Pub Date : 2022-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100087
Douglas L. Weed
Causal assessments in epidemiology are a complex process due to the many methods involved. The general scientific method lords over the process joined by study designs and statistical methods. Other methods include those that evaluate quality and bias along with the research synthesis methods such as the systematic narrative review, meta-analysis, and the criteria-based methods. When different investigators apply these methods to the same evidence and come up with different causal assessments, as described in the review by Goodman et al. in this issue, a key question becomes, how can the differences be explained? A prime candidate involves different methodologic choices. A deeper question emerges from this same situation: are the methods used for causal assessments reliable? Reliability is a hallmark of scientific practice. The methods used to make claims about causality should be reliable. Given the complexity of the causal assessment process, an objective evaluation of reliability is challenging but clearly worth the effort. Fortunately, Hill's criterion of analogy, much maligned in epidemiology, provides a clue. This commentary explores the issue of the reliability of causal claims using the Goodman et al. systematic review as its foil along with the claims by EPA, IARC, and ATSDR about the relationship between perchloroethylene and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the claims Goodman et al. believe are wrong.
{"title":"Commentary: On the reliability of causal claims","authors":"Douglas L. Weed","doi":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100087","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100087","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Causal assessments in epidemiology are a complex process due to the many methods involved. The general scientific method lords over the process joined by study designs and statistical methods. Other methods include those that evaluate quality and bias along with the research synthesis methods such as the systematic narrative review, meta-analysis, and the criteria-based methods. When different investigators apply these methods to the same evidence and come up with different causal assessments, as described in the review by Goodman et al. in this issue, a key question becomes, how can the differences be explained? A prime candidate involves different methodologic choices. A deeper question emerges from this same situation: are the methods used for causal assessments reliable? Reliability is a hallmark of scientific practice. The methods used to make claims about causality should be reliable. Given the complexity of the causal assessment process, an objective evaluation of reliability is challenging but clearly worth the effort. Fortunately, Hill's criterion of analogy, much maligned in epidemiology, provides a clue. This commentary explores the issue of the reliability of causal claims using the Goodman et al. systematic review as its foil along with the claims by EPA, IARC, and ATSDR about the relationship between perchloroethylene and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the claims Goodman et al. believe are wrong.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36311,"journal":{"name":"Global Epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/cb/a3/main.PMC10445962.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10464630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100095
Annika Rosengren , Mia Söderberg , Christina E. Lundberg , Martin Lindgren , Ailiana Santosa , Jon Edqvist , Maria Åberg , Magnus Gisslén , Josefina Robertson , Ottmar Cronie , Naveed Sattar , Jesper Lagergren , Maria Brandén , Jonas Björk , Martin Adiels
Background
Studies on risk factors for severe COVID-19 in people of working age have generally not included non-working persons or established population attributable fractions (PAFs) for occupational and other factors.
Objectives
We describe the effect of job-related, sociodemographic, and other exposures on the incidence, relative risks and PAFs of severe COVID-19 in individuals aged 18–64.
Methods
We conducted a registry-based study in Swedish citizens aged 18–64 from 1 January 2020 to 1 February 2021 with respect to COVID-19-related hospitalizations and death.
Results
Of 6,205,459 persons, 272,043 (7.5%) were registered as infected, 3399 (0.05%) needed intensive care, and 620 (0.01%) died, with an estimated case fatality rate of 0.06% over the last 4-month period when testing was adequate. Non-Nordic origin was associated with a RR for need of intensive care of 3·13, 95%CI 2·91–3·36, and a PAF of 32·2% after adjustment for age, sex, work, region and comorbidities. In a second model with occupation as main exposure, and adjusted for age, sex, region, comorbidities and origin, essential workers had an RR of 1·51, 95%CI, 1·35–1·6, blue-collar workers 1·18, 95%CI 1·06–1·31, school staff 1·21, 95%CI 1·01–1·46, and health and social care workers 1·89, 95%CI 1·67–2·135) compared with people able to work from home, with altogether about 13% of the PAF associated with these occupations. Essential workers and blue-collar workers, but no other job categories had higher risk of death, adjusted RRs of 1·79, 95%CI 1·34–2·38 and 1·37, 95%CI 1·04–1·81, with adjusted PAFs of altogether 9%.
