bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older Adults in Latvia and Iceland During COVID-19
Authors: Reine I , Miķelsone M , Guðmundsson H , Ivanovs A , Tomsone S , Guðmundsson H 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health and wellbeing of older populations across Europe, exacerbating feelings of loneliness and social isolation, known risk factors for poor physical and mental health outcomes. This study aims to understand the extent and implications of these changes in Latvia and Iceland, providing essential insights for targeted public health interventions.

Methods
This comparative study utilized data from two key sources: the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) for Latvia and the HL20 study for Iceland, focusing on individuals aged 67 and above. Both quantitative surveys were conducted during the pandemic, offering data on health status, loneliness, and social isolation. A novel approach was applied in analyzing older populations to standardize comparisons between the two distinct datasets. This methodological innovation is part of a bilateral EEA initiative FM2021/23 aimed at strengthening research collaboration between Latvia and Iceland. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson Chi-square test were used to compare outcomes between the two countries and within demographic subgroups.

Results
The study revealed stark differences between the two countries: 80% of Latvian older adults reported social isolation compared to 42.7% in Iceland. Similarly, 45% of Latvians experienced loneliness versus 30% of Icelanders. Significant associations were found between social isolation, loneliness, and deteriorating mental and physical health, with worse outcomes noted in socially isolated individuals.

Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate a clear link between social isolation and adverse health outcomes among the older adults, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study supports the need for proactive public health measures in Latvia and Iceland, including the development of community engagement programs and mental health support services tailored to the needs of older adults.

Key messages
• Study shows significant health impact of social isolation among older adults in Latvia and Iceland, highlighting urgent need for targeted public health interventions.
• Effective public health strategies and innovative digital outreach can mitigate adverse effects of loneliness and isolation observed in older populations.
Interrogating the environmental and social correlates of health risk behaviours in West Africa
Authors: Ajaero C , Fotso A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Despite the high incidences of health risk behaviors (HRBs) in sub-Saharan Africa, studies on the contextual determinants of HRBs across countries are generally lacking, concentrated on isolated countries and often focus solely on specific health behaviors. Thus, this study investigated the environmental and social correlates of HRBs in West Africa.

Methods
Data was from post-2015 Demographic and Health Surveys in three West African countries of Benin, Mali and Nigeria. A composite outcome variable of health risk behaviors (HRBs) was derived from variables of tobacco smoking, intimate partner violence, overweight/obesity and risky sexual behaviors. The contextual variables were normalized difference vegetation index, precipitation, maximum and minimum temperatures, region of residence and population Density. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, chi square test, geographical mapping, and multilevel logistic regression.

Results
The engagement in HRBs varied from 42.65% in Nigeria to 42.88% in Benin and 51.06% in Mali as there are spatial variations in the engagement in HRBs within different regions of these countries. There also existed significant variations in HRBs regarding age, education, employment status, wealth index, household size, place of residence, and region of residence in the three countries. In the contextual models of environmental and social factors, population density significantly increased odds of HRBs in the three countries, maximum temperature significantly increased odds of HRBs in Benin and Mali, while precipitation significantly increased odds of HRBs in Nigeria and Mali. Other factors which significantly increased odds of HRBs across the three countries were increase in age, wealth index, households with 9+ persons, and regions of residence.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that among other things, changes in lifestyles regarding the different HRBs should be emphasized in specific contextual situations

Key messages
• There are variations in engagement in health risk behaviours across the countries.
• Cliamte variables influence engagement in health risk behaviours.
Lipids and glycemia profiles in adults: the Italian Health Examination Survey 2023 - CUORE Project
Authors: Marcozzi B , Lo Noce C , Di Lonardo A , Vannucchi S , Morello M , Bernardini S , Galeone D , Bellisario P , Palmieri L , Donfrancesco C 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
WHO recommends monitoring glycemic and lipid profiles in the population to control and prevent NCDs. The target for glycemic/diabetes is to halt the rise within 2025 (2010 as baseline). The Italian Ministry of Health (MoH) has strengthened prevention/health promotion and supported their periodic assessment through national health examination surveys (HESs), financed by MoH-CCM and conducted within the CUORE Project.

Methods
In 2023 a new HES started including the assessment of fasting serum glycemia, total and HDL cholesterolemia and triglyceridemia. Up to now, data from random samples of residents in 7 Regions (of 20 regions) distributed in North, Centre and South of Italy and aged 35-74 years are available (687 men, 704 women). Glycemia and lipids profiles were assayed by a central lab. Elevated glycemia/diabetes (DM): glycemia ≥ 126 mg/dl and/or on medication. Elevated total cholesterol/hypercholesterolemia (HChol): total cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dl and/or on medication.

Results
Glycemia mean level was 97 mg/dl (95%CI: 95-99) in men and 90 mg/dl (89-91) in women; DM resulted 10% (5-14) and 8% (4-12) respectively. Among those with DM, about 2 in 10 men and 1 in 10 women were unaware; about 2 and 3 of 10 were aware but not on medication, respectively. Total cholesterol mean level was 192 mg/dl (189-195) in men and 200 (197-202) in women; HChol resulted 24% (18-31) and 29% (22-36) respectively. Mean level of HDL cholesterol was 48 mg/dl (48-49) in men and 59 mg/dl (58-60) in women; mean level of triglycerides was 121 mg/dl (115-126) and 95 mg/dl (92-98) respectively. Among those with HChol, about 1 in 10 men and 2 in 10 women were unaware; about 2 of 10 were aware but not on medication.

Conclusions
Compared to 2008, these preliminary data showed a significant decrease of glycemia, total cholesterol and triglycerides means values both in men and women, as well as of DM and HChol prevalence, but improvements on their awareness and control are still necessary.

Key messages
• In the Italian adult general population significant improvements in lipids and glycemia profiles occurred compared to 15 years ago.
• The implementation of periodic health examination surveys is important for estimating indicators based on objective measurements and for estimating awareness and control of risk conditions.
Food additive monosodium glutamate and risk of cardiovascular diseases - NutriNet-Santé cohort
Authors: Hasenböhler A , Javaux G , Payen de la Garanderie M , Szabo de Edelenyi F , Agaësse C , De Sa A , Deschasaux-Tanguy M , Fezeu L , Srour B , Touvier M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
One may add monosodium glutamate (MSG) to food for its flavour-enhancing properties. However, its implication in long-term cardiovascular health is uncertain due to a lack of precise epidemiological evidence. This study aimed to investigate the associations between food additive glutamate exposures and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, including cerebrovascular disease (CVA) and coronary heart disease (CHD) risks in a large prospective cohort of French adults.

Methods
Participants (n = 108,932, 79.3% women, mean age=42.4 years, SD = 14.5) were 15 years old and above from the French NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort (2009-2023). We assessed dietary intakes using repeated 24h-dietary records and exposure to food additive glutamate using food composition databases and laboratory assays. We characterised associations between cumulative time-dependent continuous exposures to total glutamate, natural glutamic acid, MSG and risk of CVD, CVA, and CHD using multivariable proportional hazards Cox models adjusted for known risk factors for standardised increments of glutamate intake.

Results
During follow-up (median 7.92 years), 2397, 1113, and 1284 participants were diagnosed with CVD, CVA, and CHD respectively. Higher intakes of naturally occurring glutamic acid (HR per 3000 mg/d increment=1.08, 95% CI [1.01-1.16], p-value=0.03), food additive MSG (HR per 200 mg/d increment=1.05, 95% CI [1.01-1.09], p-value=0.03), and total glutamate (HR per 3000 mg/d increment=1.09, 95% CI [1.01-1.17], p-value=0.02) were associated with higher risks of CHD (p-value for non-linearity&gt;0.6).

Conclusions
This large prospective cohort study revealed positive associations between exposure to the widely used glutamate food additives, especially MSG (E621) and CVD, CVA, and CHD risks.

Key messages
• This large prospective cohort study revealed positive associations between exposure to the widely used glutamate food additives, especially MSG (E621) and CVD, CVA, and CHD risks.
• If confirmed, our findings regarding MSG could lead to a re-evaluation of the safety of these food additives by European and international public health agencies to improve consumer protection.
Overdiagnosis of lung cancer in Chinese populations
Authors: Xie D , Zhang L , Hao L P , Xu W H , He N , Yang C , Zhang R X , Liu X , Chen H Q , Suo C 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been widely-used in employee health examinations in China since 2011. This study was designed based on the Cancer Surveillance data to quantify the overdiagnosis of lung cancer due to the introduction of LDCT in Chinese populations.

Methods
This registry-based cohort study included 46,978 incident cases and 34,475 deaths of lung cancer from Pudong New Area of Shanghai, China, during 2002-2020. We calculated the age-standardized rates (ASR) and average annual changes (AAC) of mortality and overall, stage-specific and histological type-specific incidence by sex to evaluate the potential overdiagnosis of lung cancer. We further estimated the numbers and proportions of lung cancer cases attributable to overdiagnosis by sex and period based on the comparison between the shape of the age-specific curves with that prior to the introduction of LDCT in the populations.

