Abstract Background Beekeepers represent a high-allergic risk population group due to their unavoidable seasonal or persistent exposure to the elicitors of Hymenoptera venom allergy, bees in ...particular. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of self-reported systemic allergic reaction to Hymenoptera venom among beekeepers worldwide. Methods We rigorously reviewed and conducted meta-analysis on observational studies retrieved from seven electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, Academic Search Complete, ScienceDirect, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Zoological Record), spanning data from inception to August 1, 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool was employed to assess the risk of bias. A meta-analysis was conducted to synthesize evidence. Results Out of 468 studies, eight original articles met the inclusion criteria. The estimated overall lifetime and one-year prevalence of self-reported systemic allergic reaction to bee venom were 23.7% (95% CI: 7.7–53.4) and 7.3% (95% CI: 5.8–9.2), respectively. The estimated lifetime prevalence of self-reported systemic allergic reaction to bee venom for grades III–IV (severe systemic allergic reaction) was 6.0% (95% CI: 3.0–11.7). In general, substantial heterogeneity and a high risk of bias were observed across the majority of studies. The impact of geographical location and climate differences on the estimated lifetime prevalence is suggestive for severe systemic allergic reaction. Conclusions Future observational cross-sectional studies should employ rigorous study designs, using validated questionnaires, and thoroughly report the observed health outcomes, verified by physicians.
Objectives were to estimate the lifetime prevalence of self-reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and describe STIs healthcare.
Data was collected in the period 2016-2017 from a probability ...sample of the general population, 18-49 years old, at respondents' homes by a combination of face-to-face interviews and self-administration of more sensitive questions. Statistical methods for complex survey data were used to account for stratification, clustered sampling, and weighting.
Approximately every tenth sexually experienced individual reported to have had genitourinary symptoms suggestive of STIs, but only a minority of them reported to have had those respective STIs diagnosed. The proportion of sexually experienced individuals that reported to have ever been diagnosed with an STI (excluding trichomoniasis, pubic lice for men and women, and pelvic inflammatory disease, vaginal thrush, bacterial vaginosis for women) was 2.4% for men and 6.7% for women (p<0.001). Independent risk factors associated with self-reported STIs in women included at least 10 lifetime sexual partners and having been forced into sex. The majority of the last STI episodes in women were treated by gynaecologists accessible at the primary healthcare level and in men by a dermatovenerologist, after referral by a general practitioner. Approximately half of STI patients were counselled for safer sex and majority reported to have notified their sexual contacts.
Our estimates for lifetime prevalence of self-reported STIs in a probability sample of Slovenian sexually experienced men and women, 18-49 years old, indicate a substantial national burden of STIs. The results will inform national STI prevention and control policies and strategies.
The aim of our study was to determine the self-reported incidence and prevalence of running-related injuries among participants of the 18
Ljubljana Marathon, and to identify risk factors for their ...occurrence.
A customized questionnaire was distributed over registration. Independent samples of t-test and chi-square test were used to calculate the differences in risk factors occurrence in the injured and non-injured group. Factors which appeared significantly more frequently in the injured group were included further into multiple logistic regression analysis.
The reported lifetime running injury (absence >2 weeks) incidence was: 46% none, 47% rarely, 4% occasionally, and 2% often. Most commonly injured body regions were: knee (30%), ankle and Achilles' tendon (24%), foot (15%), and calf (12%). Male gender, running history of 1-3 years, and history of previous injuries were risk factors for life-time running injury. In the season preceding the event, 65% of participants had not experienced any running injuries, 19% of them reported minor problems (max 2 weeks absenteeism), but 10% and 7% suffered from moderate (absence 3-4 weeks) or major (more than 4 weeks pause) injuries. BMI was identified as the solely risk factor.
This self-reported study revealed a 53% lifetime prevalence of running-related injuries, with the predominate involvement of knee, ankle and Achilles' tendon. One out of three recreational runners experienced at least one minor running injury per season. It seems that male gender, short running experience, previous injury, and BMI do increase the probability for running-related injuries.
