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Press releases Saturday 8 January 2005

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(1) CHILDREN AT RISK FROM UNEXPLODED MILITARY MATERIAL

(2) REVIEW SUPPORTS LINK BETWEEN HRT AND STROKE

(1) CHILDREN AT RISK FROM UNEXPLODED MILITARY MATERIAL

Online First
(Injuries and deaths caused by unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan: review of surveillance data, 1997-2002)
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/rapidpdf/bmj.38337.361782.82

Unexploded military material in Afghanistan cause more injuries and deaths than landmines especially among children, according to research published on bmj.com today.

Over 6,000 injuries were attributed to landmines and unexploded ordnance - which includes weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, and equipment - from January 1997 to September 2002. Of these, 57% of injuries in 2002 were caused by unexploded ordnance compared to 36% by landmines - an exact reverse of statistics from 1997*.

Children aged 5-14 years are the most at risk group, according to the researchers. Almost half (42%) of injuries caused by unexploded ordnance in children were due to the tampering or playing with explosives. Among landmine injuries in children, the proportion due to tampering or playing was three times lower (14%).

The researchers analysed data from the surveillance database on injuries due to unexploded ordnance and landmines, maintained by the United Nations Mine Action Center for Afghanistan.

They point out that in 2000-2, Afghanistan had the highest number of reported casualties due to landmines and unexploded munitions in the world.

The researchers suggest that factors such as high visibility may contribute significantly to the numbers of deaths and injuries in children by unexploded ordnance.

Munitions should therefore be designed to be less attractive and visible to children and the debate on landmines should be widened to include threats posed by other military material.

Notes to editors:

*In 1997 57% of injuries were due to landmines. In 2002 this decreased to 36%.

Contacts:

Oleg Bilukha, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Email: obb0@cdc.gov

After January 8 2005: Muireann Brennan, Medical Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Email: mvb5@cdc.gov

(2) REVIEW SUPPORTS LINK BETWEEN HRT AND STROKE

Online First
(Association between hormone replacement therapy and subsequent stroke: a meta-analysis)
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/rapidpdf/bmj.38331.655347.8F

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is associated with an increased risk of stroke, especially ischaemic stroke, finds a review of trials published on bmj.com today.

These results support previous trials that have suggested a link between HRT and stroke.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham reviewed the evidence from 28 completed trials involving 39,769 individuals. They assessed the risk of stroke by type, severity, and outcome.

Hormone replacement therapy was associated with an overall 29% increase in the risk of stroke, especially ischaemic stroke (caused by an insufficient blood supply to the brain). The severity of stroke was also increased with hormone replacement therapy.

It remains unclear why HRT should increase ischaemic stroke and its severity when some previous studies have suggested it might have a protective effect, say the authors. However, given these findings, HRT cannot be recommended for the primary or secondary prevention of stroke.

Contact:

Philip Bath, Stroke Association Professor of Stroke Medicine, Division of Stroke Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, UK
E-mail: philip.bath@nottingham.ac.uk

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