Conclusion
Among people of working age in Sweden, overall mortality and case fatality were low. Occupations that require physical presence at work were associated with elevated risk of needing intensive care for COVID-19, with 14% cases attributable to this factor, and 9% of deaths.
{"title":"COVID-19 in people aged 18–64 in Sweden in the first year of the pandemic: Key factors for severe disease and death","authors":"Annika Rosengren , Mia Söderberg , Christina E. Lundberg , Martin Lindgren , Ailiana Santosa , Jon Edqvist , Maria Åberg , Magnus Gisslén , Josefina Robertson , Ottmar Cronie , Naveed Sattar , Jesper Lagergren , Maria Brandén , Jonas Björk , Martin Adiels","doi":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100095","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100095","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Studies on risk factors for severe COVID-19 in people of working age have generally not included non-working persons or established population attributable fractions (PAFs) for occupational and other factors.</p></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><p>We describe the effect of job-related, sociodemographic, and other exposures on the incidence, relative risks and PAFs of severe COVID-19 in individuals aged 18–64.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>We conducted a registry-based study in Swedish citizens aged 18–64 from 1 January 2020 to 1 February 2021 with respect to COVID-19-related hospitalizations and death.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Of 6,205,459 persons, 272,043 (7.5%) were registered as infected, 3399 (0.05%) needed intensive care, and 620 (0.01%) died, with an estimated case fatality rate of 0.06% over the last 4-month period when testing was adequate. Non-Nordic origin was associated with a RR for need of intensive care of 3·13, 95%CI 2·91–3·36, and a PAF of 32·2% after adjustment for age, sex, work, region and comorbidities. In a second model with occupation as main exposure, and adjusted for age, sex, region, comorbidities and origin, essential workers had an RR of 1·51, 95%CI, 1·35–1·6, blue-collar workers 1·18, 95%CI 1·06–1·31, school staff 1·21, 95%CI 1·01–1·46, and health and social care workers 1·89, 95%CI 1·67–2·135) compared with people able to work from home, with altogether about 13% of the PAF associated with these occupations. Essential workers and blue-collar workers, but no other job categories had higher risk of death, adjusted RRs of 1·79, 95%CI 1·34–2·38 and 1·37, 95%CI 1·04–1·81, with adjusted PAFs of altogether 9%.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Among people of working age in Sweden, overall mortality and case fatality were low. Occupations that require physical presence at work were associated with elevated risk of needing intensive care for COVID-19, with 14% cases attributable to this factor, and 9% of deaths.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36311,"journal":{"name":"Global Epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9683858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10463329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100072
Finn Gjertsen , Johan Lund , Ebba Wergeland
Background
Globally, work-related deaths (injuries and diseases) are a major social and public health problem. Register data on fatal occupational injuries in high-income countries may be considered to have high quality, especially when reporting is mandatory and regulated by law. We aimed to assess the accuracy of work-related injury death statistics in Norway, with reference to the Labour Inspection Authority and three other on-going registration systems (the cause-specific mortality register, the register for governmental compensations, and the register for insurance companies).
Methods
In this register-based study, we used the capture-recapture technique to adjust for undercounting. We investigated whether the capture-recapture method using two or three sources gave a valid estimate of fatal occupational injuries as compared with the number of cases identified in four registers administrated by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, Statistics Norway, the Labour and Welfare Administration, and Finance Norway. The inclusion criteria were fatal unintentional injuries among residents of Norway between 2000 and 2003 that occurred while working for income in private and public land-based industries. We obtained ethical and legal approvals.
Results
In a period of four years (2000−2003), the Labour Inspection Authority registered 171 occupational injury deaths among residents employed in land-based industries. Two combinations of data sources gave capture-recapture estimates of 246 [95% CI 216; 279] and 265 [95% CI 234; 299] deaths. In total, 246 cases were identified in the four registration systems, which was 44% higher than the number of deaths registered by the Labour Inspection Authority. The Labour Inspection Authority had the most complete register out of the four registration systems.
