Recent Advances in Acute Diseases and Epidemiological Studies

A special issue of Epidemiologia (ISSN 2673-3986).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 2747

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza (AREU), Via Campanini 6, 20124 Milan, Italy
Interests: medical education; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; emergency medical service; public health measures; surveillance
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Guest Editor
1. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
2. Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Emergency, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
Interests: cardiac arrest; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; emergency medicine; critical care; trauma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Acute diseases play a very significant role in the global population in terms of mortality and disability. The factors that may influence patient outcomes are numerous and may be related to environmental, organisational and epidemiological factors. In recent years, the study of these diseases has been strongly influenced by COVID-19; however, in the light of the reduced pandemic spread, we would like to share this Special Issue, aiming to amass a collection of the latest advancements in the field of acute diseases and of epidemiological investigations.

This Special Issue is relevant as there is a need for an epidemiological update on various acute diseases—such as stroke, heart attack, major trauma and cardiac arrest—especially considering the new environmental and organisational evidence that has been accumulated in recent years, particularly in the context of the integration of organisational elements into clinical guidelines.

Articles related to the epidemiology of acute diseases, with a focus on emergency medical system organisation and clinical outcomes, are welcome. In addition, research on the following public health elements related to these topics will be sought after: health literacy of the general population, population-based interventions to prevent mortality from these diseases and information campaigns.

Dr. Giuseppe Stirparo
Dr. Giuseppe Ristagno
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • pre-hospital emergency care
  • epidemiology
  • emergency medical services
  • time-dependent pathologies
  • health services
  • surveillance
  • public health

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2202 KiB  
Article
Trends in Congenital Syphilis Incidence and Mortality in Brazil’s Southeast Region: A Time-Series Analysis (2008–2022)
by Alexandre Castelo Branco Araujo, Orivaldo Florencio de Souza, Betina Bolina Kersanach, Julia Silva Cesar Mozzer, Victor Lopes Feitosa, Vinicius Andreata Brandão, Filomena Euridice Carvalho de Alencar, Norma Suely Oliveira, Andrea Vasconcellos Batista da Silva and Luiz Carlos de Abreu
Epidemiologia 2025, 6(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia6020022 - 5 May 2025
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Abstract
Congenital syphilis (CS) is an important infectious cause of miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite the advances in diagnosis and treatment, CS continues to challenge health systems with increasing incidence and mortality rates in recent years worldwide. Given this, the present [...] Read more.
Congenital syphilis (CS) is an important infectious cause of miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite the advances in diagnosis and treatment, CS continues to challenge health systems with increasing incidence and mortality rates in recent years worldwide. Given this, the present study aims to comparatively analyze the temporal trends in CS incidence and mortality in Brazil’s Southeast Region from 2008 to 2022. This is an ecological time-series study using secondary data on congenital syphilis from the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. The data was extracted from the Brazilian Health System Informatics Department. Incidence and mortality rates were calculated per 100,000 live births. Joinpoint regression models were employed to identify trends in annual percentage change and average annual percentage change with 95% confidence intervals. The temporal trend of CS incidence in Brazil’s Southeast Region increased 12.8% between 2008 and 2022. Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Espírito Santo, and Rio de Janeiro showed increasing temporal trends of 21.4%, 14.1%, 14.0%, and 10.9%, respectively. The temporal trend of CS mortality in Brazil’s Southeast Region rose 11.9% between 2008 and 2022. Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro exhibited increasing mortality temporal trends of 21.9%, 20.8%, and 10.1%, respectively. In contrast, Espírito Santo showed reduced mortality, with no deaths in 2021 and 2022. The temporal trend of CS incidence increased in all states of Brazil’s Southeast Region between 2008 and 2022, highlighting the need to reassess control measures. The temporal trend of CS mortality also increased during the same period, except in Espírito Santo. Considering that CS is preventable with adequate prenatal care and low-cost measures, these findings can serve as instruments to support strengthening public health policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Acute Diseases and Epidemiological Studies)
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15 pages, 2865 KiB  
Article
Does Calm Always Follow the Storm? A Comprehensive Temporal Analysis of Emergency Department Visits in Northern Italy Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Maria José De la Rosa, Andrea Duca, Lorenzo Querci, Francesca Cortellaro, Martina Calderaro, Paolo Pausilli, Annalisa Bodina, Andrea Albonico, Gabriele Perotti, Carlo Signorelli and Massimo Lombardo
Epidemiologia 2025, 6(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia6010010 - 1 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Emergency department (ED) crowding has become a pressing global concern exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. No studies have addressed this issue in Europe during the post-pandemic period so far. This study examined ED visit volumes, patient acuity, hospital admission rates, emergency vehicle [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Emergency department (ED) crowding has become a pressing global concern exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. No studies have addressed this issue in Europe during the post-pandemic period so far. This study examined ED visit volumes, patient acuity, hospital admission rates, emergency vehicle arrivals, and crowding metrics before, during, and after the pandemic. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study including data on all ED visits in the Lombardy Region of Italy from January 2019 to December 2023. Furthermore, an inferential statistical analysis was performed to compare ED trends between 2019 and 2023. Results: During the analyzed period, there were 15,515,128 visits across all Lombardy EDs. ED visits dropped from 3,514,426 in 2019 to 2,380,005 in 2020, then rebounded to 3,464,756 in 2023. In 2019, triage code distribution was 9.9% white, 68.7% green, 19.0% yellow, and 1.9% red. During the pandemic, the proportion of white and green codes decreased. By 2023, these comprised 80.7% of the total. The percentage of admitted patients was 11.9% in 2019, rose to 16.2% in 2020, and returned to 11.4% in 2023. The median ED length of stay (EDLOS) for admitted patients in 2023 was 5.2 h (IQR [2.1–17.4]), compared to 3.8 h (IQR [1.6–8.6]) in 2019 (p-value < 0.01). The median EDLOS for discharged patients in 2023 was 2.7 h (IQR [1.4–4.9]), compared to 2.4 h (IQR [1.3–4.4]) in 2019 (p-value < 0.01). The rate of patients leaving before completing treatment was 5.0% in 2019 and peaked at 6.8% in 2023 (p-value < 0.01). Conclusions: In 2023, ED visits in Lombardy increased, compared to the pandemic period, but remained below 2019 levels. The proportion of high-acuity codes and hospital admissions was slightly lower than in 2019. However, ED crowding metrics worsened. The high levels of lower-acuity visits and the deterioration in crowding metrics highlight systemic challenges within the healthcare system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Acute Diseases and Epidemiological Studies)
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Review

