Associations of body adiposity index, body mass index, waist circumference, and percentage of body fat in young female Emirati adults.

Body Adiposity Index (BAI), which relies on an individual's hip circumference and height, was proposed as an alternative anthropometric measurement to Body Mass Index (BMI). Although this measure has been validated across different populations, its accuracy in predicting percent body fat (%BF) in the United Arab Emirates has not yet been assessed. The objective of this study was to examine the association between BAI, BMI, Waist Circumference (WC), and %BF in young female Emirati adults and determine the relative accuracy of BAI when predicting %BF. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 95 Emirati women between the ages of 17 and 27. The %BF was measured using the dual-energy X-ray absorption (DXA) scanner. Anthropometric measurements were collected, and BMI and BAI were calculated. BMI and %BF (r = 0.823, p <0.001) showed a greater association than that between BAI and %BF (r = 0.702, p <0.001). A linear regression analysis revealed that BMI was the single best predictor of %BF in the sample (r2 = 0.678, p<0.001). The variation around the regression line for BAI comparisons with %BF (standard error of estimate = 4.879) was greater than BMI comparisons (standard error of estimate = 3.889). BAI was found to significantly underestimate %BF at higher adiposity levels (mean difference = 8.7%). The ROC curve analysis demonstrated that BMI had a higher discriminatory capacity (AUC = 0.891) over WC and BAI. The results demonstrated that BMI was a better predictor of %BF in the sample than BAI and WC. Thus, BMI may be more useful in assessing adiposity in young female Emirati adults than BAI. However, the potential of BAI as an alternative measure of adiposity should continue to be examined.

Cancer Health Literacy and Its Correlated Factors in the United Arab Emirates-A Cross Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer Health literacy (CHL) is the health literacy related to cancer knowledge, prevention, treatment, screening, and access to services. It is an important indicator of people's adherence to screening and preventive measures, which helps to reduce the incidence and prevalence of cancer. The study assessed the CHL level and its association with relevant socio-demographic characteristics and sources of information among primary health care patients and visitors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). METHODS: A cross-sectional study recruited survey participants who consented to respond to an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The assessment of CHL was done by using 15 questions. CHL level was measured as a median score and also categorized as poor/inadequate, moderate, good/excellent. Nominal logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between CHL categories and participants' sociodemographic characteristics and CHL sources of information. RESULTS: Of the total 492 participants, 45.5% were young adults (30-39 years old), 32.9% were males, and 70.8% were UAE nationals. The overall median CHL score was 8.0 (IQR = 5.0-10). 33.7% of the participants had a poor/inadequate level of CHL, 49.6% had a moderate level and 16.7% had a good to excellent level of CHL. 76.9% of the participants knew the importance of early cancer screening tests, 72.7% acknowledged the metastatic capacity of cancer, and the protective factors of cancer, especially, in colon cancer (71.7%). A high proportion of participants received health information about cancer via the internet (50.7%), television (45.3%), social media (40.2%), and doctors (43.6%). Nationality other than UAE (aOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.03-2.56, P = .038), having university education (aOR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.21-3.99, P = .010) compared to those with lower than high school, and having a family history of cancer (aOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.33-4.41, P = .004) were positively associated with CHL. Older age (aOR = .36, 95% CI = .17-.75, P = .007 for 50-59 years, and aOR = .29, 95% CI = .11-.82, P = .019) for 60-69 years, higher-income (aOR = .57, 95% CI = .33-.99, P = .047 for 10,000-19,999 AED; aOR = .53, 95% CI = .33-.88, P = .013 for ≥20,000) compared with those earning <10,000 AED were negatively associated with CHL. CONCLUSIONS: CHL among the resident UAE population was moderately adequate, therefore implementation of awareness campaigns seems to be warranted. Moreover, evaluation research targeting the CHL impact on cancer prevention practices and screening is also advocated.

