COVID-19 lockdowns weigh heavily on youth: an analysis of the impact on BMI for Age Z scores in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the lifestyle and health of children and adolescents. This study aimed to assess the lifestyle changes brought about by COVID-19-related school closures and their impact on the Body Mass Index for Age Z (BAZ) scores of governmental school students in Qatar. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2022 targeting students aged 8-15 years. Data on lifestyle behaviors were gathered through telephone interviews with parents of selected students. The BAZ scores before and after school closures that were automatically calculated by the electronic health records system were extracted. RESULTS: We completed 1546 interviews. We found a significant increase in unhealthy food categories, a reduction in physical activity and an increase in the screen time over the period of schools' closure. The BAZ increased significantly by 0.30 (95% CI 0.26-0.35). The increase in BAZ scores was significantly higher among male students and the younger age group compared to females and older counterparts, respectively. The student's age group, sex, nationality and change in physical activity were significant predictors of the change in BAZ scores. CONCLUSIONS: School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the lifestyle of students in Qatar and resulted in a significant increase in the BAZ scores.

From classrooms to controllers: how school closures shaped children's video gaming habits.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19-related school closures on screen time and video gaming habits among governmental school students in Qatar and explore the prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) within this context. METHODS: A cross-sectional approach was employed, spanning two months from June to August 2022. A random sample of students aged 8-15 years was drawn from the national electronic health record system of Qatar. Telephone interviews with parents were conducted to collect data. The Parental Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (PIGDS) was used for IGD assessment. RESULTS: Of 428 parents, 257 (60%) confirmed their child's engagement in video gaming during school closures. Participants averaged 11 years in age with 92 (35.8%) females and 165 (64.2%) males. Nationality included 62.6% expatriates and 37.4% Qatari locals. Average weekly screen time increased significantly from 19.7 ± 10.1 h to 31.9 ± 12.6 h during closure (p < 0.001). Video gaming time rose from 8.6 ± 8.6 h to 13.0 ± 12.4 h per week (p < 0.001). The prevalence of IGD was 8.6% (95% CI 5.4-12.7). Male students, expatriates, and those reporting increased video gaming time were more likely to develop IGD than their female and local counterparts. CONCLUSION: The observed associations between video gaming increase and IGD highlight the need for focused interventions to address potential risks and promote healthier digital habits among this population.

The nature of inappropriate referrals to wellness services in primary care setting in Qatar: Outcome of multifaced interventions on rate and quality of referrals.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to explore the rate and types of inappropriate referrals to the wellness services and to assess the impact of multi-level interventions on the rate of inappropriate referrals at Rawdat Al-Khail health center in Qatar. Methods: This study employed a retrospective analysis of all referrals data to Rawdat Al-Khail wellness services extracted from the Electronic Health Records (EHRs) between July 2022 and August 2023. The monthly rates and types of inappropriate referrals were calculated. In this study, pre-post analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of two sets of interventions on reducing inappropriate referral rates. The first set involved the development and distribution of e-referral pathways training manual in September 2022. The second set, implemented in April 2023, included close monitoring the rate and types of referrals, and the initiation of feedback communication between wellness services supervisors and referring physicians for advice and corrective actions. Results: A total of 966 referrals were received during the study period, with 1:5 male-to-female ratio. Of all referrals, 34.9 % were classified as inappropriate, exhibiting considerable variations among different referring health centers. The most common reason for inappropriate referrals was due to the lack of "exercise wellness gym assessment form" (23.8 %). While interventions aimed at enhancing the referral process, they did not result in a significant overall reduction in inappropriate referral rates. However, there was a noteworthy reduction in the inappropriate referrals caused by the lack of "exercise wellness gym assessment form" observed from March to August 2023 (41 %-18 %). Conclusion: This study sheds light on the complexities of wellness services referrals, revealing a high rate of inappropriate referrals that require closer scrutiny. Despite interventions not significantly reducing the rate of these referrals, it emphasizes the need for ongoing improvement strategies. Structured, periodic interventions at higher levels are recommended to enhance referral appropriateness.

