Antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus infection: effectiveness at general population level in a highly endemic area

BACKGROUND

Peginterferon plus ribavirin treatment induced a sustained virological response in >50% of HCV-RNA-positive individuals enrolled in published clinical trials.

AIM

To determine anti-HCV treatment effectiveness at a general population level.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In 2002, a 1:5 random sample of >11 years old inhabitants of a small Italian town (Cittanova) was invited for HCV screening. HCV-RNA-positive individuals were evaluated for antiviral treatment.

RESULTS

1645 of 1924 invited individuals (85.5%) participated in the screening. 84 HCV-RNA-positive individuals were detected: median age was 65 years (range: 32-87); 67% was infected with genotype 1 or 4. Antiviral treatment was judged unnecessary for 43 (51.2%), due to persistently normal alanine aminotransferases, mild disease at liver biopsy or age >70 years without cirrhosis. Twenty-eight of the remaining 41 patients (68.3%) were ineligible for treatment, because of medical/psychiatric contraindications (42.9%), alcohol/drug abuse (17.9%), decompensated cirrhosis/hepatocellular carcinoma (17.9%), not attending official appointments (10.7%), previous intolerance/non-response to interferon plus ribavirin (10.7%). 5 of 13 eligible patients (38.5%) did not receive treatment (4 refused and 1 accidental death). 3 of 8 treated patients (37.5%) reached a sustained virological response.

CONCLUSIONS

Although efficacy of anti-HCV therapy improved in recent years, we found that low eligibility to treatment still limited its effectiveness at general population level in a highly endemic town.

Selected food intake and risk of endometriosis

BACKGROUND

To offer data on the relationship between diet and risk of pelvic endometriosis, we analysed data collected in the framework of two case-control studies.

METHODS

Data from two case-control studies conducted in Northern Italy between 1984 and 1999 were combined. Cases were 504 women aged < 65 years (median age 33 years, range 20-65) with a laparoscopically confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis, admitted to a network of obstetrics and gynaecology departments in Milan, Brescia and Pavia. Controls were 504 women (median age 34 years, range 20-61) admitted for acute non-gynaecological, non-hormonal, non-neoplastic conditions.

RESULTS

Compared to women in the lowest tertile of intake, a significant reduction in risk emerged for higher intake of green vegetables [odds ratio (OR) = 0.3 for the highest tertile of intake] and fresh fruit (OR = 0.6), whereas an increase in risk was associated with high intake of beef and other red meat (OR = 2.0) and ham (OR = 1.8). Consumption of milk, liver, carrots, cheese, fish and whole-grain foods, as well as coffee and alcohol consumption, were not significantly related to endometriosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a link between diet and risk of endometriosis.

Risk factors for different histological types of ovarian cancer

Various histological types of ovarian cancer may develop from different etiological aspects. Data separated by histological subtypes collected in the framework of a large case-control study on ovarian cancer conducted in Italy were analyzed. The cases were women below the age of 75 years, admitted to a network of hospitals in Milan. Cases were grouped into four categories by histological type: mucinous tumor (n = 52), serous tumor (n = 680), endometrioid tumor (n = 41), and other histologies including clear-cell and undifferentiated epithelial tumors (n = 50). Controls were 2758 patients admitted to the same network of hospitals for a wide spectrum of acute, nongynecological, non-hormone-related, non-neoplastic conditions. In comparison with nulliparae, the risk of serous, endometrioid, and other histologies of ovarian cancer tended to be lower in parous women, but the odds ratios (OR) were above unity for mucinous ovarian cancer. Oral contraceptive use was associated with OR lower than unity for serous (OR = 0.7) and endometrioid (OR = 0.8) ovarian cancers but not for mucinous (OR = 1.4) and other histologies (OR = 1.6). Finally, our results on dietary fat intake did not show substantial differences in all histological types of ovarian cancer.

Moderate alcohol drinking and risk of preterm birth

OBJECTIVE

We have analysed the association between alcohol drinking before and during the three trimesters of pregnancy and risk of preterm birth of babies with normal weight for gestational age or with low weight for gestational age (SGA).

