Impact of mitigating obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity on type 2 diabetes mellitus burden in Oman: insights from mathematical modeling.

Introduction: To estimate the impact of reducing obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity (PIA) prevalence, and of introducing physical activity (PA) as an explicit intervention, on the prevalence, incidence, and mortality of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Oman.

Research Design And Methods: A deterministic population-level mathematical model was employed to investigate the impact of different scenarios for reducing T2DM risk factors on T2DM epidemiology. The model was stratified by sex, age group, risk factor status, T2DM status, and intervention status and parameterized with nationally representative data.

Towards health with justice: making the tobacco industry accountable through administrative liability.

For many decades, the transnational tobacco industry has evaded the consequences of harming people and the planet. Despite selling a deadly product, it has continued to remain one of the most profitable industries in the world, now venturing into 'wellness and pharmaceutical' businesses as part of its diversification strategy. Meanwhile, efforts to make the tobacco industry pay through court systems have not progressed due to the inherent challenges within the judicial systems in most countries.

Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Composites: A Review of the Compressive Strength and Microstructure Analysis.

Geopolymer (GP) concrete is a novel construction material that can be used in place of traditional Portland cement (PC) concrete to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effectively manage industrial waste. Fly ash (FA) has long been utilized as a key constituent in GPs, and GP technology provides an environmentally benign alternative to FA utilization. As a result, a thorough examination of GP concrete manufactured using FA as a precursor (FA-GP concrete) and employed as a replacement for conventional concrete has become crucial.

The introduction of tobacco excise taxation in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: a step in the right direction of advancing public health.

Background: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries relied, until recently, solely on import duties for tobacco products. The agreement for the introduction of an excise and value added tax (VAT) in 2016 and 2017, respectively, in most GCC countries, was a major breakthrough for public health. There is, however, ample room for improvement.

Clinical Profile of Stroke Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department of a Major Stroke Centre in Oman.

Objectives: Stroke is a significant public health problem and one of the most important preventable non-communicable diseases. Preventive stroke programmes with a better focus on increasing awareness among those who are currently at risk are yet to be properly established in Oman. This study was conducted to describe the characteristics of stroke patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Oman.

Development and Validation of a Risk Score for Diabetes Screening in Oman.

Objectives: We sought to develop and validate a diabetic risk score model as a non-invasive and self-administered screening tool to be used in the general Omani population.

Methods: The 2008 World Health Survey (WHS) data from Oman (n = 2720) was used to develop the risk score model. Multivariable logistic regression with the backward stepwise method was implemented to obtain risk factors regression coefficients for sex, age, educational attainment, marital status, place of residence, hypertension, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, tobacco use, daily fruit and vegetable intake, and weekly physical activity.

Tactics of the tobacco industry in an Arab nation: a review of tobacco documents in Oman.

Background: Few studies have investigated tobacco industry interference in the tobacco control policies of Arab nations. This paper explores the tactics used by the industry to subvert tobacco control policies in Oman and offers lessons on how to prevent such interference in the future.

Methods: We searched the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Archive using the word 'Oman', names of government institutions, policymakers and local tobacco distributors.

Forecasting the type 2 diabetes mellitus epidemic and the role of key risk factors in Oman up to 2050: Mathematical modeling analyses.

Aims/introduction: To investigate and forecast type 2 diabetes mellitus epidemic, its related risk factors and cost in Oman by 2050.

Materials And Methods: An age-structured mathematical model was used to characterize type 2 diabetes mellitus epidemiology and trends in Oman between 1990 and 2050. The model was parametrized using current and quality data, including six nationally representative population-based epidemiological surveys for type 2 diabetes mellitus and its key risk factors.

Increasing Thyroid Cancer Incidence in Oman: A Joinpoint Trend Analysis.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the epidemiology of thyroid cancer and its trends in Oman over a 20-year period.

Methods: We analyzed all cases of primary thyroid cancer reported to the Oman National Cancer Registry between 1996 and 2015. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) were calculated using the World Standard Population.

The status of tobacco control in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: progress in the implementation of the MPOWER measures.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER measures are a set of highly effective tobacco control measures drawn from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), designed to help countries reduce the prevalence of tobacco use. The WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic is published biennially to monitor global implementation of these measures.

