Economic costs of tobacco-related diseases in Hong Kong in 2021.

Background: Hong Kong has one of the lowest smoking prevalence both within China and among high-income economies. As tobacco use consistently declined over the past decades, we examine whether there are corresponding cost reductions.

Methods: Data were sourced from diverse population-wide datasets including government reports and public hospital records.

Economic costs attributable to modifiable risk factors: an analysis of 24 million urban residents in China.

Background: Estimating the economic burden of modifiable risk factors is crucial for allocating scarce healthcare resources to improve population health. We quantified the economic burden attributable to modifiable risk factors in an urban area of China.

Methods: Our Shanghai Municipal Health Commission dataset covered 2.

Evaluation of vaccine allergy safety track program to assess potential COVID-19 vaccine allergy: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Concerns about new COVID-19 vaccines played a key role in vaccine hesitancy and hampered population uptake. Hong Kong initiated a Vaccine Allergy Safety Track (VAS-Track) program to assess potential COVID-19 vaccine-associated allergies. A 'Hub-and-Spoke' model of predominately non-specialists supported by the allergist hub was established to meet overwhelming demand despite limited specialists.

The Impact of Unrelated Future Medical Costs on Economic Evaluation Outcomes for Different Models of Diabetes.

Objective: This study leveraged data from 11 independent international diabetes models to evaluate the impact of unrelated future medical costs on the outcomes of health economic evaluations in diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Eleven models simulated the progression of diabetes and occurrence of its complications in hypothetical cohorts of individuals with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 (T2D) diabetes over the remaining lifetime of the patients to evaluate the cost effectiveness of three hypothetical glucose improvement interventions versus a hypothetical control intervention. All models used the same set of costs associated with diabetes complications and interventions, using a United Kingdom healthcare system perspective.

Short- and long-term impacts of the National Essential Medicines Policy on drug availability, price, and usage in a deprived rural county in southwestern China: an interrupted time series analysis across 8 years.

Background: China's National Essential Medicines Policy (NEMP) has been implemented for over 15 years; yet empirical evidence on its long-term impacts is lacking, particularly in remote and rural regions. This study aims to assess the short-and long-term effects of NEMP on the drug availability, price, and usage in a deprived rural county in southwestern China.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed, featuring a single-group pre-and-post comparison.

Examining the Impact of Structural Uncertainty Across 10 Type 2 Diabetes Models: Results From the 2022 Mount Hood Challenge.

Objectives: The Mount Hood Diabetes Challenge Network aimed to examine the impact of model structural uncertainty on the estimated cost-effectiveness of interventions for type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Ten independent modeling groups completed a blinded simulation exercise to estimate the cost-effectiveness of 3 interventions in 2 type 2 diabetes populations. Modeling groups were provided with a common baseline population, cost and utility values associated with different model health states, and instructions regarding time horizon and discounting.

The negative spillover impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hong Kong diabetes patients' mortality and cardiovascular disease.

Background: The spillover impact from disrupted healthcare services for non-COVID-infected diabetes mellitus (DM) patients caused by the reshuffling of the manpower during the pandemic remains understudied, especially in Hong Kong where healthcare resources were already strained before the pandemic.

Aim: To evaluate the spill-over effect of the Pandemic on Hong Kong diabetes patients, we examined the change in all-cause mortality and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) from 2012 to 2021.

Method: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from Hong Kong Hospital Authority healthcare records covering all publicly provided care.

Extended Paid Maternity Leave Associated With Improved Maternal Mental Health In Hong Kong.

In July 2020, Hong Kong extended statutory paid maternity leave from ten weeks to fourteen weeks to align with International Labour Organization standards. We used the policy enactment as an observational natural experiment to assess the mental health implications of this policy change on probable postnatal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scores of 10 or higher) and postpartum emotional well-being. Using an opportunistic observational study design, we recruited 1,414 survey respondents with births before (August 1-December 10, 2020) and after (December 11, 2020-July 18, 2022) policy implementation.

Comparison of prediction models for cardiovascular and mortality risk in people with type 2 diabetes: An external validation in 23 685 adults included in the UK Biobank.

Aims: To validate cardiovascular risk prediction models for individuals with diabetes using the UK Biobank in order to assess their applicability.

Methods: We externally validated 19 cardiovascular risk scores from seven risk prediction models (Chang et al., Framingham, University of Hong Kong-Singapore [HKU-SG], Li et al, RECODe [risk equations for complications of type 2 diabetes], SCORE [Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation] and the UK Prospective Diabetes Study Outcomes Model 2 [UKPDS OM2]), identified from systematic reviews, using UK Biobank data from 2006 to 2021 (n = 23 685; participant age 40-71 years, 63.

Global trends indicate increasing consumption of dietary sodium and fiber in middle-income countries: A study of 30-year global macrotrends.

According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, 3 million deaths were attributable to high sodium intake and low intake of whole grains. With the rapid evolution of the food industry, we hypothesize that dietary intake of sodium has increased and that dietary intake of whole grains or fibers has decreased because of easier access to highly processed food. Country-level data on dietary factors and country income levels from 1990 to 2018 were collected from 3 public databases.

ALDH2 polymorphism, alcohol intake and the attributable burden of cancer in East Asia: systematic review, meta-analysis, and modeling study.

