scholarly journals Out-of-season increase of puerperal fever with group A Streptococcus infection: a case–control study, Netherlands, July to August 2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (40) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jossy van den Boogaard ◽  
Susan JM Hahné ◽  
Margreet JM te Wierik ◽  
Mirjam J Knol ◽  
Sooria Balasegaram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Control Study ◽  
Puerperal Fever ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Simultaneous Increase ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Group A ◽  
Control Study

We observed an increase in notifications of puerperal group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections in July and August 2018 throughout the Netherlands without evidence for common sources. General practitioners reported a simultaneous increase in impetigo. We hypothesised that the outbreak of puerperal GAS infections resulted from increased exposure via impetigo in the community. We conducted a case–control study to assess peripartum exposure to possible, non-invasive GAS infections using an online questionnaire. Confirmed cases were recruited through public health services while probable cases and controls were recruited through social media. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) with logistic regression analysis. We enrolled 22 confirmed and 23 probable cases, and 2,400 controls. Contact with persons with impetigo were reported by 8% of cases and 2% of controls (OR: 3.26, 95% CI: 0.98–10.88) and contact with possible GAS infections (impetigo, pharyngitis or scarlet fever) by 28% and 9%, respectively (OR: 4.12, 95% CI: 1.95–8.68). In multivariable analysis, contact with possible GAS infections remained an independent risk factor (aOR: 4.28, 95% CI: 2.02–9.09). We found an increased risk of puerperal fever after community contact with possible non-invasive GAS infections. Further study of this association is warranted.

scholarly journals Use of an ingredient-based analysis to investigate a national outbreak of Escherichia coli O157, United Kingdom, July 2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (26) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Gardiner ◽  
Maya Gobin ◽  
Neville Q Verlander ◽  
Isabel Oliver ◽  
Jeremy Hawker
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Menu Item ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
The Common ◽  
Control Study

Public Health England was alerted to a national outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 PT34 in July 2016. Early investigations suggested that the likely source was a salad item consumed outside of the home. A number of cases reported consuming meals at a staff canteen (Venue A) and a garden café (Venue B). Both venues shared a common salad supplier. An investigation was undertaken to measure associations between salad items and illness using an 'ingredient-based analysis'. A retrospective case–control study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect information on menu items consumed at each venue. Chefs at both venues were interviewed to identify ingredients contained within each menu item. Both venues were pooled together for multivariable analysis measuring associations at the ingredient level. Among 203 responses, 24 cases were identified (13 confirmed, two probable and nine possible). Case onsets ranged between 7 and 25 June 2016. Multivariable analysis identified strong evidence that only baby mixed-leaf salad from the common supplier was a vehicle of infection (adjusted odds ratio = 13.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.6–106.5). Identifying the specific salad ingredient associated with illness was made possible by using an ingredient-based analysis. We recommend the increased use of ingredient-based analyses.

scholarly journals Alterations in maternally perceived fetal movement and their association with late stillbirth: findings from the Midland and North of England stillbirth case–control study

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. e020031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander E P Heazell ◽  
Jayne Budd ◽  
Minglan Li ◽  
Robin Cronin ◽  
Billie Bradford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Control Study ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Fetal Movement ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Fetal Movements ◽  
Increased Strength ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Control Study

