Epidemiology of work-related hand and wrist injuries in a referral center: A descriptive study

BACKGROUND Occupational hand and wrist injuries(OHWIs)account for 25%of work-related accidents in low-and middle-income countries.In Colombia,more than 500000 occupational accidents occurred in 2021,and although the rate declined to less than 5%in 2020 and 2021,at least one in four accidents involved a hand or wrist injury.AIM To describe the OHWIs in workers seen at the emergency room at a second-level hospital in Colombia.METHODS An observational study was performed using data from workers who experienced OHWIs and attended a second-level hospital,between June,2020 and May,2021.The overall frequency of OHWIs,as well as their distribution by sociodemo-graphic,clinical,and occupational variables,are described.Furthermore,association patterns between sex,anatomical area(fingers,hand,wrist),and type of job were analyzed by correspondence analysis(CA).RESULTS There were 2.101 workers treated for occupational accidents,423(20.3%)were cases of OHWIs,which mainly affected men(93.9%)with a median age of 31 years and who worked mainly in mining(75.9%).OHWIs were more common in the right upper extremity(55.3%)and comprised different types of injuries,such as contusion(42.1%),laceration(27.9%),fracture(18.7%),and crush injury(15.6%).They primarily affected the phalanges(95.2%),especially those of the first finger(25.7%).The CAs showed associations between the injured anatomical area and the worker’s job that differed in men and women(explained variance>90%).CONCLUSION One out of five workers who suffered occupational accidents in Cundinamarca,Columbia had an OHWI,affecting mainly males employed in mining.This occupational profile is likely to lead to prolonged rehabilitation,and permanent functional limitations.Our results might be useful for adjusting preventive measures in cluster risk groups.

Levels and correlates of 24-hour movement behaviors among South Koreans:Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys,2014 and 2015

Purpose.This study aimed to examine the levels and correlates of 24-h movement behaviors(i.e.,physical activity,sedentary time,and sleep),and different patterns of these behaviors in a nationally representative sample of South Koreans aged 12 years and older.This study also aimed to examine the sociodemographic correlates of 24?h movement behaviors stratified by age groups.Methods.Self-reported,repeated cross-sectional data from 10,708 participants in the 2014 and 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination surveys were used.Key variables included moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity,muscular strengthening exercises,walking,active transportation,sedentary time,and sleep.Sociodemographic variables included age,sex,household income,area of residence,and education level.Descriptive statistics by sex and age as well as general linear models by age group were performed.Results.The proportions of individuals meeting the moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity,muscular strengthening exercises,and sleep guidelines were,respectively,21.6%,22.1%,and 32.5%in male youth;6.9%,4.5%,and 22.8%in female youth;55.5%,30.8%,and 54.0%in male adults;48.8%,14.4%,and 57.6%in female adults;44.0%,30.6%,and 45.5%in male older adults;and 29.5%,8.9%,and 37.3%in female older adults.The proportions of individuals showing the most ideal combinations of 24-h movement behaviors were only 3.2%in youth,0.4%in adults,and 0 in older adults.Universally,older age,female sex,or living in metro Seoul were associated with unfavorable patterns of 24-h movement behaviors across different age groups.However,the associations of income and education with movement behaviors were mixed across age groups.Conclusion.Overall,the proportion of South Koreans with a healthy 24-h movement behavior pattern is low.The sociodemographic correlates of different types of 24-h movement behaviors should be considered when designing targeted interventions for the promotion of healthy active living for South Koreans.

Epidemiology for public health practice:The application of spatial epidemiology

Spatial epidemiology is the description and analysis of geographic patterns and variations in disease risk factors,morbidity and mortality with respect to their distributions associated with demographic,socioeconomic,environmental,health behavior,and genetic risk factors,and time-varying changes.In the Letter to Editor,we had a brief description of the practice for the mortality and the spacetime patterns of John Snow's map of cholera epidemic in London,United Kingdom in 1854.This map is one of the earliest public heath practices of developing and applying spatial epidemiology.In the early history,spatial epidemiology was predominantly applied in infectious disease and risk factor studies.However,since the recent decades,noncommunicable diseases have become the leading cause of death in both developing and developed countries,spatial epidemiology has been used in the study of noncommunicable disease.In the Letter,we addressed two examples that applied spatial epidemiology to cluster and identify stroke belt and diabetes belt across the states and counties in the United States.Similar to any other epidemiological study design and analysis approaches,spatial epidemiology has its limitations.We should keep in mind when applying spatial epidemiology in research and in public health practice.

Health Impacts and Mechanisms of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Epidemiological to Toxicological

This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the health impacts of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) through an integration of epidemiological and toxicological studies. The study identifies significant correlations between PFAS exposure and adverse health outcomes, including thyroid dysfunction, elevated cholesterol levels, and increased risk of specific cancers. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines a systematic review and meta-analysis of recent literature with in vitro and in vivo toxicological experiments. The epidemiological analysis reveals increased risks of thyroid dysfunction, cholesterol elevation, and certain cancers among PFAS-exposed individuals. Toxicological findings further corroborate these results, showing dose-dependent cytotoxic effects in human cell lines and endocrine disruption in rodent models. The study emphasizes the importance of regulatory measures to mitigate PFAS exposure and the urgent need for more comprehensive research into their long-term effects. The integration of epidemiological and toxicological data underscores the significant health risks posed by PFAS, highlighting the necessity of immediate action to limit exposure and develop safer alternatives.

Psychiatric Epidemiology and Mental Health Service in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People＇s Republic of China

概述:西藏自治区的精神疾病流行病学和精神卫生服务情况在国际上鲜有提及。本文综述了中国西藏自治区的精神疾病流行病学和精神卫生服务以及相关研究。目前在西藏,有很多人存在精神障碍和心理问题,但由于缺乏现代精神治疗机构和专家,仍有很多的治疗需求没有被满足。

Arsenic and fluoride co-enrichment of groundwater in the loess areas and associated human health risks:A case study of Dali County in the Guanzhong Basin

This study aims to reveal the occurrence and origin of typical groundwater with high arsenic and fluoride concentrations in the loess area of the Guanzhong Basin—a Neogene faulted basin.Key findings are as follows:(1)Groundwater samples with high arsenic and fluoride concentrations collected from the loess area and the terraces of the Weihe River accounted for 26%and 30%,respectively,of the total samples,with primary hydrochemical type identified as HCO_(3)-Na.The karst and sand areas exhibit relatively high groundwater quality,serving as preferred sources for water supply.It is recommended that local governments fully harness groundwater in these areas;(2)groundwater with high arsenic and fluoride concentrations in the loess area and the alluvial plain of rivers in Dali County is primarily distributed within the Guanzhong Basin,which represents the drainage zone of groundwater;(3)arsenic and fluoride in groundwater originate principally from natural and anthropogenic sources;(4)the human health risk assessments reveal that long-term intake of groundwater with high arsenic and fluoride concentrations pose cancer or non-cancer risks,which are more serious to kids compared to adults.This study provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of groundwater with high arsenic and fluoride concentrations in loess areas.

Net Effect of Short-Term Smoking Cessation on Mental Health Changes:Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting and Difference-in-Differences Method

Background:In response to the need for research clearly demonstrating the net effect of smoking cessation on mental health status,considering the causal relationship between smoking cessation and changes in mental health status,this study was undertaken.Thus,this study aimed to examine the net effect of short-term smoking cessation on five specific mental health metrics and the overall mental health status score.Methods:We used data from the first wave of the Korean Health Panel(KHP)Survey(2011–2013,2016–2018)and focused on men aged 19 years and older,to explore the effects of smoking cessation.We compared mental health status before and after cessation among current non-smokers who had quit smoking and continuous smokers.We ensured homogeneity between the two groups via inverse probability of treatment weighting(IPTW)and employed a difference-in-differences(DID)analysis to assess changes in mental health status.This study controlled for factors that could influence mental health and explored the net effect of short-term smoking cessation through difference-in-differences model using multiple regression analysis.Results:The results showed that short-term smoking cessation significantly alleviated mental and physical stress(p<0.1),reduced experiences of frustration(p<0.01),and improved the overall mental health status score(p<0.1).Conclusion:Thus,these results highlight a meaningful link between positive health behavior changes,such as smoking cessation,and enhanced mental health.Moreover,the application of temporal variables further improved the understanding of the causal relationship between health behaviors and mental health.

The Association of Mercury and ALT with Obesity in Korean Adults Using Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 11 Years(KNHANES 2005,2008-2017)

The association between heavy metals in the blood and obesity has been examined in many studies.However,inconsistencies have been observed in the results of these studies.The present study was conducted using data from 119,181 participants of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES)for 11 years in 2005 and between 2008 and 2017.The subjects with missing heavy metal blood tests,health interview data,and health examination data were excluded from the study.The study population comprised 1,844 individuals(972 men,and 872 women)who were eligible for inclusion.It was found that obesity and abdominal obesity were associated with an increase in both blood mercury(P<0.001)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(P<0.001).After adjusting the confounding factors,those with concurrent high levels of ALT and the highest tertile of mercury showed an increased risk of obesity(odds ratio 4.46,95%confidence interval 2.23-8.90,P<0.001)as well as abdominal obesity(odds ratio 5.36,95%confidence interval 2.57-11.17,P<0.001).The interrelationship of mercury and ALT with the parameters of body mass index(P for interaction=0.009)and waist circumference(P for interaction=0.012),respectively,have been observed to be significant,suggesting that the reciprocal relationship could contribute to obesity and abdominal obesity.

Investigation of the Oral Health Status of Patients Based on Rehabilitation Nursing

Objective: To investigate the current situation of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of oral health among rehabilitation nursing patients, and provide some reference for implementing oral health intervention measures for rehabilitation nursing patients. Method: A total of 231 nursing patients in the rehabilitation department of a tertiary hospital in this city from January 2023 to October 2023 were selected as the research subjects. Their oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were investigated, and the oral health behavior habits of patients with different genders, education levels, and disease situations were compared. Result: The total awareness rate of oral health knowledge among patients was 73.16%, and the average score of oral health knowledge was 6.58 ± 1.25 points. The overall positive rate of oral health attitude among patients is 55.70%, and the average score of oral health attitude is 5.01 ± 1.04 points. The average score for oral health behavior is 16.87 ± 5.23 points. Only 8.48%, 3.3%, 1.3%, 2.6%, and 0.87% of patients seek timely medical treatment for bleeding tooth roots, gum swelling and pain, gum bleeding, tooth pain, and dental calculus, respectively;Only 5.19% of people change their toothbrush every 3 months, and only 10.39% use the vertical brush method to brush their teeth. The scores of oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of patients are related to age, educational level, disease type, and smoking situation. The oral health knowledge and attitude scores of elderly patients were lower than those of younger patients, and the difference was statistically significant (P P P P P < 0.05). Conclusion: The oral health status of rehabilitation nursing patients is not optimistic, with a moderate level of oral health knowledge, weak awareness of oral health, and a low qualification rate of oral health behaviors. Strengthening oral health education for rehabilitation nursing patients and incorporating oral health care procedures into rehabilitation nursing procedures is of great significance.

