Prevalence of chronic diseases among United Arab Emirates University students: cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Chronic disease burden is increasing globally. In Arab Gulf Countries, the burden has increased exponentially over the past five decades due to rapid economic growth and urbanization. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), chronic diseases are the leading cause of mortality and economic burden, hence, there is need to explore their patterns for targeted interventions. Studies among university students in Europe and the United States show chronic diseases prevalence ranging from 16.5% to 30.0%, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the Gulf region to assess multiple chronic diseases among university students. Our study describes the prevalence and patterns of multiple chronic diseases among UAE University (UAEU) students. Methods We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among UAEU students ≥18years from July to October 2021. Online questionnaire was used to collect data. Self-reported chronic diseases were described and compared between male and female students using chi-square and t tests. Other students’ characteristics were also explored. All analyses were conducted using STATA statistical software. Results 902 students participated in the study with mean age of 21.9±5.2yrs. 79.8% were females. 80.7% were undergraduates. The prevalence of self-reported chronic diseases was 23.0%. Obesity, Diabetes and Asthma/Allergies were the commonest (12.5%, 4.2% & 3.2%, respectively). 34.8% of the students were either overweight or obese. Overall chronic disease prevalence was similar between males and females [27.5% vs 21.8%, 0.104] though it was significantly higher among postgraduates, students who are older, married and have family history of diabetes. 4.7% of the students reported 2 or more chronic diseases. Conclusions Our study showed that more than 1 in 5 of the students reported at least one chronic disease. This shows the need for proactive chronic disease screening and prevention programs to meet the health needs of the students. Key messages • Prevalence of chronic diseases (Diabetes, Prediabetes, Obesity, Hypertension, Asthma/Allergies, Lipid disorders, Thyroid disorders, GI disorders, and CVDs) was high among the university students. • Universities should commit to researching students’ health and creating targeted health policies and interventions, as chronic diseases have direct and indirect negative impact on students’ education.


Background:
In Cyprus, breast cancer (BC) is the first in incidence and second in mortality cancer in women. A national screening programme (NSP), targeting women 50-69 years, was introduced in 2007. The aim of this study is to provide a better understanding of cancer trends. Methods: Data from the national population-based Cyprus Cancer Registry on adult women diagnosed with BC between 2004-2017 with follow-up until 2019 were analysed as follows: Joinpoint regression for age-adjusted (overall and by tumor stage at diagnosis -TSD) and age-specific rates (<50, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, ! 80) incidence and mortality rates; 5-year ageadjusted Net Survival (NS) rates, overall and by TSD. TSD was categorised as localised, regional, and distant. Results: Age-adjusted incidence rate increased from 135.3 (2004) to 153.2 (2017) per 100,000, with an annual percentage change (APC) of 1.1% (95%CI: 0.4-1.9). The greatest increase was in the age groups !70 years. A positive time trend was found for localized cancers between 2006-2017, while for all other stages nonsignificant trends were detected. Age-adjusted mortality rate increased from 37.0 (2004) to 50.0 (2019) per 100,000 (APC: 2.7%; 95%CI: 1.9-9.4). Significant increases in mortality rates were detected in the age groups !70 years. By TSD, increased rates were found at localised and regional stages, however smaller increases were detected since 2007. NS rates for the most recent period (2014-2017) was 93% for localized, 81% for regional, and 32% for distant and did not significantly improve compared to the previous years.

Conclusions:
Trends in BC incidence continues to increase, especially in the older age groups and for early-stage cancers. As expected, since the introduction of the NSP, the incidence of localised cancers increased whilst the incidence of advanced stage cancer decreased, albeit non-significantly. Survival trends did not change but mortality rates for localised and regional cancers increased at a slower pace.

Key messages:
The introduction of the national screening programme may have played an important role in the increasing BC incidence trends. Despite survival rates not improving since the introduction of the national screening programme, mortality rates for early-stage cancers show a less steep increase.

