Prevalence Of Respiratory Diseases Research Articles

Assessment of Respiratory Function and Need for Noninvasive Ventilation in a Cohort of Patients with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Followed at One Single Expert Center.

Introduction Respiratory insufficiency is one of the main causes of death in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Although there is general consensus that these patients have a restrictive ventilatory pattern, hypoventilation, chronic hypercapnia, and sleep disturbances, the prevalence of respiratory disease and indication for the effects of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) need to be further explored. Objectives To describe respiratory function and need for NIV at baseline and over time in a cohort of adult patients with DM1. Methods A total of 151 adult patients with DM1 were subjected to arterial blood gas analysis, sitting and supine forced vital capacity (FVC), peak cough expiratory flow (PCEF), nocturnal oximetry, and maximal inspiratory pressure and expiratory pressure (MIP/PEP). Results On first assessment, 84 of 151 had normal respiratory function (median age: 38 years, median BMI: 23.9, and median disease duration: 11 years); 67 received an indication to use NIV (median age: 49 years, median BMI: 25,8, and median disease duration: 14 years). After a median time of 3.85 years, 43 patients were lost to follow-up; 9 of 84 required NIV; only 17 of 67 with the new NIV prescription were adherent. Conclusions We provide additional data on the natural history of respiratory function decline and treatment adherence in a relatively large cohort of well-characterized patients with DM1. A high proportion (28%) was lost to follow-up. A minority (11%) required NIV, and only 25% were treatment adherent, irrespective of specific demographics and respiratory features. Our results also confirm previous findings, showing that age, disease duration, and higher BMIs are predisposing factors for respiratory impairment.

Health status assessment of a population of asylum seekers in Northern Italy

BackgroundSince 2011 Italy has faced an extraordinary increase in migrants arrivals, mainly from the Mediterranean route, one of the world’s most dangerous journeys. The purpose of the present article is to provide a comprehensive picture of the migrants' health status in the "T. Fenoglio" centre, Settimo Torinese (Turin, Italy).MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from June 2016 to May 2018 on adult migrants (over 18 years old) from Africa, Middle East and South East Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal). Data was collected through the migrants' medical records. Descriptive statistics were performed on socio-demographic variables. The diagnosed diseases were anonymously registered and classified according to the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2).Conditional Inference Trees were used to perform a descriptive analysis of the sample and to detect the covariates with the strongest association with the variables Disease on arrival, Disease after arrival, ICPC on arrival and ICPC after arrival.ResultsAnalyzed observations were 9 857. 81.8% were men, median age was 23 (Interquartile range: 20.0–27.4). 70.3% of the sample came from Sub-Saharan Africa. 2 365 individuals (24%) arrived at the centre with at least one disease. On arrival, skin (27.71%), respiratory (14.46%), digestive (14.73%) and generic diseases (20.88%) were the most frequent. During the stay respiratory diseases were the most common (25.70%). The highest probability of arriving with a disease occurred in 2018 and during the period September–November 2016, in particular for people from the Horn of Africa. During this period and also in the first half of 2017, skin diseases were the most reported. In seasons with lower prevalence of diseases on arrival the most common disease code was generic for both men and women (usually fever or trauma).ConclusionsThis study provides information on the diverse diseases that affect the asylum seekers population. In our sample, the Horn of Africa was the most troubled area of arrival, with severe conditions frequently reported regarding skin diseases, in particular scabies. 2018 was the most critical year, especially for migrants from the Horn of Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. During the stay at the camp, the prevalence of respiratory diseases increased. However, skin diseases remained the main issue for people from the Horn of Africa. Overall, the most reported diseases in the sample were dermatological, respiratory, digestive and generic diseases, both on arrival and during the stay.A better understanding of the health status of asylum seekers is an important factor to determine a more efficient reception and integration process and a better allocation of economic resources in the context of migrants' health care.

Evaluating the effectiveness of using phytoncides to reduce microbial contamination of indoor air in order to minimize the risk of illnesses in preschool educational settings

Introduction. Due to the high prevalence of respiratory diseases in children attending pre-school educational settings, the problem of their prevention is especially important. Taking into account the fact that children spend between 6 and 8 hours a day in pre-school educational institutions, one of the risk factors of respiratory diseases is the microbial contamination of indoor air. The analysis of Russian and international scholarly literature revealed the positive impact of phytoncide properties of plants on the quality of indoor air and on the psycho-emotional state of a person, however, due to the lack of experimental evidence, the practices of using healing properties of plants in children's organized groups have not been widely adopted. The results of this study confirm that the rational placement of a certain range of plants in preschool classrooms can become a promising and low-cost direction in the structure of a health-saving approach in the modern system of preschool education. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of phytoncides of a particular range of plants and their placement in reducing microbial contamination of the air in pre-school education settings. Materials and Methods. To study the effect of phytoncide activity of plants the authors monitored the microbial contamination of air in preschool classrooms from two kindergartens in Novosibirsk, with the main focus on the leaf area of the established range of plants and conditions of their placement. For quantitative and qualitative analysis of air microflora composition we used standard differential-diagnostic nutrient media, methods of seeding and calculation of the proportion of total microbial count and facultative microflora. Air sampling points were located in the child's breathing zone (0.5, 1.5 and 3 m away from the plants at 0.8 m height). We monitored the effectiveness of phytoncide properties of plants on the risks of children's disease during the epidemiological rise based on attendance logs. The following theoretical research methods were used: formalization, generalization, comparison and system analysis. Results. It was found that phytoncides reduce microbiological insemination of preschool classrooms where a certain range of phytoncide plants were located. It was determined that the intensity of the phytoncide effect depends on the leaf surface area and their rational distribution, taking into account the effective radius of exposure. The study found a decrease in respiratory diseases among children at preschool educational settings where phytoncide plants were placed in the classrooms. Conclusions. The results of the study can be employed in recommendations for the use of a certain range of plants with pronounced phytoncide activity as one of the components of health-saving conditions in the modern education system.

Impact of COVID-19 on chronic respiratory disease outcome survey in Pakistan

Introduction: Pakistan has high prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, especially bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find the impact of COVID-19 on chronic respiratory disease in Pakistan. Material and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital Lahore during January 2021 to July 2021. Before and after the COVID-19 period were defined by a predetermined set of criteria in the form of a questionnaire. Results: The data was collected from 314 respondents. According to the respondents, the survey also queried about the presence of respiratory comorbidities in patients who had tested positive for COVID 19. COPD was mentioned as a comorbidity by more than a third of those who responded, and several others, including bronchial asthma, ILD, and tuberculosis (TB), were also mentioned by many respondents. Conclusion: It is concluded that because of the lockout's efficacy and the widespread use of masks outside the facility, the air was probably rather clean. As a result, both the number of people visiting an asthma outpatient clinic and the number of people being admitted to the hospital with acute severe asthma dropped. Keywords: COVID-19, Respiration, Patients, COPD

School Closures in the United States and Severe Respiratory Illnesses in Children: A Normalized Nationwide Sample.

To determine the association between nationwide school closures and prevalence of common admission diagnoses in the pediatric critical care unit. Retrospective cohort study. National database evaluation using the Virtual Pediatric Systems LLC database. All patients admitted to the PICU in 81 contributing hospitals in the United States. Diagnosis categories were determined for all 110,418 patients admitted during the 20-week study period in each year (2018, 2019, and 2020). Admission data were normalized relative to statewide school closure dates for each patient using geographic data. The "before school closure" epoch was defined as 8 weeks prior to school closure, and the "after school closure" epoch was defined as 12 weeks following school closure. For each diagnosis, admission ratios for each study day were calculated by dividing 2020 admissions by 2018-2019 admissions. The 10 most common diagnosis categories were examined. Significant changes in admission ratios were identified for bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and asthma. These changes occurred at 2, 8, and 35 days following school closure, respectively. PICU admissions decreased by 82% for bronchiolitis, 76% for pneumonia, and 76% for asthma. Nonrespiratory diseases such as diabetic ketoacidosis, status epilepticus, traumatic injury, and poisoning/ingestion did not show significant changes following school closure. School closures are associated with a dramatic reduction in the prevalence of severe respiratory disease requiring PICU admission. School closure may be an effective tool to mitigate future pandemics but should be balanced with potential academic, economic, mental health, and social consequences.

