Public Health Problem In Qatar Research Articles

Association between dietary patterns and depression symptoms among adults with or without diabetes in Qatar: a population-based study

BackgroundDiabetes is a major public health problem in Qatar and is associated with an increased risk of depression. However, no study has been conducted in Qatar on the relationship between dietary patterns and depression symptoms in adults. The aim of this study was to assess the association between dietary patterns and depression symptoms among adults with or without diabetes in Qatar.MethodsA total of 1000 participants from the Qatar Biobank (QBB) were included in this cross-sectional study. Food intake was assessed using a computer-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis. Depression symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).ResultsDepression symptoms were present in 13.5% of the sample. Two dietary patterns were identified: “unhealthy” (high consumption of fast food, biryani, mixed dish (chicken/meat/fish), croissant) and “prudent” (high consumption of fresh fruit, salads/raw vegetables, canned/dried fruit, and dates). After adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle factors (smoking and physical activity), diabetes and medication use for diabetes and hypertension, a high intake of “unhealthy” pattern was associated with an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms in individuals with diabetes (prevalence ratio, PR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.28, 1.56; p-value < 0.001), while there was no statistically significant association between depressive symptoms and the “prudent” dietary pattern. The “prudent” pattern was inversely and significantly associated with depressive symptoms in individuals with a normal body weight (PR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.76; p-value = 0.018).ConclusionThe “unhealthy” dietary pattern was positively associated with depression symptoms in those with diabetes, whereas the “prudent” dietary pattern was inversely associated with depression symptoms in those with a normal body weight. Promoting healthy eating habits should be considered in the prevention and management of depression.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in primary health settings in Qatar: a cross sectional study

BackgroundIn Qatar, prevalence of metabolic components is significantly higher compared to other countries. It is therefore urgent to understand the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with the goal of identifying etiologic factors in Qatar. This study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of MetS, by age, gender and nationality within primary care settings in Qatar. In addition, it determined the independent effects of risk factors on the prevalence of MetS.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was used. Data for individuals aged ≥18 and who visited a publicly funded primary health centre in Qatar during 2017 were extracted from electronic medical records and analysed.ResultsThe findings showed that the prevalence of individual MetS components ranged between 48.5–60.3%. Overall prevalence of MetS was 48.8% (N = 62,492) in the study population. Prevalence of MetS increased with age. 50.3% of the population within the 40–49 year age group had MetS. In this age band, individuals were 5.1 times more likely of having MetS compared to the 18–29 year age group. MetS was slightly more prevalent in men (56 .7%) compared to women (42.5%). However, men were 1.33 times more likely of having MetS compared to women. The prevalence of MetS ranged between 20.6 - 60% across nationalities. It was most prevalent in Southern Asians (60%), followed by Northern Africans (50.7%) and Western Asians (excluding Qatar) (46.8%). Prevalence of MetS in Qataris was 43%. Southern Asians, Northern African and Western Asians were 1.73, 1.38 and 1.17 more likely to have MetS compared to Qataris.ConclusionsThe study provides essential epidemiological information required by decision makers. Although not nationally representative, this study is suggestive of a higher prevalence of MetS among a younger population, men and in Southern Asian, Northern African and Western Asian nationalities. Prevention, treatment and control of MetS is a public health problem in Qatar. More studies are needed to establish which public health interventions are likely to be effective in Qatar.

Prevalence of non-communicable diseases by age, gender and nationality in publicly funded primary care settings in Qatar

BackgroundIn Qatar, as with other countries, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been the leading cause of death. This study aims to describe the prevalence of four NCDs clusters (cardiovascular diseases (coronary...

Epidemiology of Malaria in the State of Qatar, 2008-2015.

Background and ObjectivesImported malaria poses a serious public health problem in Qatar because its population is “naïve” to such infection; where local transmission might lead to serious, life-threatening infection and might even trigger epidemics.MethodsThis study is a retrospective review of the imported malaria cases in Qatar reported by the malaria surveillance program at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), during the period between January 2008 and December 2015. All cases were imported and underwent parasitological confirmation through microscopy.ResultsA total of 4092 malaria cases were reported during 2008–2015 in Qatar. The demographic features of the imported cases show that the majority of cases were males (93%), non-Qatari (99.6%), and aged 15 to 44 years (82.1%). Moreover, P. vivax was found to be the main etiologic agent accounting for more than three-quarters (78.7%) of the imported cases. In addition, almost a third (33.1%) of the cases were reported during the months of July, August, and September.ConclusionsImported malaria in Qatar has witnessed an increase during the past seven years, despite a long period of constant reduction; where the people most affected were adult male migrants from endemic countries. Many challenges need to be overcome to prevent the reintroduction of malaria into the country.

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents: a public health problem in Qatar. The experience of Pediatric Diabetes Center at Hamad General Hospital (HGH) of Doha.

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Situation of Diabetes and Related Factors Among Qatari Adults: Findings From a Community-Based Survey.

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a prominent public health problem in Qatar with one of the highest prevalence in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Obesity continues to be a challenging public health problem in Qatar along with other social determinants contributing to the high DM prevalence.ObjectiveThis paper examines the data from Qatar National STEPS survey (2012) to determine diabetes prevalence among Qatari adults and identify the effect of both generalized and central obesity on it. The article also describes the contribution of selected social and demographic factors on diabetes prevalence in Qatar.MethodsSecondary data analysis of 1471 Qatari adults (18-64 years) from STEP 3 component of the 2012 STEPS Survey was executed. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the role of social and biomedical factors in the prevalence of DM.ResultsAmong participants, 18.97% (279/1471) of the study population had DM. Both generalized (OR 1.8, P=.005) and central obesity (OR 1.9, P<.001) were significantly associated with DM when adjusted for various respondent characteristics. Older age (P<.001), marital status of ever married (P<.001), and lower educational status (P=.01) were associated with DM. Hypertension (OR 1.5, P=.003 total cholesterol level ≥190 mg/dL (OR 2.2, P<.001) and triglyceride level ≥150 mg/dL (OR 3.6, P<.001) were significantly associated with DM among the study participants. Although family history of DM was significantly associated with development of DM (OR 1.7, P=.01), parental consanguinity was not associated with DM (OR 0.96, P=.80).ConclusionsThe DM prevalence in Qatar seems to be highly associated with obesity; however, various additional population characteristics and comorbidity factors should also require attention and should be incorporated while developing intervention strategies.

Smoking cessation counseling in Qatar: community pharmacists’ attitudes, role perceptions and practices

Smoking is a major public health problem in Qatar. The potential for community pharmacists to offer smoking cessation counseling in this country can be high. To determine the current smoking cessation practices of community pharmacists in Qatar, to examine their attitudes about tobacco use and smoking cessation, to evaluate their perceptions about performing professional roles with respect to smoking cessation and to assess their perceived barriers for smoking cessation counseling in the pharmacy setting in Qatar. Community pharmacies in Qatar. The objectives were addressed in a cross sectional survey of community pharmacists in Qatar from June 2010 to October 2010. A phone call was made to all community pharmacists in Qatar (318 pharmacists) inviting them to participate. Consenting pharmacists anonymously completed the survey either online or as paper using fax. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS®) Version 18. Qatar community pharmacists' smoking cessation practices, their attitudes toward tobacco use, smoking cessation and smoking cessation counseling and their perceived barriers for smoking cessation counseling. Over 5 months, we collected 127 surveys (40 % response rate). Only 21 % of respondents reported that they always or most of the time asked their patients if they smoke. When the patients' smoking status was identified, advising quitting and assessing readiness to quit were always or most of the time performed by 66 and 52 % of respondents respectively. Only 15 % always or most of the time arranged follow-up with smokers and 22 % always or most of the time made smoking cessation referrals. Most respondents (>80 %) agreed that smoking could cause adverse health effects and that smoking cessation could decrease the risk of these effects. In addition, the majority (>80 %) believed that smoking cessation counseling was an important activity and was an efficient use of their time. The top two perceived barriers for smoking cessation counseling were lack of time (65 % of respondents) and lack of patients' interest in smoking cessation (54 %). Qatar community pharmacists have positive attitudes toward smoking cessation counseling. These attitudes need to be translated into action. Interventions should be implemented to overcome perceived barriers and to improve smoking cessation activities among pharmacists.

Proportionate Mortality and Relative Risk from Motor Vehicle Crashes in Qatar: a Tool for Prioritizing Preventive Programs &amp; Research

Background: Motor vehicle crashes (MVC&apos;s) are a recognized public health problem in Qatar, where they are a leading cause of death. Given the diverse population in Qatar there is a need for evidence to identify high-risk populations bearing a disproportionate MVC mortality burden. Objective: To identify the populations at the greatest risk for death from MVC&apos;s in Qatar, by measuring proportionate mortality (PMMVC) and relative risk (RRMVC). Methods: An analysis of published mortality and population data was conducted to calculate for PMMVC and RRMVC and identify high-risk populations at a disproportionate risk for MVC mortality. Results: One in seven (13.9%) deaths in Qatar is due to an MVC. Males are the victim in 90% of MVC deaths, with PMMVC &gt; 30% from 5–29 years. One-half (51%) of all deaths in the 10–19 age group are due to MVC&apos;s, with the highest PMMVC for Qatari males (QM) aged 20–29 and for Non-Qatari males (NQM) aged 10–19. MVC&apos;s were the leading cause of death for QM&apos;s ages 5–39, Non-Qatari females (NQF&apos;s) ages 10–19, Qatari females (QF&apos;s) and NQM&apos;s ages 5–29. The highest RRMVC in the general population was for females ages 5–9 and males ages 10–19. The highest RRMVC is for QF&apos;s and QM&apos;s ages 20–29. NQF&apos;s also have a higher RRMVC than QM&apos;s for ages 10–19. The oldest and youngest populations had protective RRMVC&apos;s. QM&apos;s have more than double the RRMVC, compared to the general population, from ages 5–39 and Qatari females (QF&apos;s) extend this risk till the age of 49. NQF&apos;s share this elevated risk profile [RRMVC&gt;2] with QF&apos;s while NQM&apos;s are most at risk from 5–29 years. Conclusion: MVC&apos;s are the leading killer of the largest segment of the population of Qatar, those ages 5–29. Young males [10–29 years] bear a disproportionate PMMVC but females have a higher RRMVC. An elevated RRMVC starts at 5 years and continues till 29 years. A commensurate response in the form of targeted interventions to reduce MVC deaths and research to identify and reduce risk factors amongst the populations with the highest MVC risk and burden should be prioritized.

Is male fertility associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus?

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infertility in Qatari men with Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and to examine the association between T2DM and infertility. This is a cross-sectional study. The survey was conducted at Primary Health Care Centers during a period from January 2008 to June 2008. The selected subjects for the study were Qatari men aged 25-60 years who were married for more than 1 year. A total of 1,165 men were approached and only 857 men gave consent, giving a response rate of 73.6%. Face-to-face interviews were based on a questionnaire that included variables on socio-demographic characteristics, type of infertility in men, life style habits, type of environmental exposures, and common diseases found among infertile men. All studied men were recruited using cluster random sampling at 13 randomly selected primary health care centers at the Hamad Medical Corporation. The prevalence of infertility in Qatari T2DM men was 35.1%. The prevalence of primary infertility (16%) and secondary infertility (19.1%) was significantly higher in diabetic men (P = 0.003) as compared to non-diabetic men. Also, secondary infertility was higher than primary infertility in our studied Qatari diabetic men. Half of the diabetic infertile men were overweight (50.6%) and 29.1% of them were obese. The smoking habit was more common in diabetic infertile men (45.6%) than in diabetic fertile men (33.6%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that age (P < 0.001), smoking habits (ex-smokers, P = 0.003 and current smokers, P = 0.001) and obesity (P < 0.001) were the significant major contributors for infertility in diabetic men. Obesity was the leading contributor for the infertility. Other co-morbid factors associated with infertility in diabetic men were hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and varicocele. The present study findings revealed that there is a strong association between male infertility and Diabetes Mellitus. In Qatari diabetic men, male infertility is high and a significant public health problem in Qatar. The study results confirmed a strong association between T2DM and infertility in Qatari men.