Karima Chaabna

Introduction: Unintentional falls are a leading cause of injury and mortality among older adults, with a growing burden in rapidly ageing regions like the Middle East and North Africa. Despite this, the availability, scope and geographical distribution of epidemiological evidence on fall-related outcomes in the region remain poorly characterised, limiting policy and prevention efforts. This evidence gap map systematically identifies, categorises and maps existing observational research on fall-related outcomes among older adults in the Middle East and North Africa. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Google (up to November 2025) without time restrictions to identify primary studies and systematic reviews reporting on fall prevalence, frequency, risk and fear of falling, self-reported perceived reasons for falling and postfall consequences in older adults (aged ≥60) in the Middle East and North Africa. Two reviewers independently conducted screening, data extraction and quality assessment. Results: We included 203 primary studies, representing data from 424 112 older adults. Evidence from low-income countries was scarce (one national health survey from Sudan, one retrospective study from Yemen, no study for Syria). Upper-middle-income countries (Iraq, Jordan and Libya) contributed limited evidence (4.9%; 10/203). High-income countries contributed registry-based and national-level data. Most studies were conducted in lower-middle-income countries (113/203; 55.7%); in both genders (96.6%; 196/203) and in urban settings (157/203; 77.3%). The most frequently studied populations were the general population and outpatients (each 45/203; 22.6%). Under-researched outcomes were fear of falling and self-perceived reasons of fall. Conclusion: This evidence gap map highlights substantial data gaps across several countries, with marked underrepresentation of rural, low-income and conflict-affected settings, and limited evidence on key fall-related outcomes across the Middle East and North Africa. Strengthened surveillance using validated context-adapted tools, hospital-based registries and integrated national survey fall indicators are essential to inform effective and equitable fall prevention strategies in the region.

Description spatio-temporelle de l'incidence des cancers liés au sida en Afrique du Nord et subsaharienne et de la mortalité des patients HIV-séropositifs en Algérie et prévalence de l'hépatite C chez les patients atteints de lymphome non-hodgkinien en Algérie: .

Background: Musculoskeletal pain can undermine athletic performance. Medical procedures that fall under Western medical acupuncture (WMA) such as dry needling, grounded in conventional scientific principles, represent a promising adjunct to conventional pain treatments. However, its effectiveness among athletes remains unclear. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether WMA reduces pain in athletic populations. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Allied and Complementary Medicine databases, and Google Scholar (latest search: July 2023). We included primary studies that used WMA techniques, including dry needling, manual acupuncture, and percutaneous needle electrolysis, applied based on biomedical principles. Eligible studies diagnosed pain using conventional medical criteria or validated tools and selected evidence-based acupoints based on peer-reviewed research and/or conventional anatomy and physiology, without reference to traditional Asian acupuncture principles. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to assess pre–post and between-group changes in pain. Results: We included 8 studies with overall good internal validity. Publication biases and heterogeneity between studies were identified. In pre–post within-group analyses, WMA techniques alone significantly reduced mean pain scores (number of studies ( n ) = 5, p -value = 0.002) whereas WMA techniques combined with exercise and/or physiotherapy showed a nonsignificant reduction ( n = 3, p -value = 0.206). In between-group comparisons, significant decreases in mean pain scores were observed for both WMA techniques alone ( n = 1, p -value = 0.0003) and WMA techniques combined with exercise and/or physiotherapy ( n = 3, p -value = 0.011). The certainty of evidence was rated low for WMA techniques alone and moderate for WMA techniques combined with physiotherapy and/or exercise. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that WMA techniques alone or combined with physiotherapy and/or exercise may reduce pain among athletes. However, the current evidence base remains preliminary, and additional well-controlled trials are required to establish its efficacy with greater confidence. Systematic review registration: https://osf.io/qb9gc/overview , identifier osf.io/qb9gc.

Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of death among older adults globally [1]. Clinical guidelines for statin use are based largely on evidence from high-income countries (HICs), which rely on risk prediction models included in the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 (SCORE 2) from Europe [2] and […]

Sleep disturbances, including poor sleep quality, insufficient sleep duration, and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), are prevalent across countries and age groups and are considered a public health epidemic [1–4] with high economic costs [5–7]. Medical students are particularly vulnerable to sleep disturbances as they experience high levels of stress [8,9] due to excessive workload, tight […]

Falls are a substantial global health concern, with 172 million incidents reported annually that lead to disabilities [1]. Falls place a significant strain on health care systems, patients, families, and communities affected [2]. Remarkably, 82% of fall-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries [2]. Without targeted interventions, researchers anticipate a drastic increase in fall-related […]

Disaster management, mainly related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents, is a critical field that requires constant evaluation to improve preparedness and response strategies. This review synthesises evidence on global health sector strategies for CBRN preparedness, gathering lessons to enhance policymaking for future response and readiness. This review included original English and French research addressing healthcare preparedness for CBRN threats. Database searches, such as EBSCO, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Ovid, Lissa, and Santécom, were conducted until November 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute's tools were utilised to assess the risk of bias. Al‐Raayan® and Nvivo® version 12 software were employed for the review and analysis. 57 articles in English and 6 in French met the inclusion criteria. The analysis identified numerous strategies, concentrating on chemical and biological incidents (Chemical and biological bioterrorism: n = 27; Epidemics and Outbreak: n = 15). “Hospitals”, “responsibility”, and “health” emerged as prominent keywords, emphasising institutional roles and health outcomes in CBRN incidents preparedness. Key findings highlighted the need for a unified global definition of bioterrorism to align international efforts. Hospital‐level initiatives were emphasised as the foundation for national preparedness, emphasising specialised training, community engagement, and robust coordination mechanisms. Geographical variability in response strategies was noted, necessitating a harmonised global approach. Continuous research, epidemic management, and addressing radiological/nuclear threats emerged as crucial elements. Among others, strategies defined under “Emergency Response Preparedness” and “Intersectoral Policy Development” outlined comprehensive preparedness contexts for CBRN incidents. The review suggests an imperative shift towards building collaborative networks and enhancing health sector operational readiness to mitigate the impacts of CBRN incidents.

Purpose: This systematic review aims to assess the use and perception of “Western” medical acupuncture—based on conventional biomedical mechanisms and evidence-based medicine for diagnosis and needle placement—for pain management among athletes and their healthcare providers. Methods: A systematic review is reported based on the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Allied and Complementary Medicine databases, and Google Scholar were searched (search: from database inception to July 2023). Two authors independently conducted multi-stage screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. The outcomes of interest were prevalence of acupuncture prescriptions by healthcare professionals, prevalence of acupuncture use by athletes, and perceptions related to acupuncture effectiveness among healthcare professionals and athletes. Only studies wherein “Western” medical acupuncture was used for pain management were included. Results: Our review included 11 observational studies and clinical trials. The prevalence of “Western” medical acupuncture prescription varied from 15.4% (UK) to 58.4% (US) among sports medicine healthcare professionals. Prevalence of acupuncture use among athletes ranged from 2.2% among college athletes in Palestine to 61% among professional football players in the Netherlands. Acupuncture was used for managing delayed-onset of soreness and pain due to various types of musculoskeletal injuries. Both athletes and their healthcare providers reported positive perceptions of acupuncture. Conclusion: Our systematic review identifies a notable research gap in evaluating the practice and perception of “Western” medical acupuncture among healthcare professionals and athletes. Our findings suggest that “Western” medical acupuncture is not only prescribed by sport medicine professionals and used by athletes for diverse musculoskeletal pains but is also generally perceived positively for its effectiveness. Given the positive clinical experience of health professionals, athletes’ favorable perception, and acupuncture’s well-established safety profile, acupuncture should be given serious consideration—as a complementary approach—in the overall management of pain. Registration: Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/qb9gc).