Adherence to antihypertensive medications in Omani patients: a comparison of drug biochemical analysis and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale.

Background: Medication nonadherence is a major risk factor for suboptimal or failed hypertension pharmacologic therapy.

Objective: To determine the nonadherence rate to antihypertensive medications using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and the self-reported Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS).

Methods: This study used a prospective cross-sectional cohort design.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: current therapeutic strategies.

The definition of "Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease - MAFLD" has replaced the previous definition of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), because cardiometabolic criteria have been added for the prevention of cardiological risk in these patients. This definition leads to an in-depth study of the bidirectional relationships between hepatic steatosis, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and/or their complications. Lifestyle modification, which includes correct nutrition combined with regular physical activity, represents the therapeutic cornerstone of MAFLD.

The Role of Advanced Glycation End Products on Dyslipidemia.

Disorders of lipoprotein metabolism and glucose homeostasis are common consequences of insulin resistance and usually co-segregate in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Insulin-resistant subjects are characterized by atherogenic dyslipidemia, a specific lipid pattern which includes hypertriglyceridemia, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and increased proportion of small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Chronic hyperglycemia favors the processes of non-enzymatic glycation, leading to the increased production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Estimation of Salt Intake and its Relation to Knowledge and Attitude Regarding the Dangers of High Salt Intake among an Urban Omani Population: A pilot study.

Objectives: High salt consumption is a major risk factor for hypertension. Studies have shown dietary salt intake to be high in many parts of the world. This study aimed to assess the daily salt consumption of the Omani urban population and their knowledge and attitudes regarding dietary salt.

The Achievement of Non-high-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Target in Patients with Very High Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Stratified by Triglyceride Levels Despite Statin-controlled Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol.

Objectives: We sought to estimate the percentage achievements of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) target in patients with very high atheroscleroticcardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) risk stratified by triglyceride (TG) levels despite statin-controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the Centralized Pan-Middle East Survey on the under treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: The non-HDL-C target achievement in patients with diabetes mellites (DM) and patients with established ASCVD was defined according to European Society of Cardiology and European Atherosclerosis Society 2019 guidelines for managing dyslipidemia. Patients were stratified to controlled LDL-C defined as < 70 mg/dL (< 1.

Antihypertensive Drugs and Perinatal Outcomes in Hypertensive Women Attending a Specialized Tertiary Hospital.

Objectives: We sought to identify the most commonly used antihypertensive medications in pregnant women and to determine the impact of these medications on perinatal (maternal and fetal) outcomes.

Methods: The medical records of 484 hypertensive pregnant women who attended a tertiary university hospital during the study period were retrospectively evaluated for eligibility. Singleton pregnancies of women on antihypertensive medications and who delivered in the hospital were included in the study.

COVID-19 and the Clinical Phase of the Medical Doctorate Curriculum in Oman: Challenges and the way forward.

COVID-19 has gripped the world with lightning speed. Since the onset of the pandemic, activity throughout the world came to a grinding halt. However, business had to continue and people have to learn to live with the virus while the pandemic continues to rage.

Evaluation of guideline-based cardiovascular medications and their respective doses in heart failure patients in Oman.

Background Significant gaps exist between guidelines and practice in the management of heart failure, not only in Oman but the Arabian Gulf region in general. Currently, only limited research exists on the use of these guideline-based cardiovascular medications and their corresponding target doses in the region. Objective To evaluate the use of guideline-based cardiovascular medications and their corresponding target doses in heart failure patients with reduced (< 40%) and mid-range (40-49%) ejection fraction in Oman.

Awareness of the Dangers of High Salt Intake among the Urban Omani Population.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the general public in Oman regarding the dangers of high salt intake.

Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among the urban population in Oman. Individuals aged ≥18 were invited to join the study.

Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of Familial Hypercholesterolemia at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Oman.

Objectives: We sought to describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) that presented to the lipid clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.

Methods: Patients who presented with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (> 189.0 mg/dL or 4.

Evaluation of Hospital Referral Notes for Pulmonary Function Tests at Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Oman.

Objectives: There is substantial increase in referrals for investigations at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH). Evaluating the quality of hospital referral notes (RNs) is necessary from diagnostic, patient, and economic perspectives. RNs for pulmonary function tests (PFTs) can be considered as representative of the array of tests performed at SQUH.

Systemic Oxidative Stress Is Increased in Postmenopausal Women and Independently Associates with Homocysteine Levels.

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Postmenopausal women have an increased risk of developing CVD due to decreased estrogen availability, which is accompanied by increased oxidative stress. Serum free thiols (R-SH) provide a robust and powerful read-out of systemic oxidative stress.

Cardio-autonomic functions and sleep indices before and after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Earlier studies showed a short-term impairment of cardio-autonomic functions following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). There is a lack of consistency in the time of recovery from this impairment. Studies have attributed the post-CABG atrial fibrillation to preexisting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) without an objective sleep assessment.

