📊 Category

epidemiology

286 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.

📊 epidemiology

Effects of atmospheric factors on daily intensive care unit cases in Germany: A Time Series Regression Study

This time series regression study analyzes over 9.9 million ICU cases in Germany from 2009 to 2023 to demonstrate that atmospheric factors, particularly pressure-related variables, temperature, and ozone, significantly influence daily intensive care demand with distinct variations across age, sex, and disease types, thereby providing evidence to help the healthcare system anticipate and prepare for short-term meteorological impacts.

Sasse, K., Merkenschlager, C., Johler, M., Baldenius, T., Droege, P., Guenster, C., Ruhnke, T., Eschrihuela Branz, P., P (…)2026-03-04
📊 epidemiology

Anopheles salivary antibody biomarkers as surrogate outcomes measures to assess the effectiveness of topical repellent in Southeast Myanmar

This study demonstrates that anti-gSG6-P1 IgG antibodies against Anopheles salivary proteins can serve as informative surrogate outcome measures for evaluating topical repellent effectiveness in Southeast Myanmar, particularly showing reduced antibody levels among high-risk migrant and forest-dwelling populations six months after intervention rollout.

Kearney, E. A., Agius, P. A., O'Flaherty, K., Oo, W. H., Cutts, J. C., Htike, W., da Silva Goncalves, D., Thi, A., Aung (…)2026-03-04
📊 epidemiology

Air pollution exposure in Generation Scotland: molecular fingerprints and health outcomes

This study utilizes the Generation Scotland cohort to link long-term air pollution exposure with increased risks of dementia and myocardial infarction, while identifying specific molecular fingerprints in DNA methylation and proteins that mediate these health outcomes and accelerate epigenetic aging.

Robertson, J. A., Krätschmer, I., Richmond, A., McCartney, D. L., Bajzik, J., Vernardis, S., Corley, J., Tomlinson, S. (…)2026-03-04
📊 epidemiology

Multistate Animal-Contact-Related Nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica Outbreaks in the United States, 2009-2022: Network and Machine Learning Analyses of Exposure Sources, Settings, and Serovars

This study analyzes 177 multistate animal-contact Nontyphoidal Salmonella outbreaks in the U.S. from 2009 to 2022 using network and machine learning methods to identify distinct transmission clusters driven by specific serovars, animal sources (particularly birds and reptiles), and settings, thereby highlighting the need for region-specific One Health prevention strategies.

Bajwa, H. U. R., Bhowmick, S., Varga, C.2026-03-03
📊 epidemiology

Wavelet analysis of climate variability and malaria incidence to inform intervention planning in low- and high-burden Nigerian states

This study utilizes wavelet analysis to reveal heterogeneous climate-malaria dynamics between Nigeria's low-burden Lagos and high-burden Zamfara states, demonstrating that while Zamfara exhibits strong, predictable annual cycles with specific rainfall and temperature lags suitable for climate-adaptive intervention timing, Lagos shows irregular transmission patterns, thereby underscoring the critical need for region-specific, climate-resilient malaria control strategies rather than generalized national approaches.

Osikoya, S. A., Bakare, E. A., Akinola, L. O., Oresanya, O., Okoronkwo, C., Eze, N., Maikore, I.2026-03-03
📊 epidemiology

Automated outbreak detection systems in the EU: Requirements and challenges for its implementation, 2023/2024

This paper outlines the current status, prerequisites, and implementation challenges of automated outbreak detection systems across the EU and UK, revealing that while demand and data availability are high, adoption is hindered by funding and IT constraints, suggesting that EU-funded collaborative capacity building could enable the development of a shared, sustainable solution.

vom Felde genannt Imbusch, P., Vietor, A. C., Markus, I., Diercke, M., Ullrich, A.2026-03-02
📊 epidemiology

Social Determinants of In-Hospital AIDS-Related Mortality: A Cohort Study of 13,266 Low-Income Patients in Brazil

This cohort study of 13,266 low-income patients in Brazil reveals that in-hospital AIDS-related mortality is significantly driven by social determinants of health, including older age, male sex, Black or Brown race, lower household wealth, illiteracy, and residence in the structurally disadvantaged North region, underscoring the critical need for targeted social policies to address these structural inequities.

Gestal, P. S., Jesus, G. S., Silva, A. F., Lua, I., Teles, C. A., Souza, L. E., Macinko, J., Dourado, I., Rasella, D.2026-03-02
📊 epidemiology

Associations and mechanisms of influence between climate variables and norovirus seasonal incidence: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 139 studies reveals that while climate variables such as temperature and humidity are significant predictors of norovirus seasonality, the strength and direction of these associations vary regionally due to differences in transmission pathways and local environmental factors.

Pantea, I., Conlan, A. J. K., Gaythorpe, K. A. M.2026-03-02
📊 epidemiology

Comparison of methods for assessing effects of risk factors on disease progression in Mendelian randomization under index event bias

This paper evaluates statistical methods for mitigating index event bias in Mendelian randomization studies of disease progression, finding that while no single approach is universally effective, a strategic framework based on data availability and biological context can guide method selection.

Zhang, L., Higgins, I. A., Dai, Q., Gkatzionis, A., Quistrebert, J., Bashir, N., Dharmalingam, G., Bhatnagar, P., Gill (…)2026-03-02