OBJECTIVETo describe the nationwide prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity, and their group variations and trends over the past 20 years in the Chinese urban population.

METHODSData sets of boys and girls at the age of 7-18 years collected from the series of Chinese national surveillance on students' constitution and health (CNSSCH) between 1985 and 2000 were divided into five socioeconomic and demographic groups, while BMI classification reference proposed by Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC) was used as screening reference to calculate the prevalence and trends of overweight/obesity in these groups.

RESULTSIn 2000, the prevalence of obesity and overweight in boys aged 7-18 years was 11.3% and 6.5% in Beijing, 13.2% and 4.9% in Shanghai, 9.9% and 4.5% in coastal big cities, and 5.8% and 2.0% in coastal medium/small-sized cities, respectively, while the prevalence of of obesity and overweight in girls of the same age group was 8.2% and 3.7% in Beijing, 7.3% and 2.6% in Shanghai, 5.9% and 2.8% in coastal big cities, and 4.8% and 1.7% in coastal medium/small-sized cities, respectively. The prevalence of obesity was low in most of the inland cities at an early stage of epidemic overweight. The epidemic manifested a gradient distribution in groups, which was closely related to socioeconomic status (SES) of the study population. However, a dramatic and steady increasing trend was witnessed among all sex-age subgroups in the five urban groups, and such a trend was stronger in boys than in girls, and much stronger in children than in adolescents.

CONCLUSIONAlthough China is at an early stage of epidemic obesity by and large, the prevalence of obesity in her urban population, particularly in coastal big cities has reached the average level of developed countries. The increasing trend has been rapid since early 1990s, and the increments in obesity and overweight are exceptionally high. The prospect of epidemic obesity in China is in no way optimistic. Therefore, preventive program should be focused on the improvement of the balance between caloric intake and energy expenditure, and interventions aimed at changing children's life styles.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Urban Population ; trends

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between temperature and daily mortality in Shanghai from June 1, 2000 to December 31, 2001.

METHODSTime-series approach was used to estimate the effect of temperature on daily total and cause-specific mortality. We fitted generalized additive Poisson regression using non-parametric smooth functions to control for long-term time trend, season and other variables. We also controlled for day of the week.

RESULTSA gently sloping V-like relationship between total mortality and temperature was found, with an optimum temperature (e.g. temperature with lowest mortality risk) value of 26.7 degrees C in Shanghai. For temperatures above the optimum value, total mortality increased by 0.73% for each degree Celsius increase; while for temperature below the optimum value, total mortality decreased by 1.21% for each degree Celsius increase.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings indicate that temperature has an effect on daily mortality in Shanghai, and the time-series approach is a useful tool for studying the temperature-mortality association.

China ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Mortality ; trends ; Regression Analysis ; Temperature ; Urban Population

A survey of infant feeding practices was conducted among children aged less than 1 year attending an urban health clinic and the main Children's Outpatients Department (COPD) in Port Moresby in 1986. A further survey was conducted in 1987 to assess the short-term trends. The use of artificial milk increased by 60%, from 9.4% in the first to 15.2% in the second survey. This increase was particularly marked in the COPD sample. Bottle feeding accounted for 95% of artificial feeding methods. In 67% of cases the reason given for using artificial feeding was that the mother was working. Legislation and an explicit government policy to foster the establishment of creches in the work place may be necessary to counter the worrying increase in artificial feeding.
Bottle Feeding - trends ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal Behavior ; Papua New Guinea ; Urban Population ; Women, Working

