MAPPING GENETIC RESEARCH IN NCD PUBLICATIONS: FIRST STEP TOWARDS A GUIDED RESEARCH AGENDA

Transcription

1 MAPPING GENETIC RESEARCH IN NCD PUBLICATIONS: FIRST STEP TOWARDS A GUIDED RESEARCH AGENDA Zeina Jamaluddine, Abla Mehio Sibai, Shahd Othman and Soha Yazbek

2 INTRODUCTION The Arab world has experienced a very weak response rate to the increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in terms of policy response and implementation. A call for a cost effective evidence based plan for chronic disease management is in place. Generating genetic information is key to promote efficient disease management strategies to reduce severity and prevalence of NCDs. To be able to adopt global and regional strategies on the genetic component in response to the NCD burden we need to: Identify and analyze available knowledge Align national and regional needs with an efficient research agenda

3 AIMS OF THE SCOPING REVIEW 1. Map publications on genetics of NCD from in selected representative Arab countries. Provide a database of the articles covering this research area. 2. Generate a profile of the undertaken research both at the level of quantity and quality. 3. Highlight disparities between research output and country specific needs and disease burden. Help redirect research agendas to generate appropriate and useful knowledge.

4 METHODOLOGY Countries searched included: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Sudan. The countries were selected to represent economies and epidemiologic transitions. Search was conducted electronically using PubMed. Between1st January 2000 and 31st December The search identified 569 genetics-ncd articles. Detailed review was then conducted on the chosen genetic articles assessing the compatibility and comprehensiveness of the publications included.

5 STATUS OF GENETIC-NCD PUBLICATIONS High and high middle income countries (Kuwait, Lebanon and Bahrain) have the highest rates of publication per million capita followed by low-middle and low income countries (Morocco, Palestine and Sudan). Compared to other countries Lebanon publishes in higher impact factor (IF) journals (p-value<0.05). 74.7% of publications are published in journals with IF <3.

6 Kuwait Lebanon Bahrain Morocco Palestine Iraq Sudan Per million capita RATE OF GENETIC-NCD RESEARCH IN SELECTED ARAB COUNTRIES GENETICS STUDIES MEAN IMPACT FACTOR

7 TIME TRENDS IN PUBLICATIONS OF GENETIC-NCD STUDIES 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0%

8 TIME TRENDS IN PUBLICATIONS OF GENETIC- NCD STUDIES The drop observed in publication from 2012 until 2013 is attributed to decreased publication in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine.

9 Bahrain Iraq Kuwait Lebanon Morocco Palestine Sudan All STUDY TYPE AND METHODS USED IN GENETIC- NCD RESEARCH IN SELECTED ARAB COUNTRIES RESEARCH TYPE PER COUNTRY MEAN IMPACT FACTOR 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Review Clinical Experimental n Mean S.E. Review Clinical Experimental * 0.196

10 Descriptive Etiology Proteomics Sequencing Gene expression Parmacogenetics Cell function Cytogenetics Molecular genetics Bioinformatics Epigenetics GWAS STUDY TYPE AND METHODS USED IN GENETIC- NCD RESEARCH IN SELECTED ARAB COUNTRIES CLINICAL STUDIES TYPES METHODOLOGY 80% 60% 40% 20% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0%

11 RESEARCH DESIGN AND RESEARCH FOCUS OF GENETIC-NCD PUBLICATIONS Among clinical studies the majority of published work is descriptive with limited focus on etiology (p-value<0.05). 1.05% of total publications contributed to the theme of public health policy and community health.

12 COMPARISON BETWEEN PERCENT GENETIC-NCD PUBLICATIONS AND RANGE PERCENTAGES OF DISEASE HERITABILITY 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% % Heritability % Publications 62.20% 12.30% 10.90% 3.70% 2.80% 1.60% 0.40%

13 DISCUSSION Finding Low number of genetic NCD publications Publications with Low impact Factor Publication Drop between Reasoning/Relevance Difficulty of obtaining funds stakeholder`s lack of awareness of the value of genetic research in elevating the burden Research creates the highest impact on the community when it is of high quality Research Generates better funding Research Provides trustful information for evidence based policy changes Countries affected by war and/or political and economical turmoil happening in the region Shift in research interest and funds

14 DISCUSSION Finding Published work is descriptive with limited focus on etiology Limited bioinformatics research Reasoning/Relevance Clinically focused clinical studies are published in lower impact factor and mostly descriptive Genetic research methods used sequencing and proteomics with very limited GWAS, epigenetics, and cytogenetic studies Not enough knowledge generated to develop country specific programs for genetic risk assessment Causes inability to properly deliver information on genetics and genetic risk factors to health care providers, patients and community Lack of expertise in the field could benefit from organized capacity building in the region Bioinformatics systems should be in place to collect proper genetic information and save genetic and family history

15 DISCUSSION Finding Major Gap between the research focus; public health priorities and disease burden Limited community genetics and public health research Reasoning/Relevance Public health topics under investigated are mainly related to cardiovascular diseases Research has to be redirected towards NCDs with the highest morbidity, heritability and health burden within each country Reflects diminished focus on prevention and population based genetic studies WHO research priority clearly stated the importance of developing community genetics services based on genetic approaches in health care Each country should develop a plan to introduce community genetics services that are evidence based, highlighting the urgency for research on the topic and doing proper needs assessment

16 THANK YOU