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BMJ Open Jul 2017Accurate prevalence figures estimating the number of survivors of poliomyelitis (disease causing acute flaccid paralysis) following poliovirus infection are not... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Accurate prevalence figures estimating the number of survivors of poliomyelitis (disease causing acute flaccid paralysis) following poliovirus infection are not available. We aim to undertake a systematic review of all literature concerning the prevalence of survivors of poliomyelitis.
METHODS
Electronic databases were searched from 1900 up to May 2016 for peer-reviewed studies using a population-based approach witha defined denominator and some form of diagnostic or clinical verification of polio. Exclusion criteria were any prevalence data that were unable to be extracted or calculated and studies reporting on incidence only. The quality of each included study was assessed using an existing tool modified for use in prevalence studies. Average crude prevalence rates were used to calculate worldwide estimates.
RESULTS
Thirty-one studies met criteria with 90% of studies conducted in low-income to lower middle-income countries. Significant variability in the prevalence of survivors of poliomyelitis was revealed, in low- income to lower middle-income (15 per 100 000 in Nigeria to 1733 in India) and upper-middle to high-income countries (24 (Japan) to 380 per 100 000 (Brazil). The total combined prevalence of survivors of poliomyelitis for those studies at low to moderate risk of bias ranged from 165 (high-income countries) to 425 (low-income to lower middle-income countries) per 100 000 person-years. Historical lameness surveys of children predominated, with wide variation in case definition and assessment criteria, and limited relevance to current prevalence given the lack of incidence of poliovirus infection in the ensuing years.
CONCLUSIONS
These results highlight the need for future epidemiological studies of poliomyelitis to examine nationally representative samples, including all ages and greater focus on high-income countries. Such efforts will improve capacity to provide reliable and more robust worldwide prevalence estimates.
Topics: Global Health; Humans; Incidence; Income; Internationality; Poliomyelitis; Survivors
PubMed: 28694346
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015470 -
Food and Environmental Virology Dec 2017Poliovirus surveillance plays a critical role in achieving and certifying eradication and will play a key role in the polio endgame. Environmental surveillance can... (Review)
Review
Poliovirus surveillance plays a critical role in achieving and certifying eradication and will play a key role in the polio endgame. Environmental surveillance can provide an opportunity to detect circulating polioviruses prior to the observation of any acute flaccid paralysis cases. We completed a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications on environmental surveillance for polio including the search terms "environmental surveillance" or "sewage," and "polio," "poliovirus," or "poliomyelitis," and compared characteristics of the resulting studies. The review included 146 studies representing 101 environmental surveillance activities from 48 countries published between 1975 and 2016. Studies reported taking samples from sewage treatment facilities, surface waters, and various other environmental sources, although they generally did not present sufficient details to thoroughly evaluate the sewage systems and catchment areas. When reported, catchment areas varied from 50 to over 7.3 million people (median of 500,000 for the 25% of activities that reported catchment areas, notably with 60% of the studies not reporting this information and 16% reporting insufficient information to estimate the catchment area population size). While numerous studies reported the ability of environmental surveillance to detect polioviruses in the absence of clinical cases, the review revealed very limited information about the costs and limited information to support quantitative population effectiveness of conducting environmental surveillance. This review motivates future studies to better characterize poliovirus environmental surveillance systems and the potential value of information that they may provide in the polio endgame.
Topics: Environmental Monitoring; Fresh Water; Humans; Poliomyelitis; Poliovirus; Sewage
PubMed: 28687986
DOI: 10.1007/s12560-017-9314-4 -
The Patient Dec 2017Discrete choice experiments are increasingly used to assess preferences for vaccines and vaccine service delivery. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Discrete choice experiments are increasingly used to assess preferences for vaccines and vaccine service delivery.
OBJECTIVES
To synthesize and critically assess the application of discrete choice experiments in childhood/adolescent vaccines, to describe how discrete choice experiments have been applied to understand preferences, and to evaluate the use of discrete choice experiment data to inform estimates of vaccine uptake.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of six electronic databases. Included studies were discrete choice experiments and conjoint analyses published from 2000 to 2016 related to childhood/adolescent vaccines where respondents were parents, children/adolescents, or service providers. Validity assessment was used to assess study quality and risk of bias.
RESULTS
In total, 27 articles were included, representing 21 different studies. A majority of articles were published between 2011 and 2016. Vaccines studied included human papillomavirus (24%), influenza (19%), meningococcal vaccines (14%), childhood vaccines (14%), hypothetical vaccines (10%), hepatitis B (5%), and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (5%). Most studies assessed parent preferences (67%). The most common attributes were risk (24%), degree/duration of protection (21%), and cost (15%). Commonly reported outcome measures were estimates of uptake (33%), willingness-to-pay (22%), and other marginal rates of substitution (14%). Validity assessments yielded high scores overall. Areas of weakness included low response rates, inefficient experimental design, and failure to conduct formative qualitative work and a pilot of the discrete choice experiment.
