📊 Category

epidemiology

407 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

Health, behavioural, and social correlates of depressive symptoms among Brazilian adults: a preregistered exposure-wide association study with discovery and replication in two independent nationally representative cross-sectional surveys

This preregistered study utilizing two independent nationally representative Brazilian surveys identified and replicated 21 health, behavioral, and social correlates of depressive symptoms, with self-rated health showing the strongest association, thereby providing a reproducible map for future longitudinal research while acknowledging the cross-sectional design's inability to establish causality.

Santos, B. d. S., Passos, I. C.2026-08-27
📊 epidemiology

Quantifying the Optimism of Naive Cross-Validation for Binary Outcome Prediction with Repeated-Measures Predictors: A Simulation Study and Clinical Illustration

This study demonstrates that applying observation-level cross-validation to repeated-measures data with binary outcomes significantly overestimates predictive performance, whereas subject-level partitioning effectively eliminates the primary source of this optimism and aligns closely with rigorous leave-one-cluster-out validation.

Hagan, J.2026-08-26
📊 epidemiology

Associations Between Body Mass Index, Visual Acuity, and Resting Heart Rate in Adolescents: A Multifactorial Analysis of Physical Examination Data

This multicentre retrospective study of over 130,000 adolescents reveals that higher BMI is independently associated with poorer visual acuity and elevated resting heart rate, with these relationships varying significantly by age and sex, thereby supporting the need for integrated, stratified screening strategies to address obesity, myopia, and cardiovascular risks simultaneously.

Li, Z., Liu, X., Teng, X., Wang, P., Zhang, Q., Li, H., Tan, Y., Zhuang, H., Zheng, W.2026-08-26
📊 epidemiology

Divergent Trends in Stroke and Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality and Disability in Western Sub-Saharan Africa Compared with Global Progress, 1990-2023

Between 1990 and 2023, Western Sub-Saharan Africa fell significantly behind global progress in reducing cardiovascular mortality, characterized by a modest decline in stroke deaths and a troubling reversal where ischemic heart disease mortality increased despite substantial socioeconomic development, primarily driven by uncontrolled hypertension and rising cardiometabolic risk factors.

Ankrah-Twumasi, P., Ofori, J. J. V., Pekyi-Boateng, P., Twerefour, Y., Sackey, D.2026-08-23
📊 epidemiology

Joint Heat and PM2.5 Exposure Across US Metropolitan Areas: Multi-Stressor Disparities, Historical Redlining, and a Multi-Metric Assessment Framework

This study introduces a novel multi-metric framework to assess joint heat and PM2.5 exposure across 48 US metropolitan areas, revealing that residents in historically redlined and predominantly Black neighborhoods face significantly higher risks of simultaneous extreme heat and air pollution compared to their White counterparts, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors.

Mandalapu, S. V., Sharma, R., Pillarisetti, A.2026-08-23
📊 epidemiology

Rethinking respiratory disease forecasting: temporal heterogeneity between surveillance predictors and outcomes drives forecast instability

This study demonstrates that the unstable and seasonally variable relationships between diverse surveillance predictors and respiratory disease outcomes undermine the effectiveness of static forecasting models and long-term historical training, necessitating adaptive strategies and continual evaluation to improve forecast accuracy.

Topazian, H. M., Sheets, T. R., Gruninger, R. J., Kelley, J., LaCross, N., Samore, M. H., Lofgren, E., Keegan, L. T.2026-08-22
📊 epidemiology

Autistic traits and alcohol consumption through adolescence and young adulthood

This longitudinal study of the ALSPAC cohort reveals that while genetic liability for autism does not significantly influence alcohol consumption, higher levels of autistic traits are generally associated with lower drinking across most consumption levels, except among heavy drinkers where social communication differences correlate with increased alcohol use.

Page, S., Parker, R., Easey, K. E., Sedgewick, F., Rai, D., Stergiakouli, E.2026-08-21
📊 epidemiology

Infrastructure risk factors for leptospirosis transmission in urban informal settlements

This study utilized high-precision georeferenced mapping in Salvador, Brazil, to demonstrate that residents with leptospirosis exposure in urban informal settlements are significantly more likely to live near inadequate sewerage components, poorly maintained streets, and lower elevations, highlighting the critical role of specific infrastructure deficiencies in disease transmission.

Nascimento Silva, A. M., Santana, J. O., Machado, G. G., Souza, F. N., de Oliveira, D. S., Palma, F. A. G., dos Santos (…)2026-08-21
📊 epidemiology

Factors associated with rabies vaccination uptake among dog owners in Butaleja Town Council, Eastern Uganda: A cross-sectional study

This cross-sectional study in Butaleja, Uganda, reveals that while 57% of dog owners vaccinated at least one dog, overall coverage remained below the 70% herd immunity threshold due to significant barriers, identifying that older age, higher education, income, access to veterinary clinics, and community education are key factors associated with successful rabies vaccination uptake.

Hasahya, S., Kamukama, S., Lunkuse, S. M., Lubogo, D.2026-08-21
📊 epidemiology

Clinical Epidemiological Features and Risk Factor Weight Remodeling in Gallstone Patients on the Plateau

In a retrospective cohort study of gallstone patients at high altitude, the original hypothesis that BMI replaces sex as the core risk factor for cholecystitis was falsified, revealing instead that systolic blood pressure is the sole significant positive predictor while age exhibits an inverse association.

Wang, Z., Ren, G., Dang, Z., Su, W., Ma, Y., Li, P., Ji, D., Li, L., Gao, J.2026-08-21