By the numbers and in their own words: A mixed methods study of unmet needs and humanitarian inclusion of older Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Older people constitute an overlooked vulnerable population in humanitarian crises. Lebanon is a small country that hosts the largest number of refugees per capita in the world. With exacerbating socioeconomic conditions, exclusionary policies against refugees, and a fragmented humanitarian system, the status of older Syrian refugees (OSRs) requires special attention.

Psychosocial characteristics are associated with adherence to dietary, drugs and physical activity recommendations amongst cardiovascular disease patients in Lebanon.

Cardiovascular diseases are increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, reaching epidemic proportions in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, including Lebanon. Despite the growing number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases in Lebanon, there is scarce data on whether cardiac patients adhere to therapeutic dietary guidelines, drug prescriptions, and physical activity recommendations and whether such adherence differs according to sociodemographic, lifestyle, or psychosocial characteristics. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 367 Lebanese adult cardiovascular disease patients admitted for hospitalization at various hospital sites in Lebanon.

"Older people tend to be invisible": a qualitative study exploring the needs and inclusion of older Syrian refugees in the context of compounding crises in host country, Lebanon.

Background: Older Syrian refugees in Lebanon are a marginalized population with under-recognized health needs. The inclusivity of this population within the humanitarian response is poorly understood. This study aims to identify the unique needs of older Syrian refugees in the context of recent concurrent crises in Lebanon, and explore the extent to which they are being met and prioritized by local and international aid agencies.

Sex disparities in dietary intake across the lifespan: the case of Lebanon.

Background: Little is known about sex-based dietary differences in middle-income countries, particularly those undergoing the nutrition transition. This study aims at examining sex disparities in energy and macronutrients' intakes, food consumption patterns, and micronutrients' adequacy in Lebanon, while adopting a life course approach.

Methods: Data were derived from a national cross-sectional survey conducted in Lebanon in 2008/2009.

Exploring resident-staff relationships in nursing homes in Lebanon.

: To explore the prevailing relationships between residents and staff in nursing homes in Lebanon, and to elicit factors that influence these relationships.: Using a qualitative phenomenological design, this study was conducted to explore the lived experience of residents, especially pertaining to their relationships with staff. The study included 13 residents aged 65 and above with no cognitive impairment.

Ethics Reporting Practices in Aging Research From the Arab Region.

This study aims to assess the extent of ethics reporting practices in aging research from Arab countries. A systematic scoping review of research on aging in 22 Arab countries from seven databases (1994-2013) identified 637 publications warranting institutional ethical approval and 612 publications warranting informed consent. We used multivariable regression analysis to examine variations by time, place, and study characteristics.

Anthropometric Cutoffs for Increased Cardiometabolic Risk Among Lebanese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Obesity is associated with increased risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS). Anthropometric cutoffs derived for Caucasians may not be applicable to identify obesity in Middle Eastern populations. This study aims to (1) determine optimal cutoff values of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) for the prediction of MetS among Lebanese adults and (2) to evaluate the ability of the derived cutoffs in predicting MetS, in comparison with published cutoffs.

Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables Among Individuals 15 Years and Older in 28 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Background: The WHO recommends 400 g/d of fruits and vegetables (the equivalent of ∼5 servings/d) for the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). However, there is limited evidence regarding individual-level correlates of meeting these recommendations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In order to target policies and interventions aimed at improving intake, global monitoring of fruit and vegetable consumption by socio-demographic subpopulations is required.

Review of Non-Communicable Disease Research Activity in Kuwait: Where is the Evidence for the Best Practice?

Background: Kuwait, a small country in the Middle East, is now facing rapid development, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounting for the majority of deaths.

Objectives: In this study, we review trends in NCD research productivity in Kuwait and examine to what extent it is aligned with disease burden.

Methods: Systematic mapping of NCD papers produced between January 2000 and December 2013 yielded 893 publications.

Prevalence, Awareness, and Control of Hypertension in Greater Beirut Area, Lebanon.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) has been identified as the leading risk factor for mortality and the third cause of disability worldwide. Lebanon has witnessed a threefold increase in the prevalence of HTN in the past decade. The timely exploration and detection of the factors contributing to a higher prevalence of the disease among the Lebanese population is fundamental.

Costs associated with management of non-communicable diseases in the Arab Region: a scoping review.

Background: Global mortality rates resulting from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are reaching alarming levels, especially in low- and middle-income countries, imposing a considerable burden on individuals and health systems as a whole. This scoping review aims at synthesizing the existing literature evaluating the cost associated with the management and treatment of major NCDs across all Arab countries; at evaluating the quality of these studies; and at identifying the gap in existing literature.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted using Medline electronic database to retrieve articles evaluating costs associated with management of NCDs in Arab countries, published in English between January 2000 and April 2016.

The integration and management of noncommunicable diseases in primary health care (Guest Editorial).

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a great burden in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and, if no strategic intervention is taken, the burden is forecast to become even heavier, particularly with the additional impact of ageing populations. Currently, 62% of deaths in the EMR are due to NCDs. However, by 2030 this proportion is projected to increase to nearly 70%.

