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Objective@#To evaluate the effectiveness of recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion protein skin test (EC-ST) in screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among HIV/AIDS patients, so as to provide insights into the applicability of EC-ST in LTBI screening among HIV/AIDS patients.@*Methods@#From April to June 2023, HIV/AIDS patients under management and treatment in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, were selected as study subjects. Basic information was collected through questionnaire surveys. LTBI was screened by EC-ST and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). Taking IGRA results as the diagnostic standard, the positive rate, sensitivity, specificity and consistency rate of EC-ST, and the impact of CD4+T lymphocyte (CD4) counts on the screening effect of EC-ST were analyzed.@*Results@#A total of 523 HIV/AIDS patients were screened, including 458 males (87.57%) and 65 females (12.43%). The median age was 48.00 (interquartile range, 21.00) years. The positive rate of EC-ST was 7.27% and the positive rate of IGRA was 7.46%, with no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The consistency rate of the two methods was 94.84%, and the Kappa value of 0.621 (95%CI: 0.489-0.752, P<0.05). The sensitivity of EC-ST was 64.10% and the specificity was 97.31%. Comparing the groups with CD4 counts <500 and ≥500 cells/μL, the consistency rates of the two methods were 95.32% and 94.44%, and the Kappa values were 0.568 and 0.650, respectively (both P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the positive rates, sensitivity, and specificity of EC-ST (all P>0.05). Comparing the groups with CD4 counts <200 and ≥200 cells/μL, the consistency rates of the two methods were 96.55% and 94.62%, and the Kappa values were 0.648 and 0.619, respectively (both P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the positive rates, sensitivity, and specificity of EC-ST (all P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#The effectiveness of EC-ST in screening for LTBI among HIV/AIDS patients is consistent with that of IGRA and is not affected by CD4 counts.
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Objective@#To investigate the awareness of HIV non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) among residents in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, so as to provide basis for further publicity and application of nPEP in genenral population.@*Methods@#Community residents at ages of 18 years and older in Yangzhou City were sampled using the multi-stage random sampling method from January to June, 2022, and a cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect their demographic information, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related knowledge, attitude and behaviors and awareness of nPEP. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors affecting awareness of nPEP.@*Results@#Totally 1 488 questionnaires were allocated, and 1 447 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 97.24%. There were 644 males and 803 females, with mean age of (36.33±11.90) years. There were 585 residents (40.43%) employed by government agencies, enterprises and public institutions; 750 residents (51.83%) with awareness of AIDS; 413 (28.54%), 651 (44.99%) and 383 residents (26.47%) had low, medium and high levels of AIDS discrimination, respectively; 201 residents (13.89%) with HIV detection experience; and 792 residents (54.73%) with regular health checkup. The awareness rate of nPEP was 47.89%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified career (government agencies, enterprises and public institutions, OR=1.530, 95%CI: 1.170-1.999; students, OR=1.450, 95%CI: 1.027-2.047), awareness of AIDS (OR=3.201, 95%CI: 2.495-4.106), having HIV detection experience (OR=1.908, 95%CI: 1.339-2.719), regular health checkup (OR=2.308, 95%CI:1.807-2.949) and discrimination against AIDS (medium, OR=0.703, 95%CI: 0.532-0.928; high, OR=0.699, 95%CI: 0.502-0.974) as factors affecting awareness of nPEP.@*Conclusions@#The awareness of nPEP among residents in Yangzhou City needs to be improved. Employees in government agencies, enterprises and public institutions and students have higher awareness of nPEP.
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Objective@#To investigate the preliminary screening results of Alzheimer's disease (AD) among the elderly in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province and analyze the influencing factors, so as to provide insights into prevention and control of AD in the elderly. @*Methods@#A multi-stage stratified proportional sampling method was used to select the registered residents aged 60 years and older in Ningbo City as subjects. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, physical conditions and social activities of the subjects was evaluated with questionnaires. AD was screened using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and factors affecting the positive rate of AD preliminary screening were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model.@*Results@#A total of 34 027 elderly residents were investigated, with an mean age of (71.71±6.89) years. There were 15 115 males (44.42%) and 18 912 females (55.58%), 16 146 residents living in rural areas (47.45%) and 17 881 residents living in urban areas (52.55%). The positive rate of AD preliminary screening was 7.28% (2 476 cases). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age (70 to 74 years, OR=1.357; 75 to 79 years, OR=1.807; 80 to 84 years, OR=2.782; 85 years and older, OR=4.907), gender (female, OR=1.118), residence (urban areas, OR=0.713), marital status (unmarried, OR=3.078; widowed/separated/divorced, OR=1.301), educational level (primary school, OR=0.629; junior high school and above, OR=0.609), occupation before retirement (others, OR=0.741), family genetic history (no, OR=0.651), household disposable monthly income (1 000 to 1 999 Yuan, OR=0.636; 2 000 to 2 999 Yuan, OR=0.569; 3 000 Yuan and above, OR=0.448), exercise (seldom, OR=0.855; regular, OR=0.780), number of chronic diseases (2~5, OR=1.328), hearing loss (no, OR=0.764), smell loss (no, OR=0.615), chronic constipation (no, OR=0.696), major negative life events (no, OR=0.804), subjective memory loss (no, OR=0.583), sleep quality (general, OR=0.640; good, OR=0.616), living style (living with spouse, OR=0.300; living alone, OR=0.315; living with children, OR=0.350) and social activities (2-3 times/week, OR=0.584; 4 times/week and more, OR=0.409) were factors affecting the positive rate of AD preliminary screening. @*Conclusions @#The positive rate of AD preliminary screening among the elderly in Ningbo City is relatively high. Age, gender, economic conditions, exercise, social activities and physical conditions were factors affecting the positive rate of AD preliminary screening.
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Objective@#To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among the elderly at ages of 65 years and older in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province from 2017 to 2021, so as to provide the evidence for the development of PTB prevention and control measures in the elderly. @*Methods@#Data of PTB cases at ages of 65 years and older in Yangzhou City from 2017 to 2021 were collected from the Tuberculosis Management Information System of the Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Information System, including age, gender, current address, population classification and diagnosis classification. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the temporal distribution, regional distribution, population distribution and delay in healthcare-seeking of PTB cases.@*Results@#A total of 3 283 PTB patients at ages of 65 years and older were registered in Yangzhou City from 2017 to 2021, accounting for 41.12% of the total number of PTB cases. The incidence decreased from 112.10/105 to 66.03/105 (P<0.05), with an average annual incidence of 80.43/105. There were 1 236 cases of PTB cases from April to July, accounting for 37.65%. Guangling District had the highest annual incidence of 96.45/105, followed by Hanjiang District (89.29/105) and Jiangdu district (87.05/105). The average annual incidence of PTB in males was 134.07/105, which was higher than that in females (30.55/105, P<0.05). There were 1 070 cases of PTB cases at ages of 65-69 years, accounting for 32.59%. The highest incidence was seen in men at ages of 85 years and older (200.39/105) and in women at ages of 80-84 years (38.34/105). Farmers were the predominant occupation of PTB cases (2 488 cases, 75.78%). There were 2 365 cases of PTB with delay in healthcare-seeking, accounting for 72.04%.@* Conclusions @#The incidence of PTB in the elderly at ages of 65 years and older in Yangzhou City showed an overall downward trend from 2017 to 2021, peaked from April to July, and was higher in Guangling District, Hanjiang District and Jiangdu District. Males and farmers had higher risks of PTB.