bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long COVID in the UAE: symptomatology, gender gaps, and health implications among COVID-19 survivors
Authors: Saddik B , Zeidan R , Shukla A , Awad M , AlZubaidi H , Al-Bluwi N , Agha R , AlHano Z , Mohammed G , ElBarazi I 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
A growing number of COVID-19 survivors are experiencing symptoms post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, known as long COVID. It is a new multisystem condition and understanding its associated factors and its impact on individuals is crucial. This study aims to characterize long COVID in previously hospitalized patients in the UAE, identifying associated factors and assessing its impact on patients’ daily lives.

Methods
A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted in hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah from January 29, 2020 to October 14, 2021, involving RT-PCR confirmed cases. Clinical, epidemiologic, and long COVID data were collected via hospital records and phone interviews.

Results
Long COVID affected 48.7% of 533 patients, with 46.6% prevalence persisting over a year. A total of 43 symptoms across 11 organ systems were reported. Females had 1.83 times higher odds of long COVID (95% CI [1.22, 2.74], p = 0.003). Each additional initial symptom (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI [1.05, 1.40], p = 0.008), ICU admission (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI [1.06, 2.98], p = 0.030), and ≥ 2 comorbidities (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI [1.09, 4.40], p = 0.027) increased the odds of long COVID. Long COVID significantly impacted daily life, with poorer health ratings (AOR = 5.576, 95% CI [3.029, 10.265], p &lt; .001), worse health status (AOR = 7.842, 95% CI [4.954, 12.415], p &lt; .001), and work limitations due to physical (AOR = 4.808, 95% CI [3.229, 7.158], p &lt; .001) and emotional issues (AOR = 3.149, 95% CI [2.01, 4.933], p &lt; .001). This impact persisted beyond 12 months post-infection.

Conclusions
Long COVID presents prolonged multisystem involvement and substantial disability among survivors, necessitating further research to understand its lasting effects and intervention development to mitigate its impact

Key messages
• Long COVID poses a substantial challenge to public health in the UAE, affecting almost half of hospitalized survivors and extending its impact beyond 12 months post-infection.
• Risk factors like gender initial symptoms, ICU stay, and comorbidities increase the risk of long COVID, warranting the need for tailored interventions and support strategies for vulnerable populations.
Diagnostic pathways and outcomes by comorbidity in cancer patients: a study in Northern Italy
Authors: Pennisi F , Russo A , Andreano A , Braga M , Renzi C 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Pre-existing chronic conditions can influence cancer diagnosis and outcomes. The study aimed to examine variations in diagnostic pathways and outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients by comorbidity status and socio-demographic characteristics in the provinces of Milan and Lodi, Northern Italy.

Methods
A population-based cohort study using linked administrative health data from the Agency for Health Protection (ATS) of Milan was conducted on individuals aged ≥18 years diagnosed with CRC in 2014-2017. We examined pathways to cancer diagnosis, stage at diagnosis and short-term mortality by specific comorbidities and sociodemographic factors.

Results
Among the 5,272 colon cancer and 2,120 rectal cancer patients, 43.9% and 61.5%, respectively, had at least one pre-existing comorbidity, most frequently hypertension (52.7% and 49.9%) and cardiovascular disease (CVD, 23.2% and 18.5%). Cancer diagnostic pathways included screening (4.1% colon and 4.4% rectal cancer patients), EP (22.8% and 12.6%) and inpatient/outpatient admission (73.1% and 82.9%). At multivariable logistic regression, patients with pre-existing cerebrovascular or neurological diseases had significantly higher odds of EP for CRC. In the multinomial logistic regression analysis, the odds of EP were significantly higher for patients aged &lt;50 or ≥ 80 (vs 60-69), belonging to the highest deprivation group and being widowed (vs married). The odds of screen-detected CRC were lower for patients with multimorbidity (2 vs 0 comorbidities: adjusted OR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.14-0.75). 30-day and one-year mortality were higher in colon cancer patients with EP vs inpatient/outpatient (aOR=2.46, 95%CI 1.95-3.09; aOR=2.02, 95%CI 1.74-2.35 respectively). As the number of chronic conditions increased, mortality increased especially at one year. One-year mortality was also higher for rectal cancer patients with 3+ comorbidities (vs no comorbidities).

