Passive smoking in New Zealand.
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Humans↗
Biomedical subjects
J Reinken
Publications and source records attributed to J Reinken.
Prevalence of dysmenorrhoea in Wellington women.
A survey of 1826 women in the Wellington region was carried out. Participants were asked about their general and gynaecological health and their menstrual, contraceptive and obstetric history. Detailed questions were asked about the menstruating women's last menstrual cycle. Half the women reported some dysmenorrhoea, and 520 had 'significant period pain.' Severity, duration and timing of pain were indexed. There was maximum prevalence at 20 to 24 years and positive associations with smoking, short cycles, and moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms. There was association with method of contraception but no association with sedentary occupation or body mass index. The apparent negative relationship with parity was not significant when age, smoking and premenstrual symptomatology were taken into account.
Adolescent↗
Is obstetrics safe in small hospitals? Evidence from New Zealand's regionalised perinatal system.
Perinatal mortality rates were determined for all public maternity hospitals in New Zealand for the years 1978-1981. Level 1 maternity hospitals-mostly small rural units staffed by general practitioners and midwives-had lower birth-weight-specific perinatal mortality rates in all but the lowest birth-weight categories than the better equipped hospitals to which they refer. This probably reflects the cautious antenatal practices of general practitioners, and the effective regionalisation of perinatal services in New Zealand. It is also possible that there is an advantage, particularly for normal birth-weight children, in being born in smaller obstetric units. There is no evidence that a satisfactory outcome depends on a minimum number of deliveries.
Birth Weight↗
Incontinence in the elderly: prevalence and prognosis.
In a randomly selected sample of 559 subjects 65 years and over living in the community and in institutions the prevalence of urinary incontinence was found to be 11.6%. In those 80 years and over the prevalence rose to 21.7%. Those with dementia were more likely to be incontinent than those with normal mental function. In the majority of those over 80 who were incontinent, the incontinence was associated with either confusion or a combination of factors. The estimated population prevalence of faecal incontinence for those 65 years and over was 3.1%. Urinary incontinence was associated with an increased risk of death. In a review of subjects after three years 73.5% of the incontinent group had died while only 34.9% of those originally continent had died. Because incontinent elderly people are commonly frail, with a number of conditions contributing to the disorder, the extent of investigation of the disorder needs to be carefully assessed for each patient.
Aged↗
Factors predicting mortality in a total population sample of the elderly.
Between 1977 and 1979 an age stratified sample of people 65 years and over living in the community and in institutions in Gisborne, New Zealand was assessed medically and socially. This sample was followed and reviewed in 1982. At follow up 308 subjects were seen, 227 had died, and 24 had left the area. Factors predicting mortality were assessed. Using a log rank test, factors predicting mortality included age, impaired mental function, functional disability, urinary incontinence, prescribed drugs, pulse pressure, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), systolic pressure, cardiovascular drugs, and falls. However, a number of these factors increased in prevalence with age. Using a Cox's regression analysis for factors predicting mortality after controlling for age, the following were found to be significant predictors: impaired mental function; functional disability; urinary incontinence; prescribed drugs, ESR and falls. A proportional hazards general linear model showed that the major predictors of mortality in old age were markers of established disease.
Aged↗
Drugs taken by a population based sample of subjects 65 years and over in New Zealand.
Drug taking by a population based sample of 559 subjects aged 65 years and over was investigated. The median number of drugs prescribed for those 65-79 years was 1.5 drugs per subject and for those 80 years and over was 2.1 drugs per subject. In those 80 years and over, over 30% were taking diuretics, over 20% were taking digoxin and over 30% were taking psychotropic drugs. Analysis of those taking six or more drugs showed that the number of drugs prescribed could be reduced by avoiding duplication of drugs with similar action, avoiding unnecessary drugs and avoiding drugs of no proven value. The majority of subjects knew the purpose of their medications, were able to read the prescription instructions and complied with these instructions. Sharing and hoarding of tablets were uncommon.
Aged↗
Dementia in old age and the need for services.
A randomly selected sample of subjects aged 65 years and over was investigated to determine the prevalence of dementia. The sample, which was stratified by age, consisted of 559 subjects living in the community and institutions. It was estimated that 7.7% of those aged 65 years and over suffered from dementia. The disorder affected both sexes equally. There was a marked increase in the prevalence with age so that in those 80 years and over the prevalence rate of dementia was found to be 19%. Those suffering from dementia were significantly more likely to be receiving institutional care than those with normal intellectual function. Those with dementia used significantly more domiciliary services than did those with normal mental function and were more likely to require additional services not already provided. There was a particular need for district nursing supervision, day care and relief admissions. The high prevalence rate of dementia in the elderly, and the high use those suffering from the disorder make of both domiciliary and institutional services, should be appreciated in the planning of services for the elderly.
