1. A study of 150 middle-aged male industrial employees has shown significant positive correlations between plasma levels of high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and both serum testosterone and alcohol intake, and significant negative correlations between HDL cholesterol and both serum thyroxine and obesity. These associations persist when examined by multiple linear regression, indicating their independence. 2. Significant positive correlations are also shown between plasma triglyceride levels and both obesity and serum thyrotropic hormone (TSH) levels. 3. There are no evident relationships between serum oestrone or oestradiol and either HDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels, nor between any of the hormones and either total or low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. 4. Because of the potential importance in relation to coronary heart disease prevention, further studies are needed to try and understand the mechanisms of the associations between HDL cholesterol and obesity, alcohol intake and thyroid and sex hormone levels.
A postal survey of a random sample of the population living near St Mary9s Hospital, Paddington was taken to determine earlier experience in these people of blood pressure measurement and treatment. Eighty-five per cent of those who could return their questionnaires did so; eighty per cent of the respondents said they had had their blood pressure measured in the past, and 60% reported such a measurement during the previous three years. The respondents aged between 40 and 59 years were invited for a blood pressure screening measurement and 52% responded. Seventy-seven per cent of those found to be hypertensive on screening (systolic greater than or equal to 160 mmHg and/or diastolic greater than or equal to 100 mmHg) said they had had their blood pressure measured during the preceding three years. The reason for the poor control of hypertension in a community, therefore, is more likely to be a failure of doctors to take action on hypertension than a failure to detect it in the first place.
Background: Lack of breast feeding has been reported to be associated with a number of chronic childhood disorders. Aim: To use a recently described measure, the population impact number of eliminating a risk factor over a time period (PIN-ER-t), to quantify the burden of low rates of breast feeding in a UK population of babies born in 2002 with regard to asthma, coeliac disease and obesity. Methods: We performed literature searches for systematic reviews with meta-analyses that had investigated the association between breast feeding and asthma, coeliac disease and obesity. Based on these data, and published data on the prevalence of breast feeding and the prevalence of the disorders, we calculated PIN-ER-t and estimated the number of cases of each disorder which could be prevented by eliminating "no breast feeding" as a risk factor. Results: In the population of the 596 122 babies born in England and Wales in 2002, the number of cases of asthma, coeliac disease and obesity that could be prevented over 7–9 years if "no breast feeding" as a risk factor was eliminated were 33 100 (95% CI 17 710 to 47 543), 2655 (95% CI 1937 to 3343) and 13639 (95% CI 7838 to 19308), respectively. Conclusions: The population burden of low breast feeding rates is high with regard to these chronic disorders. The use of PIN-ER-t allows the population burden of low breast feeding rates to be quantified and communicated in a way that will make it easier for both the general public and decision makers to understand.
'/%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpath fill='%23012169' d='M0 0h10080v5040H0z'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='.6' d='m0 0 6 3m0-3L0 3' clip-path='url(%23b)' transform='scale(840)'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23e4002b' stroke-width='.4' d='m0 0 6 3m0-3L0 3' clip-path='url(%23c)' transform='scale(840)'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='840' d='M2520 0v2520M0 1260h5040'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23e4002b' stroke-width='504' d='M2520 0v2520M0 1260h5040'/%3e%3cg fill='%23fff'%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23d' x='2520' y='3780'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' x='7560' y='4200'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' x='6300' y='2205'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' x='7560' y='840'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' x='8680' y='1869'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23e' x='8064' y='2730'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
'%3e%3cpath fill='%23012169' d='M0 0v30h60V0z'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='6' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='4' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30' clip-path='url(%23b)'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='10' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='6' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
