Chronic Non-communicable Diseases Research Articles

Association of depression and anxiety with uncontrolled hypertension: A cross-sectional study in Southwest Nigeria

Background: Hypertension is a medical condition of public health concern that increases the risk of chronic noncommunicable diseases and mortalities. In recent years, understanding its coexistence with other comorbidities has been the focus of better management. However, the relationship between hypertension and depression or anxiety has been contentious issue, with diverse findings reported by different studies. Understanding this relationship will be crucial for blood pressure control and reducing the mortality associated with hypertension. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the association between depression or anxiety and hypertension control. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 321 hypertensive patients accessing care in two hospitals. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The relationship between blood pressure control and depression or anxiety was assessed using binary logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of depression and anxiety was 12.1% and 23.1%, respectively. Up to 261 (81.3%) participants had uncontrolled blood pressure. Of these 261 participants, 14.2% and 23.4% had depression and anxiety, respectively. Depression was associated with an increased risk of uncontrolled blood pressure after adjusting for sex, smoking cigarettes, age, marital status, and exercise (odds ratio (OR) = 7.751, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.79–43.4, P = 0.011). Conclusion: Depression appears to be independently associated with an increased risk of uncontrolled blood pressure. It is therefore relevant for healthcare providers to assess for depression in patients with hypertension to ensure better hypertensive control.

Canasta básica de alimentos con enfoque nutricional: una revisión narrativa

Malnutrition and non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) have reached pandemic level. Promoting a healthy diet is key to curbing the rise of obesity and preventing NCDs. Basic food baskets with a nutritional focus (BFBNF) can complement policies aimed at combating obesity and NCDs in favor of healthy diets. The objective of this work is to review the available literature to compile and analyze evidence regarding BFBNF. There is significant heterogeneity in the approach and design of these baskets. Food grouping varies and depends on factors such as culture and purchasing power. Price, seasonal production, and political will are crucial for countries to develop a healthy food basket. The Latin American and Caribbean region has limited development in terms of BFBNF, which is essential for facilitating access to healthy diets. BFBNF is also useful for designing food and nutrition education programs and informing the design of food and nutrition programs.

The role of inflammatory markers and growth factors in progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes mellitus

Introduction: A Diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are two chronic non-communicable diseases that have exceeded epidemic thresholds in all countries of the world. The problem of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of CKD continues to be relevant for modern medicine, and assessment of the severity of CKD and associated cardiovascular complications is of great practical importance for primary and secondary prevention. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the role of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in progression of CKD in patients with DM. Patients and Methods: We screened 155 type 2 DM patients aged 65.00 (55.00-71.00) years. Control group included 21 healthy people with the same age. Renal function was assessed based on the levels of serum creatinine, cystatin C, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which was calculated according to the CKD-EPI (chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration) equation, and albuminuria, which was assessed as albumin/creatinine ratio (A/C). The analysis of serum and urine biomarkers was carried out by enzyme immunoassay using commercial test systems. Results: Patients with DM had significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in comparison with the control group. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES), MIG, CRP, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and homocysteine gradually increased with decreasing GFR. According to the results of univariate linear regression analysis, there were significant relationships between the levels of VEGF-A, FGF-23, RANTES, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), MIG, CRP, hs-CRP, IL-6 and renal function. By multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors, serum creatinine was significantly correlated with FGF-23 (β=0.40, P<0.001) and Il-6 (β=0.29, P<0.001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the important role of growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines in the development and progression of CKD in DM. However, despite these data, the pathogenesis of diabetic changes in the kidneys remains not fully understood and, in order to clarify the possibility of pathogenetic influences on the progression of diabetic nephropathy, it is necessary to study various aspects of its development, including genetic factors.

Systemic Immune Modulation by Gastrointestinal Nematodes.

