Do we need flexible machine-learning algorithms to assess the effect of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter on mortality?: An example from a Canadian national cohort.

Background: Evidence suggests the existence of nonlinearity in the relationship between long-term fine particulate matter (PM) and mortality, and the methods to flexibly incorporate nonlinearity can be improved. To heuristically evaluate the necessity of incorporating machine-learning algorithms, we compared the benefit of reducing long-term PM on mortality estimated from three analytical methods with varying flexibility and complexity.

Methods: Using a cohort of the Canadian Community Health Survey respondents (followed from 2005 until 2014), we obtained consented respondents' baseline characteristics, time-varying annual average PM in the previous 3 years, yearly income and neighborhood characteristics, and vital status.

Exploring heterogeneity in the associations between menopausal status and depression: a cross-sectional study with a unique analytical approach.

Objectives: The extent to which menopause status contributes to depressive symptoms remains controversial. This study aimed to examine associations between menopausal status and depressive symptoms and the heterogeneity in these associations.

Methods: We conducted three consecutive national surveys of community-dwelling Australian women aged 18-79 years between October 2013 and July 2017.

The influence of heatwaves on traffic safety in five cities across Québec with different thermal landscapes.

Background: This study assesses the impact of heatwaves on road safety in five Québec cities (Montréal, Québec City, Laval, Longueuil, and Sherbrooke) from June to September 2015-2022. Using Urban Heat Island (UHI), 90th and 95th percentile thresholds for heatwaves, we analyze their effects on collisions, traffic injuries, and killed and seriously injured (KSI) cases.

Methods: Traffic data were analyzed across two heatwave definitions, utilizing a time-stratified case-crossover design.

Implications of Big Data Analytics, AI, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning in the Health Care System of Bangladesh: Scoping Review.

Background: The rapid advancement of digital technologies, particularly in big data analytics (BDA), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL), is reshaping the global health care system, including in Bangladesh. The increased adoption of these technologies in health care delivery within Bangladesh has sparked their integration into health care and public health research, resulting in a noticeable surge in related studies. However, a critical gap exists, as there is a lack of comprehensive evidence regarding the research landscape; regulatory challenges; use cases; and the application and adoption of BDA, AI, ML, and DL in the health care system of Bangladesh.

Chronic Illness and Quality of Life 5 Years After Displacement Among Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh.

Importance: Rohingya refugees, forcibly displaced from Myanmar, face challenges adapting to Bangladesh. Examining their quality of life (QOL) is vital to identifying nuanced factors associated with their well-being, informing targeted interventions for an improved QOL.

Objectives: To identify the QOL among Rohingya refugees 5 years after migration to Bangladesh, with a particular emphasis on understanding the complex interplay between sociodemographic factors and chronic illnesses.

National burden of rheumatoid arthritis in Canada, 1990-2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 - a GBD collaborator-led study.

Objective: The objectives of this study were: (1) to describe burden of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and trends from 1990 to 2019 using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) data, (2) to describe age and sex differences in RA and (3) to compare Canada's RA burden to that of other countries.

Methods: Disease burden indicators included prevalence, mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). GBD estimated fatal and non-fatal outcomes using published literature, survey data and health insurance claims.

Hearing Loss Prevalence, Years Lived With Disability, and Hearing Aid Use in the United States From 1990 to 2019: Findings From the Global Burden of Disease Study.

Objectives: This article describes key data sources and methods used to estimate hearing loss in the United States, in the Global Burden of Disease study. Then, trends in hearing loss are described for 2019, including temporal trends from 1990 to 2019, changing prevalence over age, severity patterns, and utilization of hearing aids.

Design: We utilized population-representative surveys from the United States to estimate hearing loss prevalence for the Global Burden of Disease study.

Trends in elevated waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference in U.S. adults and their associations with cardiometabolic diseases and cancer, 1999-2018.

Introduction: Although waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) has established association with cardiometabolic disease, the trend of changes in elevated WHtR among general population have not been examined adequately.

Methods: This study examined the prevalence of elevated WHtR and waist circumference (WC) and their trends over time using Joinpoint regression models among adults who participated in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (U.S.

Prevalence of, and risk factors for, diabetes and prediabetes in Bangladesh: Evidence from the national survey using a multilevel Poisson regression model with a robust variance.

To estimate the age-standardized prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes and identify factors associated with these conditions at individual, household, and community levels. Data from 11952 Bangladeshi adults aged 18-95 years available from the most recent Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18 were used. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood glucose samples were taken as part of the survey.

Cross-Sectional Association of Blood Selenium with Glycemic Biomarkers among U.S. Adults with Normoglycemia in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016.

Selenium (Se) remains to have an inconsistent relationship with glycemic biomarkers and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Few studies have investigated the relationship between blood Se and glycemic biomarkers among people with normoglycemia. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the U.

