Smoking differences between employees in faculties of the University of Tartu, Estonia, and changes during the country's transition

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A previous study found marked differences in smoking between employees in various university faculties in Tartu, Estonia, soon after the disruption of communism. The present study was conducted to see whether such differences still exist and how the patterns had changed during the country's first transitional decade.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All employees at the University of Tartu (UT) were surveyed for smoking habits by means of a questionnaire in 1992 and 2003. The present paper is based on respondents whose faculty or workplace was known (1390 people in 1992, 1790 in 2003). Smoking differences were assessed in terms of regression-based adjusted figures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>While 20% of the male employees smoked daily in 1992, 13% did so in 2003, the figures for females being 10% and 7%, respectively. The prevalence of men's daily smoking varied between faculties and other workplaces in the range 4-30% in 1992, and 0-24% in 2003, with corresponding ranges of 3-21% and 0-10% among females. Men in the medical faculty in both surveys, and those in the faculty of philosophy in the second survey showed higher rates than men in most other faculties, as did women in the faculty of law in the first survey and those in the faculty of philosophy in the second. The figures were usually low in the faculties of sports & exercise, physics & chemistry and mathematics. The sex pattern was reversed in the faculty of law and also in that of economics, where the women smoked more than the men.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Even in this low-smoking academic community, wide smoking differences existed between the faculties and other workplaces. Faculties where physical or mental performance is of prime importance are leading the way towards a smoke-free community, while men in the faculty of philosophy and, paradoxically, men in the medical faculty are lagging behind. The reversed sex ratio in the faculties of law and economics may indicate women's intensified drive for equality in this transitional society. We assume that different professional cultures may introduce variations in smoking patterns, thereby modifying the course of the smoking epidemic.</p

Self-Assessed Threshold Temperature for Cold among Poultry Industry Workers in Thailand

The self-assessed threshold temperature for cold in the workplace is not well known. We asked 392 chicken industry workers in Thailand what they regard as the cold threshold (CT) and compared subgroups of workers using linear and quantile regressions by CT sextiles (percentiles P17, P33, P50, P67, and P83, from warmest to coldest). The variables of interest were sex, office work, and sedentary work, with age, clothing thermal insulation, and alcohol consumption as adjustment factors. The mean CT was 14.6 ◦C. Office workers had a 6.8 ◦C higher mean CT than other workers, but the difference ranged from 3.8 ◦C to 10.0 ◦C from P17 to P83. Sedentary workers had a 2.0 ◦C higher mean CT than others, but the difference increased from 0.5 ◦C to 3.0 ◦C through P17–P83. The mean CT did not differ between sexes, but men had a 1.6–5.0 ◦C higher CT at P17–P50 (>20 ◦C) and a 5.0 ◦C lower CT at P83 ( 0.35 m/s) worksites. We conclude that office, sedentary, and female workers and those working at warm, dry, and draughty sites are sensitive to the coldest temperatures, whereas male workers are sensitive even to moderate temperatures

Low mortality from ischaemic heart disease in the Sámi district of Finland

Mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is compared between the Sámi (Lapp) and Finnish areas of northern Finland. During the period 1961-1990 male mortality from IHD was 41% lower in the predominantly Sámi area (Utsjoki) and 37% and 24% lower in two partially Sámi areas (Enontekiö and Inari, respectively) than in the purely Finnish reference area (Kittilä). The corresponding differences for females were 47%, 36% and 19%. Mortality figures diverged over time, the excess mortality increasing in the areas having the greatest percentages of Finns in their population and the deficit increasing in the area where the percentage of Sámi was greatest. The trends observed were paradoxical, since the risk factor pattern in the Sámi district is highly unfavourable, and the Finnicization of the Sámi in recent years should imply a convergence of mortalities rather than a divergence. It is concluded that the epidemic wave of IHD in Finland, which culminated in the early 1970s, showed a time lag in the north, especially in the Finnish and predominantly Finnish areas, while there is no indication that this epidemic ever reached Utsjoki, the core Sámi area. The reasons for the anomalous trends in IHD in the far north of Finland remain unknown, but the local diet may play a role in them.ischaemic heart disease ethnic group regional variation temporal trends Finland

Coronary deaths during Midsummer festival in Finland:miseries of long, light nights

Abstract This paper examines whether the anomalous summer peak in deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) in Finland could be attributed to adverse effects of the Midsummer festival and alcohol consumption during the festival. Daily deaths from CHD and alcohol poisoning in Finland, 1961–2014, that occurred during the 7 days centering on Midsummer Day were analysed in relation to deaths during 14 to 4 days before and 4 to 14 after Midsummer Day. Daily counts of deaths from CHD among persons aged 35–64 years were regressed on days around the Midsummer period by negative binomial regression. Mortality from CHD was highest on Midsummer Day (RR 1.25 (95% confidence interval 1.12–1.31), one day after the peak in deaths from alcohol poisonings. RR for CHD on Midsummer Day was particulary high (RR = 1.43; 1.09–1.86) in the 2000s, 30% of deaths being attributable to that day. In conclusion, the anomalous and prominent summer peak in deaths from CHD in Finland is an adverse consequence of the Midsummer festival. The most likely underlying reason is heavy alcohol consumption during the festival period, especially on Midsummer Eve. In the 2000s, one third of deaths from CHD on Midsummer Day are preventable

