Association between Childhood Atopic Disease and Parental Atopic Disease in a Population with High Consanguinity

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in Qatari schoolchildren with allergic conditions in their parents. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 3500 Qatari schoolchildren aged 6–14 years in period: February, 2003–February, 2004. A questionnaire was used to collect the clinical history of asthma and allergic rhinitis in their parents and siblings. It was found that 21.6% of asthmatic children had mothers with asthma and 18.2% fathers with asthma. This contrasted with 6.8% of non-asthmatic children who had fathers with asthma and 9.4% mothers with asthma. As for allergic rhinitis, 26.5% of asthmatic children had mothers with allergic rhinitis and 25.3% fathers with allergic rhinitis. The frequency of either parent of the asthmatic children having allergic rhinitis was 41.8% and for both parents was 10.0%. The frequency of siblings having asthma was 36.6%, allergic rhinitis 16.4%, and eczema 29.1%. The present study revealed a strong association between respiratory allergies and eczema in parents, and their asthmatic children

Health Services Management in Qatar

Aim To assess health care delivery system in the State of Qatar and audit it according to the Joint Commission International (JCI) standard. Methods The data for this retrospective descriptive study were taken from the Annual Health Report of the National Health Authority and Hamad Medical Corporation and various additional sources like World Health Organization reports, Annual Report of Saudi Arabia, and Compendium of Health Statistics, UK. Population per physician, per general practitioner, and per hospital bed, and nurses per physician ratio were calculated. Results In 2008, the population per physician in Qatar was 444; the population per general practitioner (GP) was 949; the population per hospital bed was 716; and nurses per physician ratio was 2.6. During the last decade, the population of Qatar has more than doubled, which has resulted in a similar increase in the number of health care providers; moreover, many initiatives launched in cooperation with internationally recognized institutions have greatly improved the quality of the health service. The weighted mean number of visits for 100 population was calculated for the UK and Qatar, taking into consideration the difference in age and sex structure. After comparison with the UK data, population/GP ratio for Qatar should be 1193. Conclusion The Qatar health system has improved in the last decade, but there is still the need for more medical workers in primary health care

Nutritional Rickets among Children in a Sun Rich Country

Objective. This study describes the magnitude and characteristics of nutritional rickets and associated risk factors among children in Qatar. Subjects. A consecutive sample of 730 healthy subjects who visited the primay health care clinics were approached and 540 (73.9%) subjects gave consent. Mehods. Nutritional rickets diagnosis was based on clinical radiologic and biochemical parameters and normalization of alkaline phosphatase level after 6 weeks course of daily vitamin D therapy. Results. The study revealed that 23.9% of the studied children had nutritional rickets. The mean ± SD age of those with rickets (3.76 years ± 1.51) was slightly higher than those without rickets (3.57 years ± 1.45). Family history of vitamin D deficiency (44.2%; P = .001) and diabetes mellitus (53.5%; P = .002) were significantly higher in rachitic children than in nonrachitic children. The children with rickets spent a significantly shorter average duration (26.86 minutes ± 19.94) under the sun than those without rickets (30.59 minutes ± 15.72; P < .001). A significantly larger proportion of rachitic children was afflicted with vitamin D deficiency (75.2% versus 62.2%; P < .001), secondary hypothyroidism (100% versus 7.5%; P = .009) and muscular weakness (56.6% versus 26.3%; P < .001). Conclusion. The most important risk factors were low vitamin D and calcium intakes, lack of exposure to sunlight, prolonged breast feeding without supplementation of vitamin D

Prevalence of gestational diabetes and associated maternal and neonatal complications in a fast-developing community: global comparisons

Background: The prevalence of gestational diabetes (GDM) is increasing all over the world. Hence, the impact of GDM on maternal and infant health is an important topic of research. No study has been conducted in Qatar to evaluate the outcome of pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of GDM, compare the maternal-neonatal complications among women with GDM and non-GDM pregnant women, and investigate the risk factors and potential outcomes associated with GDM. Design: This is a prospective cohort study. Setting: The survey was carried out at the antenatal clinics of the Women&apos;s Hospital, Qatar. Subjects and methods: A representative sample of 2056 pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinics of the Women&apos;s Hospital were surveyed during the period from the first week of January 2010 to April 2011. From this sample, 1608 women (78.2%) expressed their consent to participate in the study. Questionnaires were administered to pregnant women who were seeking antenatal care at this urban hospital. The questionnaire covered variables related to sociodemographic factors, family history, medical history, maternal complications, and neonatal outcome. Results: The prevalence of GDM in Qatar was 16.3%. Women with GDM were significantly higher in the age group of 35-45 years (45%; P = 0.001). Family history of diabetes (31.7%; P , 0.001), increased parity (55.3%; P = 0.004), and obesity (59.2%; P , 0.001) were determinants of GDM in pregnant women. Maternal complications like pregnancy-induced hypertension (19.1% vs 10.3%; P , 0.001), pre-eclampsia (7.3% vs 3.8%; P = 0.012), antepartum hemorrhage (19.2% vs 14.6%; P = 0.05), and cesarean (27.9% vs 12.4%; P , 0.001) were significantly higher in GDM women. Neonates were at increased risk of preterm birth (12.6% vs 8.3%; P = 0.03), macrosomia (10.3% vs 5.9%; P = 0.01), and birth trauma (8% vs 3%; P , 0.001). Conclusion: The study findings revealed that GDM was higher in women in Qatar and that they were at increased risk of developing maternal and neonatal complications. Obesity emerged as an essential risk factor for subsequent GDM. The advanced maternal age, low monthly income, family history of diabetes, and obesity were the main significant risk factors for GDM

Editorial: Global excellence in children and health

Introduction Cooperation and collaboration within and between countries is an increasingly important component of tackling and overcoming the pressing issues impacting upon children’s health and wellbeing. This Research Topic (RT) aimed to highlight advances and achievements in the health and wellbeing of children across the globe. The seven included manuscripts touched on key endemic issues of diarrhoeal illnesses, micronutrient status and child development

Prevalence of gestational diabetes and associated maternal and neonatal complications in a fast-developing community: global comparisons

Abdulbari Bener1,2, Najah M Saleh3, Abdulla Al-Hamaq41Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Hamad General Hospital, Department of Public Health and Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medical College, Qatar; 2Department of Evidence for Population Health Unit, School of Epidemiology and Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women&amp;#39;s Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar; 4Qatar Diabetes Association and Qatar Foundation, QatarBackground: The prevalence of gestational diabetes (GDM) is increasing all over the world. Hence, the impact of GDM on maternal and infant health is an important topic of research. No study has been conducted in Qatar to evaluate the outcome of pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus.Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of GDM, compare the maternal&amp;ndash;neonatal complications among women with GDM and non-GDM pregnant women, and investigate the risk factors and potential outcomes associated with GDM.Design: This is a prospective cohort study.Setting: The survey was carried out at the antenatal clinics of the Women&amp;#39;s Hospital, Qatar.Subjects and methods: A representative sample of 2056 pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinics of the Women&amp;#39;s Hospital were surveyed during the period from the first week of January 2010 to April 2011. From this sample, 1608 women (78.2%) expressed their consent to participate in the study. Questionnaires were administered to pregnant women who were seeking antenatal care at this urban hospital. The questionnaire covered variables related to sociodemographic factors, family history, medical history, maternal complications, and neonatal outcome.Results: The prevalence of GDM in Qatar was 16.3%. Women with GDM were significantly higher in the age group of 35&amp;ndash;45 years (45%; P = 0.001). Family history of diabetes (31.7%; P &amp;lt; 0.001), increased parity (55.3%; P = 0.004), and obesity (59.2%; P &amp;lt; 0.001) were determinants of GDM in pregnant women. Maternal complications like pregnancy-induced hypertension (19.1% vs 10.3%; P &amp;lt;0.001), pre-eclampsia (7.3% vs 3.8%; P = 0.012), antepartum hemorrhage (19.2% vs 14.6%; P = 0.05), and cesarean (27.9% vs 12.4%; P &amp;lt; 0.001) were significantly higher in GDM women. Neonates were at increased risk of preterm birth (12.6% vs 8.3%; P = 0.03), macrosomia (10.3% vs 5.9%; P = 0.01), and birth trauma (8% vs 3%; P &amp;lt; 0.001).Conclusion: The study findings revealed that GDM was higher in women in Qatar and that they were at increased risk of developing maternal and neonatal complications. Obesity emerged as an essential risk factor for subsequent GDM. The advanced maternal age, low monthly income, family history of diabetes, and obesity were the main significant risk factors for GDM.Keywords: gestational diabetes, obstetric risks, macrosomic, Qata