ObjectiveTo report perception of fetal movements in women who experienced a stillbirth compared with controls at a similar gestation with a live birth.DesignCase–control study.Setting41 maternity units in the UK.ParticipantsCases were women who had a late stillbirth ≥28 weeks gestation (n=291) and controls were women with an ongoing pregnancy at the time of the interview (n=733). Controls were frequency matched to cases by obstetric unit and gestational age.MethodsData were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire which included questions on maternal perception of fetal movement (frequency, strength, increased and decreased movements and hiccups) in the 2 weeks before the interview/stillbirth. Five fetal movement patterns were identified incorporating the changes in strength and frequency in the last 2 weeks by combining groups of similar pattern and risk. Multivariable analysis adjusted for known confounders.Primary outcome measureAssociation of maternally perceived fetal movements in relation to late stillbirth.ResultsIn multivariable analyses, women who reported increased strength of movements in the last 2 weeks had decreased risk of late stillbirth compared with those whose movements were unchanged (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.18, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.26). Women with decreased frequency (without increase in strength) of fetal movements were at increased risk (aOR 4.51, 95% CI 2.38 to 8.55). Daily perception of fetal hiccups was protective (aOR 0.31, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.56).ConclusionsIncreased strength of fetal movements and fetal hiccups is associated with decreased risk of stillbirth. Alterations in frequency of fetal movements are important in identifying pregnancies at increased risk of stillbirth, with the greatest risk in women noting a reduction in fetal activity. Clinical guidance should be updated to reflect that increase in strength and frequency of fetal movements is associated with the lowest risk of stillbirth, and that decreased fetal movements are associated with stillbirth.Trial registrationnumberNCT02025530.

scholarly journals Association between the ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism and pterygium in Sardinian patients: a population based case–control study

BMJ Open ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. e005627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Demurtas ◽  
Germano Orrù ◽  
Pierpaolo Coni ◽  
Luigi Minerba ◽  
Michela Corrias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Control Study ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Genotype Frequencies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Group A ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Study

ObjectiveThe purpose of the study was to examine whether the insertion (I) and/or deletion (D) polymorphism of ACE confers susceptibility to primary pterygium in Sardinian patients in a case–control study.Methods and resultsPolymorphism genotyping was performed by nested PCR using genomic DNA extracted from the whole peripheral blood of participants with (n=251) and without (n=260) pterygium. DD, ID and II genotype frequencies were: 48%, 39% and 13%, respectively, for patients with pterygium, and 15%, 40% and 44%, respectively, for the control group. A statistically significant difference was found between the pterygium and control groups for the ACE I/D polymorphism (p<0.001). Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between the DD and II groups (p<0.01; OR=10.49; 95% CI 6.18 to 17.79), DD+ID versus II group (p<0.01; OR=5.23; 95% CI 3.37 to 8.13) and DD versus ID groups (p<0.01; OR=3.21; 95% CI 2.04 to 5.04).ConclusionsStatistical analysis showed that the DD genotype is associated with an increased risk of developing pterygium, and with a good chance that the D allele may play an important role in the development of disease.

Association of childhood tracheomalacia with bronchiectasis: a case–control study

2021 ◽  
pp. archdischild-2021-322578
Author(s):  
Rahul Thomas ◽  
Anne Chang ◽  
Ian Brent Masters ◽  
Keith Grimwood ◽  
Julie Marchant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Control Study ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Lower Airway ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
European Respiratory Society ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Blinded Manner ◽  
Control Study

ObjectiveChildren with tracheomalacia can develop chronic lower airway infection and neutrophilic inflammation. It is plausible children with tracheomalacia are at increased risk of developing bronchiectasis. We hypothesised that compared with controls, tracheomalacia in children is associated with bronchiectasis.DesignSingle-centre, case–control study.Setting and patients45 children with chest high-resolution CT (c-HRCT) confirmed bronchiectasis (cases) and enrolled in the Australian Bronchiectasis Registry were selected randomly from Queensland, and 90 unmatched children without chronic respiratory symptoms or radiographic evidence of bronchiectasis (disease controls). Cases and controls had flexible bronchoscopy performed for clinical reasons within 4 weeks of their c-HRCT.InterventionsThe bronchoscopy videos were reviewed in a blinded manner for: (a) any tracheomalacia (any shape deformity of the trachea at end-expiration) and (b) tracheomalacia defined by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) statement (>50% expiratory reduction in the cross-sectional luminal area).Main outcome measures and resultsCases were younger (median age=2.6 years, IQR 1.5–4.1) than controls (7.8 years, IQR 3.4–12.8), but well-balanced for sex (56% and 52% male, respectively). Using multivariable analysis (adjusted for age), the presence of any tracheomalacia was significantly associated with bronchiectasis (adjusted OR (ORadj)=13.2, 95% CI 3.2 to 55), while that for ERS-defined tracheomalacia further increased this risk (ORadj=24.4, 95% CI 3.4 to infinity).ConclusionBronchoscopic-defined tracheomalacia is associated with childhood bronchiectasis. While causality cannot be inferred, children with tracheomalacia should be monitored for chronic (>4 weeks) wet cough, the most common symptom of bronchiectasis, which if present should be treated and then investigated if the cough persists or is recurrent.