In the second Slovenian national healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) prevalence survey, conducted within the European point prevalence survey of HAIs and antimicrobial use in acute-care ...hospitals, we estimated the prevalence of all types of HAIs and identified risk factors.
Patients from acute-care hospitals were enrolled into a one-day cross-sectional study in October 2011. Descriptive analyses were performed to describe the characteristics of patients, their exposure to invasive procedures and the prevalence of different types of HAIs. Univariate and multivariate analyses of association of having at least one HAI with possible risk factors were performed to identify risk factors.
Among 5628 patients, 3.8% had at least one HAI and additional 2.6% were still being treated for HAIs on the day of the survey; the prevalence of HAIs was 6.4%. The prevalence of urinary tract infections was the highest (1.4%), followed by pneumoniae (1.3%) and surgical site infections (1.2%). In intensive care units (ICUs), the prevalence of patients with at least one HAI was 35.7%. Risk factors for HAIs included central vascular catheter (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.0; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 2.9-5.7), peripheral vascular catheter (aOR 2.0; 95% CI: 1.5-2.6), intubation (aOR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.4-3.5) and rapidly fatal underlying condition (aOR 2.1; 95% CI: 1.4-3.3).
The prevalence of HAIs in Slovenian acute-care hospitals in 2011 was substantial, especially in ICUs. HAIs prevention and control is an important public health priority. National surveillance of HAIs in ICUs should be developed to support evidence-based prevention and control.
In the third Slovenian national healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) prevalence survey, conducted within the European point prevalence survey of HAIs and antimicrobial use in acute care hospitals, ...we estimated the prevalence of all types of HAIs and identified factors associated with them.
Patients were enrolled into a one-day cross-sectional study in November 2017. Descriptive analyses were performed to describe the characteristics of patients, their exposure to invasive procedures and the prevalence of different types of HAIs. Univariate and multivariate analyses of association of having at least one HAI with possible risk factors were performed to identify risk factors.
Among 5,743 patients, 4.4% had at least one HAI and an additional 2.2% were still treated for HAIs on the day of the survey, with a prevalence of HAIs of 6.6%. The prevalence of pneumoniae was the highest (1.8%), followed by surgical site infections (1.5%) and urinary tract infections (1.2%). Prevalence of blood stream infections was 0.3%. In intensive care units (ICUs), the prevalence of patients with at least one HAI was 30.6%. Factors associated with HAIs included central vascular catheter (adjusted odds ratio aOR 4.1; 95% confidence intervals CI: 3.1-5.4), peripheral vascular catheter (aOR 3.0; 95% CI: 2.3-3.9), urinary catheter (aOR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.4-2.3).
The prevalence of HAIs in Slovenian acute care hospitals in 2017 was substantial, especially in ICUs. HAIs prevention and control is an important public health priority. National surveillance of HAIs in ICUs should be developed to support evidence-based prevention and control.
Tobacco use continues to be the leading global cause of preventable death. Most of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, and this trend is expected to widen further over the next ...several decades. The overall objective of the study is to describe and analyse the smoking behaviours of adults in Kosova.
According to the STEPs methodology, 6,400 respondents, aged 15 - 64 years, are selected randomly within each sex and 10-year age-group. Out of 6,400 participants, 6,117 were selected, which is approximately 95.6%.
The prevalence of smoking was higher among males (37.4%) compared with females (19.7%). In all age groups, the prevalence of smoking was higher among males compared with females. Regarding the age group of 15 - 24 years, the prevalence of smoking was 16.0%, but in the age group of 25 - 34 years, it nearly doubled to the rate of 31.9%. We have a smaller increase in the age group of 35 - 44 years, and after the age of 45, it falls gradually.
The prevalence of smoking in Kosova is high compared with other countries in Eastern Europe. In future decades, Kosova will face a high probability of an increased burden of smoking-related diseases.
Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of elevated depression and anxiety among pregnant women and to examine its correlation with medical complications and socio-demographic ...characteristics.
Methods. The study is based on a cross-sectional design of a sample of 348 women in three trimesters of pregnancy who received routine obstetrical care at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The responding women filled out a questionnaire on socio-demographic variables, the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale CES-D and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI.
Results. 21.7% of pregnant women were identified as suffering from elevated depression symptomatology, 15.7% reported high state anxiety and 12.5% had high trait anxiety. No significant differences in depression and anxiety across pregnancy trimesters were found. The women who have suffered from health complications during previous pregnancies showed higher state anxiety; those experiencing complications during their current pregnancy reported more intense symptoms of depression and of state and trait anxiety than women free of complications. Less educated, lower income and mothers of many children in the third pregnancy trimester reported more intensive symptoms of depression and trait anxiety.
Conclusions. Elevated depression and anxiety are frequent among pregnant women. The results draw attention to the need for early detection and treatment of depression and anxiety during pregnancy
Namen. Cilj raziskave je bil oceniti prevalenco povišane depresivne in anksiozne simptomatike pri ženskah med nosečnostjo ter preveriti njun odnos z zdravstvenimi zapleti in nekaterimi sociodemografskimi dejavniki.
Metode. V presečno raziskavo je bilo vključenih 348 nosečnic treh trimesečij nosečnosti, ki so se v okviru Ginekološke klinike Univerzitetnega kliničnega centra v Ljubljani udeležile rednih pregledov. Nosečnice so izpolnile vprašalnik demografskih spremenljivk, Lestvico depresivnosti CES-D ter Vprašalnik anksioznosti kot stanja in poteze STAI.
Rezultati. 21,7 % udeleženk je poročalo o pomembno povišani depresivni simptomatiki, 15,7 % jih je navajalo visoko anksioznost kot stanje, visoka anksioznost kot poteza je bila prepoznana pri 12,5 % nosečnic. Med nosečnicami treh trimesečij nosečnosti ni bilo pomembnih razlik v izraženosti depresivne in anksiozne simptomatike. Ženske z zdravstvenimi zapleti v preteklih nosečnostih so poročale o pomembno intenzivnejših simptomih anksioznosti kot stanja, tiste z zapleti v trenutni nosečnosti pa o pomembno intenzivnejši depresivni simptomatiki ter anksioznosti kot stanju in potezi v primerjavi z ženskami brez zdravstvenih zapletov. Udeleženke z nižjo stopnjo izobrazbe in nižjimi prihodki ter nosečnice tretjega trimesečja z večjim številom otrok so poročale o intenzivnejši depresivni simptomatiki in anksioznosti kot potezi.
Zaključek. Povišana depresivna simptomatika in anksioznost sta pogost in razširjen problem žensk med nosečnostjo. Rezultati opozarjajo na potrebo po zgodnjem odkrivanju ter zdravljenju depresivnih in anksioznih motenj v nosečnosti
The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of prehypertensive and elevated blood pressure in the hypertensive range (elevated BP) and obtain some anthropometric measures in Slovene children ...and adolescents.
In the cross-sectional study lasting one year, we measured BP using mercury sphygmomanometers, as well as height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences in schools. Data from regular check-ups (oscillometric measurements) were also added to increase the sample size. Participants were 2-19 years old. For statistical analysis, we used two-sided multivariate analysis of variance, Pearson's r, and chi-squared test.
From altogether 1594 participants, 723 (45.4%) were boys and 871 (54.6%) girls. The prevalence of elevated BP on a single oscillometric blood-pressure measurement was 12.0% (95% CI: 10.3 to 13.9), and an additional 13.9% (95% CI: 12.0 to 15.9) had prehypertensive BP. In Riva-Rocci measurements, elevated BP was present in only 7.1% (95% CI: 4.9 to 10.1) and prehypertensive BP additionally in 3.9% (95% CI: 2.4 to 6.4) in comparison to oscillometric measurements, which showed higher prevalence. Importantly, overweight participants had a 1.75 times greater relative risk for prehypertensive BP (95% CI: 1.22 to 2.53; p<0.01). Obesity carried a 1.79 times greater relative risk (95% CI: 1.22 to 2.63; p<0.01) for BP outside of the normotensive BP range.
