Burden Of Disease In Population Research Articles

Pneumococcal vaccination in adults: a review of the current recommendations

Abstract Pneumococcal disease remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions. To address this public health threat, pneumococcal vaccines have been developed and recommended for use in adult populations. This article provides a comprehensive review of the current recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination in adults and discusses the burden of pneumococcal disease in the adult population, including risk factors for developing the disease. The article concludes with a discussion about future directions for pneumococcal vaccination in adults, including the use of new and improved vaccines, which are developed to ensure wide protection against pneumococcal disease.

Essential components of postnatal care – a systematic literature review and development of signal functions to guide monitoring and evaluation

BackgroundPostnatal Care (PNC) is one of the healthcare-packages in the continuum of care for mothers and children that needs to be in place to reduce global maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. We sought to identify the essential components of PNC and develop signal functions to reflect these which can be used for the monitoring and evaluation of availability and quality of PNC.MethodsSystematic review of the literature using MESH headings for databases (Cinahl, Cochrane, Global Health, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science). Papers and reports on content of PNC published from 2000–2020 were included. Narrative synthesis of data and development of signal function through 7 consensus-building workshops with 184 stakeholders.ResultsForty-Eight papers and reports are included in the systematic review from which 22 essential components of PNC were extracted and used to develop 14 signal functions. Signal functions are used in obstetrics to denote a list of interventions that address major causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity or mortality. For each signal function we identified the equipment, medication and consumables required for implementation. The prevention and management of infectious diseases (malaria, HIV, tuberculosis) are considered essential components of routine PNC depending on population disease burden or whether the population is considered at risk. Screening and management of pre-eclampsia, maternal anaemia and mental health are recommended universally. Promotion of and support of exclusive breastfeeding and uptake of a modern contraceptive method are also considered essential components of PNC. For the new-born baby, cord care, monitoring of growth and development, screening for congenital disease and commencing vaccinations are considered essential signal functions. Screening for gender-based violence (GBV) including intimate partner- violence (IPV) is recommended when counselling can be provided and/or a referral pathway is in place. Debriefing following birth (complicated or un-complicated) was agreed through consensus-building as an important component of PNC.ConclusionsSignal functions were developed which can be used for monitoring and evaluation of content and quality of PNC. Country adaptation and validation is recommended and further work is needed to examine if the proposed signal functions can serve as a useful monitoring and evaluation tool.Trial registrationThe systematic review protocol was registered: PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018107054.

Depression in children aged between 10-18 years: What is not known?

Background: Mental health conditions account for 13% disability adjusted life years(DALYs) of the total global burden of disease and injury in population.2 Common mental disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, other psychoses, dementia, and developmental disorders including autism. Material And Method: This Cross-sectional study conducted upon children between age of 10-18 years at Paediatrics OPD of Dr. Susheela Tiwari hospital, Haldwani (UK),India from January 2019 to October 2020. Sample was taken from attending OPD population.Two questionnaires were used in this study one for collection of demographic data and other is Standard PHQ-A, to screen cases of depression. Results:The study shows that the prevalence of depressive orders is more in subjects with comorbidities as compared to subjects with no comorbidities which is statistically significant (p value<0.001).The prevalence of depressive disorder was found to be more in urban areas as compared to rural areas but this observation was observed to be statistically insignificant(p value = 0.62).This study also shows that prevalence and severity of depressive disorders was more common in females as compared to males which is statistically significant (p value<0.01). According to the study the prevalence of suicidal tendency was more in mild depressive patients which is statistically insignificant.

Healthcare for older people in Central and South America.

Latin American countries (LAC), with their culturally and ethnically diverse populations, form a region that is difficult to define and to understand. The region’s health systems are deeply fragmented, which poses great challenges to overall equity levels in health. This is also one of the fastest ageing regions in the world, with increasing demands as well for acute and long-term care (LTC). Demographic and epidemiological transitions across the region are heterogeneous. In this context, health systems are in general, largely unprepared to face the challenge of promoting healthy ageing. This unpreparedness has been magnified by the Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. Here, we analyse the burden of disease in the older population and identify priorities to improve the care and quality of life for people living in LAC. Besides an adequately prepared workforce, we must remediate disparities and inequities; develop and implement integrated care; achieve patient-centred care and further develop palliative and end-of-life care; simultaneously, we must develop the structure and financing of LTC services and strengthen the role of public health making healthy ageing an essential component.

Prevalence, symptom burden and under-diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Polish lung cancer screening population: a cohort observational study

ObjectivesLung cancer screening using low-dose CT may be not effective without considering the presence of comorbidities related to chronic smoking. The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence...

Health disparity and mortality trends of infectious diseases in BRICS from 1990 to 2019.

BackgroundBrazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) represented almost half of the global population and much infectious disease burden. We aimed to analyze the current status and trends from 1990 to 2019 of infectious disease mortality in BRICS.MethodsWe used the data of mortality estimation from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The absolute number of deaths from and mortality rates of infectious diseases in each country were derived from the database from 1990 to 2019. Age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) was used to compare populations in different regions and times. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of rates quantified the infectious disease mortality trends.ResultsBRICS respectively accounted for 39% and 32% of the global infectious disease deaths, in 1990 and 2019. Lower respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases contributed the most to the number of deaths in 1990 and 2019. In BRICS, ASMRs of all infectious diseases except sexually transmitted infections (STIs) decreased. The highest STI ASMRs were in South Africa; the highest ASMRs of enteric infections, neglected tropical diseases and malaria, and other infectious diseases were in India; South Africa and India both had relatively high respiratory infection ASMRs.ConclusionInfectious disease mortality varies substantially in BRICS, and health disparity needs to be considered when facing complex infectious disease situations in different countries.

N,N-Dimethyldithiocarbamate Elicits Pneumococcal Hypersensitivity to Copper and Macrophage-Mediated Clearance.

ABSTRACTStreptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive, encapsulated bacterium that is a significant cause of disease burden in pediatric and elderly populations. The rise in unencapsulated disease-causing strains and antimicrobial resistance in S. pneumoniae has increased the need for developing new antimicrobial strategies. Recent work by our laboratory has identified N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamate (DMDC) as a copper-dependent antimicrobial against bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens. As a bactericidal antibiotic against S. pneumoniae, DMDC’s ability to work as a copper-dependent antibiotic and its ability to work in vivo warranted further investigation. Here, our group studied the mechanisms of action of DMDC under various medium and excess-metal conditions and investigated DMDC’s interactions with the innate immune system in vitro and in vivo. Of note, we found that DMDC plus copper significantly increased the internal copper concentration, hydrogen peroxide stress, nitric oxide stress, and the in vitro macrophage killing efficiency and decreased capsule. Furthermore, we found that in vivo DMDC treatment increased the quantity of innate immune cells in the lung during infection. Taken together, this study provides mechanistic insights regarding DMDC’s activity as an antibiotic at the host-pathogen interface.

A literature review on COVID-19 [coronavirus] research specific to Australia including manuscripts on policy and media releases.

INTRODUCTION / OBJECTIVES: Comprehending the avalanche of statistical research on COVID-19 [coronavirus] is laborious. Predictions, forecasts, and diagnostic algorithms are important for planning, allocation, and meeting the needs of the increasing population disease burden. Statisticians must be aware of spreadsheets, databases, and calculation methodology to produce valid estimates. Policymakers, government officials, and planners interpret results and read reports without knowing calculation intricacies. Health care workers must be aware of scientific websites whilst they are under increasing stress due to aging populations and improved technology. It is important that context-specific information is sought, read, and understood. METHODS: A literature review was undertaken to find context-specific statistical research information on COVID-19. The author performed a Pubmed search, a search utilising the coronavirus MeSH terms (Medical Subject Headings), adding the additional MeSH terms of Australia AND policy, and then another search with media as a text word. RESULTS: The Pubmed search, utilising the MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) on coronavirus, adding the MeSH terms [Australia AND Policy] resulted in 52 records being retrieved. The Australian Government Department of Health website dedicated link listing coronavirus (COVID-19) news reports, statements, and media releases included 347 departmental media retrievals. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed itself as the most critical health issue of the 21st century. It is important to understand the quality evidence-based information within the context, specific to the reason for seeking information so that well-informed decisions are made that relate to preventative actions, early detection, and treatment options.

