scholarly journals Dynamics of Borrelia burgdorferi-Specific Antibodies: Seroconversion and Seroreversion between Two Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Surveys among Adults in Germany

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1859
Author(s):  
Tom Woudenberg ◽  
Stefanie Böhm ◽  
Merle Böhmer ◽  
Katharina Katz ◽  
Niklas Willrich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Seroconversion Rate ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Population Based ◽  
German Population ◽  
Strong Response ◽  
Screening Assay ◽  
Serological Screening ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Lyme borreliosis (LB) caused by Borrelia burgdorferi spp. is the most common human tick-borne disease in Europe. Although seroprevalence studies are conducted in several countries, rates of seroconversion and seroreversion are lacking, and they are essential to determine the risk of infection. Seropositivity was determined using a two-step approach—first, a serological screening assay, and in the event of a positive or equivocal result, a confirmatory immunoblot assay. Seroconversion and seroreversion rates were assessed from blood samples taken from participants included in two nation-wide population-based surveys. Moreover, the impact of antigen reactivity on seroreversion rates was assessed. The seroprevalence of antibodies reacting against B. burgdorferi spp. in the German population was 8.5% (95% CI 7.5–9.6) in 1997–99 and 9.3% (95% CI 8.3–10.4) in 2008–2011. Seroprevalence increased with age, up to 20% among 70–79 year-olds. The age-standardized seroprevalence remained the same. The yearly seroconversion rate was 0.45% (95% CI: 0.37–0.54), and the yearly seroreversion rate was 1.47% (95% CI: 1.24–2.17). Lower levels of antibodies were associated with seroreversion. Participants with a strong response against antigen p83 had the lowest odds on seroreversion. Given the yearly seroreversion rate of 1.47% and a seroprevalence up to 20% in the oldest age groups, at least 20% of the German population becomes infected with B. burgdorferi in their lifetime. The slight increase in seroprevalence between the two serosurveys was caused by an aging population.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Childhood Hyperthyroidism in France: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 103 (8) ◽  
pp. 2980-2987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Simon ◽  
Annabel Rigou ◽  
Joëlle Le Moal ◽  
Abdelkrim Zeghnoun ◽  
Alain Le Tertre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Poisson Model ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Epidemiological Survey ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Antithyroid Drugs ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Context Hyperthyroidism affects all age groups, but epidemiological data for children are scarce. Objective To perform a nationwide epidemiological survey of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents. Design A cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting Identification of entries corresponding to reimbursements for antithyroid drugs in the French national insurance database. Participants All cases of childhood hyperthyroidism (6 months to 17 years of age) in 2015. Main Outcome Measures National incidence rate estimated with a nonlinear Poisson model and spatial distribution of cases. Results A total of 670 cases of childhood hyperthyroidism were identified. Twenty patients (3%) had associated autoimmune or genetic disease, with type 1 diabetes and Down syndrome the most frequent. The annual incidence for 2015 was 4.58/100,000 person-years (95% CI 3.00 to 6.99/100,000). Incidence increased with age, in both sexes. This increase accelerated after the age of 8 in girls and 10 in boys and was stronger in girls. About 10% of patients were affected before the age of 5 years (sex ratio 1.43). There was an interaction between age and sex, the effect of being female increasing with age: girls were 3.2 times more likely to be affected than boys in the 10 to 14 years age group and 5.7 times more likely to be affected in the 15 to 17 years age group. No conclusions about spatial pattern emerged. Conclusion These findings shed light on the incidence of hyperthyroidism and the impact of sex on this incidence during childhood and adolescence. The observed incidence was higher than expected from the results published for earlier studies in Northern European countries.

scholarly journals Placement on COVID-19 Units Does Not Increase Seroconversion Rate of Pediatric Graduate Medical Residents

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Crisci ◽  
Samuel Arregui ◽  
Jorge Canas ◽  
Jenaya Hooks ◽  
Melvin Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seroconversion Rate ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Medical Residents ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Graduate Medical ◽  
The Impact

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated disease COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has presented graduate medical education (GME) training programs with a unique set of challenges. One of the most pressing is how should hospital systems that rely on graduate medical residents provide appropriate care for patients while protecting trainees. This question is of particular concern as healthcare workers are at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure.Objective: This cross-sectional study sought to assess the impact of hospital COVID-19 patient placement on pediatric graduate medical residents by comparing rates of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion rates of residents who worked on designated COVID-19 teams and those who did not.Methods: Forty-four pediatric and medicine–pediatric residents at Riley Children's Hospital (Indianapolis, IN) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG seroconversion in May 2020 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (Abnova catalog no. KA5826), 2 months after the first known COVID-19 case in Indiana. These residents were divided into two groups: those residents who worked on designated COVID-19 teams, and those who did not. Groups were compared using χ2 or Fisher exact test for categorical variables, and continuous variables were compared using Student t testing.Results: Forty-four of 104 eligible residents participated in this study. Despite high rates of seroconversion, there was no difference in the risk of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion between residents who worked on designated COVID-19 teams (26% or 8/31) and those who did not (31% or 4/13). Eleven of 44 residents (25%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG, whereas only 5/44 (11.4%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgM, without a detectable difference between exposure groups.Conclusion: We did not observe a difference in SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion between different exposure groups. These data are consistent with growing evidence supporting the efficacy of personal protective equipment. Further population-based research on the role of children in transmitting the SARS-CoV-2 virus is needed to allow for a more evidence-based approach toward managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Comparison of metabolic syndrome prevalence using four different definitions – a population-based study in Finland

