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Background: Regarding the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and exposure to their risk factors, and the continuous need for nationwide data, we aimed to develop the latest round of the STEPwise Approach to NCD Risk Factor Surveillance (STEPS) survey in 2021 in Iran, while the COVID-19 pandemic was still present.Methods: In addition to the three main steps of this survey, including questionnaires, physical measurements, and laboratory assessments, we adapted the survey with the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, by adding to various aspects of study phases and changing some scientific and executive procedures in this round of STEPS survey in Iran. These changes were beyond the initial novelties embedded within the survey before the pandemic, by refining the study protocol benefiting from the previous experiences of the STEPS survey.Results: By amending the required changes, we could include a total of 27 874 individuals in the first step of the survey. This number was 27 745 and 18119 for the second and third steps. Comparing the preliminary results with the previous nationwide surveys, this study was highly representative on both national and provincial levels. Also, implementing the COVID-19 prevention and control strategies in all stages of survey led to the least infection transmission between the study investigators and participants.Conclusion: The novel initiatives and developed strategies in this round of Iran STEPS survey provide a state-of-the-art protocol for national surveys in the presence of an overwhelming catastrophe like the COVID-19 pandemic and the triggered limitations and shortages of resources.
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Background and Aim: Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions in the provision of non-communicable disease prevention and management services in many countries and there is a concern that this disorder will lead to long-term complications of these diseases;This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the status of some prevention and management services of non-communicable diseases in the primary health care system of Iran during the Covid-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: In this study, the routine data of 8 services related to the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases in the integrated electronic health record system (SIB) within 10 months after the outbreak of Covid-19 were compared to the same period last year.
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Background and Aim: Overweight and obesity disrupt people's quality of life and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal diseases and cancer. It also reduces the immunity of people against epidemic diseases. Materials and Methods: In this article, extensive search of electronic databases, review of national upstream documents as well as review of documents and reports of the Ministry of Health were conducted to comprehensively review the prevalence of obesity and its associated factors, measures taken to control this risk factor, and challenge of a syndemic of obesity and Covid-19 in Iran.
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Background and Aim: Overweight and obesity disrupt people's quality of life and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal diseases and cancer. It also reduces the immunity of people against epidemic diseases. Materials and Methods: In this article, extensive search of electronic databases, review of national upstream documents as well as review of documents and reports of the Ministry of Health were conducted to comprehensively review the prevalence of obesity and its associated factors, measures taken to control this risk factor, and challenge of a syndemic of obesity and Covid-19 in Iran. Results: Based on the results of the national non-communicable diseases risk factors study (STEPS) in Iran, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated to be 59.3% in people aged 18 years and older. Moreover, overweight and obesity were not homogeneously distributed in the country and the mean body mass index (BMI) changed from the lowest in the Southeastern to the highest in the Northwestern provinces. Covid-19 pandemic has made the situation even worse as the social distancing measures along with mental problems have made tremendous changes in people's lifestyles including physical activity and eating behaviors and this resulted in higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) risk factors especially overweight and obesity. Moreover, obesity increased the risk of hospitalization, admission to the intensive care units, the need for mechanical ventilation, and even mortality in patients with Covid-19. Meanwhile, anti-obesity services faced problems during the epidemics and posed a serious challenge to the world. Conclusion: This study highlighted the need for targeted national policies to simultaneously control the obesity and Covid-19 pandemics. © 2018 the Author (s). Published by Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences.
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The COVID-19 pandemic is now an international concern. COVID-19 is first reported in Wuhan, China on 31 December 2019 and affects different people in different ways. Evidence suggests that people with underlying disease are at higher risk for more severe disease. People with diabetes are not only more likely than the general population to have COVID-19 but also they are among those high-risk categories that can have serious illness if they get the virus. © 2021 Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
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Background and purpose: Gastrointestinal symptoms along with respiratory symptoms recorded in patients with Covid-19 indicate the role of microbiota in this disease. The purpose of this scientometric study was to assess the articles published on the relationship between microbiota and Covid-19 in order to control the pandemic by reaching new strategies. Materials and methods: Relevant articles were searched in Scopus database by titles and abstracts, published from January 1 to October 15, 2020. Data analysis was performed by analysis tools available in Scopus database, SPSS and VOSviewer network analysis version 1.6.15. Results: Overall, 87 papers were included. The most productive time was July in which 20 articles were published. The top subject area was medicine (n=66 papers). The first productive country was the USA (24.14%), and the top institute was the Chinese University of Hong Kong (8.54%) in China. The top source was the Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology journal that published 8.05% of the articles. Total number of citations were 401 and their H-index was 9. Top author and top country in the co-authorship network assessment or international collaboration were from China and the USA, respectively. From the Middle East, six articles were published on microbiota and Covid-19 by Iran, Jordan, Qatar, and Turkey and the highest cited article (5 times) was from Jordan. Conclusion: Some research has been carried out to investigate the role of microbiota in developing Covid-19. However, further studies are needed to clarify this role.
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Background and purpose: Gastrointestinal symptoms along with respiratory symptoms recorded in patients with Covid-19 indicate the role of microbiota in this disease. The purpose of this scientometric study was to assess the articles published on the relationship between microbiota and Covid-19 in order to control the pandemic by reaching new strategies. Materials and methods: Relevant articles were searched in Scopus database by titles and abstracts, published from January 1 to October 15, 2020. Data analysis was performed by analysis tools available in Scopus database, SPSS and VOSviewer network analysis version 1.6.15.
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Introduction: Due to the current unpredictable changes following the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, significant changes have taken place in the healthcare systems. Most of the clinical and evidence-based care services for patients with diabetic foot has been disrupted. Therefore, many patients with diabetic foot ulcers cannot receive the necessary care, despite its great significance. All healthcare providers, including physicians and nurses, have difficult tasks and responsibilities during the COVID-19 crisis. Although patients with diabetic feet are at risk of infection, hospitalization, amputation, and death, they must remain out of hospitals, and distance educational and therapeutic services must be provided for them. This study aimed to introduce and describe the recommendations of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) for the care of patients with diabetic feet during the new COVID-19 pandemic.