Pancreatic cancer: Incidence, clinical profile, and frequency of associated factors in Kuwait

Background: Pancreatic cancer is an uncommon tumor, but because the mortality rate approaches 100%, this form of cancer has now become a common cause of cancer mortality. Diabetes has been postulated to be both a risk factor and a consequence of pancreatic cancer, but the degree of risk and associated clinical factors remain unclear.Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate the incidence, clinical profile, and the frequency of associated factors of pancreatic cancer in Kuwait.Methods: The study design was a retrospective hospital-based record study in which records of 251 pancreatic cancer patients registered, evaluated and treated at Kuwait cancer control center from January 2004 through December 2010 were studied.Results: The overall pancreatic cancer incidence was 0.9/100000 population. Pancreatic cancer was more frequent in older, obese, smoker, diabetic Kuwaiti males with family history of pancreatic cancer. Metastasis was diagnosed in 67.7% of patients at diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.Conclusions: Pancreatic cancer in Kuwait is diagnosed in late stages. Screening for this disease was indicated specially in diabetic patients. A comprehensive comparative study is required for determination of risk factors that could be associated with the disease.Keywords: Pancreatic cancer; Profile; Diabetes mellitu

Obstructive Ventilatory Disorder in Heart Failure—Caused by the Heart or the Lung?

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome frequently associated with airway obstruction, either as a respiratory comorbidity or as a direct consequence of HF pathophysiology. Recognizing the relative contribution of an underlying airway disease as opposed to airway obstruction due to volume overload and left atrial pressure elevation is of importance for the appropriate management of patients affected by HF. This review focuses on “les liaisons dangereuses” between the heart and the lungs, outlying recent advances linking in a vicious circle of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on one side and HF on the other side. It also discusses the role of pivotal diagnostic tools such as pulmonary function tests and cardiopulmonary exercise test to determine the contribution of HF and COPD to symptoms and clinical status. Treatment implications are discussed as well.SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe