The Centralized pan-Middle East Survey on the undertreatment of hypercholesterolemia (CEPHEUS) survey evaluated the attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals among patients on lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs) according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-Adult Treatment Panel (ATP-III) guideline. The survey was conducted in 6 Arabian Gulf countries. Patients aged ≥18 years on LLDs for at least ≥3 months (stable medication for ≥6 weeks) were recruited. Fasting blood samples were collected at a single visit. In this survey, 5276 (58.2% male) patients were included in the final analysis. The LDL-C goal was attained in 91.1% of low-risk, 52.7% of high-risk, and 32.0% in very-high-risk categories. Goal attainment was directly related to female gender, age<40 years, history of diabetes, and family history of cardiovascular disease. The results of this survey highlight the suboptimal management of hypercholesterolemia across Arabian Gulf countries.

Subjects with Familial hypercholesterolemia are at increased risk for cardiac events such as premature myocardial infarction and early death from coronary heart disease, especially in patients with severe forms of the disease if left unattended. Therefore, there is an ardent need for the early diagnosis followed by aggressive therapeutic intervention and lifestyle modification. Three groups have developed clinical diagnostic tools for Familial hypercholesterolemia: the US MedPed Program, the Simon Broome Register Group in the United Kingdom, and the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network. In this article, the individual criteria are reviewed with particular emphasis on their advantage(s) and disadvantage(s), and in turn assess their suitability in diagnosing Familial hypercholesterolemia in the Omani Arab population. A brief insight into the process of "Cascade Screening" is also provided, this is a procedure that we are in the process of establishing in Oman.

Overweight and inactivity had significant negative effects on cardiorespiratory fitness in urban boys and girls as compared to their rural counterparts. Weight gain in adolescence requires early intervention.

Results confirmed the association of KCNJ11 (rs5219), TCF7L2 (rs7903146), CDKAL1 (rs10946398) and CDKN2A/B (rs10811661) gene variants with susceptibility to T2D among Omani Arabs.

The ARR did not predict the blood pressure response to SPIRO. SPIRO 50 mg was significantly more effective than BFZ 2.5 mg in lowering SABP irrespective of baseline ARR, plasma renin activity or aldosterone.