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Objectives: This study aims to systematically review the neurological complications in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the methods used to diagnose both neurological complications and coronavirus infection. Methods: Data from three different online databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched on 29 April 2020 and after duplicate, irrelevant, and inappropriate records were excluded, data extraction was done. Results: The 22 records included for analysis provided 57 patients with neurological sequelae. The neurological complications reported ranged widely from ischemic cerebrovascular accidents to cerebral hemorrhage and were seen at both peripheral and central nervous system levels. The most frequently reported neurological complication was acute ischemic cerebrovascular accident, followed by Guillain-Barré syndrome. Conclusions: Considering the possibility of neurological involvement in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in earlier diagnosis and treatment; otherwise permanent, irreversible sequelae and even death may follow. More comprehensive studies may indicate that until the end of the present pandemic, young adults with unexplained and unexpected stroke as well as patients with newly diagnosed Guillain-Barré syndrome should be tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background Refugees are highly vulnerable to many health-related risks. Monitoring non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is of overriding importance in these populations. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of risk factors for NCDs amongst Afghan refugees in a refugee camp located in southern Iran. Methods This cross-sectional sturdy was conducted in 2018. Risk factors such as inadequate nutrition, physical inactivity, tobacco smoking, obesity and overweight, hypertension (HTN), elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and dyslipidaemia were assessed. Data were gathered with a modified WHO STEPS procedure. Prevalence and age-standardized prevalence and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Results The estimated prevalence were 94% for inadequate fruit/vegetable consumption, 18% for physical inactivity, 9% for tobacco smoking, 3% for FPG, 20% for HTN, 51% for central obesity, 24% for overweight, 19% for obesity, and 69% for dyslipidaemia. Conclusions Except for inadequate fruit and vegetable intake and dyslipidaemia, the prevalence of other NCD risk factors was low among Afghan refugees in Iran. Raising awareness about healthy diet and its importance and the provision of more affordable fruit and vegetables are two effective measures toward improving the health of refugees in Iran.

Background: Pharmaceutical medications are considered an important component of healthcare delivery and there is a need for its rational use; although there have been major improvements in the pharmaceutical sector in the recent past, inappropriate medication use is considered a major threat to patients' health. Therefore, the pattern of medication use should be monitored routinely. The aim of this study was to investigate the population-based prevalence of polypharmacy and the patterns of medication use in southwestern Iran. We also investigated correlates between polypharmacy and patterns of medication use.Methods: Data from the Khuzestan Comprehensive Health Study (KCHS) which consists information of 30 506 with age range to 20 to 65 years were used. Crude and age-standardized prevalence of polypharmacy and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated for different subpopulations. Multivariable Poisson regression modeling was applied, and adjusted prevalence ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system (first and second levels) was used for drug classification in different groups based on age, gender, and socioeconomic status.Erfan Taherifard and Zahra Mohammadi are co-first authors.

Background and Aim Due to the high social and economic burden and also mortality and morbidity caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in the past few years, researchers have aimed at finding solutions to suppressing the severity of infection. Recently, selective serotonin and serotonin‐norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRI/SNRI) have been investigated as an adjuvant treatment for COVID‐19. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of SSRI/SNRIs on outcomes of COVID‐19 patients. Methods In this systematic review and meta‐analysis, a comprehensive search strategy consisting of relevant words was performed by two researchers in PubMed, Scopus and EMBASE libraries. Studies reporting the effect of SSRI and/or SNRI use in COVID‐19 patients' outcome were included. Hospitalization, mortality, hospitalization event, and length of hospital stay were considered as main outcomes of this study. Analysis was carried out using Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis (CMA‐version 2) and final data were reported as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Our search led to the final selection of 9 articles including 15,287 patients. The effect of fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, and the overall effect of SSRI/SNRI use on mortality of COVID‐19 patients were investigated in 3, 2, and 7 articles, respectively. The results of our analyses showed that these medications could significantly decrease mortality of COVID‐19 patients (OR and 95% [CI]: 0.595 [0.467–0.758], 0.620 [0.469–0.821], and 0.596 [0.437–0.813]). The effect of SSRI/SNRIs on hospitalization events of COVID‐19 patients was not significant (OR: 0.240% and 95% CI: 0.041–1.4). Also, length of hospital stay was longer in patients who administrated SSRIs. Conclusion According to this study's results, SSRI/SNRIs may be effective in reducing mortality of COVID‐19 patients, suggesting the superiority of fluvoxamine to fluoxetine. The safety profile and affordable cost of SSRI/SNRIs for a short‐term use may be other reasons to propose them as beneficial medications in preventing mortality in COVID‐19.

Background: The necessity of easing pandemic restrictions is explicit. Due to the harsh consequences of lockdowns, governments are willing to find reasonable pathways to reopen their activities. Methods: To find out the basics of developing a reopening roadmap, on 6th-10th August 2020, we conducted a systematic search on Pubmed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, but no roadmap was found. Then, we manually searched Google to review the grey literature. Two independent authors extracted the data, and the senior author solved the discrepancies.Results: According to the search strategy, finally, sixteen roadmaps were included. Data categorized into four sections: principals, general recommendations for individuals, health key metrics, and in-phases strategy. The number of phases or stages differed from three to six, with a minimum of two weeks considered for each one. Health key metrics were categorized into four subsets: sufficient preventive capacities, appropriate diagnosis capacity, appropriate epidemiological monitoring capacity, and sufficient health system capacity. These metrics were used as the criteria for progressing or returning over the roadmap, which guarantees a roadmap's dynamicity. Noticeably, few roadmaps didn’t mention these criteria that may alter the dynamicity of their roadmap. When some areas face new surges, the roadmap's dynamicity is essential, and it is vital to describe the criteria to stop the reopening process and implement the restrictions again. Conclusions: Providing evidence for policymaking about lifting the COVID-19 restrictions seems to be missed in the literature, should be addressed more, and further studies are recommended.

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