The cardiac patient during Ramadan and Hajj

Patient Care During Ramadan: A Narrative Review

Ramadan is the Islamic holy month when Muslims around the world fast from dawn to sunset. This 30-day pattern of intermittent diurnal fasting can have a significant physiologic impact on the body. Importantly, oral intake is forbidden during this time, and many patients do not wish to take medications. From a clinical perspective, this potentially impacts healthcare delivery and chronic disease states. Despite these important changes, awareness of individual patient practices remains limited among healthcare providers in North America, which may worsen health disparities in Muslim patients. A fundamental understanding of the cultural and physiological implications of fasting during Ramadan can improve cultural competence and patient outcomes. In this paper, we review the physiologic changes during fasting, medical exemptions to fasting, and special considerations for the care of Muslim patients with chronic conditions who may fast during Ramadan.

Prevalence of emergency cases among pilgrims presenting at King Abdulaziz International Airport Health Care Center at Hajj Terminal, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia during Hajj Season, 1440 H - 2019

Introduction

About 2-3 million pilgrims come to Makkah, Saudi Arabia from all countries to perform Hajj. During the Hajj season of 2019 (1440 H), the total number of pilgrims was 2,489,406, of whom 1,855,027 came from foreign countries. This study aims to investigate the prevalence, pattern, and findings of emergency health problems among pilgrims travelling through King Abdul Aziz International Airport Health Care Center (KAIA-HC) at Hajj Terminal in Jeddah during hajj season of 1440-H.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of pilgrims coming for treatment at KAIA-HC, before and after Hajj between 1 Dhul Qi'dah to 29 Dhul Hijjah 1440 AH (Corresponding to 4 July to 31 August 2019 AD). The collected data included demographics, medical history, diagnoses of the emergency health problems, infections, and their findings. Data were analyzed using Epi Info 7 and SPSS 25.

Results

About 296 (3.87%) of 7,643 pilgrims treated at KAIA-HC were emergency cases. Their average age was 43 years (Standard Deviation (SD) ±7.5); 51.3% were females; the highest (45.3%) was between 30 - 59 years age group, both males and females; the highest two nationalities were Indonesian (14.2%) and Egyptian (12.5%). Diagnoses included hypertension 59(19.9%), bronchial asthma 53 (17.9%), and 23 cases (10.5%) were suffering from hypotension. 16 (5.4%) of patients had a myocardial infarction and 10 (3.4%) had cerebrovascular accidents. In 13 cases (4.4%), a chest infection was reported. Diabetes complications (hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and diabetic ketoacidosis) were reported in 28 (9.4%) of the cases. There were 28 (9.5%) surgical diagnoses, 13 (4.4%) were cut wounds, 11 (3.7%) were bone fracture and dislocation, and 4 (1.4%) were head trauma. With regard to the findings, 82 (27.7%) were referred to hospitals; 10 (3.3%) cases required Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, seven of whom survived. The most common referral causes were myocardial Infarction amounting 12(4.05%), followed by cerebrovascular accident 10(3.3%) and chest infection in 8 (2.7%). 13 (4.4%) of the total cases died. The most common causes of death were myocardial infarction, asthma, hypertension and hyperglycemia.

Conclusion

Our study emphasizes that emergency cases presented at KAIA-HC were few. Cardiovascular diseases represented the main reason for emergency cases, followed by respiratory diseases. 51% of patients were discharged without the need for a higher level of medical care.

Management of patients with cardiovascular diseases during Ramadan

During the month of Ramadan, over one billion Muslims observe a water and food fast from sunrise to sunset. The practice of this religious duty causes marked changes in eating and sleeping habits. With the increasing incidence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, the number of patients with CV pathologies who wish to fast is increasing worldwide, and in Tunisia, which is ranked as a high CV risk country. If fasting has been shown to be beneficial for the improvement of some metabolic parameters, its practice in patients with CV pathology remains debated. The Tunisian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery (STCCCV) in consultation with the National Instance of Evaluation and Accreditation in Health (INEAS) has established this document in the form of a consensus after having analysed the literature with the aim of addressing these questions: -What is the impact of fasting in patients with CV pathologies? -How to stratify the risk of fasting according to CV pathology and comorbidities? -How to plan fasting in patients with CV diseases? -What are the hygienic and dietary measures to be recommended during fasting in patients with CV pathologies? -How to manage medication during the month of Ramadan in patients with CV diseases?

Impact of Ramadan Intermittent Fasting on the Heart Rate Variability and Cardiovascular Parameters of Patients with Controlled Hypertension

Background

Conflicting results are reported on the effect of Ramadan fasting on the cardiovascular health of patients with hypertension, a highly prevalent cardiovascular disease risk factor. This research aimed to evaluate the impact of fasting on cardiac health and heart rate variability (as a measure of cardiac stress) of hypertensive patients.

Methods

Patients with controlled hypertension were followed in a prospective cohort during and after Ramadan. Lipid panel and blood glucose were measured at the end of each phase. Blood pressure and heart rate variability were monitored in the morning, afternoon, and evening of each follow-up day.

Results

The study included 58 subjects (mean age: 54 ± 11.5 years, 52% male). Fasting did not affect body composition, lipid panel parameters, and blood pressure of hypertensive subjects; males only presented lower body weight and hip circumference during Ramadan. Blood glucose was significantly higher during Ramadan. Fasting significantly increased HRV during the afternoon period.

Conclusions

Ramadan intermittent fasting reduces cardiac stress among hypertensive patients controlled by and adherent to hypertensive medication, without affecting their hypertensive state.

Does Ramadan fasting have effects on sleep, fatigue and blood pressure among patients with hypertension?

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on blood pressure (BP), fatigue, sleeping and physical activity among hypertensive patients.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2019 to July 2019. Of the total 1500 hypertensive patients approached, 1118 (74.5%) gave their consent. Data analysis included sociodemographics, lifestyle habits, anthropometric measurements and clinical biochemistry parameters at baseline, and after 3 months.

RESULTS

Out of 1118 subjects, 593(47.6%) were male and 653(52.4%) were female. There were statistically significant differences between males and females regarding age groups in years, educational level, occupational status, income, smoking habits, physical exercise, sports activities and fatigue. There were statistically significant differences for the biochemistry parameters regarding vitamin D, blood glucose, HbA1c level, creatinine, bilirubin, albumin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, uric acid and SBP for both males and females after the holy month of Ramadan as compared to before Ramadan. Also, BMI was significantly lower during the after month of Ramadan as compared to before Ramadan (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis results revealed that less hours of sleeping (P < 0.001), SBP (mmHg) (P < 0.001), DBP (mmHg) (P < 0.001), family size (P = 0.002), obesity BMI (kg/m2) (P = 0.013), fatigue (P = 0.022) and smoking cigarette (P = 0.029) were identified as statistically significant predictors of hypertensive patients with Ramadan fasting as contributing at higher risk factors.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that fasting during Ramadan has no effect on the BP, blood glucose, HbA1C level, sleep quality, fatigue and BMI among hypertensive patients.

Impact of Ramadan fasting on lipid profile and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with stable coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

The effects of Ramadan fasting (RF) on cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with stable ischemic heart disease are not well known.

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of RF on lipid profile and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with a stable coronary heart disease.

METHODS

A prospective observational study carried out in the Cardiology department of Charles Nicolle Hospital (Tunisia). Eighty-four patients with a stable ischemic heart disease who intended to fast were enrolled during May 2020. Detailed clinical and biochemical assessments were performed before and after the holy month. Parameters of glycemic control, lipid profile, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein concentration (us-CRP) and homocysteine were performed before- and after- Ramadan (BR and AR, respectively).

RESULTS

Eighty-four patients including 79 males and 5 females, with a mean age of 57±7 years completed the study. Levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and apoprotein A were significantly improved AR fasting in comparison with their BR values. There was a significant decrease in blood fasting glucose, insulin level, Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index and in us-CRP level.

