Changes in child and adolescent mental health across the COVID-19 pandemic (2018-2023): Insights from general population and clinical samples in the Netherlands.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected child and adolescent mental health and at the end of the pandemic (April 2022) child mental health had not returned to pre-pandemic levels. We investigated whether this observed increase in mental health problems has continued, halted, or reversed after the end of the pandemic in children from the general population and in children in psychiatric care.

Methods: We collected parent-reported and child-reported data at two additional post-pandemic time points (November/December 2022 and March/April 2023) in children (8-18 years) from two general population samples ( = 818-1056 per measurement) and one clinical sample receiving psychiatric care ( = 320-370) and compared these with data from before the pandemic.

The effects of COVID-19 on child mental health: Biannual assessments up to April 2022 in a clinical and two general population samples.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an acute impact on child mental and social health, but long-term effects are still unclear. We examined how child mental health has developed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic up to 2 years into the pandemic (April 2022).

Methods: We included children (age 8-18) from two general population samples ( = 222-1333 per measurement and  = 2401-13,362 for pre-covid data) and one clinical sample receiving psychiatric care ( = 334-748).

Intergenerational Transmission of BMI and Educational Outcomes in Children and Adolescents.

Individual differences in educational attainment (EA) and physical health, as indexed by body mass index (BMI), are correlated within individuals and across generations. The aim of our study was to assess the transmission of these traits from parents to their offspring in childhood and adolescence. We analyzed BMI and EA in 13,916 families from the Netherlands.

Intergenerational transmission of body mass index and associations with educational attainment.

Background: Individual differences in educational attainment (EA) and physical health, as indexed by body mass index (BMI), are correlated within persons and across generations. The present aim was to assess these associations while controlling for parental transmission.

Methods: We analyzed BMI and EA obtained for 8,866 families from the Netherlands.

Adult mortality trends in Qatar, 1989-2015: National population versus migrants.

Introduction: With the increase of Qatar's total population, primarily due to the influx of healthy male migrant labor, worldwide attention has been focused on deaths among these migrant workers.

Objective: To describe adult mortality trends in Qataris (nationals) and non-Qataris (migrants) from all causes, cardiovascular and circulatory disease, neoplasms, and injuries, 1989-2015.

Methods: We retrieved Qatar's vital registration data by nationality, sex, age group, year, and codes of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions.

Risk Factors for Microvascular Complications of Diabetes in a High-Risk Middle East Population.

Aims: Much of the diabetes burden is caused by its complications. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for diabetic microvascular complications (retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy) in a high-risk population.

Methods: We collected information via a structured questionnaire and directly from the patient's record on 1034 adult type 2 diabetic patients who were attending outpatient clinics in Qatar.

Systematic overview of hepatitis C infection in the Middle East and North Africa.

Aim: To assess the quality of and to critically synthesize the available data on hepatitis C infections in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to map evidence gaps.

Methods: We conducted an overview of systematic reviews (SRs) following an a priori developed protocol (CRD42017076736). Our overview followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines for reporting SRs and abstracts and did not receive any funding.

Gray literature in systematic reviews on population health in the Middle East and North Africa: protocol of an overview of systematic reviews and evidence mapping.

Background: Systematic review (SR) guidelines recommend extending literature search to gray literature in order to identify all available data related to the review topic. We aim to conduct an overview of SRs on population health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), to assess the methodology of these SRs, to produce an evidence map highlighting methodological gaps in SRs regarding gray literature searching, and to aid in developing future SRs by listing gray literature sources related to population health in MENA.

Methods/design: We will conduct an overview of SRs based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Knowledge and perceptions about Zika virus in a Middle East country.

Background: Zika virus, an emerging serious infectious disease, is a threat to persons living or travelling to regions where it is currently endemic, and also to contacts of infected individuals. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge about this new public health threat to persons residing in a Middle Eastern country.

Methods: We conducted a survey at several international universities in Qatar to assess knowledge and awareness about this disease.

Seat belt and mobile phone use among vehicle drivers in the city of Doha, Qatar: an observational study.

Background: In Qatar traffic injuries and fatalities are of serious concern. Mobile phone use whilst driving has been associated with increased risk of vehicular collisions and injuries. Seat belt use has been demonstrated to save lives and reduce the severity of road traffic injuries.