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection has applied significant evolutionary pressure to the mammalian immune system and remains a global economic and human health burden. Upon infection, type 2 immune sentinels activate a common antihelminth response that mobilizes and remodels the intestinal tissue for effector function; however, there is growing appreciation of the impact GIN infection also has on the distal tissue immune state. Indeed, this effect is observed even in tissues through which GINs never transit. This review highlights how GIN infection modulates systemic immunity through (a) induction of host resistance and tolerance responses, (b) secretion of immunomodulatory products, and (c) interaction with the intestinal microbiome. It also discusses the direct consequences that changes to distal tissue immunity can have for concurrent and subsequent infection, chronic noncommunicable diseases, and vaccination efficacy. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Immunology, Volume 42 is April 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

CircLZIC regulates ox-LDL-induced HUVEC cell proliferation and apoptosis via Micro-330-5p/NOTCH2 axis in atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a major chronic non-communicable disease and a primary cause of cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have shown that circRNAs are potential epigenetic factors that regulate vascular endothelial inflammatory responses and AS progression. Therefore, identification of the circRNAs that regulate ox-LDL levels is a critical step to understanding the pathology of AS. Our study is aim to investigate how circLZIC regulates atherosclerosis (AS) via the Micro-330-5p/NOTCH2 regulatory axis. The results showed that CircLZIC and NOTCH2 are highly expressed in human AS clinical samples, while Micro-330-5p is expressed locally. The CCK-8 experiment results showed that circLZIC promotes the proliferation of HUVECS cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that circLZIC act as an inhibitor of HUVEC cell apoptosis. The expression level of Micro-330-5p can be up-regulated by transfection of small interfering RNA against circLZIC. Further, Starbase predicted that Micro-330-5p could target and regulate NOTCH2. Next, we confirmed that overexpression of Micro-330-5p could significantly reduce the expression of fluorescein using the double Luciferase reporter assay. RIP-qRT-PCR experiment showed that Micro-330-5p and NOTCH2 mRNAs are effectively enriched by ago2 protein. Further, we found that knocking down circLZIC increases the expression of Micro-330-5p and promotes cell apoptosis, while inhibiting the expression of NOTCH2 and cell activity. On the other hand, co-transfection of Micro-330-5p inhibitor decreases Micro-330-5p expression and inhibit cell apoptosis, while increasing NOTCH2 expression and cell activity. In conclusion, CircLZIC regulates HUVEC cell activity by the Micro-330-5p/NOTCH2 signaling pathway, suggesting that circLZIC plays a key role in atherosclerosis development.

Interventions of Brazil's more doctors program through continuing education for Primary Health Care.

Brazil's More Doctors Program, in its training axis, aims to improve medical training for Primary Health Care through interventions related to the reality of the territory. The research presented here analyzed the interventions implemented by Brazil's More Doctors Program physicians, members of the Family Health Continuing Education Program, and the relationship with Primary Health Care programmatic actions. The research conducted made use of Text and Data Mining and content analysis. In total, 2,159 reports of interventions from 942 final papers were analyzed. The analysis process was composed of the formation of the corpus; exploration of the materials through text mining; and analysis of the results by inference and interpretation. It was observed that 57% of the physicians worked in the Northeast Region, which was also the region with the most interventions (66.8%). From the analysis of the bigrams, trigrams, and quadrigrams, four constructs were formed: "women's health," "child health," "chronic non-communicable diseases," and "mental health." Terms related to improving access, quality of care, teamwork, and reception were also present among the N-grams. The interventions carried out are under the programmatic actions recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health for Primary Health Care, also addressing cross-cutting aspects such as Reception, Teamwork, Access Improvement, and Quality of Care, which suggests that the training experience in the Family Health Continuing Education Program reflects on the way these professionals act.

Role of innate host defense proteins in oral cancerogenesis.

It is nowadays well accepted that chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in tumor initiation and progression. Under this aspect, the oral cavity is predestined to examine this connection because periodontitis is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease and oral squamous cell carcinomas are the most common oral malignant lesions. In this review, we describe how particular molecules of the human innate host defense system may participate as molecular links between these two important chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Specific focus is directed toward antimicrobial polypeptides, such as the cathelicidin LL-37 and human defensins, as well as S100 proteins and alarmins. We report in which way these peptides and proteins are able to initiate and support oral tumorigenesis, showing direct mechanisms by binding to growth-stimulating cell surface receptors and/or indirect effects, for example, inducing tumor-promoting genes. Finally, bacterial challenges with impact on oral cancerogenesis are briefly addressed.

