Global, regional, and national burden and quality of care index (QCI) of oral disorders: a systematic analysis of the global burden of disease study 1990-2017.

BACKGROUND: Oral disorders are still a major global public health challenge, considering their perpetuating and chronic nature. Currently, there is no direct index to measure the quality of care on a population scale. Hence, we aim to propose a new index to measure the quality of care for oral disorders worldwide. METHODS: We generated our database using the data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2017. Among different variables such as prevalence, incidence, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life years, we utilised principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the component that bears the greatest proportion of information to generate the novel quality of care index (QCI) for oral disorders. RESULTS: Global QCI for oral disorders gradually increased from 1990 to 2017 (from 70.5 to 74.6). No significant gender disparity was observed during this period, and the gender disparity ratio (GDR) was considered optimal in 1990 and 2017. Between 1990 and 2017, the age-standardised QCI for all oral disorders increased in all the SDI regions. The highest QCI for all oral disorders in 2017 belonged to high-middle SDI countries (=80.24), and the lowest YLDs rate was seen in the low SDI quintile. In 1990, the quality of care in European, Central Asian, and Central and South American countries was in the lowest quintiles, whereas the North American, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and some African countries had the highest quality of dental care. Maynmar (=100), Uganda (=92.5), Taiwan (=92.0), China (=92.5), and the United States (=89.2) were the five countries with the highest age-standardised QCI. Nicaragua (=41.3), Belgium (=40.2), Venezuela (=38.4), Sierra Leone (=30.5), and the Gambia (=30.3) were the five countries with the least age-standardised QCI values. CONCLUSION: The quality of care for all oral disorders showed an increasing trend on a global scale from 1990 to 2017. However, the QCI distribution was not homogenous among various regions. To prevent the exacerbation of imminent disparities in this regard, better attention to total tooth loss in high-income countries and prioritising primary healthcare provision in low-income countries are recommended for oral disorders.

Global and regional burden and quality of care of non-rheumatic valvular heart diseases: a systematic analysis of Global Burden of Disease 1990-2017.

BACKGROUND: With an increase in the incidence and prevalence of non-rheumatic valvular heart diseases (NRVHDs), having a proper understanding of the disease current status in terms of quality of care and healthcare access can considerably affect further planning for the healthcare system. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the quality and equity of care concerning NRVHDs in terms of gender and sociodemographic index (SDI) using a newly proposed index. METHODS: We obtained the primary measures (e.g. incidence) from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data about NRVHD from 1990 to 2017 to calculate the subsequent secondary indices (e.g. mortality-to-incidence ratio) with close association to quality of care. Then, using principal component analysis (PCA), quality of care index (QCI) was calculated as a novel index from the secondary indices, rescaled to 0-100. QCI was calculated for all age groups and both genders, globally, regionally and nationally between 1990 and 2017. RESULTS: Globally, the QCI for NRVHDs in 2017 was 87.3, and it appears that gender inequity was unremarkable (gender disparity ratio = 1.00, female QCI: 90.2, male QCI: 89.7) in 2017 similar to the past three decades. Among WHO world regions, the Western Pacific Region and Eastern Mediterranean Region showed the highest (90.1) and lowest (74.0) QCI scores. Regarding SDI, the high-middle-SDI quintile with a QCI of 89.4 and the low-SDI quintile with a QCI of 77.8 were the two extremes of healthcare quality in 2017. CONCLUSION: Although global status regarding the NRVHD's quality of care is acceptable, higher attention is required for lower SDI countries.

Global, regional, and national quality of care of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 1990-2017.

