Prevalence of Overweight and Obese Prepregnancy BMI and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Using Asian-Specific Cutoffs Among Asian and Mixed-Asian Women Living in Hawaii: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: The use of Asian-specific Body Mass Index (aBMI) cutoffs may be more appropriate than general World Health Organization BMI (gBMI) cutoffs in determining recommended gestational weight gain (GWG) for Asian women. Since aBMI cutoffs are lower than gBMI, more Asian women will be reclassified into higher aBMI categories from gBMI. The prevalence of reclassification and its impact on GWG are not known. METHODS: We utilized the electronic health records of 8886 Kaiser Permanente Hawaii members aged ≥ 18 with a singleton live birth. Prepregnancy BMI was first classified using gBMI criteria, then aBMI criteria. BMI categories were "underweight", "normal", "overweight" and "obese"; GWG was classified into lower ("lGWG"), met ("mGWG"), and exceed ("eGWG") GWG per WHO recommendations. Self-reported race/ethnicity include Asian, Asian + Pacific Islander, and Asian + white. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds of reclassification. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test was used to evaluate associations between race/ethnicity and GWG. RESULTS: > 40% of women in each racial/ethnic group were reclassified. Asian + Pacific Islander women had significantly higher odds of being reclassified (p < .0001). In the normal gBMI and aBMI category, Asian + Pacific Islander women had the largest eGWG group. In the overweight gBMI category, Asian + Pacific Islander women had the largest eGWG group; in the overweight aBMI category, Asian + white women had the largest eGWG group. DISCUSSION: A sizable percent of women were reclassified into higher BMI categories when aBMI was applied. Mixed-race Asian women were more likely to exceed GWG recommendations than Asian women.

Characteristics of an adult population with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: the relation of obesity and age of onset.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 18-44 years of age (early type 2 diabetes) have different metabolic profiles at diagnosis than adults diagnosed at > or =45 years of age (usual type 2 diabetes). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Within a health maintenance organization, we studied characteristics among 2,437 adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 1996 and 1998 who had measured weight, HbA(1c), blood pressure, and cholesterol within 3 months of diagnosis. We abstracted clinical data from electronic medical records. We compared mean and proportional differences with parametric t tests and chi(2) analyses, respectively. We used multiple logistic regression to identify the factors independently associated with the onset group (early vs. usual type 2 diabetes). RESULTS: There was an inverse linear relationship between BMI and age at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (P < 0.001). On univariate analysis, adults with early type 2 diabetes were more obese (BMI 39 vs. 33 kg/m(2), P < 0.001), were more likely to be female (P = 0.04), had slightly worse glycemic control (HbA(1c) 7.7 vs. 7.5%, P = 0.03), had a higher prevalence of diastolic hypertension (37 vs. 26%, P < 0.001), despite a lower prevalence of systolic hypertension (34 vs. 55%, P < 0.001), and had an equally high rate of abnormal lipids (82 vs. 78%, P = 0.13) than adults with usual type 2 diabetes. BMI, female gender, cholesterol, and diastolic and systolic blood pressure remained independently associated with onset group at multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Although both onset groups were on average obese, the inverse linear relationship of obesity and age of diabetes onset that we observed suggests that obesity is a continuous risk rather than a threshold risk for diabetes onset. Both onset groups had a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors.

The global diabetes model: user friendly version 3.0.

The attributes of Release 3.0 of the user friendly version (UFV) of the global diabetes model (GDM) are described and documented in detail. The GDM is a continuous, stochastic microsimulation model of type 2 diabetes. Suitable for predicting the medical futures of both individuals with diabetes and representative diabetic populations, the GDM predicts medical events (complications of diabetes), survival, utilities, and medical care costs. Incidence rate functions for microvascular and macrovascular complications are based on a combination of published studies and analyses of data describing diabetic members of Kaiser Permanente Northwest Region, a non-profit group-model health maintenance organization. Active risk factors include average blood glucose (HbAlc), systolic blood pressure (SBP), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), triglycerides, smoking status, and use of prophylactic aspirin. Events predicted include diabetic eye disease, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy amputation, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral artery disease, congestive heart failure, coronary artery surgery, coronary angioplasty, and death.

