Chronic Diseases in Canada
Volume 26, No. 4, 2005
Titles of Feature Articles | ![Chronic Diseases in Canada cover of the PDF version](/web/20061212190810im_/http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cdic-mcc/26-4/gfx/cdic26-4covsm_e.jpg) |
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Prevalence and predictors of depression in elderly Canadians: The Canadian Study of Health and Aging
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View Abstract
Truls Østbye, Betsy Kristjansson, Gerry Hill, Stephen C Newman, Rebecca N Brouwer and Ian McDowell
Measurement issues related to the evaluation and monitoring of major depression prevalence in Canada - View
Abstract
Scott B Patten, Jian Li Wang, Cynthia A Beck and Colleen J Maxwell
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A descriptive analysis of Canadian youth treated in emergency departments for work-related injuries - View Abstract
Tammy Lipskie and F Curtis Breslin
- Acceptability of micronutrient sprinkles: A new food-based approach for delivering iron to First Nations and Inuit children in Northern Canada -
View Abstract
Anna Christofides, Claudia Schauer, Waseem Sharieff and Stanley H Zlotkin
Chronic Diseases in Canada (CDIC) is a quarterly scientific journal
focusing on current evidence relevant to the control and prevention
of chronic (i.e., non-communicable) diseases and injuries in
Canada. Since 1980 the journal has published a unique blend of peer-reviewed
feature articles, by authors from the public and private sectors,
which may include research from such fields as epidemiology,
public/community health, biostatistics, the behavioural sciences and
health services. Authors retain responsibility for the content of their
papers and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the CDIC editorial
committe, neither of Health Canada nor of the Public Health Agency
of Canada.
Abstracts from Feature Articles in Chronic Diseases in Canada Volume
26, No 4, 2005
Article 1: Prevalence and predictors of depression in elderly Canadians: The Canadian Study of Health and Aging
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Authors: Truls Østbye, Betsy Kristjansson, Gerry Hill, Stephen C Newman, Rebecca N Brouwer and Ian McDowell |
Abstract:
Depression in elderly Canadians is an important but often unrecognized public health problem.
Numerous studies have examined depression in the general community, but studies of
depression in the elderly have generally been small and limited. The Canadian Study of Health
and Aging (CSHA) includes a large and national representation of both the cognitively intact
and the cognitively impaired elderly. The current analyses of 2,341 participants from the CSHA
who completed a clinical rating scale for depression have two objectives: 1) to determine the
prevalence of minor and major depression and 2) to examine the importance of several risk
factors. The prevalences of major and minor depression were 2.6 percent and 4.0 percent,
respectively, and were higher for females, specifically those in institutions, those who reported
that their health problems limited activities, and those with chronic health conditions. Women
were more likely to exhibit depression (OR=3.5; 95% CI: 1.4-8.8) than men, and those with
dementia more likely to exhibit depression than those without (OR=2.4; 95% CI: 0.9–3.1).
Depression is a significant mental health problem among elderly Canadians, particularly
among women and those with physical limitations. More attention should be paid to the
detection and treatment of depression in the elderly, particularly among those most at risk.
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Article 2: Measurement issues related to the evaluation and monitoring of major depression prevalence in Canada |
Authors: Scott B Patten, Jian Li Wang, Cynthia A Beck and Colleen J Maxwell |
Abstract:
Monitoring major depression prevalence is important because of the substantial impact of this
condition on population health. Local or regional surveys using cost-efficient methods (e.g.
data collection by telephone interview) may provide useful epidemiological data, as may the
inclusion of brief diagnostic modules for major depression in general health surveys. In
Canada, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form for Major Depression
(CIDI-SFMD) has been widely employed for both purposes. The recent Canadian Community
Health Survey 1.2 (2002), which employed a more detailed diagnostic interview (the World
Mental Health 2000 CIDI), provides a standard against which to evaluate the performance of
the CIDI-SFMD. A tendency to at times overestimate prevalence appears to be a characteristic
of the CIDI-SFMD, and it has produced a broad range of prevalence estimates, suggesting a
greater vulnerability to study-specific or contextual factors. However, the pattern of association
of major depression with potential demographic determinants is not consistent with the
classical “dilution” effect expected to occur with non-differential misclassification bias.
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Article 3: A descriptive analysis of Canadian youth treated in emergency departments for work-related injuries |
Authors: Tammy Lipskie and F Curtis Breslin |
Abstract:
Because labour laws and regulations protect minors by preventing them from working, this
population is often excluded from labour data. However, work is common among Canadian
youth. Young teens, and especially pre-teens, have informal employment arrangements such
as odd jobs, yard work, babysitting and deliveries. Work injuries occurring in these informal
employment arrangements are surprisingly frequent and not usually captured by traditional
occupational health and safety data sources (e.g. workers' compensation claims). We
analyzed data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) and found 999 youths (5 to 17 years) who had suffered a work-related injury
between 1995 and 1998. They were concentrated in two main areas: clerical/service and
manual labour. Work-related injuries increased with age. Approximately one third of the
youth experienced open wounds and 5.5 percent had animal bites. Collisions with someone or
something were common, as were falls. Others or animals were frequently involved. For the
majority of cases, the direct cause of injury corresponds to one of ten categories. Injuries and
circumstances varied by occupation. Even informal work arrangements (e.g. delivering
newspapers) contained hazards and these varied by workplace. The injuries of young workers
have implications for future research, prevention efforts, health services policy and legislative
and regulatory efforts.
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Article 4: Acceptability of micronutrient sprinkles: A new food-based approach for delivering iron to First Nations and Inuit children in Northern Canada
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Authors: Anna Christofides, Claudia Schauer, Waseem Sharieff and Stanley H Zlotkin |
Abstract:
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant public health problem among Canadian
Aboriginal children. The objectives of this study were to determine the acceptability and safety
of microencapsulated-iron sprinkles, a new powdered form of iron packaged in a
single-serving sachet for prevention of IDA. A total of 102 non-anemic children aged 4 to 18
months from three communities were randomized to receive sprinkles containing 30 mg
Fe/day (N=49) or placebo (N=53) for six months. To assess acceptability, adherence and
side effects were monitored bi-weekly. To assess safety, serum ferritin (SF) concentration and
anthropometry were measured at baseline and end. Mean adherence was 59.6 ± 27.7
percent. There were no differences in adherence, SF, anthropometric status or side effects
between groups. Although there were no differences in hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and
anemia prevalence from baseline to end and between groups, the Hb curve shifted to the right
(increased) for the sprinkles group and to the left (decreased) for the placebo group. Sprinkles
may provide a safe and acceptable option to the current standard of care (i.e. ferrous sulphate
drops) for the provision of iron in Canadian Aboriginal populations.
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