BackgroundThe importance of optimal postoperative glycemic control in cardiac patients remains unclear. Various glycemic targets have been prescribed to reduce wound infection and overall mortality rates.Aim of the work: To assess glucose control, as determined by time in range (TIR), in patients with glycemic targets of 6.0 to 8.1 mmol/L, and to determine factors related to poor control.MethodsThis prospective descriptive study evaluated 227 consecutive patients, 100 with and 127 without diabetes, after cardiac surgery. Patients received insulin to target glucose concentrations of 6.0 to 8.1 mmol/L. Data analyzed included patient age, gender, race, Euro score, cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPB), aortic cross clamp time (ACC), length of ventilation, stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and stay in the hospital. Patients were divided into two groups, those who maintained > 80% and < 80% TIR. Outcome variables were compared in diabetics and non-diabetics.ResultsPatients with >80% and <80% TIR were matched in age, sex, gender, and Euro score. Failure to maintain target glycemia was significantly more frequent in diabetics (p = 0.001), in patients with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > 8% (p = 0.0001), and in patients taking dopamine (p = 0.04) and adrenaline (p = 0.05). Times of CPB and ACC, length of stay in the ICU and ventilation were significantly higher in patients with TIR <80% than >80%. Rates of hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, and in-hospital mortality were similar in the two groups, although the incidence of wound infection was higher in patients with TIR <80%. Both diabetics and non-diabetics with low TIR had poorer outcomes, as shown by length of stay and POAF. No significant differences were found between the two ethnic groups (Arabs and Asians).ConclusionPatients with >80% TIR, whether or not diabetics, had better outcomes than those with <80% TIR, as determined by wound infection, lengths of ventilation and ICU stay. Additionally, they were not subject to frequent hypoglycemic events. Preoperatively high HbA1C is likely a good predictor of poor glycemic control.

Data from 278 patients taking warfarin (78 managed at pharmacist and 200 at doctor-based clinic) were evaluated. Subjects followed at the pharmacist-based clinic had a superior TTR compared to those managed at the doctor-based clinic (81.8% vs. 69.8%, P < 0.001). Additionally, the percentage of visits within therapeutic range were significantly higher in the pharmacist's group compared to doctor's group (76.5% vs. 71.2%, P = 0.011). At the same time, percentage of visits with extreme subtherapeutic INR was reduced in the pharmacist-managed clinic (5.17% vs. 7.05%, P = 0.007) CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that pharmacist-based anticoagulation has better INR control when compared to the traditional anticoagulation management. Pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinics should be considered and supported for warfarin management.

In patients who underwent PCI, polypharmacy at discharge could play a negative role in the adherence to the first refill of EBM. Further studies should investigate other parameters that contribute to long term non-adherence.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease. The epidemiology, treatment options, and outcomes have changed considerably over the last two decades. The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients with IE in Qatar. Methods: Patients were identified from Hamad Medical Corporation hospitals’ electronic records, the national referral center for the State of Qatar. We included those aged ≥ 18 years with Duke Criteria-based diagnosis of IE during the period from January 2015 to September 2017. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved. Descriptive statistics were performed, and logistic regression analysis was used to describe the relationship between patient characteristics and all-cause in-hospital mortality. All potentially relevant variables were included in the univariate analysis, while those with p < 0.1 in the univariate logistic regression model were included in the multivariate analysis. For the final model, we calculated odds ratios (OR) adjusted for each of the variables included, along with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Data were analyzed using STATA software version 15 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas, USA). The study was approved by the Institutional Research Board with a waiver for informed consent. Results: Fifty-seven cases were included, of which 70% were males. The mean age was 51 years ( ± 16.8 years). Eleven (19%) were associated with prosthetic valves, and 6 (11%) with implantable cardiac devices. Fever (84%), dyspnea (46%), and heart failure (37%) were the most common presentations. Only 58% of patients had known preexisting valvular heart disease or an intracardiac device. Skin infections (10 patients, 18%) were the most prevalent portals of infection, followed by venous catheters, recent valve surgery, and implantable cardiac devices. Staphylococci were implicated in 19 (34%) and Streptococcaceae in 9 (16%) patients, whereas 21 (37%) patients were culture negative. Left-side IE (49 patients, 86%) was predominant. Acute kidney injury (AKI) (17 patients, 30%) and heart failure (11 patients, 19%) were common complications. The majority of patients received targeted antimicrobial therapy with at least two active agents. Only 9 (16%) patients underwent surgical intervention. Fourteen (25%) patients died of any cause before hospital discharge. Logistic regression analysis identified septic shock [OR 57.8, 95% CI 2.6–1360.2; p < 0.01] and AKI OR 33.9, 95% CI 2.9–398.1; p < 0.01) as the only risk factors independently associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Staphylococci are the most common microbiological cause of IE in Qatar. Surgical intervention is uncommon, and mortality is relatively high. Our findings suggest that efforts should be directed toward improving IE prevention strategies in high-risk patients, encour...

Genetic and non-genetic factors were shown to affect warfarin dosing; however, their effect may vary from one population to the other. No previous studies were conducted on the Qatari population to elucidate these factors. Research question: What is the prevalence of VKORC1, CYP2C9, and CYP4F2 genetic variants in Qataris? and what is their contribution to warfarin dose variability? Study design: An observational cross-sectional study Methods: Hundred and fifty warfarin-treated Qatari patients on a stable dose and a therapeutic INR for at least 3 consecutive clinic visits were recruited. Saliva samples were collected using Oragene DNA self-collection kit, followed by DNA purification and genotyping via TaqMan Real-Time-PCR assay. Results: The minor allele frequency (MAF) of VKORC1 (-1639G>A) was A 0.46, while the MAF's for the CYP2C9*2 and *3 and CYP4F2*3 were T (0.12), C (0.04) and T (0.43), respectively. Carriers of at least one loss of function CYP2C9 allele (*2 or *3) required significantly lower warfarin doses iv compared to non-carriers (24 mg/week vs. 34.1 mg/week, p<0.001). VKORC1 (-1639G>A) and CYP4F2*3 polymorphisms on the other hand were not associated with warfarin dose. Multivariate analysis on the derivation cohort showed that congestive heart failure (CHF) (P=0.002), and CYP2C9*2 & *3 (P<0.001) were associated with lower warfarin dose while smoking (P=0.003) was associated with higher warfarin dose. These factors explained 24.1% of warfarin dose variability in Qatari patients. CYP2C9*2 & *3 variants accounted for 11.8% of warfarin dose variability. In the validation cohort, correlation between predicted and actual warfarin doses was moderate (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient= 0.41, p=0.005). Conclusion: This study showed that CYP2C9*2 & *3 are the most significant predictors of warfarin dose along with CHF and smoking. Dose reduction should be considered in patients with CHF and those carrying at least one of the CYP2C9*2 & *3 alleles. While dose increase should be considered in smokers. v DEDICATION To my loving family vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this thesis would not have been possible without the kind support and assistance of so many individuals whose names may not all be enumerated. All their efforts and contributions are highly and sincerely appreciated and acknowledged. At foremost, I want to thank GOD for giving me all the strength and good health to complete this work. I would like to extend my gratitude to my family; mom, dad, Aya & Tala, who never seemed to cease their support and reassurance even with distance keeping us apart. My beloved husband, Ammar who always believed in me and stood by my side every step of the way, my son Farouk for always being my source of joy and inspiration. I would like to extend my special thanks and gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Hazem F. Elewa for never being hesitant to share his knowledge and expertise with me, for always supporting and fostering my achievements, and always promoting me to stand out.