ABSTRACT
Background: Thalassemia as the most common genetic disorder worldwide is regarded as a serious problem in public health issues in the Mediterranean region. Patients with beta-thalassemia major experience physical, psychological and social problems that lead to decreased quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life and its determinants among patients with major beta-thalassemia. Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional survey of quality of life. Population with thalassemia major (aged ≥ 2 years) of both genders who had records in Thalassemia Clinic of Bu-Ali Hospital, and those who regularly refer for blood transfusion or follow-up visits. Data were collected from December 2013 to May 2014.The self-administered short form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire was used to measure quality of life in patients with thalassemia. Data were analysed using descriptive statistical tests (mean, SD, and frequency), and inferential statistical test (t-test) in SPSS.17 software. Results: Our samples were 20 men and 23 women. The median age was 20 years (2-42). After reviewing the patients' quality of life, it was observed that the mean score for physical function was 79.8, role limitations due to physical reasons 78.8, bodily pain 74.4, general health 59.1, fatigue or vitality 63.3, social function 70.21, role limitations due to psychological reasons (emotional) 77.3 and mental health 65.4. On two scales, role physical (P = 0.33) and role emotional (P = 0.13), the men showed significantly lower scores than the women. Conclusions: After reviewing the patients' quality of life, the highest quality in physical function and lowest quality in general health of patients were observed. In the quality of care data all scales were in very good level except general health.
ABSTRACT
Background: Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in most countries and it holds the first or the second place in terms of frequency in different areas of the country. BCC is the most usual type of tumor in the white skinned people, and its incidence rate rises as individuals get older, especially after age 40.Thistype of skin cancer mostly occurs in the white skinned people and, in85% of cases; it develops on the head and neck. This study aimed at examining the geographical distribution of skin cancer (BCC type) in Ardabil province through GIS. Methods: This cross-sectional study has been done on 131 cases of skin cancer with type BCC in 2007-2014. The required information such as age, sex, occupation, and the locus of BCC, was extracted from the patients' records based on their place of residence. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (version 20). ARC GIS (version 10) was used for drawing geographic maps. Results: 50.4% of the subjects were men and the mean age of them was 62.8±14.5 years. Of the subjects, 66.4% were from Ardabil city, 80.2% from urban population and 15.3% of the subjects were smokers. Of the patients, 78.5% had developed cancer in their face. Conclusions: Results showed that for control of cancer, educational interventions should be given priority, and people should be instructed about the use of personal protection equipment, like proper sunscreen cream, hat and sunshade in the workplace, as far as it is possible.
ABSTRACT
Background: Osteoporosis is the most prevalent bone metabolic disease and a common disease in the population. Considering the high prevalence of osteoporosis in women, this study is conducted to assess female students’ awareness of osteoporosis in Ardabil. Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytical study which was conducted by a questionnaire with 27 questions. By simple random sampling, 150 female students (including medical and non-medical students) were selected from Ardabil universities and then collected data were analyzed by statistical methods in SPSS.16. Results: Overall 10.7% of students (16 people) had a good, 60.7% (91 people) had moderate and 28.7% (43 people) a poor awareness of osteoporosis. Conclusions: Results showed that students do not have a proper awareness about osteoporosis. Therefore it seems necessary to provide some educational interventions to promote community awareness for osteoporosis prevention, especially in young girls.
ABSTRACT
Background: Carbon monoxide gas is odorless, colorless and toxic which are the most abundant pollutants in the lower atmosphere. Carbon monoxide poisoning is considered as one of the most common causes of mortality in Iran and Ardabil province. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of carbon monoxide gas poisoning died patients during 2008 to 2013. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, with referral to the Ardabil coroner center and poisoning ward of Imam Khomeini hospital, the statistics related to carbon monoxide poisoning died patients have been extracted and entered into the Checklists then analyzed by statistical methods in SPSS.19. Results: The number of deceased in this study was 35 people with a mean age of 33.66 ± 21.38. Of them, 19 (54.3%) were male and 16 (45.7%) were female. 85.7 percent of the deceased had been poisoned at home which from them 71.4% died before transaction to hospital. The season winter with 48.6% include the most of cases and the most common vehicle of intoxication was water heater with 48.6%. Conclusion: Carbon monoxide gas poisoning is one of the cases that causes to death of people in Ardabil every year and so promoting public awareness about risks due to Carbon monoxide could have a considerable role in the prevention of poisoning.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a set of essential actions to rescue patients with cardiopulmonary arrest. The aim of this study was to assess results of CPR and related factors. Methods: In this descriptive cross sectional study, 217 patients with cardiopulmonary arrest were studied. Success criteria of the CPR were spontaneous breathing and movement of the heart and lungs and confirmation it by supervisor and CPR team. Results: From all patients, 139 (64.1%) patients were male and 78 (35.9%) were female. The mean age was 62 years and the most frequent age range was 60-75 (34.6%). Twenty-nine percent of CPRs were successful. There was a significant relation between CPR success rate with time duration of CPR and used drugs. Conclusion: The results showed that the success rate of CPR in the emergency department was 29%, which was similar to other studies in the country and world.
ABSTRACT
Bacground and aim: There are few reports from Iran about the epidemiology and clinical features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we aimed to determine the epidemiologic profile and clinical features of ulcerative colitis (UC) in Northwest of Iran. Methods: This retrospective study covered the time period from 1998 to 2008 and included all patients of a private gasteroenterology clinic in the northwest of Iran, who had diagnosis of UC at the time of presentation or those whose diagnosis had been made later. In addition to description of epidemiology and clinical feature of disease, an attempt was made to identify factors associated with severity of disease. Results: A total of 105 patients including 61 females (58.1%) were evaluated. Mean age of the patients was 33.5 ± 13.1 years. The median time interval from initiation of symptoms to diagnosis was 9 months. The commonest presentation was proctosigmoiditis. (48.6%). Among extraintestinal manifestations, sclerosing cholangitis had the highest frequency and was found in 2 (1.9%) patients. Among all evaluated variables, only family income (the higher the income the more severe the disease) and cigarette smoking (inverse association) were find to have significant association with severity of disease. Conclusion: A case profile of patients with ulcerative colitis from Northwest Iran suggests that the disease is seen most commonly in the third decade of life with a female preponderance. Family income and smoking influenced the course of ulcerative colitis in Iranian patients.