Survey of the relationship between activity energy expenditure metabolic equivalents and barrier factors of physical activity in the elderly in Kashan

Background: Physical activity in the elderly is influenced by aspects of aging that cause personal, mental, environmental, andsocial changes. Increases in factors that are barriers to activity cause physical energy expenditure to decrease. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to survey the relationship between energy expenditure in metabolic equivalent units (MET) and factors that are barriers to physical activity in elderly people in Kashan, Iran Methods: This is a descriptive analysis done in 2014. The study population was 400 people above 60 years old in medical facilities in Kashan. Multistage sampling was used in 10 clinics in 5 areas of Kashan. The sample size was varied according to gender and elderly population. Contributors were given questionnaires concerning energy expenditure levels in physical activity and factors that are barriers to being active. Results: The average age among the study population was 67.6 ± 6.8 years median, and the interquartile range (IQR) of barriers to physical activity among Kashan�s elderly was (8.75) ± 33. Average energy expenditure was 326.21 ± 364.84 based on metabolic equivalent units (MET). In fact, 340 persons (85) were practically without any active energy expenditure. The mostcommonbarrier was the lack of an appropriate place for doing physical activity; 298 (74) of the participants cited this barrier. The results show the Spearman rank-order correlation is significant (P = 0.038, r = 0.104) between barriers to physical activity and activity energy expenditure in Kashan�s elderly. Conclusions: Decreasing barriers to physical activity among the elderly causes physical activities to increase; therefore, energy expenditure is increased. Decreasing social and environmental problems for the elderly is effective in increasing physical activity and energy expenditure. © 2016, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Collapse of Cancer Care Under the Current Conflict in Sudan

Sudan has been under an armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia since April 15, 2023. The conflict has turned the country into the largest internal displacement humanitarian crisis with 9.05 million internally displaced persons including 2.2 million children younger than 5 years and caused 1.47 million Sudanese to flee the country as refugees. The conflict has had a major destructive impact on the health system, which has incurred targeting with air raids, ground invasion, vandalization, looting of assets and supplies, and killing of doctors, nurses, and other health personnel. Khartoum Oncology Hospital, Sudan's main cancer hub for treatment, diagnostics, and research has become nonfunctional as a result of the conflict. The National Cancer Institute in Wad Medani, the second largest hub, faced a similar fate as the conflict spread to Al-Gezira State. Patients with cancer have been displaced multiple times in Sudan with grave consequences on the continuity of care, worsening of their disease outcomes and palpable negative impacts on children. The oncology workforce in Sudan have themselves been displaced yet are working hard to provide services and care for patients under impossible circumstances. Sudan's doctors in diaspora have rallied to provide support but they face multiple obstacles. As the conflict continues to spread, we call upon the WHO, the United Nations Children's Fund, St Jude Hospital, and all relevant partners to implement an immediate evacuation operation with urgent air lifts of the affected children to continue their cancer care in neighboring countries as was done in Ukraine and Gaza