Viral Factors Associated With the High Mortality Related to Human Infections With Clade 2.1 Influenza A/H5N1 Virus in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Since their emergence in Indonesia in 2005, 200 human infections with clade 2.1 highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 virus have been reported, associated with exceptionally high mortality (84%) compared to regions affected by other genetic clades of this virus. To provide potential clues towards understanding this high mortality, detailed clinical virological analyses were performed in specimens from 180 H5N1 patients, representing 90% of all Indonesian patients and 20% of reported H5N1-infected patients globally. METHODS: H5N1 RNA was quantified in available upper- and lower-respiratory tract specimens as well as fecal and blood samples from 180 patients with confirmed infection between 2005 and 2017. Mutations in the neuraminidase and M2 genes that confer resistance to oseltamivir and adamantanes were assessed. Fatal and nonfatal cases were compared. RESULTS: High viral RNA loads in nasal and pharyngeal specimens were associated with fatal outcome. Mortality increased over time during the study period, which correlated with increasing viral RNA loads on admission. Furthermore, the prevalence of amantadine resistance-conferring M2 mutations increased over time, and viral loads were higher in patients infected with viruses that harbored these mutations. Compared to observations from other regions, viral RNA was detected more frequently in feces (80%) and particularly in blood (85%), and antiviral responses to oseltamivir appeared less pronounced. CONCLUSIONS: These observations confirm the association of viral load with outcome of human H5N1 infections and suggest potential differences in virulence and antiviral responses to oseltamivir that may explain the exceptionally high mortality related to clade 2.1 H5N1 infections in Indonesia.

The Associations Between Physical Activity and Mental Health Problems in Middle-aged Indonesians.

Objectives: Mental health issues have become a growing concern worldwide. Research has shown that regular physical activity can positively affect mental health. This study investigated the associations between physical activity and mental health problems in middle-aged Indonesians. Methods: The study utilized data from the 2018 Indonesian Basic Health Research Survey and used a cross-sectional approach. The participants included individuals aged 40-60 years who completed the 20-question Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). A logistic regression was performed to analyze a sample of 263,930 data points. Results: Nearly 10.4% of the participants suffered from mental health issues. Notably, among those who did not engage in moderate and vigorous physical activity, a sign of mental health problems was found in 12.5% of participants. Those who met World Health Organization standards for physical activity were less likely to experience mental health problems (10.1%). This study found a significant association between physical activity and mental health. After adjusting for smoking, alcohol consumption, non-communicable diseases, and sociodemographic variables like age, sex, education, occupation, marital status, and residence, the connection between physical activity and mental health became even stronger (adjusted odds ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 0.85; p<0.001). Conclusions: Regular physical activity has been shown to affect mental health positively. Therefore, it is important to improve health education and efforts to raise awareness among middle-aged Indonesians about the importance of physical activity in maintaining good mental health.

Number of comorbidities and the risk of delay in seeking treatment for coronary heart disease: a longitudinal study in Bogor City, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of patient comorbidities and the delays in seeking treatment for coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: This longitudinal study utilized secondary data from the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor (NCDRF) cohort study conducted in Bogor City. Individuals who participated in the NCDRF cohort study and were diagnosed with CHD within the 6-year study period met the inclusion criteria. Respondents who were not continuously monitored up to the 6th year were excluded. The final sample included data from respondents with CHD who participated in the NCDRF cohort study and were monitored for the full 6-year duration. The final logistic regression analysis was conducted on data collected from 812 participants. RESULTS: Among the participants with CHD, 702 out of 812 exhibited a delay in seeking treatment. The risk of a delay in seeking treatment was significantly higher among individuals without comorbidities, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.735-7.036; p<0.001). Among those with a single comorbidity, the risk of delay in seeking treatment was still notable (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.259-5.418; p=0.010) when compared to those with 2 or more comorbidities. These odds were adjusted for age, sex, education level, and health insurance status. CONCLUSION: The proportion of patients with CHD who delayed seeking treatment was high, particularly among individuals with no comorbidities. Low levels of comorbidity also appeared to correlate with a greater tendency to delay in seeking treatment.

The risk associated with psychiatric disturbances in patients with diabetes in Indonesia (2018): a cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: The global prevalence of psychiatric disturbances is rising, detrimentally affecting the quality of care and treatment outcomes for individuals, particularly those with diabetes.This study investigated the association of risk factors for psychiatric disturbances among productive-age patients with diabetes (ages 30-59 years), considering sociodemographic characteristics and co-existing diseases. The risk factors considered included sociodemographic factors (e.g., residence, age, sex, marital status, education, and occupation) and co-existing diseases (e.g., hypertension, heart disease, stroke, renal failure, rheumatism, asthma, and cancer). METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2018 Indonesian National Health Survey (Riskesdas). The study population comprised respondents aged between 30 and 59 years who had diabetes and had completed the 20-question self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20). After the exclusion of incomplete SRQ-20 data, the sample included 8,917 respondents. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Approximately 18.29% of individuals with diabetes displayed symptoms indicative of psychiatric disturbances. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors such as age, sex, education level, occupation, marital status, and place of residence, patients with diabetes who had co-existing conditions such as hypertension, heart diseases, rheumatic disorders, asthma, or cancer had a higher risk for developing psychiatric disturbances than those with diabetes alone (adjusted odds ratio, 6.67; 95% confidence interval, 4.481-9.928; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The elevated risk of psychiatric disturbances among patients with diabetes who had comorbidities underscores the importance of addressing mental health issues in the management of diabetes, especially in patients with concurrent disease conditions.

Nonadherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment, reasons and associated factors among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in the communities in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's major public health problem. We assessed the proportion, reasons, and associated factors for anti-TB treatment nonadherence in the communities in Indonesia. METHODS: This national coverage cross-sectional survey was conducted from 2013 to 2014 with stratified multi-stage cluster sampling. Based on the region and rural-urban location. The 156 clusters were distributed in 136 districts/cities throughout 33 provinces, divided into three areas. An eligible population of age ≥15 was interviewed to find TB symptoms and screened with a thorax x-ray. Those whose filtered result detected positive followed an assessment of Sputum microscopy, LJ culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF. Census officers asked all participants about their history of TB and their treatment-defined Nonadherence as discontinuation of anti-tuberculosis treatment for <6 months. Data were analyzed using STATA 14.0 (College Station, TX, USA). RESULTS: Nonadherence to anti-TB treatment proportion was 27.24%. Multivariate analysis identified behavioral factors significantly associated with anti-TB treatment nonadherence, such as smoking (OR = 1.78, 95% CI (1.47-2.16)); place of first treatment received: government hospital (OR = 1.45, 95% CI:1.06-1.99); private hospital (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.38-2.72); private practitioner (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.56-3.23); socio-demographic and TB status included region: Sumatera (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05-1.98); other areas (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.30-2.61); low level of education (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.27-2.03); and current TB positive status (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.26-3.73). CONCLUSIONS: Nonadherence to anti-TB drugs was highly related to the personal perception of the respondents, despite smoking, current TB status, a place for the first treatment, education, and region. The position of the first TB treatment at the private practitioner was significantly associated with the risk of Nonadherence to treatment.

Towards mutual trust, transparency and equity in virus sharing mechanism: the avian influenza case of Indonesia.

INTRODUCTION: As the country hardest hit by avian influenza, both in poultry and in human, Indonesia's decision to withhold samples of avian influenza virus A (H5N1) has fired up a global controversy. The objective of this paper is to describe the position taken by Indonesia in the events leading to the decision and in those conducted to resolve the situation. METHODS: The sources for this paper are the Indonesian human influenza A(H5N1) case reports and study results, summaries, minutes and reports of national and international meetings of virus sharing, and other related Indonesian and WHO documents. RESULTS: The International Health Regulations 2005 have been applied in different ways based on different interpretations. While one party insists on the importance of free, non-conditional, virus sharing for risk assessment and risk response, Indonesia--as supported by most of the developing countries--stresses on the more basic principles such as sovereignty of a country over its biological materials, transparency of the global system, and equity between developed and developing nations. CONCLUSIONS: This event demonstrates the unresolved imbalance between the affluent high-tech countries and the poor agriculture-based countries. Regional, global and in-country meetings must continue to be conducted to find solutions acceptable to all.

Epidemiology of cases of H5N1 virus infection in Indonesia, July 2005-June 2006.

BACKGROUND: Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus was detected in domestic poultry in Indonesia beginning in 2003 and is now widespread among backyard poultry flocks in many provinces. The first human case of H5N1 virus infection in Indonesia was identified in July 2005. METHODS: Respiratory specimens were collected from persons with suspected H5N1 virus infection and were tested by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and viral culture. Serum samples were tested by a modified hemagglutinin inhibition antibody and/or microneutralization assay. Epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical data were collected through interviews and medical records review. Close contacts of persons with confirmed H5N1 virus infection were investigated. RESULTS: From July 2005 through June 2006, 54 cases of H5N1 virus infection were identified, with a case-fatality proportion of 76%. The median age was 18.5 years, and 57.4% of patients were male. More than one-third of cases occurred in 7 clusters of blood-related family members. Seventy-six percent of cases were associated with poultry contact, and the source of H5N1 virus infection was not identified in 24% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Sporadic and family clusters of cases of H5N1 virus infection, with a high case-fatality proportion, occurred throughout Indonesia during 2005-2006. Extensive efforts are needed to reduce human contact with sick and dead poultry to prevent additional cases of H5N1 virus infection.