For nearly 3 years now, Lebanon has been assailed by compounded crises. With the economic instability, the coronavirus pandemic, and the explosion of the Beirut Port on August 4, 2020; the fragile Lebanese healthcare system has found itself at massive risk of a catastrophic public health crisis secondary to cardiovascular drug shortages. The time has come for public health authorities to find urgent solutions for this national trajedy that is projected to last for years.

Background: This study objective was to evaluate the prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and related factors (smoking, internet addiction, social anxiety, child abuse, and bullying) among a representative sample of Lebanese adolescents, and to validate and confirm psychometric properties of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Methods: A cross-sectional study, conducted between January and May 2019, enrolled 1810 adolescents aged between 14 and 17 from schools of all Lebanese districts. From the total number of schools, a proportionate number was selected in each district. AUD was defined as a high AUDIT score (≥8; score range 0-40). A principal component analysis technique to confirm the validity of the construct of the AUDIT scale score was done and a confirmatory analysis to assess the structure of the instrument was conducted. Spearman correlation was used for linear correlation between continuous variables. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the means of two groups, while the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare three groups or more. A stepwise linear regression was conducted, taking the AUDIT total score as the dependent variable and taking child abuse (psychological, sexual, physical and verbal), cigarette and waterpipe smoking dependence, bullying, social phobia, and internet addiction as independent variables. Results: The mean AUDIT score was 6.46 ± 8.44 and high risk of AUD was found in 507 (28.0%) adolescents [95% CI 0.259-0.301]. One factor solution of the AUDIT scale was found after running the factor analysis (α Cronbach = 0.978). Higher AUDIT scores were significantly associated with higher cigarette (Beta = 0.527; p < 0.001) and waterpipe (Beta = 0.299; p < 0.001) dependence, higher childhood sexual abuse (Beta = 0.656; p < 0.001) and neglect (Beta = 0.126; p < 0.001), higher bullying victimization (Beta = 0.236; p < 0.001).

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with late-onset cardiovascular complications primarily due to a hypercoagulable state. Its association with Wellens’ syndrome, which reflects a stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, is not well established. We present two cases diagnosed with this syndrome following their COVID-19 acute phase despite taking adequate anticoagulation. Case presentation We present two patients with incidental electrocardiography (ECG) showing the typical Wellens’-related changes, with an underlying severe triple-vessel coronary artery disease a few weeks following a severe COVID-19 infection associated with high inflammatory markers. The stenotic lesions were diagnosed by cardiac catheterization, and both patients underwent Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting successfully. Notably, patients’ baseline ECGs were normal, and they were maintained on Rivaroxaban 10 mg following their viral illness. Conclusion Despite advances in the preventive measures for COVID-19 complications, its pathophysiologic impact on vasculature and atherosclerosis is still incompletely understood. Further clinical trials must be conducted to study this association between Wellens’ syndrome and this virus to prevent life-threatening complications.

BackgroundThis study objective was to evaluate the prevalence of AUD and related factors (smoking, internet addiction, social anxiety, child abuse, and bullying) among a representative sample of Lebanese adolescents, and to validate and confirm psychometric properties of the AUDIT scale. MethodsA cross-sectional study, conducted between January and May 2019, enrolled 1810 adolescents aged between 14 and 17. Alcohol dependence was defined as a high AUDIT score (≥8; score range 0-40). A principal component analysis technique to confirm the validity of the construct of the AUDIT scale score was done and a confirmatory analysis to assess the structure of the instrument was conducted. ResultsThe mean AUDIT score was 6.46 ± 8.44 and high risk of hazardous alcohol drinking was found in 507 (28.0%) adolescents 95% CI 0.259-0.301. One factor solution of the AUDIT scale was found after running the factor analysis (α Cronbach =0.978). Higher cigarette (Beta=0.372; p<0.001) and waterpipe (Beta=0.319; p<0.001) dependence, higher child sexual (Beta=0.581; p<0.001) and neglect (Beta=0.106; p<0.001) abuse, higher internet addiction (Beta=0.088; p<0.001), separated parents compared to living together (Beta=3.202; p<0.001) and higher bullying victimization (Beta=0.143; p<0.001) were significantly associated with higher AUDIT scores. ConclusionAlcohol dependence among Lebanese adolescents seems to be influenced by several risk factors, such as cigarette and waterpipe dependence, parents' divorce, higher internet addiction, bullying victimization, and childhood sexual abuse and neglect. Parents and healthcare professionals could use this data for early interventions.