Mortality rate of people exposed to Mustard Gas during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht, Iran: a 32 years retrospective cohort study
Abstract Background Mustard gas (MG) is one of the most widely used chemical weapons in the past century. However, little information exists concerning long-term mortality from MG exposure. In this study, we investigated mortality rate among civilian people exposed to MG during Iran-Iraq war in Sard...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2022-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13520-2 |
| _version_ | 1818253260521209856 |
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| author | Mohammad Hasan Rabiee Mostafa Ghanei Hossein Amini Aliasghar Akhlaghi |
| author_facet | Mohammad Hasan Rabiee Mostafa Ghanei Hossein Amini Aliasghar Akhlaghi |
| author_sort | Mohammad Hasan Rabiee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Mustard gas (MG) is one of the most widely used chemical weapons in the past century. However, little information exists concerning long-term mortality from MG exposure. In this study, we investigated mortality rate among civilian people exposed to MG during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht in Iran after 32 years. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, data of people exposed to MG in Sardasht in 1987 were extracted from the Veterans and Martyr Affair Foundation of Iran up to March 20, 2019. Mortality rate, cumulative mortality and standardized mortality ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated to explain mortality in the cohort, and then compared with general Iranian population. Cox regression analysis was used to indicate factor affecting the risk of death in the cohort. Results Out of 1,203 exposed people at the beginning of the period, 148 people died by the end of the study, with an average age of 66.42 at the time of death. Total person-years of the people up to end of the study were 38,198.63 and mortality rate was equal to 387 per 100,000 persons-years. Total number of observed deaths was less than expected death and the all-cause standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was determined as 0.680 (95% CI: 0.574 – 0.798). Cause-specific SMR showed that observed death due to respiratory diseases was higher than expected (SMR: 1.75) (95% CI: 1.145 – 2.569). The results of univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis showed that increasing age and having severe late complications in lung were associated with increased risk of death among people in the cohort. Conclusion In general, this result indicated that acute exposure to MG, even without wearing protective clothing and masks, could not increase all-cause mortality after 32 years if accompanied by special and ongoing care for those exposed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T16:37:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2abeb3c8a6a24a1eb27a80eba0839cc9 |
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| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T16:37:15Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2abeb3c8a6a24a1eb27a80eba0839cc92022-12-22T00:18:39ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-06-0122111010.1186/s12889-022-13520-2Mortality rate of people exposed to Mustard Gas during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht, Iran: a 32 years retrospective cohort studyMohammad Hasan Rabiee0Mostafa Ghanei1Hossein Amini2Aliasghar Akhlaghi3Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of TehranChemical Injuries Center, Systems Biology and Poisoning Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical SciencesChemical Injuries Center, Systems Biology and Poisoning Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Epidemiology and Reproductive Health, Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute For Reproductive Biomedicine, Academic Center for Education, Culture and ResearchAbstract Background Mustard gas (MG) is one of the most widely used chemical weapons in the past century. However, little information exists concerning long-term mortality from MG exposure. In this study, we investigated mortality rate among civilian people exposed to MG during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht in Iran after 32 years. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, data of people exposed to MG in Sardasht in 1987 were extracted from the Veterans and Martyr Affair Foundation of Iran up to March 20, 2019. Mortality rate, cumulative mortality and standardized mortality ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated to explain mortality in the cohort, and then compared with general Iranian population. Cox regression analysis was used to indicate factor affecting the risk of death in the cohort. Results Out of 1,203 exposed people at the beginning of the period, 148 people died by the end of the study, with an average age of 66.42 at the time of death. Total person-years of the people up to end of the study were 38,198.63 and mortality rate was equal to 387 per 100,000 persons-years. Total number of observed deaths was less than expected death and the all-cause standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was determined as 0.680 (95% CI: 0.574 – 0.798). Cause-specific SMR showed that observed death due to respiratory diseases was higher than expected (SMR: 1.75) (95% CI: 1.145 – 2.569). The results of univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis showed that increasing age and having severe late complications in lung were associated with increased risk of death among people in the cohort. Conclusion In general, this result indicated that acute exposure to MG, even without wearing protective clothing and masks, could not increase all-cause mortality after 32 years if accompanied by special and ongoing care for those exposed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13520-2MortalityMustard gasSardashtIran |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad Hasan Rabiee Mostafa Ghanei Hossein Amini Aliasghar Akhlaghi Mortality rate of people exposed to Mustard Gas during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht, Iran: a 32 years retrospective cohort study BMC Public Health Mortality Mustard gas Sardasht Iran |
| title | Mortality rate of people exposed to Mustard Gas during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht, Iran: a 32 years retrospective cohort study |
| title_full | Mortality rate of people exposed to Mustard Gas during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht, Iran: a 32 years retrospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Mortality rate of people exposed to Mustard Gas during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht, Iran: a 32 years retrospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mortality rate of people exposed to Mustard Gas during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht, Iran: a 32 years retrospective cohort study |
| title_short | Mortality rate of people exposed to Mustard Gas during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht, Iran: a 32 years retrospective cohort study |
| title_sort | mortality rate of people exposed to mustard gas during iran iraq war in sardasht iran a 32 years retrospective cohort study |
| topic | Mortality Mustard gas Sardasht Iran |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13520-2 |
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