Prevalence of Ever Self-Reported Asthma and Associated Factors among University Students in Iran: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease with regressive episodic symptoms. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of asthma ever (lifetime prevalence of asthma) and the associated factors among newly entered students in public universities in Iran. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional study was part of the "Mental and Physical Health Assessment of University Students in Iran." The target population included all newly admitted students (N = 151,671) in 74 public universities in 28 provinces (out of the 31 provinces) in Iran. STATA version 12 was used for calculating the descriptive statistics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to identify relationships between asthma and socioeconomic variables. The level of significance was set at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Of a total of 79,277 participants, 55.23% (n = 43,785) and 44.77% (n = 35,492) were female and male, respectively. The prevalence of ever asthma among studied student was 1.89%. Of all the participants with asthma, 88.43% (85.49%-90.84%) were nonsmokers. More than 20% of the subjects were physically inactive. The respondents who revealed smoking >10 cigarettes/week were about 1.22 (1.036-1.437) times more likely to suffer from asthma disease (0.017), as compared with those who were not smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides valuable information about the prevalence of asthma ever symptoms among university students in Iran. In fact, the results of this study can fill information gaps concerning the affected groups in Iran, and even worldwide.

Dairy Consumption in Relation to Hypertension Among a Large Population of University Students: The MEPHASOUS Study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a chronic condition that its prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate. Findings on the association between dairy consumption and hypertension are conflicting and few data are available in the Middle East. AIM: To assess the association between dairy consumption and hypertension among a large population of university students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study was performed in the framework of the Mental and Physical Health Assessment of University Student (MEPHASOUS) project. Overall, 67,011 university students with complete information were included in the statistical analysis. To assess dairy consumption, a self-administered dietary habits questionnaire was employed. Blood pressure was measured using a standard protocol. The systolic/diastolic blood pressure of ≥140/90 mmHg was considered hypertension. RESULTS: Hypertension was prevalent among 6.9% of students. A significant inverse association was found between dairy consumption and the odds of hypertension; such that after taking potential confounders into account, individuals in the highest levels of dairy consumption had 85% lower odds for having hypertension compared with those in the lowest levels (odds ratio (OR): 0.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13-0.18). Such an inverse association was also seen among males (OR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.11-0.18) and females (OR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.12-0.21), normal-weight students (OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.12-0.18) and those with overweight or obesity (OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.11-0.21), and individuals with (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.11-0.16) and without (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.17-0.35) family history of hypertension. CONCLUSION: Our results support the previous findings on the inverse association between dairy consumption and hypertension among university students.

The relationship between lifestyle and anthropometric factors with the sleep characteristics among university students in Iran: the MEPHASOUS study.

BACKGROUND: Healthy sleep habits have an important role in normal cognitive function, emotional performance, and well-being. The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics of sleep among university students in Iran. In addition, we assessed the relationship between lifestyle and anthropometric factors with the sleep characteristics. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted using the data of "Mental and Physical Health Assessment of University Students in Iran" survey 2012-2013. This survey was conducted on newly admitted students in 74 public universities in 28 provinces. The participants were younger adults. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to recognize associated factors with sleep pattern and range. RESULT: Of total 78,848 students who completed the survey, 54.64% (n = 43,079) were females. The average age of the students was 21.53 ± 4.08 and 21.54 ± 3.99 among males and females, respectively. More than 90% (n = 70,923), were non-smokers. Out of the total respondents, 40.56% (n = 31,756) had irregular sleep pattern. Male students were less likely to have irregular sleep pattern than female students. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that irregular sleep pattern is associated with overweight and obesity. So, these results underscore the need to educate students on importance of healthy sleep pattern and duration on health conditions.

Breakfast consumption pattern and its association with overweight and obesity among university students: a population-based study.

PURPOSE: To determine the association between breakfast consumption habit and overweight and obesity in a sample of Iranian university students. METHODS: A sample of 78,905 university students, aged 18 years or older, was recruited from 28 provinces in Iran to assess breakfast consumption pattern. Breakfast consumption habit was evaluated using a pre-tested questionnaire. Weight and height were measured using standard protocol and then body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Overweight (obesity included) and obesity were defined as BMI ≥ 25 and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, respectively. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 21.50 ± 4.01. After controlling for potential confounders, participants who ate breakfast > 4 days/week had 15% lower risk of overweight compared with those who ate < 1 day/week (OR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.92). Such significant association was also seen in female students (OR: 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.93); however, it was marginally significant in male ones (OR: 0.89, 95% CI 0.79-1.00). In addition, a significant inverse association was found between breakfast consumption and obesity (OR: 0.74, 95% CI 0.64-0.85) such that after adjusting for potential confounders, students who consumed breakfast > 4 days/week were 33% less likely to be obese compared with those who consumed it < 1 day/week (OR: 0.67, 95% CI 0.57-0.78). Such significant inverse association was also seen in either gender. CONCLUSIONS: Breakfast consumption was inversely associated with odds of overweight and obesity in university students. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive studies.

