Journal of research in health sciences最新文献

{"title":"Comment on: Transmission of COVID-19 and its Determinants Among Close Contacts of COVID-19 Patients.","authors":"Zohreh Jadali","doi":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.95","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/jrhs.2022.95","url":null,"abstract":"We read the article by Jashaninejad et al on determinant factors of COVID-19 transmission among close contacts of COVID-19 patients.1 This study demonstrates that the risk of household transmission is higher in older adults; nonetheless, no mention is made of care home staff and residents who are at higher risk of COVID-19 severe outcomes. The increased risk of acquiring COVID-19 and developing a severe disease in older adults is an issue of vital importance.2 There are a number of risk factors that can increase their risk of infection, including immune system ageing, movement poverty, the higher prevalence of comorbid health conditions, as well as nutrient deficiency and its related problems.3 Moreover, care homes are setting where older people usually live in shared accommodation; therefore, effective infection prevention and control is difficult. Other important reasons are the limited availability of medical technology or personal protective equipment and restricted staff resources. These challenges are amplified in the charities that help the elderly population and are entirely run by volunteers with no employees. Factors, including a limited budget, the lack of specialized nursing staff, and voluntary job abandonment, have been linked to the development and poor management of COVID-19 in such places.4 Infected staff also represent one of the major routes of virus transmission, and SARSCoV-2 positivity is significantly higher among them.5 According to the aforementioned reports, transmissionbased precautions are essential for fighting COVID-19. In this regard, health care leaders have taken various measures to control disease spread. These strategic decisions are necessary to overcome the COVID-19 challenges since several studies have found a link between excellent leadership styles and COVID-19 management.6 Some of the key approaches which have been shown to reduce the risk of disease are (1) good personal hygiene (washing hands, wearing masks, keeping distances), 2) vaccine prioritization strategies targeting older people (aged ≥ 60 years), (3) regular testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) that is so important for both early diagnosis and treatment of patients, (4) separating the infected patient from other residents, (5) visitor restrictions, (6) collaboration with public health organizations and hospitals in order to increase the diagnostic tests for COVID-19, education of staff, and collaborative management. Although these measures have had positive impacts on COVID-19 mortality and disease transmission, there is no consensus on this issue7. These discrepancies can be ascribed to different reasons, including characteristics of disease [asymptomatic vs symptomatic transmission), characteristics of residents (comorbidities, nutritional status, physical and cognitive factors), facility characteristics (space allocation and occupancy), staffingrelated factors (ratios of staff to residents, inadequate staffing), and other factors, such as diffe","PeriodicalId":17164,"journal":{"name":"Journal of research in health sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10422151/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10366051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Path Analysis Model Examining Factors Affecting the Caregiving Burden Experienced by the Family Caregivers of Drug Addicts in Egypt.","authors":"Marwa G Abdelrehim, Refaat R Sadek, Asmaa S Mehany, Eman S Mohamed","doi":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.89","DOIUrl":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.89","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although the caregiving burden experienced by the family caregivers of drug addicts is receiving increased attention, there is still a need to study the possible predictors of the care burden, especially with the increasing numbers of addicts in Egypt and the important role of family caregivers in the support and treatment of addicts.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>A cross-sectional study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted at Minia Hospital for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, Egypt. Data was collected during interviews with addicts and their family caregivers. The caregiver burden was assessed using the Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS). The path analysis was used to assess the interrelationships between the burden and characteristics of addicts and caregivers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Based on the results, 96.7% of addicts were males, and their mean age was 28.8 ± 8.1 years, while their caregivers aged 39.7 ± 10.4 years and included 58.7% males. The caregivers reported a severe burden of care which was predicted by the addict's drug-related problems (B = 0.25, P = 0.0003), financial hardship (B = 0.46, P < 0.0001), and the caregiver's occupation (B = -0.16, P = 0.017). Financial hardship had an indirect association with the burden of care (B = 0.06, P = 0.041) mediated through drug-related problems score, which was predicted by the severity of dependence, admission for treatment, and the level of social support.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The burden of caring for addicts depends on patient-related problems, as well as caregivers' situations and income. Strategies to provide social support, financial aid, and problem-solving skills should be provided to the addicts and their caregivers as a part of treatment programs to help reduce the caregiving burden.