Biomedical subjects

H L Howe

Publications and source records attributed to H L Howe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer (1973 through 1998), featuring cancers with recent increasing trends.

BACKGROUND: The American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), collaborate to provide an annual update on cancer occurrence and trends in the United States. This year's report contains a special feature that focuses on cancers with recent increasing trends. METHODS: From 1992 through 1998, age-adjusted rates and annual percent changes are calculated for cancer incidence and underlying cause of death with the use of NCI incidence and NCHS mortality data. Joinpoint analysis, a model of joined line segments, is used to examine long-term trends for the four most common cancers and for those cancers with recent increasing trends in incidence or mortality. Statistically significant findings are based on a P value of.05 by use of a two-sided test. State-specific incidence and death rates for 1994 through 1998 are reported for major cancers. RESULTS: From 1992 through 1998, total cancer death rates declined in males and females, while cancer incidence rates declined only in males. Incidence rates in females increased slightly, largely because of breast cancer increases that occurred in some older age groups, possibly as a result of increased early detection. Female lung cancer mortality, a major cause of death in women, continued to increase but more slowly than in earlier years. In addition, the incidence or mortality rate increased in 10 other sites, accounting for about 13% of total cancer incidence and mortality in the United States. CONCLUSIONS: Overall cancer incidence and death rates continued to decline in the United States. Future progress will require sustained improvements in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment.

Black or African American↗

PubMed2000

The annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1973-1997, with a special section on colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: This annual report to the nation addresses progress in cancer prevention and control in the U.S. with a special section on colorectal cancer. This report is the joint effort of the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). METHODS: Age-adjusted rates were based on cancer incidence data from the NCI and NAACCR and underlying cause of death as compiled by NCHS. Joinpoint analysis was based on NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program incidence rates and NCHS death rates for 1973-1997. The prevalence of screening examinations for colorectal cancer was obtained from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the NCHS's National Health Interview Survey. RESULTS: Between 1990-1997, overall cancer incidence and death rates declined. Joinpoint analyses of cancer incidence and death rates confirmed the declines described in earlier reports. The incidence trends for colorectal cancer have shown recent steep declines for whites in contrast to a leveling off of the rates for blacks. State-to-state variations occurred in colorectal cancer screening prevalence as well as incidence and death rates. CONCLUSIONS: The continuing declines in overall cancer incidence and death rates are encouraging. However, a few of the top ten incidence or mortality cancer sites continued to increase or remained level. For many cancer sites, whites had lower incidence and mortality rates than blacks but higher rates than Hispanics, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaska Natives. The variations in colorectal cancer incidence and death rates by race/ethnicity, gender, age, and geographic area may be related to differences in risk factors, demographic characteristics, screening, and medical practice. New efforts currently are underway to increase awareness of screening benefits and treatment for colorectal cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1998

Toward a broader definition of heat-related death: comparison of mortality estimates from medical examiners' classification with those from total death differentials during the July 1995 heat wave in Chicago, Illinois.

The classification of heat-related deaths solely according to body temperatures underestimates the magnitude of heat-related mortality during heat waves. Broader classifications are often used, but their utility in defining the mortality and identifying at-risk populations has not been evaluated. Using death data from the July 1995 heat wave in Chicago, the authors compared heat-related mortality rates based on the classification of heat-related deaths by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office (CCMEO), with excess mortality rates based on total mortality differentials during and before the heat wave. In July 1995, the overall mortality in Chicago was 19 deaths per 100,000 population for heat-related mortality and 24 to 26 deaths per 100,000 population for excess mortality. Across Chicago community areas, the two mortality rates were closely related (r = 0.73-0.79; p < .01), but heat-related mortality rates were lower than excess mortality rates in community areas where excess mortality rates were higher (slope < 1; p < .01), a finding indicating an underestimation of heat-related deaths in such areas. The underestimation could not be explained by uncertainties in estimating excess mortality rates or by differences in socioeconomic and demographic characteristics among communities. These results support using the broader CCMEO classification of heat-related deaths as a relative indicator to target communities for prevention and relief efforts, but not as an adequate measure of actual heat-related mortality in a high-risk neighborhood.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Increased risk of malignancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic, multisystem, autoimmune disorder that primarily affects women. Morbidity and mortality have improved for lupus patients during the last 15 years. An increased risk of malignancy in patients with lupus has been shown in some, but not all studies. The purpose of this study was to ascertain cancer risk in lupus patients by linking two disease registries. METHODS: Participants in the Chicago Lupus Cohort included 616 women with lupus who were residents of Cook County, Illinois. They were seen during 1985-1995 at 4 University, inner city, and suburban inpatient and outpatient clinics in Chicago. Malignancies occurring in these subjects during the study interval, 1985-1995, were identified from the Illinois State Cancer Registry by matching name, birthdate, and social security number. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were estimated for all malignancies in this cohort of lupus patients using age, gender, and all race or race-stratified specific cancer incidence data from Cook County, Illinois. RESULTS: The registry linkage study with the Illinois State Cancer Registry documented that 30 women with lupus had a malignancy. The expected number of malignancies for women in the lupus cohort was 15.0. There were 8 cases of breast cancer and 4 each of lung and cervical cancer. In the remaining 14 women, 12 different types of cancers were noted. The SIR and 95% confidence interval (CI) for malignancy for all women with lupus in the study were 2.0 (1.4, 2.9) and lung cancer was the only individual cancer increased in all women--SIR and 95% CI were 3.1 (1.3, 7.9). In the analysis stratified by race, the risk of malignancy (SIR and 95% CI) was increased in Caucasian women, 2.3 (1.4, 3.9). Breast cancer was the only individual cancer increased in Caucasian women with lupus with an SIR and 95% CI of 2.9 (1.4, 6.4). CONCLUSIONS: Lupus patients have an increased risk of malignancy. Breast, lung, and gynecological malignancies were the most common malignancies observed in the cohort and breast cancer was significantly increased in Caucasian women.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Cancer incidence and age at northern migration of African Americans in Illinois, 1986-1991.

We compared the proportional cancer incidence of Illinois-born African Americans with those who migrated to Illinois from southern US states as children and adults, and with African American residents of the south. Adult Illinois residents, born between 1913 and 1966, who were diagnosed with cancer from 1986 through 1991 were classified by both birthplace and the state and year their social security number was assigned to determine their migration status: native, early (as child) migrant or late (as adult) migrant. African Americans of Atlanta were used to represent southern homeland ratios. Only lung cancer in African American females showed a statistically significant trend among the four groups, with Illinois native having the highest ratio. Although no trend was identified, Illinois natives had statistically significantly different ratios than both migrant groups and the southern homeland for cancers of the oral cavity (males), colon (females) and leukemias (females). The data also suggested that US regional differences in cancer ratios among African Americans exist (cancers of the prostate and testis, and in females, cancers of the oral cavity, esophagus and kidney), and among those African Americans that migrate to the north from the south, some cancer ratios also change (in males, cancers of the stomach colon, bladder and myeloma and in females, rectal cancer). Further, evidence was found in some cancer sites for the effect of the timing of northern migration on cancer risk (cancer of the rectum (males), liver (both sexes), and in females, cancer of the breast, stomach and nervous system).

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Effects of physician outreach programs on rural-urban differences in breast cancer management.

In 1986 to 1987, urban-rural differences in several breast cancer management practices were noted in Illinois data. Several intervention programs for physicians were initiated to improve rural patients' access to state-of-the-art breast cancer management to reduce these differences. This report compares an intensive rural oncology outreach intervention program with a lower intensity physician education program. Medical records from 1986 to 1991 were reviewed on 2,277 breast cancer patients in a 12-county study area. The care received by urban patients was compared with three groups of rural patients: those managed in rural hospitals with intensive oncology outreach programs beginning in 1988 (Rural group 1), and in those rural hospitals with less intensive interventions using an audit with feedback strategy beginning in 1989 (Rural group 2). Rural patients who traveled to one of the urban facilities also were included in the analysis because the less intensive interventions also took place in these facilities, and these patients showed unique patterns of care in the baseline analysis (Rural Group 3). The years 1986 to 1987 constituted the baseline, and 1990 to 1991 constituted the final evaluation period. Chi square and multivariate analyses were conducted to compare the effect of the two types of interventions on changing breast cancer management practices and reducing the urban-rural differences. By the final evaluation period, the high intensity intervention was not more successful in reducing or eliminating the urban-rural differences than the low intensity intervention for many practices. However, often the frequency estimates were higher in Rural Group 1, which received the high intensity intervention. The changes noted in Rural Group 3 were not always the same as in Rural Group 2, even though both received the same low intensity interventions, lending evidence to the observation that travel distance and other nonmedical factors affect the choices of management modalities for these patients. Finally, given the nonrandomized study design, other explanations for the changes could not be ruled out.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Comparability and compatibility: issues in combining data from central cancer registries.