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsi Haverinen ◽  
Laura Paalanen ◽  
Luigi Palmieri ◽  
Alicia Padron-Monedero ◽  
Isabel Noguer-Zambrano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
International Diabetes Federation ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Population Based ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a public health problem in Europe, affecting all age groups. Several MetS definitions are available. The aim of this study was to compare four different MetS definitions in the Finnish adult population, to assess their agreement and to evaluate the impact of the choice of the definition on the prevalence of MetS. Methods Data from FinHealth 2017, a cross-sectional national population health survey, focusing on adults aged 25 years or older were used in the analysis (n=5687). Measured data on anthropometrics, blood pressure and biomarkers together with questionnaire data were used to classify the participants into the MetS categories according to the four definitions. The definitions chosen for the comparison were those by the World Health Organization (WHO) (1998), National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) (2004), International Diabetes Federation (IDF) (2005), and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) (2009). Results The four MetS definitions resulted in substantially different MetS prevalence: 17.7% by WHO, 33.3% by NCEP-ATP III, 41.5% by IDF, and 43.0% by JIS. Regardless of the definition used, the prevalence of MetS increased with age. The prevalence of the different components varied between the definitions, depending on the different cut-off points adopted. Out of all participants, only 13.6% were identified to have MetS according to all four definitions. Agreement between participants recognised by different MetS definitions, estimated through kappa coefficients, was almost perfect for IDF vs. JIS (0.97), strong for JIS vs. NCEP-ATP III (0.80), moderate for IDF vs. NCEP-ATP III (0.76) and weak for WHO vs. NCEP-ATP III (0.42), WHO vs. IDF (0.41) and WHO vs. JIS (0.40). Conclusions Differences between observed prevalence of MetS in Finnish men and women using different MetS definitions were large. For cross-country comparisons, as well as for trend analyses within a country, it is essential to use the same MetS definition to avoid discrepancies in classification due to differences in used definitions.

The German Version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heide Glaesmer ◽  
Gesine Grande ◽  
Elmar Braehler ◽  
Marcus Roth
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Factorial Invariance ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
Life Scale

The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is the most commonly used measure for life satisfaction. Although there are numerous studies confirming factorial validity, most studies on dimensionality are based on small samples. A controversial debate continues on the factorial invariance across different subgroups. The present study aimed to test psychometric properties, factorial structure, factorial invariance across age and gender, and to deliver population-based norms for the German general population from a large cross-sectional sample of 2519 subjects. Confirmatory factor analyses supported that the scale is one-factorial, even though indications of inhomogeneity of the scale have been detected. Both findings show invariance across the seven age groups and both genders. As indicators of the convergent validity, a positive correlation with social support and negative correlation with depressiveness was shown. Population-based norms are provided to support the application in the context of individual diagnostics.

scholarly journals Analysing the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on everyday travel behaviour in Germany and potential implications for future travel patterns

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktoriya Kolarova ◽  
Christine Eisenmann ◽  
Claudia Nobis ◽  
Christian Winkler ◽  
Barbara Lenz
Keyword(s):  
Public Transport ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Travel Behaviour ◽  
German Population ◽  
Travel Patterns ◽  
Home Office ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction The global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having a great impact on all areas of the everyday life, including travel behaviour. Various measures that focus on restricting social contacts have been implemented in order to reduce the spread of the virus. Understanding how daily activities and travel behaviour change during such global crisis and the reasons behind is crucial for developing suitable strategies for similar future events and analysing potential mid- and long-term impacts. Methods In order to provide empirical insights into changes in travel behaviour during the first Coronavirus-related lockdown in 2020 for Germany, an online survey with a relative representative sample for the German population was conducted a week after the start of the nationwide contact ban. The data was analysed performing descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Results and Discussion The results suggest in general an increase in car use and decrease in public transport use as well as more negative perception of public transport as a transport alternative during the pandemic. Regarding activity-related travel patterns, the findings show firstly, that the majority of people go less frequent shopping; simultaneously, an increase in online shopping can be seen and characteristics of this group were analysed. Secondly, half of the adult population still left their home for leisure or to run errands; young adults were more active than all other age groups. Thirdly, the majority of the working population still went to work; one out of four people worked in home-office. Lastly, potential implications for travel behaviour and activity patterns as well as policy measures are discussed.