scholarly journals ABO blood group and risk of glioma: A case control study from Serbia

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 465-469
Author(s):  
Ana Azanjac-Arsic ◽  
Svetlana Miletic-Drakulic ◽  
Katarina Vesic ◽  
Gordana Toncev
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Blood Group ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Case Control ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Group A ◽  
Control Study

Backgraund/Aim. Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors and the etiology is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate possible association between incidence in relation to glioma and certain blood groups. Methods. The case-control study included 100 pathologically confirmed cases of glioma at the Clinical centar of Kragujevac, Serbia, between 2014 and 2015, and 200 age and sex-matched controls without malignant diseases in personal and family history at the same institution. After signing the informed consent, all patients filled out an epidemiological questionnaire. Results. In the analysis comparing the glioma patients with the control group, a significant association (p < 0.0005) was observed in relation to the blood group AB. Furthermore, it was not observed a significant association in relation to the blood group A (p = 0.070), blood group B (p = 0.256), blood group O (p = 0.768) among the compared groups. Also, in the analysis comparing glioma patients with the control group, a significant association was observed in relation to the years spent in hometown (p = 0.035), changing the place of residence (p = 0.007), the body weight (p = 0.002) and the body mass index (p < 0.0005). Univariate binary logistic regression showed that higher number of years spent in the hometown [odds ratio (OR) 1.011 95% confidence interval (Cl) 1.000? 1.023; p = 0.043], increased body weight (OR 0.976 95% Cl 0.959?0.993, p = 0.006) and increased body mass index (OR 0.898 95% Cl 0.839?0.961; p = 0.002) increase the risk of glioma. However, a change of the residence decreases the risk of glioma (OR 0.327 95% Cl 0.147?0.727; p = 0.006). Univariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the individuals with group AB were at 3.5-fold increased risk of developing glioma compared to the individuals with other ABO blood groups (OR 3,429 95% Cl 1,83?6,41; p < 0.0005). Also, there was more male patients with glioma with the blood group AB (p = 0.001). Conclusion. In a present study, we demonstrate that individuals with the group AB have an increased risk of developing glioma.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Its Symptoms’ Panoply: A Case-Control Study of 919 Suspected Cases in Locked-Down Ovar, Portugal

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Regina Sá ◽  
Tiago Pinho-Bandeira ◽  
Guilherme Queiroz ◽  
Joana Matos ◽  
João Duarte Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Suspected Case ◽  
Risk Characteristics ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Control Study

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Ovar was the first Portuguese municipality to declare active community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, with total lockdown decreed on March 17, 2020. This context provided conditions for a large-scale testing strategy, allowing a referral system considering other symptoms besides the ones that were part of the case definition (fever, cough, and dyspnea). This study aims to identify other symptoms associated with COVID-19 since it may clarify the pre-test probability of the occurrence of the disease. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This case-control study uses primary care registers between March 29 and May 10, 2020 in Ovar municipality. Pre-test clinical and exposure-risk characteristics, reported by physicians, were collected through a form, and linked with their laboratory result. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The study population included a total of 919 patients, of whom 226 (24.6%) were COVID-19 cases and 693 were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Only 27.1% of the patients reporting contact with a confirmed or suspected case tested positive. In the multivariate analysis, statistical significance was obtained for headaches (OR 0.558), odynophagia (OR 0.273), anosmia (OR 2.360), and other symptoms (OR 2.157). The interaction of anosmia and odynophagia appeared as possibly relevant with a borderline statistically significant OR of 3.375. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> COVID-19 has a wide range of symptoms. Of the myriad described, the present study highlights anosmia itself and calls for additional studies on the interaction between anosmia and odynophagia. Headaches and odynophagia by themselves are not associated with an increased risk for the disease. These findings may help clinicians in deciding when to test, especially when other diseases with similar symptoms are more prevalent, namely in winter.