Research progress on the incidence and economic burden of herpes zoster disease in immunocompromised population

With the increase of age or the impairment of immune function, the specific cellular immune level against varicella zoster virus (VZV) in the body decreases, and the latent VZV in the ganglion can be reactivated to cause herpes zoster (HZ). HZ and its main complication postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) can seriously affect the quality of life of patients. The immunocompromised (IC) population is more prone to HZ than the immunocompetent population due to diseases and therapeutic drugs. This paper reviews the incidence, risk factor and economic burden of HZ in IC population with special health status, to provide ideas for research and adjustment of immunization strategies in the future.

The disease burden of degenerative mitral valve disease in the Chinese population from 1990 to 2019

Objective: To explore the trend of disease burden of degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) in the Chinese population from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Based on the 2019 Global Burden of Disease database (GBD 2019), the number of patients, the number of new cases, the number of deaths, the disability-adjusted life years (DALY) as well as the prevalence, incidence and death rate, DALY rate and their age-standardized rates were used to analyze the trend of the burden of DMVD in the Chinese population from 1990 to 2019. Results: In 2019, the number of patients, the number of new cases, and the number of deaths with DMVD in China were 461.2, 27.0 and 0.129 ten thousand, respectively, which increased by 209.0%, 199.1% and 13.2% when compared with 1990. In 2019, the age-standardized prevalence, incidence and death rate were 228.1/100 000, 12.7/100 000 and 0.075/100 000, respectively. Compared with 1990, the change of the age-standardized prevalence, incidence and death rate were 32.6%, 42.8% and -54.1%, respectively. In addition, the 2019 data also showed that the age-standardized prevalence and incidence were higher in females than in males (the age-standardized prevalence was 190.1 (181.5-198.9)/100 000 for males and 262.0 (250.3-273.9)/100 000 for females); the age-standardized incidence was 10.5 (10.0-11.0)/100 000 for males and 14.9 (14.3-15.6)/100 000 for females. The age group with the largest number of DMVD patients was 65 to 69 years old, and the highest incidence was 60 to 64 years old. From 1990 to 2019, DALY caused by DMVD showed an upward trend in China, from 46 439 person-years in 1990 to 69 402 person-years in 2019, with an increase of 49.4%. While the age-standardized DALY rate continued to decline, from 5.5/100 000 in 1990 to 3.8/100 000 in 2019, with a drop of 30.8%. The DALY and the age-standardized DALY rate of females were always higher than that of males in different years. Conclusion: From 1990 to 2019, DALY and the age-standardized prevalence and incidence of DMVD in China shows an increasing trend, and the disease burden caused by DMVD is severe in China.

Where National Medicines Policies Have Taken Us With Patient Involvement and Health Technology Assessment in Africa.

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted global knowledge about, but lack of equitable access to, life-changing medicines, and other innovative medical products by populations in African low and middle income countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international non-profit foundations and organizations are constantly striving to address inequity. In the 1970s, WHO initiated a regularly updated essential medicines list, together with the concept of national medicines policies (NMPs) to ensure access and availability, affordability, rational, and effective use of medicines which are considered essential in addressing predominant population health issues and disease burden. We studied the NMPs of Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe to highlight some of the important issues that these countries experience in the safe and effective use of medical products. Thailand is an example of how health technology assessment (HTA) can provide a country with an internationally supported, clearly defined and transparent process to broaden access to medicines and services. These medical services can add considerable value in accordance with local values and priorities. Involvement of civil society adds democratic legitimacy to such processes. Community health workers and patient advocacy groups are important in raising awareness and knowledge of safety issues and the effective use of quality medicines. They can apply pressure for increased funding to improve access to healthcare. Medicines and services that contribute to supported self-care are of benefit in any setting. Joint efforts across African countries such as with the African Medicines Agency are important in addressing some of the major health issues.

