ABSTRACT
Since the development and approval of new direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is now considered a curable disease. However, the emphasis on DAA therapies might disregard other preventive measures, and limits the strategy for a clinical cure rather than comprehensive disease control. The Qatar National plan for HCV control was launched in December 2014 to prioritize and proactively manage HCV with the ultimate aim of eliminating viral hepatitis. The plan is based on four pillars: primary prevention, early detection, clinical management, and continuous monitoring. This report describes the activities undertaken in Qatar to prepare for the programme and the early results of its initial phase, given the fact that countries with comprehensive HCV plans are providing better access to care and prevention
ABSTRACT
To assess the clinical characteristics of Crohn's disease [CD] in Qatar. This is a retrospective descriptive study. We studied 50 CD patients admitted to Hamad General Hospital over a period of 8 years from January 1995 to December 2002. We retrospectively collected and analyzed the demographic and clinical data. We made the diagnostic classification of definite CD in accordance with the criteria based on the International Classification of Disease ninth revision [ICD-9]. We based the obtained information on the following parameters: the age at the time of admission, gender and Crohn's risk factor profiles. Of the studied population, 60% were males and 40% females. Sixty-two percent were Qataris and 38% expatriates. Most of the subjects were <40 years of age [80%]. Fifty-two percent had ileo-colonic disease, 24% colonic and 24% ileal disease. The majority of the Crohn's patients had the symptom of abdominal pain [84%], followed by weight loss [80%] and diarrhea [70%]. Pallor sign was most frequent in patients with inflammatory CD [76.9%] and obstructive CD [66.7%], whereas we found the anal signs in patients with fistulas [84.2%]. The study showed a relatively high frequency of ileo-colonic Crohn's disease compared to colonic and ileal diseases. We observed that the most frequent symptom is abdominal pain