Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health最新文献

{"title":"Uncovering the hidden burden of congenital anomalies in Ecuador: a national integrated analysis of hospital discharges, mortality records, and live birth statistics (2012-2024).","authors":"Fabricio González-Andrade","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00604-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00604-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Congenital anomalies (CA), ICD-10 Q00-Q99 codes, are major causes of infant morbidity and mortality, but national assessments remain limited in countries without integrated birth defect surveillance. This study characterized hospital burden, mortality, and epidemiological patterns of CA among infants in Ecuador.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective descriptive analysis of national administrative records was conducted using data from the INEC. Hospital discharge records covered 2012-2024, while mortality records and live birth statistics were incorporated according to availability. Analyses were restricted to infants under 1 year of age. Descriptive statistics, graphical assessment of temporal patterns, non-parametric comparison between periods, and correlation analyses were applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 43,134 hospital discharge events associated with CA were recorded, with a mean annual count of 3,318. Separately, in the code-level analysis of the 50 most frequent ICD-10 diagnostic codes, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and genitourinary categories accounted for the largest aggregated counts. Hospital discharges decreased significantly during the pandemic/post-pandemic period compared with 2012-2019 (-21.8%, p = 0.0015). Mortality indicators varied across conditions, with higher death-to-discharge ratios in selected cardiac, valve, pulmonary, and body wall anomalies. Hospital discharge rates ranged from 10.67 to 13.18 per 1,000 live births during 2021-2024. Mortality rates ranged from 1.38 to 1.47 per 1,000 live births; however, only 2021 and 2024 mortality values were observed, whereas 2022 and 2023 were interpolated. A moderate correlation was observed between hospital discharges and deaths (r ≈ 0.48).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CA impose a substantial burden on infant health services in Ecuador. Integrating hospital discharge, mortality, and live birth data revealed complementary but non-equivalent dimensions of burden, supporting stronger surveillance, improved data linkage, and timely referral pathways for high-risk conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13594058/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148368594","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":"Epidemiological Characteristics of Hospitalized Sports-Related Ocular Trauma in China: China Ocular Trauma Study (COTS).","authors":"Haokun Zhang, Siyue Chen, Honglian Wu, Tianjing Yang, Jiayi Song, Yuanyuan Liu, Xue Dong, Yi Lei, Mengyu Liao, Hua Yan","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00596-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00596-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sports-related ocular trauma is a significant cause of unilateral visual impairment and blindness, yet large-scale epidemiological studies on hospitalized cases are lacking. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological characteristics, injury mechanisms, and visual outcomes of sports-related ocular trauma in China, and provide evidence for developing prevention strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted based on data from hospitalized patients with sports-related ocular trauma from 99 medical institutions registered in the \"China Ocular Trauma Registry System\" (COTS) between 2021 and 2024. Demographic characteristics, sports types, ocular injuries, and visual acuity were analyzed using descriptive statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sports-related injuries constituted 3.60% (386 of 10710) of all ocular trauma patients. Patients were predominantly male (290 cases, 75.13%), with a trend towards youth aged 10-20 years accounting for over one-third of the total. Seasonally, ocular trauma most frequently occurred in spring, peaking in May (17.36%). Badminton was the first causative sport (127 cases, 48.47%), followed by soccer (41 cases, 15.65%), racket impact (13 cases, 4.96%), basketball (12 cases, 4.58%), volleyball (12 cases, 4.58%), and human contact injuries (11 cases, 4.20%). Closed ocular trauma was predominant injury (74.09%), with contusions comprising the majority. Despite the relatively lower incidence (16.58%), open ocular trauma was significantly associated with activities such as racket impact, boxing, and glasses fragments. Regarding the severity of visual impairment, badminton and soccer resulted in mild visual impairment, whereas basketball, glasses fragments and dumbbells were more likely to cause vision loss.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Sports-related ocular trauma in China exhibits distinct characteristics in terms of sport type distribution. Protective eyewear in high-risk sports and safety education are recommended to lower the incidence and severity of ocular trauma.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13582670/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148352130","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":"Factors Associated with Childhood Vaccination in Sub-Saharan African Countries Experiencing Armed Conflicts: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Rodolfo Rossi, Matej Kovarik, Ariadna Monroy Davila, Kurt Barbé, Ives Hubloue","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00600-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00600-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Armed conflicts substantially disrupt health systems and undermine routine childhood immunization, increasing the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. While declines in vaccination coverage in conflict settings are well documented, less is known about the multi-level determinants associated with childhood vaccination outcomes in African countries affected by armed conflict. This scoping review maps and synthesizes existing empirical evidence on factors associated with childhood vaccination in these settings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, with supplementary searches in Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed observational studies and systematic reviews published from January 2015 onwards were included if they examined determinants associated with childhood vaccination outcomes in African countries affected by armed conflict. Findings were synthesized narratively and grouped into thematic determinant domains encompassing caregiver characteristics, socioeconomic factors, geographic barriers, conflict-related determinants, and health-system constraints.