Risk prediction of coronary artery disease among naval forces

Coronary artery disease [CAD] risk factors seem to cluster in some occupational groups. The present study was designed to investigate CAD risk factors among naval forces as an example of a high risk sector and to construct a risk prediction model for the disease. A case control study was carried out at the general naval hospital [GNH] in Alexandria. The study included 250 male consecutive naval CAD cases with a control group of 250 males matches for age, occupational level, sociodemographic characteristics and, free from CAD. All participants were subjected to a questionnaire about personal data, occupational history and exposures, occupational and leisure physical activity, dietary habits, smoking, and medical history. Anthropometric measurements, sifting blood pressure, and lipid profile were determined by the standard methods. Results revealed that occupational sedentary activity and perceived occupational noise were the significantly reported special occupational characteristics together with other conventional risk factors among CAD naval cases verses controls [p< 0.000 and < 0.009 respectively]. Logistic regression analysis with the dependent variable as being a CAD case showed independently significant effects for family history of premature CAD, history of hypertension, smoking, history of diabetes mellitus, body mass index [BMI], leisure physical activity, fish consumption, and HDL-cholesterol. A risk prediction model utilizing these variables was constructed with an overall correct percent of 74.6%. Application of the model expresses the risk of having CAD in an individual eligible with criteria of the study population. These results are of special importance for design of preventive programs for CAD in similar high risk occupational groups

Prevalence and pattern of alternative medicine use: the results of a household survey

Alternative medicine [AM] encompasses all forms of therapies that fall outside the mainstream of medical practice. Its popularity is on the increase. Because previous surveys were limited and not generalizable, we estimated the prevalence, pattern and factors associated with use of AM in the community. A multistage cluster cross-sectional household survey was conducted among Saudi residents of the Riyadh region. Data were collected in 2003 by trained interviewers from primary health care centers using a specially designed questionnaire. Of 1408 individuals participating in the study, 39% were men. The mean [ +/- SD] age for the study population was 35.5 [ +/- 13.9] years. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents had used AM during the last 12 months. The Holy Quran as a therapy was the most frequently used AM [50.3%], followed by honey [40.1%], black seed [39.2%] and myrrh [35.4%]. The health belief model was found to be the most important determinant of AM use. Factors independently associated with AM use included perceived failure of medical treatment, the perceived success of AM, a preference for natural materials, and long appointment intervals to see physicians. There is a high prevalence of AM use in the Riyadh region and the most important determinant of AM use was the perceived failure of medical treatment. The study results call for intensive health education campaigns in the media addressing wrong beliefs regarding AM and modern medicine. The popularity of AM in this community should alert decision makers to look at the difficult accessibility to the health system