OBJECTIVES: Understanding recent trends in cigarette smoking among adolescents is important in order to develop strategies to prevent cigarette smoking. The aim of this study was to compare recent trends in cigarette smoking for adolescents living in rural areas, small towns and metropolitan cities in Korea. METHODS: The raw data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS) from 2005 to 2009 were used. Data were analyzed by using the method of complex survey data analysis considering complex sampling design. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate significant linear time trends in cigarette smoking. The indicators of cigarette use behaviors were 'current smoking rate', 'frequent smoking rate', 'heavy smoking rate' and 'smoking experience rate before 13 years of age'. All analyses were conducted according to gender. RESULTS: Statistically significant increasing trends in current smoking rate and frequent smoking rate were observed and borderline significant increasing trends in heavy smoking rate were shown among rural boys. Among metropolitan city boys, statistically significant increasing trends were also seen for frequent smoking. Statistically significant decreasing trends in current smoking rate were observed among small town and metropolitan city girls. Smoking experience rate before 13 years of age for rural girls decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smoking prevalence among adolescents in the rural areas has increased in the last five years especially among boys. Our findings suggest that anti-tobacco program for adolescents should be conducted primarily for those in rural areas.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Rural Population ; Smoking/epidemiology/prevention & control/*trends ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo describe the secular trends and epidemiological characteristics of preterm birth among singletons in 10 counties (cities) of China during 1993-2005.

METHODSWe analyzed data on 542 923 women (gestational age > or =28 weeks) collected through Perinatal Healthcare Surveillance System established by the Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University. Chi-square tests were employed to test the differences in prevalence of preterm birth among different groups.

RESULTS25 784 preterm births were identified, including 1530 stillbirths. Preterm birth rate was 4.75% (95% CI:4.69-4.81) for all births and 4.49% (95% CI:4.44-4.55) for live births. Preterm birth rate declined steadily from 1993 to 2005 and had no significant seasonal variation. Preterm birth rate from the urban areas of the Southern part of the country,was higher than that in the rural areas which was also higher than that seen in the rural areas from the northern part of the country. Relations between women's age at delivery and preterm birth appeared to be U-shaped. Increased preterm birth rates were also observed in women with lower education level,more parities,and previous history of preterm birth or abortion.

CONCLUSIONPreterm birth rate decreased steadily from 1993-2005 in 10 counties (cities) but varied by areas of the country.

Adult ; Birth Rate ; trends ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate into the changes of dietary patterns and their impacts on health of urban and rural residents in Jiangsu Province, China during the 1990s.

METHODSOn the basis of the results of food consumption survey, the calorie intake was calculated according to the balanced diet method and the quality of diet was assessed by scores of desirable dietary pattern (DDP).

RESULTSIt was found that food consumption and dietary patterns changed remarkably during the 1990s. Grain consumption was decreasing year by year, but the consumption of animal food was markedly increasing. Although the score of desirable dietary pattern (DDP) in urban residents was more than 90, the deducted score due to over-consumption of animal food increased. The mortality from infectious diseases evidently decreased in the whole province, while the death rates of some chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, colorectal cancer and breast cancer, were increasing rapidly in urban areas.

CONCLUSIONSSufficient attention should be paid to the negative effects of change in dietary patterns on people's health, especially in the urban residents.

China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; mortality ; Diet ; Diet Surveys ; Humans ; Mortality ; trends ; Nutritional Status ; Public Health ; Rural Population ; Urban Population

Child ; Child Health Services ; trends ; Delivery of Health Care ; organization & administration ; Education, Medical ; Hospitals, Pediatric ; economics ; organization & administration ; Humans ; Pediatrics ; trends ; Specialization ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo study the trend of under 5 years old children mortality and the leading cause of the deaths in China from 1996 to 2000.

METHODSThe data presented in this report were obtained from the national child mortality surveillance network, including 116 counties (cities) throughout China. The target population was all children under 5 years old in the monitored areas whose mothers or fathers had resided in the area for at least one year. The data were collected and reported by health workers at the three-level network.

