Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health最新文献

{"title":"Correction: Prevalence and Trends of Not Receiving a Dose of DPT-Containing Vaccine Among Children 12-35 Months: An Analysis of 81 Low- And Middle-Income Countries.","authors":"Omar Karlsson, Sunil Rajpal, Mira Johri, Rockli Kim, S V Subramanian","doi":"10.1007/s44197-025-00389-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-025-00389-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"15 1","pages":"52"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11968644/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology and Mortality Risk of Severe Viral Pneumonia During the Pre-Pandemic, COVID-19 Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Era: A Retrospective Study of Hospitalized Children in ShenZhen, China Between 2017 and 2023.","authors":"Huabao Chen, Lidan Zhang, Xing Nie, Li Wang, Liangliang Kang, Yucong Zhang, Zhuanggui Chen, Yating Li, Yuhui Wu","doi":"10.1007/s44197-025-00398-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-025-00398-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to investigate the spectrum of viruses leading to severe viral pneumonia (SVP) and the associated risk factors for mortality among pediatric patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Taking the outbreak and end of the COVID-19 pandemic as a aboundary, The pre-pandemic period of COVID-19 spans from 01/2017 to 12/2019, the pandemic period from 01/2020 to 12/2021, and the post-pandemic period from 01/2022 to 12/2023. Patients were subsequently stratified into survivor and non-survivor groups based on clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1007 patients (median age 1.42 years, range 0.58-4.00; male: female ratio 1.7:1) diagnosed with SVP. Cases were stratified into pre-pandemic (n = 419, 41.6%), pandemic (n = 272, 27.0%), and post-pandemic (n = 316, 31.4%) periods. Viral predominance varied across phases: Pre-pandemic: Influenza A (IVA, 37.0% [155/419]), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV, 29.8%), adenovirus (19.8%), and influenza B (15.5%). Pandemic phase: Human rhinovirus (HRV, 40.1% [109/272]), RSV (33.1%), parainfluenza viruses (11.4%), and bocavirus (HBoV, 10.7%). Post-pandemic: HRV (24.4% [77/316]), RSV (22.8%), HBoV (14.2%), and IVA (13.6%). Comparative analysis revealed significant intergroup differences in the proportion of patients aged < 3 years, primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs), and sepsis between pure viral infection deaths and coinfection-associated fatalities among SVP cases. Logistic regression identified eight independent mortality predictors: acute leukemia, other malignant tumors, PIDs, moderate-to-severe underweight, rhabdomyolysis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), infection-related encephalopathy, and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS). The prediction model demonstrated robust discriminative capacity for SVP mortality: sensitivity 73.8%, specificity 90.2%, and AUC 0.888 (95%CI 0.838-0.938) via ROC curve analysis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the landscape of respiratory viruses causing SVP in children. The presence of underlying health conditions, particularly acute leukemia, other malignancies, and immunodeficiency, significantly increases the risk of death in children with viral pneumonia. The risk prediction model offers a reliable tool for clinical practice to predict mortality in these patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"15 1","pages":"53"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11968590/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the Impact of Haulage Drivers in Uganda's COVID-19 Delta Wave.","authors":"Adrian Muwonge, Paul R Bessell, Mark Barend de Clare Bronsvoort, Ibrahim Mugerwa, Erisa Mwaka, Emmanuel Ssebaggala, Bryan Aidan Wee, Aggelos Kiayias, Christine Mbabazi Mpyangu, Moses Lutakome Joloba","doi":"10.1007/s44197-025-00387-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-025-00387-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Haulage truck drivers connect distant communities, posing potential disease introduction risks. However, interventions must balance public health protection, economic continuity, and individual rights. This study examines the role of haulage in disease introduction and onward spread in Uganda during the Delta wave of COVID-19.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using 625,422 national surveillance records, we fitted a susceptible-infectious-recovered model to assess whether haulage drivers were a \"core-risk group.\" Although they accounted for only 0.036% of COVID-19 cases, border districts associated with haulage registered 12.02% more cases than inland districts, suggesting a role in disease introduction. The risk varied by location, with Tororo experiencing a higher burden than Amuru and Kyotera, which border South Sudan and Tanzania, respectively. Mandatory COVID-19 testing and result waiting at the Malaba border crossing increased disease risk in Tororo by up to 6%. While haulage-targeted interventions reduced cases in border districts, they had minimal impact on inland districts, indicating a limited role in onward spread. Our findings also suggest that integrating haulage-specific measures with vaccination would further reduce case-load.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggest that truck drivers were a transient core risk group with limited impact on onward spread. However, uncertainties remain regarding the extent of their role, and interventions like testing and result waiting at border crossings may have inadvertently heightened risk. Pandemic preparedness strategies should carefully assess risks in key sectors like supply chains to balance public safety with individual rights.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"15 1","pages":"54"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11968599/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Need for a Travel Medicine Diploma in Saudi Arabia: Addressing National and Global Health Priorities.","authors":"Haytham A Sheerah, Nora A Brazanji, Fahad A Al-Zahrani, Nouf Bin Muammar, Abdulatif M AlBassam, Mansour A Alfaya, Abdulmajeed Aldosaimani, Najim Z Alshahrani, Majed Alosaimi, Sultan Almaziad, Mohammed A AlZunitan, Fayssal M Farahat, Majid M Alshamrani","doi":"10.1007/s44197-025-00394-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-025-00394-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Travel medicine is a rapidly evolving field essential for addressing the health needs of travelers and managing the public health challenges associated with globalization, mass gatherings, and emerging infectious diseases. In Saudi Arabia, the significance of travel medicine is heightened by its unique status as a destination for millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims annually and its growing role as a global tourism and entertainment hub. However, the country faces a critical shortage of specialists to address travel-related health issues. This article highlights the need to establish a Travel Medicine Diploma in Saudi Arabia. The proposed program would equip healthcare workers with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills, including epidemiology, vaccination strategies, risk assessment, and post-travel care. Expected benefits include improved public health preparedness, enhanced healthcare services for travelers, and strengthened global health diplomacy. Despite professional hesitancy and funding limitations, these can be addressed through financial incentives, partnerships, and integrating travel medicine into medical education. By investing in this initiative, Saudi Arabia can not only meet its domestic healthcare needs but also position itself as a regional leader in travel medicine, contributing to the health and safety of travelers worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"15 1","pages":"51"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11968591/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media: Systematic Review To Estimate Global Prevalence.","authors":"Anjola Onifade, Henriette Wa Katolo, Siddharth Mookerjee, Mahmood F Bhutta","doi":"10.1007/s44197-025-00396-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-025-00396-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is a disorder characterised by a perforation of the tympanic membrane leading to ear discharge and hearing loss, a disability causing marginalisation in employment, education, social stigma, and reduced wellbeing and quality of life. Previous studies on the global epidemiology of this condition, despite methodological limitations, have estimated global prevalence at 200 million.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, published literature was systematically reviewed across Ovid and Embase databases, with original community-based studies on CSOM published from 2004 to March 19th, 2025 extracted for final consideration on quality and relevance. Studies focusing on hospital populations were excluded as they seem more likely to represent a biased group of severe cases. Published articles were analysed for data on CSOM prevalence and associated risk factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 5,394 articles, 29 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria. Included studies predominantly originated from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and focused on paediatric populations. A pooled average estimate revealed a CSOM global prevalence of 3.8% of the global population, or 297 million people, 85% (252 million) of which in LMICs. 64 million (21.5%) of those affected had bilateral disease, and 184 million (62%) had disabling hearing loss defined as > 25-30 dB. Hearing impairment was reported in only four studies, which affected 50-78% of participants. Frequency of ear discharge was reported in only one study.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study identifies a significant global burden of CSOM, disproportionately affecting LMICs, and signals to healthcare providers and policymakers a pressing need for initiatives to prevent and manage this disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"15 1","pages":"55"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11968643/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Magnitude of Health Care Associated Infections and its Clinical Predictors in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Alemu Gedefie, Fanos Yeshanew Ayele, Fekadeselassie Belege Getaneh, Aznamariyam Ayres, Amare Muche, Asressie Molla, Shambel Wodajo","doi":"10.1007/s44197-025-00397-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-025-00397-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Health care-acquired infections (HCAIs) are the growing global public health problems facing today requiring an immediate collaborative action of stockholders to be prevented and controlled. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the magnitude and clinical related factors of HCAIs in Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Articles were extensively searched in bibliographic databases and grey literatures using entry terms or phrases. Studies meeting eligibility criteria was extracted in Ms excel and exported in to STATA version 17 software for statistical analysis. A random-effect model was used to compute the pooled magnitude of HCAIs using meta-prop. The heterogeneity was quantified by using the I² value. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test. Sensitivity analysis, meta-regression and subgroup analysis were computed.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>Of the 1707 studies identified, 33 studies were selected for meta-analysis of magnitude of HCAIs. The overall pooled prevalence of HCAIs in Ethiopia was 37% (95% CI: 27.0-47.0%). The predominant bacterial aetiologies were E. coli. There was no single study effect and publication bias. Diabetes mellitus, comorbidities, contaminated wound, history of UTI and history of admission in ICU were statistically significant clinical predictors of HCAIs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>the pooled prevalence of HCAIs have alarmingly increased which underscores the importance of implementation of personalized infection prevention and control approach which identifies patients at risk of HCAIs from the point of admission maximizes the potential for prevention of HCAIs.