Prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries in the healthcare workers of Iranian hospitals: an updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND@#Needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) are critical occupational risk among health care workers (HCWs), which is extremely worrying due to the potential risk of transmitting bloodborn pathogens (BBPs). This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of NSIs among Iranian HCWs.@*METHODS@#In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the key terms percu* injur*, needle* stick injur*, needlestick* injur*, or sharp* injur* were searched in the Scientific Information Database (SID), MagIran, IranMedex, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus. A prefabricated checklist, including variables: first author, publication year, study population, sample size, gender, total prevalence of needlestick in each gender, type of questionnaire, region, and type of hospitals, was used to extract data from the selected articles included which were published between 2003 and 2016.@*RESULTS@#The analysis showed that the prevalence of NSIs in the Iranian HCWs was 42.5% (95% CI 37-48). Moreover, the prevalence of NSIs was more in women (47%; 95% CI 36-58) compared to men (42%; 95% CI 26-58).@*CONCLUSION@#Given the high prevalence of NSIs, it is necessary to supply safe needles and instruments, hold training programs focused on new methods of using sharp objects safely, observe safety principles and standards, reinforce the practical skills of personnel, and pay more attention to reporting and improving occupational behaviors like avoiding needle recapping in order to reduce the prevalence of NSIs and consequently reduce potential risk of transmission of BBPs.

Health related quality of life in Iranian elderly citizens: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The ever-growing elderly population of Iran and their physical and mental consequences put emphasis on the necessity of determining the quality of life [QoL] in this social group. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the mean score of QoL in Iranian elderly citizens

Methods: Twenty-one articles that were indexed in Iranian [MagIran and Iran Medex] and international [Scientific Information Database, Google Scholars, Science Direct, PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus] databases were selected. The articles have used the Short Form Health Survey [SF-36] to measure QoL in Iranian elderly. The collected data were analyzed using a random effects model, while heterogeneity of the studies was measured by I2 index. The data analysis was performed by STATA

Results: The sample size of the 21 articles was 5318 and the mean score of QoL in the healthy and sick elderly citizens was 53.8 [CI 95%: 49.4-58.2] and 50.6 [CI 95%: 38.4-62.9] respectively. In addition, there was no significant relationship between the score of QoL and the year of publication of the articles. [P=0.748]

Conclusion: Given that QoL of the studied elderly was almost at an average level, there is a need to codify and implement comprehensive programs through effective training programs toward improving QoL of the elderly

[Association between metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea in elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases]

Background: Sleep apnea is one of the sleep breathing disorders associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that increases the risk of mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between sleep apnea and the metabolic syndrome in elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases

Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 200 elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases in Saqqez's Imam Khomeini's Hospital in 2014 with convenience sampling. ATP3 index and STOP scale were used to determine sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome, respectively. Data were analyzed by PASW software using descriptive statistics, independent t test and Chi square at the significant level of <0.05

Results: 48% and 73% of patients with cardiovascular diseases had metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea, respectively. There was an association between metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea in women, so that the chance of metabolic syndrome in women with sleep apnea was 2.4 times more than others [OR=2.4, 95%CI: 1.3-4.3, p=0.003]. Among the components of metabolic syndrome, only systolic blood pressure was associated with sleep apnea [p=0.004]

Conclusion: Given the prevalence of sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome in elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases, these two variables should be considered simultaneously

[Cornual heterotopic pregnancy: a case report from Saqqez]

Background: Cornwall heterotopic pregnancy in spontaneous pregnancy is very rare and its diagnosis is very difficult, confusing and challenging. Delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis is potentially life threatening for mother

Case Report: In this report, a 27-year old woman complaining of abdominal pain and bleeding spotting with 3 weeks delay was referred to hospital. Diagnostic evaluations showed corneal heterotopic pregnancy. Corneal and oviduct was removed and the site was restored. Intrauterine pregnancy was aborted after a few days

Conclusion: Because cornual pregnancies are located at the most richly vascularized area, any rupture can cause heavy bleeding, acute shock and death. So, cornual pregnancies need accurate diagnosis and urgent treatment

[ relationship between preoperative anxiety and postoperative nausea and vomiting]

Postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV] is a common and unpleasant experience for patients undergoing surgery which will delay healing and increase the cost. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative anxiety and postoperative nausea and vomiting. This descriptive, analytical and correlation study was carried out with purposive sampling method on 110 patients of surgery unit of Besat hospital of Sanandaj in 2012. Spielberger questionnaire was used for assessing preoperative anxiety and Visual Analog Scale [VAS] to evaluate the severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The Spielberger questionnaire was completed the night before surgery and pain questionnaire was completed 3 hours after surgery. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, chi-square, Spearman and Pearson correlation tests using SPSS software version 18. P- Value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. 32 patients [29.1%] had severe state preoperative anxiety and 21 patients [19.1%] had severe trait preoperative anxiety and 14 patients [12.7%] had severe postoperative nausea and vomiting. There was a significant correlation between state anxiety [p=0.0001, r=0.60] and trait anxiety [p=0.0001, r=0.54] before surgery and postoperative nausea and vomiting. There is a significant correlation between preoperative anxiety and postoperative nausea and vomiting