Background As of 16 May 2020, more than 4.5 million cases and 300,000 deaths from disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been reported. Reliable estimates mortality SARS-CoV-2 infection are essential for understanding clinical prognosis, planning healthcare capacity, epidemic forecasting. The case–fatality ratio (CFR), calculated total numbers reported deaths, is the most commonly metric, but it can be a misleading measure overall mortality....

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on excess mortality from all causes in 2020 varied across and within European countries. Using data for 2015-2019, we applied Bayesian spatio-temporal models to quantify expected weekly deaths at regional level had not occurred England, Greece, Italy, Spain, Switzerland. With around 30%, Madrid, Castile-La Mancha, Castile-Leon (Spain) Lombardia (Italy) were regions with highest mortality. In Greece Switzerland, most affected Outer London West Midlands...

Recent studies suggested a link between long-term exposure to air-pollution and COVID-19 mortality. However, due their ecological design based on large spatial units, they neglect the strong localised patterns, potentially lead inadequate confounding adjustment. We investigated effect of NO2 PM2.5 mortality in England using high geographical resolution. In this nationwide cross-sectional study England, we included 38,573 deaths up June 30, 2020 at Lower Layer Super Output Area level (n =...

The COVID-19 pandemic has been influencing travel behaviour in many urban areas around the world since beginning of 2020. As a consequence, bike-sharing schemes have affected-partly due to change demand and as well shift from public transit. This study estimates varying effect on London system (Santander Cycles) over period March-December We employed Bayesian second-order random walk time-series model account for temporal correlation data. compared observed number cycle hires hire time with...

Background There is emerging evidence suggesting a link between ambient heat exposure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hospitalisations. Individual contextual characteristics can affect population vulnerabilities to COPD hospitalisation due exposure. This study quantifies the effect of on hospitalisations examines by age, sex characteristics. Methods data at high geographical resolution (postcodes) during 2007–2018 in England was retrieved from small area health statistics...

Abstract The direct and indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population-level mortality is concern to public health but challenging quantify. Using data for 2011–2019, we applied Bayesian models predict expected number deaths in Switzerland compared them with laboratory-confirmed from February 2020 April 2022 (study period). We estimated that COVID-19-related was underestimated by a factor 0.72 (95% credible interval [CrI]: 0.46–0.78). After accounting deaths, observed −4% CrI: −8 0)...

Previous studies have reported an association between warm temperature and asthma hospitalisation. They different sex-related age-related vulnerabilities; nevertheless, little is known about how this effect has changed over time it varies in space. This study aims to evaluate the hospitalisation investigate vulnerabilities by age, sex,

Introduction:High ambient temperatures can cause unnecessary mortality, with the health effects of heat often being non-linear. Previous studies have shown that certain regions are more vulnerable. This study investigates non-linear spatial vulnerabilities exposure on all-cause mortality across small areas in Switzerland.Methods:We retrieved daily and annual population data (2011–2022) for 2,145 municipalities, disaggregated by age sex, from Swiss Federal Office Public Health...

Aircraft noise causes annoyance and sleep disturbance there is some evidence of associations between long-term exposures cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated short-term previous day aircraft events in a population 6.3 million residing near Heathrow Airport using case-crossover design exposure data for different times night. included all recorded hospitalisations (n = 442,442) deaths 49,443) 2014–2018 due to CVD. Conditional logistic regression was used estimate the ORs adjusted NO2...

Understanding the factors that influence human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake is critically important to design of effective programmes. In Switzerland, HPV (≥1 dose) by age 16 years among women ranges from 31% 80% across 26 cantons (states). Our objective was identify are associated with spatial variation in uptake. We used cross-sectional data Swiss National Vaccination Coverage Survey 2009-2016 on status 14-17-year-old girls, their municipality residence and nationality for 21...

Recent studies suggested a link between long-term exposure to air-pollution and COVID-19 mortality. However, due their ecological design, based on large spatial units, they neglect the strong localised patterns, potentially lead inadequate confounding adjustment. We investigated effect of NO2 PM2.5 deaths up June 30, 2020 in England using high geographical resolution.

The main goal of disease mapping is to estimate risk and identify high-risk areas. Such analyses are hampered by the limited geographical resolution available data. Typically data counts per spatial unit common approach Besag-York-Mollié (BYM) model. When precise geocodes available, it more natural use Log-Gaussian Cox processes (LGCPs). In a simulation study mimicking childhood leukaemia incidence using actual residential locations all children in canton Zürich, Switzerland, we compare...

The geographic variation of terrestrial radiation can be exploited in epidemiological studies the health effects protracted low-dose exposure. Various methods have been applied to derive maps this variation. We aimed construct a map for Switzerland. used airborne γ-spectrometry measurements model ambient dose rates from through Bayesian mixed-effects and conducted inference using Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA). predicted higher levels alpine regions Ticino compared with...

One year after the start of COVID-19 vaccination programme in England, more than 43 million people older 12 years old had received at least a first dose. Nevertheless, geographical differences persist, and vaccine hesitancy is still major public health concern; understanding its determinants crucial to managing pandemic preparing for future ones. In this cross-sectional population-based study we used cumulative data on dose by 01-01-2022 Middle Super Output Area level England. We Bayesian...

The aetiology of childhood leukaemia remains largely unknown. Several hypotheses involve environmental exposures that could implicate spatial clustering cases. evidence from previous studies is inconclusive. Most them used areal data and thus had limited resolution. We investigated whether tends to cluster in space using exact geocodes place residence both at the time birth or diagnosis. included 1,871 cases diagnosed between 1985 2015 age 0-15 years Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. For each...

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related excess mortality in Switzerland is well documented, but no study examined at the small-area level. We analysed 2020 for 2141 Swiss municipalities using a Bayesian spatiotemporal model fitted to 2011–19 data. Areas most affected included Ticino, Romandie and Northeast. Rural areas, within cross-border labour markets, of lower socioeconomic position with less support control measures popular vote on COVID-19 Act had greater mortality....

Initial genetic alterations in the development of childhood leukemia occur utero or before conception; both and environmental factors are suspected to play a role. We aimed investigate associations between perinatal characteristics including birth order, interval older siblings, parental age, weight, multiple birth.We identified cases diagnosed 1981 2015 born Switzerland 1969 from Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry randomly sampled five controls per case national records matched on date birth,...

Abstract Background Disparities in invasive cervical cancer (ICC) incidence exist globally, particularly HIV positive women who are at elevated risk compared to negative women. We aimed determine the spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal of ICC potential factors among South Africa. Methods included cases diagnosed with from African match study during 2004–2014. used Thembisa model, a mathematical model epidemic estimate per municipality, age group calendar year. fitted Bayesian hierarchical...

Abstract Background The aetiology of most childhood cancers is largely unknown. Spatially varying environmental factors such as traffic-related air pollution, background radiation and agricultural pesticides might contribute to the development cancer. This study first investigation spatial disease mapping using exact geocodes place residence. Methods We included 5947 children diagnosed with cancer in Switzerland during 1985–2015 at 0–15 years age from Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry....

Abstract The direct and indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population-level mortality is concern to public health but challenging quantify. We modelled excess effects in Switzerland. analyzed yearly population data weekly all-cause deaths by age, sex, canton 2010-2019 laboratory-confirmed from February 2020 April 2022 (study period). Bayesian models predicted expected number deaths. A total 13,130 were reported. model estimated that COVID-19-related was underestimated a factor 0.72...