Burden and quality of care index of chronic kidney disease: Global Burden of Disease analysis for 1990-2019.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) imposes a heavy obscure burden on individuals and health systems. Besides its burden, the quality of care of CKD is less well investigated. In this study, we aimed to explore the global, regional and national trends of CKD burden and quality of care. METHODS: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 data were used. Trends of incidence, prevalence, deaths and disability-adjusted life years were studied for the 1990-2019 period in the global aspect. By generating four secondary indices to assess different aspects of quality of care the quality of care index (QCI) was developed to explore the care provided for CKD. Inequities and disparities between various geographic, socio-demographic and age stratifications, and sex were studied using the QCI values. RESULTS: In 2019, there were 18 986 903 (95% uncertainty interval 17 556 535 to 20 518 156) incident cases of CKD, globally. The overall global QCI score had increased slightly from 78.4 in 1990 to 81.6 in 2019, and it was marginally better in males (QCI score 83.5) than in females (80.3). The highest QCI score was observed in the European region with a score of 92.5, while the African region displayed the lowest QCI with 61.7. Among the age groups, the highest QCI was for children aged between 5 and 9 years old (92.0), and the lowest was in the age group of 20-24 year olds (65.5). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that significant disparities remain regarding the quality of care of CKD, and to reach better care for CKD, attention to and care of minorities should be reconsidered. The evidence presented in this study would benefit health policymakers toward better and more efficient control of CKD burden alongside improving the care of this condition.

Global, regional, and national quality of care index of cervical and ovarian cancer: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 1990-2019.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer is the most preventable and ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer. However, in the world, there are disparities in health care performances resulting in differences in the burden of these cancers. The objective of this study was to compare the health-system quality of care and inequities for these cancers using the Quality of Care Index (QCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 1990-2019 data of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) was analyzed to extract rates of incidence, prevalence, mortality, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), Years of Life Lost (YLL), and Years of healthy life lost due to disability (YLD) of cervical and ovarian cancer. Four indices were developed as a proxy for the quality of care using the above-mentioned rates. Thereafter, a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was applied to construct the Quality of Care Index (QCI) as a summary measure of the developed indices. RESULTS: The incidence of cervical cancer decreased from 1990 to 2019, whereas the incidence of ovarian cancer increased between these years. However, the mortality rate of both cancers decreased in this interval. The global age-standardized QCI for cervical cancer and ovarian cancer were 43.1 and 48.5 in 1990 and increased to 58.5 and 58.4 in 2019, respectively. QCI for cervical cancer and ovarian cancer generally decreased with aging, and different age groups had inequitable QCIs. Higher-income countries generally had higher QCIs for both cancers, but exceptions were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Uncovering disparities in cervical and ovarian cancer care across locations, Socio-Demographic Index levels, and age groups necessitate urgent improvements in healthcare systems for equitable care. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and prompt future research to explore root causes and effective strategies for narrowing these gaps.

Burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its risk factors in North Africa and the Middle East, 1990-2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in the North Africa and Middle East region is alarmingly high, prompting us to investigate the burden and factors contributing to it through the GBD study. Additionally, there is a lack of knowledge about the epidemiological status of T2DM in this region, so our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the burden of T2DM and its associated risk factors. METHODS: Using data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study, we calculated the attributable burden of T2DM for each of the 21 countries in the region for the years 1990 and 2019. This included prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and risk factors. RESULTS: Between 1990 and 2019, there was a significant increase in the age-standardized incidence (79.6%; 95% Uncertainty Interval: 75.0 to 84.5) and prevalence (85.5%; [80.8 to 90.3]) rates of T2DM per 100,000 populations. The age-standardized mortality rate (1.7%; [-10.4 to 14.9]), DALYs (31.2%; [18.3 to 42.2]), and years lived with disability (YLDs) (82.6%; [77.2 to 88.1]) also increased during this period. Modifiable risk factors, such as high body mass index (56.4%; [42.8 to 69.8]), low physical activity (15.5%; [9.0 to 22.8]), and ambient particulate matter pollution (20.9%; [15.2 to 26.2]), were the main contributors to the number of deaths. CONCLUSION: The burden of T2DM, in terms of mortality, DALYs, and YLDs, continues to rise in the region. The incidence rate of T2DM has increased in many areas. The burden of T2DM attributed to modifiable risk factors continues to grow in most countries. Targeting these modifiable risk factors could effectively reduce the growth and disease burden of T2DM in the region.

