Burden Of Disease Research Articles

Prospects of Food Taxes for Planetary Health: A Systematic Review of Modeling Studies.

The aim of this study was to analyze the modeling methodologies of fiscal policies on food with health or environmental outcomes. Evidence suggests that fiscal policies on food can contribute to addressing the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases and climate change. These policies should be modeled in advance to see the implications for the environment and health. A systematic review was conducted of studies that modeled fiscal policies on the food groups targeted by the EAT-Lancet Commission and examined their health or environmental outcomes. The Scopus and PubMed databases were searched on November 30, 2021. The records were double-screened and data on modeling methods were extracted from the included studies. A total of 55 studies were included in the review. The most frequently modeled interventions were fruit and vegetable subsidies (n = 19) and carbon taxes on food (n = 17). One study also included a consumer education campaign to enhance the effect of fiscal policy. The outcomes are highly sensitive to consumption change and price elasticities. None of the studies modeled the health effects of environmental outcomes. A model that covered all the relevant aspects of the issue was not found. Some parts were missing from all the included models. It is advisable to model the stability of the amount of diet consumed, either by keeping the amount of food in the diet stable or by taking a more conservative approach and keeping the consumed calories stable. It is preferable to keep the included diseases and environmental boundaries broad to have more valid outcome estimates on this complex issue. A more comprehensive understanding of fiscal policies would allow us to better anticipate the impact of our actions and inactions and thus could lead to more sophisticated measures taken by policymakers. PROSPERO registration no. 2022 CRD42022291945/.

The socio-environmental determinants of diabetes and their consequences.

The intricate connections between health and the environment are often overlooked globally, yet they play a pivotal role in shaping our well-being. Astonishingly, environmental risk factors contribute to nearly 24% of the global disease burden, underscoring the critical impact of our surroundings on health. At the crossroads of this issue lies Diabetes, a rapidly growing non-communicable disease that highlights the delicate balance between human health and environmental sustainability. This epidemic offers a unique lens through which to explore how environmental factors contribute to the prevalence of Diabetes, revealing the complex interplay at work. Despite growing awareness, healthcare systems worldwide face challenges integrating environmental threats into more effective diabetes care strategies CONCLUSIONS: This perspective highlights the urgent need for collaborative efforts and innovative solutions that address the environmental dimensions of diabetes management. Doing so can build healthier communities and pave the way for a more sustainable future.

An integrated pathway for influenza vaccination across primary and secondary care using a clinical decision support system: model definition and predictive impact analysis.

Influenza is an important public health issue given its significant burden of disease. In Italy, the unsatisfactory coverage rate in people ≥65 years underlines the need to improve the current vaccination pathway. This study aims to define an integrated pathway across primary and secondary care, facilitated by a digital clinical decision support system (CDSS), to enhance vaccination coverage in people ≥65 years by actively recruiting patients in hospitals and administering vaccination. Moreover, the study seeks to gauge the potential epidemiological and economic impact of this approach. The methodology consisted of two main phases: definition of the integrated pathway and CDSS and estimation of the potential epidemiological and economic impact resulting from the implementation of the pathway in the whole Lazio region. Assuming an increase of influenza vaccination coverage from the current rate of 60% to 65% in ≥65 years old population in the Lazio region thanks to the pathway implementation, an increase of 8% in avoided influenza cases, avoided influenza- or pneumonia-related hospitalizations and avoided influenza-related outpatient visits was estimated with a relative increase in savings for hospitalizations and outpatient visits of up to 11.85%. Setting the vaccination coverage at 70%, the impact is doubled. Alongside offering a predictive estimate of the pathway's potential impact, both epidemiological and economic, this project, with its robust methodology, may serve as a scalable and transferable model for enhancing vaccination coverage at national and international level.

The Epidemiology of Thyroid Eye Disease in Olmsted County, Minnesota 2005-2020.