Associations between household air pollution and early child development among children aged 36-59 months in Bangladesh.

Background: Household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel use (SFU) for cooking may impact child health in low-resources countries. This study examined the associations between HAP and early childhood development (ECD) outcomes among children under 5 years of age in Bangladesh and explored potential effect modification by sex and urbanicity.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 9395 children aged 36-59 months in the households from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019.

Prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and the relative importance of its risk factors among adults in Bangladesh: Findings from a nationwide survey.

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes, and to identify the relative importance of risk factors for undiagnosed diabetes among Bangladeshi adults.

Method: Data from 11, 421 Bangladeshi adults aged 18 years and older available from the most recent nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18 were used. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood glucose samples were taken as part of the survey.

The experiences of children and adolescents undergoing forced separation from their parents during migration: A systematic review.

Globally, the migration of unaccompanied minors is increasing, however, the experiences of these children have not been examined. We systematically synthesised the existing qualitative literature to examine the experiences of children undergoing forced separation from their parents during migration. The review was structured based on the PRISMA statement.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Bangladesh: Findings from National Demographic and Health Survey, 2017-2018.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the age-standardised prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and to identify their risk factors in Bangladeshi adults. Data from 12 904 adults aged 18-95 years, available from the most recent nationally representative 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey were used. Hypertension was defined as having systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, and/or taking anti-hypertensive drugs to control blood pressure.

Association between household air pollution and child mortality in Myanmar using a multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression with robust variance.

Household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel use (SFU) for cooking is a major public health threat for women and children in low and middle-income countries. This study investigated the associations between HAP and neonatal, infant, and under-five child mortality in Myanmar. The study consisted of 3249 sample of under-five children in the households from the first Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey 2016.

Prevalence of hypertension and controlled hypertension among United States adults: Evidence from NHANES 2017-18 survey.

Background: This study aims to compare the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and controlled hypertension (CHTN) in US adults and determine the absolute difference in the prevalence of HTN and CHTN between the JNC7 and ACC/AHA 2017 guidelines.

Methods: Data for this study were derived from the most recent cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018. After excluding participants with missing systolic blood pressure (BP) or diastolic BP and aged <18 years, 4730 participants were included in the final analyses.

Effects of underlying morbidities on the occurrence of deaths in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the most hectic pandemic of the era, is increasing exponentially and taking thousands of lives worldwide. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of pre-existing comorbidities among COVID-19 patients and their mortality risks with each category of pre-existing comorbidity.

Methods: To conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched using pre-specified search strategies.

Effect of exercise on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in low and middle-income countries: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has the potential to affect the quality of life adversely. Published guidelines recommend the use of exercise as part of the first-line management interventions for PMS. However, the published evidence related to the effectiveness of physical activity and PMS is inconclusive.

A review of microplastics pollution in the soil and terrestrial ecosystems: A global and Bangladesh perspective.

Microplastics (MP) are a persistent and silent threat to the environment and are already considered a significant problem in aquatic environments. However, the presence of MP in soils and terrestrial ecosystems has been largely unexplored. Recent research has identified the risk of MP transfer from terrestrial agriculture to the human food chain.

Cost-Effectiveness of Lifestyle-Related Interventions for the Primary Prevention of Breast Cancer: A Rapid Review.

In 2018, the global estimate of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases among women totaled 2.1 million. The economic and social burden that breast cancer places on societies has propelled research that analyzes the role of modifiable risk factors as the primary prevention methods.

Socioeconomic differentials in hypertension based on JNC7 and ACC/AHA 2017 guidelines mediated by body mass index: Evidence from Nepal demographic and health survey.

Background: Unlike developed countries, higher socioeconomic status (SES-education, and wealth) is associated with hypertension in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited evidence. We examined the associations between SES and hypertension in Nepal and the extent to which these associations vary by sex and urbanity. The body mass index (BMI) was examined as a secondary outcome and assessed as a potential mediator.

Associations between Indoor Air Pollution and Acute Respiratory Infections among Under-Five Children in Afghanistan: Do SES and Sex Matter?

: Low-income families often depend on fuels such as wood, coal, and animal dung for cooking. Such solid fuels are highly polluting and are a primary source of indoor air pollutants (IAP). We examined the association between solid fuel use (SFU) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) among under-five children in Afghanistan and the extent to which this association varies by socioeconomic status (SES) and gender.

Prevalence and determinants of menstrual regulation among ever-married women in Bangladesh: evidence from a national survey.

Background: Despite the remarkable reduction of maternal mortality, unsafe and untimely menstrual regulation (MR) remains a major maternal health problem in Bangladesh. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and identify determinants of MR among ever-married women in Bangladesh.

Methods: Data for this study have been extracted from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2014.