The Mt. Hood challenge: cross-testing two diabetes simulation models.

Starting from identical patients with type 2 diabetes, we compared the 20-year predictions of two computer simulation models, a 1998 version of the IMIB model and version 2.17 of the Global Diabetes Model (GDM). Primary measures of outcome were 20-year cumulative rates of: survival, first (incident) acute myocardial infarction (AMI), first stroke, proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), macro-albuminuria (gross proteinuria, or GPR), and amputation. Standardized test patients were newly diagnosed males aged 45 or 75, with high and low levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and serum lipids. Both models generated realistic results and appropriate responses to changes in risk factors. Compared with the GDM, the IMIB model predicted much higher rates of mortality and AMI, and fewer strokes. These differences can be explained by differences in model architecture (Markov vs. microsimulation), different evidence bases for cardiovascular prediction (Framingham Heart Study cohort vs. Kaiser Permanente patients), and isolated versus interdependent prediction of cardiovascular events. Compared with IMIB, GDM predicted much higher lifetime costs, because of lower mortality and the use of a different costing method. It is feasible to cross-validate and explicate dissimilar diabetes simulation models using standardized patients. The wide differences in the model results that we observed demonstrate the need for cross-validation. We propose to hold a second 'Mt Hood Challenge' in 2001 and invite all diabetes modelers to attend.

Race and gender differences in the effects of smoking on lung function.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the extent to which the relationship between smoking and lung function in adults varies by gender and race/ethnicity. DESIGN: A random-effects metaregression analysis to synthesize results from common cross-sectional regression models fit to participants in each of 10 gender-race strata in each of eight large population-based observational studies or clinical trials. SETTING: Source data collected as part of the most recently completed examination cycle for each of the participating studies. PARTICIPANTS: Participants ranged in age from 30 to 85 years, although the age, race, gender, and general health characteristics of each of the populations varied greatly. INTERVENTIONS: Most of the studies were observational in nature, although some did involve lifestyle interventions. All treatment assignments were ignored in the analysis. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: All studies measured lung function using standardized methods with centrally trained and certified technicians. Study findings confirm statistically significant, dose-related smoking effects in all race-gender groups studied. Significant gender differences in the effects of cigarette smoking were seen only for blacks; black men who smoked had greater smoking-related declines in FEV(1) than did black women. This effect was present in only one of two smoking models, however. Significant racial differences in the effects of smoking were seen only for men, with Asian/Pacific Islanders having smaller smoking-related declines than white men in both models. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this analysis generally failed to support the hypothesis of widespread differences in the effects of cigarette smoking on lung function between gender or racial subgroups.

Metformin as secondary therapy in a defined population with type 2 diabetes.

This study was undertaken to assess the effect of metformin as a second-line oral antihyperglycemic agent in a defined population with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We measured the extent and circumstances of metformin use in the 15,000-person diabetes registry of a large, group-model health maintenance organization (HMO). Among subsets of patients in whom adequate glycemic control could not be maintained with sulfonylurea (SU) therapy, we compared glycemic control before and after metformin use to glycemic control during a similar interval before metformin was introduced. Metformin users were significantly more likely than nonusers to have had poor glycemic control at baseline. Nearly two thirds (63.8%) of patients with a glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1c) level >10% switched to metformin, as did 46.3% of those with an Hb A1c level of 8% to 10%. In all patients (metformin users and nonusers) in whom SU therapy failed to maintain glycemic control, Hb A1c levels decreased 0.9% after metformin was introduced, compared with a decrease of 0.4% during the control period. In a group-model HMO that promoted the use of metformin as second-line therapy in patients unable to maintain glycemic control with SU therapy, metformin reduced hyperglycemic levels.

The progressive cost of complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: A substantial proportion of the costs of diabetes treatment arises from treating long-term complications, particularly cardiovascular and renal disease. However, little is known about the progressive cost of these complications. Firmer knowledge would improve diabetes modeling and might increase the financial and organizational support for the prevention of diabetic complications. METHODS: We analyzed 9 years of clinical data on 11 768 members of a large group-model health maintenance organization who had probable type 2 diabetes mellitus. We ascertained the presence of cardiovascular and renal complications, staged the members progression, and estimated their incremental costs by stage. RESULTS: We found no significant differences between men and women in the prevalence or staging of complications. Per-person costs increased over baseline ($2033) by more than 50% ($1087) after initiation of cardiovascular drug therapy and/or use of a cardiologist, and by 360% ($7352) after a major cardiovascular event. Abnormal renal function increased diabetes treatment costs by 65% ($1337); advanced renal disease, by 195% ($3979); and end-stage renal disease, by 771% ($15 675). Both cardiovascular and renal diseases were more common among older subjects, but age did not affect the additional costs of these complications. Women had substantially higher medical care costs after controlling for age and presence of complications. Incremental cost estimates based solely on "labeled" events significantly underestimate true incremental cost. CONCLUSIONS: In an aggregate population, the greatest cost savings would be achieved by preventing major cardiovascular events. For individuals, the greatest savings would be achieved by preventing progression to stage 3 renal disease.

Pre-enrollment diets of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension trial participants. DASH Collaborative Research Group.

A large body of evidence suggests that several nutrients are related to blood pressure. Less is known about the eating patterns of special populations, such as those at risk for hypertension, or how demographic factors affect the diets of these populations. This article characterizes the usual diets of participants before they enrolled in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trial. During screening for DASH, 380 participants completed the National Cancer Institute food frequency questionnaire. Nutrient and food group intake, the Keys score (a measure of a diet's atherogenicity), and the Diet Quality Index were estimated from the food frequency questionnaire. The effects of age, sex, race, baseline weight, and education on these dietary factors were assessed among DASH participants and compared with similar data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and other published reports. Among DASH participants, African-Americans reported lower intakes of dairy products (P < .001), calcium (P < .001), and magnesium (P < .05) than did whites. Older women reported greater intakes of calcium, magnesium, and potassium (all P < .05) and less fat (P < .05) than did younger women. Older men consumed fewer servings of fruits (P < .03), less vitamin C (P < .05), and had a higher Keys score (P < .05) than did younger men. Heavier (body mass index > or = 25) participants reported lower intakes of protein and potassium, but higher fat and energy intakes (all P < .05). Taken together, these data show that younger, overweight African-American women have the least healthful diets, because they consume more atherogenic foods and fewer of the nutrients related to decreased blood pressure. Overall Diet Quality Index scores did not differ between African-American and white participants. Despite differences in dietary assessment methods between the population samples of DASH and the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, within each population sample patterns of micronutrient intake were similar between African-American and white participants.

Associations of smoking with hospital-based care and quality of life in patients with obstructive airway disease.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between direct or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and both hospital-based care (HBC) and quality of life (QOL) among subjects with asthma. STUDY DESIGN: We report baseline cross-sectional data on 619 subjects with asthma, including direct or ETS exposure and QOL, and prospective longitudinal data on HBC using administrative databases for 30 months following baseline evaluation. SETTING AND PATIENTS: Participants were health maintenance organization members with physician-diagnosed asthma involved in a longitudinal study of risk factors for hospital-based asthma care. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic characteristics and QOL were assessed with administered questionnaires, including the Marks Asthma Quality-of-Life (AQLQ) and SF-36 questionnaires. HBC was defined as episodes per person-year of hospital-based asthma care, which included emergency department and urgency care visits, and hospitalizations for asthma. RESULTS: Current smokers reported significantly worse QOL than never-smokers in two of five domains of the AQLQ (p < 0.05). Subjects with ETS exposure also reported significantly worse QOL than those without ETS exposure in two domains (p < 0.05). On the SF-36, current smokers reported significantly worse QOL than never-smokers in five of nine domains (p < 0.05). Subjects with ETS exposure reported significantly worse QOL than those without ETS exposure in three domains (p < 0.05). Current smokers used significantly more hospital-based asthma care than never-smokers (adjusted relative risk [RR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.95) while ex-smokers did not exhibit increased risk compared with nonsmokers (adjusted RR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.7 to 1.3). Also, subjects with ETS exposure used significantly more hospital-based asthma care than those without ETS exposure (RR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.80 to 3.05). CONCLUSIONS: Direct or environmental tobacco exposure prospectively predicted increased health-care utilization for asthma and reduced QOL in patients with asthma. These findings add to our existing knowledge of the detrimental effects of tobacco smoke and are of relevance specifically to patients with asthma.

