Global & Public Health (all articles)
RCT | Assessment of a text message–based smoking cessation intervention for adult smokers
9 Mar, 2023 | 14:09h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
RCT: Personalized text messages for a smoking cessation intervention in China improves biochemically-verified continuous abstinence at 6 months, 7% vs 3% with non-personalized messaged. https://t.co/DFTQoGfT7x
— JAMA Network Open (@JAMANetworkOpen) March 1, 2023
Perspective | How to not be completely wrong about masks
8 Mar, 2023 | 14:25h | UTCHow to not be completely wrong about masks – The Munro Report
Related:
SR | Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses
Hospital masking should be optional – Sensible Medicine
RCT | Medical masks vs. N95 respirators for preventing COVID-19 among health care workers.
Commentary on Twitter
Excellent and sensible interpretation of the data, on both ends of the spectrum, and everything in between.
(Will forgive the split infinitive in the title. ?)
How to not be completely wrong about masks, by @apsmunro https://t.co/85Ot6oUOZF
— Paul Sax (@PaulSaxMD) March 2, 2023
Position Statement | Telemedicine in obstetrics — quality and safety considerations
8 Mar, 2023 | 14:23h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Telemedicine in obstetrics—quality and safety considerations https://t.co/15knjAg4tc @MySMFM @acog #telemedicine pic.twitter.com/jUL7inHuu4
— AJOG (@AJOG_thegray) March 7, 2023
E-Scooter users more likely to suffer serious trauma compared to bicycle users: a nationwide study in England and Wales
8 Mar, 2023 | 14:13h | UTCSummary:
The study aimed to determine the incidence, demographics, and injury patterns involved in E-Scooter-related hospital admissions due to significant trauma compared with bicycle-related trauma within England and Wales. The retrospective cohort study was based on data submitted to the UK Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) registry between 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.
The study found that E-Scooter users were more likely to be admitted to a major trauma center or a critical care unit than bicycle users. Serious head and limb trauma occurred more frequently among E-Scooter users, while serious chest and pelvic trauma were greater among bicycle users. Over one-third of E-Scooter injuries were incurred outside the current legislation by patients who were intoxicated by alcohol and drugs or under the age of 17.
The study suggests a greater relative incidence of serious trauma and an alternative pattern of injury among E-Scooter users compared with bicycle users. The study concludes that further legislation and tighter regulation of E-Scooter rental are required to reduce the already significant burden of injury associated with this mode of transport.
Article: Major trauma among E-Scooter and bicycle users: a nationwide cohort study – Injury Prevention
News Release: Crashing an e-scooter likely to lead to more serious injuries than crashing a bike – British Medical Journal
Commentary: E-scooter riders more likely than cyclists to sustain serious injuries – BBC
Report | Economic impact of overweight and obesity to surpass $4 trillion by 2035
6 Mar, 2023 | 14:32h | UTCSummary:
A recent report from the World Obesity Federation has issued a warning that the number of people worldwide suffering from overweight or obesity could increase significantly by 2035, surpassing the 50% mark. The report, called the World Obesity Atlas 2023, also highlights the significant economic impact of this trend, estimating that the cost of overweight and obesity could reach $4.32tn annually by 2035, equivalent to almost 3% of the global GDP.
The report also identifies two groups that are particularly at risk: children and individuals from lower-income countries. Childhood obesity is a growing concern, as the report predicts it could double by 2035. Additionally, lower-income countries face a rapid increase in obesity prevalence, with nine out of 10 countries with the greatest expected increases in obesity coming from low or lower-middle income countries.
Report: World Obesity Atlas 2023
News release: Economic impact of overweight and obesity to surpass $4 trillion by 2035
Commentary: Report: Obesity could cost the world over $4 trillion a year by 2035 – STAT
Related:
Report: Tenfold increase in childhood and adolescent obesity in four decades
Global cost of obesity-related illness to hit $1.2tn a year from 2025
The Lancet Series: The Double Burden of Malnutrition
Cluster RCT | Effectiveness of a non-physician community health-care provider-led intensive BP intervention vs. usual care on CVD
6 Mar, 2023 | 14:20h | UTCSummary:
The study evaluated the effectiveness of a non-physician community health-care provider-led intensive blood pressure intervention on cardiovascular disease compared to usual care. The trial randomly assigned 326 villages to the intervention or usual care, and recruited individuals aged at least 40 years with hypertension. Trained non-physician community health-care providers initiated and titrated antihypertensive medications according to a simple stepped-care protocol and delivered health coaching for patients in the intervention group during the 36-month follow-up.
The study found that the intervention effectively reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause death. There was a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (23.1 mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure (9.9 mm Hg) in the intervention group compared to the usual care group, with an increased risk of hypotension in the intervention group.
Article: Effectiveness of a non-physician community health-care provider-led intensive blood pressure intervention versus usual care on cardiovascular disease (CRHCP): an open-label, blinded-endpoint, cluster-randomised trial – The Lancet (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Related:
Cohort Study: Impact of Community Based Screening for Hypertension in Older Adults
Randomized Trial: Community-Based Interventions to Improve Cardiovascular Risk in High-Risk Patients
Cluster-Randomized Trial of Blood-Pressure Reduction in Black Barbershops
Estimates and projections of the global economic cost of 29 cancers in 204 countries and territories from 2020 to 2050
3 Mar, 2023 | 14:09h | UTCSummary: The study aimed to estimate the global economic cost and distribution of 29 cancers in 204 countries and territories from 2020 to 2050. The study’s findings suggest that the global economic cost of cancers from 2020 to 2050 is estimated at $25.2 trillion. The five cancers with the highest financial costs are tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer; colon and rectum cancer; breast cancer; liver cancer; and leukemia. China and the US face the highest economic costs, and the financial and health burdens are distributed unequally across countries, world regions, and country income groups.
News Release: The price of cancer – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Commentary on Twitter
The estimated global economic cost of cancers in 2020–2050 is $25.2 trillion, or $2,857 per capita. Global efforts to curb the health and economic burden of cancers are urgently warranted. https://t.co/xAMOGX3Dtl
— JAMA Oncology (@JAMAOnc) February 23, 2023
Perspective | The other long Covid: the pandemic took young people’s present. What will it do to their future?
3 Mar, 2023 | 14:05h | UTC
Cohort Study | Association between a healthy lifestyle and memory decline in older adults
3 Mar, 2023 | 13:44h | UTCSummary: This study examined the association between a healthy lifestyle and memory decline in older adults over a 10-year period. The study included 29,072 participants aged 60 or older with normal cognition and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping at baseline. Six healthy lifestyle factors were assessed: a healthy diet, regular physical exercise, active social contact, active cognitive activity, never or former smoker, and never drinking alcohol. Participants were categorized into three groups based on their lifestyle factors: favorable, average, and unfavorable. The results showed that participants in the favorable group had slower memory decline than those in the unfavorable group, even in the presence of the APOE ε4 allele. These findings have important implications for public health initiatives to protect older adults against memory decline.
Editorial: Healthy lifestyles for dementia prevention – The BMJ
News Release: Healthy lifestyle linked to slower memory decline in older adults – BMJ Newsroom
Commentary: Healthful Lifestyle May Slow Memory Loss, Even for APOE Gene Carriers – JAMA
Commentary on Twitter
A healthy lifestyle is associated with slower memory decline, even in the presence of the [high risk] APOE ε4 allele.
Most to least impactful: diet, cognitive activity, physical exercise, active social contact, never/former smoking, & never drinking.https://t.co/j21cH2wyo6 pic.twitter.com/6qgd9bJ2Gr
— Joseph C. Watso, PhD (@Joseph_Watso) January 27, 2023
Under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ license
Mean systolic blood pressure above the control threshold in people with treated uncontrolled hypertension in 55 countries
2 Mar, 2023 | 12:48h | UTC
M-A | Combination of multiple low-risk lifestyle behaviors and incident type 2 diabetes
1 Mar, 2023 | 14:06h | UTCSummary: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the association between multiple low-risk lifestyle behaviors (LRLBs) and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. The study examined 30 cohort comparisons involving 1,693,753 participants and 75,669 cases of type 2 diabetes. The LRLBs evaluated in the study were maintaining a healthy body weight, healthy diet, regular exercise, smoking abstinence or cessation, and light alcohol consumption. Results showed that the highest adherence to these LRLBs was associated with an 80% lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared to the lowest adherence group. Thus, targeting these LRLBs could be an effective strategy for the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes. However, the authors recommend promoting only four LRLBs, excluding alcohol intake, due to its association with increased harm. The potential benefits of small alcohol intake remain a controversial issue since most studies on the subject are observational and subject to residual confounding.