Evaluation of the Quality of Evidence of the Association of Foods and Nutrients With Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes

Poor diet is a leading global factor associated with cardiometabolic disease (CMD). Understanding the quality of evidence of the associations between specific dietary factors and CMD, including effect size (relative risk [RR]) and uncertainty, is essential to guide policy and consumer actions to achieve healthy diet and public health goals. To assess the quality of evidence of the associations between specific dietary factors and CMD as well as the quantitative evidence for RRs and the uncertainty of these risk estimates. PubMed and the reference lists of eligible articles were searched between May 1, 2015, and February 26, 2021, for systematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials and prospective cohort studies that analyzed the consumption of 1 or more of the dietary factors of interest; reported dose-response meta-analyses; included healthy adults; and assessed 1 or more of the outcomes of interest. Study characteristics and RR estimates were extracted in duplicate. For identified associations, quality of evidence was assessed using the Bradford-Hill criteria for causation. A total of 2058 potentially relevant reports were identified, from which 285 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. The final selection of articles included 28 meta-analyses representing 62 associations between diet and CMD. Among these associations, 10 foods, 3 beverages, and 12 nutrients had at least probable evidence of associations with coronary heart disease, stroke, and/or diabetes. Most RRs ranged from 0.87 to 0.96 per daily serving change for protective associations and from 1.06 to 1.15 per daily serving change for harmful associations. Most identified associations were protective (n = 38) and a smaller number were harmful (n = 24), with a higher risk associated with higher intake. This systematic review summarized the current quality of evidence of the associations of specific dietary factors with coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These findings may inform dietary guidance, the assessment of disease burden in specific populations, policy setting, and future research.

What are the essential components of antenatal care? A systematic review of the literature and development of signal functions to guide monitoring and evaluation.

Antenatal care (ANC) is one of the key care packages required to reduce global maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. To identify the essential components of ANC and develop signal functions. MESH headings for databases including Cinahl, Cochrane, Global Health, Medline, PubMed and Web of Science. Papers and reports on content of ANC published from 2000 to 2020. Narrative synthesis of data and development of signal function through 7 consensus-building workshops with 184 stakeholders. A total of 221 papers and reports are included from which 28 essential components of ANC were extracted and used to develop 15 signal functions with the equipment, medication and consumables required for implementation of each. Signal functions for the prevention and management of infectious diseases (malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, syphilis and tetanus) can be applied depending on population disease burden. Screening and management of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, anaemia, mental and social health (including intimate partner violence) are recommended universally. Three signal functions address monitoring of fetal growth and wellbeing, and identification and management of obstetric complications. Promotion of health and wellbeing via education and support for nutrition, cessation of substance abuse, uptake of family planning, recognition of danger signs and birth preparedness are included as essential components of ANC. New signal functions have been developed which can be used for monitoring and evaluation of content and quality of ANC. Country adaptation and validation is recommended.

Abstract 9757: Frequency of Atrial Fibrillation in a Contemporary Elderly Primary Care Population: A Vital-af Trial Study

