Patients In Jeddah Research Articles

Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life of Epilepsy Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

BackgroundEpilepsy puts an enormous burden on the physical and mental health of patients and can negatively impact their Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Previous studies have identified multiple factors impacting patients’ HRQoL; however, a consensus has not been reached, as these factors vary among different populations. This has not been sufficiently investigated in Saudi Arabia. Thus, this study aims to assess the HRQoL of epilepsy patients, as measured by the Quality Of Life In Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31) questionnaire, to determine the effects of demographics, disease characteristics, and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study of adult epilepsy patients receiving AEDs who followed up at the epilepsy clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital between April 2018 and June 2018. Recruited individuals participated by phone interview.ResultsA total of 200 participants fulfilled our inclusion criteria and consented to participate; 57.4% were males. The average age was 32.8 years. The total average score on the QOLIE-31 was 61.56 (±17.52). QOLIE-31 scores correlated inversely with seizure frequency (p<.000) while the class of medication used, and the number of drugs administered did not correlate with HRQoL.ConclusionWhereas previous work has suggested a better quality of life when using newer generation AEDs, our study found no significant difference between the class of medication and whether monotherapy or polytherapy is used. Our findings suggest that efforts to improve HRQoL should be directed toward proper control of seizures regardless of medication class, as the frequency of attacks has the most detrimental effect on patients’ quality of life.

Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization in Sickle Cell Disease: Advantage of Ethnic Heritage between Donors and Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract Introduction/Objective Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is frequently required for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Development of alloantibodies in these patients complicates the blood bank process needed to identify these antibodies and to find compatible RBC units. The rate of alloimmunization has been reported as high as 47% in one study and 34.2% in another study from Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this study was to determine incidence and rate of RBC alloimmunization in the Saudi population in the Western region in SCD. Methods/Case Report A retrospective analysis of the immunohematological and transfusion history of a total of 161 SCD patients was reviewed, of which there 95 males and 66 females. All patients had erythrocytapheresis, ranging from one to 24 full red cell exchange sessions. A total of 490 red cell exchanges were performed and 4,914 units of blood were used. Extended compatibility to RhCcEe and K antigen was performed. Patient who developed alloimmunization to any of RhCcEe and K antigen were matched for Kidd, Duffy and MSN antigens for subsequent RBC requirements. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) The RBC alloimmunization incidence was 18% with a rate of 0.6 antibodies per 100 RBC transfusions. Alloimmunization in females was significantly higher than in the patients. Eighteen (11.2%) female patients demonstrated antibodies as compared to eleven (6.8%) male patients. Twelve patients (7.4%) had a history of at least one alloantibody and 17 (10.6%) had more than one. Antibodies found were directed against E (7.4%), K (5.6%), and D, C, c, S, M, Lea, Jk a, Chido/Rodgers, Fy a. Seven (4.3%) patients also had warm autoantibodies. Conclusion RBC alloimmunization incidence and rate in our study was lower to those reported in less heterogeneous population of donors and patients. Nonetheless, RBC alloimmunization still occurs in patients with SCD, often due to Rh variants or lack of consistency in the application of prophylactic antigen matching between institutions. Therefore, we believe that this rate can still be further reduced if all centers in the region establish transfusion programs to include at least RhCcEe and K phenotypic compatibility and communication mechanisms between major treating centers and transfusion centers in smaller cities to minimize the risks of exposing the patient to different RhCcEe and K phenotype and of developing RBC alloimmunization.

Stigma Related to COVID-19 Positive Patients in Jeddah – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during 2020 Pandemic

Background: COVID-19 has contributed to the development of stigma in the community of Jeddah, thus causing negative attitudes and beliefs toward individuals linked to the disease.&#x0D; Objective: To describe stigma related to COVID-19 positive patients and find out factors associated with stigma subscales.&#x0D; Subjects and Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study conducted on COVID-19 positive patients (lab confirmed) in Jeddah. The sample size was 420 patients, and the data was collected using a validated questionnaire adapted from HIV/AIDS stigma instrument (HASI-P). The data were analysed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS, version 27.0).&#x0D; Results: Total number of responses was (419). The median age was 32 (IQR, 25-43). Both genders, Saudi and non-Saudi, were included. The tool used to measure the COVID-19 related stigma of different six subscales. The verbal abuse had a median of (0, IQR=0-0.25), negative self-perception (median=0, IQR=0.02), health care neglect (median=0, IQR=0-0), social isolation (median=0.2, IQR=0-0.6), fear of contagion (median=0.33, IQR=0-0.83) and workplace stigma (median=0, IQR=0-0). Male gender was significantly associated with social isolation and fear of contagion, while working in the health care field was associated with workplace-related stigma. &#x0D; Conclusion: COVID-19-related social stigma was reported by a considerable number of Jeddah healthcare providers, specifically workplace-related stigma. Unexpectedly, males need more attention as regard to social isolation and fear of contagion. The results of this study can be of used to guide supportive social interventions to suppress the COVID-19 related stigma.