Mothers' evaluations of fathers' contributions to raising children with autism spectrum disorder in the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurological condition which results in social skill deficits, communication difficulties, and restrictive and repetitive behaviour. The difficulties associated with parenting children with ASD have been studied extensively, mainly from the perspectives of mothers. The extent of involvement of fathers in the raising of children with ASD has received limited scholarly attention, especially in non-Western contexts such as the United Arab Emirates. OBJECTIVES: This study asked mothers to evaluate the involvement of fathers in the development of children with ASD. METHODS: In all, 240 mothers completed the Fathers' Involvement in Development and Rehabilitation Scale, designed based on a review of literature on the construct of involvement, namely attitude, participation in training, and support domains. The data were subjected to computation of mean scores, multivariate analysis of variance, hierarchical regression, and moderation analyses. RESULTS: The results suggested that fathers held positive attitudes and provided substantial support to their children with ASD. However, mothers were ambivalent regarding the participation of fathers in training to support the development of their children. Differences were also observed between participants according to marital status, location, child gender, and ASD severity. CONCLUSION: Recommendations for targeted training for fathers and other study implications are discussed.

Etiologies underlying subtypes of long-standing type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Attempts to subtype, type 2 diabetes (T2D) have mostly focused on newly diagnosed European patients. In this study, our aim was to subtype T2D in a non-white Emirati ethnic population with long-standing disease, using unsupervised soft clustering, based on etiological determinants. METHODS: The Auto Cluster model in the IBM SPSS Modeler was used to cluster data from 348 Emirati patients with long-standing T2D. Five predictor variables (fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FSI), body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and age at diagnosis) were used to determine the appropriate number of clusters and their clinical characteristics. Multinomial logistic regression was used to validate clustering results. RESULTS: Five clusters were identified; the first four matched Ahlqvist et al subgroups: severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD), severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD), mild age-related diabetes (MARD), mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD), and a fifth new subtype of mild early onset diabetes (MEOD). The Modeler algorithm allows for soft assignments, in which a data point can be assigned to multiple clusters with different probabilities. There were 151 patients (43%) with membership in cluster peaks with no overlap. The remaining 197 patients (57%) showed extensive overlap between clusters at the base of distributions. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the complex picture of long-standing T2D with comorbidities and complications, our study demonstrates the feasibility of identifying subtypes and their underlying causes. While clustering provides valuable insights into the architecture of T2D subtypes, its application to individual patient management would remain limited due to overlapping characteristics. Therefore, integrating simplified, personalized metabolic profiles with clustering holds greater promise for guiding clinical decisions than subtyping alone.

Determinants for Mediterranean diet adherence beyond the boundaries: a cross-sectional study from Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: Substantial evidence embraced the nutrition competence of the Mediterranean diet (MD) as a healthy model for decreasing the risk of chronic diseases and increasing longevity, with the bonus of ensuring environmental sustainability. Measuring adherence to this diet is marginally investigated in the Arabian Gulf region, an area away from the Mediterranean region. The current study aimed to assess the MD adherence among adults in Sharjah/the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and to identify the most influential predictors for MD adherence among the study participants. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed using a self-reported, web-based electronic questionnaire that questioned sociodemographics, lifestyle factors, and familiarity with the MD. The MD adherence was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener validated questionnaire. The adherence level was classified as low for a total score of [0-5], medium [score 6-7], and high (8-13). RESULTS: The study included 1314 participants (age 25-52 years) comprised 822 (62.6%) females and 492 (37.4%) males. There was a moderate adherence score (5.9 ± 1.9) among the study participants. The food constituent expressed the lowest contribution to the MD was fish (9.3%), followed by fruits (12.3%), and legumes (18.3%). The multivariable linear regression analysis showed an overall significant linear trend for the association between the MD adherence score and physical activity, while nutrition information from dietitians and social media were the most two strongly related predictors for the higher adherence (ß = 0.747; 95% CI 0.51-0.98, and ß 0.60; 95% CI 0.269-0.93; p < 0.001, respectively). On the other side, being a smoker and from a non-Mediterranean country was associated with lower adherence scores (ß = 0.538; 95% CI 0.252-0.82, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study showed a moderate adherence, low proportion for high adherence, and a gap in the familiarity with the diet name. Being married, physically active, non-smoker, and getting nutrition information from dietitians and social media were the strongest predictors for higher adherence. It is warranted that public health and nutrition specialists/dietitians to tailor new modern approaches for promoting healthy dietary behaviours consistent with the MD.

