To develop predictive models for early and overall tuberculosis (TB) deaths for prospective use at TB diagnosis in resource-constrained TB programme settings.

Statewide cohort study using routinely captured secondary data.

With the majority of TB deaths being early (within 2 months), India’s TB programme’s information management system (Ni-kshay)-dependent death prediction models (using age, gender, TB site, previous treatment, microbiological confirmation, HIV, diabetes and bank account availability) are not feasible for prospective use, as few variables are captured at diagnosis. Utilising routinely captured triage variables for severe illness at diagnosis (body mass index, pedal oedema, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and ability to stand without support) from an ongoing statewide and state-specific differentiated TB care initiative to reduce TB deaths in Tamil Nadu state (southern India, 80 million population with 0.1 million annual notifications), robust models for prospective use were developed.

Adults (aged ≥15 years) with TB (not known to be drug-resistant at diagnosis) that were notified from public facilities of Tamil Nadu from July 2022 to June 2023.

Early and overall (within 12 months of notification) TB deaths. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess accuracy of models built using modified Poisson regression.

Among 55 971 adults, the overall death rate was 7.4%, and 67.9% of the deaths were early. In predicting overall deaths, accuracy of the model using all Ni-kshay variables (AUC 0.716 (95% CI 0.707 to 0.725)) was as good as the model using triage variables for severe illness only (AUC 0.701 (95% CI 0.691 to 0.711)). To the latter, adding potentially capturable Ni-kshay variables at diagnosis (age, gender, TB site, previous treatment and microbiological confirmation) significantly improved model accuracy (AUC 0.754 (95% CI 0.745 to 0.763)). Further addition of remaining Ni-kshay variables did not improve accuracy significantly. Death prediction equations were generated for these models.

Simple and easily measurable triage variables for severe illness should be routinely captured at TB diagnosis. A death prediction calculator (http://44.208.93.99/) based on these variables (specifically triage variables for severe illness combined with age, gender, TB site, previous treatment and microbiological confirmation) may be used by Indian states and high TB burden countries seeking scalable, data-driven interventions to reduce TB deaths.

Despite implementation of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), screening coverage for oral, breast and cervical cancers remains below 2%. Screening quality is inadequately addressed and delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation continue to persist. This multisite implementation research aims to improve district-level coverage and quality of screening, early diagnosis and timeliness of treatment initiation through a model co-developed within the NP-NCD context.

The study will be conducted in three phases across seven districts in diverse regions of India. In phase I (formative), the current status, barriers and facilitators of cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment initiation under NP-NCD will be assessed. In phase II (optimisation), a model (package of implementation strategies) will be co-developed and iteratively optimised with multistakeholder engagement at the subdistrict level to improve screening coverage and quality and strengthen the referral system for early diagnosis and treatment initiation. In phase III (scale-up and evaluation), the model will be implemented at the district level and evaluated for improvements in screening, early diagnosis and treatment initiation. A convergent mixed-methods design will be used, incorporating household surveys, facility assessments and stakeholder interviews. Implementation Research Logic Model will guide planning, execution and evaluation in the present study. Determinants of screening coverage and quality, early diagnosis and treatment initiation will be assessed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Implementation strategies for the model will be finalised using the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change framework. Implementation and service outcomes will be evaluated using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance framework.

Ethical approval has been obtained from all study sites. The study findings will be disseminated at the state, national and global levels through meetings and conferences and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

CTRI/2025/08/092672.

To map and synthesise existing evidence on pregnant women’s perceptions and experiences of social media communication for antenatal care (ANC).

Scoping review.

Four electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar) alongside ‘grey’ and supplementary searches were conducted between December 202–January 2026.

All studies reporting pregnant women’s perceptions or experiences of social media communication for ANC.

Data were extracted independently by two reviewers using a structured charting framework. Extracted data were synthesised using a descriptive and narrative approach, with pregnant women’s perceptions and experiences analysed through reflexive thematic analysis.

Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Across platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and WeChat, pregnant women generally perceived social media communication as acceptable and beneficial, particularly for accessing trustworthy information, reassurance between visits, peer support and flexible engagement. Experiences varied by platform, moderation model and context. Key challenges included limited personalisation, variability in moderators’ capacity and responsiveness, digital literacy barriers, data affordability, privacy concerns and sociocultural influences. Equity-related considerations were recurrent, highlighting the potential for uneven experiences if digital communication is not carefully designed and standardised.

Social media communication is generally experienced positively by pregnant women as a complement to routine ANC, particularly when professionally moderated and responsive to women’s informational needs. However, variability in experiences and equity-related challenges underscore the need for further research and careful implementation. This scoping review provides a preliminary mapping of the evidence and identifies priorities for future qualitative synthesis, primary research and the development of inclusive, person-centred digital ANC communication strategies.

This retrospective cohort study investigated the long-term risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) following COVID-19 using a nationwide database of Japanese medical claims.

Propensity score matching was utilised to form a cohort of individuals with COVID-19 and a non-infected control group using data from the National Claims Database encompassing six prefectures in Japan. The primary outcome measured was the initiation of renal replacement therapy (dialysis or kidney transplantation) after the index month of the study period. Cox proportional hazards models incorporating inverse probability of censoring weighting were employed to estimate HRs for the association between COVID-19 and ESKD.

A total of 3 073 150 pairs were matched in this study. During follow-up, COVID-19 was associated with a significantly increased instantaneous risk of the composite ESKD outcome (HR 2.79, 95% CI 2.56 to 3.04). The risk was increased for haemodialysis initiation (HR 2.77, 95% CI 2.54 to 3.02) and peritoneal dialysis (HR 5.16, 95% CI 1.93 to 13.75), whereas the estimate for kidney transplantation was imprecise (HR 5.20, 95% CI 0.62 to 43.27). Subgroup analyses showed broadly consistent associations across age, sex, hypertension, diabetes and COVID-19 severity.

These findings suggest that COVID-19 may have sustained adverse effects on kidney outcomes, supporting close post-acute renal monitoring and early risk stratification in high-risk patients.

The dynamic physiological and hormonal changes through the menopause transition predispose women to an increased risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, depression and dementia. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear, yet it is thought that chronic systemic inflammation and changes to lifestyle behaviours play important roles. The LIfestyle risk Factors for chronic disease across the stagEs of reproductive ageing (LIFE study) is a cross-sectional study aimed to characterise how hormonal and lifestyle (physical activity, diet and sleep) differences across pre, peri and postmenopause influence chronic systemic inflammation, visceral adiposity, cognitive function and sleep health.

Women aged between 40 and 65 years were recruited and classified into pre, peri or postmenopausal groups. Body composition measures and blood samples were collected. Sleep and physical activity were objectively measured using activPAL4 and ActiGraph GT9X link accelerometer over 7 days. Participants were also provided with a sleep diary. Physical function was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery. Cognitive function was evaluated using Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III and Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Participants completed a series of questionnaires: Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, RuSATED, Berlin Questionnaire, Insomnia Severity Index, Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale and the Australian Eating Survey.

Ethical approval was received from the relevant University Human Research Ethics Committee (ethics approval number #S221718) prior to the commencement of the research project. Data collection is ongoing and expected to be completed by April 2026. Results are expected to be available from July 2026. Findings will be disseminated in national and international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals and expected to inform how differences in lifestyle behaviours across menopause influence chronic systemic inflammation, visceral adiposity and cognitive function. Understanding and characterising the links between lifestyle behaviours and menopausal symptoms will inform targeted strategies to improve long-term well-being, heart, brain and metabolic health.

To characterise engagement across the diabetic retinopathy (DR) care continuum in the USA using a cascade-of-care framework and identify gaps contributing to preventable vision loss.

Systematic review.

From September to November 2025, with an updated search in March to April 2026 using the same eligibility criteria, we systematically searched Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid Embase supplemented by reviewing reference lists of relevant articles and opportunistic searches of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publications.