Introduction: Reliable estimates of atrial fibrillation (AF) frequency can inform our understanding of population disease burden and shape interventions to reduce AF-related morbidity. Methods: We quantified the prevalence and incidence of AF in VITAL-AF (NCT035115057), a cluster-randomized trial of AF screening using single-lead handheld electrocardiograms within 16 primary care practices affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. Potential AF events were identified using the electronic health record. AF events satisfying a high specificity electronic algorithm for prevalent AF (positive predictive value 98.4%) were classified as prevalent AF, while all other potential AF events (including all incident AF events) were manually adjudicated. We calculated AF prevalence and incidence overall and within clinical strata, among individuals who were not screened. Results: Of 18,812 individuals enrolled but not screened between 7/31/2018-10/8/2019 (mean age 74.6±7.2 years, 56.3% women), 2,503 (13.3%) had prevalent AF. AF prevalence was particularly high among individuals aged ≥85 years (29.1%) and individuals with heart failure (43.4%). The AF incidence rate among 16,309 individuals without prevalent AF was 20.1 per 1,000 person-years (95% CI 20.9-26.4). AF incidence also increased markedly with age (e.g., 13.6 at ages 65-69 to 37.1 at ages ≥85 years, p<0.01), was greater in men versus women (26.9 vs. 15.0, p<0.01), and was particularly high among individuals with heart failure (30.7, 95% CI 43.8-69.0). Detailed estimates of AF prevalence and incidence across clinical strata are shown in the Table . Conclusions: Using rigorous methodology within a contemporary, elderly primary care population, we observed the highest reported prevalence of diagnosed AF, including nearly a third of individuals aged 85 years and older. The incidence of new AF is also substantial. Preventive efforts are warranted to reduce the risk of AF and associated complications.

Invasive bacterial diseases in northern Canada, 1999 to 2018

Background: The International Circumpolar Surveillance (ICS) program conducts surveillance on five invasive bacterial diseases: pneumococcal disease (IPD), group A streptococcus (iGAS), Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), meningococcal disease (IMD) and group B streptococcus (GBS). Invasive bacterial diseases have a higher burden of disease in northern populations than the rest of Canada. Methods: To describe the epidemiology of invasive bacterial diseases in northern Canada from 1999 to 2018, data for IPD, iGAS, Hi, IMD and GBS were extracted from the ICS program and the Canadian Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (CNDSS) and analyzed. Results: The annualized incidence rates for IPD, iGAS, Hi, GBS and IMD were 23.3, 10.5, 8.9, 1.9 and 1.1 per 100,000 population, respectively. The incidence of IPD, iGAS and Hi serotype b were 2.8, 3.2 and 8.8 times higher, respectively, in northern Canada than in the rest of Canada. Rates of disease decreased statistically significantly for IPD (β=−0.02) and increased statistically for iGAS (β=0.08) and Hi serotype a (β=0.04) during the study period. In Northern Canada, the annualized incidence rates for IPD, iGAS and Hi were statistically higher for Indigenous residents than for non-Indigenous residents. The highest incidence rates were among the very young and older age groups. Conclusion: Invasive bacterial diseases represent a high burden of disease in Canada’s northern populations. Indigenous peoples, children and seniors are particularly at risk.

Critical Updates on Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection in 2021.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global healthcare burden in the form of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. There is no definite cure for the virus and even though extensive vaccination programs have reduced the burden of liver disease in the future population, treatment options to eradicate the virus from the host are still lacking. In this review, we discuss in detail current updates on the structure and applied biology of the virus in the host, examine updates to current treatment and explore novel and state-of-the-art therapeutics in the pipeline for management of chronic HBV. Furthermore, we also specifically review clinical updates on HBV-related acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF). Current treatments for chronic HBV infection have seen important updates in the form of considerations for treating patients in the immune tolerant phase and some clarity on end points for treatment and decisions on finite therapy with nucleos(t)ide inhibitors. Ongoing cutting-edge research on HBV biology has helped us identify novel target areas in the life cycle of the virus for application of new therapeutics. Due to improvements in the area of genomics, the hope for therapeutic vaccines, vector-based treatments and focused management aimed at targeting host integration of the virus and thereby a total cure could become a reality in the near future. Newer clinical prognostic tools have improved our understanding of timing of specific treatment options for the catastrophic syndrome of ACLF secondary to reactivation of HBV. In this review, we discuss in detail pertinent updates regarding virus biology and novel therapeutic targets with special focus on the appraisal of prognostic scores and treatment options in HBV-related ACLF.

