Heart failure (HF) is associated with complex symptoms and frequent hospitalisation that reduce patients’ quality of life (QoL). This study aims to assess the association between angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) use and changes in QoL and disease-related outcomes among patients with HF in Jordan.
Prospective observational cohort study.
The study was conducted among patients with HF attending the outpatient cardiology clinics at Jordan University Hospital, a tertiary care centre in Amman, Jordan. Patients either initiated on ARNI or receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) were included in the study at a 1:2 ratio. All participants were followed up for up to 1 year after recruitment. The study period was from 4 February 2024 to 29 May 2025.
Data on QoL, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were collected at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Hospitalisation data were collected for the preceding year and the year following participants’ recruitment. Medication adherence and ARNI side effects were assessed after 3-month of follow-up period.
A total of 227 patients with HF were included; 74 were initiated on ARNI, and 153 were receiving ACEIs/ARBs. At baseline, significantly lower QoL scores and LVEF were observed in the ARNI group compared with the ACEIs/ARBs group. After 3-month, the ARNI group showed improvements in all QoL scores, NYHA functional class and LVEF (p
ARNI use was associated with favourable QoL, NYHA class, and LVEF as well as lower hospitalisation rates among patients with HF in Jordan. The safety profile was consistent with previous studies.
Teenagers widely use digital devices for information sharing and other daily activities. Their heavy reliance on smartphones and tablets may contribute to repetitive-use injuries of the thumb.
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of texting thumb (TT) among medical students and to identify the potential associations between TT and behavioural patterns during digital device use.
This cross-sectional study employed an online, self-developed questionnaire to assess demographic and behavioural patterns associated with smartphone use. Data on thumb pain and its features were evaluated for diagnostic purposes. This study comprised medical students from six medical schools in Jordan. Data were collected from 482 medical students, excluding those who did not meet the inclusion criteria.
The prevalence of TT was 34%, predominantly on the right side (53%) and at the thumb base (69%). The findings suggest that TT was significantly associated with specific behavioural patterns, including supporting the forearm (p=0.026, adjusted OR: 1.611; 95% CI 1.059 to 2.449), number of texting per day (p=0.005, adjusted OR: 1.319; 95% CI 1.086 to 1.603) and studying hours per day using a digital device (p=0.002, adjusted OR: 1.586; 95% CI 1.193 to 2.109). Also, students’ attitudes toward thumb pain were significantly associated with the TT (p=0.005, adjusted OR: 1.351; 95% CI 1.094 to 1.668).
Students’ attention to behavioural patterns is crucial when using digital devices. Supporting the forearm, limiting text message use, avoiding prolonged use of digital devices, never ignoring hand pain and resting the hand significantly reduce the risk of thumb overuse injury.
This study aims to review case reports/series on West Nile virus (WNV) infection-associated cranial nerve (CN) neuropathy to explore the associated patterns and characteristics.
A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria.
We reviewed the literature in PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect databases to retrieve relevant case reports.
Case reports published in the past 25 years on CN neuropathy in WNV-infected patients, with no language or geographic restrictions.
Retrieved data included patient demographics, disease presentation and treatment outcomes. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to describe frequency and characteristics of CN neuropathies. Cross tabulation was performed to calculate statistical significance of association between patient characteristics, disease factors and treatment outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool for case reports.
A total of 30 case reports satisfied inclusion criteria. These studies described 42 cases that developed CN neuropathies as an outcome of WNV infection. Patients were in the main males (54.8%) and had a mean age of 52.5±15.5 years. The most frequently affected CNs were, in descending order, optic (n=21, 50.0%), facial (n=14, 33.3%) and abducent nerves (n=8, 19.0%). Age was significantly associated with optic nerve neuropathy (≥51 years) and facial palsy (
CN neuropathy represents an important subset of neuroinvasive disease caused by WNV. There is a slight male preponderance among the patient population who are mostly middle aged. Optic and facial nerves are mostly affected. Most patients show complete recovery, particularly in the absence of chronic diseases. The role of systemic antivirals in improving disease outcomes should be further investigated. Early detection of CN neuropathies is recommended by routine CN screening and use of specific tools such as MRI and neurophysiological tests.