To describe the epidemiology of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). A population-based cohort of all Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents who had newly diagnosed TED between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2020, was identified through the medical diagnostic index of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Individuals aged 18 years and older were included. Incidence rates and point prevalence were calculated. Baseline disease characteristics and progression of disease were described. We identified 83 incident patients, of whom 75 (90.4%) were female. The overall age and sex adjusted incidence for the US population was 5 cases/100,000 person-years. Females had higher incidence (8.9 cases/ 100,000 person-years) compared to men (1 case/100,000 person-years). The distribution of peak incidence rates by five-year age groups differed between male and female, in which females had peak incidence rates in the age groups 60-64 years and 80-84 years (18.3 cases and 18 cases/100,000 person-years, respectively) while male had peak incidence rate in the age group 70-74 years (5.7 cases/ 100,000 person-years). No clear trend was identified for the yearly incidence between 2005 and 2020. The overall estimated point prevalence per 100,000 was 65 (95% CI, 53.3 - 78.7). Prevalence was 114.5 (95% CI, 92.6- 139.9) for females and 13.8 (95% CI, 6.8 - 24.6) for males (p < 0.001). Factors associated with disease progression was severity of soft tissue involvement (HR 7.7; 95% CI, 2-29.8) and presence of diplopia (HR 2.5, 95% CI :1.2-5.1). Incidence rates for TED remained stable over the last two decades, yet lower than that in the previous study from our population. Females continue to have the peak incidence rate a decade earlier than males, and the majority of disease burden is present after the age of 50 years. Appropriate resources should be devoted to furthering education, management, and research into this condition.

Gut microbiome: A revolution in type II diabetes mellitus.

Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has experienced a dramatic increase globally across countries of various income levels over the past three decades. The persistent prevalence of T2DM is attributed to a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. While numerous pharmaceutical therapies have been developed, there remains an urgent need for innovative treatment approaches that offer effectiveness without significant adverse effects. In this context, the exploration of the gut microbiome presents a promising avenue. Research has increasingly shown that the gut microbiome of individuals with T2DM exhibits distinct differences compared to healthy individuals, suggesting its potential role in the disease's pathogenesis and progression. This emerging field offers diverse applications, particularly in modifying the gut environment through the administration of prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiome transfer. These inter-ventions aim to restore a healthy microbiome balance, which could potentially alleviate or even reverse the metabolic dysfunctions associated with T2DM. Although current results from clinical trials have not yet shown dramatic effects on diabetes management, the groundwork has been laid for deeper investigation. Ongoing and future clinical trials are critical to advancing our understanding of the microbiome's impact on diabetes. By further elucidating the mechanisms through which microbiome alterations influence insulin resistance and glucose metabolism, researchers can develop more targeted interventions. The potential to harness the gut microbiome in developing new therapeutic strategies offers a compelling prospect to transform the treatment landscape of T2DM, potentially reducing the disease's burden significantly with approaches that are less reliant on traditional pharmaceuticals and more focused on holistic, systemic health improvements.

Who should be screened for colorectal cancer and how can it be prevented more effectively?

In this editorial, we comment on the article published by Agatsuma et al in a recent issue of the World J Gastroenterol (2024; 30: 1368-1376). We firmly concur with Agatsuma et al regarding the vital significance of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening as a public health strategy to diminish disease burden. Individuals exposed to risk factors for CRC, those with comorbid conditions, and those with limited health literacy should undergo screening. However, we believe that more regular screenings should be accompanied by a greater focus on primary prevention (PP) of CRC. CRC remains a significant global health challenge, and its incidence is strongly linked to age, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors. It is particularly noteworthy that the majority of CRC patients are diagnosed outside of established screening pathways and frequently at an advanced stage of the disease, and the majority of patients possess inadequate or even nonexistent knowledge regarding CRC, which significantly impacts the prognosis and imposes a substantial economic burden. This study revealed that CRC identified during hospital visits for comorbid conditions was typically diagnosed at an earlier stage than detected via symptomatic pathways. Remarkably, early incidental detection of CRC aligns closely with the timing of discovery through routine cancer screenings. This suggests that by adopting more inclusive screening protocols that combine opportunistic testing with traditional screening methods, health care systems can create a more comprehensive safety net for individuals at risk of CRC. However, before maximizing the health benefits of screening programs, it is essential to make additional efforts prior to screening, such as raising awareness via public education, risk assessment, and personalized recommendations, enhancing the knowledge and skills of health care professionals, optimizing the accessibility and convenience of screening processes, ensuring the quality and safety of screening services, strengthening follow-up and support systems, and providing policy support and financial investment. The establishment of a comprehensive screening system often requires substantial investment in human, material, and financial resources, which can be challenging to achieve in regions with limited health care resources. Strengthening PP strategies can reduce the disease burden by targeting the cause, representing a more cost-effective and impactful approach. Establishing a comprehensive cancer PP service platform that integrates authoritative public education on malignant tumor PP, individualized malignant tumor risk assessment, and self-health management assistance accessible to the entire population will significantly enhance the overall effectiveness of CRC PP strategies.