Before combining or comparing data from different registries, one should consider similarities and differences in data collection methods, data quality, and underlying populations. What are important population demographic differences? What about differences in data quality: How can these be measured and evaluated? What factors can affect data compatibility? How can one assess data comparability? If registries are compatible, are they always comparable? Are comparable data from registries compatible data? When data are combined, what issues should be considered to determine whether the combined result is meaningful? These are some of the common questions that need to be addressed to determine whether and when data from different registries should be combined or compared.

Data Collection↗

PubMed1996

Heat-related deaths during the July 1995 heat wave in Chicago.

BACKGROUND: During a record-setting heat wave in Chicago in July 1995, there were at least 700 excess deaths, most of which were classified as heat-related. We sought to determine who was at greatest risk for heat-related death. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study in Chicago to identify risk factors associated with heat-related death and death from cardiovascular causes from July 14 through July 17, 1995. Beginning on July 21, we interviewed 339 relatives, neighbors, or friends of those who died and 339 controls matched to the case subjects according to neighborhood and age. RESULTS: The risk of heat-related death was increased for people with known medical problems who were confined to bed (odds ratio as compared with those who were not confined to bed, 5.5) or who were unable to care for themselves (odds ratio, 4.1). Also at increased risk were those who did not leave home each day (odds ratio, 6.7), who lived alone (odds ratio, 2.3), or who lived on the top floor of a building (odds ratio, 4.7). Having social contacts such as group activities or friends in the area was protective. In a multivariate analysis, the strongest risk factors for heat-related death were being confined to bed (odds ratio, 8.2) and living alone (odds ratio, 2.3); the risk of death was reduced for people with working air conditioners (odds ratio, 0.3) and those with access to transportation (odds ratio, 0.3). Deaths classified as due to cardiovascular causes had risk factors similar to those for heat-related death. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of the 1995 Chicago heat wave, those at greatest risk of dying from the heat were people with medical illnesses who were socially isolated and did not have access to air conditioning. In future heat emergencies, interventions directed to such persons should reduce deaths related to the heat.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Chorionic villus sampling and transverse digital deficiencies: evidence for anatomic and gestational-age specificity of the digital deficiencies in two studies.

Several but not all studies indicate that chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is associated with an increased risk for transverse limb deficiencies, including digital deficiencies. It has been suggested that variations in results regarding the transverse digital deficiencies (TDDs) may be due to the use of different classification criteria. We present the combined analysis of two case-control studies, the U.S. Multistate CVS (US) study and the Italian Multicentric Birth Defects (IP-IMC) study, using two different definitions of TDDs. We compared the frequency of CVS exposure in control infants with that among those infants with any number of affected digits (any TDD), and those with all five digits of at least one limb affected (extensive TDDs). The estimated relative risk (RR) for any TDD following CVS was 10.6 (IPIMC) and 6.6 (US). For the extensive TDDs, the RR was 30.5 (IPIMC) and 10.7 (US). In both studies, extensive TDDs were less than 25% of all TDDs. Compared to all TDDs, extensive TDDs were more likely to occur after CVS performed earlier in the first trimester (before 10-11 weeks' gestation). These findings suggest a relationship between the timing of CVS and the severity of TDDs; indicate that using a restrictive definition of TDDs (all five digits affected) may limit the ability to evaluate the association between CVS and TDDs in populations in whom CVS is usually performed at or after 10 weeks' gestation; and highlight the necessity to consider gestational age in any evaluation of the relative risk for limb deficiencies associated with CVS.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Cancer incidence of Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites in Cook County, Illinois.

BACKGROUND: Variations in cancer incidence and mortality rates between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites have been reported in several regions in the United States. This report describes the ethnic variation in selected cancer sites in Cook County, Illinois. METHODS: Cancer incidence, age-specific, and age-standardized relative rates, and 95% confidence intervals were estimated among Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites in Cook County, Illinois, for 1986-1987. Hispanics were identified using surnames and maiden names with the Generally Useful Ethnic Search System (GUESS). RESULTS: Rates of lung cancer in Hispanics were approximately half of those observed for non-Hispanic whites. Hispanics also had lower rates of colon, breast, and bladder cancer. Hispanic females had rates of invasive cervical cancer that were approximately two times higher than those of non-Hispanic whites. CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with previous studies and suggest that Hispanics residing in the United States may retain some of the risk profile of those living in their home country.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Increased risk for transverse digital deficiency after chorionic villus sampling: results of the United States Multistate Case-Control Study, 1988-1992.

