European journal of epidemiology
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To assess changes in consultation rates, medication use and work absences due to migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) in Denmark over a 12-year period. ⋯ Despite an increase in headache consultation rates and in use of prescription medication and triptans, no improvement in work absence rates was observed. Consultations, medication use, and absence rates were highest for individuals with both migraine and frequent TTH.
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Comparative Study
Can morbidity be inferred from prescription drug use? Results from a nation-wide prison population study.
To estimate psychiatric and somatic morbidity in a nation-wide prison population, as inferred from detailed medication sheets. ⋯ This study has demonstrated high psychiatric and somatic morbidity in a nation-wide population of prison inmates receiving adequate health services. As the morbidity estimates are inferred from prescription drug use they must be interpreted with caution. However, we do believe that our study, utilizing this unconventional but readily available source of information, has yielded valuable knowledge regarding the physical and mental health of a nation-wide prison population.
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There are little data available on the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the United Kingdom. The Northern Ireland Cost and Epidemiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (NICECOPD) study is a two-stage survey to examine the prevalence of obstructive lung disease in a general population sample in the Greater Belfast area. ⋯ The data suggest that COPD and asthma are common conditions in the general population and should inform future plans to address the burden of disease.
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To examine the pattern and strength of seasonal fluctuations in emergency department (ED) visits due to asthma, by month and day of the week, by the patient's age, gender, and severity of asthma attack. ⋯ The strength of seasonal patterns of asthma ED visits is influenced by age and the severity of attack, and to a lesser extent, gender. Understanding the significance of seasonal precipitants of asthma in different patients subgroups could lead to better management strategies.
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Mortality in the USA has been shown to spike on Christmas and New Year's Day. No comparable analyses are available for European data despite recognised seasonal mortality variations. ⋯ No disturbance of trend was seen at Easter. The causes of the 'holiday phenomenon' are not understood, but absence of a Christmas spike in NNT may indicate that it is preventable.