scholarly journals Prevalence of nocturia among community-dwelling adults: a population-based study in Malaysia

BMC Urology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Yin Yow ◽  
John Jeh Lung Tiong ◽  
Chun-Wai Mai ◽  
Esther van der Werf ◽  
Zulkifli Md Zainuddin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Condition ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Waking Up ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Nocturia is widely prevalent condition with detrimental effects on quality of life and general health. In Malaysia, there is a lack of up-to-date prevalence study on nocturia. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of nocturia and awareness pertaining to nocturia among Malaysian adults. Methods A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted among Malaysian adults aged ≥ 18 years old. The data was collected by mixed mode self-administered questionnaire from May 2019 to September 2019. Nocturia was defined as one or more voids at night. Results There were a total of 4616 respondents with 74.5% of response rate. The overall prevalence of nocturia among Malaysian adults was found to be 57.3%. In multivariate analysis, respondents aged 31–40 (1.91 [1.52–2.40]) or > 60 years old (2.03 [1.48–2.71]), and those who presented with hypertension (2.84 [2.28–3.53]), diabetes mellitus (1.78 [1.42–2.25]), renal disease (3.58 [1.93–6.63]) or overactive bladder (1.61 [1.10–2.35]) were associated with higher prevalence of nocturia. A significantly lower disease prevalence (p < 0.05) was noted among those aged 41–50 (0.73 [0.59–0.91]), male (0.78 [0.69–0.88]) and Chinese (0.47 [0.30–0.74]) or Indian (0.34 [0.21–0.54]) ethnicities. A total of 37.3% of respondents with nocturia reported that they faced sleeping difficulty about half the time or more after waking up in the middle of night. Those who had ≥ 2 voids per night experienced significantly higher mean bother score than those who had 1 void per night (p < 0.001). Approximately half (56.7%) of all respondents were not aware that night time urination is a medical condition. Only 25.2% of respondents with nocturia had sought medical attention for their nocturia. Conclusions The prevalence of nocturia among Malaysian adults is high and strongly influenced by age, sex, race and comorbidities. However, the general awareness pertaining to nocturia being a health issue remains low among Malaysians. The findings also highlighted the impact of nocturia on sleep and the need for nocturia education to better address this disease.

Support for cigarette filter waste policies among US adults

2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-056451
Author(s):  
Minal Patel ◽  
Alison F Cuccia ◽  
Shanell Folger ◽  
Adam F Benson ◽  
Donna Vallone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Status ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Tobacco Product ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cigarette Filter ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Knowledge And Beliefs ◽  
Cigarette Butts ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionLittle is known on whether cigarette filter-related knowledge or beliefs are associated with support for policies to reduce their environmental impact.MethodsA cross-sectional, population-based sample of US adults aged 18–64 years (n=2979) was used to evaluate filter-related knowledge and beliefs by smoking status using data collected between 24 October 2018 and 17 December 2018. Multivariate logistic regression models explored whether these knowledge and belief items were associated with support for two policies, a US$0.75 litter fee and a ban on sales of filtered cigarettes, controlling for demographic characteristics and smoking status.ResultsRegardless of smoking status, 71% did not know plastic was a cigarette filter component and 20% believed filters were biodegradable. Overall, 23% believed filters reduce health harms and 60% believed filters make it easier to smoke; 90% believed cigarette butts are harmful to the environment. Individuals believing cigarette butts harmed the environment were more likely to support a litter fee (adjusted OR (aOR)=2.33, 95% CI: 1.71 to 3.17). Individuals believing that filters are not biodegradable had higher odds of supporting a litter fee (OR=1.47, 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.88). Respondents believing that filters do not make cigarettes less harmful were more likely to support a litter fee (aOR=1.50, 95% CI: 1.20 to 1.88) and filter ban (aOR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.64 to 2.50). Belief that filters make it easier to smoke was associated with decreased support for a filter ban (aOR=0.69, 95% CI: 0.58 to 0.83).ConclusionsComprehensive efforts are needed to educate the public about the impact of cigarette filters in order to build support for effective tobacco product waste policy.

scholarly journals What do we know about the impact of sexual violence on health and health behaviour of women in Estonia?

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedda Lippus ◽  
Made Laanpere ◽  
Kai Part ◽  
Inge Ringmets ◽  
Helle Karro
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sexual Behaviours ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Sexual violence against women is a major public health issue and a breach of human rights. Although various consequences of sexual violence on health have been described in a large number of scientific publications, very little is known about this topic in Estonia. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sexual violence and associations between exposure to sexual violence and risky health and sexual behaviours among women in Estonia. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Estonia in 2014. Self-reported data regarding selected indicators of risky health and sexual behaviours were collected from 1670 women, aged 18–44 years, via a self-administered questionnaire. To measure the prevalence of sexual violence, questions from the NorVold Abuse Questionnaire were included. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results Of the respondents, 22.7% (n = 379) reported being exposed to sexual violence during their lifetime, and over half of these women had had these experiences before the age of 18. Statistically significant associations were found between sexual violence and smoking (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.03–1.70), alcohol consumption (AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.18–1.95), illicit drug use (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.70–2.89), sexual intercourse for money or other material reward (AOR 3.51, 95% CI 1.62–7.61), concurrent sexual relationships (AOR 2.64; 95% CI 1.80–3.86), and being diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (AOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.09–2.01). Conclusions In Estonia, sexual violence against women is widespread and is associated with several risky health and sexual behaviours. Efforts should be made, both among the general public and professionals, to raise awareness regarding the prevalence and negative impact of sexual violence. Women who have been exposed to sexual violence are in need of professional medical, legal and psychological help free from prejudice to help them recover from such traumatic events.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitudes and intention regarding mHealth in generation Y: evidence from a population based cross sectional study in Chakaria, Bangladesh

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e016217 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Shafiqur Rahman ◽  
Syed Hanifi ◽  
Fatema Khatun ◽  
Mohammad Iqbal ◽  
Sabrina Rasheed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Generation Y ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Level Of Knowledge

Background and objectivesmHealth offers a new opportunity to ensure access to qualified healthcare providers. Therefore, to better understand its potential in Bangladesh, it is important to understand how young people use mobile phones for healthcare. Here we examine the knowledge, attitudes and intentions to use mHealth services among young population.DesignPopulation based cross sectional household survey.Setting and participantsA total of 4909 respondents, aged 18 years and above, under the Chakaria Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) area, were interviewed during the period November 2012 to April 2013.MethodsParticipants younger than 30 years of age were defined as young (or generation Y). To examine the level of knowledge about and intention towards mHealth services in generation Y compared with their older counterparts, the percentage of the respective outcome measure from a 2×2 contingency table and adjusted odds ratio (aOR), which controls for potential confounders such as mobile ownership, sex, education, occupation and socioeconomic status, were estimated. The aOR was estimated using both the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel approach and multivariable logistic regression models controlling for confounders.ResultsGeneration Y had significantly greater access to mobile phones (50%vs40%) and better knowledge about its use for healthcare (37.8%vs27.5%;aOR 1.6 (95% CI1.3 to 2.0)). Furthermore, the level of knowledge about two existing mHealth services in generation Y was significantly higher compared with their older counterparts, with aOR values of 3.2 (95% CI 2.6 to 5.5) and 1.5 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.8), respectively. Similarly, generation Y showed significantly greater intention towards future use of mHealth services compared with their older counterparts (aOR 1.3 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.4)). The observed associations were not modified by sociodemographic factors.ConclusionThere is a greater potential for mHealth services in the future among young people compared with older age groups. However, given the low overall use of mHealth, appropriate policy measures need to be formulated to enhance availability, access, utilisation and effectiveness of mHealth services.

scholarly journals Use of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in identifying cardiovascular risk factors in male brazilian adolescents

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 678
Author(s):  
Lilian Messias Sampaio Brito ◽  
Luis Paulo Gomes Mascarenhas ◽  
Deise Cristiane Moser ◽  
Ana Cláudia Kapp Titski ◽  
Monica Nunes Lima Cat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
High Blood Pressure ◽  
Abdominal Obesity ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2016v18n6p678 The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels on the prevalence of overweight and high blood pressure levels in adolescents. In this observational, cross-sectional study, 614 boys aged 10-14 years were assessed for height, body mass, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure (BP). CRF was assessed using a run test (Léger Test) and subjects were then grouped according to their CRF level. PA level was assessed through a questionnaire (The Three Day Physical Activity Recall) and classified into two groups, namely > 300 minutes of PA/week and < 300 minutes of PA/week. Maturational stage was evaluated according to the development of pubic hair (self-assessment) as proposed by Tanner. We used statistical descriptive analysis, univariate and multivariate analyses in the total participants and subjects were divided by age. Fifty percent of the sample performed < 300 minutes of PA/week and 67.6% had unsatisfactory CRF levels. There was a higher prevalence of unsatisfactory CRF levels among subjects with altered BMI (overweight), WC (abdominal obesity) or BP (high blood pressure) for all age groups. PA history, however, did not show any significance. A total of 31% of participants were overweight, 24.8% had abdominal obesity and 15.4% had increased BP. Unsatisfactory CRF levels were found to be a better predictor for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (CV) risk factors than PA history, regardless of age group. 

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