Evaluation of an adjusted MEWS (Modified Early Warning Score) for COVID-19 patients to identify risk of ICU admission or death in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Background: While most COVID-19 cases have uncomplicated infection, a small proportion has the potential to develop life-threatening disease, as such development of a prediction tool using patients baseline characteristics at the time of diagnosis should aid in early identification of high-risk groups and devise pertinent management. Hence, we set up this retrospective study to determine preadmission triaging tool to predict the development of severe COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Bahrain MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted from 1 September 2020 to 30 November 2020 with enrolment of all SARS-CoV-2 PCR-confirmed persons aged ≥ 14 years who attended Al-Shamil Field Hospital (SFH) in the Kingdom of Bahrain for triaging and assessment with recording of the following parameters: systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, the alert, verbal, pain, unresponsive neurological score, age, oxygen saturation, comorbidities, Body Mass Index (BMI), duration of symptoms and living with immunocompromised populations to develop our local adjusted MEWS as predictor for ICU admission & for consideration of suitable isolation at home. Follow up data of all patients was obtained from the electronic medical records system including CXR findings, treatments/medications received, need of oxygen supplements /intubation, needs of ICU care, and the outcome (death /discharged alive) IBM SPSS statistic version 21 program was used for data analysis.

Morbidities and Health-Seeking Behavior of Elderly Patients Attending Primary Health Care in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Background: Understanding the health-seeking behaviors help in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the health-care system; however, there is lack of knowledge regarding the health-seeking behavior of the elderly population in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the morbidity profile and determine the health-seeking behavior of the elderly population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included all elderly patients (≥60 years) who attended four primary health-care centers that represent four governorates with the largest catchment area in the Kingdom of Bahrain between June 19 and August 31, 2021.

Type 2 diabetes and healthcare resource utilisation in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a growing health challenge in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the disease exerts significant pressure on the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to assess the annual costs and understand the drivers of those costs in the country.

Methods: A sample of 628 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were randomly selected from primary healthcare diabetes clinics, and the direct medical and indirect costs due to type 2 diabetes were analysed for a one-year period.

Toward measles elimination in Bahrain--a Middle East country experience.

Measles was a leading cause of infant and child morbidity and mortality in Bahrain before the introduction of measles vaccine in 1974. With the establishment of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in 1981 and the introduction of a second dose of measles vaccine in 1985, coverage for first and second doses of measles vaccine increased to 94% by 1997 and has been sustained >97% since 2001. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) immunization campaigns targeting 12-year-old students were conducted annually during 1998-2006 and achieved coverage of >95%.