This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MeS) and its associated factors among patients undergoing cardiac catheterization in north Jordan. A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who underwent cardiac catheterization at King Abdullah University Hospital in north Jordan. Data from 360 patients were collected through personal interview, medical records, and anthropometric measurements. MeS was defined using National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. The prevalence of MeS among patients undergoing cardiac catheterization in north Jordan was 64.7% according to NCEP ATP III criteria and 76.7% according to IDF criteria. About 96.7% of the participants had at least 1 metabolic abnormality. Sex, body mass index, and family history of cardiovascular disease were the only variables significantly associated with MeS. The prevalence of MeS among patients undergoing cardiac catheterization in north Jordan is considerably high, especially among women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was the development of a simple clinical smell test that can be applied in Jordan and its validation against one of the standard tests, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Test (UPSIT, Sensonics Inc, Haddon Heights, NJ). DESIGN: A prospective validation study of a locally designed smell test was done. SETTING: The study was conducted at the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism in Amman, Jordan. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty subjects were recruited to participate in this study. Twenty-five were normal healthy individuals, and 25 were patients with Kallmann syndrome. INTERVENTION AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All 50 participants underwent 2 tests, the UPSIT and the locally designed test (JOR test).The scores of all patients in both tests were compared. Test-retest reliability was determined in the same 50 subjects. All patients completed the study. RESULTS: Subjects who scored within normal limits on the UPSIT scored 8 to 10 on the JOR test, and people who were abnormal on the UPSIT scored between 0 and 5 on the JOR test. The correlation between the scores of both tests was almost perfect (r = 0.984, P =.000). When both tests were classified as normal and abnormal, there was a complete agreement (kappa statistic = 1). Both sensitivity and specificity were 100%. CONCLUSION: Given its highly significant correspondence to the UPSIT and the odor thresholds of Jordanians, our test proved valid and useful as a cross-cultural clinical test of olfactory function. In addition, it is an inexpensive, rapid test. Unfortunately, the data lacked persons with moderate impairment of smell. Therefore, the new test may not be used to assess this category of patients.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is rapidly increasing with a considerable ethnic variation within and across populations. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components using Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria among Northern Jordanians. METHODS: Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional study that included a random sample of 1121 northern Jordanians aged 25 years and above. The metabolic syndrome was defined by ATP III criteria. RESULTS: The age-adjusted prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 36.3%(95% CI 33.6-39.0%)(28.7% among men and 40.9% among women). The prevalence increased significantly with age in men and women. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in women than in men in age groups of 40-49 and 60 years and above. Low HDL cholesterol was the most common abnormality in men (62.7%), and abdominal obesity was the most common abnormality in women (69.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in North Jordan is considerably higher than in developed countries and other Arab populations. An integrated approach is needed for the prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome.

Background: Marked variations in the incidence of particular types of childhood cancer exist between countries. We report on the geographic variation in the occurrence of childhood cancer in Jordan. Material and Methods: Cases were identified from the Jordan National Cancer Registry. We collected data on age, sex, type, primary site, and stage of cancer. Tumor topography and morphology were coded according to the accepted international standard. For all cases registered, 95.2% were histologically diagnosed. Incidence rates were calculated as annual rates per million population. The denominator is the 1997 estimate of the childhood population at ages 0-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years. Results: There were 646 registered primary malignant neoplasms during the three-year study period (1996-1998). The annual incidence rate for all types of cancer combined was 113 per million children. The rate among children less than 5 years of age was 134.5 per million, for 5-9 years it was 97.8 per million, and for 10-14 years it was 104.1 per million. Overall, the age-standardized annual incidence rate was 113.8 per million. The most common diagnostic group was leukemia, accounting for more than a third of all cases, followed by brain tumors and lymphoma. The highest rate was in the capital, Amman. Conclusion: The pattern of childhood cancer in Jordan seems to be generally similar to other countries in the region, particularly the observed excess of lymphoma. Geographical variations in childhood cancer exist in Jordan and could be partly explained on the basis of lower detection or reporting, or both, in certain locations.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) and its correlations among Jordanian men with diabetes. METHODS: We conducted this study at the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics, Amman, Jordan, between January and August 2004. The study included 988 married diabetic men. Patients were interviewed by one of our medical staff based on a health care questionnaire and an Arabic translation of the 15-item International Index of Erectile Function. Scores of the questions in each of the 5 sexual function domains were summed up. Dysfunction was categorized as absent, mild, moderate or severe. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of ED was 62%; and we found that 30.3% had severe ED. The prevalence increased with age from 26.5%(13 out of 49) of patients <40 years of age to 91%(87 out of 96) in the age group >/= 70 years. Severity of ED increased with age as well. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age, glycemic control, hypertension, coronary artery disease, retinopathy and neuropathy as independent risk factors of ED. Among patients with ED, 7% reported having treatment for ED. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of ED among Jordanian diabetic patients is high. It increases with age and poor glycemic control. Other independent risk factors include: hypertension, coronary artery disease, retinopathy and neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: The study was conducted at the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan, between March 2000 and September 2000. A group of 908 type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM) were recruited in the study and underwent investigations for thyroid functions; free thyroxine (FT4), free tri-iodothyronine (FT3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Six hundred had performed thyroid autoantibodies, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOab) or antimicrosomal antibodies (AMA) and thyroglobulin antibodies (Tgab). They were compared with 304 non-diabetics, of those 282 had performed thyroid antibodies. RESULTS: Fifty-three (5.9%) of diabetic patients were known to have thyroid disease. As a direct result of screening, new thyroid disease cases were diagnosed in 6.6% of the patients. Thus, the overall prevalence of thyroid disease was found to be 12.5%. The most common was subclinical hypothyroidism (4.1%). In the control group, the prevalence of thyroid disease was 6.6%. The most common was subclinical hypothyroidism (5%). There was a significant difference between diabetics and control subjects p=0.0064. Positive TPOab was found in 8.3% of T2DM patients (N=600) versus 10.3% in the control group (N=282) p=0.412. Positivity for both TPOab and Tgab was found to be 2.5% of T2DM versus 6% of the control subjects p=0.0155. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that diabetic patients should be screened for asymptomatic thyroid dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the magnitude of hypertension, and its levels of awareness and control of hypertension among a community of Jordanian aborigines in Northern Jordan; and to compare the study findings with findings from other Jordanian communities. METHODS: A systematic sample of 50% of all households of Qafqafa, Northern Jordan was selected and all members of the selected households were included in the study at Qafqafa Health Center, Qafqafa, Jordan. A structured questionnaire was administered to all study participants and measurement of blood pressure was performed according to a preset criteria. Data on 366 subjects included in the sample were collected during the months of April and May 2002. RESULTS: A total of 40 subjects or 10.9% were suffering from hypertension. Prevalence rate of hypertension was significantly lower than the 16.1% and 16.3% prevalence rates reported from other more modernized Jordanian communities. Logistic regression analysis indicated that hypertension was positively associated with masculinity, age, illiteracy, obesity, and with positive family history of hypertension. No association was detected between hypertension and each of smoking, Diabetes mellitus, and total serum cholesterol. This study showed that one-half (47.5%) of hypertensives were unaware of their diagnosis and more than one-half (57.1%) of those aware of their diagnosis did not achieve control of their hypertension. CONCLUSION: Population of the study community has significantly lower levels of hypertension than both semi-urban and recently urbanized Jordanian communities, and much of the rise in blood pressure levels is attributed to environmental factors. Moreover, hypertension management programs in Jordan are far below the optimal standards.

The objectives of this study were to:(1) estimate the magnitude of hypertension, and its levels of awareness and control of hypertension among a recently urbanised community of Jordanian aborigines; and (2) to compare the study findings with findings from other Jordanian communities. A sample was randomly selected from the roster of all inhabitants of the community aged 25 years or older. Data on 545 subjects included in the sample were collected during the months of January and February of 1995. A total of 89 (16.3%) subjects were suffering hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure > or =160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure > or =95 mm Hg or on antihypertensive medication. Prevalence rate of hypertension was comparable to that reported from other Jordanian communities who have experienced an urban lifestyle earlier than the reference community. Logistic regression analysis indicated that hypertension was positively associated with age, illiteracy, body mass index, family history of hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. No association was detected between hypertension and each of gender, smoking, and total serum cholesterol. This study showed that the vast majority of hypertensive patients (82.0%) were aware of their diagnosis. However, more than two-thirds (68.5%) of those aware of their diagnosis did not achieve control of their hypertension. In conclusion, hypertension is a common public health problem in this community and that the hypertension management programme is far below the optimal level.