RESULTSThe neonatal mortality rate (NMR), infant mortality rate (IMR) and under 5 years old mortality rate (U(5)MR) in China dropped to 22.8, 32.2, 39.7 per 1,000 live births in 2000, respectively (they were 24.0, 36.0, 45.0 respectively in 1996), which declined 5.0%, 10.6%, 11.8% from 1996 to 2000, respectively. In urban areas, NMR, IMR and U(5)MR dropped to 9.5, 11.8, 13.8 per 1,000 live births in 2000, respectively (they were 12.2, 14.8, 16.9 respectively in 1996), which declined 22.1%, 20.3%, 18.3% from 1996 to 2000, respectively. In rural areas, NMR, IMR and U(5)MR dropped to 25.8, 37.0, 45.7 per 1,000 live births in 2000, respectively (they were 26.7, 40.9, 51.4 respectively in 1996), which declined 3.4%, 9.5%, 11.1% from 1996 to 2000, respectively. There was a steady decline in the U(5)MR due to diarrhea, pneumonia, neural tube defects and drowning in China.

CONCLUSIONIn urban/rural areas, the overall decline in NMR, IMR and U(5)MR from 1996 to 2000 was spectacular. Especially the U(5)MR due to avoidable deaths such as pneumonia and diarrhea was dropped markedly in rural areas.

Cause of Death ; trends ; Child Mortality ; trends ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Fetal Death ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; trends ; Infant, Newborn ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data

To analyze epidemical features, distribution and time trend for nasopharynx cancer deaths in China from 1987 to 2015.
 Methods: Negative binomial regression model was used to explore population-level risk factors for nasopharynx cancer deaths and a joinpoint regression model was used to estimate annual changes in nasopharynx cancer mortality in various populations.
 Results: A falling trend in age-standardized nasopharynx cancer mortality rates was observed among Chinese residents with the average annual percent change (AAPC) at -2.97% among urban female residents and -2.60% among rural female residents (P<0.05), -2.01% among urban male residents, and -1.68% among rural male residents (P<0.05), respectively. It decreased yearly for urban male aged over 85 years with AAPC at -1.54% and the age-specific mortality rates decreased yearly for the urban female aged over 85 years with AAPC at -0.60%, the age-specific mortality rates decreased yearly for rural male residents aged more than 65 years with AAPC at -0.56% and for rural female residents aged more than 85 with AAPC at 1.17%, with no significant difference (P<0.05). The nasopharynx cancer deaths risks were higher in urban residents than those in rural residents (OR=1.11, P<0.01), and they were also higher in male residents than those in female residents (OR=2.34, P<0.01). A 5-year increment in age was associated with a 23% increase in nasopharynx cancer mortality (OR=1.23, P<0.01) and a one year increment in calendar year was related to a 2% decrease in mortality (OR=0.98, P<0.01). 
 Conclusion: There was a significant gender and age difference in a decreased trend of nasopharynx cancer mortality among Chinese residents in a long period; no increased trend was observed in the overall populations over 85 years old.
Age Distribution ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; trends ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; mortality ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; trends ; Sex Distribution ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data ; trends

OBJECTIVEBased on the cancer registry data to analyze the mortality and survival of liver cancer in China.

METHODSLiver cancer data of 2011 were retrieved from the National Cancer Registry Database.Liver cancer deaths were estimated using age-specific rate by areas and gender according to the national population in 2011. Mortality data from 22 cancer registries during 2000-2011 were used to analyze the mortality trend, and data from 17 cancer registries during 2003-2005 were used for survival analysis.

RESULTSThe estimates of liver cancer deaths were about 322 thousand in 2011 with a crude mortality rate of 23.93/10(5).There was an increasing trend of crude mortality rate of liver cancer during 2000-2011 in 22 Chinese cancer registries with an average annual percentage change of 0.7% (95%CI: 0.2%-1.2%), 1.1% in urban and 0.4% in rural areas. After age standardization with Segi's population, the mortality rate was significantly decreased, with an APC of -2.3%, -1.9% in urban and -2.2% in rural populations. The 5-year age standardized relative survival was 10.1% (95%CI: 9.5% to 10.7%), and the 1-, 3- and the 5-year observed survival rates were 27.2%, 12.7%, and 8.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONLiver cancer is a major cancer threatening people's lives and health in China, and the liver cancer burden is still high.

China ; epidemiology ; Databases, Factual ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; Registries ; statistics & numerical data ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; trends ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Urban Population