We also examined the possibility that the symptom patterns differed between oesophageal and gastric cancers by repeating the two multivariable models in the single sites: where the odds ratios (ORs) for features differed materially, an interaction term between the symptom and cancer site was added to the final model.
The symptom pattern is reliably identified by the presence of multiple symptoms within specific symptom groups [ 2, 40].
Symptom onset, duration and possible frequency and fluctuations over time form part of the symptom pattern.
We aimed to describe the patterns of these symptoms in a cohort of Australian women and to investigate the relationship between distinct symptom patterns and hysterectomy status.
If a strong relation between unspecific symptom patterns and chronic diseases is assumed, a constant increase of symptom reporting by growing age would be expected (as the prevalence of chronic diseases increase by age).
Analyses of the cohort of 3,722 enabled us to examine reported-symptom progression in the group of firefighters who completed questionnaires in both the first and fourth postexposure years, thereby allowing differentiation between symptom patterns of persistence, delayed onset, resolution, and never symptomatic at year-4 follow-up.
We explored the relationship between arrival group and symptom patterns in the cohort with year 1 and year 4 questionnaires (n = 3,722).
A further objective was to assess the relation between gastrointestinal symptom pattern and 48 hour acid reflux profile during esomeprazole treatment in patients with incomplete symptom relief.
Additionally, considering the five year gaps between measurements, apparently persistent symptom patterns may represent recurring rather than persistent experiences.
Examples of areas that are fruitful for further study are the differences in symptom pattern between the IDSP and the health care providers in our study, and the fact that men tend to visit private providers, while women see informal providers and the children primarily visit the governmental health centre.
