Mediating effects of early health on the relationship between early poverty and long-term health outcomes of children: a birth cohort study.
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ABSTRACT: Objective
This study analyses the mediating effects of early health prior to age 3 on the association between early poverty and the health outcomes of children at age 12.Design
Population-based longitudinal birth cohort study.Setting
Taiwan Birth Cohort Study (TBCS), 2005-2017.Participants
16 847 TBCS children born in 2005 and followed up at 18 months, 3, 5, 8 and 12 years with available data on poverty and health status.Main outcome measures
Child's general health, measured by the mothers' ratings of their child's health, and hospitalisation experience at 12 years of age.Results
Among the TBCS children, the prevalence of fair/poor health and hospitalisation was 20.8% and 2.5% at age 12. The ORs of experiencing fair/poor health and hospitalisation at age 12 were 1.33 (95% CI 1.21 to 1.45) and 1.35 (1.07 to 1.69) for early poverty, respectively. When early poor health was added in the multiple logistic regression models, the effects of early poverty were attenuated on poor general health and no longer significant on hospitalisation for children aged 12 years. Mediation analysis showed that 50%-87% of the total effect of early poverty on health at age 12 was mediated by early health status before age 3.Conclusions
Our findings suggest that poor health in early life plays as a significant mediator in the relationship between early poverty and the long-term health outcomes of children. Universal health coverage thus should be achieved to prevent the adverse health effects of poverty throughout the life course, as one of the most important strategies for children growing up in poverty.
SUBMITTER: Chiang WL
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8679079 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Background: Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (OM) and septic arthritis require immediate diagnosis and treatment by an interdisciplinary team of pediatric infectious disease specialists and pediatric orthopedic surgeons. Adverse outcomes such as growth disturbance, bone deformity, and chronic infections have been described in older studies. However, there is only little known about long-term follow-up of patients of the last two decades. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate subjective and objective long-term outcomes of these children with osteoarticular infections treated in the millennial years. Methods: Cross-sectional study performed in two pediatric centers including patients admitted for OM and/or SA between 2005 and 2014 and follow-up consultations in 2019. Patients with symptoms of ?2 weeks duration at initial presentation were contacted. Subjective outcomes were assessed by standardized interview, objective outcomes by clinical examination. Medical charts were used to extract data from the initial presentations. Statistical analysis was performed by non-parametric tests and Fisher's exact test. Results: Of 147 eligible patients 77 (52%) agreed to participate, of which 68 (88%) had an interview and physical examination and 9 (12%) an interview only. Thirty-three (39%) had OM, 26 (34%) SA, and 21 (27%) combined OM/SA. Median (IQR) age at follow-up was 13.3 (10.5-18.0) years with a median (IQR) follow-up of 7.1 (6.1-8.6) years. Persistent complaints including pain, functional differences and scar paresthesia, reported by 21 (28%) patients, were generally mild and only 3 (5%) required ongoing medical care. Objective sequelae including pain, limited range of motion, unilateral axis deformity or asymmetric gait were found in 8 (12%) participants. Older age, female sex, joint involvement, surgical intervention, persistent fever, and C-reactive protein elevation were associated with adverse clinical outcome. Conclusions: Adverse outcomes were observed in a considerable number of patients, most of which were minor, and only few required ongoing medical care. Long-term follow up is advisable for patients with risk factors identified during the initial presentation. This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03827980).
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Project description:BackgroundThe benefits of short-term oral nutritional supplementation (ONS) in undernourished children are well-established. The benefits of long-term ONS in promoting longitudinal growth and health in children who are at risk of undernutrition have not been reported previously.MethodsIn this 48-week prospective, single-arm, multicentre trial, 200 Filipino children aged 3-4 years with weight-for-height percentiles from 5th to 25th (WHO Child Growth Standards) were enrolled. Parents received dietary counselling at baseline, and at weeks 4 and 8. Two servings of ONS (450 mL) were consumed daily, providing 450 kcal, 13.5 g protein and micronutrients. Weight, height, dietary intake using 24-h dietary recalls, and physical activity and appetite using the visual analogue scales were assessed at baseline and weeks 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48. The number of sick days for acute illnesses was collected over the study period.ResultsAt baseline, mean age was 41.2 months with 50% being male. Weight-for-height percentiles showed the greatest increase in the first 4 weeks (12.1 and 12.8 percentiles, respectively, P < 0.0001) and remained significantly higher than baseline (P < 0.0001) but were relatively stable from week 4 onwards. Height-for-age percentiles increased steadily over time and became significantly higher than baseline from week 24 onwards (P < 0.0001). Appetite and physical activity scores at all post-baseline visits improved from baseline (P < 0.0001), and a reduction in the number of sick days from week 16 onwards was also observed (P < 0.0001). Higher parental education level, being male and higher baseline weight-for-height percentiles were significantly associated with higher ponderal and linear growth over time in repeated measures analysis of covariance.ConclusionsIntervention consisting of initial dietary counselling and continued ONS helped sustain normal growth after a catch-up growth in nutritionally at-risk children.
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Project description:ImportanceChildren who are placed in out-of-home care may have poorer outcomes in adulthood, on average, compared with their peers, but the direction and magnitude of these associations need clarification.ObjectiveTo estimate associations between being placed in out-of-home care in childhood and adolescence and subsequent risks of experiencing a wide range of social and health outcomes in adulthood following comprehensive adjustments for preplacement factors.Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort and cosibling study of all children born in Finland between 1986 and 2000 (N = 855 622) monitored each person from their 15th birthday either until the end of the study period (December 2018) or until they migrated, died, or experienced the outcome of interest. Cox and Poisson regression models were used to estimate associations with adjustment for measured confounders (from linked population registers) and unmeasured familial confounders (using sibling comparisons). Data were analyzed from October 2020 to August 2021.ExposuresPlacement in out-of-home care up to age 15 years.Main outcomes and measuresThrough national population, patient, prescription drug, cause of death, and crime registers, 16 specific outcomes were identified across the following categories: psychiatric disorders; low socioeconomic status; injuries and experiencing violence; and antisocial behaviors, suicidality, and premature mortality.ResultsA total of 30 127 individuals (3.4%) were identified who had been placed in out-of-home care for a median (interquartile range) period of 1.3 (0.2-5.1) years and 2 (1-3) placement episodes before age 15 years. Compared with their siblings, individuals who had been placed in out-of-home care were 1.4 to 5 times more likely to experience adverse outcomes in adulthood (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] for those with a fall-related injury, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.25-1.57 and aHR for those with an unintentional poisoning injury, 4.79; 95% CI, 3.56-6.43, respectively). The highest relative risks were observed for those with violent crime arrests (aHR, 4.16; 95% CI, 3.74-4.62; cumulative incidence, 24.6% in individuals who had been placed in out-of-home care vs 5.1% in those who had not), substance misuse (aHR, 4.75; 95% CI, 4.25-5.30; cumulative incidence, 23.2% vs 4.6%), and unintentional poisoning injury (aHR 4.79; 95% CI, 3.56-6.43; cumulative incidence, 3.1% vs 0.6%). Additional adjustments for perinatal factors, childhood behavioral problems, and traumatic injuries, including experiencing violence, did not materially change the findings.Conclusions and relevanceOut-of-home care placement was associated with a wide range of adverse outcomes in adulthood, which persisted following adjustments for measured preplacement factors and unmeasured familial factors.
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Project description:ObjectivesKaposi sarcoma (KS) is one of the most common childhood cancers in eastern and central Africa. It has become a treatable disease with increasing availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and chemotherapy. We aimed to fill the data gap in establishing whether long-term survival is achievable for children in low-income countries.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed data for children and adolescents aged ≤ 18.9 years diagnosed with HIV-related or endemic KS from 2006 to 2015 who received standardized institutional treatment regimens utilizing chemotherapy plus ART (if HIV-positive) at a tertiary care public hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. Long-term survival was analysed and mortality was associated with KS for those with refractory/progressive disease at the time of death.ResultsThere were 207 children/adolescents with KS (90.8% HIV-related); 36.7% were alive, 54.6% had died, and 8.7% had been lost to follow-up. The median follow-up time for survivors was 6.9 years (range 4.2-13.9 years). Death occurred at a median of 5.3 months after KS diagnosis (range 0.1-123 months). KS progression was associated with mortality for most (61%) early deaths (survival time of < 6 months); conversely, KS was associated with a minority (31%) of late-onset deaths (after 24 months). The 7-year overall survival was 37% [95% confidence interval (CI) 30-44%] and was higher for those diagnosed between 2011 and 2015 compared to 2006-2010: 42% (95% CI 33-51%) versus 29% (95% CI 20-39%), respectively (P = 0.01). Among the 66 HIV-positive survivors, 58% were still on first-line ART.ConclusionsLong-term survival is possible for pediatric KS in low-resource settings. Despite better survival in more recent years, there remains room for improvement.
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