Background/Aims: The World Health Organization set the goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030, with 80% and 65% reductions in HCV incidence and mortality rates, respectively. We aimed to evaluate the health benefits, cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) of HCV elimination. Methods: Using an HCV transmission compartmental model, we evaluated the benefits and costs of different strategies combining screening and treatment for Chinese populations. We identified strategies to achieve HCV elimination and calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted for 2022–2030 to identify the optimal elimination strategy. Furthermore, we estimated the ROI by 2050 by comparing the required investment with the economic productivity gains from reduced HCV incidence and deaths. Results: The strategy that results in the most significant health benefits involves conducting annual primary screening at a rate of 14%, re-screening people who inject drugs annually and the general population every five years, and treating 95% of those diagnosed (P14-R4-T95), preventing approximately 5.75 and 0.44 million HCV infections and deaths, respectively, during 2022–2030. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $12,615, the P14-R4-T95 strategy is the most cost-effective, with an ICER of $5,449/DALY. By 2050, this strategy would have a net benefit of $120,997 million (ROI=0.868). Conclusions Achieving HCV elimination in China by 2030 will require significant investment in large-scale universal screening and treatment, but it will yield substantial health and economic benefits and is cost-effective.

Background/Aims: The World Health Organization set the goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030, with 80% and 65% reductions in HCV incidence and mortality rates, respectively. We aimed to evaluate the health benefits, cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) of HCV elimination. Methods: Using an HCV transmission compartmental model, we evaluated the benefits and costs of different strategies combining screening and treatment for Chinese populations. We identified strategies to achieve HCV elimination and calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted for 2022–2030 to identify the optimal elimination strategy. Furthermore, we estimated the ROI by 2050 by comparing the required investment with the economic productivity gains from reduced HCV incidence and deaths. Results: The strategy that results in the most significant health benefits involves conducting annual primary screening at a rate of 14%, re-screening people who inject drugs annually and the general population every five years, and treating 95% of those diagnosed (P14-R4-T95), preventing approximately 5.75 and 0.44 million HCV infections and deaths, respectively, during 2022–2030. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $12,615, the P14-R4-T95 strategy is the most cost-effective, with an ICER of $5,449/DALY. By 2050, this strategy would have a net benefit of $120,997 million (ROI=0.868). Conclusions Achieving HCV elimination in China by 2030 will require significant investment in large-scale universal screening and treatment, but it will yield substantial health and economic benefits and is cost-effective.

