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Behavioural scienceInfection and pandemics new
Modelled early pandemic costs rise more from too little control than from too much
In models fitted to first-year COVID-19 cases in 110 countries, controlling transmission five points below the cost-optimal level carried excess costs above 400%, against 10-80% five points above.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceSmoking and vaping new
Real cigarette prices rose 2.9% a year across 195 countries
Inflation-adjusted cigarette prices across 195 countries rose 2.9% a year between 2008 and 2024, with over a fifth of nominal prices unchanged between successive periods.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceAdherence and persistence confirms
Older adults starting GLP-1 drugs were younger and heavier than other initiators
Among 58,754 adults aged 65 and over with type 2 diabetes, mean BMI at initiation was 33.8 for GLP-1 drugs as compared to 29.7 for SGLT2 inhibitors.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceInfection and pandemics new
RSV and rhinovirus caused more Brazilian respiratory deaths in 2026 than influenza
Brazilian surveillance over 35 weeks of 2026 recorded more severe respiratory deaths from RSV and rhinovirus than from influenza, concentrated in children under 2 and those aged 65 and over.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceInfection and pandemics new
An estimated 1.32% of US adults had hepatitis C in 2017-2020
An estimated 1.32% of US adults, or 3.33 million people, had hepatitis C over 2017-2020, on a model combining six surveillance, claims and Medicaid sources.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Health todayHeart and stroke new
Japanese romosozumab starters had less recent heart attack or stroke than other users
Among 311,585 Japanese patients starting romosozumab between 2019 and 2023, 11.7% of men and 7.9% of women had a myocardial infarction or stroke in the prior 360 days, below the 8.9-17.6% among users of other osteoporosis drugs, and those with such a history discontinued more often.
Peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceInfection and pandemics confirms
VAERS reports after the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine were consistent with earlier seasons
A CDC review of 9856 US VAERS reports following the 2024-2025 JN.1-based COVID-19 vaccine found 8.9% serious, eight Guillain-Barre and six myocarditis or myopericarditis cases meeting case definitions, with reporting rates below background rates for both.
Peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceSmoking and vaping new
One in five Australian paediatricians surveyed provides vaping cessation support
Of 90 paediatricians and registrars surveyed across Australia in 2023, over two-thirds routinely advised adolescents against vaping, but only one in five provided cessation support.
Peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceInfection and pandemics confirms
Digital reminders raised child vaccination coverage in low- and middle-income countries
A meta-analysis of 22 randomised trials in low- and middle-income countries found reminders raised the share of children vaccinated relative to usual care (RR 1.27), though trial results varied widely.
Peer-reviewed -
Data, models and systemsForecasts and their record new
Nigeria's HPV programme is modelled to avert 1.82 million cervical cancers
Continuing to vaccinate Nigerian girls aged 9 to 14 is projected to avert 1.82 million cervical cancer cases to 2100, with 945,000 remaining in women already too old.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Data, models and systemsValue in health new
Tuberculosis vaccine VPM1002 is modelled as stronger against disease outside the lungs
A dynamic model of tuberculosis in India estimated the VPM1002 vaccine to be 42.9% effective against disease outside the lungs and 14.0% against lung disease, both intervals including no effect.
Preprint · not peer-reviewed -
Behavioural scienceSocial connection confirms
Two ways of asking about loneliness disagree over graduates in England
Among 135,725 adult volunteers in England, university education was associated with higher loneliness on a three-question scale but with lower loneliness when people were asked directly.
Peer-reviewed
