BackgroundThis population-based study aimed at investigating the prevalence and associated factors of prehypertension/hypertension in Iran.Methods and FindingsThe data (n = 2818) for this study were collected in 2015 as a part of the major Lifestyle Promotion Project (LPP) conducted in East Azerbaijan (urban and regional parts). The data for socio-demographic status, dietary information, and physical activity and anxiety levels were collected through validated questionnaires. Then, physical examination including systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), body mass index (BMI) and conicity index was performed. First-morning spot urine (SU) sample was collected to assume salt intake. The One-way ANOVA, logistic regression, chi-square test and independent t-test were used for statistical analysis. The prevalence of prehypertension, stage I and stage II hypertension, and overall hypertension was 47.3%, 13.6%, 5.45% and 22.6% respectively. The mean systolic (p = 0.004) and diastolic (p<0.001) blood pressure in men were significantly higher than women. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that in both sexes, family history of hypertension, obesity, abdominal obesity, anxiety and having high levels of sodium intake were associated with high blood pressure (p< 0.05). Additionally, 45.8% of the hypertensive patients were aware of their disease, 10.0% of the aware patients, and 44.5% of everyone with high blood pressure were receiving antihypertensive medication.ConclusionsOur data showed that prehypertension/hypertension is a major health problem in Iran. Focusing on identifying risk factors to hypertension, regular drug intake, good nutrition, physical activity, and changing lifestyles of patients with hypertension are essential.
Background: The efficacy of germinated barley foodstuff (GBF) on tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and -8 (IL-8) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) has not yet been examined. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of administration of GBF on serum TNF-a, IL-6 and -8 levels in UC patients in remission. Methods: Forty-one patients with UC were divided into two groups, namely control and GBF group. Twenty-one patients in the control group received standard treatment while 20 patients in the GBF group received 30 g of GBF daily by oral administration during two months of the study along with standard drug therapy. Results: Levels of TNF-a, IL-6 and -8 all decreased in the GBF group compared with baseline during the two-month study, while in the control group all values rose. For IL-6 and -8 this effect was significant, P ¼ 0.034 and 0.013, respectively. Conclusions:The results of the present study showed that the consumption of GBF may reduce the level of serum TNF-a, IL-6 and -8 in patients with UC. This investigation was designed as a pilot study and the results may provide a basis for more future clinical trials.
Summary It has been suggested that trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) is associated with increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. However, it is not known whether increased TMAO concentrations is associated with obesity. In the current study, we summarized the evidence related to the association of circulating TMAO with the risk of obesity measurements, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) in a two‐class and dose‐response meta‐analysis of observational studies. A systematic search carried out in PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane, and ProQuest through September 30, 2019 resulted in 12 eligible studies which were included in the current meta‐synthesis. In these studies, BMI was reported but there were no reports of WC or WHR. Meta‐analysis of two‐class variables and dose‐response meta‐analysis of continuous variables were performed. Subgroup analysis and meta‐regression were also performed to identify the source of heterogeneity. There was a dose‐response association between circulating TMAO concentration and increased BMI in studies involving healthy individuals (P nonlinearity = .007), while no evidence of departure from linearity was observed according to study design or among patients with CVD. Results showed the highest category of TMAO was associated with 0.56 kg/m2 increase in BMI (weighted mean difference [WMD], 0.563; CI, 0.026‐1.100; P = .04). The results of the current meta‐analysis revealed a positive association between circulating TMAO and obesity as presented by increased BMI. Moreover, a dose‐dependent association between circulating TMAO and obesity was also identified in apparently healthy individuals. This is the first meta‐analysis to reveal positive dose‐dependent associations between circulating TMAO concentration and obesity.
Background There are limited number of studies with controversial findings regarding the association between anemia at admission and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. Therefore, in this research, we aimed to investigate the prospective association between anemia and COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients in Iran. Methods In this prospective study, the data of 1274 consecutive patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 were statistically analyzed. All biomarkers, including hemoglobin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured using standard methods. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of less than 13 g/dL and 12 g/dL in males and females, respectively. Assessing the association between anemia and COVID-19 survival in hospitalized patients was our primary endpoint. Results The mean age of the participants was 64.43 ± 17.16 years, out of whom 615 (48.27%) were anemic subjects. Patients with anemia were significantly older (P = 0.02) and had a higher frequency of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer (P < 0.05). The frequency of death (anemic: 23.9% vs. nonanemic: 13.8%), ICU admission (anemic: 27.8% vs. nonanemic:14.71%), and ventilator requirement (anemic: 35.93% vs. nonanemic: 20.63%) were significantly higher in anemic patients than in nonanemic patients (P < 0.001). According to the results of regression analysis, after adjusting for significant covariate in the univariable model, anemia was independently associated with mortality (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.57, P = 0.01), ventilator requirement (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.54, P = 0.004), and the risk of ICU admission (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.46, 2.90, P < 0.001). Conclusion The prevalence of anemia in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was high and was associated with poor outcomes of COVID-19.
Background In the current meta-analysis, we aimed to systematically review and summarize the eligible studies evaluating the association between dietary acid load in terms of potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net-endogenous acid production (NEAP) with anthropometric parameters and serum lipids in adult population. Methods In a systematic search from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences and Cochrane electronic databases up to December 2018, relevant studies were included. Cross-sectional, case control or cohort studies evaluating the association between PRAL and NEAP with the mean values of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL, HDL), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and the prevalence of obesity were included. Results According to our results, having higher dietary acid load content in terms of high PRAL scores was associated with higher triglyceride concentrations (weighted mean difference (WMD): 3.468; confidence interval (CI): -0.231, 7.166, P = 0.04) and higher obesity prevalence (30% and 27% in highest versus lowest categories). Accordingly, being in the highest category of NEAP was associated with higher prevalence of obesity (25% and 22% in highest versus lowest category). In subgroup analysis, higher PRAL scores was associated with higher BMI in women (WMD: 0.122; CI: -0.001, 0.245; P = 0.049) and higher NEAP in men (WMD: 0.890; CI: 0.430, 1.350; P < 0.001). There was no association between dietary acid load and other studied parameters. Conclusions In the current meta-analysis, high dietary acid load content was associated with higher serum triglyceride concentrations and higher obesity prevalence. Reducing dietary acid load content might be a useful preventive strategy against obesity and metabolic disorders.
Introduction: This study aimed at evaluating knowledge and awareness of hypertension and the risk factors for hypertension among hypertensive patients. Methods: In this study, 110 hypertensive patients were enrolled and filled out two self-administered questionnaires. The first questionnaire was about the demographic characteristics and the second one was about the knowledge (n = 10), attitude (n = 9) and practice (n = 8). The internal consistency and the stability of the questionnaires were approved. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. Results: Seventy-three percent of participants know the normal range of hypertension. Most of the participants truly knew that stress (87.3%), obesity (70.9%) and aging (48.2%) are risk factors for hypertension. About 60% of participants knew the complications of uncontrolled hypertension. About 82.7% of participants believed that after adaptation of body to hypertension, there is no need to use antihypertensive drug. About 13.6% of participants measured their blood pressure daily and 11.8% of them measured it once a month. The educational level of participants was significantly associated with knowledge score (P = 0.01). There was a significant correlation between knowledge (P < 0.001) and attitude and also attitude and practice (P < 0.001) scores. Conclusion: These findings have important implications for developing proper and continuous self-management hypertension education programs in Iran which should mostly emphasize on the practical information about control and prevention programs.
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