A global analysis of the burden of ischemic heart disease attributable to diet low in fiber between 1990 and 2019

AimIschemic heart disease (IHD) represents a major cardiovascular condition heavily influenced by dietary factors. This study endeavors to assess the global, regional, and temporal impact of low-fiber diets on the burden of IHD.MethodLeveraging data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study, we analyzed the worldwide burden of IHD resulting from diet low in fiber using indices including death and disability-adjusted life years (DALY). This burden was further segmented based on variables including regions and countries. To track the evolution from 1990 to 2019, we utilized the Joinpoint regression model to estimate the temporal trend of IHD burden stemming from low-fiber diets.ResultsIn 2019, a total of 348.85 thousand (95%UI: 147.57, 568.31) deaths and 7942.96 thousand (95%UI: 3373.58,12978.29) DALY (95% UI: 707.88, 1818) of IHD were attributed to diet low in fiber globally. These figures correspond to 3.82% of all IHD deaths and 4.36% of total IHD DALYs. The age-standardized death and DALY rates per 100,000 individuals were 4.48 (95% UI: 1.90,7.27) and 97.4(95%UI: 41.44, 158.88) respectively. However, significant regional disparities emerged in these age-standardized rates, with South Asia and Central Asia experiencing the highest rates. Between 1990 and 2019, we observed that most regions displayed a downward trend of the age-standardized DALY and death rate of IHD resulting from low-fiber diets, except for Central Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Sub-Saharan Africa.ConclusionOur analysis underscores the substantial toll of IHD associated with low-fiber diets, particularly considering the significant regional variations. Therefore, it is imperative to sustain efforts to implement effective measures aimed at enhancing fiber intake worldwide, particularly in countries with lower socio-demographic indices.

Funding priorities and health outcomes in Danish medical research

External research funding is an essential component of the infrastructure of modern, academic research. Priorities in funding decisions drive what knowledge is generated, and how scientists’ careers are shaped. For health research, it can ultimately have implications for health outcomes. The aim of this paper is to illustrate how funding information can be used to track priorities in health research, linking them to disease burdens and research outputs. Furthermore, funding concentrations are analysed from both researcher and disease perspectives, to estimate the influence of personal Matthew-effects on the distribution of health research funding. Denmark is used as the case, including funding information from all major public and private research foundations in the period 2004–2016. Grant information is linked to research outputs and disability-adjusted life-years (DALY rates), for 34,160 publications linked to 2630 grants, receiving DKK 4.8 billion in funding. Data show poor correlation between funding priorities, research activity and disease burdens, with several diseases receiving disproportionate amounts of funding. A research opportunity index is calculated to identify diseases with the highest potential for future investments from a burden-centred point of view. Funding is highly concentrated, both on people and on specific diseases. High funding concentrations on researchers can be a driving factor behind the observed funding-to-burden imbalances, and may risk knowledge stagnation through monopolisation of the market place of ideas. Results indicate that funders of clinical and translational research, as well as some types of biomedical research, need to supplement traditional considerations of scientific excellence with measures of societal challenges and relevance.

Severity Scores for Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

Despite the significant disease burden of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), there have been no United States Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies for 65 years. To facilitate advancement of therapies, severity scores are needed to evaluate QOL, how patients feel, activity of disease, and organ-specific damage to assess response to therapies and disease progression. In this paper, we delineate the development process of provider- and patient-reported severity scores for CLE. Cutaneous Lupus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI), a provider-reported measure that distinguishes between activity and damage, has undergone rigorous validation and reliability testing for over 20 years. Its performance has been tested in clinical trials as a primary or secondary endpoint and tool to stratify patients. As an objective disease measure that captures a provider's perspective of disease activity and damage, the CLASI inherently does not assess disease impact on patients' QOL. Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Quality of Life (CLEQoL), a patient-reported measure, captures features elucidated through focus groups, including symptoms, emotions, functioning, body image, and photosensitivity. It has undergone psychometric property testing to ensure reliability and validity. Together, CLASI and CLEQoL are simple and reliable CLE-specific severity scores capturing disease activity, damage, and QOL from provider and patient perspectives.

