Publications by authors named "Elmira Foroutan Mehr"
Article Synopsis
- Alcohol has been banned in Iran for over 40 years, leading to underreported consumption; a study surveyed 27,874 adults to assess actual alcohol use and its contributing factors.
- The study found a lifetime alcohol consumption prevalence of 6.9%, with significant differences between men (13.7%) and women (1.4%); the average per capita consumption was 0.12 liters.
- Factors like being a smoker, younger age, higher wealth, and education levels correlated with increased alcohol consumption, as well as links to health issues like heart attacks and physical injuries, prompting the need for targeted preventive measures.
Background: Smoking is a modifiable risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of death. Despite the great burden, there is lack of data regarding the trend of cigarette smoking in Iran. We described the national and provincial prevalence of cigarette smoking and its 12-year time trend utilizing six rounds of Iranian stepwise approach for surveillance of non-communicable disease (STEPS) surveys.
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- - The study investigated diabetes mellitus (DM) and prediabetes in Iran using data from the 2021 Iran STEPS Survey, focusing on awareness, treatment coverage, and adherence to World Health Organization targets.
- - Findings revealed that 14.2% of participants had DM and 24.8% had prediabetes, with treatment coverage at 65% but only 28% achieving good glycemic control (HbA1C < 7%).
- - While diagnosis and statin use were close to global targets, overall glycemic control and blood pressure management were significantly below the desired levels, highlighting insufficient diabetes care in the population.
Article Synopsis
- The 2021 STEPS survey in Iran aimed to gather data on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) while managing the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
- The survey modified its standard procedures, incorporating new COVID-19 safety measures, and included a substantial number of participants across its three phases—27,874 in the first phase.
- The results demonstrated the survey's strong representativeness at national and provincial levels, showcasing an effective approach to conducting health research during a crisis.
Article Synopsis
- * The survey involved nearly 28,000 Iranian adults, revealing an overall smoking prevalence of 14.01%, with higher rates in men (25.88%) compared to women (4.44%).
- * Second-hand smoking is also a concern, with 24.64% of individuals exposed at home and 19.49% at work, highlighting the ineffectiveness of current tobacco control policies and the need for stronger interventions.
Global, regional, and national burden and quality of care index (QCI) of bipolar disorder: A systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990 to 2019.
Int J Soc Psychiatry
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- Bipolar disorders (BD) are major mental health issues, and a new index was developed to evaluate the quality of care for BD patients globally.* -
- The quality of care index (QCI) showed a slight increase from 50.4 in 1990 to 53.1 in 2019, with significant variations across different regions and demographic groups, particularly highlighted by a GDR of 0.95.* -
- Regions with higher socio-economic development had better care quality, while younger patients (20-24 years) experienced the lowest QCI, indicating a need for improved care strategies.*
Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) encompass a range of neurodevelopmental disorders that affect the patient's communication and behavior. There are some reports about the increasing prevalence of ASD in recent decades, mostly due to the improvement in diagnosis and screening status. Few studies suggested a lower prevalence of ASD in North Africa and Middle East compared to more developed regions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEstimating the burden of diseases attributable to lead exposure in the North Africa and Middle East region, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease study 2019.
Environ Health
October 2022
Article Synopsis
- Lead exposure remains a significant public health issue in the North Africa and Middle East region despite a decline in attributable deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) over the past decade.
- Data from 1990 to 2019 indicates that while there was a notable decrease in death and DALY rates due to lead exposure—27.7% and 36.8% respectively—these rates still remain higher in low socio-demographic index (SDI) countries compared to high SDI countries.
- Major health burdens from lead exposure in 2019 were primarily linked to cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases, highlighting the need for effective long-term programs to mitigate lead exposure and its effects in the region.
Objective: Installation of speed cameras is a common strategy to reduce over-speeding; however, there is evidence that their efficacy in speed reduction is limited to the proximity of the camera. This study aimed to evaluate driving speeds in relation to the position of cameras among Iranian taxi drivers.
Methods: Speed data were collected from April 2020 to January 2021 via telematics devices (using on-board computer, gyroscope, and GPS) installed on taxis in southern Tehran, Iran.