Environmental footprints of food consumption and dietary patterns among Lebanese adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Following the release of the Sustainable Development Goals, dietary patterns and guidelines are being revised for their effect on the environment in addition to their health implications. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the Environmental Footprints (EFPs) of food consumption patterns among Lebanese adults.

Methods: For this study, data for adults aged > 18 years (n = 337) were drawn from a previous national survey conducted in Lebanon (2008-2009), where dietary intake was assessed using a 61-item Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Gaps and opportunities for nutrition research in relation to non-communicable diseases in Arab countries: Call for an informed research agenda.

Effective public health nutrition interventions are needed to curb the escalating prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in many Arab countries. In order to generate the scientific evidence needed for the success of these interventions, an informed research agenda should be developed. The purpose of this review is to identify gaps and opportunities for research on nutrition and NCDs among Arab countries, which is an important step towards the formulation of this research agenda.

Role of inflammation in the association between the western dietary pattern and metabolic syndrome among Lebanese adults.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to investigate whether inflammation mediates the previously observed direct association between the western dietary pattern (WDP) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Lebanese adults. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary pattern scores, anthropometric and biochemical data of 331 adults were used in this study. Inflammation indicators considered were: serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and the dietary inflammatory index (DII).

Burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990-2013: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.

Objectives: We used findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 to report the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).

Methods: The burden of musculoskeletal disorders was calculated for the EMR's 22 countries between 1990 and 2013. A systematic analysis was performed on mortality and morbidity data to estimate prevalence, death, years of live lost, years lived with disability and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

Mapping genetic research in non-communicable disease publications in selected Arab countries: first step towards a guided research agenda.

Background: In the Arab world, intervention and policy response to non-communicable diseases (NCD) has been weak despite extensive epidemiological evidence highlighting the alarmingly increased prevalence of chronic diseases. Generating genetic information is one key component to promote efficient disease management strategies. This study undertook a scoping review to generate the profile of the undertaken research on genetics of NCD publications in selected Arab countries.

Self-rated health disparities among disadvantaged older adults in ethnically diverse urban neighborhoods in a Middle Eastern country.

Objectives: This paper examines differentials in self-rated health (SRH) among older adults (aged 60+ years) across three impoverished and ethnically diverse neighborhoods in post-conflict Lebanon and assesses whether variations are explained by social and economic factors.

Design: Data were drawn from the Older Adult Component (n = 740) of the Urban Health Survey, a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in 2003 in a formal community (Nabaa), an informal settlement (Hey El-Sellom), and a refugee camp for Palestinians (Burj El-Barajneh) in Beirut, Lebanon. The role of the social capital and economic security constructs in offsetting poor SRH was assessed using multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses.

Health in times of uncertainty in the eastern Mediterranean region, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.

Background: The eastern Mediterranean region is comprised of 22 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Since our Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD 2010), the region has faced unrest as a result of revolutions, wars, and the so-called Arab uprisings. The objective of this study was to present the burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors in the eastern Mediterranean region as of 2013.

Landscape of Research on Older Adults' Health in the Arab Region: Is It Demography-Driven or Development-Dependent?

Objectives: To describe the quantity, methods, themes, and collaboration profiles of research on older adults' health in the Arab world, and map research productivity against demographic, economic, and development indicators.

Methods: A scoping review of research on older adults' health drawing from 7 databases and covering the period 1994-2013.

Results: Aging research output has increased 6-fold over the study period, with middle-income countries showing the sharpest rise.

Metabolically Healthy Overweight and Obesity Is Associated with Higher Adherence to a Traditional Dietary Pattern: A Cross-Sectional Study among Adults in Lebanon.

This study aimed to examine the proportion and socio-demographic correlates of Metabolically Healthy Overweight and Obesity (MHOv/O) among Lebanese adults and to investigate the independent effect of previously identified dietary patterns on odds of MHOv/O. Data were drawn from the National Nutrition and Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Survey (Lebanon 2008-2009). Out of the 337 adult participants who had complete socio-demographic, lifestyle, dietary as well as anthropometric and biochemical data, 196 had a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² and their data were included in this study.

A Lebanese dietary pattern promotes better diet quality among older adults: findings from a national cross-sectional study.

Background: Proper nutrition is critical for healthy aging and maintaining functional independence. Limited research has been done on the assessment of dietary patterns of older adults and their association with diet quality indices. This study was conducted to identify, characterize, and evaluate the dietary patterns and diet quality of older adults in Lebanon, a middle-income country undergoing nutrition transition.

Cigarette smoking in a Middle Eastern country and its association with hospitalisation use: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Little is known about the distribution of cigarette smoking by place and persons at the national level or its burden on healthcare expenditure in countries of the Middle East. We examine in this study the pattern of cigarette smoking by age, gender and geography and assess its association with hospitalisation use in Lebanon, a small middle-income country in the Middle East.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional study.