Background and objectives: Acute coronary syndrome is the leading cause of death all over the world, there are many different risk factors as important etiology for this acute condition, this syndrome has been studied in different countries with a variety of results. The aim was to define different risk factors for the patients admitted to Erbil cardiac center and to find out the most common of these factors and the relationship between different clinical types of this syndrome (namely ST-elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction/unstable angina) with varying types of risk factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive nonrandomized study that included 100 patients with acute coronary syndrome, mean age of 57.5, the age range of 27—90 years, the majority of patients were male (78%), all patients were interviewed and investigated properly, and according to coronary angiographic findings treated by percutaneous coronary intervention or surgery. Results: The prevalence of acute coronary syndrome was significantly higher in male gender, the commonest risk factor was overweight and obesity 77% , followed in reduced frequency by other risk factors, More than half of patients(58.6%)with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were≤55years age, while 66.7% of patients with non ST-elevation myocardial infarction were >55years age. The most common artery involved was the left anterior descending artery, significant number 26.2% of non ST- elevation myocardial infarction/UA patients had three vessel stenosis and higher number34.5% of ST- elevation myocardial infarction patients had right coronary artery stenosis. Conclusions: The most common risk factor was overweight and obesity, no significant relation between clinical types and risk factors, low number of unstable angina cases seen in the emergency unit.
Authors:   M.B.Ch.B. Candidate of fellowship Kurdistan Higher Council of Medical Specialties-Rheumatology, Mohammed Hazhar Hussein , Media Shwan Kader ,   M.B. Ch.B, MD. Consultant Rheumatologist. Assistant Professor in College of Medicine. Hawler Medical University/.
Published: March 2024

Background and objectives: The most prevalent and chronic form of systemic autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by persistent inflammation, deteriorating joint function with time, increasing comorbidity, and increased mortality. The aim of this study was to know the frequency of joints involved, to know the prevalence of seropositive Rheumatoid arthritis, and evaluation of demographic features of the patients with Rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was undertaken on 110 patients at Rizgary teaching hospital in Erbil city. From January 2022 and January 2023. We evaluated and diagnosed the patients. Serological investigations including Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor were done for all of the patients. Results: One hundred ten patients 80% were female and 20 % were male. The mean age (SD) was 51.39 (12.6) years, majority of the patients were obese (45.5%). Only 14.5% of the sample were smokers, and rate of illiteracy was 60%. The most common joints involved were metacarpo-pharyngeal joint 73.6% followed by wrist joint 63.6%. Most common comorbid disease was hypertension 29.1% followed by diabetes mellitus, and thyroid disease (15.5%, 10%) respectively. Prevalence of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis was 80.9%. Majority of the patients used methotrexate, while the most common biologic used by the patients was etanercept 12.7%. Conclusions: Our rheumatoid arthritis patients' demographics, joint involvement, and serological characteristics matched those of some regional and international studies, however we discovered a higher proportion of women and a higher percentage of illiteracy.