Dietary behaviors of rural residents in northeastern China: implications for designing intervention information and targeting high-risk population.

Dietary behavior is a pivotal modifiable determinant in reducing the occurrence of obesity/overweight and chronic non-communicable diseases. Improving the dietary behavior of rural residents in China is imminent due to the poor performance of their dietary behavior. Nutrition knowledge and health literacy are considered as elements that are linked intimately to healthy dietary behaviors but lack research in the Chinese setting. The study is designed to explore the relationship between nutritional knowledge, health literacy and dietary behaviors and to analyze the performance under different demographic characteristics. A face-to-face survey of 400 rural residents on their nutrition knowledge, functional health literacy and dietary intake of five food categories consisting of 32 items was conducted based on a validated questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, difference test including ANOVA, t-test and non-parametric test, and multivariate linear regression were used for data analysis. The results indicate that declarative nutrition knowledge, individuals' information application capacity, and dietary behaviors, especially the intake of fruits, dairy and beans, and vegetable are not ideal and requires improvement. Male, elder, low-income, unmarried, and low-education populations performed significantly worse and were the high-risk group. Procedural nutrition knowledge, information access capacity, information understanding capacity, and information application capacity have remarkable effects on better dietary behavior. This study provides evidence-based guidance for prioritizing information and populations for healthy dietary interventions.

Reduced fat and sugar cakes developed by protein/polysaccharide/licorice extract ternary gel-like foams

Reduced sugar and fat products are increasingly in demand due to the link between excessive consumption of these substances and chronic noncommunicable diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to produce a low-calorie cake by replacing sugar and fat with whey protein isolate/sodium alginate/licorice extract ternary foam at three substitution levels of 0 %, 25 %, and 50 %. As the amount of foam used as a replacement increased, there were marked decreases in batter viscosity (5.29–2.64 Pa s) and density (1.13–0.88 g cm−3), as well as in the cake's fat (8.91–4.73 g/100 g), carbohydrate (67.92–47.09 g/100 g), specific volume (3.13–1.76 mL g−1), calories (371.37–252.57 kcal/100 g), and porosity (10.25–5.05 %). On the other hand, moisture and water activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) with the increase of foam replacement. In terms of crust color, a* decreased while L* and b* increased remarkably. The cake samples with 0 % and 50 % substitution levels had the lowest and highest values for hardness (0.76 vs. 2.38 N), cohesiveness, and chewiness, respectively. The sensory evaluation results showed that the sample with a 25 % substitution level was more similar to the control sample. This suggests that foam can be used as a substitute for sugar and fat to produce a healthier product.

Problematic issues and development of classifications of the main parameters of quality and adherence to pharmacotherapy. Part II: physician adherence to clinical guidelines and official drug labels

The second publication is presented, devoted to the classification of the main parameters of quality and adherence to pharmacotherapy. Despite the fact that patients play a central role in the problem of medical adherence, the role of attending physicians is extremely significant both in prescribing/non-prescribing proven effective and safe therapy, and in influencing patient medical adherence. This led to the identification of a special commitment type — the physician adherence to the basic principles of rational treatment. Collection, analysis and systematization of information, as well as the related development of a classification of physician adherence/non-adherence were the aim of this review and analytical work. We searched data using keywords among Russian and English-­language sources. When compiling the classification, categories of adherence/non-adherence were identified in accordance with the implementation by physicians of the main provisions of clinical guidelines for long-term therapy for patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as well as following official drug labels reflecting data on clinical pharmacology, the main side effects, drug-drug interactions. The classification of physician adherence/non-adherence to implementing the principles of rational treatment of patients with NCDs can be used in the development of electronic medical decision support systems for providing therapy with proven effectiveness and safety in specific clinical situations. In addition, on the basis of the developed classification, checklists for monitoring by healthcare specialists of the implementation of the rational treatment of patients with chronic NCDs should be created.

A Clustering Study of Dietary Patterns and Physical Activity among Workers of the Uruguayan State Electrical Company.

Recent studies have shown that certain nutrients, specific food groups, or general dietary patterns (DPs) can promote health and prevent noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCCDs). Both developed and developing countries experience a high prevalence of NCCDs due to poor lifestyle habits, DPs, and low physical activity levels. This study aims to examine the dietary, physical activity, sociodemographic, and lifestyle patterns of Uruguayan State Electrical Company workers (the IN-UTE study). A total of 2194 workers participated in the study, providing information about their sociodemographics, lifestyles, and dietary habits through different questionnaires. To identify DPs from 16 food groups, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. A hierarchical cluster algorithm was used to combine food groups and sociodemographic/lifestyle variables. Four DPs were extracted from the data; the first DP was related to the intake of energy-dense foods, the second DP to the characteristics of the job, the third DP to a Mediterranean-style diet, and the fourth DP to age and body mass index. In addition, cluster analysis involving a larger number of lifestyle variables produced similar results to the PCA. Lifestyle and sociodemographic factors, including night work, working outside, and moderate and intense PA, were significantly correlated with the dietary clusters, suggesting that working conditions, socioeconomic status, and PA may play an important role in determining DPs to some extent. Accordingly, these findings should be used to design lifestyle interventions to reverse the appearance of unhealthy DPs in the UTE population.

Modulation of the gut microbiome and Firmicutes phylum reduction by a nutraceutical blend in the obesity mouse model and overweight humans: A double-blind clinical trial.

Overweight and obesity are closely linked to gut dysbiosis/dysmetabolism and disrupted De-Ritis ratio [aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio], which may contribute to chronic noncommunicable diseases onset. Concurrently, extensive research explores nutraceuticals, and health-enhancing supplements, for disease prevention or treatment. Thus, sedentary overweight volunteers were double-blind randomized into two groups: Novel Nutraceutical_(S) (without silymarin) and Novel Nutraceutical (with silymarin). Experimental formulations were orally administered twice daily over 180 consecutive days. We evaluated fecal gut microbiota, based on partial 16S rRNA sequences, biochemistry and endocrine markers, steatosis biomarker (AST/ALT ratio), and anthropometric parameters. Post-supplementation, only the Novel Nutraceutical group reduced Clostridium clostridioforme (Firmicutes), Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B ratio), and De-Ritis ratio, while elevating Bacteroides caccae and Bacteroides uniformis (Bacteroidetes) in Brazilian sedentary overweight volunteers after 180 days. In summary, the results presented here allow us to suggest the gut microbiota as the action mechanism of the Novel Nutraceutical promoting metabolic hepatic recovery in obesity/overweight non-drug interventions.

Prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients attending antiretroviral therapy clinic at Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Central Ethiopia

Depression is the most frequently detected and preventable mental illness among people with human immunodeficiency syndrome, with rates two to four times higher than in the general population. Currently, depression is estimated to affect 350 million people worldwide. To assess the prevalence of depression and associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients attending antiretroviral therapy clinic at Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Central Ethiopia. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 01 to September 30, 2021, at Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia. A total of 420 individuals were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. After informed consent was obtained from each study participant, data were collected through face-to-face interviews, observations, and document reviews. Subsequently, the data were entered into EPI-Info Version 7 and analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21. Variables with p-values less than 0.25 in the univariable logistic regression analysis were subsequently included in the multivariable logistic regression analysis to account for potential confounding factors. The association was measured using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and variables with p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The prevalence of depression was 52.4% (95% CI 47.6–57.1). Factors significantly associated with depression among HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy included employment status [AOR = 0.22(95% CI 0.13–0.36)], the patient’s most CD4 count [AOR = 6.99 (95% CI 2.81–17.38)], duration of months on antiretroviral therapy [AOR = 5.05 (95% CI 2.38–10.74)] and presence of chronic non-communicable diseases [AOR = 7.90 (95% CI 4.21–14.85)]. The highest proportion of HIV-positive patients taking antiretroviral drugs exhibited depression. Employment was identified as a preventive factor, whereas having a low CD4 count, recently initiating antiretroviral therapy, and having chronic non-communicable diseases were associated with increased odds of depression among HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy. There need to strengthen mental health screening and treat depression among HIV-positive patients, particularly by targeting identified factors.

Propolis extract supplementation in the complementary treatment of adults and elderly with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a systematic review of clinical trial

Background &amp; aims: bee products, such as propolis, have important natural properties to help reduce the risk of chronic noncommunicable diseases. Therefore, the objective of this review was to determine whether propolis intake helps to improve laboratory and anthropometrics indicators related to metabolic changes in type 2 Diabetes mellitus. Methods: systematic review of randomized clinical trials, published between 2000 and 2021, in Pubmed, Lilacs and SciELO databases, which indicated significant effects of propolis on laboratory indicators related to glycemic homeostasis, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status. The articles were obtained according to the model recommended by PRISMA. After general analysis, protocols were used to assess the quality of evidence, using the Jadad scale, Consort and Cochrane. Results: glycemic homeostasis was evaluated using the following laboratory indicators: HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, fructosamine, fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin. Significant changes in fasting glucose, 2-hour postprandial glucose were indicated in 71.43% of the studies. The antioxidant potential of propolis was evaluated in 71.43% of clinical trials. There was a significant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines, an increase in catalase activity and an increase in the antioxidant capacity of glutathione. The lipid profile was analyzed in 42.86% of the studies, indicating significant changes in total, LDL and HDL cholesterol. Conclusion: propolis can be considered an aggregating alternative for the conventional treatment of type 2 Diabetes mellitus. However, this food supplement is not a “miraculous” product, which eliminates the need for changes in lifestyle, including eating habits and regular physical activity, as well as the use of drugs, when necessary.

INTEGRATIVE NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT EPIGENETICS TRANSGENERATIONAL EFFECTS AND LIFE HISTORY THEORY

This review describes how nutritional assessment and anamnesis questionnaires can be helped by information from research that addresses transgenerational epigenetic effects and life history theory (LHT) in the prevention and treatments of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The connection between these fields of biological studies allows for better preventive clarification of individual needs through interaction: environment, epigenetics, life strategy pathways and their impacts on the organism’s functions, such as growth, maintenance, reproduction and immunological defense, associated with risks that predispose to chronic diseases.

Research Progress in Self‐Powered Pressure Sensors for Internet of Healthcare

AbstractTo mitigate the risks posed by noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs) to human health, the Internet of Healthcare (IoH) requires sensors with real‐time and long‐term monitoring capabilities. However, traditional pressure sensors, due to their high‐power consumption and non‐rechargeability, are unbale to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of physiological monitoring devices in the IoH. The emergence of self‐powered pressure sensing technology, exemplified by nanogenerators, provides a new strategy for the next generation of wearable health monitoring devices. This review begins by discussing the merits and drawbacks of different pressure‐sensing modes for healthcare monitoring. Then, it introduces the development and working mechanism of self‐powered triboelectric and piezoelectric sensors. Furthermore, it summarizes the optimizations of sensor structure and material selection aimed at improving sensing performance and achieving high accuracy in sensor networks within the IoH. Relevant application based on independent, or hybrid mechanisms are also covered. Finally, the challenges and prospects for achieving large‐scale commercial applications of self‐power sensing system in IoH are discussed.

The effect of turmeric and black pepper powder incorporated in breakfast on postprandial glycemia, appetite, palatability, and gastrointestinal well-being in normal-weight adults.

Culinary herbs and spices are primarily known as flavor enhancers, research suggests that black pepper (Piper nigrum) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) have now been proven to prevent many non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes. Bioactive components of black pepper and turmeric ameliorate glucose metabolism and appetite regulation. The present research was designed to investigate the impact of turmeric and black pepper on blood glycemia, gastrointestinal well-being, appetite, and palatability. In a randomized crossover study, four iso-caloric experimental meals each having 50 g of available carbohydrates were subjected to healthy human participants (N = 20). Turmeric and black pepper were incorporated in the breakfast meal, 1 g black pepper (BP), 1 g turmeric (TR), and combination of the (BP + TR) was added in the breakfast. Standard questionnaires were used to evaluate palatability, subjective appetite, and gastrointestinal well-being. Blood glycemia, subjective gastrointestinal well-being, and appetite were measured at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min. Experimental meals BP and BP + TR resulted in lower blood glycemia (p < .05) significantly compared to control meal. A decrease in perceived eating ability and hunger, and an increase in satiety after BP + TR and BP meal was observed. No significant changes were observed after consuming test meals on gastrointestinal well-being. Compared to control and BP + TR meals, BP and TR meals had considerably lower palatability. Results showed that compared to the control intake of starchy meals supplemented with black pepper and turmeric reduced postprandial glycemia, hunger, and perceived eating ability without affecting gastrointestinal well-being.

Prevalence of Chronic Non-Communicable Respiratory Diseases in Mosul City

Introduction: Chronic non-communicable respiratory diseases (CNCRDs) encompass a group of conditions affecting the airways and lung structures, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema, allergic rhinitis, asthma, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and cystic fibrosis. CNCRDs pose a significant global health challenge, resulting in approximately four million deaths annually. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors associated with CNCRDs and measure trends in the prevalence of these risk factors over time. Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted using data collected from primary health centers on both sides of Mosul City. The study period extended from January 1 to July 31, 2022, with information obtained from (40) primary health centers, consisting of (20) centers on the right side and (20) centers on the left side of Mosul. Results: In 2021, the City of Mosul recorded a total of 13,005 registered cases, with 5,598 cases being attributed to asthma (43%), and 7,347 cases being associated with COPD (57%). Bronchial asthma constituted 43% of cases, with 5598 patients, and the highest incidence occurred in the age group between 20-44 years. Conclusion: The prevalence of bronchial asthma and COPD among patients with CNCRDs in Mosul is alarmingly high. It emphasizes the importance of implementing preventive policies and strategies targeting modifiable risk factors for these respiratory conditions.

Diabetes mellitus and associated factors among HIV-positive patients at primary health care facilities in Harare, Zimbabwe: a descriptive cross-sectional study

BackgroundHighly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved the life expectancy of people living with HIV (PLWH) and has increased the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases. Comorbid HIV and diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly increase cardiovascular disease and mortality risk. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among HIV-positive patients receiving HAART in Zimbabwe and its associated risk factors.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at eight primary healthcare facilities in Harare, Zimbabwe, between January 2022 and March 2023. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to recruit adult HIV-positive patients undergoing HAART attending the facilities. Data were captured on clinical history and socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics, and analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine DM prevalence rates. Additionally, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to examine factors associated with HIV and DM comorbidities.ResultsA total of 450 participants were included in this study, of which 57.6% (n = 259) were female. The majority were married (73.8%) and older than 35 years (80.2%). Most participants had completed high school (87.6%) and 68.9% were employed either formally or self-employed. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was 14.9%. HIV/DM comorbidity was more prevalent in patients who were female, self-employed, and smoked (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors associated with DM-HIV comorbidity were gender, age, education, marital status, employment status, smoking, physical activities, duration of HAART, and diet. Age, level of education, marital status, and occupation were not associated with HIV-DM comorbidity. Obesity (body mass index > 30 kg/m2), smoking, and alcohol consumption were associated with an increased risk of DM. Regular physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of DM.ConclusionA substantial burden of DM was found in PLWH. The intersectoral integration approach is advocated, and active screening for DM is recommended. Gender-specific interventions are necessary to target diseases and health behaviors that differ between men and women. These interventions should be customized to the specific diseases and behaviors of each group.

Scoping review on the link between economic growth, decent work, and early childhood caries

BackgroundEarly Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent chronic non-communicable disease that affects millions of young children globally, with profound implications for their well-being and oral health. This paper explores the associations between ECC and the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8).MethodsThe scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. In July 2023, a search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using tailored search terms related to economic growth, decent work sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and efforts to eradicate forced labor, slavery, and human trafficking and ECC all of which are the targets of the SDG8. Only English language publications, and publications that were analytical in design were included. Studies that solely examined ECC prevalence without reference to SDG8 goals were excluded.ResultsThe initial search yielded 761 articles. After removing duplicates and ineligible manuscripts, 84 were screened. However, none of the identified studies provided data on the association between decent work, economic growth-related factors, and ECC.ConclusionsThis scoping review found no English publication on the associations between SDG8 and ECC despite the plausibility for this link. This data gap can hinder policymaking and resource allocation for oral health programs. Further research should explore the complex relationship between economic growth, decent work and ECC to provide additional evidence for better policy formulation and ECC control globally.