Humans ; Hong Kong/epidemiology* ; COVID-19

China ; epidemiology ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; mortality ; prevention & control

China ; epidemiology ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology

BACKGROUNDObesity is now an epidemic in most parts of the world. In this cross sectional study, we report the most recent data on obesity in Hong Kong Chinese working population and compare the changes over 10 years.

METHODSBetween July 2000 and March 2002, 5882 adult subjects from the working class in Hong Kong were recruited (2716 men (46.2%) and 3166 women (53.8%)). They were randomly selected using computer generated codes according to the distribution of occupational groups. Results of this study were compared with the data collected from a prevalence survey for cardiovascular risk factors in a Hong Kong Chinese working population conducted in 1990 (1513 subjects, 910 men (60.1%) and 603 women (39.9%)).

RESULTSStandardized percentages of overweight, obesity, and central obesity, in Hong Kong Chinese working population were 59.7%, 35.0%, 26.7% in men and 32.0%, 21.7%, 26.7% in women. Compared to the data collected in 1990, the percentage of obesity increased by 5% in men and reduced by 6% in women. The percentage of central obesity doubled in men (from 12.2% to 26.7%) but remained stable in women.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a doubling of the percentage of central obesity in Hong Kong Chinese working men over previous decade. Education and proper lifestyle modification program to tackle this social health issue are urgently indicated.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Time Factors ; Work

Child ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; economics ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemiology of foot diseases, including tinea pedis and onychomycosis in clinic attendees in Hong Kong.

METHODSTwo groups were included: the institutional group consisted of clinical evaluation and mycological investigations by dermatologists; and the private group consisted of clinical evaluation only by the private physicians. Patients who had a regular visit to the clinics were randomly invited to have a clinical examination of their feet.

RESULTSA total of 1014 patients were studied. The prevalence rate of foot disease, fungal infections, tinea pedis and toe nail onychomycosis were respectively 50.7%, 26.9%, 20.4% and 16.6%. More male and elderly patients were affected except that the sex prevalence in toe nail onychomycosis was not shown to be significant. Vascular disease, diabetes mellitus and obesity were the three most prevalent predisposing factors in foot disease, fungal disease and fungal nail disease. Dermatophytes, in particular Trichophyton rubrum, were shown to be the most common pathogen in both skin and nail infections.

CONCLUSIONSFoot diseases, especially tinea pedis and toe nail onychomycosis, are common in patients attending local clinics in Hong Kong. Both physicians and patients should be more aware of foot problems and have more active approaches and management strategies.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Onychomycosis ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Tinea Pedis ; epidemiology

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Contact Tracing ; Female ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; mortality ; prevention & control

To evaluate five methods in the estimation on the rate of case fatality during the epidemics of diseases based on the summarizing data. Case fatality rates, derived from the simulation data, 2003 SARS epidemic data in Hong Kong, Singapore Beijing and the 2013 H7N9 epidemic data in mainland China were analyzed, using these 5 methods. Results from the simulation analysis discovered that the relative errors and the standard deviations of the Chen [7, 8] (method 3), Chen [9] (method 4)were minor with high accuracy. Data from the analysis on 2003 SARS epidemic was noticed that the estimation from method 3, 4 in Hong Kong and Singapore both showing high veracities. Since the case fatality rate reported in Beijing was not a constant value, method 5 showed low accuracy even though it was close to the final case fatality rate. Data from the 2013 H7N9 epidemic showed that the estimations of method 1, 2, 3, 4 were all higher than that in the method 5, suggesting that method 3, 4 could be used to estimate the case fatality rates of epidemics more precisely.
China ; epidemiology ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; mortality ; Regression Analysis ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; mortality

BACKGROUND: Recent predictions of catastrophic epidemic surge of HIV infection in East Asia concern experts and governmental organizations. As in many other areas, countries in East Asia show diversities in their HIV epidemics, both geographically and temporally. However, they have similar regional, cultural and racial characteristics which allow them to have certain common factors. Having a clear picture of the current extent and feature of HIV/AIDS in this region is a very difficult task largely due to the fast pacing of expending epidemic and difficulty in data-sharing among countries in the region. Hence, we decided to study the epidemiologic feature of HIV/AIDS in East Asia through East Asia Network on HIV (EAN-HIV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The epidemiological patterns of HIV/AIDS in East Asian countries were investigated by collecting data through EAN-HIV. RESULTS: The HIV/AIDS epidemic in East Asia started relatively late at mid 1980s. Since then, the number of newly infected HIV/AIDS cases has been steadily increasing with stiffer escalation in recent years. In China and Taiwan, IDU plays an important part in the swiftly growing HIV epidemics; however, in other regions like Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, MSM (men who have sex with men) seems to be more of a problem. The major subtypes of HIV in East Asia are subtype B, C, and CRF01_AE, and rapidly evolving circulating recombinant forms (CRF) between subtypes such as CRF07_BC give dynamic change to the current status. CONCLUSION: The incidence of HIV/AIDS is rapidly increasing in East Asia. The epidemic pattern has undergone dynamic changes over time. China seems to be the leading source of HIV/AIDS epidemic in East Asia due to its large population and rapidly growing epidemics.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Epidemiology* ; Far East* ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Incidence ; Japan ; Korea ; Taiwan

BACKGROUND: Recent predictions of catastrophic epidemic surge of HIV infection in East Asia concern experts and governmental organizations. As in many other areas, countries in East Asia show diversities in their HIV epidemics, both geographically and temporally. However, they have similar regional, cultural and racial characteristics which allow them to have certain common factors. Having a clear picture of the current extent and feature of HIV/AIDS in this region is a very difficult task largely due to the fast pacing of expending epidemic and difficulty in data-sharing among countries in the region. Hence, we decided to study the epidemiologic feature of HIV/AIDS in East Asia through East Asia Network on HIV (EAN-HIV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The epidemiological patterns of HIV/AIDS in East Asian countries were investigated by collecting data through EAN-HIV. RESULTS: The HIV/AIDS epidemic in East Asia started relatively late at mid 1980s. Since then, the number of newly infected HIV/AIDS cases has been steadily increasing with stiffer escalation in recent years. In China and Taiwan, IDU plays an important part in the swiftly growing HIV epidemics; however, in other regions like Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, MSM (men who have sex with men) seems to be more of a problem. The major subtypes of HIV in East Asia are subtype B, C, and CRF01_AE, and rapidly evolving circulating recombinant forms (CRF) between subtypes such as CRF07_BC give dynamic change to the current status. CONCLUSION: The incidence of HIV/AIDS is rapidly increasing in East Asia. The epidemic pattern has undergone dynamic changes over time. China seems to be the leading source of HIV/AIDS epidemic in East Asia due to its large population and rapidly growing epidemics.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Epidemiology* ; Far East* ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Incidence ; Japan ; Korea ; Taiwan