RESUMO
Background Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death. Appropriate treatment of hypertension is necessary to reduce mortality. A prescription-based study is one of the most influential and helpful methods to examine physicians' irrational prescribing practices. This study was designed to investigate the antihypertensive prescription of physicians and their adherence to the treatment guidelines, as well as the blood pressure (BP) control rate in a general hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methodology A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2020 and June 2021 in an outpatient department. Patients diagnosed with hypertension as per the 2020 International Society of Hypertension guidelines and those who received antihypertensive drugs were included. Study data included prescriptions, patient's age, duration of hypertension, comorbidities, BP, drug therapy type, and antihypertensive class. Results Overall, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (67.1%) were the most prescribed agents, followed by dihydropyridine-calcium channel blockers (62.6%), diuretics (26.1%), and ß-blockers (10.1%). Comorbid and stage 2 hypertensive patients mainly received combination therapy (51.6%) rather than monotherapy (48.4%). The study revealed an 83.5% prescription adherence to the treatment guidelines. However, non-adherence was encountered in monotherapy, polytherapy, and elderly-treated patient groups. A 66.4% (at target BP in all cases <140/90 mmHg) and 39.3% (at target BP in comorbid patients <130/80 mmHg) rate of BP control was observed. Furthermore, the rate of BP control was significantly associated with prescription adherence (χ2 = 71.316; p < 0.001). Conclusions The degree of prescription adherence and rate of BP control were found to be compatible with other published hypertension studies. However, considerable scope exists for improvement in rational drug utilization and rate of BP control, particularly in high-risk patients. Therefore, treatment guidelines must be followed by clinicians to achieve BP goals and reduce cardiovascular events among the Saudi population.
RESUMO
Background Cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of mortality. Recognition of myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms is crucial as it influences clinical outcomes. Furthermore, awareness of MI risk factors assists in obtaining healthier lifestyles, alleviating its burden and mortality rates. This study aims to evaluate the awareness levels of the general population in Saudi Arabia regarding MI symptoms and risk factors and to identify its determinants. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the general Saudi population, with 1,247 participants, excluding those residing outside Saudi Arabia and healthcare-related individuals. An online self-administered questionnaire encompassed sociodemographic characteristics, awareness of MI symptoms and risk factors, and participants' perceptions concerning appropriate responses during an MI event. Results The majority of participants recognized chest pain and shortness of breath as MI symptoms, with a percentage of 87.1% and 86%, respectively. Risk factors awareness was substantial at 90.3% for smoking and 76.1% for obesity. The mean overall awareness score was 26.6±7.5, and around 36% were aware of both symptoms and risk factors. Higher education levels were positively associated with both risk factors and symptom awareness, while employment status showed negative associations with both. Higher-income correlated with greater risk factors awareness. Gender remained significant, with males exhibiting a lower awareness of risk factors and symptoms. Region and chronic disease status were positively associated with risk factors and symptom awareness. More than 90% of participants perceived going to the emergency room immediately if they recognized an MI attack. Conclusion This study highlights the necessity for inclusive awareness campaigns to enhance the identification of MI symptoms and risk factors in Saudi Arabia. It should focus on groups with limited awareness, such as males, employed and retired individuals, and specific pronounced regional disparities.
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Hepatitis C virus is a major cause of inflammation of liver tissue. In serious cases the disease can progressed to cirrhosis, fibrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and end stage liver disease. The research was designed to monitoring the iron, lipid and liver profiles in hepatitis C patients before and during treatment with sofosbuvir antiviral drug. To achieve this aim, the study was conducted on 22 patients with hepatitis C virus infection and 9 control normal volunteers after taking their consent. The monitoring done through biochemical determination of serum iron, ferritin, transferrin as well as total iron binding capacity. Also, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, VLDL, AST, ALP, total protein and albumin was determined. The result showed that, the increased serum iron (205.59±8.27 µg/dl), cholesterol (237.96 ± 10.92 mg/dl), triglycerides (246.58 ± 8.23 mg/dl), LDL (172.82 ± 8.47 mg/dl), VLDL (50.91 ± 1.65 mg/dl), AST (164.58 ± 8.45 U/L), ALP (142.61 ± 7.41 U/L) in hepatitis C virus patients was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) upon treatment with sofosbuvir and the decreased serum ferritin (18.55±1.39 ng/dl), transferrin (128.41 ± 6.43 mg/dl), total iron binding capacity (204.41 ± 8.82 mg/dl), total protein (5.81 ± 0.24 g/dl), albumin (2.83 ± 0.09 g/dl) and HDL (14.22 ± 1.17 mg/dl) in hepatitis C virus patients was significantly increased (P < 0.05) upon treatment with sofosbuvir. According to our finding we concluded that, treatment with sofosbuvir 12 week ameliorate disruption of iron, lipid and liver parameters caused by infection with Hepatitis C virus.
