An alarmingly high and increasing prevalence of obesity in Jordan / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity in Jordan, to assess related trends, and to determine associated factors and comorbidities. @*METHODS@#A multipurpose national household survey of Jordanian adults was conducted over a 4-month period in 2017. Data were collected using a structured validated questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements including waist circumference (WC; measured midway between the iliac crest and the lower rib margin), body mass index (BMI), hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio were obtained to categorize participants with regard to overweight and obesity. @*RESULTS@#This study included 4,056 persons (1,193 men and 2,863 women) aged 18 years to 90 years (mean±standard deviation, 43.8±14.2 years). According to the International Diabetes Federation WC criteria, the age-standardized prevalence of obesity was 60.4% among men and 75.6% among women, while approximately three-quarters of men and women were overweight or obese as defined by BMI. The age-adjusted odds of obesity in 2017 were approximately twice those in 2009 in men (odds ratio [OR], 1.98) and women (OR, 1.96). In the multivariate analysis, age, region of residence, and marital status were significantly associated with obesity in both genders. Obesity was significantly associated with increased odds of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, elevated triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after adjusting for age. @*CONCLUSIONS@#The rate of obesity in Jordan is high and increasing, and obesity is associated with other metabolic abnormalities. Well-defined programs to control and prevent obesity, as well as intersectoral action, are urgently required to reverse current trends.

An alarmingly high and increasing prevalence of obesity in Jordan / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity in Jordan, to assess related trends, and to determine associated factors and comorbidities. @*METHODS@#A multipurpose national household survey of Jordanian adults was conducted over a 4-month period in 2017. Data were collected using a structured validated questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements including waist circumference (WC; measured midway between the iliac crest and the lower rib margin), body mass index (BMI), hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio were obtained to categorize participants with regard to overweight and obesity. @*RESULTS@#This study included 4,056 persons (1,193 men and 2,863 women) aged 18 years to 90 years (mean±standard deviation, 43.8±14.2 years). According to the International Diabetes Federation WC criteria, the age-standardized prevalence of obesity was 60.4% among men and 75.6% among women, while approximately three-quarters of men and women were overweight or obese as defined by BMI. The age-adjusted odds of obesity in 2017 were approximately twice those in 2009 in men (odds ratio [OR], 1.98) and women (OR, 1.96). In the multivariate analysis, age, region of residence, and marital status were significantly associated with obesity in both genders. Obesity was significantly associated with increased odds of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, elevated triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after adjusting for age. @*CONCLUSIONS@#The rate of obesity in Jordan is high and increasing, and obesity is associated with other metabolic abnormalities. Well-defined programs to control and prevent obesity, as well as intersectoral action, are urgently required to reverse current trends.

prevalence and determinants of anaemia in Jordan

Background: Anaemia is a global public health problem particularly in low- and middle-income countries and may be associated with serious health consequences. Limited studies, if any, have examined the prevalence and risk factors of anaemia in Jordan at the national level.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anaemia in Jordan for both sexes at the national level and to identify high-risk population subgroups.

Methods: A national population-based household sample was selected from the 12 governorates of Jordan in 2017. A total of 1125 males and 2797 females aged between 18 and 90 years were included. The prevalence of anaemia, overall and among subgroups of the population was estimated using Hb level as per WHO definition.

Results: Results showed prevalence of anaemia to be 4.9% in males, 19.3% in non-pregnant females, and 27.4% in pregnant females. The age standardized prevalence rates were 4.9% in males and 19.3% in females. The age standardized prevalence rates were 4.9% in males and 19.3% in females. Anaemia was predominantly mild (males: 81%, non-pregnant females: 57%, and pregnant females: 65.2%). Sex, age, region, marital status, and education were significantly associated with anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) accounted for 68% of anaemic females and 38% of anaemic males.

Conclusions: The prevalence of anaemia in Jordan is lower than previously reported by WHO and the majority of anaemia was mild. Iron deficiency anaemia was the the most common type of anaemia, particularly in females. Flour fortification with iron and folic acid could have accounted for the decline of anaemia in Jordan

Relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and metabolic syndrome among Jordanian adults

Evidence of the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and metabolic syndrome (MeS) remains uncertain and incongruent. This study aimed to determine the association between 25(OH)D and MeS among Jordanian adults. A complex multistage sampling technique was used to select a national population-based household sample. The present report deals exclusively with adults aged > 18 years who had complete information on all components of MeS (n = 3,234). A structured questionnaire was used to collect all relevant information. Anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory measurements were obtained. MeS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition. Of the total, 42.0% had MeS and 31.7% had 25(OH)D < 30 ng/ml. In a stratified analysis, the prevalence of MeS did not differ significantly between subjects with low and normal 25(OH)D levels for men and women in all age groups. In the multivariate analysis, the odds of MeS were not significantly different between subjects with low and normal 25(OH)D levels (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.70, 1.05, P-value = 0.133). The association between 25(OH)D and MeS remained non-significant when 25(OH)D was analyzed as a continuous variable (OR = 1.004, 95% CI; 1.000, 1.008, P = 0.057) and when analyzed based on quartiles. None of the individual components of MeS were significantly associated with 25(OH)D level. This study does not provide evidence to support the association between 25(OH)D level and MeS or its individual components. Prospective studies are necessary to better determine the roles of 25(OH)D levels in the etiology of MeS.

Antibiotics in upper respiratory tract infections: appropriateness of the practice in Jordan

This study was conducted to assess how common is the use of antibiotics in the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infections by primary health care providers in north of Jordan, and the appropriateness of that use. Furthermore, to assess antibiotic use in relation to patients and physician characteristics. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections attending primary health centers in Irbid governorate in north of Jordan. All patients with upper respiratory infections above the levels of the bronchioles were eligible for inclusion in this study. Accordingly, 234 patients were included. Each patient was first seen and treated by the health center general practitioner and re-examined and evaluated independently by a family medicine consultant during the same visit. The mean age of patients was 17.1 years [SD=16.4] and more than half of them [56%] were children < 15 years old. General practitioners prescribed antibiotics to 61% of the patients, and these prescriptions were inappropriate in 86% of the cases. Patients' characteristics such as age, sex and education showed no role on the antibiotic prescribing decision of their physicians. Antibiotic use for upper respiratory tract infections in Jordan is common and largely inappropriate, and the characteristics of patients did not influence antibiotic prescribing by physicians. We recommend further investigations of this important issue, to find out the reasons of overusing antibiotics by physicians in these illnesses

Hyperlipidemia in Jordan: a community-based survey

Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor of cardiovascular disease. No data exists in Jordan regarding blood lipid level. To determine the prevalence of high plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels among three Jordanian communities and to identify high risk groups for these two conditions. A community-based survey of a sample of 2,152 persons aged 25 years or more selected from three locations in Jordan. Two blood samples, fasting and two hours after a 75 gm anhydrous glucose orally, were drawn from each participant. Plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, height and weight were measured and a pretested structured questionnaire was administered by a trained interviewer. The present report deals exclusively with the distribution of plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. The prevalence rates of hypercholesterolemia [HC] and hypertriglyceridemia [HT] were 23% and 23.8% respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that age over 40 years, females, obese subjects and diabetic subjects were more likely to have HC. Males, current smokers, obese subjects and diabetic persons were at higher risk of HT. Conclusions: Hypercholesterolemia and HT are highly prevalent in Jordan with a pattern consistent with that of the United States and other developed countries. Dietary habits and lifestyle of the people have to be investigated and may provide an explanation for our findings