Arterial hypertension is becoming an important public health problem, especially due to the childhood obesity. It seems to concern also Slovene young population with prevalence of elevated BP at around 7.1% after a single auscultatory BP measurement.
Namen. Namen raziskave je bil ugotoviti, kateri bolezenski simptomi se najpogosteje pojavljajo pri odraslem prebivalstvu Slovenije in določiti njihovo prevalenco in dejavnike, ki nanjo vplivajo. ...Metode. Raziskava je bila presečna opazovalna in je potekala s pomočjo računalniško podprtega telefonskega anketiranja - CATI. Vključena sta bila 1002 prebivalca, stara med 15 in 90 let. Telefonski intervju je zajemal vprašanja o pojavnosti 23 bolezenskih simptomov, njihovem trajanju in o demografskih podatkih. Izsledki. Slovensko prebivalstvo ima najpogosteje težave z bolečinami v hrbtenici (409 oseb - 40,8 %), bolečinami v sklepih (334 oseb - 33,4 %), s prekomerno utrujenostjo (308 oseb - 30,7 %), z živčnostjo (285 oseb - 28,4 %), glavobolom (280 oseb - 27,9 %), razdražljivostjo (261 oseb - 26,1 %) in z nespečnostjo (259 oseb - 25,8 %). Statistično pogosteje so se bolezenski simptomi pojavljali pri ženskah, starejših, nižje izobraženih, ljudeh z nižjim osebnim dohodkom, nezaposlenih, upokojenih in tistih z znano kronično boleznijo. Neodvisna napovedna dejavnika za prisotnost vsaj enega bolezenskega simptoma sta ženski spol in prisotnost kronične bolezni. Sklepi. Slovensko prebivalstvo je znatno obremenjeno z bolezenskimi simptomi, saj 77,3 % vprašanih bremeni vsaj en bolezenski simptom. Raziskava je odkrila skupine prebivalstva, ki so bolezenskim simptomom še posebej podvržene (ženske, starejši, kronični bolniki, ljudje z nižjim socioekonomskim statusom) in katerim bi morala biti namenjena še posebna pozornost na ravni primarnega zdravstvenega varstva in preventivne dejavnosti
The second Slovenian national healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) prevalence survey (SNHPS) was conducted in acute-care hospitals in 2011. The objective was to assess the sensitivity and ...specificity of the method used for the ascertainment of six types of HAIs (bloodstream infections, catheter-associated infections, lower respiratory tract infections, pneumoniae, surgical site infections, and urinary tract infections) in the University Medical Centre Ljubljana (UMCL).
A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients surveyed in the SNHPS in the UMCL using a retrospective medical chart review (RMCR) and European HAIs surveillance definitions. Sensitivity and specificity of the method used in the SNHPS using RMCR as a reference was computed for ascertainment of patients with any of the six selected types of HAIs and for individual types of HAIs. Agreement between the SNHPS and RMCR results was analyzed using Cohen's kappa coefficient.
1474 of 1742 (84.6%) patients surveyed in the SNHPS were included in RMCR. The sensitivity of the SNHPS method for detecting any of six HAIs was 90% (95% confidence interval (CI): 81%-95%) and specificity 99% (95% CI: 98%-99%). The sensitivity by type of HAI ranged from 63% (lower respiratory tract infections) to 92% (bloodstream infections). Specificity was at least 99% for all types of HAIs. Agreement between the two data collection approaches for HAIs overall was very good (κ=0.83).
The overall sensitivity of SNHPS collection method for ascertaining HAIs overall was high and the specificity was very high. This suggests that the estimated prevalence of HAIs in the SNHPS was credible.