Conclusions
The capture-recapture method used on two overlapping data sources gave highly valid estimates of the total deaths. We demonstrated the existence of significant weaknesses in the registration systems in a country considered to have high-quality register data.
在全球范围内,与工作有关的死亡(伤害和疾病)是一个重大的社会和公共卫生问题。高收入国家关于致命职业伤害的登记数据可被认为具有高质量,特别是在报告是强制性和受法律管制的情况下。我们的目的是评估挪威工伤死亡统计数据的准确性,参照劳动监察局和其他三个正在进行的登记系统(特定原因死亡登记、政府赔偿登记和保险公司登记)。方法在这项基于记录的研究中,我们使用捕获-再捕获技术来调整漏记。我们调查了使用两个或三个来源的捕获-再捕获方法是否给出了致命职业伤害的有效估计,与由挪威劳动监察局、挪威统计局、劳工和福利管理局和挪威财政部管理的四个登记册中确定的病例数量相比。纳入标准是2000年至2003年期间挪威居民在私营和公共土地工业中为赚取收入而工作时发生的致命意外伤害。我们获得了道德和法律上的批准。结果在四年期间(2000 - 2003年),劳动监察局在陆地工业就业的居民中登记了171人因职业伤害死亡。两种数据来源的组合给出了捕获-再捕获的估计值为246 [95% CI 216;279]和265 [95% CI 234;299]死亡。在四个登记系统中总共发现了246起案件,比劳动监察局登记的死亡人数高出44%。在四个登记系统中,劳工视察局拥有最完整的登记册。结论在两个重叠数据源上使用的捕获-再捕获方法对总死亡人数给出了高度有效的估计。我们证明,在一个被认为拥有高质量登记数据的国家,登记系统存在重大弱点。
{"title":"Accuracy of fatal occupational injury registration in a high-income country: A comparison of two-source capture-recapture estimates with the number of cases identified in four register systems in Norway, 2000–2003","authors":"Finn Gjertsen , Johan Lund , Ebba Wergeland","doi":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100072","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100072","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Globally, work-related deaths (injuries and diseases) are a major social and public health problem. Register data on fatal occupational injuries in high-income countries may be considered to have high quality, especially when reporting is mandatory and regulated by law. We aimed to assess the accuracy of work-related injury death statistics in Norway, with reference to the Labour Inspection Authority and three other on-going registration systems (the cause-specific mortality register, the register for governmental compensations, and the register for insurance companies).</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>In this register-based study, we used the capture-recapture technique to adjust for undercounting. We investigated whether the capture-recapture method using two or three sources gave a valid estimate of fatal occupational injuries as compared with the number of cases identified in four registers administrated by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, Statistics Norway, the Labour and Welfare Administration, and Finance Norway. The inclusion criteria were fatal unintentional injuries among residents of Norway between 2000 and 2003 that occurred while working for income in private and public land-based industries. We obtained ethical and legal approvals.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>In a period of four years (2000−2003), the Labour Inspection Authority registered 171 occupational injury deaths among residents employed in land-based industries. Two combinations of data sources gave capture-recapture estimates of 246 [95% CI 216; 279] and 265 [95% CI 234; 299] deaths. In total, 246 cases were identified in the four registration systems, which was 44% higher than the number of deaths registered by the Labour Inspection Authority. The Labour Inspection Authority had the most complete register out of the four registration systems.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The capture-recapture method used on two overlapping data sources gave highly valid estimates of the total deaths. We demonstrated the existence of significant weaknesses in the registration systems in a country considered to have high-quality register data.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36311,"journal":{"name":"Global Epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10445985/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10464632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100075
Fatemeh Koohi , Davood Khalili , Hamid Soori , Maryam Nazemipour , Mohammad Ali Mansournia
Background
This study assesses the effect of blood lipid indices and lipid ratios on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) using inverse probability-of-exposure weighted estimation of marginal structural models (MSMs).
Methods
A pooled dataset of two US representative cohort studies, including 16736 participants aged 42–84 years with complete information at baseline, was used. The effect of each lipid index, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), ratios of TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and TG/HDL-C on coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke were estimated using weighted Cox regression.
