Background Given that COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, attempts to restrain the virus and to prevent the effects that critically ill patients with COVID-19 have on healthcare systems, has become a public health priority. This ecological study aimed to investigate the correlation between the Human Development Index (HDI) and the epidemiological indicators of COVID-19, including the cumulative incidence rate of cases, the cumulative incidence rate of death, performed COVID-19 tests per million, recovery rate, and case fatality rate. Methods In this ecological study, a data set was provided, which included the epidemiologic indices of COVID-19, HDI, and its components for each country. Correlation coefficients were used to determine linear correlation. Also, the scatter plots of the HDI for the studied countries based on the epidemiologic indices of COVID-19 were drawn. Results This study showed that HDI and its components had positive correlation with a cumulative incidence rate of cases, the cumulative incidence rate of death, and performed COVID-19 tests (p < 0.001). HDI and two of its components, including literacy and Gross National Income (GNI) components had negative correlation with case fatality rate (CFR). Also, HDI and two of its components, including literacy and life expectancy components had negative correlation with recovery rate. Conclusion Our study showed that the HDI and its components can affect the epidemiological status of COVID-19. As HDI increased, the cumulative incidence rate of cases, cumulative incidence rate of death, and COVID-19 tests increased as well. As HDI increased, CFR and recovery rate decreased as well. Although the HDI is higher in high-income countries, these countries may have also better reporting and surveillance systems.

A novel coronavirus disease known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread quickly throughout the world, and it was declared a pandemic in March 2022. Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a diverse group of genetic disorders characterized by recurrent bacterial and fungal infections, resulting in granulomas due to the inability of phagocytes to destroy microbes. Even though it is thought that impaired neutrophil activity is a protective mechanism against severe COVID-19-induced cytokine storms and hyper-inflammatory responses, patients with CGD have normal immunity to most viruses. Here, we present two CGD patients who were hospitalized due to severe COVID-19 infections, which suggests that COVID-19 might have a different pathogenesis than other viruses.

This global level ecological study aimed to investigate the correlation between environmental factors and the COVID-19 indices. This survey is an ecological study, so all studied variables are aggregate variables. To collect the variables in the study, a data set was provided, which includes the information of each country based on the cumulative deaths, case fatality rate, recovery rate, and the number of performed COVID-19 tests. Scatter plots of environmental factors for the studied countries were drawn based on cumulative incidence rate of cases, cumulative incidence rate of death, tests, recovery rate, and case fatality rate of COVID-19. Furthermore, Spearman correlation coefficient was also used to verify the correlation between environmental factors and indicators related to COVID-19. The results of this ecological study showed that among all countries surveyed, Montenegro (60,310.56 per million) and Luxembourg (54,807.89 per million) had the highest cumulative incidence rates of COVID-19 cases, when Tanzania (8.42 per million) and Vietnam (13.78 per million) had the lowest cumulative incidence rates of COVID-19. In addition, in this study, it was shown that the cumulative incidence rate of cases, the cumulative incidence rate of deaths, and performed COVID-19 tests had significant direct correlations with the access to drinking water and the access to sanitation services (p < 0.001). The findings of the present study showed an inverse correlation between the mortality rate due to unhealthy water consumption, poor health status, and a positive correlation between access to drinking water and health services with the cumulative incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19. The differences between our findings and many other studies could be due to the ecological nature of the study. Nevertheless, our findings will help health policymakers to develop timely strategies to reduce the mortality and incidence rate of COVID-19.

Background: Burns constitute one of the most important etiologies of infection and mortality worldwide, with the most significant number of cases in low- and middle-income countries. This is a cross-sectional study on deaths due to burns in southern Iran. Methods: In this study, data on all deaths due to burns in southern Iran between 2004 and 2019 was extracted from the population-based Electronic Death Registry System (EDRS). The Joinpoint Regression method was used to examine the trend of crude mortality rate, standardized mortality rate, and years of life lost (YLL) rate. In order to measure YLL, the number of deaths and life expectancy for different age and gender groups were used, for which the standard life table was considered. Results: During this study, 2175 deaths due to burns occurred, 50.6% (1106 cases) of which were in men and 38.7% (841 cases) were in the 15-29 age group. The crude and the standardized mortality rate had a decreasing trend during the study years. The total number of YLL was 25260 (0.8 per 1000) in men, 25,785 (0.8 per 1000) in women, and 51,045 (0.8 per 1000) in both genders during the 16 years of the study. Conclusion: Considering the high mortality rate in the 15-29 age group, which consists of the active and productive labor force, necessary actions are needed in order to improve safety equipment and to make the workplace safe.

Background: This study was conducted to determine the mortality rate and years of life lost (YLL) due to homicide in Fars province. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Methods: All data related to deaths due to homicide in Fars province were obtained from the Populationbased Electronic Death Registration System. Crude and age-standardized mortality rate, YLL, and YLL rate data were calculated and joinpoint regression was used to examine the trend. Results: During 2004-2019, 2148 deaths due to homicide occurred in Fars province, and (1782 cases (83.0%) were men. The crude mortality rate in men decreased by 44.0% from 2004 to 2019, but a stable trend was observed in women. The total YLL due to homicide during these 16 years was 43230 (1.37 per 1000 people) in men and 8931 (0.29 per 1000 people) in women. According to the joinpoint regression analysis, the 16-year trend of the YLL rate due to premature mortality in men was decreasing, and the annual percent change (APC) was -4.00% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -6.60 to -1.20, P=0.008). However, women demonstrated stable trends in this respect, and APC was -0.50% (95% CI: -3.10 to 2.20, P=0.704). Conclusion: The crude and standardized mortality rates and the number of YLL due to homicide in the study period had a significant decreasing trend in men but a stable trend in women. To control this issue, officials and policymakers should identify the areas of homicide and control its risk factors such as economic and social issues, drug addiction, and the state of violence.

Background and Aim: Prehypertension and hypertension are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of prehypertension and hypertension on the development of cardiovascular diseases.Methods: This prospective cohort study was performed on 9442 people aged 40−70 in Kharameh, southern Iran. Individuals were divided into three groups: normal blood pressure (N = 5009), prehypertension (N = 2166), and hypertension (N = 2267). In this study, demographic data, disease histories, behavioral habits, and biological parameters were studied. At first, the incidence density was calculated. Then Firth's Cox regression models were used to investigate the association between prehypertension and hypertension with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Results:The incidence density in the three groups of individuals with normal blood pressure, prehypertension, and hypertension was 1.33, 2.02, and 3.29 cases per 100,000 person-days, respectively. The results of multiple Firth's Cox regression by controlling all factors showed that the risk of occurrence of cardiovascular disease in people with prehypertension was 1.33 times (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01−1.73, p = 0.03) and those with hypertension were 1.85 times higher (HR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.38−2.29, p < 0.0001) than the individuals with normal blood. Conclusion:Prehypertension and hypertension have played an independent role in the risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, early detection of individuals with these factors and control of other risk factors in them can contribute to reducing the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.

: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was officially declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Although most patients with COVID-19 manifest fever and respiratory tract symptoms, extrapulmonary and atypical presentations, such as gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiovascular involvement as well as thromboembolic events have been reported amongst COVID-19 patients. Herein, we aim to describe a COVID-19 patient who progressed to purpura fulminans.

Background Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality in the world. This study aimed to estimate the incidence and identify the risk factors of these diseases. Methods This prospective cohort study was performed on 9442 individuals aged 40–70 years in Kharameh, a city in the South of Iran, in 2015–2022. The subjects were followed up for 4 years. The demographic information, behavioral habits, biological parameters, and history of some diseases were examined. The density incidence of cardiovascular disease was calculated. The log-rank test was calculated to assess the cardiovascular incidence difference between men and women. Simple and multiple Cox regression with Firth's bias reduction method were used to identify the predictors of cardiovascular disease. Results The mean ± SD age of the participants was 51.4 ± 8.04 years, and the density incidence was estimated at 1.9 cases per 100,000 person-day. The log-rank test showed that men had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than women. The Fisher's exact test showed a statistically significant difference between the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in different age groups, education levels, diabetes, and hypertension in men and women. The results of multiple Cox regression revealed that with increasing age, the risk of developing CVDs increased. In addition, the risk of cardiovascular disease is higher in people with kidney disease (HRadj = 3.4, 95% CI 1.3 to 8.7), men (HRadj = 2.3, 95% CI 1.7 to 3.2), individuals with hypertension (HRadj = 1.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.1), diabetics (HRadj = 2.3, 95%c CI 1.8 to 2.9), and alcohol consumption (HRadj = 1.5, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.2). Conclusions In the present study, diabetes, hypertension, age, male gender, and alcohol consumption were identified as the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases; three variables of diabetes, hypertension and alcohol consumption were among the modifiable risk factors, so if they were removed, the incidence of cardiovascular disease could greatly reduce. Therefore, it is necessary to develop strategies for appropriate interventions to remove these risk factors.