Background and Objectives: Hypertension (HTN) is a major health concern that leads to cardiovascular disease and premature death. Assessing HTN knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) is crucial for controlling HTN. This study aimed to determine HTN KAP among hypertensive patients residing in Lebanon. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 342 hypertensive patients. A questionnaire form was used to collect data related to patients’ characteristics. SPSS was used to determine KAP scores, descriptive statistics, and correlations. Results: Data from HTN patients was analyzed of whom 98.2% were Lebanese and 51.2% were males. The median age was 59.15 ± 13.55 years old. A proportion of 40.4% had HTN duration for at least 10 years and 67.3% had HTN family history. Patients had fair HTN knowledge and practice, but good attitude toward HTN. Only 45.3% regularly checked their blood pressure. Positive correlations were observed between HTN attitude and each of knowledge and practice. HTN knowledge and attitude were associated with many studied factors, whereas no relationship was found regarding practice. Conclusion: Hypertensive patients had fair levels of knowledge and practice, and a good level of attitude concerning their disease. We provided a model for predictors of HTN KAP scores that will allow the development of efficient campaigns related to HTN.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally. Assessing CVD knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) is necessary to spread awareness about CVD in Lebanon, their corresponding risk factors, and behaviors in which individuals can avoid or minimize the possibility of developing a CVD. This was a case-control analytical study that targeted 921 CVD and non-CVD subjects. A questionnaire form was used to collect data related to patients’ demographics, socioeconomic status, habits, medical and family history, KAP towards CVD, and source of information. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.25. Data from 921 participants were distributed over the CVD group (52.6% males aged 58.3 ± 13.7 years [n = 460]) and the non-CVD group (47.7% males aged 36.3 ± 15.4 years [n = 461]). CVD patients were significantly older than non-CVD subjects (p < 0.001). All three KAP scores of both groups were of poor to fair levels. Both CVD knowledge and attitude mean scores in CVD patients (26.6 ± 5.2 over 40 [66.50%] and 63.3 ± 10.2 over 85 [74.47%], respectively) were significantly higher than the ones of non-CVD subjects (23.5 ± 7.9 over 40 [58.75%] and 61.4 ± 12.4 over 85 [72.74%], respectively, p < 0.001). However, the CVD mean practice score was significantly lower in CVD patients (6.0 ± 1.7 over 9 [66.67%]) than the one of non-CVD subjects (6.3 ± 2.2 over 9 [70.00%] p < 0.001). Mostly, educational level (p < 0.001), governorate (p < 0.01), and smoking (p < 0.001) were predictors of KAP CVD in both groups. With an overall limited knowledge, attitude, and practice toward CVDs, the Lebanese population (with CVD or non-CVD) needs targeted national campaigns about CVD according to the identified predictors of CVD KAP to prevent and to alleviate the complications due to CVDs.

During cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyocytes (CMs) increase in the size and expression of cytoskeletal proteins while reactivating a foetal gene programme. The process is proposed to be dependent on increased nuclear export and, since nuclear pore trafficking has limited capacity, a linked decrease in import. Our objective was to investigate the role of nuclear import and export in control of hypertrophy in rat and human heart failure (HF). In myocardial tissue and isolated CMs from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, nuclear size was increased; Nucleoporin p62, cytoplasmic RanBP1, and nuclear translocation of importins (α and β) were decreased while Exportin-1 was increased. CM from a rat HF model 16 weeks after myocardial infarction (MI) reproduced these nuclear changes. Nuclear import, determined by the rate of uptake of nuclear localization sequence (NLS)-tagged fluorescent substrate, was also decreased and this change was observed from 4 weeks after MI, before HF has developed. Treatment of isolated rat CMs with phenylephrine (PE) for 48 h produced similar cell and nuclear size increases, nuclear import and export protein rearrangement, and NLS substrate uptake decrease through p38 MAPK and HDAC-dependent pathways. The change in NLS substrate uptake occurred within 15 min of PE exposure. Inhibition of nuclear export with leptomycin B reversed established nuclear changes in PE-treated rat CMs and decreased NLS substrate uptake and cell/nuclear size in human CMs. Nuclear transport changes related to increased export and decreased import are an early event in hypertrophic development. Hypertrophy can be prevented, or even reversed, by targeting import/export, which may open new therapeutic opportunities.

In response to the diverse health challenges faced by today’s youth and their extensive time spent in schools, we conducted a school health awareness campaign aimed at prioritizing well-being and academic performance. This analytical longitudinal study, spanning 27 schools in Lebanon, aimed to assess the impact of the awareness campaign on the health knowledge and practices of 5-, 8-, and 11-year-old students throughout pre- and post-intervention testing focused on general health and healthy habits, employing 11, 14, and 15 questions tailored to 5, 8, and 11 year olds, respectively. The questions covered various aspects, including sleep, personal and dental hygiene, nutrition, physical activity, addiction, security measures, and bullying. Out of the 7100 students who participated, 16.11% (1144 students) were evaluated before and after the campaign. The results indicated a significant increase in health awareness post-intervention across all age groups. For instance, in 5-year-olds, limited awareness decreased from 91.6% to 36.38%, while adequate awareness rose from 8.03% to 62.3%. Improvement varied across health knowledge topics, with security-related questions showing the highest enhancement. Factors such as governorate, normal-weight status, and close supervision influenced improvement. However, no significant correlations were found with school type, size, gender, age, nationality, parental factors, or comorbidities. The study concludes that the school health awareness campaign successfully heightened children’s health awareness, advocating for the integration of regular health promotions into the standard educational curriculum.

Prostate cancer (PC) is a frequent neoplasm among men. This study aimed to determine the awareness level of Lebanese men on PC in terms of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP). This was a cross-sectional online based survey, conducted on Lebanese men between April and December 2021. We collected data regarding socio-demographic characteristics, habits, and patient/family history of PC, and assessed the level of knowledge (27 items), attitudes (6 items) toward PC, and the level of practice related to the prostate exam and PSA test. We evaluated 844 responses. Only 4.6% of our participants demonstrated an adequate Knowledge level about PC. A greater score was achieved with participants of higher educational levels (p < 0.001) and those who had previously heard about PC (p = 0.002). Around 40% of responders displayed an adequate attitude toward PC. Higher educational level (p < 0.001), being informed by the physician and/or urologist about the PSA test (p < 0.001), having previously heard about PC (p = 0.001), being advised to be screened for PC (p = 0.006), and being employed (p = 0.007), improved attitude level toward PC. As for practice, PSA testing and prostate exam performance significantly increased with age, monthly income, being employed, history of prostate problems, being informed by a physician and/or urologist about the advantages and disadvantages of having the PSA test, and attitude towards PC. With unsatisfactory KAP levels toward PC, tailored awareness campaigns according to the identified predictors of PC KAP are needed in Lebanese men to prevent and alleviate their disease progression.