Trends in prevalence and disability-adjusted life years of cataract in China from 1990 to 2019 / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To assess the evolving burden of cataracts in China from 1990 to 2019.METHODS: Data on disease burden related to cataracts in China were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease(GBD)2019 study based on large public databases. Utilizing data from the GBD 2019 study, we extracted information on cataract-related disease burden in China from extensive public databases. Analysis of prevalence and disability-adjusted life years(DALYs)associated with cataracts in China was conducted based on GBD 2019 findings. The variable characteristics of age-standardized prevalence rates(ASPR)and age-standardized DALYs rates(ASDR)in China and its neighboring countries were also explored.RESULTS: Between 1990 and 2019, the number of prevalent cases of blindness and vision loss caused by cataracts in China increased by 223.54%, and the corresponding DALYs raised by 142.14%. Over the past 30 years, females exhibited higher age-standardized prevalence and DALYs rates compared to males. Meanwhile, individuals aged 65 to 84 years were found to be more susceptible to cataracts than other age groups. Compared with neighboring countries, China ranked from the 9th position in 1990(867.09, 95%UI: 761.36 to 975.42, per 100 000 population)to the 11th in 2019(991.56, 95%UI: 861.52 to 1131.04, per 100 000 population)in ASPR, while from the 9th in 1990(65.85, 95%UI: 46.39 to 89.41, per 100 000 population)to the 10th position in 2019(59.16, 95%UI: 41.70 to 80.15, per 100 000 population)in ASDR. However, on a global scale, China maintained relatively low ASDR and ASPR for cataracts in 2019.CONCLUSION: The study highlights a substantial rise in the prevalence and DALYs associated with blindness and vision loss due to cataracts from 1990 to 2019 in China, and underscores the urgent need for increased early screening of cataracts, particularly among the elderly and females.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with HIV in Zimbabwe

The COVID-19 pandemic was reported from March 2020 in Zimbabwe. COVID-19 containment measures which included repeated lockdowns have disrupted community interactions, reduced working hours, restricted travel and restricted HIV services for people living with HIV (PLHIV), among others. The study adopted a cross-sectional design. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected in all the 10 provinces and analysed. A sample size of 480 was calculated for the cross-sectional survey. Secondary data on HIV early warning indicators from 2018 to 2021 were extracted from 20 randomly selected health facilities and used for modelling. Mathematical modelling was conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 on PLHIV. AIDS-related deaths increased from 20 100 in 2019 to 22 200 in 2020. In addition, there were significant years of life lost (yLLs) from premature mortality and years of life lost due to disability (yLDs) from COVID-19. Prevalence of COVID-19 among PLHIV was 4%. COVID-19 vaccination coverage was 64%, which is higher than the national average of 42%. Stress and breach of confidentiality as ARV medicines were given out in open spaces and fear of contracting COVID-19 were the perceived psychological issues. COVID-19 disrupted HIV service provision, increased AIDS-related deaths and caused psychological challenges

Estimating the social and economic burden of road traffic injuries in the Philippines

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Road traffic injuries (RTI) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Despite underreporting, the scarce Philippine data suggest that RTI pose a significant health problem in the country. It is imperative, therefore, to accurately quantify the burden of RTI in the Philippines.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> This study aimed to provide the first comprehensive baseline estimation of the socioeconomic burden of RTI in the Philippines for year 2014.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS:</strong> The study was a mixed method study design that utilized both primary and secondary data. These data were used to construct parameters needed for the modeling estimates. Measure of socioeconomic burden estimated were (1) economic costs, (2) disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and (3) healthy life years (HeaLY).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULT:</strong> Estimated deaths due to RTI in 2014 were 12,336 translating to 454,650 years life lost due to premature death. Injury episodes from RTI were estimated to be 2,798,088 in 2014 with 186,174 leading to admissions, translating to 56,224 years life lost to disability. The total DALY loss due to RTI in 2014 was estimated at 510, 874, while healthy life years lost were estimated to be 76,215,477.4. The estimated deaths and injuries for that year equaled to direct medical cost of PhP 1.213 B, productivity loss due to premature death of PhP 24.620 B, and productivity loss due to illness of PhP 685 M resulting to a total economic cost of PhP 26.519 B to the society.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> The findings indicate that RTI is an important public health concern in the Philippines with substantial economic and health burden. Investing in preventive measures will likely yield significant economic and health gains for the Philippines.</p>

Disability-adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for Mental and Substance Use Disorders in the Korean Burden of Disease Study 2012

The purpose of this study was to estimate the national burden of mental substance disorders on medical care utilization in Korea using National Health Insurance System (NHIS) data and updated disability weight, in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). For each of the 24 disorders, the incident years lived with disability (YLDs) was calculated, using NHIS data to estimate prevalence and incidence rates. The DisMod-II software program was used to model duration and remission. The years of life lost (YLLs) due to premature death were calculated from causes of death statistics. DALYs were computed as the sum of YLDs and YLLs, and time discounting and age weighting were applied. The year examined was 2012, and the subjects were divided into 9 groups according to age. In 2012, the Korean burden of mental and substance use disorders was 945,391 DALYs. More than 98% of DALYs were from YLDs, and the burden in females was greater than that in males, though the burden in males aged less than 19 years old was greater than that in females. Unipolar depressive disorders, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders were found to be major diseases that accounted for more than 70% of the burden, and most DALYs occurred in their 30–59. Mental and substance use disorders accounted for 6.2% of the total burden of disease and were found to be the 7th greatest burden of disease. Therefore, mental and substance use disorders need to be embraced by mainstream health care with resources commensurate with the burden.

Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for Injuries Using Death Certificates and Hospital Discharge Survey by the Korean Burden of Disease Study 2012

A system for assessing the burdens imposed by disease and injury was developed to meet healthcare, priority setting, and policy planning needs. The first such system, the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), was implemented in 1990. However, problems associated with limited data and assumed disability weightings remain to be resolved. The purpose of the present study was to estimate national burdens of injuries in Korea using more reliable data and disability weightings. The incidences of injuries were estimated using the Korean National Hospital Discharge Survey and the mortality data from the Korean National Statistical Office in 2010. Additionally, durations of injuries and age at injury onset were used to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALY) using disability weightings derived from the Korean Burden of Disease (KBD) study. Korea had 1,581,072 DALYs resulting from injuries (3,170 per 100,000), which was 22.9% higher than found by the GBD 2010 study. Males had almost twice as heavy an injury burden as females. Road injury, fall, and self-harm ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in terms of burden of injury in 2010. Total injury burden peaked in the forties, while burden per person declined gradually from early adulthood. We hope that this study contributes to the reliable evaluation of injury burden and a better understanding of injury-related health status using nation-specific, dependable data.