1,721,088 research outputs found
An approach to problem of alcohol-related mortality in the State of Connecticut: morbility from annual discarges at Yale-New Haven Hospital
No full textThe impact of alcohol abuse on the population in the State of Connecticut in recent years was studied. Mortality for three medical conditions, highly related to excessive and prolonged alcohol abuse (viz: 291 alcoholic psychosis; 303 alcoholism; 571 cirrhosis of the liver) in a relative short period of time was analyzed. The trend in alcohol-related deaths from 1970 to 1980 reached the peak in 1972 and declined steadily until 1980. Cirrhosis of the liver represents more than 80% of the total selected alcohol-related causes of death and cirrhosis with mention of alcohol is about 40% of all cases of mortality due to cirrhosis. Additional data of annual discharges at Yale-New Haven Hospital show a decrease of 25% of all alcohol-related diagnoses in 1980 and 1981. Within this category, the highest frequency of annual hospital discharges occurs in the 35-44 age group
Carpal tunnel syndrome incidence in a general population
No full textObjective: To determine the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in a general population of a restricted area in the middle part of Italy. Methods: Prospective study to identify cases of CTS, newly diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms and delay in distal conduction velocity of the median nerve. In the 8-year period from 1991 to 1998, cases were identified by electromyographic services in the Siena area of Local Health District No. 7 of Tuscany (Italy). This area has a population of 120,000. Results: In the 8-year period, 3,142 cases (79.7% women and 20.3% men; mean age, 55 years; range, 13 to 97 years) were identified. The mean annual crude incidence was 329 cases per 100,000 person-years, and the standardized incidence was 276. The sex-specific incidences were 139 for men and 506 for women. The mean annual incidence for men increased moderately but significantly during the study period, whereas that for women remained constant. The age-specific incidence for women increased gradually with age, reaching a peak between 50 and 59 years, after which it declined. In men, there was a bimodal distribution with peaks between 50 and 59 years and between 70 and 79 years. Rural and industrial areas had higher crude and age- and sex-specific incidences than did urban areas. Conclusions: The incidence in the Siena area is about threefold that reported in the Rochester area (Minnesota) and is similar to that of Marshfield (Wisconsin). The different results with respect to US reports may depend on case inclusion criteria and occupational activities of the population at risk
Attività fisica e tempo libero
No full textRegular physical activity produces positive effects on both physical and mental health, improving general well-being. Changes in lipemia and blood pressure were found. On the contrary physical inactivity has been related to higher risk of obesity, diabetes and many other chronic diseases.
The rates of adolescents performing physical activity for more than one hour a day at least 5 days a week, vary from 29.75% (15-year-olds) to 40.58% (11-year-olds). The trend is clearly inversely related with age. The rates of adolescents watching TV for at least 4 hours a day are: 15.66% (11y.o.), 21.90% (13y.o.), 21.7% (15y.o.) without gender differences. The rates of adolescents using computer for at least 3 hours a day are: 10.14% (11y.o.), 10.48% (13y.o.), 9.77% (15y.o.). Computer use is higher for boys
Requests for electromyography from general practitioners and specialists: critical evaluation
No full textIn order to improve the quality of service and limit costs of a local electromyographic service, the requests for electromyographic (EMG) examination issued by general practitioners and specialists were critically evaluated. The diagnoses suspected by referring doctors were compared with medical history and clinical data to analyze (1) the utility of EMG for the final diagnosis and (2) the concordance with that of the neurophysiologist and with the EMG results. In 1994 and 1995, there were 3482 patients referred to the EMG service. Only patients undergoing EMG for the first time (2706 subjects) were considered. In 76.6% of cases, the referring doctor had indicated the suspected diagnosis in the request. This diagnosis was compatible with medical history, symptoms and the results of neurological examination in 57.6% of cases. In 77.2%, the neurophysiologist considered the EMG useful in confirming the clinical diagnosis. The suspected diagnosis was confirmed by the clinical diagnosis of the neurophysiologist and by the EMG results in 54.2% and 45.4% of cases, respectively. When the request was issued by neurosurgeons, neurologists, orthopedists, rheumatologists and physiatrists, the suspected diagnosis was more accurate; as a consequence the EMG was more correctly oriented than when the request was issued by other specialists or by general practitioners. It is recommended that neurological examination be a prerequisite for EMG requests issued by general practitioners
Reinterpretare il ruolo della Sanità Pubblica: Un esempio di integrazione fra città sane OMS e programmazione regionale per la salute
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