Is There a Benefit of Vitamin D Supplementation in Deficient Children and Adolescents Suffering from Obesity? A Meta-Analysis

Is There a Benefit of Vitamin D Supplementation in Deficient Children and Adolescents Suffering from Obesity? A Meta-Analysis

 

May Fouad Nassar (1), Ehab Khairy Emam (1), Mohamed Farouk Allam (2)

1. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

 

Global Pediatric Health 2021;8:1-7 (First Published May 27, 2021)

DOI: 10.1177/2333794X211018352

 

Abstract

This systematic review/meta-analysis aims to highlight the effect of vitamin D supplementation in deficient children suffering from obesity. Published clinical studies on vitamin D supplementation in obese children and adolescents with vitamin D deficiency were identified through a comprehensive MEDLINE/PubMed search (from July 1966 to November 2017). Outcomes intended after vitamin D supplementation were improvements in vitamin D status, BMI alterations and appetite changes. The inclusion criteria were children aged 2 to 18 years of both sexes in clinical trials that specified the oral and/or intramuscular dose of vitamin D supplementation. Ten studies were retrieved, but only 6 were relevant. First, supplemented obese children and adolescents were compared to non[1]obese controls; thereafter, supplemented obese children and adolescents were compared to matching obese peers given placebo. Pooled risks from the 2 studies that evaluated the number of obese and non-obese children and adolescents who improved upon vitamin D supplementation revealed that obesity poses a risk for not benefiting from the vitamin D supplementation regardless of the dose and the duration of supplementation. Pooled results from the 6 retrieved studies that compared supplemented obese children and adolescents to matching non-obese or obese peers given placebo revealed significantly lower vitamin D levels in obese participants than in non-obese peers. Vitamin D levels are significantly lower in obese children and adolescents with obesity, posing a risk for not benefiting from vitamin D supplementation regardless of the dose and duration of supplementation.

 

Keywords: adolescents, children, clinical trials, obesity, supplementation, vitamin D.

 

Global Pediatric Health 2021;8:1-7 (First Published May 27, 2021)

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2333794X211018352 

Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Young Egyptian Soccer Players

Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Young Egyptian Soccer Players
 
May Fouad Nassar (1), Mohamed Farouk Allam (2), Mennatallah Osama Shata (1).
1. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
2. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
 
Global Pediatric Health [First Published May 8, 2021].
 
DOI: 10.1177/2333794X211012980
 
Abstract
The present study was designed to highlight the physical and psychological health hazards that a young Egyptian soccer team faced during the first COVID-19 wave lockdown. The study included 37 young Egyptian male soccer players. History taking and anthropometric measurements were taken. Two questionnaires were filled covering the athletes’` sleep habits and quality of life (QoL). Finally, the mothers were asked to fill in a questionnaire concerned with depression, anxiety, and stress. More than 50% of the enrolled athletes gained weight during the lockdown especially those without compliance to home exercises. The mothers’ anxiety score correlated positively with the increased body mass index (BMI) of the athletes. The athletes mean QoL Score worsened significantly and significant negative correlation was found between the increased BMI and the change of QoL. The increased BMI was significantly reported among the athletes who didn’t do home exercises and had a negative correlation with their QoL change throughout the lockdown. The mothers’ anxiety had a possible reflection on their youngsters’ weight gain. These findings highlight the need for weight control when outdoors physical activity is restricted during pandemics with better compliance to home exercising schedules and less screen time.
 
Keywords: athletes, BMI, COVID-19, depression, pandemic, quality of life.
 
Global Pediatric Health [First Published May 8, 2021].
 
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2333794X211012980

ICU admission of COVID-19 patients: Identification of risk factors

ICU admission of COVID-19 patients: Identification of risk factors

Shaimaa H Fouad (1), Mohamed Farouk Allam (2), Sara Ibrahim (3), Ahmed Ashraf Okba (4), Sylvia W Roman (1), Amr Hosny (5) & Mayada Moneer (1)

 

1. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

3. Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

4. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

5. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

 

Egyptian Journal of Anaesthesia 2021;37(1):202-207.

 

DOI: 10.1080/11101849.2021.191943

 

ABSTRACT

 

Background. The WHO has declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic with a rapidly increasing number of patients at a rate exceeding the limits of health-care resources. Some people seem to be at higher risk of worse prognosis and increased mortality. Identifying these vulnerable groups is a necessity.

 

Aim of study. To identify the risk factors associated with ICU admission in COVID-19 patients.

 

Methodology. We present a retrospective study where the clinical data of patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection were collected from Ain-Shams University Isolation-Hospital records on admission from 10 April 2020 to 30 July 2020 to identify risk factors in patients requiring ICU admission during hospital stay.

