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Background: Limited data exist on the risk profile and outcomes among young patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs). This study explored differences in the clinical characteristics, medical care, and outcomes of AMI in young adults in India with a subanalysis focusing on sex disparities amongst the young. Methods: Using the Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement in Kerala trial database, we compared baseline characteristics, management, and outcomes amongst the young patients(≤50 years) and their older counterparts. The primary outcomes were the rates of in-hospital and 30-day composite of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE). Results: Of the 21,374 adults enrolled, 4762(22%) were young, of which 614 (12.9%) were females. Young patients with AMI were more likely to be smokers(41.9% vs. 27.8%;P

Background: Despite cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death in India, limited data exist regarding the factors associated with outcomes in patients with diabetes who suffer acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: We examined 21,374 patients with AMI enrolled in the ACS QUIK trial. We compared in-hospital and 30-day major adverse cardiac events including death, re-infarction, stroke, or major bleeding in those with and without diabetes. The associations between diabetes and cardiac outcomes were adjusted for presentation and in-hospital management using logistic regression. Results: Mean ± SD age was 60.1 ± 12.0 years, 24.3% were females, and 44.4% had diabetes. Those with diabetes were more likely to be older, female, hypertensive, and have higher Killip class but less likely to present with STEMI. Patients with diabetes had longer symptoms onset-to-arrival (median 225 vs 290 min; P < 0.001) and, in case of STEMI, longer door-to-balloon times (median, 75 vs 91 min; P < 0.001). Diabetes was independently associated with higher in-hospital death (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.46; 95% CI, 1.12–1.89), in-hospital reinfarction (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.15–2.02), 30-day MACE (aOR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.14–1.55) and 30-day death (aOR, 1.40; 95%CI, 1.16–1.69) but not 30-day stroke or 30-day major bleeding. Conclusion: Among patients presenting with AMI in Kerala, India, a considerable proportion has diabetes and are at increased risk for in-hospital and 30-day adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Increased awareness of the increased cardiovascular risk and attention to the implementation of established cardiovascular therapies are indicated for patients with diabetes in lower-middle-income countries who develop AMI. Clinical Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Unique identifier: NCT02256658.

Abstract Background Public acceptance of governmental measures are key to controlling the spread of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant burden on healthcare systems for high-income countries as well as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The ability of LMICs to respond to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic has been limited and may have affected the impact of governmental strategies to control the spread of COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate and compare public opinion on the governmental COVID-19 response of high and LMICs in the Middle East and benchmark it to international countries. Methods An online, self-administered questionnaire was distributed among different Middle Eastern Arab countries. Participants’ demographics and level of satisfaction with governmental responses to COVID-19 were analyzed and reported. Scores were benchmarked against 19 international values. Results A total of 7395 responses were included. Bahrain scored highest for satisfaction with the governmental response with 38.29 ± 2.93 on a scale of 40, followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (37.13 ± 3.27), United Arab Emirates (36.56 ± 3.44), Kuwait (35.74 ± 4.85), Jordan (23.08 ± 6.41), and Lebanon (15.39 ± 5.28). Participants’ country of residence was a significant predictor of the satisfaction score (P

Abstract Background Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common acquired heart disease occurring in children and adolescents. RHD is associated with significant morbidity and mortality particularly in low and middle- income countries (LMICs) where the burden is estimated to be higher compared to high income countries. Subclinical RHD is the presence of valvular lesion diagnosed by echocardiography in a person with no clinical manifestation of RHD. This study aimed at determining the prevalence, types and factors associated with subclinical RHD among primary school children in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods A descriptive community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in primary school children from February to May 2019. A standardized structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics, history of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), anthropometric measurements, and chest auscultation findings. Moreover echocardiographic screening was done to all children recruited into the study. World Heart Federation echocardiographic classification was used to define the types and prevalence of subclinical RHD. Results A total of 949 primary school children were enrolled with females being predominant (57.1%). The prevalence of subclinical RHD was 34 per 1000. All the participants had mitral valve disease only whereby 17 had definite disease and 15 had a borderline disease. The associated factors for subclinical RHD were older age of more than 9 years (OR 10.8, 95% CI 1.4–82.2, P = 0.02) having three or more episodes of URTI in previous six months (OR 21, 95% CI 9.6–46, P = 0.00) and poor hygiene (OR 3, 95% CI 1.3–6.8, P = 0.009). Conclusion Subclinical RHD as detected by echocardiographic screening is prevalent in primary school children, uniformly affects the mitral valve, and is associated with potentially modifiable risk factors. Children with a history of more than three episodes of URTI in six months represents a high-risk population that should be targeted for RHD screening.

Aims Our aim was to explore sex differences and inequalities in terms of medical management and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in a low/middle-income country (LMIC), where reports are scarce.Methods We examined sex differences in presentation, management and clinical outcomes in 21 374 patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Kerala, India enrolled in the Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement in Kerala trial. The main outcomes were the rates of in-hospital and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) defined as composite of death, reinfarction, stroke and major bleeding. We fitted log Poisson multivariate random effects models to obtain the relative risks comparing women with men, and adjusted for clustering by centre and for age, CVD risk factors and cardiac presentation.Results A total of 5191 (24.3%) patients were women. Compared with men, women presenting with ACS were older (65±12 vs 58±12 years; p