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Background and objectives: Anemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common findings in diabetic patients. Lack of glycemic control is associated with increased risk of diabetic complications. This study aimed to determine the effect of poor glycemic control on the prevalence and determinants of anemia and CKD among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used in this research. T2DM patients with controlled diabetes (HbA1c ≤7.0%, n = 120) and age-, gender- and body mass index–matched uncontrolled diabetic patients (HbA1c >7.0%, n = 120) were recruited. Blood sample for HbA1c and serum insulin measurement were obtained. Complete blood count and kidney function test results were obtained from the patient's medical records. Anemia was determined according to World Health Organization criteria. A binomial logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effects of age, gender, CKD and glycemic control on the likelihood that participants have anemia. Results: The prevalence of anemia was significantly higher in the uncontrolled T2DM compared to controlled T2DM patients (40% vs 27.5%, OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.71, P = 0.006). Female patients with uncontrolled T2DM had significantly greater prevalence of anemia compared to male patients with uncontrolled T2DM. The binomial logistic regression analysis showed that age, female gender, and CKD were positively associated with anemia in the multivariate model, while in the univariate model, lack of glycemic control increases the odds of anemia by 1.74 (95% CI: 1.01, 2.99, P = 0.046). Conclusion: Anemia is commonly present among T2DM patients in Jordan and is associated with poor glycemic control especially in females. These results emphasize the necessity of including anemia screening in standard diabetes care to enable early detection and treatment of anemia and to enhance the overall care of diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Substantial evidence supports a bidirectional relationship between diabetes and clinical depression. However, little is known about the effect of treating one condition on the control of the other. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and to assess the efficacy and feasibility of escitalopram treatment of depression on their metabolic control parameters. Methods: T2DM patients attending primary care clinics in the North of Jordan were enrolled in a cross‐sectional study during the period from February to December 2019 (n = 157). Depressive symptoms were screened utilising the patient health questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9) tool. Metabolic control was assessed by measurement of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides, cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL). Patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms by PHQ‐9 (n = 58) were interviewed by a psychiatrist to confirm a clinical diagnosis of depression. Eligible depressed patients were administered escitalopram 10 mg orally once daily for 3 months (n = 12). Thereafter, depressive symptoms and metabolic control measures were reassessed. Results: The prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms among T2DM patients, according to PHQ‐9, was 36.94%, while the prevalence of clinical depression based on interview was 7.64%. Baseline PHQ‐9 scores correlated significantly with baseline levels of HbA1c, HDL, cholesterol and triglycerides. Escitalopram treatment intervention resulted in significant improvement of PHQ‐9 scores without significantly improving any of the metabolic control measures. Conclusion: The relationship between depression and T2DM in the context of metabolic syndrome is plausible. However, our results show that escitalopram treatment may not be associated with significant improvement in metabolic control parameters among these patients. Our study has laid the groundwork for future randomised clinical trials with larger sample size and longer follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the hypertension control rate and its associated factors among treated patients attending a teaching primary healthcare centre in Jordan.Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 286 patients with HTN, treated with medications, who attended Jordan University of Science and Technology primary healthcare centre in Irbid, Jordan, from July through September 2018. Data were abstracted from the patient's medical records and personal interviews. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine independent factors associated with hypertension control.Results: Blood pressure control rate was 90.9% and was significantly higher among patients who were married (p=0.02), with higher income level (p<0.01), non-smokers (p=0.01), free of diabetes mellitus or dyslipidaemia (p=0.048), highly consuming fruits and vegetables (p<0.01), non-obese (p<0.01), adherent to blood pressure medications (p=0.02) and among patients on lower number of antihypertensive medications (p=0.01). Multivariate analysis with adjusted OR of factors associated with hypertension control were higher fruit and vegetable intake (p<0.01), higher income level (p=0.02) and medication adherence (p<0.01).Conclusion: Participants in this study achieved a relatively high rate of blood pressure control. Associated factors with this rate were higher fruit and vegetable intake, higher income level and medication adherence. For better hypertension control, patients should be advised to adhere to their medications and consume more fruits and vegetables besides other lifestyle changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long-term aspirin therapy is crucial for patients with increased risk of occlusive vascular diseases. However, inconsistencies in the methods for risk assessment and the perception among health care providers are major contributing factors for challenges in risk assessment. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to a total of 124 family physicians working at two university teaching centers and Ministry of Health primary health care centers in Jordan. Results: A majority of the physicians reported prescribing aspirin for patients if they have peripheral vascular disease (93%), post-coronary artery bypass graft (92%), stroke (90%), or stable angina (95%). A smaller percentage of physicians reported that they prescribe aspirin if patients have atrial fibrillation (81%) or acute myocardial infarction (85%). The percentage of physicians who prescribe aspirin markedly declined when patients have potential bleeding disorder (52%) or asthma (52%). For patients without cardiovascular diseases but with one or more risk factors, the prophylactic use of aspirin was reported by 85% to 95% of family physicians. Conclusions: The presence of co-morbidity along with vascular diseases tended to hinder physicians from prescribing aspirin even when it is indicated. A majority of family physicians recommends the use of aspirin in primary prevention in spite of its questionable or even negative benefits. Furthermore, self-reported aspirin prescribing rates among physicians in Jordan are higher than those reported by physicians in the U.S. and Europe. Therefore, we believe that proper dissemination of updated evidence-based treatment guidelines is required to ensure appropriate and efficient preventive services for cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is steadily increasing worldwide in an alarming fashion. Importantly, poor glycemic control is associated with development of various health sequalae's due to glucolipotoxicity, oxidative stress and increased inflammatory cytokines. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of glycemic control on the relative abundance of inflammatory markers in patients with controlled and uncontrolled T2DM, and to test their association with the glycemic status in diabetic patients in Jordan. An observational cross-sectional study design was used. Patients with T2DM with controlled diabetes [glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) ≤7.0%, n=110] and age-, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-matched uncontrolled diabetic patients (HbA 1c >7.0%, n=105) were recruited. An antibody membrane array was used to examine the relative abundance of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in the sera of the study subjects, followed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to confirm the results. Fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, triglyceride and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score were significantly elevated in the uncontrolled T2DM group (P<0.05). Antibody membrane array showed that serum epidermal growth factor (EGF) is significantly decreased in the uncontrolled T2DM group, and this was confirmed by ELISA (158.77±111.7 vs. 95.9±82.7 pg/ml, P=0.002). The binary logistic model was used to predict the likelihood of being uncontrolled diabetic based on EGF levels. After controlling for age, sex and BMI, EGF was statistically associated with diabetes control, where lower EGF levels predicted uncontrolled diabetes. Additionally, Pearson's product-moment correlation showed a statistically significant negative correlation between EGF and HbA 1c (r=-0.25, P<0.0001), and a positive correlation between HOMA-IR and HbA 1c , (r=0.32, P<0.0001). The current data identify a novel link between serum EGF levels and the status of HbA 1c indicative of diabetic control., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Al-Dwairi et al.)

COVID -19 has driven an unprecedented challenge to the economic, social, and health aspects of human life worldwide. The daily increasing numbers of human life loss encourage us, the healthcare and public health communities, to share best practices and lessons learned to mitigate the resurgence of this pandemic. On the other hand, the pandemic itself or alternatively our policies in dealing with it has led to a dramatic loss and disastrous effects on many aspects including the food and nutritional systems and the world of work. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating; tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, while the number of undernourished people, currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the end of the year. The number of workers who are losing their jobs and the number of bankruptcies for small businesses are increasing. This report aims to bring the attention of policymakers, especially in the developing countries including Jordan, to different perspectives about crucial law acts, the lockdown and the curfew act, that have tremendous effects on the economy and may soon become a main contributor to the increased level of COVID-19 transmission and the main source of the new COVID-19 cases. We hypothesize for a mathematical model based on the comparison between the number of sporadic new cases, number of new cases/family, and the average number of family members to anticipate the value and the sufficiency of the lockdown or the curfew acts on modulating the transmission and the number of new COVID-19 cases in societies., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Background: Long-term aspirin therapy is crucial for patients with increased risk of occlusive vascular diseases. However, inconsistencies in the methods for risk assessment and the perception among health care providers are major contributing factors for challenges in risk assessment., Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to a total of 124 family physicians working at two university teaching centers and Ministry of Health primary health care centers in Jordan., Results: A majority of the physicians reported prescribing aspirin for patients if they have peripheral vascular disease (93%), post-coronary artery bypass graft (92%), stroke (90%), or stable angina (95%). A smaller percentage of physicians reported that they prescribe aspirin if patients have atrial fibrillation (81%) or acute myocardial infarction (85%). The percentage of physicians who prescribe aspirin markedly declined when patients have potential bleeding disorder (52%) or asthma (52%). For patients without cardiovascular diseases but with one or more risk factors, the prophylactic use of aspirin was reported by 85% to 95% of family physicians., Conclusions: The presence of co-morbidity along with vascular diseases tended to hinder physicians from prescribing aspirin even when it is indicated. A majority of family physicians recommends the use of aspirin in primary prevention in spite of its questionable or even negative benefits. Furthermore, self-reported aspirin prescribing rates among physicians in Jordan are higher than those reported by physicians in the U.S. and Europe. Therefore, we believe that proper dissemination of updated evidence-based treatment guidelines is required to ensure appropriate and efficient preventive services for cardiovascular diseases.