Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran最新文献

{"title":"Lessons from the G5 Health Cooperation in West Asia: 20 Years After Establishment.","authors":"Zhaleh Abdi, Forouzan Salehi, Mohsen Asadi-Lari","doi":"10.47176/mjiri.39.29","DOIUrl":"10.47176/mjiri.39.29","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18361,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran","volume":"39 ","pages":"29"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12138774/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248672","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 Survey of the Level of Willingness to Communicate and Critical Thinking Among PhD Students.","authors":"Rafat Bagherzadeh","doi":"10.47176/mjiri.39.28","DOIUrl":"10.47176/mjiri.39.28","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Language teachers in the classroom face a common challenge: students' lack of engagement in oral communication and limited problem-solving abilities. This study aimed to determine whether students who displayed a greater willingness to communicate also possessed critical thinking abilities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2023 at the School of Health Management and Information. A total of 22 PhD students specializing in health services management were recruited. Data collection tools included McCroskey and Baer's and Baghaei's questionnaires measuring willingness to communicate, Honey's questionnaire assessing critical thinking, and an interview. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 23. Pearson's Correlation Coefficient and t-statistic were employed to calculate the correlation between the 2 variables and the associated P values. For the interview, content analysis was utilized to identify factors influencing students' willingness to communicate in English.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The students achieved high scores on 3 questionnaires independently. However, the correlation analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship between the students' willingness to communicate and their critical thinking abilities. Specifically, the correlation between McCroskey and Honey's questionnaires was r = 0.307, while the correlation between Baghaei and Honey's questionnaires was r = 0.003.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Given the importance of health tourism, it is crucial for PhD students, as future healthcare managers, to effectively communicate with medical tourists and make informed decisions in challenging situations. Therefore, it is recommended to create a conducive classroom environment that encourages students to participate in discussions, raise critical issues, and develop problem-solving skills.</p>","PeriodicalId":18361,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran","volume":"39 ","pages":"28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12138761/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248582","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":"Brace Compliance Model in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Qualitative Research.","authors":"Pouya Sharifi, Mohammad Kamali, Hadi Ranjbar, Malahat Akbarfahimi, Taher Babaee","doi":"10.47176/mjiri.39.27","DOIUrl":"10.47176/mjiri.39.27","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Evaluating the performance of a brace in the treatment of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, without considering the process of brace compliance, is not comprehensive and valuable. This study aimed to evaluate the multifaceted and complex modality of brace compliance by drawing a comprehensive model with a qualitative approach.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study employed the grounded theory methodology to systematically explore and interpret factors affecting brace compliance, uncovering patterns and themes that influence treatment success. Data collection involved nonrandom convenience sampling of individuals from local clinics specializing in orthotic management of scoliosis. A semi-structured interview guide was utilized to explore participants' experiences, challenges, and perceptions related to brace compliance and orthotic treatment. We engaged in constant comparison analysis as data were collected until we reached saturation, where no new themes emerged from additional data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 133 codes about the experiences of patients, parents, and specialists were extracted from the transcripts and categorized into 42 subthemes. The study identified 8 interconnected themes-including extensive lifestyle changes, visible improvements, supervision dynamics, result maintenance, a sense of difference, long-term commitment, monotony, and hope for a definitive treatment without surgery.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of compliance with braces and the dynamic interplay between patients, their families, and the treatment process.</p>","PeriodicalId":18361,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran","volume":"39 ","pages":"27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12138775/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248650","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":"The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medicinal Plants Consumption Among Iranian Households: Determinants and Consumption Patterns.","authors":"Ali Kazemi-Karyani, Jafar Yahyavi Dizaj, Satar Rezaei, Kamran Irandoust, Moslem Soofi, Ali Akbar Fazaeli, Sajad Darzi Ramandi, Shahin Soltani","doi":"10.47176/mjiri.39.26","DOIUrl":"10.47176/mjiri.39.26","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has heightened interest in using medicinal plants (MPs) for disease management. Considering regional, socioeconomic, and demographic differences, this study explores the determinants and consumption patterns of MPs among Iranian households before and after the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive and analytical study was conducted using survey data from the the Iranian Statistics Center (ISC). from 2018-2019 (prepandemic) and 2020-2021 (postpandemic) to compare MPs consumption. Logistic regression analysis examined the impact of independent variables, and COVID-19 on MPs consumption. The outcome variable was household MPs consumption (yes: 1, no: 0), with explanatory variables including the sex, age, and marital status of the household head, education level, number of educated household members, place of residence (rural/urban), income quintile, and province.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MPs consumption in Iran increased from 15.8% before the COVID-19 pandemic to 18.8% after.After COVID-19, the provinces with the highest MPs consumption were Markazi (43.7%), Guilan (39.2%), and Qom (34.3%). In contrast, the lowest consumption rates were observed in Lorestan (5.6%), Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari (5.6%), and Sistan and Baluchistan (6.1%). Overall, MPs consumption increased across all provinces and socioeconomic groups after the pandemic. Households led by women were more likely to consume MPs, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.280 (95% CI, 1.083-1.516, <i>P</i> = 0.010). Similarly, married heads had a higher likelihood of MPs consumption (aOR, 1.630 [95% CI, 1.161-2.297]; <i>P</i> = 0.010). Households with more educated members also showed increased odds (aOR, 1.380 [95% CI, 1.163-1.629]; <i>P</i> < 0.001). Rural residents had lower odds compared to urban residents (aOR, 0.830 [95% CI, 0.781-0.876]; <i>P</i> < 0.001). Higher-income quintiles were associated with increased MPs consumption, particularly in the fifth quintile (aOR, 1.800 [95% CI, 1.592-2.025]; <i>P</i> < 0.001). Additionally, COVID-19 significantly raised MPs consumption compared to prepandemic levels (aOR, 1.290 [95% CI, 1.212-1.367]; <i>P</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MPs consumption in Iranian households increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but these increases were not uniform across all socioeconomic and demographic groups. Health policymakers must address the quality, safety, and efficacy of MPs, their interactions with conventional pharmaceutical treatments, and the potential economic consequences associated with increased utilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":18361,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran","volume":"39 ","pages":"26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12138736/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248605","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 Mental Disorders Suspicion among Adults with Disabilities and Socioeconomic Inequalities in West of Iran.","authors":"Bakhtiar Piroozi, Banaz Adnan Saeed, Azad Shokri, Hossein Safari, Farhad Moradpour, Mehdi Zokaei, Kaveh Qaderi Bagajan, Amjad Mohamadi-Bolbanabad, Yadolah Zarezadeh","doi":"10.47176/mjiri.39.25","DOIUrl":"10.47176/mjiri.39.25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mental disorders are prevalent among individuals with disabilities, often exacerbated by socioeconomic factors. This study aims to examine the prevalence of mental disorders among people with disabilities in Iran, addressing a significant yet under-researched issue within this population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Conducted in 2023, this cross-sectional study focused on adults with physical and sensory disabilities (sight, hearing, speech) in Sanandaj city. A total of 613 individuals participated, selected through simple random sampling. Data were gathered utilizing the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). Multivariate logistic regression identified significant predictors of mental disorder suspicion, while the concentration index (C) and concentration curve (CC) measured prevalence inequality. Data analysis was conducted using STATA software version 16.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of mental disorder suspicion was 56.7% (344 individuals), with severity categorized as 29.7% mild, 16.6% moderate, and 10.4% severe. Significant predictors for increased odds of mental disorder symptoms included being female (AOR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.05-2.29), under 30 years old (AOR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.55-5.76), unemployed (AOR: 4.10; 95% CI: 2.74-6.14), lacking supplementary insurance (AOR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.49-5.20), and belonging to the poorest economic class (AOR: 4.23; 95% CI: 2.34-7.62). The suspicion of mental disorders was unevenly distributed and concentrated among individuals with lower economic status (C = -0.395).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights significant mental health disparities among individuals with disabilities, particularly in economically disadvantaged groups. Health policies should focus on prevention and access to mental health services, such as community-based programs, healthcare provider training, and financial assistance, alongside efforts to improve employment opportunities for this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":18361,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran","volume":"39 ","pages":"25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12138662/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248673","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":"ChatGPT's Performance on Iran's Medical Licensing Exams.","authors":"Alireza Keshtkar, Ali-Asghar Hayat, Farnaz Atighi, Nazanin Ayare, Mohammadreza Keshtkar, Parsa Yazdanpanahi, Erfan Sadeghi, Noushin Deilami, Hamid Reihani, Alireza Karimi, Hamidreza Mokhtari, Mohammad Hashem Hashempur","doi":"10.47176/mjiri.39.24","DOIUrl":"10.47176/mjiri.39.24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A 175 billion parameter transformer architecture is used by OpenAI's ChatGPT language model to perform tasks requiring natural language processing. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and interpretive abilities of ChatGPT on three types of Iranian medical license exams: basic sciences, pre-internship, and pre-residency.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This comparative study involved administering three different levels of Iran's medical license exams, which included basic sciences, pre-internship, and pre-residency, to ChatGPT 3.5. Two versions of each exam were used, corresponding to the ChatGPT 3.5's internet access time: one during the access time and one after. These exams were inputted to ChatGPT in Persian and English. The accuracy and concordance of each question were extracted by two blinded adjudicators.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 2210 questions, including 667 basic sciences, 763 pre-internship, and 780 pre-residency questions, were presented to ChatGPT in both English and Persian languages. Across all tests, the overall accuracy was found to be 48.5%, with an overall concordance of 91%. Notably, English questions exhibited higher accuracy and concordance rates, with 61.4% accuracy and 94.5% concordance, compared to 35.7% accuracy and 88.7% concordance for Persian questions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings demonstrate that ChatGPT performs above the required passing scores on basic sciences and pre-internship exams. Moreover, ChatGPT could obtain the minimal score needed to apply for residency positions in Iran; however, it was lower than the applicants' mean scores. Significantly, the model showcases its ability to provide reasoning and contextual information in the majority of responses. These results provide compelling evidence for the potential use of ChatGPT in medical education.</p>","PeriodicalId":18361,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran","volume":"39 ","pages":"24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12138734/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248654","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":"The Effect of Pregabalin on Preoperative Anxiety and Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Anahita Ansari Djafari, Amir Alinejad Khorram, Seyyed Ali Hojjati, Mohammad Fayaz, Amir Hossein Eslami, Maryam Garousi, Saba Faraji, Elnaz Aghabeiki","doi":"10.47176/mjiri.39.23","DOIUrl":"10.47176/mjiri.39.23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the preferred surgical technique for treating kidney stones. Preoperative anxiety is a common psychiatric symptom experienced by many patients undergoing surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effects of pregabalin administration on preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in patients undergoing PCNL.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This randomized controlled trial included 104 patients who were scheduled for PCNL surgery and were randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 groups: placebo, 75 mg of pregabalin, 150 mg of pregabalin, or 300 mg of pregabalin. The anxiety level was measured using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRSA), and the postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). Methods such as the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used for the before-after test and the Kruskal Wallis Test was used for between-group time comparisons. The generalized estimation equation (GEE) and Poisson log-linear were used for the link function.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After comparing the different doses of pregabalin to the placebo, no statistically significant relationships were detected (<i>P</i>=0.931 and <i>P</i>=0.886, respectively). In the group-time study of these patients, the pain level in all 4 groups decreased with time. This decrease in pain was statistically significant for most of the groups (<i>P</i><0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Administering pregabalin before PCNL surgery does not significantly reduce anxiety in patients before the procedure. However, preoperative administration of pregabalin has been found to be beneficial for alleviating postoperative pain in patients who have undergone PCNL surgery, with the optimal dosage of 75 mg pregabalin.</p>","PeriodicalId":18361,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran","volume":"39 ","pages":"23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12138762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248675","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":"Examination of High-Level Language Skills in 2 Phases of Multiple Sclerosis (Relapsing-Remitting & Secondary Progressive) in Comparison With Healthy Counterparts.","authors":"Parvaneh Rahimifar, Rezvan Isazadeh, Majid Soltani, Raheleh Ghobadi, Ali Boazar, Golnoosh Abaeian, Leyla Aliabdi, Nastaran Majdinasab, Payam Amini","doi":"10.47176/mjiri.39.22","DOIUrl":"10.47176/mjiri.39.22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Language skills compromised after neurological damage, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), significantly impacting patients' quality of life. MS impairs high-level language functioning. Despite existing research, no studies have examined high-level language functions during different phases of the disease. This is crucial for a better understanding of the linguistic profiles of affected patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive-analytical study included 25 patients with RRMS, 27 patients with SPMS, and 30 healthy individuals (age range, 22-57 years). They were selected based on convenience sampling. All participants were sampled using the Persian version of the high-level language skills assessment test. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the performance of the 3 groups, and the Bonferroni test was employed to make pairwise comparisons between groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences in the total score and all subtest scores (P ≤ 0.05), except for the ambiguous sentence comprehension subtest (P ≥ 0.05). The Bonferroni test revealed a significant difference in the total score and all subtest scores (P ≤ 0.05) between healthy individuals and those with SPMS & RRMS, except for the ambiguous sentence comprehension subtest (P ≤ 0.05). Also, no significant differences were found in the total score and all subtest scores between the SPMS and RRMS patients (P ≥ 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of the present study showed that the high-level language functions were weaker in MS patients compared to healthy individuals. However, no significant difference was found between the RRMS and SPMS patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":18361,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran","volume":"39 ","pages":"22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12138755/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248667","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":"Effect of Refractive Status on Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Vascular Density: A Prospective Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography-Based Study.","authors":"Arezoo Miraftabi, Atusa Moghadam Fard, Azadeh Yavari, Naveed Nilforushan, Samira Chaibakhsh, Navid Abolfathzadeh","doi":"10.47176/mjiri.39.21","DOIUrl":"10.47176/mjiri.39.21","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There have been different reports of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in myopic and hyperopic patients in optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based studies. This study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between vascular density of the optic nerve head and refractive errors in healthy subjects using OCT-angiography (OCTA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a prospective interventional case series, 47 healthy subjects were enrolled consequently. The target spherical equivalent was -1.00 to +1.00, -1.00 to -6.00, and +1.00 to +4.00 in the emmetropia group (A), myopia group (B), and hyperopia group (C), respectively. The astigmatism was less than 3.00 diopters in all patients. The thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), the vascular density of the optic nerve head (ONH), and the peripapillary area were measured. Statistical independent samples t-tests were used to evaluate between-group differences and the hyperopia group (group C) was considered as the reference group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighty-eight eyes from 47 patients were included. Twenty-five eyes (28.4%) were emmetrope, 27 eyes (30.7%) were myopic, and 36 eyes (40.9%) were hyperopic. The mean rim area was significantly lower in myopic eyes than in hyperopic eyes (1.64 vs. 1.80, <i>P</i>=0.039). Although the lowest mean of RNFL thickness was observed in myopic eyes, the difference between groups was not statistically significant. The nasal radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC) were significantly lower in myopic eyes versus hyperopic (49.04 vs.52.72, <i>P</i>=0.006). There was not any significant difference between the mean of RPC capillary inside the disc.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The vascular density in the RPC area was significantly lower in myopic eyes than in hyperopic and emmetropic eyes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18361,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran","volume":"39 ","pages":"21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12138764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248590","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":"Creatine Kinase as a Predictor of Disease Severity in Children with COVID-19.","authors":"Alireza Nateghian, Marzieh Nojomi, Mahshid Roohravan Benis, Tayebeh Heidarpour","doi":"10.47176/mjiri.39.20","DOIUrl":"10.47176/mjiri.39.20","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The majority of children with COVID-19 infection experience asymptomatic or mild disease, but some of them are at risk of developing severe illness. Determination of predictors of severe disease can help to prevent this form of disease in children. The aim of the current study was to determine the predictors of disease severity of COVID-19 infection based on laboratory markers and underlying conditions in children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted in Iran from May 2021 to March 2022. Thirty hundred and seventeen children under 18 years old with positive tests or pulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 referred to a teaching hospital in Tehran were included in the study. Demographic, laboratory, and clinical parameters of included children were measured. The participants were classified into three severity groups based on a severity-scoring protocol. Data was analyzed using SPSS software with chi-square, analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests, and linear generalized model. Statistical significance was considered at 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 317 children, 186 patients (58.7%) were male. The mean age of the participants was 4.75 ± 4.47 years old. Examination of clinical factors showed cough (64%), Malaise (57.7%), and Tachypnea (35.3%) were the most frequent findings among the subjects. Employing the severity scoring protocol, most patients (69.1%) were classified into the mild group. There was a significant relationship between the severity of COVID-19 and the level of Hemoglobin, Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), C-reactive protein (CRP), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Creatine Kinase (CK), D-dimer, Ferritin, and Fibrinogen (<i>P</i><0.001). Creatine Kinase was found to be a predictor of COVID-19 severity in adjusted model. All underlying conditions, except asthma, were significantly associated with disease severity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In our study, it was determined that CK could be considered a predictor of the severity of COVID-19 in children. These results suggest that integrating CK assessment into routine clinical protocols may aid healthcare providers in timely risk stratification and personalized patient care approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":18361,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran","volume":"39 ","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12138640/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144248588","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}