Correction to: A Selective Review of Negative Control Methods in Epidemiology
A Correction to this paper has been published:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-021-00270-9 (Source: Current Epidemiology Reports)
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - May 8, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Methodological Challenges for Epidemiologic Studies of Deprescribing at the End of Life
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo describe approaches to measuring deprescribing and associated outcomes in studies of patients approaching end of life (EOL).Recent FindingsWe reviewed studies published through 2020 that evaluated deprescribing in patients with limited life expectancy and approaching EOL. Deprescribing includes reducing the number of medications, decreasing medication dose(s), and eliminating potentially inappropriate medications. Tools such as STOPPFrail, OncPal, and the Unnecessary Drug Use Measure can facilitate deprescribing. Outcome measures vary and selection of measures should align with the operationaliz...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - April 23, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
New Developments and Insights in the Improvement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Vaccines and Diagnostics Within the End TB Strategy
AbstractPurpose of reviewThe alignment of sustainable development goals (SDGs) with the End Tuberculosis (TB) strategy provides an integrated roadmap to implement key approaches towards TB elimination. This review summarizes current social challenges for TB control, and yet, recent developments in TB diagnosis and vaccines in the context of the End TB strategy and SDGs to transform global health.Recent findingsAdvances in non-sputum based TB biomarkers and whole genome sequencing technologies could revolutionize TB diagnostics. Moreover, synergistic novel technologies such as mRNA vaccination, nanovaccines and promising TB...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - April 7, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
HIV Drug Resistance in Children and Adolescents: Always a Challenge?
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWith the expanded roll-out of antiretrovirals for treatment and prevention of HIV during the last decade, the emergence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) has become a growing challenge. This review provides an overview of the epidemiology and trajectory of HIVDR globally with an emphasis on pediatric and adolescent populations.Recent FindingsHIVDR is associated with suboptimal virologic suppression and treatment failure, leading to an increased risk of HIV transmission to uninfected people and increased morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV. High rates of HIVDR to non-nucleoside reverse...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - March 18, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Aging and COVID-19 in Minority Populations: a Perfect Storm
AbstractPurpose of ReviewCOVID-19 is a major concern for the health and wellbeing of individuals worldwide. As COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to increase in the USA, aging Black and Hispanic populations have emerged as especially at-risk for increased exposure to COVID-19 and susceptibility to severe health outcomes. The current review discusses the weathering hypothesis and the influence of social inequality on the identified health disparities.Recent FindingsAging minoritized populations have endured structural and social inequality over the lifecourse. Consequently, these populations experience weathering, a process...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - March 16, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Antimalarial Drug Resistance and Implications for the WHO Global Technical Strategy
AbstractPurpose of ReviewFive years have passed since the World Health Organization released its Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (GTS). In that time, progress against malaria has plateaued. This review focuses on the implications of antimalarial drug resistance for the GTS and how interim progress in parasite genomics and antimalarial pharmacology offer a bulwark against it.Recent FindingsFor the first time, drug resistance –conferring genes have been identified and validated before their global expansion in malaria parasite populations. More efficient methods for their detection and elaboration have been developed...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - March 14, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
HIV and Aging: Double Stigma
AbstractPurpose of ReviewHIV and ageism continue to be key public health challenges in the USA and globally. Older people living with HIV may experience intersectional stigma resulting from HIV and ageism. The current review summarizes the scientific literature and focuses on social isolation and lack of social support as key factors in experiencing HIV-related and aging-related stigma.Recent FindingsSocial isolation and social support are key social determinants of health, which may have a bidirectional relationship with HIV-related stigma and ageism. Stigmatization may also result in health care providers not paying enou...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - March 12, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Insights Into Epidemiologic Assessments of the Microbiome and Challenges in Identifying Microbiome Relationships with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
We describe different methods for microbiome assessment and analysis and highlight some of the challenges of using omics data in epidemiologic studies of adverse pregnancy outcomes.Recent FindingsHuman microbiomes are dynamic and vary by ancestry and geography. The composition and dynamics of the vaginal microbiome have been associated with risk of preterm birth.SummaryThere are several different methods for characterizing the microbiome. Choice of method depends on the research question and resources available. Added to known challenges of conducting and analyzing epidemiologic studies are the unique challenges associated...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - February 23, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Menstrual Cycle Tracking Applications and the Potential for Epidemiological Research: a Comprehensive Review of the Literature
