Burden of digestive congenital anomalies among children aged 0-14 years in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2021: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Objectives
We aim to delineate the digestive congenital abnormalities burden in children under 14 years old between 1990 and 2021.

Design
We implemented data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database to evaluate digestive congenital abnormalities burden with different measures in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. We present precise estimations with 95% uncertainty intervals. In addition, we computed the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) to examine the temporal patterns of these indicators.

Setting
It uses prevalence, deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) data from the GBD study to analyse this issue.

Participants
Patients with digestive congenital abnormalities diagnosis.

Outcomes
Total numbers, age-standardised rates (ASRs) of prevalence, mortality and DALYs and their EAPCs were the main outcomes among children aged 0–14 years.

Results
In 2021, 2206.79 thousand prevalent cases were reported worldwide, with digestive congenital anomalies accounting for 47.16 thousand deaths and 4324.56 thousand DALYs among children aged 0–14 years. Digestive congenital anomalies prevalence was mitigated by 8.15% between 1990 and 2021, with the global ASR of prevalence declining to 40.09 per 100 000. Digestive congenital anomalies mortality was mitigated by 35.35% between 1990 and 2021, with an ASR of deaths declining to 0.77 per 100 000. The worldwide burden of digestive congenital anomalies decreased by 34.96% in terms of DALYs from 1990 to 2021, with an ASR of 70.44 DALYs per 100 000 population. There was a significant hindrance in the prevalence, particularly among older children. The likelihood of digestive congenital abnormalities peaked during infancy (2–4 years) in all regions.

Conclusion
We highlight promising global declines in the digestive congenital anomalies burden among children over the past 32 years. Prevalence, deaths and DALYs associated with these anomalies have shown consistent decreases, although regional variations persist. These findings offer crucial insights for shaping effective prevention and management strategies for paediatric digestive congenital anomalies.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

Protocol to assess bottlenecks inhibiting the scaling up of evidence-based family planning practices in low-income and middle-income countries using mixed methods

Introduction
Scaling up evidence-based practices (EBPs) in family planning (FP), as recommended by the WHO, has increasingly been accepted by global health actors as core to their mission, goals and activities. National policies, strategies, guidance, training materials, political commitment and donor support exist in many countries to adopt and scale up a range of EBPs, including postpregnancy FP, task sharing for FP and the promotion of social and behaviour change (SBC) for FP. While there has been some success in implementing these practices, coverage remains inadequate in many countries. To gain a better understanding of the factors that may be hindering the sustained scale-up of these interventions, WHO has developed an assessment protocol to systematically identify the health systems’ ‘bottlenecks’ to implementation and to then identify solutions and develop strategies to address them.

Methods and analysis
A mixed method approach that includes document review, secondary data analysis (from surveys, service delivery data and case studies) and key informant interviews with policymakers, programme managers, health providers and community groups will be used to identify bottlenecks. This will be followed by a workshop to prioritise bottlenecks and characterise their root causes. Finally, solutions for the root causes of prioritised bottlenecks will be proposed. The protocol is structured in a modular format, with separate modules on postpregnancy FP, task sharing and SBC. Assessment themes and questions are informed by a wide body of literature on the three programmatic components, as well as studies on health policy implementation and scale-up.

Ethics and dissemination
The protocol was exempt from ethical review by the WHO ethics committee. The findings of the bottleneck analysis will be presented at local, national and international conferences and disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and webinars.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

Male involvement in antenatal care follow-up and its determinants in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective
To determine the involvement of males in antenatal care (ANC) follow-up and its determinants in Ethiopia.

Design
A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources
A systematic search was done on PubMed, African Journals Online, HINARI, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and direct Google up to 20 November 2023.

Eligibility criteria
We included cross-sectional or case–control studies reporting male involvement in ANC service and its determinants in Ethiopia, which were published as full-length articles in English.

Data extraction and synthesis
The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to appraise the included studies, and the I2 test was used to evaluate heterogeneity among the studies. We assessed publication bias using a funnel plot and Begg’s test. The forest plot presented the combined proportion of male involvement and OR, along with a 95% CI.

Results
The pooled proportion of male involvement in ANC follow-up in Ethiopia was 43.3% (95% CI 31.7% to 54.8%). Male partners with secondary education or higher (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 2.72, 95% CI 1.81 to 4.10), government employment (AOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.49 to 2.94), attendance at health education (AOR 3.02, 95% CI 1.39 to 6.54) and knowledge about ANC or pregnancy danger signs (AOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.33 to 4.19) demonstrated a significant association with increased male involvement.

Conclusion
Male involvement in ANC in Ethiopia is low. Recommendations include targeted education for males with no formal schooling, improved health education on ANC and pregnancy risks, and interventions for males in the private sector.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42021258826.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

Follow-up of immediate postpartum intrauterine device insertion: a scoping review protocol

Introduction
The intrauterine device (IUD) inserted immediately after delivery is a safe and effective measure for preventing unplanned pregnancies. Despite exhibiting a higher expulsion rate compared with later insertions, it proves cost-effective due to the high rate of continuity of the method. There is still a gap in the literature regarding the optimal strategy for monitoring these patients, whether it should be through clinical examination, ultrasound or both. The aim of this review is to map the available evidence regarding the proper clinical and ultrasound follow-up procedures of IUDs inserted immediately post partum.

Methods and analysis
Using the well-established scoping review methodology outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute, a five-stage review is outlined: (1) determining the research question, (2) search strategy, (3) inclusion criteria, (4) data extraction and (5) analysis and presentation of the results. The search strategy will be applied to nine databases reflecting empirical and grey literature. A two-step screening process will be used to determine eligibility of articles. To be included in the review, articles must describe how postpartum women (adolescents or adults) who had an IUD inserted immediately after birth (vaginal or caesarean) were followed up. All articles will be independently assessed for eligibility, and data from eligible articles will be extracted and charted using a standardised form. Extracted data will be analysed using narrative and descriptive analyses.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethics approval is not required. The results will be disseminated to the health science community through professional networks, conference presentations and publication in a scientific journal.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

Prognostic signature of multimorbidity, geriatric syndromes and resources cluster in older in- and outpatients: a pooled secondary analysis with a 6-month follow-up

Objective
The prognosis of older adults is strongly influenced by the relation of multifactorial geriatric syndromes (GS) and their health-maintaining counterparts, geriatric resources (GR). The present analysis aimed to identify clusters of comorbidities, GS and GR, and to measure their multidimensional prognostic signature in older patients admitted to different healthcare settings.

Design
Pooled secondary analysis of three longitudinal interventional studies with the 3- and 6-month follow-up data collection on mortality and rehospitalisation.

Setting
Inpatients in an internal medicine ward (n=495), inpatients in an ageing medicine ward (n=123) and outpatients from a general practice (n=105).

Participants
A total of 734 patients with multimorbidity who aged over 60 years were recruited between August 2016 and July 2020 (mean age 77.8 years, SD 6.2 and 43% female).

Outcome measures
Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), including Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), 17 GS and 10 GR, and the CGA-based Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) as a measure of multidimensional prognosis and frailty were assessed. Based on a general linear model and a hierarchical clustering method, clusters of comorbidities, GS and GR were obtained.

Results
The study identified five clusters of GR-related GS, namely, psychosocial, iatrogenic, neurovegetative, sensorimotor and fluid dysbalance, along with two clusters related to GR, focusing on independence achievement and requirements- circumstances. Additionally, two clusters were identified pertaining to the CIRS, encompassing sensory-vegetative and heart-kidney morbidity. Patients within the iatrogenic cluster exhibited significantly higher MPI and readmissions during follow-up compared with those outside this cluster (p

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

Dual Antiplatelet Treatment up to 72 Hours After Ischemic Stroke Stratified by Risk Profile: A Post Hoc Analysis

Stroke, Volume 56, Issue 1, Page 46-55, January 1, 2025. BACKGROUND:Risk profile of recurrence may influence the effect of antiplatelet therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of clopidogrel-aspirin initiated within 72 hours after symptom onset for acute mild stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack stratified by risk profile.METHODS:This is a secondary post hoc analysis of the INSPIRES (Intensive Statin and Antiplatelet Therapy for Acute High-risk Intracranial or Extracranial Atherosclerosis) randomized clinical trial that enrolled patients 35 to 80 years old with acute mild ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack between 2018 and 2022. Patients were stratified into different groups based on the Essen Stroke Risk Score (ESRS) and modified ESRS. The primary efficacy outcome was any new stroke within 90 days. The primary safety outcome was moderate-to-severe bleeding within 90 days.RESULTS:Among 6100 patients (3050 each in the clopidogrel-aspirin group and aspirin group), the median age was 65 years (interquartile range, 57–71 years), and 3915 (64.2%) were male. Clopidogrel-aspirin was associated with a reduced risk of new stroke in patients with an ESRS of

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

[Articles] Global assessment of leukemia care quality: insights from the quality of care index (QCI) from 1990 to 2021

The QCI serves as an effective metric for evaluating the quality of leukemia care. Our findings reveal a strong association between leukemia QCI and regional economic and educational development. Age is a critical factor, with an aging population contributing to a potential decline in QCI. These results underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to enhance health services for older adults and to improve care quality in economically disadvantaged regions.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

[Articles] Global, regional, and national trends in drug use disorder mortality rates across 73 countries from 1990 to 2021, with projections up to 2040: a global time-series analysis and modelling study

An increasing trend in global DUD mortality was observed from 1990 to 2021, especially in HICs. Future DUD deaths were also predicted to increase until 2040 at the global level. Therefore, these findings suggest urgent and proactive strategies for DUD to reduce the mortality rates related to DUD are needed. However, further prospective research that accounts for potential confounding factors, such as socioeconomic variables and the quality of reporting data from individual countries, is imperative for more accurate estimation.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

Cost-effectiveness of percutaneous mitral repair for patients with severe secondary mitral regurgitation: an updated evaluation using a modelling approach based on COAPT final data after 5-year follow-up

Objectives
To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of percutaneous repair (PR) for secondary mitral regurgitation.

Design
An economic evaluation using a time-varying Markov model comprising three states to assess the cost and effectiveness of PR added to guideline-directed medical treatment (GDMT) compared with GDMT alone. Clinical outcomes considered within the model were overall survival and heart failure (HF) hospitalisations (HFH), and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated. Cost data were derived from a literature search. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken.

Setting
The French healthcare system perspective assuming a lifetime horizon.

Participants
Published data at 5 years obtained from patients enrolled in the Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients with Functional Mitral Regurgitation study.

Results
In our base case, we chose cubic spline models to extrapolate overall survival, and we used log-logistic models to estimate cumulative HFH. After discounting, the model generated life-years of 3.843 years and 3.055 years for PR+GDMT and GDMT, respectively. Discounted total quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) values were 2.572 and 1.945 for PR+GDMT and GDMT, respectively (incremental 0.627 QALY). Discounted total costs were 42 709 and 20 732 for the intervention and the control groups, respectively (incremental 21,977), resulting in an ICER of 35,068/QALY. At a threshold of 50 000 per QALY, PR had a 0.85 probability of being cost-effective.

Conclusion
Updated trial data have enabled investigators to provide a more reliable estimation of the ICER, which suggests that PR has good value for money compared with GDMT alone.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a structured integrated post-pulmonary embolism follow-up care model (Attend-PE): a rationale and protocol for a multicentre clinical pre-post study

Introduction
Patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) experience impaired functional ability and reduced quality of life long after discharge from the hospital. However, there are no structured follow-up programmes in Denmark for these patients, and there is considerable variation in practice patterns of post-PE management. No studies have investigated the effectiveness of structured follow-up care models in patients with PE. This study aims to investigate the effect and cost-effectiveness of a structured integrated post-pulmonary embolism follow-up care model (Attend-PE) compared with usual care. The Attend-PE model outlines a structured approach for in-hospital follow-up, involving group-based patient education, individual consultations and systematic use of patient-reported outcome measures to assess the patient’s physical and psychological well-being.

Methods and analysis
The study is conducted in Denmark, where the healthcare system is tax-funded and services are freely available for all citizens, with an expected inclusion of 2000 patients in total. A pre-post-intervention study design is used to compare outcomes in the post-implementation cohort with the pre-implementation cohort. The co-primary outcomes are (1) health-related quality of life (patient-reported outcome, PRO) and (2) adherence to medical treatment (register-based data). Secondary outcomes include PROs on disability, treatment satisfaction, self-management, anxiety, depression and work productivity, and register-based outcomes, including recurrent PE, bleeding, mortality and healthcare use. Register-based data will be assessed at baseline (date of PE event), 6 and 12 months, while PRO-data will be assessed at 6 and 12 months after the PE event. The health economic evaluation of the Attend-PE model will include a cost-effectiveness analysis and a cost-utility analysis.

Ethics and dissemination
The project will be conducted by the Declaration of Helsinki. In accordance with the Danish Act on Health Research Ethics §14, the study is exempt from approval. The use of survey responses in research (in anonymous form) is, however, contingent on participants’ consent, and the invitation letter therefore included information about the purpose of the study and participants’ rights to withdraw consent at any time, and that completion of the questionnaire is considered as consent to their survey data to be included in research.
Study findings will be disseminated in scientific peer-reviewed journals, at national and international conferences, and for staff and decision-makers at participating hospitals and patients and relatives via the Danish Heart Association.

Trial registration number
Clinicaltrials.gov NCT06037096.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

Knowledge about diabetic retinopathy, eye check-up service utilisation and associated factors among adult diabetic patients at public hospitals of southeastern Ethiopia, 2022

Objective
The objective of the study is to assess knowledge of diabetic retinopathy, eye check-up service utilisation and associated factors among adult diabetic patients at public hospitals in southeastern Ethiopia in 2022.

Setting
The study was conducted at Ginnir General and Goba Referral Hospital in southeast Ethiopia.

Design
The study was designed as a facility-based cross-sectional study.

Participants
Systematically selected adult diabetic patients were the participants of the study.

Primary outcome
The primary outcomes are knowledge about diabetic retinopathy and eye check-up service utilisation.

Results
Of the 422 samples, 401 study participants participated with a 95% response rate. 254 (63.3%) (95% CI 58.5, 68%) and 37% (95% CI 32.5, 42%) of the participants had good knowledge of diabetic retinopathy and good uptake of eye check-up service, respectively. Educational status of greater than 12th grade, possession of health insurance and good attitude towards diabetic retinopathy prevention were factors associated with good knowledge about diabetic retinopathy. In addition, urban residence, level of education of >grade 12, having health insurance, good knowledge of diabetic retinopathy and good attitude towards prevention of diabetic retinopathy were significantly associated with good utilisation of eye check-up services.

Conclusions
Compared with the WHO and other recommendations, diabetic patients have low knowledge and utilisation of eye check-up services for diabetic retinopathy.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

Evolution of the use, effectiveness and safety of bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection between 2013 and 2021: results from the European registry on H. pylori management (Hp-EuReg)

Background
Bismuth quadruple therapies (BQTs) including bismuth, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and two antibiotics have been shown to be highly effective for treating Helicobacter pylori infection even in areas of high bacterial antibiotic resistance.

Objective
To describe the time trends of use, effectiveness and safety of BQT in Europe using the European Registry on Helicobacter pylori Management (Hp-EuReg).

Design
Patients registered in the Hp-EuReg from 2013 to 2021 who had received BQT were included. The regimens prescribed, the number of eradication attempts, effectiveness, adherence and safety were analysed. The effectiveness was assessed by modified intention to treat (mITT). Time-trend and multivariate analyses were performed to determine variables that predicted treatment success.

Results
Of the 49 690 patients included in the Hp-EuReg, 15 582 (31%) had received BQT. BQT use increased from 8.6% of all treatments in 2013 to 39% in 2021. Single-capsule BQT—containing bismuth, metronidazole and tetracycline—plus a PPI (single-capsule BQT, ScBQT) was the most frequent treatment mode (43%). Schemes that obtained an effectiveness above 90% were the 10-day ScBQT and 14-day BQT using tetracycline plus metronidazole, or amoxicillin plus either clarithromycin or metronidazole. Only ScBQT achieved above 90% cure rates in all the geographical areas studied. Using the ScBQT scheme, adherence, the use of standard or high-dose PPIs, 14-day prescriptions and the use of BQT as first-line treatment were significantly associated with higher mITT effectiveness.

Conclusion
The use of BQT increased notably in Europe over the study period. A 10-day ScBQT was the scheme that most consistently achieved optimal effectiveness.

Trial registration number
NCT02328131.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

Epidemiology of gastrointestinal cancers: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background
Gastrointestinal cancers comprise nearly one-third of global mortality from cancer, yet the comprehensive global burden of these cancers remains uninvestigated.

Objective
We aimed to assess the global, regional and national burden of gastrointestinal cancers.

Designs
Data on oesophagus, gastric, colorectal, liver, pancreas and biliary tract cancers were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database. Age-standardised incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardised death rate (ASDR) were calculated by sex, region and Sociodemographic Index (SDI).

Results
In 2021, there were 5.26 million incidences and 3.70 million deaths from gastrointestinal cancer. The greatest burden is from colorectal, followed by gastric, oesophageal, pancreatic, liver and biliary tract cancer. We noted geographical and socioeconomic differences in ASIR and ASDR across all types of cancers. From 2000 to 2021, ASIR increased for colorectal cancer (annual percent change (APC): 0.10%, 95% CI 0.05% to 0.14%), pancreatic cancer (APC: 0.27%, 95% CI 0.14% to 0.41%), and liver cancer from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (APC: 0.62%, 95% CI 0.58% to 0.67%) and alcohol-related liver disease (APC: 0.26%, 95% CI 0.22% to 0.30%). ASDR increased for pancreatic cancer (APC: 0.18%, 95% CI 0.02% to 0.34%). Higher SDI countries had higher incidence rates for most types of gastrointestinal cancer.

Conclusions
Although the ASIR of oesophageal, gastric and biliary tract cancer has decreased, the ASIR still increased in colorectal, pancreatic and liver cancer from steatotic liver disease. Public policies are important for controlling gastrointestinal cancers—most importantly, reducing alcohol consumption, hepatitis B immunisation and tackling the burden of metabolic diseases.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024

[Articles] Global, regional, and national burdens of heart failure in adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

The burden of HF in adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years was still increasing globally, which may be obscured by the burden trend of general population. According to different underlying causes of HF, both high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries need to better prevent HF in adolescents and young adults.

Leggi
Dicembre 2024