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Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of mortality in childhood worldwide. However, a large number of children with CHD are not diagnosed promptly in low- and middle-income regions, due to limited healthcare resources and lack the ability of prenatal and postnatal ultrasound examinations. The research on asymptomatic CHD in the community is still blank, resulting in a large number of children with asymptomatic CHD can not be found and treated in time. Through the China-Cambodia collaborative health care initiative, the project team conducted research, screened children’s CHD through a sampling survey in China and Cambodia, collected relevant data, and retrospectively analyzed the data of all eligible patients. The project aimed to evaluate the prevalence of asymptomatic CHD in a sample population of 3-18years old and effects on their growth status and treatment outcomes. We examined the prevalence of ‘asymptomatic CHD’ among 3-18years old children and adolescents at the township/county levels in the two participating. A total of eight provinces in China and five provinces in Cambodia were analyzed from 2017 to 2020. During 1 year follow-up after treatment, the differences in heights and weights of the treated and control groups were evaluated. Among the 3,068,075 participants screened from 2017 to 2020, 3967 patients with asymptomatic CHD requiring treatment were identified [0.130%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.126 -0.134%]. The prevalence rate of CHD ranged from 0.02 to 0.88%, and was negatively related to local per capita GDP (p = 0.028). The average height of 3310 treated CHD patients were 2.23% (95% CI: -2.51%~-1.9%) lower than that of the standard group and the average weight was − 6.41% (95% CI: -7.17%~-5.65%) lower, the developmental gap widening with advancing age. One year after treatment, the relative height difference remained comparable while that, in weight was reduced by 5.68% (95% CI: 4.27% ~7.09%). Asymptomatic CHD now is often overlooked and is an emerging public health challenge. Early detection and treatment are essential to lower the potential burden of heart diseases in children and adolescents.

Under the background of similar geography and culture in Lancang-Mekong countries and rapid changes in the regional economy and lifestyle, this study aimed to describe and compare the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and assess the hypertension care cascade in three provinces of China, Laos, and Cambodia. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2021 and 2023 in the three provinces of Lancang–Mekong River countries using consistent investigative procedures. We included 11,005 participants aged ≥ 18 years from three provinces, and data were collected through questionnaires, physical examinations, and biochemical tests. We analyzed the cascade of hypertension care and compared the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. The hypertension care cascade indicated that 46.3%, 51.6%, and 63.1% of patients in Yunnan Province (China), Oudomxay Province (Laos), and Ratanakiri Province (Cambodia), respectively, were not diagnosed, and 10.7%, 12.8% and 21.1% of patients, respectively, did not receive treatment. After sex-age standardization, the prevalence rates of hypertension in the three provinces were 33.4%, 34.5%, and 23.6%, respectively. Higher awareness rate in Yunnan Province (53.4%) and Oudomxay Province (46.5%) than in Ratanakiri Province of Cambodia (39.7%). The treatment rate of hypertension in Yunnan Province (42.4%) was higher than that in Oudomxay Province (34.5%), and Ratanakiri Province (16.9%). In addition, less than 20% of the patients in the three provinces had their blood pressure under control. The factors associated with hypertension differed across the three provinces. In the three provinces of the Lancang-Mekong River Basin countries, there is a high burden of hypertension and a significant unmet need for hypertension care. Targeted and precise intervention strategies are urgently needed to improve the awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in low- and middle-income regions.

Emerging evidence suggests that the respiratory health effects of particulate matter (PM) may vary by aerodynamic diameter. However, comprehensive investigations comparing the effects of size-specific PM on lung function indicators remain limited. We analyzed lung function data from the China Pulmonary Health (CPH) Study to assess the associations between long-term exposure to PM1, PM1–2.5, PM2.5, PM2.5–10, and PM10 and indicators of large and small airway function using multivariable linear models. This study included 50,991 adults aged 20 years and above. For large airway function, each interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM1, PM1–2.5, PM2.5, and PM10 was significantly associated with a decrease in FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC. The associations between FEV1 and FVC strengthened as the particle size decreased. PM1 showed the strongest association, with the lowest FEV1 (−36.84 mL, 95% confidence interval (CI): −45.91, −27.76 mL) and FVC (−34.63 mL, 95% CI: −45.48, −23.79 mL) values. For small airway function, all size-specific particles were significantly associated with decreases in FEF75 and FEF25–75. Specifically, each IQR increase in PM2.5–10 exposure was associated with the largest reduction in the airway function indicators. Furthermore, stratified analyses showed stronger adverse associations in vulnerable subpopulations, including females, older adults, former smokers, biomass nonusers, and participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Size-specific PM exposure has differential health effects on both large and small airway lung function indicators. Therefore, it is essential to account for particle size in health risk assessments and the regulation of PM.