Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives最新文献

Background: We analyzed the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), focusing specifically on severe/critical cases, and assessed the trends and rates of severity and fatality among these patients in the Republic of Korea.

Methods: Clinical data on patients with COVID-19 from January 20, 2020 to August 30, 2023 were collected from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's database. We identified patients who progressed to severe/critical conditions and analyzed their demographic and clinical profiles. Severity and fatality rates were calculated and compared annually to track the disease progression over time.

Results: During the surveillance period, 34,572,554 COVID-19 cases were confirmed, among whom 38,112 (0.11%) progressed to severe/critical conditions. Most severe/critical cases occurred in individuals aged ≥60 years, with a notable increase in patients aged ≥80 years from 2022. The overall severity rate was 0.19%, with a fatality rate of 0.10%. However, the severity of cases gradually diminished during the study period. In 2022, the severity and fatality rates decreased to 0.14% and 0.09%, respectively. In 2023, while the severity rate remained stable at 0.15%, the fatality rate further decreased to 0.06%. Notably, throughout the study period, individuals aged ≥80 years had a significantly higher severity rate (2.44%), with a fatality rate of 1.75%.

Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing protection and management strategies for older adults and high-risk groups to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Continued surveillance and analysis are essential to effectively control COVID-19 and minimize its burden on public health.

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is prevalent among older adults and may progress to dementia. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a game-based brain exercise program in reducing MCI among older adults.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 2 groups of older participants in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. A total of 96 individuals with Thai mental state examination (TMSE) scores between 12 to 23, indicating MCI but no dementia diagnosis, were recruited. Using multi-stage sampling, participants were divided into an intervention group (n=48) and a control group (n=48). The intervention group participated in a 6-week game-based brain exercise program, while the control group received a self-administered brain exercise manual. Face-to-face interviews assessed outcomes at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Results: Significant differences were observed in mean TMSE scores and MCI knowledge between the intervention and control groups at the 3-month follow-up (p<0.001). The intervention group showed significant increases in TMSE scores and MCI knowledge post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The findings suggest that a game-based brain exercise program can improve cognitive function in older adults. Healthcare professionals can implement such programs to reduce MCI by addressing planning, management, and related issues in the future.

Background: The objective of this review was to analyze quantitative data on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to increase the accuracy of estimates of the prevalence of ASD.

Methods: This review, which was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, included studies conducted from January 2008 to June 2024 on children aged 3 to 18 years that used standardized measurement tools and reported cut-off scores for ASD. The prevalence of ASD was the primary outcome analyzed in this review. The PubMed, Clinical Key, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were reviewed for relevant studies. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO and followed the Cochrane collaboration guidelines.

Results: A total of 66 studies reported on the prevalence of ASD, screening 21,313,061 children worldwide. Among these, 25 studies were conducted in Europe, 22 in Asia, and 13 in America. Additionally, 3 studies each were reported from Africa and Australia. According to a meta-analysis, 0.77% of children globally are diagnosed with ASD, with boys comprising 1.14% of this group. Notably, Australia showed the highest prevalence rate, with an effect size of 2.18, highlighting it as a critical area for public health focus.

Conclusion: ASD represents a significant global health burden. Early detection, increased awareness among parents, and prompt intervention are crucial for mitigating developmental problems in children later in life. It is essential for health policymakers to acknowledge the prevalence and growing trends of ASD in order to implement effective interventions.

Background: The objectives of this review and meta-analysis were twofold: first, to determine the prevalence of substance use among school-going children in Arab and African countries; and second, to highlight the considerable influence of variables such as the nation's region and the timeframe of the study on the prevalence of substance use.

Methods: Research was sourced from Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Thirty-seven articles were incorporated in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. This review included studies published from 2013 to 2023. The statistical meta-analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis ver. 3 software. Across 37 studies, the total number of study participants was 73,508.

Results: The meta-analysis revealed that tobacco was the most commonly used substance, with a prevalence of 16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7%-20.02%). This was closely followed by alcohol, which had a prevalence of 15% (95% CI, 10.5%-22.8%), stimulants at 11.4% (95% CI, 7.4%-17%), khat at 10% (95% CI, 5.7%-15%), and cannabis at 8% (95% CI, 3.3%-18.4%). Notably, alcohol was the only substance that showed an increasing trend in prevalence from before to after 2019, rising from 13.3% (95% CI, 6.2%-26.1%) to 17% (95% CI, 10.2%-27%) (p<0.001). Additionally, the prevalence of substance use varied significantly between Arab and African countries (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Although the prevalence of substance use among school-going populations has significantly decreased over time, with the exception of alcohol, it is imperative that both African and Arab countries implement comprehensive measures and stringent laws to address the production and marketing of substances.

