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Hugo E C Kesteloot

Publications and source records attributed to Hugo E C Kesteloot.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Differences in breast cancer mortality worldwide: unsolved problems.

Breast cancer mortality remains a major cause of female mortality. Between 1970 and 2000 both important increases and decreases in breast cancer mortality rates occurred. Large differences in breast cancer mortality exist among countries worldwide. Contradictory findings concerning the role of lifestyle, especially nutrition, remain to be explained. Possible explanations for the observed mortality differences will be explored. Breast cancer mortality rates have been correlated with other causes of mortality; both cancer and noncancer, using data obtained from 47 countries worldwide (World Health Organization). They have also been correlated with dietary data, especially concerning fat (animal and vegetal) intake (Food and Agricultural Organization). Highly significant correlations existed between breast cancer mortality and mortality from other cancers (e.g. colon, stomach) obtained from both sexes. These correlations have been confirmed over a period of more than 40 years. Highly significant positive correlations also existed with the intake of animal (saturated) fat, covering a period of 30 years. In multivariate regression, only the relationship with the colon, prostate cancer and total energy intake remained significant. Ecological data point to nutritional factors, especially animal fat, as major promoters of breast cancer mortality worldwide. This contrasts with the results of most cohort studies. These contradictory results and the relationship between breast cancer mortality and other causes of mortality remain to be explained. More refined and standardized dietary data are necessary.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

On the relationship between all-cause, cardiovascular, cancer and residual mortality rates with age.

BACKGROUND: The existence of a highly significant linear relationship between the natural logarithm (ln) all-cause mortality rate and age at the population level is firmly established (r>0.99). The slope and intercept of the equation, however, vary markedly between populations. Whether this relationship also applies to specific disease entities has not been established. METHODS: Use was made of mortality rates for all-cause, total cardiovascular, total cancer and residual diseases. The midpoint of 5-year age classes between the ages of 35 and 84 years, obtained for both sexes, were analysed. The mean of the three latest available years, from the period 1997-1999 were used. RESULTS: The relationship also applies to a slightly lesser degree to the relationship between total cardiovascular mortality rate, consisting predominantly of ischemic heart disease and stroke, and age (r>0.99). Marginally better relationships are obtained using a second-degree polynomial equation between ln all-cause mortality rate and age, age as independent variables. Total ln cancer mortality rate, however, behaves differently with a significant negative deviation of the mortality rate from linearity at older ages. Residual mortality (non-cancer, non-cardiovascular) mortality shows a mirror pattern to cancer mortality. This residual mortality expressed as a percentage of all-cause mortality varies markedly between populations. The level of some major constituents of the residual mortality rates (respiratory diseases, pneumonia, ill-defined causes and senility) also varies markedly. CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of the variation suggests misclassification or misdiagnosis of several important disease entities, for example, between senility and stroke or between pneumonia and lung cancer. This questions the validity of disease-specific mortality rates especially at older ages, making their comparison between countries less reliable.

Adult↗