Global burden of cardiovascular diseases: projections from 2025 to 2050.

The prediction of future trends in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and their risk factors can assist policy-makers in healthcare planning. This study aims to project geospatial trends in CVDs and their underlying risk factors from 2025 to 2050. Using historical data on mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study, encompassing the period of 1990 to 2019, Poisson regression was performed to model mortality and DALYs associated with CVD and its associated risk factors from 2025 to 2050. Subgroup analysis was based on GBD super-regions. Between 2025 and 2050, a 90.0% increase in cardiovascular prevalence, 73.4% increase in crude mortality, and 54.7% increase in crude DALYs are projected, with an expected 35.6 million cardiovascular deaths in 2050 (from 20.5 million in 2025). However, age-standardized cardiovascular prevalence will be relatively constant (-3.6%), with decreasing age-standardized mortality (-30.5%) and age-standardized DALYs (-29.6%). In 2050, ischaemic heart disease will remain the leading cause of cardiovascular deaths (20 million deaths) while high systolic blood pressure will be the main cardiovascular risk factor driving mortality (18.9 million deaths). Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia super-region is set to incur the highest age-standardized cardiovascular mortality rate in 2050 (305 deaths per 100 000 population). In the coming decades, the relatively constant age-standardized prevalence of global CVD suggests that the net effect of summative preventative efforts will likely continue to be unchanged. The fall in age-standardized cardiovascular mortality reflects the improvement in medical care following diagnosis. However, future healthcare systems can expect a rapid rise in crude cardiovascular mortality, driven by the ageing global populace. The continued rise in CVD burden will largely be attributed to atherosclerotic diseases. Not applicable.

Global patterns of syphilis, gonococcal infection, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and leprosy from 1990 to 2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundCertain infectious diseases are caused by specific bacterial pathogens, including syphilis, gonorrhea, typhoid and paratyphoid fever, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, leprosy, and tuberculosis. These diseases significantly impact global health, contributing heavily to the disease burden. The study aims to thoroughly evaluate the global burden of syphilis, gonorrhea, typhoid and paratyphoid fever, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and leprosy.MethodsLeveraging the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021, age-specific and Socio-demographic Index (SDI)-specific incidence, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and death for eight specific bacterial infections across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed. Percentage changes in age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), DALY rate, and mortality rate (ASMR) were also examined, with a focus on disease distribution across different regions, age groups, genders, and SDI.ResultsBy 2021, among the eight diseases, gonococcal infection had the highest global ASIR [1096.58 per 100,000 population, 95% uncertainty interval (UI): 838.70, 1385.47 per 100,000 population], and syphilis had the highest global age-standardized DALY rate (107.13 per 100,000 population, 95% UI: 41.77, 212.12 per 100,000 population). Except for syphilis and gonococcal infection, the age-standardized DALY rate of the remaining diseases decreased by at least 55% compared to 1990, with tetanus showing the largest decrease by at least 90%. Globally, significant declines in the ASIR, age-standardized DALY rate, and ASMR for these eight bacterial infections have been observed in association with increases in the SDI. Regions with lower SDI, such as sub-Saharan Africa, experienced a relatively higher burden of these eight bacterial infections.ConclusionsAlthough there has been an overall decline in these eight diseases, they continue to pose significant public health challenges, particularly in low SDI regions. To further reduce this burden in these areas, targeted intervention strategies are essential, including multi-sectoral collaboration, policy support, improved WASH management, and enhanced research efforts.Graphical

Comprehensive analysis of molecular, physiological, and functional biomarkers of aging with neurological diseases using Mendelian randomization.

