Background: Infants born extremely preterm (<28 weeks gestational age (GA)) face a high risk of neonatal mortality. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common morbidity of prematurity. Objective: To evaluate the global incidence of BPD among infants born extremely preterm. Design: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in Embase and MEDLINE (via PubMed) using a prespecified search strategy for BPD and prematurity. Observational studies published in English between 16 May 2006 and 16 October 2017 reporting on the occurrence of BPD in infants born <28 weeks GA were included. Results: Literature searches yielded 103 eligible studies encompassing 37 publications from Europe, 38 publications from North America, two publications from Europe and North America, 19 publications from Asia, one publication from Asia and North America, six publications from Oceania, and zero publications from Africa or South America. The reported global incidence range of BPD was 10-89% (10-73% in Europe, 18-89% in North America, 18-82% in Asia, and 30-62% in Oceania). When only population-based observational studies that defined BPD as requiring supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks postmenstrual age were included, the global incidence range of BPD was 17-75%. The wide range of incidences reflected interstudy differences in GA (which was inversely related to BPD incidence), birthweight, and survival rates across populations and institutions. Conclusions: BPD is a common health morbidity occurring with extremely preterm birth. Further study of factors that impact incidence, aside from low GA, may help to elucidate modifiable risks.

Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can lead to severe disability. This literature review assessed the descriptive epidemiology, comorbidities and extra-articular manifestations, functioning abilities and quality of life, and treatment patterns of RA patients in India. Method: A literature review of all observational studies published from 1985 to 2012 was conducted using MEDLINE and Embase. Quantitative and qualitative findings were summarized. Results: Twenty-eight studies were identified for data extraction. Seven described the descriptive epidemiology of RA, 14 described comorbidities and extra-articular manifestations, nine described the functioning abilities and quality of life among patients, and 10 provided information on treatments. Conclusion: This review is confined to studies with small sample sizes, cross-sectional designs, and/or clinical settings that may not be representative of the entire Indian population. There is a need for more robust studies, as conclusions for the entire Indian RA population cannot be drawn from only the current observational studies.

Objectives Currently, 80% of all CVD deaths worldwide occur in developing countries. China, with the largest population in the world, has experienced increasing economic burden of CVD. A systematic review was conducted to assess economic burden and hospital costs associated with stroke, myocardial infarction (MI) and revascularisation procedures. Methods A literature review of studies published during 2002 – 2012 with a focus on the direct costs of stroke, MI and revascularisation procedures was completed using MEDLINE and EMBASE. Hospital costs were extracted from the studies and summarised. Data describing societal costs of CVD events overall also were extracted and summarised. Results Thirteen studies were identified for data extraction. The majority of the studies were retrospective by design. Ten studies were conducted in urban settings; one study in a rural setting and only two studies collected data from both urban and rural settings across the country. Eight studies provided data on direct costs of stroke, two provided data on direct costs of MI, and three provided data on direct costs on revascularisation procedures. The average of a hospital cost for stroke patients ranged from approximately 1700 Yuan to 16500 Yuan. The hospital costs available for MI patients ranged from approximately 9000 Yuan to 34000 Yuan. The least documented outcome was costs for revascularisation procedures. Only one study was available for CABG and PCI each (75,000 and 54,750 Yuan, respectively). Few national estimates of economic burden of CVD events were available for extraction. One study estimated that direct medical costs of inpatient and outpatient services for cerebrovascular diseases in 2003 totaled $37.5 billion Yuan. One other study showed that the country’s GDP lost due to total CVD events was estimated to top $1 billion in 2006 Conclusions The economic burden of CVD in China is huge and increasing over time. The direct costs available for stroke and MI patients vary substantially due to potentially the differences in how costs were defined and to the differences in the geographic settings of respective studies. Few national estimates were available; additional national-level studies in China are needed to quantify the economic burden of CVD.

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