Predictors of drug-resistant epilepsy in childhood epilepsy syndromes: A subgroup analysis from a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Previous studies assessing factors associated with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) were constrained by their amalgamation of all epilepsy syndromes in their analyses and the absence of uniform criteria for defining DRE. Our objective was to identify predictors of DRE among the four primary childhood epilepsy syndrome groups within a cohort of children with new onset seizures, using the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) definition of DRE and the recent classification of epilepsies.

Methods: This is a prospective study of 676 children with new onset seizures initiated on antiseizure medication.

Disease-modifying therapies, outcomes, risk factors and severity of COVID-19 in multiple sclerosis: A MENACTRIMS registry based study.

Background: There is a lack information regarding risk factors associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the MENA region.

Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study that included all MS patients with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection using the MENACTRIMS registry. The association of demographics, disease characteristics, and use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) with outcomes and severity of COVID-19 were evaluated by multivariate logistic model.

Barriers to accessing multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies in the Middle East and North Africa region: A regional survey-based study.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) management varies markedly between different countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region based on the availability and accessibility of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).

Objective: To evaluate the accessibility to DMTs in each MENA country, identify barriers to treatment and make recommendations for improved access to DMTs across the region.

Methods: This is a descriptive, survey-based study whereby we extracted data collected, between October 2019 and April 2020, for countries in the MENA region by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) through their Atlas of MS survey.

Early predictors of remission in children and adolescents with new-onset epilepsy: A prospective study.

Purpose: This study aims to identify predictive factors of a two-year remission (2YR) in a cohort of children and adolescents with new-onset seizures based on baseline clinical characteristics, initial EEG and brain MRI findings.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 688 patients with new onset seizures, initiated on treatment with antiseizure medication was evaluated. 2YR was defined as achieving at least two years of seizure freedom during the follow-up period.

Knowledge of epilepsy, quality of life, and psychiatric comorbidities in Lebanese adults with epilepsy.

Introduction: People with epilepsy (PWE) face a variety of psychosocial challenges. A lack of knowledge of epilepsy, a high level of depression and anxiety and a low quality of life (QoL) are among the major problems that affect most PWE. The objective of this study was to examine the association of sociodemographic characteristics, clinical factors and knowledge of epilepsy with the level of QoL, and the presence of psychiatric comorbidities.

Impact of Pharmaceutical Interventions with STOPP/START and PIM-Check in Older Hospitalized Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Pharmaceutical interventions can reduce negative outcomes related to potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs).

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the impact of interventions on the reduction of PIPs and on different clinical outcomes using two electronic explicit tools.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients hospitalized between 2018 and 2019 at the Acute Care for Elders unit at Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland.

Lebanese Hospital-Based Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry: Characteristics of Patients and Comparison with Other Populations.

Objectives: The aim of the Lebanese hospital-based Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) registry, initiated in 2011, is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of biologic agents among patients seeking care at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC). We aimed to characterize the demographic and clinical profile of RA patients included in the Lebanese registry. We compared our results with those issued from Middle Eastern and non-Middle Eastern registries.

Management of epilepsy in Lebanon: Medication reviews and drug-related problems.

Purpose: The goal of epilepsy treatment is to control seizures without drug related problems (DRPs). The evaluation of anti-seizure drugs (ASD) strategies and identification of DRPs are rarely studied. This study aimed primarily to evaluate the choice of ASD according to international guidelines and secondarily to identify and describe anti-seizure drug-related problems.

Willingness to Pay for a Coronavirus Vaccine and Its Associated Determinants in Lebanon.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical vaccine and its associated determinants among the Lebanese general population during one of the peak episodes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Lebanon.

Methods: An online survey was developed and delivered to the Lebanese general population. The questionnaire included the participants' sociodemographic characteristics, financial situation, attitude toward vaccination, and WTP for the hypothetical vaccine.

Impact of Pharmaceutical Interventions in Hospitalized Patients: A Comparative Study Between Clinical Pharmacists and an Explicit Criteria-Based Tool.

Background: It has been well recognized that pharmaceutical interventions (PIs) can prevent patient harm related to prescribing errors. Various tools have been developed to facilitate the detection and the reduction of inappropriate prescriptions and some have shown benefit on clinical outcomes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical, economical, and organizational impact of interventions generated by clinical pharmacists in hospitalized patients, and to evaluate the performance of an explicit tool, the Potentially Inappropriate Medication Checklist for Patients in Internal Medicine (PIM-Check), in detecting each pharmacist's intervention.