Fathers' involvement in raising children with intellectual disabilities: Mothers' ratings of the contribution of their spouses.

BACKGROUND: Intellectual disability (ID) is a lifelong condition characterized by individuals' inability to perform cognitive tasks and participate in daily living activities. While parenting children with ID has been reported to be demanding, studies draw mainly on mothers. In contexts such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there is little literature on fathers' involvement in raising children with IDs. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore, from the perspectives of mothers, the extent of fathers' involvement in raising children with ID in the UAE. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight (N = 158) mothers with children with ID completed the fathers' involvement in disability and rehabilitation scale. Mothers who had enrolled their children with ID in special schools or receiving services at rehabilitation centres were invited to participate in this study. The data were subjected to the following analyses: mean computation, multivariate analysis of variance, hierarchical regression, and moderation analysis. RESULTS: The results showed high fatherly support, participation in training, and contribution to the development of their children with ID. However, the mothers' ratings showed the fathers' ambivalence toward parenting children with ID. A relationship was found between attitude and support, as well as marital status and the educational level of mothers, providing insight into the involvement of fathers. CONCLUSION: The study recommends training programs aimed at improving the attitudes of fathers toward raising children with ID and other study implications.

Challenges of breastfeeding during COVID-19 and baby friendly protocols adopted at a maternity health center in the northern Emirates of UAE: a comprehensive review.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) has caused worldwide panic in the global population taking people's lives, creating fear, and affecting mother-child relationships. Many questions were raised on the dangers of being infected with COVID-19 for newborns and safety concerns during feeding by COVID-19-positive mothers. Moreover, questions and doubts about the safety of the administration of vaccinations for nursing mothers are still open. This review attempts to fill the existing literature gap by exploring concepts concerning COVID-19 and breastfeeding mothers, the safety of vaccinations, the beneficial effects of breastfeeding on both mother and child, important hygiene recommendations for SARS-CoV-2 infected mothers, and possible solutions to optimize breastfeeding and safety precautions amidst the fear of emergence of novel variants. METHODS: All relevant publications from Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus search engines from December 2019 to October 2022 related to SARS-CoV-2, breastfeeding, COVID-19, lactating guidelines, and vaccination were included using 'Breastfeeding AND vaccine AND SARS-CoV-2' as MESH TERMS. Apart from the literature review, existing maternity protocols followed in Northern UAE were gathered from lactation consultants practicing in the UAE. RESULTS: Out of 19,391 records generated, only 24 studies were analyzed and summarized in this exhaustive review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow chart. Previous studies suggest that breastmilk is predominantly the primary source of nutrition for neonates. Breast milk is a rich source of antibodies that help the baby to fight against infections including other benefits. Hygiene recommendations for suspected or confirmed COVID-19-infected mothers are required along with psychological and emotional support. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of vaccinations should be advised and encouraged to protect the mothers with antibodies and the neonates by the passive transmission of antibodies through breast milk. This is a significant reason for not stopping breastfeeding even in case of COVID-19 infection. With adherence to proper hygiene methods, breastfeeding is recommended to be continued as the benefits greatly outweigh the risks.

Exploring perceptions of pre-clerkship students about workplace learning in the clinical learning environment at Gulf Medical University, UAE.

