📊 Category

epidemiology

227 papers

Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread through populations and what factors influence their patterns. Rather than focusing on individual patients, this field examines broader trends to identify outbreaks, track transmission, and guide public health decisions. By analyzing data on infection rates and risk factors, researchers work to prevent future health crises and protect communities worldwide.

On Gist.Science, we process every new preprint in this category directly from medRxiv to make these critical findings instantly accessible. For each study, we provide both a plain-language explanation for general readers and a detailed technical summary for specialists. This dual approach ensures that vital insights into disease dynamics are understood clearly and quickly by everyone who needs them.

Explore the latest research below to see how scientists are currently mapping disease trends and developing strategies to safeguard global health.

Can Predictive Modeling Inform the Selection of Time Zero for Target Trial Emulations? An Empirical Study of Atorvastatin Initiation in Medicare Beneficiaries

This study demonstrates that empirically identifying strong predictors of atorvastatin initiation, such as recent hospitalizations for cerebral or myocardial infarction, can effectively guide the selection of valid "time zero" events for target trial emulations in real-world data, thereby mitigating channeling bias and residual confounding.

Rowan, C. G., Brunelli, S. M., Maringe, C.2026-06-04📊 epidemiology

Cardiometabolic Risk and Diagnostic-Laboratory Reference-Range Disagreement in 794,811 Indian Insurance Applicants

This study of nearly 800,000 Indian insurance applicants reveals a high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors while highlighting that significant heterogeneity in laboratory reference ranges across thousands of diagnostic centers materially distorts patient classification and disease tracking, thereby underscoring the urgent need for national standardization of laboratory reporting in India.

Lakhani, S.2026-06-03📊 epidemiology

Social prescribing for children and young people in the UK: characterising access and care pathways using electronic health records

This study analyzes UK electronic health records from 2017 to 2025 to characterize social prescribing pathways for children and young people, revealing that while referrals predominantly target those in deprived urban areas for mental health reasons, the service currently has limited reach for those under 18, a disparity that appears to be widening over time.

Bone, J. K., Bu, F., Hayes, D., Fancourt, D.2026-06-03📊 epidemiology

The AFRIDIARRHEA multimodal fusion framework for Estimating the Burden of Diarrheal Diseases Among Children Under Five in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Somaliland

The AFRIDIARRHEA framework integrates Bayesian modeling, machine learning, and geospatial analytics to accurately estimate the burden, pathogen attribution, and uncertainty of childhood diarrheal diseases across Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Somaliland, offering a scalable tool for guiding public health interventions in data-limited African settings.

Agumba, J. O., Namusonge, L., AFRIDIARRHEA CONSORTIUM,, Ogendo, J. O., Hassan, M. A., Waswa, L. M., Takavarasha, M., Shisanya, M. S.2026-06-02📊 epidemiology

Changes in the profile of adults diagnosed as autistic since 2010: population based studies in England and Sweden

This population-based cohort study of over 33 million adults in the UK and Sweden reveals that since 2010, the profile of newly diagnosed autistic individuals has shifted dramatically toward younger people, females, and those with prior mental health conditions like anxiety and ADHD, while diagnoses of epilepsy, psychosis, and intellectual disability have declined.

Sadik, A., Lundberg, M., Khandaker, G. M., Pardinas, A. F., Lee, B. K., Madley-Dowd, P., Magnusson, C., Rai, D.2026-05-28📊 epidemiology

Dengue spatiotemporal patterns in Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2014-2023: regional epidemic forces dominate over the environmental impact of the Brumadinho dam collapse

This study concludes that while dengue incidence in Minas Gerais, Brazil, exhibited strong spatiotemporal synchrony driven by regional epidemic forces between 2014 and 2023, the 2019 Brumadinho dam collapse had no significant independent effect on dengue transmission patterns in the affected Paraopeba River basin.

Fernandes, G. d. R., Vaz, A. B. M., Fonseca, P. L. C., Oliveira, W. K., Aguiar, E. R. G. R., Lopes, B. C., Mota-Filho, C. R., Castro, M. L. P., Starling, C. E.2026-05-26📊 epidemiology

Socio-geographic factors associated with Lyme disease in children

This study of 5,529 children across eight high-incidence states found that rural residence, higher socioeconomic status, increased online search activity for Lyme disease, and proximity to the wildland-urban interface are independently associated with pediatric Lyme disease, suggesting that integrating socio-geographic factors with clinical data could improve diagnostic risk assessment while cautioning against relying solely on geographic location.

Wychgram, C., Geanacopoulos, A. T., Rebman, A. W., Chapman, L. L., Green, R. S., Neville, D. N., Thompson, A. D., Ladell, M. M., Kharbanda, A. B., Mandl, K. D., Curriero, F. C., Aucott, J. N., Nigrovi (…)2026-05-20📊 epidemiology

Pandemic-related changes in postpartum depression and anxiety among breastfeeding mothers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 studies across 15 countries reveals that breastfeeding mothers experienced significantly higher levels of postpartum depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period, underscoring the critical need for sustained mental health support and flexible postpartum care services during public health emergencies.

Yu, J., McCann, M., Clesham, M., Fewtrell, M.2026-05-20📊 epidemiology