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Bountouvis N, Koumpa E, Skoutarioti N, Kladitis D, Exadaktylos AK, Anitsakis C. Burden of Disease in Refugee Patients with Diabetes on the Island of Lesvos-The Experience of a Frontline General Hospital. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:828. [PMID: 39063405 PMCID: PMC11276869 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21070828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease which poses a great burden on refugee populations, who are confronted with limited access to healthcare services and disruption of pre-existing pharmacological treatment. AIMS We sought to evaluate the degree of hyperglycaemia in refugees with known or recently diagnosed diabetes, to assess cardiovascular comorbidities and diabetes complications, to review and provide available therapeutic options, and to compare, if possible, the situation in Lesvos with other locations hosting refugee populations, thus raising our awareness towards barriers to accessing healthcare and managing diabetes in these vulnerable populations and to propose follow-up strategies. METHODS We retrospectively studied 69 refugee patients (68% of Afghan origin, 64% female) with diabetes mellitus (81% with type 2 diabetes), who were referred to the diabetes outpatient clinics of the General Hospital of Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece, between June 2019 and December 2020. Age, Body Mass Index, diabetes duration, glycaemic control (HbA1c and random glucose), blood pressure, estimated renal function, lipid profile, diabetes complications and current medication were documented at presentation and during subsequent visits. RESULTS For all patients with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, age at presentation was 17.7 and 48.1 years, BMI 19.6 kg/m2 and 28.9 kg/m2 and HbA1c 9.6% and 8.7%, respectively (all medians). One-third (29%) of patients with type 2 diabetes presented either with interrupted or with no previous pharmacological treatment. Insulin was administered to only 21% of refugees with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Only half of the patients (48%) with hypertension were taking antihypertensive medication and one-sixth (17%) were taking lipid-lowering medication. Forty-two per cent (42%) of patients were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that a significant portion of refugees with diabetes have either no treatment at all or have had their treatment discontinued, that insulin is still underutilised and that a significant portion of patients are lost to follow-up. It is essential to enhance our ability to identify refugees who may be at risk of developing diabetes or experiencing complications related to the disease. Additionally, it is important to expand access to crucial treatment and monitoring services. By improving our policies for managing non-communicable diseases, we can better support the health and well-being of these vulnerable populations. Furthermore, it is vital to recognize that Greece cannot bear the burden of the refugee crisis alone; international support and collaboration are necessary to address these challenges effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Bountouvis
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes Outpatient Clinics, General Hospital of Mytilene “Vostanio”, 83100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece
- Department of Emergency Medicine (Research), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland;
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eirini Koumpa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes Outpatient Clinics, General Hospital of Mytilene “Vostanio”, 83100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece
| | - Niki Skoutarioti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes Outpatient Clinics, General Hospital of Mytilene “Vostanio”, 83100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kladitis
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes Outpatient Clinics, General Hospital of Mytilene “Vostanio”, 83100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece
| | - Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos
- Department of Emergency Medicine (Research), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Charalampos Anitsakis
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes Outpatient Clinics, General Hospital of Mytilene “Vostanio”, 83100 Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece
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Grace JM, Thabana MW. Behavioural risk factors for non-communicable diseases among South African Durban-based refugees: a cross-sectional study. Glob Health Promot 2024:17579759231205852. [PMID: 38515345 DOI: 10.1177/17579759231205852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Behavioural risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising among refugees, increasing chronic disease prevalence that causes morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence, awareness and management of behavioural risk factors for NCDs among South African Durban-based refugees. A once-off quantitative, cross-sectional design was conducted on the behavioural risk factors for NCDs among 122 randomly selected Durban-based refugees using a modified version of the World Health Organisation (WHO) STEPwise approach to NCDs surveillance (STEPS) instrument. Participants' awareness and management of risk factors for NCDs were determined with a behavioural NCD awareness and management of behavioural NCD risk factor questionnaire. Smoking and alcohol prevalence were 4.1% and 20.7%, respectively, with 40.8% consuming fewer than five servings of fruit and/or vegetables daily. Participants performed more than 150 min of moderate physical activity per week. A significant 30.8% (p < 0.001) was aware that consuming alcohol poses an extremely large risk, similarly for smoking (38.7%; p < 0.001]. A significant 56.2% (p < 0.001) believe that regularly eating raw vegetables presents no risk, likewise for being physically active (51.7%; p < 0.001). A significant 40.6% (p < 0.001) of the participants always drink water or non-alcoholic drinks to manage their alcohol consumption, 54.2% (p < 0.001) manage their unhealthy diet by sometimes filling half their plates with fruits and vegetables, and 49.2% manage their physical activity levels by sometimes choosing a range of physical activities (p < 0.001). Refugees' lack of awareness of behavioural risk factors for NCDs highlights the importance for health service providers to present health promotion programs to make refugees aware of their behavioural NCD's risk factors and how it impacts their health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Martin Grace
