The prevalence and characteristics of overweight and obesity among students in Qatar.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity using World Health Organisation (WHO) cut-offs for the body mass index (BMI) among students of the general population living in Qatar in the period 2015-2016. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The study includes 164,963 students aged 5-19 years. The body weight and height were measured to calculate the BMI. The WHO standard cut-offs were used to categorise the BMI into severe thinness (BMI z-score <-3), thinness (BMI z-score ≥-3 to <-2), normal (BMI z-score ≥-2 to <1), overweight (BMI z-score ≥+1 to <+2) and obese (BMI z-score >+2). RESULTS: Overweight and obesity prevalence was 44.8% and 40.4% among males and females and 45.6% and 40.9% among Qatari and non-Qatari students, respectively. Odds of obesity and overweight status were significantly higher among 10-14 and 15-19 age groups than 5-9 years age group (P < 0.001). By sex, males had 1.48 times higher odds of having obesity than females (P < 0.001), and Qatari nationals had 1.4 times higher odds of obesity than non-Qataris (P < 0.001). Although non-Qatari males also had higher odds of being overweight than females (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, P = 0.0006), the opposite was seen among Qatari students (OR = 0.95, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The result of this survey provides evidence of a high prevalence of overweight and obese students living in Qatar. Therefore, preventive strategies are essential in this population to lower the incidence of being overweight and obesity.

Prevalence of physical activity and sedentary-related behaviors among adolescents: data from the Qatar National School Survey.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors among adolescents in Qatar by selected demographic characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 5862 students (2938 boys and 2924 girls) in the age group 12-17 years were included in the analyses. PA and sedentary-related measures were obtained from the self-reported survey questions. RESULTS: Only 35.4% of students were performing 60 min of PA ≥3 days/week. The proportion of students with >2 hr screentime ranged from 43% to 57% (weekdays) and 50% to 62.5% (weekends). Girls had less odds of being physically active than the boys (odds ratio [OR] = 0.61, P < 0.001). Qatari students were less likely to be physically active than non-Qataris (OR = 0.79, P < 0.001). Age was inversely correlated with PA ([r = -0.113, P < 0.001 for participation with sports team] and [r = -0.139, P < 0.001 for school physical education classes]). Participation in sports teams positively correlated with 60 min of PA number of days in a week (r = 0.317, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study describes insufficient PA among youth as a public health issue of concern in the State of Qatar that requires multipronged health promotion initiatives.

Oral health status of six-year-old children in Qatar: findings from the national oral health survey.

INTRODUCTION: Oral health has a significant impact on physical, social and mental well-being of an individual. Qatar, like the rest of the world, is experiencing higher prevalence of oral health-related problems. OBJECTIVES: To examine the oral health status and extent of preventive and curative needs among six-year-old school children in Qatar by key demographic indicators. METHODS: Secondary data analysis of 1124 six-year-old private and government primary school children from the 2011 Qatar National Oral Health Survey was performed. Dental caries lesions status of primary dentition was assessed according to the WHO criteria. Descriptive statistics were carried out, and comparison among groups was executed by running t statistics. Logistic regression was performed to interpret the impact of various predictors. RESULTS: Overall, 71.4% children presented with dental caries lesions with a higher prevalence among girls versus boys (73.8% versus 68.9%). The mean overall dmft was recorded as 4.2 with ±4.2 SD. Qatari children had 3.8 time odds of having dental caries lesions compared with non-Qatari children (P < 0.001). Overall, 18.9% of children showed signs of poor periodontal health. Odds of having more periodontal disease were significant in Qatari boys (OR = 3.1 CI = 2.0, 4.7, P < 0.001) compared to non-Qatari boys. On average, 3.6 teeth per student were in need of any treatment. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that only 28.6% of children aged six were free from caries lesions. The results urge to further strengthen the strategies and to improve oral hygiene by various evidence-based interventions.

The sample of choice for detecting Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in asymptomatic dromedary camels using real-time reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction.

The newly identified Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which causes severe respiratory disease, particularly in people with comorbidities, requires further investigation. Studies in Qatar and elsewhere have provided evidence that dromedary camels are a reservoir for the virus, but the exact modes of transmission of MERS-CoV to humans remain unclear. In February 2014, an assessment was made of the suitability and sensitivity of different types of sample for the detection of MERSCoV by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for three gene targets: UpE (upstream of the E gene), the N (nucleocapsid) gene and open reading frame (ORF) 1a. Fifty-three animals presented for slaughter were sampled. A high percentage of the sampled camels (79% [95% confidence interval 66.9-91.5%, standard error 0.0625]; 42 out of 53) were shown to be shedding MERS-CoV at the time of slaughter, yet all the animals were apparently healthy. Among the virus-positive animals, nasal swabs were most often positive (97.6%). Oral swabs were the second most frequently positive (35.7%), followed by rectal swabs (28.5%). In addition, the highest viral load, expressed as a cycle threshold (Ct) value of 11.27, was obtained from a nasal swab. These findings lead to the conclusion that nasal swabs are the candidate sample of choice for detecting MERS-CoV using RT-PCR technology in apparently healthy camels.

