The Iranian blood pressure measurement campaign, 2019: study protocol and preliminary results.

Purpose: Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for premature mortality and morbidity in Iran. The objective of the Iranian blood pressure (BP) measurement campaign was to identify individuals with raised blood pressure and providing appropriate care and increase the awareness among the public and policymakers of the importance of tackling hypertension. Methods: The campaign was conducted in two phases. The first (communication) phase started on May 17th (International Hypertension Day). The second phase started on June 8th, 2019, and lasted up to July 7th during which, blood pressures were measured. The target population was Iranians aged ≥ 30 years. Participants voluntarily referred to health houses in rural and health posts and comprehensive health centers in urban areas in the setting of the Primary Health Care network. Additionally, over 13,700 temporary stations were set up in highly visited places in urban areas. Volunteer healthcare staff interviewed the participants, measured their BP, and provided them with lifestyle advice and knowledge of the risks and consequences of high blood pressure. They referred participants to physicians in case their BP was high. Participants immediately received a text message containing the relevant advice based on their measured BP and their past history. Results: Blood pressure was measured for a total of 26,678,394 participants in the campaign. A total of 13,722,148 participants (51.4%) were female. The mean age was 46 ± 14.1 years. Among total participants, 15,012,693 adults (56.3%) with no past history of hypertension had normal BP, 7,959,288 participants had BP in the prehypertension range (29.8%), and finally, 3,706,413 participants (13.9%) had either past medical history of hypertension, used medications, or had high BP measured in the campaign. Conclusion: The campaign was feasible with the objective to increase the awareness among the public and policymakers of the importance of tackling hypertension in Iran.

Economic Burden of Asthma in Northwest Iran.

Background: The economic burden of asthma is a major public health concern. This study estimates the economic burden of asthma in Northwest of Iran. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted between 2017 and 2018 in Tabriz (Iran) using the Persian version of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire. Direct and indirect costs associated with asthma were estimated based on the societal perspective, prevalence-based approach, and bottom-up method. Annual indirect costs were estimated using the human capital (HC) method. The structural equation model was used to evaluate the relationship between costs, sex, and asthma severity. Results: A total of 621 patients with asthma were enrolled in the study. Significant differences were found between female and male patients for the mean cost of radiology (P=0.006), laboratory (P=0.028), and diagnostic (P=0.017) tests at baseline, and for laboratory (P=0.012), and diagnostic (P=0.027) tests at one-year follow-up. The more severe asthma, the more significant the costs for annual physician office visits (P=0.040) and medications (P=0.013). As asthma severity increased, significantly higher expenditures were observed in women for days lost from work at baseline (P=0.009) and one-year follow-up (P=0.001), and in men for productivity loss at work due to impairment at baseline (P=0.045). A significant association between indirect costs and the cost of impairment-related lost productivity at work (ß=3.29, P<0.001), and between severe asthma and indirect costs (ß=32.36, P<0.001) was observed. Conclusion: High costs are incurred by Iranian asthma patients, especially because of impairment-related productivity loss at work associated with asthma exacerbation.

Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in iran: the case for Investment.

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases are imposing a considerable burden on Iran. This study aims to assess the Return on Investment (ROI) for implementation of Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) prevention program in Iran. METHODS: Four disease groups including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory diseases were included in our ROI analysis. The study followed four steps: 1) Estimating the total economic burden of NCDs using the Cost-of-Illness approach. 2) Estimating the total costs of implementing clinical and preventive interventions using an ingredient based costing at delivering level and a program costing method at central level.3) Calculating health impacts and economic benefits of interventions using the impact measures of avoided incidence, avoided mortality, healthy life years (HLYs) gained, and avoided direct treatment costs. 4) Calculating the ROI for each intervention in 5- and 15- year time horizons. RESULTS: The total economic burden of NCDs to the Iranian economy was IRR 838.49 trillion per year (2018), which was equivalent to 5% of the country's annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The package of NCD will lead to 549 000 deaths averted and 2 370 000 healthy life years gained over 15 years, and, financially, Iranian economy will gain IRR 542.22 trillion over 15 years. The highest ROI was observed for the package of physical activity interventions, followed by the interventions addressing salt, tobacco package and clinical interventions. Conclusions NCDs in Iran are causing a surge in health care costs and are contributing to reduced productivity. Those actions to prevent NCDs in Iran, as well as yielding to a notable health impact, are giving a good economic return to the society. This study underscores an essential need for establishment of a national multi-sectorial NCD coordination mechanism to bring together and strengthen existing cross-agency initiatives on NCDs.

Primary Health Care Model for Non-Communicable Diseases Management during COVID-19 Pandemic in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Background: Given the importance of appropriate response to prevent and manage Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), this study aimed to analyze the state of NCDs services at the level of the PHC system during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the main strategies. Methods: In this qualitative study, first, the circulars and guides in Iran's PHC system from the beginning of the pandemic to the end of September 2020 were retrieved manually and by searching the internal websites of the Ministry of Health. All documents about decision-making or governance and coordination mechanisms for the provision of NCDs services were enrolled and analyzed. In the second phase, the status of service delivery for major NCDs was presented in a model, and finally, SWOT analysis was used to analyze the situation and determine the main strategies. Results: 25 out of 199 circulars and guides were eligible and analyzed. In the crisis phase, most risk assessment, screening, and diagnosis services for NCDs have been suspended, and follow-up and care of patients with major NCDs were done by telephone. In the reopening phase, the general strategies and strategies to increase capacity and provide delayed care were adopted, and the PHC model of the provision of essential services for the major NCDs was developed in low-risk, intermediate and high-risk pandemic conditions. Finally, 16 main strategies were determined with the approach of integrating and focusing on essential services, considering vulnerable groups and the use of E-health technologies. Conclusion: The results indicate on interruption of NCDs services in the crisis phase while adopting strategies for responding to the pandemic. Revision of the COVID-19 guides with a particular focus on NCDs is recommended.

National Plan for Chronic Respiratory Diseases Prevention and Control in Iran.

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, and lung cancer are among the leading 10 causes of death worldwide. The Board of Respiratory Diseases Research Network (RDRN), a sub-committee of the Iranian Non-Communicable Diseases Committee (INCDC) is particularly concerned that there should be a coordinated National strategy to address the burden caused by chronic respiratory diseases. Methods: Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) has decided to give promotion to the establishment of research networks and use them as the milestones for research management, particularly for the national health priorities. Results: National Service Framework (NSF), which was designed for Chronic Respiratory Diseases, is one of the main outcomes of the chronic respiratory diseases sub-committee of INCDC. The main seven strategies were represented by the Steering Committee in 2010 for a period of 10 years. Successful development and implementation of our goals provide the CRDs sub-committee of INCDC with the opportunity to develop a paradigm to prevent chronic respiratory diseases. Conclusion: A stronger national plan for controlling chronic respiratory diseases will ensure stronger advocacy to support respiratory health at national, sub-national, and regional levels.

Exposure to road noise and asthma prevalence in adults.

Noise has been reported as one of the most important risk factors for asthma, but there are some disagreements. This study aimed to investigate the effect of road noise on asthma prevalence in adults. In the current study, 3172 adults were interviewed through the ECRHS standardized questionnaire in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Exposure to road noise was assessed considering distance of individual participants from the noise monitoring stations via the spatial analysis in GIS software. Logistic regression was used to assess the effect of noise on the symptoms of asthma. Findings showed a significant positive association between wheezing with dyspnea as the best marker for asthma and noise levels at daytime (OR 1.03; 0.98-1.05) and nighttime (OR 1.05; 0.84-1.09). Also, a significant positive association was obtained between daytime and nighttime noise levels and other asthma symptoms including wheezing, nocturnal chest tightness, nocturnal dyspnea, wheezing without cold, nocturnal cough, and asthma medication. Association between current asthma and noise level was not significant. There was a significant association between population age and current asthma prevalence (P = 0.001). Therefore, chronic exposure to road noise especially in the nighttime could increase asthma prevalence. So, control of noise sources can be suggested to diminish asthma in adults.