- Discipline of Biokinetics, College of Health Sciences, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Mateisi Wailer Thabana
- Discipline of Biokinetics, College of Health Sciences, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Lin J, Yang F, Lan M, Ding Y, Yin K. Adhere to the Chinese dietary guidelines associated with better subjective well-being: evidence from a cross-sectional survey and a daily diary investigation. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:445. [PMID: 38347466 PMCID: PMC10863138 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17880-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subjective well-being (SWB) plays an essential role in general health. Although beneficial effects of selected micronutrients and foods on SWB have been reported, they do not reflect the impact of the habitual diet on SWB. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the association between adherence to the Chinese Dietary Guidelines (CDG) with SWB. METHODS This study combined a cross-sectional survey and a daily diary investigation. The cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1,433 students from 8 universities in southern China between October and November 2020. The daily diary investigation was conducted in November 2022, collecting 10-day daily data from 115 students at two universities in southern China over ten consecutive days, resulting in 1,020 valid matched daily responses. Adherence to the CDG was assessed by the China Prime Diet Quality Score (CPDQS), SWB was measured by the Index of Well-being (IWB) and the Affect Valuation Index (AVI). Correlation analysis, multiple regression analyses, and hierarchical regression were conducted to examine the associations of adherence to the CDG with its components, and SWB. RESULTS The cross-sectional survey revealed significant predictors of SWB, including adherence to the CDG (β = 0.24, p<0.001) and its components: cereals and tubers (β = 0.07, p = 0.024), vegetables and fruits (β = 0.11, p<0.001), dairy/soy/nuts (β = 0.11, p = 0.002), and condiments and alcoholic beverages (β = 0.08, p = 0.002). The daily diary investigation showed positive associations between adherence to the CDG (β = 0.19, p<0.001), and its components: vegetables and fruits (β = 0.11, p = 0.001), dairy/soy/nuts (β = 0.06, p = 0.009), animal source food (β = 0.06, p = 0.026), and condiments and alcoholic beverages (β = 0.07, p = 0.026), with higher levels of daily SWB. CONCLUSIONS Adherence to healthy dietary patterns such as the CDG, rather than focusing on individual components in isolation, is associated with better SWB. Furthermore, the consumption of CDG components had an impact on SWB, although the specific effects varied between the two studies. This study offers modest evidence supporting the role of the CDG in promoting positive mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaci Lin
- Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Lianda Street, 650500, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Fuhua Yang
- Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Lianda Street, 650500, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Information, Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650500, Kunming, China
| | - Miaosen Lan
- Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Lianda Street, 650500, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yichen Ding
- Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Lianda Street, 650500, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Keli Yin
- Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Lianda Street, 650500, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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Abiri B, Ahmadi AR, Amini S, Akbari M, Hosseinpanah F, Madinehzad SA, Hejazi M, Rishehri AP, Naserghandi A, Valizadeh M. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Iranian population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF HEALTH, POPULATION, AND NUTRITION 2023; 42:70. [PMID: 37488650 PMCID: PMC10367271 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-023-00419-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a major risk factor for chronic diseases. Politicians and practitioners should be aware of the dramatic increase in obesity and its subsequent complications to prevent associated health risks. This systematic review aimed to provide better insight into the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Iranian population. METHOD An evaluation was conducted on all published observational studies from both national (SID, Irandoc, Iranmedex) and international (Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Scopus) sources, which reported the prevalence of overweight/obesity among normal population samples, between January 2012 and December 2021. RESULT A total of 152 eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis. Of the 152 selected studies, 74 reported the prevalence of overweight/obesity in patients aged ≤ 18 years, and 61 studies in adults. In the rest of the articles (17 studies), the results were reported for a combination of these age groups. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Iran was estimated at 20.1 (95% CI 17.92-22.30) and 13.44 (95% CI 11.76-15.22), respectively. This percentage (95% CI) was 11.71 (10.98-12.46) for overweight and 8.08 (7.02-9.22) for obesity in those aged ≤ 18 years, and 35.26 (32.61-37.99) for overweight and 21.38 (19.61-23.20) for obesity in those aged > 18 years. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in the entire population was 35.09% (95% CI 31.31-38.98). CONCLUSION As obesity is on the rise in Iran, we should seek both weight loss strategies and ways to control comorbidities associated with high BMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnaz Abiri
- Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shirin Amini
- Department of Nutrition, Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shoushtar, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Akbari
- Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Farhad Hosseinpanah
- Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Ataollah Madinehzad
- Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Hejazi
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirreza Pouladi Rishehri
- Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alvand Naserghandi
- Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Valizadeh
- Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Fatima M, Nosheen F, Afzaal M, Islam F, Noreen R, Imran A, Amer Ali Y. Nutritional and health status of Afghan refugee women living in Punjab: A cross-sectional study. Food Sci Nutr 2023; 11:2872-2882. [PMID: 37324867 PMCID: PMC10261817 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Afghan refugees are the world's densely populated community, with 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees living globally, of whom about 2.2 million are in Iran and Pakistan. Pakistan is a densely populated country, and due to its low socioeconomic status, food insecurity, unhygienic conditions, and inadequate access to health care, the Afghan refugees have high chances of being malnourished; the chances of death for these Afghans are 25 times more every year from undernourishment and poverty than those from violence. This study aimed to assess anthropometric and biochemical analyses, their health complications, and the socioeconomic status of Afghan refugee women living in Islamabad Punjab as women are the most vulnerable and highly malnourished group in any community. This cross-sectional study involved 150 Afghan women aged 15-30 years; they were assessed for their nutritional status using Anthropometric, Biochemical, Clinical and Diet (ABCD). The results indicate the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, and overweight at 74.7%, 16.7%, and 8.7%, respectively. Majority of the women have extremely low hemoglobin (Hb) level, which indicates iron deficiency as well as low body mass index for their age. As the results indicate that there are high chances of severe malnutrition among this most vulnerable segment of the population, this situation must be addressed immediately; the main aim of this study is to highlight the current situation of these Afghan refugees in Pakistan. More research is needed to determine how normal body weight women with low hemoglobin levels are compared to women with ideal body mass index ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maleeha Fatima
- Department of Home EconomicsGovernment College UniversityFaisalabadPakistan
| | - Farhana Nosheen
- Department of Home EconomicsGovernment College UniversityFaisalabadPakistan
| | - Muhammad Afzaal
- Department of Food SciencesGovernment College UniversityFaisalabadPakistan
| | - Fakhar Islam
- Department of Food SciencesGovernment College UniversityFaisalabadPakistan
| | - Rabia Noreen
- Department of Home EconomicsGovernment College UniversityFaisalabadPakistan
| | - Ali Imran
- Department of Food SciencesGovernment College UniversityFaisalabadPakistan
| | - Yuosra Amer Ali
- Department of Food Sciences, College of Agriculture and ForestryUniversity of MosulMosulIraq
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The Presence and Profile of Neurological Conditions and Associated Psychiatric Comorbidities in U.S. Resettled Refugees: A Retrospective Single Center Study. J Immigr Minor Health 2023; 25:365-373. [PMID: 36251204 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-022-01409-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Refugees are a vulnerable, growing population who confront a myriad of traumas leading to their forced migration. Although psychiatric illnesses of resettled refugees are well-documented, there is a paucity of studies characterizing their neurological disease profiles. This study aimed to characterize the frequency and range of neurological disorders in a sample of resettled refugees receiving care at a community health center in Massachusetts, U.S.A. We performed a retrospective medical record review of adult (≥ 18 years) resettled refugees between May 2001 and December 2012 at a community health center in Northeast Massachusetts. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics pertaining to neuropsychiatric health were collected from medical records using a standardized data extraction tool. Group comparisons between those with and without neurological illness and associated sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics were evaluated using χ2 and independent samples two-tailed t-tests. In our sample (n = 779), 53.3% (n = 415) were male and 48.8% (n = 380) were from the African continent. The mean age was 33.2 ± 12.4 years (range 18-85). 36.8% were diagnosed with at least one neurological disorder and 18.1% with more than one neurological illness. The most common diagnoses were headaches (28.3%), sleep disorders (11.2%), cognitive impairment/ dementia (5.5%), and head trauma (5.5%). Exploratory analyses revealed that participants with neurological illness were more likely to be older (p < .001), female (p = .002), and diagnosed with co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses (p < .001) than those without neurological illness. Neurological disorders frequently co-occur with psychiatric comorbidities among U.S. resettled adult refugees. Standard refugee health assessments should incorporate screening and treatment for neurological illnesses.
