Advances in Health, Lifestyle and Environmental Risk Factors Monitoring

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Epidemiology & Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 3860

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: health data management and analysis; epidemiological methods; statistics in epidemiology; health monitoring evaluation

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Guest Editor
Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: children’s health; children’s lifestyle; children’s health monitoring; risk factors assessment

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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Toxicology, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: epidemiology; environmental epidemiology; health monitoring; human biomonitoring

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

WHO identifies the monitoring of health and risk factors as an important tool for research and clinical practice at both the individual and population level. The WHO, the European Commission and other authorities initiate surveillance studies involving many countries with the aim to evaluate the long-term health status, risk factors and trends in different populations and to promote prevention of diseases worldwide. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has launched surveillance modernization initiative.

Public health monitoring is of little use without the dissemination of results and knowledge.

This Special Issue aims to publish original research articles, literature reviews, and tutorials concerning the advances in health and risk factors monitoring at both individual and population level for various populations. Articles on monitoring using classical means and modern digital tools are welcome.

We appreciate your scientific achievements and look forward to receiving your articles.

Prof. Dr. Rima Kregždytė
Prof. Dr. Aušra Petrauskienė
Dr. Loreta Strumylaitė
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • health monitoring
  • human biological monitoring
  • lifestyle risk factors
  • environmental risk factors
  • surveillance
  • indicator-based public health monitoring
  • health measurement digital technologies
  • health monitoring system

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 274 KiB  
Article
Explaining the Link Between Alcohol and Homicides: Insights from the Analysis of Legal Cases in Lithuania
by Laura Miščikienė, Justina Trišauskė, Mindaugas Štelemėkas and Kristina Astromskė
Medicina 2025, 61(4), 657; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61040657 - 2 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: Alcohol consumption has been a longstanding public health concern and known link to violence. The aims of this study were to analyze alcohol-related homicide cases in Lithuania, focusing on the prevalence of binge drinking among perpetrators and victims, the [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Alcohol consumption has been a longstanding public health concern and known link to violence. The aims of this study were to analyze alcohol-related homicide cases in Lithuania, focusing on the prevalence of binge drinking among perpetrators and victims, the situational and behavioral patterns leading to violence, and the legal outcomes of these cases. Materials and Methods: This study employed a retrospective analysis of court case law of criminal cases of the year 2019. The analysis was conducted by combining qualitative and quantitative analytical approaches. Results: The findings revealed that 84.6% of homicides occurred during binge drinking events. Alcohol intoxication was prevalent among both perpetrators (92.3%) and victims (86.5%), emphasizing the dual role of alcohol in homicide cases. Interpersonal violence was the primary pattern of homicide (78.8%), while planned homicides accounted for 21.2%. Thematic content analysis of the cases revealed that Lithuanian courts consistently regard alcohol consumption as an aggravating factor that contributes to the commission of violent crimes and influences the severity of criminal punishment. This reflects a judicial position that voluntary intoxication does not lessen legal responsibility, despite its effects on impairing judgment, heightening aggression and impulsivity, and escalating conflicts into deadly violence. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that the majority of alcohol-involved homicides occurred during binge drinking events, in a domestic environment, and because of unplanned acts of interpersonal violence. Targeted public health interventions should focus on strengthening alcohol control policies and enforcing stricter regulations to discourage binge drinking environments. Full article
10 pages, 778 KiB  
Article
Association Between Sarcopenia and Acupressure Testing in Older Adults Requiring Long-Term Care
by Takahiro Shiba, Yohei Sawaya, Ryo Sato, Tamaki Hirose, Lu Yin, Masataka Shiraki, Masahiro Ishizaka, Akira Kubo and Tomohiko Urano
Medicina 2024, 60(11), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60111852 - 11 Nov 2024
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: This study analyzed the relationship between pressure pain test outcomes and sarcopenia in elderly patients and explored possible clinical applications. Materials and Methods: The participants included 143 older adults requiring long-term care who could be diagnosed with sarcopenia. [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: This study analyzed the relationship between pressure pain test outcomes and sarcopenia in elderly patients and explored possible clinical applications. Materials and Methods: The participants included 143 older adults requiring long-term care who could be diagnosed with sarcopenia. Along with sarcopenia diagnosis, the participants underwent acupressure testing symmetrically at nine sites (occiput, lower cervical, trapezius, supraspinatus, second rib, lateral epicondyle, gluteus, greater trochanter, and knee), totaling 18 sites. The analyses included comparisons of sarcopenia status and total tender points between the groups and a multivariable analysis. The association between sarcopenia and the number of tender points were examined based on correlations between the number of tender points and grip strength, walking speed, and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI). Intergroup comparisons and multivariable analysis of tender points with and without sarcopenia were performed to investigate specific tender points associated with sarcopenia. Results: An independent association was observed between sarcopenia and the number of tender points (p = 0.001). Furthermore, the number of tender points was correlated with grip strength (ρ = −0.536, p < 0.001), walking speed (ρ = −0.200, p = 0.028), and SMI (ρ = −0.394, p < 0.001). The supraspinatus (p = 0.029, 95% confidence interval: 1.221–35.573) and lower cervical (p = 0.039, 95% confidence interval: 1.050–7.245) regions were identified as specific tender points. Conclusions: In older adult patients requiring long-term care, sarcopenia is associated with an increased number of tender points throughout the body, with the supraspinatus and lower cervical regions potentially being specific tender points. Acupressure testing for tenderness may be a useful assessment parameter in sarcopenia patients. Full article
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11 pages, 459 KiB  
Article
Epidemiology of Accidental Injuries at Home and Related Risk Factors for Mortality among Older Adults in South Korea: A Retrospective Cohort Study
by Ok-Hee Cho and Jeongeun Yoon
Medicina 2024, 60(4), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60040593 - 3 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1647
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Accidental home injuries among older adults are increasing globally, but reporting is limited. This study aims to establish foundational data for program development and policies to prevent accidental injuries at home in older adults by using data on the [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Accidental home injuries among older adults are increasing globally, but reporting is limited. This study aims to establish foundational data for program development and policies to prevent accidental injuries at home in older adults by using data on the occurrence of accidental injuries at home and analyzing the risk factors of mortality due to accidental injuries among adults aged 65 years and older. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study used data from the community-based Severe Trauma Survey in South Korea. This study identified general, injury-related, and treatment-related characteristics of older adults who were transported to the emergency department with accidental injuries at home. Single-variable and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for mortality after injury. Results: The majority of older adults in this study who experienced accidental injuries at home were aged 75 to 84 (42.8%) and female (52.8%), with 1465 injured from falls and slips (68.0%). Risk factors for mortality included older age (≥85 years) (ORs 2.25, 95% CI 1.47–3.45), male sex (ORs 1.60, 95% CI 1.15–2.20), mechanism of injury (falls or slips vs. contact injury, ORs 6.76, 95% CI 3.39–13.47; airway obstruction vs. contact injury, ORs 13.96, 95% CI 6.35–30.71), higher severity (moderate vs. mild, ORs 2.56, 95% CI 1.45–4.54; severe vs. mild, ORs 12.24, 95% CI 6.48–23.12; very severe vs. mild, ORs 67.95, 95% CI 38.86–118.81), and receiving a blood transfusion (ORs 2.14, 95% CI 1.24–3.67). Conclusions: Based on these findings, the home and community environments where older adults live should be inspected and monitored, and in-home accidental injury prevention strategies should be developed tailored to the characteristics of older adults’ risk factors and their injury-related characteristics. Full article
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