Journal of epidemiology and community health
-
J Epidemiol Community Health · Oct 2010
Effectiveness and impact of hepatitis B virus vaccination of children with at least one parent born in a hepatitis B virus endemic country: an early assessment.
To determine the effectiveness and impact of the Dutch childhood hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination policy targeted at children with at least one parent born in a HBV endemic country. ⋯ This paper shows that the incidence of HBV notifications in children born after the introduction of targeted childhood HBV vaccinations is lower compared with the incidence in children born before the start of this vaccination programme. Although this is consistent with a good HBV vaccine coverage, the interpretation is hampered by a change in case definition for notification in 1999. The results are of importance to policy makers in both The Netherlands and other countries that have a targeted HBV vaccination programme.
-
J Epidemiol Community Health · Sep 2010
Ozone and cause-specific cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality.
Health effects of ozone have been observed in numerous studies. However, analyses of more cause-specific morbidity or mortality outcomes have rarely been performed. A study was undertaken to determine the short-term associations of ozone with cause-specific cardiorespiratory mortality and morbidity by age groups. ⋯ Positive associations were found for ambient ozone with asthma visits among children and with pooled asthma/COPD admissions among elderly people. The evidence for a positive association between ozone and cardiovascular health was weaker.
-
J Epidemiol Community Health · Aug 2010
The potential role of taxes and subsidies on food in the prevention of obesity in Europe.
Obesity implies costs not only for the individual but also for society. The authors explore the opinions of stakeholders on the potential of taxes or subsidies, as measures for tackling obesity in Europe. ⋯ Taxation and subsidies were poorly appraised compared with other policy measures, with stakeholders expressing reservations mainly focussed on the practicalities and cost of introducing such measures. Although applying taxes/subsidies could be useful to combat obesity, the study suggests that most stakeholders still need to be convinced of their viability and acceptability when compared with other measures.
-
J Epidemiol Community Health · Apr 2010
Prognosis criteria of casual systolic and diastolic blood pressure values in a prospective study in India.
In India, cardiovascular events are often diagnosed at lower blood pressures (BP) than in Western countries, questioning whether the actual World Health Organization cut-off points for hypertension (systolic BP (SBP) >or=140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) >or=90 mm Hg) are appropriate in low resource countries. ⋯ SBP and DBP were associated with CVD mortality at thresholds lower than the current hypertension definition. Measurement limited to SBP alone would be effective in screening for CVD risk in large populations.
-
J Epidemiol Community Health · Mar 2010
Association of traffic-related air pollution with cognitive development in children.
Air pollution from traffic has been associated with cardiorespiratory diseases in children and adults, but there is little information on its potential neurotoxic effects. This study aimed to investigate the association between exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), as a marker of traffic-related air pollution, and cognitive development in children. ⋯ Although results were not statistically significant, the associations found between exposure to NO(2) and cognitive functions suggest that traffic-related air pollution may have an adverse effect on neurodevelopment, especially early in life, even at low exposure levels.