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W T Hamilton

Publications and source records attributed to W T Hamilton.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Frequency of attendance in general practice and symptoms before development of chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) research has concentrated on infective, immunological, and psychological causes. Illness behaviour has received less attention, with most research studying CFS patients after diagnosis. Our previous study on the records of an insurance company showed a highly significant increase in illness reporting before development of CFS. AIM: To investigate the number and type of general practitioner (GP) consultations by patients with CFS for 15 years before they develop their condition. DESIGN OF STUDY: Case-control study in 11 general practices in Devon. SETTING: Forty-nine patients with CFS (satisfying the Centers for Disease Control criteria), 49 age, sex, and general practice matched controls, and 37 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were identified from the general practices' computerised databases. METHOD: The number of general practice consultations and symptoms recorded in three five-year periods (quinquennia) were counted before development of the patients' condition. RESULTS: The median number of consultations was significantly higher for CFS patients than that of matched controls in each of the quinquennia: ratios for first quinquennium = 1.88, P = 0.01; second quinquennium = 1.70, P = 0.005; last quinquennium = 2.25, P < 0.001. More CFS patients than controls attended for 13 of the 18 symptoms studied. Significant increases were found for upper respiratory tract infection (P < 0.001), lethargy (P < 0.001), and vertigo (P = 0.02). Similar results were found for CFS patients when compared with MS. CONCLUSIONS: CFS patients consulted their GP more frequently in the 15 years before development of their condition, for a wide variety of complaints. Several possibilities may explain these findings. The results support the hypothesis that behavioural factors have a role in the aetiology of CFS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Genetic testing.

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Genetic Counseling↗
PubMed1991

Coronary risk-disk.

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Coronary Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Angiographic evidence of absent ductus arteriosus in severe right ventricular outflow obstruction.

The angiocardiograms of 5 newborn infants with autopsy and/or surgically-proven congenital absence of the ductus arteriosus (ADA) and right ventricular outflow obstruction (Group A), and of 14 neonates with pulmonary atresia complex and patent ductus arteriosus (Group B) were reviewed. Aortic size was similar in both groups; however, the diameters of the right and left pulmonary arteries were much smaller in Group A than in Group B (right pulmonary artery: 2.6 vs 4.5 mm, P less than 0.005; left pulmonary artery: 2.5 vs 4.3 mm, P less than 0.005). Extensive bronchial collaterals were observed in Group A but not in Group B. Tricuspid aortic valve stenosis was present in 2 patients in Group A but in none in Group B. The diagnosis of ADA may be made in newborn infants with severe right ventricular outflow obstruction if the angiocardiograms reveal hypoplasia of the pulmonary arteries, extensive bronchial collaterals, and nonvisualization of the ductus arteriosus. Other suggestive features include aortic valve stenosis and/or right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery.

Angiocardiography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Increased illness experience preceding chronic fatigue syndrome: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Almost all published work on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has involved retrospective surveys of cases, which may introduce recall bias. Only medical records collected before diagnosis of CFS can eliminate this. METHODS: Using data collected several years prior to the development of the illness, we performed a case control study, comparing the reported illness records of all people who subsequently made an insurance claim as a result of CFS, with those of future multiple sclerosis (MS) claimants, and those of non-claimant controls (NC). RESULTS: The study encompassed 133 CFS, 75 MS and 162 NC cases. CFS cases had recorded significantly more illnesses at time of proposal for insurance than the two control groups, and had significantly more claims between proposal and diagnosis of their disorder. Almost all disease categories were reported higher in future CFS sufferers, lethargy having the highest odds ratio after adjustment in a multivariate model. INTERPRETATION: The results of this paper on CFS patients who claim permanent health insurance do not support a specific viral or immunological explanation for CFS. We conclude that abnormal illness behaviour is of greater importance than previously recognised.

Adult↗