Results
There were 1638 cases of CHD and 1017 cases of stroke during a median follow-up of 17.1 years (interquartile range: 8.5 to 25.7). Compared to optimal levels, the risk of CVD outcomes increased substantially in high levels of TC, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C. If everyone had always had high levels of TC (≥240 mg/dL), risk of CHD would have been 2.15 times higher, and risk of stroke 1.35 times higher than if they had always had optimal levels (<200 mg/dL). Moreover, if all participants had been kept at very high (≥190 mg/dL) levels of LDL-C, risk of CHD would have been 2.62 times higher and risk of stroke would have been 1.92 times higher than if all participants had been kept at optimal levels, respectively. Our results suggest that high levels of HDL-C may be protective for CHD, but not for stroke. There was also no evidence of an adverse effect of high triglyceride levels on stroke.
Conclusions
Using MSM, this study highlights the effect of TC and LDL-C on CVD, with a stronger effect on CHD than on stroke. There was no evidence for a protective effect of high levels of HDL-C on stroke. Besides, triglyceride was not found to affect stroke.
{"title":"Longitudinal effects of lipid indices on incident cardiovascular diseases adjusting for time-varying confounding using marginal structural models: 25 years follow-up of two US cohort studies","authors":"Fatemeh Koohi , Davood Khalili , Hamid Soori , Maryam Nazemipour , Mohammad Ali Mansournia","doi":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100075","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100075","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>This study assesses the effect of blood lipid indices and lipid ratios on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) using inverse probability-of-exposure weighted estimation of marginal structural models (MSMs).</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>A pooled dataset of two US representative cohort studies, including 16736 participants aged 42–84 years with complete information at baseline, was used. The effect of each lipid index, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), ratios of TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and TG/HDL-C on coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke were estimated using weighted Cox regression.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>There were 1638 cases of CHD and 1017 cases of stroke during a median follow-up of 17.1 years (interquartile range: 8.5 to 25.7). Compared to optimal levels, the risk of CVD outcomes increased substantially in high levels of TC, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C. If everyone had always had high levels of TC (≥240 mg/dL), risk of CHD would have been 2.15 times higher, and risk of stroke 1.35 times higher than if they had always had optimal levels (<200 mg/dL). Moreover, if all participants had been kept at very high (≥190 mg/dL) levels of LDL-C, risk of CHD would have been 2.62 times higher and risk of stroke would have been 1.92 times higher than if all participants had been kept at optimal levels, respectively. Our results suggest that high levels of HDL-C may be protective for CHD, but not for stroke. There was also no evidence of an adverse effect of high triglyceride levels on stroke.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Using MSM, this study highlights the effect of TC and LDL-C on CVD, with a stronger effect on CHD than on stroke. There was no evidence for a protective effect of high levels of HDL-C on stroke. Besides, triglyceride was not found to affect stroke.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36311,"journal":{"name":"Global Epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/44/c7/main.PMC10445971.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10164005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100080
Mohammad Ali Mansournia , Maryam Nazemipour , Mahyar Etminan
Competing events are events that preclude the occurrence of the primary outcome. Much has been written on mainly the statistics behind competing events analyses. However, many of these publications and tutorials have a strong statistical tone and might fall short in providing a practical guide to clinician researchers as to when to use a competing event analysis and more importantly which method to use and why.
Here we discuss the different target effects in the Fine-Gray and cause-specific methods using simple causal diagrams and provide strengths and limitations of both approaches for addressing etiologic questions. We argue why the Fine-Gray method might not be the best approach for handling competing events in etiological time-to-event studies.
{"title":"A practical guide to handling competing events in etiologic time-to-event studies","authors":"Mohammad Ali Mansournia , Maryam Nazemipour , Mahyar Etminan","doi":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100080","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100080","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Competing events are events that preclude the occurrence of the primary outcome. Much has been written on mainly the statistics behind competing events analyses. However, many of these publications and tutorials have a strong statistical tone and might fall short in providing a practical guide to clinician researchers as to when to use a competing event analysis and more importantly which method to use and why.</p><p>Here we discuss the different target effects in the Fine-Gray and cause-specific methods using simple causal diagrams and provide strengths and limitations of both approaches for addressing etiologic questions. We argue why the Fine-Gray method might not be the best approach for handling competing events in etiological time-to-event studies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36311,"journal":{"name":"Global Epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/23/e0/main.PMC10446108.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10164484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100088
Judy S. LaKind , Carol J. Burns , Donald R. Mattison
{"title":"Commentary: Systematic reviews and observational epidemiology: The more things change…","authors":"Judy S. LaKind , Carol J. Burns , Donald R. Mattison","doi":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100088","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100088","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36311,"journal":{"name":"Global Epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/30/a4/main.PMC10446007.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10164486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread despite fast vaccine rollout, which could be attributed to waning immunity or to a reduced protection against some variants. A thorough characterization of vaccine protection and its duration in time is needed to inform vaccination policies and enhance public trust.
Methods
We linked three national databases with exhaustive information on screening, vaccination and hospitalizations in France from January 1st to December 12, 2021. We performed a two-step analysis to estimate vaccine effectiveness against severe outcomes of Covid-19 (requiring hospitalization) in people aged 50 years or over, combining: (i) a test-negative case–control design to assess vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infections; and (ii) a survival analysis to assess the additional protection against severe outcomes (hospitalizations, ICU admissions and inpatient deaths) in infected individuals.
Findings
We found a high vaccine effectiveness in people aged 50 years or more, reaching 82% against symptomatic infections and 94% against hospitalizations, after a full vaccination scheme with the Covid-19 vaccines used in France.
Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infections decreased over time, dropping to 53% after six months, but remained high against severe outcomes (90% after six months). The booster dose allowed restoring protection levels above 90% against symptomatic infections. Vaccine protection and its evolution in time, showed little difference against the variants that circulated prior to December 2021 in France, including the Delta variant.
Interpretation
Though vaccine immunity decreases over time, vaccination remains crucial to provide individual protection against severe outcomes requiring hospitalization. This decline can be reversed by the receipt of a booster dose.
{"title":"Vaccine effectiveness and duration of protection against symptomatic infections and severe Covid-19 outcomes in adults aged 50 years and over, France, January to mid-December 2021","authors":"Milena Suarez Castillo , Hamid Khaoua , Noémie Courtejoie","doi":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100076","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100076","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread despite fast vaccine rollout, which could be attributed to waning immunity or to a reduced protection against some variants. A thorough characterization of vaccine protection and its duration in time is needed to inform vaccination policies and enhance public trust.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>We linked three national databases with exhaustive information on screening, vaccination and hospitalizations in France from January 1st to December 12, 2021. We performed a two-step analysis to estimate vaccine effectiveness against severe outcomes of Covid-19 (requiring hospitalization) in people aged 50 years or over, combining: <em>(i)</em> a test-negative case–control design to assess vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infections; and <em>(ii)</em> a survival analysis to assess the additional protection against severe outcomes (hospitalizations, ICU admissions and inpatient deaths) in infected individuals.</p></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><p>We found a high vaccine effectiveness in people aged 50 years or more, reaching 82% against symptomatic infections and 94% against hospitalizations, after a full vaccination scheme with the Covid-19 vaccines used in France.</p><p>Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infections decreased over time, dropping to 53% after six months, but remained high against severe outcomes (90% after six months). The booster dose allowed restoring protection levels above 90% against symptomatic infections. Vaccine protection and its evolution in time, showed little difference against the variants that circulated prior to December 2021 in France, including the Delta variant.</p></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><p>Though vaccine immunity decreases over time, vaccination remains crucial to provide individual protection against severe outcomes requiring hospitalization. This decline can be reversed by the receipt of a booster dose.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36311,"journal":{"name":"Global Epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590113322000062/pdfft?md5=a2395bd58b9a3f0fdb1b48cc9c608977&pid=1-s2.0-S2590113322000062-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48376848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100073
Tszshan Ma , Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi , Joel Schwartz , Weeberb J. Réquia , Qian Di , Yaguang Wei , Howard H. Chang , Viola Vaccarino , Pengfei Liu , Liuhua Shi
Aims
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability for Americans, and growing evidence suggests that air pollution may play an important role. To facilitate pollution control efforts, the National Academy of Sciences and the World Health Organization have prioritized determining which air pollutants are most toxic. However, evidence is limited for the simultaneous effects of multiple air pollutants on stroke.