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Shortland T, McGranahan M, Stewart D, Oyebode O, Shantikumar S, Proto W, Malik B, Yau R, Cobbin M, Sabouni A, Rudge G, Kidy F. A systematic review of the burden of, access to services for and perceptions of patients with overweight and obesity, in humanitarian crisis settings. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282823. [PMID: 37093795 PMCID: PMC10124894 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Excess body weight causes 4 million deaths annually across the world. The number of people affected by humanitarian crises stands at a record high level with 1 in 95 people being forcibly displaced. These epidemics overlap. Addressing obesity is a post-acute phase activity in non-communicable disease management in humanitarian settings. Information is needed to inform guidelines and timing of interventions. The objective of this review was to explore the prevalence of overweight and obesity in populations directly affected by humanitarian crises; the cascade of care in these populations and perceptions of patients with overweight and obesity. METHODS Literature searches were carried out in five databases. Grey literature was identified. The population of interest was non-pregnant, civilian adults who had experience of humanitarian crises (armed conflict, complex emergencies and natural disasters). All study types published from January 1st, 2011, were included. Screening, data extraction and quality appraisal were carried out in duplicate. A narrative synthesis is presented. RESULTS Fifty-six reports from forty-five studies were included. Prevalence estimates varied widely across the studies and by subgroups. Estimates of overweight and obesity combined ranged from 6.4% to 82.8%. Studies were heterogenous. Global distribution was skewed. Increasing adiposity was seen over time, in older adults and in women. Only six studies were at low risk of bias. Body mass index was the predominant measure used. There were no studies reporting cascade of care. No qualitative studies were identified. CONCLUSION Overweight and obesity varied in crisis affected populations but were rarely absent. Improved reporting of existing data could provide more accurate estimates. Worsening obesity may be prevented by acting earlier in long-term crises and targeting risk groups. The use of waist circumference would provide useful additional information. Gaps remain in understanding the existing cascade of care. Cultural norms around diet and ideal body size vary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Shortland
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Majel McGranahan
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Stewart
- National Public Health Specialty Training Programme, South West Training Scheme, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Oyinlola Oyebode
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Saran Shantikumar
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - William Proto
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Bassit Malik
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Roger Yau
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Maddie Cobbin
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gavin Rudge
- Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Farah Kidy
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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Matsangos M, Ziaka L, Exadaktylos AK, Klukowska-Rötzler J, Ziaka M. Health Status of Afghan Refugees in Europe: Policy and Practice Implications for an Optimised Healthcare. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159157. [PMID: 35954518 PMCID: PMC9368211 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Four decades of civil war, violence, and destabilisation have forced millions of Afghans to flee their homes and to move to other countries worldwide. This increasing phenomenon may challenge physicians unfamiliar with the health status of this population, which may be markedly different from that of the host country. Moreover, several factors during their migration, such as transport in closed containers, accidental injuries, malnutrition, and accommodation in detention centres and refugee camps have a major influence on the health of refugees. By taking into account the variety of the specific diseases among migrant groups, the diversity of the origins of refugees and asylum seekers, and the increasing numbers of Afghan refugees, in this review we focus on the population of Afghans and describe their health status with the aim of optimising our medical approach and management. Our literature review shows that the most prevalent reported infections are tuberculosis and other respiratory tract infections and parasitic diseases, for example leishmaniasis, malaria, and intestinal parasitic infections. Anaemia, hyperlipidaemia, arterial hypertension, diabetes, smoking, overweight, malnutrition, low socioeconomic status, and poor access to healthcare facilities are additional risk factors for non-communicable diseases among Afghan refugees. With regards mental health issues, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the most common diagnoses and culture shock and the feeling of being uprooted modulate their persistence. Further research is needed in order to provide us with extensive, high-quality data about the health status of Afghan refugees. The main objective of this review is to identify protective factors which could ensure key health concepts and good clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Matsangos
- Department of General Surgery, Insel Gruppe AG, Kreditorenbuchhaltung, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010 Bern , Switzerland;
| | - Laoura Ziaka
- Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, 0315 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Artistomenis K. Exadaktylos
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (A.K.E.); (J.K.-R.)
| | - Jolanta Klukowska-Rötzler
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; (A.K.E.); (J.K.-R.)
