The prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis in Australia 1997 - 2004: a systematic review

Sexual Health ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire M. Vajdic ◽  
Melanie Middleton ◽  
Francis J. Bowden ◽  
Christopher K. Fairley ◽  
John M. Kaldor

Objectives: To determine by systematic review the prevalence of genital chlamydial infection in Australia between 1997 and 2004. Methods: Electronic literature databases, reference lists, and conference proceedings were searched and health agencies and jurisdictions were contacted for published and unpublished reports. Studies were eligible if they offered a diagnostic nucleic acid amplification test to consecutive individuals presenting during the study period. As a summary measure of the available data, mean prevalence rates, weighted by sample size and irrespective of participant age, were calculated for the population sub-groups. Results: 40 studies of 50 populations and 40587 individuals met the inclusion criteria, but only one of these was population-based. The use of non-systematic methodologies prevented an assessment of time trends and a statistical comparison of population sub-groups. The mean overall prevalence of genital chlamydial infection was 4.6% (95% CI 4.4–4.8%), reflecting over-sampling of high-risk groups. The mean community-based rates were 7.5% (95% CI 6.4–8.6%) and 8.7% (95% CI 7.9–9.7%) for Indigenous men and women, and 1.5% (95% CI 1.1–1.9%) and 1.4% (95% CI 0.9–2.0%) for non-Indigenous men and women. The overall mean estimates for other groups were 3.3% (95% CI 3.0–3.7%) for female attendees of sexual health and related clinics, 5.6% (95% CI 4.9–6.4%) for adolescents and young adults, 3.3% (95% CI 2.8–3.9%) for sex workers, and 1.6% (95% CI 1.2–2.0%) for urethral infection in men who have sex with men. Clinic-based estimates were generally, although not consistently, higher than community-based estimates. There is no serial population-based data for sexually active young men and women, but the available age-specific rates suggest under-ascertainment by the routine surveillance systems. Conclusions: The prevalence of genital chlamydial infection in Indigenous Australians and young adults is unacceptably high and quality epidemiological studies are urgently required to supplement the routinely collected national notification data.

2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (06) ◽  
pp. 962-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Johansson ◽  
Lars Johansson ◽  
Maria Wennberg ◽  
Marcus Lind

Background The relationship between alcohol intake and risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is unclear. Men and women differ in their drinking habits, which may affect a possible association. Objective This article investigates the association between alcohol consumption, alcohol dependence and VTE in the total population as well as in men and women separately. Methods We performed a prospective, population-based cohort study in northern Sweden. Study participants were 108,025 (51% women) persons aged 30 to 60 years who underwent a health examination between 1985 and 2014. We assessed alcohol consumption and defined alcohol dependence using a questionnaire. The outcome was a validated first-time VTE. Results The mean follow-up time was 13.9 years, and 2,054 participants had a first-time VTE. The mean alcohol consumption was 3.5 standard drinks weekly in men and 1.5 in women. Alcohol dependence was found in 10% of men and 3% of women. There was an association between alcohol consumption (hazard ratio [HR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.03 per standard drink weekly) as well as alcohol dependence (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06–1.52) and VTE after adjustments. In men, the risk of VTE increased over quartiles of weekly alcohol consumption (p for trend 0.02), with a HR of 1.22 (95% CI, 1.01–1.47) for the highest quartile. Alcohol dependence was associated with VTE in men (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.07–1.59). In women, there were no significant associations. Conclusion High alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence were associated with increased risk of first-time VTE in men, but not in women.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Girardi ◽  
Claudia Allemani ◽  
Michel P Coleman

Abstract Background Brain tumours represent an important cause of cancer-related death in adolescents and young adults. Most are diagnosed in low-income and middle-income countries. We aimed to conduct the first systematic review of time trends and geographical variation in survival in this age group. Methods We included observational studies describing population-based survival from astrocytic tumours in patients aged 15-39 years. We queried six electronic databases from database inception to 30 September 2018. This review is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018111981. Results Among 5,245 retrieved records, 20 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Only one study was partly conducted in middle-income countries. Five-year survival from astrocytoma (broad morphology group) varied between 48% and 71% (1973-2004), without clear trends or geographic differences. Adolescents with astrocytoma had better outcomes than young adults, but survival values were similar when non-malignant tumours were excluded. During 2002-2007, five-year survival for WHO grade I-II tumours was in the range 75-93% in England, Germany, and the US, but lower in South-Eastern Europe (59%). Five-year survival for anaplastic astrocytoma varied between 40% and 55% (2002-2007). Five-year survival from glioblastoma was in the range 15-23% (1991-2009). Conclusions Survival from astrocytic tumours remained somewhat steady over time, with little change between 1973 and 2009. Survival disparities were difficult to examine, because nearly all the studies were conducted in affluent countries. Studies often adopted the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, which, however, did not allow to accurately describe variation in survival. Larger studies are warranted, including under-represented populations and providing more recent survival estimates. Keywords Population-based survival, brain tumours, adolescents, young adults, time trends.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Aszrin ◽  
Shah M Azarisman ◽  
Rahman A Jamaluddin ◽  
Razak A Tariq ◽  
Noor M Noriah