Aims: This review aimed to critically assess the status of MPOWER implementation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Epidemiology of Lung Cancer in Oman: 20-Year Trends and Tumor Characteristics.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the epidemiology of lung cancer and its trends in Oman over 20 years.

Methods: We analyzed all cases of primary lung cancer reported to the Oman National Cancer Registry between 1996 and 2015. The World Standard Population was used to obtain age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of lung cancer per 100 000.

Impact of Dual versus Single Antiplatelet Therapy on Major Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Arabian Gulf.

Objective: To evaluate the association of dual versus single antiplatelet therapy with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Arabian Gulf.

Subjects And Methods: Data were analyzed from 3,559 patients with a diagnosis of ACS admitted to 29 hospitals in 4 Arabian Gulf countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and United Arab Emirates) from January 2012 to January 2013. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), consisting of aspirin and clopidogrel, was compared to aspirin alone.

Impact of Clopidogrel on Mortality in Patients With Acute Heart Failure Stratified by Coronary Artery Disease: Findings From the Arabian Gulf Acute Heart Failure Registry (Gulf CARE).

We evaluated the impact of clopidogrel use on 3- and 12-months all-cause mortality in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) stratified by coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients admitted to 47 hospitals in 7 Middle Eastern countries with AHF from February to November 2012. Clopidogrel use was associated with significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality at 3 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.

MPOWER, needs and challenges: trends in the implementation of the WHO FCTC in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Background: WHO MPOWER aims to help countries prioritize tobacco control measures in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Objectives: This paper assessed the progress and challenges in implementing the 6 priority policies of MPOWER in countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region since 2011.

Methods: A checklist was developed and scores assigned based on the MPOWER indicators (maximum score 37).

Impact of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/Angiotensin Receptors Blockers on Mortality in Acute Heart Failure Patients with Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in the Middle East: Observations from the Gulf Acute Heart Failure Registry (Gulf CARE).

Aims: To evaluate the impact of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEIs)/ Angiotensin Receptors Blockers (ARBs) on in-hospital, 3- and 12-month all-cause mortality in Acute Heart Failure (AHF) patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction in 7 countries of the Middle East.

Methods And Results: Data was analysed from 2,683 consecutive patients admitted with AHF and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) (<40%) from 47 hospitals from February to November 2012. Analyses were evaluated using univariate and multivariate statistics.

Tobacco Control in Oman: It's Time to Get Serious!

Tobacco use is the world's leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Although Oman remains a country with the lowest tobacco use in the Arab Gulf States, the prevalence of tobacco use is projected to increase to 33.3% by 2025.

Systolic Blood Pressure on Admission and Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure: Observations From the Gulf Acute Heart Failure Registry.

We investigated the role of systolic blood pressure (SBP) in relation to in-hospital and postdischarge mortality in patients admitted with acute heart failure (AHF). The SBP of 4848 patients aged ≥18 years admitted with AHF was categorized into 5 groups: ≤90, 91 to 119, 120 to 139, 140 to 161, and >161 mm Hg. After adjusting for several confounders, multivariate logistic regression models showed that admission SBP was a significant predictor of mortality among both patients with preserved left ventricular function (defined as left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≥40%) and patients with left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF <40%).

Hypertension in the adult Omani population: predictors for unawareness and uncontrolled hypertension.

Background: Hypertension is a significant predictor for cardiovascular diseases and is the most important preventable or modifiable cause of morbidity and mortality from these diseases. Undiagnosed cases of hypertension and poor control are important factors in controlling hypertension worldwide, including Oman.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to identify the important risk factors and predictors of the state of unawareness of the presence of hypertension, as well as the risk factors for poor control of blood pressure, among hypertensive patients.

Measuring Secondhand Smoke in Muscat, Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to measure exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and assess venue compliance with the municipal Law against smoking indoors in public places in Muscat, Oman.

Methods: Following the selection of 30 public indoor venues within the Muscat governorate, the concentration of suspended SHS particulate matter (PM2.5) in the venues' indoor air was measured throughout July and August 2010.