Mental health and insomnia problems in healthcare workers after the COVID-19 pandemic:A multicenter cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Healthcare workers(HCWs)are at increased risk of contracting coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)as well as worsening mental health problems and insomnia.These problems can persist for a long period,even after the pandemic.However,less is known about this topic.AIM To analyze mental health,insomnia problems,and their influencing factors in HCWs after the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS This multicenter cross-sectional,hospital-based study was conducted from June 1,2023 to June 30,2023,which was a half-year after the end of the COVID-19 emergency.Region-stratified population-based cluster sampling was applied at the provincial level for Chinese HCWs.Symptoms such as anxiety,depression,and insomnia were evaluated by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7,Patient Health Questionnaire-9,and Insomnia Severity Index.Factors influencing the symptoms were identified by multivariable logistic regression.RESULTS A total of 2000 participants were invited,for a response rate of 70.6%.A total of 1412 HCWs[618(43.8%)doctors,583(41.3%)nurses and 211(14.9%)nonfrontline],254(18.0%),231(16.4%),and 289(20.5%)had symptoms of anxiety,depression,and insomnia,respectively;severe symptoms were found in 58(4.1%),49(3.5%),and 111(7.9%)of the participants.Nurses,female sex,and hospitalization for COVID-19 were risk factors for anxiety,depression,and insomnia symptoms;moreover,death from family or friends was a risk factor for insomnia symptoms.During the COVID-19 outbreak,most[1086(76.9%)]of the participating HCWs received psychological interventions,while nearly all[994(70.4%)]of them had received public psychological education.Only 102(7.2%)of the HCWs received individual counseling from COVID-19.CONCLUSION Although the mental health and sleep problems of HCWs were relieved after the COVID-19 pandemic,they still faced challenges and greater risks than did the general population.Identifying risk factors would help in providing targeted interventions.In addition,although a major proportion of HCWs have received public psychological education,individual interventions are still insufficient.

Health Vigilance and Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer: A Study in the State of Maranhão, Brazil

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the importance of health vigilance in the prevention of cervical cancer. The sample consisted of 536 women. To identify which risk factors were associated with cervical cancer or with an increase in the mortality rate of this kind of cancer, a logistic regression model was used. The Odds Ratios (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals were also calculated. Most of them were at the age of highest incidence of cervical cancer (21 - 59 years old), had an unstable conjugal situation, minimal educational level (78.7%), low income (58.3%), consumed alcoholic beverages (56.4%), had a history of smoking (57.0%) and possessed limited knowledge about the prevention. These results are discussed in terms of a predictive model for cervical cancer that considers the importance of public health vigilance in the screening and precocious diagnosis.

Contamination assessment,source apportionment and associated health risks of PTEs in agricultural soil under five land-use patterns in Sanya,China

To understand the levels of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)contamination in soils and their effects on human health from different agricultural land use in Sanya,China.128 soil samples(64 topsoil samples and corresponding subsoil samples)were collected from the five representative land-use patterns.Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS),Atomic fluorescence spectrometry(AFS),and Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES)were used to determine the content of PTEs(As,Cd,Hg,Cu,Cr,Ni,Pb,Zn,Co,Mo,Sb,and V).Correlation analysis and factor analysis were used to determine the source of PTEs.Geo-accumulation index(I_(geo)),hazard quotient(HQ),and total carcinogenic risk index(TR)were used to measure the PTEs contamination and its relative health impacts.Results showed that the average values of 12 PTEs in topsoil were higher than the Hainan soil geochemical baseline,showing different degrees of PTEs accumulation effect.The concentration of PTEs in the topsoil was lower than those in the subsoil except for Cd and Hg.The I_(geo)revealed that the major accumulated element in soils was As followed by Mo.Source apportionment suggested that parent materials and agricultural practices were the dominant factors for PTEs accumulation in the topsoil.Noncarcinogenic risks of soil samples from five land-use patterns presented a trend of paddy field>dry field>woodland>orchard>garden plot.However,the HQ values of 12 PTEs were less than the recommended limit of HQ=1,representing that there are no non-carcinogenic risks of PTEs for children and adults in the study area.The TR values are within 6.95×10^(-6)-1.38×10^(-5),which corresponds to the low level.Therefore the PTEs in the agricultural soil of the study area show little influence on the health status of the local population.

Investigation and Analysis of Lung Cancer Risk Factors in the Health Check-Up Population

Objective: To investigate and analyze the risk factors of lung cancer in the population of health checkups. Methods: A total of 500 cases of the health check-up population were selected for data study. Surveyed showed that 19 cases of lung cancer were grouped as the lung cancer group and the remaining 481 cases made up the control group, and the risk factors were analyzed. Results: Among men, there was a significant proportion of individuals aged 60-69 years old, and women aged 30-39 years old. Additionally, individuals aged 60 and above were at increased risk of developing lung cancer. The results of the multifactorial analysis were that the risk factors affecting the detection of lung cancer in healthy people were smoking history, family history of lung cancer, secondhand smoke, history of respiratory diseases, psychosomatic factors, living environment, and kitchen fumes. Conclusion: People over 60 years of age were prone to early lung cancer, followed by individuals aged 30-39 years. It is important to identify the risk factors of lung cancer to strengthen the screening of high-risk groups for early detection and treatment.

Epidemiological, laboratory, diagnostic and public health aspects of human brucellosis in western Iran

Objective:To determine brucellosis's epidemiologic,laboratory,diagnostic and public health features considering brucellosis is endemic in Azna County,western Iran.Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study was investigated on 43 patients with brucellosis in Azna County. The subjects were the patients with symptoms correspondent with brucellosis and positive Wright and 2ME tests. A questionnaire about demographic,epidemiological and laboratory findings was filled in. Afterwards,patients were treated using usual antimicrobial drugs regimen. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16.Results:Forty-three subjects were found to be positive in laboratory tests. Incidence of Brucellosis was 59.31 per hundred thousand population. About 34.9% of patients were female and 65.1%male. Nearly 95.2% of human cases were living in rural and 4.8%in urban areas. Around 20.9%of patients had history of animal contact. The commonest transmission was unpasteurized dairy products(79.1%). The most contagious seasons were summer and spring(60.3%). The most common age group was 15-24(27.9%),and about 60.5%of the patients were between 15-44 years old. Disease was more common among housewives(30.2%) and farmers(20.9%). The majority of the patients had Wright test titre=1:320(54.1%) and 2ME test titre=1:160(56.1%) in serological titration.Doxycycline with Rifampin was used for treatment of the greatest of patients(60.4%).Conclusions:In order to control this zoonotic disease,close cooperation of health and veterinary organizations is necessary.

Clinical epidemiology of chronic viral hepatitis B:A Tuscany real-world large-scale cohort study

AIM To build a regional database of chronic patients to define the clinical epidemiology of hepatitis B virus(HBV)-infected patients in the Tuscan public health care system.METHODS This study used a cross-sectional cohort design. We evaluated chronic viral hepatitis patients with HBV referred to the outpatient services of 16 hospital units. Information in the case report forms included main demographic data, blood chemistry data, viral hepatitis markers, instrumental evaluations, and eligibility for treatment or ongoing therapy and liver transplantation. RESULTS Of 4015 chronic viral hepatitis patients, 1096(27.3%) were HBV infected. The case report form was correctly completed for only 833 patients(64% males, 36% females; mean age 50.1 ± 15.4). Of these HBV-infected patients, 73% were Caucasian, 21% Asian, 4% Central African, 1% North African and 1% American. Stratifying patients by age and nationality, we found that 21.7% of HBV-infected patients were aged < 34 years(only 2.8% were Italian). The most represented routes of transmission were nosocomial/dental procedures(23%), mother-to-child(17%) and sexual transmission(12%). The most represented HBV genotypes were D(72%) and A(14%). Of the patients, 24.7% of patients were HBe Ag positive, and 75.3% were HBe Ag negative. Of the HBV patients 7% were anti-HDV positive. In the whole cohort, 26.9% were cirrhotic(35.8% aged < 45 years), and 47% were eligible for or currently undergoing treatment, of whom 41.9 % were cirrhotic. CONCLUSION Only 27.3% of chronic viral hepatitis patients were HBV infected. Our results provide evidence of HBV infection in people aged < 34 years, especially in the foreign population not protected by vaccination. In our cohort of patients, liver cirrhosis was also found in young adults.

Low skeletal muscle mass is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Korean adults： the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND： Sarcopenia and non-alcoholic fatty liver dis- ease （NAFLD） share similar pathophysiological mechanisms, and the relationship between sarcopenia and NAFLD has been recently investigated. The study investigated whether low skel- etal muscle mass is differentially associated with NAFLD by gender in Korean adults. METHODS： We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The skeletal muscle index （SMI） was obtained by the appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by the weight. NAFLD was defined as a fatty liver index （FLI） 〉60 in the absence of other chronic liver disease. RESULTS： Among the included subjects, 18.3% （SE： 1.4%） in men and 7.0% （SE： 0.7%） in women were classified as having FLI-defined NAFLD. Most of the risk factors for FLI-defined NAFLD showed a significant negative correlation with the SMI in both genders. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that low SMI was associated with FLI-defined NAFLD, inde- pendent of other metabolic and lifestyle parameters in both genders [males： odds ratio （OR）=1.35; 95% confidence inter- val （CI）： 1.17-1.54; females： OR=1.36; 95% CI： 1.18-1.55]. The magnitude of the association between FLI-defined NAFLD and low SMI was higher in middle aged to elderly males （OR-1.50; 95% CI： 1.22-1.84） than in males less than 45 years of age （OR=1.25; 95% CI： 1.02-1.52） and in premenopausal females （OR=l.50; 95% CI： 1.12-2.03） than in postmenopausal females （OR-1.36; 95% CI： 1.20-1.54）.CONCLUSIONS： Low SMI is associated with the risk of FLI- defined NAFLD independent of other well-known metabolic risk factors in both genders. This association may differ ac- cording to age group or menopausal status. Further studies are warranted to confirm this relationship.

Multidimensional health literacy profiles and health-related behaviors in the elderly:A cross-sectional survey

Objectives:To investigate health literacy profiles using a multidimensional tool in the elderly,analyze the factors related to health literacy,and explore the relationships between health literacy and health-related behaviors.Methods:A cross-sectional survey including 440 participants was conducted at a community health center and a village health center in Changsha,Hunan Province,between June 2020 and August 2020.We used the Health Literacy Questionnaire(HLQ)to assess the elderly’s health literacy.Sociodemographic data and health-related behaviors of them were surveyed with a self-designed questionnaire.Latent profile analysis,Pearson’s chi-squared and ordinal logistic regression were used to analyze the data.Results:The median age of the 440 respondents was 68 years.The participants had the lowest scores in the“appraisal of health information”subscale(2.22±0.52),followed by“navigating the healthcare system”subscale(2.89±0.81)of HLQ.Based on the analysis of three profiles,respondents who were 60 e74 years(OR=2.06,95%CI:1.23e3.42,P=0.006),living in urban areas(OR=3.28,95%CI:2.17e4.94,P<0.001),with secondary education or above(OR=2.86,95%CI:1.92e4.27,P<0.001),and having health insurance(OR=1.89,95%CI:1.02e3.51,P=0.042)were significantly associated with health literacy.Statistically significant associations were found between health literacy level and health-related behaviors,including medical service-seeking behavior(χ^(2)=25.14,P<0.001),exercising regularly(χ^(2)=34.08,P<0.001),and taking a medical examination in the past 12 months(χ^(2)=24.76,P<0.001).Conclusion:The multidimensional health literacy survey has identified the low health literacy level among the elderly in community settings.It revealed the relationships of sociodemographic character-istics,including age,education level and residence,with health literacy.These findings emphasized the importance of health literacy in promoting health behaviors,guiding a profound understanding of the Chinese elderly’s health needs and health literacy to develop community-based health promotion interventions.

Inaccuracy of Self-reported Low Sodium Diet among Chinese: Findings from Baseline Survey for Shandong & Ministry of Health Action on Salt and Hypertension(SMASH) Project

This study was aimed to evaluate the agreement between the self-reported sodium intake level and 24-h urine sodium excretion level in Chinese. The 24-h urine collection was conducted among 2112 adults aged 18-69 years randomly selected in Shandong Province, China. The subjects were asked whether their sodium intake was low, moderate, or high. The weighted kappa statistics was calculated to assess the agreement between 24-h urine sodium excretion level and self-reported sodium intake level. One third of the subjects reported low sodium intake level. About 70% of the subjects had mean 24-h sodium excretion 〉9 g/d, but reported low or moderate sodium intake.

Prevalence and associations of non-retinopathy ocular conditions among older Australians with self-reported diabetes:The National Eye Health Survey

AIM:To determine the prevalence and associations of non-retinopathy ocular conditions among older Australian adults with diabetes.METHODS:Multistage random-cluster sampling was used to select 3098 non-indigenous Australians aged 50 y or older(46.4%male)and 1738 indigenous Australians aged 40 y or older(41.1%male)from all levels of geographic remoteness in Australia.Participants underwent a standardised questionnaire to ascertain diabetes history,and a clinical examination to identify eye disease.We determined the prevalence of uncorrected refractive error,visually significant cataract,cataract surgery,age-related macular degeneration,glaucoma,ocular hypertension,retinal vein occlusion and epiretinal membrane among those with and without self-reported diabetes.RESULTS:Participants with self-reported diabetes had a higher prevalence of cataract surgery than those without diabetes(28.8%vs 16.9%,OR 1.78,95%CI:1.35-2.34 among non-indigenous Australians,and 11.3%vs 5.2%,OR 1.62,95%CI:1.22-2.14 among indigenous Australians).Diabetic retinopathy(DR)increased the odds of cataract surgery among self-reported diabetic indigenous and nonindigenous Australians(OR 1.89,P=0.004 and OR 2.33,P<0.001 respectively).Having diabetes for≥20 y and having vision-threatening DR increased the odds of cataract surgery among indigenous Australians with diabetes(OR 3.73,P=0.001 and 7.58,P<0.001,respectively).CONCLUSION:Most non-retinopathy ocular conditions are not associated with self-reported diabetes.However,to account for Australia’s worsening diabetes epidemic,interventions to reduce the impact of diabetes-related blindness should include increased cataract surgery services.

Injury-Related Profiles among School-Aged Children in Cameroon: Analysis Based on the “First Survey—Health Young People”

Aims: Establish profiles of young “at risk” of injuries, first, on an overall point of view and, secondly, for some types of injuries (sport, home, road traffic, school and work injuries). Methods: We have taken nearly 50 variables into consideration: 17 variables for construction of the socioeconomic status, 9 variables for the investigation of symptoms, 11 concerning drugs, 5 for healthy habits, 3 for investigating the violence behavior, 4 concerning the school, 3 for subjective health and finally 3 for social network. We have used the principal component analysis, the multiple correspondence analysis and the weighted-frequency score for reducing the number of them. After these reductions, 15 variables were available for analyses. The relationship between injuries and investigated factors was assessed using the Pearson’s chi-square test. We also calculated odds ratio (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) to estimate the strengths of the associations. To further assess these relationships but also for taking into account the potentials confounding effects of some variables, logistic regression model and multinomial logistic regression model were applied. Results: The whole injury prevalence was equal to 45.6% and among the injured, the proportion of the several types was equal to 33.8% for sport injuries, 32.2% for home injuries, 16.6% for traffic injuries, 11.6% for school injuries and 5.7% for work injuries. We can say that, in light of the variables studied, the “at risk” profile for having reported an injury is being a boy, being younger, having drug experiences, with the violent profile, and declaring several symptoms. There are no consistent and marked deviations in this study from the findings obtained in previous studies. Conclusion: Analyzing injuries in general is interesting but for preventing them it is important to know in which activities children and students are engaged when they are injured.