Meteorological factors and climate change impact on asthma: a systematic review of epidemiological evidence.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to investigate the epidemiological data about meteorological factors and climate change (CC) impact on asthma. DATA SOURCES: A search was performed using three databases (Web of Science, Science Direct, and MEDLINE) for all relevant studies published from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022. STUDY SELECTIONS: This systematic review complied with the PRISMA document's requirements, including studies related to meteorological factors and CC impact on asthma. The search included studies published in English or French language, and was based on title, abstract, and complete text. Documents not meeting inclusion requirements were excluded. RESULTS: We identified 18 studies published in the last five years that were eligible for inclusion in this review. We found that these studies concerned European, Asian, American, and Oceanic cities. Extreme variations in temperature, humidity, wind speed, exceptional incidents like hurricanes, cold and heat waves, and seasonal shifts were strongly correlated with the worsening of asthmatic symptoms, particularly in childhood. In addition, excessive concentrations of air pollutants and aeroallergens were linked to pediatric asthma emergency hospital admissions. CONCLUSIONS: A significant association between the consequences of CC and asthma in adults particularly in children has been demonstrated. Future research should quantify the impact of global change in climate regarding the aeroallergens' distribution in terms of geography and time. It is also necessary to research the impact of air pollution on asthmatic health, like sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and particles having an aerodynamic diameter lower than 2.5 µm (PM2.5).

Mortality and morbidity assessment attributed to short- and long-term exposure to fine particles in ambient air of Agadir city, Morocco: The AirQ model approach.

It is well established that respiratory mortality and morbidity are associated with high concentrations of fine particles such as PM2.5. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long- and short-term impacts of PM2.5 on the population of Agadir, Morocco, using AirQ 2.1.1 software. The mean PM2.5 values were obtained from data collected at three sites. Baseline incidence data were obtained from the literature, and relative risk (RR) values were referenced from the World Health Organization. This study quantified long-term total mortality (LT-TM), lung cancer mortality (LT-LC), morbidity from acute lower respiratory tract infections (LT-ALRI), and morbidity from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (LT-COPD), as well as short-term total mortality (ST-TM). The attributable proportions (AP) of LT-TM and LT-LC were estimated to 14.19% and 18.42%, respectively. Their excess deaths were estimated to 279 and 11 persons, respectively, and their RRs to 1.16 (95% CI: 1.10-1.22) and 1.23 (95% CI: 1.12-1.37), respectively. Furthermore, the AP of LT-ALRI and LT-COPD were estimated to 14.36% and 15.68%, respectively, their excess deaths to 33 and 4, and their RRs to 1.17 (95% CI: 1.11-1.31) and 1.19 (95% CI: 1.00-1.02), respectively. In comparison, the AP of ST-TM was estimated to 1.27%, with a 25-person excess death rate. This study was conducted to inform decision-making and to promote local policies on ambient air quality.

Comparison of Biochemical, Haematological and Plasmatic Butyrylcholinesterase Parameters in Farmers and Non-Farmers, Morocco.

Background: The long-term use of pesticides can cause harmful consequences to both human health and the environment. In the present research, we aimed to compare biochemical, hematological, and plasmatic measurements of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) between farmers and non-farmers. Materials and Methods: The study is cross-sectional and included 270 participants, with 135 farmers using pesticides and a control population of 135 non-farmers. The recruitment of the participants was conducted from August 2017 to the end of December 2019. Blood samples from participants were collected for the evaluation of biochemical markers of the function of the liver and determination of BChE activity. A whole blood sample with ethylenediamine tetraacetic anticoagulant (EDTA) was also taken for a complete blood count. Results: The results showed a statistically significant (P = 0.03) decrease in mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) in the cases (28.45 ± 2.94 pg) as compared with controls (29.17 ± 2.54 pg). The statistical analysis of the renal parameters between the two groups determined that the uremia value was significantly higher in cases (34 ± 12 mg/dL) when compared to the control group (29 ± 8 mg/dL) P < 0.001. The cases recorded a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (26.22 ± 11.59 U/L) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (25.63 ± 13.47 U/L) enzyme activities among cases versus controls. The results obtained showed a significantly decreased BChE activity in the group of cases exposed to pesticides (7554.52 ± 2107 U/l) compared to the unexposed control group (10135.58 ± 1909 U/l) (t-test, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The education of the farmers on correct practices concerning phytosanitary use has the potential of reducing their exposure to these products.

