The evaluation of depression prevalence and its association with obesity phenotypes in a community-dwelling aged population.

Background: Depression is one of the most debilitating mental disorders and a risk factor for many other chronic diseases that are commonly seen in the geriatric population. It has been claimed in previous studies that depression can be associated with obesity in this age group, but there is no common consensus between their results.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the association between depression metabolic syndrome and obesity phenotypes in community-dwelling older adults living in the East of Iran.

Dynapenia-abdominal obesity and mortality risk, is independent effect obscured by age and frailty?:Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS).

Background: Abdominal obesity and low muscle strength, known separately as risk factors for mortality, might have a synergistic effect when they co-occur. Dynapenic abdominal obesity (DAO) is a condition defined by the presence of both. However, DAO's independent and combined impact on mortality remains under investigation.

The Association between cognitive impairment and anthropometric indices among the elderly: birjand longitudinal aging study.

Background: The population of older adults has been consistently on the rise. We aimed to assess the possible relationship between cognitive decline and anthropometric indices in older adults, using data from the Birjand longitudinal aging study (BLAS).

Methods: In this cross-sectional research, the association between cognitive impairment as determined by two tests (Six Item Cognitive Impairment Test (6-CIT)) and (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)) and anthropometric indices including waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist to height ratio (WHtR), waist to hip ratio (WHR), body roundness index (BRI), and a body shape index (ABSI) were assessed among 1353 elderly ≥ 60 years old, participating in the BLAS cohort study (September 2018 to April 2019).

The association between frailty and body composition among the elderly: Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS).

Background: This study aims to assess the possible relationship between frailty and anthropometric indices in older adults using data from the first phase of the Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the association between frailty (Frailty index (FI) and Fried frailty phenotype) and body composition indices in 1364 participants aged ≥ 60 years (September 2018 to April 2019). Analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA and ordinal logistic regression.

Consumption status of functional drinks based on the theory of planned behavior and the stages of change model in female employees.

This study aimed to determine the consumption status of functional drinks based on the theory of planned behavior and the Stages of Change Model. This study was conducted on 536 female employees of Birjand offices in 2022. The data was collected by using the functional food questionnaire and was analyzed using SPSS with significance level of P < 0.

The association of depressive symptoms with handgrip strength and gait speed in community-dwelling older adults: data from the baseline phase of Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study.

Background: Depression is a multifaceted condition with a high prevalence and burden to society. Handgrip strength (HGS) and gait speed (GS) are indices of physical health, which is linked to mental health. Previous studies have shown heterogeneity among countries in the association of physical parameters and depression.

Factors affecting childbearing intention in women employees in Birjand: Application of the theory of planned behavior.

Background: Childbearing is one of the most important determinants of population fluctuations. Identifying factors affecting childbearing is necessary for the proper implementation of population programs. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting childbearing intention among women employees in Birjand based on the theory of planned behavior.

Clinical utility of lipid ratios as potential predictors of metabolic syndrome among the elderly population: Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS).

Background: Elderly adults are at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present study aims to investigate the relationship between lipid ratios and MetS in the elderly population.

Methods: This study was conducted on elderly population of Birjand during 2018-2019.

Serum Vitamin D Status and Cognitive Function in Iranian Older Adults: Evidence from the Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study.

Background: There is evidence of the role of vitamin D deficiency in cognitive decline. However, the results of studies regarding the relationship between the reduction of vitamin D concentrations and cognitive impairment are heterogeneous.

Objectives: We aimed to answer the question of whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with cognitive decline in older adults.

The Prevalence and Determinants of Vitamin D Status among Older Adults: Data from a Longitudinal Aging Study.

Background: Aging is identified as a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency (VDD) therefore this investigation was designed to determine the prevalence of VDD and its determinants in a sample of older adults.

Methods: The data of this study were obtained from the baseline wave of the Longitudinal Aging Study (LAS). Demographic, past medical history, medication history, and smoking behavior were collected using an interview approach.

Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in the Elderly, the Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study.

Cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor for chronic and atherosclerotic vascular disease that causes preventable considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study is aimed at comparing inflammation and the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in elderly subjects. The authors recruited the participants (1281 older adults) from the Birjand Longitudinal of Aging study.

Trace Element Concentration and Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Residents in Birjand.

Background: Trace elements were suggested to have a main role in modulating cognitive function. However, there are several controversial findings regarding the association between serum trace element concentration and cognitive function in patients with cognitive disorders.

Methods: Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the changes in serum trace element concentrations in elderly with cognitive dysfunction versus the participants with normal cognitive function.

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) for modeling efficient factors in predicting pap smear screening behavior change stage.

Background And Objectives: Cervical cancer is ranked as the third most prevalent cancer that affects women all over the world and Pap smear seems to be the single most critical intervention to prevent cervical cancer. In the present study, the effects of demographic factors (age, education level, job, income level, marriage age, pregnancy, child number, breastfeeding, and menopause), insurance type, disease history and screening (sono and mammography, breast problem) and cancer information on Pap smear screening and behavior stage of change were investigated and modeled using an artificial neural network model (ANN).

Materials And Methods: Data were collected from a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study.

Low physical activity is the strongest factor associated with frailty phenotype and frailty index: data from baseline phase of Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS).

Background: Frailty is the most complicated expression of aging that is related to disability or multi-morbidity. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of frailty and its associated factors among community-dwelling aged population.

Methods: A total of 1529 eligible community- dwelling older adults (≥ 60 years) were enrolled in the baseline phase of Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS) from 2019 to 2020.

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its association with metabolic syndrome among the elderly population of Birjand, Iran.

Background: With increasing life expectancy and the aging population of most countries, attention to the diseases of old age has also increased. Due to the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly, the present study was designed and performed to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D levels in Iranian elderly with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: This study was conducted on an elderly population of Birjand (60 and older) in the urban and rural areas of the city.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Associated Potential Factors among the Elderly in the East of Iran.

Background And Aims: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine potential factors with a strong association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) among obesity and lipid-related parameters, and liver enzymes, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and blood pressure (BP) as well as some sociodemographic factors in elderly over 60 years old from a sample of Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS).

Methods: A total of 1366 elderly Birjand participants were enrolled and divided into non-MetS (n = 512) and MetS (n = 854) groups based on the status of MetS from January 2018 to October 2018. The anthropometric parameters, blood lipid profiles, liver enzymes, and disease history were evaluated and recorded.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle among Iranian population: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: Quarantine, an unpleasant experience, was implemented in many countries to limit the spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which it could associated whit lifestyle changes. The present study aimed to determine the changes in Iranian's lifestyle during COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials And Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 2710 Iranian people completed an online researcher-made questionnaire asking lifestyle regarding COVID-19, which includes five sections about physical activity, stress and anxiety, nutrition habit, sleep disorders, and interpersonal relationship in addition to demographic data from January to February 2021, using the multistage cluster sampling method.

Evaluation of health belief model-based educational intervention on colorectal cancer screening behavior at South Khorasan, Iran.

Background: Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer of the gastrointestinal tract. Health beliefs play an important role in the development of health behaviors. In this study, the effect of educational intervention based on Health Belief Model on colorectal cancer screening behavior was investigated.

Psychometric measure beliefs and preventive behaviors toward COVID-19 based on Health Belief Model (HBM): Validation of a questionnaire.

The COVID-19 epidemic is a newly emerging infectious disease. This study was conducted to design an appropriate psychometric questionnaire of cultural and social characteristics to evaluate beliefs and preventive behaviors toward COVID-19 among the Iranian's population according to change behavior theory as health belief model (HBM). The study population included all those who had access to social networks and answered the questionnaire voluntarily.

A perspective on the sense of loneliness and its determinants in Iranian older people.

Background: The sense of loneliness is one of the common problems of older people and their quality of life, and is affected by many factors such as personal resources, gender, health condition, and age. This study investigates the determinants of the sense of loneliness between older men and women in Birjand.

Methods: This study was a part of the community-based prospective cohort study of the Birjand Longitudinal Aging Study (BLAS).

Prevalence and factors connected with chronic diseases in the elderly residents of Birjand: a community - based study in Birjand, South Khorasan Province, Iran.

Objectives: The rapid rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the elderly has attracted much attention in Iran due to the high rate of population aging in the country. The current survey intended to evaluate the prevalence of and factors associated with five NCDs in the elderly residents of Birjand, a metropolis of South Khorasan, Iran.

Methods: Following an observational design, 1820 elderly dwellers of Birjand aged ≥ 60 years residing in urban or rural areas were explored.