Sufian M. Khaild

Background: Mental health disorders, including depression, constitute a major global public health concern that can lead to significant morbidity as well as societal costs. Internally displaced people are at risk for depression. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adults in Atbara, northern Sudan, and identify the key factors associated with depressive symptoms, including internal displacement. Methods: Using a stratified sampling technique, data were collected by trained research assistants through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms. Multivariate binary analysis was performed. Results: Three hundred and seventy-three adults were enrolled in this study; 104 (27.9%) were males. Their median age was 42.0 years. Of the 373 adults, 81 (21.7%, 95.0% confidence interval = 17.5–25.9%) had depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores ≥ 8). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher among displaced adults: 39 (28.1%) of the 139 displaced adults had depression, and 42 (17.9%) of the non-displaced adults had depression, p = 0.027. In multivariate binary analysis, being internally displaced was the only factor associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio = 1.82, 95% confidence interval = 1.07–3.08); age, body mass index, sex, education, and marital status were not associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusions: One out of five adults in this region of Sudan had depressive symptoms, which was associated with internal displacement. More effort and further research are needed to explore possible interventions to improve mental health and livelihoods, especially among internally displaced people.

Objective The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has displaced millions and severely disrupted the healthcare system. This study assessed the association between armed conflict, displacement, and glycemic control in people living with diabetes (PWD), as well as the prevalence of diabetes-related complications in this context. Research Design and Methods This is a cross-sectional study. Using systematic random sampling, 385 displaced adults living with diabetes, aged 19 years or older, were recruited. The study was conducted at the diabetes center in Port Sudan from October 2024 to May 2025. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical history, and barriers to care were collected through structured questionnaires. Bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with uncontrolled diabetes. Results Participants had a mean age of 53 ± 12 years; 51.4% were female. All were displaced because of the armed conflict. The mean HbA1c was 9.38% (± 2.42); only 16.6% of participants achieved glycemic control (HbA1c < 7.0%). Poor adherence to diabetes management was reported by 15.8% of patients, with an average HbA1c of 12.09% in this group. A high prevalence of complications was observed, with 26.5% and 20.8% of patients having diabetic foot and diabetic retinopathy, respectively. In regression analysis, poor adherence was the sole factor significantly associated with uncontrolled diabetes (OR 41.96, 95% CI [11.04, 159.52], p < 0.001). Female gender and higher education were associated with higher mean HbA1c in bivariate analysis (9.63% vs. 9.11%, p = 0.015; p = 0.007, respectively) but were not independent predictors in the multivariate model. Stress exposure was nearly universal (99.2%) but not significantly associated with glycemic control in this sample. Conclusions In this cross-sectional study of displaced PWD, the context of armed conflict in Sudan was associated with a high prevalence of poor glycemic control; diabetic foot syndrome was present in 26.5% and retinopathy in 20.8% of participants; as these were self-reported and patient overlap was not assessed, these figures represent individual prevalences rather than cumulative burden. Adherence to management was the key modifiable factor correlated with glycemic outcomes. These findings highlight an urgent need for conflict-sensitive diabetes management strategies. Humanitarian responses should consider ensuring reliable, affordable access to care and support programs as a potential means to address the cascade of diabetes-related complications in conflict settings.

Hypertension is a global entity accounting for one of the most modifiable risk factors for all-cause morbidity and mortality. It is associated with a raised risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly in developing countries. Nevertheless, the banking sector profession lifestyle is sedentary and accompanied by high levels of mental stress, thus at a higher risk of developing hypertension. The objective is to assess the prevalence of hypertension among bank employees and the associated risk factors in River Nile State - Sudan. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on Atbara and Al-Damar localities' banks in River Nile state from January to March 2020. Data were collected on demographics, BMI, waist circumference (WC), medical history, family history, nutritional habits, physical activities, medications history, work stress, complaints, and blood pressure. Ninety-eight bank employees were enrolled, with elevated blood pressure present in 45(45.9%) participants, of whom 18 (40%) were newly diagnosed. 43.9% were in the age group 31-40 years. High blood pressure was significantly associated with older age >40 years, BMI > 30 kg/m², WC > 90 cm, diabetes mellitus (DM), smoking, family history, salty diet, reduced daily exercise (30 minutes per day), severe stress at work, with overall P-value = 40 years), obesity, DM, family history, salty diet intake, severe stress levels at work and sedentary lifestyle.

Background In this study, we aimed to study the frequency of hypertension in Sudanese patients with gouty arthritis attending the largest three tertiary hospitals in Khartoum and correlate it with serum uric acid levels. Methodology An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted in rheumatology clinics in Khartoum state, Sudan, from August 2020 to January 2021 involving 100 participants. Data were collected, prepared, and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results In this study, 100 participants were enrolled. The majority were males (79%), with 45% of the participants in the age group of 61-75 years. Overall, 89% of participants had symptoms of gouty arthritis, with the knee being the most common joint affected in 27% of participants. Most participants had a uric acid level above the target (6 mg/dL). The most frequently used uric acid lowering agent was found to be allopurinol in 85% of the patients. Furthermore, among those with gouty arthritis, 51% had hypertension with nearly half being insufficiently controlled. The frequency of undiagnosed hypertension among the participants was found to be 19%, which was statistically significant among gouty arthritis patients (p-value < 0.0001). Upon further analysis of our hypertensive participants, 79.5% of males (n= 35) had high blood pressure levels, which was statistically significant as well (p-value= 0.005), with the highest prevalence being among the age group of 61-75 years. Of those who were hypertensive, 51% had a history of concomitant comorbidity. Overall, 90% of the hypertensive participants (n = 40) had joint symptoms. Moreover, serum uric acid level was above the target in 93% of the participants. Conclusions Hypertension was found to be the most frequently recognized comorbidity in gouty arthritic patients, with more than a third remaining undiagnosed. Moreover, the male gender was a significant risk factor for hypertension among the gouty arthritis participants. Nevertheless, most patients with high blood pressure levels had concurrent elevated uric acid levels.