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 Background and purpose: Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) is a parameter that measures changes in red blood cell size reported in a complete blood count test. In this study, we aimed to identify the association between RDW and hypertension in Tabari cohort population.
Materials and methods: In this case-control study, case group included all patients with hypertension (n= 2281) participating in Tabari Cohort Study with systolic and diastolic blood pressures more than or equal to 140 and 90, respectively, or those previously diagnosed with hypertension who received antihypertensive drugs. The control group was randomly selected from the Tabari cohort population and matched for sex, age and body mass index. Finally, 2227 people were included in each group. Blood samples were taken from all participants after 12 hours of fasting.
Results: Findings showed significant differences between the two groups in all variables studied, including place of residence, level of education, socio-economic status, waist circumference, smoking, and cholesterol level (P<0.05) except triglyceride level (P=0.111). Independent t-test showed that RDW in different quarters was not significantly different between the case group and control group. (P= 0.584). Univariate and multivariate regression tests also did not show a significant relationship between RDW and blood pressure (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Our study showed that RDW has no predictive role in hypertension and there is no significant pattern between the range of RDW and hypertension.

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 Background and purpose: Hypertension is a global problem due to its consequences. Recognizing warning signs and taking necessary measures are effective in preventing the disease and its complications. We used the logistic regression model to determine the factors affecting blood pressure based on the results of the Tabari Cohort Study.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted in people older than 35 years old in Sari, whose information (demographic and anthropometric characteristics, and risk factors) was available at the Tabari Cohort Center in Mazandaran province. Logistic regression model was used to determine the factors affecting hypertension. We did statistical analyses using SPSS V26.
Results: The participants included 6622 people (41.3% men) with an average age of 48.97±8.94 years old. There were 1481 people with high blood pressure (22.4%). According to multivariate logistic regression model, age (10-year period) (OR=2.04-8.11), body mass index (OR=1.72-2.35), total cholesterol (OR=1.34), triglyceride (OR=1.30), the ratio of waist to hip circumferences (OR=1.31), history of cardiovascular diseases (OR=2.09), and diabetes (OR=1.81) were among the factors associated with hypertension (P<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of the multivariable logistic regression model, obesity management as the main factor and screening of people for diagnosis, follow-up, and prevention of hypertension are suggested.
 

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Background and purpose: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) refers to a combination of metabolic disorders which is considered a set of risk factors for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are one of the most popular and effective methods of preventing pregnancy. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the use of OCPs and MetS in the Tabari cohort population.
Materials and methods: The current cross-sectional study utilized data collected in the enrolment phase of the Tabari cohort study (TCS). In total data of 5979 women aged 35 to 70 years were analyzed. The obtained data were analyzed using Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis to assess the relationship between the use of OCPs and its duration with the risk of MetS and its components.
Results: The prevalence of MetS among women participated in TCS was 49% (2930 individuals). The frequency of OCPs consumption was 42.9% (2563 individuals). The average duration of OCP use in women with and without MetS was 69.15±67.06 71.46±68.38 months respectively (P=0.388). After adjusting of confounding variables, no statistically significant association was observed between the use of OCPs and MetS and its parameters (except blood pressure). Similarly, the duration of taking these pills was also not significantly associated with MetS and these parameters.
Conclusion: The use of oral contraceptives is not associated with MetS and other parameters, but its use, especially in the long term, can be accompanied by high blood pressure.

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 Background and purpose: Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a cluster of symptoms including insulin resistance, blood pressure, abdominal obesity, defects in glucose metabolism, and dyslipidemia. Considering the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome, the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and its criteria with cardiovascular diseases.
Materials and methods: The present study was a case-control study that utilized the results of the enrollment phase of the Tabari cohort study. The case group (304 individuals) was randomly selected from participants with cardiovascular diseases (564 individuals). The control group (304 individuals) was randomly selected from among other participants who were matched by age and sex. The comparison of variables between the two groups was done using the chi-square test. Logistic regression test was used to adjust the effect of confounding variables.
Results: Patients with metabolic syndrome were 69.1% (210) in the case group and 55.6% (169) in the control group (P=0.001). The results of the univariate regression test showed that the chance of developing metabolic syndrome in people with cardiovascular diseases was 1.755 times more than people without cardiovascular diseases (95% CI: 1.280-2.418, and P=0.01). Among the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome, the chances of high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels, and decreased HDL were significantly higher in the case group compared to the control group.
Conclusion: The risk of metabolic syndrome is significantly higher in people with cardiovascular diseases compared to the ones without cardiovascular diseases. After adjusting for confounding factors, we found a significant difference between triglyceride level and blood pressure in the two groups.
 