| | - Mairi Ziaka
- Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Thun, 3600 Thun, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
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Knights F, Munir S, Ahmed H, Hargreaves S. Initial health assessments for newly arrived migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. BMJ 2022; 377:e068821. [PMID: 35483723 PMCID: PMC9047910 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-068821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Felicity Knights
- The Migrant Health Research Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Shazia Munir
- Refugee and Asylum Seeker Services, Health Inclusion Team, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Sally Hargreaves
- The Migrant Health Research Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK
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Balouchi A, Rafsanjani MHAP, Al-Mutawaa K, Naderifar M, Rafiemanesh H, Ebadi A, Ghezeljeh TN, Shahraki-Mohammadi A, Al-Mawali A. Hypertension and pre-hypertension in Middle East and North Africa (MENA): A meta-analysis of prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control. Curr Probl Cardiol 2021; 47:101069. [PMID: 34843808 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2021.101069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hypertension (HTN) is one of the most important public health challenges, especially in developing countries. Despite individual studies, information on the exact prevalence of prehypertension (pre-HTN) and HTN in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is lacking. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate prevalence of pre-HTN and HTN, awareness, treatment, and control in the MENA region. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched from inception to April 30, 2021. Keywords included hypertension, pre-hypertension, awareness, treatment, and control. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Hoy scale. A random-effects model was evaluated based on overall HTN. The heterogeneity of the preliminary studies was evaluated using the I2 test. A total of 147 studies involving 1,312,244 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Based on the results of the random-effects method (95% CI), the Prevalence of pre-HTN and HTN were 30.6% (95% CI: 25.2, 36.0%; I2 = 99.9%), and 26.2% (95% CI: 24.6, 27.9%; I2 = 99.8%), respectively. The prevalence of HTN awareness was 51.3% (95% CI: 47.7, 54.8; I2 = 99.0%). The prevalence of HTN treatment was 47.0% (95% CI: 34.8, 59.2; I2 = 99.9%). The prevalence of HTN control among treated patients was 43.1% (95% CI: 38.3, 47.9; I2 = 99.3%). Considering the high prevalence of HTN, very low awareness, and poor HTN control in the region, more attention should be paid to preventive programs for HTN reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Balouchi
- Nursing Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Kholoud Al-Mutawaa
- Senior consultant community Medicine, Head of Non-communicable Disease Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mahin Naderifar
- Department of Nursing, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | | | - Abbas Ebadi
- Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahereh Najafi Ghezeljeh
- Nursing Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azita Shahraki-Mohammadi
- Assistant Professor of Medical Library and Information Sciences, Department of medical library and information sciences, Paramedical school, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Adhra Al-Mawali
- Director/Centre of Studies & Research, Ministry of Health, Oman.
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Belau MH, Bassil M, Laukamp A, Kraemer A. Body mass index and associated factors among refugees living in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nutr 2021; 7:54. [PMID: 34433497 PMCID: PMC8390186 DOI: 10.1186/s40795-021-00453-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aims to determine: (i) information on overweight and obesity, represented by body mass index using measured anthropometric data, among refugees living in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, (ii) how body mass index changed throughout the migratory journey to Germany, and (iii) factors influencing body mass index. Methods The study utilizes data from the FlueGe health study, a cross-sectional study conducted by Bielefeld University. The data was collected between February and November 2018 in which participants were recruited in several cities in North Rhine-Westphalia (N = 326). We analyzed differences in body mass index before the escape, upon arrival, and since arrival as well as correlations between body mass index since arrival and explanatory variables using linear regression models. Results The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity before the escape (t0), upon arrival (t1) and since arrival (t2) were 55.2% (150/272), 45.6% (133/292) and 54.8% (171/312), respectively, with 16.2% (44/272), 12.0% (35/292) and 16.0% (50/312) being obese. There was a significant change between t0 and t1 (p < 0.001), and between t1 and t2 (p < 0.001), but no change over time (between t0 and t2, p = 0.713). Results from multivariate linear regression showed that high education, male sex, higher body mass index before the escape, Iranian or Iraqi nationality, and sobriety were the significant factors for body mass index since arrival. However, when focusing on those who have reported weight gain only, higher body mass index before the escape, male sex, and Iraqi nationality were the significant factors. Conclusions Overweight and obesity were common among refugees after settlement in Germany. In particular, sociodemographic factors were associated with a higher body mass index since arrival. Thus, it is important to develop and apply nutrition-related intervention programs for adult refugees that are culturally appropriate and tailored to education level and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Hans Belau
- Bielefeld University, School of Public Health, Bielefeld, Germany. .,University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institute of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Muriel Bassil
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Annika Laukamp
- Bielefeld University, School of Public Health, Bielefeld, Germany
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