Key messages
• Patients with pre-existing chronic conditions had a lower likelihood of screening, higher odds of emergency CRC diagnosis and higher mortality. EPs occur in one in five CRC patients.
• Tailored interventions might be needed to facilitate CRC screening, reducing emergency diagnoses and improving health outcomes for the large number of patients with chronic conditions.
COPD empowerment scale: a scale development and validatıon study
Authors: Aksoy Z , Erol S , Oruç Ö 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
The fact that COPD symptoms seriously affect daily life makes it different from other chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to develop the COPD Empowerment Scale and test its psychometric properties.

Methods
This study, carried out with a methodological design, was carried out in a Chest Diseases Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, between June 2023 and March 2024. A scale item pool was created by literature review and semi-structured interviews with COPD patients, and opinions were obtained from 16 experts. The draft scale, consisting of 55 items, was applied to 30 COPD patients as a pilot study. The draft scale was applied to 275 COPD patients and its psychometric properties were tested. The validity of the scale was evaluated by Content Validity Index (CGI) and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Its reliability was evaluated by internal consistency analysis (Cronbach Alpha coefficient), item-total score correlations and test-retest analyses. Statistical significance level was accepted as p &lt; 0.05.

Results
The KGI of the scale was found to be 0.97. The draft scale was transformed into a scale with five sub-dimensions and 31 items as a result of exploratory factor analysis. Cronbach’s Alpha value of the total scale is 0.896, and its sub-dimensions Cronbach’s Alpha values are; knowledge and understanding was found to be 0.731, access to health services was 0.816, self-efficacy was 0.719, symptom management was 0.842, and psycho-social coping was 0.728. Factor loadings of all items were 0.40 and above. As a result of confirmatory factor analysis, χ2 /df (2.59), RMSEA (0.076), NFI (0.92), NNFI (0.95), SRMR (0.03) and CFI (0.95) measurements are within the desired fit values. In the test-retest reliability study of the scale, the Pearson moment correlation coefficient was found to be ráµªáµª=.996 (p&lt;.01).

Conclusions
The COPD empowerment scale was found to be psychometrically valid and reliable.

Key messages
• The developed scale is a valid and reliable tool to determine the reinforcement needs of COPD patients.
• The scale can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of empowerment initiatives.
Risks of high temperature exposure on infectious diseases in Portuguese hospitals
Authors: Oliveira M , Alho A M , Oliveira A P , Nogueira P 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
The convergence of climate change and infectious diseases presents a growing public health challenge. As global temperatures continue to climb, the geographical spread of climate-sensitive diseases is shifting, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive early warning systems grounded in a One Health framework.

Methods
This retrospective observational study analyzed daily maximum temperature from May to September, between 2000 and 2018, in mainland Portugal, at a county level, obtained from a European-level gridded observations dataset. Hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis of infectious and parasitic diseases were sourced from the Hospital Morbidity Database. A distributed lag non-linear model was developed to estimate the immediate and lagged relative risks (RR) of temperature exposure on admissions, focused on a lag of 10 days.

Results
Our research reveals a 16% (95% CI: 9% - 23%) rise in the RR of hospital admissions due to infectious and parasitic diseases after exposure to extremely high temperatures (39 °C). This elevated risk persists for up to 2 days following exposure, with the second day exhibiting the largest increase at 53% (31% - 80%). Furthermore, our findings indicate a subsequent resurgence in RR, reaching 6% (2% - 11%) 9 days after exposure.

Conclusions
Our results highlight a short-term effect of extreme temperature exposure on infectious and parasitic disease admissions. This data provides valuable insights to guide policymakers in identifying critical periods of vulnerability and implementing this knowledge into heat early warning systems, contributing to developing effective public health strategies against climate change.

Acknowledgments
The authors thank Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) for research grant UIDP/04923/2020 and NOVA National School of Public Health for access to the Hospital Morbidity Database made available for research purposes by Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde, IP (ACSS).

Key messages
• Exposure to extremely high temperatures increases the risk of admission due to infectious and parasitic diseases by 16%, with a peak occurring two days after exposure.
• This data is essential for policymakers to identify and integrate vulnerable periods into early heat warning systems, enhancing effective public health strategies against climate change.
Integrated Care in Parkinson’s disease: e-training for multidisciplinary team members
Authors: Fornes-Romero G , Fernández Salido N , Marín Valero M , Grande Gordon M , López Ortiz M , Mattarucco M , Zanutto O , Garcés Ferrer J 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Parkinson’s is a high prevalence disease worldwide and training in Integrated Care (IC) for professionals in this field is an obvious need. The SUPER training course is focused on integrated care applied to Parkinson’s disease (PD) and aimed at social and health professionals. Both the content and the training methodology have been co-designed with people living with PD, relatives/caregivers and professionals from Spain and Italy. The course comprises3 training modules (10 units), alongside self-assessment questions, as well as case studies. Accessible open access via an e-learning platform. It is available in English, Spanish, Italian and French enhancing its applicability and transferability.

Objectives
The SUPER e-training course aims to equip members of multidisciplinary teams with knowledge, skills and competencies in IC applied to PD.

Results
The course was validated with 89 socio-health professionals in Spain and Italy (M age = 37.28; 75.28% women), who completed a questionnaire assessing the usefulness and quality of the training modules and the platform, as well as an overall evaluation of the training in terms of quality and impact. According to the them: the training could improve the quality of care offered to people living with PD; it is expected to heighten interest in IC, while also introducing novel and invaluable elements.

Conclusions
This course is useful to train professionals of different profiles (and European contexts) on IC in PC, increasing their knowledge and skills and improving the provision of care to people living with PD. The SUPER multilingual course is an innovative tool because it has been designed from a bottom-up approach and makes available to any professional a free training that can be taken online at any time.

Key messages
• SUPER training course equips professionals from a holistic, multidisciplinary and person-centred approach to PD.
• This multilingual tool aids diverse professionals in social & health care.
State of oral health in the Portuguese population and associated psychological and social aspects
Authors: Krippahl H , Neto M , Namorado S 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Oral diseases are a global public health challenge and remain among the most prevalent non-communicable diseases. This study aims to characterize the self-assessment of oral health state, degree of edentulism, oral rehabilitation and the quality of life, namely chewing capacity, and the associated psychological and social aspects in the Portuguese Population.

Methods
Data were collected by telefone survey, on the 2nd half of 2018 and 1st half of 2019, using the Portuguese population representative, ECOS panel. Descriptive statistics, as well as prevalence estimates, were obtained with weighting for age, sex, region and sample design, for 95% confidence intervals. The modified F-statistic, a variant of the 2nd order Rao-Scott chi-square adjustment, was used to test the bivariate analyses.

Results
For 53% of the population, the health status of the mouth was perceived as Good or Very Good, for 37% Fair and, in 11% of cases as Bad or Very Bad. It is estimated that around 76% of the population has good oral hygiene habits, approximately 26% have all of their teeth and 8% the total absence of teeth. It is estimated that only around half (49%) underwent rehabilitation using, in the vast majority of cases (78,5%), removable prostheses. It is estimated that 32% of its users have difficulty chewing hard foods and, of these, around 20% have great difficulty or are unable to chew at all. Psychological discomfort due to oral health was higher in the Portuguese population when compared to the European population (17% vs 7 %), psychological limitations due to the appearance of teeth or dentures were equally higher (7% vs 4%), as were social limitations (8,8% vs 4%).

Conclusions
The oral health panorama in Portugal remains bleak, so strengthening the application and deepening of the national oral health promotion program should constitute a priority aspect in the development of public policies in the country

Key messages
• Integrating oral health into general health promotion strategies and assessing oral health needs to include psychological and social aspects in the Portuguese Population.
• Strengthening the strategies that have been developed in the context of health promotion, prevention and early treatment of oral diseases in Portugal.
Sociodemographic Disparities and Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Multimorbidities in Serbia
Authors: Jankovic J , Djikanovic B , Ayis S , Todorovic J , Parmar D , Marovic B , Santric-Milicevic M , Curcin V , Harding S 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
In many countries, including low- and middle-income nations, the prevalence of diabetes is on the rise. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is frequently accompanied by the presence of one or more long-term conditions (LTCs), however, their link to patients’ socioeconomic traits remains unclear in many LMICs, particularly in the Western Balkans. Thus, our objective was to investigate the risk for the development of T2DM and one or more LTCs in Serbia among different sociodemographic population groups.

Methods
We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the National Health Surveys of 2013 and 2019, focusing on individuals aged 45 and above. Utilizing multinomial logistic regression models, we explored the relative risk ratios (RRRs), along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and predicted probabilities, to examine the sociodemographic characteristics of participants across various disease groups, distinguishing between those with and without T2DM and one or more LTCs.

Results
The prevalence rates for comorbidities and multimorbidities of T2DM were 8.8% and 29.5%, respectively. In 2019, compared to 2013, there was a rise in the prevalence of T2DM and 1 LTC for 9.4%, and decrease in the prevalence of T2DM and 2 or more LTCs for 6,9%. Most commonly, T2DM was associated with stroke, myocardial infarction, and liver cirrhosis. The highest risk for T2DM and 1 LTC was observed for females in the most disadvantaged fifth quintile of the wealth index (RRR 1.83, 95% CI 1.09-3.07, p = 0.022) compared to those in the most advantaged first quintile.

Conclusions
Socio-economic inequalities contribute to the risk of developing LTCs in Serbia, which must be considered in the early detection and management of diseases and addressed by innovative service models. Similar studies should be conducted in the wider region to explore the feasibility of larger joint research initiatives.

Key messages
• There are socio-economic disparities in the co-occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and long-term conditions in Serbia, where deprived women of older age are most at risk.
• Innovative approaches in the early identification of populations at risk for multimorbidities can help in disease management and timely prevention of complications.
Integrating SDGs, One Health and transdisciplinarity into AMR Education Strategies
Authors: Nowbuth A A , Parmar V S 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
The increasing prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) threatens modern medicine, undermines food security, and impedes environmental sustainability. The complexity of AMR requires various stakeholders to contribute to mitigate this challenge. We discuss the critical need for integrating the One Health framework, transdisciplinarity, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within AMR education; and demonstrate how these integrations enhance the effectiveness of educational strategies against AMR.

Methods
Through a review of existing literature and analysis of multiple interventions, we synthesize findings from instances where One Health strategies have been applied. We assess their effectiveness in fostering cross-sector collaboration and enhancing health outcomes, thereby providing a grounded framework for developing integrated educational strategies.

Results
Our analysis reveals that AMR education programs incorporating the SDGs and One Health principles are more likely to foster interprofessional collaboration and a deeper understanding of AMR. Case studies demonstrate that such educational approaches significantly improve the preparedness of health professionals in managing AMR through innovative and cooperative approaches. Despite the significant potential of One Health education in impacting global health positively, current interventions lack specific SDG indicators directly related to AMR, suggesting a gap in policy and global health prioritization.

Conclusions
By aligning AMR education with SDGs and One Health, there is an opportunity to enhance global health security. We call for a paradigm shift in educational strategies to effectively combat AMR, advocating for policy reforms and curriculum adjustments to incorporate these integrated approaches. The findings are crucial for educators, policymakers, and healthcare professionals aiming to redesign AMR education to be more comprehensive and globally oriented.

Key messages
• AMR education integrated with SDGs and One Health enhances interprofessional collaboration and understanding, improving health professionals’ preparedness to manage AMR effectively.
• Current AMR educational strategies lack specific SDG indicators; aligning education with SDGs and One Health can significantly boost global health security.
Exploring Climate Health Risks and Adaptations among Vulnerable Populations in Israel’s Negev Desert
Authors: Shapira S , Negev M , Natour S , Singer M , Porat I , Rosenthal A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Climate change represents the paramount challenge to global health, disproportionately impacting particular vulnerable individuals and communities. By identifying and elucidating disparities in health-related climate risks among these groups, we can facilitate the development of appropriate and equitable climate adaptation strategies. This research identified climate-related risks, health perceptions and needs, and behaviors among Jewish and Bedouin populations in the Negev Desert, a region highly susceptible to climate change, located at the intersection of geographical and social marginality.

Methods
Ten focus groups (n = 69) among vulnerable Jewish and Bedouin residents were conducted and systematically analyzed to identify disparities in health-related climate risks and behaviors. Vulnerabilities were defined based on income, age, health status, living environment, and outdoor activities.

Results
The findings highlight both shared and distinct difficulties and barriers vulnerable Jewish and Bedouin Negev residents face in the context of climate-related health risks. Key themes that emerged address: a) the direct and indirect impacts of climate-related events on health and well-being; b) the exacerbation of climate-related health risks by existing vulnerabilities and systemic barriers; c) the pivotal role of community resources in coping strategies; and d) lack of trust in the state and its institutions which underpin climate-related experiences.

Conclusions
The complexity of coping with climate change encompasses individual, community, and national/institutional levels. Vulnerable populations’ experiences with climate change are impacted by factors such as poverty, social marginality, violence, and barriers to accessing healthcare and other services, and is not a standalone phenomenon. Therefore, climate change adaptation and mitigation cannot be distinguished from other challenges impacting the health and well-being of populations.

Key messages
• Climate adaptation efforts must integrate with broader social and health strategies to effectively support vulnerable groups.
• Community resources and trust in institutions are crucial for vulnerable populations facing climate change impacts.