Methods and results
We constructed a nationwide population-based cohort study, using the Medicare Chronic Conditions Warehouse (2000–2017) and high-resolution air pollution data, to investigate the impact of long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5, NO2, and ground-level O3 on incident stroke. Hazard ratios (HR) for stroke incidence were estimated using single-, bi-, and tri-pollutant Cox proportional hazards models. We identified ~2.2 million incident stroke cases among 17,443,900 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. Per interquartile range (IQR) increase in the annual average PM2.5 (3.7 μg/m3), NO2 (12.4 ppb), and warm-season O3 (6.5 ppb) one-year prior to diagnosis, the HRs were 1.022 (95% CI: 1.017–1.028), 1.060 (95% CI: 1.054–1.065), and 1.021 (95% CI: 1.017–1.024), respectively, from the tri-pollutant model. There was strong evidence of linearity in concentration-response relationships for all three air pollutants in single-pollutant models. This linear relationship remained robust for NO2 and O3 in tri-pollutant models while the effect of PM2.5 attenuated at the lower end of concentrations.
Conclusion
Using a large nationwide cohort, our study suggests that long-term exposure to PM2.5, NO2, and O3 may independently increase the risk of stroke among the US elderly, among which traffic-related air pollution plays a particularly crucial role.
中风是美国人死亡和残疾的主要原因,越来越多的证据表明,空气污染可能在其中起着重要作用。为了促进污染控制工作,美国国家科学院(National Academy of Sciences)和世界卫生组织(World Health Organization)已优先确定哪些空气污染物毒性最大。然而,多种空气污染物对中风的同时影响证据有限。方法和结果我们构建了一项基于全国人群的队列研究,使用医疗慢性病仓库(2000-2017)和高分辨率空气污染数据,调查长期暴露于环境PM2.5、NO2和地面O3对卒中事件的影响。卒中发生率的风险比(HR)使用单一、双、三种污染物的Cox比例风险模型估计。我们在17,443,900名按服务收费的医疗保险受益人中确定了约220万例突发中风病例。三污染物模型的年平均PM2.5 (3.7 μg/m3)、NO2 (12.4 ppb)和暖季O3 (6.5 ppb)每四分位数范围(IQR)增加,分别为1.022 (95% CI: 1.017-1.028)、1.060 (95% CI: 1.054-1.065)和1.021 (95% CI: 1.017-1.024)。有强有力的证据表明,在单一污染物模型中,所有三种空气污染物的浓度-响应关系呈线性。在三种污染物模型中,NO2和O3的线性关系保持强劲,而PM2.5的影响在浓度较低的一端减弱。通过对全国范围内的大型队列研究,我们的研究表明,长期暴露于PM2.5、NO2和O3可能单独增加美国老年人中风的风险,其中交通相关的空气污染起着特别重要的作用。
{"title":"Long-term air pollution exposure and incident stroke in American older adults: A national cohort study","authors":"Tszshan Ma , Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi , Joel Schwartz , Weeberb J. Réquia , Qian Di , Yaguang Wei , Howard H. Chang , Viola Vaccarino , Pengfei Liu , Liuhua Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100073","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100073","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aims</h3><p>Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability for Americans, and growing evidence suggests that air pollution may play an important role. To facilitate pollution control efforts, the National Academy of Sciences and the World Health Organization have prioritized determining which air pollutants are most toxic. However, evidence is limited for the simultaneous effects of multiple air pollutants on stroke.</p></div><div><h3>Methods and results</h3><p>We constructed a nationwide population-based cohort study, using the Medicare Chronic Conditions Warehouse (2000–2017) and high-resolution air pollution data, to investigate the impact of long-term exposure to ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub>, and ground-level O<sub>3</sub> on incident stroke. Hazard ratios (HR) for stroke incidence were estimated using single-, bi-, and tri-pollutant Cox proportional hazards models. We identified ~2.2 million incident stroke cases among 17,443,900 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. Per interquartile range (IQR) increase in the annual average PM<sub>2.5</sub> (3.7 μg/m<sup>3</sup>), NO<sub>2</sub> (12.4 ppb), and warm-season O<sub>3</sub> (6.5 ppb) one-year prior to diagnosis, the HRs were 1.022 (95% CI: 1.017–1.028), 1.060 (95% CI: 1.054–1.065), and 1.021 (95% CI: 1.017–1.024), respectively, from the tri-pollutant model. There was strong evidence of linearity in concentration-response relationships for all three air pollutants in single-pollutant models. This linear relationship remained robust for NO<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>3</sub> in tri-pollutant models while the effect of PM<sub>2.5</sub> attenuated at the lower end of concentrations.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Using a large nationwide cohort, our study suggests that long-term exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub>, and O<sub>3</sub> may independently increase the risk of stroke among the US elderly, among which traffic-related air pollution plays a particularly crucial role.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36311,"journal":{"name":"Global Epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/ed/91/main.PMC9838077.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10074363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100082
Hiba Faroug Muddather , Areeg Faggad , Moawia Mohammed Ali Elhassan