BACKGROUND: Medical students view clinical workplace placements as an inspiring and motivating learning environment where active student participation is pivotal to development of students' identity. The progress from pre-clerkship to clerkship education harbors many challenges which consist of experiential learning, adjusting to the clinical environment, and understanding roles & responsibilities. Workplace learning is underpinned by various adult learning theories including social theories,constructivism, supported participation and legitimate peripheral participation. Workplace learning course was recently initiated for pre-clerkship students at a medical university in UAE, which will enable their smooth entry into the clerkship phase of the curriculum. OBJECTIVES: The research aims to explore students' perceptions of various domains of their clinical learning environment (CLE), highlight the challenges they face, and extract valuable feedback to improve their environment. METHODS: This study was conducted qualitatively by using focus groups method in order to explore students' perceptions of the clinical learning environment. Two focus group discussions were conducted (n = 8 +/-10) to determine the common challenges of workplace learning and its potential solutions. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The approach used to carry out this study was phenomenology, as it helps to understand the learning and behavior of these students who are undergoing this pre-clerkship training in order to transition smoothly to the clerkship phase. RESULT: The focus groups helped to deeply explore the perceptions of students about their clinical learning environment. It helped to reveal the challenges encountered by the students including the significance of proper orientation of staff and students, language barrier, availability of learning opportunities, and supervision quality. The focus groups provided worthwhile suggestions to improve the learning opportunities in the clinical learning environment which include orientation of the staff and students what to expect, improved supervision, mentoring and providing learning opportunities to encourage participation. CONCLUSION: This study attempted to identify the pre-clerkship students' perception of their clinical learning environment and the challenges they face over there. Possible suggestions by the students included a formal orientation for the staff and students to be carried out at the beginning. Efforts should be made by clerkship directors to provide students with learning opportunities by increasing patient exposure, encouraging participation, and providing high-quality supervision.

Field-based soil-plant uptake measurements of natural radionuclides for key vegetables and ghaf leaves in Abu Dhabi.

With the thriving fossil fuel and nuclear based industries in the nation, radioecology has become necessary for the radiation safety and emergency-preparedness for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Environmental radiation transport modelling in the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula are severely limited, as we discuss in this paper, due to lack of experiments specific to arid desert climates. To fill the missing gaps in the baseline arid region radioecological database, especially for the soil-plant uptake studies, rigorous field works have been conducted for the first time on the soil and plant in the farms and open fields of the UAE. We present Abu Dhabi based measurements of activity concentrations of radionuclides of natural origins, in soils, key vegetables (cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper), and leaves of ghaf - a prominent native tree. The empirical data are utilized to get the first published estimates of UAE-specific plant-soil concentration ratios (CR), measuring root uptake of radionuclides in nonleafy vegetables and native trees. Such systematic studies are very rare for arid sandy soils. For the 27 samples analyzed, the activity concentrations' (unit Bq kg-1) ranges are: 169-1746 for 40K, 12-19.5 for 226Ra, and 2.7-23.1 for 228Ra. Likewise, wide variability is seen in the averages of concentration ratios also, ranging in 1.05-4.94 for 40K, 0.14-1.82 for 226Ra, and 0.53-2.78 for 228Ra. A net bioaccumulation (concentration ratio >1) of some of these natural radionuclides is found in many samples, but no significant doses or hazard indices are found due to these three radionuclides in the UAE's soils and vegetations. The paper discusses the careful work through tens of field sampling exercises, well controlled sample processing, high resolution gamma spectrometry, and treatment of data from gamma counting rates to accumulated dose rate estimations.

Exploring environmental sustainability in dentistry among students and educators in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: Creating environmentally sustainable healthcare culture within the dental field requires embedding the content in the dental curriculum at the undergraduate level. This study aimed to explore the current awareness and drivers among dental students and educators regarding environmentally sustainable dentistry (ESD) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and identify barriers and enablers to embrace it. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using online questionnaires was carried out in six undergraduate dental education institutes within the UAE. Data analysis included descriptive statistics. RESULTS: In total 153 students and 53 educators participated in the survey. Most students and educators were not aware of any ESD content in their curricula. However, the majority of educators were familiar with the concept of ESD, while students were mostly unfamiliar or slightly familiar. Nonetheless, students largely agreed on its importance and their interest in learning it, as they viewed it relevant to their future practice. Educators agreed that the dental profession has a responsibility to be environmentally friendly and expressed their desire in introducing ESD content into the curricula. Several barriers were reported such as lack of knowledge, curricula space, educational resources, and time. Meanwhile, enablers included providing ESD capacity building, training and resources. CONCLUSIONS: There was no explicit presence of ESD content in the dental curricula in the UAE. Despite the lack of adequate awareness on this topic among educators and more so among students, they both had positive views towards incorporating ESD into dental curricula. Overall, this study highlighted the importance of promoting ESD in dental programs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: ESD is gradually becoming a critical aspect of modern oral healthcare system. It has been mandated in the dental curricula in several regions globally. Embedding ESD in the UAE dental curricula would have several benefits for the environment as well as the future of the dental profession in the region. The clinical significance includes, but not limited to, improved treatment outcomes; patients, students and staff health and well-being; reduced health risks, and cost savings.

Effect of harvest timing and plant parts on the nutritional and chemical profile of five potential fodder plants found in eastern coast of United Arab Emirates.

Selecting highly nutritive fodder plants in arid regions can be a key to improving the livestock productivity. This work explores the variation in nutritive value of the leaves, stem, and shoots of five potential fodder plants of the Emirates of Fujairah, Erucaria hispanica, Haplophyllum tuberculatum, Convolvulus virgatus, Teucrium stocksianum, and Cleome Ibrachycarpa. influenced by two weather conditions, winter and spring. The plant samples underwent mineral composition, proximate, phytochemical, and heavy metals and two-way ANOVA. Weather data were accessed from National Center of Meteorology (NCM). Our findings reveal significant influences of collection time and species on nutritive content. Shoots collected in March exhibited higher ash (6.167%), crude protein (11.9%), crude fiber (14.89%), dry matter (45.86%), and total digestive nutrients (TDS) (48.35%), with lower tannin (5.11%) compared to January. Conversely, January-collected shoots had greater total sugar content (1.28 g/100 g). Plant organs played a crucial role, with leaves surpassing stems in Mg, P, Ca, K, Na, Mn, Zn, and Ni. Leaves also showed higher crude protein (23.33%), dry matter (92.26%), total ash (4.8%), and TDS (87.58%) compared to stems, while stems exhibited elevated crude fiber (17.45%) and tannin (4.53%). There is a need to assess the bioactive compounds found in these fodder species for the enhancement its effective use and maximize browsing of these species.

Excellence in healthcare: nurturing servant leadership, fostering collaborative culture and promoting social sustainability in the UAE - strategies for transformation.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the healthcare sector of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to explore the significance of servant leadership and collaborative culture in fostering social sustainability. The primary objective of this paper is to investigate how servant leadership and a collaborative culture contribute to social sustainability in health care in the UAE. With a focus on promoting well-being within healthcare organizations, the paper aims to uncover the synergies between servant leadership, collaborative culture, and social sustainability. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This paper conducted a multilayer literature review of existing literature on servant leadership, collaborative culture and social sustainability in health care, both globally and specifically in the UAE context, and a conceptual model was proposed. FINDINGS: Servant leadership proves to be a culturally pertinent and effective leadership model within the UAE due to its alignment with cultural values, emphasis on community support, and the robust health-care system that contributes to individual well-being. This combination establishes a solid foundation for fostering a healthy and sustainable society. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Limitations and implications are discussed. The current research has not identified the boundary conditions under which servant leadership and collaborative culture may be more or less effective. This could involve exploring industry-specific influences or contextual factors. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The research seeks to unravel the interconnections between servant leadership, collaborative culture and social sustainability. To the best of the author's knowledge, none of the studies have explored the interrelationships of these constructs, particularly in the UAE context.

The prevalence of selected vector-borne diseases in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the United Arab Emirates.

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) affecting dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) have considerable importance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because of the consequences associated with production decline and economic losses. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of selected VBDs in camels in the UAE and identify risk factors. This research is currently affected by the low number of epidemiological molecular surveys addressing this issue. Blood samples were obtained from 425 dromedary camels from different locations across the UAE. Whole genomic DNA was isolated, and PCR screening was done to detect piroplasmids (Babesia/Theileria spp.), Trypanosoma spp., and Anaplasmataceae spp. (Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neorickettsia and Wolbachia spp.). Amplicons were sequenced, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Trypanosoma sequences were identified as T. brucei evansi, whereas Anaplasmataceae sequences were identified as A. platys-like. All camels were negative for Babesia/Theileria spp. (0%); however, 18 camels were positive for T. b. evansi (4%) and 52 were positive for A. platys-like (12%). Mixed infection with T. b. evansi and A. platys-like was found in one camel. Statistical analyses revealed that camels with a brown coat colour were significantly more prone to acquire the A. platys-like strain compared with those having a clearer coat. A similar finding was observed when comparing urban moving camels with desert indoor and urban indoor camels. Continuous disease surveillance is required to ensure and maintain the good health status of the camels in the UAE. Nonetheless, the risk of disease outbreak remains if the misuse of drugs continues.

Glycaemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: an updated review.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become a major public health concern, causing significant disability and death worldwide. Fuelled by a modern sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary practices, T2DM affects at least 10.5% of the world's population. This paper seeks to review the progress made by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) in addressing T2DM, focusing on glycaemic control proportions and comparing it with the 2015 review. The results indicate no significant improvement in glycaemic control proportions since the last review, with only 9.2% to 56.9% of patients having good control (glycosylated haemoglobin < 7%). However, there are no significant differences in glycaemic control between the GCC countries and other places worldwide despite being considered hotbeds of T2DM. Many factors contribute to poor glycaemic control. Specifically, evidence shows that being overweight or obese is the most common modifiable risk factor for T2DM incidence and poor glycaemic control. The GCC countries have higher rates of obesity. Additionally, poor glycaemic control is mainly related to a lack of adherence to insulin and medication use. Poor diet, rich in calories and low in fruits and vegetables, and a sedentary lifestyle also significantly contribute to poor glycaemic control and obesity. Therefore, to reduce the incidence of disease and improve glycaemic control in diabetic patients, educational programs promoting lifestyle changes should be implemented. Ongoing research is also necessary to assess the trend of glycaemic control and its risk factors in our region.

Validity of self-reported weight and height among female young adults in the United Arab Emirates.

Self-reported weight and height serve as important metrics in estimating overweight and obesity prevalence within epidemiological studies, primarily due to their cost and time efficiency. However, the accuracy and reliability of these self-reported measures remain controversial, with conflicting reports emerging from different regions. This study aims to compare self-reported weight and height with measured values among young female adults in the United Arab Emirates. A cross-sectional study of 131 female university students aged 17-27 reported their weight and height on a self-administered questionnaire and on the same day had their height and weight measured. Body Mass Index (BMI) values of both self-reported and measured weight and height were calculated and categorized according to the World Health Organization's cut-off points. Overall, 87% of students had a resultant self-reported BMI value within their actual BMI category. The mean differences between self-reported and measured weight and height in the present study were -0.92 kg and 0.38 cm, respectively. Results indicated strong agreement between self-reported and direct measurements, as demonstrated by weighted Kappa statistics (kappa = 0.87). Bland & Altman plots illustrated that the majority of values fell within the limits of agreement (2 SD), with no systemic bias detected. BMI calculated from self-reported data demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity. Linear regression analyses revealed that self-reported weight (r2 = 0.973; p<0.001), height (r2 = 0.902; p<0.001), and BMI (r2 = 0.964; p<0.001) accurately predicted measured weight, height, and BMI. The study's results highlight the ability of female university students in the UAE to accurately provide self-reports of their weight and height. This finding provides further support for the utilization of self-reported data on height and weight as a valid method for collecting anthropometric information.

