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PubMed2001

Enumeration of non-communicable disease in rural South Africa by electronic data linkage and capture-recapture techniques.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming increasingly common and important in developing countries, yet their enumeration is problematic. We have attempted to enumerate NCD patients in a rural district of KwazuluNatal, South Africa, using the techniques of electronic data linkage and capture-recapture (CR). We examined four major NCDs (hypertension, diabetes, asthma and epilepsy). Basic patient details were recorded onto EpiInfo software over a 6-week period, from the main hospital clinic at Hlabisa, as well as the 10 outlying peripheral health clinics. Using electronic data linkage of lists from the main hospital, the peripheral clinics, and repeat prescription cards, a district NCD register was produced of 2455 patients. The mean age was 51 +/- 16 years (1 SD) and 76% were female. Of the total NCD patients, 62% had hypertension (age 57 +/- 12 years, 82% female), 16% epilepsy (age 35 +/- 17 years, 49% female), 13% asthma (age 45 +/- 19 years, 60% female) and 12% diabetes (age 54 +/- 13 years, 61% female). Estimated population crude prevalence rates for known NCD cases on the register were 7.4% for hypertension, epilepsy 0.2%, asthma 0.2% and diabetes 0.2%. We also attempted a CR analysis to assess completeness of data, by comparing overlap between patients attending peripheral clinics, and the central Hlabisa Hospital clinic. Matching by name, age, and diagnosis proved feasible, but there was little overlap, and CR calculations were invalid because of the relative independence of sources. We conclude that NCDs are common in rural Africa, and that a simple NCD district register is a potentially feasible and inexpensive option. Capture-recapture analysis is feasible, but requires suitable lists with acceptable overlap of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Hospitalisation trends due to selected non-communicable diseases in Sri Lanka, 2005-2010.

OBJECTIVES: To project hospitalisation trends due to selected non-communicable diseases (NCD) from 2005 to 2010. DESIGN: Morbidity data, maintained at the Medical Statistics Unit of the Ministry of Health, from 1981 to 2000, were used to model trends of hospitalisation due to diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disease and ischaemic heart disease. Linear and quadratic trends were used to model morbidity trends. RESULTS: For all three diseases considered, the increase in the incidence of hospitalisation is exponential. An increase is estimated in the incidence of hospitalisation by 36%, 40% and 29% due to diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disease and ischaemic heart disease, respectively, in 2010 as compared to 2005. The greatest burden and the largest increase in the rate of hospitalisation will be due to hypertensive disease. CONCLUSIONS: There will be an exponential increase in hospitalisation due to diabetes, hypertension and ischaemic heart disease. The health sector should provide additional resources to meet the demand.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed2001

[Mortality study of major non-communicable diseases in Shanghai, from 1951 to 1998].

OBJECTIVE: To study the transition of major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Shanghai. METHODS: Demographic and mortality data since early 1950s in Shanghai was used. Linear regression model was employed to evaluate the mortality trends of diseases. RESULTS: During the past five decades, age-adjusted mortality had been gradually decreasing, with leading cause of deaths shifting from infectious diseases to NCDs. In 1998, the average life expectancy reached 77.03, and the three leading causes of deaths, i.e. tumor, cardio-vascular diseases and respiratory diseases, accounted for 75% of all deaths. The crude mortality of major NCDs increased consistently. However, the age-adjusted mortality trends of major NCDs decreased during the past two decades after a 30-year's increase. Turnover took place in the late 1970s for tumors, for coronary heart in late 1980s diseases and in the early 1990s for strokes. For malignant tumors, the age-adjusted mortality of breast cancer, cancer of colon and rectum did not significantly decrease in the past two decades. CONCLUSION: The increase of crude mortality of major NCDs was mainly due to the trend of aging in Shanghai. It is suggested that the risk factors of major NCDs had decreased to some extent but the behavior and dietary related risk factors remained serious.

China↗
PubMed2005

Is environmental degradation the root cause for communicable diseases in kerala? A case study.

In Kerala (India), environmental degradation, consequent to urbanization, industrialization and skewed agricultural practices, is on the rise. The urban area has acute land and water pollution due to these activities. In Thiruvananthapuram district, especially in certain pockets of squalor and poor environmental quality, communicable diseases are being reported frequently. The present study aims to highlight the causes of environmental degradation which are directly related to the health issues of Thiruvananthapuram district. Based on this study some recommendations are also made for enhancing the environmental quality of the region.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed1986

Communicable disease and mental health: restrictions of the person.

Laws for the protection of public health control either the environment, as in the case of sanitation or air pollution regulations, or human conduct. This Article deals with limitations imposed upon individuals in order to prevent the spread of communicable disease and the harm resulting from mental illness. The restraints discussed include compulsory examination and immunization, and forms of compulsory detention or commitment. This Article is a revised chapter of the author's Public Health Law Manual, first published by the American Public Health Association in 1965. The Manual is intended to help public health professionals to understand the law relevant to their practice, and to apply it more effectively.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[General practitioners and mandatory surveillance of communicable diseases: a descriptive study in Puglia (South Italy)].

Public health passive surveillance systems are often affected by low sensitivity level. Enhancement of the reporting by general practitioners is important to improve the sensitivity of notification system. The aim of this work was to evaluate the mandatory notification activities of communicable diseases by general practitioners (GPs) and family pediatricians (FPs) in the Local Health Unit Bari/4, during the years 1999-2000. This study shows that GPs and FPs notified only 39% and 28% of notifiable diseases respectively in 1999 and 2000, although some of these diseases have a very low hospitalization rate. The majority of doctors never notified any case of infectious disease during the period. The study shows also that the doctors who was older and who had larger list of patients had a greater compliance regarding notification. Therefore, a specific training of family doctors and a better facility in the notification procedures (for example, by phone or e-mail) should be very important to improve the sensitivity of surveillance system.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed2000

Communicable disease and infection control: the surveillance contribution.

In its much-publicized report (2000) the National Audit Office (NAO) has emphasized the important part surveillance plays in determining infection rates and infection control in general. Community nurses may be forgiven for pointing out that this report concentrates on hospitals, however it strongly recommends that surveillance be extended out into the community. This is a sensible move as studies quoted in the NAO report indicate that 50-70% of surgical wound infection occur during the post-discharge period. The boundaries between acute and primary care are becoming ever more blurred; increasing numbers of susceptible patients are being managed in the community and the number of invasive procedures carried out is rising in line with government policy. Action to control infection extends beyond the narrow boundaries of health care to involve the whole population, and although the idea of extending the surveillance of healthcare related infection from hospital to community settings appears to be relatively new, the surveillance of infectious diseases that occur in the community is not. It is, in effect, a key proactive infection control activity which facilitates targeted and effective infection control measures. This article aims to define and explain surveillance as it relates to infection control and communicable disease control in the community by using examples from history, the current Meningitis C vaccination programme and the surveillance of hospital-acquired infection in the USA.

Communicable Disease Control↗