</p>","PeriodicalId":17164,"journal":{"name":"Journal of research in health sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10422150/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9993602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between Age at Menarche and Metabolic Syndrome in Southwest Iran: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.","authors":"Zahra Rahimi,&nbsp;Nader Saki,&nbsp;Bahman Cheraghian,&nbsp;Sara Sarvandian,&nbsp;Seyed Jalal Hashemi,&nbsp;Jamileh Kaabi,&nbsp;Amal Saki Malehi,&nbsp;Arman Shahriari,&nbsp;Nahal Nasehi","doi":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.93","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/jrhs.2022.93","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Age at menarche affects women's health outcomes and could be a risk factor for some diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). We assessed the association between age at menarche and MetS components in women aged 35-70 in Hoveyzeh, southwest Iran.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>A case-control study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This case-control study was conducted on 5830 women aged 35-70 years in the Hoveyzeh cohort study (HCS), a part of the PERSIAN cohort study, from 2016-2018. The case group included women with MetS, while the controls were women without MetS. The MetS is determined based on standard NCEP-ATP III criteria. Data from demographic, socioeconomic, and reproductive history were gathered face-to-face through trained interviews. Moreover, laboratory, anthropometrics, and blood pressure measurements were assayed for participants. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the association between age at menarche and MetS, with adjustment for potential confounding variables.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age at menarche was 12.60 ± 1.76 years old. Urban and rural women differed in age at menarche (12.58 ± 1.71 and 12.63 ± 1.83 years, respectively). The study revealed a statistically significant relationship between MetS and menarche age. The odds of developing MetS were 14% higher in women with menstrual age ≤ 11 years than in other groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>As evidenced by the results of this study, the odds of having MetS were higher in women whose menarche age was ≤ 11 years. Furthermore, the association between MetS components and age groups at menarche was statistically significant.</p>","PeriodicalId":17164,"journal":{"name":"Journal of research in health sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10422154/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10366049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus Genotypes in Tehran, Iran.","authors":"Zahra Shalchimanesh,&nbsp;Maryam Ghane,&nbsp;Ebrahim Kalantar","doi":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.88","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/jrhs.2022.88","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major cause of cervical cancer worldwide. Knowledge of the geographical distribution and epidemiology of the most common HPV genotypes is a crucial step in developing prevention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate HPV genotype distribution among HPV-positive women and men in Tehran, Iran.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>A case series study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was performed on 219 HPV-positive individuals (160 females and 59 males) from Tehran, Iran. Samples were obtained from the cervix and vagina of female subjects and the genital warts of male subjects. DNA was extracted from samples, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-reverse dot blot genotyping chip was used to examine HPV genotypes. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of 51 patients from the study population were also included in this study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The proportion of high-risk (HR)-HPV was 67.12%. The most common HR-HPV types were HR-HPV16 (17.4%), HR-HPV68 (11.4%), and HR-HPV51 (7.8%). The most common low-risk (LR)-HPV types included LR-HPV6 (31.1%), LR-HPV81 (11.9%), and LR-HPV62 (11.4%). The highest prevalence of HPV was in the age group of > 30 years (42.9%). Co-infection with multiple HR-HPV types was observed in 22.4% of specimens. Moreover, HR-HPV was found in 50% of women with normal cytology, 100% with a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and 84.61% with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results indicated the remarkable growth of HR-HPV68, which has rarely been reported in Iran. The findings add knowledge to HPV epidemiological investigation and emphasize the need for introducing educational programs in high schools and appropriate vaccination in Iran.</p>","PeriodicalId":17164,"journal":{"name":"Journal of research in health sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10422148/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9993601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors Associated with Vaccine Breakthrough Incidence among Health Care Workers Vaccinated with Inactivated SARS-CoV2 Vaccine (CoronaVac).","authors":"Muhammad Anshory,&nbsp;Cesarius Singgih Wahono,&nbsp;Mirza Zaka Pratama,&nbsp;Perdana Aditya Rahman,&nbsp;Aditya Satriya Nugraha,&nbsp;Ayu Sekarani","doi":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.86","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/jrhs.2022.86","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare workers (HCWs) run a high risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The HCWs are prone to the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the hospital despite being fully vaccinated. The present study aimed to address the factors associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine breakthrough among HCWs.