Open AccessA review of mother-child and birth cohort studies in the Middle East Area
Author(s) -
Eleni Fthenou,
Samah Aboulsoud,
Vasiliki Leventakou,
Alexandra Haddad,
Manolis Kogevinas,
Eman Sadoun
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of epidemiological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2377-9330
pISSN - 2377-9306
DOI - 10.5430/jer.v6n1p22
Subject(s) - middle east , cohort , cohort study , medicine , geography , demography , etiology , environmental health , psychiatry , archaeology , pathology , sociology
Mother-Child and Birth cohort studies offer an excellent opportunity to evaluate the effects of ’early life’ exposures providing an insight in the etiology of chronic diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first study that aims to provide a comprehensive review of these studies in the Middle East Area (MEA). Authors searched to relevant registries, the Pubmed interface, internet search tools and had personal contact with study PIs. The search revealed 117 mother-child and birth cohort studies from 9 MEA region countries (Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar). Variability in the identified studies refers to the study design, objectives and the years of recruitment. Biological samples and data on environmental exposures were absent with the exception of limited studies (n = 44). This review revealed a sufficient number of available cohorts, however few have followed up children beyond the age of 2 years. Improved study designs focused on molecular and environmental data acquisition are required in a region that shares a set of unique characteristics in terms of landscape, climate, culture, and lifestyle. This review provides valuable information for planning future studies and set the grounds for collaborationswithin the MEA region and internationally.