Abla Mehio-Sibai, PhD
Associate Professor, Chair

Department of Epidemiology and Population Health

Epidemiology and Population Health
Faculty of Health Sciences
American University of Beirut
Van Dyck Building
PO Box 11-0236
Beirut, Lebanon
Office: Room 218, Van Dyck
Tel: 961 1 350000 ext. 4647; Fax: 961-1-744470
Email: abla.mehio-sibai@aub.edu.lb

Academic Degrees
PhD. (1997) London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Research Interests
Demographic and epidemiologic transition, population ageing and its consequences, social epidemiology, health consequences of conflict, cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, disability impairments and handicaps, routine sources of data collection.

Research Projects
Arguile smoking and arteriographically determined coronary artery disease.

Living arrangements among older adults in Lebanon.

Labor supply, childbearing, and women's welfare in old age: the consequences of reproductive and work history for mid- and later-life health.

Co-morbidity and comparison of estimates based on cell phone interviews with face-to face interviews

Courses Taught
EPHD 311: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
EPHD 325: Epidemiology in Medicine
EPHD 320: Design and Analysis of Epidemiologic Studies
EPHD 203: Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Selected Publications
2008 Chaaya M, Sibai AM, Roueiheb Z, Chemaitelly H, Chahine L, Al Amin H, Mahfoud Z. "Validation of the Arabic version of the Short Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15)", International Psychogeriatrics (accepted).

2007 Sibai AM, Obeid M, Batal M, Adra N, El Khoury D, Hwalla N. "Prevalence and correlates of metabolic syndrome in an adult Lebanese Population", Prevention and Control Journal (accepted).

2007 Chemali Z, Chahine LM, Sibai AM. "Prospects of older adult care in Lebanon: Towards stronger and sustainable reforms", EMHJ-WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (accepted).

2007 Sibai AM, Tohme RA, Saade G. "Coronary angiography in Lebanon: Use and overuse", International J Cardiology (accepted).

2007 Sibai AM, Kanaan MN, Chaaya M, Campbell OMR. "Mortality among married older adults in the suburbs of Beirut: Estimates from offspring data", Bulletin World Health Organization 85: 482-486.

2007 Sibai AM, Yount KM, Fletcher A. "Marital status, intergenerational co-residence and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality among middle-aged and older men and women during wartime in Beirut: Gains and liabilities", Social Science and Medicine 64: 64-76.

2007 Chaaya M, Sibai AM, Fayyad R, El-Roueiheb. "Religiosity and depression in older people: Evidence from underprivileged refugee and non-refugee communities in Lebanon", Ageing and Mental Health 11: 37-44.

2006 Sibai AM, Sen K. "Can Lebanon conjure a public health phoenix from the ashes?", British Medical Journal 333:848-849.

2006 Chaaya M, Sibai AM, El-Chemaly S. "Smoking patterns and predictors of smoking cessation in elderly populations in Lebanon", Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 10: 917-923.

2006 Al Khatib L, Obeid O, Sibai AM, Batal M, Adra N, Hwalla N. "Folate deficiency is associated with nutritional anaemia in Lebanese women of childbearing age", Public Health Nutrition 9:921-927.

2006 Nasreddine L, Hwalla N, Sibai AM, Hamze M, Parent-Massin D. "Food consumption patterns in an adult urban population in Beirut, Lebanon", Journal of Public Health Nutrition 9:194-203.

2005 Saab BR, El-Roueiheb Z, Chaaya M, Sibai AM. "Determinants of depression among poor elderly women: Findings from refugee and non-refugee communities in the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon", Europe's Journal of Psychology 1(3).

2005 Sibai AM, Feinleib M, Sibai T, Armenian HK. "A positive or a negative confounding variable? A simple teaching aid for clinicians and students", Annals of Epidemiology 15: 421-23.

2005 Kanafani Z, Sibai AM, Araj GF, Kanaan M, Kanj SS. "Epidemiology and risk factors for Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase producing organisms: A case-control study at a tertiary center in Lebanon", American Journal of Infection Control 33: 326-32.

2005 Dakik H, Skouri H, Sibai AM, Sibai T, Alam S, Sawaya J, Nasrallah A, Wehbeh C, Ayach K, Abchee AB. "Prevalence of coronary artery calcium among asymptomatic men and women in a developing country: Comparison with the US data", Atherosclerosis 183(1):141-5.

2005 Hwalla N, Sibai AM, Adra N. "Adolescent obesity and physical activity", World Rev Nutr Diet 94: 42-50.

2004 Sibai AM, Sen K, Beydoun M, Saxena P. "Population ageing in Lebanon: Current status, future prospects and implications for policy", Bulletin World Health Organization 82: 219-225.

2004 Shamsuddine A, Sibai AM (corresponding author), Gehchan N, Rahal B, El-Saghir N, Ghosn M, Aftimos G, Chamsuddine N, Seoud M for the Lebanese Cancer Epidemiology Group. "Cancer incidence in postwar Lebanon: Findings from the first national population-based registry, 1998", Ann Epidemiology 14: 663-668.

2004 Sen K and Sibai AM. "Transnational capital and confessional politics - paradox of the health care system of Lebanon", International J of Health Services 34 (3): 527-551.

2004 Sibai AM. "Mortality certification and cause-of-death reporting in developing countries (Editorial)", Bulletin World Health Organization 82: 83.

2004 Sibai AM, Refaat M, Rizk R, Saab R, Saab W, Sabbagh M, Saliba M. "The use and overuse of coronary angiography in Lebanon", British Medical Journal-ME 11 (113): 6-17.

2003 Jabbour S, El-Roueiheb Z, Sibai AM. "Nargileh (water-pipe) smoking and incident coronary heart disease: A case-control study". Ann Epidemiol 13 (8): 570.

2003 Sibai AM, Hwalla N, Adra N, Rahal B. "Prevalence and covariates of overweight and obesity in Lebanon: Findings from the first epidemiological study", Obesity Research 11: 1353-1361.

2003 Chaaya M, Awwad J, Campbell O, Sibai AM, Kaddour A. "Demographic and psychosocial profile of smoking among pregnant women in Lebanon: Public health implications", Maternal and Child Health Journal 7(3): 179-186.

2003 Sibai AM, Kanaan N, Chaaya M, Rahal B, Abdullah A, Sibai T. "Ethnic differences in weight-loss behavior among secondary school students in Beirut: The role of weight perception", Social and Preventive Medicine: Int'l J Public Health 48: 234-241.

2003 Sibai AM, Zard C, Adra N, Beydoun M, Hwalla N. "Variations in nutritional status of elderly men and women according to place of residence". Gerontology 49 (4): 215-224.

2002 Ahmed AA, Al-Alawi E, Fateha BED, Sibai AM. "Population-based visual disability and visual impairment survey in Bahrain", Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology 16: 279-87.

2002 Sibai AM and Khawaja M. "War or Health: A Reader by Ilkka Taipale et al. (eds.) Zed Books. pp. 652 (Book Review). Int J Epidemiol 31: 1286-1287.

2002 Kobrossi R, Nuwayhid I, Sibai AM, El-Fadel M, Khogali M. "Respiratory health effects of industrial air pollution on children", International Journal of Environmental Health Research 12: 205-220.

2002 Sibai AM, Nuwayhid I, Beydoun M, Chaaya M. "Inadequacies of death certification in Beirut, Lebanon: Who is responsible?", Bulletin World Health Organization 80: 555-61.

2001 Sibai AM, Fletcher A, Armenian HK. "Variations in the impact of long-term wartime stressors on mortality among middle-aged and older population in Beirut, 1983-93", Am J Epidemiol 154: 128 - 37.

2001 Sibai AM, Fletcher A, Hills M, Campbell O. "Non-communicable disease mortality rates using the verbal autopsy in a cohort of middle-aged and older populations in Beirut during wartime, 1983-93", J Epidemiol Community Health 55: 271-6.

2001 Shediac MR, Afifi RS, Farhat TM, Yestzian J, Nuwayhid I, Sibai AM, Kanj M, El-Kak F, Kassak KM and Kanaan N. "Adolescent health-related behaviours in postwar Lebanon: Findings among students at the American University of Beirut", International Quarterly of Community Health Education 20: 115-131.

2000 Sibai AM, Armenian HK. "Long-term psychological stress and heart disease". Int J Epidemiol 29: 948.

2000 Sibai AM, Shaar NS, Yassir SE. "Impairments, disabilities and needs assessment among non-fatal war-injuries in South Lebanon, Grapes of Wrath-1996", J Epidemiol Community Health 54: 35-9.

Professional Affiliations
Population Association of America (PAA)

International Union for Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP)

International Epidemiological Association (IEA)

Lebanese Epidemiological Association (Founding member and Secretary)

Lebanese Order of Pharmacists