Age of Natural Menopause and Related Factors among the Tabari Cohort

Objectives@#The age of menopause is affected by several factors. In this study we aimed to identify the age of natural menopause and its related factors in a large-scale population-based cohort in Iran. @*Methods@#In this study, a subset of data collected during the enrollment phase of the Tabari cohort study was utilized. Reproductive history and other related data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained from all participants. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, independent t test, and ANOVA as well as a multivariate linear regression model. @*Results@#Among participants of the Tabari cohort, 2,753 were menopausal women. The mean age of natural and induced menopause was 49.2 ± 4.7 and 43.2 ± 6.4 years, respectively (P = 0.001). The number of pregnancies, duration of breastfeeding, level of education, residency, presence of thyroid disease, and body mass index affected the age of menopause. After adjustments for confounding variables, the number of pregnancies remained significantly associated with late menopause. @*Conclusions@#The age of natural menopause in this study was similar to that in other studies, and the number of pregnancies was positively associated with the age of menopause after adjustments for confounding variables.

Enrolment Phase Results of the Tabari Cohort Study: Comparing Family History, Lipids and Anthropometric Profiles Among Diabetic Patients

OBJECTIVES: Different factors are responsible for the silent epidemic of diabetes mellitus in developing and developed countries. This study aimed to determine the role of demographic factors, lipid profile, family history (the estimation of genetic association) and anthropometric factors on diabetes onset. METHODS: Data from the enrolment phase of the Tabari Cohort study was applied for this study and included 10,255 participants aged between 35–70 years. Anthropometric variables were measured by trained staff using standard tools. Blood specimens were collected for lipid profile and blood glucose measurements. Data analyses were performed using SPSS version 24, with univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was estimated to be 17.2% in the cohort population, 15.6% in men, and 18.3% in women. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for age groups 40–49, 50–59 and over 60 were 2.58 (2.20–3.69), 5.80 (4.51–7.48) and 8.72 (6.67–11.39), respectively. In addition, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for 2 (or more), and 1 affected family member were 4.12 (3.55–4.90) and 2.34 (2.07–2.65), respectively. Triglyceride concentrations more than 500, and abnormal high-density lipoprotein levels increased the odds of diabetes mellitus by 3.29- and 1.18-fold, respectively. CONCLUSION: The current study showed that old age and a family history were strong predictors for diabetes mellitus.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among Iranian pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a great public health concern due to its capacity for prenatal transmission. Serologic studies have reported various estimates for seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among Iranian pregnant women. Estimation of the pooled prevalence of this infection is necessary for policy-making.

Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Iranian pregnant women using systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched national and international databases to identify relevant studies. To enhance the search sensitivity, we evaluated all references and interviewed relevant researchers and research centres. The final studies for meta-analysis were selected according to the quality assessment as well as inclusion/exclusion criteria. Because of the heterogeneity of the primary results, random effects models were used to estimate the pooled prevalence of T. gondii. We included 43 studies with a total sample size of 22 644 in the meta-analysis.

Results: The pooled seroprevalence of overall toxoplasma infection, IgG antibody and IgM antibody was estimated at 41.3% [95% CI: 35.8–46.8], 39.2% [95% CI: 33.3–45.1] and 4.0% [95% CI: 3.1–4.9] respectively.

Conclusions: Our study showed that a considerable proportion of Iranian pregnant women are at high risk for toxoplasmosis.