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BackgroundThis study aims to review all published systematic reviews on the prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors among women from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC). This is the first review of other systematic reviews that concentrates on lifestyle related diseases among women in GCC countries only.MethodLiterature searches were carried out in three electronic databases for all published systematic reviews on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the GCC countries between January 2000 and February 2016.ResultsEleven systematic reviews were identified and selected for our review. Common reported risk factors for cardiovascular disease were obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and hypertension. In GCC countries, obesity among the female population ranges from 29 to 45.7%, which is one of the highest rates globally, and it is linked with physical inactivity, ranging from 45 to 98.7%. The prevalence of diabetes is listed as one of the top ten factors globally, and was reported with an average of 21%. Hypertension ranged from 20.9 to 53%.ConclusionsThe high prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases among women population in GCC is a ticking time bomb and is reaching alarming levels, and require a fundamental social and political changes. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive work among the GCC to strengthen the regulatory framework to decrease and control the prevalence of these factors.

Isometric exercise (IME) produces significant hemodynamic changes in the cardiovascular system. We have used IME to study the effect of age on diastolic left ventricular (LV) function in 100 normal volunteers. The E/A ratio (peak velocity of early/atrial filling phases), deceleration time (DT), and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) of the transmitral flow were assessed during echocardiography with pulsed-Doppler ultrasound at rest and at peak IME using handgrip. LV mass index (LVMI) and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) were also calculated. Both E/A and IVRT reduced significantly with increasing age. The LVEF decreased (P <.0001), whereas LVMI increased (P <.05) with advancing age. The LVEF was inversely related to LVMI (P <.05). An inverse relationship was noted between E/A and LVMI (P <.01) during IME. The contribution of the atrial contraction to the total diastolic flow increased significantly with advancing age (P <.02) and increased from 0.29 +/- 0.04 at rest to 0.34 +/- 0.08 during IME (P <.0001). It is concluded that with progressing age, the left ventricle becomes stiffer resulting in a reduction in early filling and a compensatory increase in flow due to atrial contraction. A progressive increase in LVMI, which accompanies aging may contribute to stiffening of the left ventricle and deterioration in diastolic function of the left ventricle. This is exaggerated by IME.

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Cystic hydatid disease is responsible for the loss of 1 to 3 million disability-adjusted life years every year. Infestation of the heart, though rare, can result in serious complications if left untreated. We retrospectively collected information on 19 patients with cardiac hydatid cyst admitted at the Center for Cardiac Surgery of Ibn Al-Bitar Hospital in Baghdad from July 2007 to July 2011 who were either in need of a cardiac surgery for treating hydatid cysts or presented with emergency conditions. Nine (47%) patients presented with left-sided heart failure and mitral valve dysfunction, 5 (26%) patients had hydatid cysts in the pericardium, 3 (16%) patients had hydatid cyst in the right ventricle and presented with right-sided heart failure, and 2 (11%) patients who presented with cardiac arrhythmias had infestation in the interventricular septum. Removal of cysts following open-heart surgery was successful and was followed by the use of mebendazole or albendazole for 5 years. We conclude that cardiac hydatid cyst that leads to various cardiac symptoms can be successfully managed and should be considered as a diagnostic possibility in patients with cardiac symptoms in endemic areas.