Where there are fumes, there may be lung cancer: a systematic review on the association between exposure to cooking fumes and the risk of lung cancer in never-smokers.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer in never-smokers (LCINS) is the seventh leading cause of cancer, and exposure to cooking fumes has recently emerged as a potential risk factor. This systematic review is the first to summarize and evaluate the relationship between exposure to cooking fumes and the risk of LCINS. METHODS: This study conducted an online literature search of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsychInfo databases. Inclusion criteria were original research articles published in English, that assessed the relationship between exposure to cooking fumes and the risk of lung cancer between 1 January 2012 and 6 December 2022, and that included never-smokers. RESULTS: Thirteen case-control studies and three prospective cohort studies, focusing mostly on women with LCINS, met the inclusion criteria. Seven case-control studies reported an association between exposure to cooking oil fumes and an increased risk of LCINS. Two case-control studies found that using a fume extractor was associated with a decreased risk of LCINS. In other case-control studies, coal use was linked to an increased risk of LCINS, and participants who did not use a ventilator in their kitchens had a higher risk for LCINS. Poor ventilation [Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.95] and poor ventilation in combination with coal use (AHR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.35, 3.05) were associated with an increased risk for LCINS in one prospective cohort study. CONCLUSION: The evidence reviewed underscores the need to develop culturally-tailored interventions that improve access to affordable and clean fuel through engaging relevant stakeholders.

Racial, Age, and Regional Disparities in Maternal Mortality in the USA, 1999-2020.

BACKGROUND: The health and well-being of mothers are essential for a thriving and prosperous society, yet maternal mortality remains a pressing public health problem in the USA. We aimed to examine the US trends in maternal mortality from 1999 to 2020 based on age, race/ethnicity, and census region. METHODS: Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research were used to identify maternal mortality cases. Temporal trends were analyzed using Joinpoint regression. Annual percentage changes, average annual percentage changes, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: The maternal mortality rate in the USA increased from 1999 to 2013, but has stabilized since then until 2020 (APC = - 0.1; 95% CI: - 7.4, 2.9). However, there have been recent increases among Hispanics at a rate of 2.8% per year (95% CI: 1.6, 4.0) from 1999 to 2020. The rates stabilized among non-Hispanic Whites (APC = - 0.7; 95% CI: - 8.1, 3.2) and non-Hispanic Blacks (APC = - 0.7; 95% CI: - 14.7, 3.0). Maternal mortality rates increased among women aged 15-24 years at a rate of 3.3% per year (95% CI: 2.4, 4.2) since 1999, among women aged 25-44 years at a rate of 22.5% per year (95% CI: 5.4, 34.7), and among women aged 35-44 years at a rate of 4% per year (95% CI: 2.7, 5.3). Regional disparities existed, with rising rates in the West at a rate of 13.0% per year (95% CI: 4.3, 38.4), and stable rates in the Northeast (APC = 0.7; 95% CI: - 3.4, 2.8), Midwest (APC = - 1.8; 95% CI: - 23.4, 4.2), and South (APC = - 1.7; 95% CI: - 7.5, 1.7). CONCLUSIONS: While maternal mortality rates in the USA have stabilized since 2013, our analysis reveals significant disparities by race, age, and region. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize efforts to improve maternal health outcomes across all population subgroups to achieve equitable maternal health outcomes for all women.

HIV mortality trends among older adults in the United States, 1999-2020.

BACKGROUND: Despite the progress made in managing HIV, the mortality trends among older adults in the US remains understudied. The lack of evidence in this demographic hampers the ability to implement evidence-based interventions. Our aim is to analyze the trends in HIV-related mortality among US citizens aged 65 years and above by demographic characteristics such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, and census region. METHODS: We abstracted national mortality data from the underlying cause of death files in the CDC WONDER database. The ICD-10 Codes- B20-B24 were used to identify HIV deaths among US older adults from 1999 to 2020. Trends in age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) were assessed using a five-year simple moving average and Joinpoint analysis. Results were expressed as annual percentage changes (APC), average annual percentage changes, and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2020, a total of 15,694 older adults died from HIV in the US (AAMR= 1.7 per 100,000; 95% CI: 1.6 - 1.7). Overall mortality trends increased at an annual rate of 1.5% (95% CI: 1.2, 1.8) from 1999 through 2020. The trends increased among Non-Hispanic Whites, stabilized among Non-Hispanic Blacks, and decreased among Hispanics from 1999 to 2020. Further, the trends increased consistently across categories of age (65 to 74 years; 75 to 84 years), sex, and census region. CONCLUSIONS: HIV mortality among older adults in the US has risen overall from 1999 to 2020, but with varying trends by race and ethnicity. This highlights the need for enhanced public health surveillance to better understand the scope of HIV mortality among older adults and identify high-risk demographic and regional subgroups for targeted interventions. Improving timely diagnosis, managing comorbidities, and stigma surrounding HIV among older adults are crucial to reducing HIV mortality in this population.