3 research outputs found
Ramadan Fasting in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Pandemic
Get PDFUncorrected Proof
Health Scope. 2020 August; 9(3):e105045.
Published online 2020 August 26.
doi: 10.5812/jhealthscope.105045.
Letter
Ramadan Fasting in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Pandemic
Mojtaba Akbari 1, Arefe Khaksar Jalali 2, Hossein Ansari 3 and Noureddin Soltanian 1, *
1 Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Faculty of Medical Sciences and Technologies, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
* Corresponding author: Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Email: [email protected]
Received 2020 May 25; Revised 2020 June 16; Accepted 2020 June 24.
Keywords: Ramadan Fasting, SARS-CoV-2, Pandemic
Dear Editor,
Millions of Muslims live all over the world who fast
during Ramadan every year. Various studies have been
conducted on the impact of Ramadan fasting on different
body organs reporting its positive results on health, such
as a decrease in serum cholesterol and triglyceride and fa-
vorable impacts on the immune system (1).
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coron-
avirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that caused coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) outbreak has been a global concern from late
2019 due to its fast transmission and high pathologic
effects (2).
Owing to the beginning of Ramadan during the COVID-
19 pandemic, Muslims may worry whether the fasting in-
creases the risk of coronavirus infection.
People can be categorized into two groups based on
their health status (Figure 1). The first group consists of
people suffering from a disease such as malnutrition and
kidney disease. This group should not fast, according to
the Islamic rules, since fasting can negatively affect their
health condition. The second group is healthy people who
can be divided into two subcategories, including healthy
people who follow self-isolation and those who cannot
obey self-isolation rules and are forced to leave home for
work or other requisite activities
National and sub-national sero-epidemiology of immunoglobulin G against SARS-CoV-2 in Iran in 2021
Get PDFAbstract
Multiple factors challenge PCR test results for COVID-19 infection, and only symptomatic cases have been tested. Thus, a population-based seroprevalence study was necessary to determine the extent of missed cases. The objective of this study was to achieve a realistic infection rate in Iran and probe into some explanations behind being infected or not. In this population-based cross-sectional study, 16,610 adults aged more than 25 with valid serology sample results from 31 provinces from February to April 2021 were included. According to the ELISA kits based on the N antigen of SARS-CoV-2, the seroprevalence of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in Iran was 20.63% (19.71–21.56) and 16.25% (15.11–17.41) based on two different corrections. The age-standardized seroprevalence was relatively high among Kurdistan [30.29% (26.04–34.55) and 28.31% (23–33.61)] and West Azarbayejan [29.33% (24.85–33.8) and 27.11% (21.52–32.68)]. Smoking, higher education, being underweight, male, and single were protective factors, and higher daily interactions was a risk for seropositivity. It is evident that reported infection rates have been misleading. Furthermore, several intervenable factors can predict the risk of infection.Abstract
Multiple factors challenge PCR test results for COVID-19 infection, and only symptomatic cases have been tested. Thus, a population-based seroprevalence study was necessary to determine the extent of missed cases. The objective of this study was to achieve a realistic infection rate in Iran and probe into some explanations behind being infected or not. In this population-based cross-sectional study, 16,610 adults aged more than 25 with valid serology sample results from 31 provinces from February to April 2021 were included. According to the ELISA kits based on the N antigen of SARS-CoV-2, the seroprevalence of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in Iran was 20.63% (19.71–21.56) and 16.25% (15.11–17.41) based on two different corrections. The age-standardized seroprevalence was relatively high among Kurdistan [30.29% (26.04–34.55) and 28.31% (23–33.61)] and West Azarbayejan [29.33% (24.85–33.8) and 27.11% (21.52–32.68)]. Smoking, higher education, being underweight, male, and single were protective factors, and higher daily interactions was a risk for seropositivity. It is evident that reported infection rates have been misleading. Furthermore, several intervenable factors can predict the risk of infection
An Estimation of HIV/AIDS’s Cost in the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2010-2011
Get PDFIntroduction: Undoubtedly, HIV/AIDS is one of the most important emerging infectious disease in the late twentieth century; and its control is possible only with proper and organized program. To attain this goal, one of the most serious issues is the budget planning and distribution. The present study calculated the total costs of AIDS in Voluntary Counseling and Testing center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2010-2011.Methods: The total cost of AIDS at this center was divided into four categories: health care, training and educating, research and services. All costs for 2010-2011 were extracted and classified based on documents and bills which were found in the center.Results: According to the calculations, the center had a total of 6,603,479,058 IRR in 2010-2011, of which 49.5% (3,271,089,796 IRR) was allocated for health care expenditure, 20.3% (1,335,186,000 IRR) for research, 12.6% (834,000,000 IRR) for training and 17.6% (1,163,203,262 IRR) for services. The average expense for each person living with HIV was 2276 US dollars. The cost of treatment by drugs for each person eligible for treatment was 782 US dollars.Conclusion: The percentage of budget distribution in the center is equal to the same percentage in low and middle income countries; although, more percentage is allocated for research than the mentioned countries. Also, the expenditure spent for treatment by drugs is more than the average of the same found in low and middle income countries. Overall, the budget distribution in this center is almost in accordance with the international standards
