Prevalence and Risk Factors of Childhood Asthma in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia

Background

The prevalence of asthma among children has been on the rise worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Our study was conducted to determine the prevalence of asthma and its related risk factors among school-age children in the Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia.

Materials and Method

The study was a cross-sectional prospective study that used Phase I ISAAC protocol and was conducted from March to June 2023. The sample size was calculated to be 1600 among school-age children in the Jazan Region Saudi Arabia. This study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, Descriptive statistics were calculated for study variables, and appropriate tests of significance were performed to determine statistical significance.

Results

The total study population was 1368 the majority of them, 96.6% (n=1321), were Saudi nationals, and most of them lived in rural areas (70.6%, n=966). The prevalence of life-long wheezing, wheezing in the last 12 months, and exercise-induced wheezing was 28.0%, 29.2%, and 30.9%, respectively. Risk factors such as having indoor plants, having a pet, and a smoker in the household were reported by 48.0%, 24.6%, and 36.4% of participants, respectively. Living near an industrial area was determined as a risk factor in 98 (7.2%) of the children. Asthma-related symptoms were strongly correlated with all risk factors based on the chi-square test, and some risk factors based on multivariate linear regression.

Conclusion

The prevalence of asthma among children in the Jazan Region is higher than previously reported, and the reported risk factors are significantly correlated with symptoms of asthma.

Nutritional Rickets Among Children: A Retrospective Study from Saudi Arabia

Background

Nutritional rickets remains a significant concern in certain countries, with increasing prevalence attributed to factors such as limited sunlight exposure and undernourishment. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with rickets due to nutritional deficiency in children from Jazan Province, southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using descriptive data from medical records at a tertiary hospital in Jazan Province. Records of patients diagnosed with rickets between January 2010 and December 2020 were analyzed. Symptomatic rickets cases from pediatric clinics were included, and diagnoses were based on biochemical and clinical tests. Risk factors were assessed using patient medical records. Data were analyzed using percentages, mean, and standard deviation.

Results

The study included 84 patients with rickets (53 females and 31 males), primarily between 11-18 years old. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 21.21. The most common risk factor was nutritional deficiencies, including vitamin D deficiency or calcium deficiency, with 75 patients reporting a family history of vitamin D deficiency. The children had limited sunlight exposure and low levels of calcium and vitamin D. Malnutrition was identified as the highest risk factor for rickets in the study population.

Conclusion

Nutritional rickets appears to be prevalent in the Jazan Province, emphasizing the need for government organizations to address this preventable disease. Adequate sun exposure and recommended dietary vitamin D intake are crucial to prevent rickets, as this study detected inadequate levels of calcium and vitamin D in children. National studies are required to further identify risk factors and develop appropriate strategies.

Bariatric Surgery Reduces Weight Loss, Comorbidities Prevalence, and Improves Quality of Life in the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia

Background and Objectives: Bariatric surgery has been proposed as a treatment option for type 2 diabetes, but there is limited research on its efficacy and the use of standardized outcome measures. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of bariatric surgery in managing type 2 diabetes and to assess the BAROS protocol postoperatively. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in southern Saudi Arabia, involving 346 bariatric surgery patients aged 18-60. This study collected data through an electronic questionnaire distributed via a Telegram group and Twitter hashtag. Anthropometric data, postoperative complications, and the evolution of obesity-related comorbidities were collected. The quality of life was evaluated using the Moorehead-Ardelt questionnaire of the BAROS protocol. The total BAROS score was classified as "Insufficient", "Moderate", "Good", "Very good", or "Excellent", considering the presence of comorbidities. The data were analyzed using SPSS software ver.23. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.97 ± 8.49 years, and 70.81% were female. Sleeve Vertical Gastrectomy was the most common surgical technique used (n = 336). The excess weight loss percentage (EWL%) was 70.55 ± 22.57%, and 27.75% of participants achieved complete remission of type 2 diabetes. The total BAROS score was "Excellent" for 40.17% of participants and "Moderate" for 27.16%. The presence of comorbidities was negatively correlated with the BAROS score (r = -0.651, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Bariatric surgery effectively manages type 2 diabetes with a high rate of EWL% and complete remission. The BAROS protocol is a valuable tool for assessing the quality of life postoperatively, with most participants achieving a "Moderate" to "Excellent" score. Comorbidities negatively impact the BAROS score, highlighting the importance of managing these conditions postoperatively.

Septic Arthritis of the Knee in Children

Septic arthritis of the knee is the most common form of septic arthritis in children and can lead to irreversible damage to the joint. Staphylococcus aureus is the primary pathogen associated with septic arthritis, although other causative pathogens may be isolate in children with specific risk factors. The diagnosis of knee septic arthritis is based on comprehensive evaluation, including the patient's medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and arthrocentesis. Empirical treatment typically involves anti-staphylococcal penicillin or a first-generation cephalosporin, although modifications may be made based on local resistance patterns and clinical culture data. Surgical debridement, either through open surgery or arthroscopy, involving extensive debridement of the joint, is effective in eliminating the infection. In most cases, additional surgical intervention is not necessary.

Awareness of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury-Preventive Training Programs among Saudi Athletes

BACKGROUND

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is a common medical condition that entails a stretch or sprain of the ACL, which is present in the knee joint. The incidence of ACL injury in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to be 31.4%. Prevention training programs (PTPs) can be used to reduce ACL injuries sustained during physical activity, as they primarily focus on improving strength, balance, and lower limb biomechanics and reducing landing impact. This study aimed to assess Saudi athletes' awareness of ACL injury PTPs.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey in the form of a self-administered questionnaire in the Arabic language was carried out from 22 December 2022 to 7 March 2023 and included 1169 Saudi athletes. Statistical analyses were performed on the collected data using frequency and percentages. Binary logistic regression was used for the adjusted analysis and determining associations between athletes playing high- and low-risk sports.

RESULTS

Overall, 52% of participants were female athletes, and 48% were male athletes. The western region of the country had the highest response rate (28.9%). The most common sport played was football at 36.6%. Most participants (70.97%) reported that their information on ACL injury was taken by their coaches. When assessing whether participants were familiar with the concept of an ACL injury PTP, the majority of the participants answered no, representing 971 (662 high-risk, 309 low-risk), compared to those who answered yes, representing only 198 (167 high-risk, 31 low-risk), with a statistically significant difference (adjusted OR: 2.106; 95% confidence interval: 1.544-2.873; p-value < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In general, the level of awareness of ACL injury PTPs among Saudi athletes was poor.