Des travaux de recherche approfondis sont encore nécessaires concernant le coronavirus responsable du syndrome respiratoire du Moyen-Orient (MERSCoV), un virus identifié récemment et qui provoque des troubles respiratoires sévères en particulier chez les individus atteints de pathologies multiples. Les études effectuées au Qatar et ailleurs ont démontré que les dromadaires font office de réservoirs du virus ; toutefois, les modalités précises de la transmission du MERS-CoV à l'être humain demeurent obscures. En février 2014, une équipe de chercheurs a évalué l'adéquation et la sensibilité de plusieurs types d'échantillons pour détecter le MERS-CoV en utilisant l'amplification en chaîne par polymérase couplée à une transcription inverse en temps réel (RT-PCR) spécifique pour trois cibles génétiques, à savoir la séquence UpE (en amont du gène E), le gène N (nucléocapside) et le cadre de lecture ORF1a. Pour ce faire, divers prélèvements ont été effectués sur 53 dromadaires destinés à l'abattage. Un fort pourcentage de ces dromadaires (79 % [intervalle de confiance à 95 % compris entre 66,9 et 91,5 %, erreur standard : 0,0625], soit 42 sur 53) excrétaient le MERSCoV au moment de l'abattage, mais aucun ne présentait le moindre signe clinique. Les échantillons dans lesquels le plus de cas positifs ont été détectés étaient les écouvillons nasaux (97,6 %). Venaient ensuite les écouvillons oraux, qui ont détecté 35,7 % de cas positifs, puis les écouvillons rectaux (28,5 % de cas positifs détectés). Par ailleurs, ce sont les écouvillons nasaux qui ont permis d'obtenir l'intensité la plus élevée de la réponse de la RT-PCR, exprimée en une valeur du seuil de cycles de 11,27. Ces résultats permettent de conclure que les écouvillons nasaux sont les échantillons à privilégier pour la détection du MERS-CoV par RTPCR chez les dromadaires asymptomatiques.

Es preciso investigar más a fondo el coronavirus del síndrome respiratorio de Oriente Medio (MERS-CoV), recién identificado, que provoca una grave enfermedad respiratoria, sobre todo en personas con afecciones concomitantes. Estudios realizados en Qatar y otros lugares han deparado pruebas de que los dromedarios son un reservorio del virus, pero aún no están del todo claros los modelos exactos de transmisión del MERS-CoV al ser humano. Los autores describen un análisis realizado en febrero de 2014 de la idoneidad y sensibilidad de distintos tipos de muestra para detectar el MERS-CoV mediante una reacción en cadena de la polimerasa acoplada a transcripción inversa en tiempo real (RTPCR) dirigida contra tres genes: el gen UpE (upstream of the E gene: en dirección 5' desde el gen E); el gen N (nucleocápside) y el marco de lectura abierto (ORF) 1a. Para ello se tomaron muestras de 53 animales enviados al sacrificio. Se comprobó que un elevado porcentaje de los dromedarios analizados (un 79% [intervalo de confianza al 95%: 66,9­91,5%; error estándar: 0,0625], esto es, 42 de 53) excretaban virus en el momento del sacrificio, pese a que todos los animales parecían estar sanos. Entre los ejemplares positivos para el MERS-CoV, las muestras que con más frecuencia arrojaban resultado positivo eran los frotis nasales (97,6%). Las segundas, por orden de frecuencia, eran los frotis bucales (35,7%), seguidos de los frotis rectales (28,5%). Además, la carga viral más alta, expresada por un valor de ciclo umbral (Ct) (o punto de cruce) de 11,27, se obtuvo a partir de un frotis nasal. Estos resultados llevan a la conclusión de que los frotis nasales son el tipo de muestra más adaptado para detectar el MERS-CoV en dromedarios aparentemente sanos mediante la técnica de RT-PCR.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) RNA and neutralising antibodies in milk collected according to local customs from dromedary camels, Qatar, April 2014.

Antibodies to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were detected in serum and milk collected according to local customs from 33 camels in Qatar, April 2014. At one location, evidence for active virus shedding in nasal secretions and/or faeces was observed for 7/12 camels; viral RNA was detected in milk of five of these seven camels. The presence of MERS-CoV RNA in milk of camels actively shedding the virus warrants measures to prevent putative food-borne transmission of MERS-CoV.