Purpose: To estimate the burden of alcohol-attributable cancer in East Asian populations accounting for aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) genotype-specific cancer risk and alcohol exposure.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of eight databases on cancer risk to derive alcohol dose-response curves by ALDH2 genotype. A simulation-based approach using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) modeling framework was applied to estimate the population attributable fraction, incidence, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost to alcohol-attributable cancer.

Potential health and economic impact associated with achieving risk factor control in Chinese adults with diabetes: a microsimulation modelling study.

Background: The prevalence of diabetes has risen sharply in China. Improving modifiable risk factors such as glycaemia and blood pressure could substantially reduce disease burden and treatment costs to achieve a healthier China by 2030.

Methods: We used a nationally representative population-based survey of adults with diabetes in 31 provinces in mainland China to assess the prevalence of risk factor control.

Impact of alcohol taxes on violence in Hong Kong: a population-based interrupted time series analysis.

Background: Interpersonal violence is a major public health concern with alcohol use a known risk factor. Despite alcohol taxation being an effective policy to reduce consumption; Hong Kong, contrary to most developed economies, embarked on an alcohol tax reduction and elimination policy.

Methods: To assess the impact of the alcohol tax reductions, we analysed population-based hospitalisation data for assault from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, and violent and sexual crimes recorded by the Hong Kong Police Force (2004-2018).

The indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and without COVID-19 infection: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effect directly from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on health and fatality has received considerable attention, particularly among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, evidence on the indirect impact of disrupted healthcare services during the pandemic on people with T2DM is limited. This systematic review aims to assess the indirect impact of the pandemic on the metabolic management of T2DM people without a history of COVID-19 infection.

COVID-19 Vaccine Allergy Safety Track (VAS-Track) pathway: real-world outcomes on vaccination rates and antibody protection.

Background: Misdiagnosed vaccine-related "allergies" lead to unnecessary vaccine deferrals and incomplete vaccinations, leaving patients unprotected against COVID-19. To overcome limitations and queues for Allergist assessment, the "VAS-Track" pathway was developed to evaluate patients via a multi-disciplinary triage model including nurses, non-specialists, and Allergists.

Objective: We assessed the effectiveness and safety of VAS-Track and evaluate its real-world impact in terms of vaccination rates and COVID-19 protection.

Association between the quality of primary care, insurance coverage, and diabetes-related health outcomes in a cohort of older adults in China: results from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

Objective: This study aims to identify the association between diabetes diagnosis, health outcomes, insurance scheme, and the quality of county-level primary care in a cohort of older Chinese adults.

Design And Setting: Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a nationally-representative panel survey of people aged 45 and over in China.

Participants: Among participants with valid diabetes-related and hypertension-related medical history and biomarkers (n=8207), participants with diabetes (n=1318) were identified using biomarkers and self-reported medical history.

Long-term spill-over impact of COVID-19 on health and healthcare of people with non-communicable diseases: a study protocol for a population-based cohort and health economic study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant spill-over effect on people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over the long term, beyond the direct effect of COVID-19 infection. Evaluating changes in health outcomes, health service use and costs can provide evidence to optimise care for people with NCDs during and after the pandemic, and to better prepare outbreak responses in the future.

Methods And Analysis: This is a population-based cohort study using electronic health records of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) CMS, economic modelling and serial cross-sectional surveys on health service use.

The impact of alcohol pricing policies on public health in Hong Kong, China: A modelling study.

Background: Contrary to most developed economies, Hong Kong has reduced and eliminated taxes on beer and wine over the last 15 years and observed increasing alcohol consumption.

Methods: We applied econometric epidemiological modelling to assess the impact of reverting ad valorem taxation to pre-2008 levels (20% on wine and 40% on beer) on consumption and health outcomes. We used 15 years of industry sales and pricing data (2004-2018) to derive 25 own-price and cross-price elasticity estimates.

The Role of the Allergist in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Allergy Safety: A Pilot Study on a "Hub-and-Spoke" Model for Population-Wide Allergy Service.

Background: Hong Kong started its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program in February 2021. A territory-wide Vaccine Allergy Safety (VAS) clinic was set up to assess individuals deemed at "higher risk" of COVID-19 vaccine-associated allergies. A novel "hub-and-spoke" model was piloted to tackle the overwhelming demand of services by allowing nonallergists to conduct assessment.

The impact of road safety policies in a deregulated alcohol tax environment in Hong Kong: a 15-year time series analysis.

Background And Aims: Hong Kong reduced beer and wine tax in 2007, eliminated taxes on beer and wine and strengthened drink-driving legislation in 2008, and increased police traffic enforcement after the 2014 social unrest. This study aimed to measure the effects of implementing road safety policies on road traffic harm in the context of deregulated alcohol control policy in Hong Kong.

Design: Population-based interrupted time series analysis using seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (sARIMA) models.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chronic Disease Care in India, China, Hong Kong, Korea, and Vietnam.

This study aims to provide evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted chronic disease care in diverse settings across Asia. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted to assess the health, social, and economic consequences of the pandemic in India, China, Hong Kong, Korea, and Vietnam using standardized questionnaires. Overall, 5672 participants with chronic conditions were recruited from five countries.

Health State Utility Values for Type 2 Diabetes and Related Complications in East and Southeast Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: East and Southeast Asia has the greatest burden of diabetes in the world. We sought to derive a reference set of utility values for type 2 diabetes without complication and disutility (utility decrement) values for important diabetes-related complications to better inform economic evaluation.

Methods: A systematic review to identify utility values for diabetes and related complications reported in East and Southeast Asia.