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence was geographically concentrated in a limited number of countries, particularly Ethiopia, Somalia/Somaliland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria. Maternal/caregiver education and empowerment, geographic access barriers/remoteness, and household/community poverty and wealth were the most frequently reported determinant categories. Across settings, maternal education, antenatal care attendance, and facility-based delivery were consistently associated with higher vaccination uptake. Conversely, poverty, rural residence, insecurity, displacement, and disruption of routine services were recurrent barriers to complete and timely immunization. Health-system constraints such as stock-outs, limited outreach services, and shortages of trained personnel further compounded inequities in vaccination access.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Childhood vaccination in conflict-affected African countries is shaped by a complex interplay of socioeconomic vulnerability, caregiver characteristics, conflict dynamics, and health-system disruption. Armed conflict appears to amplify pre-existing inequities in access to routine immunization services. The current evidence base remains geographically uneven, highlighting important gaps in several conflict-affected settings. Strengthening context-specific research is essential to inform resilient, effective, and equitable immunization strategies in conflict-affected settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13575017/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148338635","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":"Anemia and Cardiometabolic Risk in Indian University Students: Findings from a Health Screening Program.","authors":"Rajiv Yeravdekar, Alaka Chandak","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00597-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00597-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>College students represent a population that is considered clinically at low risk; yet, early adulthood constitutes a crucial time point when nutritional and metabolic risks manifest themselves. This retrospective observational study evaluated anemia, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) characteristics of college students undergoing a health screening examination organized by their university in India.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Anonymized electronic health records were analyzed for 13,628 college students between the ages of 18 and 30 years old attending annual health screening from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2024. The sample consisted of 77.2% of the eligible students. BMI, blood pressure, and hemoglobin levels were classified according to international standards. Gender-based differences were explored through chi-square tests and Cramer's V measures. Association between anemia and screening-confirmed hypertension was assessed using Pearson correlations and multiple logistic regression. In addition, model discrimination, calibration, classification parameters, and internal validation were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 7,012 (51.5%) female students and 6,616 (48.5%) male students in the sample population. In total, 47.3% of the students were either overweight or obese, 8,081 (59.3%) fulfilled the criteria for high blood pressure according to the ACC/AHA guidelines, while 7,227 (53.0%) fulfilled WHO guidelines for anemia based on gender. Hypertension screening was also more common among men (66.6%) compared to women (52.4%; p < 0.001). In the adjusted models, being male was significantly linked with anemia and hypertension screening, while being overweight was significantly linked with hypertension screening.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study showed the high prevalence of undiagnosed anemia and cardiometabolic risks among university students, suggesting the importance of health promoting universities in systematic screening programs and follow-ups.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13575005/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148301722","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":"Correction: Public Spaces as Hotspots of Zoonotic Gastrointestinal Parasite Transmission: Evidence from Small Animal and Soil Surveillance in Malaysia.","authors":"Suey Yee Low, Sze Kee Gun, Sadiq Mohammed Babatunde, Sharifah Salmah Syed Hussain, Wan Nur Ismah Wan Ahmad Kamil, Abdul Rahman Omar, Azalea Hani Othman, Tengku Rinalfi Putra Tengku Azizan, Maizatul Akmal Moktar, Noraain Binti Azman, Yian Ming Tan, Nor Azlina Abdul Aziz","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00595-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00595-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13282424/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148277630","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":"Measles Epidemiology, Transmission, and Surveillance Characteristics in Ethiopia, 2018-2024.","authors":"Habtamu Milkias Wolde, Youngoh Bae, Ali Raza, Seung Won Lee","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00594-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00594-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ethiopia remains a high-burden measles setting, yet the drivers of protracted transmission and regional susceptibility remain poorly understood. This study analyzes seven years of national surveillance data to characterize demographic shifts, disease severity, and the impact of system