Climate change has become a prominent public health concern in the 21st century, attracting significant attention from the research community. When considering global warming, existing epidemiological studies have primarily focussed on estimating and predicting the disease burden associated with heat [1–4], partially neglecting the impact of low temperatures. However, evidence indicates that cold weather imposes a greater disease burden than hot weather [5–8]. For instance, in the analysis of the global disease burden for all causes in 2019, low temperatures ranked sixth among 38 risk factors ..read more

In recent years, the lifestyle of Chinese children has been characterised by decreased sleep quality, decreased physical activity, and increased sedentary time, which has negatively affected their physical and mental health [1]. While sleep deficiency is common among children worldwide, it may pose a more significant problem in China [2]. Studies have shown that good sleep quality positively impacts children’s physical and mental health [3], with adequate sleep being positively correlated with body growth and the development and the regulation of immune function [4], as well as positive emotio ..read more

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a serious global health concern, with an estimated 58 million individuals chronically infected worldwide and approximately 1.5 million new infections annually [1]. In response to the substantial global health burden posed by viral hepatitis, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a proposal to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030 [2]. However, the majority of HCV research has focused on the general population or certain high-risk subgroups, such as individuals co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus or people who inject ..read more

With the population ageing, cognitive impairment has become a pressing public health concern [1]. Research indicates a pervasive decline in cognitive function among older adults, with a doubling of the risk of dementia for every five-year increase in age for individuals aged >65 [2]. The prevalence of dementia exceeds 25% in those aged ≥90 [3]. Notably, China, with the largest ageing population globally, is undergoing rapid demographic ageing [4]. Various population-based studies have indicated a variable prevalence of mild cognitive impairment among Chinese older adults, ranging from 5–28 ..read more

Empowering and enabling communities to have control over decisions that affect their lives and giving them a genuine voice, is essential to achieving transformational impact and health for all, especially for the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised communities [1]. Much learning has been shared in recent years from a number of programmes and clinical trials [2–4], and meaningful engagement and involvement of communities in the planning, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination process has become a core practice for changing lives and reducing health inequities and informing po ..read more

Medication discrepancies, generally defined as inconsistencies between two or more medication lists [1,2], are prevalent at care transitions, as patients’ medication information may not be accurately communicated to patients and/or across health facilities [3–5]. According to a previous systematic review, the incidence of medication discrepancies after hospital discharge can range from 14% to 94% [6]. These discrepancies may cause adverse drug events; exacerbate the patient’s clinical conditions; increase hospital readmission rates; and increase the utilisation of medical resources [7]. Elderl ..read more

Scoliosis is a common spinal condition, usually diagnosed in children and adolescents [1]. It is characterised by a three-dimensional deviation of the spine, which is diagnosed by measuring the Cobb angle on posterior-anterior radiographs. A Cobb angle ≥10° indicates the presence of scoliosis [1]. The condition is typically classified into three primary subtypes: idiopathic scoliosis (IS), congenital scoliosis (CS), and neuromuscular scoliosis (NS) [2]. IS, characterised by an unknown cause, is the most prevalent form and accounts for approximately 80% of all diagnosed scoliosis cases [3]. CS ..read more

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, are a major global concern, causing nearly 74% of all deaths and accounting for 41 million fatalities annually [1]. Their impact is most pronounced in low- and middle-income countries, where 86% of premature deaths and 77% of NCD-related fatalities occur [1]. The escalating issue of NCDs, exacerbated by global aging, extends its repercussions from individuals (diminished health status, functional limitations, and elevated mortality rates) to health care systems and economies [2]. Unhealthy lifestyle choices play a pivotal role in ..read more

Stroke has emerged as a major public health concern, ranking as the second-leading cause of death globally. In 2019, it was responsible for 11.6% of total mortality, translating to 6.55 million deaths [1,2]. In China specifically, the number of deaths due to stroke has increased by 59.0% over the past decades, reaching 2.19 million in 2019 [2,3]. This alarming trend highlights the need for targeted preventive measures. Stroke manifests mainly as ischaemic or haemorrhagic, with each subtype having distinct pathophysiological profiles and risk factors [2]. Ischaemic stroke occurs due to blockage ..read more

The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that globally, seasonal influenza epidemics result in three to five million cases of severe illness (hospitalisations) every year [1,2]. In a recent paper in the Journal of Global Health, the Burden of Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease (BIRD) project aimed to improve the understanding of influenza-associated hospitalisation estimates at national and global levels [3]. We explored the heterogeneity of the country estimates obtained from the literature by taking into account the role of five study design factors – calculation meth ..read more