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"15 1","pages":"50"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11958885/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143752988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pediatric Trauma Mortality in Jerusalem's Israeli Healthcare System: A Retrospective Analysis.","authors":"Rebecca Brooks, Daniel Marcus, Hagay Stern, David Rekhtman, Saar Hashavya, Shaden Salameh, Giora Weiser, Uri Pollak, Jacques Braun, Itai Shavit","doi":"10.1007/s44197-025-00391-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-025-00391-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Jerusalem's intricate geopolitical environment, ethnic diversity, and divided healthcare systems between its East and West regions may impact pediatric trauma mortality. This study investigated pediatric trauma mortality rates in Jerusalem's Israeli healthcare system. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on Jerusalem residents under 18 who died from trauma in the Emergency Department (ED) or within a week of hospital admission (ED/7-day) between January 2013, and December 2023. Jerusalem's overall population data were obtained from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. During the study period, 121 pediatric trauma patients had ED/7-day death, 82 were Jerusalem residents. The annual mortality incidence among the city population was 2.1/100,000. Twenty-three children were Jews and 59 were East Jerusalem Arabs. The trauma mortality Incidence Rate Ratio for Arab versus Jewish children was 3.6 (95% CI 2.2-5.9). Death was declared upon ED arrival or within one hour in 52% (95% CI 30.6-73.1%) and 64% (95% CI 50.9-76.4%) of the Jewish and Arab children, respectively. In 2/23 [8.7% (95% CI 1.0-28.0%)] Jews, and 2/59 [3.4% (95% CI 0.4-11.7%)] Arabs, death occurred due to an injury related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 13/59 [22% (95% CI 12.3-34.7%)] of the Arabs, resuscitation was initiated in a community clinic before the arrival of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and in 5/59 [8.5% (95% CI 2.8-18.7%)] the child was brought to the hospital by caregivers rather than by EMS. This study provides evidence that Jerusalem's child trauma death rate in Jerusalem's Israeli healthcare system is comparable to high-income European countries. However, East Jerusalem Arab children are more vulnerable to trauma-related deaths than Jewish children. These results provide a basis for targeted trauma prevention programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"15 1","pages":"49"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11937459/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143710086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing Health Through Sustainable Development Goals-Saudi Arabia's Mid-Journey Progress and Insights.","authors":"Abdullah M Alarifi, Najim Z Alshahrani, Hani Jokhdar, Abdullah M Asiri","doi":"10.1007/s44197-025-00385-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-025-00385-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A critical component of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 reform agenda is its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which is dedicated to the promotion of health and well-being for all. This narrative review offers a mid-term assessment of Saudi Arabia's progress in attaining these objectives, with a particular emphasis on the public health initiatives and comprehensive healthcare reforms that have been implemented as part of this vision. The Kingdom has accomplished substantial reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality rates, with skilled birth attendance reaching nearly universal levels. Saudi Arabia is a regional leader in the field of infectious diseases, having achieved the 95-95-95 HIV targets and significantly reduced the incidences of tuberculosis and malaria. Additionally, the rates of premature mortality from conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases have decreased as a result of efforts to combat non-communicable diseases. Mental health services have been substantially expanded, which has resulted in one of the lowest suicide rates reported worldwide. Substantial investments have collectively improved the universality and quality of healthcare services in health infrastructure, such as the expansion of primary healthcare centers and the integration of digital health solutions, which have supported these health achievements. Saudi Arabia continues to confront persistent obstacles, including the management of the increase in non-communicable diseases, the mitigation of environmental health risks, and the reconciliation of healthcare access disparities, despite these accomplishments. The review recommends that the social determinants of health be addressed through a sustained commitment to cross-sectoral collaboration, enhanced data collection and utilization for health policy-making, and further integration of technology in healthcare delivery. This review not only emphasizes the Kingdom's successes but also the intricate challenges it has encountered, providing valuable insights into the strategic planning required to maintain health gains and achieve SDG 3 by 2030. Saudi Arabia's innovative approach and robust policy implementation serve as a model for the integration of health priorities into national development frameworks, thereby improving health outcomes and contributing to sustainable development.