Incidence of community-acquired pneumonia in urban China: A national population-based study

BackgroundCommunity-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the major global health problems worldwide. However, the epidemiological information of CAP is limited in China. This study aimed to estimate the incidence rate of CAP and describe the epidemiologic characteristics among the Chinese population.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of CAP incidence using the Chinese Urban Basic Medical Insurance database of 23 provinces in 2016, which covered 427.52 million urban beneficiaries of all age groups in Mainland China. CAP episodes were identified using a diagnosis-term-derived algorithm, and multiple CAP records of one single person within 90 continuous days were considered as one single episode. The incidence rates were calculated and described by sex, age, region, and season.ResultsA total of 1.42 million patients were identified as having one or more CAP episodes, and finally a sum of 1.48 million CAP episodes were counted. The overall incidence of CAP was 7.13 (95% CI: 6.11–8.15) per 1000 person-years, in males 7.32 (95% CI: 6.28–8.35) and females 6.93 (95% CI: 5.92–7.94) per 1000 person-years, respectively. The incidence varied by age with a U-shaped curve peaking in children aged < 5 years old [65.80 (95% CI: 62.52–69.08)] and elderly population aged ≥ 80 years old [14.98 (95% CI: 13.63–16.34)]. The incidence varied markedly by regions. Furthermore, the rate showed a clear seasonal trend, which peaked in spring, decreased in summer and autumn, and re-ascended in winter.ConclusionThis study reveals a relatively high level of CAP incidence in China. These findings provide baseline data for establishing effective prevention strategies, targeted at susceptible populations, regions, and seasons in China.     

Weakness May Have a Causal Association With Early Mortality in Older Americans: A Matched Cohort Analysis

ObjectivesQuantifying the association between muscle weakness and mortality with carefully matched cohorts will help to better establish the impact of weakness on premature death. We used a matched cohort analysis in a national sample of older Americans to determine if those who were weak had a higher risk for mortality compared with control groups with incrementally higher strength capacities.DesignLongitudinal panel.SettingDetailed interviews that included physical measures were conducted in person, whereas core interviews were often performed over the telephone.ParticipantsData from 19,729 Americans aged at least 50 years from the 2006-2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study were analyzed.MeasuresA handgrip dynamometer was used to assess handgrip strength (HGS) in each participant. Men with HGS <26 kg were considered weak, ≥26 kg were considered not weak, and ≥32 kg were considered strong. Women with HGS <16 kg were classified as weak, ≥16 kg were classified as not-weak, and ≥20 kg were classified as strong. The National Death Index and postmortem interviews determined the date of death. The greedy matching algorithm was used to match cohorts.ResultsOf the 1077 weak and not-weak matched pairs, 401 weak (37.2%) and 296 not-weak (27.4%) older Americans died over an average 4.4 ± 2.5-year follow-up. There were 392 weak (37.0%) and 243 strong (22.9%) persons who died over a mean 4.5 ± 2.5-year follow-up from the 1057 weak and strong matched pairs. Those in the weak cohort had a 1.40 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19, 1.64] and 1.54 (CI 1.30, 1.83) higher hazard for mortality relative to persons in the not-weak and strong control cohorts, respectively.Conclusions and ImplicationsOur findings may indicate a causal association between muscle weakness and mortality in older Americans. Health care providers should include measures of HGS as part of routine health assessments and discuss the health risks of muscle weakness with their patients.     

Perspectiva de género en epidemiología clínica. Aprendiendo con el caso de las espondiloartritis

ObjectiveTo illustrate some gender challenges and contributions which are more frequent in research and health care through a chronic disease such as spondyloarthritis.MethodUsing two of the main identified gender biases in research and health care (de-contextualization of diseases, especially in women, and problem definition and knowledge production in women's health), a cross-sectional study was used with 96 men and 54 women with spondyloarthritis of the Rheumatology Department of the Alicante University General Hospital, whose sources of information were semi-structured patient interviews and clinical records.ResultsWe show how the gender perspective can contribute to contextualise the differences by sex of functional alterations and other social and health indicators, and highlight inequalities in the socioeconomic repercussions between patients of both sexes. It can contribute towards re-conceptualizing diseases, especially of women, specifying the profile of differential diagnosis according to sex, and provide knowledge about methodological challenges related to diagnostic tests.ConclusionsAchieving scientific and professional excellence in health care is also a gender issue. Analysing from a gender perspective the history of the diseases, how their diagnosis criteria were established and the normality and abnormality cut-off points, especially identified diseases of men, such as spondyloarthritis, is a priority to re-conceptualize medicine; as well as providing information on how the gender norms and values of the context interact with the lives of those who suffer these diseases.     

Association between head and neck cancer and sexually transmitted diseases: a Danish nationwide,case-control study

Abstract

Background: An association between sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and occurrence of head and neck cancer (HNC) is proposed.

Aims/objectives: We aimed to determine the association between selected STDs (syphilis, gonorrhoea, HIV) and HNC.

Materials and methods: Patients diagnosed with HNC in Denmark between 1978 and 2014 identified through the Danish Cancer Registry were included. Patients were age- and sex-matched in a 1:10 ratio with general population controls. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox regression model to assess the correlation between STD and HNC.

Results: A total of 39,405 HNC patients (63% men; 63.0 years at HNC diagnosis) and 393,238 controls were included. STD in HNC patients was 0.27%, vs. 0.11% in controls. Patients with cancer of the upper airways had a significantly higher prevalence of an STD prior to the HNC compared to controls. Most HNC patients with a prior STD (64.1%) developed the HNC within five years after the STD diagnosis.

Conclusions: Although the studied STDs are rare, patients with cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract more commonly had a previous diagnosis of STD compared to controls. The study promotes the hypothesis that a causal link exists between STD and HNC.     

Diagnosing acquired syphilis through oral lesions: the 12 year experience of an Oral Medicine Center

IntroductionA resurgence of syphilis in Brazil has been reported in recent years.ObjectiveWith this in mind, the present study sought to investigate the frequency, demographics, and clinical characteristics of patients with acquired syphilis with oral involvement who received medical care at an Oral Medicine Reference Center in a Brazilian Public Hospital.MethodsA retrospective study, spanning a period of 12 years, was performed to identify changing trends in syphilis over time. Medical records from all patients diagnosed with acquired syphilis who received medical care at the Hospital's Oral Medicine Clinic from 2005 to 2016 were reviewed, and the demographic and clinical data were collected.ResultsA total of 85 patients had been diagnosed with acquired syphilis, with a significant increase in the number of cases over the past 5 years. Patients ranged from 16 to 76 years of age, with a peak in the third and fourth decades. Forty-eight cases affected males (56.5%), while 37 cases affected females (43.5%). Most of the oral lesions appeared as unique ulcers or plaques, with the lips and tongue representing the most affected sites. All cases were positive for Venereal Disease Research Laboratory or Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption, and treatment was performed with Penicillin G benzathine in most cases (84.7%).ConclusionThe frequency of oral syphilis has been rising over time and oral lesions may well represent a diagnostic clue; therefore, oral health professionals must be made aware and properly trained in an attempt to develop a high degree of clinical suspicion in the diagnosis of syphilis.     

Prévalence des troubles mentaux dans une communauté rurale à Parakou au nord Bénin

BackgroundThe burden of mental disorders is high in sub-Saharan Africa but the reliable epidemiological data for its prevalence are too scarce in this setting. We aimed to determine the prevalence of major mental disorder in a rural community in northern Benin.MethodsIt was a cross-sectional study with a door-to-door survey and included all people aged more than 18 years in the Tourou rural community in northern Benin. The face-to-face interview were done with respect the confidentiality. The French version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used for the screening of mental disorders. The data were analyzed by using EPI-INFO 7.1 software. The prevalence of each disorders were determined and their 95% confidence interval.ResultsA total of 603 subjects were included, including 62.23% of men and 18 to 77 years old with an average of 27.29 years ± 9.24 years. Among them, 327 subjects had at least one mental disorder with an overall prevalence of 54.22% [95% CI: 41.56–69.14]. The prevalences of the major mental disorders were for the current major depressive episode (MDE) 32.34% [28.65–36.26%]; past MDE 11.61% [9.22–14.50%]; current social phobia 14.26% [11.62–17.37%]; Current Obsessive Compulsive Disorders 20.73% [17.61–24.23%]; generalized anxiety 9.62% [7.44–12.33%]; psychotic syndrome whole life 30.18% [26.57–34.05%]; antisocial personality disorders 5.47% [7.44–12.33%]; alcohol dependence 3.98% and drug dependence 1.33%.ConclusionThese findings suggest an increased incidence of mental illness in rural community in northern Benin and calls for urgent prevention and community care.