Proportion of Hidden Vertebral Fractures Among Egyptian Males With Fragility Hip Fractures in the Emergency Room of Ain Shams University Hospitals.

Background Fragility fractures are linked to significant costs for society as well as significant pain and suffering, disability, and even death. It is well-recognized that osteoporosis-related fragility fractures raise the risk of subsequent fragility fractures. One of the most frequent osteoporotic fractures brought on by low bone mineral density and other risk factors is vertebral fractures. Considering that most vertebral fractures are asymptomatic and not clinically identified, proactive screening could stop additional impairment. Objective The current study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of hidden vertebral fractures in Egyptian males who have fragility hip fractures. Patients and methods A cross-sectional case-control study examining the correlation of risk factors between cases (fragility hip fracture and vertebral fractures) and a control group (fragility hip fracture without vertebral fracture) was carried out from September 2020 to September 2021 on patients visiting the orthopedic emergency department of a university hospital in Cairo, Egypt. Males who presented to the emergency room (ER) with fragility hip fractures and were 40 years of age or older met our inclusion criteria. For every patient who presented with a fragility hip fracture, standard lateral and anteroposterior radiographs of the dorso-lumbar spine were taken. Results A total of 43,935 patients visited the orthopedic emergency room (ER) throughout the study period; 13,034 of those patients were men, accounting for 29.7% of all orthopedic ER visits. Our inclusion criteria for fragility hip fractures were met by 132 male participants. The screening lumbosacral plain X-rays identified 27 (20.5%) of the 132 patients as having concomitant vertebral fractures in addition to the fragility hip fractures. Concomitant hidden vertebral fractures among Egyptian males with other fragility fractures, particularly fragility hip fractures, are predicted by the number of co-morbid diseases, hypertension, and continuous use of steroids and anti-epileptics. Conclusion Most fragility fractures are avoidable. Because one fragility fracture increases the likelihood of others, early detection is crucial. To prevent complications and mortality, it is important to identify and manage individuals who have a fragility hip fracture as they frequently have concurrent hidden vertebral fractures. Predictive risk factors for fragility vertebral fractures include hypertension, the number of concomitant illnesses, and chronic drugs (anti-epileptics and steroids).

Survey of End-of-Life Care in Intensive Care Units in Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.

Studies on end-of-life care reveal different practices regarding withholding and/or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments between countries and regions. Available data about physicians' practices regarding end-of-life care in ICUs in Egypt is scarce. This study aimed to investigate physicians' attitudes toward end-of-life care and the reported practice in adult ICUs in Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. 100 physicians currently working in several ICU settings in Ain Shams University Hospitals were included. A self-administered questionnaire was used for collection of data. Most of the participants agreed to implementation of "do not resuscitate" (DNR) orders and applying pre-written DNR orders (61% and 65% consecutively), while only 13% almost always/often order DNR for terminally-ill patients. 52% of the participants agreed to usefulness of limiting life-sustaining therapy in some cases, but they expressed fear of legal consequences. 47% found withholding life-sustaining treatment is more ethical than its withdrawal. 16% almost always/often withheld further active treatment but continued current ones while only 6% almost always/often withdrew active therapy for terminally-ill patients. The absence of legislation and guidelines for end-of-life care in ICUs at Ain Shams University Hospitals was the main influential factor for the dissociation between participants' attitudes and their practices. Therefore, development of a consensus for end-of-life care in ICUs in Egypt is mandatory. Also, training of physicians in ICUs on effective communication with patients' families and surrogates is important for planning of limitation of life-sustaining treatments.

Executive Function and Physical Function Among Community-Dwelling Egyptian Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: The ongoing scientific debate regarding the association between physical function and cognitive impairment has focused mainly on global cognitive performance rather than specific cognitive functions tests and the importance of recognition of its associations and any factors that could play a role later in the prevention of such decline. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between physical function, using handgrip strength (HGS) and Timed Up-and-Go test (TUGT), and executive function (EF), using Clock Drawing Test (CDT), among community-dwelling Egyptian elderly. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 5 social clubs in Cairo, Egypt and included a sample of 136 elderly males and females aged≥55 years old. All participants had their physical function assessed using TUGT, and measurement of HGS using a pneumatic hand-held dynamometer. Assessment of EF using CDT was also done. RESULTS: Higher CDT scores were significantly associated with both better HGS, and lower TUGT (OR = 3.77, and 0.65 respectively). This persisted even after adjustment for age and gender (OR = 2.56, and 0.71 respectively) and after further adjustment for weight, systolic blood pressure, education, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hypothyroidism, and physical activity (O.R. = 4.79, and 0.76 respectively). Adjustment for both male and female genders showed an association between physical (HGS and TUGT) and EF was stronger among men. CONCLUSION: A strong association between CDT score and both of HGS and TUGT was found among the studied sample. Higher HGS and lower TUGT was significantly associated with better performance in the CDT. This association is stronger in males than in females for both HGS and TUGT.

The Relation Between Calcaneus Stiffness Index as a Measure of Bone Density and Body Mass Index in an Egyptian Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and osteoporosis are two conditions that are associated with morbidity and mortality; there is contradictory evidence regarding this association. PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to explore further the association between obesity and calcaneus stiffness index (CSI), as a measure of bone density, in a community-based cross-sectional study in an Egyptian population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among active subjects, aged ≥20 years old, over one year. CSI was measured by Quantitative ultrasound (QUS), in addition; QUS T-score and Z-score of the non-dominant heel scan were recorded. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty participants were recruited; 7 subjects were excluded because of Z score more than -2, mean age was 61 (± 11.9) years, and mean BMI was 29.7 (±5.6). Female participants were 77.7%, with mean of age 60.3 (± 11.6); and age range 20-82 years. Male participants were 22.3%, with mean of age 63.6 (± 12.7); and age range 30-80 years. Older subjects (>55 years) had significantly lower CSI and worse T-score than the younger subjects (P < 0.001 for both). In the younger age group, BMI was not significantly associated with CSI, even after adjustment for gender (P= 0.52). However, in the older age group, BMI was significantly associated with stiffness index (P= 0.049, O.R.= 1.73), even after adjustment for gender (P= 0.041, O.R.= 1.7). CONCLUSION: Compared to young subjects, older subjects (≥55 years) had significantly lower bone strength as measured by CSI, and their BMI was significantly positively associated with bone density. In younger people (<55 years), BMI was not associated with bone strength.

IAGG/IAGG GARN International Survey of End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes.

This article reports the findings of a survey on end-of-life (EOL) care in nursing homes of 18 long-term care experts across 15 countries. The experts were chosen as a convenience-based sample of known experts in each country. The survey was administered in 2016 and included both open-ended responses for defining hospice care, palliative care, and "end of life," and a series of questions related to the following areas-attitudes toward EOL care, current practice and EOL interventions, structure of care, and routine barriers. Overall experts strongly agreed that hospice and palliative care should be available in long-term care facilities and that both are defined by holistic, interdisciplinary approaches using measures of comfort across domains. However, it appears the experts felt that in most countries the reality fell short of what they believed would be ideal care. As a result, experts call for increased training, communication, and access to specialized EOL services within the nursing home.