Noise and Hypertension —a Narrative Review
AbstractPurpose of reviewHigh systolic blood pressure is the leading risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality worldwide (Lancet 388:1659 –724, 2016). The aim of this article is to give an overview about the current knowledge on the association of ambient noise exposure with elevations in blood pressure and hypertension.Recent findingsMost studies so far show a positive association of long-term noise exposure and prevalence or incidence of hypertension, including a recent comprehensive review and meta-analysis of 24 studies on road traffic noise exposure and prevalence of hypertension (odds ratio of 1.034 [95% co...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - March 21, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Missingness in the Setting of Competing Risks: from Missing Values to Missing Potential Outcomes
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe setting of competing risks in which there is an event that precludes the event of interest from occurring is prevalent in epidemiological research. Unless studying all-cause mortality, any study following up individuals is subject to having a competing risk should individuals die during time period that the study covers. While there are prior papers discussing the need for competing risk methods in epidemiologic research, we are not aware of any review that discusses issues of missing data in a competing risk setting.Recent FindingsWe provide an overview of causal inference in competing risks a...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - March 19, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
An Update on the Global Epidemiology of Syphilis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewSyphilis continues to cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. While syphilis infection is easily identifiable and treatable, rates of syphilis infection continue to increase among select populations in high-income countries and remain at endemic levels in low- and middle-income countries.Recent FindingsWorld Health Organization recommended strategies have led to the dual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis and HIV in several countries; however, outbreaks among select populations need to be adequately addressed.SummaryContinued vigilance and investment are needed to address syph...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - February 19, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Review of Statistical Methods for Gene-Environment Interaction Analysis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewsComplex diseases are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, creating a challenge for understanding the disease mechanisms. Understanding the interplay between genes and environmental factors is important, as genes do not operate in isolation but rather in complex networks and pathways influenced by environmental factors. The advent of new technologies has made a massive amount of genetic data available, and various statistical methods have been developed to analyze genetic data and to identify interactions between genes and the environment, i.e., gene-environment (G-E) inter...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - February 12, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Prenatal PBDE Exposure and Neurodevelopment in Children 7 Years Old or Younger: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
This study was underpowered due to the low number of available studies meeting eligibility criteria, although the use of pooled data analysis helped to offset the underpowered meta-analysis. (Source: Current Epidemiology Reports)
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - February 6, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
The Burden of Influenza: a Complex Problem
(Source: Current Epidemiology Reports)
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - February 5, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
The Challenges and Opportunities of Using Large Administrative Claims Databases for Biosimilar Monitoring and Research in the United States
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe number of marketed biosimilars in the USA is increasing and will require careful post-marketing monitoring. We address some of the challenges and opportunities of using administrative claims data both inside and outside the context of distributed research networks to monitor post-marketing biosimilar use, effectiveness, and safety in the USA.Recent FindingsThree major challenges and opportunities of using administrative claims to monitor biosimilars in the post-marketing environment are presented. These include (1) having sufficient longitudinal follow-up of patients in the target population, (...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - January 26, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Tuberculosis: a Persistent Health Challenge for India
AbstractPurpose of ReviewCurrently, India accounts for more than a quarter of incident TB cases globally. The Indian government recently announced a new national strategic plan to eliminate TB by 2025, but much is still unknown about the epidemic, in part due to a weakly regulated and highly privatized health sector. In this review, we provide an overview of the current landscape of TB in India, focusing on major challenges to elimination.Recent FindingsHistorically, political will and investment in TB care in India have been lacking. To successfully eliminate TB, India will need to broadly improve the quality of care that...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - January 24, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Correction to: Administrative Claims Data Versus Augmented Pregnancy Data for the Study of Pharmaceutical Treatments in Pregnancy
AbstractThe article “Administrative Claims Data Versus Augmented Pregnancy Data for the Study of Pharmaceutical Treatments in Pregnancy,” written by Susan E. Andrade, Anick Bérard, Hedvig M.E. Nordeng, Mollie E. Wood, Marleen M.H.J. van Gelder, and Sengwee Toh, was originally published Online First without open ac cess. (Source: Current Epidemiology Reports)
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - January 23, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Recent Developments in Mendelian Randomization Studies
AbstractPurpose of ReviewMendelian randomization (MR) is a strategy for evaluating causality in observational epidemiological studies. MR exploits the fact that genotypes are not generally susceptible to reverse causation and confounding, due to their fixed nature and Mendel ’s First and Second Laws of Inheritance. MR has the potential to provide information on causality in many situations where randomized controlled trials are not possible, but the results of MR studies must be interpreted carefully to avoid drawing erroneous conclusions.Recent FindingsIn this review, we outline the principles behind MR, as well as assu...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - November 22, 2017 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Propensity Scores in Pharmacoepidemiology: Beyond the Horizon
AbstractPurpose of ReviewPropensity score methods have become commonplace in pharmacoepidemiology over the past decade. Their adoption has confronted formidable obstacles that arise from pharmacoepidemiology ’s reliance on large healthcare databases of considerable heterogeneity and complexity. These include identifying clinically meaningful samples, defining treatment comparisons, and measuring covariates in ways that respect sound epidemiologic study design. Additional complexities involve correctly modeling treatment decisions in the face of variation in healthcare practice and dealing with missing information and unm...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - November 6, 2017 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Reflections on the Future of Epidemiology: How Students Can Inform Our Vision
(Source: Current Epidemiology Reports)
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - November 6, 2017 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Opportunities for Epidemiologists: from Precision Medicine to Population Health
(Source: Current Epidemiology Reports)
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - November 4, 2017 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Current Scope and Challenges in Phenome-Wide Association Studies
AbstractPurpose of ReviewOver many decades, researchers have been designing studies to investigate the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes to gain an understanding about the effect of genetics on disease. Recently, a high-throughput approach called phenome-wide associations studies (PheWAS) have been extensively used to identify associations between genetic variants and many diseases and traits simultaneously. In this review, we describe the value of PheWAS along with methodological issues and challenges in interpretation for current applications of PheWAS.Recent FindingsPheWAS have uncovered a paradigm to identi...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - November 2, 2017 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Addressing Bias in Electronic Health Record-based Surveillance of Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Finding the Signal Through the Noise
AbstractPurpose of reviewUse of the electronic health record (EHR) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) surveillance is increasingly common. However, these data can introduce systematic error that influences the internal and external validity of study findings. We reviewed recent literature on EHR-based studies of CVD risk to summarize the most common types of bias that arise. Subsequently, we recommend strategies informed by work from others as well as our own to reduce the impact of these biases in future research.Recent findingsSystematic error, or bias, is a concern in all observational research including EHR-based studies...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - November 2, 2017 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