Background
Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a major cause of cancer mortality in Sudan. However, there is lack of data related to BC relapse. Therefore, this study was undertaken to estimate the 5-year relapse free survival (RFS) rate and factors related to BC relapse in Sudanese women with non-metastatic BC.
Methods
Data of BC women with BC diagnosed and treated at the National Cancer Institute-University of Gezira during 2012 were retrieved from medical records. The cases were followed-up through hospital records and telephone contact. Survival functions were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. The prognostic factors were tested using univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses.
Results
We included 168 women with median age of 45 years (range, 22–83 years). 53.5%of women had stage III at time of diagnosis, whereas 4.2% and 42.3% of women presented with stage I and stage II, respectively. At the end of 5 years follow-up, with median follow-up period of 64 months, 94 (56.0%) women were alive in remission, 11 (6.5%) were alive with BC relapse, 49 (29.2%) were dead, and survival status was unknown in 14 (8.3%) women. Most of the occurred relapses were distant relapses. The 5-year RFS was 59%. The independent predictors of relapse were: larger primary tumor size (HR:1.84, 95% CI: 1.54-5.48, p=0.018); involved axillary lymph nodes with tumour (HR: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.53–7.91, p=0.001); not receiving adjuvant radiotherapy (HR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.22–3.95, p=0.009); and not receiving hormone therapy (HR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.01–2.76, p= 0.046).
Conclusion
We found a high risk of BC relapse in our resource-constrained settings. Advanced stages, not receiving adjuvant radiotherapy, and not receiving adjuvant hormone therapy were independent predictors associated with worse 5-year RFS. Therefore, enhancing the early diagnosis of BC and improving timely access to appropriate treatments represent key approaches to achieving better treatment outcomes.
{"title":"Relapse-free survival in Sudanese women with non-metastatic breast cancer","authors":"Hiba Faroug Muddather , Areeg Faggad , Moawia Mohammed Ali Elhassan","doi":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100082","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100082","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a major cause of cancer mortality in Sudan. However, there is lack of data related to BC relapse. Therefore, this study was undertaken to estimate the 5-year relapse free survival (RFS) rate and factors related to BC relapse in Sudanese women with non-metastatic BC.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Data of BC women with BC diagnosed and treated at the National Cancer Institute-University of Gezira during 2012 were retrieved from medical records. The cases were followed-up through hospital records and telephone contact. Survival functions were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. The prognostic factors were tested using univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>We included 168 women with median age of 45 years (range, 22–83 years). 53.5%of women had stage III at time of diagnosis, whereas 4.2% and 42.3% of women presented with stage I and stage II, respectively. At the end of 5 years follow-up, with median follow-up period of 64 months, 94 (56.0%) women were alive in remission, 11 (6.5%) were alive with BC relapse, 49 (29.2%) were dead, and survival status was unknown in 14 (8.3%) women. Most of the occurred relapses were distant relapses. The 5-year RFS was 59%. The independent predictors of relapse were: larger primary tumor size (HR:1.84, 95% CI: 1.54-5.48, p=0.018); involved axillary lymph nodes with tumour (HR: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.53–7.91, p=0.001); not receiving adjuvant radiotherapy (HR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.22–3.95, p=0.009); and not receiving hormone therapy (HR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.01–2.76, p= 0.046).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>We found a high risk of BC relapse in our resource-constrained settings. Advanced stages, not receiving adjuvant radiotherapy, and not receiving adjuvant hormone therapy were independent predictors associated with worse 5-year RFS. Therefore, enhancing the early diagnosis of BC and improving timely access to appropriate treatments represent key approaches to achieving better treatment outcomes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36311,"journal":{"name":"Global Epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/59/52/main.PMC10445990.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10110049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100084