An increasing burden of neurological diseases (NDs) has been a public health challenge in an aging society. Age, especially biological age, is the most important risk factor for NDs. Identification of biomarkers of aging to capture NDs might lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of pathological brain aging and the implementation of effective intervention. We conducted a comprehensive two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study to investigate the association between various biomarkers of aging and three leading causes of NDs: Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and ischemic stroke. Publicly available GWAS summary statistics on people from European ancestry were obtained for six molecular biomarkers, two physiological biomarkers, and eight functional biomarkers, and three NDs. Genetic variants serving as instrumental variables (IVs) were identified for each biomarker. The MR analysis included inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO. We found that short telomere length and decrease in appendicular lean mass were associated with an increased risk for AD (OR IVW = 1.12 per 1SD decrease, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.22, and OR IVW = 1.11, 1.06-1.16, respectively), whereas high frailty index showed a protective effect for AD. Accelerated BioAge appeared to be associated with increased risk for ischemic stroke (OR IVW = 1.3 per year in BioAge acceleration, 95% CI 1.19-1.41). Our findings implied a causal association of short telomere length and a decrease in appendicular lean mass with an increased risk for AD, while BioAge appeared to be a good biomarker for ischemic stroke. Further studies are needed to validate these associations and explore underlying mechanisms.

The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) used as the benchmark in validation of 101 quality-of-life instruments: Asystematic review.

The validation of psychometric measures requires use of other established and standardized validated measures. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is the most widely used tool to measure the burden of skin diseases and assess effectiveness of interventions based on patients' perspective. The objective of this study was to systematically analyse peer-reviewed publications describing use of the DLQI in validation of other patient-reported outcome (PRO) and quality-of-life (QoL) measures. Seven databases were searched for papers published between January 1994 and December 2022 for articles containing data using DLQI in the validation of other PRO/QoL measures. The methodology followed PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO. Of 1717 screened publications, 122 articles including 30,727 patients from 34 different countries with 41 diseases met the inclusion criteria. The DLQI was used in validation of 101 measures: 80 dermatology-specific QoL measures, mostly disease-specific, and 21 generic measures. Of these studies, 47 were cross-cultural adaptations, 116 single arm, 100 were cross-sectional, 18 longitudinal and six randomized placebo controlled. DLQI was used for 14 known group, and correlation for 10 construct, 101 convergent, 10 concurrent, 10 divergent/discriminant and three criterion validity tests using Mann-Whitney (2), Spearman's (80), Pearson's correlation (26) and Student's t-test (1). The DLQI was used in responsiveness analysis in 13 studies. This review identified widespread use of the DLQI in validation of other dermatology PRO/QoL measures and confirmed the central role that the DLQI plays as a benchmark in instrument development and validation across dermatology and beyond. The use of the DLQI by so many developers of other instruments has provided a common standard for comparability.

Clinical characteristics of pyoderma gangrenosum: Case series and literature review.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic skin disease characterized by recurrent painful cutaneous ulcers, often accompanied by inflammatory bowel disease, joint pain, and other systemic damage. This disease is relatively rare in clinical practice and its diagnosis and treatment are often delayed, leading to secondary infections in the skin lesions, prolonged disease course, and increased disease burden on patients. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and treatment strategies of patients with PG admitted to our hospital and conducted a literature review, in order to improve the understanding of the disease among clinical doctors, enable patients to receive better diagnosis and treatment, and ultimately improve patient prognosis. Clinical data of patients diagnosed with PG and hospitalized in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2014 to December 2022 were retrospectively collected. The clinical manifestations, treatment strategies, efficacy, and disease outcomes were analyzed. A total of 14 patients, including 8 males and 6 females, aged 14 to 66 years, were included. Skin lesion types: 13 cases were ulcer-type, 1 case was pustule combined with ulcer-type, and the lower limbs were the most commonly affected areas. All the 14 patients presented with comorbidities. All patients were treated with glucocorticoids, with a daily dose equivalent to 20 to 100 mg prednisone and a median dose of 40 mg. Among them, 3 patients were treated with minocycline in combination, 1 patient was treated with mycophenolate mofetil 0.5 twice daily in combination, 1 patient was treated with cyclophosphamide 0.1 once daily in combination, and 1 patient was treated with thalidomide 0.1 every night in combination. PG is a relatively rare immune-related skin disease. Our small sample data analysis found that male PG is not uncommon in the Chinese population. Systemic glucocorticoids can quickly control the symptoms of PG in most patients with PG. In patients with poor efficacy or limited use of glucocorticoids, immunosuppressive drugs or novel targeted drugs such as biologics or small-molecule drugs should be used in combination as early as possible. Skin lesion care focuses on preventing infection, avoiding surgical debridement, and emphasizing pain management and the symptomatic treatment of comorbidities.