Sugar-sweetened beverages consumption in relation to hypertension among Iranian university students: the MEPHASOUS study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the link between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption and hypertension among a large population in the Middle East. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study (a part of Mental and Physical Health Assessment of University Student: MEPHASOUS study), 66,634 university students from all provinces of Iran, aged ≥ 18 years, were included. A self-administered dietary habits questionnaire was used to assess SSBs consumption as well as other dietary intakes. Participants were categorized based on three levels of SSB consumption: < 1 time/wk, 1-3 times/wk, and ≤ 3 times/wk. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) of ≥ 140 and diastolic blood pressure of ≥ 90. RESULTS: Compared with those in the bottom category, students in the top category of SSBs consumption were more likely to have hypertension (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.54-1.90). This association remained significant even after adjusting for confounding variables; such that participants in the highest category of SSBs consumption had 2.17 times greater odds of hypertension compared with those in the lowest category (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.91-2.47). Stratified analysis based on gender and BMI status revealed such significant association in men (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.79-2.50) and women (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.67-2.48), and in all categories of BMI including students with underweight (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.81-3.52), normal-weight (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.81-2.51), overweight (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.58-2.89) and obesity (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.00-2.53). CONCLUSION: Our results support previous findings indicating a significant positive association between SSBs consumption and hypertension. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, cross-sectional analytic studies.

Iranian university students lifestyle and health status survey: study profile.

BACKGROUND: The physical health assessment of university students in Iran is a national large scale assessment examining health behaviors among tertiary education students. Understanding risky health behaviors which are the major sources of global mortality and morbidity in adulthood is the key objective of this assessment. METHODS: In academic year of 2012-2013, newly admitted students (N = 151,671) at 74 governmental eligible universities that had health center from 28 provinces were invited to participate in the health assessment program. The physical health behaviors of the students were evaluated by using questionnaire. The test-retest reliability method was applied to estimate the reliability of physical health questionnaire. After filling out the questionnaires, students were led to the examination room for the measurement of height, weight and blood pressure. RESULTS: From the total study population, 84,298 student's ages between 18 and 29 years old, were participated in the health assessment. The mean response proportion was 63%. The mean age of students was 21.5 ± 4.01, with 49.20% percent being <20 years old. 32.31% were between 20 and 24 years, 13.44% between 25 and 29 years, 69% of the participants were undergraduate 34.9% were master's students, and 2.9% were Ph.D. students. The mean BMI for total students was 22.5 ± 4.0 and regarding to gender, the mean BMI for male and female were 23.0 ± 4.1 and 22.2 ± 3.8 respectively. CONCLUSION: Analysis of student's findings will generate multiple studies which report different aspects of physical health of Iranian university students who constitute a large proportion of young adult aged 18-29 years in the country. This assessment also provides opportunity to compare Iranian student's behavioral patterns with the behavioral pattern of students worldwide.

Numerical distance effect in patients with schizophrenia.

There is growing evidence showing that mental representation of numbers is impaired in patients with schizophrenia. Yet, no study has examined the distance effect in the patients. We assessed the distance effect using two number size comparison tasks, with different number references (5 and 7) in 23 patients and 28 healthy individuals. Response times and error rates significantly increased when the distances between the centered references and the targets decreased in both groups. However, patients responded significantly slower and had more error rates compared to controls. Our finding indicates distance effect in patients is similar to the controls, indicating an automatic numerical processing is preserved in patients with schizophrenia.

Neural evidence for compromised mental imagery in individuals with chronic schizophrenia.

Mental imagery impairment has been reported in schizophrenia. The present study aimed to investigate the neural evidence for mental imagery impairment in patients with schizophrenia. The study participants included 20 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 18 healthy control subjects. Event-related potentials were recorded during a mental hand rotation task, in which participants were instructed to judge the laterality of hands displayed in different orientations. The performances of patients were significantly less accurate and slower than control subjects on hand rotation task. Moreover, the patients showed significantly reduced rotation-related negativity amplitude for mental rotation effect. The results demonstrate mental imagery impairment in patients with schizophrenia at both the behavioral and neural levels.

