Trends In Prevalence Research Articles

Beyond undernutrition: tracking the surge of obesity among younger population in Bihar, India

Background: The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Bihar has become a critical public health concern, coexisting with the state’s long-standing challenge of undernutrition. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence trends, key determinants, and demographic disparities of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Bihar to identify actionable insights for public health strategies. Methods: Data from the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS-4, 2015–16, and NFHS-5, 2019–21) were analyzed along with supplementary reports from WHO and UNICEF. The study included children aged 5–9 years and adolescents aged 10–19 years, with overweight and obesity classified using WHO growth standards (BMI-for-age > +1 SD and > +2 SD, respectively). Descriptive statistics were employed to assess prevalence trends, while multivariate logistic regression identified behavioral and environmental risk factors, including screen time, physical activity, and dietary habits. Results: Overweight prevalence doubled among children aged 5–9 years (1.2% to 2.4%) and increased among adolescents (3.2% to 4.5%). Obesity among adolescents also doubled, rising from 1.1% to 2.3%. Urban children exhibited higher rates of overweight (6.2%) compared to rural children (2.8%). Behavioral factors such as physical inactivity (<30 minutes/day; OR=3.2) and prolonged screen time (>4 hours/day; OR=2.5) were significant predictors. Frequent consumption of fast food and sugary beverages further increased the risk. Conclusions: The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions, including promoting physical activity, regulating unhealthy food environments, and embedding nutrition education in schools. A multisectoral approach is critical to addressing the dual burden of malnutrition in Bihar’s children and adolescents.

Prevalence of cognitive impairment and its related factors among Chinese older adults: an analysis based on the 2018 CHARLS data.

Cognitive impairment is a major public health concern in aging societies. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of cognitive impairment and its associated factors among Chinese adults aged 60 years and older using data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Utilizing data from the 2018 wave of CHARLS, we assessed participants' cognitive status using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the influencing factors related to cognitive impairment were analyzed by using the chi-square test and multifactor logistic regression. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was stratified by gender, education level, residence, marital status, daytime napping, and nighttime sleep duration, and the trend of cognitive impairment prevalence with age was observed. 9,804 participants were finally included in the study and the overall prevalence of cognitive impairment was 44.04% (95%CI, 43.02-45.06%). The prevalence was significantly higher in females (50.8%) than males (37.1%), and increased with age, from 41.5% in those aged 60-64 years to 57.7% in those aged ≥75 years. Lower educational level, rural residence, and being divorced/ widowed/unmarried were associated with a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment (all p < 0.001). Multifactor logistic regression indicated that older age (OR = 1.51, 95%CI, 1.33-1.73 for ≥75 vs. 60-64 years), female gender (OR = 1.54, 95%CI, 1.35-1.77), higher education (OR = 0.46, 95%CI, 0.42-0.51 for primary school and below vs. illiteracy), rural areas (OR = 2.35, 95%CI, 2.07-2.65 for village vs. the center of city/town), divorced/ widowed/unmarried status (OR = 1.40, 95%CI, 1.25-1.57) and participation in physical activity (OR = 0.80, 95%CI, 0.73-0.87) were significantly associated with cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent among older adults in China with substantial demographic disparities. Targeted interventions and public health strategies are needed to promote cognitive health in this rapidly aging population.

A short communication regarding the trends and prevalence of H. Pylori in unselected gastric mucosal biopsy samples at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan: a five-year retrospective study.

A spiral gram-negative bacteria, known as helicobacter pylori, is frequently discovered in the stomach and is linked to a number of clinical disorders. Understanding its prevalence and trends is crucial for both improved clinical outcomes as well as greater epidemiological insight into the region. The current retrospective study was planned to analyse the prevalence and frequency trends of helicobacter pylori in gastric mucosal samples from a Karachi-based tertiary care centre. Data from a 5-year period was analysed. Sampled individuals' age, gender, site of infection and histopathological findings were noted. A decreasing trend in helicobacter pylori infections in biopsy samples was observed. Gender and age showed no significant association (p>0.05), while infection site and histopathological findings exhibited significant correlations (p<0.05). Antrum predominated for all types of gastritis. The study highlighted a declining trend in helicobacter pylori prevalence in Karachi over 5 years. Further multicentre studies with larger samples may provide deeper insights into helicobacter pylori trends in Pakistan.