Although numerous infants have been reported with transverse limb deficiencies after their mothers had undergone chorionic villus sampling (CVS), it has been unclear whether the procedure caused these defects. We report the results of the first multistate case-control study to assess and quantify the risk for specific limb deficiencies associated with CVS. Case subjects were 131 infants with nonsyndromic limb deficiency ascertained from 7 population-based birth defect surveillance programs, and born from 1988-1992 to mothers 34 years of age or older. Control subjects were 131 infants with other birth defects. We ascertained exposure to CVS from medical records and maternal and physician questionnaires. We assessed rates and timing of exposure to CVS, and estimated relative and absolute risks for anatomic subtypes of limb deficiency. The odds ratio for all types of limb deficiency after CVS from 8-12 weeks' gestation was 1.7 (95% confidence interval, 0.4-6.3). For specific anatomic subtypes, the strongest association was for transverse digital deficiency (odds ratio = 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-38.6). The risk for transverse digital deficiency increased with earlier gestational exposure (P < 0.01 for trend). We estimated that the absolute risk for transverse digital deficiency in infants after CVS was 1 per 2,900 births (0.03%). Exposure to CVS was associated with a sixfold increase in risk for transverse digital deficiency. The causality of this association is supported by its strength, specificity, biologic plausibility, and consistency with the results of previous studies. Although some centers already inform patients about risk for limb deficiency, this study quantifies the magnitude of risk associated with CVS from 8-12 weeks' gestation.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed1995

Using central cancer-registry data to monitor progress in early detection of breast and cervical cancer (Illinois, United States).

Cases of breast and cervical cancer account for almost 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in Illinois (United States) women. Information on screening rates, however, is not collected routinely for the populations at risk. This paper reports on surveillance indicators designed to identify target populations and evaluate programs. All cases of cancers of the breast (n = 38,824, including in situ) and invasive cervix (n = 2,763) with a known stage, among women aged 40 to 74, were identified through the population-based Illinois State Cancer Registry for 1986 to 1992. The proportion of breast cancer cases with in situ disease-stage and cervical cancer cases with a late invasive stage were selected as surveillance indicators. Differences by age and race were evaluated, as were age- and race-specific trends. The data suggest that Black women, aged 40 to 74 years, and White women, aged 65 to 74 years, should be targeted for breast-cancer-screening interventions. All women, aged 40 to 74, should be targeted for enhanced cervical-cancer-screening interventions. Significant trends in in situ breast cancer diagnoses were apparent in all age-race groups, however no significant decline in invasive cervical cancer was found for any age-race group. The indicators identified the age- and race-specific disparities among potential target populations for breast and cervical cancer screening.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Case-control studies of cancer in Illinois farmers using data from the Illinois State Cancer Registry and the U.S. Census of Agriculture.

A series of case-control studies have been carried out to compare farmers reported to the Illinois State Cancer Registry (ISCR) with other males reported to the ISCR between 1986 and 1988. Data on the number of farms in each Illinois county producing given agricultural commodities were obtained from the United States Census of Agriculture and used as surrogate exposure indicators. Employment as a farmer was found to be associated with cancer of the eye [odds ratio (OR) = 6.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.78, 23.71], lip (OR = 4.42, 95% CI = 2.46, 7.94), prostate (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.99, 1.35) and leukaemia (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.01, 2.25). Wheat and soybean production were found to be positively associated with leukaemia. Hay and beef production were found to be positively associated with cancer of the prostate.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Relation between population density and cancer incidence, Illinois, 1986-1990.

Many investigators have examined urbanization gradients in cancer rates. The authors used incidence data for 1986 through 1990 from the Illinois State Cancer Registry, a large, population-based incidence registry, to identify race-specific, urban-rural trends in cancer rates. Using population density, they categorized an urbanization gradient into four groups. Five-year, average annual age-adjusted, site-specific incidence rates were calculated for all sex-race strata within each population density group. Monotonic and statistically significant cancer incidence trends across all race-sex groups were found for cancers of the esophagus, liver, lung, female breast and cervix, male prostate, nervous system, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and all cancers combined. No trend was observed for blacks that was not also seen for whites; however, significant trends for cancer of the pancreas and Hodgkin's disease were seen for whites but not for blacks. Colon cancer in males was the only sex-specific trend in cancer that can occur in both sexes. Analytic studies for sites with consistent urban-rural trends across all race-sex groups may be fruitful in identifying the aspect of population density, or other unmeasured factor, that contribute to these trends.

