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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is known to be an effective treatment of adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), but its availability is limited. Fatigue in Teenagers on the Internet (FITNET), an Internet-based CBT program for adolescents with CFS, has been developed as an alternative to face-to-face CBT. Recently, its short-term effectiveness has been proven in a randomized clinical trial. Here we aimed to assess the long-term outcome of CFS in adolescents after FITNET treatment and after usual care. In addition, factors related to recovery at long-term follow-up (LTFU) for adolescents treated with the FITNET program were investigated.METHODS:The study was an LTFU of participants of the FITNET trial. Data were completed for 112 (88.2%) of 127 approached FITNET study participants. Primary outcomes were fatigue severity (Checklist Individual Strength-20), physical functioning (87-item Child Health Questionnaire), and school/work attendance.RESULTS:After a mean follow-up of 2.7 years, 66 (58.9%) adolescents had recovered from CFS. Most adolescents who recovered directly after treatment with FITNET were still recovered at LTFU. At LTFU there was no difference between the recovery rates for the different treatment strategies (original randomization: FITNET [64%] versus any form of usual care [52.8%]). Per additional month of "pretreatment disease duration," the odds for recovery were 4% lower (odds ratio: 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.93-0.99; P = .016), and per added point on "focus on bodily symptoms" (Body Consciousness Scale) of the mother (0-20 points) the odds for recovery were 11% lower (odds ratio: 0.89; 95% confidence interval: 0.80-0.99; P = .029).CONCLUSIONS:The short-term effectiveness of Internet-based CBT on adolescent CFS is maintained at LTFU. At LTFU, usual care led to similar recovery rates, although these rates were achieved at a slower pace.
PEDIATRICS 05/2013; · 4.47 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:: Human Rhinoviruses (HRV) have been suggested to play a role in the development of childhood wheezing. However, whether HRV is causally related to the development of wheezing or HRV-associated wheeze is merely an indicator of disease susceptibility is unclear. Our aim was to study the role of HRV during infancy in the development of lower respiratory disease during infancy and childhood. METHODS:: In a population-based birth-cohort, during the first year of life nose and throat swabs were collected on a monthly basis, regardless of any symptoms. Polymerase-chain-reaction was used to detect an extensive panel of respiratory pathogens. Lung function was measured before 2 months of age. Information on respiratory symptoms was collected by daily questionnaires and electronic patient files. RESULTS:: 1.425 samples were collected in 140 infants. Both the presence of (single or multiple) pathogens (HRV equal to other pathogens), and increased respiratory system resistance, were significantly associated with lower respiratory symptoms during infancy. HRV-presence during infancy was not associated with the risk of wheezing at age 4, but every HRV-episode with wheezing increased the risk of wheezing at age 4 (OR 1.9, 1.1-3.5). This association weakened after adjustment for lung function (OR 1.4, 0.7-2.9). CONCLUSIONS:: HRV and other viruses are associated with lower respiratory symptoms during infancy, as well as a high pre-symptomatic respiratory system resistance. HRV-presence during infancy is not associated with childhood wheezing, but wheeze during a HRV-episode is an indicator of children at high risk for childhood wheeze, partly because of a reduced neonatal lung function.
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 04/2013; · 3.58 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Background:Although early life growth pattern is associated with cardiovascular disease later in life, it is unknown whether vascular changes associated with excess early weight gain already occur in early childhood.Methods:In the Wheezing-Illnesses-Study-Leidsche-Rijn (WHISTLER) birth cohort, weight and height from birth to 3 months of age were used to calculate Z-scores of individual weight and length gain rates. In the first 333 children who turned 5 years old, intima-media thickness, distensibility, and elastic modulus of the carotid artery were measured ultrasonographically. The association between weight gain rate for length gain rate (WLG), as a measure of excess weight gain, and vascular characteristics was assessed by generalized linear modeling. Interaction between birth size and WLG was tested.Results:Per 1 SD increase in WLG, carotid intima-media thickness was 5.1 μm (95% confidence interval, 1.0-9.2; P value = .01) higher (adjusted for age, gender, current height, and observer). The thinner the children were at birth, the stiffer the arteries were with increasing WLG (interaction between birth size and WLG-distensibility: P = .04; elastic modulus: P = .03).Conclusion:Excess early postnatal weight gain leads to vascular changes already in early childhood, characterized by thicker arterial walls. In children who are relatively thin at birth, excess early postnatal weight gain also leads to stiffer arteries. This supports the view that cardiovascular disease risk is associated with growth pattern early in life.
