N Abdolahi, Aa Keshtkar, Sh Semnani, Ghr Roshandel, S Beshrat, Hr Joshaghani, A Moradi, Kh Kalavi, S Beshrat, A Jabbari, Mj Kabir, A Hosseini, M Sedaghat, A Danesh, D Roshandel,
Volume 2, Issue 3 (24 2006)
Abstract
Background & Objectives: To determine the prevalence of HBV infection in the Golestan Province (southeastern part of the Caspian littoral, Iran).
Methods: A single cluster study was conducted in 2005, based on a sample of households, representative of the population aged 25-65 years in Golestan. All participants were invited for face-to-face interviews to gather demographic data. Blood samples were drawn and analyzed for serum markers of HBV infection such as HBsAg and HBcAb by the ELISA method. Factors associated with hepatitis B seroprevalence were analyzed using SPSS13 and STATA /8.
Results: A total of 1850 subjects were screened. The age- & sex-standardized prevalence for HBsAg positivity was 9.7% (95%CI=0.07-0.11). Rates were higher in males than in females (10.8% vs. 8.6%) (OR=1.28 95% CI=0.9-1.7). HBV seroprevalence in unmarried individuals was significantly higher than in those who were married (OR=2.13 95%CI=1.29-3.5). HBsAg(+) status was more frequent in urban areas (OR=1.46 95% CI=0.9-2.3). Thirty-six percent of population was HBcAb positive. HBcAb(+) prevalence was significantly higher in females (OR=1.46 95% CI=1.19-1.8) and married people (OR=1.58 95%CI=1.02-2.45), and also in urban areas (OR=1.34 95% CI=1.09-1.6).
Conclusions: This study shows that the prevalence of HBsAg(+) status in the Iranian province of Golestan is at a level regarded as "high" by the World Health Organization. It is higher than reported by pervious studies in Iran so it is important- especially for health providers and policy makers- to recognize risk factors and design appropriate prevention programs.
Z Nourafkan, P Yavari, Gh Roshandel, D Khalili, N Behnam Pour , F Zayeri,
Volume 9, Issue 1 (5-2013)
Abstract
Background & Objectives: Golestan province in Iran has been known as a high risk area for esophageal cancer (EC). This study was conducted to assess the population-based survival rate in EC patients in Golestan province of Iran.
Methods: In a longitudinal study, 223 EC patients registered in Golestan population-based cancer registry in 2007 and 2008 were recruited. Kaplan-Meier method was performed to calculate median survival and log rank test was also used to compare survival rates between subgroups of variables. Multivariate Cox regression model was employed to determine adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) for different variables.
Results: From 223 patient, 129 (57/8%) were male. The mean age of participants was 64/3 years. The median survival in our study was 11/08 months. Survival rates for 6, 12 and 36 months were 69%, 47% and 14%, respectively. The results of Cox regression analysis showed that the AHR for patients with metastasis stage (compared to those with localized stage) was 13.89 (95% CI: 7/93-24/32) and the AHR for workers (compared to clerks) was 2.4 (95% CI: 3/8-1/47).
Conclusion: Our results showed that survival rate of EC patients were higher than the rate reported in a previous study from this region. However the survival rate from this region seems still lower than those reported from developed countries. Implementation of appropriate screening programs in this region will result in early diagnosis of EC and consequently will increase survival rate in EC patients.
