Measuring health-related quality of life in the population of Tetouan, Morocco, by the SF-36: normative data and the influence of gender and age.

Measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an essential complement to medical evaluation. However, few studies of this type have been conducted in Morocco. This study aims to develop normative data for the SF-36 and analyse the HRQOL according to gender and age in the population of Tetouan city, Morocco. The SF-36 was administered to a sample selected by quotas containing 385 subjects aged over 16 years living in Tetouan. Comparisons of means were done to determine the significance of differences. The study population perceived mental health to be worse than physical health. Men presented significantly higher mean scores than women for all domains of the SF-36. Perceived health, especially physical health, declines with age, and so participants over the age of 55years recorded a poor perception of their health in the majority of domains measured. The results highlight the vulnerability of the two groups: women and the elderly.

Measuring health-related quality of life in the population of Tetouan, Morocco, by the SF-36: normative data and the influence of gender and age

يعتبر قياس جودة الحياه المرتبطة بالصحة مكملا اساسيا للتقييم الطبي بيد أنه لم تجر سوى دراسات قليله من هذا النمط في المغرب وتهدف هذه الدراسه الى اعداد بيانات معياريه لاستبيان SF-36 وتحليل جودة الحياه المرتبطة بالصحة وفقا للنوع والسن لدى سكان مدينة تطوان بالمغرب فقد اعطى الـ SF- 36 لعينه اختيرت بموجب الحصص النسبيه تضم 385 شخصا تزيد اعمارهم عن 16 عاما يعيشون في تطوان واجريت مقارنات بين المتوسطات لتحديد دلاله الفروق فرأت عينه الدراسه ان الصحه النفسيه اسوأ من الصحه البدنيه وكانت متوسطات الدرجات التي منحها الرجال لكافة مجالات الـ SD-36 اعلي بكثير من تلك التي منحتها لها النساء وبما أن الاحساس بالصحه وخاصة الصحه البدنيه يتراجع مع تقدم السن فقد سجل المشاركون الذين تزيد اعمارهم على 55 عاما تصورا سيئا عن حالتهم الصحيه في معظم المجالات التي جرى قياسها فهذه النتائج تسلط الضوء على هشاشه هاتين الفئتين النساء وكبار السن

La mesure de la qualité de vie en relation avec la santé (QVRS) est un complément essentiel à l'évaluation médicale. Cependant, peu d’études en ce sens ont été réalisées au Maroc. Ce travail vise à déterminer les données normatives du questionnaire d’évaluation de la santé perçue Short Form-36 Health Survey(SF-36) et d'analyser la QVRS selon le sexe et l'âge chez la population de la ville de Tétouan au nord du Maroc. Le questionnaire SF-36 a été administré chez un échantillon choisi par quotas qui comprenait 385 sujets de plus de 16 ans vivant dans la ville de Tétouan au nord du Maroc. Les comparaisons des moyennes ont été effectuées pour déterminer la significativité des différences. La population étudiée perçoit sa santé psychique moins bien que sa santé physique. Les hommes ont obtenu des scores significativement plus élevés que les femmes pour tous lesdomaines du SF-36. La santé perçue, et en particulier physique, décline avec l’âge ; c’est ainsi que les personnes âgées de plus de 55 ans ont une mauvaise perception de la majorité des domaines mesurés. Ces résultats mettent en évidence la vulnérabilité de ces deux groupes : les femmes et les personnes âgées.

Measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an essential complement to medical evaluation. However, few studies of this type have been conducted in Morocco. This study aims to develop normative data for the SF-36 and analyse the HRQOL according to gender and age in the population of Tetouan city, Morocco.The SF-36 was administered to a sample selected by quotas containing 385 subjects aged over 16 years living in Tetouan. Comparisons of means were done to determine the significance of differences. The study population perceived mental health to be worse than physical health. Men presented significantly higher mean scores than women for all domains of the SF-36. Perceived health, especially physical health, declines with age, and so participants over the age of 55years recorded a poor perception of their health in the majority of domains measured. The results highlight the vulnerability of the two groups: women and the elderly.

Fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in South Spanish and North Moroccan women.

INTRODUCTION: We studied the differences on physical fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in Spanish and Moroccan women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 63 and 58 women aged 45-65 years from South of Spain and North of Morocco, respectively. We assessed fitness and body composition using standard procedures. We also assessed resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Moroccan women had a better performance in the main health-related physical fitness components, i.e. higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (P = 0.01) and (lower-body) muscular strength (P < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.004), RHR and total cholesterol (both P = 0.04) were lower in Moroccan women. No differences were observed in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The women from Morocco had a healthier fitness and cardiovascular profile than the women from Spain. Further research on physical fitness and other health indicators in understudied populations is needed.

Fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in South Spanish and North Moroccan women / Condición física, grasa corporal y perfil cardiovascular en mujeres del sur de España y del norte de Marruecos

Introduction: We studied the differences on physical fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in Spanish and Moroccan women. Material and methods: The study comprised 63 and 58 women aged 45-65 years from South of Spain and North of Morocco, respectively. We assessed fitness and body composition using standard procedures. We also assessed resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Results and discussion: Moroccan women had a better performance in the main health-related physical fitness components, i.e. higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (P = 0.01) and (lower-body) muscular strength (P < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.004), RHR and total cholesterol (both P = 0.04) were lower in Moroccan women. No differences were observed in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: The women from Morocco had a healthier fitness and cardiovascular profile than the women from Spain. Further research on physical fitness and other health indicators in understudied populations is needed (AU)

Introducción: Estudiamos las diferencias en la forma física, grasa corporal y perfil cardiovascular de mujeres españolas y marroquíes. Materiales y métodos: El estudio comprendió 63 mujeres del sur de España y 58 del norte de Marruecos con un rango de edad de 45-65 años. Evaluamos la forma física y la composición corporal utilizando procedimientos estándar. También evaluamos la frecuencia cardíaca en reposo (FCR), la presión sanguínea, la glucosa en ayunas, el colesterol total, el colesterol LDL, HDL y los triglicéridos. Resultado y discusión: las mujeres marroquíes obtuvieron mejores resultados en los principales componentes de la salud relacionada con la forma física, como son mejores niveles de capacidad cardiorrespiratoria (P = 0,01) y fuerza muscular del tren inferior (P < 0,001). La presión sanguínea diastólica (P = 0,004), FCR y colesterol total (ambos P = 0,04) fueron menores en las mujeres marroquíes. No se observaron diferencias en la prevalencia de síndrome metabólico. Conclusiones: Las mujeres marroquíes presentaron unos niveles de forma física y perfil cardiovascular más saludables que las españolas. Se requieren investigaciones adicionales sobre la forma física y otros indicadores de salud en poblaciones poco estudiadas (AU)

Fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in South Spanish and North Moroccan women.

INTRODUCTION: We studied the differences on physical fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in Spanish and Moroccan women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 63 and 58 women aged 45-65 years from South of Spain and North of Morocco, respectively. We assessed fitness and body composition using standard procedures. We also assessed resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Moroccan women had a better performance in the main health-related physical fitness components, i.e. higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (P=0.01) and (lower-body) muscular strength (P<0.001). Diastolic blood pressure (P=0.004), RHR and total cholesterol (both P=0.04) were lower in Moroccan women. No differences were observed in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The women from Morocco had a healthier fitness and cardiovascular profile than the women from Spain. Further research on physical fitness and other health indicators in understudied populations is needed.

Fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in South Spanish and North Moroccan women / Condición física, grasa corporal y perfil cardiovascular en mujeres del sur de España y del norte de Marruecos

Introduction: We studied the differences on physical fitness, fatness and cardiovascular profile in Spanish and Moroccan women. Material and methods: The study comprised 63 and 58 women aged 45-65 years from South of Spain and North of Morocco, respectively. We assessed fitness and body composition using standard procedures. We also assessed resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Results and discussion: Moroccan women had a better performance in the main health-related physical fitness components, i.e. higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (P = 0.01) and (lower-body) muscular strength (P < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.004), RHR and total cholesterol (both P = 0.04) were lower in Moroccan women. No differences were observed in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: The women from Morocco had a healthier fitness and cardiovascular profile than the women from Spain. Further research on physical fitness and other health indicators in understudied populations is needed (AU)

Introducción: Estudiamos las diferencias en la condición física, grasa corporal y perfil cardiovascular en mujeres españolas y marroquís. Material y métodos: El estudio comprendió 63 mujeres del sur de España y 58 del norte de Marruecos con un rango de edad de 45-65 años. Evaluamos la condición física y la composición corporal empleando procedimientos estándar. También evaluamos la frecuencia cardíaca en reposo (FCR), la presión sanguínea, la glucosa en ayunas, el colesterol total, el colesterol LDL, HDL y los triglicéridos. Resultados y discusión: Las mujeres marroquíes obtuvieron mejores resultados en los principales componentes de salud relacionada con la condición física, como son los mayores niveles de capacidad cardiorrespiratoria (P = 0,01) y fuerza muscular (del tren inferior) (P < 0,001). La presión sanguínea diastólica (P = 0,004), la FCR y el colesterol total (ambos P = 0,04) fueron menores en las mujeres marroquíes. No se observaron diferencias en la prevalencia de síndrome metabólico. Conclusiones: Las mujeres marroquíes tenían una condición física y un perfil cardiovascular más saludables que las españolas. Se necesita investigación adicional sobre la condición física y otros indicadores de salud en poblaciones infra estudiadas (AU)

Toxigenic strains of Stachybotrys atra associated with poisonous straw in Morocco.

From 10 moldy straw samples collected in a Moroccan area with an apparent equine stachybotryotoxicosis outbreak in November 1991, 8 isolates of Stachybotrys atra were obtained. They all showed toxigenesis, however they were variable in nature and intensity. While 1 isolate had only mild toxicity when fed to mice as moldy barley, another revealed very high toxicity to Artemia saline larvae, or rat skin, and to mice. The toxicity of the other 6 isolates were between these 2 limits. This study indicates that the November 1991 outbreak was due to toxigenic strains of Stachybotrys atra.