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 01/2013; · 6.50 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Studies about reduced neonatal lung function and wheezing illnesses during childhood showed conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess the association between resistance and compliance of the respiratory system (Rrs/Crs) by using the single occlusion technique (SOT) and prospectively collected wheezing illnesses during the first 5 years of life in a large birth cohort.SOT was performed during natural sleep before the age of 2 months. Information about wheezing illnesses was collected from the electronic patient file.549 infants had successful SOT measurement and complete medical records. Every kPa·l(-1)·s(-1) increase in Rrs was associated with 10% more consultations in the first 3 years of life. Every 10 mL·kPa(-1) increase in Crs was associated with a 14% reduction of consultations in the first 3 years of life, 27% in the 4(th)-5(th) year of life, and a lower probability of having asthma at the age of 5 (OR=0.66). Children with late-onset or persistent wheezing had significant lower Crs values than their peers.An increased neonatal resistance is associated with more wheezing illnesses during infancy, while a reduced neonatal compliance is associated with more wheezing illnesses during the first 5 years of life, a late-onset or persistent wheezing phenotype, and asthma.
European Respiratory Journal 11/2012; · 5.89 Impact Factor
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Annet F M Van Abeelen,
Marjolein V E Veenendaal,
Rebecca C Painter,
Susanne R De Rooij,
Shakila Thangaratinam,
Joris A M Van Der Post,
Patrick M M Bossuyt,
Sjoerd G Elias, Cuno S P M Uiterwaal,
Diederick E Grobbee,
George R Saade,
Ben Willem J Mol,
Khalid S Khan,
Tessa J Roseboom
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:: Numerous experiments in animals have been performed to investigate the effect of prenatal undernutrition on the development of hypertension in later life, with inconclusive results. We systematically reviewed animal studies examining the effects of maternal undernutrition on SBP, DBP, and mean arterial blood pressure (BP) in offspring. METHODS:: A search was performed in Medline and Embase to identify articles that reported on maternal undernutrition and hypertension in experimental animal studies. Summary estimates of the effect of undernutrition on SBP, DBP, and mean arterial BP were obtained through meta-analysis. RESULTS:: Of the 6151 articles identified, 194 were considered eligible after screening titles and abstracts. After detailed evaluation, 101 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Both maternal general and protein undernutrition increased SBP [general undernutrition: 14.5 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI) 10.8-18.3; protein undernutrition: 18.9 mmHg, 95% CI 16.1-21.8] and mean arterial BP (general undernutrition: 5.0 mmHg, 95% CI 1.4-8.6; protein undernutrition: 10.5 mmHg, 95% CI 6.7-14.2). There was substantial heterogeneity in the results. DBP was increased by protein undernutrition (9.5 mmHg, 95% CI 2.6-16.3), whereas general undernutrition had no significant effect. CONCLUSION:: The results of this meta-analysis generally support the view that in animals, maternal undernutrition - both general and protein - results in increased SBP and mean arterial BP. DBP was only increased after protein undernutrition. The results depended strongly on the applied measurement technique and animal model.
Journal of hypertension 09/2012; · 4.02 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Obesity is increasing worldwide and it is accompanied by major health effects. In adults and school-aged children, obesity is associated with decreased respiratory function, which may lead to disturbed sleeping and subsequently difficulties in concentration and behavioural disorders. The evidence for the association between obesity and decreased respiratory function in younger children is scarce. To explore the association between body weight and nocturnal respiratory function in young children, 1 to 3 years old, nocturnal pulse oximetry was performed at home. Children with tonsillar hypertrophy were excluded. Percentage of time with oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) <95 % was measured and its association with body mass index (BMI) for age z scores was analysed. Pulse oximetric data of 51 children, including 18 children with a BMI for age above +2 standard deviations, were obtained for this study. Linear regression analysis, correction for gender and parental smoking, showed a positive association between the natural logarithm of SpO(2) <95 % and BMI for age z score [regression coefficient (β) 0.19, 95 % confidence interval 0.00-0.39]. Conclusion: In young children, higher body weight is associated with a decrease in nocturnal oxygen saturation.
European Journal of Pediatrics 08/2012; · 1.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Adolescent offspring of hypertensive parents have increased carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and arterial stiffness compared with offspring of normotensives. We assessed whether systolic blood pressure (SBP) of both parents is associated with the vasculature of their offspring as early as in childhood.
In the first 306 5-year-old children of the Wheezing-Illnesses-Study-Leidsche-Rijn birth cohort, CIMT, distensibility, and elastic modulus (EM) were obtained ultrasonographically. In 204 of 306 (67%) children, complete data on both maternal and paternal SBP were obtained from the linked database of the Utrecht Health Project.
CIMT of the children was 0.58 µm (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14, 1.0) greater with every 1-mm Hg higher maternal SBP. Maternal SBP and children's distensibility and EM were more strongly associated, negative and positive respectively, with increasing paternal SBP and vice versa (P value-for-interaction: 0.003 and 0.001, respectively). CIMT of children of whom both parents were in the highest SBP tertile was 17.9 µm (95% CI: 4.0, 31.9) greater compared with the CIMT of children of whom neither one of the parents had a SBP in the highest tertile. For EM and distensibility, these estimates were 20.1 kPa (95% CI: 1.1, 39.2) and -11.6 1/Mpa (95%-CI: -22.9, -0.31), respectively.
Higher maternal SBP is related to thicker arterial walls in their 5-year-old offspring. If both parents have higher SBP, the arterial wall of their offspring is thicker and stiffer.
American Journal of Hypertension 06/2012; 25(8):907-13. · 3.18 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The developmental origins hypothesis proposes that undernutrition during early development is associated with an increased type 2 diabetes risk in adulthood. We investigated the association between undernutrition during childhood and young adulthood and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. We studied 7,837 women from Prospect-EPIC (European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition) who were exposed to the 1944-1945 Dutch famine when they were between age 0 and 21 years. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to explore the effect of famine on the risk of subsequent type 2 diabetes in adulthood. We adjusted for potential confounders, including age at famine exposure, smoking, and level of education. Self-reported famine exposure during childhood and young adulthood was associated with an increased type 2 diabetes risk in a dose-dependent manner. In those who reported moderate famine exposure, the age-adjusted type 2 diabetes hazard ratio (HR) was 1.36 (95% CI [1.09-1.70]); in those who reported severe famine exposure, the age-adjusted HR was 1.64 (1.26-2.14) relative to unexposed women. These effects did not change after adjustment for confounders. This study provides the first direct evidence, using individual famine exposure data, that a short period of moderate or severe undernutrition during postnatal development increases type 2 diabetes risk in adulthood.
Diabetes 05/2012; 61(9):2255-60. · 8.29 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A correlation between cytomegalovirus (CMV) load in urine and severity of disease in congenitally infected infants has previously been reported. CMV load in postnatally infected infants has not been studied before.
To investigate CMV load in urine of infants with postnatal or congenital infection and correlate this with clinical symptoms of CMV disease and cerebral abnormalities.
Infants admitted to our NICU between July 2000 and February 2010, and diagnosed with congenital or postnatal CMV infection were included. Clinical symptoms of CMV infection, cranial ultrasonography (cUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were evaluated. CMV urine loads of postnatally infected infants were analyzed and compared with CMV urine loads of congenitally infected infants.
Seventeen infants with congenital CMV infection and 45 infants with postnatal CMV infection were included. Thirteen/17 (76%) congenitally infected infants had clinical symptoms of CMV infection at birth and 11/17 (65%) had cerebral abnormalities diagnosed by neuro-imaging. None of the four asymptomatic infants had cerebral abnormalities. Of the postnatally infected infants 43/45 (96%) did not develop any clinical symptoms of CMV infection, but in 23/45 (51%) cerebral abnormalities such as lenticulostriate vasculopathy and germinolytic cysts were identified. The median CMV load in postnatally infected infants was significantly lower than in congenitally infected infants (1.0×10(5)copies/ml versus 8.5×10(6)copies/ml, p<0.001, respectively).
CMV load in urine is significantly lower in infants with postnatal CMV infection than in infants with congenital CMV infection irrespective of clinical symptoms of CMV infection or cerebral abnormalities.
Journal of clinical virology: the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology 03/2012; 54(2):121-4. · 3.12 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To study risk factors and cranial ultrasound (cUS) findings in a large cohort of preterm infants, admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit and diagnosed with postnatally acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
This prospective, observational study was performed from April 2007 until June 2009 among 315 infants born <32 weeks of gestation. Postnatal CMV infection was diagnosed by CMV PCR on urine collected at term-equivalent age. In CMV-positive infants, congenital infection was excluded. The authors compared the clinical and demographic data, feeding pattern and cUS results of infected and non-infected patients. Logistic regression analysis was performed.
In 39 of 315 infants, the diagnosis of postnatal CMV infection has been made. The majority of CMV-infected infants (33/39.85%) did not develop any symptoms of CMV infection. The most important, independent risk factors of postnatal CMV infection were non-native Dutch maternal origin (OR 9.6 (95% CI 4.3 to 21.5)) and breast milk (OR 13.2 (95% CI 1.7 to 104.5)). The risk of infection significantly increased in infants with lower gestational age (GA) (OR 0.7 (95% CI 0.5 to 0.9)). Lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV) was significantly more often present in infants with CMV infection (OR 4.1 (95% CI 1.9 to 8.8)).
Postnatal CMV infection is an asymptomatic infection among preterm infants. Infants with lower GA are at greatest risk of postnatal CMV infection, especially when fed with fresh breast milk from their non-native Dutch mother. LSV not present at birth but confirmed at term-equivalent age can suggest a postnatal CMV infection.
Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition 01/2012; 97(4):F259-63. · 3.05 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Background. Increased childhood weight gain has been associated with later adiposity. Whether excess early postnatal weight gain plays a role in childhood abdominal fat is unknown. Design. In the ongoing Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER), birth cohort weight and length from birth to age 3 months were obtained. In the first 316 five-year-olds, intra-abdominal and subcutaneous fat were measured ultrasonographically. Individual weight and length gain rates were assessed in each child. Internal Z-scores of weight for length gain (WLG) were calculated. Multiple imputation was used to deal with missing covariates. Results. Per-1-unit increase in Z-score WLG from birth to 3 months, BMI, waist circumference, and subcutaneous fat were significantly higher; 0.51 kg/m(2), 0.84 cm, and 0.50 mm, respectively. After multiple imputation, a trend towards significance was observed for intra-abdominal fat as well (0.51 mm/SD). In the associations with 5-year adiposity, no interaction between postnatal Z-score WLG and birth size was found. Conclusion. Excess early postnatal weight gain is associated with increased general and central adiposity, characterized by more subcutaneous and likely more intra-abdominal fat at 5 years of age.
International Journal of Pediatrics 01/2012; 2012:141656.
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ABSTRACT: Objective. To examine the association between undernutrition during postnatal periods of development and the risk of overweight in adulthood. Methods. We studied 8,091 women from Prospect-EPIC, exposed to the Dutch famine at ages between 0 and 21 years, recruited at ages between 49 and 70 years. We used linear and logistic regression models to explore the effect of famine on BMI, waist circumference, and the risk of overweight. Results. Overall, postnatal famine exposure was associated with increased BMI and waist circumference in a dose-dependent manner (P for trend < 0.01). Furthermore, risk of overweight was increased following famine exposure (P for trend = 0.01), with those severely exposed at ages 0-9 years having 25% (95% CI 1.05 to 1.50) higher risk compared to unexposed women. Conclusions. This study is the first to directly show a positive association between short and transient undernutrition during postnatal development and BMI, waist circumference, and overweight in adulthood.
International Journal of Pediatrics 01/2012; 2012:936509.
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ABSTRACT: The relation between smoke exposure in early life, the prenatal period in particular, and the vascular development of young children is largely unknown.
Data from the birth cohort participating in the WHISTLER-Cardio study were used to relate the smoking of parents during pregnancy to subsequent vascular properties in their children. In 259 participating children who turned 5 years of age, parental smoking data were updated and children's carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and arterial wall distensibility were measured by using ultrasonography.
Children of mothers who had smoked throughout pregnancy had 18.8 μm thicker CIMT (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1, 36.5, P = .04) and 15% lower distensibility (95% CI -0.3, -0.02, P = .02) after adjustment for child's age, maternal age, gender, and breastfeeding. The associations were not found in children of mothers who had not smoked in pregnancy but had smoked thereafter. The associations were strongest if both parents had smoked during pregnancy, with 27.7 μm thicker CIMT (95% CI 0.2, 55.3) and 21% lower distensibility (95% CI -0.4, -0.03).
Exposure of children to parental tobacco smoke during pregnancy affects their arterial structure and function in early life.
PEDIATRICS 12/2011; 129(1):45-54. · 4.47 Impact Factor
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A Carla Zomer, Cuno S P M Uiterwaal,
Enno T van der Velde,
Jan G P Tijssen,
Edwin C M Mariman,
Carianne L Verheugt,
Ilonca Vaartjes,
Petronella G Pieper,
Folkert J Meijboom,
Diederick E Grobbee,
Barbara J M Mulder
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ABSTRACT: Statistics on cause-specific mortality are important for prognostic research. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of the national mortality registry in research on causes of death in adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).
The CONCOR registry of over 10,000 adults with CHD was used to verify the causes of death provided by the WHO guidelines based national mortality registry, by linkage.
Of 7277 patients linked to the national mortality registry, 196 (2.4%) were recorded deceased, versus 228 deceased patients (3.1%) recorded in the CONCOR registry, during a follow-up of 25,900 patient years. Median age at death was 48.9 years. Of all deaths in the CONCOR registry, 77% had a cardiovascular origin; nearly 50% were due to progressive heart failure and arrhythmias. The national mortality registry recorded death due to progressive heart failure and arrhythmias in only 8.5%. Moreover, this registry recorded death with an 'unspecified' cause in approximately 30%, primarily containing patients who died due to progressive heart failure and arrhythmias according to their medical records.
WHO guidelines based national mortality registries lack the specificity and completeness needed for accurate research on causes of death in adult patients with CHD.