Background:
Chronic disease burden is increasing globally. In Arab Gulf Countries, the burden has increased exponentially over the past five decades due to rapid economic growth and urbanization. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), chronic diseases are the leading cause of mortality and economic burden, hence, there is need to explore their patterns for targeted interventions. Studies among university students in Europe and the United States show chronic diseases prevalence ranging from 16.5% to 30.0%, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the Gulf region to assess multiple 15th European Public Health Conference 2022 chronic diseases among university students. Our study describes the prevalence and patterns of multiple chronic diseases among UAE University (UAEU) students.

Methods:
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among UAEU students !18years from July to October 2021. Online questionnaire was used to collect data. Self-reported chronic diseases were described and compared between male and female students using chi-square and t tests. Other students' characteristics were also explored. All analyses were conducted using STATA statistical software.

Background:
Smoking influences cellular and humoral immune responses and affects the immune system by increasing inflammation and decreasing activity against infections. The current study investigates the association between smoking and immunological response to SARS-CoV-2 in the Armenian population.

Methods:
We performed a nationwide cross-sectional seroepidemiological study among the adult population (!18 years old) in Armenia. We used a multi-stage cluster random sampling to recruit participants from the capital city and all regions of Armenia. We invited selected participants to primary healthcare facilities to provide blood samples for antibody testing followed by a phone survey on demographic characteristics, smoking status, and other variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the relationship between smoking and having SARS-CoV-2 antibodies adjusted for other covariates.
Results: 3483 people participated in the study (71% women). The total sample included 16.8% current smokers (n = 571), 8.6% past smokers (n = 294) and 76.4% never smokers (n = 2538). The prevalence of SARS CoV-2 antibodies among current smokers was statistically significantly lower as compared with never smokers (46.9% vs 73.4%, p-value<0.001). In the multivariable logistic regression model, the odds of having SARS CoV-2 antibodies among the current smokers was 70% lower (OR 0.30, 95%CI: 0.22; 0.40) compared to never smokers, when adjusted for demographic factors and the time of PCR diagnosis of COVID-19. No statistically significant difference was found between past smokers and having SARS CoV-2 antibodies.

Conclusions:
In addition to being a risk factor for various chronic diseases, smoking weakens immune response to infectious diseases, including COVID-19, worsening the outcomes. The significantly lower level of antibody prevalence among smokers with previous PCR confirmed COVID 19 implies a poorer immune response to the infection and not a lower risk of getting the infection.

Key messages:
Smoking weakens immune response and contributes to a higher burden of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. Lower level of antibody prevalence among smokers indicates a poorer immune response to the infection rather than a lower risk of getting the infection.

Background:
Exploring treatment burden at a population level can provide evidence of the types of patients who need special attention and support. We aimed to determine factors associated with high perceived treatment burden in a population-based survey of adults living in the Central Denmark Region (23% of the Danish population).

Methods:
The Danish Multimorbidity Treatment Burden Questionnaire (MTBQ) was included in the 2017 Danish population health survey. 28,627 individuals aged 25 years or over participated (64% response rate). Individuals who reported having one or more medical conditions or attending regular health check-ups were asked to complete the MTBQ. A global MTBQ score was calculated (range 0-100) and both the continuous scores and a four-category grouping of the scores into no, low, medium and high burden were used to statistically assess the association between treatment burden and sociodemographic and healthrelated factors. Results: 13,407 individuals completed the Danish MTBQ (mean age 59 years). Treatment burden was negatively associated with selfrelated health (rs = -0.45, P < 0.0001), health-related quality of life (rs = -0.46/-0.51, P < 0.0001) and positively associated with the number of long-term conditions (rs = 0.26, P < 0.0001) and perceived stress (rs = 0.44, P < 0.0001). Higher treatment burden was associated with young age, male sex, high educational level, unemployment, not living with a spouse/cohabitant, living with child(ren) and specific long-term conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and mental illness.

Conclusions:
This is the first known population-based study of treatment burden. The findings provide important evidence to policy makers and clinicians about sociodemographic groups at risk of higher treatment burden. We recommend that patientperceived treatment burden is included when evaluating