BACKGROUND: To improve health outcomes to their maximum level, defining indices to measure healthcare quality and accessibility is crucial. In this study, we implemented the novel Quality of Care Index (QCI) to estimate the quality and accessibility of care for patients with gallbladder and biliary tract cancer (GBBTC) in 195 countries, 21 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) regions, Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles, and sex groups. METHOD: This cross-sectional study extracted estimates on GBBTC burden from the GBD 2017, which presents population-based estimates on GBBTC burden for higher than 15-year-old patients from 1990 to 2017. Four secondary indices indicating quality of care were chosen, comprising Mortality to incidence, Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) to prevalence, prevalence to incidence, and years of life lost (YLL) to years lived with disability (YLD) ratios. Then, the whole dataset was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis to combine the four indices and create a single all-inclusive measure named QCI. The QCI was scaled to the 0-100 range, with 100 indicating the best quality of care among countries. Gender Disparity Ratio (GDR) was defined as the female to male QCI ratio to show gender inequity throughout the regions and countries. RESULTS: Global QCI score for GBBTC was 33.5 in 2017, which has increased by 29% since 1990. There was a considerable gender disparity in favor of men (GDR = 0.74) in 2017, showing QCI has moved toward gender inequity since 1990 (GDR = 0.85). Quality of care followed a heterogeneous pattern among regions and countries and was positively correlated with the countries' developmental status reflected in SDI (r = 0.7; CI 95%: 0.61-0.76; P value< 0.001). Accordingly, High-income North America (QCI = 72.4) had the highest QCI; whereas, Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (QCI = 3) had the lowest QCI among regions. Patients aged 45 to 80 had lower QCI scores than younger and older adults. The highest QCI score was for the older than 95 age group (QCI = 54), and the lowest was for the 50-54 age group (QCI = 26.0). CONCLUSIONS: QCI improved considerably from 1990 to 2017; however, it showed heterogeneous distribution and inequity between sex and age groups. In each regional context, plans from countries with the highest QCI and best gender equity should be disseminated and implemented in order to decrease the overall burden of GBBTC.

The level and trend of road traffic injuries attributable mortality rate in Iran, 1990-2015: a story of successful regulations and a roadmap to design future policies.

BACKGROUND: Road-Traffic-Injuries (RTIs) are predicted to rise up to the fifth leading cause of worldwide death by 2030 and Iran has the third highest RTIs mortality among higher-middle income countries. Although the high mortality of RTI in Iran is a warning, it provides the opportunity to indirectly assess the implemented RTI-related regulations' effectiveness via high-resolution relevant statistics and, hence, Iran could serve as a guide for countries with similar context. In order to do so, we utilized this study to report the time and spatial trends of RTIs-related mortality in different age and sex groups and road user classes in Iran. METHODS: Based on the national death-registration-system (DRS), cemeteries data, and the demographic characteristics, and after addressing incompleteness, we estimated mortality rates using spatiotemporal and Gaussian process regression models. We assessed Pearson seatbelt and helmet use and RTIs-attributable Age-Standardized-Morality-Rate (ASMR) associations. We also predicted RTIs-death-numbers, 2012-2020, by fitting a Generalized Additive Model to assess the status of achieving relevant sustainable development goal (SDG), namely reducing the number of RTIs-related deaths by half. RESULTS: Overall RTIs-attributable death and ASMR at the national level increased from 12.64 [95% UI, 9.52-16.86] to 29.1 [22.76-37.14] per 100,000 people in the time period of 1990-2015. The trend consisted of an increasing segment in 1990-2003 followed by a decreasing part till 2015. The highest percentage of death belonged to the three-or-more-wheels motorized vehicles. Pedestrian injuries percentage increased significantly and the highest mortality rate occurred in 85 years and older individuals. Low prevalence of seatbelt and helmet use were observed in provinces with higher than the median ASMR due to the relevant cause of each. RTIs-attributable death number is expected to reduce by 15.99% till 2020 which is lower than the established SDG goal. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the observed substantial moderation in the RTI-ASMR, Iran is till among the leading countries in terms of the highest mortality rates in the world. The enforced regulations including speed limitations (particularly for elder pedestrians) and mandatory use of seatbelt and helmet (for young adult and male drivers) had a considerable effect on ASMR, nevertheless, the RTI burden reduction needs to be sustained and enhanced.

Red flags of poor prognosis in pediatric cases of COVID-19: the first 6610 hospitalized children in Iran.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 clinical course, effective therapeutic regimen, and poor prognosis risk factors in pediatric cases are still under investigation and no approved vaccinehas been introduced for them. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated different aspect of COVID-19 infection in hospitalized COVID-19 positive children (≺18 years oldwith laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection, using the national COVID-19 registry for all admitted COVID-19 positive cases from February 19 until November 13,2020, in Iran. RESULTS: We evaluated 6610 hospitalized children. Fifty-four percent (3268) were male and one third of them were infants younger than 1 year. Mortality rate in total hospitalized children was 5.3% and in children with underlying co-morbidities (14.4%) was significantly higher (OR: 3.6 [2.7-4.7]). Chronic kidney disease (OR: 3.42 [1.75-6.67]), Cardiovascular diseases (OR: 3.2 [2.09-5.11]), chronic pulmonary diseases (OR: 3.21 [1.59-6.47]), and diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.5 [1.38-4.55]), resulted in higher mortality rates in hospitalized COVID-19 children. Fever (41%), cough (36%), and dyspnea (27%) were the most frequent symptoms in hospitalized children and dyspnea was associated with near three times higher mortality rate among children with COVID-19 infection (OR: 2.65 [2.13-3.29]). CONCLUSION: Iran has relatively high COVID-19 mortality in hospitalized children. Pediatricians should consider children presenting with dyspnea, infants≺ 1 year and children with underlying co-morbidities, as high-risk groups for hospitalization, ICU admission, and death.

Premature mortality of gastrointestinal cancer in Iran: trends and projections 2001-2030.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to determine the trend and projection of premature mortality from gastrointestinal cancers (GI cancers) at national and subnational levels in Iran. METHODS: Employing the data obtained from Iranian Death Registry System (DRS) and population data from census, the mortality rates of GI cancers was calculated among 30-70 age groups. The trends of esophageal, colon and rectum, gallbladder, pancreases, stomach, and liver cancer premature mortalities were estimated and projected at the national and subnational levels from 2001 to 2030. Then, Spatio-temporal model was used to project spatial and temporal correlations. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate of GI cancers was higher in males than in females, indicating 6.1, 3.9 and 3.9% per 100,000 individuals among males in 2001, 2015 and 2030 respectively and 3.8, 3.1 and 3.7 per 100,000 individuals among females in the same time-frame. The overall mortality rate of GI cancers in males was decreasing until 2015 and will remain stationary into 2030; however, the rate will be increasing among females in both time-frames. Also, there was a considerable variation in the mortality trends of different cancers. Pancreatic, gallbladder, and liver cancers were shown to have an increasing trend while a drop was observed in the mortality rates of stomach, colon and rectum, and esophageal cancers. CONCLUSION: Variation of GI cancers patterns and trends around the country indicated that a more comprehensive control plan is needed to include the predicted variations.

Insight into blood pressure targets for universal coverage of hypertension services in Iran: the 2017 ACC/AHA versus JNC 8 hypertension guidelines.

BACKGROUND: We compared the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Iran based on two hypertension guidelines; the 2017 ACC/AHA -with an aggressive blood pressure target of 130/80 mmHg- and the commonly used JNC8 guideline cut-off of 140/90 mmHg. We shed light on the implications of the 2017 ACC/AHA for population subgroups and high-risk individuals who were eligible for non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies. METHODS: Data was obtained from the Iran national STEPS 2016 study. Participants included 27,738 adults aged ≥25 years as a representative sample of Iranians. Regression models of survey design were used to examine the determinants of prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension based on JNC8 was 29.9% (95% CI: 29.2-30.6), which soared to 53.7% (52.9-54.4) based on the 2017 ACC/AHA. The percentage of awareness, treatment, and control were 59.2% (58.0-60.3), 80.2% (78.9-81.4), and 39.1% (37.4-40.7) based on JNC8, which dropped to 37.1% (36.2-38.0), 71.3% (69.9-72.7), and 19.6% (18.3-21.0), respectively, by applying the 2017 ACC/AHA. Based on the new guideline, adults aged 25-34 years had the largest increase in prevalence (from 7.3 to 30.7%). They also had the lowest awareness and treatment rate, contrary to the highest control rate (36.5%) between age groups. Compared with JNC8, based on the 2017 ACC/AHA, 24, 15, 17, and 11% more individuals with dyslipidaemia, high triglycerides, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease events, respectively, fell into the hypertensive category. Yet, based on the 2017 ACC/AHA, 68.2% of individuals falling into the hypertensive category were eligible for receiving pharmacologic therapy (versus 95.7% in JNC8). LDL cholesterol< 130 mg/dL, sufficient physical activity (Metabolic Equivalents≥600/week), and Body Mass Index were found to change blood pressure by - 3.56(- 4.38, - 2.74), - 2.04(- 2.58, - 1.50), and 0.48(0.42, 0.53) mmHg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Switching from JNC8 to 2017 ACC/AHA sharply increased the prevalence and drastically decreased the awareness, treatment, and control in Iran. Based on the 2017 ACC/AHA, more young adults and those with chronic comorbidities fell into the hypertensive category; these individuals might benefit from earlier interventions such as lifestyle modifications. The low control rate among individuals receiving treatment warrants a critical review of hypertension services.

Physical activity profile of the Iranian population: STEPS survey, 2016.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient physical activity (IPA) is one of the leading causes of premature mortality through the increased burden of non-communicable diseases. From 1990 to 2017, the percentage of low physical activity attributable disability-adjusted life years (DALY) increased globally by 1.5 times and 2-fold in Iran, causing more than 1.2 million deaths worldwide and 18,000 deaths in Iran in 2017. Reports suggest that Iran, a developing middle-income country, suffers from a high level of IPA. Socioeconomic and cultural alterations along with the country's developments expose the population to IPA risk. We aimed to describe IPA prevalence in Iran's adult population, categorized by demographics, geographical region, and activity domains to assess the present pattern of physical inactivity and its domains in the country. METHODS: In 2016, in order to represent Iran's adult population, adult participants (n: 30541) from 30 provinces were selected using systematic proportional to size cluster sampling. Physical activity (PA) was assessed via the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, calculating the Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) value in minutes per week for work, recreation, and transport domains. Insufficient physical activity (IPA) was defined according to WHO's recommendation (less than 600 METs per week). Adjusted odds ratios of IPA associates for sociodemographic, lifestyle related variables, and metabolic risk factors were reported. RESULTS: A high prevalence of IPA was seen in the total population (54.7%, 95%CI: 54.0-55.3) with a considerable difference between the two genders (males: 45.3% (95%CI: 44.3-46.3); females: 61.9% (95%CI: 61.0-62.7)). Work-related activity was the domain with the greatest percentage of total PA, whereas, both genders lacked recreational activities. In our findings, being female, a housekeeper, younger and living in urban areas were significantly associated with higher levels of IPA. Moreover, insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption, lack of alcohol consumption, having a personal vehicle, and finally, having a medical history of diabetes were significantly associated with the presence of IPA in our population. Among the study population, 33.6% (95%CI: 33.0-34.2) had at least 4 h of sedentary behavior in a typical day. CONCLUSIONS: Widespread IPA among the Iranian adult population is of major concern. In our findings, we observed a considerable gap in the prevalence and pattern of IPA between the two genders. Additionally, IPA was associated with living in urban areas, unhealthy lifestyle habits and a history of other metabolic risk factors. Thus, a prompt initiative for population-specific actions should be taken.

Lifestyle modification strategies for controlling hypertension: How are these strategies recommended by physicians in Iran?

Background: This study aimed to evaluate lifestyle changes and their impact on hypertension control and why and how lifestyle modifications are recommended for patients with hypertension. Four non pharmacological strategies have been recommended by physicians for hypertension control for hypertensive patients in Iran: healthier diet, smoking cessation, physical activity, and weight loss. Methods: Among participants of Iran STEPS Non-communicable Disease Risk Factors Survey (STEPs), 7879 hypertensive patients aged ≥25 years were selected. All statistical analyses were calculated using STATA software version 14. Means, proportions, and multiple binary logistic regression models were used. Two-tailed p values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The results of this study showed that about three quarters of people with high blood pressure had been recommended lifestyle strategies by their physician for blood pressure control. Of the participants, 41% reported that they had been recommended only lifestyle modification for their blood pressure (BP), while 35% reported that they were recommended both lifestyle changes and medications as part of their treatment. Healthier diet, 71.9% (70.8-72.9), and smoking cessation, 23.8% (21.4-25.6), were the most and least frequently recommended strategies, respectively. Also, the rates of recommendations on smoking cessation, weight loss, increased physical activity, and healthier diet were more among women, married, and illiterate individuals, respectively. Conclusion: Because of the changes and transitions in the lifestyle and dietary habits in the modern world, policies and training programs should be developed to improve the recommendations on lifestyle modification. Also, educational programs should be developed to increase patient's acceptance of lifestyle modifications and physical activity.

