Mortality Patterns Research Articles

The biodemography of human aging (Gompertz-Makeham law) applied to surgical mortality modelling: a retrospective national cohort study.

The Gompertz-Makeham law describes a characteristic pattern of mortality in human populations where death rate is near constant between age 18 and 30 years (Makeham's Law) and rises exponentially thereafter (Gompertz Law). This pattern has not been described in surgical populations, but if true, would have important implications for understanding surgical risk and design and interpretation of surgical risk models. The aim of this study was to determine if the Gompertz-Makeham law applies to perioperative mortality risk and the conditions under which it may apply. We examined the relationship between age and 1-month postoperative all-cause mortality risk in a 10-year New Zealand administrative dataset comprising of 5,615,100 surgical procedures from 2007 to 2016. The dataset includes patient and surgical factors including procedures, American Society of Anesthesiologist's physical status score (ASA-PS), diagnoses and other relevant details. Semi-logarithmic graphs of mortality risk and age were plotted. Linear regression models were fitted, with regression line slope and Pearson's correlation coefficient calculated. The primary outcome occurred in 114,782 (2.0%) of 5,615,100 included participants. The Gompertz-Makeham law seems to apply to the national surgical population as a whole (slope = 0.0241, R2 = 0.971). The law applies in all subgroups studied including sex, ASA-PS, surgical acuity, surgical severity category, cancer status and ethnicity (slopes 0.0066 to 0.0307, R2 0.771 to 0.990). Important interactions were found between age, mortality risk and three high risk groups (cancer diagnosis, ASA-PS 4-5 and high surgical severity). The Gompertz-Makeham law seems to apply in a national cohort of surgical patients. The inflection point for increased 1-month risk is apparent at age 30 years. A strict exponential rise in mortality risk occurs thereafter. This finding improves our understanding of surgical risk and suggests a concept-driven approach to improve modelling of age and important interactions in future surgical risk models.

Spatial disparities in cause-specific mortality in Ukraine: A district-level analysis, 2006–19

Turbulent socio-economic development, recent political challenges, and remarkable regional diversity with deep historical roots make Ukraine an important case study for understanding mortality trends in Eastern Europe. In this paper, we provide the first comprehensive, spatially detailed analysis of cause-specific mortality trends and patterns in Ukraine, focusing on the period 2006–19. We rely on official mortality data and use various demographic and spatial analysis techniques. Our results suggest a notable attenuation of the long-standing West–East and West–South–East mortality gradients. Cardiovascular mortality at older ages largely explains the gap between the vanguard (lowest mortality) and laggard (highest mortality) areas, especially for females and in the most recent period. By contrast, the impact of mortality from external causes has greatly diminished over time. Hotspot analyses reveal strong and persistent clustering of mortality from suicide, HIV, and lung cancer. Further research should focus on in-depth assessment of the mechanisms causing the observed patterns.

Exploration of Geographical Environmental Factors Influencing Regional Population Mortality Patterns inChina.

The regional population mortality patterns in China exhibit substantial geographical distribution characteristics. This paper aims to explore the impact and mechanisms of geographical environmental factors on regional population mortality patterns. This study first utilized the data from China's Seventh Population Census to obtain mortality patterns for the 31 provincial-level administrative regions. Subsequently, a functional regression method was employed to explore the geographical environmental driving factors of regional mortality patterns. The study provides a detailed explanation of the mechanisms and marginal contributions of key geographical environmental factors at different age groups. (1) The impact of geographical environmental factors on mortality patterns shows distinct phased characteristics. Mortality patterns before the age of 40 years are hardly influenced by geographical environmental factors, with a noticeable impact beginning at ages 40-69 years and reaching the maximum influence after the age of 70 years. (2) In mortality patterns at ages 40-69 years, average altitude have the most substantial impact, followed by extreme low-temperature days and PM2.5 concentration. In mortality patterns at ages 70-94 years, high-temperature days have the greatest influence, followed by the impact of SO2 concentration. (3) In comparisons based on gender, socioeconomic factors, and geographical environmental factors, gender and urban-rural differences have the most significant impact on regional population mortality patterns, followed by the influence of other socioeconomic factors, with geographical environmental factors having a relatively smaller impact.

Evolving patterns of COVID-19 mortality in US counties: A longitudinal study of healthcare, socioeconomic, and vaccination associations.

The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the need for pandemic preparedness strategies to mitigate its impacts, particularly in the United States, which experienced multiple waves with varying policies, population response, and vaccination effects. This study explores the relationships between county-level factors and COVID-19 mortality outcomes in the U.S. from 2020 to 2023, focusing on disparities in healthcare access, vaccination coverage, and socioeconomic characteristics. We conduct multi-variable rolling regression analyses to reveal associations between various factors and COVID-19 mortality outcomes, defined as Case Fatality Rate (CFR) and Overall Mortality to Hospitalization Rate (OMHR), at the U.S. county level. Each analysis examines the association between mortality outcomes and one of the three hierarchical levels of the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), along with other factors such as access to hospital beds, vaccination coverage, and demographic characteristics. Our results reveal persistent and dynamic correlations between various factors and COVID-19 mortality measures. Access to hospital beds and higher vaccination coverage showed persistent protective effects, while higher Social Vulnerability Index was associated with worse outcomes persistently. Socioeconomic status and vulnerable household characteristics within the SVI consistently associated with elevated mortality. Poverty, lower education, unemployment, housing cost burden, single-parent households, and disability population showed significant associations with Case Fatality Rates during different stages of the pandemic. Vulnerable age groups demonstrated varying associations with mortality measures, with worse outcomes predominantly during the Original strain. Rural-Urban Continuum Code exhibited predominantly positive associations with CFR and OMHR, while it starts with a positive OMHR association during the Original strain. This study reveals longitudinal persistent and dynamic factors associated with two mortality rate measures throughout the pandemic, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. The findings emphasize the urgency of implementing targeted policies and interventions to address disparities in the fight against future pandemics and the pursuit of improved public health outcomes.

Huntington's Disease-Related Mortality Patterns: A Two-Decade Analysis of Mortality Trends in the United States, from 1999-2019.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, progressive neurodegenerative disorder debilitating mainly in adults. This study aimed to assess the trends in HD-related mortality regarding various demographic factors. Death certificates from the CDC WONDER were studied from 1999 to 2019, for HD-related mortality in adults aged 25 + years. Age-adjusted Mortality Rate (AAMR) per 100,000 persons and Annual Percentage Change (APC) were calculated and stratified by year, age groups, gender, race/ethnicity, state, census region, urbanization, and place of death. Between 1999 to 2019, 22,595 deaths occurred in adults due to HD. The AAMR increased from 0.43 to 0.54 during this period (APC = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.84). Old adults (65-85 + years) had the highest overall AAMR, followed by middle-aged adults (45-64 years) and young adults (25-44 years) (AAMR old: 1.01 vs. AAMR middle-age: 0.68 vs. AAMR young: 0.16). Men had slightly greater overall AAMRs than women (AAMR men: 0.54 vs. AAMR women: 0.48). When stratified by race, non-Hispanic (NH) Whites had significantly higher mortality rates than NH African Americans (AAMR NH White: 0.61 vs. NH African American: 0.35), while the AAMR were lowest in Hispanic/Latino (0.28). The AAMRs also showed variation by region (overall AAMR: Midwest: 0.63, Northeast: 0.47, West: 0.48, South: 0.46), and non-metropolitan areas had higher HD-related AAMR (0.66) than metropolitan areas (0.47). HD-related mortality in US adults has increased since 1999. Reflecting on the variations in trends observed, new strategies are required to optimize the quality of care in long-term care facilities.

The intersectional effects of sex and socioeconomic status on risk of mortality in industrializing England.

Intersectionality posits that multiple levels of marginalization interact to produce patterns of frailty and mortality, both today and in the past. To investigate how mortality during industrialization was selective with respect to sex and socioeconomic status (SES), this study analyzes data from four burial grounds dated to the 18th-19th centuries in England: St. Bride's Fleet Street, Coach Lane, St. Peter's Collegiate Church, and New Bunhill Fields. St. Bride's was considered the high SES group, and Coach Lane, St. Peter's, and New Bunhill Fields were separately and collectively analyzed as the low SES groups. Sex (in individuals aged 18+ years) was modeled as a covariate affecting the Gompertz model of mortality, and SES (in individuals for whom age could be estimated) was modeled as a covariate affecting the Siler and Gompertz models of mortality. The results indicate that sex influenced risk of mortality among adults in the high SES group. High SES males faced lower risks of death compared to high SES females. The results also suggest that SES influenced risk of mortality across all ages. High SES individuals were at reduced risks of death compared to low SES individuals. Increased mortality risks among individuals of low SES was likely due to the low standards of living common in the impoverished areas of cities in industrializing England. However, in accordance with intersectionality, the benefits of high status were unequally distributed among adults in the high SES group, suggesting that men were the primary beneficiaries of the protective aspects of high SES.

Cancer incidence and mortality in the Far Eastern Federal District (2013–2022)

The aim of the study was to assess the territorial patterns in cancer incidence and mortality among the population of the Far Eastern Federal District in the period 2013–2022. Material and Methods. Data from official reports of cancer services (form No 35, No. 7) processed using standard cancer statistics programs were presented. Results. In the east of the country, 31,822 new cancer cases were registered in 2022, which was 1.3 % more than in 2021. The average cancer incidence rate in males was 294.06 ± 5.05 per 100,000 (2020: 296.94 ± 4.66), with a decrease rate of 3.0 %. In females, the equivalent rate increased to 240.96 ± 5.73 per 100,000 (2020: 237.92 ± 6.26 per 100,000) with a rise of 6.3 %. Skin cancer was the most common malignancy (11.6 %) followed by trachea, bronchi, lung (11.5 %), breast (11.3 %) and colon (6.3 %) cancers. The percent of actively detected patients increased to 23.2 % (2013: 14.0 %) as did the index of accumulation of contingents – 7.3 (2013: 5.3). The number of patients with stage I–II cancer increased to 57.0 % (2013: 47.5 %), while the number of stage III-IV cancers decreased to 20.8 % (2013: 24.7 %). The number of morphologic studies (94.1 %) was lower than the average for RF (95.8 %). The proportion of patients registered for five or more years decreased to 57.2 % (RF: 58.2 %). The average cancer mortality rate in men was 174.99 ± 3.10 per 100,000 (2020: 181.76 ± 2.51 per 100,000). The average cancer mortality rate in women was lower than in men, being 91.34 ± 1.20 per 100,000 (2020: 93.71 ± 0.80о per 100,000). Cancers of trachea, bronchi and lung (20.0 %), stomach (8.9 %), colon (7.0 %) and breast (6.6 %) were the leading causes of mortality. Conclusion. The low level of active cancer detection did not significantly change the incidence rates during the study period. A greater volume of preventive measures with improvement of their quality will enable the primary health care system to detect cancer at early stages, form groups being at high risk for cancer development and, consequently, to reduce mortality rates. A prerequisite for improving medical care for cancer patients is the continuous training of professional staff and the use of modern diagnostic and treatment technologies.

Directionality theory and mortality patterns across the primate lineage

Empirical studies of aging in primates show that local selective forces rather than phylogenetic history determine the exceptional nature of human longevity (Bronikowski et al., Science 331:1325–1328, 2011). This article proposes an evolutionary rationale for this pattern of primate mortality by invoking the parameter, Life-Table Entropy, a measure of the uncertainty in the life span of a randomly chosen newborn. Life-table entropy is positively correlated with maximal life span, that is, the mean life span of a species living under favourable conditions.The logic which underlies the exceptional nature of human longevity derives from the terrestrial life-history of humans – a singularity within the primate lineage; and the concomitant ecological constraints—the hunter-gatherer, agricultural, and industrial modes of subsistence, that have defined human evolutionary history. The effect of these ecological constraints on the evolution of life span is encoded in the Entropic Principle of Longevity: life-table entropy increases in equilibrium species, populations evolving in environments with stable, renewable resources; and decreases in opportunistic species, populations subject to fluctuating resource endowments.The Entropic Principle of Longevity is a derivative of Directionality Theory, an analytic study of the evolutionary process of variation and selection based on Evolutionary Entropy, a statistical measure of the uncertainty in the age of the mother of a randomly chosen newborn. Evolutionary entropy is the organizing concept of The Entropic Principle of Evolution: Evolutionary Entropy increases in equilibrium species and decreases in opportunistic species.

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality in Europe and implications for screening activities: population based study

ObjectiveTo provide a baseline comparative assessment of the main epidemiological features of prostate cancer in European populations as background for the proposed EU screening initiatives.DesignPopulation based study.Setting26 European countries, 19...

Pathogen Prevalence in Cetaceans Stranded along the Italian Coastline between 2015 and 2020.

The monitoring of stranded marine mammals represents a strategic method to assess their health, conservation status, and ecological role in the marine ecosystem. Networks worldwide track stranding events for the passive monitoring of mortality patterns, emerging and reemerging pathogens, climate change, and environmental degradation from a One Health perspective. This study summarizes pathogen prevalence data from the Italian Stranding Network (ISN) derived from post-mortem investigations on cetaceans found dead stranded along the Italian coastline between 2015 and 2020. The decomposition of the carcasses and logistics limited the post-mortem examination to 585 individuals, out of 1236 single-stranding reports. The most relevant pathogens identified were Cetacean Morbillivirus, Herpesvirus, Brucella spp., and Toxoplasma gondii, whose roles as environmental stressors are well known, despite their real impact still needing to be investigated in depth. Statistical analysis showed that age and sex seem to be positively related to the presence of pathogens. This study represents the first step in harmonizing post-mortem investigations, which is crucial for evidence-based conservation efforts. Implementing diagnostic and forensic frameworks could offer an indirect insight into the systematic monitoring of diseases to improve the identification of regional and temporal hotspots in which to target specific mitigation, management, and conservation strategies.

COVID-19 increased existing gender mortality gaps in high-income more than middle-income countries

ObjectiveTo analyze how patterns of excess mortality varied by sex and age groups across countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with country income level. MethodsWe used World Health Organization excess mortality estimates by sex and age groups for 75 countries in 2020 and 62 countries in 2021, restricting the sample to estimates based on recorded all-cause mortality data. We examined patterns across countries using country-specific Poisson regressions with observations consisting of the number of excess deaths by groups defined by sex and age. FindingsMen die at higher rates in nearly all places and at all ages beyond age 45. In 2020, the pandemic amplified this gender mortality gap for the world, but with variation across countries and by country income level. In high-income countries, rates of excess mortality were much higher for men than women. In contrast, in middle-income countries, the sex ratio of excess mortality was similar to the sex ratio of expected all-cause mortality. The exacerbation of the sex ratio of excess mortality observed in 2020 in high-income countries, however, declined in 2021. ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has killed men at much higher rates than women, as has been well documented, but these gender differences have varied by country income. These differences were the result of some combination of variation in gender patterns of infection rates and infection fatality rates across countries. The gender gap in mortality declined in high-income countries in 2021, likely as a result of the faster rollout of vaccination against COVID-19.

Glycemic status and effect on mortality: Multifactorial prevention programme for cardiovascular disease in Finnish primary care

AimsTo compare 13-year mortality rates in normoglycemic, prediabetic and diabetic subjects attending a community-based screening and intervention programme. MethodsPopulation survey identified 2569 cardiovascular disease (CVD) white risk subjects aged 45–70 years and without manifested CVD or diabetes. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed, and multifactorial intervention was provided. Effect of glycemic status on mortality was estimated in models adjusted for age, gender, education years, smoking, body mass index, mean arterial pressure, total cholesterol, and physical activity. ResultsOf the subjects, 2055 (77 %) were normoglycemic, 380 (14 %) had prediabetes and 224 (9 %) diabetes. Compared to the normoglycemic group, the fully adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality were 1.34 (95 % CI: 0.98–1.83) in the prediabetes group and 2.31 (95 % CI: 1.62–3.31) in the diabetes group. Standardized mortality rates were 0.63 (95 % CI: 0.54–0.73), 0.91 (95 % CI: 0.69–1.18), and 1.55 (95 % CI: 1.19–2.02) in the normoglycemic, prediabetes, and diabetes groups, respectively. The most common cause of death was cancer (42 % of all deaths), followed by CVD (28 %). Conclusions/interpretationScreen-detected diabetes carries a substantial risk of death even after primary care intervention. The pattern of excess mortality has shifted towards cancer deaths.

Pattern Of Admission And Outcome Among Neonates Admitted Into The Special Care Baby Unit Of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

Introduction: The neonatal disease pattern is a sensitive indicator of the availability, utilisation and effectiveness of mother and child health services in the community. Community based data are difficult to come by, so hospital based data most often is use to assess the burden of neonatal problems. Aim: To determine the pattern of morbidity, mortality and outcome of neonates admitted into the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto from 1 st January 2022 to 31st December 2022. Methods: A hospital-based retrospective review of medical records of neonates admitted into the SCBU of UDUTH, Sokoto from 1 st January, 2022 to 31st December, 2022. Information retrieved included the biodata, place of birth, age at admission, diagnosis, duration of hospital stay and outcome. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22. Results: A total of 818 neonates were admitted during the study period, 393(48.0%) were males and 425(52.0%) were females giving a male to female ratio of 1:1.1. Most 606(74.1%) of the patients were out born. Birth Asphyxia 245(30.0%) was the main reason for admission, followed by prematurity 182(22.3%). Majority 653(79.2%) were discharged, 16(2.0%) left against medical advice, while 149(18.2%) of the admitted patients died. Prematurity related death 61(40.9%) and birth Asphyxia were the leading causes of death respectively. Majority 107(71.8%) of the deaths occur among the out-born. Conclusion: Birth asphyxia and prematurity related complications were the main reasons for neonatal admissions and the leading causes of death in this study. Most of the neonatal deaths were from preventable causes. Strengthening perinatal care, emergency obstetric services, facilities for improved preterm care should be provided in secondary and tertiary health facilities and improving the skills of health care providers on neonatal resuscitation are necessary to reduce neonatal mortality

Analysing space-time patterns of maternal mortality attributed to anaemia in Karnataka, India: a spatial epidemiological study

BackgroundMaternal health is a globally important health challenge and is the key indicator of healthcare services in any given region. One of the main objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 3.1...

A humanized ACE2 mouse model recapitulating age- and sex-dependent immunopathogenesis of COVID-19.

In the ongoing battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), understanding its pathogenesis and developing effective treatments remain critical challenges. The creation of animal models that closely replicate human infection stands as a critical step forward in this research. Here, we present a genetically engineered mouse model with specifically-humanized knock-in ACE2 (hiACE2) receptors. This model, featuring nine specific amino acid substitutions for enhanced interaction with the viral spike protein, enables efficient severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 replication in respiratory organs without detectable infection in the central nervous system. Moreover, it mirrors the age- and sex-specific patterns of morbidity and mortality, as well as the immunopathological features observed in human COVID-19 cases. Our findings further demonstrate that the depletion of eosinophils significantly reduces morbidity and mortality, depending on the infecting viral dose and the sex of the host. This reduction is potentially achieved by decreasing the pathogenic contribution of eosinophil-mediated inflammation, which is strongly correlated with neutrophil activity in human patients. This underscores the model's utility in studying the immunopathological aspects of COVID-19 and represents a significant advancement in COVID-19 modeling. It offers a valuable tool for testing vaccines and therapeutics, enhancing our understanding of the disease mechanisms and potentially guiding more targeted and effective treatments.

Investigating sex, race, and geographic disparities in bronchus and lung cancer mortality in the United States: a comprehensive longitudinal study (1999-2020) utilizing CDC WONDER data.

Lung and bronchus cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Understanding the patterns of mortality is an absolute requirement. This study analyzed Lung and Bronchus cancer-associated mortality rates from 1999 to 2020 using death certificate data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging OnLine Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs), per 100000 people, and annual percentage change (APCs) were also calculated. 3599577 lung and bronchus cancer-related deaths occurred in patients aged younger than 1-85+ years between 1999 and 2020. Overall AAMRs declined from 59.1 in 1999 to 58.9 in 2001 (APC: -0.1364) then to 55.9 in 2005 (APC: -1.4388*) 50.5 by 2010 (APC: -2.0574*) 44.7 by 2014 (APC: -2.9497*) and 35.1 by 2020 (APC: -4.1040*). Men had higher AAMRs than women (overall AAMR men: 61.7 vs. women: 38.3). AAMRs were highest among non-Hispanic (NH) Black or African American (52.7) patients followed by NH White (51.8), NH American Indian or Alaska Native (38.6), NH Asian or Pacific Islander (24.7) and Hispanic or Latino race (20.2). AAMRs varied in region (overall AAMR; South: 52.4; Midwest: 52.3; Northeast: 46.3; West: 39.1). Non-metropolitan areas had a higher AAMR (55.9) as compared to metropolitan areas (46.7). The top 90th percentile states of Lung and Bronchus cancer AAMR were Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and West Virginia. An overall decreasing trend in AAMRs for lung and bronchus cancer was seen. Public health measures to regulate risk factors and precipitating events are needed.

Demographical and Regional Trends of HIV-Related Mortality Among Young Adults in the United States From 1999-2020.

BackgroundHIV remains a leading cause of death in the U.S. Previous research has examined mortality patterns among older adults with HIV, revealing regional and demographic disparities. This study aims to assess demographic and regional trends in HIV-related mortality among young adults from 1999 to 2020. MethodologyCDC WONDER database was used to identify young adults aged 15-44 where HIV was mentioned as either underlying or contributory cause of mortality between 1999 and 2020, using the B20-B24 codes from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-10th Revision (ICD-10). Age adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100,000 population and Annual percentage change (APC) were determined. ResultsThe AAMRs for HIV in young adults consistently declined from 1999-2018, followed by a period of stability from 2018-2020 (APC: 0.5%; 95% CI, -7.4 to 9.0), with 64% deaths occurred in medical facilities. Overall, males had a twice AAMR than females (Female: 2.22, 95% CI 2.19-2.24; Male: 5.19, 95% CI 5.15-5.23). Non-Hispanic (NH) Blacks had seven-fold higher mortality rates than Whites (AAMR 14.88 vs. 2.036). The Southern region experienced three-fold higher mortality compared to the Midwest. Metropolitan adults had a two-fold higher AAMR than non-metropolitan adults. States in the top 90th percentile for HIV-related mortality, including Mississippi, Maryland, Florida, Louisiana, and the District of Columbia, exhibited six times higher mortality compared to states in the bottom 10th percentile, such as North Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah. ConclusionTo address these disparities and ensure continued progress, urgent measures are required.

Fuzzy Bayesian inference for under-five mortality data

Under-five mortality remains a significant global health challenge, with millions of children dying before their fifth birthday each year. This study explores the application of fuzzy Bayesian inference for under-five mortality data using Tanzania as a case study. Fuzzy Bayesian inference has emerged as a promising technique that combines the flexibility of fuzzy set theory with the probabilistic framework of Bayesian inference. The study employs fuzzy sets and membership functions to represent the linguistic terms and their degrees of membership, along with the Poisson distribution to model the mortality rate. The results demonstrate the potential of fuzzy Bayesian inference for analyzing under-five mortality rates. This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of the complex mortality patterns.

COMPARATIVE LABORATORY ACTIVITY AND SEMI-FIELD EFFICACY OF OMNIPRENE® G AND ALTOSID® PELLETS AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI.

Mosquito larval control by biorational larvicides plays a crucial role in mosquito and mosquito-borne disease management. However, the availability of larvicides that meet the criteria of efficacy, safety, and quality is limited and conventional pesticides are no longer preferred for larval control. Although efforts are made to research new active ingredients (AIs), it is equally important to innovate new formulations based on currently available AIs such as microbial agents and insect growth regulators. Studies were therefore conducted to compare the laboratory activity and semi-field efficacy of OmniPrene® G and Altosid® Pellets with DR-tech, both containing 4.25% S-methoprene, at 2.8 kg/ha and 11.2 kg/ha against the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.) in outdoor microcosms. Both products performed equally in bioassays against the test species with comparable inhibition of emergence activities. In the semi-field study, the lower dose of Altosid Pellets at 2.8 kg/ha, showed lower efficacy than OmniPrene G during the initial 6 weeks; this difference became negligible on week 7, followed by higher efficacy in Altosid Pellets on weeks 8 and 9. More uniform efficacy was observed at the higher dose of 11.2 kg/ha. Equal performance was revealed during weeks 2 to 6, with the OmniPrene G outperforming the Altosid Pellets in week 1, but the opposite during weeks 7 to 9. Mortality patterns were similar in both products, i.e., majority of mortality occurred before emergence, although more incomplete emergence was noted in lower doses, particularly in Altosid Pellets. Overall, newly available OmniPrene G provided comparable activity and efficacy with Altosid Pellets against the test species, with the advantages of fast initial AI release and even coverage, particularly when applied at low doses.

A study of neonatal morbidity and mortality patterns in very low birth weight neonates admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit at Al-Ameen Medical College and Hospital, Vijayapura

Background: Meticulous documentation of morbidity and mortality is essential for elucidating health patterns. The perinatal and neonatal periods, though brief, are pivotal in revealing the health and socio-biological conditions of vulnerable populations. This study seeks to analyze complex morbidity and mortality trends among neonates in a tertiary NICU. Methods: All VLBW neonates admitted to our NICU from April 2023 to March 2024 were analyzed. We gathered comprehensive maternal data, including age, socioeconomic status, and health risk factors. Excluding congenital anomalies, the study assessed demographic profiles, short-term morbidity, and outcomes. Results: In our NICU, 280 very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates were admitted, with 155 males (55.3%) and 125 females (44.7%). The mean birth weight was 1.240±0.110 kg for males and 1.270±0.105 kg for females. Among these, 170 (60.7%) were small for gestational age (SGA), 60 (21.4%) appropriate for gestational age (AGA), and 50 (17.9%) intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR). The gestational age distribution was: less than 28 weeks, 17 (6%); 28-32 weeks, 155 (55.3%); 32-34 weeks, 47 (16.9%); and 34-36 weeks, 61 (21.8%). Of the 280 neonates, 208 (74.2%) survived, while 72 (25.8%) did not. The leading causes of mortality were sepsis, with 39 deaths (54.2%), and respiratory distress syndrome, with 27 deaths (37.6%). Conclusions: Birth asphyxia, prematurity, jaundice, neonatal sepsis, and respiratory issues significantly contribute to neonatal mortality and morbidity. To mitigate these, it is vital to enhance prenatal care, ensure skilled birth attendance, expand NICU facilities, implement routine screenings, enforce stringent infection control and educate parents.