We included English-language US-based cross-sectional, cohort and case–control studies and systematic reviews containing US-based data published between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2025 relevant to one of the defined DR cascade stages: (1) diagnosis of diabetes, (2) adherence to DR screening, (3) diagnosis of DR, (4) adherence to DR care and (5) DR-related blindness. We included systematic reviews only to inform DR-related blindness, where primary data were limited and excluded them from other stages to avoid double-counting. Exclusion criteria included studies not relevant to one of the defined DR cascade stages and editorial, perspective or commentary pieces.

Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data and assessed risk-of-bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews tool. We synthesised data narratively and organised via the DR treatment cascade framework.

Of 14 893 studies screened, 46 met the inclusion criteria. Cascade analysis revealed substantial losses in patient engagement at three stages: (1) only 15.5%–78.7% (median 59.4%, IQR 33.9%–74.0%) of individuals with diabetes obtain biennial DR screening; (2) a substantial 54.9%–88.5% (median 70.1%, IQR 62.5%–79.3%) of individuals with DR are unaware of their diagnosis; (3) only 30.9%–62.7% (median 52.0%, IQR 40.9%–59.1%) of individuals diagnosed with DR are initially linked to care and 55.3%–77.8% (median 70.3%, IQR 59.2%–77.7%) have a lapse in DR follow-up.

This review identifies major gaps in the DR care continuum, particularly in diagnosis awareness, linkage to care and follow-up adherence. The cascade framework highlights key points of disengagement and provides a basis for prioritising future research.

Hypertension is the leading global risk factor for mortality, causing over 10 million deaths annually. In sub-Saharan Africa, hypertension prevalence is high, particularly in rural areas, where it is less likely to be diagnosed, treated or controlled effectively. This results in a high burden of complications, including heart failure, stroke and kidney disease. Community-centred approaches using community health workers (CHWs), risk-based approaches and simplified treatment regimens have shown promise in improving hypertension management. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of such approaches in rural sub-Saharan Africa.

The primary aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of a community-centred intervention for hypertension management in rural Kenya and The Gambia. The objectives are to evaluate the intervention’s adoption, fidelity, reach and dose; understand the mechanisms of action and contextual factors affecting its implementation; assess acceptability from the perspectives of patients, healthcare providers and policymakers; estimate the costs associated with the intervention; and evaluate study procedures to inform the design of a future full-scale trial.

We will conduct a mixed-methods, non-randomised, single-arm feasibility study, designed in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) framework and checklist for feasibility and pilot studies, including best practice guidance for non-randomised feasibility studies. The study will be conducted in two rural sites: Kilifi, Kenya and Kiang West, The Gambia. The intervention was codesigned with stakeholders and includes community-based hypertension screening by CHWs, risk stratification and hypertension-mediated organ damage assessment at primary healthcare facilities, followed by treatment initiation using single-pill combination (SPC) antihypertensive therapy for eligible individuals. Training will be provided to all healthcare providers involved in the study. We will screen 500 participants aged 30–80 years at their residence (250 from each country), and we expect that about 45% will be referred for additional assessments and of these 25% (or 10% of the total sample) will be prescribed treatment with SPC. Data collection to evaluate the intervention and its implementation will involve quantitative measures of feasibility and clinical outcomes; observations to assess fidelity and costing measures; and qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with patients, healthcare providers and policymakers to understand the acceptability and contextual influences on intervention implementation.

Ethics approval was obtained from the Kenyan National Committee for Science, Technology and Innovation (ref: 415561), the Gambia Government/Medical Research Council Joint Ethics Committee (ref: 31372) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Ethics Committee (ref: 31372). Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conferences, policy briefs, community engagement forums and accessible summaries shared via the Improving Hypertension Control in Rural sub-Saharan Africa and partner newsletters.

This study is registered with the ISRCTN- The UK’s Clinical Study Registry (ISRCTN81228019), and Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202504839027548).

School-aged children frequently experience psychological distress due to academic pressures, a challenge that is often more severe for those from underserved and minority communities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mental health interventions implemented in school and community settings for children aged 5 to 19. It also seeks to compare the outcomes between children from minority and underserved populations and their peers.

