Associations of diabetes, hypertension and obesity with COVID-19 mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Despite a growing body of scholarly research on the risks of severe COVID-19 associated with diabetes, hypertension and obesity, there is a need for estimating pooled risk estimates with adjustment for confounding effects. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the pooled adjusted risk ratios of diabetes, hypertension and obesity on COVID-19 mortality.

Methods: We searched 16 literature databases for original studies published between 1 December 2019 and 31 December 2020.

Excess deaths directly and indirectly attributable to COVID-19 using routinely reported mortality data, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 2020: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Studies on excess deaths (ED) show that reported deaths from COVID-19 underestimate death. To understand mortality for improved pandemic preparedness, we estimated ED directly and indirectly attributable to COVID-19 and ED by age groups.

Design: Cross-sectional study using routinely reported individual deaths data.

Lessons Learned from CDC's Global COVID-19 Early Warning and Response Surveillance System.

Early warning and response surveillance (EWARS) systems were widely used during the early COVID-19 response. Evaluating the effectiveness of EWARS systems is critical to ensuring global health security. We describe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) global COVID-19 EWARS (CDC EWARS) system and the resources CDC used to gather, manage, and analyze publicly available data during the prepandemic period.

Diabetes, obesity, hypertension and risk of severe COVID-19: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Previous evidence from several countries, including China, Italy, Mexico, UK and the USA, indicates that among patients with confirmed COVID-19 who were hospitalised, diabetes, obesity and hypertension might be important risk factors for severe clinical outcomes. Several preliminary systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been conducted on one or more of these non-communicable diseases, but the findings have not been definitive, and recent evidence has become available from many more populations. Thus, we aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to assess the relationship of diabetes, obesity and hypertension with severe clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

Using Weibo and WeChat social media channels to assess public awareness and practices related to antimicrobial resistance, China, 2019.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global healthcare problem, including in China where high rates of resistance to common bacterial infections have been documented. In 2016, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) in China established a comprehensive strategic plan to increase awareness about AMR through education programs.

Methods: We conducted an online survey to assess changes in public knowledge, awareness and practices related to AMR in China since 2016.

The Role of Noncommunicable Diseases in the Pursuit of Global Health Security.

Noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors are important for all aspects of outbreak preparedness and response, affecting a range of factors including host susceptibility, pathogen virulence, and health system capacity. This conceptual analysis has 2 objectives. First, we use the Haddon matrix paradigm to formulate a framework for assessing the relevance of noncommunicable diseases to health security efforts throughout all phases of the disaster life cycle: before, during, and after an event.

Observations of the global epidemiology of COVID-19 from the prepandemic period using web-based surveillance: a cross-sectional analysis.

Unlabelled: Background Scant data are available about global patterns of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread and global epidemiology of early confirmed cases of COVID-19 outside mainland China. We describe the global spread of SARS-CoV-2 and characteristics of COVID-19 cases and clusters before the characterisation of COVID-19 as a pandemic.

Methods: Cases of COVID-19 reported between Dec 31, 2019, and March 10, 2020 (ie, the prepandemic period), were identified daily from official websites, press releases, press conference transcripts, and social media feeds of national ministries of health or other government agencies.

Association of a Province-Wide Intervention With Salt Intake and Hypertension in Shandong Province, China, 2011-2016.

Importance: High salt intake is associated with hypertension, which is a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To assess the association of a government-led, multisectoral, and population-based intervention with reduced salt intake and blood pressure in Shandong Province, China.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used data from the Shandong-Ministry of Health Action on Salt and Hypertension (SMASH) program, a 5-year intervention to reduce sodium consumption in Shandong Province, China.

Progress in public health risk communication in China: lessons learned from SARS to H7N9.

Background: Following the SARS outbreak, the World Health Organization revised the International Health Regulations to include risk communication as one of the core capacity areas. In 2006, the U.S.

Investigating outbreaks: practical guidance in the Indian scenario.

The new international Health Regulations, 2005, which came into force in 2007, establish a national focal point in each country to manage public health emergencies of international concern, including outbreaks. Investigating outbreaks is a challenging task. Often, pressure from decision-makers to hasten investigation may preclude proper evidence-based conclusions.

Racial and ethnic disparities in asthma medication usage and health-care utilization: data from the National Asthma Survey.

Background: Despite the availability of effective treatment, minority children continue to experience disproportionate morbidity from asthma. Our objective was to identify and characterize racial and ethnic disparities in health-care utilization and medication usage among US children with asthma in a large multistate asthma survey.

