Post-COVID-19 syndrome among healthcare workers in Jordan

Background: Post-COVID-19 syndrome covers a wide range of new, recurring or ongoing health conditions, which can occur in anyone who has recovered from COVID-19. The condition may affect multiple systems and organs. Aims: To evaluate the frequency and nature of persistent COVID-19 symptoms among healthcare providers in Jordan. Methods: Post-COVID-19 syndrome refers to symptoms extending beyond 4–12 weeks. We conducted a historical cohort study among 140 healthcare staff employed at the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics, Amman, Jordan. All of them had been infected with COVID-19 virus during March 2020 to February 2022. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Results: Some 59.3% of the study population reported more than 1 persisting COVID-19 symptom, and among them 97.5%, 62.6% and 40.9% reported more than 1 COVID-19 symptom at 1–3, 3–6 and 6–12 months, respectively, after the acute phase of the infection. Post-COVID-19 syndrome was more prevalent among females than males (79.5% vs 20.5%) (P = 0.006). The most frequent reported symptom was fatigue. Females scored higher on the Fatigue Assessment Scale than males [23.26, standard deviation (SD) 8.00 vs 17.53, SD 5.40] (P < 0.001). No significant cognitive impairment was detected using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scales. Conclusion: More than half (59.3%) of the healthcare workers in our study reported post-COVID-19 syndrome. Further studies are needed to better understand the frequency and severity of the syndrome among different population groups.

Survival of patients with urinary bladder cancer in Jordan, 2005–2014

Background: Urinary bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Jordan. No research on survival from bladder cancer at the national level has been conducted before. Aims: This study aimed to estimate the probability of survival in patients with bladder cancer in Jordan and identify factors associated with survival. Methods: Data were obtained from the database of the Jordan cancer registry. All cases of urinary bladder cancer in Jordanians registered during 2005–2014 were included in the study (n = 2139). Data collected for each case included: age, sex, date of diagnosis, and stage and grade at diagnosis. Actuarial life table survival analysis was used to determine the overall survival probabilities. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to identify independent factors associated with survival. Results: The overall 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year survival probabilities for urinary bladder cancer were 85%, 73%, 69% and 59%, respectively (standard error = 0.01 for each). No significant difference in survival probabilities was found between males and females (P = 0.642). The overall survival probabilities decreased significantly as age at diagnosis increased (P < 0.005). Better survival was observed in patients with early stage and well differentiated tumours at diagnosis. Conclusions: The survival of patients with bladder cancer in Jordan is comparable to that reported from developed countries. A high percentage of data was missing and the reporting of some variables was inconsistent. To improve the quality of cancer data, regular training is needed for hospital focal points on recording complete data

An alarmingly high and increasing prevalence of obesity in Jordan / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity in Jordan, to assess related trends, and to determine associated factors and comorbidities. @*METHODS@#A multipurpose national household survey of Jordanian adults was conducted over a 4-month period in 2017. Data were collected using a structured validated questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements including waist circumference (WC; measured midway between the iliac crest and the lower rib margin), body mass index (BMI), hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio were obtained to categorize participants with regard to overweight and obesity. @*RESULTS@#This study included 4,056 persons (1,193 men and 2,863 women) aged 18 years to 90 years (mean±standard deviation, 43.8±14.2 years). According to the International Diabetes Federation WC criteria, the age-standardized prevalence of obesity was 60.4% among men and 75.6% among women, while approximately three-quarters of men and women were overweight or obese as defined by BMI. The age-adjusted odds of obesity in 2017 were approximately twice those in 2009 in men (odds ratio [OR], 1.98) and women (OR, 1.96). In the multivariate analysis, age, region of residence, and marital status were significantly associated with obesity in both genders. Obesity was significantly associated with increased odds of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, elevated triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after adjusting for age. @*CONCLUSIONS@#The rate of obesity in Jordan is high and increasing, and obesity is associated with other metabolic abnormalities. Well-defined programs to control and prevent obesity, as well as intersectoral action, are urgently required to reverse current trends.

An alarmingly high and increasing prevalence of obesity in Jordan / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity in Jordan, to assess related trends, and to determine associated factors and comorbidities. @*METHODS@#A multipurpose national household survey of Jordanian adults was conducted over a 4-month period in 2017. Data were collected using a structured validated questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements including waist circumference (WC; measured midway between the iliac crest and the lower rib margin), body mass index (BMI), hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio were obtained to categorize participants with regard to overweight and obesity. @*RESULTS@#This study included 4,056 persons (1,193 men and 2,863 women) aged 18 years to 90 years (mean±standard deviation, 43.8±14.2 years). According to the International Diabetes Federation WC criteria, the age-standardized prevalence of obesity was 60.4% among men and 75.6% among women, while approximately three-quarters of men and women were overweight or obese as defined by BMI. The age-adjusted odds of obesity in 2017 were approximately twice those in 2009 in men (odds ratio [OR], 1.98) and women (OR, 1.96). In the multivariate analysis, age, region of residence, and marital status were significantly associated with obesity in both genders. Obesity was significantly associated with increased odds of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, elevated triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after adjusting for age. @*CONCLUSIONS@#The rate of obesity in Jordan is high and increasing, and obesity is associated with other metabolic abnormalities. Well-defined programs to control and prevent obesity, as well as intersectoral action, are urgently required to reverse current trends.

The prevalence and determinants of anaemia in Jordan

Background: Anaemia is a global public health problem particularly in low- and middle-income countries and may be associated with serious health consequences. Limited studies, if any, have examined the prevalence and risk factors of anaemia in Jordan at the national level.Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anaemia in Jordan for both sexes at the national level and to identify high-risk population subgroups.Methods: A national population-based household sample was selected from the 12 governorates of Jordan in 2017. A to-tal of 1125 males and 2797 females aged between 18 and 90 years were included. The prevalence of anaemia, overall and among subgroups of the population was estimated using Hb level as per WHO definition.Results: Results showed prevalence of anaemia to be 4.9% in males, 19.3% in non-pregnant females, and 27.4% in pregnant females. The age standardized prevalence rates were 4.9% in males and 19.3% in females. The age standardized prevalence rates were 4.9% in males and 19.3% in females. Anaemia was predominantly mild (males: 81%, non-pregnant females: 57%, and pregnant females: 65.2%). Sex, age, region, marital status, and education were significantly associated with anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) accounted for 68% of anaemic females and 38% of anaemic males.Conclusions: The prevalence of anaemia in Jordan is lower than previously reported by WHO and the majority of anae-mia was mild. Iron deficiency anaemia was the the most common type of anaemia, particularly in females. Flour fortifi-cation with iron and folic acid could have accounted for the decline of anaemia in Jordan.

Contexte : L’anémie est un problème de santé publique mondial, en particulier dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire, qui peut être associé à de graves conséquences pour la santé. Des études limitées ont examiné la prévalence et les facteurs de risque de l’anémie en Jordanie au niveau national.Objectifs : La présente étude visait à évaluer la prévalence de l’anémie au niveau national en Jordanie pour les deux sexes et à identifier les sous-groupes de population à haut risque.Méthodes : Un échantillon national de ménages représentatif de la population a été sélectionné dans les 12 gouvernorats de Jordanie en 2017. Au total, 1125 hommes et 2797 femmes âgés de 18 à 90 ans ont été inclus. La prévalence de l’anémie, dans l’ensemble et parmi les sous-groupes de population, a été estimée en utilisant le taux d’hémoglobine selon la définition de l’OMS.Résultats : Les résultats ont montré que la prévalence de l’anémie était de 4,9 % chez les hommes, de 19,3 % chez les femmes non enceintes et de 27,4 % chez les femmes enceintes. Les taux de prévalence standardisée selon l’âge s’élevaient à 4,9 % chez l’homme et 19,3 % chez la femme. L’anémie était principalement bénigne (hommes : 81 %, femmes non enceintes : 57 %, et femmes enceintes : 65,2 %). Le sexe, l’âge, la région, la situation de famille et le niveau de scolarité étaient significativement associés à l’anémie. L’anémie ferriprive touchait 68 % des femmes anémiques et 38 % des hommes anémiques.Conclusions : La prévalence de l’anémie en Jordanie est inférieure à celle précédemment signalée par l’OMS et la majorité des cas d’anémie étaient de forme légère. L’anémie ferriprive était le type d’anémie le plus fréquent, en particulier chez les femmes. L’enrichissement de la farine en fer et en acide folique pourrait expliquer la diminution de l’anémie en Jordanie.

Relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and metabolic syndrome among Jordanian adults

Evidence of the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and metabolic syndrome (MeS) remains uncertain and incongruent. This study aimed to determine the association between 25(OH)D and MeS among Jordanian adults. A complex multistage sampling technique was used to select a national population-based household sample. The present report deals exclusively with adults aged > 18 years who had complete information on all components of MeS (n = 3,234). A structured questionnaire was used to collect all relevant information. Anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory measurements were obtained. MeS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition. Of the total, 42.0% had MeS and 31.7% had 25(OH)D < 30 ng/ml. In a stratified analysis, the prevalence of MeS did not differ significantly between subjects with low and normal 25(OH)D levels for men and women in all age groups. In the multivariate analysis, the odds of MeS were not significantly different between subjects with low and normal 25(OH)D levels (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.70, 1.05, P-value = 0.133). The association between 25(OH)D and MeS remained non-significant when 25(OH)D was analyzed as a continuous variable (OR = 1.004, 95% CI; 1.000, 1.008, P = 0.057) and when analyzed based on quartiles. None of the individual components of MeS were significantly associated with 25(OH)D level. This study does not provide evidence to support the association between 25(OH)D level and MeS or its individual components. Prospective studies are necessary to better determine the roles of 25(OH)D levels in the etiology of MeS.