Population Status Research Articles

Burden of Non-Communicable Disease and It’s Association with Weight Status: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Community of Bangladesh

Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are now the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Bangladesh has also experienced a rapid epidemiological shift from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases due to growing urbanization and lifestyle alteration over the last few decades and this transition is also prominent in rural community of the country. Among all modifiable factors, overweight or obesity is the key risk factor for NCDs. This study aimed to determine the burden of NCD and its link to the body weight status of the rural population of Bangladesh. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a village of Gomostapur Upazila under Chapainawabganj district from February to April 2024 among 135 people. The data were collected with face-to-face interview and Body Mass Index was measured. The data were compiled and tabulated according to key variables and analyzed with IBM SPSS 29.0.2. Results: Majority 44.5% of the study people belonged to age group 21-40 years. Among them 47.4% were male and 52.6% were female. Maximum respondents were of low-middle socioeconomic condition. Among them around 3/4th of the population was suffering from NCDs. Most of the respondents 24.4% had bone and joint pain followed by Hypertension, Asthma, COPD, Diabetes and Heart Disease at 20.7%, 17.0%, 14.1% and 10.4% respectively. Hypertension, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke and Cancers were more prevalent in the older age group. Hypertension, Diabetes, Stroke and Bone-Joint Pain were seen more in female participants whereas male respondents had more prevalence of Asthma, COPD. Most of the study population had BMI above 25 kg/m2 and the study showed maximum NCDs were prevalent considerably in overweight and obese groups. Conclusion: The study revealed that, NCDs are highly prevalent among obese older rural population of Bangladesh while management, prevention, awareness and research are low. The integrated programs must be designed and implemented through a primary health care approach and high risk-group targeted interventions should be procurable to combat the rising burden of NCDs. IAHS Medical Journal Vol 7(1), June 2024; 74-79

Prediction of bone mineral density based on computer tomography images using deep learning model.

Introduction The problem of population aging is intensifying worldwide. Osteoporosis has become an important cause affecting the health status of older populations. However, the diagnosis of osteoporosis and people's understanding of it are seriously insufficient. We aim to develop a deep learning model to automatically measure bone mineral density (BMD) and improve the diagnostic rate of osteoporosis. Methods The images of 801 subjects with 2080 vertebral bodies who underwent abdominal paired computer tomography (CT) and quantitative computer tomography (QCT) scanning was retrived from June 2020 to January 2022. The BMD of T11-L4 vertebral bodies was measured by QCT. Developing a multi-stage deep learning-based model to simulate the segmentation of the vertebral body and predict BMD. The subjects were randomly divided into training dataset, validation dataset and test dataset. Analyze the fitting effect between the BMD measured by the model and the standard BMD by QCT. Accuracy, precision, recall and f1- score were used to analyze the diagnostic performance according to categorization criterion measured by QCT. Results 410 males (51.2%) and 391 females (48.8%) were included in this study. Among them, there were 154 (19.2%) males and 118 (14.7%) females aged 23-44; 182 (22.7%) males and 205 (25.6%) females aged 45-64; 74 (9.2%) males and 68 (8.5%) females aged 65-84. The number of vertebral bodies in the training dataset, the validation dataset, and the test dataset was 1433, 243, 404, respectively. In each dataset, the BMD of males and females decreases with age. There was a significant correlation between the BMD measured by the model and QCT, with the coefficient of determination (r2) 0.95-0.97. The diagnostic accuracy based on the model in the three datasets was 0.88, 0.91, and 0.91, respectively. Conclusion The proposed multi-stage deep learning-based model can achieve automatic measurement of vertebral BMD and performed well in the prediction of osteoporosis.

Global trends in importance of 24-hour movement behaviors to pediatric health: Implications for South Korea.