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"15 1","pages":"48"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11933552/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143700579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying Suicide Risk in Prostate Cancer: A SEER-Based Predictive Model.","authors":"Jiaxing Du, Fen Zhang, Weinan Zheng, Xue Lu, Huiyi Yu, Jian Zeng, Sujun Chen","doi":"10.1007/s44197-025-00384-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-025-00384-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prostate cancer patients have a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to the general population. This study aimed to develop a nomogram for identifying high-risk patients and providing empirical evidence to guide effective intervention strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed data from 176,730 prostate cancer patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2021, sourced from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Patients were randomly allocated to training (n = 123,711) and validation (n = 53,019) cohorts in a 7:3 ratio. Feature selection was conducted using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), followed by model construction with Cox proportional hazards regression. The results were visualized using nomogram. Model performance was evaluated with time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, concordance index (C-index), and internal validation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Multivariate analysis identified seven independent predictors of suicide. The nomogram demonstrated favorable discriminative capability in both cohorts, with C-index of 0.746 and 0.703 for the training and bootstrapped validation cohorts. Time-dependent ROC analysis indicated strong accuracy in predicting suicide risk. Calibration plots displayed high concordance between predicted probabilities and actual outcomes, Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed the model's significant discriminative ability among risk groups.</p><p><strong>Limitations: </strong>This retrospective study, based on SEER data, lacks detailed clinical and mental health information. Additionally, potential coding errors and reporting biases may affect the accuracy of the results.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We developed a applicable nomogram for the individualized quantification of suicide risk in prostate cancer patients. This model provides clinicians with a robust tool for identifying high-risk patients and implementing timely interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"15 1","pages":"46"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925820/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143670043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uncovering the Burden of Influenza-Associated Illness across Levels of Severity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Across Three Seasons.","authors":"Amal M Alshahrani, Ezzualdeen Okmi, Sheena G Sullivan, Stefano Tempia, Amal Barakat, Hala Abou El Naja, Amir Aman, Osman Hamedelneil, Mutaz Mohamed, Seham F Basheer, Ghaliah Albugami, Randah Alalweet, Norah Alhazir, Lama Alwalan, Najim Z Alshahrani, Haleema Alsreehi, Abdullah M Asiri","doi":"10.1007/s44197-025-00390-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-025-00390-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Influenza imposes a substantial global health burden, particularly among high-risk populations such as the elderly, young children, and individuals with chronic conditions. In Saudi Arabia, a national influenza sentinel surveillance program was established in 2017 to monitor respiratory virus trends, yet comprehensive estimates of the influenza-associated burden remain limited. This study aims to address this gap by quantifying influenza-associated severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) hospitalization rates and estimating the broader influenza burden across severity levels.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from four sentinel hospitals in three regions of Saudi Arabia were analyzed across three influenza seasons: 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2022-2023. Weekly SARI case counts were combined with census population data to calculate SARI hospitalization rates per 100,000 population. Influenza positivity rates, derived from laboratory-confirmed cases, were used to estimate influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rates, stratified by age and season. The John Hopkins University/WHO Seasonal Influenza Burden Disease Estimator (Flutool) was employed to extrapolate national estimates of influenza-associated hospitalizations, deaths, and mild/moderate cases. Confidence intervals and age-specific stratifications were computed to enhance precision and comparability.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average annual SARI hospitalization rate was 294 per 100,000 population (95% CI: 288-300). Influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rates averaged 48 per 100,000 population (95% CI: 45-50), with the highest burden observed in individuals aged 65 years and older (269 per 100,000, 95% CI: 240-301) and children aged 0-4 years (118 per 100,000, 95% CI: 107-131). Seasonal variation was noted, with the highest rates in the 2017-2018 season. National estimates suggested a substantial burden, with influenza-associated hospitalizations totaling 17,678 in 2017-2018, 7,683 in 2018-2019, and 13,982 in 2022-2023. The flutool analysis estimated annual influenza-associated deaths ranging from 30 to 4,441 and mild/moderate cases reaching up to 6.3 million in the most severe season.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study demonstrates a significant burden of influenza-associated SARI hospitalizations in Saudi Arabia, with the highest rates observed in the elderly and young children. Seasonal variation was evident, highlighting the urgent need to enhance influenza vaccination coverage, particularly among high-risk groups such as the elderly and young children, to reduce severe outcomes. Expanding sentinel surveillance to more regions and incorporating detailed clinical and economic data are recommended to better inform public health policies. Strengthening pandemic preparedness and tailoring vaccination campaigns based on seasonality and age-specific risk will be critical for mitigating the influenza burden in Saudi Arabia.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"15 1","pages":"47"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11926303/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143670044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}