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Background and purpose: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in societies is increasing. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of medical conditions that include obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Poor dental care is linked to numerous systemic disorders. Scientific research supports the presence of a relationship between oral hygiene and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between oral hygiene based on DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) and metabolic syndrome in the registration phase data of the Tabari cohort population.
Materials and methods: This study was cross-sectional and analytical and included participants from the Tabari cohort population who had performed oral health and metabolic syndrome assessments during the registration phase. Throughout the registration period of the Tabari cohort study (TCS), data was gathered from 10255 individuals ranging from 35 to 70 years old. This data was obtained from both urban and mountainous parts of Sari, Mazandaran, Iran, during the years 2015 and 2017. Data regarding education level, occupation status, residential location, socio-economic status, marital status, mental health history, smoking or hookah habits, daily physical activity, dental hygiene practices (such as tooth brushing and flossing frequency), denture usage and care, mouthwash usage, and DMFT index were gathered during the implementation of TCS through interviews and oral examinations. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the criteria of the third adult treatment panel (ATP III). Ultimately, SPSS version 27 software was utilized to describe the data using mean, standard deviation, and percentage. The qualitative variables were compared with the metabolic syndrome using the chi-square test, while the quantitative variables were compared using the independent t-test in univariate analysis. Furthermore, the process of adjusting for confounding variables was carried out through the utilization of multivariate logistic regression.
Results: 9,939 people were included in the final analysis. Independent T-test result showed that there was no significant relationship between metabolic syndrome and DMFT (P=0.156, T=4.59), so the average DMFT in the group with metabolic syndrome was 17.66±9.07, whereas in the non-affected group, it was 16.81±8.99. Based on chi-square test results, significant relationships with metabolic syndrome were found for the use of dentures (P<0.001), use of dental floss (P<0.001), age (P<0.001), gender (P<0.001), marital status (P=0.05), occupation (P<0.001), place of residence (P<0.001), psychiatric disorders (P<0.001), socio-economic status (P=0.005), smoking (P<0.001), BMI (P<0.001), MET (P<0.001), and education level (P<0.001). Upon adjustment of confounders in the multivariable logistic regression model, only the number of flossing twice a day was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (OR 1.493 [95% CI 1.008–2.213], P=0.046).
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that there is no significant relationship between oral and dental hygiene measured by the DMFT index and the presence of metabolic syndrome in the population registration stage data of the Tabari cohort. There was a significant relationship identified alone between flossing twice daily and metabolic syndrome. Further studies are necessary to explore other potential factors that may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome in this population.
 

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Background and purpose: Osteoporosis is one of the main public health concerns worldwide, which imposes a significant economic burden on the healthcare system. Chronic inflammation might play a role as one of the possible risk factors for osteoporosis and fractures. Also, previous studies have reported that dietary factors are effective in controlling and modulating inflammation. Recently, an index was designed to determine the dietary inflammatory potential (DIP), which estimates the inflammatory potential of diet on a continuous spectrum from anti-inflammatory to pro-inflammatory. There are limited studies investigating the relationship between dietary inflammatory potential (DIP) and the risk of osteoporosis in the Middle East. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between DIP and the risk of osteoporosis in a large population of Iranian adult women.
Materials and methods: This study was conducted cross-sectionally using the basic data of the Tabari Cohort Study (TCS). Dietary information of study participants, which included 5417 adult women aged 35-70 living in Mazandaran, was collected using a validated semi-quantitative 119-item food frequency questionnaire. Dietary inflammatory potential was calculated using the method proposed by Shivappa et al. Data on osteoporosis was collected using the self-report method. Information on other variables was collected using standard questionnaires. A binary logistic regression test was used to assess the relationship between DIP and osteoporosis in crude and adjusted models.
Results: The mean ± standard deviation of the age of the study participants was 49.20±9.14 years. The prevalence of osteoporosis in the participants was 9.8% (n=529). The mean±standard deviation dietary inflammatory potential of the study participants was 2.29±0.36. Individuals who were in the highest quartile of the DIP score were older and had higher physical activity than those in the lowest quartile of the DIP score (P<0.001). Moreover, the poor socio-economic status and menopause in these subjects were greater than women in the lowest quartile of the DIP score (P<0.001). In the crude model, no significant relationship was found between DIP and the risk of osteoporosis (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 0.91-1.55). When this analysis was adjusted for age and energy intake, the association remained non-significant (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.62-1.18). Even after further adjustment for other potential confounding factors, this association remained non-significant (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 0.87-1.92). When these analyses were done stratified by age, in women under 50 years of age, no significant relationship was found between DIP and risk of osteoporosis either in the crude model (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 0.80-2.68) or after adjusting for possible confounding factors (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 0.75-3.81). Similar results were obtained for women over or equal to 50 years. So no significant association was observed between DIP and osteoporosis in the crude model (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.68-1.25). Even after adjusting for potential confounders, this association remained non-significant (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.71-1.73).
Conclusion: In the current study among adult women, no significant association was observed between DIP score and the risk of osteoporosis neither in the crude model nor after controlling for potential confounders. In addition, after stratified analysis by age, no significant relationship was found between DIP and the risk of osteoporosis either in women under 50 years or in women over or equal to 50 years. Further prospective studies are required to elucidate these associations.