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Elgamri A, Mohammed Z, El-Rhazi K, Shahrouri M, Ahram M, Al-Abbas AM, Silverman H. Challenges Facing Arab Researchers in Publishing Scientific Research: A Qualitative Interview Study. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3129329. [PMID: 37503191 PMCID: PMC10371160 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3129329/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Background Studies have shown an underrepresentation of researchers from lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the research literature compared with their counterparts in high-income countries. We aimed to explore Arab researchers' challenges regarding conducting and publishing research in peer-reviewed journals. Methods We used a descriptive qualitative study design of semi-structured in-depth interviews. Using purposive sampling, we recruited participants from four Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated to English if the original language was Arabic or French. We analyzed the transcripts using reflexive thematic analysis. Several authors independently coded the transcripts and agreed on the identified codes, themes, and subthemes. Results We performed 17 interviews: three from Egypt, six from Jordan, four from Morocco, and four from Sudan. Our participants' comments were divided into three broad categories with associated themes and subthemes. The first regards the conduct of research (themes of inadequate quality of research, insufficient research resources, and nonsuppurative research environment). The second category involves the publishing process (themes of poor scientific writing skills and difficulties navigating the publishing and peer-reviewed system). The third regards international collaborations and the final category recommends methods to address the challenges. Our recommendations include: enhancing the institutional research culture, increasing funding mechanisms, establishing mentoring programs and workshops on research methodology and scientific writing, and increasing the representation of LMICs on the editorial staff. Conclusions Identifying the challenges of Arab researchers in publishing original and quality research would guide programs tailored and targeted toward Arab scholars' needs.
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Jia Z, Liu D, Xu J, Wang Q, Zhang L, Yin S, Qian B, Li X, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Li W, Wen T. An international analysis of stem cell research in intervertebral disc degeneration. Stem Cell Res 2023; 67:103044. [PMID: 36796251 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2023.103044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy has been increasingly investigated as a promising strategy for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, no international analysis of stem cell research has yet been conducted. This study aimed to analyze the major characteristics of published reports of stem cell use for IDD and to present a global insight into stem cell research. The study period spanned from the inception of the Web of Science database to 2021. A search strategy using specific keywords was implemented to retrieve relevant publications. The numbers of documents, citations, countries, journals, article types, and stem cell types were evaluated. A total of 1170 papers were retrieved. The analysis showed a significant increase in the number of papers over time (p < 0.001). High-income economies accounted for the majority of papers (758, 64.79 %). China produced the most articles (378, 32.31 %), followed by the United States (259, 22.14 %), Switzerland (69, 5.90 %), United Kingdom (54, 4.62 %), and Japan (47, 4.02 %). The United States ranked first in terms of the number of citations (10,346), followed by China (9177) and Japan (3522). Japan ranked first in terms of the number of citations per paper (74.94), followed by United Kingdom (58.54) and Canada (53.74). When standardized by population, Switzerland ranked first, followed by Ireland and Sweden. When gross domestic product was considered, Switzerland ranked first, followed by Portugal and Ireland. The number of papers was positively correlated with gross domestic product (p < 0.001, r = 0.673); however, there was no significant correlation with population (p = 0.062, r = 0.294). Mesenchymal stem cells were the most investigated stem cells, followed by nucleus pulposus-derived stem cells and adipose-derived stem cells. A sharp increase in stem cell research was observed in the field of IDD. China produced the most, although several European countries were more productive relative to their populations and economies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Jia
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Donghua Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiao Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Longyu Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Shi Yin
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Qian
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xingxuan Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yaohong Wu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of TCM Orthopedics, Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Sports Medicine, Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Tianlin Wen
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
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Boutros CF, Khazaal W, Taliani M, Sadier NS, Salameh P, Hosseini H. Factors associated with cognitive impairment at 3, 6, and 12 months after the first stroke among Lebanese survivors. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e2837. [PMID: 36495111 PMCID: PMC9847618 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study aimed to calculate the rate of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) by evaluating the cognitive domains among Lebanese stroke survivors at 3, 6, and 12 months post-stroke, and to identify the contributing factors including pre- and post-stroke related factors. METHODS A multicenter longitudinal prospective study was conducted in 10 hospitals from Beirut and Mount Lebanon for a 15-month period. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Short Form Health Survey (SF12), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to assess cognitive function, disability degree, Quality of Life (QoL), stroke severity, and levels of anxiety and depression, respectively. Then, univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the predictors of PSCI. RESULTS Low MMSE scores were found among survivors during the first 3 months post-stroke (74.8%) of whom 53.7% presented with an MMSE ≤ 17, followed by 46.7% in the 6 months, and 37.6% at 12 months post-stroke. Follow-up comparisons showed a significant increase of MMSE scores over time (p < .001), indicating a 37% improvement of the cognitive function over time. The most affected cognitive domain was the attention and concentration at the three time points. Independent factors that were positively associated with low MMSE scores were as follows: sedentary behavior ≥ 12 h/day (AOR = 3.062, p = .033), involvement of the left hemisphere (AOR = 2.710, p = .006), HADS ≥ 11 (AOR = 2.536, p = .049), and high NIHSS scores (AOR = 3, p = .009). Age was the main predictor in the three time periods (AOR ≈ 3, p < .05). Inversely, female gender (AOR = 0.09, p = .027), high educational level (AOR = 0.2, p < .02), employment post-stroke (AOR = 0.3, p = .023), high Physical Component Summary (PCS) of Quality of Life (QoL) (AOR = 0.8, p < .001), and the use of anti-diabetic treatment post-stroke (AOR = 0.17, p = .016) improved MMSE scores to > 23. CONCLUSION The risk of PSCI among Lebanese stroke survivors was high especially in the acute phase, depending on various determinants. Health care providers are invited to implement an emergency rehabilitation program for an appropriate successful management of the risk factors in order to reduce stroke burden and to improve overall cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celina F Boutros
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale (IMRB)-Inserm U955, Ecole Doctorale Science de la Vie et de la Santé, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Paris, France
| | - Walaa Khazaal
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
| | - Maram Taliani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
| | - Najwane Said Sadier
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon.,College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Pascale Salameh
- Institut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon.,Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Hassan Hosseini
- Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale (IMRB)-Inserm U955, Ecole Doctorale Science de la Vie et de la Santé, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Paris, France.,Institut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon.,Neurology Department, Hôpital Henri Mondor, AP-HP, Créteil, France
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Machaalani M, El Masri J, El Ayoubi LM, Matar B. Cancer research activity in the Arab world: a 15-year bibliometric analysis. J Egypt Public Health Assoc 2022; 97:26. [PMID: 36385361 PMCID: PMC9669254 DOI: 10.1186/s42506-022-00120-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Arab region comprises 22 countries located in the Middle East and North Africa, sharing cultural and linguistic ties. Arab countries have continued to lag in terms of biomedical research compared to other nations for several past decades. Cancer is a major public health concern, being the second leading cause of death globally. Given that high research activity on cancer reflects positively on screening programs, awareness, and clinical practice, this article aimed to examine the activity and trend of cancer research in the Arab world between 2005 and 2019. METHODS Between 2005 and 2019, the number of cancer-related articles published by each Arab country, and regarding 27 different types, was assessed using the PubMed database. Numbers were normalized with respect to each country's average population and average Gross Domestic Product (GDP). RESULTS Arab countries contributed to 1.52% of total cancer publications. The number of cancer publications has steadily grown since 2005, with the last 7 years alone witnessing 75.69% of the total Arab cancer-related publications. In terms of publications per million persons, Qatar ranked first (393.74 per million persons), while in terms of publications per national GDP, Egypt ranked first (464.27 per billion US dollars). Breast, liver, and colorectal cancers had the highest numbers of all Arab cancer-related publications, while testicular, vulvar, and gallbladder cancers had the least. CONCLUSIONS This paper pools information and insight for scientists, clinicians, funders, and decision-makers on the actualities and developments of cancer research in the Arab world. Addressing the barriers facing cancer research remains a cornerstone in the plan to improve the Arab world's output and contribution to the field of oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Machaalani
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jad El Masri
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | | | - Bassam Matar
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Haematology and Oncology, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
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Gifford A, Biffi A, Gelaye B, Chemali Z. Shedding Light on the Causes and Characteristics of Stroke in Lebanon: A Systematic Review of Literature. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2022; 35:655-662. [PMID: 34555937 DOI: 10.1177/08919887211044753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence and severity of stroke in Lebanon has increased over the past decade and stroke is currently the second leading cause of death in the country. METHODS We systematically reviewed existing research on stroke prevalence, risk factors, mortality and morbidity of stroke, stroke treatment, and stroke education to assess the epidemiology of stroke in Lebanon. A literature search was conducted on the PubMed database for articles presenting data in any of these 5 categories in Lebanon, as well as articles discussing the Middle East and North Africa region generally. RESULTS A high prevalence of modifiable risk factors (cigarette and waterpipe smoking) and risk factors that could be mitigated by lifestyle changes (obesity and hypertension) were found in Lebanon. Stroke mortality rates and risk factors of mortality were consistent with global trends, though the cost of treatment in Lebanon was significantly higher than in other developing nations. CONCLUSION Urgent public health initiatives are needed to educate the public about the dangers of modifiable stroke risk factors and to reduce the burden of stroke in Lebanon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbott Gifford
- Department of Psychology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alessandro Biffi
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Departments of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bizu Gelaye
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, MA, USA.,The Chester M. Pierce, M.D. Division of Global Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zeina Chemali
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Departments of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,The Chester M. Pierce, M.D. Division of Global Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Dong Y, Weng L, Hu Y, Mao Y, Zhang Y, Lu Z, Shi T, Du R, Wang W, Wang J, Wang X. Exercise for Stroke Rehabilitation: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research From 2001 to 2021. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:876954. [PMID: 35783146 PMCID: PMC9247282 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.876954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveTo make a bibliometric analysis of global trends in research into exercise interventions for stroke between 2001 and 2021.MethodThis study did the systematic literature from 2001 to 2021 in Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace software was used to analyze the relationship of publications with countries, journals, authors, references, and keywords.ResultsA total of 3,484 publications were obtained in the bibliometric analysis. The number of publications increased gradually over the period. The United States have the most number of publications. The journal stroke had the most citations per paper (106.95) and the highest impact factor (IF 2020, 7.194). The most high frequency keywords are “stroke,” “rehabilitation,” and “recovery,” the top of burst key words are “health,” “speed,” and “aerobic exercise”.ConclusionThese findings provide the trends of exercise for stroke s and provided the potential research frontiers in the past 20 years. It will be a useful basis for further research into focus issues, cooperators, development trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Dong
- Department of Treatment, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Linman Weng
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinhu Hu
- Department of Treatment, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxing Mao
- Department of Treatment, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Yajuan Zhang
- Department of Treatment, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Zefeng Lu
- Department of Treatment, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Shi
- Department of Treatment, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Renren Du
- Department of Treatment, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Wu Wang
- Department of Treatment, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinyan Wang
- Department of Treatment, The Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jinyan Wang,
| | - Xueqiang Wang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jinyan Wang,
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El Masri J, Dankar R, El Masri D, Chanbour H, El Hage S, Salameh P. The Arab Countries' Contribution to the Research of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Cureus 2021; 13:e17589. [PMID: 34646642 PMCID: PMC8483433 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Neurodegenerative diseases are disorders in which nerve cells start to lose function due to different causes. Like many other illnesses, they are considered to be highly prevalent in the 22 Arabic-speaking countries known to constitute the Arab world. The two most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders are Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Aim: The aim of this paper is to assess the amount of research dedicated to neurodegenerative diseases by the Arab countries during a 15-year period, between 2005 and 2019. Methods: The number of publications by each Arab country as well as some non-Arab speaking countries was retrieved from PubMed. Publications in top 10 neuroscience journals were also tracked using the same method with each journal’s name included. The numbers were then normalized with respect to the average population and average gross domestic product (GDP) in each country to eliminate bias. Results: Arab countries were shown to contribute only 1,311 (0.774%) of the 169,330 articles published worldwide on neurodegenerative disorders. These 1,311 also constitute only 0.660% of the 198,869 Arab publications during the indicated period. Saudi Arabia had the highest contribution to these numbers with more than one-quarter the number of publications on neurodegenerative disorders. Approximately one-third of all neurodegenerative disease-related articles were associated with Alzheimer's disease, whereas one-fifth were related to Parkinson's disease. For the top 10 neuroscience journals, only a minimal contribution by Arab countries was noted. Conclusion: Although an increase in the number of articles by the Arab world was noted from 2013 onward, the contribution of the Arab countries on the subject to the number of publications still seems to be insufficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jad El Masri
- Medicine, Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN
| | - Razan Dankar
- Medicine, Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN
| | - Diala El Masri
- Medicine, University of Balamand Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN
| | - Hani Chanbour
- Medicine, Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN
| | - Said El Hage
- Medicine, Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN
| | - Pascale Salameh
- Epidemiology, Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN.,Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia, CYP.,Toxicologie Clinique et Toxicologie (INSPECT-LB) - Liban, Institut National de Santé Publique, Beirut, LBN
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8
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Chanbour H, El Masri J, Bsat S, Bsat A, Jiblawi A, Sunna T. A Bibliometric Analysis of Neurosurgery Research Productivity in Arab Countries Between 2005 and 2019. World Neurosurg 2021; 154:e313-e319. [PMID: 34265430 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Arab world is lagging behind in the world of publications and research, especially in the biomedical-related field. This is a bibliometric analysis that aims to assess the neurosurgical research productivity across different Arab countries. METHODS PubMed was used to quantify the number of neurosurgery-related articles published by each Arab country, by several journals, investigating specific topics between 2005 and 2019. Numbers were normalized with respect to each country's average population and average gross domestic product (GDP). RESULTS Arab countries contributed 0.53% of total neurosurgery publications. Egypt had the highest number of neurosurgery-related publications (362), ahead of Saudi Arabia (238) and Lebanon (133). In terms of publications per million persons, Lebanon was first with 21.6 publications per million persons. In terms of GDP, Egypt ranked first with 18.85 publications per million $. There was an insignificant correlation between the number of publications on one hand and the average GDP (P = 0.09) on the other hand, whereas the average population explains around 50% of the neurosurgery-related publications (R squared = 0.49, P < 0.01). Neoplasms were the dominating area of research, and the WORLD NEUROSURGERY journal had the highest number of publications. CONCLUSIONS The results reached by this study reflect an undoubtable need for more research on neurosurgery by Arab countries. This goes back to the different obstacles facing Arab countries every day, affecting the economic, educational, and health care systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hani Chanbour
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jad El Masri
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; Faculty of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Shadi Bsat
- Department of Neurosurgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ayman Bsat
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ahmad Jiblawi
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Tarek Sunna
- Department of Neurosurgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
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9
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El Ayoubi LM, El Masri J, Machaalani M, El Hage S, Salameh P. Contribution of Arab world in transplant research: A PubMed-based bibliometric analysis. Transpl Immunol 2021; 68:101432. [PMID: 34186171 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2021.101432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Arab world consists of 22 countries situated in the Middle East and North Africa, tied together by linguistic and cultural bonds. Over numerous past decades, this region tended to fall behind regarding biomedical research. Organ, tissue, and cell transplantation are life-saving and life-improving treatments for various diseases. Given the positive correlation between research activity and the improvement of the clinical frame of transplantation, this article intended to examine the regional activity of transplantation research between 2005 and 2019. METHODS Using the PubMed database, the number of transplantation-related articles published by each country, and regarding 26 different procedures, was assessed. The results were normalized with respect to each country's average population & average Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In addition, the co-occurrence of keywords and the co-authorships were analyzed by VOS Viewer. RESULTS Arab countries contributed to 1.25% of total transplantation publications. The number of transplantation publications had an inflection in 2013, with the last six years alone contributing to 65.27% of the overall regional transplantation-related publications. Kuwait and Lebanon ranked first in terms of publications per million persons, while Egypt ranked first in terms of publications per national GDP. Stem cell, bone & kidney transplantations had the highest number of Arab transplantation-related publications. Low levels of collaboration between authors and organizations were observed, besides a modest but increasing trend towards experimental work on animals and newer therapies. CONCLUSION Despite the increase in transplant-related research activity in recent years, the Arab world still lags behind in this field compared to the worldwide contribution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jad El Masri
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; Faculty of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Said El Hage
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; Faculty of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Pascale Salameh
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon; University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus
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10
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Masri DE, Alsaayed B, Masri JE, Zreika B, Chanbour H, Salameh P. Contribution of Arab Countries to Familial Mediterranean Fever Research: a PubMed-based bibliometric analysis. Rheumatol Int 2021; 42:95-100. [PMID: 33844039 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-021-04852-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an inherited autoinflammatory disease. One of the feared complications of FMF, amyloidosis is often correlated with an increased mortality rate. The severity of the disease is linked with different mutations in the MEFV gene that may favor different outcomes (amyloidosis, Bechet's disease…). Although several countries worldwide contribute remarkably to research related to FMF, Arab countries make up only a small part of this contribution. This study aims to estimate numerically the contribution of the Arab world to research conducted on FMF. PubMed is used to quantitate the number of FMF-related articles published by each Arab country from 2004 till 2019. The retrieved numbers are normalized with respect to each country's average population and average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and are also compared to those of some non-Arab countries having high FMF prevalence. In comparison with some non-Arab countries, the Arab world has a minor contribution of 3.80% to the total FMF-related publications, faced by 24.93% solely by Turkey. Out of total research done by Arab countries, FMF-related articles constitute no more than 0.133%. When normalized against the average population, Tunisia ranks first, followed by Lebanon. Similarly, normalizing the retrieved numbers of articles against average GDP shows that Tunisia and Lebanon come first and second, respectively. Only 8 Arab countries published a total of 13 articles concerning amyloidosis which makes 4.7% of the total Arabic FMF published articles. This study reflects an undoubtable need for more research to be conducted on FMF by the Arab countries, which suffer greatly from immense shortage in research productivity, due to the many obstacles and limitations these countries face every day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diala El Masri
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Balamand, Nord, Lebanon
| | - Bachar Alsaayed
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath Campus, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jad El Masri
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath Campus, Beirut, Lebanon.
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Bachir Zreika
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath Campus, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hani Chanbour
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath Campus, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Pascale Salameh
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath Campus, Beirut, Lebanon
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
- iNSPECT-LB (Intitut National de Santé Publique, Epidémiologie Clinique et Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon
- Medical School, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
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11
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Khachfe HH, Salhab HA, Fares MY, Khachfe HM. Probing the Colorectal Cancer Incidence in Lebanon: an 11-Year Epidemiological Study. J Gastrointest Cancer 2021; 51:805-812. [PMID: 31422543 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-019-00284-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Lebanon has witnessed an increase in the rates of several cancer sub-types over the past couple of years. The aim of our study is to investigate the incidence rates of colorectal cancer over 11 years in Lebanon and compare them with other countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data was collected from the National Cancer Registry (NCR) of Lebanon from the years of 2005 till 2015 inclusive. Data of other countries was retrieved from the online database "Cancer Incidence in Five Continents". The age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates (ASR(w)) were calculated and analyzed using Joinpoint regression. RESULTS Colorectal cancer ranked as the 5th most common cancer in Lebanon. The average ASR(w) was 12.6 per 100,00 for males and 10.7 per 100,00 for females. Colorectal cancer ASR (w) showed a significantly increasing trend in both males and females. Lebanon had the second highest incidence of colorectal cancer in the MENA region. CONCLUSION Incidence of colorectal cancer has been increasing significantly over the course of our study. It is important to study the risk factors associated with colorectal cancer and develop proper preventive and screening policies in order to decrease exposure and therefore decrease incidence rates in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein H Khachfe
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box: xxxxx, Beirut, Lebanon. .,Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Hamza A Salhab
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box: xxxxx, Beirut, Lebanon.,Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mohamad Y Fares
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box: xxxxx, Beirut, Lebanon.,Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hassan M Khachfe
- School of Arts and Sciences, and the Lebanese Institute for Biomedical Research and Application (LIBRA), Lebanese International University (LIU), Beirut, Lebanon
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12
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Khachfe HH, Zayyoun FJ, Sharif-Askari E, Ramadan W, Hallal N, Khachfe HM. Effect of Leishmaniasis on the Performance of Elementary School Students: A Case Study among Syrian Refugees in Some Bekaa (Lebanon) Area Schools. J Epidemiol Glob Health 2020; 9:266-273. [PMID: 31854168 PMCID: PMC7310787 DOI: 10.2991/jegh.k.190915.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the Syrian conflict started, Lebanon became a common destination receiving a huge number of Syrian refugees that are living in camps spread all over the country, with the largest concentration in the Bekaa Valley. Generous steps are being taken to increase the access to formal education, such as offering free public education and opening second shifts in the public schools in the afternoon. Yet barriers, such as child labor and health-related factors like the spreading of some communicable diseases, like Leishmania, are keeping children out of classroom. The present study was done with the aim of investigating the effect of leishmaniasis on the performance and the academic achievement of Syrian refugee children. The results showed varying degrees of knowledge and dealing with the case of leishmaniasis. The disease clearly had an effect on the students’ attendance in schools, and by proxy on their academic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein H Khachfe
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Firyal J Zayyoun
- School of Education, Lebanese International University (LIU), Nabatieh, Lebanon
| | - Ehssan Sharif-Askari
- School of Arts and Sciences, International University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Wiam Ramadan
- School of Arts and Sciences, International University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nancy Hallal
- School of Arts and Sciences, International University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hassan M Khachfe
- Business, Educational, & Medical Optimization Research Institute, Lebanese International University (LIU), Nabatieh, Lebanon
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13
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Daou L, El Hage S, Wakim E, Safi S, Salameh P. Psoriasis: A bibliometric analysis in the Arab World (2004–2019). Australas J Dermatol 2020; 62:e19-e23. [DOI: 10.1111/ajd.13407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lea Daou
- Faculty of Medical Sciences Lebanese University Beirut Lebanon
| | - Said El Hage
- Faculty of Medical Sciences Lebanese University Beirut Lebanon
- Faculty of Medical Sciences Neuroscience Research Center Lebanese University Beirut Lebanon
| | - Elias Wakim
- Faculty of Medical Sciences Lebanese University Beirut Lebanon
| | - Steven Safi
- Faculty of Medical Sciences Lebanese University Beirut Lebanon
| | - Pascale Salameh
- Faculty of Medical Sciences Lebanese University Beirut Lebanon
- Faculty of Pharmacy Lebanese University Beirut Lebanon
- Faculty of Public Health Lebanese University Beirut Lebanon
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14
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Tropeano MP, Spaggiari R, Ileyassoff H, Mabunda DJD, Anania CD, Costa F, Fornari M, Sharif S, Zileli M, Park KB, Servadei F. Traumatic Spine Injury: Which Discrepancy Between the Research Output and the Actual Burden of the Disease? World Neurosurg 2020; 142:e117-e125. [PMID: 32592959 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.06.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Traumatic spinal injury (TSI) is a global health issue contributing to morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study is to compare the epidemiological estimates of TSI with the corresponding amount of published papers for different regions. METHODS A bibliometric analysis was performed by collecting the number of publications concerning TSI from the PubMed database. Results were sorted according to the different geographical World Health Organization regions. A "publication-to-volume ratio" was obtained by comparing the average number of documents per year with the number of TSI cases across each region. RESULTS A total of 2304 articles were detected from 2008 to 2018. The major publishing regions were North America (AMR-US/Can: 843 articles, 36.6%) and Europe (EUR: 833, 36.2%), then Western Pacific (WPR: 410, 17.8%), Eastern Mediterranean (EMR: 73, 3.2%), South-East Asia (SEAR: 71, 3.1%), Latin America (AMR-L: 55, 2.4%), Africa (AFR: 19, 0.8%). The United States is the most publishing country in AMR-US/Can (86.0%), and Germany in EUR (22.4%). In 2018, EUR published 36.6% of papers versus AMR-US/Can 26.5% and WPR 25.7%, thanks to an increase in Chinese publications. The highest publication ratios of 4.63 and 2.68 were found for AMR-US/Can and EUR, respectively. The other were EMR (0.22), WPR (0.18), AMR-L (0.07), SEAR (0.03), and AFR (0.01). CONCLUSIONS A marked divide is currently found between countries with a high burden of TSI and those where there is most research interest, estimated as amount of publications. Data demonstrate the need for increased inclusiveness in guidelines generation from high-income countries including collection and analysis from low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hernán Ileyassoff
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Carla D Anania
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Francesco Costa
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
| | | | - Salman Sharif
- Department of Neurosurgery, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Mehmet Zileli
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Kee B Park
- Global Neurosurgery Initiative, Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Franco Servadei
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
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15
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Fares MY, Dimassi Z, Fares J, Musharrafieh U. Peroneal neuropathy and bariatric surgery: untying the knot. Int J Neurosci 2020; 130:417-423. [DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2019.1694926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Y. Fares
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Zakia Dimassi
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jawad Fares
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Umayya Musharrafieh
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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16
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Tropeano MP, Spaggiari R, Ileyassoff H, Park KB, Kolias AG, Hutchinson PJ, Servadei F. A comparison of publication to TBI burden ratio of low- and middle-income countries versus high-income countries: how can we improve worldwide care of TBI? Neurosurg Focus 2019; 47:E5. [DOI: 10.3171/2019.8.focus19507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVETraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health problem and more than 70% of trauma-related deaths are estimated to occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Nevertheless, there is a consistent lack of data from these countries. The aim of this work is to estimate the capacity of different and heterogeneous areas of the world to report and publish data on TBI. In addition, we wanted to estimate the countries with the highest and lowest number of publications when taking into account the relative TBI burden.METHODSFirst, a bibliometric analysis of all the publications about TBI available in the PubMed database from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2018, was performed. These data were tabulated by country and grouped according to each geographical region as indicated by the WHO: African Region (AFR), Region of the Americas (PAH), South-East Asia Region (SEAR), European Region (EUR), Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), and Western Pacific Region (WPR). In this analysis, PAH was further subdivided into Latin America (AMR-L) and North America (AMR-US/Can). Then a “publication to TBI volume ratio” was derived to estimate the research interest in TBI with respect to the frequency of this pathology.RESULTSBetween 2008 and 2018 a total of 8144 articles were published and indexed in the PubMed database about TBI. Leading WHO regions in terms of contributions were AMR-US/Can with 4183 articles (51.36%), followed by EUR with 2003 articles (24.60%), WPR with 1507 (18.50%), AMR-L with 141 articles (1.73%), EMR with 135 (1.66%), AFR with 91 articles (1.12%), and SEAR with 84 articles (1.03%). The highest publication to TBI volume ratios were found for AMR-US/Can (90.93) and EUR (21.54), followed by WPR (8.71) and AMR-L (2.43). Almost 90 times lower than the ratio of AMR-US/Can were the ratios for AFR (1.15) and SEAR (0.46).CONCLUSIONSAn important disparity currently exists between countries with a high burden of TBI and those in which most of the research is conducted. A call for improvement of data collection and research outputs along with an increase in international collaboration could quantitatively and qualitatively improve the ability of LMICs to ameliorate TBI care and develop clinical practice guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pia Tropeano
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital and Humanitas University, Milano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Spaggiari
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital and Humanitas University, Milano, Italy
| | - Hernán Ileyassoff
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital and Humanitas University, Milano, Italy
| | - Kee B. Park
- 2Global Neurosurgery Initiative, Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Angelos G. Kolias
- 3National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma, University of Cambridge; and
- 4Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke’s Hospital and University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. Hutchinson
- 3National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma, University of Cambridge; and
- 4Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke’s Hospital and University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Franco Servadei
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital and Humanitas University, Milano, Italy
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17
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Khachfe HH, Sammouri J, Salhab HA, Fares MY, El-Najjar R. Maternal mortality and health in the Arab World: A 25-year epidemiological study. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2019; 45:2369-2376. [PMID: 31581369 DOI: 10.1111/jog.14119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
AIM In this work, we aim to assess the maternal health in terms of maternal mortality ratios and lifetime risk of maternal death in of women in the Arab World. METHODS Data on maternal mortality rates (MMR) and lifetime risk of maternal death (LTR) were extracted from the official databases of the United Nations Children's Fund. Annual Percentage Change was calculated using Joinpoint regression model. Statistical significance among countries was determined using one-way analysis of variance (anova) on spss version 25.0 (IBM SPSS, 2017). RESULTS The MMR and LTR significantly decreased in almost all Arab countries. Somalia was found to be the country with the highest burden of MMR, while Gulf countries had the lowest burden. CONCLUSION Our study shows a decrease in the MMR and LTR of maternal death in the Arab world. Although there is a decrease in these rates, but continuous research and efforts must be undergone to better develop the health care system in a great number of Arab countries to decrease the burden of maternal deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie Sammouri
