Obesity persistence and duration dependence: evidence from a cohort of US adults (1985-2010).

This study investigates dynamic patterns of obesity persistence and identifies the determinants of obesity-spell exits and re-entries. We utilize longitudinal data from the NLSY79 covering the period 1985-2010. Non-parametric techniques are applied to investigate the relationship between exit from obesity and spell duration.

In-hospital direct cost of acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in Greece.

Objectives: The geographic inequity and the wide variation in the patterns of care of stroke found across Europe together with the lack of health economics evaluation in Greece led to this prospective study, aiming to provide data on in-hospital direct cost of patients with an acute stroke in Greece, and to identify independent prognostic factors.

Methods: Demographic and clinical data were recorded on 429 consecutive patients with an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Greece during a period of 18 months. The costs incurred were estimated using the official financial charts listing in euro (euro), the real expenditure of all hospital departments.