Defining the exit meta-analysis.

Introduction: In recent decades, clinical research has seen significant advancements, both in the generation and synthesis of evidence through meta-analyses. Despite these methodological advancements, there is a growing concern about the accumulation of repetitive and redundant literature, potentially contributing to research waste. This highlights the necessity for a mechanism to determine when a meta-analysis has conclusively addressed a research question, signaling no further need for additional studies-a concept we term an "exit" meta-analysis.

COVID-19 testing, incidence, and positivity trends among school age children during the academic years 2020-2022 in the State of Qatar: special focus on using CDC indicators for community transmission to evaluate school attendance policies and public health response.

Background: There exists a gap in our understanding of the age-dependent epidemiological dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 among school-age children in comparison to adults within the State of Qatar. Additionally, there has been limited assessment of the timely implementation of physical distancing interventions, notably national school closures, and their impact on infection trends.

Methods: We used the national database to capture all records of polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) testing, and rapid antigen tests (RAT) conducted at all health care venues in Qatar and administered between August 26, 2020, and August 21, 2022, across all age groups (≥ 5 years old).

Short-term side effects of BNT162b2 vaccine in primary care settings in Qatar: a retrospective study.

Background: Despite the established effectiveness of the BNT162b2 Vaccine, the novel technology demands careful safety monitoring. While global studies have explored its safety, local data remains limited and exhibits some variability. This study investigated short-term side effects among BNT162b2 vaccinated individuals in Qatar.

Determining the conclusiveness of a meta-analysis.

The pursuit of conclusive evidence related to an unanswered foreground (decision-making) question has been the driving factor behind multiple ongoing and planned randomized controlled trials as well as meta-analyses. However, a fundamental challenge lies in establishing robust methods for ascertaining whether a collection of synthesized trials has yielded a definitive answer to that foreground question through the process of meta-analysis. This article explores the evolution of methods that attempt to address this challenge.

Use of conditional estimates of effect in cancer epidemiology: An application to lung cancer treatment.

Background: In oncology clinical trials, there is the assumption that randomization sufficiently balances confounding covariates and therefore average treatment effects are usually reported. This paper explores the wider benefits provided by conditioning on covariates for reasons other than mitigation of confounding.

Methods: We reanalyzed the data from primary randomized controlled trials listed in two meta-analyses to explore the significance of conditioning on smoking status in terms of the effect magnitude of treatment on progression free survival in non-small cell lung cancer.

Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) Vaccine Among Adolescents (Aged 12-15 Years): An Observational Study in Qatar.

In May 2021, Qatar launched the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine campaign for adolescents aged 12 to 15 years across all 27 health centers. Our study assessed the safety and efficacy of the vaccine among vaccinated and nonvaccinated adolescents in Qatar. Using a retrospective observational study, we analyzed the medical records of 1956 adolescents who were severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive from June 17 to December 17, 2021.

Societal health and economic burden of cardiovascular diseases in the population with type 2 diabetes in Qatar. A 10-year forecasting model.

Aims: To predict the future health and economic burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Qatar.

Materials And Methods: A dynamic multistate model was designed to simulate the progression of fatal and non-fatal CVD events among people with T2D in Qatar aged 40-79 years. First CVD events [i.

Dynamics of Anti-S IgG Antibodies Titers after the Second Dose of COVID-19 Vaccines in the Manual and Craft Worker Population of Qatar.

There is limited seroepidemiological evidence on the magnitude and long-term durability of antibody titers of mRNA and non-mRNA vaccines in the Qatari population. This study was conducted to generate evidence on long-term anti-S IgG antibody titers and their dynamics in individuals who have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination schedule. A total of 300 male participants who received any of the following vaccines BNT162b2/Comirnaty, mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1-S/Covishield, COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen/Johnson, or BBIBP-CorV or Covaxin were enrolled in our study.

Redefining effect modification.

The odds ratio (OR) has been misunderstood in evidence based medicine and clinical epidemiology. Currently, "noncollapsibility" is considered a problem with interpretation of the OR and it is thought that the OR is rarely the parameter of interest for causal inference or interpretation of effect modification. The current focus on the relative risk (RR) and risk difference (RD) suffers from an important limitation: they are not solely measures of effect and vary numerically with baseline risk.

Cardiovascular Risks and Outcome in COVID-19 Positive Patients With Cardiovascular Disease Attending Primary Health Care Corporation in Qatar: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Coronavirus disease COVID-19) patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) are at a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. This study describes the risks and outcome in COVID-19 patients with CVD attending Primary Health Care Corporationsettings in Qatar.

