Prevalence of asthma among the adult general population of five Middle Eastern countries: results of the SNAPSHOT program.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease leading to morbidity, mortality and impaired quality of life worldwide. Information on asthma prevalence in the Middle East is fragmented and relatively out-dated. The SNAPSHOT program was conducted to obtain updated information. METHODS: SNAPSHOT is a cross-sectional epidemiological program carried out in five Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, the latter three grouped into a Gulf cluster) to collect data on asthma, allergic rhinitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and bipolar disorder. The survey was carried out by telephone in a random sample of the adult general population with quotas defined according to country demographics. The analysis presented in this paper focuses on asthma. Subjects were screened for asthma based on criteria from the global Asthma Insights and Reality studies. Current prevalence (last 12 months) was estimated. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate risk factors related to asthma and the association with allergic rhinitis and other co-morbidities. Quality of life was assessed using the three-level EQ-5D questionnaire. RESULTS: 2124 out of the 33,486 subjects enrolled in the SNAPSHOT program fulfilled the criteria for asthma. The adjusted prevalence of asthma ranged from 4.4% [95% CI: 4.0-4.8%] in Turkey, to 6.7% [95% CI: 6.2-7.2%] in Egypt and 7.6% [95% CI: 7.1-8.0%] in the Gulf cluster. Prevalence was higher (p < 0.0001) in women than men and increased with age (p < 0.0001). Co-morbidities occurred more frequently in asthma subjects compared to the non-asthma population (38% vs. 15% p < 0.0001). Subjects with asthma reported a lower (p < 0.0001) EQ-VAS score (68.2 ± 22.9) compared to the general population (78.1 ± 17.5). The risk factors associated with asthma were age, gender, country, and certain co-morbidities, namely respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nervous, and neurological diseases. CONCLUSION: The observed adjusted prevalence of asthma in the Middle East ranges from 4.4% to 7.6%, which is comparatively lower than the reported prevalence in Europe and North America. Asthma has a negative impact on quality of life, and is associated with high levels of co-morbid diseases, indicating a need for physicians to check for co-morbidities and ensure they are managed correctly in all asthma patients.

The Role of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in the Treatment of Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism: Review by Middle East and North African Experts.

Venous thromboembolism is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with active cancer who require anticoagulation treatment. Choice of anticoagulant is based on careful balancing of the risks and benefits of available classes of treatment: vitamin K antagonists, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Results from randomized controlled trials have shown the consistent efficacy of DOACs versus LMWH in the treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, increased major gastrointestinal bleeding was observed for edoxaban and rivaroxaban, but not apixaban, compared with LMWH dalteparin. Most guidelines recommend DOACs for the treatment of cancer-associated VTE in patients without gastrointestinal or genitourinary cancer, and with considerations for renal impairment and drug-drug interactions. These updates represent a major paradigm shift for clinicians in the Middle East and North Africa. The decision to prescribe a DOAC for a patient with cancer is not always straightforward, particularly in challenging subgroups of patients with an increased risk of bleeding. In patients with gastrointestinal malignancies who are at high risk of major gastrointestinal bleeds, apixaban may be the preferred DOAC; however, caution should be exercised if patients have upper or unresected lower gastrointestinal tumors. In patients with gastrointestinal malignancies and upper or unresected lower gastrointestinal tumors, LMWH may be preferred. Vitamin K antagonists should be used only when DOACs and LMWH are unavailable or unsuitable. In this review, we discuss the overall evidence for DOACs in the treatment of cancer-associated VTE and provide treatment suggestions for challenging subgroups of patients with cancer associated VTE.

Patients with cancer are at risk of blood clots forming in their veins, which can cause illness and death. To prevent such blood clots, most patients with cancer need anticoagulant therapy. There are three types of anticoagulants available for the treatment of cancer-associated blood clots in a vein, namely, vitamin K antagonists, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Drug trials have shown that DOACs are more effective than LMWH; however, DOACs can have a greater risk of causing major gastrointestinal bleeding. Among DOACs, edoxaban and rivaroxaban are drugs associated with higher rates of gastrointestinal bleeding. Recently updated guidelines for doctors recommend that DOACs be used as the first treatment for patients with cancer at risk of blood clot formation in a vein. For doctors in the Middle East and North Africa, this new approach differs from existing practices. Notably, choosing a treatment also depends on the type of cancer, because gastrointestinal cancers and cancers of the genitals and urinary system have an especially high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. The choice also depends on the presence of kidney problems, drug­drug interactions, and access to the drugs. Apixaban may be the preferred DOAC in patients with gastrointestinal cancer, but this drug should be used with care in patients with upper or unresected lower gastrointestinal tumors. For patients with upper or unresected lower gastrointestinal tumors, treatment with LMWH may be preferred. Vitamin K antagonists should be used only when DOACs and LMWH are unavailable or unsuitable.

Yield of ultrasonography in patients with or without post-thrombotic syndrome for diagnosis of suspected recurrent ipsilateral deep vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: The yield of ultrasonography in patients with or without post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) presenting with a suspected recurrent ipsilateral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is unknown. METHODS: Patients with a first unprovoked DVT received standard anticoagulation for 5 to 7 months. Then, they were assessed for PTS using the Villalta scale (score equal or >5) and followed for up to 18 months. Yield of ultrasonography for recurrent ipsilateral DVT was defined as the number of confirmed DVT divided by the number of suspicions. Outcomes were compared between patients without or with PTS. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 452 patients with a symptomatic proximal DVT were included. During follow-up, there were 144 suspicions of recurrent ipsilateral DVT, which were confirmed in 38 patients (26.4%). The confirmation rate of recurrent ipsilateral DVT was 25.6% (23/90) in patients without PTS as compared with 27.8% (15/54) in patients with PTS (P = .84). Our study supports a similar yield of ultrasonography to diagnose recurrent ipsilateral DVT in patients off anticoagulation therapy with or without PTS as defined by 5 or more points on the Villalta scale.

Burden of disease associated with asthma among the adult general population of five Middle Eastern countries: Results of the SNAPSHOT program.

BACKGROUND: Asthma affects millions worldwide resulting in a significant disease burden. However, data on asthma burden from the Middle East is limited. This analysis describes the asthma burden in Egypt, Turkey and a Gulf cluster (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates) as part of the SNAPSHOT program. METHODS: SNAPSHOT was an observational, cross-sectional program carried out by telephone in a random sample of the adult general population of the five above mentioned countries. Quotas were defined per country demographics. Subjects were considered to have asthma if they fulfilled the screening criteria, based on the global Asthma Insights and Reality studies. Data collected included demographics, physician consultations, and asthma control (measured by the Asthma Control Test; ACT). Quality of life was assessed using the EuroQol Five-Dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D); and limitations to daily activities using the modified Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). RESULTS: 939 subjects answered questions related to asthma burden. Overall, 367 (44.2%) reported uncontrolled asthma (ACT≤19), and reported significantly lower EQ-5D-3L utility values (0.6 ±â€¯0.4) and EQ-VAS scores (60.7 ±â€¯24.2) compared to controlled subjects (0.8 ±â€¯0.3 and 75.3 ±â€¯19.8 respectively) (p < 0.0001). A significantly higher proportion with uncontrolled asthma also reported experiencing impact on activities of daily living compared to subjects with controlled asthma (p < 0.0001). Overall, 355 (37.8%) asthma subjects were followed by a physician. However, most visits were unscheduled (695;78.0%). CONCLUSION: Uncontrolled asthma imposes a significant burden in these Middle Eastern countries resulting in increased frequency of healthcare use, lower quality of life, and a higher impact on daily life compared to controlled asthma.

Laparoscopic Wedge Resection of Gastrojejunostomy for Weight Recidivism after Gastric Bypass.

BACKGROUND: Weight recidivism after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a common problem. Often, this weight loss failure or regain may be due to a wide gastrojejunostomy (GJ). We evaluated the feasibility and safety of a novel approach of laparoscopic wedge resection of gastrojejunostomy (LWGJ) for a wide stoma after RYGB associated with weight recidivism. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study of a prospectively collected database. We analyzed outcomes of patients with weight recidivism after RYGB and a documented wide GJ (>2 cm) on imaging, who underwent LWGJ between 11/2013 and 05/2016. RESULTS: Nine patients underwent LWGJ for dilated stomas. All patients were female with a mean ± SD age of 53 ± 7 years. Mean interval between RYGB and LWGJ was 9 ± 3 years. All cases were performed laparoscopically with no conversions. Mean operative time and hospital stay were 86 ± 9 min and 1.2 ± 0.4 days, respectively. The median(IQR) follow-up time was 14(12-18) months. During follow-up, there were no deaths, postoperative complications, or unplanned readmissions or reoperations. The mean and median(IQR) BMI before RYGB and LWGJ were 55.4 ± 8.1 kg/m2 and 56.1(47.9-61.7) and 43.4 ± 8.6 kg/m2 and 42.1(38.3-47.1), respectively. One year after LWGJ, mean and median(IQR) BMI significantly decreased to 34.9 ± 7.3 kg/m2 and 33.3(31.7-35.0) corresponding to a mean %EWL of 64.6 ± 19.9 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LWGJ is safe and can lead to further weight loss in patients experiencing weight recidivism after RYGB with a wide GJ (>2 cm). Long-term follow-up is needed to determine the efficacy and durability of LWGJ and compare its outcomes with other endoscopic/surgical approaches for weight recidivism after RYGB with a documented wide GJ.