Estimating Trends in Cardiovascular Disease Risk for the EXPOSE (Explaining Population Trends in Cardiovascular Risk: A Comparative Analysis of Health Transitions in South Africa and England) Study: Repeated Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally. Demographic, behavioral, socioeconomic, health care, and psychosocial variables considered risk factors for CVD are routinely measured in population health surveys, providing opportunities to examine health transitions. Studying the drivers of health transitions in countries where multiple burdens of disease persist (eg, South Africa), compared with countries regarded as models of "epidemiologic transition" (eg, England), can provide knowledge on where best to intervene and direct resources to reduce the disease burden.

Climate Change Curricula in US Graduate Medical Education: A Scoping Review.

Climate change threatens humanity's health and well-being. While climate change topics have been increasingly incorporated into undergraduate medical education, it is unclear to what extent they have been incorporated into graduate medical education (GME) curricula in the United States. To examine how climate change has been incorporated into GME curricula in the United States.

Extracranial germ cell tumours: Mature and immature (1990-2015). First report by the South African Association of Paediatric Haematology Oncology (SAAPHO).

Background And Objectives: Outcomes of rare paediatric teratomas have not previously been reported nor treatment regimens standardised in low- and middle-income settings. We sought to evaluate treatment outcomes of children and adolescents with histologically confirmed extracranial germ cell tumours, both mature teratomas (MT) and immature teratomas (IT) in preparation for the development of the South African national treatment guideline.

Methods: Retrospective data by folder review were collated from nine South African paediatric oncology units.

The interface between SARS-CoV-2 and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in a high HIV/TB burden district level hospital setting, Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: COVID-19 experiences on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) from district-level hospital settings during waves I and II are scarcely documented. The aim of this study is to investigate the NCDs associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality in a district-level hospital with a high HIV/TB burden.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study that compared COVID-19 waves I and II at Khayelitsha District Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

Socioeconomic status significantly impacts childhood cancer survival in South Africa.

Background And Aims: Significantly discrepant survival rates have been documented in single disease childhood cancer cohorts in South Africa; those from higher socioeconomic groups were shown to have a significantly lower risk of death than those from less affluent households. This study aimed to determine the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on childhood cancer survival using pooled South African data.

Methods: Five databases spanning January 2000 to December 2021 were interrogated.

The Carbon Footprint and Cost of Virtual Residency Interviews.

Background: The shift from in-person to virtual residency interviews may impact greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and costs but the direction and amount of this change is not yet clear.

Objective: To estimate GHGE and financial impacts of virtual interviews among applicants and programs.

Methods: In 2020-2021 we sent a postinterview survey to 1429 applicants from 7 residency programs and 1 clinical psychology program at 1 institution.

Updates on the multidisciplinary management of elderly patients with rectal cancer: a narrative review.

Introduction: The burden of rectal cancer in the elderly population continues to increase. The aim of this narrative review is to assess evidence updates on the management of elderly patients with rectal cancer.

Evidence Acquisition: The subject of rectal cancer in patients ≥70 years old was divided into different topics and, based on the research items, the literature review searched relevant studies from MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE between January 2000 and November 2022.

Multimorbidity patterns in South Africa: A latent class analysis.

Introduction: South Africa has the largest burden of HIV worldwide and has a growing burden of non-communicable diseases; the combination of which may lead to diseases clustering in ways that are not seen in other regions. This study sought to identify common disease classes and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with each disease class.

Methods: Data were analyzed from the South African Demographic and Health Survey 2016.

Estimating the changing burden of disease attributable to high sodium intake in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Elevated sodium consumption is associated with increased blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease.

Objectives: To quantify the deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributed to high sodium intake in persons aged ≥25 years in South Africa (SA) for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Methods: Comparative risk assessment (CRA) methodology was used and population attributable fractions (PAFs) of high sodium intake, mediated through high blood pressure (BP), for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease were estimated.

Estimating the burden of disease attributable to a diet low in fruit and vegetables in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Low intake of fruit and vegetables is associated with an increased risk of various non-communicable diseases, including major causes of death and disability such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and cancers. Diets low in fruit and vegetables are prevalent in the South African (SA) population, and average intake is well below the internationally recommended threshold.

Objectives: To estimate the burden of disease attributable to a diet low in fruit and vegetables by sex and age group in SA for the years 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Estimating the burden of disease attributable to household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Household air pollution (HAP) due to the use of solid fuels for cooking is a global problem with significant impacts on human health, especially in low- and middle-income countries. HAP remains problematic in South Africa (SA). While electrification rates have improved over the past two decades, many people still use solid fuels for cooking owing to energy poverty.

Overview.

Background: South Africa (SA) faces multiple health challenges. Quantifying the contribution of modifiable risk factors can be used to identify and prioritise areas of concern for population health and opportunities for health promotion and disease prevention interventions.

Objective: To estimate the attributable burden of 18 modifiable risk factors for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Estimating the changing burden of disease attributable to unsafe water and lack of sanitation and hygiene in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: The incidence of diarrhoeal disease is closely linked to socioeconomic and environmental factors, household practices and access to health services. South African (SA) district health information and national survey data report wide variation in the incidence and prevalence of diarrhoeal episodes in children under 5 years of age. These differentials indicate potential for reducing the disease burden through improvements in provision of water and sanitation services and changes in hygiene behaviour.

Estimating the changing burden of disease attributable to high body mass index in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: A high body mass index (BMI) is associated with several cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, cancers, and other selected health conditions.

Objectives: To quantify the deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributed to high BMI in persons aged ≥20 years in South Africa (SA) for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Methods: The comparative risk assessment (CRA) methodology was followed.

Estimating the changing burden of disease attributable to high fasting plasma glucose in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Worldwide, higher-than-optimal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is among the leading modifiable risk factors associated with all- cause mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to the direct sequelae of diabetes and the increased risk for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease.

Objectives: To report deaths and DALYs of health outcomes attributable to high FPG by age and sex for South Africa (SA) for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Methods: Comparative risk assessment methodology was used to estimate the burden attributable to high FPG.

Estimating the changing disease burden attributable to raised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is the most important contributor to atherosclerosis, a causal factor for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and ischaemic stroke. Although raised LDL-C is a key contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the exact attributable disease risk in South Africa (SA) is unknown. The the first SA comparative risk assessment (SACRA1) study assessed the attributable burden of raised total cholesterol, and not specifically LDL-C.

Estimating the burden of disease attributable to ambient air pollution (ambient PM2.5 and ambient ozone) in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Globally, a growing body of research has shown that ambient air pollution is one of the most critical environmental issues, especially in relation to human health. Exposure to ambient air pollution leads to serious health conditions such as lower respiratory infections, cancers, diabetes mellitus type 2, ischaemic heart disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objectives: To estimate the burden of disease attributable to ambient air pollution in South Africa (SA) for the years 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Estimating the changing disease burden attributable to iron deficiency in South Africa, 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Worldwide, iron deficiency, and consequent iron-deficiency anaemia, remains the most common nutritional disorder. Iron-deficiency anaemia mostly affects young children and women of reproductive age, especially in Asia and Africa. Iron deficiency may contribute to disability directly or indirectly as a risk factor for other causes of death, and may rarely contribute to death.

Estimating the changing burden of disease attributable to low levels of physical activity in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular outcomes, certain cancers and diabetes. The previous South African Comparative Risk Assessment (SACRA1) study assessed the attributable burden of low physical activity for 2000, but updated estimates are required, as well as an assessment of trends over time.

Objective: To estimate the national prevalence of physical activity by age, year and sex and to quantify the burden of disease attributable to low physical activity in South Africa (SA) for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Estimating the changing burden of disease attributable to high systolic blood pressure in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Ongoing quantification of trends in high blood pressure and the consequent disease impact are crucial for monitoring and decision-making. This is particularly relevant in South Africa (SA) where hypertension is well-established.

Objective: To quantify the burden of disease related to high systolic blood pressure (SBP) in SA for 2000, 2006 and 2012, and describe age, sex and population group differences.

Estimating the changing burden of disease attributable to alcohol use in South Africa for 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Background: Alcohol use was one of the leading contributors to South Africa (SA)'s disease burden in 2000, accounting for 7% of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in the first South African Comparative Risk Assessment Study (SACRA1). Since then, patterns of alcohol use have changed, as has the epidemiological evidence pertaining to the role of alcohol as a risk factor for infectious diseases, most notably HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB).

Objectives: To estimate the burden of disease attributable to alcohol use by sex and age group in SA in 2000, 2006 and 2012.

Effectiveness of Virtual Residency Interviews: Interviewer Perspectives.

Background And Objectives: Virtual residency interviews were widely utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the effectiveness, advantages, barriers, and acceptability of virtual interviews, casting uncertainty about how interviews should be conducted after the pandemic. We conducted a survey of interviewers to inform future decisions.

Matching study using health and police datasets for characterising interpersonal violence in the community of Khayelitsha, South Africa 2013-2015.

Objectives: The Cardiff Model of data sharing for violence prevention is premised on the idea that the majority of injury cases presenting at health facilities as a result of interpersonal violence will not be reported to the police. The aim of this study was to determine the concordance between violent crimes reported to the police with violence-related injuries presenting at health facilities in Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of secondary cross-sectional health and police data, from three health facilities and three police stations in the community of Khayelitsha, Cape Town.