Alcohol consumption among Iranian population based on the findings of STEPS survey 2021.

Alcohol production and consumption have been prohibited in Iran for over four decades, leading to a typical underestimation of its consumption. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol consumption, its associated factors, and estimate per capita alcohol consumption among Iran's adult population. In this population-based survey, 27,874 adults from across Iran were selected using systematic proportional-to-size cluster sampling. Alcohol consumption was evaluated through a modified Persian version of the STEPS questionnaires from previous studies, applied over different timespans. Per capita consumption was calculated using the quantity-frequency method, expressed in liters of pure alcohol. Adjusted odds ratios were reported for associates of alcohol consumption concerning metabolic risk factors, sociodemographic elements, and lifestyle variables. The prevalence of lifetime alcohol consumption was 6.9% (95% CI 6.5-7.2) in the adult population, with a notable sex difference (males: 13.7% [95% CI 13-14.4]; females: 1.4% [95% CI 1.1-1.6]). The 12 month prevalence was 3.8% (95% CI 3.6-4.1). For individuals aged 18 and older, the per capita alcohol consumption in Iran was 0.12 L. Factors such as being a lifetime smoker, younger, wealthier, and having 7-12 years of education were significantly linked to higher alcohol consumption. Significant associations were also observed between alcohol consumption and having a history of heart attacks (OR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.44-2.89), and physical injuries (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.34-2.64). The estimated lifetime and 12-month prevalence of alcohol use in our study were higher among some of the subpopulations. The findings also revealed a complex relationship between alcohol consumption, behavioral risk factors, and metabolic profiles. Consequently, immediate preventive measures tailored to each factor's association with alcohol use are recommended.

Exploring metabolically healthy obesity: prevalence, characteristics, and cardiovascular risk in the Iranian population based on the STEPS 2021.

Background: Regarding the rapidly increasing prevalence of obesity throughout the globe, it remains a serious public health concern. A subgroup of obesity that does not meet metabolic syndrome criteria is called metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). However, whether the MHO phenotype increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MHO and its 10-year CVD risk in Iranian populations. Methods: Based on the STEPS 2021 project in Iran, we collected data on 18119 Iranians 25 years and older from all 31 provinces after applying many statistical factors. Using the Framingham score, we evaluated the 10-year cardiovascular risk associated with the various MHO definition criteria for Iranian populations. Results: The prevalence of MHO was 6.42% (5.93-6.91) at the national level according to the AHA-NHLBI definition, and 23.29% of obese women and 24.55% of obese men were classified as MHOs. Moreover, the MHO group was younger than the metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) group based on all definitions (p < 0.001). The odds ratio of MUO individuals being classified as high-risk individuals by the Framingham criteria for CVD was significantly higher than that of MHO individuals by all definitions, with a crude odds ratio of 3.55:1 based on AHA-NHLBI definition. Conclusion: This study reveals a significant prevalence of MHO in the Iranian population, with approximately 25% of obese individuals classified as MHO. While MHO is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to MUO, MHO carries the potential for transitioning to an unhealthy state. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01364-5.

The incremental cost of implementing the world health organization Package of essential non-communicable (PEN) diseases interventions in Iran.