Low bone mineral density, a neglected condition in North Africa and Middle East: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990-2019.

Due to the high prevalence of low bone mineral density in North Africa and Middle East region, estimating its attributable burden would help to a better understanding of this neglected condition for policymakers and health researchers. This study presented the number of attributable deaths has doubled from 1990 to 2019. PURPOSE: This study provides the latest estimates of the burden of low bone mineral density (BMD) from 1990 to 2019 in North Africa and Middle East (NAME) region. METHODS: The data were extracted from the global burden of disease (GBD) 2019 study to estimate epidemiological indices such as deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and summary exposure value (SEV). SEV is a measure of the exposure of the population to a risk factor that considers the amount of exposure by the level of risk. RESULTS: Our findings showed that in 1990-2019, the number of deaths and DALYs attributable to low BMD had almost doubled in the region and caused 20,371 (95% uncertainty intervals: 14,848-24,374) deaths and 805,959 (630,238-959,581) DALYs in 2019. However, DALYs and death rates showed a decreasing trend after age standardization. Saudi Arabia had the highest, and Lebanon had the lowest age-standardized DALYs rates in 2019, with rates of 434.2 (329.6-534.3) and 90.3 (70.6-112.1) per 100,000, respectively. The highest burden attributable to low BMD was in the 90-94 and over 95 age groups. Also, there was a decreasing trend in age-standardized SEV to low BMD for both sexes. CONCLUSION: Despite the decreasing trend of age-standardized burden indices, considerable amounts of deaths and DALYs were attributable to low BMD, especially in the elderly population, in the region in 2019. As the positive effects of proper interventions will be detectable in the long term, robust strategies and comprehensive stable policies are the ultimate solutions to achieving desired goals.

A Global, Regional, and National Survey on Burden and Quality of Care Index of Multiple Sclerosis: Global Burden of Disease Systematic Analysis 1990-2019.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurologic autoimmune disorder. We have used a newly introduced measure, Quality of Care Index (QCI), which is associated with the efficacy of care given to patients suffering from MS. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to report and compare the quality of care given to MS patients in different regions and country. METHODS: Primary measures were retrieved from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) from 1990 to 2019. Secondary measures (mortality-to-incidence ratio, DALY-to-prevalence ratio, prevalence-to-incidence ratio, and YLL-to-YLD ratio) were combined using principal component analysis, to form an essential component (QCI) (0-100 index with higher values representing better condition). RESULTS: In 2019, there were 59,345 (95% UI: 51,818-66,943) new MS incident cases globally. Global QCI of 88.4 was calculated for 2019. At national level, Qatar had the highest quality of care (100) followed by Kuwait (98.5) and Greenland (98.1). The lowest QCI was observed in Kiribati (13.5), Nauru (31.5), and Seychelles (36.3), respectively. Most countries have reached gender equity during the 30 years. Also, QCI was lowest in ages from 55 to 80 in global scale. CONCLUSION: MS QCI is better among those countries of higher socioeconomic status, possibly due to better healthcare access and early detection in these regions. Countries could benefit from adopting the introduced QCI to evaluate the quality of care given to MS patients at national and global level.