CONCLUSION
This is the first systematic review of childhood/adolescent vaccine-related discrete choice experiments. In future, special attention should be paid to ensuring that choice context and discrete choice experiment design are compatible to generate reliable estimates of uptake.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Choice Behavior; Decision Support Techniques; Female; Health Expenditures; Humans; Infant; Male; Parents; Patient Preference; Qualitative Research; Reproducibility of Results; Risk Assessment; Vaccines
PubMed: 28474295
DOI: 10.1007/s40271-017-0244-x -
Pathogens and Global Health Mar 2017The decline of immunization rates in countries of origin of migrants and refugees, along with risky conditions during the journey to Europe, may threaten migrants'... (Review)
Review
The decline of immunization rates in countries of origin of migrants and refugees, along with risky conditions during the journey to Europe, may threaten migrants' health. We performed a systematic review of the scientific literature in order to assess the frequency of vaccine preventable diseases, and vaccination coverage among migrants and refugees in Europe. To this end, Medline and Cochrane databases were considered. After the screening and the selection process, 58 papers were included in the review. We focused on the following vaccine-preventable diseases: hepatitis B, measles, rubella, mumps, tetanus, poliomyelitis, pertussis, diphtheria, meningitis, and varicella. The results were presented as a qualitative synthesis. In summary, several studies highlighted that migrants and refugees have lower immunization rates compared to European-born individuals. Firstly, this is due to low vaccination coverage in the country of origin. Then, several problems may limit migrants' access to vaccination in Europe: (i) migrants are used to move around the continent, and many vaccines require multiple doses at regular times; (ii) information on the immunization status of migrants is often lacking; (iii) hosting countries face severe economic crises; (iv) migrants often refuse registration with medical authorities for fear of legal consequences and (v) the lack of coordination among public health authorities of neighboring countries may determine either duplications or lack of vaccine administration. Possible strategies to overcome these problems include tailoring immunization services on the specific needs of the target population, developing strong communication campaigns, developing vaccination registers, and promoting collaboration among public health authorities of European Countries.
Topics: Communicable Disease Control; Communicable Diseases; Europe; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Refugees; Transients and Migrants; Vaccination
PubMed: 28165878
DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2017.1281374 -
Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases Aug 2016Quality of life and well-being are frequently restricted in adults with neuromuscular disorders. As such, identification of appropriate interventions is imperative. The... (Review)
Review
Quality of life and well-being are frequently restricted in adults with neuromuscular disorders. As such, identification of appropriate interventions is imperative. The objective of this paper was to systematically review and critically appraise quantitative studies (RCTs, controlled trials and cohort studies) of psychosocial interventions designed to improve quality of life and well-being in adults with neuromuscular disorders. A systematic review of the published and unpublished literature was conducted. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were appraised using a validated quality assessment tool and results presented in a narrative synthesis. Out of 3,136 studies identified, ten studies met criteria for inclusion within the review. Included studies comprised a range of interventions including: cognitive behavioural therapy, dignity therapy, hypnosis, expressive disclosure, gratitude lists, group psychoeducation and psychologically informed rehabilitation. Five of the interventions were for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The remainder were for patients with post-polio syndrome, muscular dystrophies and mixed disorders, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, myasthenia gravis and myotonic dystrophy. Across varied interventions and neuromuscular disorders, seven studies reported a short-term beneficial effect of intervention on quality of life and well-being. Whilst such findings are encouraging, widespread issues with the methodological quality of these studies significantly compromised the results. There is no strong evidence that psychosocial interventions improve quality of life and well-being in adults with neuromuscular disorders, due to a paucity of high quality research in this field. Multi-site, randomised controlled trials with active controls, standardised outcome measurement and longer term follow-ups are urgently required.
Topics: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Disclosure; Humans; Hypnosis; Mental Health; Muscular Dystrophies; Myasthenia Gravis; Myotonic Dystrophy; Neuromuscular Diseases; Patient Education as Topic; Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome; Quality of Life
PubMed: 27854227
DOI: 10.3233/JND-160155 -
Vaccine Oct 2016Important investments were made in countries for the polio eradication initiative. On 25 September 2015, a major milestone was achieved when Nigeria was removed from the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Important investments were made in countries for the polio eradication initiative. On 25 September 2015, a major milestone was achieved when Nigeria was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries. Routine Immunization, being a key pillar of polio eradication initiative needs to be strengthened to sustain the gains made in countries. For this, there is a huge potential on building on the use of polio infrastructure to contribute to RI strengthening.