Public awareness of environmental risk factors of cancer and attitude towards its prevention among the Lebanese general population.

Introduction: Since the majority of cancers occur as a result of modifiable risk factors, cancer is being seen more as a preventable disease. The primary objective of our study was to assess the level of awareness of environmental risk factors of cancer among the Lebanese general population. The secondary objective focused on identifying the predictors of the preventability of the disease.

Ability to detect potentially inappropriate prescribing in older patients: comparative analysis between PIM-Check and STOPP/STARTv2.

Purpose: Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is a source of preventable adverse drug events. The objective of this study was a comparative analysis (quantitative and qualitative) between two tools used to detect PIP, PIM-Check and STOPP/START.

Methods: First, a qualitative analysis (QAC) was conducted to evaluate the concordance between the criteria, which constitute PIM-Check and the gold standard STOPP/START.

Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Lebanon: A rising prevalence in the middle east.

Background: The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been studied in many countries of the Middle East but the prevalence and incidence of MS in Lebanon is still unknown.

Objectives: To determine the incidence and prevalence of MS in Lebanon.

Methods: Lebanese patients diagnosed with MS between January 2018 and December 2018 were identified using the database of governmental third-party payers.

Clinical and economic impacts of explicit tools detecting prescribing errors: A systematic review.

What Is Known And Objective: Many explicit tools have been developed to reduce prescribing errors and ensure patients' safety. The impact of explicit tools is not well studied. The objective of this study was (a) to conduct a systematic review of systematic reviews listing explicit tools developed to detect prescribing errors and (b) to assess their impact on clinical and economic outcomes.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet decreases the risk of stroke in the Lebanese population: a case-control study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeD) and the risk of stroke in the Lebanese population.

Methods: A hospital based case-control study was conducted in Lebanon between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016. Data were collected prospectively using a standardized questionnaire.

Quality of life and stigma in Lebanese people with epilepsy taking medication.

Background: Epilepsy is among the more stigmatising diseases, leading to a negative impact on the quality of life (QoL) of people with epilepsy (PWE). Assessment of the QoL and stigma in PWE reflects the outcome of their disease, and the findings can be used to improve the management of epilepsy. To fill a gap in the literature, our primary aim is to evaluate the QoL and stigma in Lebanese PWE, and our secondary aim is to identify factors affecting these parameters.

Potentially inappropriate medications in elderly patients with heart failure: Beers Criteria-based study.

Objectives: Primary objectives were to evaluate the use of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in elderly heart failure (HF) patients and the factors associated with the number of PIMs. Secondary objectives were to test for the correlation between PIMs and quality of life (QOL) and depression.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 elderly Lebanese HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <50%.

Evaluation of risk factors and drug adherence in the occurrence of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are at high risk of developing a stroke and anticoagulant medications are generally prescribed to prevent stroke in AF population.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate stroke risk factors among hospitalized patients with AF and to assess the level of adherence to medications in AF patients and their relation with stroke.

Methods: This is a case-control study conducted between June 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018 among AF patients admitted to seven tertiary Lebanese hospitals.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Lebanese Adults: Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disabling disease with significant impact on the Quality of Life (QOL) of patients. Information on the effects of RA on Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is lacking in the Lebanese population. The objective of this study was to evaluate QOL of RA patients compared with non-RA subjects and to suggest possible predictors of their QOL in Lebanon.

Validation of the Arabic Version of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire.

Background: The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) is commonly used to measure quality of life (QOL) in patients with heart failure (HF). We examined the psychometric properties and cultural validity of an Arabic version of the MLHFQ.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with 210 adult HF outpatients.

Self-reported attitudes about medication in Lebanese people with epilepsy.

Background: Epilepsy is a common worldwide neurological disorder. For people with epilepsy (PWE), adherence and attitudes towards medication is a crucial step to improve efficacy of prescribed treatment and to prevent seizures.

Objectives: The first aim of this study was to evaluate attitudes towards antiepileptic medications in Lebanese population.

Evaluation of antidiabetic medication adherence in the Lebanese population: development of the Lebanese Diabetes Medication Adherence Scale.

Objective: To evaluate factors affecting adherence to oral antidiabetic treatment in the Lebanese population and to develop the Diabetes Medication Adherence Scale (DMAS) based on these factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of Lebanese diabetic patients. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire.