MMWR

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Hospitalizations for Kidney Disease — United States, 1980–2005

PRESS CONTACT: CDC
Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

More research is needed to determine why hospitalization rates for kidney disease are increasing and to better understand the association between kidney disease and some chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Additional efforts are needed in early detection of kidney disease through screening and to encourage health care professionals to standardize the criteria for diagnosing the disease. Over the past 25 years, the hospitalization rate for kidney diseases has increased dramatically, especially adults over age 65. From 1980 to 2005, the number of hospitalizations with a diagnosis of kidney disease, including chronic and acute kidney failures, rose from 416,000 to 1.6 million. The study analyzed data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1980-2005. The study found that hospitalization rates were consistently higher (about 30-40 percent) among men than women, increasing from 25.0 to 66.5 per 10,000 in men and from 17.8 to 45.8 per 10,000 in women. In 2005, approximately 61.4 percent of patients hospitalized with kidney disease were age 65 and older compared to 49.9 percent in 1980. An increasing number of kidney disease related hospital admissions were associated with diabetes or hypertension.

All-Terrain Vehicle Fatalities — West Virginia, 1999–2006

PRESS CONTACT: John Law
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
(304) 558-7899

Given the lack of reduction in ATV-related fatalities among children and continued increase in ATV-related traffic fatalities since enactment of an ATV law in West Virginia, further interventions should be considered, such as educational campaigns targeting adolescents in poor communities and more stringent provisions in the ATV law. During the 1990s, West Virginia led the nation in per capita death rate from all-terrain vehicle (ATV) crashes, with rates approximately eight times higher than the national average, prompting enactment of the first-ever WV ATV law in 2004. To guide further prevention campaigns, temporal, geographic, and socioeconomic trends of ATV fatalities during 1999–2006 were analyzed using data from death certificates. Since the ATV law was enacted, ATV-related fatalities among children have not declined and ATV-related traffic fatalities have increased. Higher annual ATV death rates occurred among males, persons aged 10–17 years, residents of the most impoverished counties, and persons with less education. Further preventive measures to reduce ATV-related fatalities should be considered, such as targeted educational interventions and more stringent provisions of the law.

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Pakistan and Afghanistan, 2007

PRESS CONTACT: CDC
Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

Security and access are limited in the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, which limits access to children for immunization and continues to hamper polio eradication efforts there against both wild polivirus type1 and type 3. In some areas of Pakistan without security concerns, improving the quality of immunization activities must be addressed to stop circulation of poliovirus. Pakistan and Afghanistan share borders in remote areas of both countries with rugged terrain and constant population movements across borders. In 2007, limited progress was made toward interrupting wild poliovirus transmission in Pakistan-Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, in August 2007 the support of antigovernment groups was obtained, which increased access to areas for vaccinators during immunization campaigns in the south region. However, despite intensive efforts, both type1 and type 3 wild poliovirus continue to circulate into 2008 in areas of both countries. Access to children is limited by ongoing conflicts and security concerns in remote border areas of both countries. In other WPV-endemic areas of Pakistan, where security and access concerns do not exist, operational problems in implementing immunization activities resulted in inadequate vaccination of children. Further progress will require continued efforts for both issues.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES