scholarly journals Death in 12–24-Year-Old Youth in Nova Scotia: High Risk of Preventable Deaths for Males, Socially Deprived and Rural Populations—A Report from the NSYOUTHS Program

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
T. J. B. Dummer ◽  
S. Bellemare ◽  
N. MacDonald ◽  
L. Parker
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Cost ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Vital Statistics ◽  
Rural Populations ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Risk Of Death

Deaths from avoidable causes represent the largest component of deaths in young people in Canada and have a considerable social cost in relation to years of potential life lost. We evaluated social and demographic determinants of deaths in youth aged 12–24 years in Nova Scotia for the period 1995–2004. Youth most at risk of death were males, the more socially deprived, and those living in rural areas. There was a five-fold increase in suicides and a three-fold increase in injury deaths in males compared to females and a substantial component of these deaths were amongst males living in rural areas. Initiatives and prevention policies should be targeted towards specific at-risk groups, particularly males living in rural areas. Published vital statistics hide these important trends and thus provide only limited evidence with which to base-prevention initiatives.

scholarly journals Economics of deforestation: Poverty, inequality and socio-environmental impacts of the consumption of firewood in Ecuador

2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-431
Author(s):  
María Vallejo ◽  
Maribel Caicedo
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Energy Policy ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural Populations

We take the concept of the economics of deforestation to analyse the consumption of firewood in Ecuador during 2018. We identify poor rural populations as being at risk, since the incomplete burning of firewood generates emissions of CO2 that can reach levels that are harmful to their health. We calculate that 95% of the impacts associated with the consumption of firewood are concentrated in rural areas, most of them in poverty conditions: the deforestation of 5,935 hectares, the emission of 1,317.38 Gg of CO2 and 94.58 Gg of CO due to the consumption of 782.08 Gg of firewood. We suggest an energy policy based on solidarity to reduce health risks for these communities, which in turn will enable other impacts to be mitigated. However, it will be necessary to include specific policies for commercial, industrial and productive uses of firewood, where about 65% of firewood consumption and its impacts are concentrated.

scholarly journals Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Seropositive Camel Handlers in Kenya

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice N. Kiyong’a ◽  
Elizabeth A. J. Cook ◽  
Nisreen M. A. Okba ◽  
Velma Kivali ◽  
Chantal Reusken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
At Risk ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Dromedary Camels ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory disease caused by a zoonotic coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Camel handlers, including slaughterhouse workers and herders, are at risk of acquiring MERS-CoV infections. However, there is limited evidence of infections among camel handlers in Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of antibodies to MERS-CoV in high-risk groups in Kenya. Sera collected from 93 camel handlers, 58 slaughterhouse workers and 35 camel herders, were screened for MERS-CoV antibodies using ELISA and PRNT. We found four seropositive slaughterhouse workers by PRNT. Risk factors amongst the slaughterhouse workers included being the slaughterman (the person who cuts the throat of the camel) and drinking camel blood. Further research is required to understand the epidemiology of MERS-CoV in Africa in relation to occupational risk, with a need for additional studies on the transmission of MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans, seroprevalence and associated risk factors.

scholarly journals A Population-Based Analysis of Pneumococcal Disease Mortality in California, 1989–1998

2005 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Redelings ◽  
Frank Sorvillo ◽  
Paul Simon
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Pneumococcal Disease ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Population Based ◽  
California Department ◽  
Demographic Groups ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Disease Mortality ◽  
Preventable Mortality

Objectives. Pneumococcal disease is an important cause of vaccine-preventable mortality. It is important to understand the burden and distribution of mortality so that prevention efforts can be targeted appropriately. This study evaluated pneumococcal disease mortality and its demographic correlates in California from 1989 to 1998. Methods. Deaths due to pneumococcal disease were identified from statewide vital records data using multiple cause-coded information. Denominator data were obtained from estimates from the California Department of Finance. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each age, gender, and racial/ethnic group. Results. The age-adjusted pneumococcal disease mortality rate was 2.05 deaths per 100,000 population. Mortality was highest in elderly individuals (reaching 38.29 deaths per 100,000 population in individuals older than age 85). Age-adjusted mortality rates were elevated in the African American race/ethnicity group (2.96 deaths per 100,000 population) and males (2.67 deaths per 100,000 population). The majority of individuals who died of pneumococcal disease (78.9%) fell into at-risk groups indicated for vaccination. The majority of all pneumococcal deaths were caused by pneumococcal pneumonia. Mortality was seasonal, reaching a peak in the winter months. A decreasing trend in mortality was observed over the 10-year period examined. Conclusions. Pneumococcal disease remains a significant cause of vaccine-preventable mortality in the California population. Greater efforts must be made to vaccinate at-risk individuals, especially those in demographic groups at highest risk of death.

scholarly journals Hepatitis A in Poland in 2017 - epidemic increase cases

2019 ◽  
pp. 487-497
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Aggregated Data ◽  
The Individual

