High Human Development Index Countries Research Articles

Global, regional, and national lifetime risk of developing and dying from lung cancer in 2022: A population-based study in 185 countries

Abstract Background: Lifetime cancer risk is an index that indicates the cumulative probability of cancer at some age during a person’s lifetime. Nevertheless, comparative evaluations regarding the probability of developing lung cancer and dying from the disease among diverse populations at the global, regional, and national levels are scarce. Methods: Lung cancer data from 185 countries were obtained from GLOBOCAN 2022, and data on any other cause of death were acquired from the United Nations. The lifetime risks of lung cancer development and death were estimated using adjustment for multiple primary cancers (AMP) method. The lung cancer risks in countries or regions worldwide were compared by region and the Human Development Index (HDI). Results: The global lifetime risk of developing and dying from lung cancer in 2022 was 3.49% and 2.69%, respectively. The lifetime probabilities of developing lung cancer in countries/areas with low, medium, high, and very high HDIs were 0.33%, 0.95%, 4.72%, and 5.29%, and dying from lung cancer in low, medium, high and very high HDI countries were 0.30%, 0.86%, 3.69% and 3.92%, respectively. After the age of 40 years, the remaining probability of lung cancer development and death decreased with age, leaving a residual risk of 2.00% and 1.71%, respectively, starting at 70 years. Conclusions: The probability of developing lung cancer during one’s lifetime is equivalent to 1 in 28 and 1 in 37 people suffering and dying from lung cancer. The age-related risk of developing and dying of lung cancer varies among geographic locations with different HDIs.

Global burden of thyroid cancer in 2022: Incidence and mortality estimates from GLOBOCAN.

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common malignancy of the endocrine system. This study aimed to assess the global distribution of TC incidence and mortality in 2022, as well as to predict the burden for the year 2050. Data from the GLOBOCAN 2022database were used to analyze the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of TC by sex, age group (<55 years and ≥55 years), country, world region, and level of Human Development Index (HDI) for 185 countries. The predicted incidence and mortality burden for 2050 was calculated based on demographic projections. In 2022, an estimated 821,214 new TC cases and 47,507 TC-related deaths occurred worldwide. The age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) were higher in women (ASIR: 13.60 per 100,000; ASMR: 0.53 per 100,000) than in men (ASIR: 4.60 per 100,000; ASMR: 0.35 per 100,000). The ASIR in high HDI countries was approximately ten times higher than that in low HDI countries for both sexes, with relatively similar ASMR across regions. Among 185 countries, China had the largest number of TC cases (accounting for 56.77% of total cases) and TC-related deaths (accounting for 24.35% of global TC-related deaths), with the highest ASIR in men (13.30 per 100,000). Worldwide, approximately 64.63% of TC cases occurred in populations under 55 years old, while nearly 82.99% of TC-related deaths occurred in populations aged 55 years and above. If the rates stay the same as in 2022, it is projected that approximately 1,100,000 new TC cases and 91,000 TC-related deaths will occur in 2050, indicating a 34.15% and 89.58% increase, respectively. TC is a highly frequent cancer worldwide with disparities across regions, genders, and age groups. Our results provide light on the worldwide TC disease burden and facilitate regionally customized prevention measures.

Diet and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Scoping Review.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer globally. While smoking is a key risk factor, rising cases in non-smokers highlight the need to explore other factors like diet. This scoping review aims to deepen the evidence on the relationship between OSCC and diet, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, and was registered on Open Science Framework. Searches were performed in four electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Lilacs, without date or language restrictions. Studies were evaluated, extracted, and compiled in a narrative table. Seventeen studies with 10,954 patients were analyzed. Most patients were male (74.63%), aged 18-89 (average 50.62). Studies were mainly from high (82%) and medium (17%) Human Development Index (HDI) countries. Dietary surveys included a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) (58.8%), interviews/questionnaires (17.6%), and an FFQ with a photographic atlas (5.9%). Certain foods in excess like fruits, vegetables, and tea were inversely associated with OSCC, while salty meats, dairy, coffee, sausages, and fried and spicy foods were positively associated. Due to the heterogeneity of the tools used to obtain food frequency data, the results should be interpreted cautiously. New standardized studies and randomized trials are essential to advance understanding and control confounding factors in this field.

Improving Online Citizen Science Platforms for Biodiversity Monitoring

ABSTRACTBackgroundMonitoring biodiversity is crucial in biogeography. Citizen science and biodiversity platforms have revolutionized data access across taxa, but they struggle to provide robust raw data essential for conservation decisions.AimsThis study addresses data gaps for under‐represented species and locations, observer expertise variability, and the lack of absence data and sampling effort information to improve data representation and suitability for statistical analyses.Materials &amp; MethodsWe collected, compared to IUCN‐recognized taxonomic groups, all worldwide living being (animal, plant and fungi) observations held by four major biodiversity platforms: eBird, GBIF, iNaturalist, and Observation.org. We also organized such observations by country of origin and based on their Human Development Index (HDI).ResultsWe found that, while GBIF, iNaturalist, and Observation.org cover all life forms, birds are the most observed (eBird is a bird‐specific platform), whereas fish, other marine organisms, arthropods, and invertebrates are dramatically underrepresented. Moreover, none of the above‐mentioned biodiversity platforms considered or directly analysed expertise variability among observers and, apart from eBird, the other three biodiversity platforms do not accommodate data on species absence and sampling effort.Discussion and ConclusionFinally, we found that species observations on biodiversity platforms considered in this study are skewed towards high HDI countries, primarily North America and Europe. By enhancing the effectiveness of biodiversity platforms, this study has the potential to significantly advance the field of biogeography, paving the way for more informed and effective conservation strategies. Overall, our findings underscore the untapped potential of these platforms in contributing to our understanding of the spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity.

Global burden of gynaecological cancers in 2022 and projections to 2050.

The incidence and mortality of gynaecological cancers can significantly impact women's quality of life and increase the health care burden for organisations globally. The objective of this study was to evaluate global inequalities in the incidence and mortality of gynaecological cancers in 2022, based on The Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 estimates. The future burden of gynaecological cancers (GCs) in 2050 was also projected. Data regarding to the total cases and deaths related to gynaecological cancer, as well as cases and deaths pertaining to different subtypes of GCs, gathered from the GLOBOCAN database for the year 2022. Predictions for the number of cases and deaths in the year 2050 were derived from global demographic projections, categorised by world region and Human Development Index (HDI). In 2022, there were 1 473 427 new cases of GCs and 680 372 deaths. The incidence of gynecological cancer reached 30.3 per 100 000, and the mortality rate hit 13.2 per 100 000. The age-standardised incidence of GCs in Eastern Africa is higher than 50 per 100 000, whereas the age-standardised incidence in Northern Africa is 17.1 per 100 000. The highest mortality rates were found in East Africa (ASMR (age-standardised mortality rates) of 35.3 per 100 000) and the lowest in Australia and New Zealand (ASMR of 8.1 per 100 000). These are related to the endemic areas of HIV and HPV. Very High HDI countries had the highest incidence of GCs, with ASIR (age-standardised incidence rates) of 34.8 per 100 000, and low HDI countries had the second highest incidence rate, with an ASIR of 33.0 per 100 000. Eswatini had the highest incidence and mortality (105.4 per 100 000; 71.1 per 100 000) and Yemen the lowest (5.8 per 100 000; 4.4 per 100 000). If the current trends in morbidity and mortality are maintained, number of new cases and deaths from female reproductive tract tumours is projected to increase over the next two decades. In 2022, gynaecological cancers accounted for 1 473 427 new cases and 680 372 deaths globally, with significant regional disparities in incidence and mortality rates. The highest rates were observed in Eastern Africa and countries with very high and low HDI, with Eswatini recording the most severe statistics. If current trends continue, the number of new cases and deaths from gynaecological cancers is expected to rise over the next two decades, highlighting the urgent need for effective interventions.

Anticipated and experienced stigma and discrimination in the workplace among individuals with major depressive disorder in 35 countries: qualitative framework analysis of a mixed-method cross-sectional study

ObjectivesWorkplace stigmatisation and discrimination are significant barriers to accessing employment opportunities, reintegration and promotion in the workforce for people with mental illnesses in comparison to other disabilities. This paper presents...

Exploring the nexuses between carbon dioxide emissions, material footprints and human development: An empirical study of 151 countries

In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, it is necessary to actively promote a coordinated and balanced relationship between carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e), material footprints (MF) and human development, based on the economic and social development stages of different countries and their material resource endowments. However, the existing research results lack cross-country comparisons and overly focus on the single conclusion of quantifying decoupling while ignoring the impact of coupling coordination nexus. Thus, this study comprehensively evaluated the nexus between CO2e, MF, and human development index (HDI) in 151 countries from 1990 to 2019 based on the modified coupling coordination degree model and the improved decoupling index model. The results show that, both the global MF per capita and HDI have maintained an increasing trend, and the MF per capita has been increasing significantly faster than the HDI. The trend of CO2e per capita is slowly dropping, with very high HDI countries being the main contributors. Besides, global regional differences in CO2e per capita and MF per capita are still expanding. Worldwide differences in per unit of CO2e and per unit of MF for HDI variation are narrowing. Furtherly, there is a more general but short-lived trend of absolute decoupling for very high HDI and low HDI countries, while medium HDI countries show a significant trend of coupling. By combining the endowment characteristics of some typical countries, it can be observed that the net fossil energy importing countries with higher HDI have high degree of coupling coordination, but gradually evolve towards the state of relative decoupling. There is still a significant trend of recoupling between the MF and HDI in the net fossil energy exporting countries with higher HDI, but CO2e is gradually evolving towards decoupling. The coupling coordination state is deepening in some low HDI countries. Due to the huge differences in national endowment characteristics and development stages, targeted energy conservation and emission reduction strategies are important for achieving coordinated development between CO2e, MF and HDI.

Utilization of PARP inhibitors in the management of ovarian cancer in Nigeria.

e13500 Background: Ovarian cancer remains a significant health concern globally, especially in countries with low Human Development Index (HDI), where there is a projected 96% increase in new cases and a 100% increase in associated deaths by 2040 compared to a 19% increase in new cases and a 28% increase in deaths in very High HDI countries. Over the years, significant strides have been made in the treatment of ovarian cancer, leading to a decrease in ovarian cancer-related mortality in High HDI countries. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are among the new and emerging treatment options, which have transformed the management of ovarian cancer, especially in patients with BRCA mutations. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to clinical and gynecologic oncologists practicing in Nigeria via email, text, WhatsApp, and telegram messaging. Clinical and gynecologic oncologists who are not involved in the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer and those who are not currently in practice were excluded. Results: Out of 36 respondents, 34 were analyzed. While PARP inhibitors are increasingly acknowledged (85.29% awareness), actual utilization remains modest (14.71%). The sole PARP inhibitor used is Olaparib. The majority of respondents (48.28%) who did not use PARP inhibitors cited both the lack of availability and the high cost of medications as the reasons. Key barriers to the use of PARP inhibitors include a combination of non-availability and cost (48.28%) and a combination of institutional protocols and socioeconomic status (20.59%). Conclusions: Despite increasing awareness, PARP inhibitor utilization in Nigerian ovarian cancer management is hindered by challenges, predominantly cost and availability. The study highlights a missed opportunity for optimizing advanced ovarian cancer treatment in Nigeria. [Table: see text]

Improving access to palliative care to mitigate multi-dimensional breast cancer suffering.

e24084 Background: The breast cancer (BC) divide persists as a global health and equity challenge. IARC data show that in low human development index (HDI) countries – 1/27 women is diagnosed with BC in their lifetime and 1/48 die from it. In very high HDI countries, BC is more common (1/12), but death is much less so (1/71). Hence, BC generates a substantial burden of serious health-related suffering (SHS) worldwide, and a particularly high and unmet demand for end-of-life care in poorer countries. This research links to three Lancet Commissions (LC): the forthcoming report of LC on BC, follow-up to LC Global Access to Palliative Care (PC), and LC on Cancer and Health Systems. We apply the concept of SHS to delineate and measure PC need for BC. This research is the first to explore disease-specific SHS, building on previous estimates that did not differentiate across cancers. Focusing on BC adds knowledge on: experiences of suffering across the cancer continuum including survivorship; dimensions of suffering specific to women and especially young women; and, differences in symptoms of suffering by stage of diagnosis. Methods: To identify symptoms and dimensions of suffering and to estimate the BC-specific SHS burden, 14 experts, most from the Lancet BC Commission, based in 12 countries of varying HDI, participated in: 1) an online survey on days of SHS and days receiving PC; 2) focus groups to discuss BC need for generalist and specialist PC from time of diagnosis; and 3) structured interviews to refine and deepen data. Results: Stage IV disease and end-of-life account for most PC consultations; no PC consultations were recommended in earlier stages. Experts concluded BC-specific SHS must be differentiated for metastatic disease based on staging, and highlighted symptoms of suffering associated with gender, reproductive age and sexuality ignored in previous work. They estimated an annual average PC need of approximately 175 days for decedents, and over 50 days per year for non-decedents estimated to live 4 years with SHS. Unmet need is high as BC decedents reported receive about 75 days, and non-decedents about 90 days of PC prior to the last year of life. Oncology experts focus on PC being only for final disease stage, yet PC experts stress the need for earlier PC integration into the BC trajectory, including survivorship. Conclusions: With 669,500 deaths in 2023, the burden of BC-specific SHS total is estimated at over 118 million days a year. These numbers represent suffering from pain, dyspnea, fatigue, as well as range of other symptoms that could benefit from PC. Yet, PC is unavailable for the majority in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, some BC symptoms of suffering are under-recognized globally. Health and cancer should prioritize this substantial opportunity to respond to patient, family and caregiver suffering by investing in appropriate PC access and capacity development.

Are Doctors Equally Distributed Throughout the World?

As the vital and scarce resource of the health system, physicians are responsible for treating patients and saving lives and the equitable distribution of physicians among the whole population is a prerequisite to achieving health for all. We aimed to investigate inequality in physician distribution in the world using the Gini coefficient. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2021. The number of physicians and the population of countries were obtained from the WHO and United Nations (UN) databases. The Gini coefficient was calculated in three different modes and the distribution of physicians among countries in various Human Development Index (HDI) groups was determined using the physician ratio per 10,000 population. There were generally more than 13 million doctors in the world. About 43% of the world's physicians were available to 20% of the world's population in very high HDI countries, and 12% of the population had access to about 1% of physicians in low HDI countries. An average of 19.5 physicians are distributed per 10,000 population worldwide. The Gini coefficient between the four groups of HDI countries was 0.55, and that of all countries in the world was 0.640. There was a shortage and inequality in the distribution of physicians worldwide. Governments should eliminate inequality in the distribution of the medical workforce, in particular physicians, by redoubling their efforts and accurate planning.

The influence of socioeconomic inequity and guidelines compliance on clinical outcomes of patients with acute biliary pancreatitis. An international multicentric cohort study

BackgroundThere is lack of data on the association between socioeconomic factors, guidelines compliance and clinical outcomes among patients with acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). MethodsPost-hoc analysis of the international MANCTRA-1 registry evaluating the impact of regional disparities as indicated by the Human Development Index (HDI), and guideline compliance on ABP clinical outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to identify prognostic factors associated with mortality and readmission. ResultsAmong 5313 individuals from 151 centres across 42 countries marked disparities in comorbid conditions, ABP severity, and medical procedure usage were observed. Patients from lower HDI countries had higher guideline non-compliance (p < 0.001) and mortality (5.0% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.019) in comparison with very high HDI countries. On adjusted analysis, ASA score (OR 1.810, p = 0.037), severe ABP (OR 2.735, p < 0.001), infected necrosis (OR 2.225, p = 0.006), organ failure (OR 4.511, p = 0.001) and guideline non-compliance (OR 2.554, p = 0.002 and OR 2.178, p = 0.015) were associated with increased mortality. HDI was a critical socio-economic factor affecting both mortality (OR 2.452, p = 0.007) and readmission (OR 1.542, p = 0.046). ConclusionThese data highlight the importance of collaborative research to characterise challenges and disparities in global ABP management. Less developed regions with lower HDI scores showed lower adherence to clinical guidelines and higher rates of mortality and recurrence.

Training strategies of 10,074 athletes from 121 countries based on human development index in early COVID-19 lockdown

The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between changes in training practices and human development index (HDI) levels, and identify strategies employed by athletes who consistently maintained their training quantity during the first 100 days of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 10,074 athletes (5290 amateur and 4787 professional athletes from 121 countries) completed an online survey between 17 May to 5 July 2020. We explored their training practices, including specific questions on training frequency, duration and quantity before and during lockdown (March–June 2020), stratified according to the human development index (HDI): low-medium, high, or very high HDI. During the COVID-19 lockdown, athletes in low-medium HDI countries focused on innovative training. Nevertheless, women and amateur athletes experienced a substantial reduction in training activity. Performance-driven athletes and athletes from higher HDI indexed countries, were likely to have more opportunities to diversify training activities during lockdowns, facilitated by the flexibility to perform training away from home. Factors such as lockdown rules, socioeconomic environment, and training education limited training diversification and approaches, particularly in low-medium and high HDI countries. Athletes (amateurs and professionals) who maintained the quantity of training during lockdown appeared to prioritize basic cardiovascular and strength training, irrespective of HDI level. Modifying training and fitness programs may help mitigate the decrease in training activities during lockdowns. Customized training prescriptions based on gender, performance, and HDI level will assist individuals to effectively perform and maintain training activities during lockdowns, or other challenging (lockdown-like) situations.

Abstract 2212: Global cancers attributable to modifiable risk factors: Dietary factors of animal origin

Abstract Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Modifiable risk factors including diet have been linked to a wide range of malignancies. We estimated the global cancer population-attributable fraction (PAF) to established and suspected dietary cancer risk factors according to the Human Development Index (HDI).Diet-cancer associations were selected from WCRF, GBD and IARC report. Dietary factors of animal origin include red meat, processed meat, fish and dairy products; cancers include nasopharynx, esophageal, stomach, colorectal, pancreatic, lung, prostate, breast cancer. Gender-specific PAF were calculated based on 1) the total and gender-specific 2022 country-specific population from World Bank; 2) the country-specific average daily dietary factors intake (g/day) for 2000-2005 from the Global Dietary Database; 3) relative risks from the meta-analyses and WCRF reports; 4) country-specific 2020 cancer incidence from WHO. Estimates were also stratified by Human Development Index (HDI).Table 1 provides the results. The PAF for red meat and processed meat was higher in high HDI countries, while that for low dairy product intake was higher in low HDI countries. According to results, changes in selected dietary factors can prevent cancer-related incidence, particularly depending on where development status of countries and access to the source of their intake. Table1: Population attributable fractions for incidence of cancer in 2020 by gender. Dietary factors and Related Cancers Relative risk (g/day) AF (N. global) – Both gender AF (N. global)- Female AF (N. global)- Male Red meat Nasopharynx(L) 1.35(100) 0.103(13750.2) 0.102(3734.9) 0.104(10015.3) Colorectal (S) 1.12(100) 0.040(78714.5) 0.040(33981.2) 0.041(44733.2) Pancreatic (L) 1.11(100) 0.037(27420.3) 0.036(8479.8) 0.037(18940.4) Lung (L) 1.22(100) 0.070(155986.9) 0.069(52442.6) 0.070(103544.4) Prostate(L) 1.04(100) 0.014(20665.6) - 0.014(20665.6) Effect on total cancers * 0.016(296537.5) 0.011(98638.5) 0.021 (197898.9) Processed meat Nasopharynx(L) 1.46(30) 0.164(22194.6) 0.154(5637.4) 0.173(16557.1) Esophagus(L) 1.3(100) 0.036(22654.9) 0.034(6345.8) 0.038(16309.2) Stomach(L) 1.21(50) 0.052(60325.8) 0.049(18161.7) 0.055(42164) Colorectal (S) 1.18(100) 0.023(45460.9) 0.021(18522.8) 0.024(26938.1) Pancreatic(L) 1.17(50) 0.043(21900.2) 0.040(9414.4) 0.046(12485.8) Lung (L) 1.14(50) 0.036(82762.9) 0.034(26023.9) 0.038(56739) Effect on total cancers * 0.014(255299.3) 0.010(84106) 0.018(171193.2) Dairy products Colorectal(S) 0.87(400) 0.092(180063.4) 0.091(77598.8) 0.093(102464.6) Breast (L) 0.95(200) 0.068(151960.9) 0.068(151960.9) - Prostate (L) 1.07(400) 0.016(24224.3) - 0.016(24224.3) Effect on total cancers * 0.019(356248.6) 0.026(229559.7) 0.013(126688.9) Fish Colorectal (L) 0.89(100) 0.022(44882.9) 0.022(18705.9) 0.024(26177) Effect on total cancers * 0.002(44882.9) 0.002(18705.9 0.003(26177) Mean (g/day) of global intake Processed meat (B=14.2/M=15.1/F=13.3), red meat (B=36.5/M=36.9/F=36), fish(B=23/M=22.1/F=23.8), dairy products(B=77/M=74.9/F=79)S=strong evidenceL=limited evidence*All cancers excl. non-melanoma skin cancer (B= 18094716/F=8751759/M=9342957) 1 Citation Format: Monireh Sadat Seyyedsalehi, Edward Giovannucci, Paolo Boffetta. Global cancers attributable to modifiable risk factors: Dietary factors of animal origin [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2212.

A Scoping Review of the Oral Health Status, Oral Health Behaviours and Interventions to Improve the Oral Health of Children and Young People in Care and Care Leavers.

Children and young people (CYP) in care experience poorer physical health and overall wellbeing in comparison to their peers. Despite this, relatively little is known about what their oral health needs and behaviours are. The aim of this scoping review was to provide a global perspective on the oral health status and behaviours of CYP in care and care leavers. It also aimed to synthesise interventions that have been trialled in this population to improve oral health. Five databases were searched, Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), SocINDEX (EBSCOhost) and Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCOhost), alongside grey literature sources up to January 2023. Eligibility criteria were studies that (i) reported on children and adolescents aged 25 years or younger who are currently in formal/informal foster or residential care and care leavers, (ii) pertained to oral health profile, behaviours or oral health promotion interventions (iii) and were published in the English language. Thematic analysis was used to develop the domains for oral health behaviours and interventions. Seventy-one papers were included. Most papers were published from very high or medium Human Development Index countries. CYP in care were found to experience high levels of decay, dental trauma, periodontal disease and poorer oral health-related quality of life. Oral health behaviours included limited oral health self-care behaviours and a lack of oral health-based knowledge. The trialled interventions involved oral health education, supervised brushing and treatment or preventative dental care. This scoping review reveals that CYP in care experience poorer oral health in comparison to their peers. They are also less likely to carry out oral health self-care behaviours. This review highlights a scarcity of interventions to improve the oral health of this population and a paucity of evidence surrounding the oral health needs of care leavers.

Access to Dental Care for Children and Young People in Care and Care Leavers: A Global Scoping Review.

This scoping review aimed to explore three research questions: 1. What is the dental care access for children and young people (CYP) in care and care leavers? 2. What factors influence CYP in care and care leavers' access to dental care? 3. What pathways have been developed to improve access to oral health care for CYP in care and care leavers? Five databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, CINAHL, SocINDEX and Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source) and grey literature sources were systematically searched. Articles relating to CYP in care or care leavers aged 0-25 years old, published up to January 2023 were included. Abstracts, posters and publications not in the English language were excluded. The data relating to dental care access were analysed using thematic analysis. The search identified 942 articles, of which 247 were excluded as duplicates. A review of the titles and abstracts yielded 149 studies. Thirty-eight were eligible for inclusion in the review: thirty-three peer-reviewed articles, one PhD thesis and four grey literature sources. All papers were published from very high or medium Human Development Index countries. The studies indicate that despite having higher treatment needs, CYP in care and care leavers experience greater difficulty in accessing dental services than those not care-experienced. Organisational, psycho-social and logistical factors influence their access to dental care. Their experience of dental care may be impacted by adverse childhood events. Pathways to dental care have been developed, but little is known of their impact on access. There are very few studies that include care leavers. The voices of care-experienced CYP are missing from dental access research. care-experienced CYP are disadvantaged in their access to dental care, and there are significant barriers to their treatment needs being met.

Editors are biased too: An extension of Fox et al. (2023)'s analysis makes the case for triple‐blind review

Abstract Functional Ecology conducted a randomised trial comparing single‐ and double‐blind peer review; a recent analysis of this data found substantial evidence for bias by reviewers. We show that this dataset can also be analysed for editor bias, after controlling for both reviewer bias and paper quality. Our analysis shows that editors tend to be more likely to invite high‐scoring manuscripts for revision or resubmission when the first author is a man from a country with a very high Human Development Index (HDI); first authors who were women or not from very high HDI countries were more likely to be rejected at this stage. We propose that journals consider a triple‐blind review process where neither editors nor reviewers know the identity of authors, and authors do not know the identity of reviewers nor editors. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

The role of intellectual and social capital in funding businesses: a cross-country analysis

ObjetivoEl estudio tiene como objetivo examinar el impacto del capital intelectual y social en la financiación de las empresas.Diseño/metodología/enfoqueUtilizamos modelos de datos de panel de efectos fijos con una muestra de 142 países de los cinco continentes durante el periodo 1998-2018.ResultadosEncontramos que el capital humano (CH), el capital relacional, el capital estructural y el capital social juegan un papel en las decisiones de los inversionistas para financiar un negocio. Encontramos que las decisiones de financiamiento de los inversionistas en los países con bajo índice de desarrollo humano se basan principalmente en la educación, mientras que las de los países con alto índice de desarrollo humano se basan principalmente en el componente de creatividad del CH y en el capital relacional, estructural y social.Limitaciones/implicaciones de la investigaciónSugerimos replicar el estudio utilizando datos a nivel de empresa dentro de cada país. Por otra parte, la búsqueda de nuevos indicadores de capital intelectual y social (aunque nuestra lista de variables es exhaustiva) tanto a nivel de país como de empresa, constituye una vía interesante para futuras investigaciones.Implicaciones prácticasLos países deben prestar atención al capital intelectual y social para fomentar la actividad empresarial. En particular, los países con bajo desarrollo humano deberían fortalecer el CH, como la tasa de matriculación escolar, con una formación empresarial temprana y aumentar las inversiones en investigación y desarrollo, mientras que los países con un alto nivel de desarrollo humano deberían seguir fomentando las alianzas estratégicas, proteger la propiedad intelectual y mantener o aumentar el nivel de confianza en el país.Originalidad/valorEl estudio contribuye a la literatura al ser el primero en explorar tal variedad de variables de capital intelectual y social desde una perspectiva a nivel de país.

Global, regional, and national lifetime risks of developing and dying from gastrointestinal cancers in 185 countries: a population-based systematic analysis of GLOBOCAN

Gastrointestinal cancers account for a quarter of the global cancer incidence and a third of cancer-related deaths. We sought to estimate the lifetime risks of developing and dying from gastrointestinal cancers at the country, world region, and global levels in 2020. For this population-based systematic analysis, we obtained estimates of gastrointestinal cancer incidence and mortality rates from GLOBOCAN for 185 countries, alongside all-cause mortality and population data from the UN. Countries were categorised into quartiles of the Human Development Index (HDI). The lifetime risk of gastrointestinal cancers was estimated with a standard method that adjusts for multiple primaries, taking into account competing risks of death from causes other than cancer and life expectancy. The global lifetime risks of developing and dying from gastrointestinal cancers from birth to death was 8·20% (95% CI 8·18-8·21) and 6·17% (6·16-6·18) in 2020. For men, the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers was 9·53% (95% CI 9·51-9·55) and of dying from them 7·23% (7·22-7·25); for women, the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers was 6·84% (6·82-6·85) and of dying from them 5·09% (5·08-5·10). Colorectal cancer presented the highest risk, accounting for 38·5% of the total lifetime risk of developing, and 28·2% of dying from, gastrointestinal cancers, followed by cancers of the stomach, liver, oesophagus, pancreas, and gallbladder. Eastern Asia has the highest lifetime risks for cancers of the stomach, liver, oesophagus, and gallbladder, Australia and New Zealand for colorectal cancer, and Western Europe for pancreatic cancer. The lifetime risk of gastrointestinal cancers increased consistently with increasing level of HDI; however, high HDI countries (the third HDI quartile) had the highest death risk. The global lifetime risk of gastrointestinal cancers translates to one in 12 people developing, and one in 16 people dying from, gastrointestinal cancers. The identified high risk and observed disparities across countries warrants context-specific targeted gastrointestinal cancer control and health systems planning. Beijing Nova Program, CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences, and Talent Incentive Program of Cancer Hospital, CAMS (Hope Star).

Global Prevalence of Anemia Among Women of Reproductive Age, 2000-2019

Introduction: A common disease with significant impacts on health and quality of life, anemia is particularly prevalent in women of reproductive age due to blood losses during menstruation and pregnancy. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) was analyzed to compare trends in prevalence of anemia in women aged 15-49 among countries and over time with the goal of identifying regions both successful and in need of assistance in combatting anemia. Methods: Publicly available data was obtained from the WHO on the prevalence of anemia among women aged 15-49 from 194 countries from 2000-2019, data being reported as percentages. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin &amp;lt; 12 g/dL for non-pregnant women and &amp;lt; 11 g/dL for pregnant women, with severe anemia being defined as hemoglobin &amp;lt; 8 g/dL for non-pregnant women and &amp;lt; 7 g/dL for pregnant women. WHO data was from both individual-level and summary statistics sources and hemoglobin was adjusted for altitude. Human development index (HDI) data and categories (low, medium, high, and very high) were obtained from the United Nations. Data was analyzed based on year, country, geographic region, and HDI, with ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests being used to analyze the relationship between HDI and anemia. Results: Worldwide from 2000 to 2013 the prevalence of anemia decreased, and then increased from 2013 to 2019 though remained lower than at 2000 levels; severe anemia decreased throughout the world from 2000 to 2019. Throughout all years, African countries had the highest prevalence of anemia and severe anemia while American and European countries had the lowest (Figure 1). When analyzed by HDI category, there was a significant difference among HDI categories with both total and severe anemia ( P &amp;lt; 0.001 for both). With each decrease in HDI category (very high to high, etc.) there was a significant increase in prevalence of total anemia (Table 1, P &amp;lt; 0.001 for all). For severe anemia, there was a significant difference in prevalence of anemia between all HDI levels except very high and high ( P = 0.09). Discussion: This data suggests that although the prevalence of anemia among reproductive age women has decreased over time there is still much work remaining, particularly in low HDI countries, where the prevalence of anemia was over twice that of very high HDI countries in 2019, and the prevalence of severe anemia was over three times as high. More research is needed into the relationship of anemia and socioeconomic status as well as preventing, recognizing and treating anemia.

Does the Validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve Postulation Empirically Depend on the Level of Human Development in Africa?

Purpose: The interconnectedness between human development and environmental degradation is a complex issue that warrants investigation in Africa. Although there are a few studies on the economic growth and environmental degradation nexus for African countries, there is a huge scarcity of empirical research that explores the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) postulation in the context of human development and environmental degradation in Africa. The study therefore empirically explored the relationship between Human Development and Environmental Degradation within the framework of the EKC using 50 African countries subdivided into High Human Development Index Countries (HHDICs), Medium Human Development Index Countries (MHDICs) and Low Human Development Index Countries (LHDICs) from 2000 to 2019. Data for the study were obtained from the World Bank’s development indicators and the Human Development Reports of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-HDR).&#x0D; Methodology: The study made use of the Panel Corrected Standard Error (PCSE) model and the Feasible Generalised Least Squares Regression model (FGLS) which are econometrically suitable to handle N &gt; T and T &gt; N panels respectively, and are both robust to cross sectional dependence, contemporaneous correlation, group wise heteroscedasticity and slope heterogeneity. Other econometric techniques such as Descriptive Statistics, Correlation Analysis, Variance Inflation Factor test (Multicollinearity), second generation unit root tests (CADF and CIPS), Durbin Watson, Breusch Godfrey tests (Serial Correlation) and the White Test (Heteroscedasticity) were also employed in the study.&#x0D; Findings: The empirical results produced evidence that the data is integrated of order one I(1) and exhibits cross sectional dependence, slope heterogeneity and cointegration. The data was also found to be serially correlated and heteroscedastic. However, multicollinearity was absent. The panel estimates of the PCSE and the FGLS estimators showed that Human Development is a key driver of Environmental Degradation in Africa, with the greatest proportion of the impact on HHDICs, followed by MHDICs and then finally LHDICs. The results also revealed the validity of the EKC postulation only in the HHDICs, evidenced by the presence of an inverted U-shaped relationship between Environmental Degradation and Human Development. In The LHDICs and MHDICs on the other hand, U-shaped relationships between Environmental Degradation and Human Development were found, signalling the invalidity of the EKC. There was significant evidence for the support of the feedback hypothesis between Human Development and Environmental Degradation in HHDICs, MHDICs, LHDICs and all the 50 African countries at large. Based on the findings, Policymakers were given recommendations that took into consideration the uniqueness of the economic situations in HHDICs, MHDICs, LHDICs and Africa as a whole.&#x0D; Recommendations: The study shows that the degree of environmental degradation is proportional to the level of human development in Africa and indicates that the validity of the EKC postulation in the context of human development) is exclusive to only the HHDICs in Africa. This provides an incentive for policy makers in the MHDICs and LHDICs of Africa to make human development a priority through industrialisation and other profitable economic activities. This is likely to help them afford innovations and technological developments that protect the environment through the greater use of cleaner energy than the naturally abundant fossil fuel as well as the institutionalisation of policies that protect the environment as human development appreciates.