Background/Aims: The World Health Organization set the goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030, with 80% and 65% reductions in HCV incidence and mortality rates, respectively. We aimed to evaluate the health benefits, cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) of HCV elimination. Methods: Using an HCV transmission compartmental model, we evaluated the benefits and costs of different strategies combining screening and treatment for Chinese populations. We identified strategies to achieve HCV elimination and calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted for 2022–2030 to identify the optimal elimination strategy. Furthermore, we estimated the ROI by 2050 by comparing the required investment with the economic productivity gains from reduced HCV incidence and deaths. Results: The strategy that results in the most significant health benefits involves conducting annual primary screening at a rate of 14%, re-screening people who inject drugs annually and the general population every five years, and treating 95% of those diagnosed (P14-R4-T95), preventing approximately 5.75 and 0.44 million HCV infections and deaths, respectively, during 2022–2030. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $12,615, the P14-R4-T95 strategy is the most cost-effective, with an ICER of $5,449/DALY. By 2050, this strategy would have a net benefit of $120,997 million (ROI=0.868). Conclusions Achieving HCV elimination in China by 2030 will require significant investment in large-scale universal screening and treatment, but it will yield substantial health and economic benefits and is cost-effective.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of interesting respiratory rehabilitation training(IRRT)combined with budesonide and montelukast sodium in the treatment of bronchial asthma(BA).Methods This is a pilot clinical research.Children with BA who visited Ma'anshan Shiqiye Hospital of Anhui province from January 2023 to December 2023 in were prospectively recruited as study subjects,and were divided into the IRRT group and the conventional group according to the random number table method.After 8 weeks of continuous intervention,the clinical efficacy,recovery of related symptoms and adverse reactions of BA children were evaluated.The changes in lung function parameters,inflammation indicators and quality of life were compared before and after treatment in the IRRT group and the conventional group,and the changes in lung function parameters,inflammation indicators and quality of life between the IRRT group and the conventional group after treatment were compared.Results A total of 120 BA children were included in the study,with 60 cases in each group.Before treatment,there was no significant difference in baseline data such as age and gender between the two groups(P>0.05).After 8 weeks of treatment,pulmonary function parameters,inflammation indicators,and quality of life were all improved in the IRRT group and the conventional group,(P<0.05),and the improvement in the IRRT group was better than that in the conventional group(P<0.05).In addition,the disappearance time of wheezing,disappearance time of cough,and disappearance time of dyspnea were significantly shorter than those in the conventional group(P<0.05).In terms of safety,no significant serious adverse effects were seen in the IRRT group and the conventional group.Conclusion Adjuvant IRRT therapy can significantly improve children's lung function,reduce the level of inflammatory factors,shorten the course of the disease,improve quality of life,and promote early recovery in children.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among family members, and analyze associated risk factors. Methods:The current investigation was a cross-sectional study. The Qinghai region was stratified into urban areas, agricultural areas, and pastoral areas. The urban areas of Xining City, the agricultural areas of Haidong City, and the pastoral areas of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture were selected. A total of 396 resident families (1 131 people) who underwent health checkups from 2021 to 2022 in the above areas were included in the survey study. Questionnaires were administered and H. pylori infection was detected using the 13C-urea breath test. Numerical data were expressed as cases and percentages, and the Chi-square test was used to compare differences in H. pylori infection rates in the populations and families in each group. Multifactorial logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for H. pylori infection, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The prevalence of H. pylori infection in Qinghai province was 52.8% (597/1 131) and the prevalence of H. pylori infection in households was 80.6% (319/396). In H. pylori-positive households with at least 1 infected spouse, 40.4% (36/89) had only 1 infected spouse, and in 59.6% (53/89) both spouses were infected. In analysis of children infected by parents with H. pylori, 20.0% (9/45) of households had fathers and children infected, 48.9% (22/45) had mothers and children infected, and 31.1% (14/45) had both parents and children infected. In univariate analysis there was a statistically significant difference in the overall comparison of H. pylori infection rates among families with different numbers of people living together ( χ2=11.12, P=0.004), and between-group comparisons suggested that H. pylori infection rates were higher in families with 4 or 5 people and more than 5 people living together than in families with 2 or 3 people living together. The H. pylori infection rate was higher in families that did not use serving chopsticks and spoons during family meals than in families that did use serving chopsticks and spoons ( χ2=6.12, P=0.013). In multifactorial logistic regression analyses the number of people living together in a family and whether or not serving chopsticks and spoons were used at family meals were associated with H. pylori infection ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The H. pylori infection rate in families in Qinghai Province is high, and there is a clear association with family aggregation. It is more common for both members of a couple to be infected, and H. pylori infection of a mother has a greater effect on the children′s infection status than H. pylori infection of a father. The infection rate of H. pylori was lower in families that used serving chopsticks and spoons during dinner gatherings, and the fewer the number of people living together in the family, the lower the H. pylori infection rate.

Objective:To describe the distribution of fat-free mass (FFM) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) in children aged 3-17 years in China.Methods:Data were collected from National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey in 0-18 years old children in China. By using multi-stage stratified randomized cluster sampling method, the project was conducted in 28 survey points in urban and rural areas in 14 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in 7 regions in China from 2019 to 2021. FFM was measured using bioelectrical impedance meter. Finally, the body composition data of 70 853 children were included in the analysis. M ( Q1, Q3) was used to describe the gender and age specific FFM and FFMI of the children in different regions. Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test was used to compare FFM and FFMI of boys and girls in same age group, boys in different age groups, girls in different age groups, as well as boys in same age group and girls in same age group in different regions. DSCF method was used for pairwise comparisons. Results:After the age of 11 years, the difference of FFMI between boys and girls increased year by year. The FFMI was 14.2 kg/m 2 in boys and 13.8 kg/m 2 in girls at 11 years old, the difference was significant ( χ2=135.86, P<0.001). The difference of FFMI between boys and girls exceed 1.0 kg/m 2 from 12 years old, and FFMI was 15.3 kg/m 2 in boys and 14.2 kg/m 2 in girls at 12 year old, the difference was significant ( χ2=597.27, P<0.001). The FFMI was 17.5 kg/m 2 in boys and 14.7 kg/m 2 in girls at 16 years old, the difference was significant ( χ2=2 543.60, P<0.001). The FFMI was higher in boys in northeast China, while the FFMI was lower in both boys and girls in northwest China. Conclusions:Gender specific difference was observed in the increase of FFMI with age. The FFMI was significantly higher in boys than in girls after 11 years old. It is necessary to pay attention to the problem of FFM in children in northeastern and northwestern China.