Risk factors and early preventive measures for long COVID in non-hospitalized patients: analysis of a large cohort in the United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVES: Long COVID is characterized by persistent symptoms lasting for 4 weeks or more following the acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. Risk factors for long COVID and the impact of pre-COVID vaccination and treatment during acute COVID-19 remain uncertain. This study aimed to investigate patient-specific factors associated with long COVID in a large cohort of non-hospitalized adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 in Dubai. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: The study included 28,375 non-hospitalized adult patients diagnosed with mild to moderate COVID-19 between January 1, 2021, and September 31, 2022, in Dubai, who were followed up for 90 days. The presence of long COVID symptoms was documented by physicians during patient visits to the family medicine department. Furthermore, long COVID-related risk factors were collected and analyzed, including patient demographics, comorbidities, pre-COVID vaccination status, and the COVID-related treatments received during the acute phase of the illness. Cox proportional hazard models were applied for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Among the cohort, 2.8% of patients experienced long COVID symptoms during the 90-day follow-up. Patients with long COVID tended to be younger, female, and of Caucasian race. Common symptoms included fatigue, muscle pain, respiratory symptoms, abdominal and neurological symptoms, allergic reactions, skin rashes, and hair loss. Risk factors for long COVID were identified as diabetes mellitus, asthma, and Vitamin D deficiency. Females and Caucasians had a higher risk of long COVID during the pre-Omicron period compared to the Omicron period. Pre-COVID vaccination was associated with a reduced risk of long COVID in all patient subgroups. Treatment with favipiravir or sotrovimab during the acute phase of COVID-19 was linked to a decreased risk of long COVID, although favipiravir showed limited effectiveness in the high-risk group. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the existing knowledge by identifying risk factors for long COVID among non-hospitalized patients and emphasizing the potential benefits of pre-COVID vaccination and timely treatment.

Correlation between maternal and umbilical cord 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels over a range of values. A prospective observational study from the United Arab Emirates.

Worldwide vitamin D insufficiency is remarkably prevalent in both children and adults, including pregnant women. The total amount of the vitamin is best measured by 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D), which is a measurement of total serum cholecalciferol 25(OH)D3 and ergocalciferol 25(OH)D2. There is a known correlation between maternal and umbilical cord blood (UCB) 25(OH)D; however, whether specific maternal demographics or comorbidities influence the correlation remains uncertain. This prospective observational study was designed to study if maternal 25(OH)D levels, maternal age and BMI, amount of supplementation, mode of delivery, diabetes, hypertension/preeclampsia, or sunlight exposure had an impact on the correlation. Women were enrolled in the study at admission to the labor ward. If they agreed to participate, venous blood was directly collected and analyzed for 25(OH)D. The UCB was sampled after delivery from the unclamped cord and immediately analyzed for 25(OH)D. ANOVA, Fisher's exact test, Pearson's correlation, and test of the differences between correlations using Fisher's z-transformation with Bonferroni correction were used accordingly. Of the 298 women enrolled, blood from both the mother and umbilical cord was analyzed successfully for 25(OH)D in 235 cases. The crude correlation between maternal and UCB 25(OH)D was very strong over all values of 25(OH)D (r = 0.905, R2 = 0.821, p <0,001) and remained strong independently of maternal demographics or co-morbidities (r ≥ 0.803, R2 ≥ 0.644, p <0.001). For women who delivered by caesarean section in second stage the correlation was strong (r ≥ 0.633, R2 ≥ 0.4, p <0.037). Test of differences between correlations showed significant stronger correlation in women with unknown 25(OH)D3 supplementation compared to women receiving 10.000 IU/week (p = 0.02) and 20.000IU/week (p = 0.01) and that the correlation was significantly stronger for women with a BMI of 25-29.9 compared to women with a BMI of <24.9 (p = 0.004) and 30-34.9 (p = 0.002). 213 (91%) women had lower 25(OH)D compared to the neonate, with a mean difference of -13.7nmol/L (SD = 15.6). In summary, the correlation between maternal and UCB 25(OH)D is very strong throughout low to high maternal levels of 25(OH)D with lower levels in maternal blood. Typical maternal demographics and comorbidities did not affect the transition.

Circulating ceramide levels and ratios in Emirati youth under 18 years: associations with cardiometabolic risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Circulating ceramide (Cer) drives various pathological processes associated with cardiovascular diseases, liver illness, and diabetes mellitus. Although recognized as predictors of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) in research and clinical settings, their potential for predicting CMD risk in individuals under 18 remains unexplored. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to utilize Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methodology to determine the biological reference ranges for Cer in plasma samples of Emirati children and develop a risk assessment score (CERT-1) based on Cer concentrations. METHODS: Using LC-MS/MS, we developed a method to measure five Cer species in plasma samples of 582 Emirati participants aged 5-17. We used the circulating concentrations of these Cer to determine their reference intervals in this population. We employed traditional statistical analyses to develop a risk score (CERT-1) and assess the association between Cer levels and conventional biomarkers of CMD. RESULTS: We validated a high-throughput methodology using LC-MS/MS to quantify five Cer species in human plasma. Reference values for this population (n = 582) were quantified: CerC16:0 (0.12-0.29 µmol/L), CerC18:0 (0.019-0.067 µmol/L), CerC22:0 (0.102-0.525 µmol/L), CerC24:0 (0.65-1.54 µmol/L) and CerC24:1 (0.212-0.945 µmol/L). We devised a risk assessment score (CERT-1) based on plasma Cer content in the study participants, showing that 72.5% have low to moderate risk and 9.3% are at a higher risk of developing CMD. Our analyses also revealed a significant correlation (P < 0.05) between this score and the conventional risk factors linked to CMD, indicating its potential clinical implication. CONCLUSION: This study presents a clinical-scaled LC-MS/MS methodology for assessing clinically relevant Cer, setting reference ranges, and developing a risk score (CERT-1) for young Emirati individuals. Our findings can enhance primary risk prediction and inform the management and follow-up of CMD from an early age.

Fidelity of family centered care model to early disability diagnosis and rehabilitation in the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: The role of parents in supporting early intervention for young children with disabilities is critical. Indeed, models of family centered care (FCC), which emphasis strong partnerships between health professionals and families in disability health services delivery are now widely associated with best practice. While FCC is consistently argued to be an appropriate model for disability service delivery, its utilization is limited primarily to Western countries such as Australia and the United States. Countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have prioritized early childhood development and are thus in search of best practices for delivery of early intervention for children and their families. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the appropriateness of the FCC model in disability service delivery in the UAE. This study was conducted from the perspectives of health professionals who are involved in disability diagnosis, referral and ongoing support for families and children with disabilities. METHOD: A total of 150 health professionals were recruited from health facilities, rehabilitation centers and schools in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi. The 27-item Measure of Process of Care for Service Providers (MPOC-SP) was used for data collection. The data were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis to confirm applicability of the model to this context. Multivariate analysis of variance and moderation analysis were also conducted, to ascertain the relationship between participants' satisfaction levels with their ability to diagnose, refer and provide on-going support and their likelihood of practicing key components of FCC. RESULT: Computation of confirmatory factor analysis provided support for applicability of the MPOC-SP in the UAE context. Further inspection showed moderate to large correlations between the four components of FCC measured by MPOC-SP, providing further support for utilization of FCC in disability health service delivery in the UAE. CONCLUSION: The study concludes with a call to policymakers in the UAE to consider developing disability health policy based on key components of FCC. This could be supplemented by development of training modules on FCC to upskill health professionals involved in disability diagnosis and rehabilitation.