This study aimed to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Emirati people with diabetes and to explore the sociodemographic and disease-related variables affecting it. The Arabic version of the World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire, short version (WHOQOL-BREF) was administered to 200 people with diabetes. The overall mean score was 63.1 (SD 15.0), ranging from 61.5 to 65.5 on subscales. Three factors significantly influenced the total HRQOL: presence of diabetes complications, duration of diabetes and marital status. Presence of complications was the most powerful variable influencing the 4 domains of HRQOL, especially the physical domain. Duration of diabetes did not influence the psychological domain and marital status did not influence the physical and psychological domains. The study provides further evidence of the usefulness and reliability of the Arabic WHOQOL-BREF. RÉSUMÉ La présente étude visait à évaluer la qualité de vie liée à la santé des ressortissants des Émirats arabes unis souffrant de diabète et à rechercher les variables sociodémographiques et liées à la morbidité qui ont une influence en la matière. La version en langue arabe du questionnaire sur la qualité de vie de l'Organisation mondiale de la Santé, dans sa version abrégée (WHOQOL-BREF) a été administrée à 200 personnes atteintes de diabète. Le score global moyen était 63,1 (E.T. 15,0), et était compris entre 61,5 à 65,5 pour les sous-échelles. Trois facteurs ont nettement influé le score total au questionnaire : la présence de complications dues au diabète, la durée de la pathologie et la situation matrimoniale. La présence de complications était la variable la plus puissante ayant des répercussions sur les quatre domaines du questionnaire, en particulier le domaine physique. La durée du diabète n'avait pas de conséquence sur le domaine psychologique et la situation matrimoniale n'avait pas d'effet sur les domaines physiques et psychologiques. L'étude a confirmé l'utilité et la fiabilité de la version en langue arabe du questionnaire WHOQOL-BREF.

Background: Anxiety disorders are common among children and adolescents. However, there is a paucity of upto-date data on the prevalence and correlates of anxiety-related disorders among children and adolescents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study to determine the prevalence of specific anxiety-related disorders (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety, social anxiety) in the UAE, and identify correlations between these disorders and adolescents' demographic variables. Participants were 968 adolescents aged 13-18 years attending secondary schools across the UAE. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants. We collected demographic information and data about participants' anxiety levels. Anxiety was assessed using the Arabic and English versions of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders scale. Univariate analyses (independent sample t-tests and analysis of variance) were performed to evaluate factors affecting participants' anxiety scores. Chi-square tests were used to compare factors associated with anxiety disorders. Results: Participants' mean age was 16 ± 1.8 years, and 65.8% were female. The overall prevalence of anxiety disorders was 28%, with this being significantly higher in girls (33.6%) than boys (17.2%) (p < 0.0001). Participants aged < 16 years had higher generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, and social anxiety scores compared with those aged ≥16 years (p ≤ 0.05). Those from households with a maid had significantly higher generalized anxiety, panic disorder, separation anxiety, and significant school avoidance scores than those without a maid (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, participants from middle and low economic backgrounds had higher separation anxiety scores compared with children from high economic backgrounds (p ≤ 0.05). The multivariate analysis showed the main associated factors with anxiety were gender (being female, p < 0.001) and caregiver (other than mother and father together, p < 0.001).

This study revealed a substantial impact of physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities on HRQOL of nursing home residents in Jordan.

Background. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a public health concern in adults worldwide. This study aims to explore the extent of VDD and its associated factors among adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Subjects and Methods. Quantitative, cross-sectional research was used to assess VDD and its associated factors in 216 adults recruited from randomly selected community-based healthcare settings over a six-month period. Recent values of vitamin D and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were abstracted from medical records, followed by interviews with participants to obtain information on factors related to VDD and other covariates and to measure their heights and weights. Results. A total of 74% of participants demonstrated VDD (vitamin D serum level ≤ 30 nmol/L). Emirati participants had higher odds of having VDD compared to non-Emiratis (OR: 2.95; 95% CI: 1.58–5.52), with also significantly increased odds of the condition appearing in older, less educated, and employed adults. Diabetes type 2 (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%), depression, and obesity were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of VDD after accounting for other covariates. Conclusion. VDD is a significant problem for UAE adults and requires attention by public health policy makers. Diabetes, obesity, and depression need to be considered when screening for vitamin D.

Background: Stress is globally recognised as a risk factor impacting workers' health and workplace safety. Women healthcare professionals are at risk for considerable stress given the demanding nature of their jobs and current working conditions. This study assessed levels of stress among women healthcare professionals using measures of their cortisol levels, subjective stress and quality of sleep. Participants and Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 335 apparently healthy adult women healthcare professionals working in the United Arab Emirates. Participants provided morning and bedtime saliva samples for analysis of their cortisol levels. The Perceived Stress Scale, Stress Symptoms Scale, Brief Coping Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to assess perceived stress level, symptoms of stress, stress-coping strategies and sleep quality, respectively. Results: In total, 121 (36.15%) women had impaired morning cortisol levels (below the normal range of 0.094-1.551 µg/dL) and 48 (14.3%) had impaired bedtime cortisol levels (above 0.359 µg/dL). Around 57% of women reported moderate levels of perceived stress, with the most frequently reported stress symptoms being heart rate and back/neck pain. Poor sleep quality was reported by around 60% of participating women. No significant association was found between cortisol and psychosocial measurements of stress or sleep quality. However, night shift and longer shift duration (more than 8 hrs) were significantly associated with impaired morning and bedtime cortisol levels (P ≥ 0.05). Impaired cortisol levels were strongly dependent on using adaptive coping strategies such as active coping, acceptance and seeking emotional support (P ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: Evaluating cortisol levels and subjective stress could help to identify groups with impaired response to stress and elevated cortisol levels. Our findings support the need to examine shift work patterns and stress coping strategies in women healthcare professionals to promote their health and productivity and maintain workplace safety.