scholarly journals Irritable bowel syndrome and Parkinson’s disease risk: register-based studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bojing Liu ◽  
Arvid Sjölander ◽  
Nancy L. Pedersen ◽  
Jonas F. Ludvigsson ◽  
Honglei Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Irritable Bowel Syndrome ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Twin Registry ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Irritable Bowel ◽  
Nested Case Control ◽  
Control Study ◽  
Swedish Twin Registry

AbstractTo examine whether irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was related to the future risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD), we conducted a nested case-control study in the Swedish total population including 56,564 PD cases identified from the Swedish Patient Register and 30 controls per case individually matched by sex and year of birth. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for having a prior diagnosis of IBS were estimated using conditional logistic regression. We furthermore conducted a cohort study using the Swedish Twin Registry following 3046 IBS patients identified by self-reported abdominal symptoms and 41,179 non-IBS individuals. Through Cox proportional hazard models, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for PD risk. In the nested case-control study, 253 (0.4%) PD cases and 5204 (0.3%) controls had a previous IBS diagnosis. IBS diagnosis was associated with a 44% higher risk of PD (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.27–1.63). Temporal relationship analyses showed 53% and 38% increased risk of PD more than 5 and 10 years after IBS diagnosis, respectively. In the cohort analysis based on the Swedish Twin Registry, there was no statistically significantly increased risk of PD related to IBS (HR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.87–1.81). Our results suggest a higher risk of PD diagnosis after IBS. These results provide additional evidence supporting the importance of the gut–brain axis in PD.

scholarly journals Relation of severe COVID-19 to polypharmacy and prescribing of psychotropic drugs: the REACT-SCOT case-control study

BMC Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. McKeigue ◽  
◽  
Sharon Kennedy ◽  
Amanda Weir ◽  
Jen Bishop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Rate Ratio ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Fatal Outcome ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Drug Classes ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to investigate the relation of severe COVID-19 to prior drug prescribing. Methods Severe cases were defined by entry to critical care or fatal outcome. For this matched case-control study (REACT-SCOT), all 4251 cases of severe COVID-19 in Scotland since the start of the epidemic were matched for age, sex and primary care practice to 36,738 controls from the population register. Records were linked to hospital discharges since June 2015 and dispensed prescriptions issued in primary care during the last 240 days. Results Severe COVID-19 was strongly associated with the number of non-cardiovascular drug classes dispensed. This association was strongest in those not resident in a care home, in whom the rate ratio (95% CI) associated with dispensing of 12 or more drug classes versus none was 10.8 (8.8, 13.3), and in those without any of the conditions designated as conferring increased risk of COVID-19. Of 17 drug classes postulated at the start of the epidemic to be “medications compromising COVID”, all were associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19 and these associations were present in those without any of the designated risk conditions. The fraction of cases in the population attributable to exposure to these drug classes was 38%. The largest effect was for antipsychotic agents: rate ratio 4.18 (3.42, 5.11). Other drug classes with large effects included proton pump inhibitors (rate ratio 2.20 (1.72, 2.83) for = 2 defined daily doses/day), opioids (3.66 (2.68, 5.01) for = 50 mg morphine equivalent/day) and gabapentinoids. These associations persisted after adjusting for covariates and were stronger with recent than with non-recent exposure. Conclusions Severe COVID-19 is associated with polypharmacy and with drugs that cause sedation, respiratory depression, or dyskinesia; have anticholinergic effects; or affect the gastrointestinal system. These associations are not easily explained by co-morbidity. Measures to reduce the burden of mortality and morbidity from COVID-19 should include reinforcing existing guidance on reducing overprescribing of these drug classes and limiting inappropriate polypharmacy. Registration ENCEPP number https://EUPAS35558

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