performance on outbreak dynamics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A longitudinal analysis of confirmed measles cases from 2018 to 2024 was conducted. Age-specific attack rates (AR) and case fatality rates (CFR) were calculated, and time-varying reproduction numbers (Rt) were estimated to assess transmission intensity. The relationship between surveillance latency (onset-to-confirmation) and outbreak characteristics, including duration and size, was evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 69,866 confirmed cases were analyzed, of which 12.5% were laboratory confirmed and 87.5% were epidemiologically linked. The highest burden was observed among children aged 1-4 years (AR: 195 per 100,000). Substantial regional variation was evident, with the median age of infection at 2.8 years in pastoralist regions (e.g., Somali) and 7.2 years in urban settings (e.g., Addis Ababa). The overall CFR was 0.8%, peaking at 1.12% among infants aged < 9 months. Transmission intensity remained elevated during epidemic peaks (Rt: 1.8-2.4). The median onset-to-confirmation delay was 18 days, exceeding the estimated measles serial interval. While longer outbreaks were associated with larger outbreak size, no significant association was observed between surveillance delay and outbreak duration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Persistent measles transmission in Ethiopia appears to be driven primarily by regional immunity gaps among susceptible pediatric populations, while prolonged surveillance delays remain an important operational concern for timely outbreak detection and response. Elimination efforts should prioritize strengthening routine immunization, closing regional immunity gaps, and improving surveillance timeliness. These findings also provide practical insights for other low- and middle-income countries seeking to strengthen measles control programs and surveillance systems in heterogeneous transmission settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13538322/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148277670","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":"Association between Proteinuria and Risk of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy/Multifocal Motor Neuropathy: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study.","authors":"Soonwook Kwon, Ye Bin Park, Kyung-Do Han, Hye Ryoun Jang, Seung Ho Choo, Dong Wook Shin, Ju-Hong Min","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00592-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00592-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to determine whether proteinuria is associated with the subsequent development of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Individuals aged ≥ 20 years who underwent national health screening in 2009 (N = 3,937,902) were followed until December 2020. Participants with a prior history of CIDP/MMN or diagnosis within one year of screening were excluded. Proteinuria was assessed via urine dipstick (positive ≥ 1+). The primary outcome was incident CIDP/MMN, defined by the concurrent presence of ICD-10 code G61.8 and Rare and Intractable Disease program code V126. Cox proportional hazards models examined the association, adjusting for potential confounders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At baseline, 2.5% of individuals had proteinuria. During follow-up, 210 individuals developed CIDP/MMN. The incidence rate was significantly higher in those with proteinuria (1.44 per 100,000 person-years) than in those without (0.50 per 100,000 person-years). After adjustment for demographics, lifestyle, and comorbidities, proteinuria remained significantly associated with increased CIDP/MMN risk (adjusted hazard ratio 2.32; 95% confidence interval 1.35-4.03). This association was consistent across subgroups defined by sex, age, and chronic kidney disease.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Proteinuria is associated with a modest risk of developing CIDP/MMN. These findings suggest possible shared immunopathologic mechanisms involving antigens or immune pathways common to both the kidney and peripheral nerves. Neurologic monitoring may be warranted in individuals with proteinuria.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13478050/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148211533","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":"Evolution of the Performance of the Malaria Control Program in Burkina Faso: Analysis from 2020 to 2024.","authors":"Wendemi Daniel Ouedraogo, Ahmed Kabore, Sidzabda Kompaore, Serge Somda, Ali Sie, Hamado Sawadogo, Ziemlé Clément Meda, Maxime Drabo, Nicolas Meda, Hervé Hien","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00593-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00593-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Malaria continues to pose a major public health challenge in Burkina Faso, negatively affecting its population. Despite notable progress, eliminating this disease remains a daunting task. This study assessed the effectiveness of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) between 2020 and 2024.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An ecological methodology was applied using secondary time-series data from the NMCP. National data spanning from 2020 to 2024 were scrutinised to evaluate shifts in coverage, availability, and use of interventions, alongside malaria incidence. A forecast of the impact up to 2030 was performed using Error, Trend, and Seasonality (ETS) modelling. The analysis, based on the theory of change, explored the connection between the execution of interventions and their epidemiological effects.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2024, the use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) was recorded at 81.02% among pregnant women and 68.2% among children aged < 5 years. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) coverage was 97.8%. The adoption rates of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) were 98.5% and 97.96%, respectively. These measures collectively led to a reduction in malaria cases from 537.5 to 446.4 per 1,000 people annually. However, supply chain disruptions and inefficient resource use continue to hinder their overall success. Forecasts indicate that by 2030, the incidence could rise to 473.06 cases per 1,000 individuals (confidence interval [CI]: 242.81-703.28).