Screen Time Soars and Vision Suffers: How School Closures During the Pandemic Affected Children and Adolescents' Eyesight.

This study aimed to determine the impact of school closures on visual acuity and screen time among students in Qatar. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted, targeting governmental school students. Data were collected via telephone interviews with parents, and visual acuity measurements were extracted from the electronic health records. We interviewed 1546 parents of selected students, about 24% reported their children's history of visual disturbances, primarily refractive errors. The mean screen time across the week increased significantly by 11.5 ± 11.6 h during school closures. We observed a significant decline of visual acuity during the closure compared to the pre-closure period across the entire sample, both sexes, and the younger age group. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis showed that local students and those with a history of visual disturbances were 1.7 times (AOR: 1.73, 95%CI 1.18-2.54, p = 0.005) and 2.5 times (AOR: 2.52, 95%CI 1.69-3.76, p < 0.001) more likely to experience decline of visual acuity respectively. School closures in Qatar were associated with a significant increase in screen time among students and a notable decline in their visual acuity. This deterioration highlights the need to monitor children's screen time and implement cost-effective measures to reduce screen exposure and enhance overall eye health among students.

Short-term side effects of BNT162b2 vaccine in primary care settings in Qatar: a retrospective study.

Background: Despite the established effectiveness of the BNT162b2 Vaccine, the novel technology demands careful safety monitoring. While global studies have explored its safety, local data remains limited and exhibits some variability. This study investigated short-term side effects among BNT162b2 vaccinated individuals in Qatar. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data extracted from the electronic health records of individuals aged 18 or older across 8 primary health centers who received either the first or second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine during the period from December 23, 2020, to April 24, 2021. The proportions of individuals experiencing short-term side effects after each dose were calculated. Logistic regression and log binomial regression analyses were used to explore associations with the side effects. Results: Among 7,764 participants, 5,489 received the first dose and 2,275 the second, with similar demographics between the groups. After the first dose, 5.5% reported at least one local side effect, compared to 3.9% after the second, with a 1.4 times higher incidence after the first dose (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.14-1.75) compared to the second. Systemic side effects after the second dose were 2.6 times more common than after the first (RR 2.6, 95% CI 2.15-3.14). Gender, nationality, history of prior COVID-19 infection, and obesity were significantly associated with side effects after the first dose, while age, gender, and nationality, were significant factors after the second dose. Conclusion: The rates of side effects following the BNT162b2 vaccine in Qatar were relatively low, with age, gender, nationality, previous infection, and obesity identified as significant predictors. These results emphasize the need for tailored vaccination strategies and contributes valuable insights for evidence-based decision-making in ongoing and future vaccination campaigns.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among migrant workers in Qatar.

Limited data exist on viral hepatitis among migrant populations. This study investigated the prevalence of current hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and lifetime hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Qatar's migrant craft and manual workers (CMWs), constituting 60% of the country's population. Sera collected during a nationwide COVID-19 population-based cross-sectional survey on CMWs between July 26 and September 9, 2020, underwent testing for HBsAg and HCV antibodies. Reactive samples underwent confirmatory testing, and logistic regression analyses were employed to explore associations with HBV and HCV infections. Among 2528 specimens tested for HBV infection, 15 were reactive, with 8 subsequently confirmed positive. Three samples lacked sufficient sera for confirmatory testing but were included in the analysis through multiple imputations. Prevalence of current HBV infection was 0.4% (95% CI 0.2-0.7%). Educational attainment and occupation were significantly associated with current HBV infection. For HCV infection, out of 2607 specimens tested, 46 were reactive, and 23 were subsequently confirmed positive. Prevalence of lifetime HCV infection was 0.8% (95% CI 0.5-1.2%). Egyptians exhibited the highest prevalence at 6.5% (95% CI 3.1-13.1%), followed by Pakistanis at 3.1% (95% CI 1.1-8.0%). Nationality, geographic location, and occupation were significantly associated with lifetime HCV infection. HBV infection is relatively low among CMWs, while HCV infection falls within the intermediate range, both compared to global and regional levels.