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Some studies suggest that childhood can affect some later outcomes. This cross-sectional study of the first phase of the Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging (ACSA) on 5,197 individuals examined the effects of childhood socioeconomic and health on aging well. Childhood socioeconomic status (SES) was measured using parents' education and self-expressed family's financial status. Quality of Life (SF-12), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), WHO well-being scale, and self-reported health questionnaire were used. All data, including childhood experiences, was collected at a single time point. Poor childhood health was associated with lower well-being, life satisfaction, and mental quality of life (OR:.53, p =.032, OR: 0.49, p =.019, and β: −3.51, p =.008, respectively). The family's financial status during childhood was associated with the mental and physical quality of life, satisfaction, well-being, and health (all p <.05). Fathers and mothers who had some level of education increased the odds of being healthy by 1.20 and 1.49 times, respectively. Childhood circumstances affect older adults' health and social conditions. Policies to improve childhood health and SES should be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This meta-analysis aimed to examine the association between the mode of delivery and dyspareunia worldwide. Epidemiologic studies evaluating the link between the mode of delivery and dyspareunia (published up to July 2019) were included in this research. These studies were selected by searching several databases such as MEDLINE, ClinicalTraial.gov, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar and considering the list of selected articles extracted from references. Then, meta-analyses, subgroup analyses and meta-regressions of the studies were conducted to evaluate the association between the mode of delivery and dyspareunia. In this study, 23 out of 1099 articles were identified and used in the final analysis. Dyspareunia differed according to the mode of delivery although this difference was not statistically significant. In terms of the mode of delivery, a difference was found between instrumental vaginal delivery and caesarean section, but it was not significant. It seems that more studies with a larger sample size should be considered to determine the difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) differs between different regions of Iran. This study aimed to investigate changes in prevalence and incidence rates of MS in ten ethnic and cultural zones of Iran set by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Materials and Methods: Information on MS incidence and prevalence was obtained from the national registry of MS during the study period 2006–2013. Demographic data were acquired from the Statistical Centre of Iran. Results: A rising trend of MS prevalence was observed in Iran, and overall, the prevalence of MS increased by 3.67% per year. The highest prevalence rates of MS, and the most dramatic increase in MS prevalence, occurred in the central areas of Iran. However, during the 7-year period, the prevalence gradually increased also in southern and western areas. Conclusion: The prevalence and incidence of MS have been rapidly increasing in all regions of Iran, especially from central to western and southern regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) despite being preventive and treatable still imposes a huge burden of morbidity and mortality in developing and developed countries. We aimed to investigate the spatial and geographical distribution of TB in Hamadan province during 1992-2013. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in Hamadan province, West of Iran using the surveillance database. We examined the trend for incidence rates of all TB forms including Smear Positive Pulmonary TB (SPPT), Smear Negative Pulmonary TB (SNPT) and Extra pulmonary TB (EPT) per 100,000 populations. Poisson regression model was used to estimate the standardized rates for incidence rate of all types of TB per each county. Results: In this study 3,602 TB patients including 1,359 SPPT, 987 SNPT, and 1,256 EPT were included during 1992-2013. Trend of all types of TB decreased from 1992 to 2013. The Average Annual Percent change (AAPC) for all types of TB was significantly (P<0.05) decreased, AAPC= -6.4 (95% CIs: -10.7, -1.9). Among SPPT, SNPT, and EPT incidence rates, the maximum change was related to SNPT (-11.6; 95% CIs: -24.2, 3), while it was -1.4 (-8.7, 6.4) for SPPT and -5.8 (-11.4, 0.1) for EPT. Conclusion: Our results showed that the incidence of TB in Hamadan province during a 22-year period has decreased 6.4% on average, somehow higher than the national average. Furthermore, our study showed that the risk of extrapulmonary occurrence in western parts of the province is higher than others parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Methods Findings Conclusion Social factors play a crucial role in the quality of life of + 50 adults. This study aimed to investigate the association between social support, depression, and loneliness and the health-related quality of life in + 50 adults of Ardakan.This was a cross-sectional study from the first phase of Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging (ACSA) in 2019. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL, SF-16), Duke Social Support Index (DSSI), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D10) were used to assess the variables of interest. Multivariable linear regression was used to model the associated factors with the score of the SF-16 tool in two dimensions; physical (PCS) and mental (MCS).A total of 5197 over 50 years individuals included in this study; The mean age was 62.2 ± 7.3 years old, and 52% were male. The mean score for PCS and MCS subscales was 45.6 (95% CI 45.4 to 45.9) and 49.3 (95% CI 49.0 to 49.5), respectively. Adjusted for other variables, having less feeling level of loneliness, and not having depressive symptoms were related to better PCS and MCS scores.The HRQoL for the mental aspect of HRQoL was better than the physical in elder populations. Also, much more focus should be paid to older adults who experience inadequate social support, higher levels of loneliness, and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of falls, fear of falling (FOF), complications arising from falls, and identify possible sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with these outcomes among older adults., Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on the first wave of the Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging (ACSA), which includes participants over 50 years of age residing in Ardakan, Iran. Fall history, number of fall events, FOF, hospitalizations, and fractures in the past 12 months were assessed through a face-to-face interview. Health-related factors were recorded on a self-expressed basis. Associations were assessed using multiple logistic regression., Results: Among the 4,990 participants, fall history in the past 12 months was prevalent in 19.9%, with 10.1% reporting more than two fall events. Women (p < 0.001) and older participants (p< 0.001) had a higher prevalence. In females, 28.8% reported moderate to severe FOF, while 21% experienced disruptions in their daily activities as a result of this fear. The prevalence of fractures following falls was 5.1% in males and 8.6% in females. After adjusting for confounding factors, FOF (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.33-1.91, p<0.001), imbalance (OR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.68-3.58, p<0.001), urinary incontinence (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.04-1.9, p=0.025), cognitive impairment (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01-1.46, p=0.049), vertigo or dizziness (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.15-1.68, p<0.001), osteoporosis (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03-1.50, p=0.023), osteoarthritis (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.13-1.56, p=0.001), depression (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.06-1.60, p=0.010), and Central Nervous System (CNS)-affecting diseases (OR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.33-2.97, p=0.001) were found to have positive associations with falls., Conclusion: This study showed that about one-fifth of those over 50 in Iran have experienced at least one fall within a year. Self-expressed imbalance, FOF, and urinary incontinence were the most prominent risk factors. Due to resulting in hospitalization and fractures, falls also lead to fear of falling and the associated limitation of activities., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: The association of obesity with left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is fully understood, but there are few investigations regarding its effect on LV systolic function in the absence of other risk factors. This study aimed to identify the global longitudinal strain (GLS) changes in isolated overweight and obese people in the absence of other risk factors., Methods: A total of 120 individuals, including 60 obese, 30 overweight, and 30 healthy controls with no underlying disease and no history of hypertension, diabetes, CAD, or CKD were included in the study. Echocardiographic findings were measured, including apical 2-, 3- and 4-chamber GLS, GLS total, LV diameter, interventricular septum thickness, and PAP. These findings were then compared between the three groups (obese, overweight, and normal controls)., Results: Analyses showed that LV diameter in healthy controls was significantly lower compared to overweight ( p = 0.02) and obese ( p < 0.0001) participants. Also, the interventricular septal thickness was significantly increased in overweight ( p = 0.007) and obese ( p < 0.0001) individuals compared to healthy controls. The mean and standard deviation (Mean ± SD) of total GLS values were - 22.29% ± 1.89% for normal weight, -22.09% ± 1.91% for overweight, and -19.88% ± 2.34% for obese individuals. The total GLS of obese participants was significantly lower than overweight and normal controls ( p < 0.0001). It was observed that the GLS values were significantly lower in people with BMI higher than 40. The mean ± SD of total GLS values were -20.68% (1.84%) for BMI ≤ 40 patients and -18.51% (2.52%) for BMI > 40 patients., Conclusion: Data revealed that all GLS values had a moderately strong correlation with BMI values. Also, subclinical LV dysfunction was detected in overweight and obese subjects., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Purpose: To determine the global prevalence and common causes of visual impairment (VI) and blindness in children., Methods: In this meta-analysis, a structured search strategy was applied to search electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as the list of references in the selected articles to identify all population-based cross-sectional studies that concerned the prevalence of VI and blindness in populations under 20 years of age up to January 2018, regardless of the publication date and language, gender, region of residence, or race. VI was reported based on presenting visual acuity (PVA), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of equal to 20/60 or worse in the better eye. Blindness was reported as visual acuity worse than 20/400 in the better eye., Results: In the present study, 5711 articles were identified, and the final analyses were done on 80 articles including 769,720 people from twenty-eight different countries. The prevalence of VI based on UCVA was 7.26% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.34%-10.19%), PVA was 3.82% (95% CI: 2.06%-5.57%), BCVA was 1.67% (95% CI 0.97%-2.37%), and blindness was 0.17% (95% CI: 0.13%-0.21%). Refractive errors were the most common cause of VI in the subjects of selected articles (77.20% [95% CI: 73.40%-81.00%]). The prevalence of amblyopia was 7.60% (95% CI: 05.60%-09.10%) and congenital cataract was 0.60% (95% CI: 0.3%-0.9%)., Conclusion: Despite differences in the definition of VI and blindness, based on PVA, 3.82%, and based on BCVA, 1.67% of the examined samples suffer from VI., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Current Ophthalmology.)