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

General and university hospitals in Italy.

SUBJECTS

Cases were 502 women who delivered preterm births <37 weeks gestation. The controls included 1966 women who gave birth at term (>/=37 weeks of gestation) to healthy infants of normal weight (ie between 10th and 90th centile according to the Italian standard) on randomly selected days at the hospitals where cases had been identified.

INTERVENTIONS

Interview.

RESULTS

No increased risk of preterm birth was observed in women drinking one or two drinks/die in pregnancy, but three or more drinks/die increased the risk (multivariate odds ratios (OR) 2.0 for >/=3 drinks during the first trimester, 1.8 during the second and 1.9 during the third). When the analysis was conducted separately for preterm births with normal weight or SGA, the increased risk was observed in preterm SGA only (multivariate OR for >/=3 drinks/die during the first trimester=3.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-11.1); the estimated multivariate OR for >/=3 drinks/die during the first trimester of preterm babies with normal weight for gestational age was only slightly above unity and not statistically significant (multivariate OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.5-3.7).

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows an increased risk in mothers who drink >/=3 die units alcohol in pregnancy of preterm births.

Risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia: results from a case-control study

We analyzed epidemiologic characteristics of women at risk for endometrial hyperplasia (EH), using data from a case-control study. One hundred twenty nine women aged 35-73 (median 51 years) with histologically confirmed complex endometrial hyperplasia without atypies identified at the University of Milan during the period 1990-99 were examined. Controls were 258 non hysterectomized women aged 36-74 (median 52 years), admitted to a network of hospitals covering the same area where cases had been identified for conditions other than gynecological, malignant, or hormone-related. Cases with EH were more educated than controls (OR > 12 years of education vs. < 7: 2.8, 95% CI 1.7-4.8), more frequently obese (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.5-5.0) and diabetic (OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.8-6.9). Parous women (OR 1.8) and women reporting induced abortions (OR 1.6) showed an increased risk of EH, but the associations were not statistically significant. Compared to premenopausal women, the OR of EH was 0.2 (95% 0.1-0.5) for postmenopausal ones. Compared to women reporting menopause at age 50 or less, the OR of endometrial hyperplasia was 1.5 (95% CI 0.6-3.5) and 2.2 (95%CI 0.7-6.7), respectively, in women with menopause at age 50-52 and > or = 53. Considering postmenopausal women only the OR was 3.1 (95% CI 1.1-9.3) for use of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). We conclude that this study indicates that high education, obesity, diabetes, and HRT use increase the risk of endometrial hyperplasia.

Risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia: Results from a case-control study

Abstract.

Ricci E, Moroni S, Parazzini F, Surace M, Benzi G, Salerio B, Polverino G, La Vecchia C. Risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia: Results from a case-control study.

We analyzed epidemiologic characteristics of women at risk for endometrial hyperplasia (EH), using data from a case-control study. One hundred twenty nine women aged 35–73 (median 51 years) with histologically confirmed complex endometrial hyperplasia without atypies identified at the University of Milan during the period 1990–99 were examined. Controls were 258 non hysterectomized women aged 36–74 (median 52 years), admitted to a network of hospitals covering the same area where cases had been identified for conditions other than gynecological, malignant, or hormone-related. Cases with EH were more educated than controls (OR > 12 years of education vs. < 7: 2.8, 95% CI 1.7–4.8), more frequently obese (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.5–5.0) and diabetic (OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.8–6.9). Parous women (OR 1.8) and women reporting induced abortions (OR 1.6) showed an increased risk of EH, but the associations were not statistically significant. Compared to premenopausal women, the OR of EH was 0.2 (95% 0.1–0.5) for postmenopausal ones. Compared to women reporting menopause at age 50 or less, the OR of endometrial hyperplasia was 1.5 (95% CI 0.6–3.5) and 2.2 (95%CI 0.7–6.7), respectively, in women with menopause at age 50–52 and ≥ 53. Considering postmenopausal women only the OR was 3.1 (95% CI 1.1–9.3) for use of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). We conclude that this study indicates that high education, obesity, diabetes, and HRT use increase the risk of endometrial hyperplasia.

Dietary factors and risk of spontaneous abortion

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the association between dietary habits and risk of spontaneous abortion.

DESIGN

Hospital-based case-control study.

SETTING

Obstetric hospitals in Milan, Italy.

SUBJECTS

Cases were: 912 women admitted for spontaneous abortion (within the 12th week of gestation). Controls were: women who gave birth at term to healthy infants on randomly selected days at the same hospitals where cases had been identified.

RESULTS

The risk of spontaneous abortion was inversely and significantly related to green vegetables, fruit, milk, cheese, eggs and fish consumption. The multivariate odds ratios (OR), for highest versus lowest levels of intake, were 0.3 for fruit, 0.5 for cheese, 0.6 for green vegetables and milk and 0.7 for fish and eggs. The major type of seasoning fats have showed a direct association with risk of miscarriage. Comparing the highest with the lowest intake, the ORs were 2.0 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.1-3.6) and 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.3) for butter and oil, respectively. No consistent association emerged between meat, liver, ham and carrots intake and the risk of spontaneous abortion.

CONCLUSIONS

This result suggests that a diet poor in several aspects, including vegetables and fruit, milk and dairy products, but rich in fats, may be a determinant or a correlate of increased risk of spontaneous abortion.

Selected food intake and risk of multiple pregnancies

In order to explore the association between multiple birth risk and diet, data were analysed from a case-control study on risk factors for multiple births conducted in Italy between 1988 and 1998. A total of 185 cases (median age 30 years) were interviewed: 36 women delivered monozygotic and 149 delivered spontaneous dizygotic multiple births. The control group comprised 498 women who gave birth at term (>37 weeks gestation) to healthy infants on randomly selected days at the same clinic. Women were specifically excluded if they reported a history of multiple pregnancy or they had received treatment for infertility for the index pregnancy. No marked differences emerged in daily intake between cases and controls and a total of 35 foods items, including the major sources of beta-carotene, retinol, ascorbic acid, vitamin D, E, methionine folate and calcium in the Italian diet. Likewise intake of selected micronutrients was largely similar in dizygotic cases, monozygotic cases and controls, with the only exception of a slightly lower intake of folates in dizygotic pregnancies in comparison with controls: this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), but limited in quantitative terms (mean daily intake of folate 192.4, 183.2 and 191.4 microg respectively in monozygotic, dizygotic cases and controls). In conclusion, the results of this study do not support the role of diet in the development of multiple births.

Influence of menstrual and reproductive factors on ovarian cancer risk in women with and without family history of breast or ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

As women with a family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer possibly inherit genetic changes that alter their risk of ovarian cancer, other established risk factors for ovarian cancer may influence the risk differently in women with and without a family history of the disease.

METHODS

Case-control study conducted between 1983 and 1991 in Northern Italy. Cases were 971 women, under 75 years, with incident, histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer, and controls were 2758 women, under 75 years, admitted to hospitals for non-malignant, non-hormone-related conditions, who had not undergone bilateral oophorectomy. Of these, 93 cases and 139 controls had a family history of ovarian and/or breast cancer.

RESULTS

The risk of ovarian cancer increased with irregular menstrual cycles, late age at menopause, natural menopause, nulliparity, never use of oral contraceptives and use of hormone replacement therapy. We computed an 'adult life risk score' (ALRS) considering the combined effect of these factors. Compared to women without a family history and a low ALRS, the OR was 1.7 for women without family history and high ALRS, 1.4 for women with a family history and low ALRS, and 3.5 for women with a family history and high ALRS.

CONCLUSIONS

Intervention on selected hormonal risk factors for ovarian cancer might be important for women with a family history of the disease.

Risk factors for urinary incontinence in women

OBJECTIVES

To review the epidemiological evidence on risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI) in women.

METHODS

Using Medline and a manual search we identified the main papers published in English up to 1998.

RESULTS

There is consistent evidence that the frequency of UI increases with age, but there is little information on the frequency of different types of UI in different age groups. With regard to other risk factors, there is a clinical consensus that vaginal delivery and, more in general, obstetric traumas are associated with UI, although epidemiological studies are not always consistent. Less defined is the role of race, menopausal status, history of gynecological surgery, body mass index, smoking, and coffee and alcohol consumption on the risk of UI.

CONCLUSION

In the coming years, epidemiological research should focus particularly on the potential differences in the epidemiological characteristics of different types of UI in order to gain insight into the pathogenic mechanisms.

Population attributable risk for ovarian cancer

Parity, oral contraceptive (OC) use, age at menopause, a family history of the disease and selected aspects of diet have been related to the risk of ovarian cancer. The quantification of their impact on a population level may help focus and rank the importance of potential prevention strategies. Using data from a case-control study conducted in Italy between 1983 and 1991 on 971 ovarian cancer cases and 2758 control women we computed the multivariate relative risk estimates, and population attributable risks (PARs), i.e. the proportion of ovarian cancers that would have been avoided if a given exposure had not been present in the population. Overall, the PARs were 5% for nulliparity, 12% for never OC use and 4% for a family history of breast or ovarian cancer in first-degree relatives. Among women aged >/=50 years, later age at menopause accounted for 16% of all ovarian cancer cases. Low intake of green vegetables accounted for 24% of cases and a high fat score for 7%. All these factors together explained 51% of cases. In conclusion, even if the PAR estimates were based on several arbitrary assumptions, available knowledge could, in principle, explain over 50% of all ovarian cancer cases in this Italian population, thus indicating and quantifying the theoretical scope for prevention.

Use of oral contraceptives and uterine fibroids: results from a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the association between oral contraceptive use and the risk of uterine fibroids.

DESIGN

We considered data collected in a case-control study on risk factors for uterine fibroids.

PARTICIPANTS

We studied 843 women with uterine fibroids, whose clinical diagnosis dated back no more than two years. Controls were 1557 non-hysterectomised patients younger than 55 years admitted for acute, non-gynecological, non-hormonal, non-neoplastic conditions.

RESULTS

A total of 254 cases (30.1%) and 360 controls (23.1%) reported ever using oral contraceptives: the odds ratio (OR) for ever vs never users was 1.1 (95% CI 0.8-1.3). The risk in current users was below unity when compared with never users (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.6), while ex-users had a risk of fibroids comparable with never users (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.9-1.4). The risk of uterine fibroids decreased with duration of oral contraceptive use: compared with never users, the estimated OR was 0.8 (95% CI 0.5-1.2) in ever users for four to six years and 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-0.9) for seven years or more (chi2 trend = 4.6, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the role of selection bias should be carefully evaluated, the present data suggest that uterine fibroids should not be considered a contra-indication for oral contraceptive use.

Diabetes and endometrial cancer: an Italian case-control study

We considered the association between diabetes and risk of endometrial cancer using data from a large case-control study conducted in Italy. Cases were 752 women with incident, histologically confirmed endometrial cancer < 75 years of age (median age 60 years, range 28-74) admitted to a network of hospitals in Milan. Controls were 2,606 patients (median age 54 years, range 25-74) aged < 75 years, admitted for acute non-neoplastic, non-gynecological, non-hormone-related conditions to the same network of hospitals where cases had been identified. A total of 132 (17.6%) cases and 116 controls (4.5%) reported a history of diabetes. The corresponding multivariate odds ratio (OR) was 2.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2-3.9]. No association emerged with diabetes diagnosed under age 40 (likely to be insulin-dependent diabetes), whereas the OR of endometrial cancer was 3.1 (95% CI 2.3-4.2) for diabetes diagnosed at age > or = 40 years. The OR of endometrial cancer in women with history of diabetes was 3.0 for women with a body mass index (BMI) (QI) kg/m2 < 25, 3.6 for those with a BMI of 25-29, and 3.3 for those with a BMI > or = 30. No consistent interaction or modifying effect was observed for any other covariate. Our results confirm that non-insulin-dependent diabetes is associated with the risk of endometrial cancer. The association may be mediated through elevated oestrogen levels in diabetic women, hyperinsulinemia or insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I).

Reproductive factors, family history, occupation and risk of urogenital prolapse

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a case-control study to analyze risk factors for urogenital prolapse requiring surgery.

METHODS

Cases were 108 women with a diagnosis of II or III degree uterovaginal prolapse and/or third degree cystocele. Controls were 100 women admitted to the same hospitals as the cases, for acute, non-gynecological, non-neoplastic conditions.

RESULTS

Occupation showed an association with urogenital prolapse: in comparison with professional/managerial women, housewives had an odds ratios (OR) of urogenital prolapse of 3.1 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6-8.8). Compared with nulliparae, parous women tended to have a higher risk of genital prolapse (OR 2.6, 95% CI 0.9-7.8). In comparison with women reporting no vaginal delivery, the ORs were 3.0 for women reporting one vaginal delivery (95% CI 1.0-9.5), and 4.5 (95% CI 1.6-13.1) for women with two or more vaginal deliveries. Forceps delivery and birthweight were not associated with risk of prolapse after taking into account the effect of number of vaginal deliveries. The risk of urogenital prolapse was higher in women with mother or sisters reporting the condition: the ORs were, respectively, 3.2 (95% CI 1.1-7.6) and 2.4 (95% CI 1.0-5.6) in comparison with women whose mother or sisters reported no prolapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support the clinical suggestion that parous women are at a higher risk of prolapse and the risk increases with number of vaginal deliveries. First-degree family history of prolapse seems to increase the risk of prolapse.

Placental ratio in pregnancies at different risk for intrauterine growth

OBJECTIVE

We have analyzed the placental/birthweight ratio in women at increased risk of intrauterine growth retardation and pregnancy-induced hypertension and in women with pregnancy 'complicated' by these conditions.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 89 women with small gestational age (SGA) infants, 355 with appropriate gestational age infants (200 in the uncomplicated pregnancy group) and 28 with large for gestational age (LGA) infants were considered.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The mean placental weight showed a significant increase from the SGA to the LGA in the two groups. The placental ratio tended to increase from the LGA group to the SGA one both in infants of women with uncomplicated pregnancy and with pregnancy complicated by intrauterine growth retardation or pregnancy-induced hypertension; these findings were statistically significant.

Coffee consumption and risk of hospitalized miscarriage before 12 weeks of gestation

In order to analyse the association between drinking coffee in pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion, a case-controlled study was conducted in Milan, Northern Italy. Cases were 782 women with spontaneous abortion within the 12th week of gestation. The control group was recruited from women who gave birth at term (> 37 weeks gestation) to healthy infants on randomly selected days at the same hospitals where cases had been identified: 1543 controls were interviewed. A total of 561 (72%) cases of spontaneous abortion and 877 (57%) controls reported coffee drinking during the first trimester of the index pregnancy. The corresponding multivariate odds ratios of spontaneous abortion, in comparison with non-drinkers, were 1.2, 1.8 and 4.0, respectively, for drinkers of 1, 2 or 3, and 4 or more cups of coffee per day. No relationship emerged between maternal decaffeinated coffee, tea and cola drinking in pregnancy, as well as paternal coffee consumption, and risk of spontaneous abortion. With regard to duration in years of coffee drinking, the estimated multivariate odds ratios of spontaneous abortion were, in comparison with non-coffee drinkers, 1.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-1.4) and 1.9 (95% CI 1.5-2.6) for women reporting a duration of coffee consumption < or = 10 or > 10 years. In conclusion, coffee drinking early in pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of abortion. This has biological implications, but epidemiological inference on the causality is difficult and still open to debate.

Treatment for fertility and risk of ovarian tumors of borderline malignancy

The relationship between fertility drug use and risk of borderline ovarian cancer has been analyzed using data from a case-control study. Cases were 93 women aged 23 to 64 years with histologically confirmed diagnosis of borderline ovarian tumor (according to the World Health Organization criteria) who were admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of the University of Milan. Control subjects were 273 women (ages 24-64 years) admitted for acute nongynecological, nonhormonal, and nonneoplastic conditions. Four cases (4.3%) and no control reported fertility drugs use: this difference was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test P = 0.004).