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study assessed the effectiveness of malaria control efforts in Burkina Faso. The results revealed issues concerning the accessibility and use of these interventions by the target population. To eliminate malaria, it is essential to sustainably improve resources, enhance governance, and develop new tailored strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13447623/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148149892","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":"Global Epidemiology of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: A Systematic Literature Review.","authors":"Olessia Zorina, Omid Beiki, Matthew Holt, Jocelyn Buisker, Philippe Ferber, Jilles M Fermont, Richard J Kelly","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00537-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00537-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare acquired hematological disorder characterized by chronic intravascular hemolysis and an increased risk of thrombosis. A systematic synthesis of disease epidemiology is essential to understand disease patterns, improve timely diagnosis, and guide healthcare policies. This review aims to consolidate contemporary estimates of PNH incidence and prevalence globally and describe any observed trends in these epidemiological parameters.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of electronic databases was performed in November 2024 and identified 27 studies published between 2006 and 2024 following PRISMA guidelines. All population-based observational studies reporting incidence or prevalence measures of PNH were included, with no restrictions on age or geography; the synthesis of results focused on studies evaluated as medium or high-quality based on a structured assessment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The annual incidence of patients diagnosed with PNH ranged from 0.17 to 0.35 per 100,000 population between 2002 and 2022 in the majority of high-quality studies. Regional variability emerged: studies from countries with high healthcare system quality scores consistently reported higher incidence estimates than those from countries with low scores. Yearly prevalence estimates in 2010-2021 ranged from 1.1 to 2.1 per 100,000 population, while longer-period prevalence (10-17 years) ranged from 1.5 to 6.4 per 100,000 population.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The prevalence of diagnosed PNH has been steadily growing since 2006 across all regions, possibly reflecting improved survival rates following the introduction of effective therapies or improved diagnostic practices. Despite disruptions observed during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021), this upward trend is expected to continue as treatment access improves globally. The lower incidence reported in the regions with lower healthcare quality scores reflects potential underdiagnosis of PNH or unequal access to healthcare, highlighting the need for strengthening healthcare systems to ensure timely diagnosis and access to treatment of PNH.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This review provides updated global estimates of the incidence and prevalence of PNH, offers new insights into epidemiological trends, and highlights potential regional inequities in diagnosis and treatment. The results aim to support future research initiatives and inform healthcare strategies to improve outcomes for patients with PNH.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13437861/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148054897","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":"Hepatitis C Virus Infection at the Start of Hemodialysis and During Early Follow-up: Evidence from Two Dialysis Centers.","authors":"Mohammad Abedi Samakoosh, Mohamad Javad Bay, Abolfazl Kolbadinejad, Mehdi Karimi, Lotfollah Davoodi","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00591-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00591-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a concern in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis due to repeated blood exposure and prolonged contact with dialysis environments. Although direct-acting antivirals have reduced HCV burden in many settings, uncertainty persists regarding early infection dynamics at dialysis initiation and during initial follow-up.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This observational study was conducted in two hemodialysis facilities in northern Iran (2022-2023). All adult patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis were included using a census-based approach. HCV status was assessed by anti-HCV antibody testing at dialysis initiation and repeated after three months as part of routine surveillance. Demographic and clinical variables, including dialysis duration and transfusion history, were extracted from medical records. Analyses focused on prevalence and associations with clinical characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 470 patients, six (1.28%) were anti-HCV positive at dialysis initiation. After three months, no new cases were identified; overall prevalence remained unchanged. No significant associations were observed between HCV status and demographic variables, transfusion history, or comorbidities. In contrast, dialysis duration showed a clear association with HCV positivity. Patients with more than ten years of dialysis had markedly higher prevalence than those with shorter durations (P < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this cohort, HCV prevalence at the start of dialysis was low and remained stable during short-term follow-up. Longer dialysis duration was the only factor associated with HCV positivity, supporting its role as a cumulative exposure marker. These findings emphasize the importance of sustained infection-control practices and continued surveillance, even in low-prevalence settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13402275/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148042576","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}