose was associated with a 21% (95% CI 18-24%) lower risk of total stroke and a 23% (19-27%) lower risk of total IHD. The associations were similar in men and women, across age-groups, and in Asian compared with Australasian (Australia and New Zealand) populations. Adjusting for potential confounders or removing those with diabetes as baseline did not substantially affect the associations. Associations for nonfasting glucose were weaker than those with fasting glucose. CONCLUSIONS: Fasting blood glucose is an important determinant of CVD burden, with considerable potential benefit of usual blood glucose lowering down to levels of at least 4.9 mmol/l.

Blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in the Asia Pacific region.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate age-, sex- and region-specific associations of blood pressure with cardiovascular diseases. DESIGN: Relative risk estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated from Cox models, stratified by sex and cohort, and adjusted for age at risk on individual participant data from 37 cohort studies. Repeat measurements of blood pressure were used to adjust for regression dilution bias. SETTING: Studies included in the Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration from Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 425 325 study participants. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Stroke, ischaemic heart disease, total cardiovascular death. RESULTS: During over 3 million person-years of follow-up, 5178 strokes, 3047 ischaemic heart disease events and 6899 cardiovascular deaths were observed. Continuous log-linear associations were seen between systolic blood pressure and the risks of all three endpoints down to at least 115 mmHg. In the age groups < 60, 60-69, and > or = 70 years, a 10 mmHg lower usual systolic blood pressure was associated with 54% (95% CI 53-56%), 36% (34-38%) and 25% (22-28%) lower stroke risk, and 46% (43-49%), 24% (21-28%) and 16% (13-20%) lower ischaemic heart disease risk, respectively. All associations were similar in men and women. Blood pressure was at least as strongly associated with cardiovascular events in Asian populations compared to Australasian populations. CONCLUSIONS: About half of the world's cardiovascular burden is predicted to occur in the Asia Pacific region. Blood pressure is an important determinant of this burden, with considerable potential benefit of blood pressure lowering down to levels of at least 115 mmHg systolic blood pressure.

Reducing the global burden of blood pressure-related cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: To assist in prioritisation for strategies for the control of cardiovascular disease (CVD) worldwide, by estimating the size of the contribution of elevated blood pressure and, more importantly, the likely effects of its modification. DESIGN: We estimated the size of the disease burden attributable to increased blood pressure in Eastern Asia and describe a method for estimating the likely effects of blood pressure lowering strategies. METHODS: Attributable risk estimates were calculated to assess the likely contribution of increased blood pressure to death from CVD in Asia. Estimates were also made of the possible effects of population-wide (2% lower diastolic blood pressure [DBP] for all) and targeted (7% lower DBP for those with DBP > or =95 mm Hg) blood pressure lowering interventions. These estimates were based on data from several sources, including surveys of blood pressure values in Asian populations, estimates of the incidence of cardiovascular disease in Asia, studies of the associations of blood pressure with cardiovascular disease risks in Asia and elsewhere, and randomized trials of blood pressure lowering treatments. RESULTS: The results suggest that DBP values of 80 mm Hg or more account for about 57% of all stroke deaths and about 24% of all coronary heart disease deaths in Eastern Asian populations. The two intervention strategies proposed would each be expected to avert about 1 in 6 stroke deaths and about 1 in 20 coronary heart disease deaths. This would amount to about 1 million deaths per year throughout Asia by 2020, with about half of those deaths averted in the People's Republic of China. The benefits of the two different approaches would be approximately additive. CONCLUSIONS: Increased blood pressure levels are directly responsible for the majority of stroke deaths (more than 50%) and a substantial minority of deaths from coronary heart disease (about 25%) in Eastern Asia. Both modest population-wide blood pressure reductions and more moderate targeted reductions in those with hypertension could be expected to produce large reductions in the burden of cardiovascular disease in these and other Asian regions.

The epidemiology of breast cancer in Pacific women in New Zealand.

AIM: To describe the epidemiology of breast cancer in Pacific women in New Zealand and determine whether ethnic disparities exist. METHODS: Analysis of data obtained from the New Zealand Cancer Registry for breast cancer notifications from 1987-94 inclusive. Statistical analysis compared the age-specific incidence, tumour stage at presentation and pathological tumour type of Pacific, Maori and Other women. RESULTS: Notification data were analysed for 12,914 breast cancer cases including 688 Maori and 227 Pacific women. The age-standardised incidence rate per 100,000 person years for Pacific women (104.5) was statistically significantly (p<0.05) lower than that for Other (139.1) and Maori (148.6) women. Pacific and Maori women presented with significantly less localised tumours (31.4% and 41.3% respectively) than Other women (47.2%). CONCLUSION: Ethnic disparities in breast cancer epidemiology exist in New Zealand. Pacific women may have decreased incidence rates of breast cancer but they and Maori women present with a more advanced stage of breast cancer than Other women. The latter is a modifiable factor which could be targeted by improved participation in screening programmes.

Patient education in practice: an international survey of spinal injury units.

A survey of the use of patient education programmes in spinal injury units was undertaken between 1982-1983. The aim of the survey was to find out the extent and use of educational materials and methods as well as the perceived areas of need. From over 100 units contacted, 52 have responded. The results were consistent across units in the developed world in their use of methods, areas taught and in perceived needs. One conclusion is that a dialogue between units about educational practice, problems and resources might well be of great values.