ORCID Profile
0000-0001-7926-9368
Current Organisations
Deakin University
,
George Institute for Global Health
,
University of Sydney
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Publications
Changes in physical activity during COVID‐19 pandemic among Saudi Arabians: Results from a cross‐sectional study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2022
DOI: 10.1002/HSR2.822
Abstract: The COVID‐19 pandemic and the resultant change in sedentary behaviors have had immense health, economic, and social implications globally. As governments worldwide imposed lockdowns and curfews, the amount of time spent indoors greatly increased. This lead to a dramatic change in physical activity (PA) levels and profound consequences on daily routines. Our study aimed to investigate patterns of PA during the COVID‐19 pandemic among adults residing in Saudi Arabia. This cross‐sectional survey‐based study aimed to investigate patterns of PA during the COVID‐19 pandemic among adults residing in Saudi Arabia. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was utilized to measure participants' PA levels between April 2021 and May 2021. Participants were then classified into three groups according to their PA level, and their PA levels and sedentary behaviors were analyzed. We surveyed 463 participants, 315 (68%) of which were female and 134 (32%) of which were male with a median age of 23 (interquartile range, 21–35) years. Moderate‐to‐high PA was reported by 257 (55.7%) of the participants. There was a significant decrease in PA during the COVID‐19 pandemic and resultant lockdowns among the participants ( p = 0.04), with higher rates of sedentary behavior among males than females ( p = 0.14). The decline in PA is a profound challenge of the COVID‐19 pandemic that needs to be addressed by health practitioners and policymakers. Our study highlights the decline in PA levels seen during the COVID‐19 pandemic and the importance of promotional programs and interventions to increase PA among the Saudi Arabian population without compromising the essential health restrictions and social distancing.
A 15% reduction in physical inactivity will be achieved in Australasia by 2030'-Audience votes negative in online debate
Publisher: Human Kinetics
Date: 11-2021
Abstract: The Australasian Society for Physical Activity aims to advance the science and practice of physical activity in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Fun, enjoyment, and cross-disciplinary discourse are important to ensure the network of physical activity professionals and our collective voice continues to grow. In May 2021, Australasian Society for Physical Activity’s Early Career Network curated an engaging online Physical Activity Debate attended by 206 professionals. This commentary provides a synopsis of the debate and the central arguments presented by the affirmative and negatives teams. The authors describe the debate format and interactive design of the online Physical Activity Debate to provide insights for future online events that aim to boost interaction among physical activity professionals from various disciplines.
Measuring the burden of comorbidity for ischaemic heart disease and four common non-communicable diseases in Iran, 1990–2017: a modelling study based on global burden of diseases data
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 11-2022
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2021-054441
Abstract: This modelling study aimed to estimate the comorbidity burden for four common non-communicable diseases with ischaemic heart diseases (IHD) in Iran during a period of 28 years. Analysis of the burden of comorbidity with IHD based on data included prevalence rates and the disability weight (DW) average for calculating years lived with disability (YLDs) from the Iran population based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. Population-based available data in GBD 2017 study of Iran population. The source of data was the GBD 2017 Study. We evaluated IHD, major depressive disorder (MDD), diabetes mellitus (DM), ischaemic stroke (IS), and osteoarthritis (OA) age-standardised prevalence rates and their DW. A new formula that modified the GBD calculator was used to measure the comorbidity YLDs. In the new formula, some multipliers were considered, measuring the departure from independence. The contribution of total comorbidity for each combination of IHD with DM, MDD, IS and OA was 2.5%, 2.0%, 1.6% and 2.9%, respectively. The highest YLD rates were observed for IHD_MDD, 16.5 in 1990 and 17.0 in 2017. This was followed by IHD_DM, from 11.5 to 16.9 per 100 000. The YLD rates for IHD_OA changed slightly (6.5–6.7) per 100 000, whereas there was a gradual reduction in the trends of IHD-IS, from 4.0–4.5 per 100 000. Of the four comorbidities studied, the highest burden was due to the coexistence of MDD with IHD. Our results highlight the importance of addressing the burden of comorbidities when studying the burden of IHD or any other non-communicable disease.
Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention to Sit Less and Move More in People With Type 2 Diabetes: Protocol for a Microrandomized Trial (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 27-07-2022
Abstract: educing sedentary behaviour (SB) and increasing physical activity (PA) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with various positive health benefits. Just-in-time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) offer potential to target both these behaviours via more contextually aware, tailored, and personalised support. We have developed a JITAI intervention to promote sitting less and moving more in people with T2D. his paper presents the study protocol for a micro-randomised trial (MRT) to investigate whether motivational messages are effective in reducing time spent sitting in people with T2D, and to determine what behaviour change techniques are effective and in which context (e.g., location, etc.). six-week MRT design will be used. Twenty-two adults with T2D will be recruited. The intervention aims to reduce sitting time and increase time spent standing and walking, and comprises a mobile app (iMove), and a bespoke activity sensor (SORD), a messaging system and a secured database. Dependant on the randomisation sequence, participants will potentially receive motivational messages five times a day. ecruitment was initiated in October 2022. As of now, six participants (2 females and 4 males) have consented and enrolled in the study. Their baseline measurements have been completed and they have started using iMOVE. The mean age of six participants is 56.8 years and they were diagnosed with T2D for 9.4 years on average. he current study will inform the optimisation of digital behaviour change interventions to support people with T2D sit less and move more to increase daily PA. This study will generate new evidence about the immediate effectiveness of SB interventions, their active ingredients and associated factors. ustralian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12622000426785) anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=383664
Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global B
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2018
Machine learning and bioinformatics models to identify gene expression patterns of ovarian cancer associated with disease progression and mortality
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.JBI.2019.103313
Abstract: Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common cause of cancer death among women worldwide, so there is a pressing need to identify factors influencing OC mortality. Much OC patient clinical data is publicly accessible via the Broad Institute Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets which include patient age, cancer site, stage and subtype and patient survival, as well as OC gene transcription profiles. These allow studies correlating OC patient survival (and other clinical variables) with gene expression to identify new OC biomarkers to predict patient mortality. We integrated clinical and tissue transcriptome data from patients available from the TCGA portal. We determined OC mRNA expression levels (compared to normal ovarian tissue) of 41 genes already implicated in OC progression, and assessed how their OC tissue expression levels predicts patient survival. We employed Cox Proportional Hazard regression models to analyse clinical factors and transcriptomic information to determine the relative effects on survival that is associated with each factor. Multivariate analysis of combined data (clinical and gene mRNA expression) found age and ovary tumour site significantly correlated with patient survival. The univariate analysis also confirmed significant differences in patient survival time when altered transcription levels of TLR4, BSCL2, CDH1, ERBB2, and SCGB2A1 were evident, while multivariate analysis that considered the 41 genes simultaneously revealed a significant relationship of survival with TLR4, BSCL2, CDH1, ERBB2 and PTPRE genes. However, analyses that considered all 41 genes with clinical variables together identified genes TLR4, BSCL2, CDH1, ERBB2, BRCA2 and SCGB2A1 as independently related to survival in OC. These studies indicate that the latter genes influence OC patient survival, i.e., expression levels of these genes provide mechanistic and predictive information in addition to that of the clinical traits. Our study provides strong evidence that these genes are important prognostic indicators of patient survival that give clues to biological processes that underlie OC progression and mortality.
Untapped aspects of mass media campaigns for changing health behaviour towards non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-01-2018
Global, regional, and national burden of traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
Information, Involvement, Self-care and Support - The Needs of Caregivers of People with Stroke: A Grounded Theory Approach
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 07-10-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.10.06.21264603
Abstract: Globally, stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, with most care undertaken by caregivers who are generally family and friends without prior experience of care. The lack of experience or unpreparedness results in feelings of uncertainty, burnout, anxiety, burden, etc. Hence, it is necessary to identify the needs of caregivers to support them in their caregiving journey better and improve the quality of care delivered. The study employed a grounded theory methodology that utilizes information gathered from literature reviews and social media to represent the needs and create a storyline visually. The storyline is further refined and evaluated using an online survey of 72 participants recruited through online stroke caregiving communities. The study identified four core categories of needs, i.e., information, involvement, self-care and support that need to be delivered at appropriate times to ensure the caregivers feel prepared to assume their role of care and are supported throughout the care trajectory. There is a need to create a caregiver-centered approach in stroke recovery to ensure limited obstruction to care and reduced uncertainty in recovery. Moreover, through the inclusion of caregivers in the recovery process, it may be possible to reduce the burden of care to the caregiver and ensure the satisfaction of the healthcare system throughout recovery.
Cost-effectiveness of a mobile-phone text messaging intervention on type 2 diabetes—A randomized-controlled trial
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2020
Management of Gastric Cancer With Umbilical Metastasis: A Case Report
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2018
The COVID-19 pandemic: an opportunity to make mental health a higher public health priority
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
Date: 09-2021
Abstract: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first recognised in December 2019. The subsequent pandemic has caused 4.3 million deaths and affected the lives of billions. It has increased psychosocial risk factors for mental illness including fear, social isolation and financial insecurity and is likely to lead to an economic recession. COVID-19 is associated with a high rate of neuropsychiatric sequelae. The long-term effects of the pandemic on mental health remain uncertain but could be marked, with some predicting an increased demand for psychiatric services for years to come. COVID-19 has turned a spotlight on mental health for politicians, policy makers and the public and provides an opportunity to make mental health a higher public health priority. We review longstanding reasons for prioritising mental health and the urgency brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlight strategies to improve mental health and reduce the psychiatric fallout of the pandemic.
Safe Hydration to Prevent Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury and Worsening Heart Failure in Patients with Renal Insufficiency and Heart Failure Undergoing Coronary Angiography or Percutaneous Corona
Publisher: International Heart Journal (Japanese Heart Journal)
Date: 30-03-2019
DOI: 10.1536/IHJ.17-066
Abstract: An optimal hydration volume (HV) that prevents contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients with renal insufficiency and heart failure (HF) at a high risk of worsening HF (WHF) has not been determined. We aimed to determine a safe HV that prevents CI-AKI and WHF following coronary angiography (CAG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with renal insufficiency and HF. We recruited 1,307 patients with renal insufficiency and HF and investigated the relationships between the peri-procedural HV/weight (HV/W) ratio, and the risks of CI-AKI and WHF following CAG or PCI. Higher HV/W quartiles were associated with higher CI-AKI rates (Q1: 6.2%, Q2: 9.1%, Q3: 12.5%, and Q4: 18.7% P < 0.001) and a greater likelihood of WHF (Q1: 2.2%, Q2: 2.7%, Q3: 4.9%, and Q4: 11.7% P < 0.001). The multivariate analyses indicated that excessively high HV/W ratios were associated with moderately increased risks of CI-AKI (Q4 versus Q1: adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-4.00) and WHF (Q4 versus Q1: adjusted OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.21-7.88). The multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that a higher HV/W ratio was associated with significantly increased long-term mortality (Q2 versus Q1: adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.36 Q3 versus Q1: adjusted HR 2.85 Q4 versus Q1: adjusted HR 2.94 all P < 0.05). In conclusion, an excessively high HV/W might be associated with a moderately increased risk of CI-AKI, WHF, and long-term mortality in patients with renal insufficiency and HF.
Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million p
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2020
Examining Development Processes for Text Messaging Interventions to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: Systematic Literature Review (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 13-09-2018
Abstract: nterventions delivered by mobile phones have the potential to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) by supporting behavior change toward healthier lifestyles and treatment adherence. To allow replication and adaptation of these interventions across settings, it is important to fully understand how they have been developed. However, the development processes of these interventions have not previously been systematically examined. his study aimed to systematically describe and compare the development process of text messaging interventions identified in the Text2PreventCVD systematic review. e extracted data about the development process of the 9 interventions identified in the Text2PreventCVD systematic review. Data extraction, which was guided by frameworks for the development of complex interventions, considered the following development stages: intervention planning, design, development, and pretesting. Following data extraction, we invited the developers of the interventions to contribute to our study by reviewing the accuracy of the extracted data and providing additional data not reported in the available publications. comprehensive description of the development process was available for 5 interventions. Multiple methodologies were used for the development of each intervention. Intervention planning involved gathering information from stakeholder consultations, literature reviews, examination of relevant theory, and preliminary qualitative research. Intervention design involved the use of behavior change theories and behavior change techniques. Intervention development involved (1) generating message content based on clinical guidelines and expert opinions (2) conducting literature reviews and primary qualitative research to inform decisions about message frequency, timing, and level of tailoring and (3) gathering end-user feedback concerning message readability, intervention acceptability, and perceived utility. Intervention pretesting involved pilot studies with s les of 10 to 30 participants receiving messages for a period ranging from 1 to 4 weeks. he development process of the text messaging interventions examined was complex and comprehensive, involving multiple studies to guide decisions about the scope, content, and structure of the interventions. Additional research is needed to establish whether effective messaging systems can be adapted from work already done or whether this level of development is needed for application in other conditions and settings.
Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2020
A comparative study on patient safety culture among emergency nurses in the public and private hospitals of Tabriz, Iran
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-01-2020
DOI: 10.1002/NOP2.449
Short‐term effectiveness of a theory‐based intervention to promote diabetes management behaviours among adults with type 2 diabetes in Iran: A randomised control trial
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 05-02-2021
DOI: 10.1111/IJCP.13994
Measuring the availability of human resources for health and its relationship to universal health coverage for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Bur
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2022
Exploring Barriers to and Enablers of the Adoption of Information and Communication Technology for the Care of Older Adults With Chronic Diseases: Scoping Review (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 17-12-2020
Abstract: nformation and communication technology (ICT) offers considerable potential for supporting older adults in managing their health, including chronic diseases. However, there are mixed opinions about the benefits and effectiveness of ICT interventions for older adults with chronic diseases. e aim to map the use of ICT interventions in health care and identified barriers to and enablers of its use among older adults with chronic disease. scoping review was conducted using 5 databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, and ProQuest) to identify eligible articles from January 2000 to July 2020. Publications incorporating the use of ICT interventions, otherwise known as eHealth, such as mobile health, telehealth and telemedicine, decision support systems, electronic health records, and remote monitoring in people aged ≥55 years with chronic diseases were included. We conducted a i strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats /i framework analysis to explore the implied enablers of and barriers to the use of ICT interventions. f the 1149 identified articles, 31 (2.7% n=4185 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Of the 31 articles, 5 (16%) mentioned the use of various eHealth interventions. A range of technologies was reported, including mobile health (8/31, 26%), telehealth (7/31, 23%), electronic health record (2/31, 6%), and mixed ICT interventions (14/31, 45%). Various chronic diseases affecting older adults were identified, including congestive heart failure (9/31, 29%), diabetes (7/31, 23%), chronic respiratory disease (6/31, 19%), and mental health disorders (8/31, 26%). ICT interventions were all designed to help people self-manage chronic diseases and demonstrated positive effects. However, patient-related and health care provider–related challenges, in integrating ICT interventions in routine practice, were identified. Barriers to using ICT interventions in older adults included knowledge gaps, a lack of willingness to adopt new skills, and reluctance to use technologies. Implementation challenges related to ICT interventions such as slow internet connectivity and lack of an appropriate reimbursement policy were reported. Advantages of using ICT interventions include their nonpharmacological nature, provision of health education, encouragement for continued physical activity, and maintenance of a healthy diet. Participants reported that the use of ICT was a fun and effective way of increasing their motivation and supporting self-management tasks. It gave them reassurance and peace of mind by promoting a sense of security and reducing anxiety. CT interventions have the potential to support the care of older adults with chronic diseases. However, they have not been effectively integrated with routine health care. There is a need to improve awareness and education about ICT interventions among those who could benefit from them, including older adults, caregivers, and health care providers. More sustainable funding is required to promote the adoption of ICT interventions. We recommend involving clinicians and caregivers at the time of designing ICT interventions.
Estimating global injuries morbidity and mortality: methods and data used in the Global Burden of Disease 2017 study
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 24-08-2020
DOI: 10.1136/INJURYPREV-2019-043531
Abstract: While there is a long history of measuring death and disability from injuries, modern research methods must account for the wide spectrum of disability that can occur in an injury, and must provide estimates with sufficient demographic, geographical and temporal detail to be useful for policy makers. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 study used methods to provide highly detailed estimates of global injury burden that meet these criteria. In this study, we report and discuss the methods used in GBD 2017 for injury morbidity and mortality burden estimation. In summary, these methods included estimating cause-specific mortality for every cause of injury, and then estimating incidence for every cause of injury. Non-fatal disability for each cause is then calculated based on the probabilities of suffering from different types of bodily injury experienced. GBD 2017 produced morbidity and mortality estimates for 38 causes of injury. Estimates were produced in terms of incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability, cause-specific mortality, years of life lost and disability-adjusted life-years for a 28-year period for 22 age groups, 195 countries and both sexes. GBD 2017 demonstrated a complex and sophisticated series of analytical steps using the largest known database of morbidity and mortality data on injuries. GBD 2017 results should be used to help inform injury prevention policy making and resource allocation. We also identify important avenues for improving injury burden estimation in the future.
Increasing prevalence of diabetes in Bangladesh: a scoping review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.PUHE.2016.03.025
Abstract: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing rapidly in Bangladesh. However, studies documenting the increasing trend of diabetes prevalence are scarce. The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review of published literature to ascertain the changing patterns of diabetes prevalence in Bangladesh. We conducted a scoping review based on York scoping reviews framework and performed a comprehensive search of published literature through Medline, BanglaJOL, and Google Scholar published between 1994 and 2013. We summarised and calculated the time trends and pooled prevalence for type 2 diabetes among adults (≥18 years) in both urban and rural areas in Bangladesh. Of 152 studies identified, we included 22 studies for the scoping review which met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 11 studies (50%) were conducted in rural areas, eight in urban (36%) and three (14%) in semi-urban, semi-rural and tribal areas. The overall prevalence of type 2 diabetes ranged between 4.5% and 35.0%. The final estimate of diabetes prevalence obtained after pooling of data from in idual studies among 51,252 participants was 7.4% (95% CI 7.2-7.7%). The prevalence of diabetes was higher in males compared to females in urban areas and vice-versa in rural areas. Analyses of exponential trend revealed an increasing trend of diabetes prevalence among urban and rural population at a rate of 0.05% (R = 0.18) and 0.06% (R = 0.35) per year, respectively. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes showed an increasing trend in both urban and rural population in Bangladesh. Our findings suggest the need for an all-out effort by the government and stakeholders to implement preventive strategies for diabetes in Bangladesh.
Effects of lifestyle risk behaviour clustering on cardiovascular disease among UK adults: latent class analysis with distal outcomes
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-10-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-022-22469-6
Abstract: Lifestyle risk behaviours such as smoking, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet account for a considerable disease burden globally. These risk behaviours tend to cluster within an in idual, which could have detrimental health effects. In this study, we aimed to examine the clustering effect of lifestyle risk behaviours on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk among adults in the United Kingdom (UK). We performed a latent class (LC) analysis with distal outcomes using the UK Biobank baseline (2006–2010) data. First, we estimated LC measurement models, followed by an auxiliary model conditional on LC variables. We reported continuous (mean difference—MD) and binary (odds ratio—OR) outcomes with 95% confidence intervals. We included 283,172 and 174,030 UK adults who had data on CVD and CVD risk, respectively. Multiple lifestyle risk behaviour clustering (physically inactive, poor fruit & vegetable intake, high alcohol intake, and prolonged sitting) had a 3.29 mean increase in CVD risk compared to high alcohol intake. In addition, adults with three risk behaviours (physically inactive, poor fruit & vegetable intake, and high alcohol intake) had 25.18 higher odds of having CVD than those with two risk behaviours (physically inactive, and poor fruit and vegetable intake). Social deprivation, gender and age were also associated with CVD. In iduals' LC membership with two or more lifestyle risk behaviours negatively affects CVD. Interventions targeting multiple lifestyle behaviours and social circumstances should be prioritized to reduce the CVD burden.
Mobile Phone Use And Willingness To Pay For Sms For Diabetes In Bangladesh
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
Psychological distress, fear and coping among Malaysians during the COVID-19 pandemic
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 10-09-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0257304
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has enormously affected the psychological well-being, social and working life of millions of people across the world. This study aimed to investigate the psychological distress, fear and coping strategies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors among Malaysian residents. Participants were invited to an online cross-sectional survey from Aug-Sep 2020. The study assessed psychological distress using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, level of fear using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and coping strategies using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to adjust for potential confounders. The mean age (±SD) of the participants (N = 720) was 31.7 (±11.5) years, and most of them were females (67.1%). Half of the participants had an income source, while 216 (30%) identified themselves as frontline health or essential service workers. People whose financial situation was impacted due to COVID-19 (AOR 2.16, 95% CIs 1.54–3.03), people who drank alcohol in the last four weeks (3.43, 1.45–8.10), people who were a patient (2.02, 1.39–2.93), and had higher levels of fear of COVID-19 (2.55, 1.70–3.80) were more likely to have higher levels of psychological distress. Participants who self-isolated due to exposure to COVID-19 (3.12, 1.04–9.32) and who had moderate to very high levels of psychological distress (2.56, 1.71–3.83) had higher levels of fear. Participants who provided care to a family member atient with a suspected case of COVID-19 were more likely to be moderately to highly resilient compared to those who did not. Vulnerable groups of in iduals such as patients and those impacted financially during COVID-19 should be supported for their mental wellbeing. Behavioural interventions should be targeted to reduce the impact of alcohol drinking during such crisis period.
The effects of l-Carnitine supplementation on inflammatory markers, clinical status, and 28 days mortality in critically ill patients: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.CLNESP.2022.04.001
Abstract: Critical ill patients experience catabolic stress, which results in a systemic inflammatory response. The inflammatory response is associated with increased complications, including infection, multi-organ dysfunction, increased length of ICU stays, and mortality. l-Carnitine supplementation may play an important role in these patients by regulating inflammatory cell function. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of l-Carnitine supplementation on clinical status, inflammatory markers, and mortality rate in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed on critically ill patients. Subjects were randomly assigned into placebo (n = 27) and l-Carnitine (n = 27) groups. l-Carnitine (3000 mg/day) was administered via nasogastric tube for the intervention group for 7 days, while the other group received a placebo for the same duration. Serum levels of inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Nutritional status and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, and 28-day mortality were also recorded. Fifty-one critically ill patients completed the study. l-Carnitine supplementation significantly reduced the levels of CRP (mean change ± SE: -34.9 ± 6.5) and IL-6 (mean change ± SE: -10.64 ± 2.16) compared to the baseline, which is both statistically significant compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The SOFA and APACHE scores were significantly reduced in the l-Carnitine group compared with the placebo group (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively). l-Carnitine supplementation showed beneficial effects on inflammatory and clinical outcomes of critically ill patients. Trial registration: IRCT, Registered 30 May 2018, www.irct.ir/trial/30748.
A pragmatic approach to COVID-19 vaccine passport
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2021
Toward Developing a Standardized Core Set of Outcome Measures in Mobile Health Interventions for Tuberculosis Management: Systematic Review
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 19-02-2019
DOI: 10.2196/12385
Information, involvement, self-care and support—The needs of caregivers of people with stroke: A grounded theory approach
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 31-01-2023
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0281198
Abstract: Globally, stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, with most care undertaken by caregivers who are generally family and friends without prior experience of care. The lack of experience or unpreparedness results in feelings of uncertainty, burnout, anxiety, burden, etc. Hence, it is necessary to identify the needs of caregivers to better support them in their caregiving journey and improve the quality of care delivered. The study employed a grounded theory methodology that utilizes information gathered from literature reviews and social media to represent the needs and create a storyline visually. The storyline is further refined and evaluated using an online survey of 72 participants recruited through online stroke caregiving communities. The study identified four core categories of needs: (i) Information: sufficient information delivered in layman’s terms based on the in idual situation of the caregiver and survivor through oral and hands-on demonstrations, (ii) Involvement: inclusion in the decision-making processes at different stages of recovery through face-to-face communication at the hospital, (iii) Self-care: ability to engage in work and leisure activities, (iv) Support: receive support in the form of resources, services and finances from different other stakeholders. There is a need to create a caregiver-centered approach in stroke recovery to ensure limited obstruction to care and reduced uncertainty in stroke recovery. Moreover, through the inclusion of caregivers in stroke recovery, it may be possible to reduce the burden of care to the caregiver and ensure the satisfaction of the healthcare system throughout stroke recovery.
Factors Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Bangladesh
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 23-11-2021
Abstract: Diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are a major public health burden in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to explore factors associated with CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 315 adults with T2D presenting at the outpatient department of Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences (BIHS) hospital between July 2013 to December 2013. CKD was diagnosed based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate using the ‘Modification of Diet in Renal Disease’ equations and the presence of albuminuria estimated by the albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with CKD. The overall prevalence of CKD among patients with T2D was 21.3%. In the unadjusted model, factors associated with CKD included age 40–49 years (OR: 5.7, 95% CI: 1.3–25.4), age 50–59 years (7.0, 1.6–39), age ≥60 years (7.6, 1.7–34), being female (2.2, 1.2–3.8), being hypertensive (1.9, 1.1–3.5), and household income between 10,001 and 20,000 Bangladeshi taka, BDT (2.9, 1.0–8.2) compared with income ≤10,000 BDT. However, after adjustment of other covariates, only the duration of hypertension and household income (10,001–20,000 BDT) remained statistically significant. There is a need to implement policies and programs for early detection and management of hypertension and CKD in T2D patients in Bangladesh.
The need for quantification of uncertainty in artificial intelligence for clinical data analysis: increasing the level of trust in the decision-making process
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Date: 07-2022
Towards Explainable and Privacy-Preserving Artificial Intelligence for Personalisation in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2022
Influence of religiosity and spiritual coping on health‐related quality of life in Saudi haemodialysis patients
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-06-2016
DOI: 10.1111/HDI.12441
Abstract: Patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) are frequently troubled by psychiatric disorders and coping problems, which can pose a serious threat to their physical and mental well-being. Using religious and spiritual interventions as a means of coping with physical and mental challenges is widely recognized. Although this topic has been well studied, in the Middle East regions, where Islam is the dominant religion, studies are limited. Thus, this study was performed to explore the influence of religiosity and spiritual coping (SC) on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Saudi patients receiving HD. A total of 168 HD patients from three hospitals in Saudi Arabia formed a convenient s le for this descriptive, cross-sectional hospital-based study. Data collection was done via questionnaire-guided interviews using the Muslim Religious Index as well as the Arabic Versions of the Spiritual Coping Strategies scale and Quality of Life Index Dialysis. Regression analysis enabled identification of the factors influencing HRQoL. Older patients were found to reveal higher levels of religiosity, whereas the younger ones expressed a lesser degree of religious and nonreligious coping. Unemployed patients reported greater involvement in religious practices (RP) and more frequently used religious coping than those employed. The latter showed lower intrinsic religiosity and nonreligious coping usage than the unemployed. The respondents reported the greatest satisfaction scores on their psychological/spiritual dimension and the least scores on the social and economic dimension. Therefore, the factors that could influence the HRQoL of the respondents were identified as involvement in RP, intrinsic religious beliefs, religious coping usage and age. This study revealed significant findings regarding the importance of religiosity and SC on the HRQoL of the Saudi HD patients. Therefore, it has been highly recommended to integrate religiosity into the health-care process for such patients to facilitate the achievement of overall optimum health levels.
PS 15-24 A REVIEW OF CUFFLESS BLOOD PRESSURE MEASURING DEVICES POTENTIAL FOR USE IN ROUTINE CLINICAL PRACTICE
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 09-2016
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Is Associated With Lung Function in Older Adults: Data From the Health and Retirement Study
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 23-03-2020
Understanding the sociodemographic factors associated with intention to receive SMS messages for health information in a rural area of Bangladesh
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-021-12418-9
Abstract: The use of digital interventions for managing chronic diseases is significantly increasing. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of ownership of a mobile phone, and factors associated with the ability to read and access SMS delivered health information, and willingness to pay for it among people with hypertension in a rural area in Bangladesh. Data were collected from 307 participants aged 30 to 75 years with hypertension from a rural area in Bangladesh from December 2020 to January 2021. Outcome measures included ownership of a mobile phone, ability to read SMS, willingness to receive and pay for health information by SMS. Associated factors included age, gender, level of education, occupation, and socioeconomic status. We used regression analysis to identify variables associated with the outcome variables. Overall, 189 (61.6%) people owned a mobile phone which was higher in men (73.3% vs. 50%, p 0.001), younger people (82.6% aged 30–39 years vs. 53.5% aged 60–75 years, p 0.001). Of the total participants, 207 (67.4%) were willing to receive SMS, and 155 (50.5%) were willing to pay for receiving SMS for health information. The prevalence was significantly higher among professionals (odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.58, 1.73–12.1) and businesspersons (OR 3.68, 95% CI 1.49–9.10) compared to farmers, respectively. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) of willingness to pay for health information SMS was 10 (28) Bangladesh Taka (BDT) (1 BDT ~ 0.013 US$), and there were no specific factors that were associated with the willingness of any higher amounts of payment. In terms of reading SMS of people who own a mobile, less than half could read SMS. The proportion of people who could read SMS was significantly higher among men, younger people, educated people, middle class or rich people, professionals or businesspersons. Of people who could read SMS, the majority read SMS occasionally. A significant proportion of people are unable to read SMS. However, people are willing to receive and pay to receive SMS for health information. Education and awareness programs should be conducted among targeted groups, including people with low education and women.
Human Resources for Mental Health in Low and Middle Income Countries
Publisher: IGI Global
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-3168-5.CH020
Abstract: Mental disorders are a major public health challenge globally, contributing to 40% of the global burden of disease. Nevertheless, it remains highly neglected by health planners and policy makers, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMIC). Bangladesh, one of the low-income countries, suffers from a severe shortage of appropriately trained and an adequate number of human resources to provide mental health care. The authors reviewed available evidence on the dynamics of mental health services in LMIC like Bangladesh, with a view to help develop appropriate policies on human resources. This chapter critically examines the current situation of human resources for mental health in Bangladesh, and explores ways to further strengthen human resources so as to enhance mental health services in the country.
Association between depression and diabetes amongst adults in Bangladesh: a hospital based case–control study
Publisher: International Global Health Society
Date: 25-11-2015
A meta-analysis of inpatient treatment outcomes of severe acute malnutrition and predictors of mortality among under-five children in Ethiopia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-08-2019
Barriers and facilitators to patient engagement in patient safety from patients and healthcare professionals' perspectives: A systematic review and meta-synthesis
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 02-08-2021
DOI: 10.1111/NUF.12635
Mapping routine measles vaccination in low- and middle-income countries
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-12-2020
DOI: 10.1038/S41586-020-03043-4
Abstract: The safe, highly effective measles vaccine has been recommended globally since 1974, yet in 2017 there were more than 17 million cases of measles and 83,400 deaths in children under 5 years old, and more than 99% of both occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) 1–4 . Globally comparable, annual, local estimates of routine first-dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) coverage are critical for understanding geographically precise immunity patterns, progress towards the targets of the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), and high-risk areas amid disruptions to vaccination programmes caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 5–8 . Here we generated annual estimates of routine childhood MCV1 coverage at 5 × 5-km 2 pixel and second administrative levels from 2000 to 2019 in 101 LMICs, quantified geographical inequality and assessed vaccination status by geographical remoteness. After widespread MCV1 gains from 2000 to 2010, coverage regressed in more than half of the districts between 2010 and 2019, leaving many LMICs far from the GVAP goal of 80% coverage in all districts by 2019. MCV1 coverage was lower in rural than in urban locations, although a larger proportion of unvaccinated children overall lived in urban locations strategies to provide essential vaccination services should address both geographical contexts. These results provide a tool for decision-makers to strengthen routine MCV1 immunization programmes and provide equitable disease protection for all children.
