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Background: Hypertension is a serious public health concern which alone is estimated to cause 7.5 million deaths (12.8% of all causes of death) per year and it doubles the risk of many cardiovascular diseases.

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Background: Patients with severe mental disorders have a high risk of metabolic-related complications like metabolic syndrome (MetS), diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension and lipid derangements, and these factors may predispose them to a high mortality rate. Data is very scarce regarding MetS among patients with severe mental illness in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of MetS and its associated factors among patients with severe mental illness. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from January to June 2019 among adult patients attending a psychiatric outpatient department, Southern Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 245 study subjects. Socio-demographic and other data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Both the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) guidelines were used to define MetS. Results: The prevalence of MetS was 24.5% and 26.9% by NCEP-ATP and IDF criteria respectively. In both definitions, females had significantly higher MetS when compared to males (31.4% vs 19.6%; p=0.03 by NCEP), and (34.3% vs 21.7%; p =0.03 by IDF), respectively. Duration >5 years with mental illness indicated higher MetS when compared to duration ≤ 5 years (42.9% vs 19.9%, p=0.001; and 46.9% vs 21.9%, p<0.0001) in NCEP and IDF, respectively. In addition, marital status [AOR (95% CI): 2.4 (1.1-5.3)], and BMI [AOR (95% CI): 8.4(4.0-17.6)], duration > 5 years with mental illness [AOR (95% CI): 2.8 (1.2-6.5)], and age >40 years [AOR (95% CI): 2.7(1.2-6.1)] were significantly associated factors of MetS by NCEP. While BMI, age >40 years and duration > 5 years with mental illness were associated with MetS by IDF. Conclusion: Long-time experience with severe mental illness and antipsychotic therapy might predispose patients to metabolic complications with significant risks of cardiovascular events. Therefore, intensive screening of patients for MetS/components is required during follow-up based on national non-communicable diseases guideline. Besides, the proper intervention of patients concerning lifestyle changes and averting risk full behaviors is mandatory.

SYNOPSISThree different volume equations were fitted to individual tree volume (V) data collected on 260 Cupressus lusitanica trees from 49 plantations in Munessa Shashemene Forest, Ethiopia. The data were first split randomly into equation development and equation testing data sets of equal size. Diameter at breast height (D) and height above the stump to the tree tip (H) were used as independent variables to predict volume over bark from a stump height of 30cm to the tip of the tree. The parameters, standard errors and mean square errors for each of the three equations were estimated with weighted least squares regression analysis using the modelling data set. The equations were then compared on the basis of fit statistics using the equation testing data set. The equation form V = E 0 + E 1 (H/D) E2 D 2 H+ H i was the best and, therefore, it was fitted to the combined data set.