Article: Combination of Multiple Low-Risk Lifestyle Behaviors and Incident Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies – Diabetes Care (free for a limited period)
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Our research shows that adherence to multiple low-risk lifestyle behaviours including healthy diet and exercise can significantly reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes https://t.co/mWEEw9xYtQ #healthylifestyle #lowriskhabits #healthresearch
— Tauseef Khan (@tauseefkhan) February 22, 2023
WHO Report | A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth
28 Feb, 2023 | 14:04h | UTCSummary: This new report by United Nations agencies shows that a woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth. The report covers maternal deaths from 2000 to 2020 and reveals that maternal deaths either increased or stagnated in nearly all regions of the world, with some regions experiencing major setbacks. The poorest parts of the world and countries affected by conflict continue to have the highest rates of maternal deaths. Severe bleeding, high blood pressure, pregnancy-related infections, complications from unsafe abortion, and underlying conditions aggravated by pregnancy are the leading causes of maternal deaths, which are largely preventable and treatable with access to high-quality healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic may have further held back progress on maternal health. The report calls for urgent action to ensure every woman and girl has access to critical health services before, during, and after childbirth, so they can fully exercise their reproductive rights.
News Release: A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth: UN agencies – World Health Organization
Commentaries:
Ambitious goal to slash maternal deaths in jeopardy – Nature
U.N.: Progress on reducing global maternal mortality has stalled since 2015 – STAT
Eight Hundred Women Die Every Day During Pregnancy or Childbirth – Health Policy Watch
Physicians are more burned out than ever — here’s what can be done about it
28 Feb, 2023 | 13:57h | UTCPhysicians Are More Burned Out Than Ever—Here’s What Can Be Done About It – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Related Report: Addressing Health Worker Burnout – The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Building a Thriving Health Workforce
Related:
AAP Clinical Report | Physician health and wellness.
M-A | Physicians suffering burnout are twice as likely to be involved in patient safety incidents.
Systematic Review | Predictors of burnout among healthcare providers.
Physician Well-being 2.0: Where Are We and Where Are We Going? – Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Assessment of Risk Factors for Suicide Among US Health Care Professionals
Beyond Burnout: Docs Decry ‘Moral Injury’ From Financial Pressures of Health Care
Hospital administration response to physician stress and burnout – Journal of Hospital Practice
Opinion: It’s Time to Talk About Physician Burnout and Moral Injury
Systematic Review: Effect of Organization-Directed Workplace Interventions on Physician Burnout
The 3 Causes Of Physician Burnout (And Why There’s No Simple Solution) – Forbes
Physician Burnout: A Global Crisis
The Burnout Crisis in American Medicine – The Atlantic
Physician burnout costs up to $17B a year, task force says – HealthcareDive
Systematic Review: Prevalence of Burnout Among Physicians
Association Between Physician Burnout and Patient Safety, Professionalism, and Patient Satisfaction
WHO Report | Global trends in the 2022-23 Mpox (Monkeypox) outbreak
23 Feb, 2023 | 13:43h | UTCSummary: The report provides an overview of the 2022-23 monkeypox (mpox) outbreak worldwide as reported to WHO as of February 18, 2023. The report focuses on laboratory-confirmed cases and mentions that 86,019 cases and 1,389 probable cases, including 96 deaths, have been reported to WHO from 110 Member States across all 6 WHO regions, including some countries without previously documented mpox transmission. The outbreak primarily affects men who have sex with men, and no signal suggests sustained transmission beyond these networks. The WHO Director-General has determined that this outbreak continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern and issued revised temporary recommendations in relation to the outbreak.
Report: 2022-23 Mpox (Monkeypox) Outbreak: Global Trends – World Health Organization
Commentary on Twitter
With over 86,000 total cases & 96 related deaths, #mpox outbreak has slowed down but is still ongoing in several countries.
Maintained surveillance & enhanced access to diagnostics, vaccines and treatments are key to stop the disease transmission globally https://t.co/mLHsVoWKBY pic.twitter.com/PcLFQjjrz7
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) February 21, 2023
M-A | Global and regional prevalence of multimorbidity in the adult population in community settings
22 Feb, 2023 | 12:47h | UTCSummary: The article presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of surveys that estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity among adults in community settings. The study analyzed data from 126 peer-reviewed studies, including nearly 15.4 million people from 54 countries worldwide. The overall global prevalence of multimorbidity was 37.2%, with South America having the highest prevalence, followed by North America, Europe, and Asia. The study also found that females have a higher prevalence of multimorbidity than males, and that more than half of the adult population worldwide above 60 years of age had multimorbid conditions.
Related:
Costs of multimorbidity: a systematic review and meta-analyses – BMC Medicine
Systematic review of high-cost patients’ characteristics and healthcare utilization – BMJ Open
Multimorbidity: a priority for global health research – The Academy of Medical Sciences
The global burden of multiple chronic conditions: a narrative review – Preventive Medicine Reports
Redesigning Care for High-Cost, High-Risk Patients – Harvard Business Review
Multimorbidity: clinical assessment and management – NICE Guideline
Richard Smith: The challenge of high need, high cost patients – The BMJ Blogs
Better Care for People with Complex Needs – Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Trends and predictions of malnutrition and obesity in 204 countries and territories: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
22 Feb, 2023 | 12:17h | UTC
Perspective | Choosing the right path toward polio eradication
17 Feb, 2023 | 13:18h | UTCChoosing the Right Path toward Polio Eradication – New England Journal of Medicine
Hidden harms of indoor air pollution — five steps to expose them
16 Feb, 2023 | 15:13h | UTCHidden harms of indoor air pollution — five steps to expose them – Nature
Commentary on Twitter
Dirty outdoor air might grab the headlines, but learning how pollutants inside buildings form, accumulate and affect our health is equally crucial, argue Alastair Lewis, Deborah Jenkins and @CMO_England in a @Nature Comment article. https://t.co/C8MrWEwfE2
— Nature Portfolio (@NaturePortfolio) February 8, 2023
SR | The impact of interventions to prevent neonatal healthcare-associated infections in low- and middle-income countries
16 Feb, 2023 | 14:47h | UTC
SR | The impact of antimicrobial stewardship in children in low- and middle-income countries
16 Feb, 2023 | 14:46h | UTC
M-A | Cost-effectiveness of internet interventions compared with treatment as usual for people with mental disorders
16 Feb, 2023 | 14:43h | UTC
SR | The effect of parental leave on parents’ mental health
15 Feb, 2023 | 15:44h | UTCInvited Commentary: Paid parental leave and mental health: the importance of equitable policy design – The Lancet Public Health
News Release: Generous parental leave schemes protect against poorer mental health – Stockholm University / News Medical
Developments under assisted dying legislation: the experience in Belgium and other countries
14 Feb, 2023 | 11:02h | UTCSummary: The legalization of assisted dying (including euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide) remains a controversial issue as more countries consider such laws. A selective literature review was conducted to examine the developments globally, and the experience in Belgium was found to be instructive. Since legalization, the practice of assisted dying has increased gradually, accompanied by a growing acceptance among the public and physicians. Although fears have been largely alleviated, ongoing monitoring and research are necessary to address important concerns. Research in Belgium has not found evidence of harmful effects, but the implementation of assisted dying laws should always consider integration into the healthcare system, physician training, conscientious objection, availability of palliative care, public education, and monitoring systems. To ensure the quality of end-of-life care, it is advisable to set up monitoring and evaluation systems and carry out impartial studies. It is important to have high levels of openness and involvement with healthcare providers and the general public.
(By ChatGPT, reviewed and edited)
Eight countries eliminated a neglected tropical disease in 2022
14 Feb, 2023 | 10:45h | UTCEight countries eliminated a neglected tropical disease in 2022 – Nature
Original report: WHO Global report on neglected tropical diseases 2023
The Lancet Series | Breastfeeding 2023
13 Feb, 2023 | 12:52h | UTCHomepage: Breastfeeding 2023 – The Lancet
Editorial: Unveiling the predatory tactics of the formula milk industry
Breastfeeding: crucially important, but increasingly challenged in a market-driven world
Marketing of commercial milk formula: a system to capture parents, communities, science, and policy
Commentaries:
Expert reaction to review of formula baby milk – Science Media Centre