Thomas Rouyard , Emilie Yoda , Ryota Nakamura , Michiko Moriyama , Masako Ii , Maham Stanyon , Mei Endo , Koki Nakamura , Satoshi Kanke , Ryuki Kassai
{"title":"Overcoming barriers to primary care research in Japan: a call to action","authors":"Thomas Rouyard , Emilie Yoda , Ryota Nakamura , Michiko Moriyama , Masako Ii , Maham Stanyon , Mei Endo , Koki Nakamura , Satoshi Kanke , Ryuki Kassai","doi":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101523","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101523","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":22792,"journal":{"name":"The Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 101523"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143621028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Costanza Tacoli , Sopheany Thin , Malen Ea , Nimol Khim , Agnes Orban , Dysoley Lek , Rhea J. Longley , Michael White , Leanne J. Robinson , Benoit Witkowski , Ivo Mueller , Jean Popovici
{"title":"Evaluating the technical feasibility of serological testing and treatment for Plasmodium vivax in mobile at-risk of malaria Cambodian populations","authors":"Costanza Tacoli , Sopheany Thin , Malen Ea , Nimol Khim , Agnes Orban , Dysoley Lek , Rhea J. Longley , Michael White , Leanne J. Robinson , Benoit Witkowski , Ivo Mueller , Jean Popovici","doi":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101518","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101518","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cambodia is targeting malaria elimination by 2025, aligning with the WHO's Mekong Malaria Elimination program. While elimination of <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> is nearly achieved, <em>Plasmodium vivax</em> elimination presents challenges inherent to this species due to the occurrence of dormant parasite stages, known as hypnozoites. A new approach has been proposed to serologically identify individuals likely carrying hypnozoites that should receive appropriate antimalarial treatment: <em>P. vivax</em> serological testing and treatment (PvSeroTAT). This study aims to determine the technical feasibility of a PvSeroTAT approach in malaria endemic communities with highly mobile populations in Eastern Cambodia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>From October 24th 2021 to February 26th 2023, two successive rounds of PvSeroTAT were conducted in adult and adolescent males in three villages of Mondolkiri, Eastern Cambodia. At each round, capillary blood samples were collected from consenting participants to be used for <em>P. vivax</em> serology and G6PD activity determination. Seropositive participants, who were G6PD normal, were then recontacted to be provided an anti-hypnozoite primaquine regimen following Cambodian treatment guidelines (0.25 mg/kg for 14 days). Cross-sectional surveys to evaluate <em>P. vivax</em> prevalence were conducted before, during and after the PvSeroTAT interventions in the same three villages and in three additional neighboring control villages where interventions were not implemented.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Participation was high, with 96% (456/477) of eligible individuals enrolled in at least one round of PvSeroTAT. However, only 63% of participants enrolled in the first PvSeroTAT round agreed to participate in the second round. In the first and second round of PvSeroTAT, 31% (101/327) and 30% (98/334) of enrolled participants, respectively, were seropositive and among those, 82% (163/199) were eligible for primaquine treatment. All 163 seropositive eligible individuals could be recontacted and offered a primaquine treatment, this occurred within 10 days for 96% of individuals (157/163). <em>P. vivax</em> prevalence decreased in all villages, including the control ones, after the first round of PvSeroTAT from 7.7% to 2.7% overall.</div></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><div>The participation rates and overall technical feasibility of PvSeroTAT in highly mobile individuals living within communities in malaria endemic areas of Cambodia were very promising. PvSeroTAT with a lab-based assay is feasible in Cambodia even if it is logistically more challenging than using point-of-care assays. Further studies to understand community perspectives about test and treat approaches in the absence of clinical symptoms will be important for the development of tailored community education and awareness material to improve participation in multiple rounds of test and treat interventions.</di","PeriodicalId":22792,"journal":{"name":"The Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 101518"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143621029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Meishan Liu , Xin Yao , Yiwei Shi , Huiguo Liu , Liang Chen , Yong Lu , Chunmei Zhang , Xinran Zhang , Lirong Liang , Xiaohong Chang , Li An , Kian Fan Chung , Janwillem W.H. Kocks , Kewu Huang
{"title":"Impulse oscillometry-derived equation for prediction of abnormal FEV1/FVC ratio for COPD screening in Chinese population: a multicenter cross-sectional study","authors":"Meishan Liu , Xin Yao , Yiwei Shi , Huiguo Liu , Liang Chen , Yong Lu , Chunmei Zhang , Xinran Zhang , Lirong Liang , Xiaohong Chang , Li An , Kian Fan Chung , Janwillem W.H. Kocks , Kewu Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101501","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101501","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is based on spirometry that requires a forced expiratory manoeuvre, which is laborious and difficult for mass screening. Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is easier than spirometry and performed with tidal breathing. We sought to develop an equation for predicting forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV<sub>1</sub>)/forced vital capacity (FVC) and screening COPD using IOS parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data from patients who simultaneously underwent spirometry and IOS were obtained from databases at five tertiary hospitals in China. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to develop a predictive model for pre-bronchodilator (BD) FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC. Model performance was analyzed against spirometric criteria of airflow obstruction (AO, defined as pre-BD FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC < 0.7) and COPD (post-BD FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC < 0.7).</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Using 15,113 patients and externally validated with 9586 patients, the model estimated FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC ratio could identified AO and spirometry-defined COPD in internal (AUC = 0.822 and 0.849, respectively) and external (AUC = 0.790 and 0.828, respectively) validation. A clinical algorithm was constructed to classify patients into three different groups: estimated FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC < 0.7: likely COPD; estimated FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC ≥ 0.7 and ≤0.73: suspicious for COPD; estimated FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC > 0.73: unlikely COPD. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting spirometry-defined COPD were 88.0% and 77.0%, respectively, while the negative predictive value ranged from 93.7% to 98.6% and positive predictive value ranged from 26.5% to 62.1% across different COPD prevalence groups in the Chinese population.</div></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><div>This equation could be useful to screen for COPD particularly in community and primary care settings.</div></div><div><h3>Funding</h3><div>The Financial Budgeting Project of <span>Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine</span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22792,"journal":{"name":"The Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 101501"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sam Egger , Michael David , Judith McCool , Lucy Hardie , Marianne F. Weber , Qingwei Luo , Becky Freeman
{"title":"Trends in smoking prevalence among 14–15-year-old adolescents before and after the emergence of vaping in New Zealand; an interrupted time series analysis of repeated cross-sectional data, 1999–2023","authors":"Sam Egger , Michael David , Judith McCool , Lucy Hardie , Marianne F. Weber , Qingwei Luo , Becky Freeman","doi":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101522","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101522","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>New Zealand experienced a prolonged period of minimal regulation on e-cigarettes until the passing of the 2020 Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Interrupted time series analyses of the Action for Smokefree 2025 (ASH) Year 10 Snapshot Survey data from 1999 to 2023 to compare changes in smoking trends among 14–15-year-old students (n = 690,470) before and after the advent of vaping in New Zealand (around 2010).</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The prevalence of daily-vaping increased from 1.1% in 2015 (the first year the question was asked) to 1.8% in 2018 before rising to 10.0% in 2023, a nine-fold increase over eight years. From 1999 to 2023, considerable declines in ever-, regular-, and daily-smoking prevalence were observed. However, the rates of decline in ever- and regular-smoking slowed significantly from 2010 onwards (p < 0.001 for both), coinciding with the advent and rapid growth of vaping among New Zealand adolescents. In contrast, the rate of decline in daily-smoking did not significantly change from 2010 onwards (p = 0.066). These findings were robust to sensitivity analyses, including the use of different time series interruption points (change-years) and controlling for inflation-adjusted cigarette prices.</div></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><div>Our findings starkly contrast with those from a previous analysis of ASH data, which suggested that e-cigarettes appear to be displacing smoking among New Zealand youth. Instead, our findings suggest that among 14–15-year-olds, the rapid rise of vaping may have slowed the rates of decline in ever- and regular-smoking, while having little or no impact on the rate of decline in daily smoking. Our findings underscore the importance of effective policy approaches to curb both adolescent vaping and smoking.