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21 pages, 1435 KiB  
Review
Evaluation of Pain in the Pediatric Patient Admitted to Sub-Intensive Care: What Is the Evidence? A Scoping Review
by Antonio Bonacaro, Carlotta Granata, Chiara Canini, Lucrezia Anderle, Federica Ambrosi, Maria Chiara Bassi, Giacomo Biasucci, Andrea Contini, Giovanna Artioli, Elisa La Malfa and Massimo Guasconi
Epidemiologia 2025, 6(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia6010009 - 20 Feb 2025
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: Inadequate pain treatment in pediatric patients can cause long-term physical and psychological issues. Accurate detection of pain presence and intensity is crucial, especially in Neonatal and Pediatric Sub-Intensive Care Units. Due to uncertainties about the best pain assessment tool in [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Inadequate pain treatment in pediatric patients can cause long-term physical and psychological issues. Accurate detection of pain presence and intensity is crucial, especially in Neonatal and Pediatric Sub-Intensive Care Units. Due to uncertainties about the best pain assessment tool in these settings, it is necessary to review the literature to identify the available evidence. Methods: A scoping review was performed to address the question: What tools are available for pain assessment in non-sedated, non-intubated pediatric patients in sub-intensive care? Searches were conducted in databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Open Dissertation, as well as CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.gov registries. Results: The review included 27 studies, revealing various tools for pain assessment in pediatric sub-intensive settings. All studies favored the use of multidimensional scales, combining physiological and behavioral indicators. Conclusions: This review offers a comprehensive overview of the tools for pain assessment in pediatric patients in sub-intensive care settings but does not determine a single best tool. Most studies focused on the validation, translation, and adaptation of these tools. Further research is needed on the practical application of these tools and the perceptions of those administering them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Acute Diseases and Epidemiological Studies)
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