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Alzahrani MA, AlQahtani SJ, Alqahtani MS, Asiri HM, Abudasir AM, Alshahrani KT, Al Zomia AS. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric ulcers, cancers, and treatment. J Med Life 2024; 17:523-529. [PMID: 39144695 PMCID: PMC11320613 DOI: 10.25122/jml-2023-0536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection presents a significant threat to global health with serious associated morbidities. This study aimed to assess awareness, attitudes, and practices related to HP in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) through a survey-based cross-sectional study involving 2,541 respondents. We used a structured online questionnaire to gather data on personal and sociodemographic characteristics, as well as HP-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The survey was distributed through various social media platforms. The results revealed that 59.4% of respondents demonstrated good knowledge about HP, with a mean knowledge score of 3.7 ± 1.0 out of 5. Knowledge gaps were particularly evident regarding the contagiousness and transmission modes of HP. The mean attitude score was 12.2 ± 2.2 out of a maximum score of 15. In total, 37.6% of respondents reported ever being tested for HP, with 54.2% testing positive. Among those treated for HP, only 79% received antibiotic therapy and 37.8% received acid-reducing medications. Knowledge levels were significantly higher among younger and highly educated respondents (P < 0.001), and respondents with higher knowledge scores also had higher attitude scores than those with lower knowledge scores (12.6 ± 2.0 vs. 11.6 ± 2.0, P < 0.001). Individuals who had undergone HP testing had significantly higher knowledge levels than those who did not (62.3 vs. 57.8, P = 0.024). These findings underscore the urgent need for raising the population's awareness regarding the risks, prevention, and management of HP infection through targeted educational strategies.
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Ma L, Lin Z, Wang J, Ye R, Li Y, Chen P, Yuan Z, Yang L, Miao L, Li J. Association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and number of outpatient Helicobacter pylori infection visits. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:22808-22815. [PMID: 36306069 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23826-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori infection (HPI) is an important risk factor of gastrointestinal diseases, but factors leading to it are still not fully understood. To investigate the association between short-term exposure to air pollution and HPI during outpatient visits, we collected daily data for HPI outpatient visits and air pollutant concentrations during 2014-2021 in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. A time-stratified case-crossover design was performed to analyze the acute impacts of air pollution on HPI outpatient visits. We also explored potential effect modifiers. A total of 9072 outpatient visits were recorded. We found positive and statistically significant associations of acute exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) with HPI outpatient visits. Threshold concentrations of the three pollutants with same-day exposure (lag 0 day) for outpatient visits were 37 μg/m3 for NO2, 8 μg/m3 for SO2, and 0.8 mg/m3 for CO. The odds ratios for HPI outpatient visits at the 95th percentile of NO2, SO2, and CO against the thresholds were 1.207 (1.120-1.302), 1.175 (1.052-1.312), and 1.110 (1.019-1.209), respectively. The associations were more evident in patients older than 45 years, females, with health insurance, and in cold seasons. Null associations of exposure to either ozone (O3) or particulate matter (PM) were observed. In summary, short-term exposure to NO2, SO2, and CO above certain concentrations, but not PM or O3, may trigger the increased risk of outpatient visits due to HP infection in Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizuo Ma
- Department of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218, Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui Province, China
| | - Zhijing Lin
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Jiaoxue Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The 901St Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Ruirui Ye
- Department of General Practice, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yuefang Li
- Department of Geriatrics, The 901St Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Zhi Yuan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Liyan Yang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Lin Miao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Jiehua Li
- Department of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218, Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui Province, China.
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