Sickle cell disease in gulf cooperation council countries: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence related to the national burden of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) largely fragmented. Thus, the aim of this study is to systemically review studies from GCC countries to assess the epidemiological profile of SCD. AREAS COVERED: We searched combinations of key terms in MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE. We selected relevant observational studies reporting the frequency, incidence, prevalence, risk factors, mortality rate, and complications of SCD among the GCC population. Studies restricted to laboratory diagnostic tests, experimental and animal studies, review articles, case reports and series, and conference proceedings and editorials were excluded. A total of 1,347 articles were retrieved, out of which 98 articles were found to be eligible and included in the study. The total number of participants from all the included studies was 3,496,447. The prevalence of SCD ranged from 0.24%-5.8% across the GCC and from 1.02%-45.8% for the sickle cell trait. Consanguineous marriage was a risk factor for likely giving children affected with hemoglobinopathies. EXPERT OPINION: The prevalence of SCD and its complications vary among GCC. Because of the high prevalence of SCD and its complications, health authorities should focus on more rigorous prevention and treatment strategies.

Epidemiology of Thalassemia in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Thalassemia has a burden on the healthcare systems of many countries. About 56000 conceptions result in thalassemia, globally. OBJECTIVE: To assess the epidemiological profile of thalassemia in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine), CINAHL, and Embase. Relevant observational studies reporting the epidemiology of thalassemia among the GCC population were selected. Data on the prevalence, frequency, and complications of thalassemia were extracted. The quality of the retrieved studies was assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. RESULTS: Eighteen studies (14 cross-sectional studies, two retrospective observational studies, and two retrospective analysis) with a total of 3343042 participants were included in this systematic review. Of the 18 studies, 11 studies were conducted in Saudi Arabia, two in the Kingdom of Bahrain, one in Kuwait, three in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and one in Qatar. The prevalence of thalassemia among children below five years of age ranged from 0.25% to 33%, while it was 0.9% in children above five years and from 0.035% to 43.3% among adult thalassemia patients. The most-reported risk factors were consanguineous marriage and high-risk marriage. There was a lack of data regarding mortality rates in thalassemia. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the premarital screening and genetic counseling (PMSGC) program for thalassemia, the incidence of high-risk couple marriages in GCC countries cannot be effectively diminished. This study suggested that the PMSGC program should adopt more attention for the high-risk areas, to enhance the level of consciousness about the hemoglobinopathy diseases and the consequences of consanguinity among the at-risk couple.

Sequential Chemoradiotherapy Compared to Radiotherapy in Endometrial Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The role of combined modality in the adjuvant treatment of Endometrial Cancer has not been established. This study aims to assess the benefits of Sequential Chemoradiotherapy (SCRT) compared to Radiotherapy (RT) alone in the treatment of patients with Endometrial Cancer. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients with Endometrial Cancer stage I to stage III C at King Abdullah Medical city, Makkah. Each group of patients was assigned to receive External pelvic RT, brachytherapy or both. While a second group received SCRT consisting of six cycles of Carboplatin (AUC 5) and Paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 followed by radiotherapy. RESULTS: Fifty-six women were treated of which 26 received SCRT and 30 received RT. The two groups had a median age of 58 years old ranging from 34 - 84 years old with no other statistically significant difference. Patients who received SCRT had poorer prognostic tumor characteris-tics. Median follow-up was 29.6 months (95% CI: 19.6-39.5 months). All deaths (n=5) were exclusively in the RT group. The 2 and 4-year OS rates were 100% and 100% in SCRT group versus 87.3% and 64.9% in RT group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.018 [95% CI: 0-24.4; p= 0.038); The 2- and 4-year DFS were 100% and 100% in SCRT group versus 78.1% and 43.9% in RT group (HR 0.102 [95% CI: 0.103-0.805; p= 0.008). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant chemotherapy given before radiotherapy for Endometrial Cancer may lessen the effect of high-risk features on the DFS and OS. Randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the benefits of early Systemic Therapy.