The Management of Dyslipidaemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Receiving Lipid-Lowering Drugs: A Sub-Analysis of the CEPHEUS Findings.

Background: Dyslipidaemia is a risk factor for macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our aim was to assess the use of lipid lowering drugs (LLDs) in patients with T2DM and co-existing dyslipidaemia.

Method: A multicentre, non-interventional survey conducted in 6 Middle Eastern countries (Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait).

Habitual Sleep Deprivation is Associated with Type 2 Diabetes: A Case-Control Study.

Objectives: It is suggested that a minimum of eight hours of sleep per night is needed for metabolism to work normally. The aim of the study was to determine the association of habitual sleep deprivation and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: We conducted a case-control study comparing patients with T2DM with age and sex matched healthy controls.

Gender Disparity in Lipid Target Achievements in High and Very High Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Patients in the Arabian Gulf.

Background: Few studies assessed gender disparity in lipid goal attainment in the Arabian Gulf. Hence, we estimated gender gaps in lipid target achievements among patients at high and very high atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in the Centralized Pan-Middle East Survey on the undertreatment of hypercholesterolemia (CEPHEUS).

Methods: The study (conducted between November 22, 2009 and July 7, 2010) included 4,384 patients (≥18 years) on lipid lowering drugs at high and very ASCVD risk status from outpatient clinics of 177 specialists and primary care physicians in 6 Arabian Gulf countries.

Impact of metabolic syndrome on lipid target achievements in the Arabian Gulf: findings from the CEPHEUS study.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on lipid target achievements in the Arabian Gulf.

Methods: The centralized pan-middle east survey on the undertreatment of hypercholesterolemia (CEPHEUS) included 4171 high and very high atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk patients from six Arabian Gulf countries. Analyses were performed using univariate statistics.

Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol target achievement in patients on lipid-lowering drugs and stratified by triglyceride levels in the Arabian Gulf.

Background: Atherogenic dyslipidemia is highly prevalent in the Arabian Gulf. Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) reduction has been proposed as an additional goal to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Data on non-HDL-C goal attainment in patients with high triglycerides (TGs) on lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs) in the region is scarce.

Nutraceuticals as Lipid-Lowering Treatment in Pregnancy and Their Effects on the Metabolic Syndrome.

Maternal nutrition and lifestyle before and during pregnancy influence both mother and offspring's health and can be correlated with the metabolic syndrome in later life. Findings from animal and human studies indicate that nutrition during pregnancy has an important role in microbiological, metabolic, physiologic and immunologic development and homeostasis. A low nutritional intake in early pregnancy may represent a risk for adverse effects during pregnancy as well as on birth outcome.

Incretins, Pregnancy, and Gestational Diabetes.

The number of pregnant women affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing among Caucasians, and East Asians. GDM also increases the risk for later advent of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and cardiovascular disease in both women and their offspring. The underlying mechanism of GDM is not fully elucidated.

Control of Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease among Multinational Patient Population in the Arabian Gulf.

We evaluated the control of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the Centralized Pan-Middle East Survey on the undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia (CEPHEUS) in the Arabian Gulf. Of the 4398 enrolled patients, overall mean age was 57 ± 11 years, 60% were males, 13% were smokers, 76% had diabetes, 71% had metabolic syndrome and 78% had very high ASCVD risk status. The proportion of subjects with body mass index <25 kgm2, HbA1c <7% (in diabetics), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <2.

White coat hypertension and masked hypertension among omani patients attending a tertiary hospital for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Objectives: Our study aimed to estimate the rate of white coat hypertension (WCH) and effect, and masked hypertension in patients attending a tertiary care hospital for 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24-h ABPM).

Methods: A total of 231 adult patients were referred to the Department of Clinical Physiology at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, for ABPM, between January 2010 and June 2012. The following data were gathered and analyzed: demographic data, clinic blood pressure (BP) measurements, and 24-h BP profile from ABPM.

Association of gene variants with susceptibility to type 2 diabetes among Omanis.

Aim: To investigate the association of 10 known common gene variants with susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) among Omanis.

Methods: Using case-control design, a total of 992 diabetic patients and 294 normoglycemic Omani Arabs were genotyped, by an allelic discrimination assay-by-design TaqMan method on fast real time polymerase chain reaction system, for the following gene variants: KCNJ11 (rs5219), TCF7L2 (rs7903146), CDKAL1 (rs10946398), CDKN2A/B (rs10811661), FTO (rs9939609 and rs8050136), IGF2BP2 (rs4402960), SLC30A8 (rs13266634) CAPN10 (rs3792267) and HHEX (rs1111875). T2D patients were recruited from the Diabetes Clinic (n = 243) and inpatients (n = 749) at Sultan Qaboos Univesity Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman.