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The aim of this study was to identify serum ferritin (SF) cut‐off points (COPs) in a cohort of healthy full‐term normal birth weight infants who had repeated measurements of SF and haemoglobin every 3 months during the first year of life. The study included 746 full‐term infants with birth weight ≥2,500 g, having uncomplicated gestations and births. Participants received prophylactic iron supplementation (1 mg/day of iron element) from the first to the 12th month of life and did not develop anaemia during the first year of life. Two statistical methods were considered to identify COPs for low iron stores at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age: deviation from mean and cluster analysis. According to the K‐means cluster analysis results by age and sex, COPs at 3 and 6 months for girls were 39 and 21 μg/L and for boys 23 and 11 μg/L, respectively. A single COP of 10 μg/L was identified, for girls and boys, at both 9 and 12 months. Given the physiological changes in SF concentration during the first year of life, our study identified dynamic COPs, which differed by sex in the first semester. Adequate SF COPs are necessary to identify low iron stores at an early stage of iron deficiency, which represents one of the most widespread public health problems around the world, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies in southern New Zealand indicate that up to a quarter of women experienced infertility, likely due to delay in childbearing. However, these findings may not be generalisable to the whole population. Aims: To assess the lifetime prevalence of infertility and evidence for disparities for New Zealand men and women in a nationally representative sample. Materials and Methods: In 2014/15 a general health survey with a module on sexual and reproductive health was conducted among New Zealand residents aged 16–74 years; 3792 men and 5222 women provided information on infertility. Result(s): There were 8.2% (95% CI 7.1–9.4%) of men and 12.5% (11.3–13.8%) of women who had experienced infertility; among fertility‐tested women this was 15.4% (14.0–16.9%). Prevalence peaked in the 35–44 year age group (14.3% for men, 19.1% for women and 20.8% for fertility‐tested women). Estimates for European, Māori and Asian ethnicities were similar. Pacific men and women had higher relative risks: 2.37 (95% CI 1.51–3.71) and 1.76 (1.27–2.44), respectively, compared with Europeans. Medical help was sought by 69.3% (95% CI 62.4–75.5%) of infertile men and 68.2% (63.1–72.9%) of women; this was significantly lower for Māori and Pacific. Conclusions: Infertility levels for those of European ethnicity were similar to studies in southern New Zealand, and in other high‐income countries. However, infertility levels were just as high for Māori, and higher for Pacific people, despite experiencing fertility at younger ages. Focusing on reducing causes of infertility other than delayed childbearing would likely contribute to addressing this health disparity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the associations between preeclampsia and longitudinal child developmental and behavioural outcomes using data from a nationally representative study of children living in Ireland. Methods: We used maternal-reported data from the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study of children. Data on preeclampsia and preeclampsia + small for gestational age (SGA) were collected when children were 9-months old. Data on child development and behavioural outcomes were collected at 9-months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), and at 3 years, 5 years and 7–8 years using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between preeclampsia exposure and failure of ASQ domains, and abnormal SDQ domains. Linear spline multilevel models were used to examine the association between preeclampsia and preeclampsia + SGA and repeated measures of SDQ. All models controlled for several perinatal and sociodemographic factors. Results: A total of 10,692 children were included in the study at baseline, representing a weighted total of 70,791. Multivariate logistic regression suggested that preeclampsia was not associated with failing any ASQ domain. Preeclampsia was associated with abnormal SDQ cut-off of emotional (≥ 5) and hyperactivity (≥ 7) domains at age 5 years only. In the linear spline model, mean SDQ score was higher at each time point in exposed groups. Conclusions for Practice: While we did not find strong evidence of associations between preeclampsia and child developmental and behavioural outcomes overall, some associations between preeclampsia-exposure and subtle behavioural issues did persist. Further research is needed to replicate these findings, and determine the clinical significance of changes in SDQ scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In Health Examination Surveys interview information is complemented with objective information, providing more accurate indicators than self-reported data. We report the study design, planning and implementation of the first Portuguese Health Examination Survey (INSEF). Methods INSEF was a cross-sectional population-based study representative at regional and national level. Individuals aged between 25 and 74 years old, residing in Portugal were selected from the national health users' registry through multi-stage stratified probabilistic sampling. Sample size was set at 4200 individuals. Data was collected in primary care units and included blood pressure, height, weight, hip and waist measurements, blood collection for lipid profile, HbA1c and blood count and a general health questionnaire. European HES procedures were followed. Results A total of 4911 individuals agreed to participate (43.9% participation rate). Participation rate varied by region, sex and age group, being lower in Lisbon and Tagus Valley (32.8%), for men (41.8%) and for those aged 25–34 years old (36%). Conclusions INSEF has set up an experienced national and regional structure for HES implementation. Nationally representative quality epidemiological data is now available for public health monitoring, planning and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population‐based studies on blood donation prevalence and its association with sociodemographic and behavioural factors are scarce, but remain the best approach to assess correlates of donation, including those which could be the target for donor recruitment campaigns. This study describes the population of primary healthcare users from the public system in a medium‐sized Brazilian municipality to investigate the association of blood donation practice with other sociodemographic factors. A stratified, representative sample of primary healthcare users at 12 healthcare facilities in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, were invited to participate. Analysis focused on demographic and psychosocial factors including, sex, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, educational level, health insurance, self‐perception of health, religious beliefs, and blood donation history. Blood donors, self‐defined ineligible donors, and never donors were compared. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was used to assess positively and negatively associated variables in the dataset. MCA was conducted on respondents' age and monthly household income to assess dimensionality of other questionnaire responses. Of a total of 1,055 study participants, 79.7% were females and the mean age was 40.6 years. Blood donation practice was reported by 246 participants (23.3%), 669 (63.4%) had never donated, and 140 (13.3%) reported being unable to donate blood. Graphical presentation of the MCA showed that male, older age groups, those who have health insurance, and with higher socioeconomic and educational level are more likely to donate blood. Poor or average self‐perception of health, lower socioeconomic status, and divorced or widowed marital status were associated with self‐defined inability to donate blood. Thus, our results are useful to understand the multifactorial nature of blood donation behaviour. Our findings provide guidance for targeted recruitment campaigns focused on relevant contextual factors. The focus on reducing barriers to blood donation according to sociodemographic groups can be a relevant strategy to expand the donor base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has generally found exclusive breastfeeding to protect against asthma in young children. However, maternal nativity in a Latina population has not been assessed as a potential confounder or effect modifier. Using cross-sectional data restricted to Latina mothers (n = 704) from a birth cohort in Los Angeles interviewed in 2003 and 2006, we estimated risk ratios (RR) for exclusive breastfeeding and asthmatic symptoms in the offspring. 56 children (8 %) had asthmatic symptoms at age 3.5 years. We found a 49 % reduction in risk of asthmatic symptoms with >3 months of exclusive breastfeeding (aRR 0.51, 95 % CI 0.28, 0.90). Foreign-born Latinas were more likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding for at least 3 months compared with US-born Latinas. Three or more months of exclusive breastfeeding reduced the risk of asthmatic symptoms in the offspring of Latinas, and maternal nativity did not confound or modify this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To test whether people with shortened dental arches ( SDA) have impaired oral health-related quality of life than those with more natural teeth. Method We analysed data from the 2004-2006 Australian National Survey of Adult Oral Health (including telephone interview, oral epidemiological examinations and mailed questionnaire). Participants aged ≥15 years and with intact anterior teeth were eligible in this study. We used multivariable negative binomial regression analyses to test the association of SDA, according to two alternative definition (1. having intact teeth and 3-5 natural occlusal units; 2. having intact anterior teeth and four natural occlusal units), with OHIP-14 severity and extent, adjusting for potential confounders, including demographic variables (age and sex), socioeconomic variables (income and education), behaviour characteristics (time since last visit, reason for the last dental visit, difficult in paying $100 dental bill and dental insurance possession), and dental outcomes (coronal and root caries, and periodontal disease). Result We analysed on 2,750 dentate participants that were eligible for the study. When SDA was classified as intact anterior teeth, four occlusal units and no dental prosthesis, no statistical difference in OHIP-14 severity or extent was identified compared with those with intact anterior teeth, over four occlusal units and no dental prosthesis. Participants who presented intact anterior teeth, 3-5 occlusal units and no prosthesis showed 50% higher rates of OHIP-14 severity than those with intact anterior teeth, over five occlusal units and no prosthesis while their OHIP-14 extent was similar to that of the reference group. Conclusion SDA is not associated with negative impacts on quality of life, according to both OHIP-14 severity and extent, when SDA is defined as four occlusal units and no dental prosthesis. When SDA is defined as 3-5 occlusal units and no dental prosthesis, it is only associated with OHIP-14 severity, but not OHIP-14 extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize the prevalence and clustering of multimorbidity in four diverse geographical settings in Peru. Methods: Multimorbidity, defined as having ≥2 chronic conditions, was studied in adults aged ≥35 years in four diverse settings in Peru: Lima, Tumbes, and urban and rural Puno. Six of these conditions (alcohol disorder, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, and hypertension) were cataloged as objectively ascertained chronic conditions and paired in dyads to explore clusters of multimorbidity. Results: We analyzed data from 2890 adults, mean age 55.2 years, 49% males. Overall, 19.1% of participants had multimorbidity, ranging from 14.7% in semi-urban Tumbes to 22.8% in Lima. The dyads with the highest coexistence (approximately 20%) were observed in hypertension and diabetes in Tumbes, whereas the dyads with lowest coexistence (approximately 1%) were those involving asthma in all study sites. In terms of clusters, Tumbes showed a predominance of hypertension and diabetes, urban and rural Puno a predominance of depression and alcohol disorders, and Lima a higher degree of coexistence of all of the six conditions than in the other clusters. Conclusion: Multimorbidity is common and the pattern of clusters is highly heterogeneous. The conditions to prioritize will vary in each setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]