Background: glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a valid indicator for kidney function. Different factors can affect GFR. The purpose of this study is to assess direct and indirect effects of GFR-related factors using structural equation modeling.Patients and methods:We analyzed data from baseline phase of Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease cohort study. Data on socio-behavioral, nutritional, cardiovascular, and metabolic risk factors were entered in a conceptual model in order to test direct and indirect effects of factors related to GFR,separately in male and female, using the structural equation modeling.Results: Of 8927 individuals participated in this study, 4212 subjects were male (47.20%) and 4715 subjects were female (52.80%). The obtained mean and standard deviation of GFR was 76.05 (±14.31) per 1.73 . GFR for 0.2%, 11.3%, 73.0% and 15.50% of people were <30, , and , respectively. Hypertension and aging in both gender and atherogenic factor in male directly, and in female directly and indirectly had a lower effect on GFR. Blood urea nitrogen and smoking in male and female, directly or indirectly through other variables, were associated with a lower GFR. In female, diabetes had a lower direct and indirect effect on GFR. Obesity in female was directly associated with uper and indirectly associated with lower GFR.Conclusion: According to our results, aging, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high lipid profile, and BUN had a decreasing direct and indirect effects on GFR. Although low GFR might have different reasons and it is not a consistent sign of CKD, our findings, are in line with other reports, provide more detailed informations about important risk factors of low GFR. Public awareness about such factors can improve public practice of positive health behaviours.

Background and aim Various diets and dietary compounds, through their inflammatory properties, are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) can evaluate the inflammatory properties of diet. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between DII and CVDs in participants of the Ravansar noncommunicable diseases (RaNCD)cohort study, Kermsnahsh, Iran.Materials and methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted using the recruitment phase data of the RaNCD cohort study on 6369 participants aged 35 to 65 years. The Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess diet. The DII scores were calculated using FFQ data.Participants with a history of myocardial infarction, stroke and coronary artery disease, and/or taking medications for the CVDs were considered as the CVDs patients. ResultsOf the 6369 studied participants, 9% (n=579) had CVDs history. The mean DII score in this study was -0.84±1.6. Odds ratio (OR) of CVDs in female was 1.6 times higher than in male (CI 95%=1.3-1.9), which this association was remained after adjusting for confounding variables (OR=1.5, CI%=1.2-1.9). The risk of CVDs in the fourth quartile of DII was 1.4 times higher than the first quartile of DII (OR: 1.4, CI 95%=1.1-1.8). We found that higher adhere to DII was associated with risk of CVDs.Conclusion Given the role of diet through inflammatory properties on the risk of CVDs, it is highly recommended to use DII as an appropriate index to measure the effect of diet on CVDs. In addition, a diet with lower DII is more healthy diet for cardiovascular health.

The aim of this study was the assess association between of dietary inflammatory index (DII) and non-invasive markers of liver status in adults. This cross-sectional study was performed on 8,520 adults, recruited in Ravansar Non-Communicable Diseases (RaNCD) cohort study, the west of Iran. DII score was calculated based on participants’ dietary intakes obtained from Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Fatty Liver Index (FLI) score was calculated by anthropometric measurements and some non-invasive markers of liver status. Linear regression models were used to estimate the associations and adjust for possible confounding factors. A greater DII score was significantly associated with higher energy intake, BMI (body mass index), BFM (body fat mass), blood pressure and FLI (P<0.001). Participants with the highest DII score had a significantly higher consumption saturated fat, trans fat and red meat than those in the lowest quartile (P<0.001). After adjustment for age and sex, participants in the highest quartile of DII score had a greater risk of FLI (β: 0.742, 95% CI: 0.254, 0.601). The more pro-inflammatory diet in participants was associated with higher FLI; DII score was positively associated with non-invasive liver markers. Thus having an anti-inflammatory diet can help balance liver enzymes, reduce obesity and fatty liver.

Background: glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a valid indicator for kidney function. Different factors can affect GFR. The purpose of this study is to assess direct and indirect effects of GFR-related factors using structural equation modeling.Patients and methods:We analyzed data from baseline phase of Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease cohort study. Data on socio-behavioral, nutritional, cardiovascular, and metabolic risk factors were entered in a conceptual model in order to test direct and indirect effects of factors related to GFR,separately in male and female, using the structural equation modeling.Results: Of 8927 individuals participated in this study, 4212 subjects were male (47.20%) and 4715 subjects were female (52.80%). The obtained mean and standard deviation of GFR was 76.05 (±14.31) per 1.73 . GFR for 0.2%, 11.3%, 73.0% and 15.50% of people were <30, , and , respectively. Hypertension and aging in both gender and atherogenic factor in male directly, and in female directly and indirectly had a lower effect on GFR. Blood urea nitrogen and smoking in male and female, directly or indirectly through other variables, were associated with a lower GFR. In female, diabetes had a lower direct and indirect effect on GFR. Obesity in female was directly associated with uper and indirectly associated with lower GFR.Conclusion: According to our results, aging, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high lipid profile, and BUN had a decreasing direct and indirect effects on GFR. Although low GFR might have different reasons and it is not a consistent sign of CKD, our findings, are in line with other reports, provide more detailed informations about important risk factors of low GFR. Public awareness about such factors can improve public practice of positive health behaviours.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders can reduce the quality of life and work capacity. The study assessed handgrip strength (HGS) in relation to low back pain and arthralgia in Kurdish men. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from Ravansar non-communicable diseases (RaNCD) cohort study on 2164 men aged 35-65 years. HGS was measured using a hand-held hydraulic handgrip dynamometer. Low back pain, arthralgia, and joint stiffness were evaluated by the RaNCD cohort study physician using a standard questionnaire. Results: The results showed that 21.39% and 24.58% of studied participants had low back pain and arthralgia, respectively. Among the participants with low back pain, 14.5% had back stiffness, and among those with arthralgia, 12.8% had joint stiffness. The mean of HGS in participants with arthralgia and back & joint stiffness was significantly less than those without these disorders (P<0.001, P=0.05, and P= 0.005, respectively). Multiple-adjusted OR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for arthralgia and back and joint stiffness across muscle strength showed the HGS increase to be associated with a lower risk of arthralgia and back &joint stiffness, but not low back pain. Conclusions: Higher HGS was associated with a lower risk of arthralgia and back & joint stiffness. However, there was no association between HGS and low back pain. Exercise and adherence to proper nutrition are suggested to enhance muscle strength in order to reduce musculoskeletal pain.