Global trends in depressive disorder prevalence and DALYs among young populations: a comprehensive analysis from 1990 to 2021

Global trends in depressive disorder prevalence and DALYs among young populations: a comprehensive analysis from 1990 to 2021

Global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori antibiotic resistance among children in the world health organization regions between 2000 and 2023: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori infection causes gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. The infection is typically acquired in childhood and persists throughout life. The major impediment to successful therapy is antibiotic resistance. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively assess the global prevalence of antibiotic resistance in pediatric H. pylori infection.MethodsWe performed a systematic search of publication databases that assessed H. pylori resistance rates to clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, amoxicillin, and tetracycline in children. The WHO region classification was used to group pooled primary and secondary resistance estimates along with 95% confidence interval (CI). H. pylori antibiotic resistance rates were retrieved and combined with odds ratios (95% CI) to investigate the global prevalence and temporal trends. Subgroup analysis of the prevalence of antibiotic resistance was conducted by country, age groups, and susceptibility testing methods.ResultsAmong 1417 records obtained initially, 152 studies were selected for eligibility assessment after applying exclusion criteria in multiple steps. Ultimately, 63 studies involving 15,953 individuals were included comprising data from 28 countries in 5 WHO regions. The primary resistance rates were metronidazole 35.3% (5482/15,529, 95% CI: 28.7–42.6), clarithromycin 32.6% (5071/15,555, 95% CI: 27.7–37.9), tetracycline 2.1% (148/7033, 95% CI: 1.3–3.6), levofloxacin 13.2% (1091/8271, 95% CI: 9.3–18.4), and amoxicillin 4.8% (495/10305, 95% CI: 2.5–8.8). Raising antibiotic resistance was detected in most WHO regions.ConclusionsThe escalating trend of H. pylori antibiotic resistance in children warrants urgent attention globally. National and regional surveillance networks are required for antibiotic stewardship in children infected with H. pylori.Graphical

Longitudinal prevalence and co-carriage of pathogens associated with nursing home acquired pneumonia in three long-term care facilities.

Nursing home acquired pneumonia (NHAP), and its subset - aspiration-associated pneumonia, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Understanding colonization dynamics of respiratory pathogens in LTCF residents is essential for effective infection control. This study examines the longitudinal trends in prevalence, persistence, bacterial load, and co-colonization patterns of five respiratory pathogens in three LTCFs in Phoenix, Arizona. Anterior nares and oral swabs were collected every other week and tested using qPCR for Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus , and Chlamydia pneumoniae . Weekly average positivity rates were 17.75% for H. influenzae (0% - 39.39%), 9.95% for P. aeruginosa (0% - 37.74%), 31.89% for S. pneumoniae (1.79% - 41.67%), and for 28.00% for S. aureus (0% - 55.36%). C. pneumoniae was not detected. H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae predominantly colonized the oral cavity, while P. aeruginosa and S. aureus predominantly colonized the nasal cavity. S. pneumoniae and S. aureus colonizations were significantly more persistent than H. influenzae and P. aeruginosa , with persistence correlating with significantly higher bacterial loads. Co-colonization did occur in ∼20% of positive samples, but appeared to be due to random chance. This study reveals distinct colonization patterns among respiratory pathogens in LTCF residents, highlighting differences in site-specific prevalence, persistence, and bacterial load. These findings underscore the importance of longitudinal monitoring to inform targeted infection control strategies in LTCFs.

Uptake of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Medicare Beneficiaries - United States, 2014-2021.

Previous studies have estimated preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among persons with commercial health insurance and Medicaid. However, data are lacking regarding PrEP use among those with Medicare. Using a previously developed algorithm, we estimated the number of Medicare beneficiaries (MBs) with fee-for-service (FFS) claims who were prescribed PrEP from 2014 to 2021. The analysis was stratified by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. We also examined trends in PrEP prevalence by U.S. state and demographic characteristics during 2014-2021. The number of Medicare PrEP users increased 11-fold, from 388 in 2014 to 4,685 in 2021. MBs prescribed PrEP were predominantly younger men, White persons, residing in the South or West regions, living with a disability, and dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. The prevalence of PrEP prescriptions among MBs increased 12-fold, from 9.7 per million in 2014 to to 120.0 per million in 2021. Black/African American persons had the highest prevalence of PrEP use, followed by Hispanic/Latino and White persons in 2021. The District of Columbia had the highest prevalence of PrEP use compared with other U.S. states in 2021. Significant increasing trends in PrEP use were observed across sex, age groups, and race/ethnicity. Disparities in PrEP uptake existed across MB demographic subgroups from 2014 to 2021. Public health interventions are needed to increase PrEP access and utilization, particularly among women, younger MBs, Black persons, and Hispanic persons, including those with Medicare. Strategies and policies to expand PrEP use are essential for optimal HIV prevention in the United States.

Toward optimal disease surveillance with graph-based active learning

Tracking the spread of emerging pathogens is critical to the design of timely and effective public health responses. Policymakers face the challenge of allocating finite resources for testing and surveillance across locations, with the goal of maximizing the information obtained about the underlying trends in prevalence and incidence. We model this decision-making process as an iterative node classification problem on an undirected and unweighted graph, in which nodes represent locations and edges represent movement of infectious agents among them. To begin, a single node is randomly selected for testing and determined to be either infected or uninfected. Test feedback is then used to update estimates of the probability of unobserved nodes being infected and to inform the selection of nodes for testing at the next iterations, until certain test budget is exhausted. Using this framework, we evaluate and compare the performance of previously developed active learning policies for node selection, including Node Entropy and Bayesian Active Learning by Disagreement. We explore the performance of these policies under different outbreak scenarios using simulated outbreaks on both synthetic and empirical networks. Further, we propose a policy that considers the distance-weighted average entropy of infection predictions among neighbors of each candidate node. Our proposed policy outperforms existing ones in most outbreak scenarios given small test budgets, highlighting the need to consider an exploration-exploitation trade-off in policy design. Our findings could inform the design of cost-effective surveillance strategies for emerging and endemic pathogens and reduce uncertainties associated with early risk assessments in resource-constrained situations.

Disease burden and health inequality of older adults with edentulism and the projected trend until 2040: based on the global burden of disease study 2021.

To comprehensively analyze the current situation and the trends over the next 21 years, focusing on health inequalities related to edentulism among the elderly across global regions. Data on edentulism in older adults were collected from the 2021 global burden of disease (GBD) study. Disease burden trends were analyzed using a joinpoint model. We used the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Concentration Index (CI) to assess health inequalities. A Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was used to analyze the projected trend of prevalence up to 2040. The number of incident, prevalent, and years lived with disability (YLD) cases of edentulism in older adults is increasing globally, while the rate is declining. According to the analysis of health inequality, the burden of edentulism among older adults was gradually concentrated in countries with lowerSociodemographic Index(SDI). Significant downward trends were expected in the global age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) of edentulism for both genders from 2020 to 2040; however, the number is increasing. Taken together, the burden of edentulism in older people remains high and generally shifts from higher-SDI countries to lower-SDI countries. There are great differences between countries, and effective measures should be taken in countries with poorer economies. The disease burden of edentulism in older adults is gradually shifting towards lower SDI countries. It is crucial to optimize the utilization and allocation of healthcare resources to reduce health inequities in edentulism in older adults.

A systematic exploration of collaborative immersive systems for sense-making in STEM

ABSTRACT Scientific sense-making in STEM fields is a complex, yet essential activity, that greatly benefits from collaborations. However, challenges associated with collaboration, such as the geographic separation of experts, access to specialised equipment, and meaningful data representation, often hinder this process. Solutions to collaborative challenges have been extensively explored in CSCW and HCI literature. Among such solutions, immersive systems offer novel data visualisations, interactions, and representations that can support collaborative sense-making in STEM fields. Recognising the increasing interest from HCI researchers on the intersection of collaboration and immersive systems, we conduct a systematic review to answer pertinent questions regarding the research landscape, the design and implementation of collaborative immersive systems for STEM sense-making. We find that current research leans towards synchronous collaborations, AR technology, and sense-making for learning in science domains. We further discuss prevalent trends and considerations observed in our findings, to inform future research directions.

Trends in Sudden Cardiac Death Among Adults Aged 25 to 44 Years in the United States: An Analysis of 2 Large US Databases.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in early adults aged 25 to 44 years represents an important and unexpected cause of death. We assessed trends in SCD-related mortality in the United States from 1999 to 2020 among early adults to determine differences by sex, ethnoracial groups, urbanization, and census region. Mortality data were retrieved from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) data set from 1999 to 2020. Age-adjusted mortality rates were assessed using the Joinpoint regression modeling and expressed as estimated average annual percentage change with relative 95% CIs. Trends in prevalence of coronary artery disease/myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke, which may have contributed to SCD-related mortality over the same period, were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. From 1999 to 2020, 10 516 US early adults aged 25 to 44 years had SCD (7832 men and 2684 women), resulting in 3.72 deaths per 1000 population, or a mean of 478 deaths annually. The relative age-adjusted mortality rate increased linearly (average annual percentage change: +1.0% [95% CI, 0.3-1.8]), without sex differences. The age-adjusted mortality rate increase was more pronounced in Black patients, Hispanic/Latinx patients, and residents of rural areas. Higher absolute numbers of SCDs were clustered in the South (47.6%). During the same period, the prevalence of coronary artery disease/myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke plateaued. SCD-related mortality associated with opioids/stimulants overdose significantly increased over the entire study period. SCD-related mortality among early adults has increased over the last 2 decades in the United States with notable racial and regional disparities.

High prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among adolescents and young adults attending HIV and sexual health clinics.

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Thai adults is 0.5%-1.0%. This study aims to determine the prevalence of HCV infection among adolescents and young adults (AYA) accessing HIV/sexual health clinics. A cross-sectional study was conducted among AYA aged 15-24 years attending HIV/sexual health clinics in Bangkok, Thailand. The HCV infection prevalence, defined by anti-HCV antibody positivity using rapid diagnostic tests (SD BIOSENSOR, Korea), were reported with proportions and a 95% confidence interval (CI). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with HCV infection. From March to August 2023, 300 AYAs with a median age of 21 (interquartile range 20-23) years were enrolled into the study. One-third (29.7%) were people living with HIV (PLHIV). The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 2.7% (95%CI 1.2-5.2). Prevalence was higher among PLHIV (5.6%) compared to AYA without HIV (1.4%) (p-value 0.053). The factor most significantly associated with HCV infection was people who used drugs (adjusted odds ratio 15.3, 95% CI 2.9-82.0, p-value 0.001). History of drug use was associated with the highest HCV infection prevalence. PLHIV had a trend of higher prevalence. HCV screening in HIV/sexual health clinics is recommended for early detection, treatment, and transmission reduction.

Epidemiological shifts in chronic kidney disease: a 30-year global and regional assessment

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) presents a growing global health challenge, with significant variability in disease burden across different regions and countries. This study aimed to analyze the trends in incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for CKD from 1990 to 2019, utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease Study.MethodsWe conducted an in-depth study on the global and age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs of CKD, and assessed trends over a 30-year period. Additionally, we explored the associations between healthcare access and quality (HAQ), the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI), and CKD. Furthermore, we conducted a detailed analysis of six risk factors closely related to CKD, and based on these findings, provided strong evidence for enhancing the management of CKD.ResultsIn 2019, there were 18,986,903 cases of CKD, with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of 1.82 (95% CI = 1.8 to 1.82) in incidence since 1990. The age-standardized incidence rate increased from 192.45 per 100,000 in 1990 to 233.65 per 100,000 in 2019. Prevalence also rose, with a total of 69,729,430 cases in 2019 and an AAPC of 1.19 (95% CI = 1.19 to 1.2). Mortality and DALYs have increased correspondingly, with the mortality rate reaching 18.29 per 100,000 and total DALYs at 41,538,592 in 2019. The analysis showed that higher HAQ levels are associated with better outcomes in terms of lower mortality and DALY rates, whereas lower HAQ levels correlate with poorer outcomes. In addition, high fasting plasma glucose and high systolic blood pressure are the main contributors to CKD-related deaths, with their population attributable fraction (PAF) significantly decreasing as the SDI decreases.ConclusionThe burden of CKD has significantly increased over the past three decades, influenced by demographic changes and variations in healthcare quality and access. Effective public health strategies and improvements in healthcare delivery are needed to address the disparities in CKD outcomes globally.

Child Marriage in Ghana and National Responses to Curb the Practice

Abstract This study examined the trends in prevalence of child marriage and its causes and consequences in Ghana. It also examined the efficacy of government’s responses in curbing the practice. Three waves (2006, 2011 and 20217) of Ghana’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey were analysed using spss, while interviews with staff of government and non-government organisations and female victims of child marriage were analysed thematically. The study found that child marriage before age 18 has marginally declined by 1.4 per cent between 2006 and 2017. Fear of becoming pregnant before marriage, poverty and cultural expectations emerged as the main reasons for continuing the practice of child marriage. Inadequate funding, enforcement of laws on child marriage, and human and material resources, affected the efficacy of national responses to curb the practice. To help curb child marriage, there is a need for a range of measures, including enhancing family finances and awareness creation on children’s rights.

