Studying the Impact of European Union Regulatory Interventions for Minimising Risks From Medicines: Lessons Learnt and Recommendations.

PURPOSE: The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) launched a strategy to examine the public health impact of major regulatory interventions aimed at minimising risks of medicinal products. We conducted a lessons learnt analysis of impact studies completed between 2015 and 2023. METHODS: We surveyed PRAC Sponsors and (Co-)Rapporteurs involved in the evaluation of 12 impact studies (10 commissioned by EMA and 2 conducted collaboratively by Member States) to explore how these support regulatory decision-making. Questions covered achievement of study objectives, risk minimisation effectiveness, added value for regulatory decision-making, and recommendations for future impact studies. Themes were generated using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Survey responses from 15 PRAC Sponsors and (Co-)Rapporteurs from 10 European Union Member States were included in the analysis. Among four cross-sectional surveys and eight drug utilisation studies, 50% achieved all objectives, the other studies partially due to limitations. Two studies concluded that risk minimisation measures were overall effective, two were effective with variation across countries, two were partially effective and four studies showed limited effectiveness. Two studies were deemed inconclusive due to limitations. The reasons for the limited effectiveness of risk minimisation may be explored using mixed-method approaches. Assessment of study feasibility and a priori discussion of effectiveness measurements is important. CONCLUSION: Despite limitations, impact research adds value to regulatory decision-making by addressing knowledge gaps and providing additional information on unintended consequences of regulatory interventions. Our recommendations will help to improve planning, conducting and interpretating future impact studies.

The projected impact of the inflation reduction act's climate provisions on cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes.

Onjective: Climate change and environmental pollution have known health effects. The recently introduced inflation reduction act (IRA) by the United States government includes funding initiatives to curb climate change, and reduce environmental pollution, in line with the nationally determined contribution (NDC) plan (40-50 % reduction in greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions by 2030, as compared with 2005). The projected cardiovascular health benefits of the IRA driven climate actions to achieve the NDC goals are not known. Methods: We used the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), a simulation algorithm based on systems dynamics modelling estimating the impact of various energy policies, to model the impact of achieving NDC targets in the United States on health outcomes by 2050. We further investigated race-specific impact on mortality (absolute and relative) by 2050.We estimated the projected reduction in six adverse health outcomes between 2022 and 2050: asthma attacks, non-fatal heart attacks, hospital admissions, respiratory symptoms and bronchitis, lost workdays, and deaths. Results: Achievement of NDC targets by 2050 will result in 987,415 avoided asthma attacks, 41,565 avoided nonfatal heart attacks, 18,993 avoided hospital admissions, 1,493,010 avoided respiratory symptoms and bronchitis, 3,317,250 avoided lost workdays, and 32,659 avoided deaths (22,839 among white individuals, 4993 among Black individuals, 2801 among Asian individuals, and 2026 among other/multirace individuals). By 2050, minority racial groups had higher relative change in avoided deaths (white -0.74 %, Black -1.01 %, Asian -1.24 %, and other/multirace -1.75 %). Similarly, Hispanics/latinos higher relative reductions in deaths (-1.4 %) compared with non-Hispanic/Latinos (-0.7 %) by 2050. Conclusion: The IRA facilitated achievement of NDC GHG reduction goals by 2050 would result in substantial number of avoided adverse health outcomes and death. Racial and ethnic minorities are expected to have the largest relative reductions in deaths by 2050. The current report underscores the importance of continued climate action investment irrespective of political differences. The appreciation of this aspect of the IRA may be more important to overall preservation of health, beyond the reduction in medication costs.

Reading for life-long health.

There is a strong, positive relationship between childhood literacy and physical and mental health outcomes in adulthood. Through primary care-based literacy interventions, pediatricians reach children and their families long before they enter traditional education venues. In so doing, pediatricians play a key role in children's school readiness and in turn health outcomes. The current state of childhood literacy in United States defines an increasingly urgent platform for the healthcare profession generally, and pediatricians specifically, to embrace. Through reviewing the existing literature on the impact of childhood literacy on physical, mental, and social-emotional health outcomes, we hope to highlight the need for increased collaboration between the education and medical fields to further promote the literacy interventions in pediatric healthcare settings.

Unmet needs for long-term services and supports and associations with health outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The availability of population-level data on unmet needs for long-term services and supports (LTSS) is limited at state and national levels. Data on unmet LTSS needs can improve our understanding of disparities and relationships with health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: 1) Explore differences in unmet LTSS needs by socio-demographic characteristics, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, metropolitan status, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status; and 2) Examine associations between unmet LTSS needs and health/preventative healthcare outcomes. METHODS: We used the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) core survey and state-added LTSS questions to analyze a sample of adults with LTSS needs in Texas (N = 1232). We compared socio-demographic characteristics between adults with and without unmet LTSS needs. We conducted modified-Poisson regressions to estimate unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (with 95 % confidence intervals) for each health/preventative healthcare outcome among adults with unmet LTSS needs. Health outcomes included health status, healthy days-physical health, healthy days-mental health, suicide ideation, and multiple chronic conditions. Preventative healthcare outcomes included routine check-up and flu vaccine. RESULTS: Among adults with LTSS needs, those with unmet LTSS needs were statistically significantly more likely to be younger (age<65), female, higher educational attainment, and non-straight sexual orientation. After controlling for socio-demographic variables, having unmet needs for LTSS was significantly associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes and suicide ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Improved data collection on unmet needs LTSS can assist policymakers, particularly at the state level in guiding reforms to reduce disparities in access to home and community-based services (HCBS) and improve health outcomes.

Hurricanes and Health: A Scoping Review of Recent Developments in Physical Injuries, Mental Health, and Emergency Interventions.

Hurricanes, as one of the most devastating natural disasters, significantly impact the public's health, causing both physical injuries and long-lasting mental health issues. Although substantial research has focused on hurricane-related injuries, this study aims to synthesize findings from recent literature, specifically evaluating the 10 most recent hurricanes, to identify research gaps and inform future studies. This scoping review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA-Scr guidelines, assessed studies from PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane databases, and Medline as of February 2024. Eligibility criteria focused on studies examining physical and mental health impacts, COVID-19 effects, and emergency medical services (EMS) interventions related to Hurricanes Ian, Nicholas, Ida, Zeta, Delta, Sally, Laura, Isaias, Hanna, and Dorian. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria. The studies were categorized into four themes: physical injuries and fatalities, mental health impacts, hurricane-COVID-19 interplay, and EMS interventions. Findings revealed varied mechanisms of injuries and deaths, significant mental health challenges, compounded crises due to COVID-19, and diverse EMS strategies, including AI utilization and strategic planning for medical care delivery. Addressing the social determinants of health and evaluating hurricane readiness initiatives were two gaps in the literature identified. Future research should focus on the mental health impacts and concurrent crisis challenges to develop comprehensive disaster management practices that enhance community resilience against future hurricanes and public health crises.

Digital Maturity as a Predictor of Quality and Safety Outcomes in US Hospitals: Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: This study demonstrates that digital maturity contributes to strengthened quality and safety performance outcomes in US hospitals. Advanced digital maturity is associated with more digitally enabled work environments with automated flow of data across information systems to enable clinicians and leaders to track quality and safety outcomes. This research illustrates that an advanced digitally enabled workforce is associated with strong safety leadership and culture and better patient health and safety outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the relationship between digital maturity and quality and safety outcomes in US hospitals. METHODS: The data sources were hospital safety letter grades as well as quality and safety scores on a continuous scale published by The Leapfrog Group. We used the digital maturity level (measured using the Electronic Medical Record Assessment Model [EMRAM]) of 1026 US hospitals. This was a cross-sectional, observational study. Logistic, linear, and Tweedie regression analyses were used to explore the relationships among The Leapfrog Group's Hospital Safety Grades, individual Leapfrog safety scores, and digital maturity levels classified as advanced or fully developed digital maturity (EMRAM levels 6 and 7) or underdeveloped maturity (EMRAM level 0). Digital maturity was a predictor while controlling for hospital characteristics including teaching status, urban or rural location, hospital size measured by number of beds, whether the hospital was a referral center, and type of hospital ownership as confounding variables. Hospitals were divided into the following 2 groups to compare safety and quality outcomes: hospitals that were digitally advanced and hospitals with underdeveloped digital maturity. Data from The Leapfrog Group's Hospital Safety Grades report published in spring 2019 were matched to the hospitals with completed EMRAM assessments in 2019. Hospital characteristics such as number of hospital beds were obtained from the CMS database. RESULTS: The results revealed that the odds of achieving a higher Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Grade was statistically significantly higher, by 3.25 times, for hospitals with advanced digital maturity (EMRAM maturity of 6 or 7; odds ratio 3.25, 95% CI 2.33-4.55). CONCLUSIONS: Hospitals with advanced digital maturity had statistically significantly reduced infection rates, reduced adverse events, and improved surgical safety outcomes. The study findings suggest a significant difference in quality and safety outcomes among hospitals with advanced digital maturity compared with hospitals with underdeveloped digital maturity.

