Cancer statistics in Yemen: incidence and mortality, in 2020.

BACKGROUND: The current cancer epidemiological profile in Yemen suffers from a lack of locally representative data and resources, posing a challenge in determining the real incidence, prevalence, survival and mortality rates, particularly data extracted from national hospitals. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the cancer burden and trends in Yemen for 2020, including incidence and mortality rates. METHODS: The current study provides cancer statistics and their trends in Yemen, including incidence and mortality, in 2020 by using descriptive statistics. The data was obtained using the Global Cancer Observatory (GCO) 2020 online database. RESULTS: According to the (GCP) database in 2020, the crude incidence rate (CIR) of all cancers in Yemen was 55.2 per 100.000. The age-standardized rate (ASR) was 97.0 per 100.000, and the cumulative risk (0-74) was 22.0 per 100.000. The age-standardized rate (ASR) was 76.5 per 100.000, and the cumulative risk (0-74) was 19.6 per 100.000. Furthermore, the crude mortality rate (CIR) of all cancers was 40.6 per 100.000. Breast cancer was most prevalent in Yemen across all age groups and genders (31.1%), followed by colorectal cancer (7.7%) and leukemia (5.7%). Breast cancer also ranked as the primary cause of mortality at an estimated percentage of 13.5%, followed by colorectal cancer (8.8%) and stomach cancer (7.1%). CONCLUSION: Cancer has become a significant life-threatening illness in Yemen with an increase in the disease burden of breast cancer in women. Furthermore, leukemia in children and colorectal cancer in both sexes have experienced a more significant burden as well. Therefore, it is imperative for initiatives for cancer control and prevention to be prioritised at national and regional levels.

The Double Burden of Obesity and Underweight in Yemeni Adults.

INTRODUCTION:  Yemen has a unique low-income population with several sociopolitical challenges and the association between weight disorders and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors is not clearly understood. AIM:  The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of obesity, overweight and underweight among Yemeni adults, and to identify their associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 11 January to 25 March 2020, including 561 subjects of Yemen's adult population aged 18 and above, from four Yemeni governorates, who answered a questionnaire including demographic, socio-economic, and physical activity items after getting their signed consent. Height and weight were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was computed. The association between obesity or overweight (BMI ≥ 25.0kg/m2) or underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) and the other variables was analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 561 subjects aged ≥ 18 years have participated in this survey. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight was 10.3%, 95% CI [7.7%; 12.8%] and 20.3%, 95% CI [17%; 23.5%] respectively, while the one for underweight was 21.2%, 95% CI [17.8%; 24.5%]. The risk of overweight-obesity increased with age (OR=1.02, 95% CI (1.01-1.03)), living in urban areas (OR= 1.680, 95% CI (1.105-2.552)) and average-high socioeconomic status (SES) (OR= 1.729, 95% CI (1.156-2.587)) while the risk of underweight decreased with the age (OR= 0.981, 95% CI (0.964-0.998)). CONCLUSION: These findings provide a special case of high prevalence of obesity, overweight, and underweight in Yemen. Therefore, implementing awareness and prevention programs is highly recommended there.

Adaptation and validation of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess dietary intake in Moroccan adults.

BACKGROUND: To date, no culture-specific food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) are available in North Africa. The aim of this study was to adapt and examine the reproducibility and validity of an FFQ or use in the Moroccan population. METHODS: The European Global Asthma and Allergy Network (GA2LEN) FFQ was used to assess its applicability in Morocco. The GA2LEN FFQ is comprised of 32 food sections and 200 food items. Using scientific published literature, as well as local resources, we identified and added foods that were representative of the Moroccan diet. Translation of the FFQ into Moroccan Arabic was carried out following the World Health Organization (WHO) standard operational procedure. To test the validity and the reproducibility of the FFQ, 105 healthy adults working at Hassan II University Hospital Center of Fez were invited to answer the adapted FFQ in two occasions, 1 month apart, and to complete three 24-h dietary recall questionnaires during this period. Pearson correlation, and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess validity of nutrient intakes. The reproducibility between nutrient intakes as reported from the first and second FFQ were calculated using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). All nutrients were log-transformed to improve normality and were adjusted using the residual method. RESULTS: The adapted FFQ was comprised of 255 items that included traditional Moroccan foods. Eighty-seven adults (mean age 27.3 ± 5.7 years) completed all the questionnaires. For energy and nutrients, the intakes reported in the FFQ1 were higher than the mean intakes reported by the 24-h recall questionnaires. The Pearson correlation coefficients between the first FFQ and the mean of three 24-h recall questionnaires were statistically significant. For validity, de-attenuated correlations were all positive, statistically significant and ranging from 0.24 (fiber) to 0.93 (total MUFA). For reproducibility, the ICCs were statistically significant and ranged between 0.69 for fat and 0.84 for Vitamin A. CONCLUSION: This adapted FFQ is an acceptable tool to assess usual dietary intake in Moroccan adults. Given its representativeness of local food intake, it can be used as an instrument to investigate the role of diet on health and disease outcomes.