Validation of the Persian work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire in asthmatic patients.

BACKGROUND: The work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) questionnaire is a fine linguistic validated tool to measure work productivity and activity impairment. Considering its capability, this study aimed to evaluate the validity of the Persian version of WPAI-AQ in asthmatics. METHODS: The standard forward-backward process was used to translate the English version of WPAI-AQ into Persian. The convergent validity and responsiveness were evaluated by analyzing the correlations between the Persian WPAI-AQ and the health outcomes, and its longitudinal change score with the change in SGRQ score, respectively. Additionally, the stability was estimated according to test-retest scores. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between the Persian WPAI-AQ related outcomes and symptoms, activities, and impacts of disease (r = 0.41-0.89, p < 0.04). Desirable stability was observed by the test-retest analysis; 0.90 (95%CI: 0.89-0.95) for overall impairment, 0.90 (95%CI: 0.86-0.93) for work time missed, 0.72 (95%CI: 0.54-0.83) for activity impairment; 0.79 (95%CI: 0.71-0.86) for student class time missed, and 0.76 (95%CI: 0.66-0.81) for school impairment. Response to the change scores strongly supported the longitudinal responsiveness of the Persian WPAI-AQ (r = 0.37 to 0.63, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The Persian WPAI-AQ is a feasible valid tool to estimate work productivity and activity impairment in Persian-speaking asthmatic patients.

Paediatric asthma prevalence: The first national population-based survey in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The actual prevalence of paediatric asthma as a worldwide chronic disease has been surveyed in developed countries. However, no sufficient survey has been conducted in most of the eastern developing countries. Herein, we took measures to evaluate the prevalence of paediatric asthma in Iran. METHODS: In this national cross-sectional study, the prevalence of asthma symptoms was estimated throughout the country using a randomized multistage stratified cluster sampling method in 16 410 and 16 850 individuals aged 6-7 and 13-14 years, respectively. A validated questionnaire including core questions of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was applied between November 2015 and February 2016. RESULTS: The total prevalence of asthma was 10.9% (n = 3624) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.6%-11.2%) which was significantly higher among 13- to 14-year olds compared to a younger age group (12.4% vs. 9.4%, P < 0.001), males versus females (12.1% vs. 9.8%, P < 0.001) and residents of urban compared to rural areas (P = 0.003). The prevalence of severe asthma was 3.9%, being significantly more prevalent in higher age groups and male individuals (P < 0.001). A significant relationship was found between asthma and passive smoking in both 6- to 7- and 13- to 14-year olds (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of asthma and severe asthma in the paediatric population of Iran was similar to other developing countries. It is recommended to pay special attention to urban regions, male individuals and higher age groups for better controlling of asthma. Nevertheless, further national surveys are necessary to determine the trend of paediatric asthma in Iran.

The prevalence of asthma in Iranian adults: The first national survey and the most recent updates.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide increase in the prevalence of asthma has made it a major public-health concern. We aimed to identify the prevalence of asthma and asthma symptoms in adults living in urban and rural areas of Iran as a populated country with about 80 millions of residents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of asthma in adults between 20 and 44 years old in all provinces of Iran. Data were collected by personal interview via a standardized questionnaire [European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS)] between November 2015 and February 2016. RESULTS: A total of 24 344 individuals were enrolled. The prevalence of asthma was 8.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.5-9.3]. The most common asthma symptoms were wheezing (14.2%, n = 3465), nocturnal cough (13.3%, n = 3234) and chest tightness (11.3%, n = 2760). Additionally, the prevalence of current asthma (taking asthma medications or asthma attack) was estimated to be 4.7% (n = 1155). Asthma was significantly more prevalent in males compared to females (P = .002), while no significant relationship was detected between gender and asthma after adjusted analysis with other variables. The prevalence of asthma was significantly higher in older participants (P < .001) and individuals with low educational level (P < .001). Interestingly, there was no significant relationship between asthma and area of residency (P = .8). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of asthma in Iran was similar to other Asian and European countries. However, repeated national surveys are required to determine the trend of asthma prevalence in Iran in comparison to other countries.