Fasting Ramadan in chronic kidney disease patients: clinical and biochemical effects.
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Fasting of the month of Ramadan is a pillar of Islam. Muslim patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) usually fast this month. To determine the effects of fasting on renal function in CKD patients, we prospectively studied 31 (19 males and mean age 54 +/- 14.2 years) CKD patients during the month of Ramadan 1426 Hijra (4th October - 4th November 2005); 14 patients were in stage III CKD, 12 had stage IV and 5 had stage V. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) was 29 +/- 16.3 mL/min. Diabetes was the main cause of CKD (19 (61%) patients), and hypertension was present in 22 (71%) patients. Clinical assessment and renal function tests were performed one month prior to fasting then during and a month later. Medications were taken in two divided doses at sunset (time of breaking the fast) and pre dawn (before starting the fast). All patients fasted the whole month of Ramadan with a good tolerance, tendency to weight reduction, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. eGFR showed a significant improvement during the fast and the month after. The blood sugar was high during fasting with an increment in the Hb A1c. There was better lipid profile, reduction of the proteinuria and urinary sodium. We conclude that this study demonstrates a good tolerance and safety of fasting Ramadan in CKD patients. (+info)
Influenza vaccination: healthcare workers attitude in three Middle East countries.
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BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCWs) pose a potential risk of transmitting communicable diseases in the hospital settings where they usually work. This study aims to determine the current influenza vaccination rates among HCWs in three Middle East countries namely United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Oman, and also to identify the different variables associated with the noncompliance of HCWs to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) set in those countries. METHODS: 1500 questionnaires were distributed to health care workers in the three countries during the period of July-October 2009. RESULTS: Among 993 respondents, the vaccination rate was 24.7%, 67.2% and 46.4% in UAE, Kuwait and Oman, respectively. The different motivating factors that influenced the health care workers to take the vaccine was assessed and found that the most common factor that influenced their decision to take the vaccine was for their self protection (59%). On the other hand, the most common reason that discouraged HCWs to take the vaccine was "lack of time" as reported by 31.8% of the respondents. Other reasons for not taking the vaccine were unawareness of vaccine availability (29.4%), unavailability of vaccine (25.4%), doubts about vaccine efficacy (24.9%), lack of information about importance (20.1%) and concerns about its side effects (17.3%). CONCLUSIONS: influenza immunization by healthcare workers in the studied countries was suboptimal which could be improved by setting different interventions and educational programs to increase vaccination acceptance among HCWs. (+info)
Isolation of a novel Orientia species (O. chuto sp. nov.) from a patient infected in Dubai.
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Breast self-examination: knowledge and practice among nurses in United Arab Emirates.
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This study was conducted to explore the knowledge and practice of nurses regarding breast self-examination (BSE) in the United Arab Emirates. Nurses working in different hospitals constituted the study population. A total of 154 nurses who had come to participate in the breast cancer awareness week programme were the participants. Approval of the Gulf Medical University ethics committee was obtained. A self-administered, pre-tested, structured, close ended questionnaire was used for data collection. Statistical analysis was performed using PASW 17. Age of the participants in this study ranged from 20 to 59 years, with a mean age of 24.1 years. 96.1% of the participants were aware of the ideal age to start BSE, while 87.7% respondents knew that women with regular menstruation should perform BSE monthly on a particular day, preferably on the fifth or seventh day after menstruation. With regard to BSE technique, 68.8% knew that both inspection and palpation were the ideal methods to detect any change in the breast. A high proportion, 84.4% of the respondents, reported performing BSE. Among those married, 87.0% and among single 78.3% were practicing BSE. The results point out that the nurses have a satisfactory knowledge regarding BSE and this is shown in their practice of BSE. Emphasis should be laid on BSE in undergraduate and postgraduate courses, especially for nurses, as they are mostly involved in patient care and education. (+info)
Assessment of the direct medical costs of diabetes mellitus and its complications in the United Arab Emirates.
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