The Impact of COVID 19 Precautionary Measures on Management of Chronic Disease Patients Following in Primary Health Care Centers Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2020

Purpose: Since the declaration of the wide and progressive spread of COVID-19 as a pandemic, the health systems worldwide are facing challenges in the balance between applying recommended precautionary measures for COVID-19, while maintain providing essential routine health care to other groups like chronic diseases' patients. The current study aims to explore impact of precautionary measures of COVID-19 on chronic diseases' patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.&#x0D; Methodology: Through an analytical cross-sectional study; a representative sample of chronic diseases' patients were selected randomly from primary health care centers in Jeddah. They were invited to respond to a valid questionnaire designed to collect data about the impact of Covid 19 pandemic measures on chronic diseases’ patients. The questionnaire is adapted from valid published questionnaires conceptualized around the impact of Covid 19 measures on chronic patients. Chi-square test was used to identify association between the health status and the independent variables. P-value &lt;0.05 was considered as an indication for significance. &#x0D; Results: Out of all respondents (n=386) there was almost equal distribution of females (52.3%) and males (47.7%), and remarkable dominance of Saudis (91.7%); two thirds (62.7%) reported one chronic disease while the rest had two or more diseases. Considerable proportions faced difficulties in medical appointments (43.8%), reaching physicians (30.1%) and obtaining medicines (16.6%) during the pandemic. The health status of 23.3% became worse; especially among those with low income (46.4%), those who needed emergency care (57.1%) and all who did not get it p&lt;0.005.&#x0D; Conclusion and recommendations: The precautionary measures of COVID-19 have an impact on the care, health status of chronic diseases' patients. Efforts should be made to plan for innovative measures to ensure providing essential health care to chronic diseases' patients during pandemics.

Clinical and hematologic presentations of adults with COVID-19 patients in Jeddah: A case control study

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The clinical features of COVID-19 were mentioned in previous studies. However, risk factors for COVID-19 are not fully recognized. The aim of this study is to characterize risk factors and clinical features of COVID-19 disease in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. MethodsA retrospective, chart-review, case-control study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Demographic, clinical, radiological, and laboratory data on patients diagnosed between March 18 and May 18, 2020 were collected and analyzed. ResultsWe reviewed medical records on 297 suspected cases of COVID-19. Of these, 175 (59%) tested positive for COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and considered as cases, while 122 (41%) tested negative and considered as control. COVID-19 positive cases were more likely to be males, and non-health care providers. Hypertension (15%), diabetes (10%) and two or more concurrent comorbidities (54.4%) were more prevalent among COVID-19 patients. Patients presented with fever, cough, and loss of taste/smell were more likely to test positive for COVID-19 (P = 0.001, 0.008, 0.008; respectively). Radiological evidence of pneumonia was associated with confirmed COVID-19 disease (P = 0.001). Shortness of breath and gastrointestinal symptoms were not associated with the risk of COVID-19 at presentation. On admission, white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and platelets were significantly lower among COVID-19 patients compared with controls. Surprisingly, D-Dimer levels were lower among COVID-19 positive patients when compared with controls. ConclusionMale gender, hypertension, and diabetes are the most commonly observed risk factors associated with COVID-19 disease in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. COVID-19 patient had significantly lower lymphocyte and neutrophil counts.

Assessment of the relationship between depression and treatment compliance in chronically-ill patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To find the relationship between depression, treatment adherence and lifestyle changes inchronically-ill patients residing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A self-administered questionnaire was used tocollect data from patients of multi-healthcare centers located in Jeddah. The questionnaire aimed tocollect the information regarding patients’ levels of medication compliance, patients’ capacity to copewith the disease and adherence to medication, along with their depression level.Results: Of the overall sample size of 439 patients, 43.1 % were suffering from hypertension, 37.8 %were diabetic and 33.7 % had hyperlipidemia. Besides, total scores of Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9) showed that approximately 5 % patients were severely depressed, 8 % had moderately severedepression, 27 % had moderate depression, and 60 % had mild depression. Compliance scale datarevealed that 38 % patients showed low compliance, 51 % showed partial compliance, and 11 %showed high compliance. Also, a significant inverse relationship between depression and compliancescales (rs = -0.221, p = 0.004) was observed.Conclusion: The results show an inverse association between depression and medication adherencein patients with chronic disease in Jeddah. Therefore, clinicians are advised to assess the level ofdepression in chronically-ill patients in order to improve their adherence to medicine.Keywords: Chronic illness, Depression, Medication adherence, Treatment compliance

