Protocol Design for Surveillance of Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Experience from Iran STEPS Survey 2021

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.

Iran's status of NCDs prevention and management services during COVID-19 pandemic at PHC level

Background and Aim: Evidence shows that COVID-19 pandemic affects non-communicable diseases (NCDs), significantly. This study aimed to analyze the status of prevention and management services of NCDs at the level of primary health care (PHC) system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: In this situation analysis study, first the circulars communicated at the level of PHC system from beginning of the pandemic to the end of September 2020 were manually and electronically retrieved, and those which included a decision or action in terms of governance and coordination mechanisms to provide NCDs in crisis and reopening stages, were analyzed. Then, the plans of major NCDs services in low-risk, intermediate, and high-risk conditions were developed and finalized based on the circulars. Finally, situation analysis was performed using SWOT analysis, and proposed strategies were extracted.

The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on non-communicable disease prevention and management services in the primary health care system of Iran

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.