Journal of epidemiology and community health
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Aug 2012
Comparative StudyEffect of body mass index and physical exercise on risk of knee and hip osteoarthritis: longitudinal data from the Norwegian HUNT Study.
Mechanical joint stress imposed by high body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased risk of knee and hip osteoarthritis. This prospective study investigated the independent and joint association of BMI and physical exercise on risk of knee and hip osteoarthritis. ⋯ High BMI increases the risk of knee osteoarthritis and severe osteoarthritis. Physical exercise does not increase the risk of osteoarthritis at any level of BMI, suggesting that exercise could be encouraged also among individuals with excessive body mass, without concern for an increased risk of osteoarthritis.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Jul 2012
Cannabis and progression to other substance use in young adults: findings from a 13-year prospective population-based study.
Adolescent cannabis use predicts the onset of later illicit drug use. In contrast, little is known about whether cannabis in young adulthood also predicts subsequent progression or cessation of licit or illicit drug use. ⋯ This study provides compelling evidence of the continuing association between cannabis, licit and other illicit drug use well into young adulthood. Preventing cannabis use uptake and use escalation remain crucial health aims given the burden associated with cigarette, alcohol and illicit drug use.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Jul 2012
Marital status, living arrangement and mortality: does the association vary by gender?
Men appear to benefit more from being married than women with respect to mortality in middle age. However, there is some uncertainty about gender differences in mortality risks in older individuals, widowed, divorced and single individuals and about the impact of living arrangements. ⋯ Evaluation of living arrangements is crucial for identifying and explaining gender differences in mortality risks by marital status. The impact of living alone and living with a partner seems to be different in men and women.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Apr 2012
Outcome reporting bias in evaluations of public health interventions: evidence of impact and the potential role of a study register.
Systematic reviews of the effectiveness of interventions are increasingly used to inform recommendations for public health policy and practice, but outcome reporting bias is rarely assessed. ⋯ The findings from this single evaluation provide empirical data to support the call for a prospective public health interventions study registry to aid the identification of unreported or incompletely reported outcomes. Critical appraisal tools can also be used to identify incompletely reported outcomes, but a tool such as ORBIT requires development to be suitable for public health intervention evaluations.
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J Epidemiol Community Health · Apr 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEffects of Smokefree Class Competition 1 year after the end of intervention: a cluster randomised controlled trial.
The Smokefree Class Competition, a school-based smoking prevention intervention, is widely disseminated in Europe. Participating classes commit themselves to be smoke-free and self-monitor their smoking status. Classes that remain smoke-free for 6 months can win prizes. Effects of the intervention on current smoking, initiation and progression of smoking were investigated. ⋯ Trial registration ISRCTN27091233 in Current Control Trial Register.