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hamza A Salhab
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mohamad Y Fares
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Roula El-Najjar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Middle East Institute of Health, Bsalim, Lebanon
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18
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Fares MY, Salhab HA, Khachfe HH, Khachfe HM. Breast Cancer Epidemiology among Lebanese Women: An 11-Year Analysis. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2019; 55:E463. [PMID: 31405167 PMCID: PMC6723716 DOI: 10.3390/medicina55080463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide. Lebanon is a developing country in the Middle East with a prominent breast cancer incidence. The aim of our study was to explore the incidence rates of breast cancer in Lebanon from 2005 to 2015, and compare them to the rates of other countries. Materials and Methods: Breast cancer data for the years 2005-2015 was collected from the National Cancer Registry of Lebanon and stratified by gender and age group. Age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates were calculated and analyzed using joinpoint regression. Age-standardized incidence rates in the world population (ASR(w)) were obtained for other countries, from two online databases. Results: Breast cancer was found to be the most prevalent cancer in Lebanon, accounting for 20% of all cancer cases. The average ASR(w) was 96.5 per 100,000. Over the studied period, breast cancer ASR(w) in Lebanon showed a significantly increasing trend with an annual percent change (APC) of +4.6. Moreover, the APC of breast cancer age-specific rates significantly increased for the age groups 45-49 (p = 0.013), 50-54 (p < 0.001), 55-59 (p = 0.001), 60-64 (p = 0.002), 65-69 (p = 0.003), 70-74 (p < 0.001), and 75+ years (p < 0.001). Lebanon had the highest breast cancer ASR(w), when compared to other regional countries, and trailed only behind Denmark, when compared to selected countries from different parts of the world. Conclusions: Breast cancer incidence in Lebanon is among the highest in the world. Future studies should focus on exploring the genetic profile of the Lebanese population in an aim to extrapolate proper prevention guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Y Fares
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon.
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut 1102, Lebanon.
| | - Hamza A Salhab
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut 1102, Lebanon
| | - Hussein H Khachfe
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut 1102, Lebanon
| | - Hassan M Khachfe
- School of Arts and Sciences, and the Lebanese Institute for Biomedical Research and Application (LIBRA), Lebanese International University (LIU), Beirut 1105, Lebanon
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Salhab HA, Fares MY, Khachfe HH, Khachfe HM. Epidemiological Study of Lung Cancer Incidence in Lebanon. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 55:medicina55060217. [PMID: 31141934 PMCID: PMC6631477 DOI: 10.3390/medicina55060217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Lung cancer (LC) is the most common cancer in the world. Developing countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including Lebanon, have witnessed a great increase in the incidence rates of this disease. The aim of our study is to investigate the incidence rates of lung cancer in Lebanon from 2005 to 2015 and to compare these rates to other countries from the MENA region and other regions of the world. Material and Methods: Lung cancer data for the years 2005-2015 were collected from the National Cancer Registry of Lebanon and stratified by gender and age group. Age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates were calculated and analyzed using joinpoint regression. Age-standardized incidence rates to the world population (ASR(w)) for other countries were obtained from two online databases. Results: Lung cancer ranked as the second most common cancer in Lebanon and accounted for 9.2% of all newly diagnosed cancers. Lung cancer ASR(w) showed a significantly increasing trend over the period studied for males and females. Lung cancer ASR(w) among males in Lebanon came second after Malta when compared to other MENA countries, but it was among the lowest when compared to non-MENA countries. For females, Lebanon ranked first when compared to other MENA countries but was among the lowest when compared to countries in other regions of the world. The lung cancer incidence rate increased with age in both sexes and 89.2% of patients were 50 years of age or older. Conclusion: Lebanon has the highest incidence of LC in females and the second highest for males in the MENA region. The lung cancer incidence rate is on the rise and older age groups are much more burdened by this disease than the young ones. Several risk factors, particularly smoking, play a role in increased LC incidence among the Lebanese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza A Salhab
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon.
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut 6573, Lebanon.
| | - Mohamad Y Fares
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon.
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut 6573, Lebanon.
| | - Hussein H Khachfe
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon.
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut 6573, Lebanon.
| | - Hassan M Khachfe
- School of Arts and Sciences, and the Lebanese Institute for Biomedical Research and Application (LIBRA), Lebanese International University (LIU), Beirut 1105, Lebanon.
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