Abstract:Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the educational level on glycemic control among patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Methods:A disproportional systematic stratified sample of 384 patients, based on educational level, was selected from patients of type II diabetes attending the Primary Care Clinic of King Khalid University Hospital, over a period of 6 months in 2012-2013. A questionnaire sought information about socio-demographic factors, clinical characteristics, awareness of diabetic complications and self-care management behaviors. Weight and height were measured. Poor glycemic control was defined as HbA1c ≥7%. Result:The rate of patients who had poor glycemic control is 67.7%. The educational level had no impact on glycemic control, but the patients of high educational level had better awareness of the complications and a high rate of adherence to diet. About 70.5% of patients were aware of two or more diabetic complications. The factors associated with poor control included increased duration of diabetes, use of insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents combination, being obese or overweight, poor adherence to diet, poor adherence to exercise and poor compliance with follow up. This study found a high rate of poor adherence to diet (68%) and poor adherence to exercise (79.4%). Conclusion:The proportion of patients with poor glycemic control was high in this study. This study showed that educational level may not be a good predictor of better therapeutic compliance. In-spite of the significant importance of appropriate diet and exercise in the control of diabetes, there was a high rate of poor adherence to diet and to exercise, especially among females. Educational programs that emphasize adherence to treatment regimens as a whole, especially to diet, to exercise and to regular follow up are of greater benefit in glycemic control as compared to compliance of medications alone.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a growing, worldwide public health concern. The countries of Arabic Gulf appear to have a higher prevalence of diabetes than the global average. The recent and rapid socio-economic development of these countries has been associated with this rising prevalence. Although the rate of type 2 diabetes management based on glycosylated hemoglobin level in the countries of Arabic Gulf is labeled as poor, the outcomes are almost similar to those reported from elsewhere. Unfortunately, overweight and obesity are driving the global diabetes epidemic. A minority of patients with type 2 diabetes had a normal body weight which might make the control of diabetes difficult. Anyhow, Greater efforts are urgently needed to properly manage diabetes early in order to prevent short and long-term complications. Practical strategies aimed at more effective management of type 2 diabetes patients are strongly needed.

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 has affected almost all world countries, including all 22 Arab countries. However, over the last 34 months, the world has suffered from the pandemic unevenly, and COVID-19 statistics are dynamic. ObjectivesThe current study aimed to use COVID-19 data to examine COVID-19 statistics (including the number of cases/deaths/tests) in Arab countries by the end of October 2022 and compare the findings with global statistics. This study was also used to determine the extent to which statistics vary across Arab countries. MethodsThe primary data on COVID-19 for each Arab country were obtained from the "Worldometer" website. The data include the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 per country, the cumulative number of deaths, the total number of tests performed, the number of cases per million population, the number of deaths per million, the number of tests per million, and the total population. The case-fatality rate (CFR) was calculated (number of deaths/number of cases). In addition, the median age for each Arab country was extracted from the United Nations website. The rate of vaccination coverage (people who received two doses) was extracted from the "Our World in Data" website. COVID-19 statistics were further analyzed in Arab countries in Asia compared to those in Africa at the end of 2020, 2021, and October 2022. To compare the Arab countries to the globe, COVID-19 data for each continent were obtained. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between different variables across Arab countries. ResultsAs of November 1, 2022, about 636 million COVID-19 cases and 6.6 million deaths had been recorded worldwide. Arab countries accounted for nearly 2.21% and 2.62% of all cases and deaths, respectively. In general, the mean deaths per million and the mean cases per million for Arab countries were lower than those of the world's countries, although Arab countries recorded a higher mean case-fatality rate. Alternatively, Arab countries in aggregate recorded fewer deaths per million (381) than the world (830). However, statistics across Arab countries have been inconsistent; Arab countries in Africa were less affected. Arab countries have performed approximately 359 million tests (5.29% of all tests), 93% of which were performed by Arab countries in Asia. Moreover, 54.4% of all tests were performed in the United Arab

BackgroundThe world has been affected differently by the coronavirus disease 2019 , and Europe reaped the largest number of cases and deaths. Moreover, COVID-19 statistics are dynamic. ObjectivesThe current study aimed to use COVID-19 data to examine the COVID-19 prevalence in Europe by the end of November 2022 and compare the findings globally. MethodsThe primary data on COVID-19 for each European country were obtained from the "Worldometer" website. The data include the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 per country, the cumulative number of deaths, the total number of tests performed, the number of cases per million population, the number of deaths per million, the number of tests per million, and the total population. The case-fatality rate was calculated (number of deaths/number of cases). In addition, the median age and the vaccination coverage rate (people who received two doses) for each European country were extracted from the "United Nations" website and the "Our World in Data" website, respectively. To compare European countries to the globe, COVID-19 data for each continent were obtained. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare variances across the means of the four parts of Europe based on the geographic division. An independent sample t-test was also used to compare the means between the European Union (EU) states and non-EU states. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between different variables across Europe. ResultsAs of December 1, 2022, about 648 million COVID-19 cases and 6.6 million deaths have been recorded worldwide. Europe accounted for nearly 36.8% and 29.5% of all cases and deaths, respectively. Based on the number of deaths per million, Europe was the most affected continent after South America. Nearly 6.8 billion tests have been conducted worldwide, 41% done in Europe; 43 European countries have performed tests more than their population. However, COVID-19 statistics were inconsistent across the four parts of Europe. A significant difference was noticed between Eastern Europe and others, especially Northern Europe and Western Europe. By affiliation with the EU, there was no significant difference. For global comparison, the mean deaths per million, the mean cases per million, and the mean tests per population for European countries were higher than those of the world's countries, although they recorded a lower mean case-fatality rate (CFR). Thirteen European countries were among the 15 most affected countries worldwide based on the number of deaths per million, most located in Eastern and Southern Europe. The number of cases and the number of deaths were significantly proportional to the number of tests performed. ConclusionsBy the end of November 2022, Europe had the most cases of COVID-19, the most deaths, and the most tests performed, even though it accounts for 9.4% of the world's population. However, COVID-19 data were inconsistent across the four parts of Europe, especially between Eastern Europe and others. Given the natural...

Background: Estimate the rate of consuming energy drinks among male students of Qassim University and to evaluate the pattern, knowledge and behavior of energy drinks among them. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among students of Qassim University during December 2014 and January 2015. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: This study showed that 37.8% of participants reported consuming energy drinks. With regard to the colleges, the students of collage of sciences had significantly the highest range of consuming energy drinks. Only a small proportion have knowledge about energy drinks regarding their effects, advantages, ingredients and adverse effects. The most common reasons to consume these drinks were habitation followed by being to imitate friends. Conclusion: Consumption of energy drinks among male students at Qassim University are found to be approximately 37.8% which almost near to what have been seen in some studies. Educational programs should be designed and implemented at all levels of schools and at the community level to raise the level of awareness of health effects of theses drinks.