Corporate sponsorship of physical activity promotion programmes: part of the solution or part of the problem?

Background Parklives is a programme intended to raise levels of physical activity across the UK, funded by Coca-Cola GB and delivered in association with Local Authorities and other organizations. Such public-private partnerships have been advocated by many however critics suggest that the conflict between stakeholder motives is too great. Methods This study conducted a content analysis of twitter content related to the ParkLives physical activity programme. Images and text were analysed from two separate weeks, one from the school vacation period and one during school term time. Results Three hundred and eighteen tweets were analysed. Content analysis revealed 79% of images contained children and 45% of these images contained prominent Coca-Cola branding, a level of exposure that suggests ParkLives simultaneously provides opportunities for children's physical activity and for targeted marketing. Content analysis also demonstrated that the programme allowed increased access to policy-makers. Conclusions The sponsorship of a physical activity promotion campaign can allow a corporation to target its marketing at children and gain access to health-related policy development networks. This study reinforces the need for independent evaluation of all potential impacts of such a partnership and calls on those responsible for community health to fully consider the ethical implications of such relationships

Decline in Stroke Mortality Between 1997 and 2012 by Sex: Ecological Study in Brazilians Aged 15 to 49 Years

Abstract This study aimed to analyse the time trends of stroke mortality between 1997 and 2012 according to sex in Brazilians aged 15 to 49 years. This ecological study used data obtained from the Mortality Information System, which is available from the National Health System Department of Informatics - DATASUS and maintained by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Stroke definition included International Classification of Disease version 10 (ICD-10) codes I60, I61, I63, and I64. Crude and age-standardized mortality rates and respective 95% confidence intervals were estimated per 100,000 inhabitants and stratified by age, region, year, and sex. Linear regression models were used to analyse the time trends with a confidence level of 95%. The statistical program used was Stata 11.0. Between 1997 and 2012, there were 124,866 deaths due to stroke in Brazilians aged 15 to 49 years. There was a decreasing linear trend in stroke mortality among men (β = −0.46, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.95) and women (β = −0.40, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.98) during this period. Overall there was no significant difference in stroke mortality trends by sex, except with respect to the age group of 40 to 49 years where there was a difference in the decrease of stroke mortality between men and women (interaction sex * year: β = 0.238, p = 0.012, R² = 0.96). Mortality rates decrease significantly over time in men and women in the age group 15 to 49 years old, but there is only significant difference in the decrease of rates by sex only in the age group from 40 to 49 years old

Mortality and Incidence of Hospital Admissions for Stroke among Brazilians Aged 15 to 49 Years between 2008 and 2012.

The objective was to analyze rates of stroke-related mortality and incidence of hospital admissions in Brazilians aged 15 to 49 years according to region and age group between 2008 and 2012.Secondary analysis was performed in 2014 using data from the Hospital and Mortality Information Systems and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Stroke was defined by ICD, 10th revision (I60-I64). Crude and standardized mortality (WHO reference) and incidence of hospital admissions per 100,000 inhabitants, stratified by region and age group, were estimated. Absolute and relative frequencies; and linear regression were also used. The software used was Stata 11.0.There were 35,005 deaths and 131,344 hospital admissions for stroke in Brazilians aged 15-49 years old between 2008 and 2012. Mortality decreased from 7.54 (95% CI 7.53; 7.54) in 2008 to 6.32 (95% CI 6.31; 6.32) in 2012 (β = -0.27, p = 0.013, r2 = 0.90). During the same time, incidence of hospital admissions stabilized: 24.67 (95% CI 24.66; 24.67) in 2008 and 25.11 (95% CI 25.10; 25.11) in 2012 (β = 0.09, p = 0.692, r2 = 0.05). There was a reduction in mortality in all Brazilian regions and in the age group between 30 and 49 years. Incidence of hospitalizations decreased in the South, but no significant decrease was observed in any age group.We observed a decrease in stroke-related mortality, particularly in individuals over 30 years old, and stability of the incidence of hospitalizations; and also regional variation in stroke-related hospital admission incidence and mortality among Brazilian young adults

Proportion of deaths from ill-defined causes* of Brazilians between 2008 and 2012.

<p>* International classification of diseases, 10th revision. Codes R00 to R99. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0152739#pone.0152739.ref011" target="_blank">11</a>] Source: Mortality Information System (SIM) and Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). Data made available by the Department of Informatics of The National Health System (DATASUS—<a href="http://www.datasus.gov.br" target="_blank">www.datasus.gov.br</a>). Ministry of Health, Brazil.</p

Distribution of deaths and hospital admissions for stroke* in Brazilians between 2008 and 2012.

<p>* International classification of diseases, 10th revision. Codes I60 to I64. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0152739#pone.0152739.ref011" target="_blank">11</a>] Source: Mortality Information System (SIM) and Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). Data made available by the Department of Informatics of The National Health System (DATASUS—<a href="http://www.datasus.gov.br" target="_blank">www.datasus.gov.br</a>). Ministry of Health, Brazil.</p

Burden of stroke^† in Brazilians aged 15 to 49 years during 2008–2012.

<p>Burden of stroke<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0152739#t001fn003" target="_blank">^†</a> in Brazilians aged 15 to 49 years during 2008–2012.</p