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The Flash'O project was designed to provide insights into the current use of prescription omega-3 and their perceived benefits by physicians in real-world clinical practice, in Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Gulf countries, and to determine the adherence of physicians to dyslipidemia management guidelines. The present study focuses on Flash'O's process and results in Middle East countries. A total of 338 physicians and specialists completed the online questionnaire. Most responding physicians were male (91.7%), general practitioners (42.6%) with more than 5 years of seniority (80.4%) and saw more than 50 patients a week (71.5%). Most surveyed physicians (64.2%) reported using guidelines in their daily practice for the management of their patients with dyslipidemia. They mostly followed national guidelines (68.6%). American or European ones were less commonly used. Responding physicians thought that omega-3 supplementation could be more beneficial in all types of dyslipidemia, except high non- hight density lipoproteins, and for patients suffering from obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, acute coronary syndrome with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and high cardiovascular diseases risk (score ≥ 5% and < 10%), but less beneficial in chronic kidney disease. Respondents recommended omega-3 to their patients mainly after statin treatment in patients with dyslipidemia and for the treatment of dyslipidemia. This survey confirmed that omega-3 fatty acids are at the heart of the cardiovascular medical strategy., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background and Aims: Disorders of plasma lipids remain key risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the Middle East and are estimated to increase more dramatically in the next decade than in any other global region except Africa. This statement is an update to the 2016 consensus clinical recommendations for the management of plasma lipid disorders in the Middle East, following the evaluation of newer cholesterol-lowering agents in randomised controlled cardiovascular outcome trials, as well as the publication of revised international guidelines., Methods: A multidisciplinary panel of regional experts was convened to update the consensus clinical recommendations for the management of plasma lipids in the Middle East. The recommendations constructed in 2016 were reviewed against emerging research since publication., Results: Newly developed Middle East ASCVD risk categories were established using the multiple risk group categories from the recently updated international guidelines and the epidemiological evidence from the Gulf Region. These consensus recommendations support a more intensive reduction of LDL-C across cardiovascular risk categories. Alongside low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, we recommend non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as a primary treatment target. Lifestyle modifications remain the first-line treatment recommendation for all patients. The first-line pharmacological treatment in patients with dyslipidaemia is statin therapy, with a number of second-line agents available. The selection of a second lipid-lowering agent for combination therapy with statin should be based on the lipid-lowering target of the patient. Guidance is also provided on the management of underlying conditions and special populations; of particular pertinence in the region are familial hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes and metabolic dyslipidaemia. New therapies have emerged from research that found positive outcomes in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The initial results of these newly researched drugs strongly indicate their inclusion as future therapies in dyslipidaemia management in the Middle East., Conclusions: These updated consensus clinical recommendations provide practicing clinicians with comprehensive, region-specific guidance to improve the detection and management of plasma lipid disorders in patients in the Middle East., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Plasma lipid disorders are key risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and are prevalent in the Middle East, with rates increasing in recent decades. Despite this, no region-specific guidelines for managing plasma lipids exist and there is a lack of use of guidelines developed in other regions., Methods: A multidisciplinary panel of regional experts was convened to develop consensus clinical recommendations for the management of plasma lipids in the Middle East. The panel considered existing international guidelines and regional clinical experience to develop recommendations., Results: The panel's recommendations include plasma lipid screening, ASCVD risk calculation and treatment considerations. The panel recommend that plasma lipid levels should be measured in all at-risk patients and at regular intervals in all adults from the age of 20years. A scoring system should be used to calculate ASCVD risk that includes known lipid and non-lipid risk factors. Primary treatment targets include low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Lifestyle modifications should be first-line treatment for all patients; the first-line pharmacological treatment targeting plasma lipids in patients at moderate-to-high risk of ASCVD is statin therapy, with a number of adjunctive or second-line agents available. Guidance is also provided on the management of underlying conditions and special populations; of particular pertinence in the region are familial hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes and metabolic dyslipidaemia., Conclusions: These consensus clinical recommendations provide practicing clinicians with comprehensive, region-specific guidance to improve the detection and management of plasma lipid disorders in patients in the Middle East., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.)