MODERN VIEWS ON THE PREVALENCE OF PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN AND THE ROLE OF LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

An analysis of domestic and foreign literature on the prevalence, causes and mechanisms of pneumonia in children. This article highlights the prevalence and features of the clinic and diagnosis of pneumonia in children based on a review of the literature. Out-of-hospital pneumonia today remains a pressing medical and social problem, often leading to complications and often causing the death of children, both in Ukraine and around the world, so it needs more in-depth diagnosis. It is known that the severity of this disease depends on age, etiology, comorbidity and timely hospitalization. The incidence and prevalence of respiratory diseases is one of the main indicators of health among children in the world. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to analyze foreign and domestic literature sources on the prevalence and search for the most informative diagnostic criteria for pneumonia in young children. More recent meta-analyzes of etiological data indicate a change in the profile of the pathogen, which increases the recognition that community-acquired pneumonia is caused by sequential or simultaneous interaction of more than one microorganism. Given the epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia and long-term hospital stays, the study and synthesis of data on the diagnostic criteria for community-acquired pneumonia remains relevant. It is currently not possible to identify a single marker or clinical sign that can be used to distinguish bacterial from viral pneumonia. It is important to evaluate all indicators of objective, instrumental and laboratory examination. Based on literature data, cytokine status indicators can be used to prevent the development of complications from pneumonia, prescribe adequate therapy and determine the duration of treatment. There are many other biomarkers that have been linked to the severity of pneumonia in children. According to statistics, a study of children with COVID-19 showed that the blood of patients, especially those with severe disease, has high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, especially IL-6, which during infection may be a key cytokine that causes serious inflammation and acute damage to many organs and systems. In particular, such a biomarker is IL-6 - the only serum cytokine, the presence of which probably correlates with the severity of pneumonia. The relationship between serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels is an important diagnostic criterion for determining the severity of pneumonia in children on admission, which allows screening for the risk of complications and assessing the possibility of rapid recovery. The use of immune and inflammatory markers in children with pneumonia can potentially lead to the development of innovative methods for predicting complications of community-acquired pneumonia and determining the severity. In addition, it has been shown that serum IL-6 levels are significantly reduced in patients with pneumonia during the recovery period, which allows to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. Procalcitonin is also an important indicator of the inflammatory process. There are conflicting data on the ability of procalcitonin to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections. Given these data, procalcitonin can be used as a diagnostic criterion for the presence of bacterial infection and the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy. Analysis of available scientific works on prevalence features of the clinic and diagnosis of pneumonia in children, showed that the issue of timely diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pneumonia in children is still relevant and requires further research.

The Nurse’s Role in Educating Pediatric Patients on Correct Inhaler Technique: An Interventional Study

The prevalence of pediatric respiratory diseases in Spain is 23%. Inhalation is the preferred route of administration but there are frequent errors in the performance of the inhalation technique leading a poor control of the disease. The aim of this research was to detect errors in the execution of the inhalation technique at a Pediatric Pulmonology Unit in a hospital of Aragón (Spain). In order to improve the administration of inhaled medication, an educational intervention for 1 year by nursing was conducted. This interventional study, including children aged 1 to 15 years with an inhalation therapy and who attended the Pediatric Pulmonology Unit, was conducted between September 2017 and September 2018. Logistic Regression models were conducted in SPSS. This study involved 393 children (61.1% boys). Before the intervention, 39.4% achieved a correct inhalation technique increasing up to 62.1% after the intervention. Those who had their first visit to the Unit, young children and girls had a higher risk of incorrect performance than those with subsequent visits, older children, and boys, respectively. The most common errors in the inhalation technique were not performing adequate apnoea after inhaling and not rinsing the mouth at the end of the procedure. The education given by nurses to pediatric patients improved the inhalation technique, achieving better control of the disease and use of the health system.

Relationship Between C-Reactive Protein and Respiratory Diseases in Patients with Type 2 Diabetic Retinopathy.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to explore the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and respiratory diseases in patients with diabetic retinopathy.Material/MethodsWe identified 855 patients with diabetic retinopathy who met the inclusion criteria from the “Diabetes Complications Data Set” in the National Population Health Data Center. We divided patients into 3 groups according to CRP tertiles: Q1 (<0.3 mg/dL), Q2 (0.3–0.35 mg/dL), and Q3 (>0.35 mg/dL). A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between CRP and respiratory diseases. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to investigate the independent predictive effect of CRP on respiratory diseases.ResultsOf the 855 patients with diabetic retinopathy, 137 (16%) had respiratory diseases. Prevalence of respiratory diseases gradually increased with an increase in CRP level (P for trend=0.001). With CRP as a continuous variable in the logistic regression model adjusted for confounding factors (model 3), the odds ratio (OR) per 1 standard deviation increment of CRP was 1.25 (95% CI 1.07–1.45, P=0.004). When the lowest CRP tertile group was used as the reference group, the OR of the highest CRP tertile group was 1.99 (95% CI 1.22–1.3.26, P=0.006). Adding CRP to the risk factor model increased the area under the ROC curve (0.68 vs 0.65, P=0.017). Subgroup analysis showed that the relationship between CRP and respiratory diseases had no potential heterogeneity among subgroups.ConclusionsCRP can be used as an effective biomarker in predicting risk of respiratory diseases in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Functional, transcriptional, and microbial shifts associated with healthy pulmonary aging in rhesus macaques.

SUMMARYOlder individuals are at increased risk of developing severe respiratory infections. However, our understanding of the impact of aging on the respiratory tract remains limited as samples from healthy humans are challenging to obtain and results can be confounded by variables such as smoking and diet. Here, we carry out a comprehensive cross-sectional study (n = 34 adult, n = 49 aged) to define the consequences of aging on the lung using the rhesus macaque model. Pulmonary function testing establishes similar age and sex differences as humans. Additionally, we report increased abundance of alveolar and infiltrating macrophages and a concomitant decrease in T cells were in aged animals. scRNAseq reveals shifts from GRZMB to IFN expressing CD8+ T cells in the lungs. These data provide insight into age-related changes in the lungs’ functional, microbial, and immunological landscape that explain increased prevalence and severity of respiratory diseases in the elderly.

Assessing the impact of air pollutants on clinical visits for childhood allergic respiratory disease induced by house dust mite in Shanghai, China

BackgroundThe prevalence of allergic respiratory disease (ARD) is increasing worldwide during the last few decades, causing a great disease burden especially for children. Air pollution has been increasingly considered as a potential contributor to this trend, but its role in ARD induced by house dust mite (HDM-ARD) remains unclear, especially in time-series study.MethodsA positive reporting of respiratory allergy to named allergens was included by serum specific IgE testing. A time series Quasi-Poisson regression with distributed lag non-linear model, combined with generalized linear model was used to examine the effects of air pollutants on ARD, HDM-ARD and ARD induced by non-house dust mite (NHDM-ARD).ResultsA total of 16,249 cases of ARD, including 8,719 HDM-ARD and 8,070 NHDM-ARD from 1 Jan 2013 to 31 Dec 2017 were involved in this study. Air pollutants were significantly associated with clinical visits for childhood ARD and HDM-ARD. Exposure to higher O3 and interquartile range (IQR) increment in O3 (40.6 µg/m3) increased the risks of clinical visits for childhood HDM-ARD (RRlag0-5 for the 95th percentile of O3: 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.55; RRlag0-5 for IQR increment (40.6 µg/m3): 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.17) and ARD (RRlag0-5 for the 95th percentile of O3: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.38; RRlag0-5 for IQR increment (40.6 µg/m3): 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12). In addition, higher O3 was associated with increased RR of boys with ARD (RRlag0-5 for the 95th percentile: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.51; RRlag0-5 for IQR increment (40.6 µg/m3): 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.16) and HDM-ARD (RRlag0-5 for the 95th percentile: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.75; RRlag0-5 for IQR increment (40.6 µg/m3): 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.22), but not in girls.ConclusionsExposure to O3 appeared to be a trigger of clinical visits for childhood ARD, especially for HDM-ARD and boys. These findings provide novel evidence on the impact of air pollution on HDM-ARD, which may have significant implications for designing effective intervention programs to control and prevent childhood ARD, especially HDM-ARD, in China and other similar developing countries.

Prevalência de doenças respiratórias crônicas e uso de medicamentos entre crianças e adolescentes no Brasil - um estudo transversal de base populacional

Abstract Objectives: to describe the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases and their pharmacological management in children and adolescents in Brazil. Methods: data from the Pesquisa Nacional de Acesso, Uso e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos no Brasil (PNAUM)(National Access Survey, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines in Brazil),a population-based cross-sectional study, were analyzed. Household surveys were conducted between September 2013 and February 2014. We included the population under 20 years of age with chronic respiratory diseases. Prevalence of disease, indication of pharmacological treatment, and their use were assessed. Results: the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases in children aged less than 6 years old was 6.1% (CI95%= 5.0-7.4), 4.7% (CI95%= 3.4-6.4) in those 6-12 years, and 3.9% (CI95%= 2.8-5.4) in children 13 years and older. Children under 6 showed a higher prevalence of pharmacological treatment indication (74.6%; CI95%= 66.0-81.7), as well as medication use (72.6%; CI95%= 62.8-80.7). Of those using inhalers, 56.6% reported using it with a spacer. The most frequent pharmacologic classes reported were short-acting β2 agonists (19.0%), followed by antihistamines (17.2%). Conclusion: children and adolescents who report chronic respiratory diseases living in urban areas in Brazil seem to be undertreated for their chronic conditions. Pharmacological treatment, even if indicated, was not used, an important finding for decision-making in this population.

The association between comorbidities and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a multicenter, cross-sectional cohort study in Japan with the highest proportion of elderly individuals

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the association of disease activity with the presence of comorbidities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, using the Akita Orthopedic Group on Rheumatoid Arthritis (AORA) registry, a multicenter, cross-sectional registry in Japan with the highest proportion of elderly people. We included 1838 patients (mean age: 66.4 years old) who visited our affiliated institutions between April 2018 and March 2019. The patients were divided into two groups based on the disease activity in 28 joints based on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) into the remission or low disease activity group (L group) and the moderate or high disease activity group (H group). Patient demographics and comorbidities in the two groups were compared.ResultsThe most common comorbidity was hypertension (33.7%), followed by renal disease (25.2%), respiratory disease (12.2%), diabetes mellitus (8.1%), cardiovascular disease (8.0%), malignancies (5.7%), and cerebrovascular disease (4.7%). The H group was older (p<0.0001); had a higher prevalence of hypertension (p<0.0001), diabetes (p=0.0011), respiratory disease (p<0.0001), cerebrovascular disease (p<0.0001), and cardiovascular disease (p=0.0030); and was less likely to use anti-rheumatic drugs. The prevalence of comorbidities other than renal disease and malignant tumor was higher in the H group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female sex (p=0.0054), advanced Steinbrocker class (p<0.0001), high anti-citrullinated protein antibody levels (p=0.0211), high prednisolone dose (p<0.0001), and absence of biologics’ or JAK inhibitors’ use (p<0.0001) were risk factors for high disease activity, and shorter treatment period was a low-risk factor for high disease activity (p=0.0041). Among comorbidities, the presence of cerebrovascular disease (p=0.0334) was the only independent risk factor for high disease activity.ConclusionsIn our registry study with a high proportion of elderly RA patients, cerebrovascular disease was associated with high disease activity in patients with RA. Therefore, when treating elderly patients with RA, we need to pay careful attention to cerebrovascular disease, and treatment should be aimed at achieving adequate control of RA.

Not One More Life Trusted Messenger Pilot Program

Minority populations bear a disproportionate burden of the morbidity, mortality, and prevalence of respiratory illness, including asthma, COPD, and COVID-19. To address these challenges, we engaged underserved patients using a validated respiratory health screening tool to identify at-risk patients who were offered a health coaching intervention (HCI) with a customized smartphone self-care app with virtual education.

PREVALENCE OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG FISHING TRAWLER WORKERS IN TAMIL NADU.

In India, an estimated half a billion people work in shing-related jobs. Trawler shermen are frequently exposed to long hours of fuel exhaust, but little is known about the adverse effects of this exposure. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of respiratory illness among Fishing Trawler workers and its association between the working environment quality. This crosssectional study was conducted from April 2021 to June 2021 among adults engaged in trawler shing in Tamil Nadu using an interviewer administered semi structured questionnaire and the data was analysed using SPSS version 16. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was 81% and respiratory illness was 36.5% with signicance between years of working(p=&lt;0.05), days a month worked(p=&lt;0.05), hours of exposure(p=&lt;0.05), history of smoking(p=&lt;0.05) and air quality(p=0.05). Trawler shermen's respiratory health may be compromised by fuel exhaust and exposure duration. More attention and surveillance of trawler shermen's occupational health is required.

Air Pollution in Poland: A 2022 Narrative Review with Focus on Respiratory Diseases.

According to the World Bank Group, 36 of the 50 most polluted cities in the European Union are in Poland. Thus, ambient air pollution and its detrimental health effects are a matter of immense importance in Poland. This narrative review aims to analyse current findings on air pollution and health in Poland, with a focus on respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, as well as the Poles’ awareness of air pollution. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases were searched. In total, results from 71 research papers were summarized qualitatively. In Poland, increased air pollution levels are linked to increased general and respiratory disease mortality rates, higher prevalence of respiratory diseases, including asthma, lung cancer and COVID-19 infections, reduced forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). The proximity of high traffic areas exacerbates respiratory health problems. People living in more polluted regions (south of Poland) and in the winter season have a higher level of air pollution awareness. There is an urgent need to reduce air pollution levels and increase public awareness of this threat. A larger number of multi-city studies are needed in Poland to consistently track the burden of diseases attributable to air pollution.

Occupational factors affecting the decline in pulmonary function among male farmers using occupational pesticide in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

Occupational pesticide exposure is a potential risk for respiratory health effects. Most clinical studies on pesticide exposure were related to acute exposure, and only a few studies on chronic exposure have been conducted. This study investigated the chronic respiratory health status and the chronic effects of occupational pesticide exposures of farmers in Gyeonggi-do. Surveys and pulmonary function tests were conducted on 1,697 farmers in 16 regions of Gyeonggi-do. The structured questionnaire included demographic characteristics, medical history, recent respiratory symptoms and diseases, and work-related conditions, and was conducted through one-on-one interviews. The prevalence of respiratory diseases was compared by the odds ratios (ORs) at 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated by logistic regression analysis. Additional multivariate logistic regression analysis was also conducted. Pesticide work groups showed significant association with an obstructive pattern in the lung function test (unadjusted OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.17-5.52). Selected work-related variables of pesticide exposure were 'start age,' 'cumulative duration,' 'mixing pesticides,' and 'protection(goggle).' The obstructive pattern of lung function test showed significant associations with mixing pesticides (OR, 2.30; 95% CI,1.07-5.46), and protection (goggle) use (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.79). Mixing two or more pesticides showed a significant association. Wearing goggles can be seen as an indicator of awareness of the protective equipment and proper wearing of protective equipment, and loss of pulmonary function can be prevented when appropriate protection is worn.

Screening for respiratory morbidities and obstructive lung function among municipal waste handlers in Puducherry: A community-based cross-sectional study.

