Mortality Rate and Years of Life Lost due to Hypertension in the South of Iran between 2004 and 2019: A Population-Based Study

How Is Telehealth Currently Being Utilized to Help in Hypertension Management within Primary Healthcare Settings? A Scoping Review

Telehealth has improved patient access to healthcare services and has been shown to have a positive impact in various healthcare settings. In any case, little is understood regarding the utilization of telehealth in hypertension management in primary healthcare (PHC) settings. This study aimed to identify and classify information about the types of interventions and types of telehealth technology in hypertension management in primary healthcare. A scoping review based on PRISMA-ScR was used in this study. We searched for articles in four databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Embase in English. The selected articles were published in 2013-2023. The data were extracted, categorized, and analyzed using thematic analysis. There were 1142 articles identified and 42 articles included in this study. Regarding the proportions of studies showing varying trends in the last ten years, most studies came from the United States (US) (23.8%), were conducted in urban locations (33.3%), and had a quantitative study approach (69%). Telehealth interventions in hypertension management are dominated by telemonitoring followed by teleconsultation. Asynchronous telehealth is becoming the most widely used technology in managing hypertension in primary care settings. Telehealth in primary care hypertension management involves the use of telecommunications technology to monitor and manage blood pressure and provide medical advice and counselling remotely.

Unintentional injuries in children in the south of Iran, 2004-2019: a trend analysis of mortality rates

INTRODUCTION

Injury is one of the main causes of death and disability in the world. This study was designed to determine the trend of mortality rate and years of life lost (YLLs) due to unintentional injuries in children in southern Iran.

METHOD

In this cross-sectional study, we extracted all death reports due to unintentional injuries based on age, gender and the year of death based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10)from the Electronic Death Registration System. The YLL analysis due to premature death related to unintentional injuries was executed by the 2015 YLL template from the WHO using the Excel V.2016 software. To examine the trend of crude mortality rate and YLL rates for different years, joinpoint regression was used based on the log-linear model.

RESULTS

During the 16-year study period (2004-2019), 6590 deaths due to unintentional injuries in children aged 0-19 years have occurred. The total YLLs due to unintentional injuries were 138 482 in males and 53 168 in females. The three main causes of YLLs in our study were transportation injuries (67.37%), drowning (7.19%) and burns (6.70%). According to the joinpoint regression analysis, the 16-year trend of YLL rate due to premature mortality was decreasing; the annual per cent change was -5.2% (95% CI -6.5% to -3.9%, p<0.001) for males and -4.3% (95% CI -5.7% to -3.0%, p<0.001) for females.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of this study, the trend of mortality and YLL rate has been decreasing. Road traffic injuries were the most frequent injuries and the most common cause of death. Mortality rates fell by half. To improve child survival, injuries must now be recognised as a major child health problem, and to prevent deaths from injuries in children, early and preventive measures should be taken into account.

Trend Analysis of Leukemia Mortality and Years of Life Lost (YLL) from 2004 to 2019 in the Fars Province, Iran

BACKGROUND

Although the incidence of leukemia's is not high, many of these cancers lead to death over a short period. This is a cross-sectional study on leukemia deaths in southern Iran.

METHODS

All deaths due to leukemia in the Fars province were obtained from the population-based electronic death registration system (EDRS). Crude and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), YLL, and YLL rate data were calculated, and joinpoint regression was used to examine the trend.

RESULTS

Totally, 3141 deaths from leukemia occurred in the Fars province during the study period (2004-2019). Of these, 61.5% (1933 cases) pertained to men. The crude mortality rate was 6.1 (95% CI: 5.8 to 6.4) in men and 3.9 (95% CI: 3.7 to 4.2) in women. Also, ASMR was 6.6 (95% CI: 6.3 to 6.9) and 4.2 (95% CI: 4.0 to 4.4) in men and women, respectively. The total YLLs due to leukemia were 32804 in men and 23064 in women. The joinpoint regression analysis demonstrated that the trend of YLL rate due to premature mortality was stable: the annual percent change (APC) was -1.2% (95% CI: -2.5 to 0.2, P=0.090) for males, and -1.0% (95% CI: -2.9 to 0.9, P=0.274) for females.

CONCLUSION

The mortality and YLL due to leukemia had a stable trend. However, this trend has been decreasing or increasing in some age groups. Determining and controlling essential risk factors, especially the environmental factors of leukemia, may reduce its burden in the Fars province.

Trend analysis of asthma mortality and years of life lost from 2004 to 2019 in Southern Iran

Objective

Asthma is a globally important non-communicable disease with major public health consequences. The aim of this study was to determine the mortality rate and years of life lost (YLL) due to asthma in southern Iran.

Methods

All deaths due to asthma in Fars province from the electronic population-based death registration system (EDRS) were obtained. Crude mortality rate, age-standardized mortality rate, YLL and YLL rate data were calculated. The JoinPoint Regression method was used to examine the trend.

Results

During the 16-year study period (2004-2019), 1167 deaths due to asthma occurred in Fars province among which 54.7% (638 cases) were men and 29.6% (346 cases) were in the age group of 70-79 years. Crude mortality rate of asthma had decreased by 121% and 84% in males and females, respectively from 2004 to 2019. The total years of life lost due to asthma during the 16-year study period were 7697 (0.24 per 1000 people) in men, 6882 (0.22 per 1000 people) in women. According to the join point regression analysis, the 16-year trend of YLL rate due to premature mortality was decreasing: the annual percent change (APC) was -5.6% (95% CI -8.2 to -2.9, P = 0.001) for males, -4.4% (95% CI -7.3 to -1.4, P = 0.008) for females.

Conclusion

The trend of mortality and years of life lost due to asthma has decreased significantly during the years of study, although in some age groups, especially the age group of 45-59 years which has the highest number of years of life lost, this trend has been constant and unchanged. It is necessary to conduct other studies to investigate the possible reasons for this unchanged trend in vulnerable age groups.

The evidence of effectiveness of isometric resistance training on the management of hypertension in adults: an umbrella review

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease yet also one of the most readily preventable causes of death. Isometric resistance training (IRT) has gained increasing popularity in recent times as a viable nonpharmacological management option for hypertension. Whilst there have been several reviews on this topic, with varying findings, this umbrella review aimed to summarize the current evidence underpinning the effectiveness of IRT for hypertension. Quantitative systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in English were considered for inclusion. Commercially produced and grey literature was searched between December 2021 and January 2022. Methodological quality of included reviews was determined using the AMSTAR 2 critical appraisal tool. Customized data extraction tools were developed for this review and data were synthesized using the National Health and Medical Research Council FORM Framework. Twelve reviews published between 2011 and 2021 of varying methodological quality were identified. Isometric handgrip exercise training with four sets of 2-min contractions and 1 min rest period between each set was the most utilized intervention, undertaken three times per week for at least 8 weeks. Collectively, there is consistent evidence to indicate IRT has positive impacts on SBP and DBP as well as mean arterial pressure. These positive impacts were reported for normotensive as well as hypertensive individuals. Given IRT is a readily available, easy-to-use intervention with minimal financial cost, it could be considered a viable treatment option for people with, and at risk of, hypertension.