RESUMEN
For improvements to the safety and welfare of racehorses to be possible, it is essential to have access to basic descriptive information about the veterinary incidents encountered during horseracing. A 3 year surveillance study (1996-1998) was conducted by The Jockey Club into racing injuries, other postrace clinical problems and fatalities from all 59 British racecourses (mainland Britain only) to identify risk factors. During the survey there were 222,993 racing starts: 106,897 starts in flat races on turf (47.9%), 26,519 starts in flat races on all-weather surfaces (11.9%), 30,932 starts in chases on turf (13.9%), 51,786 starts in hurdle races on turf (23.2%) and 6,859 starts in National Hunt flat races (3.1%). Information was recorded about age of horses, racing surfaces and clinical events observed or attended by a veterinary team of 2 clinicians and one veterinary surgeon employed by the racing authority. Of the 2358 clinical events reported (1.05% of all starts), 1937 involved the musculoskeletal system and 421 involved other body systems. Six hundred and fifty-seven incidents (0.29% of starts) resulted in death or euthanasia. Eighty-one percent of limb injury reports involved forelimbs and 46% involved flexor tendons/suspensory ligaments. Nonlimb problems included epistaxis (0.83/1000 starts), 'exhausted horse syndrome' (0.47/1000 starts) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (0.20/1000 starts). Incidents including fatalities per 1000 starts were 24.7 from chases, 19.45 from hurdle races, 8.46 from National Hunt flat races and 3.97 from flat races. The overall tendon injury was higher in chases than in hurdle races, even though age-specific rates of tendon injury were higher in hurdle races than in chases. The risk of injuries per start increased significantly with age, while softer racing surfaces were associated with fewer fatalities and injuries than firmer surfaces. The survey described in this paper has provided an up-to-date description of the fatal and non-fatal horseracing incidents under conditions on mainland Britain, enabling progress to be made towards improving the safety and welfare of racehorses.
Asunto(s)
Bienestar del Animal , Caballos/lesiones , Factores de Edad , Animales , Fibrilación Atrial/veterinaria , Epistaxis/veterinaria , Pisos y Cubiertas de Piso , Incidencia , Traumatismos de la Pierna/veterinaria , Factores de Riesgo , Seguridad , Deportes , Reino Unido , Tiempo (Meteorología)RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of atopic symptoms in children throughout the UK. METHOD: A questionnaire survey of 12-14 year olds throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and the Scottish Islands using the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC) protocol. RESULTS: A total of 27 507 (86%) children took part. Recent rhinoconjunctivitis was reported by 18.2%, with 6.2% reporting symptoms between March and September; 16.4% reported itchy flexural rash in the past 12 months. The prevalence of atopic symptoms was higher in girls and subjects born within the UK. The prevalence of severe wheeze was highest in subjects reporting perennial rhinoconjunctivitis, as opposed to summertime only symptoms. Winter rhinoconjunctivitis was associated with severe wheeze and severe flexural rash. One or more current symptoms were reported by 47.6% of all children and 4% reported all three symptoms. CONCLUSION: In general, geographical variations were small but the prevalence of symptoms was significantly higher in Scotland and northern England. The study demonstrates the importance of atopic diseases both in their own right and in association with asthma.
Asunto(s)
Hipersensibilidad Inmediata/epidemiología , Adolescente , Distribución por Edad , Asma/epidemiología , Niño , Conjuntivitis Alérgica/epidemiología , Eccema/epidemiología , Femenino , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalencia , Ruidos Respiratorios , Rinitis Alérgica Estacional/epidemiología , Estaciones del Año , Distribución por Sexo , Reino Unido/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Respiratory diseases are common in childhood and may lead to chronic disease in adult life; environmental factors probably play an important part in their causation. METHODS: A survey of respiratory symptoms in children aged 12-14 years was conducted throughout Great Britain as part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Information was obtained on certain aspects of the home environment in order to assess their importance as risk factors. RESULTS: The response rate was 79.3%, and 25,393 children in 93 schools participated. In a multiple regression analysis, wheeze was reported more often in nonmetropolitan areas and in association with active smoking, passive smoking, the presence of a furry pet, bottled gas, paraffin, and other unusual heating fuels; small regional differences persisted. Current smoking, previous smoking, and passive smoking accounted for 10.4%, 6.8%, and 6.5%, respectively, of wheezing in the past 12 months, and furry pets accounted for 5.0%. Cough and phlegm were associated with active and passive smoking and with the miscellaneous fuels; similar associations were found for rhinitis, but were less consistent for rhinitis occurring in spring and summer. Gas cooking showed little association with respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Passive as well as active smoking is an important cause of respiratory symptoms in adolescence. Pets seem to increase the risk of wheeze and rhinitis, and fumes from certain unusual heating fuels may have adverse effects. Home environment and geographical location have independent effects on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms.
Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire Interior/efectos adversos , Vivienda , Trastornos Respiratorios/etiología , Adolescente , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalencia , Análisis de Regresión , Trastornos Respiratorios/epidemiología , Ruidos Respiratorios/etiología , Rinitis/etiología , Factores de Riesgo , Fumar/efectos adversos , Reino Unido/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To investigate variations in the prevalence of self reported symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of asthma in 12-14 year old children. DESIGN: Self completion questionnaire. SETTING: Great Britain. SUBJECTS: All pupils aged 12-14 years in a stratified cluster sample of 93 large mixed secondary schools in 1995. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self reported prevalence of symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of asthma at four geographical levels. RESULTS: 27,507 questionnaires were completed (85.9% response rate). The national 12 month prevalence of any wheezing, speech limiting wheeze, four or more attacks of wheeze, and frequent night waking with wheeze was 33.3% (n = 9155), 8.8% (2427), 9.6% (2634), and 3.7% (1023) respectively. The prevalence of ever having had a diagnosis of asthma was 20.9% (5736). In total, 19.8% (5438/27,507) of pupils reported treatment with anti-asthma drugs in the past year, but, of pupils reporting frequent nocturnal wheeze in the past year, 33.8% (342/1012) had no diagnosis of asthma and 38.6% (395/1023) denied receiving inhaler therapy. The 12 month prevalence of wheeze was highest in Scotland (36.7%, 1633/4444), but in England and Wales there was no discernible north-south or east-west gradient. Wheeze prevalence was slightly higher in non-metropolitan areas (35.0%, 6155/17,605) than in metropolitan areas (30.3%, 3000/9902). The prevalence of self reported asthma diagnosis and inhaler use showed no discernible national, regional, north-south, or east-west geographical pattern but was higher in non-metropolitan areas. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of self reported symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of asthma was high among 12-14 year olds throughout Great Britain with little geographical or urban-rural variation. Underdiagnosis and undertreatment were substantial.
Asunto(s)
Asma/epidemiología , Adolescente , Asma/diagnóstico , Asma/terapia , Niño , Humanos , Prevalencia , Características de la Residencia , Salud Rural/estadística & datos numéricos , Reino Unido/epidemiología , Salud Urbana/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: An association of allergic sensitization with small families and low birth order has been described and attributed to a protective effect of early infection. The influence of like-sex and unlike-sex siblings has not been investigated, although the severity of viral infections may be greater if acquired from unlike-sex siblings. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of self-reported inhalant allergy with family composition. METHODS: Reports of allergy to grass, dust or cats by 11042 pregnant women recruited to a longitudinal study of pregnancy and childhood in Avon, UK, were analysed in relation to respondent's age, maternal age and sibship composition (older and younger brothers and sisters) by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported inhalant allergy decreased with increasing numbers of brothers (test for trend: P < 0.0001), but was unrelated to the number of sisters. The unadjusted prevalences for subjects with none, one, two and three or more brothers were 26%, 23%, 20% and 17%, respectively. The corresponding prevalences for numbers of sisters were 23%, 24%, 22% and 23%. After adjustment for total sibship size, offspring of older mothers were more likely to report allergy (test for trend: P < 0.001), but there was no association with position in the sibship. CONCLUSION: Although it is not possible to determine whether brothers specifically, or unlike-sex siblings in general, are inversely associated with inhalant allergy, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that patterns of sibling interaction within young families influence the risk of future aeroallergen sensitization.
