Risk-taking behaviour of Cape Peninsula high school students

Objectives. To ascertain whether the notion of a syndrome of adolescent risk behaviour (which includes problem drinking, marijuana use, having experienced sexual intercourse, 'general deviance' and cigarette smoking) is valid for this setting; and to investigate whether suicidal behaviour and behaviour that exposes the adolescent to injury should be included in this syndrome. Design. Cross-sectional survey utilising a self-completed questionnaire; for both sexes, relationships between behaviours were documented as odds ratios. Setting. High schools in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Subjects. 7 340 students from 16 schools in the three major ed ucation departments. Outcome measures. Participation in the following behaviours: alcohol bingeing, cannabis smoking, sexual intercourse, knife-carrying at school, cigarette smoking, attempting suicide, failure to use a seat belt, and walking home at night from beyond the neighbourhood. Results. All the odds ratios were greater than 1. There were statisticaHy significant odds ratios between all the pairs of risk behaviours included in the 'original' syndrome of risk behaviour except for cigarette smoking and having had sexual intercourse in the case of girls. There were statistically significant relationships between all these risk behaviours, suicidal behaviour, and behaviours that exposed the adolescent to risk of physical injury, except for failure to use a seat belt and: (I) suicidal behaviour for both sexes; and (iI) walking home alone at night and having had sexual intercourse in the case of gins. Conclusion. The notion of a syndrome of adolescent risk behaviour is valid for this population, and both suicidal behaviour and behaviour that exposes the adolescent to injury should be included in this syndrome.S Afr Med J 1996; 86; 1090-1093

The relationship between dietary factors and serum cholesterol values in the coloured population of the Cape Peninsula

A cross-sectional study of 976 coloured subjects aged 15 -64 years identified a population consuming a typical Western diet. Nutrient intake, determined by the 24-hour dietary recall method, reflected a diet high in fat (37% of total energy intake) and animal protein and a polyunsaturated/saturated fatly acid ratio of 0,85. Only 32,2% of men and 27,5% of women consumed a prudent diet (Keys score < 28). The influence of this Western diet on serum total cholesterol (TC) levels was seen to be marked whe'n participants with a high risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) were compared with those with a TC level putting them at low risk; the former consumed significantly more saturated fat and had a higher mean Keys score. Multiple linear regression analysis on TC levels of men identified six variables that explained 26,9% of the variation of TC. These were body mass index, age, the inverse of the polyunsaturated fat intake, saturated fat intake, polyunsaturated/saturated fat ratio and cholesterol intake. For women only three variables (age, the inverse of the polyunsaturated/saturated fat ratio, and body mass index) explained 30,2% of the variation of TC. Promotion of the prudent diet to lower TC levels of the coloured population of the Cape Peninsula is an increasingly urgent priority.S Afr Med J 1990; 78: 63-67

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

Anthropometric profile of the coloured population of the Cape Peninsula

Study of a sample of 976 randomly selected coloured persons 15 - 64 years of age living in the Cape Peninsula included measurement of height, weight and mid-arm circumference and calculation of the body mass index (BMI). The mean height of the men was 167,6 cm and that of the women 156 cm. Mean weight, BMI and mid-arm circumference for men were 65,9 kg, 23,4 and 27,5 cm respectively and those for women 65,8 kg, 27,1 and 28,9 cm respectively. The prevalence of underweight for men (BMI < 20) was 23,6% and for women (BMI < 19) 9,8%; 17,7% of men were overweight (BMI ≥ 25) and 3,7% obese (BMI ≥ 30), while 35,2% of women were overweight (BMI ≥ 24) and 18,8% obese. Overweight and obesity were more common among the older coloured women than among a group of South African white women of the same age. Obese women in the age group 35 - 44 years were 4,8 times more likely to be hypertensive than women of normal weight in the same age group (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval 2,2 • 4). Older women did not show this association. There were too few obese men to analyse in this manner. Many of the obese participants did not see themselves as obese. Only 19,7% of men and 45,2% of women had attempted to lose weight during the year preceding the study, in many cases using methods known to be ineffective. The coloureds of the Cape Peninsula were found to be a population  with shorter stature than South African white and American populations. Some young participants of both sexes and some older men were underweight, while among older women there was a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. The findings may suggest previous undernutrition in both sexes, with a marked tendency to current overnutrition in adult females.S Afr Med J 1990; 78: 68-72

Hypertension in a rural South African white population and the effect of antihypertensive treatment on the risk of coronary heart disease

The association between hypertension and coronary risk factors and the effect of antihypertensive treatment on coronary risk were investigated in rural South African whites aged 15 - 64 years. Almost 25% of men (range 1,9 - 46,6%) and almost 27% of women (2,1 - 56,2%) were hypertensive or being treated for hypertension; the prevalence increased with age, particularly among women. Only 25,8% of male and 43,4% of female hypertensives were being treated, and of these only 38% had controlled blood pressure. Hypertension was associated with a high serum total cholesterollevel, a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, a high body mass index, a high uric acid level, a high prevalence of coronary heart disease and, in men, high alcohol consumption. Treated hypertensives had a greater risk of coronary heart disease than untreated hypertensives. Men on, B-blockers had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than men not on treatment, while uric acid levels in both men and women on diuretics were higher than those of untreated hypertensives. Hypertension in the study population appears to be inadequately treated, and antihypertensive medication may impact adversely on metabolic risk factors. The goal of antihypertensive therapy should be a net reduction of coronary heart disease risk.S Afr Med J 1990; 78: 89-9