Aged↗
The giving and taking of psychotropic drugs in New Zealand.
The levels of compliance with psychotropic medication in three New Zealand community-based samples are reported. At younger ages psychotropics were not frequently used, only 2 percent of 15 to 34 year olds reporting use during a 24 hour period. Psychotropic drug use was most prevalent among elderly people. However, a substantial proportion, about half, of those prescribed for took lower or less frequent doses than directed.
Adolescent↗
Prevalence of ocular disease in a population study of subjects 65 years old and older.
During a two-year period a randomly selected age-stratified sample of subjects 65 years old and older living in Gisborne, New Zealand, was examined by an ophthalmologist to investigate visual acuity and the prevalence of the major disorders of vision in old age. A total of 481 subjects (a response rate of 86.2%) completed the study. When the results were weighted to remove the effect of stratified sampling, the following prevalence rates for the population 65 years and over were obtained: cataract, 30.1% with no sex difference and an increasing prevalence with increasing age; senile macular degeneration, 6.4% with no sex difference and an increasing prevalence with increasing age; glaucoma, 3.6% with no sex difference except for women 90 years old or older who had a higher rate. The prevalence of glaucoma increased with increasing age in women, but in men there was no clear pattern; diabetic retinopathy, 0.5%. In the population 65 years old and older, we estimated that 81% of the men and 68.8% of the women had best corrected visual acuities of 6/9 (20/30) or better in the better eye.
Age Factors↗
Anaemia in old age: a study of prevalence and causes.
A study of the prevalence and causes of anaemia in 559 randomly selected people aged 65 years and over living in their own home, in residential homes or in hospitals was made. In the population 65 years and over 7.1 percent were found to have a haemoglobin level less than 120 g/l and 2.5 percent a haemoglobin level less than 110/gl. The majority who were anaemic suffered from multiple and chronic diseases. The dietary intake of the anaemic was similar to those with a normal haemoglobin. In women aged 80 years or more, the haemoglobin level decreased significantly with age. Women had lower haemoglobin levels than men.
Age Factors↗
Why skip the general practitioner and go to the accident and emergency department?
The families of 441 children seen in accident and emergency departments over a 10 week period were interviewed to find the reasons why they bypassed their general practitioner and took the child to the department. One-quarter of the children did see the general practitioner first. Almost 40 percent were taken straight to the accident and emergency department because it was seen as providing more appropriate treatment than the general practitioner, while nearly one-quarter went because the department was seen as more accessible. The closer the child's home was to either the general practitioner or the accident and emergency department, the more likely that service was to be used. Children from lower socio-economic status families were more likely than other children to see their general practitioner first.
Child↗
Thyroid disease in the elderly in the community.
In a clinical and biochemical study of 559 subjects over the age of 65 years living in the community, in residential homes and in hospital, seven patients with thyroid disease were found. This gave a prevalence rate of 0.94% of hypothyroidism and 0.47% of hyperthyroidism in people aged 80 years or more. Five of these seven subjects were suspected clinically of having thyroid disease. Therefore routine biochemical screening does not appear to be justified. Within each of the age strata there was no significant change in serum thyroxine with age. Women had significantly higher serum thyroxine levels than men, in the group aged 75 years or more.
Aged↗
Falls in old age: a study of frequency and related clinical factors.
An analysis of falls experienced by a stratified population sample of 553 subjects, 65 years and over, was performed. It is estimated that one third of people 65 years and over experience one or more falls in a year. To analyse the association of physical and social variables with falls, the falls were divided into pattern falls and occasional falls. Pattern falls were those which, on history and examination, were assessed as arising from only minimal external upset and primarily from a disorder of balance or postural stability in the subject. Occasional falls were those which had arisen under circumstances which would be liable to cause a fit person to fall. Bivariate analysis showed those having pattern falls tended to have more functional disability, to have increased impairment of mobility, to use more aids to mobility, to be more depressed, to have lower mental test scores and to need more professional support. Women experiencing pattern falls also tended to be older and have poorer vision, while men had lower systolic blood pressure. Discriminant analysis showed that the principal effective 'predictors' of pattern falls in women were functional disability, the need for support services and informal help and the use of walking aids. In men they were functional disability and the need for support services and informal help.
Accidents↗