Assessing the Research Performance of the Iranian Medical Academics and Universities: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Background: Implementing bibliometric indicators is the most prominent way to quantify the current status of research performance. This study aimed to map out the research performance of Iranian medical academics and universities in 2020 and determine its progress from 2016. Methods: Data were extracted from the Iranian scientometric information database and universities' scientometric information database. Then, the data were analyzed to provide descriptive statistics of bibliometric indicators. Besides, the association between the research productivity of academics or universities with their background characteristics was investigated using Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and chi-square tests. Results: Iranian medical academics had extensive research productivity from 2016 to 2020, leading to 2.5-fold increase in their median number of papers. The research productivity was heterogeneous among the academics, with an H-index ranging from 0 to 98, and a median of 4. The research productivity was different by gender, academic position, general field of study, and academic degree. The class 1 universities had a higher quantity in research performance; however, there was no difference in quality-related indices comprising citations per paper ratio and high impact publication rate (SJR Q1) among different university classes. The median international collaboration rate has followed a growing trend in recent years and was 17% in 2020. Conclusion: There is a remarkable growth in the research productivity of Iranian academics and universities. Iranian research community historically had rare international research collaborations; however, promising growth is shown in this regard. To maintain the growth in research productivity, the country should increase research and development expenditure, address gender disparities, supply universities that are lagging behind, facilitate further international collaboration, and support national journals to be indexed in the international citation databases.

Unmet need for hypercholesterolemia care in 35 low- and middle-income countries: A cross-sectional study of nationally representative surveys.

BACKGROUND: As the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), detailed evidence is urgently needed to guide the response of health systems to this epidemic. This study sought to quantify unmet need for hypercholesterolemia care among adults in 35 LMICs. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We pooled individual-level data from 129,040 respondents aged 15 years and older from 35 nationally representative surveys conducted between 2009 and 2018. Hypercholesterolemia care was quantified using cascade of care analyses in the pooled sample and by region, country income group, and country. Hypercholesterolemia was defined as (i) total cholesterol (TC) ≥240 mg/dL or self-reported lipid-lowering medication use and, alternatively, as (ii) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥160 mg/dL or self-reported lipid-lowering medication use. Stages of the care cascade for hypercholesterolemia were defined as follows: screened (prior to the survey), aware of diagnosis, treated (lifestyle advice and/or medication), and controlled (TC <200 mg/dL or LDL-C <130 mg/dL). We further estimated how age, sex, education, body mass index (BMI), current smoking, having diabetes, and having hypertension are associated with cascade progression using modified Poisson regression models with survey fixed effects. High TC prevalence was 7.1% (95% CI: 6.8% to 7.4%), and high LDL-C prevalence was 7.5% (95% CI: 7.1% to 7.9%). The cascade analysis showed that 43% (95% CI: 40% to 45%) of study participants with high TC and 47% (95% CI: 44% to 50%) with high LDL-C ever had their cholesterol measured prior to the survey. About 31% (95% CI: 29% to 33%) and 36% (95% CI: 33% to 38%) were aware of their diagnosis; 29% (95% CI: 28% to 31%) and 33% (95% CI: 31% to 36%) were treated; 7% (95% CI: 6% to 9%) and 19% (95% CI: 18% to 21%) were controlled. We found substantial heterogeneity in cascade performance across countries and higher performances in upper-middle-income countries and the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, and Americas. Lipid screening was significantly associated with older age, female sex, higher education, higher BMI, comorbid diagnosis of diabetes, and comorbid diagnosis of hypertension. Awareness of diagnosis was significantly associated with older age, higher BMI, comorbid diagnosis of diabetes, and comorbid diagnosis of hypertension. Lastly, treatment of hypercholesterolemia was significantly associated with comorbid hypertension and diabetes, and control of lipid measures with comorbid diabetes. The main limitations of this study are a potential recall bias in self-reported information on received health services as well as diminished comparability due to varying survey years and varying lipid guideline application across country and clinical settings. CONCLUSIONS: Cascade performance was poor across all stages, indicating large unmet need for hypercholesterolemia care in this sample of LMICs-calling for greater policy and research attention toward this cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor and highlighting opportunities for improved prevention of CVD.

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.

Improved dynamics of sharing research findings in the COVID-19 epidemic compared with the SARS and Ebola epidemics.

BACKGROUND: When a new or re-emergent pathogen, such as SARS-CoV-2, causes a major outbreak, rapid access to pertinent research findings is crucial for planning strategies and decision making. We researched whether the speed of sharing research results in the COVID-19 epidemic was higher than the SARS and Ebola epidemics. We also researched whether there is any difference in the most frequent topics investigated before and after the COVID-19, SARS, and Ebola epidemics started. METHODS: We used PubMed database search tools to determine the time-period it took for the number of articles to rise after the epidemics started and the most frequent topics assigned to the articles. RESULTS: The main results were, first, the rise in the number of articles occurred 6 weeks after the COVID-19 epidemic started whereas, this rise occurred 4 months after the SARS and 7 months after the Ebola epidemics started. Second, etiology, statistics & numerical data, and epidemiology were the three most frequent topics investigated in the COVID-19 epidemic. However, etiology, microbiology, and genetics in the SARS epidemic, and statistics & numerical data, epidemiology, and prevention & control in the Ebola epidemic were more frequently studied compared with other topics. Third, some topics were studied more frequently after the epidemics started. CONCLUSIONS: The speed of sharing results in the COVID-19 epidemic was much higher than the SARS and Ebola epidemics, and that there is a difference in the most frequent articles' topics investigated in these three epidemics. Due to the value of time in controlling epidemics spread, the study highlights the necessity of defining more solutions for rapidly providing pertinent research findings in fighting against the next public health emergency.

Patterns of case fatality and hospitalization duration among nearly 1 million hospitalized COVID-19 patients covered by Iran Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) over two years of pandemic: An analysis of associated factors.

BACKGROUND: Different populations and areas of the world experienced diverse COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality rates. Claims data is a systematically recorded source of hospitalized patients' information that could be used to evaluate the disease management course and outcomes. We aimed to investigate the hospitalization and mortality patterns and associated factors in a huge sample of hospitalized patients. METHODS: In this retrospective registry-based study, we utilized claim data from the Iran Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) consisting of approximately one million hospitalized patients across various hospitals in Iran over a 26-month period. All records in the hospitalization dataset with ICD-10 codes U07.1/U07.2 for clinically/laboratory confirmed COVID-19 were included. In this study, a case referred to one instance of a patient being hospitalized. If a patient experienced multiple hospitalizations within 30 days, those were aggregated into a single case. However, if hospitalizations had longer intervals, they were considered independent cases. The primary outcomes of study were general and intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization periods and case fatality rate (CFR) at the hospital. Besides, various demographic and hospitalization-associated factors were analyzed to derive the associations with study outcomes using accelerated failure time (AFT) and logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total number of 1 113 678 admissions with COVID-19 diagnosis were recorded by IHIO during the study period, defined as 917 198 cases, including 51.9% females and 48.1% males. The 61-70 age group had the highest number of cases for both sexes. Among defined cases, CFR was 10.36% (95% CI: 10.29-10.42). The >80 age group had the highest CFR (26.01% [95% CI: 25.75-26.27]). The median of overall hospitalization and ICU days were 4 (IQR: 3-7) and 5 (IQR: 2-8), respectively. Male patients had a significantly higher risk for mortality both generally (odds ratio (OR) = 1.36 [1.34-1.37]) and among ICU admitted patients (1.12 [1.09-1.12]). Among various insurance funds, Foreign Citizens had the highest risk of death both generally (adjusted OR = 2.06 [1.91-2.22]) and in ICU (aOR = 1.71 [1.51-1.92]). Increasing age groups was a risk of longer hospitalization, and the >80 age group had the highest risk for overall hospitalization period (median ratio = 1.52 [1.51-1.54]) and at ICU (median ratio = 1.17 [1.16-1.18]). Considering Tehran as the reference province, Sistan and Balcuchestan (aOR = 1.4 [1.32-1.48]), Alborz (aOR = 1.28 [1.22-1.35]), and Khorasan Razavi (aOR = 1.24 [1.20-1.28]) were the provinces with the highest risk of mortality in hospitalized patients. CONCLUSION: Hospitalization data unveiled mortality and duration associations with variables, highlighting provincial outcome disparities in Iran. Using enhanced registry systems in conjunction with other studies, empowers policymakers with evidence for optimizing resource allocation and fortifying healthcare system resilience against future health challenges.

Assessment of Hemoglobin A1c Management and Prescription Cost Due to Polypharmacy Among Patients With Diabetes in Iran Based on the STEPS Iran 2016 Survey and a Prescription Database: A Multi-level, Cross-sectional National Study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes frequently results in the need for multiple medication therapies, known as 'Polypharmacy'. This situation can incur significant costs and increase the likelihood of medication errors. This study evaluated the prescriptions of patients with diabetes regarding polypharmacy to assess its effect on the control of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and prescription costs. METHODS: A cross-sectional national study was conducted based on data from linking the Iranians Health Insurance Service prescriptions in 2015 and 2016 with the STEPS 2016 survey in Iran. The association of the individual and sociodemographic factors, as well as polypharmacy, as independent variables, with control of HbA1c levels and the cost of the prescriptions were assessed among diabetic patients using logistic and linear regression, respectively. RESULTS: Among 205 patients using anti-diabetic medications, 47.8% experienced polypharmacy. The HbA1c of 74 patients (36.1%) was equal to or less than 7, indicating controlled diabetes. HbA1c control showed no significant association with gender. However, prescription costs were notably lower in females (ß=0.559 [0.324‒0.964], P=0.036). No significant correlation was found between the area of residence and prescription costs, but HbA1c was significantly more controlled in urban areas (OR=2.667 [1.132‒6.282], P=0.025). Prescription costs were significantly lower in patients without polypharmacy (ß=0.211, [0.106‒0.423], P<0.001), though there was no significant association between polypharmacy and HbA1c levels. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that diabetics with polypharmacy paid significantly more for their prescriptions without experiencing a positive effect on the control of HbA1c levels.

Burden of Ischemic Heart Disease and Its Attributable Risk Factors in North Africa and the Middle East, 1990 to 2019: Results From the GBD Study 2019.

BACKGROUND: The North Africa and Middle East (NAME) region has one of the highest burdens of ischemic heart disease (IHD) worldwide. This study reports the contemporary epidemiology of IHD in NAME. METHODS AND RESULTS: We estimated the incidence, prevalence, deaths, years of life lost, years lived with disability, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and premature mortality of IHD, and its attributable risk factors in NAME from 1990 to 2019 using the results of the GBD (Global Burden of Disease study 2019). In 2019, 0.8 million lives and 18.0 million DALYs were lost due to IHD in NAME. From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized DALY rate of IHD significantly decreased by 33.3%, mostly due to the reduction of years of life lost rather than years lived with disability. In 2019, the proportion of premature death attributable to IHD was higher in NAME compared with global measures: 26.8% versus 16.9% for women and 18.4% versus 14.8% for men, respectively. The age-standardized DALY rate of IHD attributed to metabolic risks, behavioral risks, and environmental/occupational risks significantly decreased by 28.7%, 37.8%, and 36.4%, respectively. Dietary risk factors, high systolic blood pressure, and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were the top 3 risks contributing to the IHD burden in most countries of NAME in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: In 2019, IHD was the leading cause of death and lost DALYs in NAME, where premature death due to IHD was greater than the global average. Despite the great reduction in the age-standardized DALYs of IHD in NAME from 1990 to 2019, this region still had the second-highest burden of IHD in 2019 globally.

A methodological quality review of citations of randomized controlled trials of diabetes type2 in leading clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews.

Objective: Evaluate methodological quality of type 2 diabetes RCTs conducted in Iran and cited in clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Methods: We conducted a descriptive methodological quality review, analyzing 286 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) on diabetes mellitus published in Iran from July 2004 to 2021. We searched six databases systematically and evaluated eligible articles using the CONSORT 2010 checklist for abstracts. Two investigators assessed the data using a 17-item checklist derived from CONSORT. Additionally, we examined the citations of each RCT in 260 clinical practice guidelines, with a specific focus on the adequate reporting of outcomes. Results: Out of 6667 articles, 286 analyzed. Poor reporting and failure to meet criteria observed. Only 3.8% cited in guidelines. Reporting rates: primary outcomes (41.9%), randomization (61.8%), trial recruitment (12.6%), blinding (50.8%). 27.9% cited in systematic reviews, 50.34% in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, 26.57% in meta-analyses. 67.8% of papers cited in systematic reviews. Adherence highest for participants, objective, randomization, intervention, outcome; lowest for recruitment, trial design, funding source, harms, and reporting primary outcomes. Conclusions: Poor methodological reporting and adherence to CONSORT checklist in evaluated RCTs, especially in methodological sections. Improvements needed for reliable and applicable results in guidelines, reviews, and meta-analyses. Inadequate outcome reporting challenges researchers, clinicians, and policymakers, impacting evidence-based decision-making. Urgent improvements in RCT registration necessary.

Drivers' behavior confronting fixed and point-to-point speed enforcement camera: agent-based simulation and translation to crash relative risk change.

Utilizing a novel microsimulation approach, this study evaluates the impact of fixed and average point-to-point Speed Enforcement Cameras (SEC) on driving safety. Using the SUMO software, agent-based models for a 6-km highway without exits or obstacles were created. Telematics data from 93,160 trips were used to determine the desired free-flow speed. A total of 13,860 scenarios were simulated with 30 random seeds. The ratio of unsafe driving (RUD) is the spatial division of the total distance travelled at an unsafe speed by the total travel distance. The study compared different SEC implementations under different road traffic and community behaviours using the Power Model and calculated crash risk changes. Results showed that adding one or two fixed SECs reduced RUD by 0.20% (0.18-0.23) and 0.57% (0.54-0.59), respectively. However, average SECs significantly lowered RUD by 10.97% (10.95-10.99). Furthermore, a 1% increase in telematics enforcement decreased RUD by 0.22% (0.21-0.22). Point-to-point cameras effectively reduced crash risk in all implementation scenarios, with reductions ranging from - 3.44 to - 11.27%, pointing to their superiority as speed enforcement across various scenarios. Our cost-conscious and replicable approach can provide interim assessments of SEC effectiveness, even in low-income countries.

Mortality and disability-adjusted life years in North Africa and Middle East attributed to kidney dysfunction: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Background: The study aimed to estimate the attributable burden to kidney dysfunction as a metabolic risk factor in the North Africa and Middle East (NAME) region and its 21 countries in 1990-2019. Methods: The data used in this study were obtained from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2019 study, which provided estimated measures of deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and other epidemiological indicators of burden. To provide a better insight into the differences in the level of social, cultural, and economic factors, the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) was used. Results: In the NAME region in 2019, the number of deaths attributed to kidney dysfunction was 296 632 (95% uncertainty interval: 249 965-343 962), which was about 2.5 times higher than in the year 1990. Afghanistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia had the highest, and Kuwait, Turkey, and Iran (Islamic Republic of) had the lowest age-standardized rate of DALYs attributed to kidney dysfunction in the region in 2019. Kidney dysfunction was accounted as a risk factor for ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease with 150 471, 111 812, 34 068, and 281 attributable deaths, respectively, in 2019 in the region. In 2019, both low-SDI and high-SDI countries in the region experienced higher burdens associated with kidney dysfunction compared to other countries. Conclusions: Kidney dysfunction increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases burden and accounted for more deaths attributable to cardiovascular diseases than chronic kidney disease in the region in 2019. Hence, policymakers in the NAME region should prioritize kidney disease prevention and control, recognizing that neglecting its impact on other diseases is a key limitation in its management.

Prescription pattern analysis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a cross-sectional study in Isfahan, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) are at a higher risk of polypharmacy and more susceptible to irrational prescriptions; therefore, pharmacological therapy patterns are important to be monitored. The primary objective of this study was to highlight current prescription patterns in T2DM patients and compare them with existing Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. The second objective was to analyze whether age and gender affect prescription patterns. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Iran Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) prescription database. It was mined by an Association Rule Mining (ARM) technique, FP-Growth, in order to find co-prescribed drugs with anti-diabetic medications. The algorithm was implemented at different levels of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system, which assigns different codes to drugs based on their anatomy, pharmacological, therapeutic, and chemical properties to provide an in-depth analysis of co-prescription patterns. RESULTS: Altogether, the prescriptions of 914,652 patients were analyzed, of whom 91,505 were found to have diabetes. According to our results, prescribing Lipid Modifying Agents (C10) (56.3%), Agents Acting on The Renin-Angiotensin System (C09) (48.9%), Antithrombotic Agents (B01) (35.7%), and Beta Blocking Agents (C07) (30.1%) were meaningfully associated with the prescription of Drugs Used in Diabetes. Our study also revealed that female diabetic patients have a higher lift for taking Thyroid Preparations, and the older the patients were, the more they were prone to take neuropathy-related medications. Additionally, the results suggest that there are gender differences in the association between aspirin and diabetes drugs, with the differences becoming less pronounced in old age. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all of the association rules found in this research were clinically meaningful, proving the potential of ARM for co-prescription pattern discovery. Moreover, implementing level-based ARM was effective in detecting difficult-to-spot rules. Additionally, the majority of drugs prescribed by physicians were consistent with the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes.

Utilization patterns of cardiovascular medications in patients with diabetes mellitus; a retrospective cross-sectional study, 2013-17.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a prominent health care issue worldwide. One of the most prevalent comorbidities of DM is cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of this study was to assess the utilization patterns of cardiovascular medications in patients with DM in Iran from 2013 to 2017. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was undertaken using prescription claims data from 2013 to 2017 in Iran. Epidemiological data elements used in this study were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study. In addition, data on total medication sales were obtained from the national regulatory authority database. The data on medication utilization were analyzed according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification (ATC) /Defined Daily Doses (DDD) international system. RESULTS: Based on the findings, Acetylsalicylic acid was the mainstay of treatment with a utilization rate of 191.7 DDD/ patient/ year in 2017, followed by Atorvastatin with 170.0 and Losartan with 115.1. Although there was an increasing trend in the utilization rate of the medications, the rate of Atenolol and Enalapril was constantly declining during the 2013-17 period. On the other hand, Valsartan and Metoprolol were attracting attention. Almost all medication utilization rates increased from the 30-39 age group up to the 80 + age group. Females had a higher utilization rate in each age group during the whole study period. CONCLUSION: The present study reflects that medication utilization patterns were rational, according to the standard treatment guidelines. Utilization patterns of medications that are recommended for both prevention and treatment of CVD in diabetes were observed to be the highest. Implementation of further policies is needed to minimize cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

Combination nanochemotherapy of brain tumor using polymeric nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin and paclitaxel: An in vitro and in vivo study.

This study aims to overcome physiological barriers and increase the therapeutic index for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) tumors by using Paclitaxel (PTX) loaded Poly(lactic co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PTX-PLGA-NPs) and Doxorubicin (DOX) loaded Poly (lactic co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (DOX-PLGA-NPs). The hydrodynamic diameter of nanoparticles (NPs) was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) which was 94 ± 4 nm and 133 ± 6 nm for DOX-PLGA-NPs, and PTX-PLGA-NPs, respectively. The zeta potential for DOX-PLGA-NPs and PTX-PLGA-NPs were -15.2 ± 0.18 mV and -17.3 ± 0.34 mV, respectively. The cytotoxicity of PTX-PLGA-NPs and DOX-PLGA-NPs was augmented compared to DOX and PTX on C6 GBM cells. The Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) tests for various formulations were carried out. The results indicated that the amount of released LDH was 262 ± 7.84 U.L-1 at the concentration of 2 mg/mL in the combination therapy, which was much higher than other groups (DOX-PLGA-NPs (210 ± 6.92 U.L-1), PTX-PLGA-NPs (201 ± 8.65 U.L-1), DOX (110 ± 9.81 U.L-1), PTX (95 ± 5.02 U.L-1) and PTX + DOX (67 ± 4.89 U.L-1)). MRI results of the combination therapy of PTX-PLGA-NPs and DOX-PLGA-NPs indicated that GBM tumor size decreased considerably compared to the other formulations. Also, combination therapy of PTX-PLGA-NPs and DOX-PLGA-NPs demonstrated a longer median survival of more than 80 days compared to PTX (38 days), DOX (37 days) and PTX + DOX (48 days), PTX-NPs (58 days) and DOX-NPs (62 days). The results of locomotion, body weight, rearing and grooming assays indicated that combination therapy of PTX-PLGA-NPs and DOX-PLGA-NPs had the most positive effect on the movements of rats compared to the other formulations.

Effect of folate-targeted Erlotinib loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles on tumor size and survival rate in a rat model of glioblastoma.

The aim of this study was to prepare folate-targeted Erlotinib loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles (FA-ERL-HSA NPs) and investigate in vitro cytotoxic and apoptotic effects using cell lines (U87MG and C6 cells) and an in vivo rat bearing C6 glioma model. The mean size of the FA-ERL-HSA NPs prepared using a desolvation method was 135 nm. In vitro MTT assays demonstrated that FA-ERL-HSA NPs had an IC50 value of 52.18 µg/mL and 17.53 µg/mL compared to free ERL which had an IC50 value of 119.8 µg/mL and 103.2 µg/mL for U87MG and C6 cells for 72 h, respectively. Flow cytometry results showed the apoptosis rate with FA-ERL-HSA NPs (100 µg/mL, 72 h) was higher compared to free ERL for both U87MG and C6 cells. Experiments using a rat glioblastoma model via TUNEL assay indicated that the apoptosis index of FA-ERL-HSA NPs was 48 % compared to 21 % for free ERL and the tumor size effectively decreased after a daily injection of 220 µg (2.5 mg/kg) from 87.45 mm3 (19th day) to 1.28 mm3 (60th day). The median survival rate of the rats increased after treatment to >100 days which was greater than controls.

Drug prescription patterns and their association with mortality and hospitalization duration in COVID-19 patients: insights from big data.

Background: Different medication prescription patterns have been associated with varying course of disease and outcomes in COVID-19. Health claims data is a rich source of information on disease treatment and outcomes. We aimed to investigate drug prescription patterns and their association with mortality and hospitalization via insurance data for a relatively long period of the pandemic in Iran. Methods: We retrieved hospitalized patients' data from Iran Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) spanning 26 months (2020-2022) nationwide. Included were patients with ICD-10 codes U07.1/U07.2 for confirmed/suspected COVID-19. A case was defined as a single hospitalization event for an individual patient. Multiple hospitalizations of a patient within a 30-day interval were aggregated into a single case, while hospitalizations with intervals exceeding 30 days were treated as independent cases. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) was used for medications classification. The two main study outcomes were general and intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization periods and mortality. Besides, various demographic and clinical associate factors were analyzed to derive the associations with medication prescription patterns and study outcomes using accelerated failure time (AFT) and logistic regression models. Results: During the 26 months of the study period, 1,113,678 admissions with COVID-19 diagnosis at hospitals working in company with IHIO were recorded. 917,198 cases were detected from the database, among which 51.91% were females and 48.09% were males. Among the main groups of medications, antithrombotics (55.84% [95% CI: 55.74-55.94]), corticosteroids (54.14% [54.04-54.24]), and antibiotics (42.22% [42.12-42.32]) were the top used medications among cases with COVID-19. Investigation of the duration of hospitalization based on main medication groups showed antithrombotics (adjusted median ratio = 0.94 [0.94-0.95]) were significantly associated with shorter periods of overall hospitalization. Also, antithrombotics (adjusted odds ratio = 0.74 [95%CI, 0.73-0.76]), corticosteroids (0.97 [0.95-0.99]), antivirals (0.82 [0.80-0.83]), and ACE inhibitor/ARB (0.79 [0.77-0.80]) were significantly associated with lower mortality. Conclusion: Over 2 years of investigation, antithrombotics, corticosteroids, and antibiotics were the top medications for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Trends in medication prescription varied based on various factors across the country. Medication prescriptions could potentially significantly impact the trends of mortality and hospitalization during epidemics, thereby affecting both health and economic burdens.