Introduction: Prehypertension precedes overt hypertension and has been acknowledged by many guidelines. Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in Malaysia. Hypertension prevalence is at 42.6% and population-based control is poor at 26.8%. The objective of the study is to ascertain the cardiovascular risk profile of prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive young adults against age-matched controls in rural Malaysia. Methods: 484 (four hundred and eighty four) subjects attending primary care clinic were screened. 91 (Ninety one) young adults with pre/mild hypertension and normotensive, agematched controls were enrolled. The blood pressure and biochemical profiles for both groups were assessed and compared. Results: Fifty-four subjects and 37 controls were enrolled. Amongst subjects, 46.3% had prehypertension and 53.7% had mild hypertension. Mean values compared to age-matched controls for MAP were 102.68 ± 7.48 vs 83.25 ± 6.08 mmHg (p< 0.001), LDL 3.75 ± 0.95 vs 3.32 ± 0.93 mmol/L (p=0.03), FBG 4.65 ± 0.54 vs 4.33 ± 0.42 mmol/L (p=0.03), BMI 28.81 ± 5.16 vs 24.12 ± 4.91 (p< 0.001). The mean BP was significantly associated with BMI, FBG, triglycerides, HDL and the TC/HDL ratio. Conclusions: Greater BMI, FBG, HDL, triglyceride levels and TC/HDL ratio characterised the young adults with pre/mild hypertension. The data suggests that hypertension in young adults is secondary to metabolic syndrome.


Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Fernandez-Mendoza ◽  
Zhaohui Gao ◽  
Myra Qureshi ◽  
Baadal A Vachhani ◽  
Jiangang Liao ◽  
...  

Introduction: Clinical and population-based studies in adults have shown that sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with impaired endothelial function. However, there is a lack of population-based studies demonstrating an association between SDB and endothelial dysfunction in young adults using a developmental approach. Hypothesis: Exposure to SDB since childhood is associated with long-term impaired flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in young adulthood. Methods: We tested this hypothesis in a subsample of the Penn State Child Cohort, a population-based study of 700 children (median age 9y), of whom 421 were followed-up 6-13 years later during adolescence (median age 16y), and 178 have been followed-up 11-19 years later during young adulthood (median age 24y). Subjects (54.5% female, 20.8% racial/ethnic minority) underwent in-lab polysomnography to ascertain the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) at all three time points, and ultrasounds to assess FMD in young adulthood. Based on the AHI truncated at ≥5 events/hour of sleep to include subjects already on positive airway pressure therapy, we averaged the exposure to AHI over the three time points (cAHI). The study outcomes were FMD, as a continuous measure, and endothelial dysfunction, defined as FMD<10.3% based on the median of the sample. Linear and logistic regression models simultaneously adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, overweight and length of follow-up. Results: The mean cAHI was 1.31 (1.35) ranging from 0 to 5 and the mean FMD was 0.11 (0.04) ranging from 0.03 to 0.25. Linear models showed that cAHI was associated with significantly lower FMD in young adulthood (β = -0.006; 95% CI = -0.011, -0.0013; p = 0.014). To test the robustness of the analysis, we applied the same model with the square root of FMD as the outcome and similar results were obtained (β = -0.009; 95% CI = -0.016, -0.0017; p = 0.015). Logistic models showed that each point increase in cAHI was associated with 51% higher odds of endothelial dysfunction in young adulthood (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.14, 2.06; p = 0.006). Conclusions: The preliminary data of this ongoing longitudinal study indicates that exposure to SDB during early stages of life is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease in young adults from the general population.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1403-1409 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. KENDLER ◽  
C. O. GARDNER ◽  
C. A. PRESCOTT

Background. Self-esteem (SE), a widely used construct in the social sciences, is usually conceptualized as a reflection of socialization and interpersonal experiences that may differ considerably between the genders.Methods. The Rosenberg self-esteem scale was assessed at personal interview in both members of 3793 unselected twin pairs (1517 male–male, 856 female–female and 1420 male–female) from the population-based Virginia Twin Registry. Gender effects on SE were assessed by both analysis of variance and biometrical twin modelling.Results. The mean SE score was slightly but significantly lower in women v. men, and in women who grew up with a male v. a female co-twin. Twin modelling suggested that: (i) individual differences in self-esteem in both men and women were best explained by genetic and individual-specific environment factors; (ii) heritability estimates were similar in women (32%) and in men (29%); and (iii) the same genetic factors that influenced SE in women also influenced SE in men. Analyses supported the validity of the equal environment assumption for SE. The heritability of SE cannot be explained by the moderate correlation between SE and symptoms of depression.Conclusions. These results are inconsistent with prominent gender-related aetiological models for SE, which postulate that individual differences arise from socialization experiences both within and outside the home of origin which differ widely for the two genders. Instead, a significant proportion of the population variance in SE is due to genetically-influenced temperamental variables that are the same in men and women.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Esme Fuller-Thomson ◽  
Marla Battiston ◽  
Tahany M. Gadalla ◽  
Yael Shaked ◽  
Ferrah Raza

Individuals with arthritis are vulnerable to depression. In this study, we calculated time to remission from depression in a representative community-based sample of depressed Canadians with arthritis who were followed for 12 years. We conducted secondary analysis of a longitudinal panel study, the National Population Health Survey, which was begun in 1994/95 and has included biennial assessment of depression since that time. Our analysis focused on a total of 216 respondents with arthritis who were depressed at baseline. The mean time to remission from depression was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier procedure and compared across categories of each of the potential predictors. The percentage of those no longer screening positive for depression was calculated at two years after baseline. At two years after baseline, 71% of the sample had achieved remission from depression. Time to remission was significantly longer for those depressed adults who were under the age of 55, those who reported more chronic pain at baseline, those with comorbid migraine, and those who experienced childhood physical abuse or parental addictions. These findings highlight the importance of screening for these factors to improve the targeting of interventions to depressed patients with arthritis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 889-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. McDermott ◽  
Virginia J. Noland

Researchers examined the mean sum scores of 15 semantic differential scales to specify the evaluative index assigned to the term condom by 173 undergraduate students at a large public university. Of interest was whether evaluative indices were different for men and women, and for condom ever-users versus never-users. There was no sex difference in semantic evaluation of condom. However, the mean sum score of persons with prior condom experience reflected a significantly more positive rating compared to persons who were never-users. Because use of condoms is associated with an evaluative index that is statistically more favorable, encouraging sexually active young adults to try condoms may promote consistency of use, and thereby reduce undesired pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Girardi ◽  
Claudia Allemani ◽  
Michel P Coleman

Abstract Background Brain tumors represent an important cause of cancer-related death in adolescents and young adults. Most are diagnosed in low-income and middle-income countries. We aimed to conduct the first, to our knowledge, systematic review of time trends and geographical variation in survival in this age group. Methods We included observational studies describing population-based survival from astrocytic tumors in patients aged 15-39 years. We queried 6 electronic databases from database inception to December 31, 2019. This review is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018111981. Results Among 5640 retrieved records, 20 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All but 1 study focused on high-income countries. Five-year survival from astrocytoma (broad morphology group) mostly varied between 48.0% and 71.0% (1973-2004) without clear trends or geographic differences. Adolescents with astrocytoma had better outcomes than young adults, but survival values were similar when nonmalignant tumors were excluded. During 2002-2007, 5-year survival for World Health Organization grade I-II tumors was in the range of 72.6%-89.1% in England, Germany, and the United States but lower in Southeastern Europe (59.0%). Five-year survival for anaplastic astrocytoma varied between 39.6% and 55.4% (2002-2007). Five-year survival from glioblastoma was in the range of 14.2%-23.1% (1991-2009). Conclusions Survival from astrocytic tumors remained somewhat steady over time, with little change between 1973 and 2009. Survival disparities were difficult to examine, because nearly all the studies were conducted in affluent countries. Studies often adopted the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, which, however, did not allow to accurately describe variation in survival. Larger studies are warranted, including underrepresented populations and providing more recent survival estimates.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wafa Dhouib ◽  
Jihen Maatoug ◽  
Imen Ayouni ◽  
Nawel Zammit ◽  
Rim Ghammem ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The aim of our study was to determine through a systematic review and meta-analysis the incubation period of COVID-19. It was conducted based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). Criteria for eligibility were all published population-based primary literature in PubMed interface and the Science Direct, dealing with incubation period of COVID-19, written in English, since December 2019 to December 2020. We estimated the mean of the incubation period using meta-analysis, taking into account between-study heterogeneity, and the analysis with moderator variables. Results This review included 42 studies done predominantly in China. The mean and median incubation period were of maximum 8 days and 12 days respectively. In various parametric models, the 95th percentiles were in the range 10.3–16 days. The highest 99th percentile would be as long as 20.4 days. Out of the 10 included studies in the meta-analysis, 8 were conducted in China, 1 in Singapore, and 1 in Argentina. The pooled mean incubation period was 6.2 (95% CI 5.4, 7.0) days. The heterogeneity (I2 77.1%; p < 0.001) was decreased when we included the study quality and the method of calculation used as moderator variables (I2 0%). The mean incubation period ranged from 5.2 (95% CI 4.4 to 5.9) to 6.65 days (95% CI 6.0 to 7.2). Conclusions This work provides additional evidence of incubation period for COVID-19 and showed that it is prudent not to dismiss the possibility of incubation periods up to 14 days at this stage of the epidemic.


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