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Biomedical subjects

M Mazen Jamal

Publications and source records attributed to M Mazen Jamal.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Second-generation antipsychotic exposure and metabolic-related disorders in patients with schizophrenia: an observational pharmacoepidemiology study from 1988 to 2002.

Patients with schizophrenia are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease as a consequence of lifestyle habits, impaired access to health care, and, increasingly, due to metabolic side effects ostensibly attributed to second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). There is little evidence, however, on the extent and temporal patterns of SGA-associated metabolic side effects. We longitudinally examined the differential prevalence rates of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic ketoacidosis among inpatients with schizophrenia compared with control inpatients without schizophrenia. The data were derived from the National Inpatient Sample, the largest all-payer inpatient care database in the United States consisting of 5 to 8 million inpatient hospital stays per year sampled to approximate a 20% sample of community hospitals from 1988 to 2002. Overlaid on these observations was the market penetration data for SGAs. In 1988, the net difference from controls in obesity prevalence among inpatients with schizophrenia was +4.7%; by 2002, this difference had widened to +14.7%. Similarly, a significant increase in net prevalence of diabetes mellitus and diabetic ketoacidosis was observed from 1988 to 2002 among schizophrenic inpatients. In conclusion, after the introduction of SGAs, patients with schizophrenia in the United States have experienced a striking net increase in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus. This is likely to significantly add to an already elevated risk for cardiovascular disease in this population. Further investigations are urgently required so that health policy can be appropriately amended for preventive measures.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Hepatitis C virus remains a large health care burden to the world. Incidence rates across the world fluctuate and are difficult to calculate given the asymptomatic, often latent nature of the disease prior to clinical presentation. Prevalence rates across the world have changed as well with more countries aware of transfusion-related hepatitis C and more and more evidence supporting intravenous drug use as the leading risk factor of spread of the virus. This article reviews current hepatitis C virus prevalence and genotype data and examines the different risk factors associated with the virus.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Diabetes mellitus is a strong, independent risk for atrial fibrillation and flutter in addition to other cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. There is a controversy in literature about correlation between DM and atrial fibrillation. The goal of this study was to evaluate DM as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation or flutter using a very large database. METHOD: Patient treatment files (PTF) containing discharge diagnoses were utilized using ICD-9 codes of inpatient treatment from Veterans Health Administration Hospitals (VAH). Patients with type II DM (ICD-9 code 250.0) (293,124) discharged from the VAH between 1990 and 2000. Non-matched controls without DM but with hypertension (552,624) were selected from the same PTF. By using multi-variate logistic regressions, the occurrence of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, CHF, CAD and LVH was compared. RESULTS: Atrial fibrillations occurred in 43,674 (14.9%) DM patients vs. 57,077 (10.3%) in the control group (p<0.0001). Atrial flutter occurred in 11,852 (4%) of DM patients vs. 13,554 (2.5%) of the control group (p<0.0001). Using multi-variant analysis, DM remained independently associated with atrial fibrillation with an OR of 2.13, (95% CI: 2.10 to 2.16; p<0.0001) and flutter (OR 2.20, CI: 2.15 to 2.26; p<0.0001). Furthermore, CHF (OR 3.12, CI: 3.09 to 3.16; p<0.0001), LVH (OR 1.85, CI: 1.77 to 1.92; p<0.0001) and CAD (OR 2.39, CI: 2.34 to 2.44; p<0.0001) were also independently associated with DM. CONCLUSION: This is the first large-scale study finding DM as a strong, independent risk for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation and flutter and other cardiovascular disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Alcohol and hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Alcohol use and hepatitis C are prominent risk factors for liver injury and this review offers the current understanding of each factor's effects on liver disease. METHODS: A Medline database search was preformed for English articles with a focus on alcohol, hepatitis C and liver disease. Article citations were also considered for further applicable articles, and the strongest studies were included in our review. RESULTS: Up to 60% of patients with hepatitis C have a past history of alcohol use. In patients with hepatitis C, chronic alcohol consumption of more than 5 drinks/day increases the rate of liver fibrosis, risk for cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and, possibly, death from liver disease. Numerous studies have further found that even moderate amounts of alcohol can be detrimental to hepatitis C patients. The prevalence of hepatitis C is higher in alcoholics with advanced liver disease than in alcoholics without liver disease. Also, recent alcohol use decreases the response rate to interferon treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis C and alcohol use are often co-occurring risk factors for liver disease, and though their interaction is not clear, it is known that heavy drinking significantly promotes liver disease progression.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2005

Increased prevalence of third-degree atrioventricular block in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality. There is some evidence that third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block occurs more commonly in patients with DM. In this study, we evaluated any possible association between DM and third-degree AV block using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes in a very large inpatient database. METHOD: We used patient treatment files containing discharge diagnoses using ICD-9 codes of inpatient treatment from all Veterans Health Administration hospitals. The cohort was stratified using the ICD-9-CM code for DM (n = 293,124), a control group with hypertension but no DM (n = 552,623), and the ICD-9 code for third-degree AV block (426.0) and smoking (305.1, V15.82). We performed multivariate analysis adjusting for coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, smoking, and hyperlipidemia. Continuous and binary variables were analyzed using chi2 and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: Third-degree AV block diagnosis was present in 3,240 of DM patients (1.1%) vs 3,367 patients (0.6%) in the control group. Using multivariate analysis, DM remained strongly associated with third-degree AV block (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidential interval, 3.0 to 3.3; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Third-degree AV block occurs significantly more in patients with DM. This finding may, in part, explain the high cardiovascular mortality in DM patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

The prevalence of pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a hypercoagulable state that may increase their risk for thromboembolism. However, the data about this association are contradictory in the literature. The goal of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in patients with DM after adjusting for coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure (CHF), hypertension, and smoking using a large database. METHOD: We used patient treatment file documents to inpatient hospital admissions containing discharge diagnoses (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] codes) from Veterans Health Administration Hospitals. The patients were classified into two groups: a DM group with an ICD-9-CM code for DM (293,124), and a control group with an ICD-9-CM code for hypertension but no DM (552,623). The ICD-9-CM code for PE (415.19) and the ICD-9-CM code for PHT (416.0) were used to study prevalence of these diseases in DM patients vs control patients. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses adjusting for CAD, CHF, and smoking. Continuous variables were analyzed by unpaired t test. Binary variables were analyzed by chi(2) and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: PE was present in 2,011 patients with DM (0.7%) vs 2,759 patients (0.5%) in the control group. PHT was present in 3,356 patients with DM (1.1%) vs 3,357 patients (0.6%) in the control group. Using multivariate analysis, DM remained independently associated with PE (odds ratio [OR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19 to 1.35; p < 0.001) and with PHT (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.45 to 1.60; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with DM have significantly higher prevalence of PE and PHT independent of CAD, hypertension, CHF, or smoking. The pathogenesis of this association is not known at this time.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Endoscopic balloon dilation compared with sphincterotomy for extraction of bile duct stones.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is commonly performed to remove bile duct stones. The aim of this study was to determine short-term outcomes of endoscopic balloon dilation of the sphincter of Oddi compared with sphincterotomy for stone extraction. METHODS: A randomized, controlled multicenter study of 117 patients assigned to dilation and 120 to sphincterotomy was performed in a spectrum of clinical and academic practices. RESULTS: Characteristics of the patients, procedures, and endoscopists were similar except that dilation patients were younger. Procedures were successful in 97.4% and 92.5% of the dilation and sphincterotomy patients, respectively. Overall morbidity occurred in 17.9% and 3.3% ( P < .001; difference, 14.6; 95% confidence interval, 7-22.3) and severe morbidity, including 2 deaths, in 6.8% and 0%( P < .004; difference, 6.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-11.4) for dilation and sphincterotomy, respectively. Complications for dilation and sphincterotomy, respectively, included: pancreatitis, 15.4% and .8% ( P < .001; difference, 14.6; 95% confidence interval, 7.8-21.3); cystic duct fistula, 1.7% and 0%; cholangitis, .9% and .8%; perforation, 0% and .8%; and cholecystitis, 0% and .8%. There were 2 deaths (1.7%) due to pancreatitis following dilation and none with sphincterotomy. The study was terminated at the first interim analysis. Dilation patients required significantly more invasive procedures, longer hospital stays, and longer time off from normal activities. CONCLUSIONS: In a broad spectrum of patients and practices, endoscopic balloon dilation compared with sphincterotomy for biliary stone extraction is associated with increased short-term morbidity rates and death due to pancreatitis. Balloon dilation of the sphincter of Oddi for stone extraction should be avoided in routine practice.

Bile Ducts↗
PubMed2004

Alcohol and hepatocellular carcinoma.

More than 18 million adults in the United States abuse alcohol, a prevalence 5 times higher than that of hepatitis C. Chronic alcohol use of greater than 80 g/day for more than 10 years increases the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) approximately 5-fold; alcohol use of less than 80 g/day is associated with a nonsignificant increased risk for HCC. The risk for HCC in decompensated alcohol induced cirrhosis approaches 1% per year. The risk does not decrease with abstinence, and HCC can occur in a noncirrhotic liver. Alcohol use in chronic hepatitis C doubles the risk for HCC as compared with the risk in hepatitis C alone. Furthermore, there may be synergism between alcohol and hepatitis C in the development of HCC, and in these patients HCC may occur at an earlier age and the HCC may be histologically more advanced. Studies in the United States and Italy suggest that alcohol is the most common cause of HCC (accounting for 32%-45% of HCC). The mechanisms by which alcohol causes HCC are incompletely understood, but may include chromosomal loss, oxidative stress, a decreased retinoic acid level in the liver, altered DNA methylation, and genetic susceptibility. Alcohol use is increasing in many countries, suggesting that alcohol will continue to be a common cause of HCC throughout the world.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2004

Epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease.

Alcohol is one of the main causes of end-stage liver disease worldwide, and alcoholic liver disease is the second most common reason for liver transplantation in the United States. Beginning in the 1970s, there was a gradual decline in alcoholic cirrhosis-related mortality in many countries. However, in the past few years, alcoholic liver disease mortality rates in several countries have stabilized or started to increase. There are significant ethnic and gender differences in alcoholic cirrhosis-related mortality rates. Furthermore, alcohol use increases the risk for liver disease in those infected with hepatitis C. A better understanding of the epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease will allow for improved diagnosis and management of this common problem.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Liver disease in alcohol and hepatitis C.

The prevalence of hepatitis C is 7-10-fold higher in alcoholics than it is in the general population. Among alcoholics, the prevalence of hepatitis C is higher in alcoholics with advanced liver disease. Serum ALT and hepatitis C viral load may improve if alcoholic patients with hepatitis C stop drinking for more than 4 months.Up to 60% of patients with hepatitis C have a past history of alcohol use. In patients with hepatitis C, chronic alcohol consumption of more than 5 drinks per day increases the rate of liver fibrosis. Hepatitis C patients who ingest more than 5 alcoholic drinks per day are at increased risk for cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and, possibly, death from liver disease. Recent alcohol use decreases the response rate to interferon treatment. The detrimental effects of small amounts (3 or fewer drinks per day) of alcohol consumption in patients with hepatitis C are not known.

Alcohol Drinking↗