CONCLUSION

In patients with stable ischemic heart disease, RF may be accompanied by an improvement of lipid profile and glycemic parameters without increase in coronary events.

Mass Gathering Medicine (Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia): The Outcome of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation during Hajj

The annual Hajj (pilgrimage) to the Islamic holy shrines at the city of Makkah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the largest yearly recurring mass gatherings worldwide. We aim to evaluate the outcome of outside and inside the hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation to resuscitate cardiopulmonary arrest among pilgrims. In a prospective cohort study of cardiac arrest patients during Hajj period (January 2004–December 2007 and January 2010–December 2011), 426 patients were resuscitated. The mean age was 64.0 ± 12.0 years. A total of 252 (52.2%) patients had an outside the hospital cardiac arrest, whereas 174 (40.8%) patients had an inside the hospital cardiac arrest. The survival rate of outside the hospital was 5%, whereas inside the hospital was 30%. The overall survival rate was 15.5%. During Hajj, cardiopulmonary resuscitation inside the hospital was associated with better clinical outcomes than outside the hospital. Patients with cardiac arrest outside of the hospital are much less likely to survive due to the lack of immediately trained help and the delay of arrival of aid due to overcrowding. Sudden cardiac arrest leading to death could be minimized if cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation are delivered before the arrival of emergency medical services.

Increase in Ischemic Stroke Incident Hospitalizations Among Bedouin Arabs During Ramadan Month

Background

Previous studies have not shown any significant effect on stroke incidence during Ramadan. We aimed to investigate the association between ischemic stroke incident hospitalizations and Ramadan, accounting for seasonality and temperature.

Methods and Results

This retrospective cohort study included all patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke to Soroka University Medical Center from June 2012 to June 2016. We obtained daily mean temperatures and relative humidity rates from 2 monitoring stations in South Israel. We analyzed the association between stroke incidence and Ramadan month, adjusting for weekly temperature and seasonality using Poisson regression models. We compared the first versus the last Ramadan fortnight. We performed an effect specificity analysis by assessing stroke incidence in the non‐Bedouin population. We identified 4727 cases of ischemic stroke, 564 cases of which were Bedouin Arabs. Fifty‐one cases occurred during Ramadan. Ramadan was significantly associated with an increased risk for ischemic stroke (RR 1.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–2.09), mainly during the first fortnight (RR 1.73, 95% confidence interval, 1.13–2.66) when compared with non‐Ramadan periods. Mean weekly temperatures and the summer season were not associated with stroke incidence among Bedouin Arabs (RR 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.82–1.18 and RR 0.77; confidence interval 0.56–1.06 accordingly). Such association was not observed in the non‐Bedouin population.

Conclusion

The Ramadan month, particularly in its first 2 weeks, is an independent and ethnicity specific risk factor for ischemic stroke hospitalizations among the Bedouin Arab fasting population.

The effects of fasting on heart rate variability in hypertensive patients

Heart rate variability (HRV) is an independent indicator of increased mortality in patients with myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. The effects of fasting on the HRV are not known in hypertensive patients. Therefore, studying the effects of Ramadan fasting on hypertensive patients' HRV seems reasonable to address. We conducted a prospective study including 20 hypertensive patients with sinus rhythm. HRV was determined twice by ambulatory 24-hour Holter recordings at fasting during and after Ramadan. Subjects mean age was 55 ± 11.8 years. Sex-ratio was 1.5. When two groups compared, statistically significant differences were found in terms of SDNN (113 ± 71 vs 140 ± 38, p = 0.001), SDANN (109.7 ± 45 vs 134.8 ± 48.3, p = 0.008), T power (2368.7 ± 121.3 vs 3660.5 ± 170.9, p = 0.03) and LF (552.2 ± 31.3 vs 903.7 ± 48.9, p < 0.0001) values. HRV parameters were found to be decreased in Ramadan. Thus, Ramadan fasting enhances the activity of the sympathetic system in hypertensive patients.