Detrimental relevance of Helicobacter pylori infection with sarcopenia

Background Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), Gram negative microaerophilic bacteria, is a well-known pathogen of many gastrointestinal diseases. But several emerging evidences suggest it role in numerous other extra-gastric diseases. The current study investigates the relationship between H. pylori infection and sarcopenia, a clinical condition characterized by the loss of mass and function of skeletal muscle. A total of 3453 eligible participants from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), the United States, were enrolled. Based on the serum laboratory results, subjects were categorized into three groups: normal (without evidence of any H. pylori infection), anti-H. pylori IgG positive [H. pylori (+)], and concurrent anti-H. pylori IgG and anti-cytotoxin-associated gene A IgG positive [CagA (+)]. Sarcopenia was determined as having a skeletal muscle index (SMI) value that is more than 1 standard deviation away from the mean value of sex-specific, healthy young adults between 20 and 39 years old. Risk of sarcopenia and its components are compared between subgroups. Results Odds ratios (OR) for confirmed diagnosis of sarcopenia were higher in H. pylori (+) (OR = 2.052, 95% CI 1.697–2.481, p < 0.001) and CagA (+) (OR = 1.585, 95% CI 1.278–1.965, p < 0.001) groups. Moreover, negative beta regression coefficient of SMI were shown in H. pylori (+) (β: − 0.023, p < 0.001) and CagA (+) (β: − 0.017, p < 0.001). Sub-analyses which categorized participants by gender revealed that absolute value of beta regression coefficient for SMI were higher in female in H. pylori (+) subgroup (β: − 1.745 in male and − 2.942 in female, p were both < 0.001), and the CagA (+) subgroup (β: − 1.407 in male and − 2.159 in female, p were both < 0.001). Conclusions Positive serum H. pylori infectious markers including anti-H. pylori antibody and CagA seropositivity are correlated with sarcopenia and low muscle quantity. Therefore, H. pylori eradication therapy may bring benefits to sarcopenia patients with concurrent active H. pylori infection.

Use of Beta Regression to investigate the link between home air infiltration rate and self-reported health

The UK has introduced ambitious legislation for reaching net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Improving the energy efficiency of homes is a key priority in achieving this target and solutions include minimising unwanted heat losses and decarbonising heating and cooling. Making a dwelling more airtight and applying insulation can result in a lower energy demand by reducing unwanted heat loss through fabric and openings. However, the supply of sufficient outdoor air is required to dilute indoor airborne pollutants. This research investigates the relationship between dwelling air infiltration and self-reported health at population neighbourhood level for Greater London. This paper links data from a variety of sources including Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), the Greater London Authorities’ Large Super Output Area (LSOA) Atlas and the Access to Healthy Assets and Hazards (AHAH) database at LSOA level. Beta regression has been performed to assess the influence of air infiltration rate on self-reported health, whilst controlling for other socioeconomic factors. All factors have been ranked in order of their association with self-reported health. Findings indicate that air infiltration rate has a positive association with the percentage of people reporting themselves to be in “good or very good” health.

Multilevel Zero-One Inflated Beta Regression Model for the Analysis of the Relationship between Exogenous Health Variables and Technical Efficiency in the Spanish National Health System Hospitals

Background: This article proposes a methodological innovation in health economics for the second stage analysis of technical efficiency in hospitals. It investigates the relationship between the installed capacity in regions and hospitals and their ownership structure. Methods: A multilevel zero-one inflated beta regression model is employed to model pure technical efficiency more adequately than other models frequently used in econometrics. Results: Compared to publicly managed hospitals, the mean efficiency index of hospitals with public-private partnership (PPP) formulas was 4.27-fold. This figure was 1.90-fold for private hospitals. Concerning the efficiency frontier, the odds ratio (OR) of PPP models vs. public hospitals was 42.06. The OR of private hospitals vs. public hospitals was 8.17. A one standard deviation increase in the percentage of beds in intensive care units increases the odds of being situated on the efficiency frontier by 50%. Conclusions: The proportion of hospital beds in intensive care units relates to a higher chance of being on the efficiency frontier. Hospital ownership structure is related to the mean efficiency index of Spanish National Health Service hospitals, as well as the odds of being situated on the efficiency frontier.

Explaining COVID-19 mortality rates in the first wave in Europe

The beta regression has been received considerable attention in the last decade because of its applications to proportional data in several fields. We study the variability of coronavirus death rates in the first wave of twenty European countries using the beta regression with two systematic components for the mean and dispersion parameters. We prove empirically that the population density, proportion of urban population, hospital beds per 100 thousand and running time explain the variability of the COVID-19 death rates in the first wave of these countries.