Background:Waste management is a societal problem because of its environmental impact and public health implications. Solid waste handlers have a high incidence of occupational health issues, with respiratory morbidities being the most common. Aim: To assess the prevalence of respiratory morbidities, obstructive lung pattern and its associated factors among municipal solid waste management workers in Puducherry.Materials and Methods:This community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in May and June 2018 among 264 solid waste management workers selected by simple random sampling. They underwent a semi-structured interview schedule capturing their sociodemographic characteristics, work profile, presence of respiratory symptoms, and morbidities followed by lung function tests using a portable spirometer. The data was entered using Epidata entry client and analyzed using SPSS (v16).Results:The mean age of the workers was 47.1 (±8.87) years. The majority were females (85.6%), working as waste collectors (86%) on day duty (73.5%). More than two in five workers had either respiratory morbidity (42.8%) or obstructive lung pattern (44%). Higher age, occupation as waste collector, night shift duty, not using face mask on duty, and not receiving training on waste handling were the factors significantly associated with the respiratory morbidities and obstructive lung function.Conclusion:The prevalence of respiratory morbidities and obstructive lung disease were high among municipal solid waste handlers. Measures are needed to improve the work environment of waste handlers by ensuring the availability of protective gears and adequate training on work handling based on ergonomic principles.

Prevalence of Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Aboriginal Children: A Whole Population Study

Prevalence of Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Aboriginal Children: A Whole Population Study

Health and Mortality in Korean Healthcare Workers.

BackgroundTo evaluate the health status of healthcare workers (doctors and nurses) compared to those in the general population based on the National Health Insurance Service database and the cause of death data from Statistics Korea.MethodsThe subjects of this study were 104,484 doctors and 220,310 nurses working in healthcare facilities from 2002 to 2017, and who had undergone at least one general medical examination. Based on the subject definition, the subject data were extracted from the National Health Insurance healthcare facility database and qualification database. We collected medical use details included in the research database, general medical examination results, medical history included in the health examination database, and additional data on the cause of death from the National Statistics database to analyze the main cause of death and mortality.ResultsIn terms of the major causes of death and mortality among healthcare workers, the mortality rate associated with intentional self-harm, injury, transportation accident, heart disease, addiction, and falling was significantly higher than that in the general population. Further, the prevalence of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases was high. When analyzing the proportional mortality ratio (PMR) by cause of death for healthcare workers, the PMR values for death related to malignant neoplasm was the highest. In terms of diseases, both doctors and nurses had higher rates of infectious diseases such as maternal sepsis, rubella, and measles.ConclusionThe health status of healthcare workers differs from that of the general population. Thus, it is important to consider the occupational characteristics of healthcare personnel. This study is unique in that it was conducted based on medical use indicators rather than survey data.

Significant Reduction in Pediatric, Population-Based Hospital Admissions Due To COVID-19 in Malta

Objective:This population-based, retrospective study aimed to determine whether there was a drop in pediatric admissions during the first year of COVID-19 in Malta, as reported in other centers worldwide, as well as to determine any differences in patient characteristics when compared to the previous year.Materials and Methods:All unplanned pediatric medical admissions to Mater Dei Hospital from March 1, 2020 (a few days before the first case of COVID-19 in Malta) till February 28, 2021 (study period) and the corresponding period in 2019/20 (control period) and characteristics of patients admitted during the first 10 weeks (first wave of COVID-19) were analyzed.Results:Pediatric admissions dropped by 57.7% during the first year of COVID-19 (1601 vs. 3789 in 2019). During the first wave of COVID-19, a higher percentage of neonates were admitted in 2020 when compared to all other ages. There was a lower prevalence of respiratory illnesses during the first wave of COVID-19 (31.6% vs. 47.5% in 2019, P < .001), with a higher prevalence of cases related to child abuse or adverse socio-economic circumstances (2020, 9 [3.4%] vs 1 [0.1%] in 2019, P < .001). Following school closures, a drop in communicable disease admissions was recorded (68 [42.2%] vs. 421 [70.3%] in 2019, P < .001). A negative correlation between daily pediatric admissions and active COVID-19 cases in Malta was noted (r (68) = −0.33, P = .005).Conclusion:The drop in admissions likely represents fear of contracting COVID-19 in hospital environments, together with a decline in communicable diseases due to school closures. Guardians’ concerns must be alleviated as best as possible by effective public health measures.