Przeglad epidemiologiczny最新文献

{"title":"Assessment of the effects of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination programme in the child population in Poland in 2014-2021.","authors":"Monika Majta, Monika Rusin, Joanna Domagalska","doi":"10.32394/pe/207899","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32394/pe/207899","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Immunizations represent a critical component of contemporary preventive measures. Their primary function is to safeguard against the development of diseases and the ensuing complications.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of the measles, mumps, and rubella immunization program on the population of children in Poland from 2014 to 2021.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>The vaccination rate against measles, mumps and rubella in the population aged 1-19 years was calculated. The numerator was the number of children vaccinated in a given year and the denominator was the number of children born in a given year. The rate of missed vaccinations was calculated, where the numerator was the difference between the number of children born in a given year and the number of children vaccinated in a given year, and the denominator was the number of children born in a given year. The incidence rate was calculated for the vaccinated and unvaccinated populations (per 1 million population). The numerator constituted the number of reported cases in a given calendar year, whilst the denominator represented the number of individuals in the vaccinated or unvaccinated population in an age group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the subsequent years a gradual decrease in vaccination coverage was observed among the youngest age groups: 1-year-olds (from 77.8% to 70.7%) and 2-year-olds (from 94.8% to 89.5%). In the population vaccinated against measles, the highest incidence of the disease was observed among 1-year-olds. A decline in the incidence of rubella can be observed in subsequent years, both in the vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. A lower incidence of diseases was observed in 2020 and 2021 in all age groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A significant decrease in the incidence of measles, mumps and rubella has been observed between 2014-2021 in the vaccinated population in comparison to the unvaccinated population.</p>","PeriodicalId":20777,"journal":{"name":"Przeglad epidemiologiczny","volume":"79 2","pages":"227-240"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diphtheria - Epidemiological situation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment methods and prevention.","authors":"Karolina Kęder, Magdalena Barbara Kukulska, Julia Latocha, Aleksandra Sobieska, Dominika Grzelak","doi":"10.32394/pe/208640","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32394/pe/208640","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diphtheria is a forgotten disease that, despite advances in medicine and vaccination, is increasingly re-emerging in various parts of the world, including developed countries. It is caused by the bacterium <i>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</i>, which produces diphtheria toxin responsible for the severe course of the disease. However, only toxigenic strains-those carrying the tox gene, are capable of producing this toxin. The majority of <i>C. diphtheriae</i> strains isolated in Poland do not contain this gene, which is why infections caused by them are usually milder. Depending on the site of infection, symptoms most commonly involve the upper respiratory tract, with the hallmark sign being the presence of pseudomembranes. Rapid diagnosis and accurate confirmation of the pathogen are essential not only for implementing proper preventive measures, but above all for initiating timely treatment and preventing serious organ complications. Vaccination plays a key role in diphtheria prevention, offering effective protection against infection and transmission. Despite the availability of both preventive and therapeutic measures, diphtheria is becoming an increasing threat in countries with low vaccination rates. The growing number of cases particularly among children, highlights the urgent need for education and improvement in both prevention and treatment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":20777,"journal":{"name":"Przeglad epidemiologiczny","volume":"79 2","pages":"215-226"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of the accuracy of initial diagnoses and the frequency of clinical forms of Lyme disease among hospitalized patients: a single-center study.","authors":"Małgorzata Kazberuk, Ada Kondrat, Michał Nienałtowski, Piotr Czupryna, Sławomir Pancewicz, Joanna Zajkowska, Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska","doi":"10.32394/pe/209790","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32394/pe/209790","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lyme borreliosis (LB) is one of the most commonly diagnosed tick-borne diseases globally, caused by Borrelia spirochetes. Despite advances in laboratory diagnostics, both overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of LB remain significant issues. Nonspecific symptoms such as chronic fatigue or musculoskeletal complaints are often misattributed to LB, creating controversy and delaying appropriate diagnosis and treatment.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To analyze clinical data and diagnostic results of patients referred to the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, with suspected LB, and to assess the frequency of its clinical forms.