Prevalence of somatisation and psychologisation among patients visiting primary health care centres in the state of Qatar

Medically unexplained somatic complaints are among the most common clinical presentations in primary care in developing countries and they are considerable burden for patients and health care system. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of somatisation in comparison to psychologisation among a sample of Qatari patients who were visiting primary health care [PHC] centres and to investigate the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of somatisers [STs] and psychologisers [PGs]. Method: The survey was conducted among PHC Qatari patients during the period from January to July 2007. About 2,320 patients were approached, of whom 1,689 agreed to participate and responded to the questionnaire. Among the studied Qatari patients, 404 patients were identified for clinical interview. The first stage of the study was conducted with the help of general practitioners, using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. The second stage was carried out by a consultant using the Clinical Interview Schedule. A specific operational criterion was used to identify STs and PGs. The prevalence rate of STs among the total studied sample was 12.4%, while the PGs were 11.5%. Among the identified psychiatric cases, the proportion of STs [52%] was higher than PGs [48%]. Most of the diagnostic categories were more prevalent among PGs. The dissatisfaction at work and stressful life events within 12 months before the onset of the presenting symptoms were the three postulated determinants which were significantly more among STs than PGs. The prevalence of somatised mental disorder was little higher than the psychologised mental disorder. The prevalence of somatisation and psychologisation is comparable with other reported studies from the Middle-East and Western countries. Dissatisfaction at work and stressful life events were significantly higher among STs than PGs

prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors in a newly developed country

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk factors and its association with the sociodemographic, behavioral, and lifestyle characteristics of the adult qatari population. This is a cross-sectional study, which was carried out in primary health care clinics [PHCs]. The survey was conducted from January through to July 2003 among qatari nationals 25-65-years of age. Of the 1500 patients who were approached to participate in study, 1208 [80.5%] gave their consent. Face-to-face interviews were based on a questionnaire that included variables on age, sex, socioeconomic status [SES], parity, income level, cigarette smoking, physical activity, lifestyle, body mass index [BMI], and blood pressure. Hypertension was defined according to the world health organization criteria as systolic blood pressure [SBP] >140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure [DBP] >90 mm Hg, or both. Overall, the prevalence of hypertension [BP >/= 140 or >/= 90 mm Hg, or both or known hypertensive] was 32.1% [32.6% in men and 31.7% in women]. The age-standardized prevalence of hypertension [adjusted to the adult population of Qatar] was 31.1% [95% confidence interval 26.7-35.5%] in men and 30.2% in women [95% confidence interval 25.8-34.6%]. The CVD risk factor of obesity was more prominent among women 528 [78.3%] than among men 334 [68.9%] [p<0.001]. Physical inactivity was again predominant among women and found to be highly significant. A stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that diabetes [p<0.0001]; hormonal problems [p<0.0001], consumption of animal fats [p<0.0001], risk of heart disease [p<0.0001], and BMI [p=0.0307] were all associated with hypertension. The present study was directed at determining the prevalence and risk factors of high blood pressure in the adult population of Qatar. The characterization of these factors will contribute to defining more effective and specific strategies to screen for and control hypertension and CVD