Horizon Europe: Will new or old European Union take to the field? Unfortunately, the given and family name of author “Michele Rubbini” was interchanged incorrectly in the original publication and the correct version is updated here. The original article has been corrected.

The personalized medicine challenge: shifting to population health through real-world data

Auditing in addition to compliance monitoring: a way to improve public health

Horizon Europe: Will new or old European Union take to the field?

Understanding the etiology and impact of hatred globally in a public health context

Sex-specific initiation rates of tobacco smoking and its determinants among adults from a Middle Eastern population: a cohort study Abstract Objectives To assess the initiation rate and determinants of tobacco smoking among adults. Methods In the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, a population-based cohort from Iran, 6101 participants ≥ 18 years old who had never smoked tobacco at baseline (phase II: 2002–2006) were followed until phase VI (2015–2018). Sex-specific initiation rates per 1000 person-years for self-reported tobacco smoking and hazard ratios (HR) for its potential determinants (using Cox proportional hazards models) were calculated. Results The age- and sex-adjusted smoking initiation rate was 13.77 [95% confidence interval (CI) 12.59–14.94] per 1000 person-years, of which 78% was attributed to water pipe use. Initiation rate was remarkably higher among men [19.1 (16.9–21.2)] than women [8.3 (7.4–9.2)] and declined in older age-groups. Among both genders, being married was protective [men: HR 0.67 (CI 95% 0.48–0.92); women: 0.58 (0.45–0.74)], while intermediate-level education (compared with high level) [men: 1.61 (1.14–2.26); women: 1.33 (0.95–1.84, p value = 0.092)] and passive smoking [men: 1.76 (1.36–2.28); women: 1.82 (1.42–2.33)] increased the risk. Educational intervention decreased the risk among women [0.74 (0.58–0.94)]. Conclusions The majority of adult smoking initiators started smoking with water pipe. The initiation rate was remarkably higher in men and younger age-groups. Passive smoking, being single and lower education were risk factors. Educational intervention was protective among women.

Divergent trends in life expectancy across the rural–urban gradient and association with specific racial proportions in the contiguous USA 2000–2005 Abstract Objectives To estimate county-level adult life expectancy for Whites, Black/African Americans (Black), American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) and Asian/Pacific Islander (Asian) populations and assess the difference across racial groups in the relationship among life expectancy, rurality and specific race proportion. Methods We used individual-level death data to estimate county-level life expectancy at age 25 (e25) for Whites, Black, AIAN and Asian in the contiguous USA for 2000–2005. Race–sex-stratified models were used to examine the associations among e25, rurality and specific race proportion, adjusted for socioeconomic variables. Results Lower e25 was found in the central USA for AIANs and in the west coast for Asians. We found higher e25 in the most rural areas for Whites but in the most urban areas for AIAN and Asians. The associations between specific race proportion and e25 were positive or null for Whites but were negative for Blacks, AIAN, and Asians. The relationship between specific race proportion and e25 varied across rurality. Conclusions Identifying differences in adult life expectancy, both across and within racial groups, provides new insights into the geographic determinants of life expectancy disparities.

Cost-effectiveness of precision medicine: a scoping review Abstract Objectives Precision medicine (PM) aims to improve patient outcomes by stratifying or individualizing diagnosis and treatment decisions. Previous reviews found inconclusive evidence as to the cost-effectiveness of PM. The purpose of this scoping review was to describe current research findings on the cost-effectiveness of PM and to identify characteristics of cost-effective interventions. Methods We searched PubMed with a combination of terms related to PM and economic evaluations and included studies published between 2014 and 2017. Results A total of 83 articles were included, of which two-thirds were published in Europe and the USA. The majority of studies concluded that the PM intervention was at least cost-effective compared to usual care. However, the willingness-to-pay thresholds varied widely. Key factors influencing cost-effectiveness included the prevalence of the genetic condition in the target population, costs of genetic testing and companion treatment and the probability of complications or mortality. Conclusions This review may help inform decisions about reimbursement, research and development of PM interventions.

Shade coverage, ultraviolet radiation and children’s physical activity in early childhood education and care Abstract Objective To investigate the association between shade coverage in early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres and pre-school children’s physical activity, outdoor time and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. Methods A total of 48 ECEC centres (678 children) in the Western Australian Play Spaces and Environments for Children’s Physical Activity (PLAYCE) study took part. Physical activity at ECEC was measured using 7-day accelerometry. UVR exposure was measured using polysulphone film attached to children’s shoulders. Educators reported time spent outdoors. The Shade Factor and remote sensing imagery captured shade coverage. Results Centre vegetation but not Shade Factor was significantly negatively associated with children’s UVR exposure (p < 0.001). Higher levels of vegetation were associated with increased time outdoors, but higher levels of the Shade Factor were associated with decreased time outdoors (all p < 0.001). Neither shade measure was significantly associated with physical activity. Outdoor time moderated the relationships between shade measures, physical activity and UVR exposure. Conclusions The provision of shade, particularly through natural forms such as tree canopy, is an important sun protection strategy and enabler of outdoor time in children attending ECEC.

Continued tobacco consumption during pregnancy and women’s depression and anxiety symptoms Abstract Objectives This study aimed to analyse depression and anxiety symptoms changes from the first to the third trimester of pregnancy in non-smokers versus quitters versus continuous smokers, and the contribution of depression and anxiety symptoms to continued tobacco consumption during pregnancy. Methods The sample comprises 850 Spanish pregnant women (595 non-smokers, 123 quitters, and 132 continuous smokers), assessed at the first and the third trimester of pregnancy with a questionnaire concerning socio-demographic, obstetric, and tobacco consumption information, and measures of depression and anxiety. Results Continuous smokers during pregnancy showed more depression and anxiety symptoms than both non-smokers and quitters and no changes from the first trimester to the third trimester of pregnancy, while both non-smokers and quitters revealed a decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms. More anxiety symptoms at the first trimester (OR 1.03) and depression symptoms at the third trimester (OR 1.14) were associated with continued smoking during pregnancy. Conclusions Anxiety and depression symptoms need to be considered to screening for women at risk of smoking during pregnancy. Future prenatal smoking cessation interventions must take into account these variables.