Lack of correlation of symptoms with specialist-assessed long-term asthma severity.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To validate three indicators of asthma severity as defined in the National Asthma Education Program (NAEP) guidelines (ie, frequency of symptoms, degree of airflow obstruction, and frequency of use of oral glucocorticoids), alone and in combination, against severity as assessed by pulmonary specialists provided with 24-month medical chart data. DESIGN: Cross-sectional comparison of questionnaire and clinical-based markers of asthma severity with physician-assessed severity based on chart review. The pulmonologists did not have access to the results of the baseline evaluations when making their severity assessments. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Study participants were 193 asthmatic members (age range, 6 to 55 years) of a large health maintenance organization who underwent a baseline evaluation as part of a separate longitudinal study. This evaluation consisted of spirometry, skin prick testing, and a survey that included questions on symptoms and medication use. The participants in the ancillary study were selected, based on their baseline evaluation, to reflect a broad range of asthma severity. RESULTS: Based on the chart review, 86 of the study subjects (45%) had mild disease, 90 (45%) had moderate disease, and 17 (9%) had severe disease. This physician-assessed severity correlated highly (p < or = 0.013) with NAEP-based indices of severity based on oral glucocorticoid use (never, infrequently for attacks, frequently for attacks, and daily use) and on spirometry (FEV1 > 80% predicted, 60 to 80% predicted, and <60% predicted). It did not, however, correlate with current asthma symptoms (< or = once/week, 2 to 6 times/week, daily) (p=0.87). A composite severity score based on spirometry and the glucocorticoid use data still provided an overall agreement of 63%, with a weighted kappa of 0.40. CONCLUSIONS: While current symptoms are the most important concern of patients with asthma, they reflect the current level of asthma control more than underlying disease severity. Investigators must therefore use caution when comparing groups of patients for whom severity categorization is based largely on symptomatology. This observation, that symptoms alone do not reflect disease severity, becomes even more important as health-care delivery moves closer to protocols/practice guidelines and "best treatment" programs that rely heavily on symptoms to guide subsequent treatment decisions.

Lactic acidosis rates in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a context for the interpretation of lactic acidosis risk among patients using metformin, we measured rates of lactic acidosis in patients with type 2 diabetes before metformin was approved for use in the U.S. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using electronic databases of hospital discharge diagnoses and laboratory results maintained by a large, nonprofit health maintenance organization (HMO). we identified possible lactic acidosis events in three geographically and racially diverse populations with type 2 diabetes. We then reviewed hard-copy clinical records to confirm and describe each event and determine its likely cause(s). RESULTS: From >41.000 person-years of experience, we found four confirmed, three possible, and three borderline cases of lactic acidosis. In each case, we identified at least one severe medical condition that could have caused the acidosis. The annual confirmed event rate is similar to published rates of metformin-associated lactic acidosis. CONCLUSIONS: Lactic acidosis occurs regularly, although infrequently, among persons with type 2 diabetes, at rates similar to its occurrence among metformin users. The medical conditions with which both metformin-associated and naturally occurring lactic acidosis co-occur are also its potential causes. The observed association between metformin and lactic acidosis may be coincidental rather than causal. This possibility merits further study

Contralateral flow reduction in unilateral stroke: evidence for transhemispheric diaschisis.

Using clinical presentation, angiography, computed tomography, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, 7 patients were identified who had strictly unilateral hemispheric infarction and unilateral cerebrovascular disease. In 6, cerebral blood flow measured by fluorine-18-fluoromethane inhalation and positron emission tomography was reduced in the contralateral hemisphere (p less than 0.05). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated a high correlation between contralateral flow reduction and the degree of flow impairment in the infarcted area (r = 0.941, p = 0.0014) but not with age, risk factor profile, blood pressure, PCO2, hematocrit, or duration of stroke. We conclude that transhemispheric diaschisis best explains the contralateral flow reduction seen in supratentorial ischemic stroke.