Active lifestyle patterns reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in the Mecca region, Saudi Arabia: a case–control study

National Cross-Sectional Study of Community-Based Adverse Drug Reactions in Saudi Arabia

Background

An adverse drug reaction (ADR) is a response to a medicine that is not intended and is harmful, and which occurs at normal dose levels for humans. Currently, there are no estimates of the population-based prevalence of ADRs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Objective

The aims of this study were to (1) estimate the population-based prevalence of ADRs in KSA, (2) describe the ADRs experienced by survey respondents, and (3) investigate the level of awareness of the ADR reporting system.

Patients and Methods

This was a cross-sectional survey using stratified, population-based sampling conducted at a chain of community pharmacies.

Results

Analysis was conducted on 5228 surveys; 50.17% of respondents were males, and the mean age was 39 ± 15 years (min = 18, max = 98). The sample prevalence of ADRs was 23.45% (95% CI 22.30–24.60%, P < 0.001). The estimated population prevalence (after weighting) was 28.00% (26.10–30.00%). Gastrointestinal disorders were the most commonly reported ADRs (58.73%), followed by general disorders and administration site conditions (19.74%). The largest drug class that was reported to lead to ADRs was nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (11%). Over 19% of the respondents who experienced an ADR required medical intervention to control the suffering induced by the ADR. Of the respondents who experienced an ADR, 371 (30.26%) were aware of the ADR reporting system but only 53 (14.29%) said that they had filed a report in the system.

Conclusions

Our study estimated that 28% of the population experienced an ADR over a 1-year period in KSA. Risk factors for ADR included certain chronic disease groups and the use of certain classes of medications. Regulatory authorities in KSA intend to conduct more research and deploy educational interventions to reduce ADR rates in KSA. This will hopefully occur in an international context that promotes the standardized measurement of ADRs in the community. A subset of findings from this report was presented in an oral presentation at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) Annual Conference, September 27, 2018. In addition, a subset of findings from this report were presented on a poster at the International Conference of Pharmacoepidemiology and Therapeutic Risk Management (ICPE), August 27, 2019.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40801-020-00186-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Physical Activity and Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk: A Review

Introduction: Western lifestyle characterized by increased consumption of red meat, fat, processed food, smoking, alcohol drinking, lower consumption of vegetables and physical inactivity has been associated with a higher gastrointestinal cancer risk. Digestive system cancers are diagnosed at late stages when they show poor response to treatment and are associated with a high mortality rate. Colorectal, gastric, esophageal and pancreatic cancers are among the most common cancers worldwide. Studies show that more than 50% of gastrointestinal cancers develop as a result of inappropriate lifestyle. An inverse association between physical activity and many chronic diseases has been proved so far. However, the association between physical activity and some gastrointestinal cancers is still controversial. This study was aimed to determine the association between physical activity and gastrointestinal cancers risk.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of English and Persian databases from February 2007 till December 2017, for studies investigating the association of physical activity and risk of gastrointestinal cancers. Finally, after reading full text of articles, 123 studies were included.

Results: Physical activity can be helpful in reducing the risk of gastrointestinal cancer, especially colon and pancreatic cancers. The risk reduction is not similar for different types of gastrointestinal cancers and also among males and females.

Conclusion: Different types of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of gastrointestinal cancer. However, it is unknown which type and intensity of physical activity are associated with a protective effect against gastro-intestinal cancer.