Risk of pneumonia in the vicinity of goat farms: a comparative assessment of temporal variation based on longitudinal health data.

Background: Although the association between living in the vicinity of a goat farm and the occurrence of pneumonia is well-documented, it is unclear whether the higher risk of pneumonia in livestock dense areas is season-specific or not. This study explored the temporal variation of the association between exposure to goat farms and the occurrence of pneumonia.

Methods: A large population-based study was conducted in the Netherlands, based on electronic health records from 49 general practices, collected for a period of six consecutive years (2014-2019).

Increased risk of pneumonia amongst residents living near goat farms in different livestock-dense regions in the Netherlands.

Background: Previous studies, performed between 2009-2019, in the Netherlands observed an until now still unexplained increased risk for pneumonia among residents living close to goat farms. Since data were collected in the provinces Noord-Brabant and Limburg (NB-L), an area with relatively high air pollution levels and proximity to large industrial areas in Europe, the question remains whether the results are generalizable to other regions. In this study, a different region, covering the provinces Utrecht, Gelderland, and Overijssel (UGO) with a similar density of goat farms, was included to assess whether the association between goat farm proximity and pneumonia is consistently observed across the Netherlands.

The impact of a terrorist attack: Survivors' health, functioning and need for support following the 2019 Utrecht tram shooting 6 and 18 months post-attack.

Background: Extremely violent events such as terrorist attacks and mass shootings form a severe risk for the health and wellbeing of affected individuals. In this study based on a public health monitor, we focus on the health impact (including PTSD symptoms, physical problems and day-to-day functioning) of the Utrecht tram shooting, which took place in the morning of March 18th 2019. A lone gunman opened fire on passengers within a moving tram.

Human Health Risks of Conducted Electrical Weapon Exposure: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Conducted electrical weapons (CEWs) are used broadly as a less-lethal force option for police officers. However, there is no clear picture of the possible health risks in humans on the basis of rigorously assessed scientific evidence from the international peer-reviewed literature.

Objective: To synthesize and systematically evaluate the strength of published evidence for an association between exposure to different models of CEWs and adverse acute as well as chronic conditions.

Immediate and long-term health impact of exposure to gas-mining induced earthquakes and related environmental stressors.

Background: Little is known about the public health impact of chronic exposure to physical and social stressors in the human environment. Objective of this study was to investigate the immediate and long-term health effects of living in an environment with gas-mining induced earthquakes and related stressors in the Netherlands.

Methods: Data on psychological, somatic and social problems recorded routinely in electronic health records by general practitioners during a 6-year period (2010-2015) were combined with socioeconomic status and seismicity data.

Prevalence of non-specific health symptoms in livestock dense areas: Looking beyond respiratory conditions.

The aim of this study was to gain more insight in the association between prevalence of diverse acute non-specific symptoms (NSS) and livestock density as a possible risk factor among residents of livestock-dense and non-dense regions, taking into account socio-demographic factors and psychological morbidity. Prevalence of NSS and psychological morbidity were assessed for the year 2017, based on electronic health records from 39 general practices in the Netherlands. The study group consisted of people who lived in rural areas with high numbers of livestock (n = 74093), while the control group included people in rural areas with low numbers of livestock (n = 50139).

The experience of sudden loss of a colleague or neighbor following the MH17 plane crash in the Ukraine: a qualitative interview study.

Background: The literature on loss and traumatic grief after disasters provides findings on the impact of losing a partner, child or close friend on partners, parents and friends. However, little attention has been given to the broader everyday social environment of deceased persons. The present study constitutes a qualitative exploration of the impact on colleagues and neighbors following the MH17 airplane disaster in the Ukraine, July 2014.

Patients with overlapping diagnoses of asthma and COPD: is livestock exposure a risk factor for comorbidity and coexisting symptoms and infections?

Background: Epidemiological research on health effects of livestock exposure in population subgroups with compromised respiratory health is still limited. The present study explored the association between livestock exposure and comorbid/concurrent conditions in patients with overlapping diagnoses of asthma and COPD.

Methods: Electronic health record data from 23 general practices in the Netherlands were collected from 425 patients diagnosed with both asthma and COPD, living in rural areas with high livestock density ("study area").

Attitude toward livestock farming does not influence the earlier observed association between proximity to goat farms and self-reported pneumonia.

Unlabelled: Attitudes toward environmental risks may be a source of bias in environmental health studies because concerns about environmental hazards may influence self-reported outcomes.

Objective: The main aim was to assess whether earlier observed associations between proximity to goat farms and self-reported pneumonia were biased by participants' attitude toward farming.

Methods: We developed an attitude-score for 2,457 participants of the Dutch Livestock Farming and Neighbouring Residents' Health Study (veehouderij en gezondheid omwonenden) by factor analysis of 13 questionnaire items related to attitude toward livestock farming.

The organization of post-disaster psychosocial support in the Netherlands: a meta-synthesis.

: Despite numerous calls for a more evidence-based provision of post-disaster psychosocial support, systematic analyses of post-disaster service delivery are scarce. : The aim of this review was to evaluate the organization of post-disaster psychosocial support in different disaster settings and to identify determinants. : We conducted a meta-synthesis of scientific literature and evaluations of post-disaster psychosocial support after 12 Dutch disasters and major crises between 1992 and 2014.

Residential proximity to livestock farms is associated with a lower prevalence of atopy.

Objectives: Exposure to farm environments during childhood and adult life seems to reduce the risk of atopic sensitisation. Most studies have been conducted among farmers, but people living in rural areas may have similar protective effects for atopy. This study aims to investigate the association between residential proximity to livestock farms and atopy among non-farming adults living in a rural area in the Netherlands.