Application of Smartphone Technologies in Disease Monitoring: A Systematic Review
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 14-07-2021
DOI: 10.3390/HEALTHCARE9070889
Abstract: Technologies play an essential role in monitoring, managing, and self-management of chronic diseases. Since chronic patients rely on life-long healthcare systems and the current COVID-19 pandemic has placed limits on hospital care, there is a need to explore disease monitoring and management technologies and examine their acceptance by chronic patients. We systematically examined the use of smartphone applications (apps) in chronic disease monitoring and management in databases, namely, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Proquest, published from 2010 to 2020. Results showed that app-based weight management programs had a significant effect on healthy eating and physical activity (p = 0.002), eating behaviours (p 0.001) and dietary intake pattern (p 0.001), decreased mean body weight (p = 0.008), mean Body Mass Index (BMI) (p = 0.002) and mean waist circumference (p 0.001). App intervention assisted in decreasing the stress levels (paired t-test = 3.18 p 0.05). Among cancer patients, we observed a high acceptance of technology (76%) and a moderately positive correlation between non-invasive electronic monitoring data and questionnaire (r = 0.6, p 0.0001). We found a significant relationship between app use and standard clinical evaluation and high acceptance of the use of apps to monitor the disease. Our findings provide insights into critical issues, including technology acceptance along with regulatory guidelines to be considered when designing, developing, and deploying smartphone solutions targeted for chronic patients.
mHealth intervention for carers of individuals with a history of stroke: Heuristic evaluation and user perspectives
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.1177/20552076221089070
Abstract: Caregiving in stroke is complex, with most carers having little to no preparation to care for in iduals with a history of stroke, leading to emotional impact. Technologies such as Mobile Health can provide the carer with real-time support and prepare the carer to assume their new roles and responsibilities. To perform a heuristic evaluation of mHealth interventions designed to support carers of in iduals with a history of stroke and determine the user preferences in stroke caregiving technology to inform future researchers and developers regarding the best practices to support these in iduals. Twenty adults (i.e. 10 usability experts and 10 carers) participated in an iterative user-centred design study that focused on developing and modifying the mHealth intervention (StrokeCaregiver (SeCr)) created to support stroke caregiving. The intervention was repeated in four cycles, including two cycles with five usability experts each and five carers each. SeCr was iteratively improved to develop a highly usable product in multiple cycles. Participants demonstrated critical needs in personalized information support, communication with their healthcare needs, and the trust of the user, content, and developer. These critical needs are required to be met to promote long-term acceptance and adherence. While SeCr was developed to address the needs of carers of in iduals with a history of stroke, several considerations must be made to ensure it can be used in a real-world setting. Researchers and developers can use co-design or living lab approaches to further meet the needs and expectations of the carer and enable these in iduals to be better prepared for stroke caregiving.
Association between sarcoidosis and diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-07-2021
Burundi’s ‘Worst Enemy’: the Country’s Fight Against COVID-19
Publisher: Kesmas: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Nasional
Date: 31-07-2021
DOI: 10.21109/KESMAS.V0I0.5029
Abstract: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has proved to be a severe global public health threat, causing high infection rates and mortality worldwide. Burundi was not spared the adverse health outcomes of COVID-19. Although Burundi’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic was criticized, hope arose in June 2020 when the new government instituted a plan to slow virus transmission that included public health c aigns, international travel restrictions, and mass testing, all of which proved effective. Burundi has faced many challenges in containing the virus, the first of which was the lack of initial preparedness and appropriate response to COVID-19. This was exacerbated by factors including shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), limited numbers of life-saving ventilators (around 12 ventilators as of April 2020), and the presence of only one COVID-19 testing center with less than ten technicians in July 2020. Moreover, as Burundi is amongst the poorest countries in the world, some citizens were unable to access necessities such as water and soap, required for compliance with government recommendations regarding hygiene. Interestingly, Burundi did not implement a nationwide lockdown, allowing mass gatherings and public services to continue as usual due to a firm belief in God’s protection. As the daily confirmed cases have tripled since December 2020, Burundi must prepare itself for the threat of a new wave. Establishing precautionary measures to contain the virus and strengthening the health surveillance system in Burundi would significantly positively impact the prevention and management of COVID-19.
Clinical characteristics and complications of patients with type 2 diabetes attending an urban hospital in Bangladesh
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.DSX.2014.09.014
Abstract: To investigate the clinical features of patients with type 2 diabetes on oral medication and determine the complications and risk factors in these patients. A cross-sectional was conducted among 515 patients with type 2 diabetes at the outpatient clinics of Bangladesh Institute of Health Science (BIHS) hospital from September to December 2013. We collected data on socio-economic characteristics, clinical status, risk factors, complications, anthropometric measurements and blood tests. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors associated with diabetes complications. The mean(±SD) age of the participants was 50.0(±10.1) years and 15.3% were less than 40 years. The mean HbA1c was 8.3(±2.1). Only 28.7% of the participants achieved targets for HbA1c. The overall prevalence of hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia was 57.5%, 62.6% and 72.7%, respectively. Eye problems were the most common complication (68.9%) followed by chronic kidney diseases (21.3%) and cardiovascular diseases (11.8%). There were significant associations between the complications and age, duration of diabetes and duration of hypertension. In the multivariate analysis adjusting for other confounding variables, only systolic blood pressure was found to be significantly associated with complications [OR 0.809, 95% CI 0.666-0.981 (p-value 0.031)]. Results of the study confirm that even under best clinical settings a great majority Bangladeshi adults with type 2 diabetes have uncontrolled diabetes and a high prevalence of risk factors that might contribute to early development of complications. Early screening of high risk groups and proper management of diabetes is recommended to avoid early complications.
Immediate versus deferred stenting for patients undergoing primary or emergent percutaneous coronary intervention
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 11-2017
Precision Surgery for Obesity
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 09-2020
Healthcare Use and Expenditure for Diabetes In Bangladesh: A Matched-Case-Control Study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
Physical education class participation is associated with physical activity among adolescents in 65 countries
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-12-2020
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-020-79100-9
Abstract: In this study we examined the associations of physical education class participation with physical activity among adolescents. We analysed the Global School-based Student Health Survey data from 65 countries (N = 206,417 11–17 years 49% girls) collected between 2007 and 2016. We defined sufficient physical activity as achieving physical activities ≥ 60 min/day, and grouped physical education classes as ‘0 day/week’, ‘1–2 days/week’, and ‘ ≥ 3 days/week’ participation. We used multivariable logistic regression to obtain country-level estimates, and meta-analysis to obtain pooled estimates. Compared to those who did not take any physical education classes, those who took classes ≥ 3 days/week had double the odds of being sufficiently active (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.84–2.28) with no apparent gender/age group differences. The association estimates decreased with higher levels of country’s income with OR 2.37 (1.51–3.73) for low-income and OR 1.85 (1.52–2.37) for high-income countries. Adolescents who participated in physical education classes 1–2 days/week had 26% higher odds of being sufficiently active with relatively higher odds for boys (30%) than girls (15%). Attending physical education classes was positively associated with physical activity among adolescents regardless of sex or age group. Quality physical education should be encouraged to promote physical activity of children and adolescents.
The effect of French maritime pine bark extract supplementation on inflammation, nutritional and clinical status in critically ill patients with traumatic brain injury: A randomized controlled trial
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-08-2021
DOI: 10.1002/PTR.7187
Abstract: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Based on the anti‐inflammatory properties of French maritime pine bark extract and the neuroprotective effects, we aimed to evaluate the effects of its supplementation on TBI. Sixty‐seven TBI patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) were enrolled. After stabilizing the hemodynamic status, the intervention group received 150 mg of French maritime pine bark extract supplementation (Oligopin) with enteral nutrition for 10 days. The control group received a placebo. Inflammatory status and oxidative stress markers were measured three times. Also, clinical and nutritional statuses were assessed. Supplementation, significantly decreased IL‐6 ( β = −53.43 pg/ml, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −91.74, −15.13, p = .006), IL‐1β ( β = −111.66 pg/ml, 95% CI = −183.79, −39.5402, p = .002) and C‐reactive protein ( β = −19.99 mg/L, 95% CI = −27.23, −12.76, p ˃ .001) in the intervention group compared to control group after 10 days. Clinical scores including acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II and sequential organ failure assessment were reduced ( β = −3.72, 95% CI = −5.96, −1.49, p = .001and β = −2.07, 95% CI = −3.23, −0.90, p .001, respectively), and Nutric score was reduced compared to control group ( β = −.60, 95% CI = −1.08, −0.12, p = .01). The survival rate was higher by 15% in the intervention group compared to control group. Oligopin supplementation in TBI patients in ICU reduced inflammation and improved the clinical status and malnutrition score and thereby reducing the mortality rate.
Depression and suicidality among Bangladeshi students: Subject selection reasons and learning environment as potential risk factors
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 02-11-2020
DOI: 10.1111/PPC.12670
A novel risk score model for prediction of contrast-induced nephropathy after emergent percutaneous coronary intervention
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.IJCARD.2016.12.095
Abstract: A few studies developed simple risk model for predicting CIN with poor prognosis after emergent PCI. The study aimed to develop and validate a novel tool for predicting the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). 692 consecutive patients undergoing emergent PCI between January 2010 and December 2013 were randomly (2:1) assigned to a development dataset (n=461) and a validation dataset (n=231). Multivariate logistic regression was applied to identify independent predictors of CIN, and established CIN predicting model, whose prognostic accuracy was assessed using the c-statistic for discrimination and the Hosmere Lemeshow test for calibration. The overall incidence of CIN was 55(7.9%). A total of 11 variables were analyzed, including age >75years old, baseline serum creatinine (SCr)>1.5mg/dl, hypotension and the use of intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP), which were identified to enter risk score model (Chen). The incidence of CIN was 32(6.9%) in the development dataset (in low risk (score=0), 1.0%, moderate risk (score:1-2), 13.4%, high risk (score≥3), 90.0%). Compared to the classical Mehran's and ACEF CIN risk score models, the risk score (Chen) across the subgroup of the study population exhibited similar discrimination and predictive ability on CIN (c-statistic:0.828, 0.776, 0.853, respectively), in-hospital mortality, 2, 3-years mortality (c-statistic:0.738.0.750, 0.845, respectively) in the validation population. Our data showed that this simple risk model exhibited good discrimination and predictive ability on CIN, similar to Mehran's and ACEF score, and even on long-term mortality after emergent PCI.
Focal right ventricular apical hypertrophy or apical muscular ventricular septal defect
Publisher: Medknow
Date: 2020
Validation and Acceptability of a Cuffless Wrist-Worn Wearable Blood Pressure Monitoring Device Among Users and Health Care Professionals: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 13-05-2019
Abstract: lood pressure (BP) is an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, yet its long-term monitoring remains problematic. Wearable cuffless devices enable the capture of multiple BP measures during everyday activities and could improve BP monitoring, but little is known about their validity or acceptability. his study aimed to validate a wrist-worn cuffless wearable BP device and assess its acceptability among users and health care professionals. mixed methods study was conducted to examine the validity and comparability of a wearable cuffless BP device against ambulatory and home devices. BP was measured simultaneously over 24 hours using wearable and ambulatory devices and over 7 days using wearable and home devices. Pearson correlation coefficients compared the degree of association between the measures, and limits of agreement (LOA Bland-Altman plots) were generated to assess measurement bias. Semistructured interviews were conducted with users and 10 health care professionals to assess acceptability, facilitators, and barriers to using the wearable device. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. total of 9090 BP measurements were collected from 20 healthy volunteers (mean 20.3 years, SD 5.4 N=10 females). Mean (SD) systolic BP (SBP)/diastolic BP (DBP) measured using the ambulatory (24 hours), home (7 days), and wearable (7 days) devices were 126 (SD 10)/75 (SD 6) mm Hg, 112 (SD 10)/71 (SD 9) mm Hg and 125 (SD 4)/77 (SD 3) mm Hg, respectively. Mean (LOA) biases and precision between the wearable and ambulatory devices over 24 hours were 0.5 (−10.1 to 11.1) mm Hg for SBP and 2.24 (−17.6 to 13.1) mm Hg for DBP. The mean biases (LOA) and precision between the wearable and home device over 7 days were −12.7 (−28.7 to 3.4) mm Hg for SBP and −5.6 (−20.5 to 9.2) mm Hg for DBP. The wearable BP device was well accepted by participants who found the device easy to wear and use. Both participants and health care providers agreed that the wearable cuffless devices were easy to use and that they could be used to improve BP monitoring. earable BP measures compared well against a gold-standard ambulatory device, indicating potential for this user-friendly method to augment BP management, particularly by enabling long-term monitoring that could improve treatment titration and increase understanding of users’ BP response during daily activity and stressors.
Healthcare seeking behavior and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes attending a tertiary hospital
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-10-2021
Determinants of depressive symptoms among older people in Bangladesh
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2020
Randomised controlled trial of a web-based low carbohydrate diet intervention for adults with type 2 diabetes: the T2Diet study protocol
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2021-054594
Abstract: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) management frequently involves a multidisciplinary care team. However, standard care for patients with T2D is the central role of the general practice physician, and consists of routine appointments to monitor glycaemic status and overall health. Dietary modification is an essential component of T2D management. Evidence suggests that a low carbohydrate diet (LCD) provides better clinical outcomes for people with T2D compared with other diets. However, providing dietary support in face-to-face settings is challenged by issues of availability and accessibility. Provided in conjunction with standard care, digital interventions can help bridge this gap. The objective of this paper is to describe the protocol of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a web-based intervention that will evaluate the effectiveness of standard care plus web-based LCD intervention when compared with standard care only. In a two-arm parallel RCT, 100 adults with non-insulin-dependent T2D aged between 40 and 89 years will be randomised to either a theoretically informed 16-week automated web-based LCD intervention plus standard care or standard care only. LCD recommendations emphasise consuming nutrient-dense whole foods and encourage a daily carbohydrate goal of 50–100 g, with an objective of achieving 10% to % carbohydrates from total energy intake. Assessments will take place at baseline and 16 weeks. The primary outcome will be haemoglobin A1c. Additional data collected will include dietary intake, self-efficacy, weight and height, anti-diabetes medication and dosages, and diabetes-related comorbidities. Process evaluation will consist of a mixed-methods assessment of website engagement metrics, user experience and participants’ perspectives. All study procedures have been approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2020-349). Study findings will be disseminated widely through public, professional and academic presentation and publication. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000096853).
Smartphone-Based Interventions to Reduce Sedentary Behavior and Promote Physical Activity Using Integrated Dynamic Models: Systematic Review
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 13-09-2021
DOI: 10.2196/26315
Abstract: Traditional psychological theories are inadequate to fully leverage the potential of smartphones and improve the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) change interventions. Future interventions need to consider dynamic models taken from other disciplines, such as engineering (eg, control systems). The extent to which such dynamic models have been incorporated in the development of interventions for PA and SB remains unclear. This review aims to quantify the number of studies that have used dynamic models to develop smartphone-based interventions to promote PA and reduce SB, describe their features, and evaluate their effectiveness where possible. Databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, IEEE Xplore, Cochrane, and Scopus were searched from inception to May 15, 2019, using terms related to mobile health, dynamic models, SB, and PA. The included studies involved the following: PA or SB interventions involving human adults either developed or evaluated integrated psychological theory with dynamic theories used smartphones for the intervention delivery the interventions were adaptive or just-in-time adaptive included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), pilot RCTs, quasi-experimental, and pre-post study designs and were published from 2000 onward. Outcomes included general characteristics, dynamic models, theory or construct integration, and measured SB and PA behaviors. Data were synthesized narratively. There was limited scope for meta-analysis because of the variability in the study results. A total of 1087 publications were screened, with 11 publications describing 8 studies included in the review. All studies targeted PA 4 also included SB. Social cognitive theory was the major psychological theory upon which the studies were based. Behavioral intervention technology, control systems, computational agent model, exploit-explore strategy, behavioral analytic algorithm, and dynamic decision network were the dynamic models used in the included studies. The effectiveness of quasi-experimental studies involved reduced SB (1 study P=.08), increased light PA (1 study P=.002), walking steps (2 studies P=.06 and P .001), walking time (1 study P=.02), moderate-to-vigorous PA (2 studies P=.08 and P=.81), and nonwalking exercise time (1 study P=.31). RCT studies showed increased walking steps (1 study P=.003) and walking time (1 study P=.06). To measure activity, 5 studies used built-in smartphone sensors (ie, accelerometers), 3 of which used the phone’s GPS, and 3 studies used wearable activity trackers. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to report on smartphone-based studies to reduce SB and promote PA with a focus on integrated dynamic models. These findings highlight the scarcity of dynamic model–based smartphone studies to reduce SB or promote PA. The limited number of studies that incorporate these models shows promising findings. Future research is required to assess the effectiveness of dynamic models in promoting PA and reducing SB. International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) CRD42020139350 www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=139350.
Web-Based Interventions for Dietary Behavior in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 29-09-2019
Abstract: ype 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is among the most prevalent noncommunicable health conditions worldwide, affecting over 500 million people globally. Diet is a key aspect of T2DM management with dietary modification shown to elicit clinically meaningful outcomes such as improved glycemic control, and reductions in weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Web-based interventions provide a potentially convenient and accessible method for delivering dietary education, but its effects on dietary behavior in people with T2DM are unknown. he objective of this review was to determine the effectiveness of web-based interventions on dietary behavior change and glycemic control in people with T2DM. er PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, systematic literature searches were performed using Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and CINAHL to retrieve papers from January 2013 to May 2019. Randomized controlled trials of web-based interventions in adults with T2DM with reported dietary assessment were included. Population and intervention characteristics, dietary guidelines and assessments, and significant clinical outcomes were extracted. Differences between groups and within groups were assessed for dietary behavior and clinical outcomes. here were 714 records screened, and five studies comprising 1056 adults were included. Studies measured dietary changes by assessing overall diet quality, changes in specific dietary components, or dietary knowledge scores. Significant improvements in dietary behavior were reported in four out of the five studies, representing healthier food choices, improvements in eating habits, reductions in carbohydrates, added sugar, sodium, saturated fat and overall fat intake, and/or increases in dietary knowledge. Three studies found significant mean reductions for hemoglobin A1c ranging from –0.3% to –0.8%, and/or weight ranging from –2.3 kg to –12.7 kg, fasting blood glucose (–1 mmol/L), waist circumference (–1 cm), and triglycerides (–60.1 mg/dL). These studies provided varied dietary recommendations from standard dietary guidelines, national health program guidelines, and a very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet. his review provided evidence that web-based interventions may be an effective way to support dietary behavior change in people with T2DM, potentially leading to changes in glycemic control and other clinical outcomes. However, the evidence should be viewed as preliminary as there were only five studies included with considerable heterogeneity in terms of the diets recommended, the dietary assessment measures used, the complexity of the interventions, and the modes and methods of delivery. >
Educational differences in diabetes and diabetes self-management behaviours in WHO SAGE countries
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-11-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-021-12131-7
Abstract: Diabetes mellitus represents a substantial global health challenge, with prevalence rising in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Although diabetes is known to follow a socioeconomic gradient, patterns in LMICs are unclear. This study examined associations between education and diabetes, and diabetes self-management behaviours, in six LMICs. Cross-sectional data for 31,780 participants from China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa from the World Health Organization Study on Global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) study were used. Participants aged ≥50 years completed face-to-face interviews between 2007 and 2010. Participants self-reported diabetes diagnosis, physical activity, sedentary time, fruit and vegetable consumption, any special diet rogram for diabetes, whether they were taking insulin for diabetes and number of years of education. Height, weight, waist, and hip circumference were measured. Country-specific survey-weighted log-binomial regression models were fitted to examine associations between the number of years of education and self-reported diabetes diagnosis (primary analysis). In secondary analyses, among those with a self-reported diabetes diagnosis, generalised linear regression models were fitted to examine associations between education and i) physical activity, ii) sedentary time, iii) fruit and vegetable consumption, iv) special diet for diabetes, v) taking insulin, vi) BMI, vii) waist circumference and viii) hip circumference. There was strong evidence of an association between years of education and diabetes diagnosis in Ghana (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.06–1.13) and India (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.07–1.12) only. In India, greater years of education was associated with higher leisure physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, rates following a special diet or taking insulin, but also higher mean BMI, waist and hip circumference. Relationships between education and self-management behaviours were rarely seen in the other countries. Associations between education and diabetes, and behavioural self-management (India only) was more evident in the two least developed (Ghana and India) of the WHO SAGE countries, indicating increasing diabetes diagnosis with greater numbers of years of education. The lack of gradients elsewhere may reflect shifting risk from higher to lower educated populations. While there was some suggestion that self-management behaviours were greater with increased education in India, this was not observed in the other countries.
Mapping child growth failure across low- and middle-income countries
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-01-2020
DOI: 10.1038/S41586-019-1878-8
Abstract: Childhood malnutrition is associated with high morbidity and mortality globally 1 . Undernourished children are more likely to experience cognitive, physical, and metabolic developmental impairments that can lead to later cardiovascular disease, reduced intellectual ability and school attainment, and reduced economic productivity in adulthood 2 . Child growth failure (CGF), expressed as stunting, wasting, and underweight in children under five years of age (0–59 months), is a specific subset of undernutrition characterized by insufficient height or weight against age-specific growth reference standards 3–5 . The prevalence of stunting, wasting, or underweight in children under five is the proportion of children with a height-for-age, weight-for-height, or weight-for-age z -score, respectively, that is more than two standard deviations below the World Health Organization’s median growth reference standards for a healthy population 6 . Subnational estimates of CGF report substantial heterogeneity within countries, but are available primarily at the first administrative level (for ex le, states or provinces) 7 the uneven geographical distribution of CGF has motivated further calls for assessments that can match the local scale of many public health programmes 8 . Building from our previous work mapping CGF in Africa 9 , here we provide the first, to our knowledge, mapped high-spatial-resolution estimates of CGF indicators from 2000 to 2017 across 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 99% of affected children live 1 , aggregated to policy-relevant first and second (for ex le, districts or counties) administrative-level units and national levels. Despite remarkable declines over the study period, many LMICs remain far from the ambitious World Health Organization Global Nutrition Targets to reduce stunting by 40% and wasting to less than 5% by 2025. Large disparities in prevalence and progress exist across and within countries our maps identify high-prevalence areas even within nations otherwise succeeding in reducing overall CGF prevalence. By highlighting where the highest-need populations reside, these geospatial estimates can support policy-makers in planning interventions that are adapted locally and in efficiently directing resources towards reducing CGF and its health implications.
Physical activity level and stroke risk in US population: A matched case–control study of 102,578 individuals
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-01-2022
DOI: 10.1002/ACN3.51511
Abstract: Stroke has been linked to a lack of physical activity however, the extent of the association between inactive lifestyles and stroke risk has yet to be characterized across large populations. This study aimed to explore the association between activity‐related behaviors and stroke incidence. Data from 1999 to 2018 waves of the concurrent cross‐sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were extracted. We analyzed participants characteristics and outcomes for all participants with data on whether they had a stroke or not and assessed how different forms of physical activity affect the incidence of disease. Of the 102,578 in iduals included, 3851 had a history of stroke. A range of activity‐related behaviors was protective against stroke, including engaging in moderate‐intensity work over the last 30 days (OR = 0.8, 95% CI = 0.7–0.9 P = 0.001) and vigorous‐intensity work activities over the last 30 days (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.5–0.8 P 0.001), and muscle‐strengthening exercises (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.5–0.8 P 0.001). Conversely, more than 4 h of daily TV, video, or computer use was positively associated with the likelihood of stroke (OR = 11.7, 95% CI = 2.1–219.2 P = 0.022). Different types, frequencies, and intensities of physical activity were associated with reduced stroke incidence, implying that there is an option for everyone. Daily or every other day activities are more critical in reducing stroke than reducing sedentary behavior duration.
Is 7-days home BP measurement comparable to 24-hours Ambulatory BP Measurement?
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 12-10-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.10.11.21264844
Abstract: High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is a significant risk factor for the global burden of cardiovascular diseases. Home blood pressure measurements (HBPM) have been recommended for hypertension diagnosis, treatment initiation and medication titration, but guidelines for the number of measurements and duration are inconsistent. This study compared the accuracy of 3 home BP measurements per day for seven days with 24-hour ambulatory BP measurements. We examined 24-hour ambulatory BP measurements (ABPM) and HBPM during-morning, afternoon, and evening each day for seven days in healthy community living volunteers. Standardized Bland-Altman scatterplots and limits of agreement (LOA) were used to assess absolute reliability and the variability of measurement biases. We used nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-tests to compare the mean (SD) of the devices. Correlations between HBPM and 24-hour ABPM measurements were statistically significant at p .05. The high correlation coefficient (r=0.75) was observed between the systolic BP retrieved from two devices compared to moderate correlation (r=0.46) among diastolic BP. A significant difference was found for systolic BP (P .05) between the HBPM and ABPM but was non-significant for diastolic BP (P .05). In Bland-Altman plots, the LOA between HBPM and ABPM was 0.07-26.23 mmHg for SBP and 11.24 -16.20 mmHg for DBP. The overall mean difference (bias) in SBP and DBP was 13.08 and 2.48, respectively. Our results suggest that HBPM three times per day for seven days can potentially be used where ABPM is unavailable. Further studies in a erse group of people with hypertension are needed.
Human Resources for Mental Health in Low and Middle Income Countries: Evidence from Bangladesh
Publisher: IGI Global
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-1874-7.CH007
Abstract: Mental disorders are a major public health challenge globally, contributing to 40% of the global burden of disease. Nevertheless, it remains highly neglected by health planners and policy makers, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMIC). Bangladesh, one of the low-income countries, suffers from a severe shortage of appropriately trained and an adequate number of human resources to provide mental health care. The authors reviewed available evidence on the dynamics of mental health services in LMIC like Bangladesh, with a view to help develop appropriate policies on human resources. This chapter critically examines the current situation of human resources for mental health in Bangladesh, and explores ways to further strengthen human resources so as to enhance mental health services in the country.
Diabetes Management Beliefs among Adults Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in Iran: A Theory Informed Approach from a Theory of Planned Behavior Framework
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 07-04-2022
DOI: 10.1101/2022.04.05.22273415
Abstract: The current study was informed by the belief basis of Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to identify the important behavioral (advantages and disadvantages), normative (important referents) and control (barriers and facilitators) beliefs associated with the key recommended prevention and management behaviors for adults in Iran diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (T2D). A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 115 adults diagnosed with T2D completed a questionnaire examining behavioral, normative and control beliefs and intention in relation to the three diabetes management behaviors including low fat food consumption, carbohydrate counting and physical activity. For each behavior, intention was considered as dependent variable beliefs were independent variables. Analyses involved three multivariate one-way analysis of variance (MANOVAs). The findings for carbohydrate counting and physical activity suggested behavioral and control beliefs as differentiating high from low intenders to perform the behavior. For carbohydrate counting, behavioral beliefs such as weight control, improving one’s health, feeling good and controlling diabetic complications differed significantly between low and high intenders. For physical activity, feeling good, controlling blood sugar and tiredness were among behavioral beliefs differentiating low and high intenders. Medical advice from professionals and greater knowledge were identified as facilitators of carbohydrate counting. High costs were identified as a key barrier preventing in iduals from engaging in physical activity. Spouse was the single significant referent influencing carbohydrate counting. Identifying the underlying beliefs of key diabetes management behaviors can assist in the design of tailored educational interventions for in iduals with T2D.
Validation of A Bluetooth-enabled Device for Real-time Detection of Sitting, Standing and Walking (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 09-03-2023
Abstract: espite their popularity, many existing physical activity devices do not provide real-time data to measure sedentary and standing time, therefore they cannot be used for just-in-time adaptive interventions to interrupt prolonged sitting. his study assessed the criterion and convergent validity of a Bluetooth-enabled prototype activity tracker called Sedentary behaviOR Detector (SORD) that will be used for real-time and adaptive interventions. ifteen healthy adults wore SORD and activPAL devices on their thighs while engaging in activities (lying, reclining, sitting, standing, and walking). Direct observation was facilitated with cameras. Algorithms were constructed using Python Programming Language. The Bland-Altman method was used to assess the level of agreement. ne model generated a low level of bias and high precision for SORD. In this model, accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were all above 0.95 for detecting sitting+ reclining, standing and walking. Bland-Altman results showed that mean biases between SORD and direct observation were 0.3% for sitting+reclining (LoA = -0.3% to 0.9%), 1.19% for standing (LoA = -1.05% to 3.42%), and -4.71% for walking (LoA = -9.26% to -0.16%). Mean biases between SORD and activPAL were -3.45% for sitting+reclining (LoA = -11.59 % to 4.68%), 7.45% for standing (LoA = -5.04% to 19.95%) and -5.40% for walking (LoA = -11.44% to 0.64%). esults indicate that SORD is a valid device to facilitate future just-in-time adaptive interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour.
Network-Based Computational Approach to Identify Delineating Common Cell Pathways Influencing Type 2 Diabetes and Diseases of Bone and Joints
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Date: 2020
Machine learning-based approaches for forecasting COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 14-05-2020
Prevalence and attributable health burden of chronic respiratory diseases, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2020
A Comparison of Blood Pressure Data Obtained From Wearable, Ambulatory, and Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices: Prospective Validation Study (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 11-07-2020
Abstract: lood pressure (BP) is an important marker for cardiovascular health. However, a person’s BP data cannot usually be obtained simultaneously from different sources. his study aimed to analyze and compare BP data obtained from 3 different sources, namely, wearable, ambulatory, and home BP monitoring devices. uring recruitment, we recorded participants’ BP using a standardized digital BP monitoring device and simultaneously over 24 hours using wearable and ambulatory devices. In addition, participants’ BP was measured over 7 days using wearable and home BP monitoring devices. Data from the wearable BP monitoring devices were extracted. The 24-hour ambulatory BP data were downloaded from the device to a computer. Home BPs were recorded 3 times per day (in the morning, afternoon, and evening, at regular times convenient to the participants) for 7 days and on a BP sheet. total of 9090 BP measurements were collected from 20 healthy volunteer participants (females: n=10 males: n=10, mean age 20.3 years, SD 5.4 years). The mean (SD) systolic BP and diastolic BP values measured at enrollment were 112.35 (9.79) mm Hg and 73.75 (9.14) mm Hg, respectively. The 24-hour mean (SD) systolic BP and diastolic BP values measured using the wearable device were 125 (5) mm Hg and 77 (9) mm Hg, respectively. The 24-hour mean (SD) systolic BP and diastolic BP values recorded using the ambulatory device were 126 (10) mm Hg and 75 (6) mm Hg, respectively. The 7-day mean (SD) systolic BP and diastolic BP values measured using the wearable device were 125 (4) mm Hg and 77 (3) mm Hg, respectively. The 7-day mean (SD) systolic BP and diastolic BP values measured using the home device were 112 (10) mm Hg and 71 (8) mm Hg, respectively. ur datasets serve as the basis for further studies where these data can be combined reasonably with data from similar studies to understand the impact of different devices on BP measurement. Moreover, the BP data acquired noninvasively from wearable, ambulatory, and home devices can be integrated with similar data from other studies to determine the utility of wearable BP monitoring devices in different groups of people.
Depressive symptoms among participants with type 2 diabetes in Southeast Asia: A systematic review
Publisher: Medknow
Date: 2018
Laparoscopic metabolic surgery for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Asia: a scoping review and evidence-based analysis
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-09-2018
Global, Regional, and National Cancer Incidence, Mortality, Years of Life Lost, Years Lived With Disability, and Disability-Adjusted Life-Years for 29 Cancer Groups, 1990 to 2017
Publisher: American Medical Association (AMA)
Date: 12-2019
Global, regional, and national burden of stroke and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2021
Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2022
Correction to: The effect of vitamin D and magnesium supplementation on the mental health status of attention-deficit hyperactive children: a randomized controlled trial
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-05-2021
Detecting Usability and User Experience Issues in Stroke Caregiving Apps: An Analysis of User Reviews
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 07-02-2022
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS202202.0093.V1
Abstract: (1) Background: Existing research has demonstrated the potential of mHealth apps in improving the caregiving outcomes of stroke. Since several apps were published in commercially available app stores without explaining their design and evaluation processes, it is necessary to identify the usability and user experience issues to promote long-term adherence and usage (2) Methods: User reviews were extracted from the 47 previously identified apps that support stroke caregiving needs using a python-scraper. The reviews were pre-processed and filtered using python scripts. The final corpus was classified based on usability and user experience dimensions to highlight issues within the app (3) Results: A total of 162,095 were extracted from the two app stores. After filtration, 15,818 reviews were included and classified based on the usability and user experience dimensions. Findings highlight critical issues related to the errors/effectiveness, efficiency and support that contribute to decreased satisfaction, emotion and frustration in using the app (4) Conclusion: The study identified several usability and user experience issues due to the inability of the app developers to understand the needs of the user. Further, the study describes the inclusion of a participatory design approach to promote an improved understanding of user needs therefore, limiting any issues and ensuring continued use.
National drug policy reform for noncommunicable diseases in low-resource countries: an example from Bangladesh
Publisher: WHO Press
Date: 05-04-2016
Action to protect the independence and integrity of global health research
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-2019
Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2018
Study Protocol for a Global Survey: Awareness and Preparedness of Hospital Staff Against Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 07-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FPUBH.2021.580427
Abstract: Background: The outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel coronavirus (named SARS-CoV-2) has gained attention globally and has been recognized as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the rapidly increasing number of deaths and confirmed cases. Health care workers (HCWs) are vulnerable to this crisis as they are the first frontline to receive and manage COVID-19 patients. In this multicenter multinational survey, we aim to assess the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital staff regarding COVID-19 all over the world. Methods: From February to March 2020, the web-based or paper-based survey to gather information about the hospital staff's awareness and preparedness in the participants' countries will be carried out using a structured questionnaire based on the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) checklist and delivered to participants by the local collaborators for each hospital. As of March 2020, we recruited 374 hospitals from 58 countries that could adhere to this protocol as approved by their Institutional Review Boards (IRB) or Ethics Committees (EC). Discussion: The awareness and preparedness of HCWs against COVID-19 are of utmost importance not only to protect themselves from infection, but also to control the virus transmission in healthcare facilities and to manage the disease, especially in the context of manpower lacking and hospital overload during the pandemic. The results of this survey can be used to inform hospitals about the awareness and preparedness of their health staff regarding COVID-19, so appropriate policies and practice guidelines can be implemented to improve their capabilities of facing this crisis and other future pandemic-prone diseases.
mHealth in Cardiovascular Health Care
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.HLC.2016.04.009
Abstract: Mobile health (mHealth) has been defined as medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices, such as mobile phones, patient monitoring devices and personal digital assistants. Cardiovascular mHealth is, arguably, leading the mHealth space, through innovation, research and implementation, and especially in the areas of prevention, cardiac rehabilitation and education. mHealth includes simple strategies, such as the use of short message service (SMS) or text messages in successful short-term smoking-cessation, weight loss and diabetes management programs. The recent Australian Tobacco, Exercise and Diet Messages (TEXT ME) randomised clinical trial addressed multiple cardiovascular risk factors. mHealth can also involve more complex strategies, such as smart phone applications (apps), global positioning systems (GPS) and Bluetooth technologies. Although many apps could be considered suitable for primary prevention, they are largely unregulated and most are not evidence-based. Some have been well-developed, such as the Food Switch app and an iPhone electrocardiogram (ECG) system. The "explosion" of apps has driven initiatives such as the Mobile Applications Rating Scale (MARS). More recently, the use of sensors to monitor and provide feedback to patients and healthcare providers is being explored. With almost two billion people currently owning a Smartphone, and 50% of adults (globally) predicted to own one by 2018, mHealth provides the prospect of delivering efficient, affordable healthcare services to widespread populations both locally and globally. In particular, it has the potential to reduce socioeconomic disparity and alleviate the burden of cardiovascular disease. There is now a need to rethink traditional health service structures and bioengineering capacity, to ensure mHealth systems are also safe, secure and robust.
Health sector spending and spending on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and development assistance for health: progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2020
Wearable cuffless blood pressure monitoring devices: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 02-05-2022
Abstract: High blood pressure (BP) is the commonest modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, yet its monitoring remains problematic. Wearable cuffless BP devices offer potential solutions however, little is known about their validity and utility. We aimed to systematically review the validity, features and clinical use of wearable cuffless BP devices. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, IEEE Xplore and the Cochrane Database till December 2019 for studies that reported validating cuffless BP devices. We extracted information about study characteristics, device features, validation processes, and clinical applications. Devices were classified according to their functions and features. We defined devices with a mean systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) biases of & mmHg as valid as a consensus. Our definition of validity did not include assessment of device measurement precision, which is assessed by standard deviation of the mean difference—a critical component of ISO protocol validation criteria. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies version 2 tool. A random-effects model meta-analysis was performed to summarise the mean biases for SBP and DBP across studies. Of the 430 studies identified, 16 studies (15 devices, 974 participants) were selected. The majority of devices (81.3%) used photoplethysmography to estimate BP against a reference device other technologies included tonometry, auscultation and electrocardiogram. In addition to BP and heart rate, some devices also measured night-time BP (n = 5), sleep monitoring (n = 3), oxygen saturation (n = 3), temperature (n = 2) and electrocardiogram (n = 3). Eight devices showed mean biases of & mmHg for SBP and DBP compared with a reference device and three devices were commercially available. The meta-analysis showed no statistically significant differences between the wearable and reference devices for SBP (pooled mean difference = 3.42 mmHg, 95% CI: −2.17, 9.01, I2 95.4%) and DBP (pooled mean = 1.16 mmHg, 95% CI: −1.26, 3.58, I2 87.1%). Several cuffless BP devices are currently available using different technologies, offering the potential for continuous BP monitoring. The variation in standards and validation protocols limited the comparability of findings across studies and the identification of the most accurate device. Challenges such as validation using standard protocols and in real-life settings must be overcome before they can be recommended for uptake into clinical practice.
Machine learning models for prediction of co-occurrence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases: a retrospective cohort study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-01-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S40200-021-00968-Z
Abstract: Diabetic mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cause significant healthcare burden globally and often co-exists. Current approaches often fail to identify many people with co-occurrence of DM and CVD, leading to delay in healthcare seeking, increased complications and morbidity. In this paper, we aimed to develop and evaluate a two-stage machine learning (ML) model to predict the co-occurrence of DM and CVD. We used the diabetes complications screening research initiative (DiScRi) dataset containing variables from participants. In the first stage, we used two ML models (logistic regression and Evimp functions) implemented in multivariate adaptive regression splines model to infer the significant common risk factors for DM and CVD and applied the correlation matrix to reduce redundancy. In the second stage, we used classification and regression algorithm to develop our model. We evaluated the prediction models using prediction accuracy, sensitivity and specificity as performance metrics. Common risk factors for DM and CVD co-occurrence was family history of the diseases, gender, deep breathing heart rate change, lying to standing blood pressure change, HbA1c, HDL and TC\\HDL ratio. The predictive model showed that the participants with HbA1c .45 and TC\\HDL ratio 5.5 were at risk of developing both diseases (97.9% probability). In contrast, participants with HbA1c .45 and TC\\HDL ratio ≤ 5.5 were more likely to have only DM (84.5% probability) and those with HbA1c ≤5.45 and HDL .45 were likely to be healthy (82.4%. probability). Further, participants with HbA1c ≤5.45 and HDL .45 were at risk of only CVD (100% probability). The predictive accuracy of the ML model to detect co-occurrence of DM and CVD is 94.09%, sensitivity 93.5%, and specificity 95.8%. Our ML model can significantly predict with high accuracy the co-occurrence of DM and CVD in people attending a screening program. This might help in early detection of patients with DM and CVD who could benefit from preventive treatment and reduce future healthcare burden.
Smartphone overuse: A hidden crisis in COVID-19
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2021
Why mental health service delivery needs to align alongside mainstream medical services
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.AJP.2022.103053
Abstract: There is significant in idual human suffering and economic burden because of untreated mental health and substance use disorders. There is high psychiatric morbidity in primary and secondary medical care. At least one-fifth of patients attending primary care services in western countries pertain to mental health and one-third of patients attending general hospitals have a comorbid mental disorder. Patients with mental disorders have lower life expectancy than the general population due to various medical conditions and reduced access to physical healthcare. There is a suicide every 40 seconds and the vast majority of those who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder. Despite this, most countries spend less than 2% of their health budgets on mental health. Effective treatments exist for mental disorders, however underfunding, poor integration of services, lack of trained health care professionals and stigma often prevent access to effective treatments. Stigma is a significant barrier to seeking help and receiving treatment. Geographical separation of mental health services from general hospital settings may be perpetuating the stigma of mental illness among the population. In this article, we review the key reasons why mental health services globally need to align with mainstream healthcare services and the longstanding reasons that necessitate the need to make mental health a public health priority.
Toward Developing a Standardized Core Set of Outcome Measures in Mobile Health Interventions for Tuberculosis Management: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 02-10-2018
Abstract: uberculosis (TB) management can be challenging in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) not only because of its high burden but also the prolonged treatment period involving multiple drugs. With rapid development in mobile technology, mobile health (mHealth) interventions or using a mobile device for TB management has gained popularity. Despite the potential usefulness of mHealth interventions for TB, few studies have quantitatively synthesized evidence on its effectiveness, presumably because of variability in outcome measures reported in the literature. he aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the outcome measures reported in TB mHealth literature in LMICs. EDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched to identify mHealth intervention studies for TB (published up to May 2018) that reported any type of outcome measures. The extracted information included the study setting, types of mHealth technology used, target population, study design, and categories of outcome measures. Outcomes were classified into 13 categories including treatment outcome, adherence, process measure, perception, technical outcome, and so on. The qualitative synthesis of evidence focused on the categories of outcome measures reported by the type of mHealth interventions. total of 27 studies were included for the qualitative synthesis of evidence. The study designs varied widely, ranging from randomized controlled trials to economic evaluations. A total of 12 studies adopted short message service (SMS), whereas 5 studies used SMS in combination with additional technologies or mobile apps. The study populations were also erse, including patients with TB, patients with TB/HIV, health care workers, and general patients attending a clinic. There was a wide range of variations in the definition of outcome measures across the studies. Among the erse categories of outcome measures, treatment outcomes have been reported in 14 studies, but only 6 of them measured the outcome according to the standard TB treatment definitions by the World Health Organization. his critical evaluation of outcomes reported in mHealth studies for TB management suggests that substantial variability exists in reporting outcome measures. To overcome the challenges in evidence synthesis for mHealth interventions, this study can provide insights into the development of a core set of outcome measures by intervention type and study design.
Caesarean delivery and its association with educational attainment, wealth index, and place of residence in Sub-Saharan Africa: a meta-analysis
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-022-09567-1
Abstract: Caesarean delivery (C-section) has been increasing worldwide however, many women from developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are deprived of these lifesaving services. This study aimed to explore the impact of certain socioeconomic factors, including respondent’s education, husband’s education, place of residence, and wealth index, on C-section delivery for women in Sub-Saharan Africa. We used pooled data from 36 demographic and health surveys (DHS) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Married women aged 15–49 years who have at least one child in the last five years were considered in this survey. After inclusion and excluding criteria, 234,660 participants were eligible for final analysis. Binary logistic regression was executed to determine the effects of selected socioeconomic factors. The countries were assembled into four sub-regions (Southern Africa, West Africa, East Africa, and Central Africa), and a meta-analysis was conducted. We performed random-effects model estimation for meta-analysis to assess the overall effects and consistency between covariates and utilization of C-section delivery as substantial heterogeneity was identified (I 2 50%). Furthermore, the meta-regression was carried out to explain the additional amount of heterogeneity by country levels. We performed a sensitivity analysis to examine the effects of outliers in this study. Findings suggest that less than 15% of women in many Sub-Saharan African countries had C-section delivery. Maternal education (OR 4.12 CI 3.75, 4.51), wealth index (OR 2.05 CI 1.94, 2.17), paternal education (OR 1.71 CI 1.57, 1.86), and place of residence (OR 1.51 CI 1.44, 1.58) were significantly associated with the utilization of C-section delivery. These results were also consistent in sub-regional meta-analyses. The meta-regression suggests that the total percentage of births attended by skilled health staff (TPBASHS) has a significant inverse association with C-section utilization regarding educational attainment (respondent & husband), place of residence, and wealth index. The data structure was restricted to define the distinction between elective and emergency c-sections. It is essential to provide an appropriate lifesaving mechanism, such as C-section delivery opportunities, through proper facilities for rural, uneducated, impoverished Sub-Saharan African women to minimize both maternal and infant mortality.
Factors Associated With Psychological Distress, Fear and Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 13-08-2020
DOI: 10.21203/RS.3.RS-57952/V1
Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the personal, professional and social life of Australians with some people more impacted than others. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey was conducted among residents in Australia, including patients, frontline health and other essential service workers, and community members during Jun-2020. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), level of fear was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the extent of psychological distress, level of fear and coping strategies while adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Among 587 participants, the majority (391, 73.2%) were 30-59 years old and female (363, 61.8%). More than half (349, 59.5%) were born outside Australia and two-third (418, 71.5%) completed at least a Bachelor’s degree. The majority (401, 71.5%) had a source of income, 243 (42.3%) self-identified as a frontline worker, and 335 (58.9%) reported financial impact due to COVID-19. Comorbidities such as pre-existing mental health conditions (AOR 3.13, 95% CIs 1.12-8.75), increased smoking (8.66, 1.08-69.1) and alcohol drinking (2.39, 1.05-5.47) over the last four weeks, high levels of fear (2.93, 1.83-4.67) and being female (1.74, 1.15-2.65) were associated with a higher levels of psychological distress. Perceived distress due to change of employment status (4.14, 1.39-12.4), alcohol drinking (3.64, 1.54-8.58), providing care to known or suspected cases (3.64, 1.54-8.58), being female (1.56, 1.00-2.45), being 30-59 years old (2.29, 1.21-4.35) and having medium to high levels of psychological distress (2.90, 1.82-5.62) were associated with a higher level of fear while healthcare service use in the last four weeks was associated with medium to high resilience. Conclusions: This study identified in iduals who were at higher risk of distress and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Australia. Specific interventions to support the mental wellbeing of these in iduals should be considered in addition to the existing resources within primary healthcare settings.
The Surveillance of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep: Protocol for the Development and Feasibility Evaluation of a Novel Measurement System
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 06-06-2022
DOI: 10.2196/35697
Abstract: There is increasing recognition of the need for more comprehensive surveillance data, including information on physical activity of all intensities, sedentary behavior, and sleep. However, meeting this need poses significant challenges for current surveillance systems, which are mainly reliant on self-report. The primary objective of this project is to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a sensor-based system for use in the surveillance of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep (SurPASS) at a national level in Denmark. The SurPASS project involves an international, multidisciplinary team of researchers collaborating with an industrial partner. The SurPASS system consists of (1) a thigh-worn accelerometer with Bluetooth connectivity, (2) a smartphone app, (3) an integrated back end, facilitating the automated upload, analysis, storage, and provision of in idualized feedback in a manner compliant with European Union regulations on data privacy, and (4) an administrator web interface (web application) to monitor progress. The system development and evaluation will be performed in 3 phases. These phases will include gathering user input and specifications (phase 1), the iterative development, evaluation, and refinement of the system (phase 2), and the feasibility evaluation (phase 3). The project started in September 2020 and completed phase 2 in February 2022. Phase 3 began in March 2022 and results will be made available in 2023. If feasible, the SurPASS system could be a catalyst toward large-scale, sensor-based surveillance of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. It could also be adapted for cohort and interventional research, thus contributing to the generation of evidence for both interventions and public health policies and recommendations. DERR1-10.2196/35697
Diabetes knowledge and glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-06-2015
Pornography Use Prevalence and Associated Factors in Arab Countries: A Multinational Cross-Sectional Study of 15,027 Individuals
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 29-01-2021
DOI: 10.1016/J.JSXM.2020.12.011
Abstract: There has been a tangible increase in pornography consumption during the past decade, with the absence of a large-scale study of Arab countries. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of pornography viewing and its associated risk factors in Arab countries. A large cross-sectional online survey was carried out recruiting participants without restrictions on the age, socioeconomic level, job, or educational level. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify possible risk factors for viewing porn and results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Main outcomes were pornography viewing (first exposure and frequency), the perceptions of this act, use of spare time, physical activity (exercising), and frequency of psychiatrist visits. The final number of participants included in the study was 15027 participants with a mean age ± standard deviation of 23.82 years ± 24.99. Most of the participants were men (84.56%), living with parents (81.71%), and 60.51% university graduates. There were statistically significant differences (P & .001) in the attitude and practice of men compared with women throughout all tested variables. Frequent pornography viewing was associated with male gender (OR [95% CI] = 7.08 [6.43 to 7.81] P & .001) and age group ≤15 years (OR [95% CI] = 1.33 [1.01 to 1.75] P = .044). By contrast, higher education was inversely associated with viewing rates reaching the lowest level in PhD awardees (OR [95% CI] = 0.36 [0.26 to 0.51] P = .003). It was also noted that regular exercising (OR [95% CI] = 0.66 [0.58 to 0.74] P & .001) was associated with a reduction in pornography viewing rates. Young age, male gender, and lower educational level are all predictors for higher pornography viewing and should be considered when designing public health intervention in a related context. This is the first large-scale multi-national survey to be conducted in Arab countries to investigate pornography viewing. The main limitations were the cross-sectional design (cannot indicate causality) and the self-report nature (liable to social desirability and recall bias). Pornography viewing is common in Arab countries and associated with some personal and behavioral factors.
The impact of type 2 diabetes on health related quality of life in Bangladesh: results from a matched study comparing treated cases with non-diabetic controls
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-09-2016
Age at menarche and its socioeconomic determinants among female students in an urban area in Bangladesh
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.SRHC.2017.03.008
Abstract: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the age at menarche and its socioeconomic determinants among urban female students (n=680) in Bangladesh. The mean age of the respondents was 14±1.43years. Majority of the respondents were unmarried (98.4%). The mean age at menarche was 11.6±3.6years, median 12years. Almost one-third (35.7%) of the participants had menarche at the age of 12years. There was no statistically significant difference between age at menarche before and after 12years with the socio-economic characteristics, except education (p=<0.001). In the multivariate model, only higher education was statistically significant predictor of age at menarche.
Machine learning approach to predicting COVID-19 disease severity based on clinical blood test data: Statistical analysis and model development
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 13-04-2021
DOI: 10.2196/25884
Abstract: Accurate prediction of the disease severity of patients with COVID-19 would greatly improve care delivery and resource allocation and thereby reduce mortality risks, especially in less developed countries. Many patient-related factors, such as pre-existing comorbidities, affect disease severity and can be used to aid this prediction. Because rapid automated profiling of peripheral blood s les is widely available, we aimed to investigate how data from the peripheral blood of patients with COVID-19 can be used to predict clinical outcomes. We investigated clinical data sets of patients with COVID-19 with known outcomes by combining statistical comparison and correlation methods with machine learning algorithms the latter included decision tree, random forest, variants of gradient boosting machine, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbor, and deep learning methods. Our work revealed that several clinical parameters that are measurable in blood s les are factors that can discriminate between healthy people and COVID-19–positive patients, and we showed the value of these parameters in predicting later severity of COVID-19 symptoms. We developed a number of analytical methods that showed accuracy and precision scores % for disease severity prediction. We developed methodologies to analyze routine patient clinical data that enable more accurate prediction of COVID-19 patient outcomes. With this approach, data from standard hospital laboratory analyses of patient blood could be used to identify patients with COVID-19 who are at high risk of mortality, thus enabling optimization of hospital facilities for COVID-19 treatment.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Stroke in Rural Bangladesh: A Population Based Study on 1.3 million people (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 30-01-2023
DOI: 10.2196/46122
Correction: Prevalence of unintended pregnancy and its associated factors: Evidence from six south Asian countries
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 26-10-2021
Pathogenetic profiling of COVID-19 and SARS-like viruses
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-08-2021
DOI: 10.1093/BIB/BBAA173
Abstract: The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has recently emerged, causing COVID-19 outbreaks and significant societal/global disruption. Importantly, COVID-19 infection resembles SARS-like complications. However, the lack of knowledge about the underlying genetic mechanisms of COVID-19 warrants the development of prospective control measures. In this study, we employed whole-genome alignment and digital DNA–DNA hybridization analyses to assess genomic linkage between 2019-nCoV and other coronaviruses. To understand the pathogenetic behavior of 2019-nCoV, we compared gene expression datasets of viral infections closest to 2019-nCoV with four COVID-19 clinical presentations followed by functional enrichment of shared dysregulated genes. Potential chemical antagonists were also identified using protein–chemical interaction analysis. Based on phylogram analysis, the 2019-nCoV was found genetically closest to SARS-CoVs. In addition, we identified 562 upregulated and 738 downregulated genes (adj. P ≤ 0.05) with SARS-CoV infection. Among the dysregulated genes, SARS-CoV shared ≤19 upregulated and ≤22 downregulated genes with each of different COVID-19 complications. Notably, upregulation of BCL6 and PFKFB3 genes was common to SARS-CoV, pneumonia and severe acute respiratory syndrome, while they shared CRIP2, NSG1 and TNFRSF21 genes in downregulation. Besides, 14 genes were common to different SARS-CoV comorbidities that might influence COVID-19 disease. We also observed similarities in pathways that can lead to COVID-19 and SARS-CoV diseases. Finally, protein–chemical interactions suggest cyclosporine, resveratrol and quercetin as promising drug candidates against COVID-19 as well as other SARS-like viral infections. The pathogenetic analyses, along with identified biomarkers, signaling pathways and chemical antagonists, could prove useful for novel drug development in the fight against the current global 2019-nCoV pandemic.
Individual and community-level factors associated with skilled birth attendants during delivery in Bangladesh: A multilevel analysis of demographic and health surveys
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 29-06-2022
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0267660
Abstract: Skilled birth attendants (SBAs) play a crucial role in reducing infant and maternal mortality. Although the ratio of skilled assistance at birth has increased in Bangladesh, factors associated with SBA use are unknown. The main goal of our study was to reveal the in idual- and community-level factors associated with SBA use during childbirth in Bangladesh. We also showed the prevalence and trend of SBA use and related independent variables in Bangladesh over the past decade. This study utilized the Bangladesh Health and Demographic Survey (BDHS) 2017–2018, a cross-sectional study. We used binary logistic regression to examine the extent of variation in SBA use attributable to the in idual- and community-level variables. Overall, 53.35% of women received assistance from SBAs during childbirth. The average annual rate of increase (AARI) in the number of SBA-assisted births over the past 10 years was 8.88%. Respondents who gave birth at or above 19 years had 1.40 times (AOR = 1.40 95% CI: 1.21–1.62) greater odds of having skilled delivery assistance than respondents aged 18 years old or less. Women and their husband’s education levels were significantly associated with using skilled assistance during delivery, with odds of 1.60 (AOR = 1.60 95% CI: 1.45–2.01) and 1.41 (AOR = 1.41 95% CI: 1.21–1.66), respectively compared to those with education up to primary level. Women from rich families and those receiving better antenatal care (ANC) visits were more likely to have professional delivery assistance. Community-level factors also showed significance towards having professional assistance while giving birth. Women from urban communities and those who utilized more than four ANC visits and had completed secondary or higher education showed a greater tendency to use an SBA during childbirth than their counterparts. The use of SBAs during delivery was significantly associated with some in idual- and community-level factors. To reduce maternal and child mortality, there is a need to focus on rural and uneducated people who are less likely to access these facilities. Special programs could increase awareness and help the poor community obtain the minimum facility in maternal care.
Burden of injury along the development spectrum: associations between the Socio-demographic Index and disability-adjusted life year estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 08-01-2020
DOI: 10.1136/INJURYPREV-2019-043296
Abstract: The epidemiological transition of non-communicable diseases replacing infectious diseases as the main contributors to disease burden has been well documented in global health literature. Less focus, however, has been given to the relationship between sociodemographic changes and injury. The aim of this study was to examine the association between disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from injury for 195 countries and territories at different levels along the development spectrum between 1990 and 2017 based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 estimates. Injury mortality was estimated using the GBD mortality database, corrections for garbage coding and CODEm—the cause of death ensemble modelling tool. Morbidity estimation was based on surveys and inpatient and outpatient data sets for 30 cause-of-injury with 47 nature-of-injury categories each. The Socio-demographic Index (SDI) is a composite indicator that includes lagged income per capita, average educational attainment over age 15 years and total fertility rate. For many causes of injury, age-standardised DALY rates declined with increasing SDI, although road injury, interpersonal violence and self-harm did not follow this pattern. Particularly for self-harm opposing patterns were observed in regions with similar SDI levels. For road injuries, this effect was less pronounced. The overall global pattern is that of declining injury burden with increasing SDI. However, not all injuries follow this pattern, which suggests multiple underlying mechanisms influencing injury DALYs. There is a need for a detailed understanding of these patterns to help to inform national and global efforts to address injury-related health outcomes across the development spectrum.
Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Attribution of N<sub>2</sub>O sources in a grassland soil with laser spectroscopy based isotopocule analysis
Publisher: Copernicus GmbH
Date: 29-08-2019
Abstract: Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the primary atmospheric constituent involved in stratospheric ozone depletion and contributes strongly to changes in the climate system through a positive radiative forcing mechanism. The atmospheric abundance of N2O has increased from 270 ppb (parts per billion, 10−9 mole mole−1) during the pre-industrial era to approx. 330 ppb in 2018. Even though it is well known that microbial processes in agricultural and natural soils are the major N2O source, the contribution of specific soil processes is still uncertain. The relative abundance of N2O isotopocules (14N14N16N, 14N15N16O, 15N14N16O, and 14N14N18O) carries process-specific information and thus can be used to trace production and consumption pathways. While isotope ratio mass spectroscopy (IRMS) was traditionally used for high-precision measurement of the isotopic composition of N2O, quantum cascade laser absorption spectroscopy (QCLAS) has been put forward as a complementary technique with the potential for on-site analysis. In recent years, pre-concentration combined with QCLAS has been presented as a technique to resolve subtle changes in ambient N2O isotopic composition. From the end of May until the beginning of August 2016, we investigated N2O emissions from an intensively managed grassland at the study site Fendt in southern Germany. In total, 612 measurements of ambient N2O were taken by combining pre-concentration with QCLAS analyses, yielding δ15Nα, δ15Nβ, δ18O, and N2O concentration with a temporal resolution of approximately 1 h and precisions of 0.46 ‰, 0.36 ‰, 0.59 ‰, and 1.24 ppb, respectively. Soil δ15N-NO3- values and concentrations of NO3- and NH4+ were measured to further constrain possible N2O-emitting source processes. Furthermore, the concentration footprint area of measured N2O was determined with a Lagrangian particle dispersion model (FLEXPART-COSMO) using local wind and turbulence observations. These simulations indicated that night-time concentration observations were largely sensitive to local fluxes. While bacterial denitrification and nitrifier denitrification were identified as the primary N2O-emitting processes, N2O reduction to N2 largely dictated the isotopic composition of measured N2O. Fungal denitrification and nitrification-derived N2O accounted for 34 %–42 % of total N2O emissions and had a clear effect on the measured isotopic source signatures. This study presents the suitability of on-site N2O isotopocule analysis for disentangling source and sink processes in situ and found that at the Fendt site bacterial denitrification or nitrifier denitrification is the major source for N2O, while N2O reduction acted as a major sink for soil-produced N2O.
Changes in the burden and underlying causes of heart failure in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990–2019: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2023
Factors associated with antihypertensive medication use and blood pressure control in a rural area in Bangladesh: baseline data from a cluster randomised control trial
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-021-12379-Z
Abstract: The use of antihypertensive medications is critical for controlling high blood pressure. We aimed to investigate associations between socio-demographic factors and antihypertensive medications use, and antihypertensive medications use with different types of drugs use with levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). For the present report we derived data from the baseline measurements of a cluster randomised control trial on 307 participants with previously diagnosed hypertension from the rural district of Narial in Bangladesh. We measured the participant’s current blood pressure levels and recorded antihypertensive medications uses. Associated factors included socio-economic status, diabetes, antihypertensive medications use, and types of drugs and doses used for controlling blood pressure. We applied analysis of variance and logistic regression techniques to identify factors associated with blood pressure. Of the total participants, 144 (46.9%) were on antihypertensive medications. After multivariate adjustment, binary logistic regression revealed that employees (odds ratio, (95% confidence interval (CI)) (OR 3.58, 95%CI 1.38-9.28) compared to farmers, and people with diabetes (OR 2.43, 95%CI 1.13-5.26) compared to people without diabetes were associated with a higher proportion of antihypertensive medications use. Of 144 participants on antihypertensive medications, 7 (5%) had taken two doses, 114 (79%) had taken one dose per day and the rest were irregular in medication use. The mean (standard deviation) [min, max] SBP and DBP were 149 (19) mmHg [114, 217] and 90 (10) mmHg [75, 126], respectively. Overall, there was no significant difference in SBP ( p = 0.10) or DBP ( p = 0.67) between participants with or without antihypertensive medications or using any type of medications ( p = 0.54 for SBP and 0.76 for DBP). There was no significant association between antihypertensive medications use and elevated BP levels SBP/DBP≥140/90 mmHg ( p = 0.42) Less than half of the people with hypertension were on medication. Irrespective of the antihypertensive medications use, most of the participant’s blood pressure was high. Further study is needed with a large s le to understand the factors and aetiology of unmanaged hypertension in rural areas of Bangladesh where the prevalence of hypertension is very high.
Awareness and Self-Reported Health Hazards of Electromagnetic Waves from Mobile Phone Towers in Dhaka, Bangladesh: A Pilot Study
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1155/2014/952832
Abstract: Background . Over the last few years there have been concerns regarding the health effects of electromagnetic waves (EMW) produced by mobile phone base transmitter stations (BTS). Data on possible health effects of EMW in developing countries are rare. This study was conducted to determine the awareness and self-reported health hazards of EMW from the mobile phone BTS in Dhaka city. Methods . A cross-sectional study was conducted among 220 respondents living around BTS in Dhaka city. Data was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, mobile phone use, BTS and EMW awareness, and self-reported health problems. Results . The majority of respondents (92.7%) reported to have seen a BTS but only 29.5% knows how it works and 74.5% had no knowledge about the EMW. 49% respondents experienced sleeping disturbances while recent episodes of headache or dizziness were reported by 47% and mood change or anxiety or depression by 41%. About 22% complained about other physical or mental symptoms. Conclusion . Awareness about the possible health hazards from EMW of BTS is low among the inhabitants of Dhaka city. A number of respondents mentioned recent health effects but the association with BTS could not be established.
Association of left ventricular ejection fraction with contrast-induced nephropathy and mortality following coronary angiography or intervention in patients with heart failure
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-2017
DOI: 10.2147/TCRM.S137654
Risks to Bangladeshi children and young people during covid-19 outbreak
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 11-06-2020
DOI: 10.1136/BMJ.M2299
Characteristics of Smart Health Ecosystems That Support Self-care Among People With Heart Failure: Scoping Review
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 02-11-2022
DOI: 10.2196/36773
Abstract: The management of heart failure is complex. Innovative solutions are required to support health care providers and people with heart failure with decision-making and self-care behaviors. In recent years, more sophisticated technologies have enabled new health care models, such as smart health ecosystems. Smart health ecosystems use data collection, intelligent data processing, and communication to support the diagnosis, management, and primary and secondary prevention of chronic conditions. Currently, there is little information on the characteristics of smart health ecosystems for people with heart failure. We aimed to identify and describe the characteristics of smart health ecosystems that support heart failure self-care. We conducted a scoping review using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library databases were searched from January 2008 to September 2021. The search strategy focused on identifying articles describing smart health ecosystems that support heart failure self-care. A total of 2 reviewers screened the articles and extracted relevant data from the included full texts. After removing duplicates, 1543 articles were screened, and 34 articles representing 13 interventions were included in this review. To support self-care, the interventions used sensors and questionnaires to collect data and used tailoring methods to provide personalized support. The interventions used a total of 34 behavior change techniques, which were facilitated by a combination of 8 features for people with heart failure: automated feedback, monitoring (integrated and manual input), presentation of data, education, reminders, communication with a health care provider, and psychological support. Furthermore, features to support health care providers included data presentation, alarms, alerts, communication tools, remote care plan modification, and health record integration. This scoping review identified that there are few reports of smart health ecosystems that support heart failure self-care, and those that have been reported do not provide comprehensive support across all domains of self-care. This review describes the technical and behavioral components of the identified interventions, providing information that can be used as a starting point for designing and testing future smart health ecosystems.
Objective evaluation of deep uncertainty predictions for COVID-19 detection
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-01-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-022-05052-X
Abstract: Deep neural networks (DNNs) have been widely applied for detecting COVID-19 in medical images. Existing studies mainly apply transfer learning and other data representation strategies to generate accurate point estimates. The generalization power of these networks is always questionable due to being developed using small datasets and failing to report their predictive confidence. Quantifying uncertainties associated with DNN predictions is a prerequisite for their trusted deployment in medical settings. Here we apply and evaluate three uncertainty quantification techniques for COVID-19 detection using chest X-Ray (CXR) images. The novel concept of uncertainty confusion matrix is proposed and new performance metrics for the objective evaluation of uncertainty estimates are introduced. Through comprehensive experiments, it is shown that networks pertained on CXR images outperform networks pretrained on natural image datasets such as ImageNet. Qualitatively and quantitatively evaluations also reveal that the predictive uncertainty estimates are statistically higher for erroneous predictions than correct predictions. Accordingly, uncertainty quantification methods are capable of flagging risky predictions with high uncertainty estimates. We also observe that ensemble methods more reliably capture uncertainties during the inference. DNN-based solutions for COVID-19 detection have been mainly proposed without any principled mechanism for risk mitigation. Previous studies have mainly focused on on generating single-valued predictions using pretrained DNNs. In this paper, we comprehensively apply and comparatively evaluate three uncertainty quantification techniques for COVID-19 detection using chest X-Ray images. The novel concept of uncertainty confusion matrix is proposed and new performance metrics for the objective evaluation of uncertainty estimates are introduced for the first time. Using these new uncertainty performance metrics, we quantitatively demonstrate when we could trust DNN predictions for COVID-19 detection from chest X-rays. It is important to note the proposed novel uncertainty evaluation metrics are generic and could be applied for evaluation of probabilistic forecasts in all classification problems.
Combining a convolutional neural network with autoencoders to predict the survival chance of COVID-19 patients
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-07-2021
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-021-93543-8
Abstract: COVID-19 has caused many deaths worldwide. The automation of the diagnosis of this virus is highly desired. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have shown outstanding classification performance on image datasets. To date, it appears that COVID computer-aided diagnosis systems based on CNNs and clinical information have not yet been analysed or explored. We propose a novel method, named the CNN-AE, to predict the survival chance of COVID-19 patients using a CNN trained with clinical information. Notably, the required resources to prepare CT images are expensive and limited compared to those required to collect clinical data, such as blood pressure, liver disease, etc. We evaluated our method using a publicly available clinical dataset that we collected. The dataset properties were carefully analysed to extract important features and compute the correlations of features. A data augmentation procedure based on autoencoders (AEs) was proposed to balance the dataset. The experimental results revealed that the average accuracy of the CNN-AE (96.05%) was higher than that of the CNN (92.49%). To demonstrate the generality of our augmentation method, we trained some existing mortality risk prediction methods on our dataset (with and without data augmentation) and compared their performances. We also evaluated our method using another dataset for further generality verification. To show that clinical data can be used for COVID-19 survival chance prediction, the CNN-AE was compared with multiple pre-trained deep models that were tuned based on CT images.
Screening for depression after an acute myocardial infarction
Publisher: Bangladesh Journals Online (JOL)
Date: 18-12-2016
Abstract: Abstract not availableBangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.15(4) 2016 p.655-656
A9640 Effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a mobile phone text messaging intervention for prevention of cardiovascular risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 10-2018
Smartphone Apps for Diabetes Medication Adherence: Systematic Review
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 21-06-2022
DOI: 10.2196/33264
Abstract: Diabetes is one of the leading noncommunicable chronic diseases globally. In people with diabetes, blood glucose levels need to be monitored regularly and managed adequately through healthy lifestyles and medications. However, various factors contribute to poor medication adherence. Smartphone apps can improve medication adherence in people with diabetes, but it is not clear which app features are most beneficial. This study aims to systematically review and evaluate high-quality apps for diabetes medication adherence, which are freely available to the public in Android and Apple app stores and present the technical features of the apps. We systematically searched Apple App Store and Google Play for apps that assist in diabetes medication adherence, using predefined selection criteria. We assessed apps using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and calculated the mean app-specific score (MASS) by taking the average of app-specific scores on 6 dimensions, namely, awareness, knowledge, attitudes, intention to change, help-seeking, and behavior change rated on a 5-point scale (1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree). We used the mean of the app’s performance on these 6 dimensions to calculate the MASS. Apps that achieved a total MASS mean quality score greater than 4 out of 5 were considered to be of high quality in our study. We formulated a task-technology fit matrix to evaluate the apps for diabetes medication adherence. We identified 8 high-quality apps (MASS score≥4) and presented the findings under 3 main categories: characteristics of the included apps, app features, and diabetes medication adherence. Our framework to evaluate smartphone apps in promoting diabetes medication adherence considered physiological factors influencing diabetes and app features. On evaluation, we observed that 25% of the apps promoted high adherence and another 25% of the apps promoted moderate adherence. Finally, we found that 50% of the apps provided low adherence to diabetes medication. Our findings show that almost half of the high-quality apps publicly available for free did not achieve high to moderate medication adherence. Our framework could have positive implications for the future design and development of apps for patients with diabetes. Additionally, apps need to be evaluated using a standardized framework, and only those promoting higher medication adherence should be prescribed for better health outcomes.
Prevalence of goiter among children in Ethiopia and associated factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-08-2019
Five insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Psychometric Validation of the Bangla Fear of COVID-19 Scale: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Rasch Analysis
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-05-2020
DOI: 10.1007/S11469-020-00289-X
Abstract: The recently developed Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) is a seven-item uni-dimensional scale that assesses the severity of fears of COVID-19. Given the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh, we aimed to translate and validate the FCV-19S in Bangla. The forward-backward translation method was used to translate the English version of the questionnaire into Bangla. The reliability and validity properties of the Bangla FCV-19S were rigorously psychometrically evaluated (utilizing both confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis) in relation to socio-demographic variables, national lockdown variables, and response to the Bangla Health Patient Questionnaire. The s le comprised 8550 Bangladeshi participants. The Cronbach α value for the Bangla FCV-19S was 0.871 indicating very good internal reliability. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the uni-dimensional factor structure of the FCV-19S fitted well with the data. The FCV-19S was significantly correlated with the nine-item Bangla Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-90) ( r = 0.406, p 0.001). FCV-19S scores were significantly associated with higher worries concerning lockdown. Measurement invariance of the FCV-19S showed no differences with respect to age or gender. The Bangla version of FCV-19S is a valid and reliable tool with robust psychometric properties which will be useful for researchers carrying out studies among the Bangla speaking population in assessing the psychological impact of fear from COVID-19 infection during this pandemic.
Effects of intravenous hydration on risk of contrast induced nephropathy and in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-04-2019
Rejoinder to “Patient preferences for the delivery of cardiac rehabilitation”
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2019
Clinical characteristics and complications of patients with type 2 diabetes attending an urban hospital in Bangladesh
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.DSX.2014.09.014
Abstract: To investigate the clinical features of patients with type 2 diabetes on oral medication and determine the complications and risk factors in these patients. A cross-sectional was conducted among 515 patients with type 2 diabetes at the outpatient clinics of Bangladesh Institute of Health Science (BIHS) hospital from September to December 2013. We collected data on socio-economic characteristics, clinical status, risk factors, complications, anthropometric measurements and blood tests. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors associated with diabetes complications. The mean(±SD) age of the participants was 50.0(±10.1) years and 15.3% were less than 40 years. The mean HbA1c was 8.3(±2.1). Only 28.7% of the participants achieved targets for HbA1c. The overall prevalence of hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia was 57.5%, 62.6% and 72.7%, respectively. Eye problems were the most common complication (68.9%) followed by chronic kidney diseases (21.3%) and cardiovascular diseases (11.8%). There were significant associations between the complications and age, duration of diabetes and duration of hypertension. In the multivariate analysis adjusting for other confounding variables, only systolic blood pressure was found to be significantly associated with complications [OR 0.809, 95% CI 0.666-0.981 (p-value 0.031)]. Results of the study confirm that even under best clinical settings a great majority Bangladeshi adults with type 2 diabetes have uncontrolled diabetes and a high prevalence of risk factors that might contribute to early development of complications. Early screening of high risk groups and proper management of diabetes is recommended to avoid early complications.
Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2021
<p>Blood Transfusion and the Risk of Cancer in the US Population: Is There an Association?</p>
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-2020
DOI: 10.2147/CLEP.S271275
Global and regional burden of disease and injury in 2016 arising from occupational exposures: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 13-02-2020
DOI: 10.1136/OEMED-2019-106008
Abstract: This study provides an overview of the influence of occupational risk factors on the global burden of disease as estimated by the occupational component of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2016 study. The GBD 2016 study estimated the burden in terms of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) arising from the effects of occupational risk factors (carcinogens asthmagens particulate matter, gases and fumes (PMGF) secondhand smoke (SHS) noise ergonomic risk factors for low back pain risk factors for injury). A population attributable fraction (PAF) approach was used for most risk factors. In 2016, globally, an estimated 1.53 (95% uncertainty interval 1.39–1.68) million deaths and 76.1 (66.3–86.3) million DALYs were attributable to the included occupational risk factors, accounting for 2.8% of deaths and 3.2% of DALYs from all causes. Most deaths were attributable to PMGF, carcinogens (particularly asbestos), injury risk factors and SHS. Most DALYs were attributable to injury risk factors and ergonomic exposures. Men and persons 55 years or older were most affected. PAFs ranged from 26.8% for low back pain from ergonomic risk factors and 19.6% for hearing loss from noise to 3.4% for carcinogens. DALYs per capita were highest in Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central sub-Saharan Africa. On a per capita basis, between 1990 and 2016 there was an overall decrease of about 31% in deaths and 25% in DALYs. Occupational exposures continue to cause an important health burden worldwide, justifying the need for ongoing prevention and control initiatives.
COVID-19: Factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies among community members across 17 countries
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12992-021-00768-3
Abstract: The current pandemic of COVID-19 impacted the psychological wellbeing of populations globally. We aimed to examine the extent and identify factors associated with psychological distress, fear of COVID-19 and coping. We conducted a cross-sectional study across 17 countries during Jun-2020 to Jan-2021. Levels of psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale), fear of COVID-19 (Fear of COVID-19 Scale), and coping (Brief Resilient Coping Scale) were assessed. A total of 8,559 people participated mean age (±SD) was 33(±13) years, 64% were females and 40% self-identified as frontline workers. More than two-thirds (69%) experienced moderate-to-very high levels of psychological distress, which was 46% in Thailand and 91% in Egypt. A quarter (24%) had high levels of fear of COVID-19, which was as low as 9% in Libya and as high as 38% in Bangladesh. More than half (57%) exhibited medium to high resilient coping the lowest prevalence (3%) was reported in Australia and the highest (72%) in Syria. Being female (AOR 1.31 [95% CIs 1.09-1.57]), perceived distress due to change of employment status (1.56 [1.29-1.90]), comorbidity with mental health conditions (3.02 [1.20-7.60]) were associated with higher levels of psychological distress and fear. Doctors had higher psychological distress (1.43 [1.04-1.97]), but low levels of fear of COVID-19 (0.55 [0.41-0.76]) nurses had medium to high resilient coping (1.30 [1.03-1.65]). The extent of psychological distress, fear of COVID-19 and coping varied by country however, we identified few higher risk groups who were more vulnerable than others. There is an urgent need to prioritise health and well-being of those people through well-designed intervention that may need to be tailored to meet country specific requirements.
Fusion of convolution neural network, support vector machine and Sobel filter for accurate detection of COVID-19 patients using X-ray images
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2021
Effects of inaccurate small field dose measurements on calculated treatment doses
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-07-2016
DOI: 10.1007/S13246-016-0461-Y
Abstract: Given the difficulty and potential time- or financial-costs associated with accurate small field dosimetry, this study aimed to establish the clinical necessity of obtaining accurate small field output factor measurements and to evaluate the effects on planned doses that could arise if accurate measurements are not used in treatment planning dose calculations. Isocentre doses, in heterogeneous patient anatomy, were calculated and compared for 571 beams from 48 clinical radiotherapy treatments, using a clinical radiotherapy treatment planning system, with reference to two different sets of beam configuration data. One set of beam configuration data included field output factors (total scatter factors) from precisely positioned and response-corrected diode measurements and the other included field output factors measured using a conventional technique that would have been better suited to larger field measurements. Differences between the field output factor measurements made with the two different techniques equated to 14.2 % for the 6 [Formula: see text] 6 mm[Formula: see text] field, 1.8 % for the 12 [Formula: see text] 12 mm[Formula: see text] field, and less than 0.5 % for the larger fields. This led to isocentre dose differences of up to 3.3 % in routine clinical fields smaller than 9 mm across and and up to 11 % in convoluted fields smaller than 15 mm across. If field widths smaller than 15 mm are used clinically, then accurate measurement (or-remeasurement) of small field output factors in the treatment planning system's beam data is required in order to achieve dose calculation accuracy within 3 %. If such measurements are not completed, then errors in excess of 10 % may occur if very small, narrow, concave or convoluted treatment fields are used.
Factors associated with mortality in hospitalized cardiovascular disease patients infected with COVID‐19
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-01-2022
DOI: 10.1002/IID3.561
Abstract: To reduce mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 and cardiovascular disease (CVD), it is necessary to understand the relationship between patient's symptoms, risk factors, and comorbidities with their mortality rate. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first which take into account the determinants like risk factors, symptoms, and comorbidities leading to mortality in CVD patients who are hospitalized with COVID‐19. This study was conducted on 660 hospitalized patients with CVD and COVID‐19 recruited between January 2020 and January 2021 in Iran. All patients were diagnosed with the previous history of CVD like angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, abnormal heart rhythms, and congenital heart disease before they were hospitalized for COVID‐19. We collected data on patient's signs and symptoms, clinical and paraclinical examinations, and any underlying comorbidities. t test was used to determine the significant difference between the two deceased and alive groups. In addition, the relation between pairs of symptoms and pairs of comorbidities has been determined via correlation computation. Our findings suggest that signs and symptoms such as fever, cough, myalgia, chest pain, chills, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia had no impact on patients' mortality. There was a significant correlation between COVID‐19 cardiovascular patients' mortality rate and symptoms such as headache, loss of consciousness (LOC), oxygen saturation less than 93%, and need for mechanical ventilation. Our results might help physicians identify early symptoms, comorbidities, and risk factors related to mortality in CVD patients hospitalized for COVID‐19.
mHealth Interventions for Exercise and Risk Factor Modification in Cardiovascular Disease
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 04-2019
DOI: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000185
Abstract: Exercise and lifestyle risk factor management are critical for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease but are poorly adhered to. Mobile health interventions could enhance engagement however, a one-size intervention approach cannot meet the needs of all people. We hypothesize a unifying digital platform that enables choice from a suite of evidence-based programs will enhance access, delivery, and engagement.
Perceptions of appropriate treatment among the informal allopathic providers: insights from a qualitative study in two peri-urban areas in Bangladesh
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-06-2019
Detecting Usability and User Experience Issues in Stroke Caregiving Apps: An Analysis of User Reviews (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 10-09-2021
Abstract: troke caregivers often experience negative impacts when caring for a person living with a stroke. Technologically based interventions such as mHealth apps have demonstrated potential in supporting the caregivers during the recovery trajectory. Hence, there is an increase in apps in popular app stores, with a few apps addressing the healthcare needs of stroke caregivers. Since most of these apps were published without explanation of their design and evaluation processes, it is necessary to identify the usability and user experience issues to help app developers and researchers to understand the factors that affect long-term adherence and usage in stroke caregiving technology. he purpose of this study was to determine the usability and user experience issues in commercially available mHealth apps from the user reviews published within the app store to help researchers and developers understand the factors that may affect long-term adherence and usage. ser reviews were extracted from the previously identified 47 apps that support stroke caregiving needs using a python-scraper for both app stores (i.e. Google Play Store and Apple App Store). The reviews were pre-processed to (i) clean the dataset and ensure unicode normalization, (ii) remove stop words and (iii) group words together with similar meanings. The pre-processed reviews were filtered using sentiment analysis to exclude positive and non-English reviews. The final corpus was classified based on usability and user experience dimensions to highlight issues within the app. f 1,385,337 user reviews, only 162,095 were extracted due to the limitations in the app store. After filtration based on the sentiment analysis, 15,818 reviews were included in the study and were filtered based on the usability and user experience dimensions. Findings from the usability and user experience dimensions highlight critical errors/effectiveness, efficiency and support that contribute to decreased satisfaction, affect and emotion and frustration in using the app. ommercially available mHealth apps consist of several usability and user experience issues due to their inability to understand the methods to address the healthcare needs of the caregivers. App developers need to consider participatory design approaches to promote user participation in design. This might ensure better understanding of the user needs and methods to support these needs therefore, limiting any issues and ensuring continued use.
Determinants of early age of mother at first birth in Bangladesh: a statistical analysis using a two-level multiple logistic regression model
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-02-2020
Prevalence and determinants of anti-tuberculosis treatment non-adherence in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 10-01-2019
Effect of enteral immunomodulatory nutrition formula on mortality and critical care parameters in critically ill patients: A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-07-2021
DOI: 10.1111/NICC.12687
Abstract: Enteral immunomodulatory nutrition is recommended as an adjuvant therapy for patients in intensive care units (ICU), but its effectiveness is incompletely understood. The aim of this review was to examine the effect of a commonly used immunomodulatory formula—omega‐3 fatty acids, γ‐linolenic acid, and antioxidants—on clinical outcomes and mortality risk in critically ill patients. Systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). PubMed, Scopus, and Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Knowledge databases were searched until 18 February 2021. RCTs that used the immunomodulatory formula in the ICU were included. Ten RCTs (1166 participants) were included in the meta‐analysis. The immunomodulatory formula reduced the duration of ICU stay weighted mean difference [(WMD): −2.97 days 95%CI: −5.59, −0.35)], mechanical ventilation (WMD = −2.20 days, 95%CI: −4.29, −0.10), sequential organ failure assessment and multiple organ dysfunction scores (Hedge's g : −0.42 U/L 95% CI: −0.74, −0.11), decreased 8‐day overall mortality risk (RR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.58, 0.91), and extended the ICU‐free days (WMD: 4.06 days, 95% CI: 0.02, 8.09). The improvement in respiratory function and reduction in mortality risk was more in patients with acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Furthermore, the reduction in mechanical ventilation and mortality risk was more evident in older ( years) vs young adults. Taken together, the immunomodulatory formula may enhance clinical practice for critical care nurses, such that the prevalence and/or susceptibility to secondary conditions commonly encountered in the ICU (ie, ALI and ARDS) could be attenuated, ultimately allowing critical care nurses to focus their care on the primary reason for which a patient is in the ICU. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO.
Late stent thrombosis and acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a case affected with COVID-19: A rare manifestation
Publisher: Medknow
Date: 2021
Can glycated hemoglobin act as a reliable glycemic indicator in patients with diabetic chronic kidney disease? evidence from the Northeast of Thailand
Publisher: Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia
Date: 18-08-2017
Abstract: Background: Chronic kidney diseases (CKD) is a common microvascular complication in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) which requires adequate glycemic control. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a conventional biomarker to estimate glycemic status, but its role in diabetic CKD patients is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether patients with high HbA1c are associated to develop diabetic CKD.Methods: Data were obtained from a clinical registry of diabetic patients who were treated in a district hospital in the Northeast of Thailand. CKD was defined according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR mL/min/1.73m2). Anthropometric and biochemical measurements of the patient were taken by review of medical records. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the likelihood of the association between HbA1c and CKD.Results: Among 4,050 participants, 1,027 (25.3%) developed diabetic CKD. Older age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 4.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.71–6.42, p .05), female (AOR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05–1.73, p .05), and hypertension (AOR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.21–1.91, p .05) were found as the risk factors of diabetic CKD. However, patients with high HbA1c ( .5%) were negatively associated with diabetic CKD (AOR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.51–0.86, p .05).Conclusion: This study found patients with higher HbA1c level were not associated with diabetic CKD. Therefore, using the conventional cut-off values of HbA1c in diabetic CKD patients may be problematic in the clinical settings. Enhanced detection of glycemic status in patients with diabetic CKD is warranted to improve the outcome.
Evaluation of the effects of pycnogenol (French maritime pine bark extract) supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers and nutritional and clinical status in traumatic brain injury patients in an inte
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-02-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S13063-019-4008-X
Abstract: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the major health and socioeconomic problems in the world. Immune-enhancing enteral formula has been proven to significantly reduce infection rate in TBI patients. One of the ingredients that can be used in immunonutrition formulas to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress is pycnogenol. The objective of this work is to survey the effect of pycnogenol on the clinical, nutritional, and inflammatory status of TBI patients. This is a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Block randomization will be used. An intervention group will receive pycnogenol supplementation of 150 mg for 10 days and a control group will receive a placebo for the same duration. Inflammatory status (IL-6, IL- 1β, C-reactive protein) and oxidative stress status (malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity), at the baseline, at the 5th day, and at the end of the study (10th day) will be measured. Clinical and nutritional status will be assessed three times during the intervention. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) questionnaire for assessment of organ failure will be filled out every other day. The mortality rate will be calculated within 28 days of the start of the intervention. Weight, body mass index, and body composition will be measured. All analyses will be conducted by an initially assigned study arm in an intention-to-treat analysis. We expect that supplementation of 150 mg pycnogenol for 10 days will improve clinical and nutritional status and reduce the inflammation and oxidative stress of the TBI patients. This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (ref: NCT03777683 ) at 12/13/2018.
Uncertainty-Aware Semi-Supervised Method Using Large Unlabeled and Limited Labeled COVID-19 Data
Publisher: Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Date: 31-10-2021
DOI: 10.1145/3462635
Abstract: The new coronavirus has caused more than one million deaths and continues to spread rapidly. This virus targets the lungs, causing respiratory distress which can be mild or severe. The X-ray or computed tomography ( CT ) images of lungs can reveal whether the patient is infected with COVID-19 or not. Many researchers are trying to improve COVID-19 detection using artificial intelligence. Our motivation is to develop an automatic method that can cope with scenarios in which preparing labeled data is time consuming or expensive. In this article, we propose a Semi-supervised Classification using Limited Labeled Data ( SCLLD ) relying on Sobel edge detection and Generative Adversarial Networks ( GANs ) to automate the COVID-19 diagnosis. The GAN discriminator output is a probabilistic value which is used for classification in this work. The proposed system is trained using 10,000 CT scans collected from Omid Hospital, whereas a public dataset is also used for validating our system. The proposed method is compared with other state-of-the-art supervised methods such as Gaussian processes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a semi-supervised method for COVID-19 detection is presented. Our system is capable of learning from a mixture of limited labeled and unlabeled data where supervised learners fail due to a lack of sufficient amount of labeled data. Thus, our semi-supervised training method significantly outperforms the supervised training of Convolutional Neural Network ( CNN ) when labeled training data is scarce. The 95% confidence intervals for our method in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity are 99.56 ± 0.20%, 99.88 ± 0.24%, and 99.40 ± 0.18%, respectively, whereas intervals for the CNN (trained supervised) are 68.34 ± 4.11%, 91.2 ± 6.15%, and 46.40 ± 5.21%.
Mobile phone text-messaging interventions aimed to prevent cardiovascular diseases (Text2PreventCVD): systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1136/OPENHRT-2019-001017
Abstract: A variety of small mobile phone text-messaging interventions have indicated improvement in risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet the extent of this improvement and whether it impacts multiple risk factors together is uncertain. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and in idual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis to investigate the effects of text-messaging interventions for CVD prevention. Electronic databases were searched to identify trials investigating a text-messaging intervention focusing on CVD prevention with the potential to modify at least two CVD risk factors in adults. The main outcome was blood pressure (BP). We conducted standard and IPD meta-analysis on pooled data. We accounted for clustering of patients within studies and the primary analysis used random-effects models. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed. Nine trials were included in the systematic review involving 3779 participants and 5 (n=2612) contributed data to the IPD meta-analysis. Standard meta-analysis showed that the weighted mean differences are as follows: systolic blood pressure (SBP), −4.13 mm Hg (95% CI −11.07 to 2.81, p .0001) diastolic blood pressure (DBP), −1.11 mm Hg (−1.91 to −0.31, p=0.002) and body mass index (BMI), −0.32 (−0.49 to −0.16, p=0.000). In the IPD meta-analysis, the mean difference are as follows: SBP, −1.3 mm Hg (−5.4 to 2.7, p=0.5236) DBP, −0.8 mm Hg (−2.5 to 1.0, p=0.3912) and BMI, −0.2 (−0.8 to 0.4, p=0.5200) in the random-effects model. The impact on other risk factors is described, but there were insufficient data to conduct meta-analyses. Mobile phone text-messaging interventions have modest impacts on BP and BMI. Simultaneous but small impacts on multiple risk factors are likely to be clinically relevant and improve outcome, but there are currently insufficient data in pooled analyses to examine the extent to which simultaneous reduction in multiple risk factors occurs. CRD42016033236.
COVID-19 disruption to medicine supply in Bangladesh: Searching for a solution to drug shortages
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2021
Is Bangladesh ready to open its schools? School closure and opening policy dilemma of Bangladesh
Publisher: Korean Society of Global Health
Date: 2021
Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight
Publisher: eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Date: 09-03-2021
DOI: 10.7554/ELIFE.60060
Abstract: From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions.
Caregiver Engagement in Stroke Care: Opportunities and Challenges in Australia and Denmark
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 26-11-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FPUBH.2021.758808
Abstract: Globally, there is a rise in incident cases of stroke, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, due to obesity-related and lifestyle risk factors, including health issues such as high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension. Since the early 20th century, stroke mortality has declined due to proper management of the risk factors and improved treatment practices. However, despite the decline in mortality, there is an increase in the levels of disability that requires long-term support. In countries such as Australia and Denmark, where most care is provided within the community family members, generally spouses, assume the role of caregiver, with little to no preparation that affects the quality of care provided to the person living with stroke. While past research has highlighted aspects to improve caregiver preparedness of stroke and its impact on care health planning, recovery, and public health policies rarely consider these factors, reducing engagement and increasing uncertainty. Hence, there is a need to focus on improving strategies during recovery to promote caregiver engagement. In this study, we, therefore, try to understand the needs of the caregiver in stroke that limit engagement, and processes employed in countries such as Australia and Denmark to provide care for the person with stroke. Based on our understanding of these factors, we highlight the potential opportunities and challenges to promote caregiving engagement in these countries.
Cultural competence among nursing students in Saudi Arabia: a cross‐sectional study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-03-2017
DOI: 10.1111/INR.12370
Abstract: This study assessed the cultural competence of nursing students in a Saudi University. With the current situation of immigration in Saudi Arabia, the cultural ersity in healthcare facilities is anticipated to grow. This presents a great challenge to the members of the healthcare team. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 272 nursing students in a Saudi university using a self-administered questionnaire consisting of two parts, namely the respondents' demographics and cultural background information sheet and the Cultural Capacity Scale Arabic version. The respondents showed the highest competence in their ability to demonstrate communication skills with culturally erse patients and lowest in the familiarity with health- or illness-related cultural knowledge or theory. Gender, academic level, clinical exposure, prior ersity training, the experience of taking care of culturally erse patients and patients belonging to special population groups were significant factors that could likely to influence cultural competence. The findings suggest that the Saudi nursing students possess the ability to provide culturally appropriate nursing care to patients with a erse cultural background. Despite the good cultural competence reflected in this study, some aspects in ensuring a culturally competent care rendered by Saudi nursing students need to be improved. With the country's Saudization policy in health care (replacing foreign nurses with Saudi nurses), the findings can be used in designing training and interventions to meet the needs of Saudi nursing students regarding cultural competence development, which is integral in their preparation to assume their future roles as nurses. Policy guidelines, such as including cultural competency training and foreign languages training as mandatory continuing education for nurses, as well as integrating cultural competency and foreign languages in the prelicensure curriculum, should be developed and implemented in Saudi Arabia and other countries.
Short response on “Double and triple burden of noncommunicable diseases and its determinants among adults in Bangladesh: Evidence from a recent demographic and health survey”
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 12-2021
DOI: 10.1111/IJCP.14976
Double and triple burden of non‐communicable diseases and its determinants among adults in Bangladesh: Evidence from a recent demographic and health survey
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 16-07-2021
DOI: 10.1111/IJCP.14613
Smartphone-Based Interventions to Reduce Sedentary Behavior and Promote Physical Activity Using Integrated Dynamic Models: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 07-12-2020
Abstract: raditional psychological theories are inadequate to fully leverage the potential of smartphones and improve the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) change interventions. Future interventions need to consider dynamic models taken from other disciplines, such as engineering (eg, control systems). The extent to which such dynamic models have been incorporated in the development of interventions for PA and SB remains unclear. his review aims to quantify the number of studies that have used dynamic models to develop smartphone-based interventions to promote PA and reduce SB, describe their features, and evaluate their effectiveness where possible. atabases including PubMed, PsycINFO, IEEE Xplore, Cochrane, and Scopus were searched from inception to May 15, 2019, using terms related to mobile health, dynamic models, SB, and PA. The included studies involved the following: PA or SB interventions involving human adults either developed or evaluated integrated psychological theory with dynamic theories used smartphones for the intervention delivery the interventions were adaptive or just-in-time adaptive included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), pilot RCTs, quasi-experimental, and pre-post study designs and were published from 2000 onward. Outcomes included general characteristics, dynamic models, theory or construct integration, and measured SB and PA behaviors. Data were synthesized narratively. There was limited scope for meta-analysis because of the variability in the study results. total of 1087 publications were screened, with 11 publications describing 8 studies included in the review. All studies targeted PA 4 also included SB. Social cognitive theory was the major psychological theory upon which the studies were based. Behavioral intervention technology, control systems, computational agent model, exploit-explore strategy, behavioral analytic algorithm, and dynamic decision network were the dynamic models used in the included studies. The effectiveness of quasi-experimental studies involved reduced SB (1 study i P /i =.08), increased light PA (1 study i P /i =.002), walking steps (2 studies i P /i =.06 and i P /i & .001), walking time (1 study i P /i =.02), moderate-to-vigorous PA (2 studies i P /i =.08 and i P /i =.81), and nonwalking exercise time (1 study i P /i =.31). RCT studies showed increased walking steps (1 study i P /i =.003) and walking time (1 study i P /i =.06). To measure activity, 5 studies used built-in smartphone sensors (ie, accelerometers), 3 of which used the phone’s GPS, and 3 studies used wearable activity trackers. o our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to report on smartphone-based studies to reduce SB and promote PA with a focus on integrated dynamic models. These findings highlight the scarcity of dynamic model–based smartphone studies to reduce SB or promote PA. The limited number of studies that incorporate these models shows promising findings. Future research is required to assess the effectiveness of dynamic models in promoting PA and reducing SB. nternational Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) CRD42020139350 www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=139350.
User-centered development of a digitally-delivered dietary intervention for adults with type 2 diabetes: The T2Diet study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2022
Response to letter “Are we really sure about the pycnogenol antihypertensive effect?”
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
Efficacy and safety of dual combination therapy of blood pressure-lowering drugs as initial treatment for hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 09-2019
Association of lipoprotein(a) with long‐term mortality following coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-04-2017
DOI: 10.1002/CLC.22712
Global and regional burden of chronic respiratory disease in 2016 arising from non-infectious airborne occupational exposures: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 13-02-2020
DOI: 10.1136/OEMED-2019-106013
Abstract: This paper presents detailed analysis of the global and regional burden of chronic respiratory disease arising from occupational airborne exposures, as estimated in the Global Burden of Disease 2016 study. The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to occupational exposure to particulate matter, gases and fumes, and secondhand smoke, and the burden of asthma resulting from occupational exposure to asthmagens, was estimated using the population attributable fraction (PAF), calculated using exposure prevalence and relative risks from the literature. PAFs were applied to the number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for COPD and asthma. Pneumoconioses were estimated directly from cause of death data. Age-standardised rates were based only on persons aged 15 years and above. The estimated PAFs (based on DALYs) were 17% (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 14%–20%) for COPD and 10% (95% UI 9%–11%) for asthma. There were estimated to be 519 000 (95% UI 441,000–609,000) deaths from chronic respiratory disease in 2016 due to occupational airborne risk factors (COPD: 460,100 [95% UI 382,000–551,000] asthma: 37,600 [95% UI 28,400–47,900] pneumoconioses: 21,500 [95% UI 17,900–25,400]. The equivalent overall burden estimate was 13.6 million (95% UI 11.9–15.5 million) DALYs (COPD: 10.7 [95% UI 9.0–12.5] million asthma: 2.3 [95% UI 1.9–2.9] million pneumoconioses: 0.58 [95% UI 0.46–0.67] million). Rates were highest in males older persons and mainly in Oceania, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and decreased from 1990 to 2016. Workplace exposures resulting in COPD, asthma and pneumoconiosis continue to be important contributors to the burden of disease in all regions of the world. This should be reducible through improved prevention and control of relevant exposures.
Global and regional burden of cancer in 2016 arising from occupational exposure to selected carcinogens: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 13-02-2020
DOI: 10.1136/OEMED-2019-106012
Abstract: This study provides a detailed analysis of the global and regional burden of cancer due to occupational carcinogens from the Global Burden of Disease 2016 study. The burden of cancer due to 14 International Agency for Research on Cancer Group 1 occupational carcinogens was estimated using the population attributable fraction, based on past population exposure prevalence and relative risks from the literature. The results were used to calculate attributable deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). There were an estimated 349 000 (95% Uncertainty Interval 269 000 to 427 000) deaths and 7.2 (5.8 to 8.6) million DALYs in 2016 due to exposure to the included occupational carcinogens—3.9% (3.2% to 4.6%) of all cancer deaths and 3.4% (2.7% to 4.0%) of all cancer DALYs 79% of deaths were of males and 88% were of people aged 55 –79 years. Lung cancer accounted for 86% of the deaths, mesothelioma for 7.9% and laryngeal cancer for 2.1%. Asbestos was responsible for the largest number of deaths due to occupational carcinogens (63%) other important risk factors were secondhand smoke (14%), silica (14%) and diesel engine exhaust (5%). The highest mortality rates were in high-income regions, largely due to asbestos-related cancers, whereas in other regions cancer deaths from secondhand smoke, silica and diesel engine exhaust were more prominent. From 1990 to 2016, there was a decrease in the rate for deaths (−10%) and DALYs (−15%) due to exposure to occupational carcinogens. Work-related carcinogens are responsible for considerable disease burden worldwide. The results provide guidance for prevention and control initiatives.
Influence of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors in the Middle East and North Africa Region: a survey of 5896 individuals
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-03-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12967-021-02767-9
Abstract: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected health and lifestyle behaviors of people globally. This project aims to identify the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behavior of in iduals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during confinement. We conducted an online survey in 17 countries (Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, and Sudan) from the MENA region on August and September 2020. The questionnaire included self-reported information on lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, eating habits, smoking, watching television, social media use and sleep before and during the pandemic. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors. A total of 5896 participants were included in the final analysis and 62.8% were females. The BMI of the participants was 25.4 ± 5.8 kg/m 2 . Around 38.4% of the participants stopped practicing any physical activities during the confinement (P 0.001), and 57.1% reported spending more than 2 h on social media (P 0.001). There were no significant changes in smoking habits. Also, 30.9% reported an improvement in their eating habits compared with 24.8% reported worsening of their eating habits. Fast-food consumption decreased significantly in 48.8% of the study population. This direct/indirect exposure to COVID-19 was associated with an increased consumption of carbohydrates (OR = 1.09 95% CI = 1.02–1.17 P = 0.01), egg (OR = 1.08 95% CI = 1.02–1.16 P = 0.01), sugar (OR = 1.09 95% CI = 1.02–1.16 P = 0.02), meat, and poultry (OR = 1.13 95% CI = 1.06–1.20 P 0.01). There was also associated increase in hours spent on watching television (OR = 1.07 95% CI = 1.02–1.12 P 0.01) and social media (OR = 1.09 95% CI = 1.01–1.18 P = 0.03). However, our results showed a reduction in sleeping hours among those exposed to COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.85 95% CI = 0.77–0.94 P 0.01). The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in food consumption and sedentary life. Being exposed to COVID-19 by direct infection or through an infected household is a significant predictor of lifying these changes. Public health interventions are needed to address healthy lifestyle behaviors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prevalence of risk factors for hypertension: A cross-sectional study in an urban area of Bangladesh
Publisher: Global Cardiology Science and Practice
Date: 09-2015
DOI: 10.5339/GCSP.2015.43
Psycho-social factors associated with relapse to drug addiction in Bangladesh
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 09-05-2016
Diabetes knowledge and utilization of healthcare services among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-08-2017
The relationship between fat mass and obesity-associated gene polymorphism and obesity among children in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Publisher: Medknow
Date: 2019
Developing effective policy strategies to retain health workers in rural Bangladesh: a policy analysis
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-05-2015
Training mid-level health cadres to improve health service delivery in rural Bangladesh
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 31-03-2016
DOI: 10.1017/S1463423616000104
Abstract: In recent years, the government of Bangladesh has encouraged private sector involvement in producing mid-level health cadres including Medical Assistants (MAs). The number of MAs produced has increased significantly. We assessed students’ characteristics, educational services, competencies and perceived attitudes towards health service delivery in rural areas. We used a mixed method approach using quantitative (questionnaire survey) and qualitative (key informant interviews and roundtable discussion) methods. Altogether, five public schools with 238 students and 30 private schools with 732 students were included. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA v-12. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The majority of the students in both public (66%) and private medical assistant training schools (MATS) (61%) were from rural backgrounds. They spent the majority of their time in classroom learning (public 45% versus private 42%) and the written essay exam was the common form of a students’ performance assessment. Compared with students of public MATS, students of private MATS were more confident in different aspects of educational areas, including managing emerging health needs ( P & .001) evidence-based practice ( P =0.002) critical thinking and problem solving ( P =0.02), and use of IT/computer skills ( P & .001). Students were aware of not having adequate facilities in rural areas (public 71%, private 65%), but they perceived working in rural areas will offer several benefits, including use of learnt skills friendly rural people and opportunities for real-life problem solving, etc. This study provides a current picture of MATS students’ characteristics, educational services, competencies and perception towards working in rural areas. The MA students in both private and public sectors showed a greater level of willingness to serve in rural health facilities. The results are promising to improve health service delivery, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas of Bangladesh.
Non diagnosed PAPVC induce large reverse venovenous shunt after modified Fontan surgery: A case report of a rare anomaly and embolization therapy
Publisher: Maad Rayan Publishing Company
Date: 14-04-2021
Abstract: Fontan operation is a reliable palliative surgery for patients with single ventricle physiology. Still, the development of complication is common one of these complications that need to interventional approach is veno-venous collaterals between systemic and pulmonary veins. A 16-yearoldgirl with a history of modified Fontan operation at 9 years ago was referred with progressive cyanosis and dyspnea on exertion. In contrast trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE), no fenestration was seen in Fontan circulation. Cardiac magnetic resonance revealed partial anomalous pulmonary vein connection (PAPVC) from left upper pulmonary vein to vertical vein and then into the in nominate vein and SVC with the reverse flow from superior vena cava (SVC) to left upper pulmonary vein(LUPV). This anomalous vein became severe engorged and tortuous. Possibly, LUPV and the verticalvein was dilated gradually as a result of increased pressure in the Fontan circuit. Finally, she underwent successful coil embolization in the midpart of the vertical vein. The oxygen saturation increased from80% to 93%.
Therapeutic Advances in Thrombosis
Publisher: Bangladesh Journals Online (JOL)
Date: 16-02-2015
DOI: 10.3329/CARDIO.V7I2.22268
Abstract: Abstract not available DOI: 0.3329/cardio.v7i2.22268 Cardiovasc. j. 2015 7(2): 166-167
Technology‐based support for stroke caregiving: A rapid review of evidence
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 31-08-2022
DOI: 10.1111/JONM.13439
Trends in the burden and determinants of hypertensive heart disease in the Eastern Mediterranean region, 1990–2019: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2023
Convolutional Neural Network Model to Detect COVID-19 Patients Utilizing Chest X-ray Images
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 08-06-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.07.20124594
Abstract: This study aims to propose a deep learning model to detect COVID-19 positive cases more precisely utilizing chest X-ray images. We have collected and merged all the publicly available chest X-ray datasets of COVID-19 infected patients from Kaggle and Github, and pre-processed it using random s ling approach. Then, we proposed and applied an enhanced convolutional neural network (CNN) model to this dataset and obtained a 94.03% accuracy, 95.52% AUC and 94.03% f-measure for detecting COVID-19 positive patients. We have also performed a comparative performance between our proposed CNN model with several state-of-the-art machine learning classifiers including support vector machine, random forest, k-nearest neighbor, logistic regression, gaussian naïve bayes, bernoulli naïve bayes, decision tree, Xgboost, multilayer perceptron, nearest centroid and perceptron as well as deep learning and pre-trained models such as deep neural network, residual neural network, visual geometry group network 16, and inception network V3 were employed, where our model yielded outperforming results compared to all other models. While evaluating the performance of our models, we have emphasized on specificity along with accuracy to identify non-COVID-19 in iduals more accurately, which may potentially facilitate the early detection of COVID-19 patients for their preliminary screening, especially in under-resourced health infrastructure with insufficient PCR testing systems and testing facilities. Moreover, this model could also be applicable to the cases of other lung infections.
Prevention of Hypertension in Bangladesh: A Review
Publisher: Bangladesh Journals Online (JOL)
Date: 16-02-2015
DOI: 10.3329/CARDIO.V7I2.22262
Abstract: Background: Hypertension is a major public health problem in both the developed and developing countries and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The risk factors for hypertension, which can largely be prevented through simple health promotion and preventive measures, are mostly known. However, evidence on strategies for prevention of hypertension in Bangladesh is not available. The aim of this review study was to identify and discuss different approaches to prevent hypertension in Bangladesh. Methods: We performed a systematic search using electronic as well as manual methods for published and unpublished reports of prevention of hypertension. We then identified and discussed prevention strategies for hypertension suitable for Bangladesh context. Results: Several methods have shown to prevent hypertension. However, the challenge remains in implementing these methods in resource poor settings. Integrated action based on comprehensive policy and stepwise implementation should be adopted taking into consideration of local needs. Hypertension prevention should focus on awareness generation, health promotion and reduction of common risk factors using a combination of population based approach and targeted in idual interventions. Conclusion: Consorted actions should be taken as a priority to prevent hypertension through intersectoral, multidisciplinary and multilevel approach by the Government and stakeholders for creating greater awareness and healthy life-style. DOI: 0.3329/cardio.v7i2.22262 Cardiovasc. j. 2015 7(2): 137-144
Diabetes mortality and trends before 25 years of age: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2022
Non‐Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in developing countries: a symposium report
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2014
Community health workers for non-communicable diseases prevention and control in Bangladesh: a qualitative study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-01-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S41256-020-00182-Z
Abstract: The increasing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh underscores the importance of strengthening primary health care systems. In this study, we examined the barriers and facilitators to engaging Community Health Workers (CHWs) for NCDs prevention and control in Bangladesh. We used multipronged approaches, including a. Situation analyses using a literature review, key personnel and stakeholders’ consultative meetings, and exploratory studies . A grounded theory approach was used for qualitative data collection from health facilities across three districts in Bangladesh. We conducted in-depth interviews with CHWs (Health Inspector Community Health Care Provider Health Assistant and Health Supervisor) ( n = 4) key informant interviews with central level health policymakers/ managers ( n = 15) and focus group discussions with CHWs (4 FGDs total n = 29). Participants in a stakeholder consultative meeting included members from the government ( n = 4), non-government organisations ( n = 2), private sector ( n = 1) and universities ( n = 2). Coding of the qualitative data and identification of themes from the transcripts were carried out and thematic approach was used for data analyses. The CHWs in Bangladesh deliver a wide range of public health programs. They also provide several NCDs specific services, including screening, provisional diagnosis, and health education and counselling for common NCDs, dispensing basic medications, and referral to relevant health facilities. These services are being delivered from the sub-district health facility, community clinics and urban health clinics. The participants identified key challenges and barriers, which include lack of NCD specific guidelines, inadequate training, excessive workload, inadequate systems-level support, and lack of logistics supplies and drugs. Yet, the facilitating factors to engaging CHWs included government commitment and program priority, development of NCD related policies and strategies, establishment of NCD corners, community support systems, social recognition of health care staff and their motivation. Engaging CHWs has been a key driver to NCDs services delivery in Bangladesh. However, there is a need for building capacity of CHWs, maximizing CHWs engagement to NCD services delivery, facilitating systems-level support and strengthening partnerships with non-state sectors would be effective in prevention and control efforts of NCDs in Bangladesh.
The hope and hype of telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2020
Prediction of cardiac autonomic neuropathy using a machine learning model in patients with diabetes
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.1177/20420188221086693
Abstract: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a diabetes-related complication with increasing prevalence and remains challenging to detect in clinical settings. Machine learning (ML) approaches have the potential to predict CAN using clinical data. In this study, we aimed to develop and evaluate the performance of an ML model to predict early CAN occurrence in patients with diabetes. We used the diabetes complications screening research initiative data set containing 200 CAN-related tests on more than 2000 participants with type 2 diabetes in Australia. Data were collected on peripheral nerve functions, Ewing’s tests, blood biochemistry, demographics, and medical history. The ML model was validated using 10-fold cross-validation, of which 90% were used in training the model and the remaining 10% was used in evaluating the performance of the model. Predictive accuracy was assessed by area under the receiver operating curve, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Of the 237 patients included, 105 were diagnosed with an early stage of CAN while the remaining 132 were healthy. The ML model showed outstanding performance for CAN prediction with receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.962 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.939–0.984], 87.34% accuracy, and 87.12% sensitivity. There was a significant and positive association between the ML model and CAN occurrence ( p 0.001). Our ML model has the potential to detect CAN at an early stage using Ewing’s tests. This model might be useful for healthcare providers for predicting the occurrence of CAN in patients with diabetes, monitoring the progression, and providing timely intervention.
The effect of vitamin D and magnesium supplementation on the mental health status of attention-deficit hyperactive children: a randomized controlled trial
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-04-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12887-021-02631-1
Abstract: Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by varying severity in attention deficit and hyperactivity. Studies have shown deficiencies in the serum level of magnesium and vitamin D in people with ADHD. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of vitamin D and magnesium supplementation on mental health in children with ADHD. We conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 66 children with ADHD. Participants were randomly allocated to receive both vitamin D (50,000 IU/week) plus magnesium (6 mg/kg/day) supplements ( n = 33) or placebos (n = 33) for 8-weeks. Strengths and difficulties questionnaire was used to evaluate children’s mental health at baseline and the end of the study. After eight weeks of intervention, the serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 and magnesium increased significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group. Also, children receiving vitamin D plus magnesium showed a significant reduction in emotional problems ( p = 0.001), conduct problems ( p = 0.002), peer problems ( p = 0.001), prosocial score ( p = 0.007), total difficulties ( p = 0.001), externalizing score ( p = 0.001), and internalizing score ( p = 0.001) compared with children treated with the placebo. Vitamin D (50,000 IU/week) and magnesium (6 mg/kg/day) co-supplementation for a duration of 8-weeks could improve the behavioral function and mental health of children with ADHD. However, further well-designed studies with a larger s le size are needed. IRCT2016030326886N1 .
Longitudinal Associations Between Fat‐Derived Dietary Patterns and Early Markers of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the UK Biobank Study
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 07-06-2022
Abstract: Although the impact of dietary fats on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is widely researched, longitudinal associations between dietary patterns (DPs) based on fat type and early markers of CVD risk remain unclear. UK Biobank participants (46.9% men, mean age 55 years) with data on early markers of CVD risk (n=12 706) were followed longitudinally (2014–2020 mean 8.4 years). Two DPs (DP1, DP2) were derived using reduced rank regression (response variables: monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and saturated fat based on two 24‐hour dietary assessments. Multivariable logistic and linear regression were used to investigate associations between DPs and odds of elevated CVD risk (using the nonlaboratory Framingham Risk Score) and changes in early CVD markers, respectively. DP1 (characterized by higher nuts and seeds and lower fruit and legumes intake) was positively correlated with saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat DP2 (characterized by higher butter and high‐fat cheese, lower nuts and seeds intake) was positively correlated with saturated fat and negatively with polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat. DP2 was associated with slightly higher odds of elevated CVD risk (odds ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.00–1.07]). DP1 was associated with higher diastolic blood pressure (β, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.01–0.37]) and lower cardiac index (β, −0.02 [95% CI, −0.04 to −0.01]) DP2 was associated with higher carotid intima medial thickness (β, 1.80 [95% CI, 0.01–3.59]) and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (β, −0.15 [95% CI, −0.24 to −0.07]) and cardiac index (β, −0.01 [95% CI, −0.02 to −0.01]). This study suggests small but statistically significant associations between DPs based on fat type and some early markers of CVD risk. Further research is needed to confirm these associations.
Effects of Mobile Phone SMS to Improve Glycemic Control Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in Bangladesh: A Prospective, Parallel-Group, Randomized Controlled Trial
Publisher: American Diabetes Association
Date: 14-07-2015
DOI: 10.2337/DC15-0505
Cardiovascular disease risk factors among school children of Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2020
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2020-038077
Abstract: Primarily, we assessed the distribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among school children living in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. In addition to this, we sought the association between place of residence and modifiable CVD risk factors among them. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 854 school children (aged 12–18 years) of Bangladesh. Ten public high schools (five from Dhaka and five from Sirajgonj district) were selected randomly and subjects from those were recruited conveniently. To link the family milieu of CVD risk factors, a parent of each children was also interviewed. Distribution of CVD risk factors was measured using descriptive statistics as appropriate. Again, a saturated model of binary logistic regression was used to seek the association between place of residence and modifiable CVD risk factors. Mean age of the school children was 14.6±1.1 years and more than half (57.6%) were boys. Overall, 4.4% were currently smoker (urban—3.5%, rural—5.2%) with a strong family history of smoking (42.2%). Similar proportion of school children were identified as overweight (total 9.8%, urban 14.7%, rural 5%) and obese (total 9.8%, urban 16.8%, rural 2.8%) with notable urban-rural difference. More than three-fourth (80%) of them were physically inactive with no urban-rural variation. Only 2.4% consumed recommended fruits and/ or vegetables (urban—3.1%, rural—1.7%). In the adjusted model, place of residence had higher odds for having several modifiable CVD risk factors: current smoking (OR: 1.807, CI 0.872 to 3.744), inadequate fruits and vegetables intake (OR: 1.094, CI 0.631 to 1.895), physical inactivity (OR: 1.082, CI 0.751 to 1.558), overweight (OR: 3.812, CI 2.245 to 6.470) and obesity (OR: 7.449, CI 3.947 to 14.057). Both urban and rural school children of Bangladesh had poor CVD risk factors profile that demands further nation-wide large scale study to clarify the current findings more precisely.
Global injury morbidity and mortality from 1990 to 2017: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 24-04-2020
DOI: 10.1136/INJURYPREV-2019-043494
Abstract: Past research in population health trends has shown that injuries form a substantial burden of population health loss. Regular updates to injury burden assessments are critical. We report Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study estimates on morbidity and mortality for all injuries. We reviewed results for injuries from the GBD 2017 study. GBD 2017 measured injury-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) using the Cause of Death Ensemble model. To measure non-fatal injuries, GBD 2017 modelled injury-specific incidence and converted this to prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). YLLs and YLDs were summed to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). In 1990, there were 4 260 493 (4 085 700 to 4 396 138) injury deaths, which increased to 4 484 722 (4 332 010 to 4 585 554) deaths in 2017, while age-standardised mortality decreased from 1079 (1073 to 1086) to 738 (730 to 745) per 100 000. In 1990, there were 354 064 302 (95% uncertainty interval: 338 174 876 to 371 610 802) new cases of injury globally, which increased to 520 710 288 (493 430 247 to 547 988 635) new cases in 2017. During this time, age-standardised incidence decreased non-significantly from 6824 (6534 to 7147) to 6763 (6412 to 7118) per 100 000. Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardised DALYs decreased from 4947 (4655 to 5233) per 100 000 to 3267 (3058 to 3505). Injuries are an important cause of health loss globally, though mortality has declined between 1990 and 2017. Future research in injury burden should focus on prevention in high-burden populations, improving data collection and ensuring access to medical care.
COVID-19 and Health System Response for Management of Diabetes in Bangladesh: A national qualitative study of patients with diabetes and key healthcare professionals/policy makers
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 20-12-2022
DOI: 10.1101/2022.12.18.22283405
Abstract: Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to exacerbation of symptoms and life-threatening complications. Consequently, there is a need to explore patient experience regarding the prevention and treatment of diabetic patients amidst the restrictions and lockdown measures in response to COVID-19. The objective of this study was to assess the response of the healthcare system for preventive care and treatment of people with diabetes in Bangladesh during COVID-19, and to analyze the health-seeking behavior of diabetes patients amidst social distancing and lockdown measures A descriptive qualitative design was used to collect data regarding the ability of people living with diabetes to access medication, laboratory services, and preventative care during the pandemic. The data collection process involved 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with people living with diabetes, and 30 key informants’ interviews (KIIs) with senior diabetologist, health service managers, leaders of different diabetes-related associations, and policymakers from the local to the national level. The discussion issues were structured around the WHO framework that describes health systems in terms of six “building blocks”. In addition, different treatment guidelines, scientific articles, relevant reports, and 20 well-circulated newspapers were analyzed concerning the treatment of diabetic patients. 44% of the respondents were aged 55-60 years, with an informed noticeable disruption of essential diabetes care services, intensified by high COVID-19 infection rates. Besides, 78% of the service receiver participants reported not seeing any government-issued public announcements regarding diabetes management on television or newspapers. There are also concerns with the current heath sector. The study findings highlighted major concerns surrounding the healthcare response to deliver care for patients with diabetes during the pandemic, driven mainly by restricted access to treatment under lockdown measures coupled with a reluctance from health care providers to see patients due to high COVID-19 infection rates arising from concerns with a lack of personal protective equipment. Necessary measures can gradually bring some change in the healthcare system promote healthy lifestyles and adherence to prescribed medicines together with raising awareness about the potential risk factors of diabetes.
The need for a prediction model assessment framework
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2021
Tracking development assistance for health and for COVID-19: a review of development assistance, government, out-of-pocket, and other private spending on health for 204 countries and territories, 1990
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2021
Unmet needs for mental care services for older people in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 11-2020
Determinants of mortality in children aged under two years in Bangladesh using two approaches: an analysis of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014 data
Publisher: Bangladesh Journals Online (JOL)
Date: 25-02-2022
Abstract: Aims: Mortality in children aged under two years is a severe public health problem in many developing countries. The aims of the study were to reveal the prevalence and factors associated with mortality in children under two years in Bangladesh. Methods: Data were analyzed using the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014. A total of 7886 participant data used in this study. The chi-square test of association was performed with dependent and independent variables to measure the prevalence rate, while the final model binary logistic and log-binomial regressions were used to identify the potential risk factors for under-two mortalities. Results: The prevalence of under-2 mortalities in Bangladesh was 3.9%. Regression analysis revealed that a lower level of paternal education, succeeding birth interval less than 24 months, multiple birth babies, and smaller than the average size at birth were significantly associated with children’s mortality under two years in Bangladesh. Conclusions: Despite improvements in the reduction of child mortality in Bangladesh, many children died within the first 24 months of life, mostly preventable. Programs towards increasing education levels and pregnancy intervals might help in preventing infant mortality in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 21 No. 02 April’22 Page : 413-421
Social and economic impact of diabetics in Bangladesh: protocol for a case–control study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2013
A simple prediction model to estimate obstructive coronary artery disease
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-01-2018
Effects of lifestyle risk behaviour clustering on cardiovascular disease among UK adults: latent class analysis with distal outcomes
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 24-08-2022
DOI: 10.21203/RS.3.RS-1986313/V1
Abstract: Background: Lifestyle risk behaviours such as smoking, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet account for a considerable disease burden worldwide. These lifestyle behaviours tend to cluster within an in idual that could have synergetic effects on health. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of lifestyle risk behaviour clustering (smoking, poor fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol intake, physical inactivity, prolonged sitting, and poor sleep) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk among adults in the United Kingdom (UK). Methods: We used baseline (2006-2010) data from the UK Biobank. We performed a latent class (LC) analysis with distal outcomes model to identify and estimate the effect of clustering of lifestyle risk behaviours and socio-demographic characteristics on CVD and CVD risk. LC measurement models were estimated first, followed by an auxiliary model conditional on LC variables. Continuous and binary outcomes were reported as mean differences (MD) and odds ratios (OR), respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: We included 283,172 participants who had data on CVD status (52.6% males). Clustering of multiple lifestyle risk behaviours (physically inactive, poor fruit & vegetable intake, high alcohol intake, and prolonged sitting) had a 3.29 mean increase in CVD risk relative to high alcohol intake. In addition, adults with three lifestyle risk behaviours (physically inactive, poor fruit & vegetable intake, and high alcohol intake) had 25.18 higher odds of having CVD than those with two lifestyle risk behaviours (physically inactive, and poor fruit and vegetable intake). Social deprivation, gender and age were also associated with CVD. Conclusion: In iduals' LC membership with two or more lifestyle risk behaviours had a determinantal effect on CVD. Interventions targeting multiple lifestyle behaviours and social circumstances should be prioritized to reduce CVD burden.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Stroke in Rural Bangladesh: A Survey with Community Health Workers on 1·3 million people (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 30-01-2023
Abstract: troke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide, with an estimated 6.2 million deaths each year. In Bangladesh, data on stroke prevalence and risk factors in rural areas is limited, making it difficult to develop effective early prevention and intervention programs. This study aimed to present the prevalence of stroke in a rural community in Bangladesh and to identify and associate various stroke risk factors. Data collection was done by community health workers (CHWs), as a part of “Enriched Sastho” program of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation, Bangladesh. CHWs received two weeks of training to ensure data quality. The presence of stroke was determined by a binary survey question, with a history of stroke indicated by a "1" and absence indicated by a "0". The study analyzed data from 1,341,589 in iduals, with an average age of 29.23 years. The overall stroke prevalence was found to be 1.07 per 1,000 people, with higher prevalence in males and increases with age. The highest stroke prevalence was observed in the Khulna ision and the least in the Rangpur ision. Hypertension (67.55%) and diabetes (25.21%) were the most common non-communicable diseases among stroke patients. The study emphasizes the need for early prevention and intervention programs for stroke in rural Bangladesh and the importance of managing hypertension and diabetes to reduce stroke risk.
