Background Knowledge of the frequency of precipitating factors for acute heart failure (AHF) is important (either new-onset heart failure [NOHF] or worsening heart failure [WHF]), as this can guide strategies for prevention and treatment. Most data come only from Western Europe and North America; nevertheless, geographic differences do exist. We set out to study the prevalence of precipitating factors of AHF and their connection to patient characteristics and in-hospital and long-term mortality in patients from Egypt hospitalized for decompensated HF. Using the ESC-HF-LT Registry which is a prospective, multicenter, observational study of patients confessed to cardiology centers in the nations of Europe and the Mediterranean, patients presenting with AHF were recruited from 20 centers all over Egypt. Enrolling physicians were requested to report possible precipitants from among several predefined reasons. Results We included 1515 patients (mean age 60 ± 12 years, 69% males). The mean LVEF was 38 ± 11%. Seventy-seven percent of the total population had HFrEF, 9.8% had HFmrEF, and 13.3% had HFpEF. The commonly reported precipitating factors for AHF hospitalization among study population were as follows (in decreasing order of frequency): infection in 30.3% of patients, acute coronary syndrome/myocardial ischemia (ACS/MI) in 26%, anemia in 24.3%, uncontrolled hypertension in 24.2%, atrial fibrillation (AF) in 18.3%, renal dysfunction in 14.6%, and non-compliance in 6.5% of patients. HFpEF patients had significantly higher rates of AF, uncontrolled hypertension, and anemia as precipitants for acute decompensation. ACS/MI were significantly more frequent in patients with HFmrEF. WHF patients had significantly higher rates of infection and non-compliance, whereas new-onset HF patients showed significantly higher rates of ACS/MI and uncontrolled hypertension. One-year follow-up revealed that patients with HFrEF had a significantly higher rate of mortality compared to patients with HFmrEF and HFpEF (28.3%, 19.5, and 19.4%, P = 0.004). Patients with WHF had a significantly higher rates of 1-year mortality when compared to those with NOHF (30.0% vs. 20.3%, P < 0.001). Renal dysfunction, anemia, and infection were independently connected to worse long-term survival. Conclusions Precipitating factors of AHF are frequent and substantially influence outcomes after hospitalization. They should be considered goals for avoiding AHF hospitalization and depicting those at highest risk for short-term mortality.

in the form of protocols or guidelines for effectively communicating bad news in a variety of countries, growing evidence indicates that disclosing bad news is a purely cultural issue influenced by an individual's social perceptions and preferences, and the recommendations applicable to one culture should not be applied blindly to another (Rabow and McPhee, 2000;Hollis et al., 2013).Cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. It is frequently seen as extremely stressful by patients, leading to anxiety, shock, sadness, withdrawal, and unresolved denial (Chittem et al., 2013). Physicians play a crucial

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BACKGROUND: The core of the healthcare system is healthcare workers (HCWs). A skilled and healthy workforce is essential during a health emergency like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. AIM: This study evaluated knowledge of COVID-19, its preventive measures, and factors affecting it among HCWs at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University to determine their desire to obtain the available COVID-19 vaccines in addition to the factors that may affect it. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 151 HCWs in Egypt using a self-administered questionnaire created by the researchers after examining the information supplied by the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, World Health Organization, and the relevant research regarding knowledge assessment. Initially, demographic data were collected. Participants were asked their source of knowledge about COVID-19 and their intent to receive the available vaccines. Knowledge about COVID-19 and preventive measures was compared between different HCWs in NCI. In addition, knowledge score was compared according to different factors to determine factors affecting knowledge. RESULTS: Physicians represented about 40% of the total number of participants. HCWs’ knowledge of COVID-19 was higher among physicians, with a higher percentage of correct answers than the other two groups (nurses and pharmacists and employees and technicians). Younger age groups had a significantly higher median knowledge score than the older groups. Physicians had significantly higher median scores than employee and technician groups. CONCLUSION: The overall knowledge about COVID-19 and its preventive measures among HCWs was generally good, especially among physicians more than allied health professionals. However, some of the virus-related knowledge was less advanced than expected for the HCWs position.

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