Finland's public health surveillance for LB is strong, but the number of reported cases is likely less than the actual number. In order to estimate LB underascertainment, this framework is applicable to nations with ongoing LB surveillance and prior representative seroprevalence studies.
The disease burden of Lyme borreliosis (LB), the most common tick-borne illness in Europe, requires further description. A systematic review of epidemiological studies on LB incidence in Europe, encompassing PubMed, EMBASE, and CABI Direct (Global Health) databases from January 1, 2005, to November 20, 2020, was undertaken (PROSPERO, CRD42021236906). The systematic review unearthed 61 unique articles that documented LB incidence in 25 European countries, either at the national or sub-national level. Disparities in how the studies were performed, who was included in the research, and how cases were identified caused problems in comparing the data. Among the 61 articles studied, the standardized Lyme Borreliosis case definitions, published by the European Union Concerted Action on Lyme Borreliosis (EUCALB), were applied in just 13 (21%) instances. Twenty countries' 2023 LB incidence figures were determined through the analysis of 33 national-level studies. The subnational LB incidence rate was documented in four further countries: Italy, Lithuania, Norway, and Spain. A notable prevalence of LB, specifically above 100 cases per 100,000 population annually, was observed in Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. In the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, and Scotland, the incidence rate of the condition varied from 20 to 40 per 100,000 person-years; in contrast, lower incidence rates were observed in Belarus, Croatia, Denmark, France, Ireland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, and Wales), with figures consistently under 20 per 100,000 person-years; a substantially higher incidence, peaking at 464 per 100,000 person-years, was seen at the subnational level in specific areas. Fludarabine cost Concerning LB incidences, the highest rates were observed in Northern Europe, represented by Finland, and in Western Europe, encompassing Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, but comparable high rates were also found in certain Eastern European countries. There were considerable differences in the rate of occurrence at the subnational level, with notable high rates in some sections of countries characterized by lower overall incidence. In conjunction with the incidence surveillance article, this review provides a detailed view of LB disease burden across Europe, potentially guiding the development of future preventive and therapeutic strategies, incorporating innovative strategies currently being explored.
Lyme borreliosis (LB), a burgeoning public health concern, demands precise and thorough epidemiological data for the development of effective healthcare strategies. Utilizing a three-pronged data collection method unprecedented in France, this study compared the epidemiology of LB in primary care and hospital settings, revealing populations with elevated LB risk. Utilizing data from general practitioner networks (such as the Sentinel network and Electronic Medical Records [EMR]) and the national hospital discharge database, this study investigated the epidemiology of LB over the period 2010-2019. The annual incidence of lower back pain (LBP) in primary care settings saw a notable increase for the period of 2010-2012 to 2017-2019, rising from 423 cases per 100,000 population in the Sentinel Network to 830 cases, and from 427 to 746 per 100,000 in the EMR system, a pattern primarily driven by a substantial upswing in 2016. The annual hospitalization rate for each year, from 2012 through 2019, displayed a remarkable stability, with the rate fluctuating between 16 and 18 cases per every 100,000 people. Women were diagnosed with LB more often in primary care than men (male-to-female incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.92), contrasting with the higher hospitalization rate for men (IRR = 1.4), particularly prominent in adolescents aged 10-14 (IRR = 1.8) and adults aged 80 years and older (IRR = 2.5). Between 2017 and 2019, the average annual incidence rate reached its peak in primary care among individuals aged 60 to 69 (over 125 per 100,000) and in hospitalized patients aged 70 to 79 (34 per 100,000). Subsequent peaks in children's developmental stages were reported, with one occurrence observed in the 0-4 age range and another in the 5-9 age range, depending on the reporting source. Viscoelastic biomarker The highest incidence rates for both primary care and hospital settings were observed in the Limousin and northeastern regions. Disparities in the evolution of incidence, sex-specific incidence rates, and predominant age groups between primary care and hospital settings, as evidenced by the analyses, necessitate further examination.
European residents often encounter Lyme borreliosis (LB), the most prevalent tick-borne disease. We conducted a systematic review on the incidence of LB, intending to provide insights into European intervention strategies, including vaccine development. In Europe, between 2005 and 2020, we scrutinized publicly accessible surveillance data on LB incidence. LB incidence rates, expressed as the number of reported cases per 100,000 people per year, were calculated for each population group, and areas with persistently high incidence rates (greater than 10 cases per 100,000 population per year for three consecutive years) were recognized as high-risk. The incidence of LB was estimated for 25 nations. A significant disparity existed in surveillance systems, from passive to mandatory, and from sentinel site-based to nationwide coverage. Additionally, differing case definition criteria, encompassing clinical and/or laboratory elements, and diverse testing approaches made cross-country comparisons challenging. A passive surveillance approach was the standard in 84% of the twenty-one countries, whereas four countries—Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland—used sentinel surveillance. Of the surveyed countries, only four—Bulgaria, France, Poland, and Romania—adopted the standardized case definitions recommended by European public health organizations. Analyzing surveillance data for the most current years and considering various case definitions, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Switzerland demonstrated the highest national rates of LB, exceeding 100 cases per 100,000 person-years. Rates in France and Poland fell in the 40-80 cases per 100,000 person-years range, and Finland and Latvia displayed lower incidences of 20-40 cases per 100,000 person-years, respectively. A 100/100000 PPY incidence rate was observed in Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, England, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, and Serbia; however, specific areas of Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and Poland recorded higher rates. Annually, a reported average of 128,888 cases is documented. Among countries tracked for surveillance, an estimated 202,469,000,000 (432%) persons reside in regions of high LB incidence, which accounts for a notable portion of the European population. Separately, about 202,844,000,000 (24%) persons in Europe reside in high incidence areas. Our study uncovered considerable differences in reported low-birth-weight (LBW) incidence across and within European countries. The highest incidence figures were reported from surveillance systems in Eastern, Northern (especially Baltic and Nordic states), and Western Europe. To interpret the spectrum of differences in LB incidence reported throughout European countries, immediate standardization of surveillance systems, including a wider application of standardized case definitions, is essential.
Since 1996, Poland has mandated public health surveillance for Lyme borreliosis (LB). In accordance with EU regulations, Lyme neuroborreliosis reporting to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control became mandatory from 2019 onwards. The prevalence, evolution over time, and spatial distribution of LB and its clinical expressions in Poland are explored in this study covering the years 2015 to 2019. Hepatic infarction A retrospective study examining the incidence of LB and its presentations in Poland, conducted at the National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene-National Research Institute (NIPH-NIH-NRI), was based on data transmitted by district sanitary epidemiological stations, using the electronic Epidemiological Records Registration System and data from the National Database on Hospitalization. Incidence rates were calculated using the population information obtained from the Central Statistical Office. Poland's LB caseload, spanning the period from 2015 to 2019, totalled 94,715 cases, signifying an average incidence of 493 cases per 100,000 individuals. The number of cases increased substantially from 11945 in 2015 to 20857 in 2016, maintaining a steady level thereafter until 2019. The years under consideration witnessed a surge in hospitalizations directly attributable to LB. Among women, the incidence of LB was significantly more prevalent, reaching a rate of 557%. LB frequently presented with erythema migrans lesions and Lyme joint inflammation. Incidence rates showed a strong correlation with age, peaking amongst those aged 65-69 and concentrated in the over 50 age demographic. July through December (third and fourth quarters) recorded the largest number of cases. The national average for incidence rates was lower than that observed in the eastern and northeastern regions of the country. Endemic LB is present in all Polish regions, with the incidence rate being particularly high in many regions. Marked differences in disease rates across distinct geographical areas highlight the need for location-specific prevention programs.
Incidence rates for Lyme borreliosis in Europe, including the Netherlands, require updating. By stratifying according to geographic area, year, age, sex, immunocompromised status, and socioeconomic status, we calculated LB IRs. All subjects enrolled in the PHARMO General Practitioner (GP) database, possessing no prior diagnosis of LB or disseminated LB, and boasting a one-year continuous enrollment history, were included in the study. During 2015-2019, the incidence rates (IRs) and the corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for Lyme Borreliosis (LB), erythema migrans (EM), and disseminated Lyme Borreliosis (LB), which were specifically documented by general practitioners.