Health policy competencies in regional organizations: a retrospective analysis for 76 regional organizations from 1945 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Health policy competencies of regional organizations include mandates to create regional health laws and policies, as well as authorities that allow member states to undertake collective actions in the health field. The examination of the health policy competencies of regional organizations is essential, as it constitutes an important prerequisite for regional organizations to govern regional health. This study aims to map the development trajectory of health policy competencies in regional organizations worldwide and investigate their potential correlates. This will contribute to the enhanced promotion of both existing and new regional health cooperation. METHODS: This retrospective analysis utilized the health policy competencies of the 76 regional organizations worldwide from 1945 to 2015, as investigated in the Regional Organizations Competencies Database. By aggregating member state data from various sources such as the IHME Global Burden of Disease 2019, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization, we extracted the mean values and coefficients of variation for the covariates in regional organization characteristics, socioeconomic and demographic factors, health status and health-system capacity. The correlation between changes in the health policy scope of regional organizations and independent variables was analyzed using Poisson pseudo-likelihood regression with multiple levels of fixed effects. RESULTS: From 1945 to 2015, the number of regional organizations with health policy competencies experienced a slow growth stage before 1991 and an explosive growth stage post-1991. By 2015, 48 out of the 71 existing regional organizations had developed their health policy competencies, yet 26 (54.2%) of these organizations possessed only 1-2 health policy competencies. An enhancement in the health policy scope of a regional organization correlated with its founding year, a greater number of policy fields, higher under-five mortality, and larger disparities in trade and healthcare access and quality indexes among member states. In contrast, larger disparities in population, under-five mortality and health worker density among member states, along with more hospital beds per capita, were negatively correlated with the expansion of a regional organization's health policy scope. CONCLUSION: Since 1991, there has been a surge of interest in health among regional organizations, although health remains a secondary priority for them. The health policy competencies of regional organizations are pivotal for promoting social equity within regional communities. Its establishment is also closely linked to the level and disparities among member states in aspects such as trade, population, child mortality rates, and health system capacity.

Inequity of maternal-child health services in ASEAN member states from 1993 to 2021.

INTRODUCTION: Inequity in maternal-child health services is a challenge to global health as it hinders the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage. Though the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has made remarkable achievements in maternal-child health, there remain gaps in reaching global goals. This study aimed to compare and investigate the inequity in maternal-child health (MCH) services in ASEAN member states to help guide policy decisions to improve equitable health services in the SDG era and beyond. METHODS: Using the WHO Health Inequality Monitor, we identified inequity summary measures for five MCH services in ASEAN member states from 1993 to 2021: antenatal care, births attended by skilled health personnel, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) immunization, measles immunization, and polio immunization. We divided the analysis dimension of inequity into urban-rural inequity, economic status inequity, and sub-regional inequity. Trends of absolute and relative inequity in every dimension of MCH services in ASEAN member states were examined with the principal component analysis (PCA). RESULTS: The mean coverages of MCH services are 98.80% (Thailand), 86.72% (Cambodia), 84.54% (Viet Nam), 78.52 (Indonesia), 76.94% (Timor-Leste), 72.40% (Lao PDR), 68.10% (Philippines) and 48.52% (Myanmar) in 2021. Thailand have the lowest MCH services absolute inequity indexes of -1.945, followed by Vietnam (-1.449). Lao PDR and Myanmar have relatively higher MCH services absolute inequity indexes of 0.852 and 0.054 respectively. The service in Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines is pro-specific regions (with subnational region absolute inequity indexes of -0.02, 0.01, and 1.01 respectively). The service in Myanmar is pro-rich (with economic status absolute inequity index of 0.43). The service in Lao PDR and Timor-Leste is pro-urban areas, pro-rich, and pro-specific regions. CONCLUSION: The inequity of MCH services in ASEAN persists but is in a declining trend. Thailand and Vietnam have performed well in ensuring MCH services equity, while Laos and Myanmar are still facing serious inequity dilemmas. The progress of MCH service equity in Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Indonesia is uneven. It is acceptable to learn from the successful experiences of Thailand and Vietnam to improve the equities in other ASEAN countries. Policies should be developed according to the specific types of MCH inequity in member states to improve equity levels.

Global burden of hepatitis B attributable to modifiable risk factors from 1990 to 2019: a growing contribution and its association with socioeconomic status.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B is a global public health concern, and modifiable risk factors can accelerate progression of this disease. The burden of hepatitis B attributable to modifiable risk factors has not been well evaluated. We aimed to estimate the disease burden of hepatitis B attributable to tobacco, alcohol use, and a high body mass index (BMI) to guide lifestyle interventions in the management of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. RESULTS: In 2019, 33.73% of hepatitis B age-standardized deaths and 34.52% of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were attributable to tobacco, alcohol use, and a high BMI. The proportion showed an increasing trend that 28.23% of deaths and 27.56% of DALYs were attributable to the three modifiable risk factors in 1990. The hepatitis B burden attributable to modifiable risk factors was disparate across regions and countries. Countries with a low socioeconomic status have a high burden of hepatitis B owing to modifiable risk factors. Countries with a high-level sociodemographic index also had an increasing burden of hepatitis B attributable to a high BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle interventions are warranted in hepatitis prevention strategies and plans of action. Countries with low and middle socioeconomic development should be prioritized, and countries with high socioeconomic development should be aware of the novel challenge of a high BMI-related disease burden.

Inequities in ambulance allocation associated with transfer delay and mortality in acute coronary syndrome patients: evidence from 89 emergency medical stations in China.

BACKGROUND: Allocation of healthcare resources has a great influence on treatment and outcome of patients. This study aimed to access the inequality of ambulance allocation across regions, and estimate the associations between ambulance density and pre-hospital transfer time and mortality of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on an integrated database of electronic medical system for 3588 ACS patients from 31 hospitals, ambulance information of 89 emergency medical stations, and public geographical information of 8 districts in Shenzhen, China. The primary outcomes were the associations between ambulance allocation and transfer delay and in-hospital mortality of ACS patients. The Theil index and Gini coefficient were used to assess the fairness and inequality degree of ambulance allocation. Logistic regression was used to model the associations. RESULTS: There was a significant inequality in ambulance allocation in Shenzhen (Theil index: 0.59), and the inequality of inter-districts (Theil index: 0.38) was greater than that of intra-districts (Theil index: 0.21). The gap degree of transfer delay, ambulance allocation, and mortality across districts resulted in a Gini coefficient of 0.35, 0.53, 0.65, respectively. Ambulance density was negatively associated with pre-hospital transfer time (OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.64,0.97, P = 0.026), with in-hospital mortality (OR = 0.31, 95%CI:0.14,0.70, P = 0.005). The ORs of Theil index in transfer time and in-hospital mortality were 1.09 (95%CI:1.01,1.10, P < 0.001) and 1.80 (95%CI:1.15,3.15, P = 0.009), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Regional inequities existed in ambulance allocation and has a significant impact on pre-hospital transfer delay and in-hospital mortality of ACS patients. It was suggested to increase the ambulance accessibility and conduct health education for public.

Temporal trends in the burden of non-communicable diseases in countries with the highest malaria burden, 1990-2019: Evaluating the double burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases in epidemiological transition.

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rapidly increasing in sub-Saharan African countries, where 96% of global malaria deaths occur. This study aimed to investigate the disease burden of NCDs in countries with the current highest malaria mortality. METHODS: Data for this study were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study (1990-2019). We selected the ten countries with malaria's highest age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) and identified and ranked the five NCDs with the highest ASMR in each country. Measures of the NCDs disease burden included ASMR, age-standardised disability-adjusted life-years (DALY), years of life lost (YLL) and years lost due to a disability (YLD). The Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was used to examine the trends of the NCDs disease burden from 1990 to 2019. RESULTS: As of 2019, the ASMR of chronic liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, hypertensive heart disease and stroke were higher than the global average. From 1990 to 2019, the ASMR for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, type II diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease increased by 3.0%, 10.8%, 13.3%, and the age-standardised DALY rate increased by 3.7%, 27.6%, 6.3%, and the increases tended to be in younger populations. CONCLUSION: The double burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases is crippling the health systems of many sub-Saharan African countries and is often neglected. The prevention, surveillance, and control of diseases require an integrated strategy, with governments and non-government organisations aligned and supported by the global initiative.

Optimizing an Emergency Medical Dispatch System to Improve Prehospital Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome: Nationwide Retrospective Study in China.

BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the most time-sensitive acute cardiac event that requires rapid dispatching and response. The medical priority dispatch system (MPDS), one of the most extensively used types of emergency dispatch systems, is hypothesized to provide better-quality prehospital emergency treatment. However, few studies have revealed the impact of MPDS use on the process of ACS care. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether the use of MPDS was associated with higher prehospital diagnosis accuracy and shorter prehospital delay for patients with ACS transferred by an emergency medical service (EMS), using a national database in China. METHODS: This retrospective analysis was based on an integrated database of China's MPDS and hospital registry. From January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020, EMS-treated ACS cases were divided into before MPDS and after MPDS groups in accordance with the MPDS launch time at each EMS center. The primary outcomes included diagnosis consistency between hospital admission and discharge, and prehospital delay. Multivariable logistic regression and propensity score-matching analysis were performed to compare outcomes between the 2 groups for total ACS and subtypes. RESULTS: A total of 9806 ACS cases (3561 before MPDS and 6245 after MPDS) treated by 43 EMS centers were included. The overall diagnosis consistency of the after MPDS group (Cohen κ=0.918, P<.001) was higher than that of the before MPDS group (Cohen κ=0.889, P<.001). After the use of the MPDS, the call-to-EMS arrival time was shortened in the matched ACS cases (20.0 vs 16.0 min, P<.001; adjusted difference: -1.67, 95% CI -2.33 to -1.02; P<.001) and in the subtype of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (adjusted difference: -3.81, 95% CI -4.63 to -2.98, P<.001), while the EMS arrival-to-door time (20.0 vs 20.0 min, P=.31) was not significantly different in all ACS cases and subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: The optimized use of MPDS in China was associated with increased diagnosis consistency and a reduced call-to-EMS arrival time among EMS-treated patients with ACS. An emergency medical dispatch system should be designed specifically to fit into different prehospital modes in the EMS system on a regional basis.

Factors associated with participation in colorectal cancer screening: A population-based study of 7200 individuals.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate how the knowledge and perception towards colorectal cancer (CRC) screening had been changed in a large population, and identified factors associated with its participation based on factors pertinent to the Health Belief Model (HBM). METHODS: Data from 3600 screening participants and 3600 non-participants were collected through a telephone survey via simple random sampling of telephone numbers in a territory-wide directory from December 2016 to November 2018. Sociodemographic factors; the enabling factors of screening as well as the barriers of screening were collected. The changes in these factors were evaluated by Pearson's chi-square trend test. A logistic regression model was constructed to identify the association between the above factors and CRC screening participation. RESULTS: The knowledge level (67.9% to 85.4%, p < 0.001), perceived severity of having CRC (37.7%-42.8%, p < 0.01), perceived benefits of screening (54.9%-72.1%, p < 0.001), and reductions in barriers (14.1%-5.1%, p < 0.001) of CRC screening significantly improved among the non-users. Subjects with older age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.01, p < 0.001), higher knowledge level of screening methods (AOR: 6.68, p < 0.001), greater perceived severity (AOR: 2.04, p < 0.001) and coverage of insurance (AOR: 1.22, p < 0.01) were more likely to participate. In contrast, more affluent subjects (AOR: 0.69, p < 0.001), female individuals (AOR: 0.63, p < 0.001), higher level of perceived psychological (AOR: 0.54, p < 0.001) and access barriers (AOR: 0.55, p < 0.001) were associated with poorer participation. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated a substantial increase in the enabling factors of CRC screening, including knowledge, perceived severity and perceived benefits. The study also identified the target groups such as younger individuals, females and more affluent people among whom more intensive educational initiatives are needed to enhance their participation.

Economic burden of comorbid chronic conditions among survivors of stroke in China: 10-year longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The coexistence of chronic diseases among people with stroke is common. However, little is known about the extent of incremental healthcare expenditures associated with having physically and psychologically chronic conditions among stroke survivors. METHODS: We used the nationally representative data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, including 36,076 participants enrolled as our analytic cohort of ten years of follow-up visits (2006, 2009, 2011, 2015). Chronic conditions include hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and impaired cognitive function. Two-part models were used to estimate the effect of comorbid chronic conditions on total annual healthcare expenditure, out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare expenditure, and incidence of catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE). RESULTS: Among survivors of stroke during 2006 to 2015, the prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and impaired cognitive function were 75.5, 9.8, 12.7 and 65.1%, significantly higher than those among adults without stroke history (27.9, 2.7, 10.0 and 41.2%). Having hypertension ($794.5, p = 0.004), diabetes ($3978.5, p < 0.001) were associated with the largest incremental total healthcare expenditures. Stroke survivors with diagnosed hypertension and diabetes had additional 5.7 (p < 0.001) and 10.4 (p < 0.001) percentage point of CHE rate, respectively. Total healthcare expenditures were $2413.0 (P < 0.001) and $5151.7 (P < 0.001) higher among patients with 2, and ≥ 3 chronic conditions, respectively, than those individuals with no chronic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Excess expenditures associated with chronic diseases were substantial among stroke survivors. These results highlight the needs for both prevention and better management of multimorbidity among stroke survivors, which in turn may lower the financial burden of treating these concurrent comorbidities.

Antihypertensive treatment and depressive symptoms in Chinese middle-aged and older hypertensive adults: A population-based longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: Hypertension is a risk factor for depressive disorders. Although the benefits of lowering blood pressure on the subsequent depressive disorders are supported by biological interpretation, the effect of antihypertensive therapies on depressive disorders is not clear. This study aimed to assess whether blood-pressure-lowering treatment have a protective effect on subsequent depressive symptoms in China. METHODS: We used data from the nationally representative survey, including 2428 hypertensive participants free from depressive symptoms at baseline in 2011 to 2012. We assessed the depressive symptoms based on the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. We conducted Cox proportional hazards regression models to examine the effect of antihypertensive treatment on the incidence of depressive symptoms in 2011 to 2015. RESULTS: In the total sample, all the models resulted in nonsignificant results and an estimated 8% reduction in risk (95% CI, 0·76-1·12) in the model adjusted for all covariates for the antihypertensive treatment takers with blood pressure controlled. In the group of urban residents, the antihypertensive treatment takers with blood pressure controlled had lower odds (HR: 0.68; 95% CI, 0·49-0·96) of depressive disorders. CONCLUSION: The protective effect of the antihypertensive therapies might be relative to not only lowering blood pressure per se but also the management of hypertension. We proposed the early intervention to achieve the long-term protective effect of being antihypertensive and the supply of effective and collaborative care of hypertension and depression.

Synergy of policies to strengthen primary care: evidence from a national repeated cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: People bypass primary healthcare (PHC) institutions to seek expensive healthcare at high-level hospitals, leading to escalating medical costs and inefficient use of resources. In 2009, China launched nationwide synergic policies on primary care strengthening, to tackle access to healthcare and financial protection. This study aimed to assess the impact of the two policy areas, health insurance and health workforce, on healthcare seeking behavior. METHODS: Drawing on national survey data before (2008) and after (2013) the policies, we linked individual-level data on healthcare-seeking behavior with county-level data on health workforce and health insurance. We constructed a multilevel zero-inflated negative binomial regression to examine the impacts of average reimbursement rate (ARR) of health insurance and the density of registered physicians on outpatient/inpatient visits, and multilevel multinomial logistic regression for the impacts on choice of outpatient/inpatient care providers. RESULTS: Although the increase in health insurance ARR and physician density have positive impacts on individuals' healthcare use, their impacts might be weakened during 2008 and 2013, and the negative impacts of investment of those in PHC institutions on likelihood of visiting hospitals was larger. The negative impacts of ARR at PHC institutions on likelihood of visiting county-, municipal- and higher-level hospitals in 2013 was 28 percentage points, 66 percentage points and 33 percentage points larger than these in 2008. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care strengthening requires synergic policies. Effective mechanisms for coordination across multisectoral actions are necessities for deepening those policies to ensure efficient delivery of healthcare without experiencing financial risks.

Job satisfaction, burnout, and turnover intention among primary care providers in rural China: results from structural equation modeling.

BACKGROUND: Low job satisfaction, severe burnout and high turnover intention are found to be prevalent among the primary care providers (PCPs) in township health centers (THCs), but their associations have received scant attention in the literature. In light of this, this study aims to examine the relationships between job satisfaction, burnout and turnover intention, and explore the predictors of turnover intention with a view to retaining PCPs in rural China. METHODS: Using the multistage cluster sampling method, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in Shandong Province, China. 1148 PCPs from 47 THCs participated in this study. Job satisfaction, burnout and turnover intention were measured with a multifaceted instrument developed based on the existing literature, the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the participants' responses to a Likert item drawn from the literature, respectively. The relationships of the three factors were examined using Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling, while the predictors of turnover intention were investigated using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The subscale that the PCPs were most dissatisfied with was job rewards (95.12%), followed by working environment (49.65%) and organizational management (47.98%). The percentages of the PCPs reporting high-levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment were 27.66, 6.06, and 38.74%, respectively. About 14.06% of the respondents had high turnover intention. There was a significant direct effect of job satisfaction on burnout (γ = - 0.52) and turnover intention (γ = - 0.29), a significant direct effect of burnout on turnover intention (γ = 0.28), and a significant indirect effect (γ = - 0.14) of job satisfaction on turnover intention through burnout as a mediator. Work environment satisfaction, medical practicing environment satisfaction, and organizational management satisfaction proved to be negative predictors of turnover intention (p < 0.05), whereas reduced personal accomplishment was identified as a positive predictor (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Plagued by low job satisfaction and severe burnout, the PCPs in rural China may have high turnover intentions. Job satisfaction had not only negative direct effects on burnout and turnover intention, but also an indirect effect on turnover intention through burnout as a mediator. Targeted strategies should be taken to motivate and retain the PCPs.

Job satisfaction of the primary healthcare providers with expanded roles in the context of health service integration in rural China: a cross-sectional mixed methods study.

OBJECTIVE: Against the backdrop of integrating public health services and clinical services at primary healthcare (PHC) institutions, primary healthcare providers (PCPs) have taken on expanded roles. This posed a potential challenge to China as it may directly impact PCPs' workload, income, and perceived work autonomy, thus affecting their job satisfaction. This study aimed to explore the association between the expanded roles and job satisfaction of the PCPs in township healthcare centers (THCs), the rural PHC institutions in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using mixed methods was conducted in 47 THCs in China's Shandong province. Based on a sample of 1146 PCPs, the association between the proportion of PCPs' working time spent on public health services and PCPs' self-reported job satisfaction was estimated using the logistic regression. Qualitative data were also collected and analyzed to explore the mechanism of how the expanded roles impacted PCPs' job satisfaction. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-four physicians and 146 nurses undertook increased work responsibilities, accounting for 15.91% and 12.61% of the total sample. For those spending 40-60%, 60-80%, and more than 80% of the working time providing public health services, the time spent on public health was negatively associated with job satisfaction, with the odds ratio being 0.199 [0.067-0.587], 0.083 [0.025-0.276], and 0.030 [0.007-0.130], respectively. Qualitative analysis illustrated that a majority of the PCPs with expanded roles were dissatisfied with their jobs due to the heavy workload, the mismatch between the income and the workload, and the low level of work autonomy. PCPs' heavier work burden was mainly caused by the current public health service delivery policy and the separation of public health service delivery and regular clinical services delivery, a significant challenge undermining the efforts to better integrate public health services and clinical services at PHC institutions. CONCLUSION: The current policies of adding public health service delivery to the PHC system have negative impacts on PCPs' job satisfaction through increased work responsibilities for PCPs, which have led to low work autonomy and the mismatch between the income and the workload. The fundamental reason lies in the fragmented incentives and external supervision for public health service delivery and clinical service delivery. Policy-makers should balance the development of clinic and public health departments at the institutional level and integrate their financing and supervision at the system level so as to strengthen the synergy of public health service provision and routine clinical service provision.

Effects of Digital Device Ownership on Cognitive Decline in a Middle-Aged and Elderly Population: Longitudinal Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive decline is a major risk factor for disability and death and may serve as a precursor of dementia. Digital devices can provide a platform of cognitively stimulating activities which might help to slow cognitive decline during the process of normal aging. OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study aimed to examine the independent protective factors of desktop and cellphone ownership against cognitive decline in mid-life and older adulthood and to examine the combined effect of desktop and cellphone ownership on the same outcome. METHODS: Data was obtained from a China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Studies (CHARLS) cohort made up of 13,457 community-dwelling adults aged 45 years or above in 2011-2012. They were followed for 4 years, with baseline measurements taken as well as 2 two-year follow-up visits. Cognitive function was tested during the baseline test and follow-up visits. A global cognition z-score was calculated based on two domains: word recall and mental intactness. The key independent variables were defined as: whether one had desktops with internet connection at home and whether one had a cellphone. An additional categorical variable of three values was constructed as: 0 (no desktop or cellphone), 1 (desktop or cellphone alone), and 2 (desktop and cellphone both). Mixed-effects regression was adjusted for demographic and health behavior as well as health condition risk factors. RESULTS: Adjusted for demographic and health behavior as well as health condition risk factors, desktop and cellphone ownership were independently associated with subsequent decreased cognitive decline over the four-year period. Participants without a desktop at home had an adjusted cognitive decline of -0.16 standard deviations (95% CI -0.18 to -0.15), while participants with a desktop at home had an adjusted cognitive decline of -0.10 standard deviations (95% CI -0.14 to -0.07; difference of -0.06 standard deviations; P=.003). A similar pattern of significantly protective association of 0.06 standard deviations (95% CI 0.03-0.10; P<.001) between cellphone ownership and cognitive function was observed over the four-year period. Additionally, a larger longitudinal protective association on cognitive decline was observed among those with both of the digital devices, although the 95% CIs for the coefficients overlapped with those with a single digital device alone. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study underscored the importance of digital devices as platforms for cognitively stimulating activities to delay cognitive decline. Future studies focusing on use of digital devices are warranted to investigate their longitudinal protective factors against cognitive decline at mid- and later life.

Internet Access and Hypertension Management Among the Elderly Population: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Survey in China.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a rapidly growing epidemic in China. Yet, it remains inadequately controlled, especially in rural areas. The internet has shown potential for better health management in different settings; however, few studies have investigated its role in hypertension management in China. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the association between internet access and hypertension awareness, treatment, and control among elderly Chinese adults and to investigate whether the association between internet access and hypertension management differed between those living in urban and rural areas. METHODS: We obtained data from the nationally representative survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2011. Hypertension was defined as (1) average systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mm Hg or average diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mm Hg or (2) currently taking antihypertensive medications. The outcome assessed included hypertension awareness, treatment, and control. The key independent variable was defined as whether one had internet access at home. We performed multivariate logistic regressions for each of the 3 outcomes. RESULTS: Among 5135 hypertensive respondents (age 62.4 [SD 9.9] years; 2351/5135, 45.78% men), 12.89% (662/5135) had internet access at home. Compared with those who had no internet access, internet access was positively associated with hypertension awareness (odds ratio [OR] 1.36, 95% CI 1.07-1.73) and treatment (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.09-1.75), but not with control (OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.90-1.58). Internet access reduced urban-rural disparity in hypertension awareness by 9.6% (P=.02), treatment by 8.3% (P=.05), but not in control. In addition, the moderating effect of internet access on urban-rural disparities in hypertension management was larger among females. The decreased urban-rural disparities were primarily driven by that internet access improved the management level in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low rate of internet access among the elderly population, the internet shows its potential as a platform for achieving better hypertension management in China. Strategies for reducing the disparities in hypertension management and overall disease burden of hypertension among the elderly population might consider the internet as a platform.

The interaction effect of health insurance reimbursement and health workforce on health care-seeking behaviour in China.

OBJECTIVE: In China, patients generally seek health care at high-level hospitals, which is leading to escalating medical costs and overloaded hospitals. Some studies have suggested that the health system is an important factor influencing individuals' health care-seeking behaviour; however, this association has not been studied in much depth. We therefore examined the impact of the health system (in terms of the interaction between health insurance reimbursement and health workforce) on health care-seeking behaviour. METHODS: Drawing on national survey data from 2008 and 2013, we linked individual-level data on choice of health care providers (our index of health care-seeking behaviour) with county-level data on the health workforce and health insurance. We then constructed a multilevel multinomial logistic model to examine the impacts of health insurance reimbursement (indexed as average reimbursement rate [ARR]) and the health workforce (number of registered physicians per 1000 population) at county hospitals and primary health care institutions (PHCs) on choice of inpatient care providers. RESULTS: Increases in ARR at county hospitals were associated with a greater probability of visiting such hospitals (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.23), and this positive impact was even greater in county hospitals with higher physician densities (RRR = 2.76). Greater ARR in PHCs was associated with a 73% lower probability of visiting municipal- and higher-level hospitals; increasing ARR was associated with an even lower probability when physician density in PHCs was considered (RRR = 0.09). CONCLUSION: Increases in the health insurance reimbursement and health workforce are necessary to improve health care access and thereby health care-seeking behaviour. Thus, comprehensive health system reform is necessary.

Impact of health workforce availability on health care seeking behavior of patients with diabetes mellitus in China.

BACKGROUND: China has a high burden of diabetes mellitus (DM), and a large proportion of DM patients remain untreated for various reasons, including low availability of primary health care providers. DM patient management is one of the priorities in China's national essential public health programs. Shortage of health workforce has been a major barrier to improving access to health care for DM patients. This study examines the impact of the health workforce on outpatient utilization of DM patients. METHODS: Data were collected from China National Health Service Surveys in 2008 and 2013, covering 94 rural counties and 156 urban districts, respectively, with a total of 15,984 DM patients. Household data and facility-based data at county/district level were merged. The health workforce was measured by number of physicians per 1,000 population in county hospitals and primary health centers (PHCs), respectively. Health care seeking behavior was measured by health care utilization and distribution of health providers of the DM patients. Multilevel zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used to analyze the impact of the health workforce on outpatient visits by DM patients, and a multilevel, multinomial logit model was used to examine the impact of the health workforce on choice of health providers by DM patients. RESULTS: An increase in the number of physicians at both county hospitals and PHCs was associated with increased outpatient visits by DM patients, particularly more physicians at PHCs. With increased numbers of physicians at PHCs, outpatient visits among residents with DM in rural and western areas of China increased more than those in urban and eastern areas. More physicians at PHCs had a positive impact on improving the likelihood of outpatient visits at PHCs. The positive influence of increasing the number of physicians available to DM patients in rural and western areas was greater than that for urban and eastern DM patients. CONCLUSIONS: The health workforce is a key component of any healthcare system and is critical in improving health care accessibility. Strategies to increase coverage of health workforce at PHCs are crucial to achieving adequate levels of health services for DM patients. Allocation of health workforce should focus on PHCs in rural and low-income areas.

Global Incidence of Ovarian Cancer According to Histologic Subtype: A Population-Based Cancer Registry Study.

PURPOSE: Ovarian cancer can be categorized into distinct histologic subtypes with varying identifiable risk factors, molecular composition, clinical features, and treatment. The global incidence of ovarian cancer subtypes remains limited, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) without high-quality cancer registry systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data from population-based cancer registries of the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents project to calculate the proportions of serous, mucinous, endometrioid, clear cell, and other histologic subtypes of ovarian cancer. Proportions were applied to the estimated numbers of patients with ovarian cancer from Global Cancer Observatory 2020. Age-standardized incidence rates were calculated. RESULTS: Globally, an estimated 133,818 new patients of serous cancer, 35,712 new patients of mucinous cancer, 29,319 new patients of endometrioid cancer, and 17,894 new patients of clear cell cancer were identified in 2020. The distribution of ovarian cancer histologic subtypes exhibited regional variation. Eastern Europe had the highest rate of serous and mucinous carcinomas, whereas Northern Africa and Eastern Asia had the highest burden of endometrioid and clear cell carcinomas, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides a global incidence landscape of histologic subtypes of ovarian cancer, particularly in LMICs lacking comprehensive registry systems. Our analysis offers valuable insights into disease burden and guidance for tailored strategies for prevention of ovarian cancer.

The Role of Smoking, Obesity, and Physical Inactivity in Cognitive Performance and Decline: A Multicohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Unhealthy lifestyles are recognized contributors to cognitive decline, yet limited evidence focuses on their roles in cognitive decline rate. This study examined the role of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity in cognitive performance and rate of cognitive decline by birth cohort on a global scale. METHODS: Utilizing data from 4 prospective cohort studies (China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, English Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Health and Retirement Study, and Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe) across 14 countries, a multicohort study was performed. Eligible participants were aged 50 years and older. Linear mixed models were employed to detect the role of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity in cognitive function domains (epidemic memory, working memory, and time orientation). RESULTS: Higher scores of cognitive functions were found in participants who engaged in more vigorous physical activity, were noncurrent smokers, and maintained underweight (eg, for episodic memory scores in females at 60 years, vigorous physical activity: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.46, 0.49). In addition, a slower rate of cognitive decline was also found in individuals who engaged in moderate or vigorous physical activity, were noncurrent smokers, and maintained not being underweight (eg, for episodic memory scores changing from 50 to 70 years old in females, vigorous physical activity: from 0.54 (95% CI: 0.51, 0.57) to 0.40 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.44) and in males from 0.33 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.36) to 0.11 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the beneficial impact of healthy lifestyles in preventing cognitive decline and promoting healthy aging. Urgent measures are needed to identify and encourage healthy lifestyles, such as strengthening tobacco control, developing policy on physical activity promotion, and preventing underweight, to minimize worldwide levels of cognitive decline.

Global, regional, and national burden of tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancers attributable to high fasting plasma glucose: A systematic analysis of global burden of disease 2019.

BACKGROUND: Tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer is the third most common and lethal type of cancer worldwide. Glucose metabolism disorders, as represented by high fasting plasma glucose (HFPG), increase the risk of development and worsen the prognosis of TBL cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the global disease burden of TBL cancer attributable to HFPG. METHODS: The TBL cancer burden attributable to HFPG was estimated based on a modeling strategy using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The disease burden globally and by regions, countries, development levels, age groups, and sexes were also evaluated with the indicators of death, disability-adjusted life years, years of life lost, and years lived with disability. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated by regression model to show the temporal trend. RESULTS: In 2019, approximately 8% of the total TBL cancer burden was attributable to HFPG. The HFPG-attributable TBL cancer burden increased globally from 1990 to 2019 with the EAPC of 0.98% per year. The burden was positively associated with social development levels, and the global burden was three times greater in men than in women. HFPG-attributable TBL cancer burden increased with age and peaked at above 70 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the effect and burden of glucose disorders, as represented by HFPG on TBL cancer burden. Integrated cancer prevention and control measures are needed, with control of glucose disorders as one of the key elements.

Multimorbidity, lifestyle, and cognitive function: A cross-cultural study on the role of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases.

BACKGROUND: The effect of lifestyle factors on cognitive function related to four major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases, and the relationship between these NCDs and cognitive function have not been fully studied. We aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations between these NCDs and cognitive function in middle-aged and older people, and the combined effects of lifestyle factors. METHODS: By employing the data from three large-scale cohort studies from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (2010-2019), English Longitudinal Study of Aging (2014-2019), and China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2019), this study carried out a multi-cohort analysis to 77, 210 participants. Fixed-effects regression models were used to examine associations between NCD status and cognitive function. Margin plots were used to illustrate the effect of lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Our findings revealed the dose-dependent association between mounting these NCDs and declining cognitive performance, ranging from one NCD (ß = -0.05, 95 % CI: -0.08 to -0.02) to four NCDs (ß = -0.51, 95 % CI: -0.75 to -0.28). Decline in cognitive function associated with NCDs was exacerbated with physical inactivity, current smoking status, and an increase in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. LIMITATIONS: The observational study design precludes causal interrogation of lifestyles and four NCDs on cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS: An increasing number of these NCDs were dose-dependently associated with the decline in cognitive function score. Unhealthy lifestyle factors expedite decline in cognitive function linked to these NCDs.