World-Health-Organization's PEN package proposes a minimum set of cost-effective interventions for early diagnosis and management of Non-Communicable-Disease (NCD). IraPEN (the PEN package implemented in Iran), adopted from PEN and Iran National Action Plans for NCDs, addresses challenges regarding NCD prevention and control. IraPEN was piloted in four districts of Iran. In this research, we estimate incremental per-capita cost of IraPEN program implementation in two of the pilot districts. We utilized a bottom-up, ingredient-based costing approach. Institutional expenditure data was collected via information forms. Information pertaining to personnel costs was gathered by performing task time measurements using Direct Observation Method. An individual-level survey was conducted in under-study districts to determine program coverage and its users' demographic information via systematic random cluster sampling. Sampling of districts was based on systematic random cluster sampling. In each district, 250 families in 25 clusters proportional to urban or rural populations were randomly selected by postal codes. All family members eligible for the program were interviewed. Interviews were organized and conducted in each district by NCD experts in provincial Universities of Medical Sciences. Costs were re-categorized into fixed and variable costs based on their dependency on the program's coverage. Fixed and variable costs were, respectively, divided by total eligible populations and covered populations in each district to calculate cost per-capita for each protocol. Total per-capita cost per-service was then calculated for each protocol and whole program by adding these figures. All costs are reported in US$ 2015-2016. The incremental costs of IraPEN implementation per user, with and without introduction cost, were US$24.90 and US$25.32, respectively. Total incremental cost per-capita for each protocol ranged between US$1.05 to US$7.45. The human resources and supplies had the highest contribution in total program cost (74.97% and 15.76%, respectively). The present study shows that IraPEN program implementation to be a high-cost package within Iranian context, that necessitates cautions in other similar contexts for implementation. It is, however, difficult to make decisions on implementation of NCD prevention and control programs purely based on their cost. Informed decision making requires assessment of a programs' effectiveness and justifications and alterations to the current package could reduce the costs, leading to increased efficiency of the program.

The first nationally and sub-nationally representative non-communicable diseases cohort study in Iran: Iran Cohort Study (ICS) protocol.

Purpose: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become a global health priority with a great need for prompt evidence-based preventing and managing interventions. Here, we describe the development of a comprehensive cohort study that provides the most accurate results for NCDs' risk factors, named the Iran Cohort Study (ICS) to estimate the effect size of the risk factors associated with major NCDs. Methods: This cohort is an observational prospective study, which its baseline data was gathered through the Iran STEPwise Approach to NCD Risk Factor Surveillance (STEPs) survey in 2016. Following the STROBE criteria, the protocols for investigation of several areas were developed. The follow-up phase began through telephone calls to estimate the effect size of socio-demographic, behavioral, and metabolic risk factors on the incidence of or death due to major NCDs during the three years of study period. Delinerables: The main deliverables of ICS are planned to be as following; a comprehensive bank of primary data and follow-up data, national and subnational reports on estimation of the effect size of various risk factors, and a policy brief on the policy options and recommendations for promotion of ongoing programs and designing new interventions. Also, the collected data on the individuals' health status will be sent to the participants as an electronic health record. Conclusion: The present study is the first comprehensive national and sub-national representative cohort study on NCDs' risk factors in Iranian adults. The results could be used for promotion of health planning and also future complementary studies and programs.

Physical Inactivity, Inequalities, and Disparities Across Districts of Iran: A STEPs Survey-Based Analysis.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of physical inactivity in all districts of Iran and the disparities between subgroups defined by various measures. METHODS: Small area estimation method was employed to estimate the prevalence of physical inactivity in districts based on the remaining districts in which data on the level of physical inactivity were available. Various comparisons on the estimations were done based on socioeconomic, sex, and geographical stratifications to determine the disparities of physical inactivity among districts of Iran. RESULTS: All districts of Iran had a higher prevalence of physical inactivity compared with the world average. The estimated prevalence of physical inactivity among all men in all districts was 46.8% (95% uncertainty interval, 45.9%-47.7%). The highest and lowest estimated disparity ratio of physical inactivity were 1.95 and 1.14 in males, and 2.25 and 1.09 in females, respectively. Females significantly had a higher prevalence of 63.5% (62.7%-64.3%). Among both sexes, the poor population and urban residents significantly had higher prevalence of physical inactivity than rich population and rural residents, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of physical inactivity among Iranian adult population suggests the urgent need to adopt population-wide action plans and policies to handle this major public health problem and avert the probable burden.

Association of plasma acylcarnitines and amino acids with hypertension: A nationwide metabolomics study.

BACKGROUND: Identification of metabolomics profile in subjects with different blood pressure, including normal blood pressure, elevated blood pressure, stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension, would be a promising strategy to understand the pathogenesis of hypertension. Thus, we conducted this study to investigate the association of plasma acylcarnitines and amino acids with hypertension in a large Iranian population. METHODS: 1200 randomly selected subjects from the national survey on the Surveillance of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases in Iran (STEPs 2016) were divided into four groups based on the ACC/AHA hypertension criteria: normal blood pressure (n = 293), elevated blood pressure (n = 135), stage 1 hypertension (n = 325), and stage 2 hypertension (n = 447). Plasma concentrations of 30 acylcarnitines and 20 amino acids were measured using a targeted approach with flow-injection tandem mass spectrometry. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the association between metabolites level and the risk of hypertension. Age, sex, BMI, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, use of oral glucose-lowering drugs, statins, and antihypertensive drugs were adjusted in regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 50 metabolites, 34 were associated with an increased likelihood of stage 2 hypertension and 5 with a decreased likelihood of stage 2 hypertension. After full adjustment for potential confounders, 5 metabolites were still significant risk markers for stage 2 hypertension including C0 (OR = 0.75; 95%CI: 0.63, 0.90), C12 (OR = 1.18; 95%CI: 1.00, 1.40), C14:1 (OR = 1.20; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.42), C14:2 (OR = 1.19; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.41), and glycine (OR = 0.81; 95%CI: 0.68, 0.96). An index that included glycine and serine also showed significant predictive value for stage 2 hypertension after full adjustment (OR = 0.86; 95%CI: 0.75, 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Five metabolites were identified as potentially valuable predictors of stage 2 hypertension.

Global and regional quality of care index for prostate cancer: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease study 1990-2019.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with a significant burden on societies and healthcare providers. We aimed to develop a metric for PCa quality of care that could demonstrate the disease's status in different countries and regions (e.g., socio-demographic index (SDI) quintiles) and assist in improving healthcare policies. METHODS: Basic burden of disease indicators for various regions and age-groups were retrieved from Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2019, which then were used to calculate four secondary indices: mortality to incidence ratio, DALYs to prevalence ratio, prevalence to incidence ratio, and YLLs to YLDs ratio. These four indices were combined through a principal component analysis (PCA), producing the quality of care index (QCI). RESULTS: PCa's age-standardized incidence rate increased from 34.1 in 1990 to 38.6 in 2019, while the age-standardized death rate decreased in the same period (18.1 to 15.3). From 1990 to 2019, global QCI increased from 74 to 84. Developed regions (high SDI) had the highest PCa QCIs in 2019 (95.99), while the lowest QCIs belonged to low SDI countries (28.67), mainly from Africa. QCI peaked in age groups 50 to 54, 55 to 59, or 65 to 69, depending on the socio-demographic index. CONCLUSIONS: Global PCa QCI stands at a relatively high value (84 in 2019). Low SDI countries are affected the most by PCa, mainly due to the lack of effective preventive and treatment methods in those regions. In many developed countries, QCI decreased or stopped rising after recommendations against routine PCa screening in the 2010-2012 period, highlighting the role of screening in reducing PCa burden.

Metabolomics profile and 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score.