Work and School Absenteeism in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background:Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can have a considerable effect on quality of life, productivity and performance, is typically diagnosed during periods of life in which patients have academic and career-related responsibilities.Objective:The objective of the study was to determine the effect of IBD symptoms on work and school absenteeism in patients from Saudi Arabia.Patients and Methods:This cross-sectional survey included patients diagnosed with IBD, aged >8–60 years, at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The validated 32-question IBD quality-of-life questionnaire was used to elicit information regarding quality of life and another 9-question validated questionnaire was used to assess work and school absenteeism. A logistic regression analysis was used to identify possible determinants of absenteeism.Results:A total of 123 IBD patients were included, with a 1:1 male-to-female ratio. The median age at presentation was 26 years (range: 8–59 years), 56.9% had Crohn's disease, and 43.1% had ulcerative colitis. Further, 58 (47.2%) were employed, 49 (39.8%) were students and 16 (13%) were unemployed. Forty-seven (43.9%) participants reported absenteeism: 26 were employees (55.3%) and 21 were students (44.7%). A binary logistic regression analysis identified IBD subtype (P = 0.006) and the presence of perianal disease (P = 0.028) as clinical predictors for absenteeism from school or work. A feeling of abdominal pain (P = 0.015), fatigue (P = 0.015) and difficulty taking part in social engagements (P < 0.001) were also significantly associated with absenteeism.Conclusions:A sizeable proportion of the participants reported absenteeism owing to the effects of IBD. IBD subtype, perianal disease, presence of ongoing abdominal pain, fatigue and difficulty in social engagement were strongly associated with nonattendance.

Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown on diabetes patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown on diabetes patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Results of a community mobile outreach directly observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) project, compared to a standard facility-based DOTS: A randomized controlled trial

IntroductionTuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health threat affecting people in many developing countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Maintaining a long-term treatment regimen has always been the cornerstone of successful treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients. In the Jeddah region, the National Tuberculosis Control and Prevention Program is now treating TB patients by means of a community mobile outreach team approach.The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the community mobile outreach approach in improving treatment outcomes (success rate) among local tuberculosis patients with those being treated with a facility-based directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS). Study designOur study consisted of a two-sample, parallel design [1:1], statistician -blind randomized control trial with 200 newly diagnosed, TB patients as subjects. Setting/participantsThe patients had all presented at the Madain Alfahd Primary Health Care Center, Jeddah. Between Nov 2017 and Nov 2018, a total of 221 TB patients were screened of whom 200 were randomly selected using randomly generated sequences. InterventionPatients in the intervention sample group were treated by means of mobile outreach teams with oral anti-TB treatment under the DOTS, and control group patients were given the traditional facility-based DOTS treatment according to the WHO recommendations and national guidelines. Main outcomeThe primary outcome was the level of overall treatment success rate. It was finally determined and compared in the two sample groups using chi-square analysis and relative risk assessment. ResultsIn the analysis stage, 97 patients were in the intervention group, while the control group consisted of 76. The overall response rate was 86.5% (173/200). We found that the percentage of overall treatment success rate among the patients served by the mobile outreach team was 97%, compared to 76% in the non-mobile team treated patients. The relative risk of treatment success rate among the intervention group was 1.27 (95% CI = 1.13–1.43) times greater than that amongst the control group. Log-rank test (log-rank statistics = 18.91; p < 0.001) identified a significant difference in the default rate after six months of treatment. ConclusionThis study has shown that a mobile outreach DOTS approach is an effective and acceptable strategy for treating TB patients. It also provides important data on the efficacy of using mobile outreach teams to improve TB treatment outcomes in Jeddah. Our results provide evidence and highlight the positive and significant impact of mobile outreach teams in mitigating TB recurrence rates and in improving TB treatment outcomes.Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03787914

Assessment of Different Types of Strabismus Among Pediatric Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Jeddah.

