Biomedical subjects

H O King

Publications and source records attributed to H O King.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1988

Mortality from diabetes in Nauru. Results of 4-yr follow-up.

A population survey in 1982 confirmed that Nauruan adults suffer from an extremely high prevalence (24%) of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A follow-up study of the survey subjects was conducted in 1986. The aim was to assess the burden of diabetes to Nauruans in terms of premature mortality. Age-adjusted mortality rates for diabetic subjects were significantly increased when compared with normal subjects (relative risks for 4-yr mortality were 4.53 in men, P less than .01, and 3.96 in women, P less than .05). Although there was an excess number of deaths among diabetic subjects compared with normal subjects and subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, there was no significant association between cause of death and diabetes.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Plasma insulin response among Nauruans. Prediction of deterioration in glucose tolerance over 6 yr.

A longitudinal study of 266 randomly selected nondiabetic Nauruans [215 with normal tolerance and 51 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)] over 6 yr showed that deterioration in glucose tolerance status had occurred in 61 subjects. Of the subjects with initially normal tolerance, 34 (16%) progressed to IGT and 14 (6.5%) progressed to diabetes. Thirteen of the subjects with IGT (25%) progressed to diabetes. Subjects were examined in 1975 through 1976, and follow-up examinations were performed in 1982. After age, a high 2-h plasma insulin response to a glucose load was the factor most predictive of progression from normal tolerance to both diabetes (P less than .001) and IGT (P less than .01). Both a high 2-h glucose level and greater obesity independently predicted progression from IGT, and a diminished 2-h insulin response just failed to significantly improve the model (P less than .06). The negative parameter of the insulin response associated with deterioration from IGT differed significantly (P less than .01) from the positive-parameter estimate of the response associated with progression to diabetes from normal tolerance (P less than .01), implying a qualitative difference between these nondiabetic subgroups. The use of a glucose-insulin interaction term to predict progression to diabetes for all nondiabetic subjects confirmed this difference; this term's addition improved the model (P less than .01), and progression to diabetes was associated with a high insulin response for 2-h glucose less than 7.8 mM but a low response for 2-h glucose greater than 7.8 mM.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Obesity, hypertension, carbohydrate disorders and the risk of chronic diseases. Is there any epidemiological evidence for integrated prevention programmes?

The major cause of coronary heart disease, hypertension, non-insulin-dependent diabetes and obesity in adults in developed countries appears to be the result of risk factors that are introduced by way of their life-styles. Many developing countries are also noting increases in morbidity and mortality from these diseases. There is increasing evidence of common risk factors in the aetiology of these chronic disorders and two or more of these diseases may coexist in the same subjects. This evidence provides a strong rationale for a community-based, integrated approach to the primary prevention of such non-communicable diseases by the reduction of the level of risk factors. This may be achieved by community-based programmes which stress the importance of a healthy life-style, such as the practice of good nutrition, weight reduction in the obese, increased physical activity, the avoidance of stress and a reduction in alcohol and cigarette consumption.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed1986

The association of non-insulin-dependent diabetes with parity and still-birth occurrence amongst five Pacific populations.

Previous reports have shown the prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes to be high amongst several populations living in the South and Central Pacific region, and a number of factors including a sedentary life-style, urban residence, obesity and genetic factors have been implicated in its aetiology. Amongst some populations increasing parity has been shown to be associated with abnormal glucose tolerance, but the cross-sectional data available did not suggest any such association amongst the five Pacific Island populations surveyed. Still-birth rates are high amongst all these populations, particularly so amongst the older women, and several methods of analysis suggest that abnormal glucose tolerance is associated with a significantly increased risk of still-birth. This association appears more marked amongst younger women in all populations, with the overall relative risk of a still-birth occurrence for diabetic women aged less than 45 years being 2.6 (95% confidence interval being 1.4-4.8), and for women aged less than 45 years with impaired glucose tolerance being 2.2 (95% confidence interval being 1.3-3.7). As many of the women diabetic at the time of surveys would not have been during their pregnancies, these risk estimates are probably underestimates. Longitudinal studies may suggest even higher figures. Nonetheless the results of these surveys suggest that the high prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in these populations may be at least partly responsible for their high levels of still-birth occurrence.

Adult↗

PubMed1978

Variations in the lung size of children in Papua New Guinea: genetic and environmental factors.

In Papua New Guinea, rural village children of both sexes living in the highlands (1500--2000 m) were found to have mean values of forced vital capacity 27 per cent greater than children at sea level. Urban children with an apparently lower level of habitual activity had a lung size similar to that of rural children living at the same altitude. In a number of healthy children of coastal parents reared in the highlands and of highland parents reared on the coast, the size of the lung was, in general, appropriate for the altitude rather than for the parentage. These findings suggest that the highland--coastal difference is probably environmental rather than genetic in origin.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1975

Kuru. Epidemiological developments.

Important changes have occurred in the epidemiology of kuru since the last review in 1970. There has been a continued decline in the annual incidence, particularly in females. There is a change in the average age of onset in both sexes, and cases are no longer seen in children and adolescents. Alteration in the geographical distribution has resulted in kuru now being confined almost wholly to the South Fore region.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Kuru.

Theis report discusses problems involved in the diagnosis of kuru. The gentic and epidemiological pattern is also reviewed. This reveals a continuing overall reduction in kuru incidence with the disappearance of juvenile cases and increasing age of male kuru patients a reduction in the age of female cases. The significance of these trends in relation to the transmission of kuru is discussed.

Adolescent↗