摘要:

Analysis of mortality data based on underlying cause of death in epileptic patients is of limited value in view of the low case-fatality ratio of epilepsy. Recently the National Center for Health Statistics has made available all conditions mentioned on each death certificate for the entire US population. Using a case-control study design, we have analyzed all the associated conditions at the time of death in patients with epilepsy for the year 1978. Association between epilepsy and the following conditions reached statistical significance: mental retardation, cerebral palsy, cerebrovascular disease, myocardial ischemia, dementia, foreign body in pharynx and larynx, pneumonia, alcoholism and cirrhosis of liver. Early recognition and proper management of some of these factors could significantly reduce the mortality and morbidity in epileptic patients.

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110143

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1988

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Due to meagre resources in terms of trained medical personnel and financial support and the absence of accurate population-based data in most parts of the developing world, there is an urgent need to develop new epidemiological study designs that are simple, accurate and easy to use. Key informant methodology and random cluster sample survey methods were used independently (a) to determine the prevalence of epilepsy and (b) to compare the efficiency, cost effectiveness and feasibility of the two survey methods. The random cluster method proved more scientifically valid and sensitive as compared to the key informant methods, which was found to be less accurate, although simple and easy to use, for example, by nonmedical workers in identifying epileptics.

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110144

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1988

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The pattern of the multiple sclerosis (MS) risk in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland and Holland, as reported in previous studies, was compared with the distribution of several sociogeographic factors. For none of the variables tested did an association with MS exist in all of these countries. A correlation in more than one country was found for the proportion of industrial workers in the total population and for the extent of oat cultivation. Arguments against a causal role of these factors as such exist, however, and are discussed. For a number of other variables that might be implicated in the context of prior findings or suggestions either no or only an inconsistent association with MS was found.

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110145

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1988

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Consideration is given to: (1) the multiple sclerosis (MS) incidence rate in dizygotic (DZ) twins, (2) the DZ twin concordance rate in MS, (3) MS and birth order and (4) MS rates on islands. All four sorts of data are consistent with (indeed would be predicted by) the hypothesis that MS is a sequel of late (rather than early) exposure to childhood infection.

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110146

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1988

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Annual age-adjusted incidence rate of head injuries in Akershus County in 1974 was estimated to be 236/100,000, 307/100,000 for males and 164/100,000 for females. The highest incidence rate occurred in males in the age group 10–19 years (489/100,000) and the lowest among females in the age group 30–39 (68/100,000). In all age groups, the incidence rate was higher in males than females. This prospective study included 488 patients, of whom 88.9% had minor head injuries and 11.1% severe head injuries. 16 patients (3.3%) died due to their head trauma. Skull fracture was detected in 10.4% of the patients who survived the first 24 h, and 2.5% had operations. The mean hospital stay was 8.8 days, 10.2 days for the patients injured in traffic accidents and 7.0 days for the others. Besides having a higher incidence rate of head injuries, males suffered severe head injuries more often and their death rate was higher than head-injured fema

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110147

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1988

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A study of neurological disorders and services is presented. The ten most common neurological diagnoses were headache, back disorders, neuropathy, cerebrovascular disease, dizziness/insomnia, myopathies, soft tissue disorder, intracranial injury, neurological symptoms (numbness, etc.), and Parkinson’s disease. The pattern of diseases is similar to that reflected in the prevalence of those in the US. The annual beneficiary rate was 1.6% of the population, the median age was 45 years, and the majority (52%) served were females. There were 1.8 annual services per beneficiary and the median hospital stay was 9 days. Ambulatory care accounted for the majority (62%) of services and 64% of the inpatient services were delivered by neurosurgeons. The majority of the admissions (61%) and of the ambulatory services (55%) were provided in Regin

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110148

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1988

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

An epidemiological investigation of 41 subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis observed in the Province of Messina during 1976–1985 was performed. The incidence was 0.61/100,000 and the prevalence 2.48/100,000 inhabitants. The illness was found to be prevalent in males. The atrophic type occurred in 17 subjects, the bulbar type in 23 cases and the pseudo-polyneuritic form in only one patient. The mean age on the onset was 57.29 ± 10.55 years. The duration of the illness was significantly higher in patients with atrophic type (p < 0.01). No significant difference between occupation and development of the disease was found. Among all patients 12.19% presented evidence of trauma, but traumatic events were equally present in a control gro

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110149

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1988

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

During a 4-year study period, January 1983 to December 1986, 24 patients (18 index cases) with spinal muscular atrophy (hereditary motor neuropathy, HMN), 9 with myasthenia gravis (MG), 6 with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and 5 with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) were diagnosed in Benghazi. The HMN group comprised 6 acute infantile, 12 chronic childhood, and 3 each with adult-onset proximal, and distal forms of the disease. The crude average annual incidence of acute infantile HMN was 0.3/100,000 total population and 1/12,500 births in Benghazi. The crude prevalence rates of chronic childhood, adult-onset proximal, and distal types of HMN were 2.3, 0.6 and 0.6/100,000, respectively. The larger family size and the high rate of consanguineous marriages contribute to the high frequency of HMN in the study area. Distal HMN constituted 12.5% of the total cases. The adjusted average incidence of MG was 4.4/million/year, 2.1 for males and 6.8 for females. The female:male incidence ratio was 3.2:1. The crude average annual incidence rates/million inhabitants for PSP asnd SSPE were 3 and 2.4, respectively. The frequency of occurrence of SSPE among the subtropical Arab community under investigation is comparable with other surveys from the Middle East and Mediterranean region.

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110150

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1988

数据来源: Karger