Cultivating a 24-hour movement behavioral profile conducive to health and well-being, marked by adequate levels of physical activity, limited screen time, and sufficient sleep, has emerged as an important avenue for promoting pediatric health. We aimed to provide evidence of this potential, this multiphase, multimethod, and integrative review comprehensively investigated the global trends in health promotion initiatives and status of the Korean pediatric population. This integrative review comprised three phases employing various review methods: an environmental scan of existing guidelines for 24-hour movement behaviors worldwide, a rapid review of physical activity-related indicators from Global Matrix data, and a systematic review of 24-hour movement behaviors among children and adolescents in South Korea. The growing recognition of a holistic approach to the 24-hour movement behavior paradigm in pediatric health promotion has led to the establishment and adoption of 24-hour movement guidelines in different countries and by the World Health Organization (WHO). Korean health authorities have also responded to this need by releasing a translated report of the WHO guidelines for physical activity and sedentary behavior as well as the 2024 update of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Koreans. Accordingly, actions must be followed in policy, research, and practice. This is critical considering that Korean children and adolescents exhibit an unfavorable profile of 24-hour movement behaviors compared to the global average. Among those aged 0-6 years, the weighted averages for guideline adherence were 18.2% for physical activity, 38.1% for sedentary behavior, and 76.2% for sleep. For those aged 12-18 years, the weighted averages for guideline adherence were 20.4% for physical activity, 55.9% for sedentary behavior, and 26.2% for sleep. Building on these current findings, this integrative review provides three priorities for pediatric health promotion policy and practice and three recommendations for future research.

Rediscovery of a population of the plains spotted skunk, Spilogale interrupta, a species of conservation concern, from southern Texas, USA

Abstract The Plains Spotted Skunk (Spilogale interrupta) historically occurred across parts of the eastern and midwestern United States west of the Mississippi River. Following perceived population declines across much of its range, efforts to assess populations of this species have increased. Here, we report novel records of S. interrupta from this area of south Texas for the first time since 1961. This rediscovery demonstrates the persistence of this species in an underreported portion of its range. This information is useful for better understanding the distribution and population status of S. interrupta in Texas and broadly throughout North America and is crucial for future applied conservation policy efforts.

Length‐Based Assessment of Hovsgol Grayling (Thymallus nigrescens), Lenok (Brachymystax lenok), and Burbot (Lota lota) Population Status in Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia

ABSTRACTDespite the global importance of inland fisheries, data available for stock assessment is often limited. Data‐limited methods that use length composition data offer a potential approach to assessing more inland fisheries. We assessed the population status of three fish species in Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia through length‐based spawning potential ratio (LBSPR) analysis and evaluation of trends in eight length‐based indicators of population status, catch‐per‐unit‐effort (CPUE), and body size. Hovsgol grayling (Thymallus nigrescens) were not yet overfished, but CPUE and body size declined due to targeting of large, mature fish. Lenok (Brachymystax lenok) were experiencing overfishing, especially of small, immature fish, which contributed to size–structure truncation. The burbot (Lota lota) population was healthy according to most indicators, but the lack of local life history information exacerbated already large uncertainties. Continued monitoring and improved coordination among fishers, managers, and scientists will be critical to enhancing the sustainability of these fisheries.

Ecological Aspects of Distribution and Population Status Assessment of Rhamnus erythroxyloides subsp. sintenisii (Rich.f) Mabb., a Relict Species in the Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan

Rhamnus erythroxyloides subsp. sintenisii (Rech.f.) Mabb. is a relict species occurring on the remnant mountains of Kyzylkum (in Uzbekistan). Up until recently, its population status and exact distribution remained unassessed. The ecological distribution and population status of four populations of Rh. erythroxyloides subsp. sintenisii were studied. The study of its morpho-anatomical structure revealed that the studied taxon’s vegetative and generative organs demonstrate clear adaptive features to arid climate. We observed an absence of the young fraction (seedlings and juvenile plants) in the populations, which is related to irregularity of seed renewal. Furthermore, population fragmentation due to a high degree of soil salinity and the presence of organic matter has been noticed at the present stage. According to the combination of threatening factors, the current state of the population of Rh. erythroxyloides subsp. sintenisii in Uzbekistan has been estimated as disappearing (EN)—B2ab (ii, iii, iv) + C1 + E.

Sex Differences in the Neuroendocrine Stress Response: A View from a CRH-Reporting Mouse Line

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons within the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) play a crucial role in initiating the neuroendocrine response to stress and are also pivotal in coordination of autonomic, metabolic, and behavioral stress reactions. Although the role of parvocellular CRHPVH neurons in activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is well established, the distribution and function of CRH-expressing neurons across the whole central nervous system are less understood. Stress responses activate complex neural networks, which differ depending on the type of stressor and on the sex of the individual. Because of the technical difficulties of localizing CRH neurons throughout the rodent brain, several CRH reporter mouse lines have recently been developed. In this study, we used Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai9 reporter mice to examine whether CRH neurons are recruited in a stressor- or sex-specific manner, both within and outside the hypothalamus. In contrast to the clear sexual dimorphism of CRH-mRNA-expressing neurons, quantification of CRH-reporting, tdTomato-positive neurons in different stress-related brain areas revealed only subtle differences between male and female subjects. These results strongly imply that sex differences in CRH mRNA expression occur later in development under the influence of sex steroids and reflects the limitations of using genetic reporter constructs to reveal the current physiological/transcriptional status of a specific neuron population. Next, we compared the recruitment of stress-related, tdTomato-expressing (putative CRH) neurons in male and female Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai9 reporter mice that had been exposed to predator odor. In male mice, fox odor triggered more c-Fos in the CRH neurons of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, central amygdala, and anterolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis compared to females. These results indicate that male mice are more sensitive to predator exposure due to a combination of hormonal, environmental, and behavioral factors.

The Adolescent Mental Health Consequences of Social Media Usage

This paper looks into the impact of social media on an individual’s mental health status in the adolescent population. The scope of the study includes both addiction and recovery, addressing risks such as anxiety, depression, and distorted self-perception associated with the continuous use of social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc. Besides recognizing the detrimental impacts of bullying, body image comparison, and excessive use of screens, the paper also underlines some advantages of social media, such as connecting people and access to assistance. In the present research, numerical indicators and empirical observations are used, i.e. the nvestigation is conducted on the basis of the mixed research method. It reveals variations in social media effects amongst adolescents based on the moderating variables of individual characteristics and situational context. The paper ends with solutions to alleviate the negative effects, such as digital literacy education, parental guidance, and mental health strategies while fostering the healthy usage of social media regarding mental health. These findings suggest the need for a longitudinal study in order to assess the changes over time in this somewhat new aspect.

Logistic Regression Model on Nutritional Status Based on Body Mass Index (BMI) in Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) in Indonesia

The aggregate analysis of Riskesdas data in Indonesia revealed that nearly all provinces face a serious double burden of malnutrition. Both undernutrition and overnutrition negatively affect the quality of human resources, especially when they occur in adolescent girls, Women of Reproductive Age (WRA), and pregnant and breastfeeding women, as this can lead to intergenerational nutritional problems. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a nutritional status measurement technique recommended by WHO. Nutritional problems occur when BMI is abnormal or not ideal, categorized as underweight (<18.5 kg/m²), pre-obesity (25-29.9 kg/m²), obesity class I (30-34.9 kg/m²), obesity class II (35-39.9 kg/m²), and obesity class III (>40 kg/m²). Data from laboratory results completed up to 2017, based on selected samples from the 2013 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas), were used to assess the nutritional status of the Indonesian population. This study used 9,418 respondent data samples from 33 provinces in Indonesia. Logistic regression analysis was applied because the response variable in this study is binary, representing ideal BMI (1) and non-ideal BMI (0). The independent variables used in this study include Hemoglobin level, Ferritin level, CRP level, age group, physical activity, living location, marital status, education, and risky food consumption patterns. All independent variables are categorical. The study found that the factors influencing nutritional status based on BMI in WRA are Hemoglobin level, Ferritin level, CRP level, age, and location. The resulting logit model is logit (π)=0.27695-0.1491 (Non-anemic Hemoglobin level)-0.1721 (Normal Ferritin level)+0.741 (Non-infectious CRP level)-0.2933 (Adult age group)-0.0976 (rural location). logit (π)=0.27695-0.1491 (Non-anemic Hemoglobin level)-0.1721 (Normal Ferritin level)+0.741 (Non-infectious CRP level)-0.2933 (Adult age group)-0.0976 (rural location). The largest odds ratio The largest odds ratio was produced by the CRP level variable, indicating that CRP level is the most influential factor affecting nutritional status based on BMI in WRA, where non infectious CRP compared to infectious CRP increases the likelihood of WRA having an ideal BMI.

Associations between various anthropometric indices and hypertension and hyperlipidaemia: a cross-sectional study in China

BackgroundThis study aims to explore the association and determine the distinguished potential of anthropometric adiposity indices in screening for hypertension and hyperlipidaemia in the Chinese population.MethodsA recent nationwide cross-sectional study, called the Thyroid Disorders, Iodine State, and Diabetes Epidemiological Survey (TIDE 2015–2017), provided the newest data on the relationships between anthropometric adiposity indices and hypertension and hyperlipidaemia and included 65,231 subjects. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess the feasibility of using these indices to distinguish hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. After age stratification, a restricted cubic spline (RCS) fitted for generalized linear regression was used to visualize the relationships of the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), the body roundness index (BRI), and the “a body shape index” (ABSI) with hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.ResultsThe results showed that there were significant differences in the BMI, WC, the WHtR, the BRI, and the ABSI among the different age groups (P < 0.0001). After adjusting for sex, age, education, income, smoking status, urban or rural residence, and ethnicity in model, The WHtR and BRI had greater discriminatory power in identifying hypertension (AUC = 0.665, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.660–0.671 for both), hypercholesterolaemia (AUC = 0.629, 95% CI 0.624–0.634 for both), and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; AUC = 0.659, 95% CI 0.653–0.664 for both) status in the overall population. When distinguishing hypertriglyceridaemia among the general population, the BMI (AUC = 0.711, 95% CI 0.706–0.716) and WC (AUC = 0.715, 95% CI 0.710–0.720) had greater discriminatory ability than the other anthropometric indices did. The BMI (AUC = 0.631, 95% CI 0.625–0.637) had the highest power for low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) status in the general population.ConclusionsSeveral anthropometric indices show significant correlation with hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. The WHtR and BRI were better in distinguishing hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and high LDL-C status, while the BMI was better in hypertriglyceridaemia and low HDL-C status. The use of combined indices, such as the BMI, WC, the WHtR and the BRI, can be included in an individual’s medical history and can be used as tools for cardiovascular health screening, which may yield superior results for public health.

Population status and habitat suitability of the vulnerable common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in the Dhidhessa Wildlife Sanctuary, Southwestern Ethiopia

Common hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibious) are among the top five herbivorous animals in Africa. Despite being listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, they are a common mammal in Ethiopia's protected areas, lakes, rivers, and marshes. However, there is insufficient data to evaluate status of the population and habitat compatibility across the most of the country. The aim of this research was to ascertain the population size of hippos and the suitability of its habitat in the Dhidhessa Wildlife Sanctuary (DWS) in southwest Ethiopia. The study was conducted between 2021 and 2022. To estimate the population size, the total count procedures were employed. The adaptability of each habitat for hippos was determined using the multi-ring buffer analysis in Arc GIS 10.2. A total of 231 and 133 hippos were observed during both the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Of the surveyed individuals, 62.08 % were adults, 20.88 % were under-adults, and 17 % were young. More hippos (45.1%) were observed in the savanna grassland during the rainy season. Subsequently, the hippos (50.6%) relocated to the riverine forest in the dry season. Thus, the habitats in DWS and their environs were determined to range from most suitable to unsuitable for hippos. The results showed that 58.31% of the regions were unsuitable, 18.49% were moderately suitable, and 23.18 % were highly suitable for hippos grazing. 7.95% of the research area slope was suitable, 26.32 % moderate and 65.72% not suitable and 19.8% was considered most suitable for human interference, 46.3% was severely disturbed, and 33.9% was moderately affected. Based on the current investigation, it has been determined that human interference in hippos’ habitats is significant. In order to protect the hippos’ habitats from excessive human activities and their impacts, a buffer should be created around the DWS area.

Parasite scars: the impact of salmon lice injury on sea trout populations.

Spillback effects of the parasitic salmon louse from fish farms to wild fish are a critical environmental concern for countries with wild salmon. The ectoparasitic louse causes significant physical and physiological damage to wild salmonids that probably have long-term impacts on individuals and population dynamics. However, empirical links between injuries and abundance of lice have not been established in the wild. This study establishes a strong association between dorsal fin injuries in wild sea trout (Salmo trutta) and infestation with salmon lice at a marine site in Norway. We further assessed the prevalence of such injuries on sea trout returning to spawning grounds from snorkelling observations in 16 rivers in Hardangerfjord, western Norway, from 2007 to 2021. The prevalence of injuries decreased with distance from the fjord outlet, from approximately 70% in middle and outer parts to approximately 10% in the inner parts. Additionally, a negative correlation was found between sea trout population size and the proportion of the population with dorsal fin damage. The results demonstrate that salmon lice inflict high levels of injury on significant portions of sea trout populations in areas with intensive fish farming, leading to poorer population status in affected populations.

Functional Status and Comorbidities in Older Patient Attending Outpatient in a Tertiary Care Hospital: An Observational Study

Introduction: With the increasing geriatric population, the demand of the geriatric care has been increasing worldwide. Numerous comorbidities like hypertension, COPD, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, are seen commonly in the older population of Nepal, affecting their quality of life. Assessing functional status of individual using Basic Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Life scoring is beneficial in predicting the mortality and morbidity among the group. This study hence focuses on determining the comorbidities and functional status of older population. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2024 to May 2024 in tertiary care hospital at Kathmandu among population of age group above 60 years, after taking ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 19012024/04). A total of 423 individuals were taken for the study. Data collection for socio-demographic information, comorbidities, functional assessment via Katz and Lawton scale was done and analysed using IBM SPSS. Results: Among the total 423 participants visiting the outpatient department, 188 (44.44%) were males and 235 (55.56%) were females. Basic Activity of Daily Living using Katz scoring, suggested that 377 (89.13%; 95% CI: 85.76%-91.93%)) were independent. Using Lawton scoring for the assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, it was seen that 170 (40.19%; 95% CI: 35.48%-45.03%) were independent. There were 184 (43.50%) individual with comorbidities. Conclusions: Most of the patients were independent in Basic Activities of Daily Living as per Katz Index of independence and almost half were independent in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living as per Lawton-Brody scale.

Threat assessment for Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) in the Salish Sea

Like many forage fish species, Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) play a key role in nearshore marine ecosystems as an important prey source for a diverse array of predators in the northeastern Pacific. However, the primary threats to Pacific sand lance and their habitat are poorly defined due to a lack of systematic data. Crucial information needed to assess their population status is also lacking including basic knowledge of their local and regional abundance and distribution. Sand lance are currently listed as ‘not evaluated’ under the IUCN red list and they have not been assessed by US and Canadian agencies. This hampers management and policy efforts focused on their conservation. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a three-part, structured expert elicitation to assess the vulnerability of Salish Sea sand lance populations. Experts were asked to list and rank key threats to Salish Sea sand lance and/or their habitat, to further quantify the vulnerability of sand lance to identified threats using a vulnerability matrix, and to predict the population trajectory in 25 years from today. Impacts associated with climate change (e.g. sea level rise, sea temperature rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather) consistently ranked high as threats of concern in the ranking exercise and quantified vulnerability scores. Nearly every expert predicted the population will have declined from current levels in 25 years. These results suggest sand lance face numerous threats and may be in decline under current conditions. This research provides vital information about which threats pose the greatest risk to the long-term health of sand lance populations and their habitat. Managers can use this information to prioritize which threats to address. Future research to reliably quantify population size, better understand the roles of natural and anthropogenic impacts, and to identify the most cost-effective actions to mitigate multiple threats, is recommended.

ASARA-A technology-driven maternal and child healthcare model of Araku

Tribal populations form 8.6% of total India’s population. The health indicators of tribal populations lag behind their non-tribal counterparts. Limited access to healthcare services, poor transportation facilities, increased out-of-pocket expenditures for health, distinct cultural practices and remote settlement among many others contribute to the poor health status of the tribal populations. However, to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030, it is extremely important to address the healthcare needs of the tribal population. The current paper is the first part of the model of care working paper series that discusses the components of the ASARA project to highlight the impacts of the decade long efforts towards improving maternal and child care in the region.

Diachronic Height Changes in Europe From the Mesolithic to the Present: Exploring Possible Causes and Regional Specificities.

A meta-analysis of diachronic changes in average height across Europe from the Mesolithic to the present, based on a broad range of literature sources. The analysis of chronological height variability was based on skeletal remains (from the Mesolithic to the 19th century), from which height was reconstructed, and on data from living individuals measured from the late 19th to the early 21st century. In total, data from 73 skeletal series and 342 groups of modern populations, primarily from Eastern Europe, were analyzed. A regression analysis was performed using R to describe the patterns of variability. The findings indicate that height decreases during the Neolithic and remains relatively stable until the Medieval period. A decline in average height is observed during the High Medieval period. The Early Modern period marks a transition to the 20th century, during which there is a consistent increase in average height, most pronounced until the 1980s, after which the rate of increase slows slightly into the early 21st century. Temporal height variability in the European part of Russia shows regional differences. The results suggest a wave-like pattern of trans-epochal changes in the somatic status of populations over an extended period, likely driven by various socioeconomic factors that dominated in different historical periods: the transition to agriculture, urbanization, political systems, industrial revolutions, and significant improvements in quality of life. Diachronic changes in height exhibit regional specificities, reflected in the variability of rates and magnitudes of secular gains across different regions and time periods.

Inferring diagnoses from prescription data: a machine-learning approach

Abstract Estimating disease prevalence is a fundamental while challenging public-health goal: in the absence of solid diagnostic data, it typically requires expensive and time intensive studies. Analyzing existing medical records is an alternative, complementary approach. In particular, prescription records offer a glimpse into the health status of populations, prescribing patterns, and operational dynamics. We asked whether these could be used to infer diagnostics and, therefore, estimate disease prevalence. We used the Portuguese electronic medical prescriptions dataset (ADD NUMBERS) and trained a machine learning model that captures the probability that specific drugs are prescribed for the same or related medical conditions. We 1) constructed a manually-curated dataset of diseases and associated medications; 2) used this dataset to train embeddings models; 3) tested these models against human-classified data; 4) used the trained/tested model to uncover comorbidities associated with a) antibiotic prescription (to validate the model), and b) the impact of COVID-19 in prescription patterns of chronic-diseases. The model was able to accurately identify drugs used for targeting ten specific diseases, with few false positives and false negatives. Our analysis showed that the COVID-19 pandemic had almost no effect on the number of prescriptions for some chronic diseases (such as diabetes and depression), but, importantly, had a strong impact on the number of new diagnoses, with new users of diabetes medication in 2019 dropping by more than 16.8% in 2020. Medical prescriptions offer a promising tool to quickly assess disease prevalence, underdiagnosis, and allow a broad overview of the medical status of the population, especially in the face of health emergencies that strongly pressure the medical system. Key messages • We propose a new approach to infer diagnostics from prescription data with several promising applications. • We propose a new approach to infer diagnostics from prescription data with several promising applications.

Ageing leads to selective type II myofibre deterioration and denervation independent of reinnervative capacity in human skeletal muscle.

Age-related loss of muscle mass and function is underpinned by changes at the myocellular level. However, our understanding of the aged muscle phenotype might be confounded by factors secondary to ageing per se, such as inactivity and adiposity. Here, using healthy, lean, recreationally active, older men, we investigated the impact of ageing on myocellular properties in skeletal muscle. Muscle biopsies were obtained from young men (22±3years, n=10) and older men (69±3years, n=11) matched for health status, activity level and body mass index. Immunofluorescence was used to assess myofibre composition, morphology (size and shape), capillarization, the content of satellite cells and myonuclei, the spatial relationship between satellite cells and capillaries, denervation and myofibre grouping. Compared with young muscle, aged muscle contained 53% more type I myofibres, in addition to smaller (-32%) and misshapen (3%) type II myofibres (P<0.05). Aged muscle manifested fewer capillaries (-29%) and satellite cells (-38%) surrounding type II myofibres (P<0.05); however, the spatial relationship between these two remained intact. The proportion of denervated myofibres was ∼2.6-fold higher in old than young muscle (P<0.05). Aged muscle had more grouped type I myofibres (∼18-fold), primarily driven by increased size of existing groups rather than increased group frequency (P<0.05). Aged muscle displayed selective deterioration of type II myofibres alongside increased denervation and myofibre grouping. These data are key to understanding the cellular basis of age-related muscle decline and reveal a pressing need to fine-tune strategies to preserve type II myofibres and innervation status in ageing populations.

The wisdom layer: how to support evidence-informed policymaking

Abstract One of the returning challenges faced by public health scientists is bridging the ‘evidence-policy gap’-the disparity between identifying public health issues and implementing policies to address them. Despite the extensive literature documenting the challenges of promoting evidence-informed policymaking, opportunities for researchers to exchange experiences and learn from each other’s failures are limited. This presentation seeks to: (a) analyze key concepts in evidence-informed policymaking, based on the health information pyramid; (b) identify obstacles and facilitators in the translation of knowledge into actionable policy; and (c) present both successful and unsuccessful examples from our initiatives to influence health policy in Belgium. Specifically, we will discuss the concrete impact of the Belgian Health Status Report and the role this report plays in the development of actionable health objectives for Belgium. We will also cover the role of healthybelgium.be in governing and monitoring the health status of the Belgian population by discussing why this website has been recognized by WHO Europe as a model of good practice in evidence-informed policymaking.

Health status, healthcare use and prevention in Travellers in Nouvelle Aquitaine, France, 2019-2022

Abstract Background The poor health status of underserved populations is compounded by low vaccination uptake, leading to a greater risk of epidemics. On October 2017, a measles outbreak started in the southwest of France among under-vaccinated social groups, including Travellers. We aimed to describe the health status, healthcare use and child measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage in Travellers according to their environmental and living conditions. Methods A cross-sectional study with a three-stage random sample design was conducted between October 2019 and March 2022 in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France. Trained social workers administered face-to-face questionnaires to collect data on adults and children. Anthropometric measurements, vaccination records, and data using an environmental exposure questionnaire were also collected. Results The participation rate was high (73.6%), with 1030 adults and 337 children included. Concerning the adults, 36.6% had obesity, 14.4% reported diabetes, 24.7% hypertension, and 14.4% major depression. The prevalence of major depression was significantly higher in adults living in precarious and unauthorized housing than in those with adequate housing (19.8 vs. 14.7%, p = 0.03). The unmet health care needs in the last 12 months was 48.4%. With regard to children, 45.3% had full (i.e., 2-dose) MMR vaccination coverage at 24 months and 17.9% had obesity. Finally, 74.5% of the households experienced housing insecurity, and 22.2% did not have a supply of drinking water. Conclusions Traveller children and adults faced deleterious environmental and living conditions potentially affecting their health, healthcare use, and vaccination coverage. These results demonstrate the need for urgent interventions for underserved populations which take into account their difficult living conditions. Key messages • Travellers have a greater burden of chronic diseases than the general French population and measles-mumps-rubella vaccination coverage among Traveller children is lower than in the general population. • The more precarious the housing, the more likely Travellers are to report having a chronic disease (social exclusion gradient).