RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease; there is growing evidence that it is a hepatic manifestation of a metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of metabolic risk factors among patients with NAFLD. MATERIAL/METHODS: Outpatients with NAFLD were recruited into the study. Family physicians recorded patients' demographic and anthropometric data, leisure-time physical activity, concomitant diseases, and pharmacological treatment for NAFLD into standardized Case Report Forms. RESULTS: In total, data on 798 patients were analyzed. Most patients were women and they were older than the men (mean age, 60.2 ± 9.6 vs. 54.5 ± 11.4 years; p<0.05). Metabolic risk factors (obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia) were highly prevalent in the study patients, and these factors were more prevalent among women. There were no differences in the mean Body Mass Index (BMI), in the proportion of men or women with BMI >30 kg/m2 or central obesity in the 2 age groups (≤ 60 years and >60 years). Hypertension and diabetes were more prevalent among older men and women. Dyslipidemia was more common among older women. The level of leisure-time physical activity was lower in women and in older patients. The most frequently prescribed pharmacological agents were cytoprotective agents, lipid-lowering drugs, and antioxidants. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic risk factors were highly prevalent among patients with NAFLD. Obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were more prevalent among women. The differences in the prevalence of hypertension seemed to be influenced by older age of women.
Asunto(s)
Hígado Graso/metabolismo , Síndrome Metabólico/epidemiología , Adulto , Anciano , Hígado Graso/complicaciones , Hígado Graso/diagnóstico , Femenino , Humanos , Lituania/epidemiología , Masculino , Síndrome Metabólico/complicaciones , Persona de Mediana Edad , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico , Prevalencia , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: This study attempted to determine whether long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), an indicator of motor vehicle exhaust, increases the risk of myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: A population-based case-control study was conducted among men aged 25-64 years and residing in Kaunas, Lithuania. The study included all cases of first-time myocardial infarction in 1997-2000. Interviews with patients treated in hospitals elicited information on smoking and other risk factors, including residential histories. A high response rate (77.4%) resulted in 448 cases and 1777 controls. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was selected for analysis as an indicator of traffic-related air pollution. The annual air pollution levels were estimated for the residential districts; thereafter the data were linked to the home addresses of the cases and controls. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, education, smoking, blood pressure, body mass index, marital status, and psychological stress, the risk of myocardial infarction was higher for the men exposed to medium [odds ratio (OR) 1.43, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.04-1.96] and high (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.07-1.92) NO2 levels. The data suggested a stronger association among 55- to 64-year-old men. The risk of myocardial infarction increased by 17% among the 25- to 64-year-old men (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01-1.35) and by 34% among those aged 55-64 years (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.08-1.67) from the first to the third tertile of NO2 exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that urban NO2 pollution may increase the risk of myocardial infarction and that vehicle emissions may be of particular importance.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos/toxicidad , Infarto del Miocardio/epidemiología , Dióxido de Nitrógeno/toxicidad , Población Urbana , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Factores de Confusión Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Lituania/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Infarto del Miocardio/etiología , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Recent reports have shown that air pollution may increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes. We have evaluated the relationship between ambient air pollution and the occurrence of low birth weight and preterm delivery using routinely collected data in Lithuania. METHODS: This epidemiological study comprised all singleton newborns (N = 3,988), born to women in 1998, who resided in the City of Kaunas. Birth data and information on maternal characteristics were obtained from the Lithuanian National Birth Register. To estimate residential exposure levels, we used measurements of ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and formaldehyde, which were collected at 12 monitoring posts. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the effect that each pollutant would have on low birth weight (LBW) and premature birth while controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for LBW increased with increasing formaldehyde exposure (OR2nd tertile = 1.86, 95% CI 1.10-3.16; OR3rd tertile = 1.84, 95% CI 1.12-3.03). Adjusted ORs of preterm birth for the medium and high NO2 tertile exposures were OR = 1.14 (95% CI 0.77-1.68) and OR = 1.68 (95% CI 1.15-2.46), respectively. The risk of preterm birth increased by 25% (adjusted OR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.07-1.46) per 10 microg/m3 increase in NO2 concentrations. An analysis by trimester showed that pregnancy outcomes were associated with first-trimester exposure to air pollutants. However, there were no significant relationships in other pregnancy periods between preterm birth and exposure to formaldehyde or between LBW and NO2 exposure. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that in the City of Kaunas there might be a relationship between maternal exposure to ambient formaldehyde and the risk of LBW, as well as between NO2 exposure and the risk of preterm birth.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos/efectos adversos , Contaminación del Aire/efectos adversos , Recién Nacido de Bajo Peso , Exposición Materna/efectos adversos , Resultado del Embarazo/epidemiología , Nacimiento Prematuro/epidemiología , Adulto , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Femenino , Formaldehído/efectos adversos , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Lituania/epidemiología , Dióxido de Nitrógeno/efectos adversos , Oportunidad Relativa , Embarazo , Primer Trimestre del Embarazo , Nacimiento Prematuro/etiología , Características de la Residencia , Fumar/efectos adversos , Población Urbana , Emisiones de Vehículos/efectos adversosRESUMEN
A literature review discusses the effect of selected environmental factors on women reproductive system, fetal development and growth. According to recent reports, 2-3% of newborns have congenital malformations. These malformations are caused by interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Exposure of paternal or maternal organisms to environmental hazards may damage germ cells or interfere fetal development, resulting in malformation of various organ systems. Since environmental hazards exposures are complex, it is difficult to establish the primary effect of single factor. Factors, that are known to increase the risk of congenital malformations, preterm delivery or spontaneous abortion, are classified into five groups--psychological, social, biological, physical and chemical factors. The governments of most counties recognize the effect of hazardous environmental factors on public health as global problem. World Health Organization encourages researches, aimed at evaluation of various environmental factors impact on health of pregnant women and their offsprings.