Selected aspects of mortality in Czechia and Slovakia in the pandemic year 2020.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyse the mortality trends in Czechia and Slovakia through detailed anonymized primary data on deaths in 2010-2020 and in particular to identify various aspects of the impact of the 2020 pandemic year in their context. METHODS: Using the DeRaS application, complete life tables by sex for 2010-2020 were constructed for Czechia and Slovakia, and changes in life expectancy at birth and at the exact age of 65 years were analysed. Using Pressat's univariate decomposition, the effect of different age groups on the change in life expectancy at birth for men and women between 2019 and 2020 was identified. Subsequently, age group contributions to the decline in temporary life expectancy between the exact ages of 65 and 110 were also determined. Trends in mortality rates for each of the major cause of death groups were analysed using directly standardized mortality rates, with a detailed focus on selected groups of cardiovascular disease. The contributions of the major cause of death groups to the decline in life expectancy at birth between 2019 and 2020 were empirically identified by applying bivariate decomposition according to the Pollard method. RESULTS: In 2020, the life expectancy of newly born men in Czechia decreased by 1.05 years and that of women by 0.76 years. In Slovakia, the decrease was 0.67 years for men and 0.64 years for women. An even greater reduction was found for both countries at the exact age of 65. The main reason for this was the worsening of the mortality rates between the ages of 65 and 89 years, especially from COVID-19 and some diseases of the circulatory system. CONCLUSION: The study identified a significant reduction in life expectancy at birth for both men and women in Czechia and Slovakia between 2019 and 2020. The main reason for this phenomenon was the increase in mortality rates at senior ages, up to around age 90. However, the increase in mortality did not affect all age groups, but contributions at younger ages could not significantly compensate for the negative impact of older ages. The study confirmed mortality from COVID-19 as a major factor in declining life expectancy at birth but also noted a non-negligible effect of the worsened mortality rates from circulatory diseases. The negative impact of both groups of causes of death was particularly pronounced at the age of 65 and over.

Do guided internet-based interventions result in clinically relevant changes for patients with depression? An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Little is known about clinically relevant changes in guided Internet-based interventions for depression. Moreover, methodological and power limitations preclude the identification of patients' groups that may benefit more from these interventions. This study aimed to investigate response rates, remission rates, and their moderators in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of guided Internet-based interventions for adult depression to control groups using an individual patient data meta-analysis approach. Literature searches in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library resulted in 13,384 abstracts from database inception to January 1, 2016. Twenty-four RCTs (4889 participants) comparing a guided Internet-based intervention with a control group contributed data to the analysis. Missing data were multiply imputed. To examine treatment outcome on response and remission, mixed-effects models with participants nested within studies were used. Response and remission rates were calculated using the Reliable Change Index. The intervention group obtained significantly higher response rates (OR = 2.49, 95% CI 2.17-2.85) and remission rates compared to controls (OR = 2.41, 95% CI 2.07-2.79). The moderator analysis indicated that older participants (OR = 1.01) and native-born participants (1.66) were more likely to respond to treatment compared to younger participants and ethnic minorities respectively. Age (OR = 1.01) and ethnicity (1.73) also moderated the effects of treatment on remission.Moreover, adults with more severe depressive symptoms at baseline were more likely to remit after receiving internet-based treatment (OR = 1.19). Guided Internet-based interventions lead to substantial positive treatment effects on treatment response and remission at post-treatment. Thus, such interventions may complement existing services for depression and potentially reduce the gap between the need and provision of evidence-based treatments.

Association of tumour necrosis factor-alpha -308 G/A polymorphism with primary open-angle glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is an important proinflammatory cytokine driving axonal degeneration and retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in glaucoma. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of TNF-α -308 G/A and -238 G/A polymorphisms with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). DESIGN: A prospective, case-control study, university hospital setting. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-six POAG patients and 193 healthy unrelated controls. METHODS: TNF-α polymorphisms were screened by using direct gene sequencing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of TNF-α -308 G/A and TNF-α -238 G/A promoter polymorphisms in glaucoma and healthy subjects. RESULTS: The frequencies of TNF-α -308 GA genotype and 'A' allele were higher in patients with POAG (22.1% and 12.2%, respectively) in comparison with the control group (10.9% and 6%, respectively) (P = 0.046 and 0.02, respectively), with odds ratios of 2.45 (P = 0.01, 95% CI = 1.23-4.87) and 2.19 (P = 0.013, 95% CI = 1.18-4.08), respectively. Genotype distribution of the TNF-α -238 variants did not yield a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.87). CONCLUSION: TNF-α -308 G/A polymorphism seems to be associated with POAG in Turkish population. However, population-based studies with large number of subjects and long-term follow-up are needed to verify the association of TNF-α -308 G/A polymorphism with glaucoma susceptibility.

[Population prospects in the Czech Republic (demographic prognosis to the year 2010)]. / Perspektivy obyvatelstva Ceske Republiky (prognoza demografickeho vyvoje do roku 2010).

"Computation of the [Czech Republic] population prognosis based on the 1991 census results was carried out in 8 variants.... All variants of prognostic computation suggest that round the year 2005 there will be attained the maximum population numbers." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND RUS)

Population perspectives of the Czech Republic.

PIP: The authors present population projections for the Czech Republic to the year 2010. Forecasts are made of mortality, fertility, migration, the total population, the economically active population, and the post-reproductive population. (SUMMARY IN CZE)^ieng

[Mortality of the Czech and the Slovak populations considering historically low mortality rates]. / Umrtnost Ceske a Slovenske populace z hlediska historicky minimalnich mer umrtnosti.

PIP: The mortality rates of the Slovak and Czech populations of Czechoslovakia from 1953 to 1988 are analyzed. The lowest death rates in the country's history were achieved for all age groups during this period. The authors calculate that a significant increase in life expectancy for both ethnic groups will occur in 1988. (SUMMARY IN ENG AND RUS)^ieng