Assessing the impact of annual health screenings in identifying noncommunicable disease risk factors within Qatar's primary health care corporation Qatari registered population.

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a significant global health burden, including in Qatar, where cardiovascular diseases cause mortality. This study examines the outcomes of the annual health checkup implemented by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) in Qatar in detecting NCDs risk factors among Qataris aged 18+ years.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was implemented to calculate the prevalence of behavioural and metabolic NCDs risk factors among Qataris who underwent annual health checkups between 2017 and 2019.

The impact of COVID-19 on primary health care services in Qatar: 2 years of response and coping 2020-2021.

Background: Health care systems worldwide have rapidly responded to manage the COVID-19 pandemic by providing screening tests, contact tracing, treatment, and vaccination. However, the long duration of the pandemic has had an enormous load on the health care systems, which disrupted continuity of the essential non-covid services, long waiting time for appointments, and increase in the utilization of telemedicine services. Primary health care was established as an essential foundation for the global response to the COVID-19.

Understanding the epidemiological characteristics of the primary healthcare corporation-based COVID-19 swabbed persons in Qatar, 2020.

Background: In March 2020, Qatar started reporting increased numbers of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). National preventive measures were implemented, and a testing plan was developed to respond to the pandemic with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) as the central element. PHCC is the main public primary healthcare provider in Qatar and it operates in 27 health centers with around 1.

Epidemiological health assessment in primary healthcare in the State of Qatar- 2019.

Background: In the public sector in Qatar, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) is the major provider of primary healthcare services to families. Therefore, the PHCC conducted the first epidemiological health assessment to understand the burden of diseases and their subsequent risk factors impacting its registered population, to design better services, implement it and allocate resources to respond to the population health needs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted among all PHCC registered populations between September 1, 2018, and August 31, 2019.

Qualitative Focus Group Study Examining Perceptions of the Community's Important Health Issues, Health Care Needs and Perceived Barriers to Access Among Arabic Speaking Primary Care Clients in the State of Qatar.

Objective: This study is a part of the Primary Health Care Corporation's (PHCC) Health Needs Assessment (HNA) Initiative. It focuses on identifying perceptions of Arabic speaking primary care clients regarding community's major health issues, their experiences in utilizing health services, and the barriers that limit their access to health care in the State of Qatar.

Study Setting And Design: A total of 10 focus groups sessions were conducted at different PHCC's health centers between October of 2019 and March of 2020.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the preventive services in Qatar.

In March 2020, Qatar started reporting increased numbers of COVID-19 cases. At that stage, containment measures were put in place. The health authority in Qatar developed an emergency action plan to respond to the outbreak with the Primary Health Care as the main component of that response and suspended all non-urgent services including preventive health services.

Adherence to the Qatar dietary guidelines: a cross-sectional study of the gaps, determinants and association with cardiometabolic risk amongst adults.

Background: The Qatar Dietary Guidelines (QDGs) were developed as part of the national strategy to prevent chronic diseases. This study aims at characterizing gaps between the QDGs and usual dietary and lifestyle patterns in Qatar, identifying demographic and socioeconomic determinants of adherence to the QDGs and investigating the association between adherence and cardiometabolic risk.

Methods: This study is based on the Qatar National STEPwise cross-sectional survey which was conducted on a nationally representative sample of Qatari adults, aged 18 to 64 years (n = 1109).

Situation of Diabetes and Related Factors Among Qatari Adults: Findings From a Community-Based Survey.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prominent public health problem in Qatar with one of the highest prevalence in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Obesity continues to be a challenging public health problem in Qatar along with other social determinants contributing to the high DM prevalence.

Objective: This paper examines the data from Qatar National STEPS survey (2012) to determine diabetes prevalence among Qatari adults and identify the effect of both generalized and central obesity on it.

Oral health behavior and factors associated with poor oral status in Qatar: results from a national health survey.

Objectives: Oral health is a crucial determinant of quality of life. We aimed to determine oral health condition and factors associated with poor oral status in the adult national population of Qatar.

Methods: We used data from the World Health Organization supported STEPS (STEPwise approach to Surveillance) Survey conducted by the Supreme Council of Health, Qatar in 2012.

Prevalence and determinants of metabolic syndrome in Qatar: results from a National Health Survey.

Objectives: To determine optimum measurements for abdominal obesity and to assess the prevalence and determinants of metabolic syndrome in Qatar.

Design: National health survey.

Setting: Qatar National STEPwise Survey conducted by the Supreme Council of Health during 2012.

A 'High Risk' Lifestyle Pattern Is Associated with Metabolic Syndrome among Qatari Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional National Study.

This study investigated the effect of lifestyle patterns, as a combination of diet, physical activity and smoking, on Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) among Qatari women of childbearing age (n = 418), a population group particularly vulnerable to the health sequela of this syndrome. Using data from the National WHO STEPwise survey conducted in Qatar in 2012, Principal Component Factor Analysis was performed to derive lifestyle patterns with survey variables related to the frequency of consumption of 13 foods/food groups, physical activity levels, and smoking status. MetS was diagnosed using ATPIII criteria.

Lifestyle Patterns Are Associated with Elevated Blood Pressure among Qatari Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional National Study.

Women of childbearing age are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of elevated blood pressure (BP), with dietary and lifestyle habits being increasingly recognized as important modifiable environmental risk factors for this condition. Using data from the National STEPwise survey conducted in Qatar in year 2012, we aimed to examine lifestyle patterns and their association with elevated BP among Qatari women of childbearing age (18-45 years). Socio-demographic, lifestyle, dietary, anthropometric and BP data were used (n = 747).