Background: Mortality statistics during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are crucial for the allocation of medical care resources and public health decision-making. This study was initiated to investigate the excess mortality among older adults during the pandemic. Our research focuses on 2 primary areas. First, we analyzed the cumulative excess mortality across all age groups to assess the global impact and specifically examined the top 20 countries with the highest mortality rates during the pandemic. Second, we explored excess deaths among older adults by categorizing data from the years 2020 and 2021 into age groups: 65-74, 75-84, and above 85.

Methods: We analyzed data from the top 20 countries with the highest mortality rates globally, focusing on 3 components: all-cause mortality means, expected deaths mean, and excess deaths mean for both older men and women.

Results: Although excess mortality is higher among older men and women across all 3 age groups (65-74, 75-84, and >85), the highest mean excess mortality was observed in women over the age of 85.

Conclusion: The results indicate that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus had a disproportionately intense impact on older women. We developed 2 types of statistical models using the data: a binomial distribution model and a correlation coefficient model, both considering the mean excess deaths in older men and women across these 3 age groups. Estimating the excess mortality among older adults will aid in the formulation of healthcare policies for this demographic.

Background: The aim of this study was to disseminate information about the safety of bivalent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA booster vaccines administered to adults in the Republic of Korea.

Methods: Two databases were used to assess the safety of COVID-19 booster doses of Pfizer BA.1, Pfizer BA.4/5, Moderna BA.1, and Moderna BA.4/5 vaccines for adults aged 18 years and older. Adverse events (AEs) were analyzed using data reported to the web-based COVID-19 vaccination management system (CVMS) and a self-reported text-message survey.

Results: Between October 11, 2022 and March 30, 2023, the CVMS received reports of 2,369 (93.7%) non-serious AEs from vaccinated adults, along with 158 (6.3%) serious AEs, which included 5 cases of anaphylaxis and 33 deaths. From October 11, 2022 to January 27, 2023, 40,022 people aged 18 and older responded to a survey conducted via text message. The booster doses were associated with fewer local and systemic AEs compared to the original vaccines. After receiving the bivalent vaccine, the most commonly reported AEs were pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, and myalgia.

Conclusion: Overall, bivalent vaccines exhibited fewer AEs compared to the original vaccines. The majority of AEs were non-serious, and serious AEs were rare among adults aged 18 years and older following vaccination with the Pfizer and Moderna bivalent vaccines.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, heterogeneous clinical syndrome affecting women. Investigating oxidative stress in women is crucial, as it is linked to insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. Chlorogenic acid, a bioactive component found in green coffee, has numerous documented health benefits. This study aimed to assess the beneficial effects of green coffee consumption on paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in women with PCOS.

Methods: This study was a double-blind randomized clinical trial that included 44 patients with PCOS. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. For 6 weeks, the intervention group (n=22) received 400 mg of green coffee supplements, while the control group (n=22) received 400 mg of a starch-based placebo. Anthropometric indices, dietary assessments, and physical activity levels were evaluated before and after the 6-week intervention period. Additionally, blood samples were collected for laboratory analysis.

Results: Supplementation with green coffee increased PON-1 levels by 3.5 units, a significant finding (p=0.038). Additionally, the intake of green coffee supplements significantly reduced blood cholesterol levels by 18.8 units (p=0.013) and triglyceride levels by 6.1 units (p=0.053). However, no significant differences were observed in the levels of MDA, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, fasting blood sugar, insulin, or homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance as a result of the intervention.

Conclusion: Supplementation with green coffee alters PON-1 activity and cholesterol levels in women with PCOS. However, it has no significant impact on MDA levels or glycemic status.

Background: The main Brucella species causing human infections in the Republic of Korea is Brucella abortus, which uses cattle as its host. However, since 2014, Brucella melitensis, which uses sheep and goats as hosts, has also been identified. This study investigated whether a shift has occurred in the predominant species of Brucella pathogens.

Methods: Brucellosis is a class 3 infectious disease requiring mandatory reporting and registration in the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's infectious disease surveillance system (http://is.kdca.go.kr). Cases from 2014 to 2023 were studied, and whole-genome sequencing analysis was conducted using BruMLSA21.

Results: Out of 51 patients, males (45 patients, 88.2%) were predominantly affected. Twenty-five patients (49%) came from the livestock industry, and within the livestock sector group, the route of infection occurred exclusively through contact (25/25, 100%), whereas in other occupations, it was split between contact (9/26 patients, 34.6%) and ingestion (8/26 patients, 30.8%). Among the 31 patients who underwent Brucella culture tests, B. melitensis was found to be more prevalent than B. abortus (14 patients, 45.2% vs. 11 patients, 35.5%). In all cases where B. melitensis was isolated, the infections were of foreign origin, consistent with the results of BruMLSA21.

Conclusion: Regular monitoring of the causative agent of brucellosis is necessary due to its varying host preferences and antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, given the increasing prevalence of B. melitensis worldwide, changes in dietary habits (e.g., increased lamb consumption), and the increase in foreign workers and Chinese immigrants, a multi-ministerial One Health response will be required.