METHODS
We reviewed estimates of immunization coverage as reported by the countries to WHO and UNICEF for three vaccines: BCG, DTP3 (third dose of diphtheria-tetanus toxoid- pertussis), and the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1).We conducted a systematic review of best practices documents from eight countries which had significant polio eradication activities.
RESULTS
Immunization programmes have improved significantly in the African Region. Regional coverage for DTP3 vaccine increased from 51% in 1996 to 77% in 2014. DTP3 coverage increased >3 folds in DRC (18-80%) and Nigeria from 21% to 66%; and >2 folds in Angola (41-87%), Chad (24-46%), and Togo (42-87%). Coverage for BCG and MCV1 increased in all countries. Of the 47 countries in the region, 18 (38%) achieved a national coverage for DTP3 ⩾90% for 2years meeting the Global Vaccine Action (GVAP) target. A decrease was noted in the Ebola-affected countries i.e., Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
CONCLUSIONS
PEI has been associated with increased spending on immunization and the related improvements, especially in the areas of micro planning, service delivery, program management and capacity building. Continued efforts are needed to mobilize international and domestic support to strengthen and sustain high-quality immunization services in African countries. Strengthening RI will in turn sustain the gains made to eradicate poliovirus in the region.
Topics: Africa; BCG Vaccine; Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; Disease Eradication; Global Health; Humans; Immunization Programs; Measles Vaccine; Nigeria; Poliomyelitis; Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Togo; United Nations; Vaccination Coverage; World Health Organization
PubMed: 27396492
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.05.062 -
The Lancet. Infectious Diseases May 2016Since its discovery in California in 1962, reports of enterovirus D68 have been infrequent. Before 2014, infections were confirmed in only 699 people worldwide. In... (Review)
Review
Since its discovery in California in 1962, reports of enterovirus D68 have been infrequent. Before 2014, infections were confirmed in only 699 people worldwide. In August, 2014, two paediatric hospitals in the USA reported increases in the number of patients with severe respiratory illness, with an over-representation in children with asthma. Shortly after, the authorities recognised a nationwide outbreak, which then spread to Canada, Europe, and Asia. In 2014, more than 2000 cases of enterovirus D68 were reported in 20 countries. Concurrently, clusters of children with acute flaccid paralysis of unknown cause were reported in several US states and in Europe. Enterovirus D68 infection was confirmed in some of the paralysed children, but not all. Complications in patients who were severely neurologically affected resemble those caused by poliomyelitis. In this paper we systematically review reports on enterovirus D68 to estimate its global epidemiology and its ability to cause respiratory infections and neurological damage in children. We extracted data from 70 papers to report on prevalence, symptoms, hospitalisation and mortality, and complications of enterovirus D68, both before and during the large outbreak of 2014. The magnitude and severity of the enterovirus D68 outbreak underscores a need for improved diagnostic work-up of paediatric respiratory illness, not only to prevent unnecessary use of antibiotics, but also to ensure better surveillance of diseases. Existing surveillance systems should be assessed in terms of capacity and ability to detect and report any upsurge of respiratory viruses such as enterovirus D68 in a timely manner, and focus should be paid to development of preventive measures against these emerging enteroviruses that have potential for severe disease.
Topics: Cough; Disease Outbreaks; Enterovirus D, Human; Enterovirus Infections; Global Health; Hospitalization; Humans; Paralysis; Prevalence; Respiratory Tract Infections
PubMed: 26929196
DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(15)00543-5 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... May 2015Postpolio syndrome (PPS) may affect survivors of paralytic poliomyelitis and is characterised by a complex of neuromuscular symptoms leading to a decline in physical... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Postpolio syndrome (PPS) may affect survivors of paralytic poliomyelitis and is characterised by a complex of neuromuscular symptoms leading to a decline in physical functioning. The effectiveness of pharmacological treatment and rehabilitation management in PPS is not yet established. This is an update of a review first published in 2011.
OBJECTIVES
To systematically review the evidence from randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials for the effect of any pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment for PPS compared to placebo, usual care or no treatment.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the following databases on 21 July 2014: Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Specialized Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL Plus. We also checked reference lists of all relevant articles, searched the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Database and trial registers and contacted investigators known to be involved in research in this area.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised and quasi-randomised trials of any form of pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment for people with PPS. The primary outcome was self perceived activity limitations and secondary outcomes were muscle strength, muscle endurance, fatigue, pain and adverse events.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 10 pharmacological (modafinil, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), pyridostigmine, lamotrigine, amantadine, prednisone) and three non-pharmacological (muscle strengthening, rehabilitation in a warm climate (that is temperature ± 25°C, dry and sunny) and a cold climate (that is temperature ± 0°C, rainy or snowy), static magnetic fields) studies with a total of 675 participants with PPS in this review. None of the included studies were completely free from any risk of bias, the most prevalent risk of bias being lack of blinding.There was moderate- and low-quality evidence that IVIg has no beneficial effect on activity limitations in the short term and long term, respectively, and inconsistency in the evidence for effectiveness on muscle strength. IVIg caused minor adverse events in a substantial proportion of the participants. Results of one trial provided very low-quality evidence that lamotrigine might be effective in reducing pain and fatigue, resulting in fewer activity limitations without generating adverse events. Data from two single trials suggested that muscle strengthening of thumb muscles (very low-quality evidence) and static magnetic fields (moderate-quality evidence) are safe and beneficial for improving muscle strength and pain, respectively, with unknown effects on activity limitations. Finally, there was evidence varying from very low quality to high quality that modafinil, pyridostigmine, amantadine, prednisone and rehabilitation in a warm or cold climate are not beneficial in PPS.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Due to insufficient good-quality data and lack of randomised studies, it was impossible to draw definite conclusions about the effectiveness of interventions for PPS. Results indicated that IVIg, lamotrigine, muscle strengthening exercises and static magnetic fields may be beneficial but need further investigation to clarify whether any real and meaningful effect exists.
Topics: Cold Temperature; Exercise Therapy; Hot Temperature; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Lamotrigine; Muscle Fatigue; Muscle Strength; Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Triazines
PubMed: 25984923
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007818.pub3 -
Clinical Gastroenterology and... Aug 2015Environmental factors may play a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whether vaccination is associated causally with IBD is controversial.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Environmental factors may play a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whether vaccination is associated causally with IBD is controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies on the association between vaccination and the risk for IBD.
METHODS
Studies and abstracts investigating the relationship between vaccination and subsequent risk for developing IBD were reviewed. Childhood or adult immunizations with any vaccine type, at any dose, and with any vaccine schedule were used as inclusion criteria.
RESULTS
Eleven studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis: 8 case-control studies and 3 cohort studies. Studied vaccines were bacille Calmette-Guérin), vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, smallpox, poliomyelitis, pertussis, H1N1, measles, rubella, mumps, and the combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. Only a few details about vaccine type or route of administration were found in studies. Overall, there was no association between childhood immunization and risk for developing IBD: bacille Calmette-Guérin, relative risk (RR) of 1.04 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-1.38), diphtheria, RR of 1.24 (95% CI, 0.80-1.94), tetanus, RR of 1.27 (95% CI, 0.77-2.08), smallpox, RR of 1.08 (95% CI, 0.70-1.67), poliomyelitis, RR of 1.79 (95% CI, 0.88-3.66), an measles containing vaccines, RR of 1.33 (95% CI, 0.31-5.80) in cohort studies, and RR of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.60-1.20) in case-control studies. Subgroup analysis for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) found an association between the poliomyelitis vaccine and risk for developing CD (RR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.12-4.63) or UC (RR, 3.48; 95% CI, 1.2-9.71). The RR of developing IBD after H1N1 vaccination was 1.13 (95% CI, 0.97-1.32).
CONCLUSIONS
Results of this meta-analysis show no evidence supporting an association between childhood immunization or H1N1 vaccination in adults and risk of developing IBD. The association between the poliomyelitis vaccine and the risk for CD or UC should be analyzed with caution because of study heterogeneity.
Topics: Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Risk Assessment; Vaccination
PubMed: 25956840
DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2015.04.179 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 2015The WHO European Region has been declared polio-free since 2002. By 2010, inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was the only polio vaccine in use in the EU/EEA for the primary... (Review)
Review
The WHO European Region has been declared polio-free since 2002. By 2010, inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was the only polio vaccine in use in the EU/EEA for the primary vaccination of children. A systematic review of the literature on polio seroprevalence studies, complemented by the analysis of available vaccine coverage data, has been carried out with the aim of assessing the level of protection against polio in the European population. A total of 52 studies, with data from 14 out of the 31 EU/EEA countries, were included in the analysis. This systematic review shows that, overall, seroprevalence for PV1 and PV3 is high in most countries, although seroimmunity gaps have been detected in several birth cohorts. In particular, relatively low immunity status was found in some countries for individuals born in the 60's and 70's. Discrepancies between reported vaccination coverage and immunity levels have been also highlighted. Countries should make sure that their population is being vaccinated for polio to reduce the risk of local poliovirus transmission in case of importation. Moreover, assessing immunity status should be priority for those traveling to areas where wild polioviruses are still circulating.
Topics: Antibodies, Viral; European Union; Humans; Poliomyelitis; Poliovirus; Seroepidemiologic Studies
PubMed: 25898095
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1016673