r.safari faramani

Smoking is an important individual risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which in combination with other risk factors may also increase the risk of cardiovascular conditions. In this study, the effect of CVD risk factors has been investigated on different levels of smoking.

This cross-sectional analysis was performed using the baseline data of Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort study. The study included 10063 persons in the age range of 35–65 years.  The smoking status was categorized as current, former, and never smokers. It was also classified into three levels of light, medium and strong based on the amount of tobacco consumption. Data were analyzed using logistic regression.

The mean age of participants was 48.10± 8.25 years and nearly 4773 (47.43%) of them were male. The odds ratio of CVDs were 3.14 (95% CI = 1.28-2.67), 1.47 (95% CI = 0.85-2.55), and 1.25 (95% CI = 0.56-5.77) times higher in smoker with hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, respectively. Hypertension (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.18-1.00) and hyperlipidemia (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.17-1.90) increased the CVD risk in former smokers. High physical activity in never smokers (OR = 0.73) and former smoker (OR = 0.53) was a significant CVD protective factor.

Smoking either individually or in combination with other risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, poor physical activity, and old age increases the risk of developing CVD.

On 12 November 2017, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale occurred in Kermanshah Province. Explaining the challenges and needs of the victims in such circumstances can be an important source of information for future planning and better management of such conditions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explain the challenges and needs of the earthquake victims.

This study was a qualitative study. Twenty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers, policymakers, and health and emergency relief providers in earthquake areas, and 10 focused group discussions were held with earthquake victims from December to February 2016. The data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.

The needs and challenges in Kermanshah earthquake were classified into three periods after the earthquake: 1. Challenges and needs in the first few days with three sub-categories including management, rescue services, and urgent care, 2- Challenges and needs in the first few weeks  after the earthquake with three sub-categories including housing and emergency assistance, public health services, and access to health care; and 3. Needs and challenges in several months after the earthquake with four sub-categories including economic, social, infrastructural and health service needs.

Lack of unity of command was the main challenge in this earthquake. Another point was the health needs of victim earthquakes over time. Therefore, dispatching of aid forces to the affected areas during natural disasters should be based on planning and needs.