Is the threat of malignant melanoma in the UK still increasing? A comprehensive analysis of 30 years of historical data and Bayesian age-period-cohort model projections for 2030.

Malignant melanoma, a highly aggressive skin cancer, though less common, significantly contributes to cancer-related mortality. In the UK, it is of growing concern with an aging population, making it crucial to analyze historical trends and forecast future burdens. We used Joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort models to analyze trends in incidence, prevalence, and mortality of malignant melanoma in the UK from 1990 to 2021. Bayesian age-period-cohort model was applied to predict the disease burden for different age groups by 2030. From 1991 to 2021, melanoma incidence and prevalence in the UK exhibited distinct temporal patterns: a significant upward trend until 2015, particularly pronounced in individuals aged 60 and older, followed by a downward trend after 2015. By 2030, incidence and prevalence are projected to decrease, particularly in younger and middle-aged populations, with incidence expected to fall from 20.78/100 000 in 2020 to 11.90/100 000, and prevalence from 167.80/100 000 to 80.13/100 000. Mortality is also expected to decrease. However, high-risk groups, especially those aged 85 and above, are predicted to maintain higher incidence and prevalence rates. Despite a historical rise, melanoma incidence, prevalence, and mortality have declined since 2015 and are projected to continue declining through 2030. However, the elderly population remains at higher risk, underscoring the need for targeted public health interventions.

Exploring the relation between REM sleep behavior disorder onset and striatal dopaminergic dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease.

The α-Synuclein Origin and Connectome (SOC) model recently proposed two different Parkinson's Disease (PD) phenotypes clinically based on the relationship between REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and motor symptoms' onset: a "body first" phenotype and a "brain first" phenotype in which RBD precedes or may follow the motor onset, respectively. A higher burden of non-motor symptoms as well as a more symmetrical clinical presentation have also been predicted in the body-first phenotype. This point has been poorly assessed through semi-quantitative striatal dopaminergic functional imaging to date. To explore the relation between RBD onset and striatal dysfunction in PD. PD patients were retrospectively enrolled and clinical follow-up data were gathered. Presence and onset of probable RBD were evaluated classifying patients into PD-RBDpre (onset before motor symptoms), PD-RBDpost (onset after motor symptoms) and PD-RBD-. Semi-quantitative 123I-FP-CIT-DAT-SPECT imaging was performed at baseline. Mean putamen and caudate-specific binding ratios (SBR) and asymmetry index (AI) were computed. Fifty-six PD patients were enrolled (10 PD-RBDpre, 19 PD-RBDpost and 27 PD-RBD-). A more symmetrical motor impairment, higher mild cognitive impairment (MCI) prevalence, lower caudate SBR and lower putamen AI were found in PD-RBDpre. A negative trend in MCI prevalence as well as a positive trend in both caudate SBR and putamen AI were found across PD-RBDpre, PD-RBDpost and PD-RBD-. Different patterns of striatal dopaminergic dysfunction and cognitive impairment based on RBD onset were unraveled, supporting the SOC model's predictions.

Epidemiological Investigation and Genetic Analysis of Duck Circovirus in Korea from 2013 to 2022.

Duck circovirus (DuCV) infections cause immunosuppression in ducks, potentially leading to significant economic losses for the duck farming industry. This study investigates the prevalence, genetic characteristics, and evolutionary trends of DuCV in Korea between 2013 and 2022. Samples from 184 farms across seven provinces were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The overall DuCV infection rate was 29.4% (54/184), with Jeollanam-do showing the highest prevalence (37.5%, 15/40). Ducks aged 3-6 weeks were most susceptible to infection, while ducklings younger than one week were rarely infected. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 24 positive samples with phylogenetic analysis revealing that DuCV-1b is the predominant subtype in Korea (23/24 strains). Notably, a Korean DuCV-1a subtype strain was identified for the first time, showing close genetic relatedness to Chinese DuCV 1a strains. Novel subtype-specific amino acid variations in ORF1 and ORF2 were statistically analyzed and classified. Recombination analysis suggested some Korean DuCV-1b strains may have resulted from recombination events involving strains from different countries. This comprehensive study provides crucial insights into the current prevalence, genetic diversity, and evolutionary dynamics of DuCV in Korea, offering valuable data for developing effective control strategies and understanding the global epidemiology of this economically important avian pathogen.

Trends in modifiable risk factors for dementia among midlife adults in the United States: The National Health and nutrition examination survey 1999-2018.

Dementia has a large public health burden, and modifiable risk factors, particularly in midlife, may provide an opportunity for early prevention. We aimed to examine trends in age-adjusted prevalence of modifiable risk factors for dementia and the number of modifiable risk factors among midlife adults from 1999 to 2018. A total of 14,851 participants aged 40 to 64years without a history of cardiovascular disease in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018 were included in the analysis. The age-adjusted prevalence of six modifiable risk factors consistently measured across all surveys, including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, smoking, and heavy drinking, as well as the average number of these modifiable risk factors, were estimated and compared across survey periods. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, race/ethnicity, education, and family income. The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes (p for linear trend <0.0001) and obesity (p for linear trend=0.0001) showed increasing trends from 1999 to 2018 among midlife adults in the U.S. and in virtually all subgroups, while smoking showed a decreasing trend (p for linear trend <0.0001). The average number of modifiable risk factors remained around two (p for linear trend=0.84). The prevalence of diabetes and obesity increased in this large, nationally representative U.S. study population, while the prevalence of smoking decreased. More effective public health interventions are needed to mitigate the impact of these risk factors and ultimately reduce the burden of dementia in aging populations.

The prevalence of tobacco, alcohol, stimulant, khat, and cannabis use among school-going students in African and Arab countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objectives of this review and meta-analysis were twofold: first, to determine the prevalence of substance use among school-going children in Arab and African countries; and second, to highlight the considerable influence of variables such as the nation's region and the timeframe of the study on the prevalence of substance use. Research was sourced from Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Thirty-seven articles were incorporated in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. This review included studies published from 2013 to 2023. The statistical metaanalysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis ver. 3 software. Across 37 studies, the total number of study participants was 73,508. The meta-analysis revealed that tobacco was the most commonly used substance, with a prevalence of 16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7%-20.02%). This was closely followed by alcohol, which had a prevalence of 15% (95% CI, 10.5%-22.8%), stimulants at 11.4% (95% CI, 7.4%- 17%), khat at 10% (95% CI, 5.7%-15%), and cannabis at 8% (95% CI, 3.3%-18.4%). Notably, alcohol was the only substance that showed an increasing trend in prevalence from before to after 2019, rising from 13.3% (95% CI, 6.2%-26.1%) to 17% (95% CI, 10.2%-27%) (p< 0.001). Additionally, the prevalence of substance use varied significantly between Arab and African countries (p< 0.001). Although the prevalence of substance use among school-going populations has significantly decreased over time, with the exception of alcohol, it is imperative that both African and Arab countries implement comprehensive measures and stringent laws to address the production and marketing of substances.

Worldwide prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children between 2000 and 2021: A systematic analysis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent allergic disease that significantly impacts pediatric health. To comprehensively describe the global, regional, and national AD prevalence trends among children aged 0 to 14 years between 2000 and 2021. Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 were used to analyze AD prevalence and case numbers. The annual average percentage change was calculated to assess prevalence trends. In 2021, global pediatric AD cases reached 72.4 million (95% uncertainty interval: 68.5-76.5), a 6.2% increase from 2000. Despite the rise in cases, the prevalence rate decreased on average by 0.15% (95% CI: 0.14%-0.16%). Regional prevalence varied widely, with the highest rates in Central Asia, high-income Asia Pacific, and Western Europe and the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nationally, the AD prevalence rates ranged from 1.50% in Rwanda to 10.67% in Mongolia. Between 2000 and 2021, 108 countries or territories showed a significant increase in AD prevalence, with the most notable rises in Russia, Ghana, and Latvia. In contrast, 48 countries, including the United States, Syria, and Japan, experienced a marked decrease in AD prevalence. Age and sex (male and female) patterns showed the highest prevalence in children aged 5 to 9 years, with girls having higher rates than boys across all age groups. This study reveals complex global patterns in pediatric AD prevalence, underscoring the necessity of regionally tailored public health strategies and further research into the diverse causes of AD to enhance prevention and management efforts.