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>A prospective cohort study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were 184 HCWs receiving two doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac, Sinovac Life Science). All participants were followed for six months. Confirmed COVID-19 was defined as positive SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Before undergoing RT-PCR, questionnaires were used to obtain information on demographic characteristics, profession, contact with COVID-19 cases, personal protective equipment (PPE), health protocols adherence, exercise, and nutritional habits.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A number of 57 (31%) participants were COVID-19 positive. Close contact with COVID-19 cases (adjusted RR 6.82, 95% CI: 1.97, 47.98, P = 0.044), being a resident doctor (adjusted RR 4.72, 95% CI: 1.11, 20.11, P = 0.036), improper mask-wearing (adjusted RR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.15, 4.85, P = 0.019), and lower frequency of eating fruit and vegetables (adjusted RR 2.73, 95% CI: 1.34, 5.57, P = 0.006) increased the risk of vaccine breakthrough. Compared to single surgical masks, KN95 and N95 significantly reduced the risk of COVID-19 (adjusted RR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.97, P = 0.045 and adjusted RR 0.25, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.87, P = 0.029), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>As evidenced by the obtained results, being a resident doctor, close contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases, health protocol incompliance, as well as the lower frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption were associated with the risk of vaccine breakthrough among HCWs. Appropriate strategies are needed to prevent the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs.</p>","PeriodicalId":17164,"journal":{"name":"Journal of research in health sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9818040/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10532023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Survival Rate and Associated Factors in Patients with Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Fatemeh-Sadat Tabatabaei,&nbsp;Arefeh Saeedian,&nbsp;Amirali Azimi,&nbsp;Kasra Kolahdouzan,&nbsp;Ebrahim Esmati,&nbsp;Afsaneh Maddah Safaei","doi":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.87","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/jrhs.2022.87","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cervical cancer, the most common gynecological cancer, is a matter of concern, especially in developing countries. The present study investigates survival rates, associated factors, and post-treatment follow-up status in cervical cancer patients.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>A retrospective cohort study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted on 187 patients referred to an academic referral cancer center in Iran from 2014-2020. Overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were evaluated using Kaplan Meyer analysis. The event was defined as recurrence, metastasis, or death.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The patients came for post-treatment visits for a median of 36 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 18-51). The median OS and EFS were 24 and 18 months, respectively. The 1- and 3- year OS rates were 90% and 72%, respectively. The 1- and 3- year EFS rates were 76% and 61%, respectively. Stage ≥ III (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5, 6.5, P &lt; 0.001) and tumor size &gt; 4 cm (HR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2, 4.9, P = 0.006) predicted lower OS. The most common histopathology was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (71.1%) with non-significant higher 3- year OS (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.33, 1.16, P = 0.13). No significant difference in OS was found between adjuvant and definitive radiotherapy in both early and advance-staged patients (Log-rank = 0.7 P = 0.4, log-rank = 1.6, P = 0.2, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>As evidenced by the obtained results, the survival of patients was lower compared to that in developed countries. Higher stage and tumor size led to shorter survival. The histopathology and type of treatment in comparable stages did not have any significant impact on survival.</p>","PeriodicalId":17164,"journal":{"name":"Journal of research in health sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9818038/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10532024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Time to Kidneys Failure Modeling in the Patients at Adama Hospital Medical College: Application of Copula Model.","authors":"Firomsa Shewa,&nbsp;Selamawit Endale,&nbsp;Gurmessa Nugussu,&nbsp;Jaleta Abdisa,&nbsp;Ketema Zerihun,&nbsp;Akalu Banbeta","doi":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.84","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/jrhs.2022.84","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Kidney failure is a common public health problem around the world. The vast majority of kidney failure cases in Sub-Saharan African nations, including Ethiopia, go undetected and untreated, resulting in practically certain mortality cases. This study was aimed primarily to model the time to (right and left) kidneys failure in the patients at Adama Hospital Medical College using the copula model.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>A retrospective cohort study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The copula model was used to examine join time to the right and left kidneys failure in the patients by specifying the dependence between the failure times. We employed Weibull, Gompertz, and Log-logistic marginal baseline distributions with Clayton, Gumbel, and Joe Archimedean copula families.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This research comprised a total of 431 patients, out of which, 170 (39.4%) of the total patients failed at least one kidney during the follow-up period. Factors such as sex, age, family history of kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity were found to be the most predictive variables for kidney failure in the patients. There was a 41 percent correlation between the patients' time to the right and left kidneys failure.