International journal of cardiology 10/2011; 152(2):212-7. · 7.08 Impact Factor
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Georg B Ehret,
Patricia B Munroe,
Kenneth M Rice,
Murielle Bochud,
Andrew D Johnson,
Daniel I Chasman,
Albert V Smith,
Martin D Tobin,
Germaine C Verwoert,
Shih-Jen Hwang, [......],
Marjo-Riitta Järvelin,
Bruce M Psaty,
Gonçalo R Abecasis,
Aravinda Chakravarti,
Paul Elliott,
Cornelia M van Duijn,
Christopher Newton-Cheh,
Daniel Levy,
Mark J Caulfield,
Toby Johnson
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ABSTRACT: Blood pressure is a heritable trait influenced by several biological pathways and responsive to environmental stimuli. Over one billion people worldwide have hypertension (≥140 mm Hg systolic blood pressure or ≥90 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure). Even small increments in blood pressure are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. This genome-wide association study of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which used a multi-stage design in 200,000 individuals of European descent, identified sixteen novel loci: six of these loci contain genes previously known or suspected to regulate blood pressure (GUCY1A3-GUCY1B3, NPR3-C5orf23, ADM, FURIN-FES, GOSR2, GNAS-EDN3); the other ten provide new clues to blood pressure physiology. A genetic risk score based on 29 genome-wide significant variants was associated with hypertension, left ventricular wall thickness, stroke and coronary artery disease, but not kidney disease or kidney function. We also observed associations with blood pressure in East Asian, South Asian and African ancestry individuals. Our findings provide new insights into the genetics and biology of blood pressure, and suggest potential novel therapeutic pathways for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Nature 09/2011; 478(7367):103-9. · 36.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Aims The developmental origins hypothesis proposes that undernutrition during foetal life, infancy, or childhood is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. As data on postnatal developmental programming are scarce, we investigated whether exposure to undernutrition during childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood is related to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in adult life. Methods and results We studied 7845 women from the Prospect-EPIC cohort who had been exposed at various degrees to the 1944-45 Dutch famine when they were aged between 0 and 21 years. We used Cox proportional hazard regression models to explore the effect of famine on the risk of CHD and stroke, overall and within exposure age categories (0-9, 10-17, ≥18 years). We adjusted for potential confounders, including age at famine exposure, smoking, and level of education as a proxy for socio-economic status. Overall, stronger famine exposure was associated with higher CHD risk. Among those who experienced the famine between ages 10 and 17 years, CHD risk was significantly higher among severely exposed women compared with unexposed women (HR 1.38; 95% CI 1.03-1.84), which only slightly attenuated after adjustment for confounding (HR 1.27; 95% CI 0.94-1.71). We observed a lower stroke risk among famine exposed women (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.61-1.02). Adjustment for potential confounders produced similar results (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.59-0.99). Conclusion Exposure to undernutrition during postnatal periods of development, including adolescence, may affect cardiovascular health in adult life.
European Heart Journal 08/2011; 33(4):538-45. · 10.48 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To determine nationwide general practitioner (GP)-diagnosed prevalence and pediatrician-diagnosed incidence rates of adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and to assess CFS morbidity.
We collected data from a cross-sectional national sample among GPs and prospective registration of new patients with CFS in all pediatric hospital departments in the Netherlands.
Study participants were adolescents aged 10 to 18 years. A representative sample of GPs completed questionnaires on the prevalence of CFS in their adolescent patients. Pediatric hospital departments prospectively reported new cases of CFS in adolescent patients. For every new reported case, a questionnaire was sent to the reporting pediatrician and the reported patient to assess CFS morbidity. Prevalence was estimated through the data from GP questionnaires and incidence was estimated on the basis of cases newly reported by pediatricians from January to December 2008.
Prevalence was calculated as 111 per 100 000 adolescents and incidence as 12 per 100 000 adolescents per year. Of newly reported patients with CFS, 91% scored at or above cutoff points for severe fatigue and 93% at or above the cutoff points for physical impairment. Forty-five percent of patients with CFS reported >50% school absence during the previous 6 months.
Clinically diagnosed incidence and prevalence rates show that adolescent CFS is uncommon compared with chronic fatigue. The primary adverse impact of CFS is extreme disability associated with considerable school absence.
PEDIATRICS 05/2011; 127(5):e1169-75. · 4.47 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: It is unknown at what age overweight starts to takes its toll on the vasculature. We studied the relation between body size measures and vascular characteristics in healthy 5-year-old children.
In 306 5-year-old children from an on-going birth cohort, body size characteristics were measured, including sonographic measurement of abdominal fat. Ultrasonographic measurements of the carotid artery were performed to obtain intima-media thickness (CIMT), arterial wall distensibility, and elastic modulus (EM).
Increased body-weight was related to thicker CIMT (linear regression coefficient 2.25 μm/kg; P = 0.003), increased EM (2.73 kPa/kg; P = 0.01), and lower distensibility (-1.23 MPa(-1)/kg; P = 0.03). Similar relations were found for increased BMI with CIMT and EM. Increased intra-abdominal fat was related to thicker CIMT (9.19 μm/cm; P = 0.02), and increased waist circumference with thicker CIMT (2.17 μm/cm; P = 0.02), lower distensibility (-1.70 MPa(-1)/cm; P = 0.01), and higher EM (2.77 kPa/cm; P = 0.02), independent of BMI.
For the first time it is demonstrated that increased general body mass and particularly waist circumference and intra-abdominal fat are related to thicker and stiffer arteries already early in life.
Annals of medicine 03/2011; 44(4):350-9. · 3.52 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Little is known about factors that determine prescribing of asthma therapy in infancy.
To describe factors related to the initiation and refill of asthma therapy in infancy.
This study included 1202 infants who participated in a prospective birth cohort study: the 'Wheezing Illnesses Study Leidsche Rijn (WHISTLER)'. Outcomes, asthma therapy initiation and refill, were assessed using prescription data. Logistic regression analysis was used to study determinants of therapy initiation in two groups: total population and infants with a respiratory system symptom diagnosis. In addition, determinants of refilling prescriptions were studied in infants who started therapy in their first year of life.
Fifteen per cent of all infants started asthma therapy in their first year of life. Respiratory symptoms were an important driver of both initiation and refill of prescriptions. In the total population, therapy initiation was associated with male gender [odds ratio (OR): 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-2.6], day-care attendance (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.5) and breastfeeding (OR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.3-1.0). For infants with a respiratory system symptom diagnosis, day-care attendance was associated with an increased chance of therapy initiation (OR: 5.3, 95% CI: 1.8-16.2) and breastfeeding was associated with a lower chance of starting therapy (OR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.1-1.1). Dutch children had a higher chance of refilling prescriptions in infancy (OR: 5.3, 95% CI: 1.1-26.8).
Apart from other factors involved, the principal reason for initiation and refill of asthma therapy in infancy was the presence of respiratory symptoms. This appeared the only reason to prescribe medication and physicians are not distracted by other factors.
Family Practice 02/2011; 28(4):377-84. · 1.50 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To examine incidence and severity of cerebral palsy (CP), and associated factors among preterm survivors (gestational age <34 weeks), admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit from 1990-2005.
Eighteen antenatal, perinatal and postnatal factors were analyzed. The cohort was divided in four birth periods: 1990-1993 (n=661), 1994-1997 (n=726), 1998-2001 (n=723), and 2002-2005 (n=850). The Gross Motor Function Classification System was used as primary outcome measure (mean age: 32.9 ± 5.3 months). Logistic regression analyses were used.
CP incidence decreased from 6.5% in period I, to 2.6%, 2.9% and 2.2% (P<.001) in period II-IV, respectively. Simultaneously, cystic periventricular leukomalacia (c-PVL) decreased from 3.3% in period I to 1.3% in period IV (P=.004). Within the total cohort (n=3287), c-PVL grade III decreased from 2.3% in period I to 0.2% in period IV (P=.003). The number of children with Gross Motor Function Classification System levels III-V decreased from period I to IV (P=.035). Independent risk factors for CP were c-PVL and severe intraventricular hemorrhage, whereas antenatal antibiotics, presence of an arterial line, Caesarean section, and gestational age were independent protective factors.
CP incidence and severity decreased from 1990-1993 onward, which could be attributed to a reduction of 93% in severe c-PVL.
The Journal of pediatrics 02/2011; 159(1):86-91.e1. · 4.02 Impact Factor
