Uncovering the toll of the first three COVID-19 waves: excess mortality and social patterns in Belgium.

Background: This study aims to assess which population groups experienced the heaviest mortality burden during the first three COVID-19 waves in Belgium; and investigate potential changes in social differences in all-cause mortality during the epidemic and compared to the pre-COVID period.

Methods: Exhaustive all-cause mortality information (2015-2021) from the Belgian population register was linked to demographic and socioeconomic census and register data. Annual cohorts consisting of 6.

Unravelling demographic and socioeconomic patterns of COVID-19 death and other causes of death: results of an individual-level analysis of exhaustive cause of death data in Belgium, 2020.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant excess mortality in 2020 in Belgium. By using microlevel cause-specific mortality data for the total adult population in Belgium in 2020, three outcomes were considered in this study aiming at predicting sociodemographic (SD) and socioeconomic (SE) patterns of (1) COVID-19 specific death compared to survival; (2) all other causes of death (OCOD) compared to survival; and (3) COVID-19 specific death compared to all OCOD.

Methods: Two complementary statistical methods were used.

Factors related to the return to work of head and neck cancer patients diagnosed between 2004-2011 in Belgium: a multivariate Fine-Gray regression model analysis.

Background: This study aims to identify the key factors that underlie the return to work (RTW) of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients in Belgium.

Methods: We used data from the EMPCAN database linking data from the Belgian Cancer Registry and the Crossroads Bank for Social Security. We selected HNC patients aged 18-60 at diagnosis who became inactive on the labour market during the follow-up time observed (n = 398).

Correction: Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Correction: Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol.

Introduction: Cancer causes a substantial burden to our society, both from a health and an economic perspective. To improve cancer patient outcomes and lower society expenses, early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential. The recent COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the care trajectory of cancer patients, which may affect their prognosis in a potentially negative way.

Social inequalities and long-term health impact of COVID-19 in Belgium: protocol of the HELICON population data linkage.

Introduction: Data linkage systems have proven to be a powerful tool in support of combating and managing the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the interoperability and the reuse of different data sources may pose a number of technical, administrative and data security challenges.

Methods And Analysis: This protocol aims to provide a case study for linking highly sensitive individual-level information.

Colorectal cancer incidence and survival inequalities among labour immigrants in Belgium during 2004-2013.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. We aim to map out differences in CRC incidence and survival between first-generation traditional labour immigrants of Italian, Turkish and Moroccan descent and native Belgians; and assess the contribution of socioeconomic position (SEP) to these differences. Individually-linked data of the 2001 Belgian Census, the Crossroads Bank for Social Security and the Belgian Cancer Registry are used.

Are we really all in this together? The social patterning of mortality during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium.

Background: Belgium was one of the countries that was struck hard by COVID-19. Initially, the belief was that we were 'all in it together'. Emerging evidence showed however that deprived socioeconomic groups suffered disproportionally.

Factors Associated with Return Migration of First-Generation Immigrants in Belgium (2001-2011).

Belgium is a country with a long and diverse history of migration. Given the diverse context of immigration to Belgium, reasons for return migration will most likely vary as well. With this study, we want to quantify the return migration of Belgium's immigrants and assess whether socio-economic, sociodemographic and health factors are related to return migration.

A population-based study on mortality among Belgian immigrants during the first COVID-19 wave in Belgium. Can demographic and socioeconomic indicators explain differential mortality?

Introduction: Belgium has noted a significant excess mortality during the first COVID-19 wave. Research in other countries has shown that people with migrant origin are disproportionally affected. Belgium has an ethnically diverse and increasingly ageing population and is therefore particularly apt to study differential mortality by migrant group during this first wave of COVID-19.

Lung cancer incidence differences in migrant men in Belgium, 2004-2013: histology-specific analyses.

Background: Immigrants make up an important share of European populations which has led to a growing interest in research on migrants' health. Many studies have assessed migrants' cancer mortality patterns, yet few have studied incidence differences. This paper will probe into histology-specific lung cancer incidence by migrant origin aiming to enhance the knowledge on lung cancer aetiology and different risk patterns among population groups.

Cancer risk among individuals of migrant origin in Belgium during the 2000s - Evidence of migration as a 'cancer risk transition'?

Recent research has shown a generally lower cancer risk and mortality among migrants from less-industrialised country origin. However, while rates are usually lower for 'lifestyle-related' cancers (e.g.

Migrant mortality differences in the 2000s in Belgium: interaction with gender and the role of socioeconomic position.

Background: Belgium has a long history of migration. As the migrant population is ageing, it is crucial thoroughly to document their health. Many studies that have assessed this, observed a migrant mortality advantage.

Unemployment and cause-specific mortality among the Belgian working-age population: The role of social context and gender.

Background: Life expectancy increased in industrialized countries, but inequalities in health and mortality by socioeconomic position (SEP) still persist. Several studies have documented educational inequalities, yet the association between health and employment status remains unclear. However, this is an important issue considering the instability of the labour market and the fact that unemployment now also touches 'non-traditional groups' (e.

Trends in Belgian cause-specific mortality by migrant origin between the 1990s and the 2000s.

Background: Belgium has a large migrant community that is increasingly ageing. As migrants may have faced environmental and social exposures before, during and after migration, they may have experienced an accelerated epidemiological transition. Studying mortality differentials between the migrant and native population may therefore allow for a better understanding of the aetiology of diseases.

Site-specific cancer mortality inequalities by employment and occupational groups: a cohort study among Belgian adults, 2001-2011.

Objective: This study probes into site-specific cancer mortality inequalities by employment and occupational group among Belgians, adjusted for other indicators of socioeconomic (SE) position.

Design: This cohort study is based on record linkage between the Belgian censuses of 1991 and 2001 and register data on emigration and mortality for 01/10/2001 to 31/12/2011.

Setting: Belgium.

Socioeconomic position, population density and site-specific cancer mortality: A multilevel analysis of Belgian adults, 2001-2011.

Our study explores the association between individual and neighborhood socioeconomic position (SEP) and all-cancer and site-specific cancer mortality. Data on all Belgian residents are retrieved from a population-based dataset constructed from the 2001 census linked to register data on emigration and mortality for 2001-2011. The study population contains all men and women aged 40 years or older during follow-up.

Evolution of educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality among Belgian men between the 1990s and 2000s using a "fundamental cause" perspective.

Background: According to the "fundamental cause" theory, emerging knowledge on health-enhancing behaviours and technologies results in health disparities. This study aims to assess (trends in) educational inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality in Belgian men in the 1990s and the 2000s using this framework.

Methods: Data were derived from record linkage between the Belgian censuses of 1991 and 2001 and register data on mortality.

Evolution of socioeconomic inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality among Belgian women between 1991 and 2008 using a fundamental cause approach.

Purpose: According to the "fundamental cause theory", emerging knowledge on health-enhancing behaviours and technologies results in persisting and even widening health disparities, favouring the higher socioeconomic groups. This study aims to assess (trends in) socioeconomic inequalities in site-specific cancer mortality in Belgian women.

Methods: Data were derived from record linkage between the Belgian census and register data on mortality for 1991-1997 and 2001-2008 for all Belgian female inhabitants aged 50-79 years.

Results of the Belgian Sentinel Network of General Practitioners on the Involvement of Therapists in Stroke Rehabilitation.

This study examines which therapists are involved in the rehabilitation of stroke survivors in Belgium at different points in time. A nationwide registration of stroke patients was provided by 199 and 189 family physicians working in sentinel practices for the years 2009 and 2010 respectively. 326 patients who were diagnosed with stroke were included.

A cohort study into head and neck cancer mortality in Belgium (2001-11): Are individual socioeconomic differences conditional on area deprivation?

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess to what extent individual and area-level socioeconomic position (SEP) are associated to head and neck cancer (HNC) mortality and to what extent they contribute to regional variation in HNC mortality in Belgium.

Materials And Methods: Data on men aged 40-64 are collected from a population based dataset based on the 2001 Belgian census linked to register data on emigration and mortality for 2001-2011. Individual SEP is measured using education, employment status and housing conditions.

Socioeconomic disparities in lung cancer mortality in Belgian men and women (2001-2011): does it matter who you live with?

Background: Ample studies have observed an adverse association between individual socioeconomic position (SEP) and lung cancer mortality. Moreover, the presence of a partner has shown to be a crucial determinant of health. Yet, few studies have assessed whether partner's SEP affects health in addition to individual SEP.

Regional Inequalities in Lung Cancer Mortality in Belgium at the Beginning of the 21st Century: The Contribution of Individual and Area-Level Socioeconomic Status and Industrial Exposure.

Being a highly industrialized country with one of the highest male lung cancer mortality rates in Europe, Belgium is an interesting study area for lung cancer research. This study investigates geographical patterns in lung cancer mortality in Belgium. More specifically it probes into the contribution of individual as well as area-level characteristics to (sub-district patterns in) lung cancer mortality.

Does the Belgian diabetes type 2 care trajectory improve quality of care for diabetes patients?

Background: The Belgian care trajectory (CT) for diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM), implemented in September 2009, aims at providing integrated, evidence-based, multidisciplinary patient- centred care, based on the chronic care model. The research project ACHIL (Ambulatory Care Health Information Laboratory) studied the adherence of CT patients, in the early phases of CT programme implementation, with CT obligations, their uptake of incentives for self-management, whether the CT programme was targeting the appropriate group of patients, how care processes for these patients evolved over time and whether CT start led to better quality in the processes and outcomes of care.

Methods: This observational study took place in the period 2006-2011 and covered T2DM patients who started a CT between 01/09/2009 and 31/12/2011.