Methods: We analyzed questions from the 2003-2004 four-state sample of the National Asthma Survey to assess symptom control, medication use, and health-care utilization among white, black, and Hispanic children < 18 years old with current asthma who were residing in Alabama, California, Illinois, or Texas.

Acute health effects after exposure to chlorine gas released after a train derailment.

In January 2005, a train derailment on the premises of a textile mill in South Carolina released 42 to 60 tons of chlorine gas in the middle of a small town. Medical records and autopsy reports were reviewed to describe the clinical presentation, hospital course, and pathology observed in persons hospitalized or deceased as a result of chlorine gas exposure. Eight persons died before reaching medical care; of the 71 persons hospitalized for acute health effects as a result of chlorine exposure, 1 died in the hospital.

Resident cleanup activities, characteristics of flood-damaged homes and airborne microbial concentrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 2005.

Background: Flooding in the greater New Orleans (GNO) area after the hurricanes caused extensive mold growth in homes resulting in public health concerns.

Objectives: We conducted an environmental assessment of homes to determine the extent and type of microbial growth.

Methods: We randomly selected 112 homes, stratified by water damage, and then visually assessed mold growth.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to mold exposure among residents and remediation workers in posthurricane New Orleans.

To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to mold exposure in postflood New Orleans, the authors surveyed 159 residents and 76 remediation workers, using logistic regression to explore associations. Nearly all answered "yes" to the questionnaire item, "Do you think mold can make people sick?" and most knew respirators were recommended for cleaning mold. Residents (87%) and workers (47%) said they believed that television or radio were the best ways to communicate information about mold.

Carbon monoxide poisoning in Florida during the 2004 hurricane season.

Background: During August-September 2004, four major hurricanes hit Florida, resulting in widespread power outages affecting several million households. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings during this period were investigated to identify ways to prevent future poisoning.

Methods: Medical records from ten hospitals (two with hyperbaric oxygen chambers) were reviewed to identify individuals diagnosed with unintentional CO poisoning between August 13 and October 15, 2004.

The epidemiology and early clinical features of West Nile virus infection.

We studied early clinical features of the West Nile virus (WNV) infection. Case patients were Ohio residents who reported to the Ohio Department of Health from August 14 to December 31, 2002, with a positive serum or cerebrospinal fluid for anti-WNV IgM. Of 441 WNV cases, medical records of 224 (85.

An outbreak of hepatitis C virus infections among outpatients at a hematology/oncology clinic.

Background: Approximately 2.7 million persons in the United States have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Health care-associated HCV transmission can occur if aseptic technique is not followed.

Investigation of healthcare-associated transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among patients with malignancies at three hospitals and at a residential facility.

Background: Immunocompromised patients have an increased risk of experiencing progression of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) to active tuberculosis (TB) disease. In January 2002, 2 patients with leukemia (Patients 1 and 2) developed pulmonary TB after recent exposure at 3 hospitals (Hospital A, Hospital B, and Hospital C) and at a residential facility for patients with cancer. Neither was known to have LTBI.

A multistate outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium infection linked to raw milk consumption--Ohio, 2003.

In December 2002, the Ohio Department of Health was notified of two children with Salmonella infection. Both had a history of drinking raw milk from a combination dairy-restaurant-petting zoo (dairy). The dairy was the only establishment in Ohio licensed to sell raw milk and reported 1.

A large nosocomial outbreak of hepatitis C and hepatitis B among patients receiving pain remediation treatments.

Background And Objective: In August 2002, the Oklahoma State Department of Health received a report of six patients with unexplained hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treated in the same pain remediation clinic. We investigated the outbreak's extent and etiology.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of clinic patients, including a serologic survey, interviews of infected patients, and reviews of medical records and staff infection control practices.

Evaluation of field training in the epidemic intelligence service: publications and job choices.

Background: Since 1951, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) has provided training in applied epidemiology to physicians, nurses, veterinarians, dentists, and doctoral-level health scientists. About one third of these EIS officers have been trained in the setting of state and local health departments (the field).

Methods: To evaluate two specific outcomes of field EIS training, the authors reviewed the published work and career choices of field EIS officers after completing the program.

High prevalence of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae at a community hospital in Oklahoma.

During 1997, Oklahoma City's Hospital A reported penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae in almost 67% of isolates. To confirm this finding, all Hospital A S. pneumoniae isolates from October 23, 1997, through February 19, 1998, were tested for antibiotic susceptibility and repeat-tested at two other hospital laboratories.