Asunto(s)
Alérgenos/efectos adversos , Composición Familiar , Hipersensibilidad Respiratoria/etiología , Autorrevelación , Adolescente , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , Persona de Mediana Edad , Núcleo Familiar , Embarazo , Prevalencia , Hipersensibilidad Respiratoria/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Factores Sexuales , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Reino Unido/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate whether associations of self-reported hay fever with sibship size, birth order, infant feeding, and childhood socioeconomic status reflect variations in sensitization to common aeroallergens. METHODS: One thousand three hundred sixty-nine persons born throughout Britain in 1958 were followed up to age 34 to 35 years. The cohort included 1050 subjects with a history of asthma, wheezy bronchitis, wheezing, or pneumonia and 319 with no history of wheezing illness at ages 7, 11, 16, 23, or 33 years. Skin prick tests with extracts of mixed grass pollen, house dust mite (Der p 1), and cat fur were performed; and wheal diameters were measured. RESULTS: The prevalence of positive skin test results (> or = 3 mm wheal) was independently related (p < 0.01) to male sex, reduced numbers of older siblings (but not younger siblings), and higher socioeconomic status in childhood. Current cigarette smoking and maternal smoking during pregnancy were independently associated (p < 0.01) with a reduced prevalence of skin prick test positivity. No significant independent effects (p > 0.10) were found for adult social class, maternal age, birth weight, gestation, breast feeding, preschool nursery attendance, urban birthplace, or gas stove exposure. CONCLUSION: Factors related to small families and relative affluence in childhood promote atopic sensitization to a variety of aeroallergens in later life. These observations are consistent with the suggestion that early infection may protect against subsequent allergic disease.
Asunto(s)
Hipersensibilidad Inmediata/epidemiología , Adulto , Orden de Nacimiento , Composición Familiar , Femenino , Humanos , Hipersensibilidad Inmediata/inmunología , Inmunización , Masculino , Embarazo , Prevalencia , Relaciones entre Hermanos , Pruebas Cutáneas , Factores Socioeconómicos , Reino Unido/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Laboratory classification of red cell disorders uses the red cell indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW) and information gleaned from microscopic evaluation of a blood film. Additional red cell information is now available using the H series of automated blood cell analysers (Ames Technicon Division of Bayer Diagnostics). This study involved the development of a discriminant rule which would differentiate between three causes of macrocytosis (vitamin B12/folate deficiency, alcohol excess/liver disease and a reticulocytosis) using the information available on Research Screen 1 and Report Screen 3 of the H*1 instrument (Report Screen 3 is a graphical display of the trimmed scattergram of red cell volume and red cell haemoglobin concentration and Research Screen 1 displays the associated numerical data). Three methods of analysis were assessed to define a suitable discriminant rule. The percentages of patients correctly classified by the three methods were: 92.1%, 82.0% and 89.2% for Methods 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Method 1 involved the application of quadratic discrimination to transformed variables and produced the best results. Although complex, it could easily be applied using the microprocessor capability of the average multiparameter haematology analyser.
Asunto(s)
Anemia Macrocítica/sangre , Índices de Eritrocitos , Eritrocitos Anormales/ultraestructura , Deficiencia de Ácido Fólico/diagnóstico , Hemoglobinas/análisis , Hepatopatías/diagnóstico , Deficiencia de Vitamina B 12/diagnóstico , Alcoholismo/sangre , Alcoholismo/complicaciones , Anemia Macrocítica/etiología , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Análisis Discriminante , Femenino , Deficiencia de Ácido Fólico/sangre , Deficiencia de Ácido Fólico/complicaciones , Humanos , Hepatopatías/sangre , Hepatopatías/complicaciones , Masculino , Valores de Referencia , Recuento de Reticulocitos , Deficiencia de Vitamina B 12/sangre , Deficiencia de Vitamina B 12/complicacionesRESUMEN
A survey of the hygienic practices of 178 contact lens wearers in west central Scotland was conducted along with assessment of microbial contamination of their lens storage cases. Multivariate analysis indicated that in some subgroups of lens wearers, the method of disinfection used, the use of unmodified tap water and the age of the lens, were significantly associated with microbial contamination of storage cases. In addition, statistical analysis suggested that features other than those commonly considered as important in contact lens hygiene, and therefore included in this study, may be more significant predictors of contamination of cases. Instruction of patients, patient compliance and simplicity of the regimen for the care of contact lenses may be important for achieving their safer use.