A - 129 Healthcare Disparity between Dominant English Versus Spanish-Speaking Deep Brain Stimulation Candidates with Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract Objective The existence of healthcare disparities is well documented, although data regarding mental health disparities in pre-surgical deep brain stimulation surgery (DBS) patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains emergent. In this study, we compare mood, apathy, and quality of life (QoL) in dominant English and Spanish-speaking PD-DBS candidates. We hypothesized that presurgical PD-DBS Spanish-speakers would have greater disease burden and lower mood and QoL compared to native English-speakers. Method Demographic and disease specific characteristics including disease duration and severity (Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS)), mood (Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Starkstein Apathy Scale (SAS)), and QoL (Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39)) were compared. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests and chi-square tests to identify group differences based on language dominance (English (n = 20), Spanish (n = 20)). Results Spanish-speakers had higher disease burden (MDS-UPDRS “on”: p = 0.018; “off”: p = 0.023), but no other statistical significance in demographic or clinical motor characteristics. There were significant group differences in mood (BDI-II: p = 0.046), PDQ-39 Total and subdomain scores (Total: p = 0.017; ADL: p = 0.005; Mobility: p = 0.007; Emotional Wellbeing: p = 0.029; and Bodily Discomfort: p = 0.007) with Spanish-speakers reporting poorer QoL. No significant group differences were found regarding apathy. Conclusion(s) Spanish-speakers demonstrated greater disease burden and endorsed significantly lower QoL and depression symptoms compared to English speakers. These data add to our understanding of healthcare disparities among presurgical PD-DBS candidates and suggest that underrepresented groups, such as dominant Spanish-speakers, may have less access to early intervention, missed PD symptomology, and/or cultural apprehension about seeking medical care, thus increasing disease burden and impacting QoL over time.

Investigating the prevalence burden of peptic ulcer disease in older adults aged 70+ from 1990 to 2019: an analysis of Global Disease Burden Studies

Background Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) affects individuals aged ≥70 years globally, exerting a significant impact on their health and well-being. Understanding its epidemiological evolution and associated factors is crucial for guiding interventions and improving management. Methods This study utilized Global Burden of Disease Study data to examine the prevalence and temporal changes of PUD in individuals aged 70 years and older between 1990 and 2019. The analysis included assessing estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) to investigate temporal trends and regional variations. Results Over the past 30 years, the number of individuals aged 70 years and above suffering from PUD globally has increased from 1 065 730 cases in 1990 to 1 608 463 cases in 2019. Despite an increasing number of cases, the prevalence of PUD among the elderly has exhibited a steady decline, with an EAPC of −1.47 (95% confidence interval: −1.57 to −1.37) over this timeframe. In 2019, the prevalence rates of PUD among individuals aged 70–74, 75–79, 80–84, and 85 years and older were 313.36, 365.77, 388.45, and 352.51 per 100 000 population, respectively. South Asia, high-income North America, and Central Sub-Saharan Africa were the regions with the highest prevalence rates of PUD in 2019, with rates of 624.90, 575.48, and 474.80 per 100 000 population, respectively. At the national level, Ireland, Australia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, and Bangladesh have effectively managed the burden of PUD among the elderly, achieving the greatest reduction. Additionally, regions with higher levels of socioeconomic development tended to have relatively lower burdens of PUD among the elderly, and prevalence rates varied across different regions and age groups. Conclusion Our study highlights the enduring burden of PUD among the global elderly population, emphasizing the significance of tailored interventions to address this pressing issue. This research underscores the critical need for targeted public health strategies aimed at improving outcomes specifically for older adults affected by PUD.

A six-year study in a real-world population reveals an increased incidence of dyslipidemia during COVID-19.

