Browsing by Author "Zivanovic Macuzic, Ivana (23570133700)"

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a major public health issue worldwide, but data on trends in prevalence in children in European countries are sparse. The aim of this study was to assess the trends in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 in the Central, Eastern, and Western European sub-regions from 1990 to 2019. Methods: In this study, a descriptive, observational epidemiological method was applied. In addition, an ecological study design was used. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess trends. Results: A total of 118 million (54 million males and 64 million females) prevalent cases of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 were reported in European countries in 1990–2019. More than half of all cases of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 in Europe were recorded in the Western European sub-region. The highest prevalence rates of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 were observed in the Eastern European sub-region, with the highest rates in both males and females recorded in Estonia (equally at about 15,000 per 100,000), followed by the Russian Federation (equally at about 12,000 per 100,000). Moreover, the lowest prevalence rates were reported in the Eastern European sub-region (equally at about 5000 per 100,000 in Romania and Latvia). A sex disparity in the prevalence and trends of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 was observed. A significantly increased trend in atopic dermatitis prevalence in children under 5 was recorded in the Eastern European sub-region from 1990 to 2019 (by +0.3% per year in males and by +0.1% per year in females). Conversely, in the Western and Central European sub-regions, trends in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 slightly decreased (about −0.1% per year). The Pearson coefficient showed a significant negative correlation between the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children under 5 and the Human Development Index in most countries in the Eastern European sub-region, while a significant positive correlation was reported between the prevalence and HDI in high-income countries in the Western European sub-region. Conclusions: High prevalence rates and mostly stable trends during the last three decades make atopic dermatitis still a major health issue in children under 5 in European countries. © 2023 by the authors.

Background: Human monkeypox was a neglected zoonotic disease considered endemic to rainforests of rural parts of Central and Western Africa, until a global outbreak in May 2022. Methods: This review describes the epidemiological characteristics of human monkeypox. Results: Since the first confirmed case in the United Kingdom on 13 May 2022, and up until 19 September, more than 62,000 cases of human monkeypox were reported in 104 countries in the world (among them 97 countries where the monkeypox virus was not endemic). Up to today, 20 persons have died in this global outbreak. This outbreak predominantly affects men self-identifying as gay or bisexual or other men who have sex with men, and for now, there is no sign of continuous transmission of the disease in other populations. Today, the monkeypox outbreak is increasing alarmingly in many countries and presents a new challenge and a large issue for public health worldwide. The World Health Organization declared the global monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 24 July 2022. Before this outbreak, health professionals in many countries had a knowledge gap and a lack of experience in the management of monkeypox. Conclusions: Advances in the comprehension of the epidemiology of human monkeypox are necessary for effective prevention and outbreak response. © 2022 by the authors.

Background: Human monkeypox was a neglected zoonotic disease considered endemic to rainforests of rural parts of Central and Western Africa, until a global outbreak in May 2022. Methods: This review describes the epidemiological characteristics of human monkeypox. Results: Since the first confirmed case in the United Kingdom on 13 May 2022, and up until 19 September, more than 62,000 cases of human monkeypox were reported in 104 countries in the world (among them 97 countries where the monkeypox virus was not endemic). Up to today, 20 persons have died in this global outbreak. This outbreak predominantly affects men self-identifying as gay or bisexual or other men who have sex with men, and for now, there is no sign of continuous transmission of the disease in other populations. Today, the monkeypox outbreak is increasing alarmingly in many countries and presents a new challenge and a large issue for public health worldwide. The World Health Organization declared the global monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 24 July 2022. Before this outbreak, health professionals in many countries had a knowledge gap and a lack of experience in the management of monkeypox. Conclusions: Advances in the comprehension of the epidemiology of human monkeypox are necessary for effective prevention and outbreak response. © 2022 by the authors.

Background and Objectives: Clostridioides difficile infection is a major public health issue, being among the main causes of mortality due to healthcare-associated diarrhea. This study aimed to assess the trends in mortality attributable to Clostridioides difficile infections in European countries over a period of 30 years. Materials and Methods: A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted, with the application of an ecological study design, to evaluate the trends in mortality due to Clostridioides difficile infection in the Central, Eastern, and Western European sub-regions from 1990 to 2019. The Global Burden of Disease study database was used. Trends were evaluated with the joinpoint regression analysis. Results: In both sexes, about 76% of all deaths attributable to Clostridioides difficile infections were recorded in the Western European sub-region in 2019. The age-standardized rates of the burden of Clostridioides difficile infection in 2019 were the highest in the Central European sub-region, followed by the Western European sub-region, while the lowest rates were observed in the Eastern European sub-region. A significantly increasing trend in mortality attributable to Clostridioides difficile infection from 1990 to 2019 was recorded both in males (by +2.1% per year) and females (by +2.8% per year). The burden of Clostridioides difficile infection showed increasing trends in most of the European countries, significantly correlating with the country’s development, according to the Human Development Index. Conclusions: The rising burden of Clostridioides difficile infection in European countries in the last few decades suggests a need for improving public health measures, with a focus both on the hospital setting and community. © 2024 by the authors.

[No abstract available]

[No abstract available]

Background and Objectives: Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias represent some of the leading public health concerns worldwide. This study aimed to assess the global burden of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias attributable to high fasting plasma glucose in the last decades. Materials and Methods: A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study data about deaths and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) were used. All figures were presented as age-standardized rates (ASRs). The average annual percent change (AAPC) was computed using the Joinpoint regression analysis. Also, age-period-cohort analysis was performed. Results: A total of 2 million deaths from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias were reported worldwide in 2021, whereby the total number deaths from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias attributable to high fasting plasma glucose was 290,032 (98,900 males and 191,132 females) in 2021. The highest ASRs of burden of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias attributable to high fasting plasma glucose were found in Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Qatar, and the United States of America, while the lowest ASRs were in Belarus and Mongolia. From 1990 to 2021, a significant increase (p < 0.001) was noted in ASRs of deaths and DALYs for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias attributable to high fasting plasma glucose. Looking at the GBD regions, the trends in ASRs for mortality and for DALYs of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias attributable to high fasting plasma glucose between 1990 and 2021 showed a growth 10-fold faster in High-income North America (AAPC = 2.0%, for both equally) and Central Asia (AAPC = 2.4% and AAPC = 2.5%, respectively) than in the region of High-income Asia Pacific (AAPC = 0.1% and AAPC = 0.2%, respectively). The relative risk of mortality and DALYs for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias attributable to high fasting plasma glucose demonstrated statistically significant (p < 0.0001) period and cohort effects, and net drift and local drifts. Conclusions: This study showed an increase in the global burden of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias attributable to high fasting plasma glucose in the last decades. Future successful entire-population strategies targeting high fasting plasma glucose may reduce the burden of a wide range of these diseases. © 2024 by the authors.