Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health最新文献

This study examined the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on influenza vaccination and health screening trends in Korea. A total of 49 299 individuals aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2013-2015, 2016-2019, or 2020-2022 (the COVID-19 era) with available information on influenza vaccination, health screening, and cancer screening status were included. Multivariate regression models were used to compare the estimated prevalences of behaviors during these three phases. The COVID-19 pandemic arrested the increasing health screening trend and reversed the increasing cancer screening trend, whereas the influenza vaccination rate continuously increased, irrespective of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, subgroup analysis revealed: (1) that during the COVID-19 pandemic, no increasing trend in influenza vaccination was evident for older adults (≥65 years old) or individuals with a lower socioeconomic status and (2) that even during COVID-19 pandemic, older adults and women were more actively screened. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected influenza vaccination and health screening rates among Korean adults but affected specific populations differently.

This study evaluated the relationship between health information literacy and nonvaccination against COVID-19, while identifying potential moderating factors. The study included 229 237 participants who reported on their COVID-19 vaccination experiences as part of the 2021 Korea Community Health Survey. Using multiple logistic regression, we analyzed the impact of health information literacy on vaccination status, adjusting for sociodemographic and personal hygiene factors, and calculated the odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals. Individuals who have difficulty understanding health information were at increased risk of being unvaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, sociodemographic factors and hand hygiene independently influenced vaccination status. Notably, health literacy showed an age-dependent relationship with COVID-19 vaccination, with individuals below 45 and above 75 years old having a 17% and 32% higher risk of remaining unvaccinated due to difficulties in understanding health information, respectively. To reduce nonvaccination rates, health communication strategies that improve information delivery may be particularly beneficial for both younger and older age groups.

The burden of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is particularly substantial in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, a comprehensive understanding of their prevalence in these regions is lacking. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HAIs in LMICs. Major databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, were thoroughly searched for published studies between January 1, 2000, and July 15, 2024. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. The pooled prevalence of HAIs was estimated using a random-effects model and a 95% confidence interval. The literature search identified 87 studies reporting HAI prevalence in LMICs. The overall prevalence of HAIs across LMICs was 22%. The South-East Asian Region presented the highest prevalence at 37%. In terms of income level, low-income countries had the highest prevalence at 37%. Surgical site infections had the highest prevalence among infection types at 27%. This systematic review underscores the high prevalence of HAIs in most LMICs, emphasizing the need to facilitate the development of targeted prevention and control strategies to mitigate the impact of this critical public health issue, especially in resource-limited settings.

Smoking and diabetes have detrimental effects on tooth loss, though few studies have examined their interaction. Using five waves of cross-sectional data from the state of Hawai'i in the United States, this study aimed to examine the interaction effects between smoking and diabetes on severe tooth loss ($\ge 6$) among adults, using a weighted logistic regression approach. In Hawai'i, the overall prevalence of severe tooth loss was 9.7%. Among never smokers, diabetes was associated with a 10.3% higher prevalence of severe tooth loss compared with those without diabetes. The differences due to diabetes were nearly doubled among former smokers (19%) and current smokers (16.2%). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the differences were smaller but still statistically significant, indicating the aggravating effect of smoking on tooth loss among those with diabetes. Awareness of the interaction between smoking and diabetes is crucial for the development of policies aimed at improving health equity.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) imposes a heavy disease burden on China. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of COPD in adults aged 40 years and older in China through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A web-based search of 11 databases (including PubMed and Web of Science) from January 2014 to September 2024, using specified search/MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms and keywords, was conducted. A total of 92 studies (39 320 patients) were included. The combined prevalence of COPD in Chinese adults aged 40 years and older from 2014 to 2024 was 12.1%. Subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence was higher in males 16.4% than in females 8.4%. The lowest prevalence was 4.8% in the age group of 40 to 49 years and 23.7% in the age group of over 70 years. The prevalence was highest in patients with a BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m² (22.4%) and decreased with increasing BMI. The prevalence was highest in Northwestern China (13.9%) and lowest in Southern China (9.2%), and was higher in rural residents (13.7%) than urban residents (11.1%). The prevalence was higher among current smokers (18.7%) and former smokers (18.7%) than among non-smokers (7.9%).