Disparities in pediatric clinical trials for acne vulgaris: A cross-sectional study

To the Editor: Acne is the most common skin condition, affecting >231 million people globally, with much of the disease burden in pediatric and female populations.1 Treatment often requires medications; however, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) confirming the safety/efficacy of such interventions have not always been demographically equitable.2 Well-designed pediatric RCTs are necessary to judiciously evaluate pharmacologic differences between children/adults, sexes, and ethnicities/races. Clinically, understanding demographic differences can affect the treatment of skin diseases.

Burden of chronic kidney disease in the general population and high-risk groups in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an emerging public health issue globally. The prevalence estimates on CKD in South Asia are however limited. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of CKD among the general and high-risk population in South Asia. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-level prevalence studies in South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Three databases namely PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched for published reports of kidney disease in South Asia up to 28 October 2020. A random-effect model for computing the pooled prevalence was used. Of the 8749 identified studies, a total of 24 studies were included in the review. The pooled prevalence of CKD among the general population was 14% (95% CI 11-18%), and 15% (95% CI 11-20%) among adult males and 13% (95% CI 10-17%) in adult females. The prevalence of CKD was 27% (95% CI 20-35%) in adults with hypertension, 31% (95% CI 22-41%) in adults with diabetes and 14% (95% CI 10-19%) in adults who were overweight/obese. We found substantial heterogeneity across the included studies in the pooled estimates for CKD prevalence in both general and high-risk populations. The prevalence of CKD of unknown origin in the endemic population was 8% (95% CI 3-16%). Our study reaffirms the previous reports that CKD represents a serious public health challenge in South Asia, with the disease prevalent among 1 in 7 adults in South Asian countries.

The S Protein of Group B Streptococcus Is a Critical Virulence Determinant That Impacts the Cell Surface Virulome.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS, S. agalactiae) is a human commensal and occasional pathogen that remains a leading cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis with increasing disease burden in adult populations. Although programs for universal screening in pregnancy to guide intrapartum prophylaxis have reduced GBS invasive disease burden resulting from mother-to-newborn transfer during birth, better knowledge of disease mechanisms may elucidate new strategies to reduce antibiotic exposure. In our efforts to expand the knowledge base required for targeted anti-virulence therapies, we identified a GBS homolog for a recently identified virulence determinant of group A Streptococcus, S protein, and evaluated its role in GBS pathogenesis. A GBS S protein deletion mutant, Δess, showed altered cell-surface properties compared to the WT parent strain, including defective retention of its surface polysaccharide. Quantitative proteome analysis of enzymatically shaved surface epitopes of the GBS Δess mutant revealed a dysregulated cell surface virulome, with reduced abundance of several protein and glycoprotein components. The Δess mutant showed markedly attenuated virulence in a murine model of GBS systemic infection, with increased proteasome activity detected in the spleens of animals infected with the Δess mutant. These results expand the key roles S protein plays in streptococcal pathogenesis and introduces a new GBS virulence determinant and potential target for therapy development.

Substitution of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages for Other Beverages: Can It Be the Next Step Towards Healthy Aging?

With the prolongation of life expectancy, the gap between lifespan and "health span," the disease-free lifespan, has been widening due to the massive burden of age-related chronic diseases and research on healthy aging has been gaining momentum. A growing body of evidence suggests that diet is a strong determinant of healthy aging and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), a major source of added sugars, predicts poor health outcomes in the aging population, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Evidence further supports a link between sugar-sweetened beverages-triggered pathological processes and biologic factors of aging, including inflammaging, oxidative stress, and alterations in intestinal microbiota. At present, substitution of sugar-sweetened beverages with healthier alternative beverage remains the most robust strategy to limit the deleterious effects of sugar-sweetened beverages on health worldwide and may help achieve healthy longevity. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of mechanisms by which sugar-sweetened beverages consumption may impact the physiological aging process and how a simple intervention of beverage replacement may promote healthy aging. Recent findings indicate that SSB are associated with accelerated aging phenotype and activate various adverse biological processes such as chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and gut dysbiosis. Replacing SSB with healthier beverages may be a reasonable option to reduce the burden of chronic disease in the aging population and even prolong life and healthspan.