Objective: To report whether CVD increases the risk for hospitalization and further complications in COVID-19 patients.

Duration of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Effectiveness against Severe Disease.

Waning immunity following administration of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines remains a concern for many health systems. We undertook a study to determine if recent reports of waning for severe disease could have been attributed to design-related bias by conducting a study only among those detected with a first SARS-CoV-2 infection. We used a matched case-control study design with the study base being all individuals with first infection with SARS-CoV-2 reported in the State of Qatar between 1 January 2021 and 20 February 2022.

Impact of Smoking on COVID-19 Symptoms in Non-Vaccinated Patients: A Matched Observational Study from Qatar.

Purpose: Predisposition to acute illness from COVID-19 is suggested to correlate with cigarette smoking as it augments the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, including infections. However, the effects of smoking on COVID-19 symptoms are not well described and controversial. In this study, we aim to explore the associations between smoking and COVID-19 symptoms.

Prevalence and determinants of symptomatic COVID-19 infection among children and adolescents in Qatar: a cross-sectional analysis of 11 445 individuals.

There is a paucity of evidence about the prevalence and risk factors for symptomatic infection among children. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its risk factors in children and adolescents aged 0-18 years in Qatar. We conducted a cross-sectional study of all children aged 0-18 years diagnosed with COVID-19 using polymerase chain reaction in Qatar during the period 1st March to 31st July 2020.

Prevalence of multimorbidity among adults attending primary health care centres in Qatar: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Context: Multimorbidity (MM) is a global concern following the increase in life expectancy, the conquering of major infectious diseases, and the advances in the management of chronic illnesses. It places a substantial burden on patients and healthcare systems.

Aims: This study aims to describe the prevalence and pattern of MM in adults among primary healthcare users in Qatar.

COVID-19 infection across workplace settings in Qatar: a comparison of COVID-19 positivity rates of screened workers from March 1st until July 31st, 2020.

Introduction: COVID-19 transmission was significant amongst Qatar's working population during the March-July 2020 outbreak. The study aimed to estimate the risk of exposure for COVID-19 across various workplace settings and demographics in the State of Qatar.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing surveillance data of all workplaces with 10 or more laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Development and Evaluation of a Mobile App for Guiding Rabies Prophylaxis among Health-Care Professionals in India.

Background: The majority of dog-mediated human rabies as well as rabies-related human deaths are reported from low-income countries of Asia and Africa where access to appropriate postexposure prophylaxis is limited or nonexistent. At present, India is second in position after China in terms of having the highest number of mobile phone users surpassing the United States.

Objective: In this context, we decided to develop a user-friendly, technically less demanding, mobile App for health-care professionals, which is accessible even without Internet facility.

Diagnostic accuracy of self-collected vaginal samples for HPV DNA detection in women from South India.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of self-collected vaginal samples compared with physician-collected cervical samples for the detection of HPVDNA.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out among patients with newly diagnosed cervical cancer attending the Gynecologic Oncology Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Radiation Oncology Department at Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala between March 2017 and April 2019. Consenting patients collected their vaginal samples, followed by cervical sample collection by the clinician.

The Utility of Urine-Based Sampling for Cervical Cancer Screening in Low-Resource Settings.

Background: WHO has recommended Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) or Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing if feasible, for cervical cancer screening in low income countries. However, the number of women undergoing screening is very low as a result of limited information, inadequate infrastructure and invasive nature of sampling. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out comparing HPV DNA detection by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in paired cervical and urine samples procured from histologically confirmed cervical cancer cases.

Adaptive Immune Responses in Humans During Nipah Virus Acute and Convalescent Phases of Infection.

Background: Nipah virus (NiV) is 1 of 10 potential causes of imminent public health emergencies of international concern. We investigated the NiV outbreak that occurred in May 2018 in Kerala, India. Here we describe the longitudinal characteristics of cell-mediated and humoral immune responses to NiV infection during the acute and convalescent phases in 2 human survivors.

Risk Factors for Acquiring Scrub Typhus among Children in Deoria and Gorakhpur Districts, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2017.

Scrub typhus is associated with outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome in Uttar Pradesh, India. A case-control study indicated that children residing, playing, or visiting fields; living with firewood stored indoors; handling cattle fodder; and practicing open defecation were at increased risk for scrub typhus. Communication messages should focus on changing these behaviors.