Results
The ASR of incidence of lung cancer increased rapidly since 2011 in both men (AAC: 1.90%; 95%CI: 0.87, 2.92) and women (AAC: 4.40%; 95%CI: 3.19, 5.62), whereas the ASR of mortality declined persistently, with AAC of -0.12% (-0.64, 0.39) in men and -0.19% (-0.47, 0.09) in women. The upward trends in incidence were mainly observed in women, for early-stage cancer and for lung adenocarcinoma. Overall, the overdiagnosis rate of lung cancer grew from 22% in 2011-2015 to 50% in 2016-2020 in women. Further analysis demonstrated elevated numbers (proportions) of lung adenocarcinoma cases attributable to overdiagnosis, which increased from 182 (8%) in 2011-2015 to 827(22%) in 2016-2020 in men, and from 1,842 (85%) to 4,171 (89%) in women.

Conclusions
This registry-based cohort study observed considerable and increasing overdiagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma in Chinese men and women. Guideline is urgently needed to maximize the benefits of LDCT screening and reduce the potential overdiagnosis of lung cancer in the populations.

Key messages
• The secular trends in incidence and mortality of lung cancer in Chinese populations demonstrated the overdiagnosis since 2011, when the LDCT was used as a part of staff health examination in China.
• Overdiagnosis of lung cancer in Chinese populations increased incrementally over time and was mainly observed among women.
Socioeconomic background and childhood cancer survival in Germany – A nationwide register study
Authors: Wellbrock M , Borkhardt A , Ronckers C M , Spix C , Grabow D , Filbert A L , Wollschläger D , Erdmann F 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Evidence is accumulating that not all children with cancer have benefitted equally from diagnostic and therapeutic improvements and that socioeconomic conditions are also associated with prognosis - even in high-income countries where equal access to healthcare is presumed. We investigated the association between area-based socioeconomic background and childhood cancer survival in Germany with the ultimate aim to identify groups of children that may benefit from supportive interventions.

Methods
We identified all children with a first cancer diagnosis before the age of 15 years in 1997-2016 from the German Childhood Cancer Registry (N = 35,443). Based on individual residential address information (at diagnosis) we applied the German Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation as measure of area-based socioeconomic background. Using Cox proportional hazards models, we assessed the association between absolute area-based socioeconomic deprivation (AASD) and ten-year overall survival (OS) to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results
The Cox analysis (adjusted for diagnostic year, birth year and place of residence) revealed a null association for AASD and OS from all cancers combined (HR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.97; 1.03). Among children diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and germ cell tumors, a higher AASD (implying more severe levels of deprivation) was associated with worse survival, particularly pronounced in boys (HR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.01; 1.37; HR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.13; 2.45, respectively). The opposite was observed for childhood CNS tumours, yielding worse survival by decreasing AASD (HR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.88; 0.98) for both malignant and non-malignant CNS tumours.

Conclusions
Contrary to reports from other European countries, we found little evidence for pronounced social inequalities in childhood cancer survival in Germany based on a composite score, with inconsistent patterns across cancer types and age at diagnosis.

Key messages
• We found little evidence for pronounced social inequalities in childhood cancer survival in Germany on the area-based level.
• Our findings indicated inconsistent patterns of social inequalities across cancer types and age at diagnosis.and age at diagnosis.
Polycystic ovary syndrome and labor market attachment in Swedish women
Authors: Boldis V , Helgertz J , Grünberger I , Cederström A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of fertile age and is associated with several burdensome comorbidities. We use Swedish longitudinal register data to identify and compare clusters of employment trajectories among working age women, in order to investigate how PCOS affects labor market attachment.

Data and Methods
A cohort of 157,356 women born in 1975-1977 were followed annually between the ages of 30 and 39. Labor market states were constructed by combining detailed data on various types of earned income. PCOS was identified through national inpatient and outpatient registers. Sociodemographic covariates (civil status, region of origin, highest attained education, number of children) were measured at the age of 29 years. Sequence analysis was used to identify clusters of typical labor market trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to assess the associations between being diagnosed with PCOS and belonging to the identified clusters.

Results
Women with PCOS spent less time in employment and were more dependent on sickness benefits during the follow-up time than those without PCOS. Five clusters of trajectories were identified: stable employment, education into employment, labor market exclusion, continuous unstable position, long-term sickness. Compared to being in stable employment cluster, women diagnosed with PCOS were 97% more likely to experience long-term sickness (RRR (relative risk ratio): 1.97 [CI: 1.90-2.05]), and had 11% higher risk of belonging to education into employment (RRR: 1.11 [CI: 1.07-1.15]) and a 4% higher risk (RRR: 1.04 [CI: 1.00-1.09]) of experiencing labor market exclusion. The magnitude of the association increased for education into employment and labor market exclusion after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions
PCOS can lead to disadvantaged labor market outcomes and better strategies are needed in order to prevent economic exclusion among women diagnosed with the condition.

Key messages
• PCOS leads to disadvantaged labor market outcomes.
• Women with PCOS may experience economic exclusion.
Health information seeking and health literacy in midwife-led care and the modern information environment
Authors: Wilhelm E , Calleja-Agius J , Kouis D , Petelos E , Vivilaki V 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
This review reports on how midwives are affected by the modern digital information environment, including health misinformation, and how their knowledge or competencies assist them in navigating this for themselves and their clients, especially those who are more vulnerable and experience inequities in healthcare.

Methods
Leveraging a PRISMA-based systematic review, the project identifies the facilitators and barriers that the modern digital information environment poses to midwives and the care they provide to their clients. The search strategy of the peer-reviewed literature examines articles related to midwives and misinformation, social media, information environment, digital health, health information, migrant women and other related keywords that surface in searches. The timeframe from which published articles will be identified for possible inclusion are from Jan 1, 2020 to March 31, 2024.

Results
Both midwives and the clients they care for experience challenges in navigating the digital information environment and addressing health-related misinformation on reproductive health and pregnancy-related topics.

Conclusions
Midwives should receive strengthened training on digital literacy to improve the care they provide to clients and help their clients navigate a confusing and rapidly evolving information environment. Through digital and in-person interactions with their clients, midwives can improve their clients’ digital information, and health literacies.
How factchecking organizations can partner within public health for a healthier internet
Authors: Purnat T , Kajimoto M , Kalinic J , Stevanovic A , Mandic-Rajcevic S , Wilhelm E 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Health concerns, narratives and misinformation are growing in digital spaces, which makes them also a vulnerability to being hijacked by disinformation. A workshop was held at GlobalFact11, the global factchecking summit, to take a pulse among the participants on their exposure and work with health misinformation, provide a public health perspective on the role of factchecking, and equip participants with building a business case for developing health-related factchecking programmes.

Methods
A pre-summit survey of IFCN members and summit participants was conducted to better tune the design of the discussion in the workshop. The workshop included interactive polling and a discussion of case-based scenarios and real-world examples.

Results
A business case for investing into health-claim fact-checking can consider needs of public health organizations from a variety of perspectives. (1) The global health security agenda, and the politicization of health and hijacking in disinformation influence campaigns; (2) Contributing data for public health infodemic insights reports in formats that provide value to fact-checking in public health context; (3) Developing community resilience programmes by combining fact-checking with community-based interventions; (4) Building partnerships with public health organizations (for fact-checking, capacity building, community media and information literacy, research).

Conclusions
Many fact-checking organizations got involved in public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they want to access more public health expertise, tools, and partnership modalities that would enable them a more sustainable effort in covering health topics, especially beyond infectious disease.
Unravelling misinformation: investigating the associations between health literacy and resilience
Authors: Rosário R , Silva M J , Duarte A , Martins J , Martins S , Augusto C 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Resilience, the capacity to adapt to adversity, encompasses navigating challenges in health information. Despite the profound impact of health misinformation on behavior and trust in healthcare systems, effective tools to enhance resilience against misinformation remain scarce. Health literacy (HL) is pivotal for adeptly navigating information landscapes. While HL principles facilitate critical evaluation of health information, their link to resilience against misinformation has received inadequate attention. This study delves into the associations between HL and resilience to misinformation.

Methods
Within the BeE-school project, a randomized controlled trial in primary schools serving vulnerable populations, we developed a questionnaire to assess parental resilience to misinformation. Two dimensions were examined: self-regulation regarding misinformation and stress resistance to misinformation, stratified into low and high resilience categories. Parental HL was evaluated using the HLS-Q12 tool. General HL and three specific domains-health promotion, disease prevention, and healthcare management-were assessed. HL scores ranged from 0 to 100. Binary regression analyses examined the association between HL and resilience to misinformation.

Results
Parents with higher HL levels demonstrated significantly greater resilience to misinformation, with odds ratios ranging from 1.039 to 1.049 across different HL dimensions. These associations persisted after adjusting for potential confounders, including parental education and respondent sex.

Conclusions
This study highlights the potential role of health literacy in enhancing individuals’ resilience to misinformation. By promoting HL, individuals can develop critical thinking abilities necessary for navigating complex information landscapes effectively. Empowering communities to critically assess health information fosters resilience to misinformation and informed decision-making, thereby advancing public health.