Automatic prediabetes prediction using heart rate variability (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 18-07-2023
Abstract: pproximately 25% of prediabetics progress to overt type 2 diabetes within 3 to 5 years and 70% develop overt diabetes in their lifetime. Prediabetics could be identified through screening, which could reduce the healthcare burden. HRV is an index of the autonomic nervous system and serves as a measurable indicator for various chronic diseases. Commercial wearable devices have the potential to capture HRV in non-clinical settings. his study evaluates if machine learning techniques applied to HRV data captured in non-clinical settings could be used as a non-invasive biomarker to classify healthy adults and those with elevated blood glucose levels. our machine learning classification algorithms: support vector machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), Naive Bayes (NB), and Decision Tree (DT), was applied to the computed HRV parameters to perform classification. he overall best performance accuracy of 80% was achieved by KNN, and DT trained on HRV data with a time window length of 5 min. The study observed that HRV parameters computed from wearables in non-clinical settings could classify healthy adults and those with elevated blood glucose levels with acceptable accuracy. he findings of this study could inform the use of machine learning approaches with wearable device data to screen prediabetes in iduals.
Machine Learning Approach to Predicting COVID-19 Disease Severity Based on Clinical Blood Test Data: Statistical Analysis and Model Development (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 20-11-2020
Abstract: ccurate prediction of the disease severity of patients with COVID-19 would greatly improve care delivery and resource allocation and thereby reduce mortality risks, especially in less developed countries. Many patient-related factors, such as pre-existing comorbidities, affect disease severity and can be used to aid this prediction. ecause rapid automated profiling of peripheral blood s les is widely available, we aimed to investigate how data from the peripheral blood of patients with COVID-19 can be used to predict clinical outcomes. e investigated clinical data sets of patients with COVID-19 with known outcomes by combining statistical comparison and correlation methods with machine learning algorithms the latter included decision tree, random forest, variants of gradient boosting machine, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbor, and deep learning methods. ur work revealed that several clinical parameters that are measurable in blood s les are factors that can discriminate between healthy people and COVID-19–positive patients, and we showed the value of these parameters in predicting later severity of COVID-19 symptoms. We developed a number of analytical methods that showed accuracy and precision scores & % for disease severity prediction. e developed methodologies to analyze routine patient clinical data that enable more accurate prediction of COVID-19 patient outcomes. With this approach, data from standard hospital laboratory analyses of patient blood could be used to identify patients with COVID-19 who are at high risk of mortality, thus enabling optimization of hospital facilities for COVID-19 treatment.
Mapping geographical inequalities in oral rehydration therapy coverage in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2020
Short-Term Prediction of COVID-19 Cases Using Machine Learning Models
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 08-05-2021
DOI: 10.3390/APP11094266
Abstract: The first case in Bangladesh of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was reported on 8 March 2020, with the number of confirmed cases rapidly rising to over 175,000 by July 2020. In the absence of effective treatment, an essential tool of health policy is the modeling and forecasting of the progress of the pandemic. We, therefore, developed a cloud-based machine learning short-term forecasting model for Bangladesh, in which several regression-based machine learning models were applied to infected case data to estimate the number of COVID-19-infected people over the following seven days. This approach can accurately forecast the number of infected cases daily by training the prior 25 days s le data recorded on our web application. The outcomes of these efforts could aid the development and assessment of prevention strategies and identify factors that most affect the spread of COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh.
Consensus on Recommended Functions of a Smart Home System to Improve Self-Management Behaviors in People With Heart Failure: A Modified Delphi Approach
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 29-06-2022
Abstract: Smart home systems could enhance clinical and self-management of chronic heart failure by supporting health monitoring and remote support, but evidence to guide the design of smart home system functionalities is lacking. To identify consensus-based recommendations for functions of a smart home system that could augment clinical and self-management for people living with chronic heart failure in the community. Healthcare professionals caring for people living with chronic heart failure participated in a two-round modified Delphi survey and a consensus workshop. Thirty survey items spanning eight chronic health failure categories were derived from international guidelines for the management of heart failure. In survey Round 1, participants rated the importance of all items using a 9-point Liket scale and suggested new functions to support people with chronic heart failure in their homes using a smart home system. The Likert scale scores ranged from 0 (not important) to 9 (very important) and scores were categorized into three groups: 1–3 = not important, 4–6 = important, and 7–9 = very important. Consensus agreement was defined a priori as ≥70% of respondents rating a score of ≥7 and ≤ 15% rating a score ≤ 3. In survey Round 2, panel members re-rated items where consensus was not reached, and rated the new items proposed in earlier round. Panel members were invited to an online consensus workshop to discuss items that had not reached consensus after Round 2 and agree on a set of recommendations for a smart home system. In Round 1, 15 experts agreed 24/30 items were “very important”, and suggested six new items. In Round 2, experts agreed 2/6 original items and 6/6 new items were “very important”. During the consensus workshop, experts endorsed 2/4 remaining items. Finally, the expert panel recommended 34 items as “very important” for a smart home system including, healthy eating, body weight and fluid intake, physical activity and sedentary behavior, heart failure symptoms, tobacco cessation and alcohol reduction, medication adherence, physiological monitoring, interaction with healthcare professionals, and mental health among others. A panel of healthcare professional experts recommended 34-item core functions in smart home systems designed to support people with chronic heart failure for self-management and clinical support. Results of this study will help researchers to co-design and protyping solutions with consumers and healthcare providers to achieve these core functions to improve self-management and clinical outcomes in people with chronic heart failure.
The prevalence and correlates of fear of falling among older people in Bangladesh
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-03-2020
DOI: 10.1111/PSYG.12542
Climate change drives mass migration and threatens migrants’ health: Is there a way out?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2021
Virtual management of hypertension: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic–International Society of Hypertension position paper endorsed by the World Hypertension League and European Society of Hypertensi
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 08-2022
Smartphone Apps for Diabetes Medication Adherence: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 30-08-2021
Abstract: iabetes is one of the leading noncommunicable chronic diseases globally. In people with diabetes, blood glucose levels need to be monitored regularly and managed adequately through healthy lifestyles and medications. However, various factors contribute to poor medication adherence. Smartphone apps can improve medication adherence in people with diabetes, but it is not clear which app features are most beneficial. his study aims to systematically review and evaluate high-quality apps for diabetes medication adherence, which are freely available to the public in Android and Apple app stores and present the technical features of the apps. e systematically searched Apple App Store and Google Play for apps that assist in diabetes medication adherence, using predefined selection criteria. We assessed apps using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and calculated the mean app-specific score (MASS) by taking the average of app-specific scores on 6 dimensions, namely, awareness, knowledge, attitudes, intention to change, help-seeking, and behavior change rated on a 5-point scale (1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree). We used the mean of the app’s performance on these 6 dimensions to calculate the MASS. Apps that achieved a total MASS mean quality score greater than 4 out of 5 were considered to be of high quality in our study. We formulated a task-technology fit matrix to evaluate the apps for diabetes medication adherence. e identified 8 high-quality apps (MASS score≥4) and presented the findings under 3 main categories: characteristics of the included apps, app features, and diabetes medication adherence. Our framework to evaluate smartphone apps in promoting diabetes medication adherence considered physiological factors influencing diabetes and app features. On evaluation, we observed that 25% of the apps promoted high adherence and another 25% of the apps promoted moderate adherence. Finally, we found that 50% of the apps provided low adherence to diabetes medication. ur findings show that almost half of the high-quality apps publicly available for free did not achieve high to moderate medication adherence. Our framework could have positive implications for the future design and development of apps for patients with diabetes. Additionally, apps need to be evaluated using a standardized framework, and only those promoting higher medication adherence should be prescribed for better health outcomes.
An educational intervention to improve self-efficacy and knowledge of falls prevention among hospitalized patients
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-06-2022
Association Between Symptoms and Severity of Disease in Hospitalised Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-2022
DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S357867
Text messaging support for patients with diabetes or coronary artery disease (SupportMe): protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-2019
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2018-025923
Abstract: Low-cost interventions providing self-management support are needed for people with coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes. Mobile phone text messaging provides a potential vehicle for this. The SupportMe Trial aims to assess the feasibility of embedding a text messaging programme into routine clinical practice and will determine if this improves cardiovascular risk factor and diabetes control among patients with CAD or type 2 diabetes. SupportMe is a randomised controlled trial to be conducted within the framework of a health district-wide integrated care programme for people with CAD or type 2 diabetes mellitus. One thousand subjects will be recruited, with at least 500 in each group. Intervention subjects will receive four text messages a week for 6 months, which provide advice, motivation, information and support for disease management and healthy behaviour. The primary outcome is systolic blood pressure at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include body mass index, waist circumference, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, physical activity levels, dietary intake, quality of life, mood and smoking cessation, and for subjects with diabetes, glycosylated haemoglobin and fasting serum glucose. A process and economic evaluation will also be conducted. The study has been approved by the Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (AU RED HREC/16/WMEAD/331). Results will be disseminated via the scientific forums including peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences. ACTRN12616001689460.
Increased COVID-19 infection risk, COVID-19 vaccine inaccessibility, and unacceptability: Worrisome trio for patients with substance abuse disorders
Publisher: International Global Health Society
Date: 02-10-2021
Cost-effectiveness of the introduction of two-dose bi-valent (Cervarix) and quadrivalent (Gardasil) HPV vaccination for adolescent girls in Bangladesh
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1016/J.VACCINE.2019.10.037
Abstract: Cervical cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in women caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that leads to a substantial disease burden for health systems. Prevention through vaccination can significantly reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential health and economic impacts of introducing two-dose bivalent (Cervarix) and quadrivalent (Gardasil) HPV vaccines in Bangladesh. The study uses the Papillomavirus Rapid Interface for Modelling and Economics (PRIME) model to assess the cost-effectiveness of introducing HPV vaccination. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated per disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted using the cost-effectiveness threshold (CET). The analyses were done from a health system perspective in terms of vaccine delivery routes. Introduction of bi-valent HPV vaccination was found highly cost-effective (ICER = US$488/DALY) at Gavi (The Vaccine Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations) negotiated prices. The value of ICERs were US$710, US$356 and US$397 per DALY averted for school-based, health facility-based, and outreach-based programs, respectively, which is consistent with the CET range (US$67 to US$854). However, bivalent and quadrivalent vaccines at listed prices were not found cost-effective, with ICERs of US$1405 and US$3250 per DALY averted, respectively, that exceeds the CETs values. Introducing a two-dose bi-valent HPV vaccination program is cost-effective in Bangladesh at Gavi negotiated prices. Vaccine price is the dominating parameter for the cost-effectiveness of bivalent and quadrivalent vaccines. Both vaccines are not cost-effective at listed prices in Bangladesh. The evaluation highlights that introducing the two-dose bivalent HPV vaccine at Gavi negotiated prices into a national immunization program in Bangladesh is economically viable to reduce the burden of cervical cancer.
Text2PreventCVD: protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of text message-based interventions for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2016
Digital health inclusion towards achieving universal health coverage for Bangladesh utilizing general practitioner model
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2023
Cancer Incidence, Mortality, Years of Life Lost, Years Lived With Disability, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years for 29 Cancer Groups From 2010 to 2019
Publisher: American Medical Association (AMA)
Date: 03-2022
Factors associated with low medication adherence in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-09-2021
DOI: 10.1002/LIM2.47
Abstract: Adherence to prescribed medication is essential for glycemic control and to delay the onset of complications. However, information on medication adherence among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus is sparse in Bangladesh. This study aimed to determine medication adherence and factors associated with low adherence in patients with Type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh. A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 500 consecutive patients with Type 2 diabetes attending a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh between September 2013 and July 2014. Data were collected on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, medication use and adherence, and blood tests for glycated hemoglobin. Medication adherence was assessed using the 8‐item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (score range 0–8), and a score 6 was defined as low adherence. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to investigate factors associated with low medication adherence. The mean age ± standard deviation of the participants was 50.2 ± 10.2 years (56.2% females). Overall, 42.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 38.5–47.2) of participants reported low medication adherence with no differences by sex. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that increased age was negatively associated with low adherence (odds ratio: 0.97 [95% CI 0.95–0.99]). Patients who reported no family history of diabetes had 55% higher odds of having low adherence (1.55 [1.05–2.30]), compared to their counterparts with a family history of diabetes. Almost half of the patients with Type 2 diabetes attending a tertiary hospital in Dhaka had suboptimal medication adherence. Innovative approaches targeting young patients and those with no family history of diabetes could improve medication adherence.
A case study on community health workers for reproductive health in a post conflict hard to reach area in Bangladesh
Publisher: Unpublished
Date: 2011
Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Dietary Intake and Arterial Stiffness in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 26-04-2023
DOI: 10.3390/NU15092092
Abstract: Arterial stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease that is affected by diet. However, research understanding how these dietary risk factors are related to arterial stiffness during childhood is limited. The purpose of this review was to determine whether various dietary factors were associated with arterial stiffness in the pediatric population. Five databases were systematically searched. Intervention studies, cross-sectional and cohort studies were included that investigated nutrient or food intake and outcomes of arterial stiffness, primarily measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx), in the pediatric population (aged 0–18 years). A final 19 studies (six intervention and 13 observational) were included. Only two intervention studies, including a vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation trial, found protective effects on PWV and AIx in adolescents. Findings from observational studies were overall inconsistent and varied. There was limited evidence to indicate a protective effect of a healthy dietary pattern on arterial stiffness and an adverse effect of total fat intake, sodium intake and fast-food consumption. Overall, results indicated that some dietary factors may be associated with arterial stiffness in pediatric populations however, inconsistencies were observed across all study designs. Further longitudinal and intervention studies are warranted to confirm the potential associations found in this review.
Characteristics of smart health ecosystems that support self-care among people with heart failure: A scoping review (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 25-01-2022
Abstract: eople with heart failure are supported by healthcare providers who follow clinical guidelines, and they are also encouraged to participate in self-care behaviors. However, the management of heart failure is complex. Innovative solutions are required to support healthcare providers with decision-making and to support people with heart failure to sustain appropriate self-care behaviors. In recent years, more sophisticated technologies have emerged within healthcare practice. These technologies use data collection, intelligent data processing, and communication to enable new models of healthcare, such as smart health ecosystems, to assist diagnosis and treatment of conditions, support patients in managing a condition, and monitor patients to support disease prevention. Currently, there is little information about the behavioral and technical characteristics of smart health ecosystems for people with heart failure. e aimed to identify and describe the characteristics of smart health ecosystems that support self-care for people with heart failure. e conducted a scoping review using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. Searches of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library databases were searched from January 2008 to September 2021. The search strategy focused on studies that described smart health ecosystems to support self-care among people with heart failure. Two reviewers screened studies at the title and abstract level, and full text then extracted relevant data from the included full texts. fter removing duplicates, 1543 articles were screened, and 34 articles were identified, representing 13 interventions. Articles represented study designs from different stages of the e-health development cycle conceptual and planning (n=6), development and usability (n=14), pilot/feasibility (n=2), effectiveness testing (n=9), implementation (n=1), all phases (n=2). They collected data from the end user with sensors and questionnaires and used tailoring to provide personalized support. Interventions supported heart failure self-care behaviors using 34 different behavior change techniques (BCTs), which were facilitated by a combination of 8 intervention features automated feedback, monitoring (integrated and manual input), presentation of data, education, reminders, communication with a healthcare provider and psychological support. Furthermore, features to support healthcare providers included the presentation of data, alarms, and alerts, communication with the end user, remote care plan modification, health record integration, and communication with other members of the care team. his scoping review identified that there are few reports of smart health ecosystems to support self-care among people with heart failure, and those that have been reported do not provide comprehensive support across all domains of self-care. Further research on implementation and effectiveness is required. This review outlines the behavioral and technical components of the identified interventions this information can be used as a starting point for designing and testing future smart health ecosystem interventions.
Relationship of dental diseases with coronary artery diseases and diabetes in Bangladesh
Publisher: AME Publishing Company
Date: 04-2016
Reliability of the tools used to examine psychological distress, fear of COVID‐19 and coping amongst migrants and non‐migrants in Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-02-2021
DOI: 10.1111/INM.12845
Weight loss surgery for obstructive sleep apnoea with obesity in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 08-2018
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2017-020876
Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is caused by complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway resulting in repeated episodes of interrupted or shallow breaths. OSA is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The prevalence is estimated to range from 3% to 7% in the general population but may be much higher. Several studies show that weight loss or bariatric surgery may have a role in treating OSA. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the safety and efficacy of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of weight loss surgery for adults with OSA and comorbid obesity. A search of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, EMBASE and two major Chinese biomedical databases will be performed to identify related trials published as of October 2018. This study will include RCTs, comparing different types of weight loss surgery for OSA with obesity or weight loss surgery for OSA with obesity with other upper airway surgeries. The primary outcomes that will be measured are apnoea–hypopnoea index, excess weight loss and in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes will include duration of hospital stay, neck circumference, reoperation, waist circumference, body mass index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, overt complications (eg, gastric fistula, bleeding, delayed gastric emptying, wound infection), quality of life, quality of sleep and/or functionality. The systematic review will be conducted according to the recommendations as outlined by the Cochrane collaboration. The systematic review and meta-analysis will include published data available online and thus ethics approval will not be required. The findings will be disseminated and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Review updates will be conducted if there is new evidence that may cause any change in review conclusions. Any changes to the study protocol will be updated in the PROSPERO trial registry accordingly. CRD42017081743.
Smartphone as a Disease Screening Tool: A Systematic Review
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 16-05-2022
DOI: 10.3390/S22103787
Abstract: Disease screening identifies a disease in an in idual/community early to effectively prevent or treat the condition. COVID-19 has restricted hospital visits for screening and other healthcare services resulting in the disruption of screening for cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Smartphone technologies, coupled with built-in sensors and wireless technologies, enable the smartphone to function as a disease-screening and monitoring device with negligible additional costs and potentially higher quality results. Thus, we sought to evaluate the use of smartphone applications for disease screening and the acceptability of this technology in the medical and healthcare sectors. We followed a systematic review process using four databases, including Medline Complete, Web of Science, Embase, and Proquest. We included articles published in English examining smartphone application utilisation in disease screening. Further, we presented and discussed the primary outcomes of the research articles and their statistically significant value. The initial search yielded 1046 studies for the initial title and abstract screening. Of the 105 articles eligible for full-text screening, we selected nine studies and discussed them in detail under four main categories: an overview of the literature reviewed, participant characteristics, disease screening, and technology acceptance. According to our objective, we further evaluated the disease-screening approaches and classified them as clinically administered screening (33%, n = 3), health-worker-administered screening (33%, n = 3), and home-based screening (33%, n = 3). Finally, we analysed the technology acceptance among the users and healthcare practitioners. We observed a significant statistical relationship between smartphone applications and standard clinical screening. We also reviewed user acceptance of these smartphone applications. Hence, we set out critical considerations to provide equitable healthcare solutions without barriers when designing, developing, and deploying smartphone solutions. The findings may increase research opportunities for the evaluation of smartphone solutions as valid and reliable screening solutions.
Determinants of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection Among University Students in Central Bangladesh
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-09-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S10900-021-01025-9
Abstract: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and determinants of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among university students in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 614 students from five universities in central Bangladesh. Data were collected on demographic information, immunization history, medical and blood transfusion history through the face-to-face interview. Blood s les were collected and screened for anti-HBsAg using ELISA, HBsAg Rapid Test-cassette, and immune chromatographic test. The overall seroprevalence of HBV infection was 5.0%, and vaccination coverage was 19.2% among the participants. Students having a history of surgery (OR 11.004, 95% CI 3.211-37.707), blood transfusion (OR 5.651, 95% CI 0.965-33.068), being married (OR 4.776, 95% CI 1.508-15.127), and not being vaccinated (OR 9.825, 95% CI 1.130-85.367) were at higher risk of being infected by HBV. This study showed the endemicity of HBV infection among the Bangladeshi population. Marriage, surgical or blood transfusion history, not being vaccinated were the determinants of HBV infection within the study population. Public health initiatives for preventing HBV infection at the university levels should be envisaged.
Mobile phone intervention for increasing adherence to treatment for type 2 diabetes in an urban area of Bangladesh: protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-11-2014
Deep convolutional neural networks based ECG beats classification to diagnose cardiovascular conditions
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-02-2021
Psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers: cross-sectional analyses from 14 countries
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.1017/GMH.2022.35
Abstract: Healthcare workers (HCWs) have been impacted psychologically due to their professional responsibilities over the prolonged era of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study aimed to identify the predictors of psychological distress, fear, and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic among HCWs. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among self-identified HCWs across 14 countries (12 from Asia and two from Africa). The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and the Brief Resilient Coping Scale were used to assess the psychological distress, fear, and coping of HCWs, respectively. A total of 2447 HCWs participated 36% were doctors, and 42% were nurses, with a mean age of 36 (±12) years, and 70% were females. Moderate to very-high psychological distress was prevalent in 67% of the HCWs the lowest rate was reported in the United Arab Emirates (1%) and the highest in Indonesia (16%). The prevalence of high levels of fear was 20% the lowest rate was reported in Libya (9%) and the highest in Egypt (32%). The prevalence of medium-to-high resilient coping was 63% the lowest rate was reported in Libya (28%) and the highest in Syria (76%). COVID-19 has augmented the psychological distress among HCWs. Factors identified in this study should be considered in managing the wellbeing of HCWs, who had been serving as the frontline drivers in managing the crisis successfully across all participating countries. Furthermore, interventions to address their psychological distress should be considered.
Ambient Temperature and Stroke Occurrence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 12-07-2016
The Surveillance of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep: Protocol for the Development and Feasibility Evaluation of a Novel Measurement System (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 15-12-2021
Abstract: here is increasing recognition of the need for more comprehensive surveillance data, including information on physical activity of all intensities, sedentary behavior, and sleep. However, meeting this need poses significant challenges for current surveillance systems, which are mainly reliant on self-report. he primary objective of this project is to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a sensor-based system for use in the surveillance of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep (SurPASS) at a national level in Denmark. he SurPASS project involves an international, multidisciplinary team of researchers collaborating with an industrial partner. The SurPASS system consists of (1) a thigh-worn accelerometer with Bluetooth connectivity, (2) a smartphone app, (3) an integrated back end, facilitating the automated upload, analysis, storage, and provision of in idualized feedback in a manner compliant with European Union regulations on data privacy, and (4) an administrator web interface (web application) to monitor progress. The system development and evaluation will be performed in 3 phases. These phases will include gathering user input and specifications (phase 1), the iterative development, evaluation, and refinement of the system (phase 2), and the feasibility evaluation (phase 3). he project started in September 2020 and completed phase 2 in February 2022. Phase 3 began in March 2022 and results will be made available in 2023. f feasible, the SurPASS system could be a catalyst toward large-scale, sensor-based surveillance of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. It could also be adapted for cohort and interventional research, thus contributing to the generation of evidence for both interventions and public health policies and recommendations. ERR1-10.2196/35697
First case of focal epilepsy associated with SARS‐coronavirus‐2
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-06-2020
DOI: 10.1002/JMV.26113
Prevention of Hypertension in Bangladesh: A Review
Publisher: Bangladesh Journals Online (JOL)
Date: 23-10-2016
Abstract: Hypertension is a major public health problemglobally in both the developed and developing countries. Hypertension leads to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, kidney failure and is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. The risk factors for hypertension, which can mostly be prevented through simple health promotion and preventive measures are mostly known. However, papers documenting the strategies for prevention of hypertension in Bangladesh is not available. The aim of this review study was to identify and discuss different approaches to prevent hypertension in Bangladesh. We performed a systematic search using electronic as well as manual method for published and unpublished reports of prevention of hypertension. We then identified and discussed prevention strategies for hypertension suitable for Bangladesh context. Although several methods have shown to prevent hypertension, the challenge remains in implementing these methods in resource poor settings. Integrated action based on comprehensive policy and stepwise implementation should be adopted taking into consideration of local needs. Hypertension prevention should focus on awareness generation, health promotion and reduction of common risk factors using a combination of population based approach and targeted in idual interventions. Consorted actions should be taken as a priority to prevent hypertension through intersectoral, multidisciplinary and multilevel approach by the Government, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), civil societies and create greater awareness among the population for a healthy life-style.J MEDICINE January 2016 17 (1) : 30-35
Digital health approaches for cardiovascular diseases prevention and management: lessons from preliminary studies
Publisher: AME Publishing Company
Date: 07-2021
Suicide is multifactorial: There should be a difference between a news report and a scientific report of suicide
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2021
The burden of ischemic heart disease and the epidemiologic transition in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: 1990–2019
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 05-09-2023
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression Among Post-Stroke Patients in Bangladesh
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-08-2015
Shared-decision-making Behavior in Hospitalized Patients: Investigating the Impact of Patient's Trust in Physicians, Emotional Support, Informational Support, and Tendency to Excuse Using a Structural
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.1177/23743735211049661
Abstract: Patient participation in care decisions is facilitated by shared-decision-making (SDM). This study, therefore, aims to explore the impact of patient's trust in physicians, emotional support, informational support, and tendency to excuse on SDM. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the medical–surgical wards of 6 similar-sized public hospitals in Tabriz, northwest Iran, using a self-administered questionnaire, with 321 cases collected from October to December 2019. The structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was used to test the hypothetical model. Using the SEM approach, the findings fully confirmed the study hypothesis, and patients’ trust in physician (Beta = −0.44), emotional support (Beta = 0.29), tendency to excuse (Beta = 0.18), and informational support (Beta = 0.58) predicted the inpatient's SDM behavior ( R 2 = 0.65, goodness-of-fit index = 0.902). To improve patient outcomes, physicians might advise incorporating techniques such as improving patient trust, informational and emotional supports to improve SDM. Improving the psychosocial skills of physicians also seems to be essential to help patients express their concerns.
Machine learning for detecting COVID-19 from cough sounds: An ensemble-based MCDM method
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2022
THE RISING SCOURGE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND INFODEMIC: AN OUTCOME OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND COVID-19
Publisher: Medicinska Naklada d.o.o.
Date: 30-06-2022
Abstract: COVID-19 was accompanied with the increasing broadcast of fake news, misinformation and excessive information via social media platforms. This phenomenon has been termed "infodemic", to describe an overwhelming amount of mostly fake, false or inaccurate information which spreads rapidly and impacts negatively on achieving a solution. It would therefore be desirable to use a cautious approach which utilizes culturally sensitive and country specific measures to deal with this occurrence. We aim to raise awareness, likewise draw the attention of global scientific community on this topic of public and mental health concern and it calls for further comments on this issue.
Lowering blood pressure by changing lifestyle through a motivational education program: a cluster randomized controlled trial study protocol
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-07-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S13063-021-05379-2
Abstract: High blood pressure is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is a major cause of disability and death. Managing a healthy lifestyle has been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve health outcomes. We aim to investigate the effectiveness of a lifestyle modification intervention program for lowering blood pressure in a rural area of Bangladesh. A single-center cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT). The study will be conducted for 6 months, a total of 300 participants of age 30 to 75 years with 150 adults in each of the intervention and the control arms. The intervention arm will involve the delivery of a blended learning education program on lifestyle changes for the management of high blood pressure. The education program comprises evidence-based information with pictures, fact sheets, and published literature about the effects of high blood pressure on CVD development, increased physical activity, and the role of a healthy diet in blood pressure management. The control group involves providing information booklets and general advice at the baseline data collection point. The primary outcome will be the absolute difference in clinic SBP and DBP. Secondary outcomes include the difference in the percentage of people adopting regular exercise habits, cessation of smoking and reducing sodium chloride intake, health literacy of all participants, and the perceived barriers and enablers to adopt behavior changes by collecting qualitative data. Analyses will include analysis of covariance to report the mean difference in blood pressure between the control and the intervention group and the difference in change in blood pressure due to the intervention. The study will assess the effects of physical activity and lifestyle modification in controlling high blood pressure. This study will develop new evidence as to whether a simple lifestyle program implemented in a rural region of a low- and middle-income country will improve blood pressure parameters for people with different chronic diseases by engaging community people. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04505150 . Registered on 7 August 2020
Causes of blindness and vision impairment in 2020 and trends over 30 years, and prevalence of avoidable blindness in relation to VISION 2020: the Right to Sight: an analysis for the Global Burden of D
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2021
Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-10-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41586-019-1545-0
Abstract: Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2—to end preventable child deaths by 2030—we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000–2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations.
Effectiveness of a mobile phone text messaging intervention on dietary behaviour in patients with type 2 diabetes: a post-hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial
Publisher: AME Publishing Company
Date: 2021
Effects of milk protein concentrate supplementation on metabolic parameters, adipocytokines and body composition in obese women under weight-loss diet: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2022
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2022-064727
Abstract: Obesity impairs metabolic function and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Evidence suggests that high-protein diets help to increase weight loss and protect against weight gain. Milk protein concentrate (MPC) is a dairy product with a high protein content with a ratio of casein and whey protein similar to skim milk. This trial aims to evaluate the effect of MPC supplementation in obese women under a weight-loss diet. We will conduct a 2-month open-label, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial to determine the effect of MPC supplementation on levels of glycaemic and lipid profile, leptin, adiponectin, appetite, waist circumference, body mass index and body composition in 44 premenopausal obese women on a weight-loss diet. This protocol, approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, is in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (approval number: IR.AJUMS.REC.1399.795). The trial results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20201223049804N1).
Plasma triglycerides as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Evidence from northeastern Thailand
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.DIABRES.2018.02.011
Abstract: To investigate the observational association between plasma triglyceride and CKD in patients with T2DM. A hospital-based retrospective registry was used to obtain data of 3,748 T2DM patients from May 2016 to October 2016. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical reports of T2DM patients with CKD were obtained by data extraction of medical records. CKD was defined according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR< 60 mL/min/1.73 m The mean age of the participants was 61.4 ± 11.0 years, and a majority of them was female (64%) with poor glycemic control (83%), increased plasma triglyceride (51%) and 27% of T2DM patients had CKD. There was a significant trend towards deteriorating renal function (lower eGFR) with categorically raised triglyceride levels. After controlling for age, sex and other confounders, 'borderline high' (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.54), 'high' (adjusted OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.24-1.85) and 'very high' (adjusted OR: 3.40, 95% CI: 1.94-5.94) triglyceride level groups had higher likelihood to have CKD compared to normal triglyceride level. CKD was associated with a higher level of plasma triglyceride among patients with T2DM. These results support the rationale to screen and manage increased triglyceride in routine clinical practices among persons with diabetes to prevent CKD.
Increasing Burden of Diabetes in Bangladesh and the Role of Information Technology
Publisher: Open Access Text Pvt, Ltd.
