Common Non-communicable Diseases Research Articles

Drug prescription appropriateness in hospitalized older patients: 15-year results and lessons from a countrywide register.

The global increase of aging with the related increase of multiple noncommunicable diseases is inevitably accompanied by the associated issue of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The latter is not without peculiar consequences on health, because it has been shown to be associated with drug-related adverse events, mainly due to poor prescription appropriateness and drug-drug interactions. To contribute to tackle this gigantic problem, a registry of drug dispensation in hospitalized older patient has been initiated in Italy in 2008. Through the last 15years, data on nearly 11,000 older people have been accrued during their hospital stay in internal medicine and geriatric wards. This review article summarizes the main findings obtained, and how these data contribute to tackle the issue of appropriateness of drug prescription and the need of deprescribing in hospitalized older people affected by the most common noncommunicable diseases.

Exploring a definition of healthy longevity in Chinese population based on Delphi method

Objective: To explore a definition of healthy longevity in the Chinese population based on the Delphi method. Methods: Through a comprehensive literature review and expert consultation, the dimensions in the definition of healthy longevity were identified, and a preliminary list of questions was created. Experts in clinical medicine, public health, basic research, and the elderly care service industry, who had been working in the field of geriatric health for at least 5 years, were invited to participate in the Delphi survey from August to December 2022. The survey questionnaires were administered via email in two rounds, and experts were asked to select the optimal options from the provided questions. The active coefficients were expressed by the response rate, and a consensus was reached when the largest number of experts agreed for single-choice questions and more than 70% agreed for multiple-choice questions. Results: In the two rounds, the active coefficients were 96.00% (24/25) and 79.17% (19/24), respectively, and a consensus was finally reached on nine items, including age, physical health, common metabolic indicators, mental health, cognitive function, functional ability, social activity, self-rated health, and subjective well-being. Following discussions among the research team and experts, a final definition of healthy longevity was determined. Healthy longevity could refer to a state of good physical, psychological, cognitive function and social adaptation, as well as subjective well-being, in individuals aged 90 and above. Specifically, individuals with healthy longevity should be free from diseases associated with high disability rates and mortality, such as stroke, cancer, and Parkinson's disease. They should also maintain reasonable levels of common non-communicable disease indicators, such as blood pressure and blood glucose, and exhibit favorable mental health and cognitive function using validated measurement tools. In addition, individuals with healthy longevity should engage in social interactions with friends and relatives, care for family members, and go out to do things. Meanwhile, with the ability to complete the visual and hearing functions of daily life and communication, and the ability to complete basic activities such as walking, eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, continence of urination, and bowel movement independently, they could rate themselves to be in good health and experience a relatively high level of life satisfaction. Conclusion: A definition of healthy longevity in the Chinese population is established through the two-round Delphi consultation.

The Association between Dietary Acid Load and Non-Communicable Diseases: A Cohort Study in Shahrekord

Background and aim: It has recently been suggested that acid-base imbalances may play a role in some types of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between dietary acid load and common non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1800 participants were enrolled in a cohort study in Shahrekord. Data were collected using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The potential renal acid load (PRAL) was calculated using the intestinal absorption of five nutrients including protein, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. The association of dietary acid load with NCDs was investigated in two models. Then, the raw model was adjusted by including calorie intake and age; after adjusting the effect of the two variables, the association between dietary acid load and the studied NCDs was not statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 51.49±9.27 years, and 941 (52.27%) of them were female. Mean±SD acid load score was -6.88±23.23. The results showed that there was a significant association between dietary acid load and age (P=0.005), weight (P=0.0001), waist circumference (P=0.016), hip circumference (P=0.0001), waist-to-hip ratio (P=0.01), body mass index (P=0.004), and triglyceride (P=0.012). In the raw model, a significant association was observed between dietary acid load and hypertension (OR=0.57, 0.39-0.8). Conclusion: In this study, no significant association was observed between dietary acid load and NCDs, but the variable was associated with weight and body mass index as the most important risk factors for NCDs.

IMPORTANCE OF PHYTOTHERAPY IN CHRONIC NON-INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF THE LIVER

Currently, in the countries of Central Asia, as in most countries, 15-20% of the adult population suffers from acute and chronic liver pathology. Today, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common non-communicable liver disease, accounting for approximately 70% of all chronic liver diseases. The complexity and versatility of the pathogenetic mechanisms of lipid metabolism disorders in the body requires effective pharmacological correction aimed at normalizing the composition, structure and ratio of various classes of lipoproteins. In this regard, the most harmless and therapeutically effective herbal remedies of natural origin, metabolic products of plant and animal cells, which have low toxicity and a wide spectrum of action, are of great importance. The advantage of phytotherapy is that it allows the use of plants for a long time without significant side effects, due to their compatibility with many drugs and with each other. KEYWORDS: phytotherapy, herbal remedies, lipid metabolism.

New clinical guidelines for COPD - a paradigm shift: A review

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is now one of the most common noncommunicable diseases and the main causes of morbidity, disability and mortality in the world. In recent years, new approaches to epidemiology, diagnosis, classification (categorization), evaluation of phenotypes, as well as characterization and assessment of the severity of сhronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations have emerged. Modern approaches to starting and subsequent drug therapy have changed significantly. This is largely due to the results of recently conducted major clinical trials, demonstrated high efficacy of triple fixed combinations, including inhaled glucocorticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonists and long-acting anticholinergic drugs. The use of non-medication methods (smoking cessation, physical activity and respiratory rehabilitation) and modern approaches to the treatment of respiratory failure and antibiotic therapy remain important. In terms of their significance, all these updates have a significant impact on real clinical practice and can be considered as a novel paradigm of the approaches to the diagnosis and management of this disease.

Oral Health & Nutrition

The state of oral health varies with the age and plays integral part in maintaining general health of the body. There are numerous conditions that contribute to oral diseases like dental caries, periodontal conditions, oral cancer, tooth trauma, certain birth defects etc. Around 3.5 billion people gets affected by the oral diseases and are most common noncommunicable disease in the world.

Associations between school-based fluoride mouth-rinse program, medical-dental expense subsidy policy, and children's oral health in Japan: an ecological study.

Dental caries are a common non-communicable disease among children. As a public health measure at the prefectural level, school-based fluoride mouth-rinse (S-FMR) program, medical/dental expense subsidy policies, and other factors may reduce the incidence of dental caries and tooth loss. Prefectures focusing on promoting oral health policies may promote both, but the interaction effect of implementing both subsidy policies and S-FMR at the prefectural level on caries prevention has not yet been examined. We conducted an ecological study using two-wave panel data, prefecture-level aggregated data in Japan for 2016 and 2018. Coefficient and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the dependent variables for oral health using mixed-effects linear regression analysis adjusted for possible confounders. Two dependent variables were used; the standardized claim ratio (SCR) of deciduous tooth extraction and 12-year-olds' decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (DMFT). Four independent variables were S-FMR, the SCR of dental sealants, prefectural income per person, and subsidy policy in three models: co-payment until children enter elementary school (n = 23), no co-payment until children enter elementary school (n = 7), and co-payment continuing beyond elementary school (n = 17). The effects of six interaction terms, each representing a unique pairing from the four independent variables, were individually calculated. S-FMR was negatively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extractions and DMFT (coefficient = -0.11, 95% CI -0.20; -0.01 and coefficient = -0.003, 95% CI -0.005; -0.001, respectively). No co-payment until children enter elementary school was positively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extraction compared to co-payment until children enter elementary school(coefficient = 11.42, 95% CI 3.29; 19.55). SCR of dental sealants was positively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extractions (coefficient = 0.12, 95% CI 0.06; 0.19) but negatively associated with DMFT (coefficient = -0.001, 95% CI -0.003; -0.0001). Per capita prefectural income was positively associated with the SCR of deciduous tooth extractions(coefficient = 0.01, 95% CI 0.001; 0.02). No interaction was found between S-FMR and the subsidy policy at both outcomes. High S-FMR utilization and no co-payment until children enter elementary school were associated with fewer deciduous tooth extractions. Also, S-FMR and dental sealant were associated with decreased DMFT.

Mobile Apps for Common Noncommunicable Disease Management: Systematic Search in App Stores and Evaluation Using the Mobile App Rating Scale.

The success of mobile apps in improving the lifestyle of patients with noncommunicable diseases through self-management interventions is contingent upon the emerging growth in this field. While users of mobile health (mHealth) apps continue to grow in number, little is known about the quality of available apps that provide self-management for common noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. We aimed to investigate the availability, characteristics, and quality of mHealth apps for common noncommunicable disease health management that included dietary aspects (based on the developer's description), as well as their features for promoting health outcomes and self-monitoring. A systematic search of English-language apps on the Google Play Store (Google LLC) and Apple App Store (Apple Inc) was conducted between August 7, 2022, and September 13, 2022. The search terms used included weight management, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and diet. The selected mHealth apps' titles and content were screened based on the description that was provided. Apps that were not designed with self-management features were excluded. We analyzed the mHealth apps by category and whether they involved health care professionals, were based on scientific testing, and had self-monitoring features. A validated and multidimensional tool, the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), was used to evaluate each mHealth app's quality based on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (inadequate) to 5 (excellent). Overall, 42 apps were identified. Diabetes-specific mHealth apps accounted for 7% (n=3) of the market, hypertension apps for 12% (n=5), and general noncommunicable disease management apps for 21% (n=9). About 38% (n=16) of the apps were for managing chronic diseases, while 74% (n=31) were for weight management. Self-management features such as weight tracking, BMI calculators, diet tracking, and fluid intake tracking were seen in 86% (n=36) of the apps. Most mHealth apps (n=37, 88%) did not indicate whether there was involvement of health professionals in app development. Additionally, none of the apps reported scientific evidence demonstrating their efficacy in managing health. The overall mean MARS score was 3.2 of 5, with a range of 2.0 to 4.1. Functionality was the best-rated category (mean score 3.9, SD 0.5), followed by aesthetics (mean score 3.2, SD 0.9), information (mean score 3.1, SD 0.7), and engagement (mean score 2.9, SD 0.6). The quality of mHealth apps for managing chronic diseases was heterogeneous, with roughly half of them falling short of acceptable standards for both quality and content. The majority of apps contained scant information about scientific evidence and the developer's history. To increase user confidence and accomplish desired health outcomes, mHealth apps should be optimized with the help of health care professionals. Future studies on mHealth content analysis should focus on other diseases as well.

Comparison of the effect of patient-centred and family-centred education through smartphones on the quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes: A quasi-experimental study

Diabetes is one of the most common non-communicable metabolic diseases with debilitating complications that affect the quality of life of patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of patient-centred and family-centred education via smartphone on the quality of life of type 2 diabetic patients. This is a quasi-experimental study with a three-group design (patient-centred education, family-centred education and patient-family-centred education) that was conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes and their families in 2022. Research subjects were selected by the purposive sampling method. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 21. The results showed no significant difference between the three groups in terms of age, sex, marital status, educational level and duration of diabetes. There was a significant difference between the three groups in terms of the mean total quality of life (QoL) score before and after the intervention (p <0.05). In other words, in addition to having a better score than the previous intervention in the three groups after the intervention, the total QoL score was better in the patient-family-centred education group. The results of the present study showed that patient-family-centred education has a greater impact on QoL scores. Therefore, healthcare providers and policymakers should pay more attention to this issue.

Genome-Wide Polygenic Score for Muscle Strength Predicts Risk for Common Diseases and Lifespan: A Prospective Cohort Study.

We used a polygenic score for hand grip strength (PGS HGS) to investigate whether genetic predisposition for higher muscle strength predicts age-related noncommunicable diseases, survival from acute adverse health events, and mortality. This study consisted of 342443 Finnish biobank participants from FinnGen Data Freeze 10 (53% women) aged 40-108 with combined genotype and health registry data. Associations between PGS HGS and a total of 27 clinical endpoints were explored with linear or Cox regression models. A higher PGS HGS was associated with a reduced risk of selected common noncommunicable diseases and mortality by 2%-10%. The risk for these medical conditions decreased by 5%-23% for participants in the highest PGS HGS quintile compared to those in the lowest PGS HGS quintile. A 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in the PGS HGS predicted a lower body mass index (β = -0.112kg/m2, standard error [SE] = 0.017, p = 1.69E-11) in women but not in men (β = 0.004kg/m2, p = .768). PGS HGS was not associated with better survival after acute adverse health events compared to the nondiseased period. The genotype that supports higher muscle strength appears to protect against future health adversities, albeit with modest effect sizes. Further research is needed to investigate whether or how a favorable lifestyle modifies this intrinsic capacity to resist diseases, and if the impacts of lifestyle behavior on health differs due to genetic predisposition for muscle strength.

Non-Communicable Diseases among Women of Reproductive Age Visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Non-communicable diseases are a significant cause of mortality worldwide, posing a substantial risk to women's health, as stated by the World Health Organization. In Nepal, a survey revealed that 10.5% of the population suffers from hypertension. The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of non-communicable diseases among women of reproductive age visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary care hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology among women of reproductive age presented from 6 November 2023 to 6 January 2024. The data was retrieved from the medical record during 1 November 2023 to 1 December 2023. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. The prevalence of non-communicable diseases was 608 (39.02%) (36.60-41.45, Confidence Interval). The mean age was 29.26±3.46 years. The most common non-communicable disease reported was hypertension 204 (33.55%) followed by chronic respiratory diseases 200 (32.89%) and diabetes mellitus 154 (25.34%). The prevalence of non-communicable diseases among women of reproductive age group was higher as compared to other studies done in similar setting. The study underscores the urgency for stakeholders to implement health education, early detection, and preventive strategies, emphasizing the necessity of targeted interventions and broader public health initiatives to address non-communicable diseases. chronic disease; non-communicable disease; prevalence; risk factors.

Health system's availability and readiness of health facilities for chronic non-communicable diseases: Evidence from the Ethiopian national surveys.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) currently cause more deaths than all other causes of deaths. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases-threaten the health and economies of individuals and populations worldwide. This study aimed to assess the availability and readiness of health facilities for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and describe the changes of service availability for common NCDs in Ethiopia. Methods We used data from the 2014 Ethiopia Service Provision Assessment Plus (ESPA +) and 2016 and 2018 Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) surveys, which were cross-sectional health facility-based studies. A total of 873 health facilities in 2014, 547 in 2016, 632 in 2018 were included in the analysis. (ESPA+) and SARA surveys are conducted as a census or a nationally/sub-nationally representative sample of health facilities. Proportion of facilities that offered the service for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer diseases, mental illness, and chronic renal diseases was calculated to measure health service availability. The health facility service readiness was measured using the mean availably of tracer items that are required to offer the service. Thus, 13 tracer items for diabetes disease, 12 for cardiovascular disease, 11 for chronic respiratory disease and 11 cervical cancer services were used. The services available for diagnosis and management did not show improvement between 2014, 2016 and 2018 for diabetes (59%, 22% and 36%); for cardiovascular diseases (73%, 41% and 49%); chronic respiratory diseases (76%, 45% and 53%). Similarly, at the national level, the mean availability of tracer items between 2014, 2016 and 2018 for diabetes (37%, 53% and 48%); cardiovascular diseases (36%, 41% and 42%); chronic respiratory diseases (26%, 27% and 27%); and cancer diseases (6%, 72% and 51%). However, in 2014 survey year, the mean availability of tracer items was 7% each for mental illness and chronic renal diseases, respectively. The majority of the health facilities have low and gradual decrement in the availability to provide NCDs services in Ethiopia. There is a need to increase NCD service availability and readiness at primary hospitals and health centers, and private and rural health facilities where majority of the population need the services.

Zilebesiran: A Promising Antihypertensive Therapy Inhibiting Angiotensinogen Synthesis.

Systemic hypertension is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases globally, with over one billion people affected. Despite the widespread use of numerous antihypertensive drugs, it is estimated that only a fifth of diagnosed patients achieve adequate blood pressure control. For this reason, the pursuit for novel antihypertensive therapies is ongoing. Zilebesiran, an siRNA designed to target the liver, is the newest potential addition to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system-inhibiting drugs. This subcutaneous injection post-transcriptionally silences the AGT gene responsible for the synthesis of angiotensinogen. By preventing the progenitor protein of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, zilebesiran blocks the downstream production of angiotensin II, which plays multiple roles in blood pressure elevation. Phase I clinical trials have demonstrated a dose-dependent negative relationship between zilebesiran and blood pressure/serum angiotensinogen levels-with sustained effects up to 6 months. Researchers also demonstrated a promising safety profile, as most of the adverse events were mild to moderate in nature. Phase II trials assessing efficacy and optimal dosing are currently underway, with a predicted completion by 2025.

Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Outcome of Patients Affected by Covid-19 Virus Reported to a Tertiary Care Hospital Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Abstract The goal of this study was to assess association between social demographic characteristic including Age and gender, patients past medical history, and outcome of Covid 19 admitted cases. Data was collected from the electronic data base of Thumbay hospital Ajman UAE. All registered cases of Covid19 from January 2020 to August 2021 were included in the research. The study identified that individuals above 40 years were more susceptible to Covid-19, with a higher prevalence in males than females. Diabetes mellitus emerged as the most common non-communicable disease among patients. The majority of cases were categorized as mild, followed by moderate, with a smaller proportion classified as severe. Notably, a significant percentage of cases showed improvement, while a minority experienced complication, and a small percentage resulted in mortality. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the demographics and outcomes of Covid-19 patients in the specified healthcare setting. Capturing and understanding the information is important to state preventive measures that can help in reducing the number of cases in the country. Keywords: COVID-19 outcomes, Risk Factors.

Exploring the Complex Interplay: Fatty Liver Severity, Epicardial Fat Volume, and Coronary Artery Calcification

Background and Objective: Cardiovascular diseases and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are the most common non-communicable diseases in most developed countries, and due to lifestyle changes, their incidence is increasing day by day. The present study aimed to assess the correlation of fatty liver with epicardial fat volume and coronary artery calcium score. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 136 patients referred to Hamadan Farshchian Cardiovascular Hospital for computed tomography (CT) angiography. They were selected using a consecutive sampling method. Using a 128-slice multidetector CT scanner, the coronary artery calcium score based on the Agatston criteria and epicardial fat volume were measured. A liver ultrasound was performed using a GE voluson E6 and a 3-5 MHz depth probe, and the severity of the fatty liver was determined based on the echogenicity of the liver on the ultrasound. Data analysis was conducted using the SPSS software (version 26). Results: The mean age scores of patients were 52.90±12.10 years. Regarding gender, 50.5% and 49.5% of cases were male and female, respectively. In terms of fatty liver grade, 64 (47.1%), 48 (35.3%), 21 (15.4%), and 3 (2.2%) cases had grades zero, I, II, and III, respectively. The mean calcium score was 30.76±35.40, and epicardial fat volume was 86.84±36.56. The severity of fatty liver demonstrated no significant relationship with calcium score and epicardial fat (P>0.05). Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the severity of fatty liver had no relationship with the amount of coronary epicardial fat and coronary artery calcium.

Cardiac rehabilitation for children and young people (CardioActive): protocol for a single-blind randomised feasibility and acceptability study of a centre-based cardiac rehabilitation programme versus usual care in 11–16 years with heart conditions

BackgroundCongenital heart conditions are among the most common non-communicable diseases in children and young people (CYP), affecting 13.9 million CYP globally. While survival rates are increasing, support for young people...

Kharameh cohort study (KHCS) on non-communicable diseases and preliminary findings of 3-year follow-up

PurposeThe Kharameh cohort study (KHCS) is one branch of the ‘Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran’, located in the south of Iran. The enrolment phase of KHCS spanned from April...

The Potential of the Adzuki Bean (Vigna angularis) and Its Bioactive Compounds in Managing Type 2 Diabetes and Glucose Metabolism: A Narrative Review.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a common noncommunicable disease. In the United States alone, 37 million Americans had diabetes in 2017. The adzuki bean (Vigna angularis), a legume, has been reported to possess antidiabetic benefits. However, the extent and specific mechanisms through which adzuki bean consumption may contribute to T2D prevention and management remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this narrative review is to analyze current evidence supporting the utilization of adzuki beans in the diet as a strategy for preventing and managing T2D. Animal studies have demonstrated a positive impact of adzuki beans on managing T2D. However, supporting data from humans are limited. Conversely, the potential of adzuki bean consumption in preventing T2D via modulating two T2D risk factors (obesity and dyslipidemia) also lacks conclusive evidence. Animal studies have suggested an inconsistent and even contradictory relationship between adzuki bean consumption and the management of obesity and dyslipidemia, in which both positive and negative relationships are reported. In sum, based on the existing scientific literature, this review found that the effects of adzuki bean consumption on preventing and managing T2D in humans remain undetermined. Consequently, human randomized controlled trials are needed to elucidate the potential benefits of the adzuki bean and its bioactive components in the prevention and management of T2D.

Importance of Preventive Dental Care During Antenatal Period in Pregnant Women: A Pakistani Perspective

Dental caries and periodontal diseases are amongst the most common non-communicable diseases globally 1. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 3.5 billion individuals suffer from one of the many oral diseases, with an economic burden exceeding a total of $387 in both public and private health sectors2. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60-75% of pregnant women suffer from gingivitis, which is mainly due to already poor oral health and hormonal changes3.

Pregnancy, Diabetes and Obesity – Prevention of Obesity in the Next Generation

Diabetes mellitus is a widely occurring disorder, and obesity is its main feature. As the burden of obesity is increasing steadily, it leads to the increasing prevalence of diabetes, as well as of the most common non-communicable diseases. A comprehensive approach for the prevention of obesity appears to constitute the most effective intervention to reduce their prevalence worldwide. Numerous measures were applied to treat obesity and prevent its complications, of them different types of diet, physical activity, behavioral programs, pharmacologic interventions, and surgical treatments – but all of them have a significant degree of dropping-off and weight-regain over time. In this review we highlight pregnancy as a key period in a woman’s life, which can improve compliance with these programs and affect the next generation’s health, breaking the vicious cycle of family obesity