Baseline engagement with healthy lifestyles and their associations with health outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis enrolled in an online multimodal lifestyle course.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Healthy lifestyle behaviour modification may improve health outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), but empirical evidence is needed to confirm prior study findings. We developed an online multimodal lifestyle intervention (Multiple Sclerosis Online Course) to examine the impact of lifestyle modification on health outcomes in pwMS via a randomized control trial (RCT). However, the present study specifically analyses baseline data to assess engagement with healthy lifestyles by RCT participants and cross-sectional associations with health outcomes. METHODS: Baseline engagement with six "healthy lifestyle behaviours" of the intervention course (high-quality, plant-based diet; ≥5000 IU/day vitamin D; omega-3 supplementation; ≥30 min physical activity 5 times/week; ≥30 min/week meditation; and nonsmoking) was examined. Associations between individual versus collective behaviours (individual behaviours summated) and health outcomes (quality of life [QoL]/fatigue/disability) were evaluated using multivariate modelling (linear/log-binomial/multinomial). RESULTS: At baseline, 33.7% and 30.0% of participants (n = 857) engaged in one or two healthy behaviours, respectively. In total, engagement with healthy lifestyles by participants was as follows: nonsmoking, 90.7%; omega-3 supplementation, 34.5%; vitamin D supplementation, 29.8%; physical activity, 29.4%; diet, 10.7%; and meditation, 10.5%. Individual behaviours (nonsmoking/physical activity/diet) were independently associated with better health outcomes. Engagement with multiple behaviours, especially diet and physical activity, was associated with better outcomes; engaging with ≥4 behaviours was associated with a 9.0-point higher mental QoL and a 9.5-point higher physical QoL, as well as 23% and 56% lower prevalence of fatigue and moderate disability, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline engagement with ≥4 healthy behaviours, including diet and physical activity, was associated with better health outcomes.

Benefits, implementation and sustainability of innovative paediatric models of care for children with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The evidence about the acceptability and effectiveness of innovative paediatric models of care for Type 1 diabetes is limited. To address this gap, we synthesised literature on implemented models of care, model components, outcomes, and determinants of implementation and sustainability. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Database searches of Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE and Scopus were conducted. Empirical studies focused on Type 1 diabetes paediatric models of care, published from 2010 to 2022 in English were included. RESULTS: Nineteen extant studies reported on models and their associations with health and psychosocial outcomes, patient engagement with healthcare, and healthcare costs. Thirteen studies described multidisciplinary teamwork, education and capacity building that supported self-care. Four studies involved shared decision making between providers and patients, and two discussed outreach support where technology was an enabler. Fourteen studies reported improvements in health outcomes (e.g. glycaemic control), mostly for models that included multidisciplinary teams, education, and capacity building (11 studies), outreach support or shared care (3 studies). Four studies reported improvements in quality of life, three reported increased satisfaction for patients and carers and, and one reported improved communication. Four of five studies describing shared care and decision-making reported improvements in quality of life, support and motivation. Outreach models reported no negative outcomes, however, accessing some models was limited by technological and cost barriers. Eight studies reported on model sustainability, but only half reported implementation determinants; none reported applying a theoretical framework to guide their research. CONCLUSION: Some health and psychosocial benefits were associated with newer models. To address knowledge gaps about implementation determinants and model sustainability, longitudinal studies are needed to inform future adoption of innovative models of care for children with Type 1 diabetes.

Trends in Avoidable Mortality in Kazakhstan From 2015 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: The health system performance assessment is a challenging process for decision-makers. In case of Kazakhstan's healthcare system, the calculation of avoidable mortality, which has been underutilized to date, could serve as an additional tool to prioritize areas for improvement. Therefore, the aim of the study is to analyse avoidable mortality in Kazakhstan. METHODS: The data was retrieved from the Bureau of National Statistics, Kazakhstan. It covers population data by age, mortality rates from disease groups based on the Joint OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)/Eurostat classification of preventable and treatable causes of mortality. The data spans from 2015 to 2021, categorized by gender and 5-year age groups (0, 1-4, 5-9, ..., 70-74). Standardization was performed using the 2015 OECD standard population. We used joinpoint regression analysis to calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC). RESULTS: From 2015 to 2019, the annual percentage change (APC) in avoidable mortality per 100 000 population was -3.8 (-5.7 to -1.8), and from 2019 to 2021 it increased by 17.6 (11.3 to 24.3). Males exhibited higher avoidable mortality rates compared to females. The preventable mortality rate was consistently higher than the treatable mortality. Both preventable and treatable mortality decreased from 2015 to 2019, with preventable mortality reaching 272.17 before rising to 379.23 per 100 000 population in 2021. Between 2015 and 2021, treatable mortality rates increased from 179.3 (176.93-181.67) to 205.45 (203.08-207.81) per 100 000 population. CONCLUSION: In Kazakhstan, the leading causes of avoidable mortality were circulatory diseases, respiratory diseases, and cancer. To achieve the goals of universal health coverage (UHC) and improve the overall population health, there is an urgent need to amend the healthcare system and reduce avoidable mortality. While it is important to acknowledge the influence of COVID-19 on these trends, our study's focus on avoidable mortality provides valuable insights that complement the understanding of pandemic-related effects.

Host and environmental factors shape upper airway microbiota and respiratory health across the human lifespan.

Our understanding of the normal variation in the upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiota across the human lifespan and how these relate to host, environment, and health is limited. We studied the microbiota of 3,104 saliva (<10 year-olds)/oropharynx (≥10 year-olds) and 2,485 nasopharynx samples of 3,160 Dutch individuals 0-87 years of age, participating in a cross-sectional population-wide study (PIENTER-3) using 16S-rRNA sequencing. The microbiota composition was strongly related to age, especially in the nasopharynx, with maturation occurring throughout childhood and adolescence. Clear niche- and age-specific associations were found between the microbiota composition and host/environmental factors and health outcomes. Among others, social interaction, sex, and season were associated with the nasopharyngeal microbial community. By contrast, the oral microbiota was more related to antibiotics, tobacco, and alcohol use. We present an atlas of the URT microbiota across the lifespan in association with environment and health, establishing a baseline for future research.

Beyond HIV Shame: Effects of Self-Forgiveness in Improving Mental Health in HIV-Positive Individuals in Poland.

Guided by the bio-psycho-socio-spiritual approach, this randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy of a self-forgiveness intervention among 60 HIV-positive individuals in Poland. Participants underwent a 90-min "Restore: The Journey Toward Self-Forgiveness" session, in contrast to a wait-list control group. The intervention significantly enhanced self-forgiveness, spirituality, mental well-being, and heart rate variability in response to a cognitive stressor (i.e., a mental arithmetic challenge). Significant effects were observed in both between-group and within-subject comparisons. These results support the incorporation of self-forgiveness into psychological rehabilitation programs for HIV to improve quality of life and health outcomes.

Exploring the Landscape of Social Epidemiological Research: A Scoping Review of AJE Publications.

As social epidemiology is a growing interdisciplinary field with a broad scope, this scoping review investigated its current landscape based on articles published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Among 1,194 extracted records between 2013 and 2022 submitted under the "social" category, we identified 178 accepted articles that had a social factor as a primary exposure. We categorized social exposures into nine major domains, and health outcomes into eight domains. Study design, population, and authorship were also analyzed. Our findings indicate that social epi studies reflect a range of social exposures, including socioeconomic position (37%), neighborhood and built environment (20%), race, racism, and discrimination (16%), and policy and social welfare (12%). The most frequently studied health outcomes were non-communicable diseases and chronic conditions (42%), mental health (14%), and maternal and child health outcomes (11%). Most studies had quantitative observational designs and focused on high-income countries, particularly the U.S. contexts. Most authors appeared only once, suggesting a range of voices as contributors. Findings suggest that, to enhance knowledge, social epi could benefit from a greater representation of social factors beyond tangible resources, a broader range of health outcomes, study designs and populations, and low- and middle-income countries.

Caregiving in long-term care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic magnified pre-existing socioeconomic, operational, and structural challenges in long-term care across the world. In Canada, the long-term care sector's dependence on caregivers as a supplement to care workers became apparent once restrictive visitation policies were employed. We conducted a scoping review to better understand the associations between caregiving and resident, formal and informal caregiver health in long-term care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, AgeLine, Google Advanced, ArXiv, PROSPERO, and OSF. Pairs of independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts followed by a review of full texts. Studies were included if they reported biological, psychological, or social health outcomes associated with caregiving (or lack thereof). RESULTS: After screening and reviewing 252 records identified by the search strategy, a total of 20 full-text records were eligible and included in this review. According to our results, research on caregiving increased during the pandemic, and researchers noted restrictive visitation policies had an adverse impact on health outcomes for residents and formal and informal caregivers. In comparison, caregiving in long-term care prior to the pandemic, and once visitation policies became less restrictive, led to mostly beneficial health outcomes. CONCLUSION: Caregiver interventions, for the most part, appear to promote better health outcomes for long-term care residents and formal and informal caregivers. Suggestions to better support caregiving in long-term care settings are offered.

Charting Health Challenges for Digital Preventive Interventions Among Adult Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: National Long-Term Follow-Up Survey of Self-Rated Health Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in childhood, but the prognosis has remarkably improved over the last 50 years in high-income countries, and thus, there is a focus on long-term health outcomes following survival and how to best provide health care support to adult long-term survivors of childhood ALL to prevent and handle potential health problems. Digital health interventions are promising to deliver feasible health promotion and prevention programs. This is particularly relevant for ensuring long-term follow-up in cases where continuous contact with oncology care may be disrupted. Moreover, these interventions are beneficial in reaching geographically dispersed target groups and overcoming the time constraints of everyday life that often hinder participation in such programs. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to fill the gaps in existing research on adult long-term survivors of childhood ALL and provide formative data that can inform the development of formalized follow-up services designed to meet the needs of these survivors in ways that align with their preferences for digital health interventions. METHODS: In this cross-sectional national study, adult survivors (aged ≥18 years) of childhood ALL for over 10 years after diagnosis were compared to their siblings in terms of mental and physical health-related factors, including sleep, stress, anxiety, and depression (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 [DASS-21]); several dimensions of fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory 20 [MFI-20]); work ability (Work Ability Index); chronic pain; and prevalences of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, headache or migraine, and rheumatic disease. RESULTS: Overall, 426 of 855 eligible ALL survivors responded (mean age 30.9, SD 7.7 years), and they participated at an average of 24 (SD 6.9) years after ALL diagnosis. Siblings (n=135; mean age 31.5, SD 7.7 years) acted as controls. Sleep quality, sleep quantity, and mean work ability scores were significantly lower, and physical fatigue, reduced motivation, and reduced activity scores were higher in ALL survivors than in siblings. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of BMI and prevalence of chronic pain, depression, anxiety, or stress. Physical and psychological complications were more frequent among adult ALL survivors who had received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) than among those who had not received HSCT. CONCLUSIONS: Our nationwide cross-sectional study addressed the scarcity of knowledge regarding the self-reported health outcomes of adult long-term survivors of childhood ALL. We highlighted significant disparities within this population and emphasized the potential of comprehensive digital interventions that target vitality, sleep quality, fatigue, and psychosocial well-being to enhance well-being and bolster the capacity for managing chronic health conditions in this target group. Such an intervention would align with the needs of this target group, which is a prerequisite for successfully incorporating technology into the daily lives of survivors of childhood ALL.

Facilitating Access to Care for Children With Complex Health Needs Through Low-Barrier Place-Based Intake Processes: Lessons From the RICHER Social Pediatric Model.

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Exposure to adverse social determinants of health (SDoH) in childhood is associated with poorer long-term health outcomes. Within structurally marginalized populations, there are disproportionately high rates of developmentally vulnerable children. The RICHER (Responsive, Intersectoral, Child and Community Health, Education and Research) social pediatric model was designed to increase access to care in marginalized neighborhoods. The purpose of this study was to describe the children and youth engaged with the RICHER model of service and characterize the needs of the population. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on children and youth who accessed primary care services through the program between January 1, 2018 and April 30, 2021. Basic descriptive data analysis was done using Stata v15.1. RESULTS: A total of 210 charts were reviewed. The mean age in years at initial assessment was 6.32. Patients most commonly identified their race/ethnicity as Indigenous (33%) and 15% were recent newcomers to Canada. Evidence of at least 1 adverse SDoH was noted in 41% of charts; the most common included material poverty (34%), food insecurity (11%), and child welfare involvement (20%). The median number of diagnoses per patient was 4. The most frequently documented diagnoses were neurodevelopmental disorders (50%) including developmental delay (39%), ADHD (32%), and learning disability (26%). The program referred 72% of patients to general pediatricians and/or other subspecialists; 34% were referred for tertiary neuropsychological assessments and 35% for mental health services. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that this low-barrier, place-based primary care RICHER model was able to reach a medically, developmentally, and socially complex population living in disenfranchised urban neighborhoods. Half of the patients identified in our review had neurodevelopmental concerns and a third had mental health concerns, in contrast to an estimated 17% prevalence for mental health, behavioral, or developmental disorders in North American general pediatric aged populations. This highlights the impact adverse SDoH can have on child health and the importance of working with community partners to identify developmentally vulnerable children and support place-based programs in connecting with children who may be missed, overlooked, or disadvantaged through traditional models of care.

The Health Impacts of Better Access to Axicabtagene Ciloleucel: The Case of Spain.

In this study, the health impacts of improving access to treatment with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) was assessed in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after ≥2 lines of therapy in Spain. A partitioned survival mixture cure model was used to estimate the lifetime accumulated life years gained (LYG) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) per patient treated with axi-cel versus chemotherapy. Efficacy data were extracted from the ZUMA-1 trial for axi-cel and from the SCHOLAR-1 study for chemotherapy. In the base case, the incremental outcomes of axi-cel versus chemotherapy were evaluated in a cohort of 187 patients treated with CAR T-cell therapies, as reported by the "Spanish National Health System Plan for Advanced Therapies", and in the alternative scenario in the full eligible population based on epidemiological estimates (n = 490). Taking those currently treated with axi-cel, compared with chemotherapy, axi-cel provided an additional 1341 LYGs and 1053 QALYs. However, when all eligible patients (n = 490) were treated, axi-cel provided an additional 3515 LYs and 2759 QALYs. Therefore, if all eligible patients were treated with axi-cel rather than those currently treated as per the registry (n = 187), there would have been an additional 303 patients treated, resulting in an additional 2173 LYGs and 1706 QALYs in total. The lack of access in Spain has led to a loss of a substantial number of LYGs and QALYs, and efforts should be made to improve access for all eligible patients.

Domestic and family violence and associated maternal and perinatal outcomes: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Domestic family violence (DFV) is a global health concern affecting one in three women worldwide. Women are vulnerable to DFV throughout their life; however, pregnancy introduces an increased risk of experiencing DFV for millions of women and birthing people. METHODS: Routinely collected data from two hospitals in one local health district in New South Wales, Australia, were examined to determine the prevalence of DFV from 2010 to 2019. Demographics and outcome factors were compared by a reported history of DFV. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess for predictors of DFV and to assess DFV as a predictor of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: One percent of women (538/52,469) experienced DFV in the past year. Women experiencing domestic violence were more likely to be younger and have previous children, and had higher Edinburgh Depression Scores. These women were more likely to experience stillbirth (1.5% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.005). Maternal age < 25 years, cigarette smoking, alcohol use in pregnancy, mental health issues, and place of birth were associated with a recent history of DFV after adjusting for confounders. Recent DFV was associated with preterm birth and mental health issues but was not associated with admission to the neonatal nursery, small-for-gestational-age birthweight, or caesarean section after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSION: There was a relationship between DFV and poorer health outcomes for both women and their babies. This study highlighted that stillbirth is high among the population of women who experience DFV when compared to women who do not experience DFV.

The Impact of Digital Health Solutions on Bridging the Health Care Gap in Rural Areas: A Scoping Review.

Digital health tools can improve health care access and outcomes for individuals with limited access to health care, particularly those residing in rural areas. This scoping review examines the existing literature on using digital tools in patients with limited access to health care in rural areas. It assesses their effectiveness in improving health outcomes. The review adopts a comprehensive search strategy to identify relevant studies from electronic databases, and the selected studies are analyzed descriptively. The findings highlight the advantages and barriers of digital health interventions in rural populations. The advantages include increased access to health care practitioners through teleconsultations, improved health care outcomes through remote monitoring, better disease management through mobile health applications and wearable devices, and enhanced access to specialized care and preventive programs. However, limited internet connectivity and a lack of familiarity with digital tools are barriers that must be addressed to ensure equitable access to digital health interventions in rural areas. Overall, digital tools improve health outcomes for individuals with limited health care access in rural areas.

To nap or not? Evidence from a meta-analysis of cohort studies of habitual daytime napping and health outcomes.

Habitual daytime napping is a common behavioral and lifestyle practice in particular countries and is often considered part of a normal daily routine. However, recent evidence suggests that the health effects of habitual daytime napping are controversial. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to March 9, 2024, to synthesize cohort studies of napping and health outcome risk. A total of 44 cohort studies with 1,864,274 subjects aged 20-86 years (mean age 56.4 years) were included. Overall, habitual napping increased the risk of several adverse health outcomes, including all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, and cancer, and decreased the risk of cognitive impairment and sarcopenia. Individuals with a napping duration of 30 min or longer exhibited a higher risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disease, whereas those with napping durations less than 30 min had no significant risks. No significant differences in napping and health risks were observed for napping frequency, percentage of nappers, sample size, sex, age, body mass index, follow-up years, or comorbidity status. These findings indicate that individuals with a long napping duration should consider shortening their daily nap duration to 30 min or less.

The Linburg-Comstock Anomaly: A Study on Prevalence and Effect on Various Strength Metrics.

BACKGROUND: The Linburg-Comstock (LC) anomaly is a common tendinous connection between the flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), most frequently to the FDP of the index finger. The purpose of this study was to obtain epidemiologic data on the LC anomaly in a healthy, ethnically diverse population and to study the effect of the LC anomaly on grip strength, tip pinch strength, key pinch strength, and chuck pinch strength. METHODS: We examined 500 healthy subjects (292 females and 208 males) bilaterally for the presence of the LC anomaly. Each subject had their grip strength, tip pinch strength, key pinch strength, and chuck pinch strength measured bilaterally using a dynamometer for grip strength and a pinch meter for all pinch strength measurements. RESULTS: The LC anomaly was present in 213 of the 500 subjects (43%). One hundred one subjects (47%) had a unilateral presentation, and 112 (53%) subjects had a bilateral presentation. The LC anomaly was associated with a weaker tip pinch strength. When examining the LC anomaly among different ethnic groups, the highest prevalence was found in the Hispanic (57%) population followed by Caucasian (50%), Asian (41%), and African American (31%) populations. CONCLUSIONS: The LC anomaly has different prevalence according to ethnicity, with a higher prevalence in the Hispanic and Caucasian populations and a lower overall prevalence in the African American populations. The LC anomaly can also result in weaker tip pinch strength.