Impact of Compliance to DASH Teaching Dietary Guidelines on Hypertension and Dietary Knowledge among Egyptian Sample

Elevated blood pressure remains an extraordinarily common and important risk factor for cardiovascular. DASH diet encourages reducing the sodium in diet and eating a variety of foods rich in nutrients that help lower blood pressure, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of compliance to DASH teaching dietary guidelines on blood pressure and dietary knowledge among Egyptian sample.Quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study. Convenience sample of 90 adult male and female patients were recruited to the study. Four tools were formulated to collect data pertinent to the study: (1) Socio-Demographic data;(2) Nutritional Assessment (3); Nutrition knowledge questionnaire, and (4); DASH Adherence Score. The study finding revealed that the total dietary knowledge post- test mean score for DASH was greater than control group (25±2.8), and (13.44±2.6) respectively. The study results decumented reduction  in both systolic and diastolic  blood pressure  among the DASH group(5-13 mmhg, 3-7mmhg)respectively. Also,there was a reduction in blood pressure among Control group(1-3mmhg in diastole,1-5 mmhg in systole) respectively. The study finding showed that there was gradual increase in the total dietary compliance mean score during the frist, second and the fourth week among DASH group(3.47±.17, 6.04±.21, and 8.22±.17) respectively in comparsion to control group(3.04±.16, 5.07±.22, and 4.8±.21) respectively. Also, there was also statistically significant differences put into evidence among the DASH and control at (F=1 311.06*, and at p=.000).Conclusion: we can conclude that, patients exposed to the DASH teaching dietary guidelines showed improvement in their conditions. This improvement was manifested by increased DASH Adherence Score, Nutrition knowledge   score, and reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure within four weeks among the pre-hypertensive and stage 1 hypertension among Egyptian sample respectively.   The study recommended that DASH diet eating pattern should be a central pillar in teaching pre-hypertensive adults to maintain hypertension control. Additional research is required to investigate the effect dietary fiber intake, and behavioral eating pattern among hypertensive Egyptian people. Keywords: DASH diet, Knowledge, Compliance, Hypertension

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially