Trends In Prevalence Research Articles

Prevalence and 20-year trends in meditation, yoga, guided imagery and progressive relaxation use among US adults from 2002 to 2022

Meditation, yoga, guided imagery, and progressive relaxation are promoted as complementary approaches for health and wellbeing in the United States, but their uptake by different sociodemographic groups is unclear. This study assessed the prevalence and 20 year trends in the use of these practices in US adults between 2002–2022. We examined practice use and associations with sociodemographic and health factors in a population-weighted analysis of n = 134,959 participants across 5 cycles of the National Health Interview Survey. The overall use of meditation (18.3%, 60.53 million), yoga (16.8%, 55.78 million) and guided imagery/progressive relaxation (6.7%, 22.22 million) increased significantly from 2002 to 2022. Growth was consistent across most sociodemographic and health strata, however users of ‘Other’ race (comprising 54% Indigenous Americans, Odds Ratios; ORs = 1.28–1.70) and users with moderate (ORs = 1.19–1.29) psychological distress were overrepresented across all practices, and those with severe psychological distress were overrepresented in meditation (OR = 1.33) and guided imagery/progressive relaxation (OR = 1.42). Meditation use has accelerated over time for 65 + year olds (OR = 4.22), people not accessing mental health care (OR = 1.39), and less educated (OR = 4.02) groups, potentially reflecting unmet health needs. Health professionals should consider the extensive use of complementary practices in service and treatment planning and consider their risks and benefits.

Exploring the incidence and characteristics of urolithiasis in the central region of Saudi Arabia: Insights from a prominent medical center.

Urolithiasis is a common and recurrent condition with a rising global incidence. Stones typically develop in the upper urinary tract, primarily the kidneys. Various factors such as age, gender, diet, fluid intake, climate, occupation, genetics, and metabolic diseases influence stone formation. Stones can vary in size and location, causing obstruction, urine stasis, and complications such as infection. The prevalence of urolithiasis in Saudi Arabia has significantly increased in recent decades, and the study aims to determine the current prevalence and composition trends of urolithiasis, guide treatment and prevention strategies, as well as understand predictors of occurrence and recurrence. It is a retrospective cohort study where the data was collected in the time frame of 2015-2021. The study was conducted in the Department of Surgery and the Division of Urology at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study reveals significant trends in the sociodemographic profile and clinical aspects of urolithiasis patients. With a higher incidence among males (68.5%). Stone compositions predominantly consist of calcium oxalate (67.8%) and uric acid (19.7%), while site distribution shows the left kidney as the most common location (36.5%). Notably, hypertensive patients exhibit a significant association with stone site (P = 0.014). Encouragingly, the majority of patients do not experience reoccurrence (91.6%), and the study demonstrates an increasing recurrence rate with subsequent visits. The relatively shorter hospital stays (55.9% with 1-day stays) indicate efficient management, and this knowledge can aid in optimizing patient care. This study sheds light on the multifaceted nature of urolithiasis by examining various facets. Low recurrence rate of kidney stones offers positive prospects for effective initial management. The shorter hospital stays, suggest advancements in medical practices, enhancing patient convenience and healthcare resource optimization. Investigating the underlying causes behind the observed stone compositions yield insights into potential preventive strategies. Furthermore, extended studies examining the impact of lifestyle modifications and medical interventions on stone recurrence could contribute to refined treatment protocols. These findings can guide healthcare professionals in optimizing patient care, preventive strategies, and future research endeavors.

Assessing the application and removal of temporary restorations in endodontic practice: A survey-based study

Background: This survey delved into the diverse practices regarding the placement and removal of temporary restorations in the field of endodontics. Employing a Google Forms questionnaire containing 16 inquiries, the study sought to capture varied trends prevalent among practitioners. The survey was conducted for 2 months, engaging 250 participants through social media platforms by sharing a generated link for the Google survey. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire covered a spectrum of aspects related to temporary restoration procedures, aiming to gather insights into the methodologies, techniques, and protocols adopted by practitioners during these processes. By employing an Internet-based survey tool, the researchers efficiently collated responses from a diverse pool of professionals. Results: The study’s focus encompassed understanding the nuances in temporary restoration practices, emphasizing the significance of structured guidelines or protocols in ensuring efficient and standardized procedures. Through the collected responses, the survey aimed to identify prevalent trends, disparities, and potentially innovative approaches in the placement and removal of temporary restorations within the domain of endodontics. Conclusion: Ultimately, the survey results are anticipated to provide valuable insights into the varied methodologies employed in temporary restoration procedures, potentially paving the way for standardization or enhancement of protocols in this critical aspect of endodontic therapy.

Incidence of mental disorders in Kazakhstan in 2011-2020: an information-analytical study

Introduction. Mental disorders, characterized by disturbances in thinking, feeling, and behavior, pose a significant medical and social challenge. They affect a substantial portion of the population, leading to profound health implications and diminished quality of life. Despite the considerable interest in this area, data regarding the prevalence of mental disorders in the Republic of Kazakhstan still need to be made available. This study aims to analyze the trend of mental disorder prevalence in Kazakhstan from 2011 to 2020, considering various factors such as gender, age, and residency. Methods. This study employed an informational and analytical approach. Data from 10 statistical compilations of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan spanning from 2011 to 2020 were utilized to assess the prevalence of mental disorders. Information about morbidity falling under the category of "mental disorders and behavioral disorders" was incorporated. The data were processed and presented in terms of absolute values and relative indicators. Results and conclusions. Analyzing mental disorder incidence data in Kazakhstan over the ten years revealed several trends. Overall morbidity rates showed a declining trend, notwithstanding some years witnessing minor increases in morbidity. The relative incidence rates also decreased, as evidenced by data per 100,000 population. Primary morbidity demonstrated a general decline, with a notable decrease observed in the first half of the study period. Across age groups, morbidity rates decreased in all categories, with the highest rates observed among adults. Moreover, there was a reduction in morbidity rates in both urban and rural populations, albeit with urban areas consistently exhibiting higher rates than rural areas. These findings could inform the development of interventions aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of the population and improving the management of this medical and social challenge in the future.

Multi-factor normalisation of viral counts from wastewater improves the detection accuracy of viral disease in the community

The detection of viruses (e.g. SARS-CoV-2, norovirus) in wastewater represents an effective way to monitor the prevalence of these pathogens circulating within the community. However, accurate quantification of viral concentrations in wastewater, proportional to human input, is constrained by a range of uncertainties, including (i) dilution within the sewer network, (ii) degradation of viral RNA during wastewater transit, (iii) catchment population and facility use, (iv) efficiency of viral concentration and extraction from wastewater, and (v) inhibition of amplification during the RT-qPCR step. Here, we address these uncertainties by investigating several potential normalisation factors including the concentration of ammonium and orthophosphate. A faecal indicator virus (crAssphage), and the recovery of the process-control viruses (murine norovirus and bacteriophage Phi6), used for quality control during the RT-qPCR step, were also considered. We found that multi-factor normalisation of SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR data was optimal using a combination of crAssphage, process-control virus recovery, and concentration efficiency to improve prediction accuracy relative to clinical test data. Using multi-normalised SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR data, we found a lasso regression model with random forest modelled residuals lowers the prediction error of positives by 46 %, compared to a single linear regression using raw data. This multi-normalised approach enables more accurate wastewater-based predictions of clinical cases up to five days in advance of clinical data, identifying trends in disease prevalence before clinical testing, and demonstrates the potential to improve viral pathogen detection for a range of currently monitored and emerging diseases.

Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus in African blood donors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

In developing countries, the safety of blood transfusions remains an important public health concern as it is associated with a higher risk of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs). In this study, we aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of HIV among blood donors in Africa and assess the temporal trends and regional differences within the continent through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Seven electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, HINARI, Global Index Medicus and Clinical. gov) were searched for relevant studies for our research. We included all primary studies that estimated the seroprevalence of HIV among blood donors in Africa with an age population from 16 to 65 years old, without language restrictions, from inception up to March 1st 2024. The pooled seroprevalence was estimated through the DerSimonian-Laird random effects model. The temporal trends and regional differences were assessed through subgroup and meta-regression analysis. We obtained 122 studies that met our inclusion criteria, comprising 7,814,996 blood donors tested for HIV. Sixty-six percent of the studies were from Western and Eastern Africa. The pooled seroprevalence of HIV among blood donors in Africa was 2.66% (95% CI: 2.17-3.20%; I2=99.80%, p<0.01). The highest prevalence was observed in the Central African region, 3.28% (95% CI: 2.57%-4.06%), followed by the Eastern 3.21% (95% CI: 2.12%-4.52%), and the Western 2.66% (95% CI: 1.93%-3.49%) regions. Lower prevalences were observed in the Northern region, 0.57% (95% CI: 0.0%-2.10%), followed by the Southern African region with 0.45% (95% CI: 0.16%-0.86%). We observed a temporal decreased trend of HIV prevalence. The prevalence of HIV infection among African blood donors remains high and is not homogeneous across the continent. Efficient measures to strengthen HIV testing and prevent HIV transmission through blood transfusion are needed in Africa. Systematic review protocol registration: PROSPERO CRD42023395616. This article was supported by National Funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,I.P., within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UIDP/4255/2020).

NAVIGATING THE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT: A SCIENTOMETRIC ANALYSIS

This comprehensive literature review delves into the extensive body of research exploring the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in project management. Its primary objective is to amalgamate current knowledge while discerning prevalent trends, challenges, and advantages associated with incorporating AI into project management methodologies. The study employed bibliometric analysis using VOSViewer® software to scrutinize 246 pertinent publications sourced from the Scopus database, spanning the years 2013 to 2023. The findings from the Association Strength and Density Analysis revealed distinct clusters: Cluster 1 elucidated strong associations with terms like «construction project» «technology» «algorithm» «performance» and «time»; Cluster 2 emphasized «case stud,» «decision» and «cost»; while Cluster 3 concentrated on «literature» «industry» and «framework» Moving forward, promising areas for further exploration encompass the refinement of AI algorithms, exploration of AI’s impact on project outcomes, and the fusion of AI with emergent technologies like blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT). This research serves as a foundational roadmap for future investigations aiming to leverage AI to enhance project management effectiveness and efficiency. Keywords: scientometric analysis, bibliometric review, project management, artificial intelligence, Machine Learning, cluster analysis, research trends.

Global trends in heart failure from 1990 to 2019: An age-period-cohort analysis from the Global Burden of Disease study.

This study aimed to analyse the global prevalence and disability trends of heart failure (HF) from 1990 to 2019, considering both sexes and country-specific economic strata. This study conducted a secondary analysis employing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. The analysis is stratified by sex and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) levels. Through age-period-cohort and Joinpoint regression analyses, we investigated the temporal trends in HF prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) during this period. Between 1990 and 2019, the global prevalence of HF surged by 106.3% (95% uncertainty interval: 99.3% to 114.3%), reaching 56.2 million cases in 2019. While all-age prevalence and YLDs increased over the 30year span, age-standardized rates decreased by 2019. Countries with higher SDI experienced a more pronounced percentage decrease compared with those with lower SDI. Longitudinal analysis revealed an overall improvement in both prevalence and YLDs for HF, albeit with notable disparities between SDI quintiles and sexes. Ischaemic heart disease and hypertensive heart disease emerged as the most rapidly increasing and primarily contributing causes of HF, albeit with variations observed across different countries. The average annual percentage change for prevalence and YLDs over the period was -0.26% and -0.25%, respectively. This study offers valuable insights into the global burden of HF, considering factors such as population aging, regional disparities, sex differences and aetiological variations. The findings hold significant implications for healthcare planning and resource allocation. Continued assessment of these trends and innovative strategies for HF prevention and management are crucial for addressing this pressing global health concern.

Connecting Pixels to Trust: A Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Government Social Media Usage and Citizens' Trust in Government

Government social media has garnered significant attention due to its impact on citizens' attitudes, prompting extensive academic research. This review aims to delineate a decade-spanning corpus of literature, discern prevalent research trends, and propose a prospective research agenda in this domain. Employing systematic literature review and PRISMA methodologies, our investigation identified 22 published articles through comprehensive keyword searches across Scopus, Google Scholar, CNKI, and ProQuest databases, ensuring a diverse representation of geographic areas to capture the global perspective on this issue. This study mainly utilize a mixed research methodology encompassing bibliometrics and content analysis to analyze data results. This paper conducted a bibliometric analysis revealing that the relationship between government social media usage and citizens' trust in the government remains a contentious topic. To delve deeper into this relationship, the selected literature were categorized into three distinct research themes through content analysis, forming a comprehensive conceptual framework. Upon meticulous analysis, the findings suggest that future research should explore the communication field more extensively, encompass a broader range of research topics, employ refined concepts, and examine the mediating role of audience behavior, particularly focusing on the behavior of young people. Furthermore, researchers are encouraged to adopt a more thorough and detailed systematic approach when reviewing relevant literature on government social media.

Child abuse and neglect-related murders in South Africa: a comparison of two national surveys in 2009 and 2017

Population-based statistics on deaths from child abuse and neglect are only routinely available in countries that have reliable national statistics on child murder. For low-income and middle-income countries, relatively little is known about prevalence trends of child murder. South Africa is an exception, having conducted dedicated national studies on child murders for 2009 and 2017 to provide data on child murders overall and on child abuse and neglect-related murders. We aimed to compare child abuse and neglect-related murders in South Africa across two surveys to determine any change between 2009 and 2017. We conducted two retrospective national mortuary-based surveys on murder of children aged 0-17 years for 2009 and 2017 from a proportionate random sample of medico-legal laboratories in South Africa. A sampling frame of medico-legal laboratories for each study year was prepared with stratification by medico-legal laboratory size. A minimum of 2 years after the crime was allowed before data collection to enable progression of the investigation process. Child abuse and neglect-related murders were identified using both medico-legal laboratory post-mortem autopsy reports and police data. To identify a child abuse and neglect-related murder, we primarily used the framework of abuse happening within the context of responsibility of care arrangements but broadened this to include all perpetrators and abuse identified from the data. We stratified age into 0-4, 5-9, 10-14, and 15-17 years and further stratified children younger than 5 years into early neonates (newborns killed within 6 days of birth), 7 days to 11 months, and 1-4 years. We calculated incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% CIs to compare rates between 2009 and 2017. An estimated 458 (95% CI 377-539) children in 2009 and 213 (179-247) children in 2017 were murdered in circumstances of child abuse and neglect. The percentage of all child murders that were child abuse and neglect-related declined from 2009 to 2017 (458 [45·0%] of 1018 in 2009 vs 213 [25·0%] of 851 in 2017), with the overall age-standardised rate decreasing from 2·6 to 1·1 per 100 000 children aged 0-17 years (IRR 0·43 [95% CI 0·35-0·54]). Girls represented 276 (60·3%) of 458 murders in 2009, which declined to 96 (45·1%) of 213 murders in 2017, and boys represented 178 (38·9%) of 458 murders in 2009 and 109 (51·4%) of 213 murders in 2017. The decrease was statistically significant for girls in the 0-4 year (IRR 0·33 [0·22-0·49]) and 5-9 year (0·33 [0·15-0·73]) age groups and for boys in the 0-4 year age group (0·49 [0·33-0·71]). Among early neonates (within 6 days of birth), the decrease in child abuse and neglect-related murders was more pronounced among girls than among boys (IRR 0·33 [95% CI 0·19-0·56] vs 0·46 [0·28-0·77]). Child abuse and neglect-related murders are common in South Africa but our study shows that they can be reduced. The high rate of these murders points to the need to continue research and monitoring to inform priority targeted interventions and to better understand the impact of child support policies. Ford Foundation and South African Medical Research Council.

The T-cell receptor β chain CDR3 insights of bovine liver immune repertoire under heat stress.

The liver plays a dual role in regulating temperature and immune responses. Examining the influence of heat stress (HS) on liver T cells contributes significantly to understanding the intricate interplay between the immune system and hepatic tissues under thermal stress. This study focused on investigating the characteristics of the T-cell receptor (TCR) β chain CDR3 repertoire in bovine liver samples under both HS and pairfed (PF) environmental conditions. Sequencing data from six samples sourced from the GEO database underwent annotation. Utilizing immunarch and VDJtool software, the study conducted comprehensive analyses encompassing basic evaluation, clonality assessment, immune repertoire comparison, diversity estimation, gene usage profiling, VJ gene segment pairing scrutiny, clonal tracking, and Kmers analysis. All four TCR chains, namely α, β, γ, and δ, were detected, with the α chains exhibiting the highest detection frequency, followed closely by the β chains. The prevalence of αβ TCRs in bovine liver samples underscored their crucial role in governing hepatic tissue's physiological functions. The TCR β CDR3 repertoire showcased substantial inter-individual variability, featuring diverse clonotypes exhibiting distinct amino acid lengths. Intriguingly, HS cattle displayed heightened diversity and clonality, suggesting potential peripheral T cell migration into the liver under environmental conditions. Notably, differential VJ gene pairings were observed in HS cattle compared to the PF, despite individual variations in V and J gene utilization. Additionally, while most high-frequency amino acid 5-mers remained consistent between the HS and PF, GELHF, and YDYHF were notably prevalent in the HS group. Across all samples, a prevalent trend of high-frequency 5mers skewed towards polar and hydrophobic amino acids was evident. This study elucidates the characteristics of liver TCR β chain CDR3 repertoire under HS conditions, enhancing our understanding of HS implications.

Overweight and Obesity in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Growing Challenge

The prevalence of obesity in adults with type 1 diabetes is increasing and reflects the rates of the general adult population. The coexistence of overweight or obesity and type 1 diabetes poses a major challenge to effective glycemic and weight management. In addition, individuals living with T1D and overweight or obesity are at greater cardiometabolic risk and are more prone to develop chronic complications in comparison to normal weight individuals with type 1 diabetes. Although obesity represents a growing challenge in the type 1 diabetes population, awareness of this issue is still low. This review provides a summary of current data on prevalence trends, causes, current strategies, and challenges in managing obesity in adults with type 1 diabetes.

Analyzing Methods, Data Collection, and Trustworthiness in Self-Study Research: A Content Analysis of the First 19 Volumes of Studying Teacher Education

ABSTRACT Self-study researchers have periodically considered the essence of self-study, its objectives, its applications, and potential future trajectories. To address this imperative, our study undertakes a content analysis of the initial 19 volumes of Studying Teacher Education (STE), the flagship journal of self-study research. We focus specifically on the methodological dimensions of the scholarship featured in the journal, encompassing the spectrum of self-study methodologies employed, data collection techniques utilized, and measures of trustworthiness adopted. Through our analysis, we identify prevalent trends within each thematic domain, alongside an evolving consensus over time regarding the characteristics of high-quality self-study research. Nonetheless, we also discern persistent challenges concerning the lack of definitional precision and consistent implementation across diverse methodologies, data collection approaches, and trustworthiness measures. Echoing previous scholarship, we advocate for the establishment of a shared lexicon within the self-study community and the cultivation of explicit understandings regarding the diverse modalities of its application. Furthermore, drawing from our analysis, we introduce a typology delineating three distinct epochs of self-study research within the journal’s history while also envisioning the emergence of a fourth era poised to both reaffirm self-study’s foundational role as a form of counter-scholarship and chart innovative pathways forward.

Evaluating trends in cigarette and HTP use in Japan and measurement issues in the National Health and Nutrition Survey

IntrodutionStudies have reported that the rapid rise in heated tobacco product (HTP) sales in Japan accompanied an accelerated decline in cigarette sales. However, these studies do not distinguish whether those...

Cohort Differences in Physical Health and Disability in the United States and Europe.

Declines in mortality have historically been associated with improvements in physical health across generations. While life expectancy in most high-income countries continues to increase, there is evidence that younger generations, particularly in the United States, are less healthy than previous generations at the same age. We compared generational trends in physical health in the United States, England, and continental Europe to explore whether other regions have experienced a similar pattern of worsening health across cohorts. Using data from nationally representative studies of adults aged ≥50 years from the United States (Health and Retirement Study, n = 26,939), England (English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, n = 14,992) and 11 continental European countries (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, n = 72,595), we estimated differences in the age-adjusted prevalence of self-reported chronic disease and disability and observer-measured health indicators across pseudo-birth cohorts (born <1925, 1925-1935, 1936-1945, 1946-1954, 1955-1959). Age-adjusted prevalence of doctor-diagnosed chronic disease increased across successive cohorts in all regions. Trends in disability prevalence were more regionally varied. Still, in both the United States and Europe, we observed a structural break in disability trends, with declines observed in prewar cohorts slowing, stalling, or reversing for cohorts born since 1945. In all regions, we found evidence for worsening health across cohorts, particularly for those born since 1945. While more chronic disease in younger cohorts need not necessarily translate to worse quality of life or higher rates of functional limitation, there is some suggestion that worsening chronic disease morbidity may be spilling over into worsening disability.

Epidemiological trends and factors associated with survival in patients with medulloblastoma: A 45-year population-based retrospective study

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a primary brain malignancy. However, updated epidemiological data and long-term outcomes are lacking.The clinical and epidemiological datasets of patients with MB in the current study were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) databases. Joinpoint regression models were used to assess the rate of changes in the incidence, prevalence, and treatment trends in patients with MB. Cox hazard and competition risk model analyses were used to assess overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS).The age-adjusted incidence of MB remained relatively stable at 0.15 per 100,000 individuals in 2019. The annual percentage change (APC) of females remained stable, whereas that of males increased over time. The 20-year limited-duration prevalence of patients with MB increased significantly from 0.00016 % in 1999 to 0.00203 % in 2018. Patients aged 5–19 years accounted for 46.7 % of all age groups, and the trend for the three treatments was increased. Average annual percentage change (AAPC) for the chemotherapy group was increased in patients aged 20 + years MB [AAPC = 2.66 (95 % CI 0.93–6.31)]. Multivariate analysis revealed that OS and CSS varied significantly according to age, year of diagnosis, histology, stage, surgery, and radiotherapy. Subgroup analysis showed that chemotherapy was associated with a favorable prognosis in high-risk groups.The incidence of MB remained relatively stable, and its prevalence increased significantly. This current population-based study further identified the prognostic factors in patients with MB. Moreover, the use of chemotherapy was associated with better survival in high-risk groups.

Birth-cohort patterns of e-cigarette and other tobacco use among adolescents in the US

BackgroundE-cigarette use has increased considerably among US adolescents. While many studies have described cross-sectional prevalence trends of youth e-cigarette use, less is known about cohort or generational initiation and use patterns. MethodsWe used data from the US National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) from 2014 to 2022 and age-period-cohort models to analyze age-specific patterns of e-cigarette use initiation and prevalence by cohort and calendar. For comparison, we also examined initiation and prevalence for cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco, using NYTS data from 1999 to 2022. ResultsAge-specific e-cigarette initiation and prevalence varied considerably by calendar year and birth cohort. There was a rapid increase in e-cigarette initiation and prevalence starting with the 1995 birth cohort, peaking with the 2005 birth cohort, and showing signs of decline with more recent cohorts. In contrast, there were substantial continuous reductions in cigarette, cigar, and smokeless use initiation and prevalence by birth cohort. While the reductions in cigarette smoking started with the 1980s birth cohorts, cigar and smokeless initiation and prevalence did not decrease until the 1990–1995 cohorts. ConclusionsDespite their recent emergence, e-cigarette use has varied considerably across US adolescent cohorts. After early increases, e-cigarette use and initiation peaked with the 2005 birth cohort. These patterns are in contrast with the continuous decreases by cohort in cigarette, cigar, and smokeless use and initiation. As the tobacco product landscape continues to evolve, it will be essential to monitor patterns of use of adolescent and young adult cohorts as they age into adulthood.

Trends in cardiovascular risk factor prevalence, treatment, and control among US adolescents aged 12 to 19 years, 2001 to March 2020