AIM. The aim of this article is to describe and assess changes in epidemiological situation of Hepatitis A in Poland in 2017. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The assessment was based on the information from the individual case questionnaires, aggregated data from the bulletins “Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2017” and reports from epidemiological investigations in outbreaks of hepatitis A, submitted by the sanitary-epidemiological stations to the Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Surveillance in NIPH-NIH. RESULTS. In 2017 a large increase of HAV cases and hepatitis A incidence was observed in Poland (3006 cases, incidence 7.8 per 100 000) in comparison to 2016 (35; 0.09). Majority of the cases were registered in large cities, where incidence was 3 times higher than in rural areas. Among reported there were 501 cases (16.6% of all cases) selfdeclaring as man who have sex with man (MSM). In course of the year an increasing trend in the number of cases was observed until September and the increase of male to female ratio (m/f) until May. Moreover 251 HAV outbreaks were reported, number of which increased until October and with the increase of m/f ratio in these outbreaks until April. From July to October there was an increase in the number of small outbreaks with m/f ratio equal 1. There were 178 imported cases reported, most of them from European countries- especially Germany and Spain. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. In 2017 over 80-fold increase of HAV cases and hepatitis A incidence was observed in comparison to previous years. Available epidemiological data indicate that ongoing HAV outbreak among MSM in Europe reached also Poland, and data from the second part of the year suggest infection spreading in non-MSM part of the population. It is therefore highly indicated that the list of risk groups for which vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended should also be expanded for MSM. To avoid such increase in the number of cases in future it is recommended to introduce vaccinations in risk groups as soon as large international outbreak occurs.

scholarly journals SARS-COV-2: Learning the Lessons from our Experiences, A Critical and Personal Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Ewing
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Fundamental Limitations ◽  
Therapeutic Outcomes ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Medical Protocols

The aims and objectives of this paper is to question established scientific thinking and medical protocols surrounding SARS-COV-2, stimulate debate, and consider alternative and more effective ways of screening and treating the severely affected patients which improve therapeutic outcomes and thereby reduce the complexity and cost of treating infected SARS-COV-2 patients.   The paper argues that national quarantine or lockdown strategies among countries (as a preventive approach) exhibit many shortcomings and are based on a set of erroneous assumptions which enables the independently minded to consider alternative diagnostic and/or therapeutic strategies e.g. to quarantine only the ‘at-risk’ groups; which could be significant in the future.   It raises for discussion a number of pertinent points e.g. (i) that the virus affects different patient groups in different ways; (ii) that the most severely affected who are at risk of death is currently the vast minority of the population, in particular those who are diabetic, obese and immunosuppressed; (iii) that chasing the virus using ‘test and trace’ methods should be augmented by advanced, remote screening methods to determine those in the most ‘at-risk’ groups who should be quarantined; and (iv) reviews the fundamental limitations of seeking only drug-based solutions instead of considering and focussing upon scientifically sustainable solutions based upon an understanding of the fundamental chemistry of biology.

Prevalence of Substance Abuse

1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy G. Dryfoos
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Teen Pregnancy ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Vital Statistics ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Heavy Users ◽  
Large Random Sample ◽  
Diet Pills

Quantifying the number of young people who are high risk because of substance abuse is complicated by the ambiguity of existing definitions and the absence of ideal data. Among other definitional problems, the term substance abuse covers a multitude of “sins”—smoking, drinking, use of marijuana, and use of a whole range of drugs from over-the-counter diet pills to illicit heroin and cocaine. In recent years, chewing smokeless tobacco and wine coolers have been added to the menu. To add to the confusion, the substance abuse field has not produced an adequate response to the question: Who is at risk of long-term consequences? In the teen pregnancy field, the problem is generally defined using the outcome to be prevented, early childbearing (see Chapter 5). Teen fertility is quantifiable, measured from official statistics (Vital Statistics), and the characteristics of those at risk can be determined by studying the outcome date. In the delinquency field, there are official arrest figures. In the education field, school records and selfreports can be used to define low achievers and dropouts. In the substance abuse field, research suggests that there are important differences between occasional users and those who ever tried these substances (but are not abstainers), and the subset who become heavy users. It is the subset of heavy users who should be the prime targets of interventions, and yet it appears that most prevention is aimed at the larger group. The task of defining risk groups for substance-abuse prevention programs would be facilitated if one could turn to a data set that had all the requisite parts: a large random sample of 10- to 17-year-olds, followed longitudinally, and rich in detail about precursors and the social environment. From such a resource, we could better understand the antecedents of drug and alcohol use, current use patterns by different subgroups of the population, and the consequences that followed from that use. A number of researchers have produced important work on what they describe as the etiology or the causes of substance abuse, others have focused on the consequences, and many surveys have been conducted to track prevalence patterns.

scholarly journals Psychological distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and suppression measures during the first wave in Belgium

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Lorant ◽  
Pierre Smith ◽  
Kris Van den Broeck ◽  
Pablo Nicaise
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Health Interview

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent suppression measures have had health and social implications for billions of individuals. The aim of this paper is to investigate the risk of psychological distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and suppression measures during the early days of the lockdown. We compared the level of psychological distress at the beginning of that period with a pre-pandemic health survey and assessed the psychological effects of exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in social activity and support. Methods An online survey was distributed to the general population in Belgium 3 days after the beginning of the lockdown. 20,792 respondents participated. The psychological distress of the population was measured using the GHQ-12 scale. Social activities and support were assessed using the Social Participation Measure, the Short Loneliness Scale, and the Oslo Social Support Scale. An index of subjective exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic was constructed, as well as a measure of change in occupational status. Measurements were compared to a representative sample of individuals extracted from the Belgian Health Interview Survey of 2018. Bootstrapping was performed and analyses were reweighted to match the Belgian population in order to control for survey selection bias. Results Half of the respondents reported psychological distress in the early days of the lockdown. A longer period of confinement was associated with higher risk of distress. Women and younger age groups were more at risk than men and older age groups, as were respondents who had been exposed to COVID-19. Changes in occupational status and a decrease in social activity and support also increased the risk of psychological distress. Comparing the results with those of the 2018 Belgian Health Interview shows that the early period of the lockdown corresponded to a 2.3-fold increase in psychological distress (95% CI: 2.16–2.45). Conclusions Psychological distress is associated with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and suppression measures. The association is measurable from the very earliest days of confinement and it affected specific at-risk groups. Authorities should consider ways of limiting the effect of confinement on the mental and social health of the population and developing strategies to mitigate the adverse consequences of suppression measures.

Who’s at risk of entering Social Security Disability Insurance? A comparison of application and allowance rates for groups of at-risk individuals

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara Contreary ◽  
Todd Honeycutt
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Social Security ◽  
Disability Insurance ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Social Security Disability Insurance ◽  
Program Participation ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Social Security Disability ◽  
Employment Characteristics

BACKGROUND: The U.S. government has implemented several programs to reduce federal expenditures on Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) and help beneficiaries return to work, but the limited success of these efforts has raised interest in approaches that help workers with disabilities remain in the workforce. OBJECTIVE: This paper provides information on individuals at risk of applying for DI benefits to help build the evidence base for policies that provide workers with disabilities support to eliminate the need to apply for and receive DI benefits. METHODS: Using three panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation matched to SSA administrative data, we describe the employment characteristics of seven groups at risk of applying for DI benefits before and after application, as well as the outcomes of their DI applications. RESULTS: New private disability insurance recipients were more likely to apply for and receive DI than members of other at-risk groups. However, individuals with high healthcare expenditures made up the largest proportion of successful applicants across the at-risk groups considered here. CONCLUSION: While it seems plausible that individuals within an at-risk group who are likely to apply for DI benefits can be identified and provided supports to help them maintain employment, focusing on a specific group to promote employment over DI benefits may have a limited effect on the DI program because applicants come from multiple groups.

scholarly journals Sarcopenia and Malnutrition Screening in Female Osteoporosis Patients—A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2344
Author(s):  
Franca Genest ◽  
Dominik Rak ◽  
Elisa Bätz ◽  
Kerstin Ott ◽  
Lothar Seefried
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Functional Deficits ◽  
Complementary Approach ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Patients At Risk ◽  
Not At Risk

Sarcopenia and malnutrition are important determinants of increased fracture risk in osteoporosis. SARC-F and MNA-SF are well-established questionnaires for identifying patients at risk for these conditions. We sought to evaluate the feasibility and potential added benefit of such assessments as well as the actual prevalence of these conditions in osteoporosis patients. We conducted a cross-sectional, single-center study in female osteoporosis patients ≥ 65 years (SaNSiBaR-study). Results of the sarcopenia (SARC-F) and malnutrition (MNA-SF) screening questionnaires were matched with a functional assessment for sarcopenia and data from patients’ medical records. Out of 107 patients included in the analysis, a risk for sarcopenia (SARC-F ≥ 4 points) and a risk for malnutrition (MNA-SF ≤ 11 points) was found in 33 (30.8%) and 38 (35.5%) patients, respectively. Diagnostic overlap with coincident indicative findings in both questionnaires was observed in 17 patients (16%). As compared to the respective not-at-risk groups, the mean short physical performance battery (SPPB) score was significantly reduced in both patients at risk for sarcopenia (7.0 vs. 10.9 points, p < 0.001) and patients at risk for malnutrition (8.7 vs. 10.5 points, p = 0.005). Still, confirmed sarcopenia according to EWGSOP2 criteria was present in only 6 (6%) of all 107 patients, with only 3 of them having an indicative SARC-F score. Bone mineral density was not significantly different in any of the at-risk groups at any site. In summary, applying SARC-F and MNA-SF in osteoporosis patients appears to be a complementary approach to identify individuals with functional deficits.

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