Recent studies conducted in COVID-19 survivors suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia. However, it remains unclear whether this augmented risk is confirmed in the general population and how this phenomenon is impacting the overall burden of cardiometabolic diseases. To address these aspects, we conducted a 6-year longitudinal study to examine the broader effects of COVID-19 on dyslipidemia incidence within a real-world population (228,266 subjects) residing in Naples, Southern Italy. The pre-COVID-19 and the COVID-19 groups were balanced for demographic and clinical factors using propensity score matching. Our analysis spans over a period of three years during the pandemic (2020-2022), comparing dyslipidemia incidence with pre-pandemic data (2017-2019), with a follow-up time of at least 1,095 days corresponding to 21,349,215 person-years. During the COVID-19 period we detected an increased risk of developing any dyslipidemia when compared with the pre-COVID-19 triennium (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.19-1.39). Importantly, these estimates were adjusted for comorbidities by a multivariate analysis. Taken together, our data reveal a notable rise in dyslipidemia incidence amid the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting to establish specialized clinical monitoring protocols for COVID-19 survivors to mitigate the risk of dyslipidemia development.

Multinational trends in sepsis mortality between 1985 and 2019: a temporal analysis of the WHO Mortality Database

ObjectivesUnderstanding the burden of disease of sepsis is essential for monitoring the effectiveness of international strategies to improve sepsis care. Our objective was to describe the multinational trend of sepsis-related...

Prevalence and Pattern of Ear Disease Among Primary School Students in Samoa: Preliminary Results from ENT Clinic Outreach to Urban, Rural and Remote Settings.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and pattern of ear disease among students attending primary school in urban, rural, and remote regions of Samoa in order to develop an evidence-based national school ear and hearing health program. Methods: Retrospective clinical data review of all primary school students seen by the Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic of Samoa during school-based outreach visits from March 2022 to April 2024. A purposefully designed spreadsheet was created to extract the following information from the clinical records: school location (urban, rural, remote), gender (male, female), age (years), age category (0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15+ years), right ear diagnosis, left ear diagnosis. Data were entered into the SPSS statistical software package for descriptive statistical analysis and association tests of significance. Results: A total of 1491 primary school students were seen for ear health examinations (51.1% male, 48.9% female), with a mean age of 9.1 years (SD = 2.3). Five primary schools were included, representing urban (n = 865), rural (n = 258), and remote (n = 368) settings. Overall, 682 (45.7%) students had normal ear examination results for both ears, 237 (15.9%) had an ear pathology in 1 ear only, and 568 (38.1%) had ear pathology in both ears. Bilateral ear pathology was significantly higher among students who were in the 5 to 9 age group (P < .00001), female (P = .035), and from rural settings (P = .0001). The most common pathology was impacted cerumen (36.8%), followed by otitis media with effusion (7.5%). Overall prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) was 2.6% (n = 39 students). Following the school visits, no further intervention was required for 1180 students (79%), mostly due to successful cerumen and foreign body removals for 468 students (31.4%). Conclusion: Impacted cerumen is a significant issue among Samoan school-aged students, and future school-based ear health programs should include staff members trained in cerumen removal. CSOM prevalence suggests an avoidable burden of disease that must be addressed.

Small Vessel Disease Burden Predicts Incident Dementia and Poor Functional Outcome in Independent Outpatients.

Total small vessel disease (SVD) score is used to measure the burden of SVD. This study aimed to clarify the predictive value of total SVD score for incident dementia and functional outcomes in independent outpatients with vascular risk factors. We derived data from a Japanese cohort in which patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive examinations. They were followed up until March 2023. The primary outcomes was dementia. Secondary outcome was functional outcomes. We measured a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at the last visit and defined poor functional outcomes as mRS score ≥3. After excluding those with a mRS score ≥2, Mini-Mental State Examination score in Japanese version < 24, and missing T2* images, 692 patients were included. During a median follow-up period of 4.6 years, dementia occurred in 31 patients. In multivariate analysis, the score 4 group showed a significantly higher risk of incident dementia than the score 0-3 groups (adjusted hazard ratio, 6.25; 95% CI, 1.83-21.40, p = 0.003). The total SVD score was also independently related to poor functional outcome. The total SVD score of 4, and ≥1 could predict dementia and poor functional outcomes, respectively. Our results suggest intensive management of patients with SVD to prevent dementia and to maintain independent activities of daily living.