External validation of a cardiovascular risk model for Omani patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To externally validate a recently developed cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk model for Omanis with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Nine primary care centres in Muscat Governorate, Oman. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 809 male and female adult Omani patients with T2DM free of CVD at baseline were selected using a systematic random sampling strategy. OUTCOME MEASURES: Data regarding CVD risk factors and outcomes were collected from the patients' electronic medical records between 29 August 2020 and 2 May 2021. The ability of the model to discriminate CVD risk was assessed by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Calibration of the model was evaluated using a Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2 test and the Brier score. RESULTS: The incidence of CVD events over the 5-year follow-up period was 4.6%, with myocardial infarction being most frequent (48.6%), followed by peripheral arterial disease (27%) and non-fatal stroke (21.6%). A cut-off risk value of 11.8% demonstrated good sensitivity (67.6%) and specificity (66.5%). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.7 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.78) and the Brier score was 0.01. However, the overall mean predicted risk was greater than the overall observed risk (11.8% vs 4.6%) and the calibration graph showed a relatively significant difference between predicted and observed risk levels in different subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the model slightly overestimated the CVD risk, it demonstrated good discrimination. Recalibration of the model is required, after which it has the potential to be applied to patients presenting to diabetic care centres elsewhere in Oman.

Intimate Partner Violence in Khaliji Women: A Review of the Frequency and Related Factors.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), locally known as Khaliji, is a group of six Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern in the aforementioned region, but research that synthesises this trend has remained scarce. The present narrative review examines existing research on the prevalence and frequency of IPV among Khaliji women who inhabit the GCC nations. This review synthesised studies on physical and sexual violence, emotional abuse, and controlling behaviours perpetrated by an intimate partner. The prevalence rates of IPV among Khaliji women were observed to be high: women reported facing different types of abuse from their partners, namely physical (7-71%), sexual (3.7-81%), financial (21.3-26%), and psychological (7.5-89%), which is a culmination of controlling behaviour (36.8%), emotional violence (22-69%), and social violence (34%). Existing studies in the GCC region suggest that the most endorsed IPV was psychological abuse (89%), followed by sexual violence (81%). Qualitative analysis of the content of associated factors resulted in four significant descriptors, such as victim demographics, sociocultural factors, socioeconomic factors, and perpetrator-related issues. Research on IPV is still in its nascent stages, with very few studies emanating from the GCC region. The way forward will require developing culturally appropriate interventions that address the unique risk factors for IPV among the Khaliji population, strengthening institutional responses, and increasing awareness and social support for victims of IPV.