Suicide attempts in Morocco: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a widespread phenomenon that affects persons of all ages, and it has become a major public health problem in Morocco. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe the epidemiological profile of suicide attempters in Morocco, as well as the identification of associated factors. METHODS: The present work is a systematic review that was conducted according to the recommendations of the "Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (2009)", including articles dealing with suicide attempts in Morocco that meet the usual inclusion criteria. The PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus databases were searched; articles had to be written in English or French. Additional studies were manually identified through via Google Scholar. Quality assessment of the included studies was carried out according to the NIH Assessment Tool. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020165493). RESULTS: Twenty studies were selected. Adults and adolescents are the age groups most affected by suicide. That said, the phenomenon mainly concerns children over 10 years of age. In some studies, more than 90% of the cases involve females, and they are more numerous in urban than in rural settings, and single individuals are more affected than married people. As for children and adolescents, most of them had divorced parents, and more than 50% of suicidal persons of all ages had a low socio-economic level. Although females are more likely than males to commit suicide, males are more exposed to death due to the violent means used. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the alarming rate of suicide in our country, nationwide prevention strategies are called for.

COVID-19 prevention and control interventions: What can we learn from the pandemic management experience in Morocco?

COVID-19 is one of the worst outbreaks in infectious disease history. Through a succession of significant preventative and control interventions, Morocco has accumulated pandemic control experience. This study examines the available evidence on lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic management experience in Morocco. Social lockdown measures have helped restrain the exponential spread of new cases. These interventions appear to be reasonably successful. Their effectiveness must be confirmed by an assessment of other factors. This experience can help all countries develop effective pandemic prevention and control measures.

Level of Knowledge on Stroke and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study at Primary Health Care Centers in Morocco.

Background: Stroke is increasingly becoming a major cause of disability and mortality. However, it can be prevented by raising awareness about risk factors and early health care management of patients. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the level of knowledge on stroke, its risk factors, and warning signs in the population attending urban primary health care centers in the city of Agadir, Morocco. Methods: This is a multicentric cross-sectional study with a descriptive and analytical purpose. The study was conducted at five urban primary health care centers in Agadir in centralwest Morocco. All persons over the age of 18 years who consulted the health centers and who agreed to fill in the questionnaire were recruited, except for the foreign population and health workers. An interview questionnaire was used to assess the level of knowledge on stroke. Findings: A total of 469 participants were involved in the study. The median knowledge score was 8 (Interquartile range 4-13). High blood pressure (55.7%), depression and stress (48.8%) were the most well-known risk factors. Sudden weakness of the face, arms or legs (37.3%) was the main warning sign cited by the participants. Multivariate analysis revealed that illiteracy (OR 1.92; CI95%: 1.08-3.44) primary education (OR 3.43; CI95%: 1.63-7.21), rural residential (OR 1.67; CI95%: 1.07-2.59), no history of stroke among respondents (OR 16.41; CI95%: 4.37-61.59) and no history of stroke among relatives, acquaintances, or neighbors (OR 4.42; CI95%: 2.81-6.96), were independently associated with a lower level of knowledge of stroke (Table 4). Conclusions: The low level of knowledge on stroke among this Moroccan population indicates the importance of implementing stroke education initiatives in the community. More specifically, proximity education and awareness programs ought to be considered to anchor lifestyle preventive behaviors along with appropriate and urgent actions regarding the warning signs of stroke.