Background: The intermediate metabolites associated with the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remain largely unknown. Thus, we conducted a large panel of metabolomics profiling to identify the new candidate metabolites that were associated with 10-year ASCVD risk. Methods: Thirty acylcarnitines and twenty amino acids were measured in the fasting plasma of 1,102 randomly selected individuals using a targeted FIA-MS/MS approach. The 10-year ASCVD risk score was calculated based on 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines. Accordingly, the subjects were stratified into four groups: low-risk (n = 620), borderline-risk (n = 110), intermediate-risk (n = 225), and high-risk (n = 147). 10 factors comprising collinear metabolites were extracted from principal component analysis. Results: C4DC, C8:1, C16OH, citrulline, histidine, alanine, threonine, glycine, glutamine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid were significantly associated with the 10-year ASCVD risk score (p-values ≤ 0.044). The high-risk group had higher odds of factor 1 (12 long-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.103), factor 2 (5 medium-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.063), factor 3 (methionine, leucine, valine, tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, OR = 1.074), factor 5 (6 short-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.205), factor 6 (5 short-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.229), factor 7 (alanine, proline, OR = 1.343), factor 8 (C18:2OH, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, OR = 1.188), and factor 10 (ornithine, citrulline, OR = 1.570) compared to the low-risk ones; the odds of factor 9 (glycine, serine, threonine, OR = 0.741), however, were lower in the high-risk group. "D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism", "phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis", and "valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis" were metabolic pathways having the highest association with borderline/intermediate/high ASCVD events, respectively. Conclusions: Abundant metabolites were found to be associated with ASCVD events in this study. Utilization of this metabolic panel could be a promising strategy for early detection and prevention of ASCVD events.

'Inequalities in prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension, anti-hypertensive coverage, awareness, and effective treatment in 429 districts of Iran; a population-based STEPS 2016 small area spatial estimation model'.

Purpose: While many studies have reported hypertension (HTN) and pre-hypertension (PHTN) in large geographic locations of Iran, information regarding district levels is missing. We aimed to examine inequalities in the prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension, anti-hypertensive coverage, awareness, and effective treatment of adults in districts of Iran. Methods: We used 27,165 participants' data from the STEPS 2016 study in Iran. A small area estimation model was carried out to predict HTN in the 429 districts of Iran. HTN and PHTN were defined based on the American Heart Association Guideline. Awareness of being hypertensive, treatment coverage, and effective treatment were also estimated. Results: HTN's crude prevalence was estimated to be in the range of 11.5-42.2% in districts. About PHTN, it was estimated to be 19.9-56.1%. Moreover, for awareness, treatment coverage, and effective treatment crude estimates ranged from 24.3 to 79.9%, 9.1 - 64.6%, and 19.5 - 68.3%, respectively, indicating inequalities in the distribution of aforementioned variables in 429 districts of Iran. Overall, better conditions were detected in central geographical locations and in females. Conclusion: The inequality of increased blood pressure disorder and related measures are high in districts of Iran and pave the way for policymakers and local health organizers to use the findings of this study to address the inequity of existing resources and improve HTN control. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01186-5.

The diabetes cascade of care through the 14 years in Iran: findings of nationwide STEPS surveys 2007-2021.

Background: Diabetes as the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, have been increased by about 35% from 2011 to 2015 worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess the trend and pattern of diabetes and prediabetes prevalence in Iran and also evaluate the diagnosis and status of diabetes management. Methods: The results of this study are extracted from the National Stepwise approach to non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS), conducted in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2021 in Iran. We evaluated all obtained data by questionnaires (demographic, epidemiologic, risk-related behavioral data), physical measurements, and laboratory measures. Results: The prevalence of diabetes almost doubled from 2007 to 2021 among adults 25 years old and above. Diabetes prevalence increased from 10.85% (95% CI:10.30-11.40) in 2016 to 14.15% (13.42-14.87) in 2021. Prediabetes prevalence increased from 18.11% (17.46- 18,76) in 2016 to 24.81% (23.88-25.74) in 2021. Diabetes diagnosis stayed constant hence; diabetes coverage improved from 56.87% (54.21-59.52) to 65.04% (62.40- 67.69). Despite an enhancement in diabetes diagnosis and coverage, diabetes effective care did not improve significantly during 2016 and 2021, with a number of 35.98% (32.60- 39.36) in 2016 and 31.35% (28.20- 34.51) in 2021. Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in Iran is almost doubled during the past 14 years. Although, several health policies had been developed to improve the screening and quality of diabetes care; there are still significant gaps in the effective control of diabetes. Accordingly, the current care plan should be reviewed. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01308-z.