This systematic review will follow Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify relevant studies. Major databases will be searched using a structured search strategy developed by the research team. The review will include randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that assess the impact of interventions conducted in school or community settings to prevent psychological distress—specifically depression, anxiety and stress. To minimise bias, two reviewers will independently select studies and extract data at various stages. The quality of included studies will be assessed. A meta-analysis will be conducted to compare intervention outcomes between children from underserved/minority communities and other children. Pooled prevalence rates and subgroup analyses will be used to explore differences in effectiveness. Heterogeneity among studies and publication bias will also be assessed. Meta-analyses of proportions, ORs and relative risks will be conducted using a random-effects model to estimate effect sizes from multivariate analyses.

Ethical approval was not required, as this study involved secondary analysis of published literature and did not involve human participants. To date, no systematic review has comprehensively compared school-based and community-based interventions in terms of their effectiveness in addressing anxiety, depression and stress among school-aged children. This review aims to fill that gap by providing clinical insights into the comparative effectiveness of various intervention types and settings.

CRD42023479389.

To identify profiles of compositional movement behaviour patterns among children and examine cross-sectional and 12-month associations with adiposity markers and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Secondary analysis of data from the TransformUs cluster randomised controlled trial with cross-sectional and 12-month follow-up analyses.

Primary schools in metropolitan and regional areas of Victoria, Australia.

Children aged 7–11 years with valid accelerometer at baseline, regardless of demographic, adiposity and HRQoL data available (n=792), were included in the analytical sample for the latent profile analysis.

Sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) along with their respective mean bout lengths were derived from raw acceleration data. Latent profile analysis used these measures (total times, as isometric log ratios and mean bout lengths) as input variables to classify distinct profiles for us as a categorical exposure variable in regression models. Primary outcomes were age- and sex-standardised body mass index, waist circumference and parent-reported HRQoL at baseline. Secondary outcomes were the same measures assessed at 12-month follow-up.

Four distinct profiles were identified. The high MVPA-short sedentary bout profile (n=184) was characterised by the highest levels of MVPA, moderate sedentary time and the shortest mean sedentary bout duration. The low sedentary-high LPA profile (n=54) had the lowest sedentary time, the highest LPA and the longest mean LPA bout duration. Two profiles were characterised by high sedentary time: the high sedentary-long sedentary bout profile (n=149), which had the longest mean sedentary bout durations, and the high sedentary-shorter bouts profile (n=405), which also had high sedentary time but shorter bout durations for all intensities. While the omnibus Wald test for differences across profiles indicated uncertainty in the overall profile effect, the high MVPA-short sedentary bout profile had favourable adiposity levels cross-sectionally compared with the high sedentary-long sedentary bout reference profile in pairwise comparisons. No longitudinal associations were detected.

Four distinct movement profiles were identified. Few pairwise differences between health outcomes were observed. While MVPA remains a key factor for promoting healthy body weight, our findings suggest that a variety of movement patterns - including those characterised by lower sedentary time and higher LPA - may also support health in children.

This study is a secondary analysis of the TransformUs effectiveness-implementation trial, registered with the Australian Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12617000204347; 1 April 2017).

This scoping review identifies existing registries collecting data on Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS) patients and what data are collected, with the purpose of identifying any KS-specific registries. Findings to be used to inform future registry development.

A comprehensive scoping review was conducted. Multiple sources were reviewed and articles screened based on inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria.

Searches performed across multiple sources including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Orphanet, EU Clinical Trials Register, King’s College London Library and charity organisation webpages.

The included studies were required to focus on KS patients with reported data from an active registry that routinely collects data on KS patients.

Basic information about registries identified in included articles was extracted. Registries identified were contacted with a standardised set of questions to collect additional contextual information. Findings are presented in tables.

The scoping review included 18 articles. From those, 10 registries storing KS patient data were identified. Only one of those registries was KS-specific. Only three out of 10 registries collected data that encompassed genetic, clinical and social variables. Most data included in registries were collected exclusively from medical records, although some registries included data from patient surveys. Registries that received government funding had more KS participants than those that did not.

With only one KS-specific registry existing worldwide and none within the UK, this review has identified a need for the development of further KS-specific registries. Data collected could be used to develop an accurate KS phenotype and therefore lead to increased diagnosis of the disorder, improving the lives of people with KS.