Rev Epidemiol Sante
-
Rev Epidemiol Sante · Dec 2008
Comparative Study[What epidemiologic goals in psychiatry for public statistics?].
French public statistics to be used in psychiatry are currently being reorganized. The Academy of Sciences and professionals have stated that epidemiologists should be involved when large databases are being designed. ⋯ It is important to organize a consistent information system about psychiatric care, based upon a thorough problem analysis. The issues at stake and the results to be expected go beyond the sole psychiatric domain.
-
Rev Epidemiol Sante · Aug 2008
Review[Methodological and statistical aspects of equivalence and non inferiority trials].
- The existence of effective reference treatments means that the superior therapeutic efficacy of new treatments is less marked and thus more difficult to demonstrate statistically. Moreover, the potential value of a new treatment is also based on other criteria, such as costs, ease of use, non invasiveness, and immediate or long-term side effects. In this context, methodological issue becomes one of looking for equivalence or non inferiority of the new treatment in comparison with an existing, high-performance reference treatment. ⋯ - A checklist of items to include when reporting the results of randomized controlled trials (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials, the CONSORT recommendations) has been adapted for use in non inferiority and equivalence randomized controlled trials.
-
Rev Epidemiol Sante · Aug 2008
Comparative Study[Measure of premature mortality: comparison of deaths before age 65 and expected years of life lost].
For many years in France, premature mortality (i.e., deaths before 65 years old) and avoidable deaths have generally been used to monitor health of the population and help to elaborate policies in this area. This paper aims to examine the utility of another indicator of premature mortality, which makes it possible to take into account the impact of deaths, the expected years of life lost (EYLL). ⋯ The concept of premature mortality is difficult to define and discussions persist on the age limit to use for its quantification. The choice of an indicator strongly depends on the use which one wishes to make. The simple analysis of deaths before 65 years currently used to describe premature mortality in France makes it possible to describe its frequency. The use of a summary measure as EYLL allows to quantify the impact of premature mortality by giving different weights to deaths depending on the age of occurrence. EYLL, thus, seems to be an indicator, which is particularly adapted to decision-making in public health, depending on choices and values one wishes to give preference to.
-
Rev Epidemiol Sante · Oct 2007
[Determination of vital status by linkage of anonymised hospital and national mortality data].
A subject's vital status is essential for epidemiological studies. This information may be obtained for large numbers of patients with different methods, but these are often expensive. This study was aimed at assessing the performance of patient vital status determination using a record linkage method between hospital data and national mortality data once the information was made anonymous in compliance with French legislation. ⋯ Probabilistic linkage on data rendered anonymous enables to obtain information on vital status for a great number of subjects at low cost, in compliance with French legislation.
-
Rev Epidemiol Sante · Aug 2007
Comparative Study[Management of severe acute malnutrition in an urban nutritional rehabilitation center in Burkina Faso].
Management of acute severe malnutrition greatly contributes to the reduction of childhood mortality rate. In developing countries, where malnutrition is common, number of acute severe malnutrition cases exceeds inpatient treatment capacity. Recent success of community-based therapeutic care put back on agenda the management of acute severe malnutrition. We analysed key issues of inpatient management of severe malnutrition to suggest appropriate global approach. ⋯ The nutrition rehabilitation centre is confronted with extremely ill children with high risk of death. There is need to support those units for appropriate management of acute severe malnutrition. It is also important to implement community-based therapeutic care for management of children still malnourished at discharge from nutritional rehabilitation centre. These programs will contribute to reduce mortality rate and number of severely malnourished children attending inpatient nutrition rehabilitation centers, by prevention and early management.