Prevalence of proteinuria and its associated factors in hypertensive diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Hypertensive diabetic patients are at increased risk for chronic kidney disease. Proteinuria is an early sign of kidney damage. Limited research is available on proteinuria and on its associated factors in hypertensive patients with diabetes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of proteinuria and its associated factors in hypertensive diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The current retrospective study utilized medical records and hospital computers to collect sociodemographic and medical information about the study patients in two major hospitals in Jordan. Binary regression analysis was used to find the factors that are significantly and independently associated with the presence of proteinuria. RESULTS: Data from 522 hypertensive diabetic patients were investigated. Factors including age (OR=0.691; 95% CI: 0.930-0.994; p<0.01), high-density lipoprotein level (OR=0.450; 95% CI: 0.211-0.960; p<0.05), and higher glomerular filtration rate (OR=0.964; 95% CI: 0.950-0.977; p<0.01) were associated with proteinuria among the study patients. In contrast to metformin (OR=0.237; 95% CI: 0.098-0.572; p<0.01), patients who received insulin (OR=1.992; 95% CI: 1.136-3.492; p<0.05), thiazide diuretics (OR=1.848; 95% CI: 1.108-3.083; p<0.05), calcium channel blockers (OR=1.833, 95% CI: 1.110-3.028, p<0.05), or beta-blockers (BBs) (OR=2.199, 95% CI: 1.257-3.848, p<0.01) had a higher likelihood of having proteinuria. CONCLUSIONS: For preserving kidney function, it is deemed necessary to perform regular checkups for proteinuria among hypertensive diabetic patients, particularly in young patients, patients with low levels of high-density lipoprotein, and those with a lower glomerular filtration rate.

Glycemic control and its associated factors in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Inadequate glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes is growing worldwide. Earlier research studies investigated the predictors of poor glycemic control among patients with diabetes, but not among hypertensive patients who have type 2 diabetes as a comorbid disease. The aim of this study was to explore the factors associated with poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the present retrospective study, the medical records of two major hospitals were used to collect sociodemographic, biomedical, disease and medication-related information about patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Binary regression analysis was conducted to find the predictors of the study outcome. RESULTS: The data from 522 patients were collected. High physical activity (OR=2.232; 95% CI: 1.368-3.640; p<0.01), receiving insulin (OR=5.094; 95% CI: 3.213-8.076; p <0.01) or GLP1 receptor agonist (OR=2.057; 95% CI: 1.309-3.231; p<0.01) increased the odds of having controlled blood glucose. Increased age (OR=1.041; 95% CI: 1.013-1.070; p<0.01), elevated high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (OR=3.727; 95% CI: 1.959-7.092; p<0.01), and lower triglycerides (TGs) levels (OR=0.918; 95% CI: 0.874-0.965; p<0.01) were also associated with improved glycemic control among the study participants. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the current study participants showed uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Low physical activity, not receiving insulin or GLP1 receptor agonist, younger age, low HDL and high TG levels were independently associated with poor glycemic control. Future interventions should place a strong emphasis on the value of consistent physical activity and a stable lipid profile in enhancing glycemic control, particularly in younger patients and those who are not receiving insulin or GLP1 receptor agonist therapy.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practice with respect to antibiotic use among pharmacy students: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Antibiotic resistance is a major health threat and efforts should be intensified to reduce its burden. Healthcare providers, especially pharmacists, can be actively involved in the reduction of antibiotic resistance. However, negative practices among pharmacists have been observed. This study evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among Jordanian pharmacy students. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire that was developed and distributed to Jordanian pharmacy students from five different universities. KAP scores were calculated, with students categorized into low and high levels based on each score mean. RESULTS: A total of 890 pharmacy students completed the questionnaire. High positive response rate (PR%) for the majority of the knowledge items was observed, exceeding 60% in all knowledge items, and similar PR% was observed in attitude items. The variables significantly associated with attitude were age [OR=0.92 (95% CI 0.87: 0.98), p=0.01] and knowledge [OR=1.35 (95% CI 1.01:1.82), p=0.04], while knowledge was significantly associated with practice [OR=0.23 (95% CI 0.16:0.31), p<0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Jordanian pharmacy students showed adequate KAP toward the use of antibiotics although several aspects of malpractice were identified. Hence, adequate knowledge about antibiotics among pharmacy students should be ensured as knowledge is associated with attitudes and practices.

Factors influencing hypertension and diabetes mellitus control among Syrian refugees in Zaatari refugee camp.

OBJECTIVE: Syrian refugees in Zaatari Refugee Camp are in dire need of investigations of the control status of different chronic diseases. The current study aims to evaluate hypertension (HTN) and diabetes (DM) control among Syrian refugees in the Zaatari Refugee Camp. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Patients' files were collected from the Zaatari camp database. Participants who had an HbA1c of less than 7 were considered to have controlled DM and a cut-off point of 130/80 was used for HTN. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 418 patients (276 females) were included in the study. None of the patients-controlled blood pressure and only 25 controlled DM. Univariate analysis showed an association of smoking status with HbA1c and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (p-value=0.007 and <0.001 respectively), while taking insulin and Triglyceride (TyG) index had an association with HbA1c alone (p-value<0.001). Significant in the MANCOVA analysis were smoking status, taking insulin, and TyG index (p-value<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that refugees in Zaatari Refugee Camp have uncontrollable DM and HTN. More focus should be highlighted on controlling these diseases in order to prevent future complications.

Factors associated with glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Achieving glycemic control significantly improves the progression of the disease among diabetes mellitus patients although this is not achieved by many diabetics. The aim of the study is to explore the factors associated with glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In addition to sociodemographic variables, beliefs about medications and medication adherence were evaluated using the validated Beliefs about Medications Questionnaire and the 4-item medication adherence scale. A cut-off point of HbA1c% <7 was used as an indicator of glycemic control. Stepwise binary logistic regression was conducted to explore the variables associated with poor glycemic control. RESULTS: A total of 287 patients participated in the study. More than half (58%) were found to have poor glycemic control . Females had significantly higher odds of having controlled diabetes (OR=2.28, p-value <0.01). Increasing necessity for diabetes medications was significantly associated with improved glycemic control (OR=2.75, p-value <0.01). Participants in low or moderate adherence groups had significantly higher odds of having uncontrolled diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Future diabetes management programs should focus on emphasizing medication necessity and improving medication adherence, particularly for male patients, with the aim of improving glycemic control and health outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Attitudes of a sample of Jordanian young adults toward different available COVID-19 vaccines.

Objective: Vaccination is one of the most important measures that the world is relying on to end the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of vaccines have been authorized; however, there are several differences in the available vaccines which may lead to differences in public hesitancy levels toward each vaccine. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the young Jordanian population's acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine, their knowledge, and attitudes toward different vaccine types, and to explore the variables that could influence their preferences. Material and methods: An online questionnaire was distributed via Jordanian multipurpose Facebook groups. COVID-19 knowledge, and practice scores were calculated, in addition to general and specific COVID-19 vaccine knowledge scores. Repeated measures analysis was conducted to investigate the association between the participants' knowledge about each vaccine and their willingness to take it. Quantile regressions were conducted to determine the predictors of the participants' willingness to take each vaccine. Results: A total of 1897 participants completed the survey. One fifth of the participants (19.9%) were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The acceptance of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and the knowledge about it were significantly different from all the other vaccines. Predictors of acceptance of the different vaccines were sex, estimation of the severity of the disease, COVID-19 knowledge score, practice score, and specific vaccine knowledge score. Conclusion: The young Jordanian adults had limited acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. Differences in the participants' acceptance of different vaccines were observed and specific vaccine knowledge was a significant predictor of acceptance of the vaccine.

Objetivo: La vacunación es una de las medidas más importantes en la que el mundo se basa para acabar con la pandemia de la COVID-19. Varias vacunas han sido autorizadas para ser usadas; sin embargo, existen diferencias en las vacunas disponibles que pueden dar lugar a diferencias en los niveles de vacilación del público para ponerse cada una. Por lo tanto, este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar la aceptación de la población joven jordana de la vacuna COVID-19, su conocimiento y actitudes hacia los diferentes tipos de vacunas, y variables que pueden influir sus preferencias. Material y métodos: En enero de 2021 se distribuyó un cuestionario en línea por vía de grupos jordanos usuarios de Facebook. Se calculó la puntuación de conocimiento de COVID-19, la puntuación de práctica y las puntuaciones de conocimiento de vacunas específicas. Se realizaron repetidos análisis de medidas para investigar las diferencias entre el conocimiento de los participantes acerca de cada vacuna y la voluntad para ponerse cada vacuna. Se realizaron regresiones cuantílicas para determinar los predictores de la disposición de los participantes a recibir la vacuna. Resultados: Completaron la encuesta 1.897 participantes. El 19,9% estuvo dispuesto a recibir la vacuna frente a COVID-19. La aceptación de la vacuna Pfizer/BioNTech y el conocimiento acerca de ella estaban significativamente diferenciados de todas las otras vacunas. Los factores predictivos de la aceptación de las diferentes vacunas fueron el sexo, la estimación de la gravedad de la enfermedad, la puntuación sobre el conocimiento de COVID-19, la puntuación sobre la práctica y la puntuación sobre el conocimiento de las vacunas específicas. Conclusión: Los jóvenes adultos jordanos tuvieron aceptación limitada de la vacuna de COVID-19. Se observaron diferencias en los participantes en cuanto a la aceptación de diferentes vacunas, y el conocimiento de las vacunas específicas fue un factor predictivo significativo en cuanto a su aceptación.