Female↗

PubMed1993

Birth-weight-specific infant mortality risks and leading causes of death. Illinois, 1980-1989.

OBJECTIVE: To describe birth-weight-specific differences in mortality risks between white and black Illinois infants by age at death and leading cause of death. DESIGN: Population-based birth cohort study. SETTING: State of Illinois. PATIENTS: All Illinois infants who were born from 1980 through 1989 and reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The death certificates of these infants were matched to corresponding birth certificates using a computerized linkage algorithm. INTERVENTIONS: None. RESULTS: The high black infant mortality rate is attributable to higher mortality risks in the neonatal period for black, normal birth-weight infants and in the postneonatal period for all black infants, regardless of birth weight. CONCLUSION: Efforts to narrow the black-white gap in infant mortality and to reduce black mortality should not be limited to reduction of low birth weight and premature birth in black infants but should also include efforts to reduce risk factors associated with mortality among normal birthweight black infants.

Birth Weight↗

PubMed1993

Cancer in Illinois construction workers: a study.

A series of case-control studies using subjects from the Illinois State Cancer Registry have been conducted. Logistic regression was used to control for age and history of tobacco and alcohol use. Construction workers were consistently found to be younger than other subjects and to have used alcohol and tobacco more often. Significant positive associations between cancer of the stomach and welding (odds ratio [OR] = 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09, 4.09), lung cancer and employment in the construction industry (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.26), and lung cancer and welding (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.03, 2.76) were found. Significant negative associations between cancer of the colon and welding (OR = .54, 95% CI = .29, 1.00), cancer of the prostate and employment in the construction industry (OR = .76, 95% CI = .65, .89), cancer of the prostate and plumbing (OR = .44, 95% CI = .38, .50), cancer of the prostate and metal working (OR = .43, 95% CI = .19, .93), and bladder cancer and employment as an electrician (OR = .60, 95% CI = .36, 1.00) suggests that construction workers did not consistently experience excesses of cancers known to be associated with tobacco use, and an overall excess of sites not known to be related to tobacco use may have occurred.

Aged↗

PubMed1993

Risk factors for lung cancer among nonsmoking Illinois residents.

The purpose of this study was to examine possible risk factors for lung cancer among nonsmokers. The Illinois State Cancer Registry was used to identify all nonsmoking lung cancer cases diagnosed between 1985 and 1987. Subjects were classified as nonsmokers only if their medical record specifically stated that they had never smoked during their lifetime. These cases were compared with nonsmoking colon cancer cases. White male nonsmoking lung cancer cases were more likely to have worked in the construction industry than controls [odds ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-2.3] and to have worked in the bus service and urban transit industry (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.0-6.9), in the trucking service industry (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.3-3.6), and in blast furnaces, steelworks, and rolling and finishing mills (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.0-3.6). White female cases were more likely to have worked as registered nurses than were the controls (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.0-3.5). Negative associations between lung cancer and farming were found in both white males (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.5-0.7) and white females (OR = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.01-0.6). Several other less plausible associations between employment and lung cancer were also found. To determine whether urban residence and associated air pollution increased the risk of lung cancer for nonsmokers, rates among nonsmokers in Cook County were compared with those in the remainder of Illinois. Cook County rates of nonsmoking lung cancer were elevated among white females and nonwhite females, but not among males. Residences of the white female and nonwhite female lung cancer cases were mapped to determine whether clustering within Chicago had occurred. The absence of observable clustering suggests that the excess of female lung cancer cases in Cook County is not attributable to pollution.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed1993

Age differences in the breast cancer management of rural women.

This article describes the effect of age on the pattern of access to breast cancer care among rural women diagnosed in 1986-1989. Cases were identified by the Illinois State Cancer Registry and information on breast cancer management was obtained through review of hospital records and physician survey. Case follow-back was more than 99% complete. State-of-the-art breast cancer management was defined by the Physician Data Query (PDQ) and included diagnostic evaluation, prognostic evaluation, and stage-specific definitive treatment. The data did not indicate age differences in bilateral diagnostic mammography, performance of hormone receptor assays, radiation therapy, and stage-appropriate treatment. Tumor staging and axillary node dissection did differ by age with significant negative trends in the multivariate model. Also, women younger than 55 years were the most likely to receive separate diagnostic biopsy, limited surgery, and chemotherapy, whereas women 55 to 74 years were most likely to receive hormone therapy. Although rural populations may experience barriers to some aspects of state-of-the-art breast cancer management, age does not always exacerbate them.

Age Factors↗