Background and objectiveThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the shortcomings worldwide in terms of preparedness protocols related to epidemics. A key area of research that is evidently overlooked across the globe is the mental health of family caregivers taking care of patients with COVID-19. In light of this, this study aimed to engage in a comparative analysis between the two worst affected countries, India and the United States of America (USA), which differ considerably in their demography, socio-epidemiological factors, and health system efficiency. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,250 family caregivers of patients with COVID-19 in India and the USA to assess their stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbance levels using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Psychological assessment questionnaires were administered through online mode, which gathered demographic information and responses on several self-reporting scales. The main outcome measures were self-reported ratings on PSS, GAD-7 scale, and PSQI. ResultsWe found that 75.4% of the family members of COVID-19 patients suffered from mental health issues. The scores of all three scales were higher in caregivers from the USA than in India, more evident and pronounced in caregivers of hospitalized patients. The test scores were statistically significant (p<0.05) indicating a negative impact of having a dependent member in the family, being married, being of younger age, and having a longer duration of COVID-19 infection. Vaccines were found to have a life-enhancing effect. ConclusionOur findings highlight that the mental health of family caregivers is an ignored aspect and must be addressed. We recommend the implementation of well-researched and appropriate legislation, treatment programs, and health policies that involve not only the patients but also their families.
Background CT tractography is a potential approach in which a CT is conducted after an entire stab wound tract is filled with a water-soluble contrast agent in patients with abdominal stab wounds. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using CT tractography as an option in the management of penetrating abdominal trauma. Does CT Tractography function as a useful technique for assessing patients with Anterior Abdominal Stab Wounds (AASW)? Patients and Methods The study included 82 patients admitted to the trauma center at Alexandria Main University Hospital in Egypt who had penetrating anterior abdominal wall injuries, were in stable condition, and had a contrast CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis that was inconclusive about peritoneal penetration. Results A total of 57 patients underwent exploration after showing positive findings of contrast leak into the peritoneal cavity. 25 patients with CT Tractography results that demonstrated no leak into the peritoneal cavity were treated conservatively without the necessity for surgical intervention. Conclusion In the study, CT tractography correctly identified 100% of the patients who needed laparotomies, and none of the patients without peritoneal penetration required surgical intervention during follow-up. The examination of patients with AASW can be done efficiently by CT tractography.
Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that causes upper airway collapse leading to sleep apnea or hypopnea and is associated with serious health conditions. Despite being prevalent, it is an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease. We aimed at measuring the prevalence of OSA risk and detecting the level of knowledge of OSA among Egyptians attending outpatient clinics. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted at two university hospitals at Cairo using a Berlin questionnaire and OSA Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire (OSAKA) Participants were recruited from outpatient clinics of Al-Hussein University Hospital and Al-Sayed Galal University Hospital. We used a validated Arabic translated version of the Berlin Questionnaire. Three domains (10 questions) were tested: the presence and severity of snoring, frequency of daytime sleepiness, and the presence of obesity or hypertension. A translation of 5 questions from OSA Knowledge/Attitude Questionnaire (OSAKA) that are suitable for the general population were also used. Results: Out of 395 participants approached, 345 participants (87%) completed the questionnaire. The age ranged from 18 to 82 years old (40.9 ± 15.5 SD). About 52% of participants were females (n=179) and 48% were males (n=166). The prevalence of high risk OSA among the studied population was 17.4% (n=60). Older ages, obesity and hypertension were found to be significantly associated with OSA risk. On the level of OSA awareness, 90.1% (n=311) of participants didn’t not have previous knowledge about OSA and there was no significant association between participants’ knowledge, and risk of OSA. Conclusion: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was associated with older ages, obesity and hypertension. The knowledge level was far from needed among the studied group. This lack of knowledge needs to be addressed to reduce the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
After only a few months of the first outbreak in Wuhan where scientists identified (SARS-CoV-2) the novel respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, the world health organization (WHO) declared Coronavirus (COVID-19) an international public health emergency case and a worldwide pandemic on March 11, 2020. This pandemic eventually reached Yemen, with the first laboratory-confirmed case announced on 10 April 2020, in Hadhramaut, the southern province of Yemen in a 60-years old patient.1 The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded 6981 active cases, and 1368 deaths by 19 July 2021. Before the international crises resulting from COVID-19, Yemen was subjected to a number of various internal and external issues. A decade of economic and political crisis and over five years of war has extremely devastated the country. Furthermore, a hotspot Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis issued in July 2019 showed 1.2 million people in the 29 analyzed districts were in severe acute food shortages.2 According to the United Nations (UN) an estimated number of about 24 million people, almost 80% of the population needs all kinds of aid in Yemen. Humanitarian aid from countries has become the basis of survival for hundreds of thousands of Yemenis after the threat of famine. COVID-19 has contributed to an increased risk of the existing famine threat and with the ongoing war; little can be done to prevent contraction of the virus. Although the official COVID-19 cases in Yemen are, considered low compared to other Middle East countries, this is due to many non-operational airports and transportations networks in Yemen because of the civil war.3
Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that causes upper airway collapse, leading to sleep apnea or hypopnea, and is associated with serious health conditions. Despite its prevalence, it is an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease. We aimed to measure the prevalence of OSA risk and detect the level of knowledge of OSA among Egyptians attending outpatient clinics. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at two university hospitals in Cairo using the Berlin Questionnaire and OSA Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire (OSAKA). The participants were recruited from the outpatient clinics of Al-Hussein University Hospital and Al-Sayed Galal University Hospital. We used a validated Arabic translated version of the Berlin Questionnaire. Ten questions across three domains were tested: the presence and severity of snoring, frequency of daytime sleepiness, and presence of obesity or hypertension. A translation of five questions from (OSAKA) deemed suitable for the general population, was also used. Results: Out of 395 participants, 345 (87%) completed the questionnaire. The participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 82 years old (40.9 ± 15.5 SD). Approximately 52% of the participants were female (n = 179) and 48% were male (n = 166). The prevalence of high risk OSA among the studied population was 17.4% (n = 60). Older age and obesity were found to be significantly associated with OSA risk. In terms of OSA awareness, 90.1% (n = 311) of the participants did not have previous knowledge of OSA, and there was no significant association between the participants’ knowledge and risk of OSA. Conclusion: OSA was associated with older age and obesit. Knowledge level was far from needed among the studied group. This lack of knowledge needs to be addressed to reduce the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of OSA.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.