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The patients' kidney failure risk factors included being a male, older adult, obese, hypertensive, diabetic and also having a family history of kidney disease. The dependence between the patient's time to the right and left kidneys failure was strong. The best statistical model for describing the kidney failure datasets was the log-logistic-Clayton Archimedean copula model.</p>","PeriodicalId":17164,"journal":{"name":"Journal of research in health sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9818037/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10527032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk Assessment of Silicosis and Lung Cancer Mortality associated with Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica in Iran.","authors":"Nafiseh Nasirzadeh,&nbsp;Zahra Soltanpour,&nbsp;Yousef Mohammadian,&nbsp;Farough Mohammadian","doi":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.85","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/jrhs.2022.85","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Exposure to crystalline silica has long been identified to be associated with lung diseases. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the risk of silicosis and lung cancer associated with occupational exposure to crystalline silica in Iran.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>It is a systematic review study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Different databases were searched, and the Cochrane method was used for the systematic review. Thereafter, cumulative exposure to crystalline silica (mg/m3-y) was calculated in every industry. The relative risk of death from silicosis was performed using Mannetje's method. Based on the geometric mean of exposure, the lung cancer risk of exposure to crystalline silica was also calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>As evidenced by the results, worker's exposure to silica ranged from a geometric mean of 0.0212- 0.2689 mg/m3 (Recommended standard by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) was 0.025 mg/m3), which is generally higher than the occupational exposure limit recommended by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), ACGIH, and occupational exposure limits. The relative risk of silicosis was in the range of 1 to 14 per 1000 people, and the risk of lung cancer in workers ranged from 13-137 per 1000 people.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Since workers are at considerable risk of cancer due to exposure to silica in Iran, exposure control programs need to be implemented in workplaces to decrease the concentration of silica.</p>","PeriodicalId":17164,"journal":{"name":"Journal of research in health sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9818034/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10527033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monkeypox Virus Infection: A Global Warning for the Possible Next Pandemic.","authors":"Jalal Poorolajal","doi":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.80","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/jrhs.2022.80","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17164,"journal":{"name":"Journal of research in health sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9818036/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10527027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bivariate Survival Copula Analysis of Glaucoma Patients during Blindness: Glaucoma Cases at Alert Hospital in Addis Ababa City of Ethiopia.","authors":"Firomsa Shewa Gari,&nbsp;Gurmessa Nugussu Gelcho","doi":"10.34172/jrhs.2022.82","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34172/jrhs.2022.82","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Glaucoma is a worldwide problem that causes vision loss and even blindness, with a prevalence rate ranging from 1.9% to 15%. In Ethiopia, glaucoma is the fifth cause of blindness. This study aimed to explore the dependence between blindness of the right and the left eyes of glaucoma patients and assess the effects of the covariates under the dependence structure.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>A retrospective cohort study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study population included the glaucoma patients at Alert hospital from January 1, 2018, to December 30, 2021. The copula model was used to estimate the time to the blindness of the right and the left eyes of the glaucoma patients by specifying the dependence between the event times.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 537 glaucoma patients, 224 (41.71%) became blind at least in one eye during the follow-up period. The results of the Clayton copula model revealed that factors, such as age, residence, diabetes mellitus, stage of glaucoma, and hypertension are considered the most prognostic factors for blindness in glaucoma patients. The findings also revealed that there was a strong dependence between the time to the blindness of the right and the left eyes in the glaucoma patients (τ = 0.43).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Based on the obtained results, high age, urban residence, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and higher stage of glaucoma were factors associated with time to the blindness in the glaucoma patients. There was also a dependence between the right and the left eyes of the glaucoma patients. The results revealed that the Clayton Archimedean copula model was the best statistical model for accurate description of glaucoma patients' datasets.</p>","PeriodicalId":17164,"journal":{"name":"Journal of research in health sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2022-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9818039/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10527030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}