Diabetic Retinopathy Screening at the Point of Care (DR SPOC): detecting undiagnosed and vision-threatening retinopathy by integrating portable technologies within existing services.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a low socioeconomic region of a high-income country, as well as determine the diagnostic utility of point-of-care screening for high-risk populations in tertiary care settings.

Research Design And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes attending foot ulcer or integrated care diabetes clinics at two Western Sydney hospitals (n=273). DR was assessed using portable, two-field, non-mydriatic fundus photography and combined electroretinogram/ pupillometry (ERG).

Acute oxygen desaturation characterizes pulmonary aspiration in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux.

The aim of this study was to characterise pulmonary aspiration of refluxate in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) by continuous pulse oximetry (SpO2) during the supine phase of a scintigraphic reflux study. Variables assessed for significance included age, hiatus hernia, frequency, amplitude of reflux and clearance of reflux from the oesophagus/pharynx. The patients included in this study had established GORD and LPR by clinical history.

Trends in percutaneous coronary interventions in new South Wales, Australia.

This is the first detailed study on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Hospital data for PCIs carried out between 1 July 1990 and 30 June 2002 are analysed. The study explores trends in PCI rates by selected socio-demographic factors, the utilisation of angioplasties vis-a-vis stents, emergency admissions, and selected coexisting conditions which determine the disease status of PCI patients.

Life lost due to premature deaths in New South Wales, Australia.

This study attempts to measure premature mortality, in addition to overall death rates, in order to provide more information that can be used to develop and monitor health programmes that are aimed at reducing premature (often preventable) mortality in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Premature years of potential life lost (PYPLL) and valued years of potential life lost methods are applied for mortality data in NSW from 1990 to 2002. Variations in these measures for 2001 are studied further in terms of age, sex, urban/rural residence, and socio-economic status.

Seasonality of births and abortions in New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Complex seasonal variations in abortions and seasonal trends have been reported worldwide, but there are no data from Australia.

Material/methods: Hospital morbidity and birth data were modelled using time series and regression techniques to describe seasonal changes in births and abortions (1989-99) in NSW, Australia. Data were also analysed to determine demographic predictors of abortions.

Effect of wealth on marital fertility in Sri Lanka.

This study examines the effect of household wealth on marital fertility in Sri Lanka. Data on type of dwelling, availability of vehicles, and electrical equipment in households were combined with estimates of 'typical' rupee values of various elements to generate an index of their wealth. Differentials in value of the wealth indices among sociodemographic subgroups of population are also described.

The epidemiology of cardiac arrests in a Sydney hospital.

Aim: To examine the epidemiology of cardiac arrest (CA) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and a large teaching hospital in Sydney and to identify predictors of survival.

Methods: Data from the 1996/97 NSW inpatient statistics collection were analysed. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of mortality from CA.