A Bold Vision for a Healthier World: Lifestyle-First Medicine.

A call to action from the recently published Doha Declaration, including guiding principles for Lifestyle Medicine integration as an evolution to Lifestyle-First Medicine for global healthcare.

COVID-19 lockdown and lifestyles: A narrative review.

Background: The primary objective worldwide during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had been controlling disease transmission. However, lockdown measures used to mitigate transmission affected human behavior and altered lifestyles, with a likely impact on chronic non-communicable diseases. More than a year into the pandemic, substantial peer-reviewed literature emerged on altered lifestyles following the varying lockdown measures imposed globally to control the virus spread.

HPV infection and vaccination: a cross-sectional study of knowledge, perception, and attitude to vaccine uptake among university students in Qatar.

Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is a significant public health concern in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, being widely prevalent and the main risk factor for cervical cancer. We aimed to assess knowledge and perception towards HPV, acceptability of the HPV vaccine, and HPV vaccination rates among university students in Education City, Doha, Qatar.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey utilized proportional quota-sampling, with quotas based on university, sex, and nationality, to recruit students from seven universities between February and September 2022.

Sleep disorders and associated factors among medical students in the Middle East and North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sleep disturbances like poor and insufficient sleep are common among medical students in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries; however, the extent of medically defined sleep disorders (SDs) remains unclear. This meta-analysis determines SD prevalence and identifies associated factors among medical students in the MENA. PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and reference lists of included studies were searched (latest search: June 2022).

Burnout increased among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Generally, university students are at risk of burnout. This likely was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to investigate burnout prevalence among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine its distribution across countries, sexes, fields of study, and time-period.

Western Medical Acupuncture Perception and Use for Pain Management Among Athletes: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: This systematic review aims to assess the use and perception of "Western" medical acupuncture-based on conventional biomedical mechanisms and evidence-based medicine for diagnosis and needle placement-for pain management among athletes and their healthcare providers.

Methods: A systematic review is reported based on the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Allied and Complementary Medicine databases, and Google Scholar were searched (search: from database inception to July 2023).

An ecological study of the burden of road traffic crashes in the Middle East and North Africa.

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) and deaths constitute a serious preventable global public health problem.

Aims: To analyse time trends of age-standardized mortality rates and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) caused by RTIs in 23 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries; and to assess the correlation between national implementation of best practice for road safety recommended by the World Health Organization, national income level, and RTI burden.

Methods: Time trend analysis over 17 years (2000-2016) was conducted using Joinpoint regression.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the proportion of physically active children and adults worldwide: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Safety measures implemented to address the COVID-19 pandemic have had a profound impact on the mobility of people worldwide We synthesized the global evidence on physical activity (PA) participation before and during the pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review, searching PubMed, Embase, WHO Global literature on coronavirus disease (between January 2020 and April 2022), and reference lists. Meta-analysis and meta-regression were conducted to quantitatively synthesize the data.

Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke in Qatar: results from a population-based study.

Background: Tobacco use among women in Qatar is currently low. However, the risk of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke among them is a pressing concern because of the high prevalence of tobacco use by men.

Aims: To describe the prevalence and risk factors for second-hand tobacco smoke exposure at home and at workplaces, schools, cafes, and restaurants in Qatar.

Assessment of Overweight, Obesity, Central Obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes among Adolescents in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Qatar has a high obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) burden. This study aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and T2DM in 13-17-year-old adolescents and (2) evaluate associations with adolescents' lifestyle and breastfeeding history, parental weight, and familial T2DM history. A cross-sectional study (double-stage cluster sampling) was conducted in 2018-2020 using a self-administered parental and adolescent questionnaire.

Waterpipe smoking: Results from a population-based study in Qatar.

Introduction: Waterpipe smoking is common in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and is becoming more prevalent in Qatar. To better plan waterpipe smoking control strategies we aimed to: 1) determine the prevalence of waterpipe smoking and explore its patterns in Qatar; 2) describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to smoking behaviors; 3) recognize locations of waterpipe smoking and symptoms experienced during waterpipe sessions; and 4) evaluate the frequency of waterpipe smoking and the initiation age.

Methods: We analyzed the data of a 7921 population-based survey of adults aged ≥18 years (nationals and expatriates), conducted in Qatar between March and December 2019.

Maternal mortality in the Middle East and North Africa region - how could countries move towards obstetric transition stage 5?

Background: Maternal mortality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region decreased significantly between 1990 and 2017. This was uneven, however, with some countries faring much better than others.

Methods: We undertook a trend analysis of Maternal Mortality Ratios (MMRs) of countries in the region in order to understand differences in reduction across countries.

Physical Activity and Its Barriers and Facilitators among University Students in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases worldwide. This study investigated physical activity (PA) level among university students in Qatar and assessed other lifestyle and demographic factors associated with PA. A cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2017 and February 2018.

The association between tobacco use and COVID-19 in Qatar.

The effects of smoking on COVID-19 are controversial. Some studies show no link between smoking and severe COVID-19, whereas others demonstrate a significant link. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the prevalence of tobacco use among COVID-19 patients, examine the relationship between tobacco use and hospitalized COVID-19 (non-severe and severe), and quantify its risk factors.

Scoring Lifestyle Medicine Goals With FIFA 2022-An Opportunity to Strike Big!

Qatar is one of the few countries in the world with a dedicated national sports day. Qatar believes that sport is one of the best tools to promote a healthy lifestyle to help curb the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). With the well-established positive health effects of soccer on cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal conditions, the vision of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ hosted by Qatar to use the power of soccer to "open the door of an amazing world experience" is praiseworthy.

An in-depth analysis of 10 epidemiological terminologies used in the context of COVID-19.

Aim: In this paper, we explore the contextual use of 10 epidemiological terminologies, their significance, and interpretation/misinterpretation in explaining various aspects of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods And Results: We first establish the different purposes of the terms 'pandemic' and 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern.' We then discuss the confusion caused by using the 'case fatality rate' as opposed to 'infection fatality rate' during the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding the limited usefulness of identifying someone as 'pre-symptomatic.

Telemental Health Use in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review and Evidence Gap Mapping.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted telemedicine use for mental illness (telemental health). In the scoping review, we describe the scope and domains of telemental health during the COVID-19 pandemic from the published literature and discuss associated challenges. PubMed, EMBASE, and the World Health Organization's Global COVID-19 Database were searched up to August 23, 2020 with no restrictions on study design, language, or geographical, following an protocol (https://osf.

Dietary patterns and associated lifestyle factors among university students in Qatar.

We aimed to investigate the association between university students' dietary patterns, their demographics and lifestyle in a cross-sectional study in Qatar. 370 students in eight universities in Qatar enrolled between February 2017 and February 2018. Based on a structured questionnaire, dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis, and their associations with student characteristics were assessed using logistic regression.

Influence of Age on 2040 Cancer Burden in the Older Population of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries: Public Health Implications.

Introduction And Study Aims: The underlying population of global regions varies widely and is a major determinant of regional cancer differences. The aims were to: (1) estimate the cancer burden in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2040 for the ≥70 population and (2) assess the public health implications for this cancer increase.

Methods: We used Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) estimates of cancer incidence and mortality for people aged 70 years or more in GCC countries from 2018 to 2040 from the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Physician burnout in the Eastern Mediterranean region: influence of gender and related factors - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: While recent reviews highlight high burnout prevalence among physicians in the World Health Organization's (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), there has been a limited exploration into the role of gender and related factors in this problem.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the prevalence of physician burnout and its relationship to gender, physician specialties, and age in the WHO's EMR based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and Al Manhal databases and synthesized the findings from the included studies.

Depression among healthcare workers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Depression is a major population health challenge globally. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to (i) determine depression prevalence and (ii) identify the risk and protective factors of depression among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).

Methods: The protocol was registered on Open Science Framework (registration ID: https://osf.

Knowledge and Anxiety about COVID-19 in the State of Qatar, and the Middle East and North Africa Region-A Cross Sectional Study.

While the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wreaked havoc across the globe, we have witnessed substantial mis- and disinformation regarding various aspects of the disease. We conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire for the general public (recruited via social media) and healthcare workers (recruited via email) from the State of Qatar, and the Middle East and North Africa region to understand the knowledge of and anxiety levels around COVID-19 (April-June 2020) during the early stage of the pandemic. The final dataset used for the analysis comprised of 1658 questionnaires (53.