Browsing by Author "Hafidh, Khadija"

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Characteristics of non-fasting patients with diabetes type 2 in the DAR global surveys of 2020 and 2022
(2024) Hassanein, Mohamed; Hafidh, Khadija
Abstract Introduction: The decision to fast or not is quite complex. Personal, medical and religious matters may influence it for individuals with diabetes. However, a diagnosis of diabetes does not constitute an automatic exemption from Ramadan fasting. We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of the non-fasting cohort and explore the potential reasons during Ramadan through the global Ramadan surveys of 2020 and 2022. Method: The Diabetes and Ramadan (DaR) Global Study is an observational retrospective survey conducted between 2020 and 2022, which included adult patients (18 and older) who fasted and those who opted not to fast. The survey captured demographic data and patient characteristics (co-morbidities, duration and type of diabetes, diabetes-related complications and medications, development of acute complications during Ramadan, hospitalisations and ER visits) for both groups. Results: Of 12,059 patients, 1822 (14.5 %) did not fast during Ramadan; that population leaned towards females (54.6 %). They had an average age of 60.58 years (SD=12.12) with a statistically significant difference from the fasting population, averaging 54.29§11.45 (p = 0.000). Also of note was the more significant average duration of diabetes in the non-fasting cohort (12.54 years vs 9.44). There are notable regional differences in rates of fasting that ranged between 6.3 % and up to 51.2 % of patients opting not fast in certain regions (Chart 1). The risk factors that showed apparent differences of high statistical significance (p ≤ 0.001) included: long duration of diabetes of over ten years, age above 60+ years, HbA1c value over 9 %, use of insulin therapy, and being affected by one or more vascular complications (these include CKD, CVD, and diabetic foot problems). Conclusions: Many factors and comorbidities might influence patients’ decisions when planning Ramadan fasting. The non-fasting population’s demographic and clinical profiles reveal distinctive features, emphasising a need for tailored risk assessments. Furthermore, regional disparities in the decision to fast underscore the multifaceted nature of this decision-making process. The new IDF-DAR risk assessment tool can help to stratify patients’ risk during Ramadan fasting and bridge the gap among different populations and cultures.
Improving Therapeutic Adherence and Reducing Therapeutic Inertia in the Management of People with Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Call-to-Action from the Middle East
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025-01-22) Hafidh, Khadija
Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes are highly prevalent and poorly controlled cardiometabolic diseases in the Middle East. Therapeutic non-adherence and therapeutic inertia are major contributors to this suboptimal disease control. Regardless of the cardiometabolic disease, evidence-based solutions may be used to improve therapeutic non-adherence and overcome inertia, and thereby help to alleviate the heavy burden of cardiovascular disease in the Middle East. Such solutions include the routine and early use of single-pill combinations, educational initiatives for patients, and multidisciplinary team-based care. This article highlights these and other potential solutions for therapeutic non-adherence and inertia, as discussed at the 2024 Evidence in the Cardiometabolic Environment (EVIDENT) Summit. There is now a 'call-to-action' from healthcare providers and other stakeholder groups to ensure that the solutions discussed at this meeting are implemented within health systems in the Middle East to significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes.Infographic available for this article.