BackgroundEarly-life cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are known to be associated with target organ damage during adolescence and premature cardiovascular morbidity and mortality during adulthood. However, contemporary data describing whether the prevalence of CVRFs and treatment and control rates have changed are limited. This study aimed to examine the temporal trends in the prevalence, treatment, and control of CVRFs among US adolescents over the past 2 decades.MethodsThis is a serial cross-sectional study using data from nine National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles (January 2001—March 2020). US adolescents (aged 12 to 19 years) with information regarding CVRFs (including hypertension, elevated blood pressure [BP], diabetes, prediabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, overweight, cigarette use, inactive physical activity, and poor diet quality) were included. Age-adjusted trends in CVRF prevalence, treatment, and control were examined. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to estimate changes in the prevalence, treatment, and control over time. The variation by sociodemographic characteristics were also described.ResultsA total of 15,155 US adolescents aged 12 to 19 years (representing ≈ 32.4 million people) were included. From 2001 to March 2020, there was an increase in the prevalence of prediabetes (from 12.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 10.2%-14.9%] to 37.6% [95% CI, 29.1%-46.2%]) and overweight/obesity (from 21.1% [95% CI, 19.3%-22.8%] to 24.8% [95% CI, 21.4%-28.2%]; from 16.0% [95% CI, 14.1%-17.9%] to 20.3% [95% CI, 17.9%-22.7%]; respectively), no improvement in the prevalence of elevated BP (from 10.4% [95% CI, 8.9%-11.8%] to 11.0% [95% CI, 8.7%-13.4%]), diabetes (from 0.7% [95% CI, 0.2%-1.2%] to 1.2% [95% CI, 0.3%-2.2%]), and poor diet quality (from 76.1% [95% CI, 74.0%-78.2%] to 71.7% [95% CI, 68.5%-74.9%]), and a decrease in the prevalence of hypertension (from 8.1% [95% CI, 6.9%-9.4%] to 5.5% [95% CI, 3.7%-7.3%]), hyperlipidemia (from 34.2% [95% CI, 30.9%-37.5%] to 22.8% [95% CI, 18.7%-26.8%]), cigarette use (from 18.0% [95% CI, 15.7%-20.3%] to 3.5% [95% CI, 2.0%-5.0%]), and inactive physical activity (from 83.0% [95% CI, 80.7%-85.3%] to 9.5% [95% CI, 4.2%-14.8%]). Sex and race/ethnicity affected the evolution of CVRF prevalence differently. Whilst treatment rates for hypertension and diabetes did not improve significantly (from 9.6% [95% CI, 3.5%-15.8%] to 6.0% [95% CI, 1.4%-10.6%]; from 51.0% [95% CI, 23.3%-78.7%] to 26.5% [95% CI, 0.0%-54.7%]; respectively), BP control was relatively stable (from 75.7% [95% CI, 56.8%-94.7%] to 73.5% [95% CI, 40.3%-100.0%]), while glycemic control improved to a certain extent, although it remained suboptimal (from 11.8% [95% CI, 0.0%-31.5%] to 62.7% [95% CI, 62.7%-62.7%]).ConclusionsFrom 2001 to March 2020, although prediabetes and overweight/obesity increased, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cigarette use, and inactive physical activity decreased among US adolescents aged 12 to 19 years, whereas elevated BP, diabetes, and poor diet quality remained unchanged. There were disparities in CVRF prevalence and trends across sociodemographic subpopulations. While treatment and control rates for hypertension and diabetes plateaued, BP control were stable, and improved glycemic control was observed.

Temporal Trends in Neck Pain Prevalence among Adolescents and Young Adults Aged 10-24 from 1990 to 2019

Temporal Trends in Neck Pain Prevalence among Adolescents and Young Adults Aged 10-24 from 1990 to 2019

Longitudinal Trends and Disparities in Diabetic Retinopathy Within an Aggregate Health Care Network

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness in the US, warranting updates on its prevalence and incidence in the setting of advancements in diabetic care over recent years. To determine recent trends in DR prevalence stratified by baseline demographics to identify those populations at greater risk. This was a cross-sectional epidemiologic evaluation conducted using deidentified data from the large federated TriNetX Analytics health research network composed of 56 health care organizations in the US. Patients from 2015 to 2022 who had an International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision code of type 1 DR (T1DR) or type 2 DR (T2DR) were included in this analysis. Patients were further stratified by age cohorts (20-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, and 70 years or older), race and ethnicity, and sex. Prevalence per 100 000 patients and prevalence odds ratios (ORs) were calculated in Microsoft Excel and Posit (formerly RStudio). A total of 359 126 patients with T1DR or T2DR (mean [SD] age, 67 [14] years; 52% female) were included in this study between January 1, 2015, and December 21, 2022. T1DR increased in prevalence from 2015 to 2022, with T1DR increasing 1.15-fold affecting 70.4 patients per 100 000 in 2022. T2DR increased 1.07-fold affecting 461.7 patients per 100 000 in 2022. For T1DR, the cohort aged 20 to 39 years had the most substantial increase at 4.7 and 1.96 fold. Overall, White males had the largest prevalence ORs of T1DR at 1.41 (95% CI, 1.36-1.47) compared with White females (reference group). In T2DR, patients aged 20 to 39 years again had a 2.5- and 1.6-fold prevalence increase from 2015 to 2022. Regardless of age group, Hispanic males demonstrated larger prevalence OR at 4.08 (95% CI, 3.97-4.19) compared with White females followed by Hispanic females at 2.49 (95% CI, 2.42-2.56), Black males at 2.23 (95% CI, 2.17-2.29), and Black females at 2.00 (95% CI, 1.95-2.05). The prevalence of both T1DR and T2DR increased in this network from 2015 to 2022, with individuals aged 20 to 39 years showing large increases. Additionally, T2DR was associated with greater increases in both Hispanic and Black communities. These findings support DR screening in young adults and for T2DR interventions specifically designed for racial and ethnic minoritized patients most affected by disease. Future investigations are warranted to further investigate these trends among young adults.