OBJECTIVE: To provide a systematic review of studies on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their risk factors in the Moroccan population. METHODS: A systematic analysis was performed based on PRISMA guidelines by retrieving data bases (Medline, Embase, and other) using technical keywords in addition to manual research on official websites. Published studies in the English or French language, conducted in Morocco or concerning the Moroccan population within the last two decades, were identified. RESULTS: This is the first systematic review of CVD in Morocco. Data from 159 studies were retrieved and analyzed. Most studies were written in the English language (75.89%) and published between 2010 and 2019 (85.47%). The mortality rate caused by CVD in Morocco has reached 38%, with ischemic heart disease and stroke as the main events causing death (31.0% and 22.5% respectively). The risk factors present in the population studied were headed by tobacco smoking (45- 50%), followed by physical inactivity (21.1%), elevated rate of hypertension (25.3%), and depression (5.47%). Impacted by a high rate of illiteracy and poverty and an unprepared health care system in Morocco, these numbers are expected to increase over the next decade. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these alarming incidences, investment in scientific research and epidemiological studies should be increased to determine the needs of the local population. The available evidence shows that the risk of cardiovascular disease and the associated mortality is very high in Morocco and will rise in the next years prospectively, which calls for urgent multi-sectorial approaches and treatment strategies.

The long experience of the pharmacovigilance in Morocco was initiated since 1991 with the launch of the national centre of Pharmacovigilance (NCPV). In 1992, the NCPV acquired the world health organization (WHO) membership and thus the departure of the first African, Arabic and the 34th international pharmacovigilance system (PVS) in the world, in 2011 it was designed as the WHO collaborator. Today, and despite these achievements, the entire system is facing new challenges posed by the epidemiological and demographic transitions, where the cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, the expansion of the Moroccan pharmaceutical industry with the national policy for promoting the market of generics and a healthcare system inadequately distributed in the country with an acute shortage among health professionals and lack of Computerization. Modern computing methods based on advanced statistical technics applied in artificial intelligence such as; machine learning, deep learning and related technologies are already in place in many other industries. They represent an opening door for the Moroccan pharmacovigilance system to progress from conventional system based on individual initiative to report cases to smart system capable of managing an active surveillance of drug side effect in real time, analysing big data coming from various data sources and consolidating a correct drug safety ecosystem. In this paper we present the Moroccan PVS in the context of the healthcare system, epidemiological and pharmaceutical industry characteristics and we discuss strategies of introducing modern computing methods to the system. Key words: Pharmacovigilance, Morocco, Artificial intelligence, Computing methods, Drug safety.

Background: In Morocco, and many other African countries, there is a paucity of antihypertensive and antidiabetics use amongst the general population.AIM:To investigate the epidemiological profile of antihypertensive and antidiabetics use and analysis their adverse reactions.SETTING:This study was conducted in the prefecture of Figuig, Morocco.METHODS:A cross-sectional descriptive study. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire about their pharmacological treatment and presented using descriptive statistical analysis.RESULTS:Sample of 244 subjects, predominantly women 58.15% (p 0.03) composed of diabetic patients 56.96% (n = 139) and hypertensive patients 43.03% (n = 105). After adjustments, 60.24% of all patients were under monotherapy. The diabetics were being treated using the Biguanide class (26.92%), insulin (20.0%) and sulfonylureas (10.0%) while hypertensive patients were treated by Calcium Channel Blockers (27.36%), Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (21.05%), Angiotensin T-Blockers (16.84%), Diuretics (7.36%) and β-adrenergic receptors blockers (3.15%). In total, 23.00% of all subjects have experienced negative side-effects, mostly, reported (90.38%) to health professionals and 23.52% of them have interrupted temporarily or try to change their treatment. Gastro-intestinal problems were the most adverse reactions reported (11.11%) followed by headache, dizziness and tinnitus (6.66%) and asthenia, feeling sick and feeling of faintness (5.33%).CONCLUSION:Managing diabetes and hypertension entails a lot of public challenges and requires more focus and interest, especially amongst the illiterate population in remote areas. Some of the suggested ways to help face the problem include the introduction of new innovative measures, systems of fellow-up and adverse reactions.

Objective: This study, the first field survey in one prefecture in the Eastern of Morocco contributes by description of the distribution and characteristics of CVD risk factors using multiple cardiovascular risk assessment among hypertensive and diabetics subjects. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was done in over 11 localities from urban and rural areas in one prefecture from January to December 2017 screen CVD risk factors; obesity, blood pressure, smoking, physical activity, pharmacological treatment and others. Gaziano algorithms were used to calculate probabilities for the next 5-years of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events. Results: The sample consisted of 244 patients with a mean age 60.64 +/- 12.90 years and predominantly women (58.19%). Hypertensive subjects consisted of 105 with low level of education (15.23%) received their pharmacological treatment 90.48% but only 35.25 percent had optimal blood pressure. The frequency of obesity was 7.61% affecting more men than women and 36.19% of them had positive family history for diabetes and/or hypertension. Among all hypertensive subjects, 51.42% were considered at high cardiovascular risk for both fatal and non-fatal events. The group of diabetic participants consisted of 139 most of them illiterate (69.07%) and 21.58% had high blood pressure touching more men than women (25.86% vs 18.51%). The obesity (7.19%) was more frequent in rural areas than urban areas and only 30.21 % of them were found following physical activity. Examining the cardiac risk show that 55.39% of all diabetics were at high cardiovascular risk, exposing men more than women (63.63% vs 42.62%). Conclusion: CVD risk factors assessment represent a strategic tool to prevent and face these epidemic, and although the kingdom of Morocco has launched national strategy to reduce and face chronic diseases, the results of our study indicate that diabetic and hypertensive patients have high prevalence of CVD risk factors which exposed them to high cardiovascular risk.

Background: Scorpion stings are a public health problem in Morocco. Many studies have been conducted in various geographic locations to explore this problem. In this context, this is the first study aims to provide an epidemiological analysis of scorpion stings in the prefecture of Figuig, Morocco between 2009 and 2017. Methods: This is a retrospective study providing an epidemiological analysis of scorpion stings over 9 years. The data comprised the number of cases collected each month, their origin, and clinical outcomes. The data were transferred to Microsoft Office Excel and the statistical analysis describing means, standard deviations and frequencies, was performed using the program Epi info 6. Results: Over 9 years, there have been 1485 accidents recorded with sex ratio (M:F) as 1:1. The average incidence recorded is 127.62 per 100000 inhabitants per year. The stings were more frequent in summer months, particularly July and August, and 21.14% of the cases were children under 15 years. Of all cases, 73.4% did not need any medication, 3.03% needed hospitalization to treat specific symptoms and medical conditions, and 2.89% needed treatment for systemic effects of the envenomation. About 94.81% of all patients presented local symptoms and only 1.41% have their condition evolved into advanced symptoms and general manifestations. Conclusion: Scorpion stings are a public health problem in the prefecture of Figuig. The present study provided analysis in order to integrate the national strategy to fight the scorpion stings in Morocco.