</div></div><div><h3>Funding</h3><div>None.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22792,"journal":{"name":"The Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 101522"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Non-cancer risks among female breast cancer survivors: a matched cohort study in Japan","authors":"Chitose Kawamura , Krishnan Bhaskaran , Takaaki Konishi , Yasuaki Sagara , Hiroko Bando , Tomohiro Shinozaki , Shuko Nojiri , Motohiko Adomi , Angel Y.S. Wong , Nanako Tamiya , Masao Iwagami","doi":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101519","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101519","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The number of breast cancer (BC) survivors has increased worldwide, but the landscape of their non-cancer disease risks remains unclear, especially among Asian women.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In the JMDC claims database, which covers company employees and their family members in Japan, women aged 18–74 years with and without an incident BC were matched in a 1:4 ratio for age and entry timing to the database between January 2005 and December 2019. The risks for six cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation/flutter, ischaemic stroke, intracranial haemorrhage, and pulmonary embolism) and six non-cardiovascular diseases (major osteoporotic fractures, other fractures, gastrointestinal bleeding, urinary tract infection, infectious pneumonia, and anxiety/depression) were compared between the groups.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Comparing 24,017 BC survivors and 96,068 matched women (mean age, 50.5 years, standard deviation, 8.7 years), the incidence rates of heart failure, atrial fibrillation/flutter, and all non-cardiovascular diseases were higher in the BC survivor group. The highest adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was noted for heart failure (3.99 [95% confidence interval 2.58–6.16]), followed by gastrointestinal bleeding (3.55 [3.10–4.06]), and anxiety/depression (3.06 [2.86–3.28]). The HRs in the first year were larger than those for 1–10 years for most outcomes, whereas the HRs for fracture outcomes were larger for 1–10 years.</div></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><div>BC survivors in Japan showed an increased risk of many non-cancer diseases compared to women without BC. Most risks increased more steeply during the first year following diagnosis, whereas the risk of fractures increased later.</div></div><div><h3>Funding</h3><div>Competitive research funding from <span>Pfizer Health Research Foundation</span> in Japan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22792,"journal":{"name":"The Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 101519"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143684532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cognitive and socioemotional growth of youth in the digital era","authors":"The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific","doi":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101536","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101536","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":22792,"journal":{"name":"The Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 101536"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Si Si Jia , Katherine B. Owen , Philayrath Phongsavan , Margaret Allman-Farinelli , Alice A. Gibson , Stephanie R. Partridge
{"title":"Assessing socioeconomic disparities in emerging hybrid food environments: a cross-sectional analysis of the DIGIFOOD dashboard","authors":"Si Si Jia , Katherine B. Owen , Philayrath Phongsavan , Margaret Allman-Farinelli , Alice A. Gibson , Stephanie R. Partridge","doi":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101504","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101504","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":22792,"journal":{"name":"The Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 101504"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mingyang Xue , Weiheng Guo , Yundong Zhou , Jialin Meng , Yong Xi , Liming Pan , Yanfang Ye , You Zeng , Zhifei Che , Liang Zhang , Pengpeng Ye , João Conde , Queran Lin , Wenyi Jin , GBD 2021 China Urological Cancers Burden and Forecasting Collaborators
