Tobacco control in Oman: it's time to get serious!

Tobacco use is the world's leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Although Oman remains a country with the lowest tobacco use in the Arab Gulf States, the prevalence of tobacco use is projected to increase to 33.3% by 2025. In 2005, Oman acceded to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, an international treaty with numerous obligations aiming to reduce the global burden of tobacco use. This paper documents, for the first time, Oman's experience in tobacco control by providing a descriptive analysis of the evolution of tobacco control policies in relation to the country's international obligations. In order to curb tobacco use and maintain current low prevalence levels, the paper concludes that Oman needs to accelerate action in adopting the highest attainable policies recommended by the World Health Organization's MPOWER package

Prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in primary care settings in Al Seeb wilayat, Oman

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension [HTN] among Omani hypertensive patients, on treatment and under primary health care [PHC] follow-up in Al Seeb Wilayat, Oman. Socio-demographic and clinical factors were explored for possible influence on blood pressure [BP] control. Based on an assumption of 50% prevalence of uncontrolled HTN, a retrospective data collection was conducted on the last three follow-up visits of 411 randomly selected Omani adults [>/= 18 years] from 3,459 hypertensive patients. Adequate BP control was defined using criteria from 7[th] Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention Detection Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure [JNC-7]. A P value of <0.05 and odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were used to assess for association. The targets for adequate BP control were achieved in 39% of the studied patients [95% confidence interval [CI]: 34-44%]. Lower BP control was found among hypertensives with diabetes [6.4%, P = <0.001] and renal disease [18.5%, P = 0.02]; those with cardiovascular disease [CVD] showed relatively better control [58%]. Age and gender had no impact on BP control. Most patients were only on one [24%] or two [47%] antihypertensive medications, the most frequently used being [3-blockers [58.2%] and diuretics [56.3%]. HTN is not adequately controlled in over 60% of treated patients; the presence of co-morbidity and less than aggressive treatment are significant contributors. Improving the quality of HTN care is a priority; effective efforts should be undertaken to improve BP control

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students in Oman

To study the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its association with gender, academic year, and college among university students in Oman. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Omani students attending the students' clinic of the Sultan Qaboos University [SQU]. A systematic sampling of students, males and females, from different colleges, who visited the clinic during the study period, was carried out. The self-administered Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] was used to screen for propensity to depression. A total of 481 students participated in the study [243 males and 238 females]. Overall, 133 [27.7%] of the participants [66 males and 67 females] had depression of various grades based on the PHQ-9 diagnostic criteria using a cut point of more than 11. Depression score at the cut point of 11 was not statistically associated with gender, college and the academic year. Tendency for depression might be a common health problem among college students in Oman attending primary health care facilities. Further research on socio-demographic characteristics and the effect of depression on the academic performance is needed