Measures of Mortality in Coronavirus (COVID-19) Compared With SARS and MERS

In late 2019, a novel coronavirus, now designated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the cause of an outbreak of acute respiratory illness in Wuhan, a city in China. Mortality rate, case fatality rate, and Years of Potential Life Lost can be measured by determining death cases. Much of our information on mortality rates of diseases can be obtained through a regular implementation of care plans that are often developed to screen infectious diseases. In the YLL component, the higher the individuals die at an earlier age, the longer their life is lost. For COVID-19, this component refers to the simple subtraction of age at death due to COVID-19 from the standardized life expectancy for the same age in the same sex. A potential application of health summary indices is to consider the non-fatal consequences of diseases to ensure that they are taken into account in health policy making. Given that COVID-19 has a non-fatal effect on a large number of patients, the estimation of disease burden using the DALYs may be an appropriate index for achieving this goal

Risk factors for COVID-19 severity and mortality among inpatients in Southern Iran

Introduction: COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory disease and many factors can affect its severity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Methods: In this study, 311 cases with COVID-19 approved by the CORONA database in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were selected using a random systematic sampling method. The study data were collected through interviews and phone calls. Results: The mean age of the participants was 45.82±17.92 years, and the male to female ratio was 1.57:1. In addition, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was 4.50%, and the disease was severe in 47.5% of the cases. The most common clinical symptoms were cough (39.22%), fever (31.83%), and dyspnea (24.76%). The severity of COVID-19 was significantly associated with age and history of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Besides, the mortality of COVID-19 was significantly related to age, gender, hypertension, CVD, and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The mean interval between the onset of the first symptom and referral to health center was 3.02±2.82 days. Additionally, the mean interval between the referral to health centers and testing was 0.88±2.20 days. Conclusion: Older patients and those who had CVD needed more careful healthcare and early intervention to prevent the exacerbation of COVID-19. Furthermore, the interval between the onset of the first symptom and testing was relatively long. Overall, early diagnosis, isolation, and treatment of patients were found to be essential to control COVID-19

Factors and Prevalence of Depression in Students at Iran’s Urmia University of Medical Sciences

Background: Depression is characterized by decreased tendency to work, reduced pleasure from work, increased or decreased weight, increased or decreased appetite, insomnia or narcolepsy, irritability, fatigue, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, feelings of guilt, reduced ability to concentrate and think, and thoughts of suicide or actual suicide attempts. In this 2016 study, we examined the factors and prevalence of depression in students at Urmia University of Medical Sciences in Urmia, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 students. Data were collected through the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II): a 21- item standard questionnaire in multiple-choice format to evaluate depression. The questionnaires were distributed randomly by trained students over a period of 5 months. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 19 software and by descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, logistic regression models, and the chi-squared test. Results: The mean BDI score was 14.67 ± 11.30. Of the study population, 278 (69.8%) were men and 120 (30.2%) were women. In terms of depression, 40.2% of the students were in the normal range and had no depression, 23.6% were slightly depressed, and 18.3% were partially depressed. Also, 6.03% of students had severe depression, and 3.51% of students had very severe depression. No statistically signi cant relationship was observed between depression and sex (P = 0.11). However, signi cant relationships were observed between depression and education level (P = 0.001), smoking history (P = 0.001), and age (P = 0.023). P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically signi cant. Conclusion: The prevalence of different degrees of depression in the plurality of students at Urmia University of Medical Sciences necessitates the development and institution of psychological training classes

Frequency distribution of neutrophil and eosinophil count in children with asthmatic attack referring to Taleghani hospital in Gorgan in 2016-2020

Introduction: The total eosinophil count is a marker of asthmatic activity and can be helpful in the early diagnosis of asthma attacks and in determining appropriate steroid doses. However, in some asthmatic patients, the blood eosinophil count may be within the normal range, and the eosinophil level may not necessarily be elevated in patients with bronchial asthma. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the frequency distribution of eosinophil and neutrophil percentages in peripheral blood smears of children experiencing asthma attacks. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records of children with severe asthmatic attacks treated at Ayatollah Taleghani hospital in Gorgan between 2016 and 2020. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the participants to evaluate the neutrophil and eosinophil counts. Results: Out of the 180 medical records analyzed, only 1.7% of patients had eosinophil counts above the normal range, while 86.7% had neutrophil counts above the normal range. The results showed an inverse relationship between the age of patients and their peripheral blood eosinophil levels, although this relationship was not statistically significant (r=-0.06, P=0.41). There was a significant relationship between the neutrophil percentage and the age of the patients; however, this relationship was also not statistically significant (r=0.03, P=0.96). Conclusion: The percentage of eosinophils in peripheral blood can be a reliable predictor for assessing the severity of asthma

Evaluation of Suspended Matter less than 10 µm and Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases: in Urmia City, 2015

Introduction: Air pollution induced by human activities is one of major challenges faced by Iran, as well as the world . The AirQ model was used to evaluate the cardiovascular and respiratory diseases attributable to the exposure to suspended particles of less than 10 µm in Urmia city of West Azerbaijan Province, Iran, in 2015. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted in Urmia in 2015. The hourly data of the PM10 (particle matter up to 10 µm) pollutant were extracted as the raw material from the Environmental Health Center. The health effects of suspended particles of less than 10 µm were estimated by statistical analysis using the World Health Organization’s AirQ model.Results:  According to the results concentration of PM10 was higher in the cold seasons compared with the warm seasons. The annual average of PM10 concentration was 3.9 times higher than that prescribed as per the standards of clean air in Iran. In addition, the cumulative numbers of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in the city of Urmia in the median estimate were 287 and 744 cases, respectively. Conclusion: As a consequently, air pollution in the Urmia city has contributed significantly to the rate of hospitalizations and deaths of people in 2015. Therefore, authorities should make appropriate, sustainable, and applicable strategies based on comprehensive research to control the Urmia air pollution crisis

The survey of factors associated with the development of immune tolerance in children with cow’s milk allergy; a cross-sectional study in Gorgan, Iran

Introduction: Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is a common complication and one of the most common food allergies in infants, and it is estimated that this disease affects 2-3% of children under five years old. Objectives: This study investigated the factors associated with developing immune tolerance in children with CMA in Gorgan. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 50 children with CMA referred to the asthma and allergy clinic of Taleghani Hospital in Gorgan during 2019-2020 were investigated. Multiple logistic regression was applied to measure odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the associations between the selected factors and tolerance to cow’s milk. Results: The results suggested that factors including standard delivery (P=0.024, OR=4.03, 95% CI: 1.20-13.53) and breastfeeding in the first month of birth (P=0.003, OR=6.73, 95% CI:1.94-23.36), and gastrointestinal symptoms (P=0.026, OR=3.78, 95% CI: 1.17-12.19) were associated with immune tolerance to CMA. Younger age of starting complementary feeding (P<0.001, OR=0.070, 95% CI:0.02- 0.30), younger age of starting cow’s milk feeding (P=0.003, OR=0.520, 95% CI: 0.32-0.83), skin symptoms (P=0.012, OR=0.211, 95% CI: 0.06-0.71) and respiratory symptoms (P=0.013, OR=0.219, 95% CI:0.07- 0.72) were associated with allergy persistence. Conclusion: The findings of our study demonstrated natural childbirth, breastfeeding, and gastrointestinal symptoms, including bloody stools, are factors related to immune tolerance in children with CMA. The findings showed that decreasing the onset of complementary feeding, reducing the age of cow’s milk feeding, and clinical manifestations of respiratory and skin are associated with persistent CMA in children

Depression literacy, mental health literacy, and their relationship with psychological status and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: This study was conducted to measure depression literacy (D-Lit) and mental health literacy (MHL) and to investigate their relationship with psychological status and quality of life among Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 among 400 patients with T2DM in Iran. Samples were selected using proportional stratified sampling. Data collection tools comprised a demographic questionnaire, measures of MHL and D-Lit, the diabetes quality of life (DQOL) scale, and the DASS-21. After confirming the normality of the data using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, parametric statistical tests (such as one-way ANOVA, independent samples t-test, and Chi-Square) were used to investigate the relationship between the variables using SPSS v22 software. The results of continuous quantitative data are reported in the form of means and standard deviations, and qualitative data are reported in the form of absolute and relative frequencies. Results: In this study, 10.25% of the participants (n = 41) had severe depression, while 36.75% (n = 147) experienced severe anxiety. The mean (standard deviation) of MHL was 80.92 (9.16) from 130 points. Of the participants, only 1.7% (n = 7) did not answer any questions correctly on the D-lit scale, and only 5.8% (n = 23) were able to answer 15 questions or more correctly on the D-lit. MHL had a significant negative correlation with depression (r = −0.236), anxiety (r = −0.243), and stress (r = −0.155) (P \u3c 0.001). There was a positive and significant correlation between MHL and D-Lit (r = 0.186) (P \u3c 0.001). D-Lit had a significant negative correlation with depression (r = −0.192), anxiety (r = −0.238), and stress (r = −0.156) (P \u3c 0.001). There was a positive and significant correlation between the ability to recognize disorders (r = 0.163), knowledge of self-treatment (r = 0.154), and DQOL (P \u3c 0.001). Depression (r = −0.251), anxiety (r = −0.257), and stress (r = −0.203) had a significant negative correlation with DQOL (P \u3c 0.001). Conclusion: MHL and D-Lit levels were found to be inadequate in patients with T2DM. These low levels of MHL and D-Lit among patients with T2DM were associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as a lower quality of life. Therefore, designing and implementing preventive programs to improve the mental health of patients with T2DM can help prevent mental disorders and ultimately improve their quality of life

The impact of using BASNEF model on self-control behaviors among Patients with hypertension

Background: High blood pressure is the most important public health problem in developed countries. It is one reason for early mortality and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases like stroke and kidney failure. This study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on BASNEF in blood pressure control in 1395.Methods and Materials: This study was a quasi-experimental study on 160 patients in two groups (each n = 80) suffering from hypertension in urban health centers of Urmia. Data collection questionnaire included: demographic questions, knowledge base questions, self-control behaviors questions and structures of  BASNEF model. Validity and reliability were respectively 80% and 79%. Intervention group had taken three 45 minutes sessions using speeches, questions and answers, posters, booklets, pamphlets and whiteboard. Before training, information collected through questionnaires and after training questionnaires were completed again after 3 months. The data were analyzed in SPSS software with chi-square tests, Fisher, independent and paired sample t-test.Results: The average age of case and control group were  99.11 ± 01.56 and 75.12 ± 66.53 years. That there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.1). After intervention average systolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the intervention group from 43.157 to 24.147 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased from 21.93 to 52.87 mm Hg (P &lt;0.05)Conclusion:  The training program using BASNEF model has provided better results in controlling blood pressure than conventional trainings

Association of fear of COVID-19 and preventive behaviors (PB) against COVID-19 in Iran

Introduction: The world is currently experiencing a pandemic of COVID-19. The pandemic may affect physicaland mental health. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the fear of COVID-19 and study the relationshipbetween fear of COVID-19 and preventive behaviors against COVID-19. Material and methods: We conducted a web-based cross-sectional study to evaluate the fear of COVID-19 andpreventive behaviors against COVID-19 among the volunteer population in Golestan Province, Iran in May 2020 andJune 2020. The online questionnaire included the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and the prevention behaviorsagainst COVID-19, which are used to assess the fear and prevention behaviors of the population, respectively.The data were presented by mean and frequency. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identifyfactors associated with Fear of COVID-19 at a significant level of 0.05 in Stata 14. Results: A total of 734 of the 900 individuals contacted completed the survey, with a participation rate of 81.5%.The mean age of the participants was 33.97 ± 10.68 years and 375 (51.9%) were females. The mean Fear ofCOVID-19 score in the participants was 19.69 ± 5.96. There was a significant positive correlation between Fearof COVID-19 and preventive behaviors (r = 0.19, p &lt; 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed participantswith a higher perceived threat of COVID-19, women, married participants, health workers and peoplewith underlying diseases had higher levels of fear of COVID-19. Conclusions: The fear of COVID-19 in Iranian society is high, which indicates the need to pay attention tothe mental health in pandemic conditions. Appropriate intervention action can be designed and implementedaccording to the factors that affect fear. In addition, it should be noted that people with less fear are less likelyto observe the COVID-19’s preventative behaviors