The prevalence of depression and its related factors among taxi drivers in Tehran city during 2017-2018

Background: Depression is amongst the most significant causes responsible for loss of life, worldwide. It also increases the likelihood of accidents which may lead to unpleasant outcomes.Aim: This paper was aimed to measure the prevalence and related factors of depression amongst taxi drivers in Tehran city, from 2017 to 2018.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 taxi drivers. Cluster sampling was applied. Standard questionnaires, including Beck-21 items questionnaire, to measure depression, and job satisfaction questionnaire (JDI), were applied. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 24 using Odds Ratios (OR) by logistic regression models. Significant level was considered 5% at all analyses.Results: The prevalence of depression was 43.3% and mean (SD) of job satisfaction score was 188.1 (54), with a median and interquartile range (70±193) for the highest and lowest level of job satisfaction were 350 and 60, respectively. The odds of having depression were 2.2 times higher in drivers with low job satisfaction (OR=2.2; 95%CI:1.3,3.8), 6.2 times higher in drivers who reported bad/very bad economic status (OR=6.2; 95%CI:2.1,18.3), and 1.8 times higher in cigarette smokers ‎(OR=1.8; 95%CI:1.0,3.4). The odds also increased by 2.6 times in drivers who reported average self-rated health (OR=2.6; 95%CI: 1.5, 4.5), and by 10.1 times in drivers who reported bad self-rated health ‎ (OR=6.2; 95%CI: 1.5, 65.0). Furthermore, having a history of depression amongst first degree family members, increased the odds by 2.6 times‎ (OR=2.6; 95%CI: 1.5, 4.5).  ‎  ‎Conclusion: We found that 43% of taxi drivers in Tehran city suffer from varying degrees of depression. It seemed that cigarette smoking, family history of depression, job dissatisfaction, and poorer economic status were important contributors of depression in our investigation

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background. A strong link between morbidity andmortality from COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus is reported by many studies. The present study estimated the pooled prevalence of diabetes in patients with COVID-19. Methods. International scientific databases were searched until 15 April 2020. There was no limitation in time and language of the published papers. Quality assessment of studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) checklist. The random effects model was used to report the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results. The pooled prevalence of diabetes in patients with COVID-19 was 14% (95% CI: 11.17). Due to high heterogeneity (I2 of 93.4%, P < 0.001), three subgroups were analyzed based on study location, age and sex. The prevalence of diabetes (P) was higher among male patients (P = 16%, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.20), patients aged ≥ 65 years (P = 19%, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.31). The prevalence of diabetes was 15% (95% CI: 0.10, 0.20) among patients in Wuhan, China and 10% in patients in other cities in China (95% CI: 0.06, 0.15), and 39% in patients from other countries (95% CI: 0.04, 0.74). Conclusion. According to the results of this systematic review, the prevalence of diabetes in patients with COVID-19 is higher in other countries compared to China. The prevalence of diabetes among COVID-19 patients was also significantly higher in men and elderlies. This evidence may be useful for health policymakers to design suitable preventive and therapeutic interventions in patients with diabetes and COVID-19

Częstość występowania cukrzycy typu 2 u chorych z COVID-19 — przegląd systematyczny i metaanaliza

WSTĘP: W wielu badaniach stwierdzono silny związek między chorobowością i umieralnością z powodu COVID- 19 a cukrzycą. W niniejszym badaniu oszacowano łączną częstość występowania cukrzycy u chorych z COVID-19. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Przeszukano międzynarodowe naukowe bazy danych do 15 kwietnia 2020 roku, bez ograniczeń czasu publikacji i języka opublikowanych prac. Dokonano oceny jakości badań za pomocą listy kontrolnej Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Zastosowano model efektów losowych w celu określenia łącznej częstości występowania z 95-procentowym przedziałem ufności (CI). WYNIKI: Łączna częstość występowania cukrzycy u chorych z COVID-19 wyniosła 14% (95% CI 11–17). Ze względu na dużą niejednorodność (I2 = 93,4%; p < 0,001) przeanalizowano trzy podgrupy w zależności od miejsca badania, wieku i płci. Częstość występowania cukrzycy była większa wśród mężczyzn (16%; 95% CI 12–20) i osób w wieku ≥ 65 lat (19%; 95% CI 8–31). Częstość występowania cukrzycy wyniosła 15% (95% CI 10–20) wśród pacjentów w Wuhan, 10% (95% CI 6–15) wśród pacjentów w innych miastach w Chinach oraz 39% (95% CI 4–74%) wśród pacjentów w innych krajach. WNIOSKI: Z niniejszego przeglądu systematycznego wynika, że częstość występowania cukrzycy u chorych z COVID-19 jest większa w innych krajach niż w Chinach. Częstość występowania cukrzycy wśród chorych z COVID-19 była również istotnie większa w przypadku mężczyzn i osób w podeszłym wieku. Te dane mogą być użyteczne dla decydentów w zakresie polityki zdrowotnej, którzy projektują odpowiednie interwencje prewencyjne i terapeutyczne w przypadkach współistnienia cukrzycy i COVID-19

Understanding the Reasons for Sharing Syringes or Needles to Inject Drugs: Conventional Content Analysis.

BackgroundThis qualitative study was undertaken with the aim to identify the reasons for sharing syringes or needles among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Iran.MethodsWe used purposive sampling to recruit 4 groups of participants, male PWID (n = 14), female PWID (n = 6), service providers (n = 8), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/addiction experts (n = 9). Data were collected through 2 focus group discussions (FGDs) among male PWID, and semi-structured interviews with female PWID, service providers, and HIV/addiction experts. Using conventional content analysis, themes were extracted for reasons for sharing needles to inject drugs.FindingsWe found 13 themes for barriers such as low perceived risk of HIV, high stigma around drug injection and use, low access to harm reduction education and prevention services due to their limited working hours as a well as uneven geographical distribution of services, some structural barriers like incarceration, poverty, and homelessness, and several competing survival needs beyond the injection-related safe behaviors.ConclusionOur study was able to provide the perspectives of both PWID and health care authorities and providers towards several barriers to accessing HIV prevention services that lead to needle sharing among PWID in Iran. These barriers need to be addressed to achieve the target of HIV epidemic control

HIV prevention cascades for injection and sexual risk behaviors among HIV-negative people who inject drug in Iran

BackgroundThe HIV prevention cascade complements the HIV treatment cascade and helps evaluate the access to and use of harm reduction programs among HIV-negative individuals at risk for HIV, including people who inject drugs (PWID). This study aimed to estimate the HIV prevention cascades among PWID in Iran.MethodsUsing data from the 2014 national bio-behavioral surveillance survey, 2,391 PWID were recruited from 31 harm reduction facilities and through outreach efforts across 10 major cities. PWID aged ≥18 years who reported drug injection in the past year were interviewed, and information regarding their demographic characteristics, sexual and drug injection practices, and access to services were gathered. PWID were also tested for HIV infection. We examined the prevention cascade framework among HIV-negative PWID.ResultsThe majority of PWID were male (97.6%) and more than half aged ≥ 35 years old (55.5%). Overall, 2,092 (92.5% [95% CI: 90.8, 93.9]) were HIV-negative; 93% of whom knew illicit drug injection could increase the risk of HIV transmission, 54% had access to free-of-charge sterile needles and syringes, 51% used sterile needles and syringes in their last injection practice, and 33% used sterile needles and syringes in all injection practices in the past month. Also, 87.8% (95% CI: 85.1, 90.0) of HIV-negative PWID had sex with any partner in the past year; 88% of whom knew using condoms could reduce the risk of HIV transmission, 35% had access to free-of-charge condoms, 32% used condoms in their last sexual practice, and 18% used condoms in all of their sexual practices in the past month.ConclusionThe majority of HIV-negative PWID in Iran were at risk for HIV acquisition through unsafe drug injection or sexual practices. Harm reduction programs should improve access to free sterile needles, syringes, and condoms for PWID