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.15761/IOD.1000163
Attitudes toward Receiving COVID-19 Booster Dose in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: A Cross-Sectional Study of 3041 Fully Vaccinated Participants
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 06-08-2022
Abstract: COVID-19 vaccines are crucial to control the pandemic and avoid COVID-19 severe infections. The rapid evolution of COVID-19 variants such as B.1.1.529 is alarming, especially with the gradual decrease in serum antibody levels in vaccinated in iduals. Middle Eastern countries were less likely to accept the initial doses of vaccines. This study was directed to determine COVID-19 vaccine booster acceptance and its associated factors in the general population in the MENA region to attain public herd immunity. We conducted an online survey in five countries (Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan) in November and December 2021. The questionnaire included self-reported information about the vaccine type, side effects, fear level, and several demographic factors. Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA was used to associate the fear level with the type of COVID-19 vaccine. Logistic regression was performed to confirm the results and reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. The final analysis included 3041 fully vaccinated participants. Overall, 60.2% of the respondents reported willingness to receive the COVID-19 booster dose, while 20.4% were hesitant. Safety uncertainties and opinions that the booster dose is not necessary were the primary reasons for refusing the booster dose. The willingness to receive the booster dose was in a triangular relationship with the side effects of first and second doses and the fear (p 0.0001). Females, in iduals with normal body mass index, history of COVID-19 infection, and influenza-unvaccinated in iduals were significantly associated with declining the booster dose. Higher fear levels were observed in females, rural citizens, and chronic and immunosuppressed patients. Our results suggest that vaccine hesitancy and fear in several highlighted groups continue to be challenges for healthcare providers, necessitating public health intervention, prioritizing the need for targeted awareness c aigns, and facilitating the spread of evidence-based scientific communication.
Machine Learning Approaches for Predicting Hypertension and Its Associated Factors Using Population-Level Data From Three South Asian Countries
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 31-03-2022
Abstract: Hypertension is the most common modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in South Asia. Machine learning (ML) models have been shown to outperform clinical risk predictions compared to statistical methods, but studies using ML to predict hypertension at the population level are lacking. This study used ML approaches in a dataset of three South Asian countries to predict hypertension and its associated factors and compared the model's performances. We conducted a retrospective study using ML analyses to detect hypertension using population-based surveys. We created a single dataset by harmonizing in idual-level data from the most recent nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey in Bangladesh, Nepal, and India. The variables included blood pressure (BP), sociodemographic and economic factors, height, weight, hemoglobin, and random blood glucose. Hypertension was defined based on JNC-7 criteria. We applied six common ML-based classifiers: decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), logistic regression (LR), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to predict hypertension and its risk factors. Of the 8,18,603 participants, 82,748 (10.11%) had hypertension. ML models showed that significant factors for hypertension were age and BMI. Ever measured BP, education, taking medicine to lower BP, and doctor's perception of high BP was also significant but comparatively lower than age and BMI. XGBoost, GBM, LR, and LDA showed the highest accuracy score of 90%, RF and DT achieved 89 and 83%, respectively, to predict hypertension. DT achieved the precision value of 91%, and the rest performed with 90%. XGBoost, GBM, LR, and LDA achieved a recall value of 100%, RF scored 99%, and DT scored 90%. In F1-score, XGBoost, GBM, LR, and LDA scored 95%, while RF scored 94%, and DT scored 90%. All the algorithms performed with good and small log loss values & %. ML models performed well to predict hypertension and its associated factors in South Asians. When employed on an open-source platform, these models are scalable to millions of people and might help in iduals self-screen for hypertension at an early stage. Future studies incorporating biochemical markers are needed to improve the ML algorithms and evaluate them in real life.
Effects of pycnogenol on cardiometabolic health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.PHRS.2019.104472
Abstract: Clinical trials on the effect of pycnogenol supplementation on cardiometabolic health have been controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the potential effect of pycnogenol supplementation on cardiometabolic profile. PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases were searched until October 2018. RCTs that evaluated the effects of pycnogenol on cardiometabolic parameters were included. DerSimonian and Laird random-effect models were used to compute the weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Twenty-four RCTs including 1594 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Pycnogenol significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (WMD: -5.86 mg/dl 95% CI: -9.56, -2.15), glycated hemoglobin (WMD = -0.29%, 95%CI: -0.56, -0.01), systolic blood pressure (WMD: -2.54 mmhg 95% CI: -4.08, -0.99), diastolic blood pressure (WMD: -1.76 mmhg 95% CI: -3.12, -0.41), body mass index (WMD: -0.47 kg/m This meta-analysis suggests that pycnogenol may have a role in preventing cardiometabolic disease. However, further well-designed RCTs are recommended to evaluate its long-term effects and explore the optimal duration of use and dosage.
Development of an Android Mobile Application for Reducing Sitting Time and Increasing Walking Time in People with Type 2 Diabetes
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 22-09-2022
DOI: 10.3390/ELECTRONICS11193011
Abstract: Breaking up prolonged sitting with short bouts of light physical activity including standing and walking has been shown to be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This paper presents the development of an android mobile app to deliver a just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) to reduce sedentary time in people with T2D. A total of six design workshops were conducted with seven experts to identify design requirements, a behavioural framework, and required contextual adaptations for the development of a bespoke mobile app (iMOVE). Moreover, a focus group was conducted among people with T2D as potential end-users (N = 10) to ascertain their perceptions of the app. Feedback from the focus group was used in subsequent iterations of the iMOVE app. Data were analysed using an inductive qualitative thematic analysis. Based on workshops, key features of iMOVE were developed, including simplicity (e.g., navigation, login), colours and font sizes, push notifications, messaging algorithms, and a triggering system for breaking up sitting time and moving more. Based on the user testing results, a goal-setting tab was added, font sizes were made larger, the brightness of colours was reduced, and a colour indicator was used to indicate device connectivity with an activity tracker. A user-centric app was developed to support people with T2D to transition from sedentary to active lifestyles.
Exploring Barriers to and Enablers of the Adoption of Information and Communication Technology for the Care of Older Adults With Chronic Diseases: Scoping Review
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 07-01-2022
DOI: 10.2196/25251
Abstract: Information and communication technology (ICT) offers considerable potential for supporting older adults in managing their health, including chronic diseases. However, there are mixed opinions about the benefits and effectiveness of ICT interventions for older adults with chronic diseases. We aim to map the use of ICT interventions in health care and identified barriers to and enablers of its use among older adults with chronic disease. A scoping review was conducted using 5 databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, and ProQuest) to identify eligible articles from January 2000 to July 2020. Publications incorporating the use of ICT interventions, otherwise known as eHealth, such as mobile health, telehealth and telemedicine, decision support systems, electronic health records, and remote monitoring in people aged ≥55 years with chronic diseases were included. We conducted a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats framework analysis to explore the implied enablers of and barriers to the use of ICT interventions. Of the 1149 identified articles, 31 (2.7% n=4185 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Of the 31 articles, 5 (16%) mentioned the use of various eHealth interventions. A range of technologies was reported, including mobile health (8/31, 26%), telehealth (7/31, 23%), electronic health record (2/31, 6%), and mixed ICT interventions (14/31, 45%). Various chronic diseases affecting older adults were identified, including congestive heart failure (9/31, 29%), diabetes (7/31, 23%), chronic respiratory disease (6/31, 19%), and mental health disorders (8/31, 26%). ICT interventions were all designed to help people self-manage chronic diseases and demonstrated positive effects. However, patient-related and health care provider–related challenges, in integrating ICT interventions in routine practice, were identified. Barriers to using ICT interventions in older adults included knowledge gaps, a lack of willingness to adopt new skills, and reluctance to use technologies. Implementation challenges related to ICT interventions such as slow internet connectivity and lack of an appropriate reimbursement policy were reported. Advantages of using ICT interventions include their nonpharmacological nature, provision of health education, encouragement for continued physical activity, and maintenance of a healthy diet. Participants reported that the use of ICT was a fun and effective way of increasing their motivation and supporting self-management tasks. It gave them reassurance and peace of mind by promoting a sense of security and reducing anxiety. ICT interventions have the potential to support the care of older adults with chronic diseases. However, they have not been effectively integrated with routine health care. There is a need to improve awareness and education about ICT interventions among those who could benefit from them, including older adults, caregivers, and health care providers. More sustainable funding is required to promote the adoption of ICT interventions. We recommend involving clinicians and caregivers at the time of designing ICT interventions.
Suicide on Facebook-the tales of unnoticed departure in Bangladesh
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1017/GMH.2020.5
Abstract: Facebook has transformed social communication and offers the opportunity to share personal thoughts to people including suicide ideas, plans and attempts. Suicide after Facebook posts has been reported in different parts of the world and it has become a potential area of research for suicide prevention. The analysis of Facebook posts prior to suicide or Facebook live streaming may help in understanding the etiological factors, patterns of communication and possible prevention approaches for a particular community. However, there is a dearth of evidence about suicide incidents after Facebook posts and Facebook live streaming in low and middle-income countries. This study aims to explore the trends and phenomena of suicide after Facebook posts and live streaming in Bangladesh. We conducted an online search using the Google, Facebook and five daily online newspaper archives from 15th August to 15th September 2019. Two research assistants independently conducted the initial searching to find out people who committed suicide after Facebook posts or live streamed suicide in Bangladesh and documented 21 cases. After further evaluation of each of the 21 cases we confirmed 19 cases that met the selection criteria. All of them were under 35-years of age. We observed sucide after Facebook posts were more common in male(78%) e and students. Hanging was the most frequently used method of suicide followed by poisoning. Their Facebook posts and livestream videos indicated relationship problems, academic stress and mental disorders were the common stressors for their suicide. This study lays the foundation for the future researchers to work on suicidal posts on Facebook in Bangladesh and develop culture-specific, real-time suicide preventive systems using a social media platform.
Theories Applied to m-Health Interventions for Behavior Change in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Date: 10-2018
Prevalence of depression and its associated factors in patients with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.AJP.2015.07.008
Abstract: Depression is a common feature in patients with type 2 diabetes and often remains undetected and untreated, causing increased morbidity and mortality. We explored the prevalence of co-morbid depression and its associated factors, including major life-events among patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 515 patients with type 2 diabetes between September 2013 and July 2014 in a tertiary hospital in Dhaka city. We assessed depression using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) with predefined cut-off scores of 5, 10, 15 and 20 to indicate minimal, mild, moderate, moderately-severe, and severe depression. Associations between depression and its associated factors were explored using univariate and multivariate regression. Overall, 61.9% participants had depressive symptoms, and the prevalence was higher among females (70.9%) compared to males (50.6%). One-third (35.7%) of participants had mild depression and 36.2% had moderate to severe depression. In the multivariate analysis, factors significantly associated with depression were: age≤60 years (OR: 2.1, 95% CI=1.2-3.6 p≤0.006), female gender (OR=1.9, 95% CI=1.3-3.0 p≤0.002), those having 1-3 complications (OR=2.3, 95% CI=1.2-4.3 p=0.010), experienced loss of business or crop failure (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.2-3.6 p=0.006), major family conflicts (OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.4-3.5 p≤0.001), separation or deaths of family members or orce (OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.4-3.5 p≤0.001), and those who experienced unavailability of food or medicines (OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.0-4.5 p=0.038). Patients with diabetes, especially females, those having other complications, and major life-events should routinely be screened for symptoms of depression with adequate management of these conditions.
The global burden of adolescent and young adult cancer in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2022
Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention to Sit Less and Move More in People With Type 2 Diabetes: Protocol for a Microrandomized Trial
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 06-09-2023
DOI: 10.2196/41502
Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2021
Compliance with standard precautions among baccalaureate nursing students in a Saudi university: A self-report study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.JIPH.2016.06.005
Abstract: Meticulous observance of standard infection control precautions by health care providers is strongly recommended for every patient encounter. Assessment of nursing students' compliance should be carried out regularly in order to ensure adherence to protocols. Thus, this study was conducted to assess self-reported compliance with standard precautions among baccalaureates in nursing students in a Saudi university. A convenience s le of 236 nursing students was surveyed in this cross-sectional, self-reported study, using the Compliance with Standard Precaution Scale Arabic version (CSPS-A). Independent t-test and one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were performed to examine the differences on compliance. A multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting compliance. The overall compliance rate was 61.0%. The students reported highest compliance in disposing used sharp instruments and other sharp objects into sharps-only boxes, while the lowest compliance rate in using water only for hand washing. Significant differences in compliance were observed when respondents were grouped according to their demographic characteristics. Cultivating a supportive culture of adherence to infection control precautions among nursing students is of paramount importance. The clinical environment should be supportive of a culture where strict compliance with the control and prevention of infection is of prime importance.
Utilization of social media communities for caregiver information support in stroke recovery: An analysis of content and interactions
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 26-01-2022
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0262919
Abstract: Caregivers often use the internet to access information related to stroke care to improve preparedness, thereby reducing uncertainty and enhancing the quality of care. Social media communities used by caregivers of people affected by stroke were identified using popular keywords searched for using Google. Communities were filtered based on their ability to provide support to caregivers. Data from the included communities were extracted and analysed to determine the content and level of interaction. There was a significant rise in the use of social media by caregivers of people affected by stroke. The most popular social media communities were charitable and governmental organizations with the highest user interaction–this was for topics related to stroke prevention, signs and symptoms, and caregiver self-care delivered through video-based resources. Findings show the ability of social media to support stroke caregiver needs and practices that should be considered to increase their interaction and support.
Effect of text messaging on depression in patients with coronary heart disease: a substudy analysis from the TEXT ME randomised controlled trial
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-2019
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2018-022637
Abstract: We aimed to evaluate the effects on depression scores of a lifestyle-focused cardiac support programme delivered via mobile phone text messaging among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Substudy and secondary analysis of a parallel-group, single-blind randomised controlled trial of patients with CHD. A tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia. The Tobacco, Exercise and dieT MEssages programme comprised four text messages per week for 6 months that provided education, motivation and support on diet, physical activity, general cardiac education and smoking, if relevant. The programme did not have any specific mental health component. Depression scores at 6 months measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Treatment effect across subgroups was measured using log-binomial regression model for the binary outcome (depressed/not depressed, where depressed is any score of PHQ-9 ≥5) with treatment, subgroup and treatment by subgroup interaction as fixed effects. Depression scores at 6 months were lower in the intervention group compared with the control group, mean difference 1.9 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.4, p .0001). The frequency of mild or greater depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores≥5) at 6 months was 21/333 (6.3%) in the intervention group and 86/350 (24.6%) in the control group (relative risk (RR) 0.26, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.40, p .001). This proportional reduction in depressive symptoms was similar across groups defined by age, sex, education, body mass index, physical activity, current smoking, current drinking and history of depression, diabetes and hypertension. In particular, the rates of PHQ-9 ≥5 among people with a history of depression were 4/44 (9.1%) vs 29/62 (46.8%) in intervention vs control (RR 0.19, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.51, p .001), and were 17/289 (5.9%) vs 57/288 (19.8%) among others (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.50, p .001). Among people with CHD, a cardiac support programme delivered via mobile phone text messaging was associated with fewer symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression at 6 months in the treatment group compared with controls. ACTRN12611000161921.
Patients’ perspective of disease and medication adherence for type 2 diabetes in an urban area in Bangladesh: a qualitative study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-03-2017
Risk factors and in-hospital outcome of acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in young Bangladeshi adults
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-07-2015
Design and Development of a Smartphone Application for Hypertension Management: An Intervention Mapping Approach (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 02-10-2022
Abstract: everal research studies have demonstrated the potential of mobile health applications (apps) in supporting health management. However, the design and development process of these apps are rarely presented. e present the design and development of a smartphone-based lifestyle app integrating a wearable device for hypertension management. e used an intervention mapping approach for the development of theory- and evidence-based interventions for problem identification, problem-solving and mitigation strategies. This consisted of six fundamental steps of the intervention mapping approach: needs assessment, matrices, theoretical methods and practical strategies, program design, adoption and implementation plan, and evaluation plan. To design the contents of the intervention, we performed a literature review to determine the opinions and preferences of people with hypertension and implemented theoretical and practical strategies to support these needs in consultation with stakeholders and researchers. hrough the needs analysis, we identified that people with hypertension preferred having education, medication or treatment adherence, lifestyle modification, alcohol and smoking cessation and blood pressure monitoring support to manage their condition. Out of which, the authors utilized MoSCoW analysis to focus on four key elements, i.e., education, medication or treatment adherence, lifestyle modification and blood pressure support due to past experiences in developing interventions for hypertension, and its potential benefits in hypertension management. Theoretical models such as (i) the information, motivation, and behaviour skills (IMB) model, and (ii) the patient health engagement (PHE) model was implemented in the intervention development to ensure positive engagement and health behaviour. The app developed provides education to people with hypertension related to their condition, while utilizing wearable devices to promote lifestyle modification and blood pressure support. The app also contains rules and medication lists titrated by the clinician to ensure treatment adherence, with regular push notifications to prompt behavioural change. In addition, the app data can be reviewed by patients and clinicians as needed. his is the first study describing the development of an app that integrates a wearable blood pressure device and provides lifestyle support and hypertension management. Our theory-driven intervention for self-management of hypertension is founded on the critical needs of people with hypertension to ensure treatment adherence and supports medication review and titration by clinicians. The intervention will be evaluated clinically in future studies to determine its effectiveness and usability.
Mobile phone use and willingness to pay for SMS for diabetes in Bangladesh
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 16-02-2015
Abstract: Mobile phone SMS is increasingly used as a means of communication between patients and their healthcare providers in many countries of the world. We investigated mobile phone use and factors associated with willingness-to-pay (WTP) for diabetes SMS among patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh. As part of a randomized controlled study, in 515 patients with type 2 diabetes, socioeconomic status, mobile phone use, WTP for diabetes SMS, anthropometry and HbA1c were measured. Multivariate regression was used to identify factors associated with WTP. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) of WTP for diabetes SMS was 20 (45) Bangladesh Taka (BDT) (1 BDT = 0.013 US$). WTP was significantly higher for males [OR 2.4, 95% CI (1.0-5.7)], patients with household income >50 000 BDT [4.6 (1.1-20.4)] and those with primary education [5.6 (1.2-26.6)] and secondary and higher education [5.2 (1.4-19.6)]. The high proportion of mobile phone use and WTP for diabetes SMS are encouraging as possible strategy to use such technologies and deserve further evaluation.
RF-CNN-F: random forest with convolutional neural network features for coronary artery disease diagnosis based on cardiac magnetic resonance
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-022-15374-5
Abstract: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a prevalent disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. Invasive coronary angiography is the reference standard for diagnosing CAD but is costly and associated with risks. Noninvasive imaging like cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) facilitates CAD assessment and can serve as a gatekeeper to downstream invasive testing. Machine learning methods are increasingly applied for automated interpretation of imaging and other clinical results for medical diagnosis. In this study, we proposed a novel CAD detection method based on CMR images by utilizing the feature extraction ability of deep neural networks and combining the features with the aid of a random forest for the very first time. It is necessary to convert image data to numeric features so that they can be used in the nodes of the decision trees. To this end, the predictions of multiple stand-alone convolutional neural networks (CNNs) were considered as input features for the decision trees. The capability of CNNs in representing image data renders our method a generic classification approach applicable to any image dataset. We named our method RF-CNN-F, which stands for Random Forest with CNN Features. We conducted experiments on a large CMR dataset that we have collected and made publicly accessible. Our method achieved excellent accuracy (99.18%) using Adam optimizer compared to a stand-alone CNN trained using fivefold cross validation (93.92%) tested on the same dataset.
Risk factors prediction, clinical outcomes, and mortality in COVID‐19 patients
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-12-2020
DOI: 10.1002/JMV.26699
The effectiveness of psychoeducation in improving attitudes towards psychological disorders and internalized stigma in the family members of bipolar patients: A quasi‐experimental study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-12-2022
DOI: 10.1002/PCHJ.621
Abstract: Family members of bipolar patients experience stigma following being labeled by others, which can disrupt their routine lives and result in social isolation. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of psychoeducation in improving the attitudes of bipolar patients' family members towards psychological disorders and internalized stigma. The present study is a quasi‐experimental study with a pre‐ and post‐test follow‐up design, in which 74 in iduals were selected by convenience s ling among families who had a member with a bipolar disorder who was referred to the largest psychiatric hospital in Iran in 2021. The participants were randomly ided into the experimental and control groups ( n = 37 per group). The members of the experimental group then underwent eight 90‐min sessions of psychoeducation. The control group also received psychoeducation at the end of the study. The results of analysis of covariance showed that psychoeducation reduced internalized stigma in the family members of bipolar patients and increased their positive attitudes towards psychological disorders compared with the control group ( p .01). On this basis, psychoeducation can be useful to reduce the internalized stigma of family members of bipolar patients and to increase their positive attitudes towards psychological disorders.
Inhibiting IL-6 During Cytokine Storm in COVID-19: Potential Role of Natural Products
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 04-06-2021
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS202106.0131.V1
Abstract: Plant species with anti-inflammatory properties might play an essential role in combatting COVID-19 via reducing cytokine storms. We aimed to review the extant evidence of the potential therapeutic efficacy of natural products against cytokine storms by inhibiting interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a major pathological mediator. Data were collected following an electronic search in major databases (Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar) and also preprint articles on preprint and medRxiv servers by using a combination of relevant keywords. Seventeen active compounds and medicinal plants were found and reviewed in the present review. Results of both in-vivo and in-vitro experiments conducted on these compounds showed that Phillyrin, SMFM, Qiangzhi decoction, curcumin, Shen-Fu, Forsythia, and Alpha-Mangostin inhibit the production of IL-6. Andrographolide and Liu Shen Wan have an inhibitory effect on releasing this agent, while Ilex Asprella and Deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide and naringin reduce the expression of IL-6. Theaflavin and Cholorogenic acid inhibit the secretion of IL-6, Xuebijing, and Chai-Hu-Gui-Zi-Gan-Jiang-Tang and Lipanpaidu prescription can reduce the serum level of IL-6. These agents also effectively improve infected lungs, increase survival rates, and minimize tissue damage. Medicinal plants and their phytochemical ingredients with down-regulatory effects on the expression of IL-6 have a potential influence on the inhibition of cytokine storms during viral infection caused by COVID-19. Therefore, phytochemicals could be regarded as promising candidates for managing cytokine storm inflammatory responses due to COVID-19 infection.
Depression and suicidal ideation among the geriatric population of Kashmir, India
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 24-10-2020
Abstract: Depression is a common disorder that can lead to suicidal behaviours among the geriatric population. We aimed to assess depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation among the elderly population of Kashmir. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in three districts of Kashmir between June and August 2019. The s le consisted of 200 persons aged years. Beck’s Depression Inventory, Beck’s Hopelessness Scale, and the Beck Suicide Ideation scale were used to determine depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation. Pearson’s correlation was performed to assess the relationships between depression, hopelessness, and suicide. The prevalence of severe depression with a score of ⩾31 on Beck’s Depression Inventory was 56% among the studied population. Most of these elderly were found to have moderate levels of suicidal ideation (62.5%) and hopelessness (61%). Depression had a positive correlation with suicidal ideation ( r = 0.35). Hopelessness and suicidal intent had a more significant positive correlation ( r = 0.54), as compared to depression and hopelessness ( r = 0.43). More than half of the older persons in Kashmir had depression with superimposed hopelessness which is an important risk factor of suicidal ideation.
Pre-existing COPD is associated with an increased risk of mortality and severity in COVID-19: a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-01-2021
An assessment of child protection in Bangladesh: How effective is NGO-led Child-Friendly Space?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.EVALPROGPLAN.2018.09.003
Abstract: Many underprivileged Bangladeshi children are vulnerable to child trafficking, abuse, and exploitation. Child-Friendly Space (CFS) is a semi-permanent house space where vulnerable children are given the support to have a safe environment to survive and thrive. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of CFS in providing a protective environment for the children in Bangladesh. A set of secondary and primary data was used to review child protection situation in Bangladesh, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the CFS within a community. An evaluation of child development among the children who attend in the CFS and who do not attend in the CFS was conducted. CFS was found to benefit vulnerable children and communities in terms of protective environment and child development. Children attending in the CFS had better performance at almost every child development indicator. At the community level, child labor decreased in the areas where CFS exists. To respond to the continuing threats of child insecurity, this study presents a set of recommendations for the sustainability of the CFS in the community.
The role of social media in preventing and managing non-communicable diseases in low-and-middle income countries: Hope or hype?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2019
Spatial, temporal, and demographic patterns in prevalence of chewing tobacco use in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2021
Expert perspectives on the active role of patients in their safety: Toward a framework using Delphi methodology
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 04-03-2021
DOI: 10.1111/NUF.12567
Cardiovascular diseases risk prediction in patients with diabetes: Posthoc analysis from a matched case-control study in Bangladesh
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-02-2021
Factors Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in Bangladesh
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 19-11-2021
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS202111.0342.V1
Abstract: Diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are a major public health burden in low-and-middle-income countries. This study aimed to explore factors associated with CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 315 adults with T2D presenting at the outpatient department of Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences (BIHS) hospital between July 2013 to December 2013. CKD was diagnosed based on estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate using the & lsquo Modification of Diet in Renal Disease& rsquo equations and presence of albuminuria estimated by the albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with CKD. The overall prevalence of CKD among patients with T2D was 21.3%. In the unadjusted model Factors associated with CKD were: aged 40-49 years (OR: 5.7, 95% CI: 1.3-25.4), age 50-59 years (7.0, 1.6-39), age & ge years (7.6, 1.7-34) being female (2.2, 1.2-3.8), hypertensive (1.9, 1.1-3.5) and household income between 128.2-256.4 US$ (2.9, 1.0-8.2) compared with income & le .2$. However, after adjustment of other covariates, only duration of hypertension and household income (128.2-256.4 US$) remained statistically significant. There is a need to implement policies and programs for early detection and management of hypertension and CKD in T2D patients in Bangladesh.
Prevalence of and factors associated with anaemia in women of reproductive age in Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal: Evidence from nationally-representative survey data
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-01-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0245335
Abstract: Anaemia is a significant public health problem in most South-Asian countries, causing increased maternal and child mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with anaemia in women of reproductive age in Bangladesh, Mal es, and Nepal. We used the nationally-representative Demographic and Health Surveys Program data collected from women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in 2011 in Bangladesh (n = 5678), 2016 in Mal es (n = 6837), and 2016 in Nepal (n = 6419). Anaemia was categorized as mild (haemoglobin [Hb] of 10.0–10.9 g/dL for pregnant women and 11.0–11.9 g/dL for non-pregnant women), moderate (Hb of 7.0–9.9 g/dL for pregnant women and 8.0–10.9 g/dL for non-pregnant women), and severe (Hb .0 g/dL for pregnant women and 8.0 g/dL for non-pregnant women). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia was 41.8% in Bangladesh, 58.5% in Mal es, and 40.6% in Nepal. In Bangladesh, postpartum amenorrhoeic, non-educated, and pregnant women were more likely to have moderate/severe anaemia compared to women who were menopausal, had secondary education, and were not pregnant, respectively. In Mal es, residence in urban areas, underweight, having undergone female sterilization, current pregnancy, and menstruation in the last six weeks were associated with increased odds of moderate/severe anaemia. In Nepal, factors associated with increased odds of moderate/severe anaemia were having undergone female sterilization and current pregnancy. Anaemia remains a significant public health issue among 15-49-year-old women in Bangladesh, Mal es, and Nepal, which requires urgent attention. Effective policies and programmes for the control and prevention of anaemia should take into account the unique factors associated with anaemia identified in each country. In all three countries, strategies for the prevention and control of anaemia should particularly focus on women who are pregnant, underweight, or have undergone sterilization.
Serum lipid profile and its association with hypertension in Bangladesh
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-2014
DOI: 10.2147/VHRM.S61019
Optimization and experimental verification of the vibro-impact capsule system in fluid pipeline
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 03-05-2018
Abstract: This paper studies the prototype development of the vibro-impact capsule system aiming for autonomous mobile sensing for pipeline inspection. Self-propelled progression of the system is obtained by employing a vibro-impact oscillator encapsuled in the capsule without the requirement of any external mechanisms, such as wheels, arms, or legs. A dummy capsule prototype is designed, and the best geometric parameters, capsule and cap arc lengths, for minimizing fluid resistance forces are obtained through two-dimensional and three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics analyses, which are confirmed by wind tunnel tests. In order to verify the concept of self-propulsion, both original and optimized capsule prototypes are tested in a fluid pipe. Experimental results are compared with computational fluid dynamics simulations to confirm the efficacy of the vibro-impact self-propelled driving.
Mapping geographical inequalities in access to drinking water and sanitation facilities in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2020
A13510 Mobile phone text-messaging interventions aimed to prevent cardiovascular diseases (Text2PreventCVD)
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 10-2018
Serum sonic hedgehog (SHH) and interleukin-(IL-6) as dual prognostic biomarkers in progressive metastatic breast cancer
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-05-2017
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-017-01268-4
Abstract: Serum from one hundred and ten breast cancer patients and thirty healthy female volunteers, were prospectively collected and evaluated for serum levels of Shh and IL-6 using human Shh and IL-6 specific enzyme-linked immunoassays. All patients were regularly monitored for event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Overall outcome analysis was based on serum Shh and IL-6 levels. In patients with progressive metastatic BC, both serum Shh and IL-6 concentrations were elevated in 44% (29 of 65) and 63% (41 of 65) of patients, respectively, at a statistically significant level [Shh (p = 0.0001) and IL-6 (p = 0.0001)] compared to the low levels in healthy volunteers. Serum levels tended to increase with metastatic progression and lymph node positivity. High serum Shh and IL-6 levels were associated with poor EFS and OS opposite to the negative or lower levels in serum Shh and IL-6. The elevated levels of both serum Shh and IL-6 were mainly observed in BC patients who had a significantly higher risk of early recurrence and bone metastasis, and associated with a worse survival for patients with progressive metastatic BC. Further studies are warranted for validating these biomarkers as prognostic tools in a larger patient cohort and in a longer follow-up study.
Factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-10-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S12992-020-00624-W
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the personal, professional and social life of Australians with some people more impacted than others. This study aimed to identify factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among residents in Australia, including patients, frontline health and other essential service workers, and community members during June 2020. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) level of fear was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the extent of psychological distress, level of fear and coping strategies while adjusting for potential confounders. Among 587 participants, the majority (391, 73.2%) were 30–59 years old and female (363, 61.8%). More than half (349, 59.5%) were born outside Australia and two-third (418, 71.5%) completed at least a Bachelor’s degree. The majority (401, 71.5%) had a source of income, 243 (42.3%) self-identified as a frontline worker, and 335 (58.9%) reported financial impact due to COVID-19. Comorbidities such as pre-existing mental health conditions (AOR 3.13, 95% CIs 1.12–8.75), increased smoking (8.66, 1.08–69.1) and alcohol drinking (2.39, 1.05–5.47) over the last four weeks, high levels of fear (2.93, 1.83–4.67) and being female (1.74, 1.15–2.65) were associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Perceived distress due to change of employment status (4.14, 1.39–12.4), alcohol drinking (3.64, 1.54–8.58), providing care to known or suspected cases (3.64, 1.54–8.58), being female (1.56, 1.00–2.45), being 30–59 years old (2.29, 1.21–4.35) and having medium to high levels of psychological distress (2.90, 1.82–5.62) were associated with a higher level of fear while healthcare service use in the last four weeks was associated with medium to high resilience. This study identified in iduals who were at higher risk of distress and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic specifically in the State of Victoria, Australia. Specific interventions to support the mental wellbeing of these in iduals should be considered in addition to the existing resources within primary healthcare settings.
Algeria's response to COVID-19: an ongoing journey
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2021
Inhibiting NF-κB During Cytokine Storm in COVID-19: Potential Role of Natural Products as a Promising Therapeutic Approach
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 04-06-2021
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS202106.0130.V1
Abstract: Many inflammatory mechanisms are involved in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 inhibits IFN antiviral responses, so we should expect an out-of-control viral replication. & Cytokine storms& occur due to the over-production of pro-inflammatory cytokines after an influx of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages and may be responsible for the immunopathology of the lung involvement. Several cascades have been reported in the activation process of NF-& kappa B. In this paper, to find new therapeutic options for COVID-19 infection, we reviewed some natural products that could potentially inhibit the NF-& kappa B pathway. We found that sevoflurane, quercetin, resveratrol, curcumin, KIOM-C, bergenin, garcinia kola, shenfu, piperlongumine, wogonin, oroxylin, plantamajoside, naringin, ginseng, kaempferol, allium sativum L, illicium henryi, isoliquiritigenin, lianhua qingwen, magnoflorine, and ma Huang Tang might be effective in inhibiting the NF-KB pathway. These natural products could be helpful in the control of COVID-19 infections. However, larger clinical trials are needed to ascertain the efficacy of these products fully.
Prevalence of unintended pregnancy and its associated factors: Evidence from six south Asian countries
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 02-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0245923
Abstract: Unintended pregnancy is a significant public health concern in South Asian countries because of its negative association with the socioeconomic and health outcomes for both children and mothers. The present study aimed to explore the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and explore its determinants among women of reproductive age in six South Asian countries. Nationwide latest demography and health survey data from six South Asian countries, including Bangladesh (2014), Pakistan (2017–2018), Nepal (2016), Afghanistan (2015), Mal es (2016–2017) and India (2015–2016) were pooled for the present study. Multivariate analysis was performed to explore the association between unintended pregnancy and its associated factors. Amongst the total women (n = 41,689), overall, 19.1% pregnancies were reported as unintended (ranging from 11.9% in India to 28.4% in Bangladesh). The logistic regression model showed that younger women (15–19 years) had 1.42 times higher chance of unintended pregnancies. The odds of unintended pregnancies was 1.24 times higher for poorest women and 1.19 times higher for poorer women. Further, urban women (aOR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.50–0.80), women having no children (aOR = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.09–0.12), smaller (≤4) family (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.67–0.78), those who intent to use contraceptive (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.60–0.86), currently living with partner (aOR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.81–0.99), first cohabitation in teenage (≤19 years) (aOR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.78–0.92) were less likely to report unintended pregnancies. This study has showed that women’s age, wealth index, place of residence, number of children, family size, the intention of contraceptive use, living with a partner, and first cohabitation age are essential determinants of unintended pregnancy. These factors should be considered when trying to reduce unintended pregnancy in six South Asian countries. However, there is a need to improve health education, counselling, skills-building, sex education, modern contraceptive use and its access in this region. Intervention programs regarding reproductive health and policies are warranted to reduce rates of unintended pregnancy in South Asian countries.
Clustering patterns of behavioural risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in Bangladeshi adolescents: A population-based study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in a low income setting in rural Bangladesh
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2019
Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-04-2020
DOI: 10.1038/S41591-020-0807-6
Abstract: A double burden of malnutrition occurs when in iduals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of % in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic.
Non-communicable disease (NCD) corners in public sector health facilities in Bangladesh: a qualitative study assessing challenges and opportunities for improving NCD services at the primary healthcare level
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2019-029562
Abstract: To explore healthcare providers’ perspective on non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and management services provided through the NCD corners in Bangladesh and to examine challenges and opportunities for strengthening NCD services delivery at the primary healthcare level. We used a grounded theory approach involving in-depth qualitative interviews with healthcare providers. We also used a health facility observation checklist to assess the NCD corners’ service readiness. Furthermore, a stakeholder meeting with participants from the government, non-government organisations (NGOs), private sector, universities and news media was conducted. Twelve subdistrict health facilities, locally known as upazila health complex (UHC), across four administrative isions. Participants for the in-depth qualitative interviews were health service providers, namely upazila health and family planning officers (n=4), resident medical officers (n=6), medical doctors (n=4) and civil surgeons (n=1). Participants for the stakeholder meeting were health policy makers, health programme managers, researchers, academicians, NGO workers, private health practitioners and news media reporters. Participants reported that diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the major NCD-related problems. All participants acknowledged the governments’ initiative to establish the NCD corners to support NCD service delivery. Participants thought the NCD corners have contributed substantially to increase NCD awareness, deliver NCD care and provide referral services. However, participants identified challenges including lack of specific guidelines and standard operating procedures lack of trained human resources inadequate laboratory facilities, logistics and medications and poor recording and reporting systems. The initiative taken by the Government of Bangladesh to set up the NCD corners at the primary healthcare level is appreciative. However, the NCD corners are still at nascent stage to provide prevention and management services for common NCDs. These findings need to be taken into consideration while expanding the NCD corners in other UHCs throughout the country.
Burden of Hypertensive Heart Disease and High Systolic Blood Pressure in Australia from 1990 to 2019: Results From the Global Burden of Diseases Study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2023
Mental health status of married women during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2022
Web-Based Interventions for Dietary Behavior in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 28-08-2020
DOI: 10.2196/16437
Abstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is among the most prevalent noncommunicable health conditions worldwide, affecting over 500 million people globally. Diet is a key aspect of T2DM management with dietary modification shown to elicit clinically meaningful outcomes such as improved glycemic control, and reductions in weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Web-based interventions provide a potentially convenient and accessible method for delivering dietary education, but its effects on dietary behavior in people with T2DM are unknown. The objective of this review was to determine the effectiveness of web-based interventions on dietary behavior change and glycemic control in people with T2DM. Per PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, systematic literature searches were performed using Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and CINAHL to retrieve papers from January 2013 to May 2019. Randomized controlled trials of web-based interventions in adults with T2DM with reported dietary assessment were included. Population and intervention characteristics, dietary guidelines and assessments, and significant clinical outcomes were extracted. Differences between groups and within groups were assessed for dietary behavior and clinical outcomes. There were 714 records screened, and five studies comprising 1056 adults were included. Studies measured dietary changes by assessing overall diet quality, changes in specific dietary components, or dietary knowledge scores. Significant improvements in dietary behavior were reported in four out of the five studies, representing healthier food choices, improvements in eating habits, reductions in carbohydrates, added sugar, sodium, saturated fat and overall fat intake, and/or increases in dietary knowledge. Three studies found significant mean reductions for hemoglobin A1c ranging from –0.3% to –0.8%, and/or weight ranging from –2.3 kg to –12.7 kg, fasting blood glucose (–1 mmol/L), waist circumference (–1 cm), and triglycerides (–60.1 mg/dL). These studies provided varied dietary recommendations from standard dietary guidelines, national health program guidelines, and a very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet. This review provided evidence that web-based interventions may be an effective way to support dietary behavior change in people with T2DM, potentially leading to changes in glycemic control and other clinical outcomes. However, the evidence should be viewed as preliminary as there were only five studies included with considerable heterogeneity in terms of the diets recommended, the dietary assessment measures used, the complexity of the interventions, and the modes and methods of delivery.
Challenges Faced by Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Inquiry From Bangladesh
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 10-08-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FPUBH.2021.647315
Abstract: Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused increasing challenges for healthcare professionals globally. However, there is a dearth of information about these challenges in many developing countries, including Bangladesh. This study aims to explore the challenges faced by healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses) during COVID-19 in Bangladesh. Methods: We conducted qualitative research among healthcare professionals of different hospitals and clinics in Khulna and Dhaka city of Bangladesh from May 2020 to August 2020. We conducted 15 in-depth telephone interviews using a snowball s ling technique. We used an in-depth interview guide as data were collected, audiotaped, and transcribed. The data were analyzed both manually and using QDA Miner software as we used thematic analysis for this study. Results: Seven themes emerged from the study. Participants experienced higher workload, psychological distress, shortage of quality personal protective equipment (PPE), social exclusion/stigmatization, lack of incentives, absence of coordination, and proper management during their service. These healthcare professionals faced difficulty coping with these challenges due to situational and organizational factors. They reported of faith in God and mutual support to be the keys to adapt to adversities. Adequate support to address the difficulties faced by healthcare professionals is necessary for an overall improved health outcome during the pandemic. Conclusion: The findings highlight the common challenges faced by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak. This implies the need to support adequate safety kits, protocols, and support for both physical and mental health of the healthcare professionals.
Exploring engagement with a web-based dietary intervention for adults with type 2 diabetes: A mixed methods evaluation of the T2Diet study
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 30-12-2020
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0279466
Abstract: Improved understanding of participant engagement in web-based dietary interventions is needed. Engagement is a complex construct that may be best explored through mixed methods to gain comprehensive insight. To our knowledge, no web-based dietary intervention in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has previously used a mixed methods approach. The aim of this study was to explore factors that may contribute to effective engagement in a web-based dietary program for people with T2D. This study employed a mixed methods intervention design, with a convergent design embedded for post-intervention evaluation. The convergent design collected and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data independent of each other, with the two datasets merged/compared during results/interpretation. Quantitative data collected from intervention group participants (n = 40) were self-administered questionnaires and usage data with average values summarized. Qualitative data were participant semi-structured interviews (n = 15) incorporating a deductive-inductive thematic analysis approach. The results from the quantitative and qualitative data indicated positive overall engagement with the web-based dietary program. Factors that contributed to effective engagement were sustained frequency and intensity of engagement structured weekly program delivery participants affective engagement prior to and during the intervention, with positive affective states enhancing cognitive and behavioral engagement and participants experience of value and reward. In addition, the user-centered development process employed prior to intervention delivery played an important role in facilitating positive engagement outcomes. This study yielded novel findings by integrating qualitative and quantitative data to explore engagement with a web-based dietary program involving people with T2D. Effective engagement occurred in this intervention through a combination of factors related to usage and participants’ affective, cognitive and behavioral states. The engagement outcomes that emerged will be useful to current and future researchers using digital technologies to deliver lifestyle interventions for T2D or other chronic health conditions.
Nutritional status in kidney transplant patients before and 6-month after transplantation: Result of PNSI study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2021
Home Blood Pressure Management Intervention in Low- to Middle-Income Countries: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 16-10-2017
DOI: 10.2196/RESPROT.7148
Examining Development Processes for Text Messaging Interventions to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: Systematic Literature Review
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 29-03-2019
DOI: 10.2196/12191
Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17: analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2020
Relationship between income generating activities of rural women and their reproductive health behavior in Bangladesh
Publisher: Rural and Remote Health
Date: 26-11-2015
DOI: 10.22605/RRH3216
Missed nursing care and related factors in Iranian hospitals: A cross‐sectional survey
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 20-06-2020
DOI: 10.1111/JONM.13055
Spatial, temporal, and demographic patterns in prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis from the Global Burd
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2021
Prevalence of tobacco use and its contributing factors among adolescents in Bangladesh: Results from a population-based study
Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Date: 10-2016
Abstract: Background: Tobacco use is an alarming public health problem worldwide and causes significant morbidity and mortality. In many developing countries tobacco use starts at a relative younger age. However, data on tobacco use among adolescents in Bangladesh is scarce. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use and its contributing factors among adolescents in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: We used data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) Bangladesh 2007 which was a school-based survey of 2,135 students aged 13-15 years in grades 7-10. Analysis: A two-stage cluster s le design was used to produce representative data for Bangladesh. At the first stage, schools were selected with probability proportional to enrollment size. At the second stage, classes were randomly selected and all students in selected classes were eligible to participate. The GYTS s le design produced representative, independent, cross-sectional estimates for Bangladesh. Results: The overall prevalence of ever cigarette smokers in Bangladeshi students was about 9%, which was more than 3 times higher in boys compared to girls (15.8% versus 4.8%). Almost 4 in 10 students start smoking before the age of 10 in Bangladesh. In addition to current cigarette smoking, another 6% also reported to use other tobacco products currently. Nine in 10 current smokers reported that they had ever received help to stop smoking. More than 4 in 10 students were exposed to smoke from other people in public places. Among current smokers, 38.3% reported that they usually buy tobacco in a store and of which 97.8% reported that they were not refused cigarette purchase because of their age. Conclusion: Implementation and enforcement of tobacco control act is an urgent public health priority in Bangladesh.
Machine learning models for classification and identification of significant attributes to detect type 2 diabetes
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-02-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S13755-021-00168-2
Abstract: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a chronic disease characterized by abnormally high blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance and reduced pancreatic insulin production. The challenge of this work is to identify T2D-associated features that can distinguish T2D sub-types for prognosis and treatment purposes. We thus employed machine learning (ML) techniques to categorize T2D patients using data from the Pima Indian Diabetes Dataset from the Kaggle ML repository. After data preprocessing, several feature selection techniques were used to extract feature subsets, and a range of classification techniques were used to analyze these. We then compared the derived classification results to identify the best classifiers by considering accuracy, kappa statistics, area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC), sensitivity, specificity, and logarithmic loss (logloss). To evaluate the performance of different classifiers, we investigated their outcomes using the summary statistics with a res ling distribution. Therefore, Generalized Boosted Regression modeling showed the highest accuracy (90.91%), followed by kappa statistics (78.77%) and specificity (85.19%). In addition, Sparse Distance Weighted Discrimination, Generalized Additive Model using LOESS and Boosted Generalized Additive Models also gave the maximum sensitivity (100%), highest AUROC (95.26%) and lowest logarithmic loss (30.98%) respectively. Notably, the Generalized Additive Model using LOESS was the top-ranked algorithm according to non-parametric Friedman testing. Of the features identified by these machine learning models, glucose levels, body mass index, diabetes pedigree function, and age were consistently identified as the best and most frequently accurate outcome predictors. These results indicate the utility of ML methods in constructing improved prediction models for T2D and successfully identified outcome predictors for this Pima Indian population.
Global, regional, and national mortality among young people aged 10–24 years, 1950–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2021
A Bluetooth-enabled Device for Real-time Detection of Sitting, Standing and Walking: A Validation Study (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 09-03-2023
DOI: 10.2196/47157
Implementation of information and communication technologies for health in Bangladesh
Publisher: WHO Press
Date: 31-08-2015
Validation and Acceptability of a Cuffless Wrist-Worn Wearable Blood Pressure Monitoring Device Among Users and Health Care Professionals: Mixed Methods Study
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 14-09-2019
DOI: 10.2196/14706
Abstract: Blood pressure (BP) is an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, yet its long-term monitoring remains problematic. Wearable cuffless devices enable the capture of multiple BP measures during everyday activities and could improve BP monitoring, but little is known about their validity or acceptability. This study aimed to validate a wrist-worn cuffless wearable BP device (Model T2 TMART Technologies Limited) and assess its acceptability among users and health care professionals. A mixed methods study was conducted to examine the validity and comparability of a wearable cuffless BP device against ambulatory and home devices. BP was measured simultaneously over 24 hours using wearable and ambulatory devices and over 7 days using wearable and home devices. Pearson correlation coefficients compared the degree of association between the measures, and limits of agreement (LOA Bland-Altman plots) were generated to assess measurement bias. Semistructured interviews were conducted with users and 10 health care professionals to assess acceptability, facilitators, and barriers to using the wearable device. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. A total of 9090 BP measurements were collected from 20 healthy volunteers (mean 20.3 years, SD 5.4 N=10 females). Mean (SD) systolic BP (SBP)/diastolic BP (DBP) measured using the ambulatory (24 hours), home (7 days), and wearable (7 days) devices were 126 (SD 10)/75 (SD 6) mm Hg, 112 (SD 10)/71 (SD 9) mm Hg and 125 (SD 4)/77 (SD 3) mm Hg, respectively. Mean (LOA) biases and precision between the wearable and ambulatory devices over 24 hours were 0.5 (−10.1 to 11.1) mm Hg for SBP and 2.24 (−17.6 to 13.1) mm Hg for DBP. The mean biases (LOA) and precision between the wearable and home device over 7 days were −12.7 (−28.7 to 3.4) mm Hg for SBP and −5.6 (−20.5 to 9.2) mm Hg for DBP. The wearable BP device was well accepted by participants who found the device easy to wear and use. Both participants and health care providers agreed that the wearable cuffless devices were easy to use and that they could be used to improve BP monitoring. Wearable BP measures compared well against a gold-standard ambulatory device, indicating potential for this user-friendly method to augment BP management, particularly by enabling long-term monitoring that could improve treatment titration and increase understanding of users’ BP response during daily activity and stressors.
Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2021
Defining a low carbohydrate diet: Proposal for a standardized consensus of carbohydrate intake (Carb-Cal Model)
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2020
COVID-19 and physical inactivity: Teetering on the edge of a deadlier pandemic?
Publisher: International Global Health Society
Date: 02-2021
In reply: 'multiple etiologies explain the association between sarcoidosis and diabetes mellitus'.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-02-2022
Temporal Pattern of CABG and PCI after Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Among Elderly Patients from NHDS.
Publisher: Cureus, Inc.
Date: 29-01-2020
DOI: 10.7759/CUREUS.6814
Insufficient Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors among Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 29-09-2021
Abstract: Background: The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in social distancing and isolation which leads to insufficient physical activity and thereby increases sedentary behaviors. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviors among medical students during the COVID-19 lockdown in Pakistan, and to determine their associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was carried out among 407 medical students from the Punjab and Sindh provinces between May and June 2020. To collect data, an e-questionnaire was sent to obtain informed consent along with questions concerning socio-demographics as well as an International Physical Activity Questionnaires–Short Form (IPAQ–SF). Results: As per the IPAQ, almost five in ten participants were physically inactive (48.2%), and 45.2% reported sedentary behaviors. Participants with insufficient physical activity were more likely to report sedentary behaviors than their counterparts (AOR = 2.53 95% CI = 1.66–3.85, p 0.001). The odds of insufficient physical activity were higher among the participants who did not strictly follow the COVID-19 preventive measures (AOR = 2.51 95% CI = 1.35–4.69, p = 0.004) similarly, there were increased odds of sedentary behaviors observed among participants within a normal weight range compared to those who were underweight (AOR = 2.69 95% CI = 1.76–4.11, p 0.001). Conclusions: Insufficient physical activity and sedentary behavior are prevalent among medical students in Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings indicate the importance of establishing tailored policies and programs to encourage young adults to engage in physical activity.
Measuring universal health coverage based on an index of effective coverage of health services in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Social media use is associated with sleep duration and disturbance among adolescents in Bangladesh
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2019
COVID-19 Related Psychological Distress, Fear and Coping: Identification of High-Risk Groups in Bangladesh
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 13-08-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FPSYT.2021.718654
Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed psychological distress and fear across the globe however, factors associated with those issues or the ways people cope may vary by country or context. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies for people living in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in August-September 2020 using online platforms in Bangladesh. People residing in Bangladesh, aged ≥18 years, who were proficient in English and able to respond to online questionnaire. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was used to assess the psychological stress. Level of fear was assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and strategies to cope were assessed using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Results: Of the 962 participants, half of them were aged between 30 and 59 years. Being born in Bangladesh, having graduate education, perceived distress due to employment change, effect of COVID-19 on financial situation, having multiple comorbidities, and visiting a healthcare provider in the last 4 weeks were associated with higher levels of both psychological distress and fear of COVID-19. Furthermore, higher psychological distress was associated with being a female (AOR 1.81, 95% CI 1.33–2.47, p & 0.001), being a frontline worker (AOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.04–2.15, p & 0.05), having pre-existing psychiatric problems (AOR 4.03, 95% CI 1.19–13.7, p & 0.05), being a smoker (AOR 2.02, 95% CI 1.32–3.09, p & 0.01), providing care to a known/suspected COVID-19 patient (AOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.40–2.72, p & 0.001), having a recent overseas travel history and being in self-quarantine (AOR 4.59, 95% CI 1.23–17.2, p & 0.05), self-isolation without COVID-19 (AOR 2.63, 95% CI 1.68–4.13, p & 0.001) or being COVID-19 positive (AOR 2.53, 95% CI 1.19–5.34, p & 0.05), and having high levels of fear of COVID-19 (AOR 3.27, 95% CI 2.29–4.66, p & 0.001). A higher level of fear was associated with moderate to high levels of psychological distress (AOR 3.29, 95% CI 2.31–4.69, p & 0.001). People with pre-existing mental health problems were less likely to be resilient (AOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.11–0.54, p & 0.01), whereas those with having an income were more likely to be resilient (AOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.02–2.11, p & 0.05). Conclusion: Effective interventions to support the vulnerable groups including improved access to mental health services are of utmost importance during the pandemic.
COVID-19: Factors Associated with the Psychological Distress, Fear and Resilient Coping Strategies among Community Members in Saudi Arabia
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-04-2023
DOI: 10.3390/HEALTHCARE11081184
Abstract: (1) Background: COVID-19 caused the worst international public health crisis, accompanied by major global economic downturns and mass-scale job losses, which impacted the psychosocial wellbeing of the worldwide population, including Saudi Arabia. Evidence of the high-risk groups impacted by the pandemic has been non-existent in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study examined factors associated with psychosocial distress, fear of COVID-19 and coping strategies among the general population in Saudi Arabia. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in healthcare and community settings in the Saudi Arabia using an anonymous online questionnaire. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) were used to assess psychological distress, fear and coping strategies, respectively. Multivariate logistic regressions were used, and an Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) was reported. (3) Results: Among 803 participants, 70% (n = 556) were females, and the median age was 27 years 35% (n = 278) were frontline or essential service workers and 24% (n = 195) reported comorbid conditions including mental health illness. Of the respondents, 175 (21.8%) and 207 (25.8%) reported high and very high psychological distress, respectively. Factors associated with moderate to high levels of psychological distress were: youth, females, non-Saudi nationals, those experiencing a change in employment or a negative financial impact, having comorbidities, and current smoking. A high level of fear was reported by 89 participants (11.1%), and this was associated with being ex-smokers (3.72, 1.14–12.14, 0.029) and changes in employment (3.42, 1.91–6.11, 0.000). A high resilience was reported by 115 participants (14.3%), and 333 participants (41.5%) had medium resilience. Financial impact and contact with known/suspected cases (1.63, 1.12–2.38, 0.011) were associated with low, medium, to high resilient coping. (4) Conclusions: People in Saudi Arabia were at a higher risk of psychosocial distress along with medium-high resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, warranting urgent attention from healthcare providers and policymakers to provide specific mental health support strategies for their current wellbeing and to avoid a post-pandemic mental health crisis.
Effects of COVID-19 on maternal institutional delivery: Fear of a rise in maternal mortality
Publisher: International Global Health Society
Date: 03-2021
Factors influencing place of delivery: Evidence from three south-Asian countries
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 08-04-2021
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0250012
Abstract: High maternal mortality is still a significant public health challenge in many countries of the South-Asian region. The majority of maternal deaths occur due to pregnancy and delivery-related complications, which can mostly be prevented by safe facility delivery. Due to the paucity of existing evidence, our study aimed to examine the factors associated with place of delivery, including women’s preferences for such in three selected South-Asian countries. We extracted data from the most recent demographic and health surveys (DHS) conducted in Bangladesh (2014), Nepal (2016), and Pakistan (2017–18) and analyzed to identify the association between the outcome variable and socio-demographic characteristics. A total of 16,429 women from Bangladesh (4278 mean age 24.57 years), Nepal (3962 mean age 26.35 years), and Pakistan (8189 mean age 29.57 years) were included in this study. Following descriptive analyses, bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted. Overall, the prevalence of facility-based delivery was 40%, 62%, and 69% in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, respectively. Inequity in utilizing facility-based delivery was observed for women in the highest wealth quintile. Participants from Urban areas, educated, middle and upper household economic status, and with high antenatal care (ANC) visits were significantly associated with facility-based delivery in all three countries. Interestingly, watching TV was also found as a strong determinant for facility-based delivery in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI:1.09–1.56, P = 0.003), Nepal (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI:1.20–1.67, P .001) and Pakistan (aOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.03–1.32, P = 0.013). Higher education of husband was a significant predictor for facility delivery in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.73, 95% CI:1.27–2.35, P = 0.001) and Pakistan (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.99–1.43, P = 0.065) husband’s occupation was also a significant factor in Bangladesh (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI:1.04–1.61, P = 0.020) and Nepal (aOR = 1.26, 95% CI:1.01–1.58, P = 0.041). Our findings suggest that the educational status of both women and their husbands, household economic situation, and the number of ANC visits influenced the place of delivery. There is an urgent need to promote facility delivery by building more birthing facilities, training and deployment of skilled birth attendants in rural and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring compulsory female education for all women, encouraging more ANC visits, and providing financial incentives for facility deliveries. There is a need to promote facility delivery by encouraging health facility visits through utilizing social networks and continuing mass media c aigns. Ensuring adequate Government funding for free maternal and newborn health care and local community involvement is crucial for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and achieving sustainable development goals in this region.
Innovative approaches to strengthening health systems in low- and middle-income countries: Current models, developments, and challenges
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
Mapping disparities in education across low- and middle-income countries
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-12-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41586-019-1872-1
Abstract: Educational attainment is an important social determinant of maternal, newborn, and child health 1–3 . As a tool for promoting gender equity, it has gained increasing traction in popular media, international aid strategies, and global agenda-setting 4–6 . The global health agenda is increasingly focused on evidence of precision public health, which illustrates the subnational distribution of disease and illness 7,8 however, an agenda focused on future equity must integrate comparable evidence on the distribution of social determinants of health 9–11 . Here we expand on the available precision SDG evidence by estimating the subnational distribution of educational attainment, including the proportions of in iduals who have completed key levels of schooling, across all low- and middle-income countries from 2000 to 2017. Previous analyses have focused on geographical disparities in average attainment across Africa or for specific countries, but—to our knowledge—no analysis has examined the subnational proportions of in iduals who completed specific levels of education across all low- and middle-income countries 12–14 . By geolocating subnational data for more than 184 million person-years across 528 data sources, we precisely identify inequalities across geography as well as within populations.
Population based cancer registry in the developing countries: A first step towards cancer control programs and research
Publisher: Medknow
Date: 2015
Injecting Drug Users and Their Health Seeking Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Study in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1155/2015/756579
Abstract: Introduction and Aim. Injecting drug users (IDUs) are amongst the most vulnerable people to acquisition of HIV/AIDS. This study aims to collect information on IDUs and their health seeking behavior in Bangladesh. Design and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 IDUs attending a drug rehabilitation center in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected on sociodemographics, drug use, health seeking behavior, knowledge of injecting drugs, and sexual behavior. Results. The mean ± SD and median (IQR) age of the participants were 32.5 ± 21.3 and 33 (27–38) years, respectively, with only 9.2% females. Injection buprenorphine was the drug of choice for 40% of participants, and 58% of the participants first started drug use with smoking cannabis. 73.3% of participants shared needles sometimes and 57.5% were willing to use the needle exchange programs. 60% of the participants had no knowledge about the diseases spread by injection. Condom use during the last intercourse with regular partners was 11.7% and with any partners 15.8%. Conclusion. IDUs in Bangladesh are a high-risk group for HIV/AIDS due to lack of knowledge and risky behaviors. Education and interventions specifically aimed at IDUs are needed, because traditional education may not reach IDUs or influence their behavior.
Development of an Android Mobile Application for Reducing Sitting Time and Increasing Walking Time in People with Type 2 Diabetes
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 19-08-2022
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS202208.0356.V1
Abstract: Breaking up prolonged sitting by short bouts of light physical activities including standing and walking has been shown to be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This paper presents the development of an android mobile app to deliver a just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) to reduce sedentary time in people with T2D. A total of six design workshops were conducted with seven experts to identify design requirements, a behavioural framework, and required contextual adaptations for the development of a bespoke mobile app (iMOVE). Moreover, a focus group was conducted among people with T2D as potential end-users (N=10) to ascertain their perceptions of the app. Feedback from the focus group was used in subsequent iterations of the iMOVE app. Data were analysed using an inductive qualitative thematic analysis. Based on workshops, key features of iMOVE were developed, including simplicity (e.g., navigation, login), colours and font sizes, push notifications, messaging algorithms and a triggering system for breaking up sitting time and moving more. Based on the user testing results, a goal setting tab was added, font sizes were made larger, the brightness of colours was reduced, and a colour indicator was used to indicate device connectivity with an activity tracker. A user-centric app was developed to support people with T2D to transition from sedentary to active lifestyles.
Smart Home Technology Solutions for Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 27-05-2022
DOI: 10.3390/ASI5030051
Abstract: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality globally. Despite improvement in therapies, people with CVD lack support for monitoring and managing their condition at home and out of hospital settings. Smart Home Technologies have potential to monitor health status and support people with CVD in their homes. We explored the Smart Home Technologies available for CVD monitoring and management in people with CVD and acceptance of the available technologies to end-users. We systematically searched four databases, namely Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and IEEE, from 1990 to 2020 (search date 18 March 2020). “Smart-Home” was defined as a system using integrated sensor technologies. We included studies using sensors, such as wearable and non-wearable devices, to capture vital signs relevant to CVD at home settings and to transfer the data using communication systems, including the gateway. We categorised the articles for parameters monitored, communication systems and data sharing, end-user applications, regulations, and user acceptance. The initial search yielded 2462 articles, and the elimination of duplicates resulted in 1760 articles. Of the 36 articles eligible for full-text screening, we selected five Smart Home Technology studies for CVD management with sensor devices connected to a gateway and having a web-based user interface. We observed that the participants of all the studies were people with heart failure. A total of three main categories—Smart Home Technology for CVD management, user acceptance, and the role of regulatory agencies—were developed and discussed. There is an imperative need to monitor CVD patients’ vital parameters regularly. However, limited Smart Home Technology is available to address CVD patients’ needs and monitor health risks. Our review suggests the need to develop and test Smart Home Technology for people with CVD. Our findings provide insights and guidelines into critical issues, including Smart Home Technology for CVD management, user acceptance, and regulatory agency’s role to be followed when designing, developing, and deploying Smart Home Technology for CVD.
Healthcare use and expenditure for diabetes in Bangladesh
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 2017
Utilization of Social Media Communities for Caregiver Information Support in Stroke Recovery: An Analysis of Content and Interactions
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 10-2021
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS202110.0015.V1
Abstract: Background: Caregivers often use the internet to access information related to stroke care to improve preparedness, thereby reducing uncertainty and enhancing the quality of care. Method: Social media communities used by caregivers of people affected by stroke were identified using popular keywords searched for using Google. Communities were filtered based on their ability to provide support to caregivers. Data from the included communities were extracted and analysed to determine the content and level of interaction. Results: There was a significant rise in the use of social media by caregivers of people affected by stroke. The most popular social media communities were charitable and governmental organizations with the highest user interaction & ndash this was for topics related to stroke prevention, signs and symptoms, and caregiver self-care delivered through video-based resources. Conclusion: Findings show the ability of social media to support stroke caregiver needs and practices that should be considered to increase their interaction and support.
Measuring routine childhood vaccination coverage in 204 countries and territories, 1980–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020, Release 1
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2021
Related Organisations
International Centre For Diarrhoeal Disease Research
Location: Bangladesh
United Nations Development Programme
Location: United States of America
Related Funding Activities
No related grants have been discovered for Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam.