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Dear Colleagues,

As the core science of public health, epidemiology provides the skills and tools to enhance critical thinking about the causes of disease and their prevention. Consequently, there is a focus on study validity. This includes the design of the study, the identification of potential biases and mitigation strategies, the appropriate application of analytical techniques, and the critical interpretation of findings. With the proliferating opportunities for publication and expansion of the body of literature, epidemiology must provide high validity and robust intelligence for decision making across the health sector. This issue will allow authors to demonstrate how applying critical thinking in epidemiology has contributed to improved decision making about the cause and prevention of disease.

Prof. Dr. Barry Borman
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

7 pages, 337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Incidence of Congenital Muscular Torticollis in Babies from Southern Portugal: Types, Age of Diagnosis and Risk Factors

by Beatriz Minghelli and Noémia Guerreiro Duarte Vitorino

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9133; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19159133 - 26 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1847

Abstract

Congenital torticollis (CMT) is the most common type of torticollis and is defined as a unilateral contracture of the sternocleidomastoid muscle resulting in lateral head tilt associated with contralateral rotation, and early detection and treatment may present a high probability of recovery of head posture symmetry. This study aimed to verify the incidence of torticollis in babies born in southern Portugal types, age of diagnosis and the risk factors. This study comprised 6565 infants born in the south of Portugal at Algarve University Hospital Center, Portimão unit during a 5-year period (January 2016 to December 2020). The cases diagnosed with torticollis referred to the Pediatrics and Pediatric Physiatrist consultations at this hospital were included. 118 babies—77 (65.3%) male and 41 (34.7%) female—were diagnosed with torticollis. The incidence of a 5-year period was 1.5%. Spontaneous vaginal delivery was prevalent (n = 56; 47.5%), with 106 (89.8%) deliveries with cephalic presentation. 53 (44.9%) cases of torticollis were classified as postural, 37 (31.4%) as muscular torticollis with joint limitation and 28 (23.7%) as congenital torticollis (with the presence of a nodule). Postural torticollis was diagnosed at an average age of 70.14 days, muscular torticollis with joint limitation at an average of 64.12 days and congenital torticollis at 33.25 days (p < 0.001). Plagiocephaly was present in 48 (40.7%) babies with torticollis (p = 0.005) and joint limitation in 53 (44.9%) babies (p < 0.001). The data obtained revealed a low incidence of CMT, with the majority being classified as postural. The age of diagnosis varied between 33 to 70 days from birth. The baby’s gender, mode of delivery and the fetal presentation during delivery did not show a statistically significant association with the presence of torticollis. Despite presenting a low incidence, it is important to mention the importance of professional health intervention in the implementation of prevention strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology as a Tool for Thinking Critically about the Cause of Disease and Ill-Health)

10 pages, 357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Poor Respiratory Function among Firefighters Exposed to Wildfire Smoke

by Catarina Ramos and Beatriz Minghelli

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8492; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19148492 - 12 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1732

Abstract

One of the world’s biggest disasters are wildfires. The firefighting environment involves physical and respiratory risks, due the inhalation of fire smoke. This study aims to determine the respiratory function of firefighters exposed to wildfire smoke and explore the potential risk factors associated with poor respiratory function. The sample involved 53 firefighters, aged between 23 and 60 years (39.28 ± 8.71), 41 (77.40%) male and 12 (22.60%) female, who fought in wildfires. The measurement instruments used were as follows: a scale, a stadiometer, a questionnaire, a Fagerstrom test and a spirometer. Thirty-six (67.9%) firefighters showed a restrictive pattern. Firefighters fought between 1 and 9 (3.64 ± 1.97) fires and in total between 5 and 212 (62.34 ± 46.89) h. Nineteen (52.8%) firefighters, who showed a restrictive pattern, did not perform any physical exercise (p = 0.045). Twelve (70.6%) firefighters who practiced exercise and revealed a restrictive pattern trained at least 3 or less hours weekly, whilst five (29.4%) practiced more than 3 h (p = 0.030) of weekly exercise. Twenty (55.6%) firefighters with a restrictive pattern spent more than 48 h in combat (p = 0.029) and twenty-two (61.1%) did not use any respiratory protection (p = 0.011). The study data showed that occupational exposure to wildfire smoke was associated with the development of a restrictive pattern and associated factors included a sedentary lifestyle, limited duration of physical exercise, longer exposure to fire smoke and non-use of respiratory protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology as a Tool for Thinking Critically about the Cause of Disease and Ill-Health)

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