Characteristics of Heat Illness during Hajj: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Data regarding the characteristics and outcomes of heat illness are lacking in the literature. The present study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics, morbidity, management, and mortality associated with heat illness among Hajj participants. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the Hajj in 2016 on patients who presented to emergency departments and were diagnosed with heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Data were collected using a structured collection sheet developed based on the literature. RESULTS: A total of 267 patients were recruited. Of these, 80 (29%) and 187 (67.75%) were diagnosed with heatstroke and heat exhaustion, with 6.3% and 0.0% mortality, respectively. The mean age of the patients was 54.0 ± 16 years. Diabetes mellitus was the most common comorbidity among both heatstroke and heat exhaustion patients. The majority of patients had hyperthermia and electrolyte imbalance. Most of the heat illness cases were treated per heat illness guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Although authorities are working on research and forming interdisciplinary teams to prevent health problems during the Hajj, the mortality rate from heatstroke is high and the majority of the patients had hyperthermia, varied signs and symptoms, elevated creatinine levels, and electrolyte imbalances.

Prevalence and risk factors of low back pain among operation room staff at a Tertiary Care Center, Makkah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Low Back Pain (LBP) is the commonest musculoskeletal disorder and an important occupational hazard among healthcare workers (HCWs) that peaks among Operating Room (OR) staff. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of low back pain among operating room (OR) staff in a tertiary healthcare center in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A 39-item self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all available OR staff. Data about personal, sociodemographic, general risk factors OR specific risky activities, and LBP characteristics were obtained. Descriptive, crosstabs, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression tests were employed. RESULTS: Out of the 143 distributed questionnaires, 84 % were received. LBP prevalence was 74.2 %. No statistically significant associations were detected between LBP and any of the general risk factors (p >0.05). However, most of the OR risky activities were significantly associated with the occurrence of LBP (p <0.05) e.g. lifting objects above the waist, rotating torso while bearing weight, transferring patients onto bed or chair, pulling a patient up the bed, and repositioning a patient in bed. These significant associations were preserved after adjustment for gender, perceived stress at work, educational level, and receiving education about LBP. Rest and analgesics were reported to be the most common relievers. CONCLUSIONS: LBP is a common health issue among KAMC OR staff. OR risky activities were found to contribute to this problem. We suggest designing educational interventional programs to teach OR staff the best way to prevent this problem.

Prevalence and risk factors of hearing loss among infants in Jordan: initial results from universal neonatal screening.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of reported risk factors with hearing loss, and explore the possible contribution of other risk factors that may improve identifying Jordanian children for whom interventions should be provided. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed in 37 hospitals and mother-child clinics from different health sectors in Jordan. The hearing screening protocol was performed in three stages. Data collected as risk factors for infant hearing loss included those on the 2007 Joint Committee on Infant Hearing list as well as other factors believed to be possibly significant. STUDY SAMPLE: All babies born in or attending any of these hospitals or clinics were screened for hearing loss, which included a total of 63 041. RESULTS: Of the 63 042 infants, 966 (1.5%) were confirmed to have significant hearing loss. We identified additional risk factors that were associated with hearing loss in infants. CONCLUSION: These preliminary data add to the understanding of the epidemiology of hearing loss in Jordan. The presence of at least one JCIH risk factor, admission to NICU for > 5 days, age, birth weight, postnatal hypoxia, and mode of delivery were independently associated with hearing loss.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia, study of predictive factors for Differentiation Syndrome, single center experience.

Reports about patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia from the Middle East are few; in this study we are reporting our single center experience of treating 29 patients over 6years. Acute promyelocytic leukemia treatment response is markedly improved after the introduction of ATRA. Treatment related complication is still an important issue particularly Differentiation Syndrome. Prediction to its occurrence has been tried by other groups. We aimed to study all the possible predictive factors of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Our chemotherapy induction protocol is AIDA protocol which includes ATRA 45mg/m(2)/d in divided doses every12h, and Idarubicin 12mg/m(2)/d IV on days 3, 5, 7, and 9. Differentiation Syndrome occurred in 48.3% of patients and was mainly presented by pulmonary symptoms in 55.2%, 6 cases died during induction. None of the predictive factors studied showed a statistically significant difference between patients who developed Differentiation Syndrome and those who did not. Differentiation Syndrome did not affect overall survival. Cox regression showed an inverse yet a non significant association between PETHEMA and overall survival probability (P=0.168). In conclusion, Differentiation Syndrome has no clear predictive factor to date. The best approach is to hold ATRA and give dexamethasone which is quite effective as reported in the literature. PETHEMA risk model has a moderately significant prognostic value.