Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have revolutionized the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, resulting in a high sustained virologic response (SVR) rate. However, the published data from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia are limited to small patient groups and specific DAAs used for patients with genotype-4.(GT-4). This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of DAAs for treating HCV infection in Saudi Arabia in a real-life setting. This retrospective study from January 2015 to December 2019 included all HCV-infected patients who received DAAs at a tertiary university hospital in Saudi Arabia. Baseline characteristics and laboratory data were collected from health records, including HCV RNA level, genotype, and presence of liver cirrhosis or steatosis. The primary outcome was undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks posttreatment (SVR12). Results were stratified based on different DAAs and HCV genotypes. Treatment-related adverse events were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0. Of the 117 patients included, 43.2% had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, and the majority (90.6%) were treatment-naïve. The mean age was 50.1 ± 15.5 years, with 57.3% females. The most common genotype was GT-4 (44.4%), followed by GT-1 (40.2%). Most patients (64.3%) received sofosbuvir and daclatasvir ± ribavirin, while the remaining patients received various DAAs. Overall, 98.3% of the patients achieved SVR12. The therapy was well tolerated, with fatigue and headache being the most common side effects. Treatment with DAAs is highly effective across different genotypes and various DDA regimens in the real world for treating HCV infection in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, contributing to improved patient outcomes and the overall goal of HCV elimination.

This systematic review aimed to identify genome-wide association studies (GWASs) highlighting the genes and single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked to osteoporosis and fragility fracture risk. We searched the search engines EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Citation Index, and Cochrane database of systematic reviews between 2005 and May 2022. The articles were reviewed individually for risk of bias and found no variances in the papers designated for analysis. We analyzed 63 studies with 1,326,798 patients, which included postmenopausal and premenopausal women. Thirty-one studies used dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for the diagnosis. Three studies used ultrasonography, and one used peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) to diagnose osteoporosis. For the risk of fragility fractures, 15 studies with 744,123 were analyzed, which used DXA in 12, two studies of ultrasonography, and one of radiography. Three studies were reported in premenopausal women and three in children with 18,203 subjects. Our analysis showed that 150 genes, 515 loci that target bone mineral density and 15 loci that increase fracture risk in osteoporosis have been identified. Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are common in the Saudi Arabian population. The GWAS gives an understanding of the genetic basis of low bone density, osteoporosis, and fragility fractures. The GWAS data can provide new pathways to understanding the etiology of osteoporosis and a route to prevention and optimum treatment. Hence, we believe that we should conduct GWASs on osteoporosis sooner rather than later so that we can advise at-risk individuals to change their lifestyle so that they can limit complications of osteoporosis and related complications.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and etiology of kidney failure (KF) among children below 15years of age receiving chronic dialysis in Saudi Arabia and describe their dialysis modalities. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 8 August 2022, encompassing all 23 pediatric dialysis centers in Saudi Arabia. Data gathered comprised patient demographics, causes of KF, and the dialysis methods employed. Collected data underwent analysis to determine prevalence of children undergoing chronic dialysis, discern underlying causes of KF, and evaluate distribution of patients across different dialysis modalities. The prevalence of children on chronic dialysis is 77.6 per million children living in Saudi Arabia, equating to 419 children. The predominant underlying cause of KF was congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT), representing a substantial 41% of cases. Following this, others or unknown etiologies accounted for a noteworthy 25% of cases, with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) comprising 13%, glomerulonephritis at 11%, and congenital nephrotic syndrome contributing 10% to etiological distribution. Regarding dialysis modalities employed, 67% of patients were on peritoneal dialysis (PD), while the remaining 33% were on hemodialysis (HD). This first nationwide study of pediatric chronic dialysis in Saudi Arabia sheds light on the prevalence of children undergoing chronic dialysis and underlying causes of their KF, thereby contributing to our understanding of clinical management considerations. This research serves as a stepping stone for the development of national registries.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have yielded significant insights into the genetic architecture of myocardial infarction (MI), although studies in non-European populations are still lacking. Saudi Arabian cohorts offer an opportunity to discover novel genetic variants impacting disease risk due to a high rate of consanguinity. Genome-wide genotyping (GWG), imputation and GWAS followed by meta-analysis were performed based on two independent Saudi Arabian studies comprising 3950 MI patients and 2324 non-MI controls. Meta-analyses were then performed with these two Saudi MI studies and the CardioGRAMplusC4D and UK BioBank GWAS as controls. Meta-analyses of the two Saudi MI studies resulted in 17 SNPs with genome-wide significance. Meta-analyses of all 4 studies revealed 66 loci with genome-wide significance levels of p < 5 × 10–8. All of these variants, except rs2764203, have previously been reported as MI-associated loci or to have high linkage disequilibrium with known loci. One SNP association in Shisa family member 5 (SHISA5) (rs11707229) was evident at a much higher frequency in the Saudi MI populations (> 12% MAF). In conclusion, our results replicated many MI associations, whereas in Saudi-only GWAS (meta-analyses), several new loci were implicated that require future validation and functional analyses.

Comorbidities of mental disorders and chronic physical conditions are a common medical burden reported among Western countries. National estimates of such comorbidities among the general population of Arab countries like Saudi Arabia are unknown. This study examined the prevalence of lifetime chronic physical conditions among the Saudi general population with DSM-IV 12-month mental disorders, and the associations with disability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The Saudi National Mental Health Survey, a cross-sectional household study - part of the World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Consortium - was conducted between 2013-2016 in the KSA, with 4,001 Saudi citizens aged 15-65 (response rate 61%). The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 was used to assess prevalence of lifetime chronic physical conditions and 12-month mental disorders; disability was measured in terms of days out of role. The prevalence of any comorbid 12-month mental disorder among those with chronic physical conditions was 24%. Major depressive disorder, social phobia, and adult separation anxiety disorder were the most common comorbid mental disorders across all chronic physical conditions. Gender, education, income, urbanicity, region, and employment were associated with the presence of any chronic physical condition. Respondents with mental / physical comorbidities had 2.97 days out of role (on average) in the last 30 days. Comorbidities of mental disorders and chronic physical conditions are common among Saudis. National efforts are needed to increase awareness of such comorbidities among the general population, and develop prevention and treatment services tailored to the needs of individuals at-risk for comorbidities.

Abstract Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by significant distress or impaired thoughts. It is a common mental health disorder; however, it remains underdiagnosed in clinical settings. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of BDD and social anxiety among female students, which is important because both conditions may adversely affect academic performance. This cross-sectional study on female students was conducted at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between January and February 2023. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire distributed in electronic format on university electronic platforms (blackboard). Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire comprising three parts: 1) sociodemographic data, 2) BDD Symptomology Questionnaire, and 3) Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). In this study, among 437 female students, most were concerned about their body parts/flaws (80.5%, n = 352). The body features of major concern included skin (32.3%, n = 141), obesity (23.6%, n = 103), teeth (21.5%, n = 94), and hair (21.3%, n = 93). In addition, our results showed a significant association between SIAS and all reported symptoms of BDD (p &lt; 0.001). Notably, a significantly higher number of those with social anxiety extremely/very often experienced symptoms of BDD than those without social anxiety.

Abstract is missing (Short communication)

BackgroundDespite tremendous efforts to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections, they still remain life-threatening complications among hospitalized patients with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The emerging antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other risk factors, including patient comorbidities, complicate patient management.MethodsA single-center retrospective observational study was conducted at King Fahad Hospital of the University, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Hospitalized patients with confirmed central line-associated bloodstream infections between January 2015 and December 2020 were included. The primary objectives were to investigate the trends in antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the causative agents, coexisting comorbid conditions, and other risk factors associated with mortality.ResultsA total of 214 patients with confirmed central line-associated bloodstream infections were included (CLABSI). The overall 30-day mortality rate was 33.6%. The infection rates per 1000 central line days for medical, surgical, and pediatric intensive care units were 4.97, 2.99, and 4.56 per 1000 CL days, respectively. The overall microbiological trends showed a predominance of Gram-negative agents, a steady increase of fungal CLABSI up to 24.0% in 2020, and a high prevalence of multidrug resistance up to 47% of bacterial CLABSI. In addition, the study indicates a significant negative surviving correlation with diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, chronic kidney disease, and the presence of ≥ 3 comorbidities (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe microbiological trends of the study population demonstrated a steady increase of CLABSI caused by Candida spp. with a predominance of Gram-negative pathogens. Stratifying the patients according to relevant mortality risk factors, including patient comorbidities, will help reduce CLABSI rates and improve patient outcomes.