The aging burden of hospitalization for heart failure in Chinese populations:evidence from the Macao Heart Failure Study

Objective To assess the aging burden of hospitalization for heart failure in Chinese populations in Macao.Methods The Macao Heart Failure Study consists of patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute heart failure(AHF)at Centro Hospitalar Conde de São Januário(the only public hospital that provides medical care for the approximately 600,000 residents of Macao)from January 2014 to December 2016.First,we investigated the relationship between socioeconomic development and epidemiological characteristics of HF in Macao.Then we assessed the patients’clinical features and outcomes according to the age groups.Results A total of 967 patients were included in the final analysis.The median age at admission was 82 years old.The advanced age at the admission of HF in Macao was significantly associated with a high-income level and the aging population structure.Marked heterogeneity existed in the epidemiological characteristics,clinical features,utilization of evidence-based therapies,short-and long-term outcomes,and prognostic utility of clinical variables among the different age groups.Conclusion Rapid economic development and significantly aging populations have produced a profound impact on the epidemiological characteristics of HF in Chinese populations.Acute decompensated heart failure(ADHF)is predominantly a disease of the elderly in Macao,and a significant heterogeneity exists in the clinical features,managements,and outcomes among different age groups.Age-based risk stratification models and multidisciplinary HF teams are urgently needed to improve the management and outcomes of hospitalized heart failure(HHF)patients.

Shock Propagation in Dual-Circulation Production Networks:Characteristics and Simulation

This article constructs a dual-circulation production network framework on the basis of integrating inter-country and China's multi-regional input-output tables,identifies the propagation and attenuation of sectoral shocks in dual-circulation production networks,and measures the effects of US-China trade frictions on the networks.The research finds that:(1)The asymmetry between domestic-and internationalcirculation production networks has increased,and with a few sectors becoming key sectors to dual-circulation production networks,sectoral shocks grow increasingly critical for aggregate volatility.(2)Based on the above analytical framework,the global extraction method(GEM)is adopted to simulate the GDP losses in scenarios of China-US industry-wide chain interruptions,certain sectoral frictions,and supplyside and demand-side chain interruptions.The simulation finds that increasing the domestic substitution rate will reduce the value losses caused by China-US chain interruptions,which is applied for both countries.However,even if full substitution can be achieved,the value losses cannot be avoided completely in the China-US decoupling.Whether it is the demand-side chain interruptions plus insufficient market substitution in China,or the supply-side chain interruptions plus insufficient supply substitution in the US,will cause great losses to their economy.

When It Strikes,Are We Ready?Lessons Identified at the 7th Planetary Defense Conference in Preparing for a Near-Earth Object Impact Scenario

Near-Earth object(NEO)impact is one of the examples of high impact and low probability(HILP)event,same as the Covid-19 pandemic the world faces since the beginning of 2020.The 7 th Planetary Defense Conference held by the International Academy of Astronautics(IAA)in April 2021 included an exercise on a hypothetical NEO impact event,allowing the planetary defense community to discuss potential responses.Over the span of the 4-day conference this exercise connected disaster response and management professionals to participate in a series of panels,providing feedback and perspective on the unfolding crisis scenario.The hypothetical but realistic asteroid threat scenario illustrated how such a short-warning threat might evolve.The scenario utilized during the conference indicates a need to prepare now for what might come in the future,because even with advance notice,preparation time might be minimal.This scenario chose Europe for the impact,which may likely cope with such a disaster,through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism(UCPM)and other solidarity and support mechanisms within the European Union(EU),as well as with potential support from international partners.This short article raises concern about other areas in the world on how they may access NEO impact information and cope with such disasters.It also provides an idea on vast scale of such disaster vis-a-vis the current capacity of response systems to cope with a larger event in Europe or elsewhere.This scenario showed that planetary defense is a global endeavor.Constant engagement of the planetary defense and disaster response communities is essential in order to keep the world safe from potential disasters caused by NEO impacts.