Cardiovascular risk factors among retired attendees visiting primary care clinics

The aim of this study was to highlight cardiovascular risk factors among retired attendees attending a primary care clinic, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross sectional study was conducted from Januaryto February 2013 at Primary Care Clinics of King Khalid University Hospital and College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All retired attendees were interviewed by family physician, and their duration of retirement was determined. Their cardiovascular risk factors were confirmed from their medical records. The cardiovascular risk factors included history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking. Their weight and height were recorded during the consultation and Body Mass Index was calculated to decide about those classified as obesity > 30 All data were entered and analyzed using statistical package of social science SPSS version 17 software. The present study showed that 19.5% of retired attendees presenting at primary care clinic were early retired before the age of 60 years, while 80.5% were normally retired. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors showed: Hypertension among 73% attendees, Diabetes Mellitus in 67%, dyslipidemia in 71%, Obesity 29%, and Smoking 13% of the patients. This study concluded that cardiovascular risk factors among retired attendees of a primary care clinic are common, and need to be taken in to priority consideration while improving the health care of retired people

Comparison of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) levels in 2009 and 2012 among diabetic patients at a primary care clinic: a retrospective cohort study

To update the existing knowledge on glycemic control measures in Saudi Arabia, by comparing the glycosylated hemoglobin [HbAlc] levels of diabetic patients attending a primary care clinic in 2009 and 2012 Retrospective cohort study. Primary care clinic, King Khalid University Hospital, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Diabetic patients visiting a primary care clinic at a tertiary hospital. Laboratory tests were reviewed for all diabetic patients attending a primary care clinic, by using the Hospital Information System [HIS]. Two laboratory tests of HbAlc were determined, one performed in 2009, and the other in 2012, for all diabetic patients visiting a primary care clinic at the King Khalid University Hospital. The HBAlc levels in 2009 and 2012 were compared. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17 software. The results of this study showed that the percentage of diabetic patients with good blood glucose control [HbAlc < 7] was 39.1% during 2009, and 34.9% during 2012. In addition, the results showed that the percentage of diabetic patients with bad control [HbAlc > 9] was 24.5% during 2009, and 23.9% during 2012. Diabetic patients' blood glucose control at the primary care level did not improve from 2009 to 2012. Thus, there is urgent need to evaluate and monitor patients towards improving the quality of diabetic care and the prevention of diabetic complications. Further national cohort studies in different health sectors and regions of Saudi Arabia are recommended

Life styles related to coronary artery disease in Saudi males older than 12 years of age

The present study highlighted life styles related to coronary artery disease risk factors among patients attending a primary care clinic at King Khalid University Hospital, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia We conducted a cross-sectional study at a primary care clinic at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the period from 18/4/2006 to 13/6/2006. All adult male patients older than 12 years of age who attended one consultant primary care clinic were included in the study. All patients were interviewed by one consultant in family medicine during the study period. The patients were asked about dietary habits, physical activity and type of exercise, and smoking habits. Weight and height was taken for all patients by the nurse in the clinic and body mass index [BMI] was calculated for all patients. The total numbers of participants were 246 patients. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Science [SPSS] version 11.5. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 246 male adult patients, 45.4% always consumed vegetables and fruits in their diet, 21.5% exercised on a daily bases, 51.2% exercised sometimes, and 26% did not exercise at all. The type of exercise practiced by active participants was walking [76.5%] and sports [22.9%]. Sports included football, basketball, swimming, and other sport club activity. Only 20.7% of the participants had an ideal body weight [BMI<25], 37.4% were overweight [BMI 25 to <30], while 37.7% of the participants were obese [BMI >/= 30]. 8.9% of the participants were current smokers. Overweight and obesity is a common health problem among male adult patients attending a primary care setting. Improved dietary habits [consumption of vegetables and fruits, and minimization of fat and sweets], encouraging exercise and walking, and helping current smokers to quit smoking are essential steps towards improving life styles in the community. It is an important health plan priority to concentrate on improving lifestyles in the Saudi community, to prevent cardiovascular risk factors and to reduce the prevalence of coronary artery disease in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Further, national community-based studies are recommended to evaluate lifestyle factors related to coronary artery disease among both males and females at different age groups in Saudi Arabia

Patients satisfaction toward health services in primary health care centre in riyadh, saudi arabia

Cross section study using Arabic questionnaire for attending patients to primary health care center was conducted at five primary health care centers in Riyadh over a period of two weeks [14 July to 28 July 1996], to assess patients' satisfaction toward health services in PHC centers. During the study period 687 questionnaires were collected and analysed. More than half of the patients [54.4%] were satisfied about primary health care services, while 34.5% of patients were borderline in their catisfaction, and 11.1% of patients were not satisfied. The reasons of patients lack of satisfaction were: difficult accessibility to dental clinic [37.3%] PHC building [28.8%], long waiting time [28.8%], inadequate drug in the pharmacy [25.9%], inadequate lab. Facilities [19.5%, defect in the consultation [17.8%],lack of communication skills by the murse [10.9%], and lack of communication skills by the receptionists [9.3%].The opinion of patients toward the methods of improving health care centers were to improve accessibility to dental clinic [50.5%], to improve drug supply to the pharmacy [44,7%], to improve PHC building [40.4%], to minimize the waiting time [37.3%], to imrove lab. Facilities [31.1%],to improve the competency level of the PHC physicians [28.1%], and to improve communication skills of PHC team. The high authority and leaders at ministry of health need to consider batients; opinion and their reasones of unsatisfaction while planning to improve health services in primary health care centers in Saudi Arabia

Attitude of primary health care physicians towards caring for elderly patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

To study the attitude of primary health care physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, towards caring for the elderly. This cross-sectional study using Arabic questionnaires for doctors was conducted at 15 primary health care centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, over a period of one month. The results from 68 [54.4% male, 45.6% female] doctors' questionnaires were collected and analyzed. A clear majority of these physicians [94.1%] feel either comfortable or no difference in consulting with elderly patients. Almost all of them [98.5%] accepted the idea of periodic health check ups. Primary health care centers were listed by 82.4% of the respondents as the preferred place for the periodic check ups, and 76.5% of the primary health care physicians indicated that they were the preferred practitioners to conduct such examinations. The majority of the primary health care physicians were keen to participate in home visits for those elderly patients unable to visit primary health care centers, even if it entailed increasing their workload. Planning and implementation of the health care for the elderly would be more appropriate if integrated into primary health care center activities. It is advisable to include periodic health check ups and home visits when needed, taking into consideration the cultural values of the Saudi community