Lunar cycle in homicides:a population-based time series study in Finland

Abstract Objective: To test whether homicides in Finland vary according to moon phases. Design: A time series study. Setting: Finland. Participants: 6808 homicides committed in 1961–2014. Outcome: Daily numbers of homicides. Method: The daily numbers of homicides were related to eight moon phases and the illuminated percentage of the moon disc using negative binomial regression. To identify lunar patterns, piecewise linear terms of lunar days were used, together with changes from one moon phase to another. Homicides were similarly regressed on quintiles of the illuminated percentage of the moon disc. A periodic term of length 29.53 days was included to detect cyclic patterns. The results were adjusted for sex, age, secular trend, distance from the moon, seasons, weekday, major holidays and temperature. Results: During the full moon, 15% less homicides were committed than during the new moon (RR 0.85; 95% CI 0.77 to 0.94) and 86% less during the lightest quintile of illumination compared with the darkest quintile (RR 0.14; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.50). Adjustments did not change the results. Piecewise linear regressions showed a significant decline in homicides at the full moon and a rise thereafter. The full moon drop in homicides was directionally similar for seasons, weekdays, sex, age and time periods, and it was particularly pronounced in the early part of period studied (1961–1974). Periodic regression showed a regular cyclic pattern of length 29.53 days (p~0.035). Conclusions: Contrary to current scientific opinion, an association exists between moon phases and homicides, and contrary to what has been previously assumed, homicides declined during the full moon, especially in earlier decades. However, the causality of the association remains elusive

Alcohol consumption among male reindeer herders of lappish and finnish origin

Ethnic differences in alcohol intake among male reindeer herders were studied, since historical evidence suggests that Lapps drink more than Finns and since the considerable freedom of the herding occupation may imply a high risk for alcohol problems. In 1988, 2001 men answered a mail questionnaire including questions on alcohol intake over the past 12 months. The mean alcohol intake was 22.3 g/day among the Lapps and 13.2 g/day among the Finns (Palcohol ethnic groups occupational groups

Prenatal Exposures to Perfluoroalkyl Acids and Serum Lipids at Ages 7 and 15 in Females

Background In some cross-sectional epidemiologic studies the shape of the association between serum concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and lipids suggests departures from linearity. Objectives We used statistical approaches allowing for non-linearity to determine associations of prenatal exposures of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) with lipid concentrations. Methods PFAAs were measured in serum from pregnant women collected in 1991–1992 at enrollment in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children and lipids in serum from their daughters at ages 7 (n = 111) and 15 (n = 88). The associations of PFAAs with lipids were first explored by cubic splines, followed by piecewise linear regressions by tertiles to obtain regression coefficients (β) and their 95% confidence limits (95% CL) (in mg/dL per 1 ng/mL). Results At age 7, total cholesterol was positively associated with prenatal PFOA concentrations in the lower tertile (β = 15.01; 95% CL = 2.34, 27.69) but not with PFOA concentrations in the middle (β = − 3.63; 95% CL = − 17.43, 10.16) and upper (β = − 1.58; 95% CL = − 4.58, 1.42) tertiles. At age 15, a similar pattern was noted as well. Positive associations between LDL-C and prenatal PFOA concentration in the lower tertile were observed in daughters at ages 7 (β = 14.91; 95% CL = 3.53, 28.12) and 15 (β = 13.93; 95% CL = 0.60, 27.26). LDL-C was not associated with PFOA concentrations in the middle or upper tertile at any age. Neither HDL-C nor triglycerides was associated with prenatal PFOA exposure. Non-linear patterns of association of total cholesterol and LDL-C with prenatal PFOS were less consistently noted. Conclusion Exposure to low levels of PFOA during prenatal development may alter lipid metabolism later in life. Given the small sample size further replication of the association in large independent cohorts is important

Diverse age-incidence patterns of atopic sensitization in an unselected Finnish population up to 12 years

Abstract Background: The temporal sequence in which allergic sensitization to different allergens emerges is not well characterized at the level of general population. Objective: We describe the incidence patterns of atopic sensitization to different allergens from birth up to 12 years of age in an unselected Finnish population. Methods: The study population comprised all children born between 2001 and 2006 identified from the nationwide population register as residents of the province of South Karelia, Finland (n = 5564). The results of allergy tests (22,380 results from skin prick tests, immunoglobulin E [IgE] antibodies, and open food challenges [OFCs], performed in 1827 children) were collected from patient records of all the health care units in the area. Results: The incidence rates of positive results for food and animal allergens as well as positive OFCs for cow’s milk showed prominent peaks at 5 months of age. Positive results for pollen allergens started to emerge after 1.5 years of age. The 12-year cumulative incidence of sensitization to food, animal, pollen, and any allergens was 12%, 8%, 10%, and 18%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of sensitization to house dust mites was 1% and to molds or latex less than 1%. Firstborn boys had the highest, and those who were not firstborn girls and children born in rural municipalities had the lowest early incidence of sensitization to inhalation allergens. Conclusion: In the unselected population, the atopic sensitization against food and animal allergens began before 6 months of age and was followed by sensitization to pollen allergens before 2 years of age. Primary prevention of sensitization to food and inhalation allergens should therefore occur in early infancy