[Association between healthy lifestyle score and upper gastrointestinal disorders in Iranian adults]

Background and Objective: Although lifestyle-related factors have separately been examined in relation to functional gastrointestinal disorders [FGIDs], there is no epidemiologic data on the combined association of lifestyle factors with these conditions. We aimed to examine how combinations of several lifestyle factors were associated with functional dyspepsia [FD], its symptoms and gastro-esophageal reflux disease [GERD] in a large group of Iranian adults

Methods: This descriptive -analytic study was conducted on 3363 Iranian adults [19-70 yr], whom were working in 50 health centers across Isfahan province in Iran during 2012. We used easy non-random sampling to select participants. The "healthy lifestyle score" for each participant was calculated by summing up the binary score given for five lifestyle factors, including dietary habits, dietary intakes, psychological distress, smoking and physical activity. A dish-based 106-item semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaire, General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire and other pre-tested questionnaires were used to assess the components of healthy lifestyle score. A validated Persian version of ROME III questionnaire was used, to assess functional gastrointestinal disorders

Results: The prevalence of FD and GERD among study participants was 14.5 and 23.6%, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, we found that individuals with the highest score of healthy lifestyle had 79 and 74% lower odds of FD [95% CI: 0.05-0.92, OR: 0.21, P=0.03] and GERD [95% CI: 0.09-0.69, OR: 0.26, P=0.01], respectively, compared with those with the lowest score. They were also less likely to have early satiation [95% CI: 0.11-0.73, OR: 0.28, P=0.001], postprandial fullness [95% CI: 0.09-0.50, OR: 0.22, P<0.001] and epigastric pain [95% CI: 0.21-0.92, OR: 0.44, P=0.03]. In addition to the combined healthy lifestyle score, low levels of psychological distress, a healthy diet, healthy dietary habits and non-smoking were separately associated with FGIDs [P<0.05]

Conclusion: This study showed that adherence to a healthy lifestyle was associated with lower odds of GERD, FD and its symptoms in this group of Iranian adults. Individual lifestyle-related factors were also associated with these conditions

[Relation between social support and coping with stress in nurses in psychiatric ward]

Stress is the most common cause of mental and physical problems in employers. Nurses experience high level of stresses due to the nature of their job. Stress coping strategies effect on reaction against stresses. Social support has protective and effective role on stress coping strategies. Detect the relation between coping with stress and social support in the nurses who worked in psychiatric ward. This descriptive analytic study was done on 47 nurses of the psychiatric wards of Isfahan training hospitals. The demographic data checklist and stress coping strategies and Saratoz social support questionnaire were filled. Statistical methods such as t-student, Spearmen-Pearson correlation were used to analyze data. The mean age of the studied persons was 39.9 years old and the mean score of social support of them was 10.59 +/- 2.24. There was a reverse and significant relation between the social support and the age and duration of service, while there was a direct and significant relation between the social support and the education. There was a significant relation between sex and social support [more in singles] too. There was a direct relation between the social support and the ways of coping with stress [social-emotional support], a reverse and significant relation between social support and the reception and hopeful through. If there is more social support, increased using effective coping strategies and reduced using ineffective coping strategies. Considering the importance of the social support in high stress jobs such as nursing to increase the person's capacity against stress, increase social support by improving administrative relations and social security for the nurse personnel could be useful

Evaluation of the Quit and Win contest for smoking cessation in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Quit and Win is an international biannual smoking cessation contest. Although more than 70 countries participate, few are from the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This study evaluated 4 Quit and Win campaigns in Isfahan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, from 1998 to 2004, documenting participation rates, self-reported 1-month and 1-year abstinence rates and related factors. Participation rates among smokers ranged from 0.7%-2.4% of the smokers in Isfahan. One-month quit rates varied from 41.8% in 1998 to 92.8% in 2004. At 1-year follow-up, self-reported quit rates varied from 22.5% in 1998 to 91.2% in 2004. This model was found to be feasible and successful in our community, and can be implemented in other low-and middle-income countries

[Predictive value of coronary artery calcification in coronary artery stenosis]

Early diagnosis of CAD could lead to proper treatment of patients and coronary artery calcification is considered to be a valuable index in detecting coronary artery disease using a noninvasive technique. To evaluate the relation between calcification and stenosis of coronary artery. This was a cross sectional study in which 760 patients suffering from typical chest pain and as candidates for coronary angiography were evaluated for calcification of coronary artery by fluoroscopy. All patients signed a consent form while the whole procedures were fully explained in comprehensible language. Following fluoroscopy and angiography, the results were reviewed by two different cardiologists, separately. The presence of any significant stenosis greater than 75% was considered as a sign for severe CAD. The data were analyzed by x[2] followed by determination of sensitivity and specificity. Abnormal angiogram was found in 402 cases of our patients. In general, the positive and negative predictive values for calcification were 81.8% and 26%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 87.1% and 63.4% in females and 79.7 and 47.3% in males respectively. The highest predictive value was seen in patients below 40 years old [100%]. Coronary calcification in patients with abnormal coronary angiogram was found to be 5.4 times higher than those with normal angiogram. According to our results, the noninvasive fluoroscopic technique for detection of coronary artery calcification could be regarded as a screening tool to reveal significant coronary involvement

[Relationship between hematological factors and metabolic syndrome in an iranian population isfahan healthy heart program]

Metabolic syndrome is considered as one of the risk factor for Cardio Vascular Disease [CVD]. Correlation between this syndrom and white and red blood cell counts is unknown whereas the relationship between insulin resistance and hamatologic factors is indicated in some published articles. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between hematologic parameters and metabolic syndrome. In a descriptive study 11974 over 19 years old participants in Isfahan, Najaf-Abad and Arak in rural and urban areas was evaluated as part of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program [IHHP] study . At first these participants' demographic data [age, sex, past history and drug consumption] were collected then trained physicians measured their blood pressure and waist circumference. Blood pressure in two separate occasions was recorded and mean of these measures was used in this study. In all participants, laboratory examinations [RBC, WBC, HDL-C, FBS, TG] were done after a 12 hour fasting. Participants were evaluated for metabolic syndrome according to ATP-III criteria. Data were entered in to SPSS-11 and analyzed by t-test and Spearmen correlation. Overall 6132[51%] females and 5842[49%] males with mean age of 35.6 +/- 3.8 and 35.9 +/- 32 year were studied respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in male and female participants were 10.6% and 35% respectively and 23/1% in overall. WBC and RBC counts were higher in patients with metabolic syndrome compared to those of normal subjects. Correlation between metabolic syndrome and RBC and WBC counts was significant excluding the case of hypertension. The most powerful correlation was obsereved between count RBC and HDL-C [r: -0.245, p<0.001], WBC and TG [r: 0.195, p<0.001]. We observed increased RBC and WBC counts in patients with metabolic syndrome. In this regard a widespread study may help us use these hematologic parameters even in normal values as indicators for evaluation of high risk patients

Comparison of fasting plasma insulin level between acute coronary disease and non-coronary disease

Hyperinsulinemia is related to obesity, diabetes and hypertension, but its relation to coronary artery disease, as an independent risk factor, is questionable. This study was conducted to compare the insulin level in patients with acute coronary and non coronary diseases. This is a cross-sectional study in which two groups of hospitalized patients in emergency department, 32 patients in each group [acute coronary and non coronary disease] were evaluated for fasting insulin level. Diabetes or a family history of it, previous history of coronary artery disease or family history of it, pancreatic origin of abdominal pain, hypertension, overweight or obesity, or using steroids were exclusion criteria for this study. Collected data were analyzed using Mann-Withney test. There was not any statistical difference in age and sex of both groups. No significant difference was noted in insulin level of coronary and non coronary patients in this study. Having these results, we can not include hyperinsulinemia as an independent risk factor for CVD

Obesity and its association with other cardiovascular risk factors in women's in central Iran - women healthy heart project

Cardiovascular diseases [CVD] are considered the most important cause of death worldwide. Obesity is a major CVD risk factor. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and its association with other CVD risk factors in Iranian women. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2001 as part of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program [IHHP] in three Central Iranian cities of Isfahan, Najaf-Abad and Arak. Being over 19 years of age, absence of pregnancy, absence of mental retardation and Iranian nationality were the criteria for inclusion in the study. A questionnaire on demographics characteristics, drug consumption, smoking status, and physical activity were filled out for every subject. Height, weight and blood pressure of all subjects were measured and fasting blood samples were taken to measure blood glucose and lipids. The data were analyzed with T-test, X[2] and multiple linear regression, using SPSS11. Of 6391 women aged 38.8 +/- 14.5 years participating in the study, 79% lived in the urban areas and 21% in the rural areas. The prevalence of a higher BMI was greater in urban areas in all ages. Hypertension, diabetes, total cholesterol-triglyceride and LDL-C disorders and inadequate physical activity were more prevalent in obese women than normal ones, but no significant difference was seen in HDL-C disorder and smoking between the two groups [P<0.05]. There was a significant positive relationship between BMI and age, blood glucose and urban residence, and a negative relationship was observed between BMI and inadequate physical activity [P<0.05]. The high prevalence of obesity and the major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in urban areas is testament to unhealthy lifestyle and insufficient physical activity of women in areas studied