International Journal of Public Health最新文献

Objectives: The incidence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in China is increasing. We aim to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the burden of PAD.

Methods: We collected information from 1990 to 2019 in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2019) study. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to calculate the annual percentage change (APC). Trends in incidence, mortality and DALYs were forecasted by Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) analysis.

Results: In 2019, the number of new cases and prevalence of PAD in China accounted for nearly a quarter of the global proportion. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) declined after rising until 2005. The age-standardized death rate (ASDR) maintained an upward trend. The DALYs was 0.16 million. Incidence, prevalence and DALYs are predominantly female, except for mortality, which is predominantly male. Smoking predominantly affected males, while hypertension and diabetes had a greater impact on females. By 2030, ASDR is elevated, predominantly in males. ASIR and age-standardized DALY rate decline, predominantly in females.

Conclusion: It is urgent for China to develop strategies based on the specific distribution characteristics of the PAD burden.

Objectives: Studies have identified sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors that promote participation in workplace health promotion activities. The present study therefore focuses on what influences nonparticipation within a representative sample of the German population.

Methods: In the analysis of possible factors influencing nonparticipation, company characteristics are accounted for in addition to sociodemographic and health behaviour-related variables. The data used for the analysis are from the GEDA study 2014/2015-EHIS of the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin.

Results: Age largely increased the probability of nonparticipation (OR: between 1.30 and 1.92, p: between <0.001 and 0.033). Other possible influencing factors, such as weight, smoking status, alcohol consumption, exercise status and diet, seemed to play a rather minor role in the present analysis. Self-rated belonging to a certain socioeconomic status group also had a significant influence (OR: 0.76, p: <0.001).

Conclusion: The influencing factors seem to be of a sociodemographic and socioeconomic nature. These determinants should be accounted for to reduce nonparticipation. However, a comparison with current or longitudinal data would be needed to prove to what extent the results are still valid or influenced by a cohort effect.

Objectives: To examine age-specific trends and risk factors in the burden of women's cancers (WCs) in China from 1990 to 2019 to inform strategies.

Methods: Data were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 and World Population Prospects 2019. Time trends, age differences, and key factors for breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers (BC, CC, and OC) were analyzed based on age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate.

Results: ASIRs for BC and CC increased over the study period, with a slower growth rate for CC after 2005, likely due to targeted HPV prevention. OC showed the highest ASIR and DALY increases, indicating a growing concern. Peak ASIR for BC and CC was in women aged 50-55, while OC showed a higher burden in women aged 70-79. Lower DALYs in women born after 1985 suggest improved healthcare access.

Conclusion: This study highlights significant trends in cancer burden among Chinese women, driven by age and reproductive health policies. Future efforts should enhance screening, health literacy, and age-targeted risk reduction for specific cancer types.

Objectives: Climate change is increasing the risk of heat-related illness in outdoor sports. Coaches have a responsibility to protect the athletes in their care. In this study, the knowledge and practice of German coaches in heat prevention were evaluated nationwide.

Methods: Coaches (n = 1,200) from the ten largest outdoor sports in Germany were asked about their knowledge using the knowledge of heat-related illness symptoms index (KOSI, range [0-14]). Prevention measures currently implemented by coaches were analyzed in terms of relative compliance with specified recommendations (heat prevention score (HPS), range [0-100]).

Results: The KOSI averaged 10.31 ± 1.81 and pointed to clear knowledge deficits: the lowest score values were shown by coaches in skiing (9.85 ± 1.80), soccer (10.07 ± 2.33) and golf (10.09 ± 1.75; pANOVA = 0.015). Heat protection in training was also deficient: The HPS showed a mean value of 62.41 ± 14.89. The greatest deficits existed in tennis (57.71 ± 14.29), mountain sports (58.17 ± 13.08) and soccer (58.70 ± 13.86; pANOVA < 0.001). No correlation between theoretical knowledge and practical prevention was found.

Conclusion: In Germany, coaches are insufficiently prepared for the health hazards of heat. Promoting onsite educational programs seems essential to ensure safer sports environments.

Objectives: Propose a methodology to identify COVID-19 associated deaths using healthcare billing records and evaluate its effectiveness by comparing the results with excess mortality data from 2020 to 2022 and confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Methods: A retrospective quantitative analysis was conducted by merging healthcare billing records with cause of death data. The term "COVID-19 associated death" was defined as any death occurring within a defined timeframe following a confirmed contact with COVID-19. This category includes individuals who died directly due to COVID-19, with COVID-19 as a contributing factor, or as an aftermath of a COVID-19 infection, as well as those who died from other causes but had previously contracted COVID-19. This broader definition provides a more comprehensive measure of excess mortality compared to the officially confirmed COVID-19 deaths attributed to the virus.

Results: We identified 35,399 COVID-19 associated deaths during the 3-year pandemic in Slovakia compared to 21,395 confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Conclusion: The identification of COVID-19 associated deaths with our methodology offers a more accurate explanation for the notably high excess mortality observed in Slovakia (31,789 deaths) during the pandemic, relative to the EU27. Given the high level of excess mortality, the officially confirmed deaths are likely underestimated, and the presented methodology provides a more precise measure of mortality. Additionally, healthcare billing records prove valuable in identifying these deaths at the individual patient level using claims data of health insurance companies, which is crucial for implementing targeted preventive measures and improving preparedness for future pandemics.

Objectives: The aim of this qualitative study was to identify the main factors that help and hinder adolescents' wellbeing at school using their perspectives and experiences.

Methods: We used data from 45 adolescents in the first year of high school in Slovakia (mean age = 14.98; 22.2% boys). We obtained the data using 11 semi-structured group interviews conducted in 2020/2021. Participants were selected from three types of high school with regard to graduation system. Data was analysed using consensual qualitative research and thematic analysis.

Results: We identified three main themes of factors contributing to their wellbeing at school: 1. School (atmosphere and organisation of life at school, physical environment, threats and the ability of school to deal with issues); 2. Relationships (with peers and teachers, and teachers' behaviour towards them); 3. Myself (own perceived obstacles and resilience resources).

Conclusion: The organisation of life at school, surroundings, threats and dealing with issues importantly affect adolescents' wellbeing. Therefore, adjustment of physical environment and interpersonal competences of teachers, supporting of resilience resources of adolescents should be targets for interventions and prevention programmes at schools.

Objectives: This study examined (non-)monotonic time trends in psychological and somatic complaints among adolescents, along with gender differences.

Methods: Repeated cross-sectional Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) data from 1994 to 2022 covering 15-year-old adolescents from 41 countries (N = 470,797) were analysed. Three polynomial logistic regression models (linear, quadratic, cubic) were tested for best fit, including separate analyses by gender and health complaints dimension.

Results: Time trend patterns varied by gender and health complaints dimension. Increases were found in 82.3% of cases (linear 25%, quadratic U-shaped 28.7%, cubic 28.7%), while 14% showed no clear trend, and 3.7% decreased. Boys typically showed linear increases or no clear trend over time, whereas girls generally showed cubic or U-shaped trends. Psychological complaints often displayed U-shaped or cubic patterns, whereas somatic complaints mostly showed linear increases.

Conclusion: Psychological and somatic complaints demonstrated diverse time trend patterns across countries, with non-monotonic patterns (U-shaped and cubic) frequently observed alongside linear increases. These findings highlight the complexity of changes within countries over three decades, suggesting that linear modelling may not effectively capture this heterogeneity.

Objectives: To examine trends in socioeconomic inequality in adolescent health over three decades, across fifteen health indicators: overweight, underweight, headache, stomachache, backpain, emotional symptoms, difficulties falling asleep, loneliness, low life satisfaction, low self-rated heath, smoking, drunkenness, physical inactivity, low vegetable intake, and inadequate toothbrushing.

Methods: The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Denmark included nine identical surveys of 11-15-year-olds from 1991 to 2022, n = 35,423. For each health indicator, we measured absolute and relative socioeconomic inequality by prevalence differences and odds ratios between low and high socioeconomic groups.

Results: There was socioeconomic inequality in thirteen health indicators, e.g., the OR (95% CI) for overweight in low vs. high socioeconomic groups was 2.22 (1.95-2.49). This social inequality persisted across health indicators throughout the study period with two deviations: Underweight was not associated with socioeconomic background and drunkenness was persistently most prevalent in higher socioeconomic groups.

Conclusion: The political efforts to reduce socioeconomic inequality in health seems to have failed. It is important to improve monitoring of adolescent health and implement improved policies to tackle socioeconomic inequality in adolescent health.