ABSTRACT
We describe the patterns of cancer incidence for common cancers in Gulf Cooperation Council countries during 1998-2001. A total of 32,291 cases of cancer were diagnosed (16,342 in males; 15,949 in females). Male preponderance was observed only in Saudi Arabia and Oman. The age-standardized incidence of all malignancies per 100,000 in both sexes was highest in Qatar followed by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia. Paediatric cancer ranged from 9.5% of total cancers in Saudi Arabia and UAE to 4.0% in Bahrain. In all countries, the mean age at diagnosis was higher in males than females; cancer of the lung and prostate were commonest among males, and cancer of breast and thyroid among females. Lung cancer ranked second among Bahraini women.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Bahrain/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Incidence , Infant , International Classification of Diseases , Kuwait/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/classification , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Oman/epidemiology , Population Surveillance , Qatar/epidemiology , Registries , Risk Factors , Saudi Arabia/epidemiology , Sex Distribution , Smoking/epidemiology , United Arab Emirates/epidemiologyABSTRACT
We describe the patterns of cancer incidence for common cancers in Gulf Cooperation Council countries during 1998-2001. A total of 32 291 cases of cancer were diagnosed [16 342 in males; 15 949 in females]. Male preponderance was observed only in Saudi Arabia and Oman. The age-standardized incidence of all malignancies per 100 000 in both sexes was highest in Qatar followed by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia. Paediatric cancer ranged from 9.5% of total cancers in Saudi Arabia and UAE to 4.0% in Bahrain. In all countries, the mean age at diagnosis was higher in males than females; cancer of the lung and prostate were commonest among males, and cancer of breast and thyroid among females. Lung cancer ranked second among Bahraini women
Subject(s)
Incidence , Arabs , Sex Distribution , Sex Factors , Age Distribution , International Classification of Diseases , Risk Assessment , NeoplasmsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is a very common chronic illness affecting 10% to 40% of children worldwide. There has been a significant increase in prevalence among children over the last two decades and this increase has been accompanied by a parallel increase in comorbid illnesses such as asthma. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and adverse event profiles of topical nasal steroids for intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis in children. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2005), MEDLINE (1950 onwards) and EMBASE (1974 onwards) on 5(th) September 2005. CINAHL, mRCT(a meta-database of controlled trials), NRR (the National Research Register), LILACS, MedCarib, KOREAMED, IndMed, Samed, Panteleimon, Zetoc, ISI Proceedings, the GlaxoSmithKline Clinical Trials Database and the websites of AstraZeneca, Schering Plough and Aventis were also searched. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials comparing topical nasal steroid preparations against each other or placebo, prescribed for allergic rhinitis in children. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data from the included trials. The limited and variable quality of reported data precluded any pooling of results and only a descriptive summary is presented. MAIN RESULTS: Three trials involving a total of 79 participants were included. All three trials, which compared topical nasal steroids against placebo for perennial rhinitis, provided some, albeit limited data, relevant to our primary outcomes; but in two of the trials the data analysis was flawed and in the third trial it was incomprehensible. None of the trials provided data relevant to our secondary outcomes. There were no adverse events reported from any of the interventions. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The three included trials provided some weak and unreliable evidence for the effectiveness of Beconase(R) and flunisolide used topically intranasally for the treatment of intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis in children. The reduction of severity in symptoms as assessed by the trialists could not be confirmed with the data provided and decisions on the use of these medications should, until such time as more robust evidence is available, be guided by the physician's clinical experience and patients' individual circumstances and preferences.
Subject(s)
Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/drug therapy , Administration, Intranasal , Child , Humans , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
This study used handsearching to find reports of randomized controlled trials in the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal (EMHJ). EMBASE and MEDLINE were also searched electronically to identify if the reports found by the handsearch were already included in either of these databases. Nine reports were identified: 7 randomized controlled trials and 2 controlled clinical trials. The added value of the handsearch over EMBASE was 6 additional reports and over MEDLINE was 4. Reports identified were sent to the UK Cochrane Centre for verification and publication in The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL).
Subject(s)
Databases, Bibliographic/standards , Information Storage and Retrieval/methods , Periodicals as Topic , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Abstracting and Indexing , Bahrain , Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic , Humans , Information Storage and Retrieval/standards , Libraries, Digital , Libraries, Medical , MEDLINE/standards , Mediterranean Region , Registries , Research Design , United KingdomABSTRACT
This study used handsearching to find reports of randomized controlled trials in the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal [EMHJ]. EMBASE and MEDLINE were also searched electronically to identify if the reports found by the handsearch were already included in either of these databases. Nine reports were identified: 7 randomized controlled trials and 2 controlled clinical trials. The added value of the handsearch over EMBASE was 6 additional reports and over MEDLINE was 4. Reports identified were sent to the UK Cochrane Centre for verification and publication in The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [CENTRAL]
Subject(s)
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Databases as Topic , Publications , Journal Article , Information Storage and RetrievalABSTRACT
A cross-sectional survey of primary-school children in Bahrain was conducted to estimate the prevalence of goitre and iodine deficiency according to age, sex and area of residence. During January-May 1999, 1600 children were randomly chosen from all government schools. Children were examined for goitre and of those, 50% were randomly selected for urinary iodine level assessment. Only 26 children (1.7%) had goitre. Although median urinary iodine was above 100 microg/L, 121 of 749 children (16.2%) had low urinary iodine levels. Although iodine deficiency does not pose a significant public health problem in Bahrain, education about the nutritional value of iodized salts in the prevention of this disorder could increase public awareness.
Subject(s)
Child Nutrition Disorders/epidemiology , Goiter, Endemic/epidemiology , Iodine/deficiency , Age Distribution , Bahrain/epidemiology , Child , Child Nutrition Disorders/diagnosis , Child Nutrition Disorders/etiology , Child Nutrition Disorders/urine , Cluster Analysis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Epidemiologic Studies , Female , Goiter, Endemic/diagnosis , Goiter, Endemic/etiology , Goiter, Endemic/urine , Health Education , Humans , Male , Nutrition Assessment , Nutrition Surveys , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data , Severity of Illness Index , Sex Distribution , Sodium Chloride, Dietary , Students/statistics & numerical data , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
A cross-sectional survey of primary-school children in Bahrain was conducted to estimate the prevalence of goitre and iodine deficiency according to age, sex and area of residence. During January-May 1999, 1600 children were randomly chosen from all government schools. Children were examined for goitre and of those, 50% were randomly selected for urinary iodine level assessment. Only 26 children [1.7%] had goitre. Although median urinary iodine was above 100 microg/L, 121 of 749 children [16.2%] had low urinary iodine levels. Although iodine deficiency does not pose a significant public health problem in Bahrain, education about the nutritional value of iodized salts in the prevention of this disorder could increase public awareness