Research cartography of implantable medical devices in the three Maghreb countries: A comparative study between Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia

BACKGROUND

Biosafety and efficacy are essential aspects in the use of implantable medical devices (IMD) in several medical and surgical disciplines. To this effect, and depending on the therapeutic indication, the diversity of IMD imposes enormous evaluation strategies from their design through to their impact on improving the patient's quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To elaborate cartography which traces back the research tracks published on IMD regarding the three Maghreb countries, namely Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, and this through laying emphasis on a comparative study in view of highlighting the similarities and differences between them.

METHODS

First, the research work was concerned with studies on IMD published between 2013 and 2023, which met the inclusion criteria, and which used the above-mentioned keywords on the four databases Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and PubMed. Second, the results are processed for a comparative descriptive study. In second, a descriptive and inferential analysis of association and classification to establish a research map on IMD.

RESULTS

Articles selected; 86 articles out of 1081 for Morocco, 70 out of 900 for Algeria and 136 out of 1303 for Tunisia. Unlike domains (P=0.014), the research methods used highlights similarities in methodological research (P>0.05) ranging from simple descriptions to meta-analyses for the medical sciences with an inequitable distribution whose high share in favor of patient-reports.

CONCLUSION

The design of maps raises a diversity of fields that concern medical and engineering sciences, while medical economic studies have yet to be developed in all three countries.

Epidemiology of Hypertension in the Prefecture of Figuig, Morocco

BACKGROUND: Hypertension continues to be a public health problem with devastating consequences globally, particularly in developing countries where there is an acute paucity of hypertension data.The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and treatment characteristics of hypertensive patients in the prefecture of Figuig, Morocco. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of hypertensive patients’ medical records from 2010 to 2020. The diagnosis, treatments, and complications were reported by physicians and cardiologists. Data analysis was made according to epidemiological, clinical complications, and treatments. RESULTS: Hypertension progressed from 871 cases in 2010 to 1785 cases in 2020 with an average annual incidence rate of 105.56/100,000 person-year, affecting more women than men (68% vs 32%). Hypertension was higher among rural residents compared to urban residents (54.0%vs 46%). Hypertension was noted in 65.4 % of patients aged 60+, and in 30.49% of patients aged 40-59. The incidence proportion of clinical complications is Ipcomplications=18.35/1000 person- year, principally cardiovascular diseases (45.42%), stroke (25.55%), retinopathy (17.98%) and nephropathy (10.41%). The most antihypertensive drugs used were Calcium channel blockers (33.39%), Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (21.13%), Angiotensin receptors blockers (21.21%), diuretics (19.4%), beta-blockers (5.38%) and central antihypertensive (10.46%) with an average coverage needs of treatments in the prefecture as (47.29%). CONCLUSION: Hypertension progresses gradually in the prefecture, higher among older individuals, women and rural residents. Large proportion of patients cannot find their treatments in health care structures which lead to poor blood pressure control, accelerating the appearance of complications.

Antidiabetics and antihypertensive medications use in Morocco: A pharmacoepidemiological descriptive study

Background

In Morocco, and many other African countries, there is a paucity of antihypertensive and antidiabetics use amongst the general population.

Aim

To investigate the epidemiological profile of antihypertensive and antidiabetics use and analysis their adverse reactions.

Setting

This study was conducted in the prefecture of Figuig, Morocco.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive study. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire about their pharmacological treatment and presented using descriptive statistical analysis.

Results

Sample of 244 subjects, predominantly women 58.15% (p < 0.03) composed of diabetic patients 56.96% (n = 139) and hypertensive patients 43.03% (n = 105). After adjustments, 60.24% of all patients were under monotherapy. The diabetics were being treated using the Biguanide class (26.92%), insulin (20.0%) and sulfonylureas (10.0%) while hypertensive patients were treated by Calcium Channel Blockers (27.36%), Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (21.05%), Angiotensin T-Blockers (16.84%), Diuretics (7.36%) and β-adrenergic receptors blockers (3.15%). In total, 23.00% of all subjects have experienced negative side-effects, mostly, reported (90.38%) to health professionals and 23.52% of them have interrupted temporarily or try to change their treatment. Gastro-intestinal problems were the most adverse reactions reported (11.11%) followed by headache, dizziness and tinnitus (6.66%) and asthenia, feeling sick and feeling of faintness (5.33%).

Conclusion

Managing diabetes and hypertension entails a lot of public challenges and requires more focus and interest, especially amongst the illiterate population in remote areas. Some of the suggested ways to help face the problem include the introduction of new innovative measures, systems of fellow-up and adverse reactions.