{"title":"Age-sex-specific burden of urological cancers attributable to risk factors in China and its provinces, 1990–2021, and forecasts with scenarios simulation: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021","authors":"Mingyang Xue , Weiheng Guo , Yundong Zhou , Jialin Meng , Yong Xi , Liming Pan , Yanfang Ye , You Zeng , Zhifei Che , Liang Zhang , Pengpeng Ye , João Conde , Queran Lin , Wenyi Jin , GBD 2021 China Urological Cancers Burden and Forecasting Collaborators","doi":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101517","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101517","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>As global aging intensifies, urological cancers pose increasing health and economic burdens. In China, home to one-fifth of the world's population, monitoring the distribution and determinants of these cancers and simulating the effects of health interventions are crucial for global and national health.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>With Global Burden of Disease (GBD) China database, the present study analyzed age-sex-specific patterns of incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and years of life lost (YLLs) in China and its 34 provinces as well as the association between gross domestic product per capita (GDPPC) and these patterns. Importantly, a multi-attentive deep learning pipeline (iTransformer) was pioneered to model the spatiotemporal patterns of urological cancers, risk factors, GDPPC, and population, to provide age-sex-location-specific long-term forecasts of urological cancer burdens, and to investigate the impacts of risk-factor-directed interventions on their future burdens.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>From 1990 to 2021, the incidence and prevalence of urological cancers in China has increased, leading to 266,887 new cases (95% confidence interval: 205,304–346,033) and 159,506,067 (12,236,0000–207,447,070) cases in 2021, driven primarily by males aged 55+ years. In 2021, Taiwan, Beijing, and Zhejiang had the highest age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized prevalence rates of urological cancer in China, highlighting significant regional disparities in the disease burden. Conversely, the national age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) has declined from 6.5 (5.1–7.8) per 100,000 population in 1990 to 5.6 (4.4–7.2) in 2021, notably in Jilin [−166.7% (−237 to −64.6)], Tibet [−135.4% (−229.1 to 4.4)], and Heilongjiang [−118.5% (−206.5 to −4.6)]. Specifically, the national ASMR for bladder and testicular cancers reduced by −32.1% (−47.9 to 1.9) and −31.1% (−50.2 to 7.2), respectively, whereas prostate and kidney cancers rose by 7.9% (−18.4 to 43.6) and 9.2% (−12.2 to 36.5). Age-standardized DALYs, YLDs, and YLLs for urological cancers were consistent with ASMR. Males suffered higher burdens of urological cancers than females in all populations, except those aged <5 years. Regionally and provincially, high GDPPC provinces have the highest burden of prostate cancer, while the main burden in other provinces is bladder cancer. The main risk factors for urological cancers in 2021 are smoking [accounting for 55.1% (42.7–67.4)], high body mass index [13.9% (5.3–22.4)], and high fasting glycemic index [5.9% (−0.8 to 13.4)] for both males and females, with smoking remarkably affecting males and high body mass index affecting females. Between 2022 and 2040, the ASIR of urological cancers increased from 10.09 (9.19–10.99) to 14.42 (14.30–14.54), despite their ASMR decreasing. Notably, prostate cancer surpassed bladde","PeriodicalId":22792,"journal":{"name":"The Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 101517"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143642985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nigel P. French , Howard Maxwell , Michael G. Baker , Fiona Callaghan , Kristin Dyet , Jemma L. Geoghegan , David T.S. Hayman , Q. Sue Huang , Amanda Kvalsvig , Euan Russell , Pippa Scott , Te Pora Thompson , Michael J. Plank
{"title":"Preparing for the next pandemic: insights from Aotearoa New Zealand’s Covid-19 response","authors":"Nigel P. French , Howard Maxwell , Michael G. Baker , Fiona Callaghan , Kristin Dyet , Jemma L. Geoghegan , David T.S. Hayman , Q. Sue Huang , Amanda Kvalsvig , Euan Russell , Pippa Scott , Te Pora Thompson , Michael J. Plank","doi":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101525","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101525","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In 2020 Aotearoa New Zealand, like many other countries, faced the coronavirus pandemic armed with an influenza-based pandemic plan. The country adapted rapidly to mount a highly strategic and effective elimination response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, implementation was hampered by gaps in pandemic preparedness. These gaps undermined effectiveness of the response and exacerbated inequitable impacts of both Covid-19 disease and control measures. Our review examines the Covid-19 response, reflecting on strengths, limitations and implications for pandemic planning. We identify three key areas for improvement: 1) development of a systematised procedure for risk assessment of a new pandemic pathogen; 2) investment in essential capabilities during inter-pandemic periods; and 3) building equity into all stages of the response. We present a typology of potential pathogens and scenarios and describe the evidence assessment process and core capabilities required for countries to respond fluidly, equitably, and effectively to a rapidly emerging pandemic threat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22792,"journal":{"name":"The Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific","volume":"56 ","pages":"Article 101525"},"PeriodicalIF":7.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143642986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}