Descriptive epidemiology of COVID-19 deaths in the North Indian district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh

Background: COVID-19 first reported in January 2020 in China has turned into a pandemic the kind that occurs only once in a century, with high mortality rate due to an infectious disease considered once as a thing of past. Caused by SARS-CoV-2 (an RNA virus) COVID-19 has caused over 170 million cases worldwide and around 3.8 million deaths worldwide. India alone has suffered the wrath of this nasty virus with cases approaching 30 million and over 0.4 million deaths till date. Occurring in various waves, the pandemic situation remains dynamic and evolving even today.Methods: We carried out retrospective analysis of all deaths due to COVID-19 occurring in district Kangra from March 2020 to June 2021. Descriptive data on all COVID-19 patients were collected and analysed including individuals who lost their life during the period.Results: From 20 March 2020 to 30 June 2021, a total of 45,871 cases and 1037 deaths (2.2%) were reported in Kangra district-33.8% of 3463 deaths that occurred in the entire state. The death rate per million population in Kangra was 64 compared to 47 for Himachal Pradesh and 30 for India as a whole. The mean age was 62.5 years (range 01 to 102 years); males 62.7 years and female 62.2 years.Conclusions: The biggest challenge for us as a country is that COVID-19 has penetrated into our densely placed population where practicing COVID-19 appropriate behaviour is merely an expectation that possibly can never be fulfilled despite most stringent of actions.

365Disease burden of mumps in Japan: descriptive epidemiology based on the health insurance reimbursement database

Background In Japan, mumps vaccination coverage is low, since it is a voluntary vaccination. In this situation, the number of mumps cases as reported by pediatric sentinel hospitals suggests the occurrence of periodical mumps outbreaks. Methods To examine the annual incidences of mumps and mumps-related complications, we analyzed data from the health insurance reimbursement database for subscribers aged 0-64 years between 2005 and 2017. Cases with mumps and mumps-related complications including meningitis, orchitis, deafness, were extracted according to ICD-10 codes entered into the disease section for health insurance reimbursement. Results During the 13 year period, 68,307 of 5,209,660 subjects were reimbursed for mumps, with an incidence of 325 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI): 323-328). Among the 68,307 mumps cases, 787 were reimbursed for mumps-related complications, with an incidence of 11.5 per 1,000 mumps cases (95% CI: 10.7-12.4). Incidence of mumps-related complications (per 1,000 mumps cases) was highest for orchitis (6.6), followed by meningitis (5.8), deafness (1.3), pancreatitis (0.5), and encephalitis (0.3). Mumps incidence was highest among children aged 0-5 years, while incidence of mumps-related complications was highest among adults aged 26-35 years. Conclusions In Japan, the disease burden of mumps remains high among adults, as well as children. Key messages To reduce the disease burden of mumps among all ages in Japan, immunization in childhood is required. A national immunization program for children would result in high vaccination coverage and lower disease burden.

Epidemiology of Shoulder Injuries in Schoolboy Rugby Union in Ireland

Background: The shoulder has been reported as a frequent location of injury in adult professional and amateur rugby, with match injury incidence rates ranging from 1.8 to 3 per 1000 player-hours (h). An increased understanding of the incidence and mechanism of shoulder injuries in school rugby players is vital to establish effective injury preventive strategies and advise on appropriate rehabilitation. Purpose: To describe the incidence, nature, and severity of shoulder injuries in schoolboy rugby in Ireland. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Injury surveillance was carried out for Senior Cup teams across two seasons (N = 665 players aged 17-19 years) in Ireland from 2018 to 2020. Match and training injury data were recorded using an online system by trained nominated injury recorders. Match exposure was also recorded. Results: Shoulder match injury incidence was 12.2 per 1000 h (95% CI, 9.1-16.2), with a mean severity of 47 days’ time loss and an overall burden of 573 days per 1000 h. In total, 47 match and 5 training shoulder injuries were recorded. The most common injuries were shoulder dislocations/subluxations (34%), followed by acromioclavicular joint sprains (30%). Shoulder dislocations/subluxations represented the most burdensome injury (280 days per 1000 h). The tackle accounted for the majority (81%) of shoulder injuries. Forwards sustained a significantly higher incidence of shoulder injuries (8.3/1000 h) in comparison with backs (3.9/1000 h), with a rate ratio of 2.13 (95% CI, 1.15-3.94; P = .015). Conclusion: We found a notably higher injury incidence rate in schoolboy rugby as compared with the adult amateur and professional game. Shoulder injuries were responsible for more days lost than any other injury, and shoulder dislocations were the most severe. This is of particular concern so early in a player’s career and warrants further investigation into potential risk factors and mechanisms associated with shoulder injuries in school-age players.

Primary central nervous system tumors in Sergipe, Brazil: descriptive epidemiology between 2010 and 2018

ABSTRACT Background: Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are a heterogeneous group with high morbidity and mortality. Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of primary CNS tumors diagnosed in the state of Sergipe from 2010 to 2018. Methods: We evaluated histopathological and immunohistochemical reports on primary CNS tumors diagnosed in Sergipe, Brazil, between 2010 and 2018 and collected data regarding age, sex, location, World Health Organization (WHO) classification and histology. Results: Altogether, 861 primary CNS tumors were found. Tumors in brain locations occurred most frequently (50.8%; n=437). The neoplasms observed were most prevalent in the age range 45‒54 years (20.4%; n=176). Grade I tumors occurred most frequently, corresponding to 38.8% of the cases (n=38) in the age group of 0‒14 years, and 44.6% (n=340) in the population ≥15 years old. Between 0 and 14 years of age, other astrocytic tumors were the most prevalent (29.6%; n=29). In the age group between 15 and 34, gliomas were the most frequent (32.7%; n=54). Meningiomas predominated in the age group of 35 years and above, comprising 47.5% of cases (n=206) in the 35‒74 age group; and 61.2% (n=30) among patients over 75 years old. Conclusion: The epidemiology of primary CNS tumors in Sergipe between 2010 and 2018 is consistent with data in other current studies on the subject. Studies on the epidemiological evolution of these entities in Sergipe are needed.