Sandrine E. Déglin , Igor Burstyn , Connie L. Chen , David J. Miller , Matthew O. Gribble , Ali K. Hamade , Ellen T. Chang , Raghavendhran Avanasi , Denali Boon , Jennifer Reed
Environmental epidemiology has proven critical to study various associations between environmental exposures and adverse human health effects. However, there is a perception that it often does not sufficiently inform quantitative risk assessment. To help address this concern, in 2017, the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute initiated a project engaging the epidemiology, exposure science, and risk assessment communities with tripartite representation from government agencies, industry, and academia, in a dialogue on the use of environmental epidemiology for quantitative risk assessment and public health decision making. As part of this project, four meetings attended by experts in epidemiology, exposure science, toxicology, statistics, and risk assessment, as well as one additional meeting engaging funding agencies, were organized to explore incentives and barriers to realizing the full potential of epidemiological data in quantitative risk assessment. A set of questions was shared with workshop participants prior to the meetings, and two case studies were used to support the discussion.
Five key ideas emerged from these meetings as areas of desired improvement to ensure that human data can more consistently become an integral part of quantitative risk assessment: 1) reducing confirmation and publication bias, 2) increasing communication with funding agencies to raise awareness of research needs, 3) developing alternative funding channels targeted to support quantitative risk assessment, 4) making data available for reuse and analysis, and 5) developing cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral interactions, collaborations, and training.
We explored and integrated these themes into a roadmap illustrating the need for a multi-stakeholder effort to ensure that epidemiological data can fully contribute to the quantitative evaluation of human health risks, and to build confidence in a reliable decision-making process that leverages the totality of scientific evidence.
{"title":"Considerations towards the better integration of epidemiology into quantitative risk assessment","authors":"Sandrine E. Déglin , Igor Burstyn , Connie L. Chen , David J. Miller , Matthew O. Gribble , Ali K. Hamade , Ellen T. Chang , Raghavendhran Avanasi , Denali Boon , Jennifer Reed","doi":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100084","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100084","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Environmental epidemiology has proven critical to study various associations between environmental exposures and adverse human health effects. However, there is a perception that it often does not sufficiently inform quantitative risk assessment. To help address this concern, in 2017, the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute initiated a project engaging the epidemiology, exposure science, and risk assessment communities with tripartite representation from government agencies, industry, and academia, in a dialogue on the use of environmental epidemiology for quantitative risk assessment and public health decision making. As part of this project, four meetings attended by experts in epidemiology, exposure science, toxicology, statistics, and risk assessment, as well as one additional meeting engaging funding agencies, were organized to explore incentives and barriers to realizing the full potential of epidemiological data in quantitative risk assessment. A set of questions was shared with workshop participants prior to the meetings, and two case studies were used to support the discussion.</p><p>Five key ideas emerged from these meetings as areas of desired improvement to ensure that human data can more consistently become an integral part of quantitative risk assessment: 1) reducing confirmation and publication bias, 2) increasing communication with funding agencies to raise awareness of research needs, 3) developing alternative funding channels targeted to support quantitative risk assessment, 4) making data available for reuse and analysis, and 5) developing cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral interactions, collaborations, and training.</p><p>We explored and integrated these themes into a roadmap illustrating the need for a multi-stakeholder effort to ensure that epidemiological data can fully contribute to the quantitative evaluation of human health risks, and to build confidence in a reliable decision-making process that leverages the totality of scientific evidence.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36311,"journal":{"name":"Global Epidemiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10445996/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10464629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}