Healthcare utilisation prior to the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases and the influence of livestock exposure: A longitudinal case-control study.

An increased prevalence of the inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, was found amongst residents in a livestock dense area. We hypothesised that exposure to livestock farms might be a substantial environmental factor that contributes to the development of these diseases and that in the lead up to inflammatory bowel diseases potential risk factors can be identified. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of livestock exposure to the development of these diseases and the clinical events prior to the diagnosis.

Do out-of-hours general practitioner services and emergency departments cost more by collaborating or by working separately? A cost analysis.

INTRODUCTION In the Netherlands, general practitioners (GPs) and emergency departments (EDs) collaborate increasingly in urgent care collaborations (UCCs) in which the two services share one combined entrance and joint triage. AIM The objective of this study is to determine if UCCs are cost-effective compared to the usual care setting where out-of-hours GP services and EDs work separately. METHODS This observational study compared UCCs with the usual care setting on costs by performing linear regression analyses.

Do employees benefit from collaborations between out of hours general practitioners and emergency departments?

Background: In an attempt to redirect patients who are inappropriately attending hospital emergency departments (ED) and in doing so provide the right care at the right place, out-of-hours GP (General Practitioner) services and EDs increasingly collaborate in Urgent Care Collaborations (UCCs). Work satisfaction is an important factor in analysing the impact of this organisational change. The objective of this study is, firstly, to discover if there is a difference in the employee experiences between those working in UCCs and those in traditional out-of-hours services in which EDs and out-of-hours GP services operate separately (i.

Prevalence and risk factors for colonization of Clostridium difficile among adults living near livestock farms in the Netherlands.

A cross-sectional study was performed among 2494 adults not living or working on a farm to assess prevalence of Clostridium difficile (CD) colonization and risk factors in a livestock dense area. CD prevalence was 1·2%. Twenty-one persons were colonized with a toxigenic strain and nine with a non-toxigenic strain.

Air Pollution from Livestock Farms Is Associated with Airway Obstruction in Neighboring Residents.

Rationale: Livestock farm emissions may not only affect respiratory health of farmers but also of neighboring residents.

Objectives: To explore associations between spatial and temporal variation in pollutant emissions from livestock farms and lung function in a general, nonfarming, rural population in the Netherlands.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2,308 adults (age, 20-72 yr).

Comorbidity and coexisting symptoms and infections presented in general practice by COPD patients: Does livestock density in the residential environment play a role?

Objectives: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) constitute a potentially susceptible group towards environmental exposures such as livestock farm emissions, given their compromised respiratory health status. The primary aim of this study was to examine the association between livestock exposure and comorbidities and coexisting symptoms and infections in COPD patients.

Methods: Data were collected from 1828 COPD patients (without co-occurring asthma) registered in 23 general practices and living in a rural area with a high livestock density.

Spirometry, questionnaire and electronic medical record based COPD in a population survey: Comparing prevalence, level of agreement and associations with potential risk factors.

Background: COPD-diagnosis is confirmed by post-bronchodilator (BD) spirometry. However, epidemiological studies often rely on pre-BD spirometry, self-reports, or medical records. This population-based study aims to determine COPD-prevalence based on four different operational definitions and their level of agreement, and to compare associations between COPD-definitions and risk factors.

Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence among the general population in a livestock-dense area in the Netherlands: a cross-sectional population-based serological survey.

Background: Recent serological studies indicate that hepatitis E virus (HEV) is endemic in industrialised countries. The increasing trend in the number of autochthonous cases of HEV genotype 3 in Western European countries, stresses the importance to get insight in the exact routes of exposure. Pigs are the main animal reservoir, and zoonotic food-borne transmission of HEV is proven.

Health conditions in rural areas with high livestock density: Analysis of seven consecutive years.

Previous studies investigating health conditions of individuals living near livestock farms generally assessed short time windows. We aimed to take time-specific differences into account and to compare the prevalence of various health conditions over seven consecutive years. The sample consisted of 156,690 individuals registered in 33 general practices in a (rural) area with a high livestock density and 101,015 patients from 23 practices in other (control) areas in the Netherlands.

MRSA in persons not living or working on a farm in a livestock-dense area: prevalence and risk factors.

Objectives: MRSA emerged in livestock and persons in contact with livestock is referred to as livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA). We assessed the prevalence and risk factors for MRSA carriage in persons not living or working on a farm.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among 2492 adults living in close proximity of livestock farms.

Is patient flow more efficient in Urgent Care Collaborations?

Objective: Emergency Departments and out-of-hours General Practitioner services collaborate increasingly in Urgent Care Collaborations (UCCs) by sharing one combined entrance and joint triage. The aim of this study is to examine the difference between UCCs and providers who operate separately with respect to the efficiency of patient flow.

Methods: This study had a cross-sectional observational design comparing three regions with UCC with three regions with usual care.

Associations between proximity to livestock farms, primary health care visits and self-reported symptoms.

Background: Living in a neighbourhood with a high density of livestock farms has been associated with adverse respiratory health effects, but less is known about healthcare utilisation. This study aimed at investigating the associations between livestock exposure and primary health care visits and self-reported symptoms. In addition, we examined the potentially confounding effect of distance from home to general practice.

Doctor-diagnosed health problems in a region with a high density of concentrated animal feeding operations: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There is growing interest in health risks of residents living near concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Previous research mostly focused on swine CAFOs and self-reported respiratory conditions. The aim was to study the association between the presence of swine, poultry, cattle and goat CAFOs and health of Dutch neighbouring residents using electronic medical records from general practitioners (GPs).