Ali Rafei

Trends in the prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in association with obesity in Iran: 2005-2011.

AIMS To estimate the prevalence and trends of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), 2005-2011, and to determine the contribution of obesity to DM prevalence. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data from Surveillance of Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases (SuRFNCD) conducted in 2005, 2007, and 2011 were gathered. DM was defined as presence of self-reported previous diagnosis or a fasting plasma glucose (FPG)≥7 mmol/L. IFG was diagnosed with FPG levels between 5.6 and 6.9 mmol/L. Prevalence rates for 2011 and trends for 2005-2011 were determined by extrapolating survey results to Irans adult population. Population attributable fraction (PAF) of obesity was also calculated. RESULTS In 2011, IFG and total DM prevalence rates were 14.60% (95%CI: 12.41-16.78) and 11.37% (95%CI: 9.86-12.89) among 25-70 years, respectively. DM was more common in older age (p < 0.0001), in women (p = 0.0216), and in urban-dwellers (p = 0.0001). In 2005-2011, trend analysis revealed a 35.1% increase in DM prevalence (OR: 1.04, 95%CI: 1.01-1.07, p = 0.011); albeit, IFG prevalence remained relatively unchanged (OR: 0.98, 95%CI: 0.95-1.00, p = 0.167). In this period, DM awareness improved; undiagnosed DM prevalence decreased from 45.7% to 24.7% (p < 0.001). PAF analysis demonstrated that 33.78%, 10.25%, and 30.56% of the prevalent DM can be attributed to overweight (BMI≥25kg/m(2)), general obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m(2)), and central obesity (waist circumference≥90 cm), respectively. Additionally, the DM increase rate in 2005-2011, was 20 times higher in morbidly obese compared with lean individuals. CONCLUSION More than four million Iranian adults have DM which has increased by 35% over the past seven years, owing in large part, to expanding obesity epidemic.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Iran: A 2011 update.

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its individual components among the Iranian adult population in 2011 and to investigate changes between 2007 and 2011.

Blood pressure percentiles by age and body mass index for adults

Since no comprehensive study has been conducted on blood pressure (BP) percentiles established upon nationally representative sample population of adults, the present study aimed to construct the blood pressure percentiles by age, sex and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects. Analyses were based on data collected in 2011 from 8,425 adults aged 25 to 69 years old. Data on demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and blood pressure was recorded for each subject. Linear Regression analysis was used to assess the adjusted relationship of age-sex-specific standard deviation scores of BMI, height, and weight with blood pressure. Four separate models for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of men and women were constructed for BP percentiles according to age and BMI. Blood pressure increased with the rise in BMI and weight, but showed a negative correlation with height. SBP and DBP rose steadily with increasing age, but the rise in SBP was greater than DBP. Overweight and obese population, seem to fall into the category of hypertensive. The findings of present study show that BP percentiles are steadily increased by age and BMI. In addition, most obese or overweight adults are hypertensive.

Obesity and Related Factors in Iran: The STEPS Survey, 2011.

Background: To date, no study has addressed the association between race/ethnicity and obesity considering other sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in Iran. Objectives: The current study aimed to study lifestyle and the environmental factors affecting obesity in the Iranian subjects of the STEPS Survey, 2011. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on 8639 subjects (aged ≥ 20 years) in the STEPS Survey 2011 in Iran under supervision of the World Health Organization (WHO). Height and body weight were measured following the standardized procedures. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) method was used to examine factors associated with obesity. The examined variables were age, gender, race/ethnicity, place of residence, employment status, physical activity, smoking status, and educational level. Results: Overall, 22.3% of the subjects were obese. In a GEE model, a healthy weight status among adults was associated with being younger, male, in a rural residence, employees, spending more time engaged in physical activity, being a smoker and having a moderate or high level of education. These associations were statistically significant after adjusting for other variables. Conclusions: The study results suggest a need for targeted interventions and continued surveillance for the Iranian adults.

Prevalence of Chronic Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, and Knee Pain and Their Related Factors in Community-Dwelling Adults in Iran: A Population-based National Study.

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is increasing in prevalence rapidly. Over the past 2 decades low back pain has been ranked globally as the primary cause of years lived with disability. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of chronic neck pain (CNP), chronic low back pain (CLBP), and chronic knee pain (CKP) and their related risk factors in the national Iranian population. Methods: We analyzed data obtained through a cross-sectional, population-based survey of 7889 Iranians who were aged between 30 and 70 years. Results: The prevalence of CNP, CLBP, and CKP was 15.34%, 27.18%, and 29.97%, respectively. Female sex, aging, body mass index≥25, Lur or Arab ethnicity, illiteracy, passive smoking, positive osteoporosis history, and low or high physical activity levels were risk factors for CLBP, CNP, and CKP after adjustment for potential confounders. For example, in participants with a body mass index≥30, odds ratios for CNP, CLBP, and CKP adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, living area, education, employment status, smoking, and physical activity levels were 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.52), 1.37 (95% CI, 1.17-1.59), and 1.64 (95% CI, 1.41-1.91), respectively. Conclusions: This is the first study investigating the prevalence of CNP, CLBP, and CKP in the national population of Iran. It shows some modifiable risk factors for CMP, and suggests that affordable planning for these risk factors can be valuable in preventing CMP globally. However, this is a cross-sectional study and future longitudinal studies in this field are necessary.

Twenty-year dynamics of hypertension in Iranian adults: age, period, and cohort analysis

Hypertension is a well-known health problem all over the world. Many studies have assessed its prevalence and associated risk factors, but all were cross-sectional and did not evaluate the trend of hypertension through all three different temporal dimensions including age, period, and cohort. So, we aimed to assess the 20-year dynamics of hypertension via the age-period-cohort model. Data from 74,155 subjects aged 25-60 years gathered through five national health surveys (1990-91, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011) were used in this study. The age-period-cohort effect on hypertension was analyzed using the intrinsic estimator model. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age for both genders except for males in 2003 and 2011 periods with drops of 3.5% for ages 55-60 and 8.1% for ages 50-60, respectively. As for the period effect, the prevalence of hypertension was almost constant in all age groups for both genders from 1990-1999. The cohort-based prevalence of hypertension showed a declining trend in all cohorts for females except for 2011 in birth cohort of 1950-1955 which remains stationary. The trend of prevalence for males also follows a decreasing trend except for periods of 2003, 2007, and 2011; birth cohorts of 1945-1949, 1975-1980, and 1950-1960 increase by 3.5%, 1.9%, and 8.1%, respectively. The age effect on the prevalence of hypertension showed an almost monotonic increasing trend. The period effect increased the total prevalence of hypertension from 1992 to 1997. The cohort effect also showed a monotonic decrease in hypertension prevalence except for a few discrepancies.

Oral Hygiene Status in a General Population of Iran, 2011: A Key Lifestyle Marker in Relation to Common Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases

BACKGROUND To estimate Oral Hygiene (OH) status in the Iranian population in 2011, and to determine the influence of socio-economic characteristics on OH, and its interrelation with common risk factors of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). METHODS Data including a total of 12,105 individuals aged 6-70 years were obtained from the sixth round of the surveys of NCDs risk factors in Iran. OH was recorded through a structured questionnaire measuring daily frequencies of tooth brushing and dental flossing. Descriptive analyses were performed on demographic characteristics in the complex sample survey setting. We also employed weighted binary logistic regression to compute Odds Ratio (OR) as a measure of association between the response and explanatory factors. Furthermore, to construct an asset index, we utilized Principal Component Analysis (PCA). RESULTS The percentage with minimum recommended daily OH practices was 3.7% among men and 7.7% among women (OR= 2.3; P<0.001). Urban citizens were more likely to have their teeth cleaned compared to rural people (OR= 2.8; P<0.001). For both genders, a relatively better condition was observed in the 25-34 age group (male: 5.6%; female: 10.3%). In addition, OH status improved significantly by increase in both level of education (P<0.001) and economic status (P<0.001). There were also apparent associations between self-care practices and specific behavioral risk factors, though the correlation with dietary habits and tobacco use could be largely explained by socio-economic factors. CONCLUSION OH situation in Iran calls for urgent need to assign proper interventions and strategies toward raising public awareness and reducing disparities in access to health facilities.

National Prevalence of Self-Reported Coronary Heart Disease and Chronic Stable Angina Pectoris: Factor Analysis of the Underlying Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in the SuRFNCD-2011

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common causes of mortality worldwide. The national prevalence remains unclear in most of the developing countries. OBJECTIVE This study sought to estimate national prevalence of self-reported CHD and chronic stable angina pectoris in the general adult population of Iran using data from the fourth round of the Surveillance of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases (SuRFNCD-2011) survey. METHODS The analysis comprised data of 11,867 civilian, nonhospitalized and noninstitutionalized residents ages 6 to 70 years of age. The calculated prevalence of self-reported CHD and chronic stable angina pectoris were extrapolated to the Iranian adult population who were >20 years old using the complex sample analysis. The factor analysis was performed for clustering of the associated cardiometabolic risk factors among people ages >40 years of age. RESULTS The estimated national prevalence of self-reported CHD and chronic stable angina pectoris were 5.3% (95% confidence interval: 4.6 to 5.9) and 7.7% (95% confidence interval: 4.6 to 8.7), respectively. Higher prevalence of these conditions were observed among the older people, urban residents, and women. Factor analysis generated 4 distinct factors that were mainly indicators of dyslipidemia, hypertension, central obesity, hyperglycemia, and tobacco smoking. The factor incorporating hypertension was a significant correlate of self-reported CHD. CONCLUSIONS We report concerning prevalence of self-reported CHD and chronic stable angina pectoris in the adult population of Iran. The constellation of raised systolic and diastolic blood pressures was significantly predictive of the presence of self-reported CHD.

Association between major non-communicable diseases risk factors and fasting blood glucose in Iran: comparison of two techniques, with and without dichotomizing the response.

Background: Dichotomizing a continuous outcome variable is a common approach to estimate the odds ratio (OR) as a measure of association. In the present study we aimed to compare a non-dichotomizing technique with logistic regression which exploits dichotomizing the response for estimating OR. Method: Data including a total of 17,152 Iranian individuals aged 25–65 years were derived from the third national survey of non-communicable Diseases Risk Factors in Original Research Article British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research, 4(7): 1514-1525, 2014 1515 Iran. To measure the associations between fasting blood glucose and attributed risk factors two distinct techniques were used. Using a non-dichotomizing technique, an approach proposed by B.K. Moser and L. Coombs (2004) was employed to estimate odds ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs); A binary logistic regression model was also applied to fit the data as a common dichotomizing approach. Finally the results of two methods were compared by use of relative efficiencies and relative length of CIs. Results: The odds ratios provided by both approaches are approximately the same, but relative efficiencies and relative length of CIs are greater than 2 which reflected better results for the technique used a non-dichotomizing approach compared to Logistic Regression Model. Conclusions: Dichotomizing continues outcome variable is not necessary to estimate ORs, especially when there is no pre-specified optimal cut-off point for the response variable.