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe reviewed published studies on menstrual cycle tracking applications (MCTAs) in order to describe the potential of MCTAs for epidemiologic research.Recent FindingsA search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for MCTA literature yielded 150 articles. After exclusions, there were 49 articles that addressed the primary interest areas: 1) characteristics of MCTA users in research, 2) reasons women use or continue using MCTAs, 3) accuracy of identifying ovulation and utility at promoting and preventing pregnancy, and 4) quality assessments of MCTAs across several domains.SummaryMCTAs are an importan...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - February 20, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Health Information Technology Use Among Healthcare Providers Treating Children and Adolescents With Obesity: a Systematic Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewA systematic review was performed to synthesize the latest evidence of health information technology (HIT) used by healthcare professionals to address overweight/obesity among children and adolescents.Recent FindingsThis literature has not been summarized since 2012 despite the rapidly changing nature of HIT, the millions of federal healthcare dollars invested in the last decade, and the continued burden of childhood obesity and associated metabolic diseases.SummaryThree databases were searched from January, 2012 to August, 2020. Experimental and quasi-experimental studies, including pilot and feas...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - February 14, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Cardiovascular Disease and Coronavirus Disease 2019: Epidemiology, Management, and Prevention
AbstractPurpose of ReviewCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This review summarizes findings up to date on the relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and COVID-19.Recent FindingsPreexisting CVD is a common condition among patients with COVID-19 and is associated with increased disease severity and mortality. Conversely, COVID-19 has various clinical manifestations on cardiovascular system, including thrombotic events and cardiac dysfunction. The pandemic has impacted healthcare utilization among patients with CVD, which may have le...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - January 2, 2021 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
A Toolkit for the Application of Placental-Fetal Molecular Biomarkers in Epidemiologic Studies of the Fetal Origins of Chronic Disease
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIn this review, we provide essential background knowledge and an analytical framework for the application of placental-fetal molecular biomarkers in fetal origins chronic disease epidemiology. The widely available and highly quantitative placental hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is used as an example. hCG is currently used for diagnosing fetal genetic disorders; yet, it can and should be expanded to understanding the fetal origins of chronic diseases. We provide justification and methods to do this.Recent FindingsTen papers published in the last 5 years were identified with supportive ...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - December 28, 2020 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Different Risk Profiles of European Patients Using Direct Oral Anticoagulants or Vitamin K Antagonists: a Rapid Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe investigated the risk profiles of patients using direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) or vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in European cohort studies to estimate the importance of potential (measured or unmeasured) confounding factors in analyses comparing these drugs. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (2008 –2018) for relevant studies and extracted information on age, sex, comorbidity, Charlson comorbidity index, HAS-BLED score (assessing risk of bleeding) and CHA2DS2-VASc score (assessing risk of stroke).Recent FindingsOverall, 66 studies with 2,808,757 patients were included. Most patients were from Fr...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - November 14, 2020 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Flame Retardants and Neurodevelopment: an Updated Review of Epidemiological Literature
AbstractPurpose of ReviewFlame retardant (FR) compounds can adversely impact neurodevelopment. This updated literature review summarizes epidemiological studies of FRs and neurotoxicity published since 2015, covering historical (polybrominated biphenyls [PBBs], polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs]), contemporary (polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDEs], hexabromocyclododecane [HBCD], and tetrabromobisphenol A [TBBPA]), and current-use organophosphate FRs (OPFRs) and brominated FRs (2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobezoate [EH-TBB] TBB), bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate [BEH-TEBP]), focusing on prenatal and postnatal periods ...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - November 10, 2020 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Heart Failure Diagnosis, Readmission, and Mortality Prediction Using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Models
AbstractPurpose of ReviewOne in five people will develop heart failure (HF), and 50% of HF patients die in 5 years. The HF diagnosis, readmission, and mortality prediction are essential to develop personalized prevention and treatment plans. This review summarizes recent findings and approaches of machine learning models for HF diagnostic and outcome prediction using electronic health record (EHR) data.Recent FindingsA set of machine learning models have been developed for HF diagnostic and outcome prediction using diverse variables derived from EHR data, including demographic, medical note, laboratory, and image data, a...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - October 31, 2020 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