Abnormalities of motor imagery and relationship with depressive symptoms in mildly disabling relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The effectiveness of motor imagery (MI) as an adjunct to physical rehabilitation has previously been shown. Motor imagery ability can be affected by neurologic disorders that affect motor and cognitive function. This study was designed to assess MI ability in persons with mildly disabling relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) based on the functional and cognitive dysfunctions. METHODS: Twenty-two participants with RRMS and 23 age-, gender-, and education-matched comparison subjects were evaluated by a battery of MI tasks, including a kinesthetic and visual imagery questionnaire, a mental hand rotation task, and a visual guided pointing task. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in MI vividness between the participants with MS and the comparison group, but the accuracy and temporal correspondence of MI in the participants with MS differed significantly from those in the comparison group. Depression scores were significantly higher in participants with MS (P < 0.001), and depression was significantly correlated with disability (r = 0.4; P < 0.05). The correlation between accuracy of MI in the participants with MS and their cognitive ability was significant (r = 0.57; P < 0.05). The MI duration of participants with MS was significantly correlated with their disability (r = 0.59; P < 0.05) and their cognitive ability (r = -0.38; P = 0.009). DISCUSSION: The preservation of MI ability was observed in participants with RRMS; however, abnormalities in accuracy and temporal aspects of MI were observed even in the participants with mild disease. Abnormalities in temporal aspects and accuracy of MI were related to disability and cognitive ability, respectively. In participants with MS, depression should be considered as a confounding factor for the MI task results. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding could be considered in the application of MI during the rehabilitation of persons with MS.

The reliability and validity study of the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: Motor imagery (MI) has been recently considered as an adjunct to physical rehabilitation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). It is necessary to assess MI abilities and benefits in patients with MS by using a reliable tool. The Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ) was recently developed to assess MI ability in patients with stroke and other disabilities. Considering the different underlying pathologies, the present study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the KVIQ in MS patients. METHOD: Fifteen MS patients were assessed using the KVIQ in 2 sessions (5-14days apart) by the same examiner. In the second session, the participants also completed a revised MI questionnaire (MIQ-R) as the gold standard. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were measured to determine test-retest reliability. Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to assess concurrent validity with the MIQ-R. Furthermore, the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and factorial structure of the KVIQ were studied. RESULTS: The test-retest reliability for the KVIQ was good (ICCs: total KVIQ=0.89, visual KVIQ=0.85, and kinesthetic KVIQ=0.93), and the concurrent validity between the KVIQ and MIQ-R was good (r=0.79). The KVIQ had good internal consistency, with high Cronbach's alpha (alpha=0.84). Factorial analysis showed the bi-factorial structure of the KVIQ, which was explained by visual=57.6% and kinesthetic=32.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study revealed that the KVIQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing MI in MS patients. .

The reliability and validity study of the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Motor imagery (MI) has been recently considered as an adjunct to physical rehabilitation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). It is necessary to assess MI abilities and benefits in patients with MS by using a reliable tool. The Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ) was recently developed to assess MI ability in patients with stroke and other disabilities. Considering the different underlying pathologies, the present study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the KVIQ in MS patients. METHOD: Fifteen MS patients were assessed using the KVIQ in 2 sessions (5-14 days apart) by the same examiner. In the second session, the participants also completed a revised MI questionnaire (MIQ-R) as the gold standard. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were measured to determine test-retest reliability. Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to assess concurrent validity with the MIQ-R. Furthermore, the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and factorial structure of the KVIQ were studied. RESULTS: The test-retest reliability for the KVIQ was good (ICCs: total KVIQ=0.89, visual KVIQ=0.85, and kinesthetic KVIQ=0.93), and the concurrent validity between the KVIQ and MIQ-R was good (r=0.79). The KVIQ had good internal consistency, with high Cronbach's alpha (alpha=0.84). Factorial analysis showed the bi-factorial structure of the KVIQ, which was explained by visual=57.6% and kinesthetic=32.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study revealed that the KVIQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing MI in MS patients.

Compromised motor imagery ability in individuals with multiple sclerosis and mild physical disability: an ERP study.

BACKGROUND: Motor imagery (MI) impairment has been reported in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The present study was designed to investigate neural evidence for MI impairment and its relationship to working memory in MS patients. METHODS: The study participants included 24 early stage MS patients (age: 22-40/mean=32.7 years; M/F=4/20; years since duration: 1-10/mean=5.8) and 24 age-, gender-, and education-matched controls (age: 21-40/mean=31.8 years; M/F=5/19). Event-related potentials were recorded during a mental hand rotation task, in which participants were instructed to judge the laterality of hands displayed in different orientations. Furthermore, the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) was used for assessment of working memory. RESULTS: At the behavioral level, MS patients were significantly less accurate and much slower (accuracy: 83.80 ± 7.72%; reaction time: 1665.95 ± 269.82 ms) than controls (accuracy: 88.35 ± 7.68%; reaction time: 1505.16 ± 225.11 ms). At the neural level, MS patients showed a significantly reduced amplitude (MS: 0.99 ± 0.89 µv, controls: 1.46 ± 1.00 µv) and delayed peak latency (MS: 458.45 ± 67.60 ms, controls: 417.91 ± 62.47 ms) at P3 for mental rotation effect. Moreover, there were significant correlations between individuals' PASAT scores and performance of the hand rotation task. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study demonstrate MI impairment in patients with MS at both the behavioral and neural level. Neuronal activity dysfunction (decreased and delayed activity) in patients with MS provides new insights into MI impairment. Furthermore, our findings suggest the contribution of working memory dysfunction to compromised MI ability in patients with MS.