 

Results. Of 323 subjects diagnosed by the RT-PCR as positive COVID-19, 62 (19.2%) of which were admitted at the ICU. The mean age of the subjects was 46.6 ± 16 years. Significant morbidities were associated with higher age groups (p value 0.000), smokers (p value 0.004), Cairo-residents (p value 0.009), being a health-care provider (p value 0.001) and hypertensive patients (p value 0.000).

 

Conclusions. Elderly, smokers, diabetic and hypertensive need further attention during disease course. Our results call for further investigations of risk factors for COVID-19 severity; preferably on large prospective cohorts, to increase their validity.

 

KEYWORDS: COVID-19; patient stratification; prognosis; hospital; ICU; severity; risk factors; COVID-19 vaccinations.

 

Egyptian Journal of Anaesthesia, 2021;37(1):202-207.

 

DOI: 10.1080/11101849.2021.191943

 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/11101849.2021.1919433?needAccess=true

Screening and early detection of chronic kidney disease at primary healthcare

Screening and early detection of chronic kidney disease at primary healthcare

Silvana Nader Nagib (1), Saeed Abdelwahab (2), Ghada Essam El-Din Amin (3), Mohamed Farouk Allam (1)

1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2. Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

3. Department of Community, Environment and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Clinical and Experimental Hypertension 2021 Mar 17;1-3. Online ahead of print. 

DOI: 10.1080/10641963.2021.1896726

 

ABSTRACT 

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a global public health concern and results in poor health outcomes. While the burden of CKD is accurately well defined in developed countries, increasing evidence indicates that the CKD burden may be even greater in developing countries. Primary care has an essential role in the early identification of CKD and the prompt integrated management between primary and secondary CKD care, with participation of the patient, should be done in high quality. Systematic screening for CKD in at-risk individuals is strongly indicated for timely intervention when needed and to perceive the impact of such policies on CKD incidence. Furthermore, failure to recognize a patient in stages 1–3 of CKD may result in high incidence of CKD complications and kidney failure, often leaving the patient unsuitable for different renal replacement therapies, such as dialysis and transplantation. Therefore, primary care early referral and consultation with a nephrologist can give a better chance for different dialysis procedures and minimize the rate of hospitalization and mortality.

 

Keywords: Screening, Health Programmes, Chronic Kidney Disease, Primary Healthcare Centers. 

Clinical and Experimental Hypertension 2021 Mar 17;1-3. 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10641963.2021.1896726

Awareness and attitude of healthcare workers towards Telehealth in Cairo, Egypt

Awareness and attitude of healthcare workers towards Telehealth in Cairo, Egypt

 

Sara Shouman (1), Tamer Emara (2), Heba Gamal Saber (3), Mohamed Farouk Allam (1)

 

1. Faculty of Medicine, Family Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2. Faculty of Medicine, Neurology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

3. Faculty of Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

 

International Journal of Clinical Practice 2021 Mar 2;e14128. Online ahead of print.

First published: 02 March 2021

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.14128

 

Abstract

Background: Telehealth is delivering health care services remote from health-care facilities using telecommunications. Egypt is aiming for Universal Health Coverage; this increases the demand for telehealth in routine health services.

Objective: To measure the awareness of telehealth health care workers of primary health care units and to evaluate the effect of an orientation programme on primary health care workers' awareness and acceptance of the application of telehealth.

Methodology: This was an intervention study amongst health care workers. A self-administrated valid questionnaire for health care workers was designed, the questionnaire consists of different domains of knowledge in addition to advantages, disadvantages, security and necessity perceptions. Each domain consists of Likert scale questions of 5 points. The questions were scored as the worst answer (1) and the best (5). A total of 109 questionnaires were filled by participants who spent at least 6 months in primary health care units. Then the health care workers attended an orientation programme and the questionnaire was re-filled once more. A total of 104 was recollected. Ethical issues were considered.

Results: 50.5% of the health care workers were aware of telehealth; 66.7% of health care workers with master's degree were aware of telehealth in comparison to 31.8% amongst those with a diploma, 64.3% of physicians were aware of telehealth, while 9.6% of nurses were aware. The score of knowledge and attitude increased from 130 ± 23.538 to 156.49 ± 18.456 after the educational programme.

Conclusion: Half of the health care workers were aware of telehealth; the orientation improved the Healthcare Workers' knowledge and attitude.

 

Key Words: Telehealth, Primary Health Centers, Health Care Workers.

International Journal of Clinical Practice 2021 Mar 2;e14128. Online ahead of print.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ijcp.14128