Objective:To investigate the distribution characteristics of body height, body weight and body mass index (BMI) in children aged 3-17 years in China.Methods:Data were obtained from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey in 0-18 years old children in China. The study selected 70 853 children aged 3-17 years from 28 urban and rural survey sites in 14 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in 7 regions of China with multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling. M ( Q1, Q3) was used to describe the region, age and gender specific body height, body weight and BMI in the children aged 3-17 years. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the body height, body weight, and BMI between boys and girls in same age group. Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test was used to compare the body height, body weight and BMI among boys in different age groups and among girls in different age groups, as well as among boys in same age group and among girls in same age group from different regions, and DSCF method was used for further pairwise comparisons. Results:In this study, the median body height and body weight were 172.0 cm and 62.9 kg in 17-year-old boys and 160.0 cm and 53.7 kg in 17-year-old girls. The median for children's body height, body weight, and BMI in most age groups were higher in northeastern and northern China than in southern China, and the differences could be observed until age 17 years. The differences in body weight and BMI in children in northeastern and northern China were greater in Q3 than in Q1 compared with southern China. Conclusions:The body height of children aged 3-17 years continues to increase in China. Northeastern and northern China have more children with higher bodyweight, showing an obvious body weight increase trend, to which close attention needs to be paid.

Objective:To describe the distribution of fat mass (FM), fat mass percentage (FMP), and fat mass index (FMI) in children aged 3-17 years in China.Methods:Data of this study were from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey in 0-18 years old children in China. A total of 70 853 children aged 3-17 years old selected from seven regions of China were included in this analysis. Body composition were measured by using bioelectrical impedance meter. The region, gender and age specific FM, FMP and FMI of the subjects were described by using M ( Q1, Q3). Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test was used for the comparison of intergroup differences. DSCF method was used for pairwise comparisons. Results:The medians of FM, FMP and FMI were 3.0 kg, 18.3% and 2.9 kg/m 2 in boys aged 3 years and 2.9 kg, 19.0% and 2.9 kg/m 2 in girls aged 3 years, respectively. The FM increased with age and the FMP and FMI decreased with age in both boys and girls aged 3-5 years. After 11 years old, the FM, FMP and FMI decreased first and then increased in boys. From 6-17 years old, the FM, FMP and FMI increased gradually in girls. The FM, FMP and FMI were higher in girls than in boys after 12 years old (all P<0.05). The FM, FMP and FMI were relatively higher in children at the age of 6-14 in northeastern and northern China than in other regions. Conclusions:The age specific FM, FMP and FMI had different changing characteristics in boys and girls aged 3-17 years in seven regions of China. The FM, FMP and FMI also differed with region.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and fat mass percentage (FMP) in children aged 3-17 years in China.Methods:The BMI and FMP data of children aged 3-17 years from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey in 0-18 years old children in China was analyzed. BMI- Z score/BMI and FMP were used to classify the subjects, respectively. Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between BMI and FMP. The consistency between BMI- Z score/BMI and FMP in classifying the subjects was measured using Kappa coefficient. Results:The FMP of malnutrition, normal and overweight/obesity in boys was higher in age group 10-13-year than in other age groups (all P<0.001). The FMP of all nutritional status in girls increased with age (all P<0.05). The BMI of boys in all the FMP levels increased with age (all P<0.05). When the FMP of girls was 25%- or ≥30%, BMI increased with age (all P<0.001). The relationship between BMI and FMP was strong ( r=0.705, P<0.001), with r of 0.618 in boys and 0.884 in girls. The consistency between BMI- Z score/BMI and FMP in classifying the subjects was found to be moderate (Kappa=0.574, P<0.001). Conclusions:There was a strong relationship between BMI and FMP. The consistency between BMI- Z score/BMI and FMP in classifying the subjects was moderate.

Objective:To evaluate the consistency between bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the measurement of body composition in children aged 6-17 years in China.Methods:Fat-free mass, fat mass and fat mass percentage were measured by both BIA and DXA in 1 161 children. t-test or Wilcoxon paired test was used to evaluate the different outcome of the two methods. The correlation and consistency between the methods were evaluated by Spearman correlation coefficients ( r) and Bland-Altman analysis. Results:Body compositions measured by BIA was positively correlated with those measured by DXA (fat mass r=0.95, fat-free mass r=0.98, fat mass percentage r=0.86, all P<0.05). Comparing with DXA, BIA underestimate children's fat mass [the mean difference is -3.15 kg, and the SD is 2.35 kg, 95% limits of agreement (LoA): -7.74-1.45 kg] and fat mass percentage (the mean difference is -8.45%, and the SD is 4.63%, 95% LoA: -17.53%-0.64%). Conclusions:Body compositions measured by BIA was highly positively correlated with those measured by DXA. BIA has certain application value in the measurement of body fat mass and fat-free mass of children aged 6-17 years.