Changes in dietary habits, physical activity and status of metabolic syndrome among expatriates in Saudi Arabia

The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of living in Saudi Arabia on expatriate employees and their families' behavioural cardiovascular risk factors [BCVRFs], and to examine the association between changes in BCVRFs and metabolic syndrome [MetS]. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1437 individuals, aged = 18 years, from King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We used the World Health Organization STEPS questionnaire to ask every participant questions about BCVRFs twice: [1] to reflect their period of living in Saudi Arabia and [2] to shed light upon life in their country of origin. Their mean age was 40.9 [11.7] years. The prevalence of BCVRFs was as follows: tobacco use in 156 [11%], physical inactivity in 1049 [73%] low intake of fruit and vegetables in 1264 [88%] and MetS in 378 [26%]. Residing in Saudi Arabia had reduced physical activity and intake of fruit and vegetables. There was also a significant increase in the fast food consumption. In conclusion, living in Saudi Arabia had a significant negative effect on BCVRFs. However, there was no statistically significant association between changes in fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity and MetS status, except that intake of fast food was lower among participants with MetS

Impact of diabetes on hospital adverse cardiovascular outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients: Data from the Saudi project of acute coronary events

Diabetes mellitus [DM] is a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia. DM patients who present with acute coronary syndrome [ACS] have worse cardiovascular outcomes. We characterized clinical features and hospital outcomes of diabetic patients with ACS in Saudi Arabia. ACS patients enrolled in the Saudi Project for Assessment of Acute Coronary Syndrome [SPACE] study from December 2005 to December 2007, either with DM or newly diagnosed during hospitalization were eligible. Baseline demographics, clinical presentation, therapies, and in-hospital outcomes were compared with non-diabetic patients. Of the 5055 ACS patients enrolled in SPACE, 2929 [58.1%] had DM [mean age 60.2 +/- 11.5, 71.6% male, and 87.6% Saudi nationals]. Diabetic patients had higher risk-factor [e.g., hypertension, hyperlipidemia] prevalences and were more likely to present with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction [40.2% vs. 31.4%, p < 0.001], heart failure [25.4% vs. 13.9%, p < 0.001], significant left ventricular systolic dysfunction and multi-vessel disease. Diabetic patients had higher in-hospital heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and re-infarction rates. Adjusted odds ratio for in-hospital mortality in diabetic patients was 1.83 [95% CI, 1.02-3.30, p = 0.042]. A substantial proportion of Saudi patients presenting with ACS have DM and a significantly worse prognosis. These data highlight the importance of cardiovascular preventative interventions in the general population.

Baseline characteristics, management practices, and long-term outcomes of middle eastern patients in the second gulf registry of acute coronary events [Gulf RACE-2]

Limited data are available on patients with acute coronary syndromes [ACS] and their long-term outcomes in the Arabian Gulf countries. We evaluated the clinical features, management, in-hospital, and long-term outcomes of in such a population. A 9-month prospective, multicenter study conducted in 65 hospitals from 6 countries that also included 30 day and 1-year mortality follow-up. ACS patients included those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome [NSTEACS], including non-STEMI and unstable angina. The registry collected the data prospectively. Between October 2008 and June 2009, 7930 patients were enrolled. The mean age [standard deviation], 56 [17] years; 78.8% men; 71.2% Gulf citizens; 50.1% with central obesity; and 45.6% with STEMI. A history of diabetes mellitus was present in 39.5%, hypertension in 47.2%, and hyperlipidemia in 32.7%, and 35.7% were current smokers. The median time from symptom onset to hospital arrival for STEMI patients was 178 minutes [interquartile range, 210 minutes]; 22.3% had primary percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] and 65.7% thrombolytic therapy, with 34% receiving therapy within 30 minutes of arrival. Evidence-based medication rates upon hospital discharge were 68% to 95%. The in-hospital PCI was done in 21% and the coronary artery bypass graft surgery in 2.9%. The in-hospital mortality was 4.6%, at 30 days the mortality was 7.2%, and at 1 year after hospital discharge the mortality was 9.4%; 1-year mortality was higher in STEMI [11.5%] than in NSTEACS patients [7.7%; P<.001].Compared to developed countries, ACS patients in Arabian Gulf countries present at a relatively young age and have higher rates of metabolic syndrome features. STEMI patients present late, and their acute management is poor. In-hospital evidence-based medication rates are high, but coronary revascularization procedures are low. Long-term mortality rates increased severalfold compared with in-hospital mortality

Baseline characteristics, management practices, and in-hospital outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes: Results of the Saudi project for assessment of coronary events [SPACE] registry

The Saudi Project for Assessment of Coronary Events [SPACE] registry is the first in Saudi Arabia to study the clinical features, management, and in-hospital outcomes of acute coronary syndrome [ACS] patients. We conducted a prospective registry study in 17 hospitals in Saudi Arabia between December 2005 and December 2007. ACS patients included those with ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI], non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina; both were reported collectively as NSTEACS [non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome]. 5055 patients were enrolled with mean age +/- SD of 58 +/- 12.9 years; 77.4% men, 82.4% Saudi nationals; 41.5% had STEMI, and 5.1% arrived at the hospital by ambulance. History of diabetes mellitus was present in 58.1%, hypertension in 55.3%, hyperlipidemia in 41.1%, and 32.8% were current smokers; all these were more common in NSTEACS patients, except for smoking [all P < 0.0001]. In-hospital medications were: aspirin [97.7%], clopidogrel [83.7%], beta-blockers [81.6%], angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers [75.1%], and statins [93.3%]. Median time from symptom onset to hospital arrival for STEMI patients was 150 min [IQR: 223], 17.5% had primary percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI], 69.1% had thrombolytic therapy, and 14.8% received it at less than 30 min of hospital arrival. In-hospital outcomes included recurrent myocardial infarction [1.5%], recurrent ischemia [12.6%], cardiogenic shock [4.3%], stroke [0.9%], major bleeding [1.3%]. In-hospital mortality was 3.0%. ACS patients in Saudi Arabia present at a younger age, have much higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, less access to ambulance use, delayed treatment by thrombolytic therapy, and less primary PCI compared with patients in the developed countries. This is the first national ACS registry in our country and it demonstrated knowledge-care gaps that require further improvements