Cleft Lip and/or Palate and Associated Risks in Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Objective: To identify and review published data on the risks associated with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). Design: A systematic review of literature was performed on electronic databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols. Literature on risks associated with CL/P in LMICs, from 2010 to 2020, were included. Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies adopted an observational study design. Biological and environmental risks were identified. Maternal and paternal age (n = 7) and low socioeconomic status (n = 5) were the most prominently associated environmental risk factors. A strong association was identified between family history of cleft (n = 7) and CL/P occurrence. Conclusion: Environmental risk factors are now being investigated more than biological risk factors in LMICs, aiding health care workers in the early identification of possible cumulative effects of risks in CL/P. Contextually relevant tools are recommended to promote early identification of at-risk infants.

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Early environmental risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders – a systematic review of twin and sibling studies

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579420000620 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-48

Author(s):

Torkel Carlsson ◽

Felix Molander ◽

Mark J. Taylor ◽

Ulf Jonsson ◽

Sven Bölte

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

Paternal Age ◽

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

Abstract While neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are highly heritable, several environmental risk factors have also been suggested. However, the role of familial confounding is unclear. To shed more light on this, we reviewed the evidence from twin and sibling studies. A systematic review was performed on case control and cohort studies including a twin or sibling within-pair comparison of neurodevelopmental outcomes, with environmental exposures until the sixth birthday. From 7,315 screened abstracts, 140 eligible articles were identified. After adjustment for familial confounding advanced paternal age, low birth weight, birth defects, and perinatal hypoxia and respiratory stress were associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and low birth weight, gestational age and family income were associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), categorically and dimensionally. Several previously suspected factors, including pregnancy-related factors, were deemed due to familial confounding. Most studies were conducted in North America and Scandinavia, pointing to a global research bias. Moreover, most studies focused on ASD and ADHD. This genetically informed review showed evidence for a range of environmental factors of potential casual significance in NDDs, but also points to a critical need of more genetically informed studies of good quality in the quest of the environmental causes of NDDs.

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Seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 infection in Low and Middle-Income Countries and risk classification in the context of rolling out vaccine candidate across these countries : Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-578481/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Martin Ackah ◽

Louise Ameyaw ◽

Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo ◽

Cynthia Osei Yeboah ◽

Nana Esi Wood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Vaccine Candidate ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Research Database ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Seroprevalence of SARS Cov-2 provides a good indication of the extent of exposure and spread in the population, as well as those likely to benefit from a vaccine candidate. To date, there is no published or ongoing systematic review on the seroprevalence of COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This systematic review and meta-analysis will estimate SARS Cov-2 seroprevalence and the risk factors for SARS Cov-2 infection in LMICs.Methods We will search PubMed, EMBASE, WHO COVID-19 Global research database, Google Scholar, the African Journals Online, LILAC, HINARI, medRxiv, bioRxiv and Cochrane Library for potentially useful studies on seroprevalence of COVID-19 in LMICs from December 2019 to December 2020 without language restriction. Two authors will independently screen all the articles, select studies based on pre-specified eligibility criteria and extract data using a pre-tested data extraction form. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion between the authors. The pooled seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 for people from LMICs will be calculated. Random effects model will be used in case of substantial heterogeneity in the included studies, otherwise fixed-effect model will be used. A planned subgroup, sensitivity and meta-regression analyses will be performed. For comparative studies, the analyses will be performed using Review Manager v 5.4; otherwise, STATA 16 will be used. All effect estimates will be presented with their confidence intervals.Discussion The study will explore and systematically review empirical evidence on SARS Cov-2 seroprevalence in LMICs, and to assess the risk factors for SARS Cov-2 infection in Low Middle Income Countries in the context of rolling out vaccines in these countries. Finally, explore risk classifications to help with the rolling out of vaccines in LMICs.Systematic review registration: The protocol for this review has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD422020221548).

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Prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors among cotton textile workers in low- and middle-income countries: a protocol for a systematic review

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-020-01364-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Naureen Akber Ali ◽

Anam Shahil Feroz

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Cotton Textile ◽

Textile Workers ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Environmental Risk Factors for Bipolar Disorders and High-Risk States in Adolescence: A Systematic Review

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina56120689 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (12) ◽

pp. 689

Author(s):

Giulia Menculini ◽

Pierfrancesco Maria Balducci ◽

Luigi Attademo ◽

Francesco Bernardini ◽

Patrizia Moretti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

High Risk ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Bipolar Disorders ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Present Systematic Review

Background and objectives: A deeper comprehension of the role that environmental risk factors play in the development of adolescent Bipolar Disorder (BD), as well as in the evolution of high-risk states for BD, may entangle further prevention and treatment advances. The present systematic review is aimed at critically summarizing evidence about the role that environmental risk factors play in the development of BD in adolescence and their interaction with BD high-risk states. Materials and Methods: MEDLINE/Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science datasets were systematically searched until 4 September 2020. Original studies that reported information about the role of environmental risk factors in the development of BD during adolescence, or assessing their influence on the development of psychopathology in high-risk states for BD, were considered for inclusion. Two blind researchers performed title/abstract, full-text screening, and hand-screening of relevant references. The risk of bias was assessed by means of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Fourteen studies were included in the review. Negative stressful life events, particularly sexual and physical abuse, but also emotional mistreatment, were associated with more severe psychopathology in adolescents with BD, as well as with higher risk for developing mood disorders in BD offspring. Similar findings were detected for familial environment-related features, such as parental rejection and low perceived care, while no univocal results were found when analyzing familial functioning. Conclusions: The present systematic review confirmed the relevant role that environmental risk factors, particularly negative stressful live events and family-related features, play in the development of BD psychopathology during adolescence. Future studies are expected to clarify possible further environmental factors that may be implicated in the development of BD during youth that may serve as target of prevention and early treatment strategies.

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Environmental risk factors of leptospirosis in urban settings: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023359 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. e023359

Author(s):

Mohd Hatta Abdul Mutalip ◽

Mohd Amierul Fikri Mahmud ◽

Noor Aliza Lodz ◽

Norzawati Yoep ◽

Eida Nurhadzira Muhammad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Observational Studies ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

Primary Data ◽

Urban Settings ◽

Susceptible Populations

IntroductionLeptospirosis is the most common zoonotic disease that causes morbidity and mortality worldwide. The disease can cause sporadic epidemics and recent epidemics have become more apparent in urban localities. There is lack of documented evidence on the specific risk factors of leptospirosis infection among the urbanites, thereby impeding initiatives for prevention in urban settings. We aim to systematically search published articles and synthesise evidence on the risk factors associated with leptospirosis infection among the susceptible populations in urban localities, particularly to identify the risk factors of non-recreational leptospirosis infection.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a systematic review of observational studies that investigated environmental risk factors of leptospirosis in urban localities. The search will be performed for any eligible articles from selected electronic databases from 1970 until May 2018. The study will include any studies that investigated risk factors of confirmed leptospirosis cases who acquired the infection in urban locality, particularly exposures from the non-recreational and non-water-related activities. Study selection and reporting will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guideline. All data will be extracted using a standardised data extraction form and quality of the studies will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale guideline. Descriptive and meta-analysis will be performed by calculating the standardised median ORs and risk ratios for types of the non-recreational risk factors stratified by social, living conditions and environmental exposures, types of reservoirs and transmissions and types of activities and employments associated with leptospirosis infection in urban locality.Ethics and disseminationNo primary data will be collected thus no formal ethical approval is required. The results will be disseminated though a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentation.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018090820.

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