Family History of Non-communicable Disease and its Relationship in Acute Coronary Syndrome with or without Diabetes Mellitus

Worldwide, non-communicable diseases which involve heart disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, represent a major risk factor that increases morbidity and mortality of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The Objective of this study is to assess the Association of family history of non-communicable diseases in ACS patients with diabetes mellitus. This study is descriptive study of 175 ACS patients reported to the cardiology department in a tertiary care center in Ajman, UAE. Patient records were viewed on the computer database and all the necessary information required to achieve the objectives were extracted and filled in the checklist prepared. The data was analyzed by SPSS 20 and Chi square test was done to assess the association. The results shows that the non-communicable diseases reported were diabetes mellitus, hypertension and heart diseases. The degree of relation was divided into first and second degrees. The first degree of relation included (father, mother, brother, sister or more than one of them. The second degree of relation included (uncle, cousin, aunt, grandfather, grandmother etc.). There were 11(91.7%) patients with first degree family history of DM and 1(8.3%) patient with second degree relation. Out of the 14 patients that gave positive family history of hypertension only one was second degree of relation and all the rest were first degree of relation. Regarding the most common non-communicable disease, heart disease, 18(94.7%) patients had first degree relatives and 1(5.3%) second degree relative with history of heart disease. As a conclusion we can say that among the ACS patients with family history of heart diseases, majority of them (94.7%) had in first degree relatives whereas in the case of family history of hypertension and diabetes, it was also highly reported in first degree relatives with 92.9% and 91.7% respectively. It was also found family history of DM has a major role for the occurrence of DM in ACS patients

Tobacco Smoking Using Midwakh Is an Emerging Health Problem – Evidence from a Large Cross-Sectional Survey in the United Arab Emirates

INTRODUCTION: Accurate information about the prevalence and types of tobacco use is essential to deliver effective public health policy. We aimed to study the prevalence and modes of tobacco consumption in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly focusing on the use of Midwakh (Arabic traditional pipe). METHODS: We studied 170,430 UAE nationals aged ≥ 18 years (44% males and 56% females) in the Weqaya population-based screening program in Abu Dhabi residents during the period April 2008-June 2010. Self-reported smoking status, type, quantity and duration of tobacco smoked were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the study findings; prevalence rates used the screened sample as the denominator. RESULT: The prevalence of smoking overall was 24.3% in males and 0.8% in females and highest in males aged 20-39. Mean age (SD) of smokers was 32.8 (11.1) years, 32.7 (11.1) in males and 35.7 (12.1) in females. Cigarette smoking was the commonest form of tobacco use (77.4% of smokers), followed by Midwakh (15.0%), shisha (waterpipe) (6.8%), and cigar (0.66%). The mean durations of smoking for cigarettes, Midwakh, shisha and cigars were 11.4, 9.3, 7.6 and 11.0 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking is most common among younger UAE national men. The use of Midwakh and the relatively young age of onset of Midwakh smokers is of particular concern as is the possibility of the habit spreading to other countries. Comprehensive tobacco control laws targeting the young and the use of Midwakh are needed