Two new Cochrane reviews show strong and consistent evidence that HPV vaccines are effective in preventing cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes, especially when given to young people before they are exposed to the virus.

Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most effective tools for preventing cervical cancer in women and other HPV-associated diseases in people of all genders. Yet many people worldwide remain reluctant to take the vaccine.

Decisions about the HPV vaccine among adolescents and their families are influenced by a web of social, cultural and trust-related factors, beyond simple awareness or access, a Cochrane review finds.

With the ever-increasing volume of textual, news, educational, and journalistic content about various areas of health and medicine in Iran, the need for an organization dedicated to responding to, verifying, and evaluating health-related claims has become increasingly evident. In this regard, and with the goal of promoting evidence-based health literacy and preventing the spread of misinformation in the health field, Cochrane Iran has been supporting the “Factname Salamat Online Magazine” since May 2024.

A widely-used, inexpensive gout drug could reduce heart attacks and strokes in people with cardiovascular disease, according to a new Cochrane review. The review examined the effects of low doses of colchicine, a drug used to treat gout, and found no increase in serious side effects.

Three new Cochrane reviews find evidence that GLP-1 drugs result in clinically meaningful weight loss, but industry-funded studies raise questions. The reviews were commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) to inform upcoming guidelines on the use of these drugs to treat obesity.

Immediate skin-to-skin contact between newborns and their mothers offers a better start in life, improving a number of key health metrics, according to a newly-updated Cochrane review.

The fifth edition of the book Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Concepts, Applications, and statistics has been released by the authors in collaboration with Cochrane Iran, and with the endorsement of the Iranian Epidemiological Association (IrEA). This extensively revised and updated edition reaffirms the book’s position as an authoritative educational resource in the field. Officially recognized by the Ministry of Health as a reference textbook for PhD programs in Epidemiology, the book is now available to the academic community and health research professionals.

For over 30 years, the Cochrane Collaboration has set the standard for systematic reviews in health research. Our reviews have saved and improved countless lives across the world, providing trustworthy evidence to inform health decisions at all levels, from international policymakers to individual patients. We now want to take evidence synthesis to the next level, creating a more dynamic, open and equitable system so that decision-makers always have the latest evidence at their fingertips.

A new Cochrane review demonstrates that vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are both safe and effective in protecting vulnerable groups that are most at risk of serious illness, including older adults and infants.