Weight, diet, and the risk of symptomatic gallstones in middle-aged women

Article Abstract:

The prevalence and frequency of symptomatic gallstones vary widely by ethnic group and geographic location but the incidence of gallstones in women is about double that in men. The effect of weight and diet on the development of gallstones was examined in a group of 88,837 women, US nurses between 34 and 50 with no prior history of gallstones. Detailed questionnaires were completed in 1980 and data was collected over the following four years. The relative risk and effect of five factors were examined: obesity, age, parity (whether or not the women gave birth), energy (calorie) intake, and alcohol consumption. Obesity, previously found to be a significant factor in the development of gallstones, was shown to be the single most important factor in the development of symptomatic gallstones, with a higher incidence of gallstones among women who had been obese at around age 18, regardless of their current weight. Among non-obese women a higher rate of risk was observed in those with a diet having a higher caloric content. Women who gave birth during this period did not have a higher risk. Individuals who consumed alcohol in moderation had a lower incidence of gallstones than women who consumed no alcohol at all.

Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Diseases, Obesity, Gallstones, Middle aged women

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Body weight and mortality among women

Article Abstract:

Body weight may be directly related to mortality from all causes in middle-aged women. Researchers reviewed questionnaires from 115,195 female nurses who reported their own height and weight. During the 16 years following questionnaire administration, 4726 of the women died. A J-shaped relation existed between overall mortality and body-mass index, measured in weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. The lowest mortality was among women with body mass indexes between 19 and 27. Smoking was most common among women with body-mass indexes below 19. When smokers were excluded from the analysis, the relation between body-mass index and mortality became more direct. Women who had gained more than 10 kilograms since the age of 18 had higher mortality than those who had lost weight or gained less than 10 kg since the age of 18. Body-mass index was most strongly related to deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases than other causes.

Health aspects, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Women, Body weight

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Aspirin and the risk of colorectal cancer in women

Article Abstract:

Aspirin use of four to six tablets a week for ten years may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in women. Researchers analyzed questionnaires completed by women between 1980 and 1984, and reviewed medical records of colorectal cancer diagnosed between 1980 and 1992. The subjects were nurses among whom the incidence of colorectal cancer was 331 cases per 551,651 person-years. Aspirin use of more than two tablets per week for four to nine years did not reduce the risk of cancer. However, aspirin use of more than two tablets a week for more than 10 years reduced the risk from 1.0 among non-users to 0.6. This risk reduction remained, even with an adjustment for other risk factors such as alcohol use, smoking, and family history of colorectal cancer.

Usage, Prevention, Colorectal cancer, Aspirin

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