Coronavirus pandemic in the South Asia region: Health policy and economy trade-off.

Background: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) covers Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. We conducted a comparative analysis of the trade-off between the health policies for the prevention of COVID-19 spread and the impact of these policies on the economies and livelihoods of the South Asia populations.

Methods: We analyzed COVID-19 data on epidemiology, public health and health policy, health system capacity, and macroeconomic indicators from January 2020 to March 2021 to determine temporal trends by conducting joinpoint regression analysis using average weekly percent change (AWPC).

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among non-refugees and refugees in Kenya.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (which we define as refusal to be vaccinated when asked, resulting in delayed or non- vaccination) are poorly studied in sub-Saharan Africa and among refugees, particularly in Kenya. Using survey data from wave five (March to June 2021) of the Kenya Rapid Response Phone Survey (RRPS), a household survey representative of the population of Kenya, we estimated the self-reported rates and factors associated with vaccine hesitancy among non-refugees and refugees in Kenya. Non-refugee households were recruited through sampling of the 2015/16 Kenya Household Budget Survey and random digit dialing.

COVID-19 vaccination refusal trends in Kenya over 2021.

Background: Vaccination refusal exacerbates global COVID-19 vaccination inequities. No studies in East Africa have examined temporal trends in vaccination refusal, precluding addressing refusal. We assessed vaccine refusal over time in Kenya, and characterized factors associated with changes in vaccination refusal.

Comparison of in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of trauma patients in Qatar.

Background: Cardiac arrests in admitted hospital patients with trauma have not been described in the literature. We defined "in-hospital cardiac arrest of a trauma" (IHCAT) patient as "cessation of circulatory activity in a trauma patient confirmed by the absence of signs of circulation or abnormal cardiac arrest rhythm inside a hospital setting, which was not cardiac re-arrest." This study aimed to compare epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes between in- and out-of-hospital arrest resuscitations in trauma patients in Qatar.

Health research-strengthening and capacity development: Research support system model in an academic healthcare system.

Introduction: Healthcare research contributes to the well-being of a population; hence, it is important to use the right system to ensure that junior researchers develop the required skills. Current research-strengthening and capacity development programs might lack a research process-based common framework or model leading to variable and suboptimal outcomes. This study aimed to describe the development and evaluation of a model for health research-capacity development at both individual and institutional levels in a Joint Commission International-accredited governmental healthcare organization in Qatar.

Coronavirus pandemic in the Nordic countries: Health policy and economy trade-off.

Background: Countries making up the Nordic region - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden - have minimal socioeconomic, cultural, and geographical differences between them, allowing for a fair comparative analysis of the health policy and economy trade-off in their national approaches towards mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This study utilized publicly available COVID-19 data of the Nordic countries from January 2020 to January 3, 2021. COVID-19 epidemiology, public health and health policy, health system capacity, and macroeconomic data were analysed for each Nordic country.

Current Guidelines and Practice Recommendations to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Conditions After Major Orthopaedic Surgeries.

»: In 2016, a total of 48,771 hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) were reported in U.S. hospitals.

Closed-incision negative pressure therapy at -125 mmHg significantly reduces surgical site complications following total hip and knee arthroplasties: A stratified meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Closed-incision negative pressure wound therapy (ciNPT) has shown promising effects for managing infected wounds. This meta-analysis explores the current state of knowledge on ciNPT in orthopedics and addresses whether ciNPT at -125 mmHg or -80 mmHg or conventional dressing reduces the incidence of surgical site complications in hip and knee arthroplasty.

Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and Cochrane Handbook.

Pakistan's COVID-19 Outbreak Preparedness and Response: A Situational Analysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate countries around the world. Pakistan has had a largely successful control strategy with fewer hospitalizations and mortality than its neighboring countries of China, Iran, and India. The aim of our study was to assess Pakistan's state of preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including its multifaceted approach in surveillance, response, and diagnostic services.

Predicting mortality in SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) positive patients in the inpatient setting using a novel deep neural network.

Background: The nextwave of COVID-19 pandemic is anticipated to be worse than the initial one and will strain the healthcare systems even more during the winter months. Our aim was to develop a novel machine learning-based model to predict mortality using the deep learning Neo-V framework. We hypothesized this novel machine learning approach could be applied to COVID-19 patients to predict mortality successfully with high accuracy.

Hospital-Acquired Conditions: A Review of Classical and Novel Risk Factors Following Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasties.

»: In 2016, a total of 48,771 hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) were reported in U.S. hospitals.

National Trends and Outcomes of Nonautoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Alcoholic Liver Disease: Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Goal: The aim of this study was to determine the burden of nonautoimmune hemolytic anemia (NAHA) in hospitalized patients with coexisting alcoholic liver disease (ALD), identify risk factors for NAHA in ALD and describe the hospitalization outcomes.

Background: ALD can result in structural and metabolic alterations in the red-blood cell membrane leading to premature destruction of erythrocytes and hemolytic anemia of varying severity.

Study: Hospitalized ALD patients with concomitant NAHA were identified in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database using International Classification of Diseases-9 codes from 2009 to 2014.

Secondary angiodysplasia-associated gastrointestinal bleeding in end-stage renal disease: Results from the nationwide inpatient sample.

Background: Chronic kidney disease is associated with angiodysplasia of gastrointestinal tract leading to increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Aim: To determine the nationwide prevalence, trends, predictors and resource utilization of angiodysplasia-associated gastrointestinal bleeding in end-stage renal disease hospitalizations.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2009 to 2014, was utilized to conduct a retrospective study on patients with angiodysplasia associated- gastrointestinal bleeding and end-stage renal disease.

Spontaneous fungal peritonitis: Micro-organisms, management and mortality in liver cirrhosis-A systematic review.

Background: Spontaneous peritonitis is an infection of ascitic fluid without a known intra-abdominal source of infection. spontaneous fungal peritonitis (SFP) is a potentially fatal complication of decompensated cirrhosis, defined as fungal infection of ascitic fluid in the presence of ascitic neutrophil count of greater than 250 cells/mL.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of fungal pathogens, management and outcomes (mortality) of SFP in critically ill cirrhotic patients.

Colorectal cancer screening in hospitalized patients: results from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is preventable with regular screening. This study aims to determine estimates and predictors of inpatient CRC screening during hospitalization in the USA. This nationwide population-based study utilized data from the National Inpatient Sample database from 2005 to 2014 to examine rates of CRC screening among hospitalized patients.

A Case of Concomitant Emphysematous Cystitis and Clostridium difficile Colitis with Pneumoperitoneum.

Emphysematous cystitis (EC) is a rare condition described as air within the wall and lumen of the urinary bladder. It is a complicated form of urinary tract infection caused by gas-forming bacteria. Pneumoperitoneum described as gas in the peritoneum is usually seen with abdominal hollow organ perforation, and approximately 10% of cases have been reported that are not associated with abdominal hollow viscus perforation.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation of out-of-hospital traumatic cardiac arrest in Qatar: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: Traumatic cardiac arrest studies have reported improved survival rates recently, ranging from 1.7-7.5%.

Marginal analysis in assessing factors contributing time to physician in the Emergency Department using operations data.

Standard Emergency Department (ED) operations goals include minimization of the time interval (tMD) between patients' initial ED presentation and initial physician evaluation. This study assessed factors known (or suspected) to influence tMD with a two-step goal. The first step was generation of a multivariate model identifying parameters associated with prolongation of tMD at a single study center.

Epidemiology and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Qatar: A nationwide observational study.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) studies from the Middle East and Asian region are limited. This study describes the epidemiology, emergency health services, and outcomes of OHCA in Qatar.

Methods: This was a prospective nationwide population-based observational study on OHCA patients in Qatar according to Utstein style guidelines, from June 2012 to May 2013.

Ethnic variation in acute cerebrovascular disease: Analysis from the Qatar stroke registry.

Objective: We analysed the Qatar stroke registry for ethnic variations in patients admitted with cerebrovascular disease at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar.

Methods: Patients admitted with acute stroke from January 2014 to December 2015, enrolled in the registry were included in the study. We evaluated the clinical presentation, risk factors, and outcome at discharge and 90 days post-discharge in relation to the patient's ethnic background.

Health System Response and Adaptation to the Largest Sandstorm in the Middle East.

The State of Qatar experienced a sandstorm on the night of April 1, 2015, lasting approximately 12 hours, with winds of more than 100 km/h and average particulate matter of approximately 10 μm in diameter. The emergency department (ED) of the main tertiary hospital in Qatar managed 62% of the total emergency calls and those of higher triage order. The peak load of patients during the event manifested approximately 6 hours after the onset.

Health care system hazard vulnerability analysis: an assessment of all public hospitals in Abu Dhabi.

Hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA) is used to risk-stratify potential threats, measure the probability of those threats, and guide disaster preparedness. The primary objective of this project was to analyse the level of disaster preparedness in public hospitals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, utilising the HVA tool in collaboration with the Disaster Medicine Section at Harvard Medical School. The secondary objective was to review each facility's disaster plan and make recommendations based on the HVA findings.