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis was conducted on medical records of patients hospitalized with suspected early or late LB at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, from January 2018 to June 2023. Diagnostics included ELISA and Western blot tests for IgM and IgG antibodies against Borrelia. Initial diagnoses were based on tick exposure and clinical presentation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Records of 819 hospitalized patients were analyzed: 497 (60.7%) men and 322 (39.3%) women, mean age 55.7 ± 14.8 years. LB was diagnosed in 426 (52%) patients, including 24 (5.6%) with neuroborreliosis and 7 (1.7%) with erythema migrans. In 395 cases, symptoms and results did not clearly confirm LB, yet antibiotics were used to assess response. In 393 patients (48%), LB was excluded; the most common alternative diagnoses were osteoarthritis (31.3%) and other musculoskeletal disorders (25.1%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overdiagnosis of LB may result in unwarranted antibiotic use, while delayed treatment can lead to late-stage disease. A key issue is the lack of differential diagnostics, delaying proper management of serious conditions like MS, rheumatoid arthritis, or cancer. Notably, many patients received empirical antibiotics despite not meeting clinical-serological criteria, distorting disease incidence. The current LB reporting system also requires revision, as it promotes overdiagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":20777,"journal":{"name":"Przeglad epidemiologiczny","volume":"79 2","pages":"201-214"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of oral leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and oral submucous fibrosis in patients consuming tobacco and arecanut: A hospital-based observational study.","authors":"Arun Dev Sharma, Prashanthi Reddy, Ajay Parihar, Rashi Mandlik, Nidhi Yadav, Renu Singh, Sujata Tosh, Dr Pooja Chaturvedi","doi":"10.32394/pe/208234","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32394/pe/208234","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In 2022, global oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) incidence was 389,846 cases, with 188,438 deaths (GLOBOCAN). In India, it ranked 2nd with 143,759 cases and 79,979 deaths, and a 5-year prevalence of 370,106 cases. High OSCC rates are associated with oral leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), with malignant conversion rates of 1.1%-40.8% for leukoplakia, 19.9%-45% for erythroplakia, and 6% for OSMF. Central India has the highest oral cancer incidence, 19.2% in males and 7.6% in females. Limited research highlights the need for public health interventions; our study offers key epidemiological insights from a tertiary care center.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The study investigates the prevalence and epidemiology of oral leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and OSMF among tobacco and areca nut users.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This prospective observational study was conducted at the Govt Dental Institute, of Central India, from September 2022 to March 2023, with ethical clearance (No. 161/IEC/SS/2022). A purposive sampling approach targeted individuals with smokeless tobacco, smoking, or areca nut consumption. Oral cavity screenings were conducted, classifying leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and OSMF using established clinical criteria. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0, with significance set at p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 28,736 patients, 5,428 had a history of tobacco or areca nut consumption, and 411 were diagnosed with OPMDs (Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders), yielding an overall prevalence of 7.57%. OSMF was the most common disorder (5.30%), followed by oral leukoplakia (2.22%) and erythroplakia (0.036%). The most prevalent habit was areca nut and smokeless tobacco consumption (71.53%). OSMF Grade IV had the highest prevalence (36.79%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The prevalence of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders in this study (7.57%) exceeds global averages, highlighting the impact of tobacco and areca nut consumption in Central India. OSMF, particularly Grade IV, is more prevalent, underscoring the need for targeted public health interventions and rigorous screening for early detection and management.</p>","PeriodicalId":20777,"journal":{"name":"Przeglad epidemiologiczny","volume":"79 2","pages":"241-249"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ukrainian population awareness regarding leptospirosis.","authors":"Olena Zubach, Iryna Ben, Andrii Zadorozhnyi","doi":"10.32394/pe/209455","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32394/pe/209455","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Leptospirosis is one of the most common bacterial zoonoses in the world. However, there is scarce available literature on public awareness of the infection and the main clinical symptoms of leptospirosis.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess the level of leptospirosis awareness among the general population and individuals with occupational risk of the disease in Lviv Region, Ukraine.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>A leptospirosis questionnaire on potential risk factors, routes of transmission and ways of protection along with the demographic data was prepared, posted on Facebook and distributed as a printed version. The statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's two-sided test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 446 individuals completed the questionnaire. Of these, 364 persons had no occupational risk of acquiring leptospirosis, while 82 of them had it. The study showed the following levels of leptospirosis awareness among the participants: 193 out of 446 (43.3%) individuals knew what leptospirosis was, with 158/364 (43.4%) representing general population (Group 1) and 35/82 (42.7%) representing individuals with an occupational risk of acquiring leptospirosis (Group 2), p>0.05. Furthermore, a total of 55.8% of all the participants knew how they could contract leptospirosis: 194/364 (53.3%) in Group 1 and 55/82 (67.1%) in Group 2, p<0.05. The most common risk factors of acquiring leptospirosis observed in both groups were as follows: swimming in ponds and lakes with stagnant water (57.69% in Group 1and 79.26% in Group 2, p<0.01), and the presence of rodents in houses, basements and utility rooms as well as periodic visits to these premises by respondents (45.6% of the respondents in Group 1 and 58.53% of the respondents in Group 2, p<0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Outreach campaigns should be implemented to raise the awareness of leptospirosis, both among the general population and among the individuals at increased risk of exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":20777,"journal":{"name":"Przeglad epidemiologiczny","volume":"79 2","pages":"193-200"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can a comic book superhero protect us from diseases? Assessment of an educational tool on immunizations among adolescents.","authors":"Sonia Demianiuk, Anita Rutkowska, Emilia Piskorska, Aneta Tomaszewska","doi":"10.32394/pe/206926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32394/pe/206926","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Due to the increasing phenomenon of medical misinformation, unfavourable health behaviours have emerged, including the rise in the number of rejections of mandatory vaccination. Educational interventions are necessary to build public awareness.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The main purpose of the study was to check students' attitudes towards vaccination, during assessment of the comic titled 'Vigor Fervorous versus The Spreaders of Nonsense'-an electronic educational tool used during lessons-in terms of its educational effectiveness and students' opinions.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>A pilot quasi experimental study was conducted among 172 students aged 12-16, from primary and secondary schools located in the Masovia, including municipal and district schools, consisting of three stages: pretest, intervention (a lesson with the usage of the comic in e-book format), and posttest. Participants' attitudes towards vaccination, changes in knowledge levels (before-after), clarity and comprehensibility of the comic and attractiveness of the tool were analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Based on Principal Component Analysis, four distinct attitude groups were identified, differing in self-assessed knowledge and the need for further education. Before the intervention, 22.7% of participants demonstrated low level of knowledge, 46.5% medium, 30.8% high. After the intervention, a relative average score increase of 11 percentage points was observed, with greater gains among secondary school students (15 p.p.) than primary students (9 p.p.). A single common factor was identified, termed \"positive assessment of the comic.\" The strongest associations were with: \"more people should read this comic\" (r = 0.876), \"it supplemented my vaccination knowledge\" (r = 0.844), and \"it is an interesting way to convey knowledge\" (r = 0.823). Weaker but still significant correlations were found for reduced fear of vaccination and content comprehensibility.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results proved the comic to be an effective and attractive tool for increasing knowledge about vaccination. The identified groups of attitudes confirm the need to tailor educational tools to the needs of target groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":20777,"journal":{"name":"Przeglad epidemiologiczny","volume":"79 2","pages":"250-262"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV): Current insights and future perspectives.","authors":"Aashna Garg, Ravinder Singh, Deepak Gupta, Sushruth Nayak, Ramandeep Singh Gambhir","doi":"10.32394/pe/206000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32394/pe/206000","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a significant contributor to respiratory tract infections (RTI's), presenting a clinical spectrum that ranges from mild flu-like symptoms to severe pneumonia. The overlap of clinical features with other RTI's, often complicates its diagnosis. While HMPV predominately affects young children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals, its true burden remains under-recognized due to diagnostic challenges. Currently there is no specific antiviral therapy or approved vaccine for HMPV, underscoring the urgent need for research into effective prevention and treatment strategies. Furthermore, the oral manifestations of HMPV infections remains an unexplored domain with potential correlations to viral kinetics and systemic spread. Investigating these oral signs could provide new insights into disease progression and serve as adjunctive diagnostic markers. The present paper provides a comprehensive review of the epidemiology, immunodynamics and diverse clinical manifestations of HMPV, while also shedding light on recent advancements in diagnostic approaches and vaccine development. By addressing these knowledge gaps, future research can pave the way for a more comprehensive approach to mitigate the global burden of HMPV-related respiratory illness.</p>","PeriodicalId":20777,"journal":{"name":"Przeglad epidemiologiczny","volume":"79 2","pages":"178-186"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends in Resistance of ESBL-Producing Bacteria Belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae Family in a Polish District Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Period (2017-2023): Analysis of Resistance Changes from a Local Perspective.","authors":"Rafał Kuczma, Szymon Barwiński, Barbara Symula, Katarzyna Jermakow","doi":"10.32394/pe/205497","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32394/pe/205497","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health threat, with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family classified by the WHO as critical priority pathogens. The COVID-19 pandemic affected global antibiotic consumption patterns, potentially influencing the resistance of ESBL(+) strains and the frequency of bacterial infections in hospitals.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to analyze the trends in the prevalence of infections caused by ESBL-producing bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae family) in a district hospital in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship during the peri-pandemic period (2017-2023) and assess the relationship between antibiotic consumption and changes in resistance.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>A retrospective cohort study was conducted using microbiological and pharmacological data from the Healthcare Complex in Oława. 34,629 clinical specimen cultures from 77,829 hospitalized patients were analyzed. The study focused on Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter spp. with an ESBL resistance mechanism. The consumption of β-lactam antibiotics from Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System groups J01C and J01D was assessed. Statistical trend and correlation analysis was applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The incidence of ESBL(+) bacterial infections showed no significant trends. The pre-pandemic prevalence of ESBL(+) strains was low (6.42%-24.49%), rising to 56.25% in 2020 and peaking at 100% in 2021-2022. In 2023, resistant isolates declined to 77.50%. A 50.2% increase in β-lactam antibiotic consumption (J01D, mainly cephalosporins) was recorded in 2020. The highest proportion of ESBL(+) infections occurred in non-surgical wards (40.97%) and long-term care facilities (25.88%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Data analysis from 2017-2023 revealed no significant trends in incidence of ESBL(+) infections but an increase in β-lactam resistance. In 2020, the prevalence of ESBL(+) strains and antibiotic consumption, especially cephalosporins, increased. However, the lack of a significant correlation between antibiotic consumption and resistance suggests that other factors, such as resistant strain transmission or persistent colonization, play a crucial role. These findings highlight the need for enhanced resistance monitoring and rational antibiotic stewardship strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":20777,"journal":{"name":"Przeglad epidemiologiczny","volume":"79 2","pages":"300-310"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human alveolar echinococcosis: consequences of discontinuation of albendazole treatment - a report of two cases.","authors":"Jacek Czepiel, Jeremiasz Bik, Anna Królikowska, Martyna Lara, Mateusz Myśliwiec, Marcin Poręba, Grażyna Biesiada, Monika Bociaga-Jasik","doi":"10.32394/pe/207616","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32394/pe/207616","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare and life-threatening parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus multilocularis. Nonspecific symptoms along with a lowered awareness of the disease among physicians often result in delayed diagnoses and subsequently limiting therapeutic options. Treatment of AE includes surgical resection with wide margins of healthy tissue combined with pharmacotherapy and close monitoring for recurrence. This paper presents two cases of patients who interrupted albendazole therapy administered after surgical removal of parasitic lesions. Both cases demonstrate that discontinuing albendazole therapy after non-radical echinococcal removal can lead to disease progression and life-threatening complications. Additionally, the report highlights socioeconomic challenges such as therapy accessibility, treatment costs, and patient education which can influence adherence to medical recommendations and treatment outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20777,"journal":{"name":"Przeglad epidemiologiczny","volume":"79 2","pages":"169-177"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematic quality evaluation of mobile health applications using Selenium web scraping approach.","authors":"U Venkatesh, Varkey Nadakkavukaran Santhosh, Ashoo Grover, Om Prakash Bera, Ashish Joshi, R Durga","doi":"10.32394/pe/208660","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.32394/pe/208660","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mobile health applications have emerged as powerful tools for improving public health, but their rapid proliferation raises concerns regarding quality, effectiveness, and security. T.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to systematically evaluate the quality of health applications on the Google Play Store in India, focusing on physical, mental, and social health domains.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>Python and Selenium-based web scraping approach was used to extracted data available from the Indian version of Google Play Store using domain-specific keywords. Applications were screened based on preset criteria. The Mobile App Development and Assessment Guide (MAG) was used to evaluate the application quality across eight domains. Kruskal Wallis test and partial least squares regression analysis was used for analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 866 applications, 322 met eligibility criteria (182 physical, 84 mental, 56 social health). Commercial organizations dominated development. Social health applications demonstrated higher download volumes and superior quality across multiple MAG domains, with higher overall scores (35.18 ± 12.05) compared to physical (26.95 ± 11.27) and mental health applications (26.25 ±1 1.62). Quality metrics influenced user ratings differently across health domains, with weak correlation between MAG scores and ratings for physical health applications.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study reveals significant variability in mHealth application quality, with concerning deficiencies in privacy and security. Findings highlight the need for enhanced regulatory oversight and quality standards in India's evolving digital health ecosystem.</p>","PeriodicalId":20777,"journal":{"name":"Przeglad epidemiologiczny","volume":"79 2","pages":"291-299"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145225805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}