BackgroundStrabismus, also known as squint, is an ocular disorder in which the eyes do not align properly with each other when looking at an object. The estimated global prevalence of strabismus among children is between 1.3% and 5.7%. This study aimed to assess the various types of strabismus among pediatric patients in Jeddah, in the western region of Saudi Arabia.MethodsThe medical records of 281 patients with strabismus aged ≤18 years, who presented to the pediatric ophthalmology clinic in King Abdulaziz University Hospital between 2010 and 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). A p-value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant.ResultsOut of the 281 patients, 141 were (50.2%) female. The average age of the patients was 9.50 ± 4.24 years. The most common type of strabismus was esotropia (177 [63%] patients), followed by exotropia (96 [34.2%] patients), hypertropia (10 [3.6%] patients), and dissociated vertical deviation (four [1.4%] patients). Two-hundred thirty-one (82.8%) patients had bilateral strabismus. A total of 178 patients (63.3%) had no associated conditions with strabismus, whereas 103 (36.7%) had an associated condition. A significant relationship was observed between esotropia and prematurity (p = 0.024).ConclusionEsotropia was the most common type of strabismus among the patients, followed by exotropia. The results of this study showed that males were equally affected as females. We also found a significant relationship between esotropia and prematurity. Implementation of a compulsory nationwide pediatric ophthalmic screening program for children aged one, three, and five years is recommended to enable timely diagnosis of strabismus and any other refractive errors.

Covid-19 Disease Is Not Associated with Venous Thromboembolism in a Cohort of Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS2), is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to characterize risk factors and clinical features of COVID-19 disease in an adult cohort in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Methods: A retrospective case control study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Clinical and demographic data on patients presenting at KAUH with concern for COVID-19 disease between March 18 and May 18, 2020 were collected and analyzed.Results: Electronic medical records on 297 patients presenting at KAUH were reviewed. Of these, 175 (59%) tested positive for COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 122 (41%) tested negative. COVID-19 positive patients were more likely to be males (OR=1.59; 95% CI=1.22-2.07), and non-health care workers (OR=1.53; 95% CI=1.13-2.08). Hypertension (10%), diabetes (10%), and two or more concurrent co-morbid conditions (54.4%), were more prevalent among COVID-19 positive patients. Patients presenting with fever, cough, and loss of sense of taste or smell were more likely to test positive for COVID-19 (p=0.001, 0.008, 0.008, respectively. Radiological evidence of pneumonia was associated with confirmed COVID-19 disease. Dyspnea, cough and gastrointestinal symptoms were not associated with risk of COVID-19 at presentation. On admission, white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and platelets were significantly lower among COVID-19 positive patients compared to controls. Surprisingly, D-dimer levels were lower among COVID-19 positive patients. Furthermore, only two patients developed thrombosis; one with pulmonary embolism and one with coronary artery thrombosis.Conclusion: Male gender, hypertension and diabetes were associated with risk of COVID-19 disease in this study population. D-dimer levels were not elevated in COVID-19 patients, and venous thromboembolism was not prevalent in cases, compared to controls. This is in contrast to previous reports on the association of COVID-19 disease with venous thromboembolism in other populations. Thus, individual and environmental risk factors may play an important role in the pathophysiology of thrombosis in COVID-19 disease.DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Complementary and alternative medicine use among ischemic stroke survivors in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:To determine the prevalence and pattern of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and the CAM types used by stroke patients in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Methods:This cross-sectional study included 152 ischemic stroke survivors who visited King Fahad Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between January 2018 and December 2019. Phone-based and face-to-face surveys were conducted. Data on the patients’ demographic characteristics, their use of CAM, and their pattern of CAM use were gatheredResults:Ninety (59.2%) stroke patients used CAM, mainly cauterization (29.61%) and Quran recitation by a religious sheik (28.95%). Most of the patients (72.22%) used CAM post-hospitalization and within less than one month from stroke onset (62.22%). A minority (6.67%) of the patients stopped their medication while on CAM. Some patients (25.56% to 31.11%) discussed with their physician their use of CAM. The CAM users reported a subjective improvement in their physical weakness (45.6%) and psychological wellbeing (62.2%). The patients learned about CAM mainly from their relatives and friends (96.7%), and the most common reason for their CAM use was their belief in this intervention (42.22%).Conclusion:The CAM use was prevalent among our cohort of Saudi ischemic stroke patients, and cauterization and Quran recitation were the most commonly used CAM interventions. An effective communication was lacking between the medical professionals and the stroke patients as regards CAM use despite the interest of the patients in this intervention.

Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on diabetes patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

AimsTo explore the impact of the coronavirus disease lockdown on diabetes patients living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in terms of their compliance with medication intake and lifestyle habits, and quality of life. MethodsIn this cross-sectional, qualitative prospective study, a questionnaire was administered over the telephone to diabetes patients who had attended National Guard primary care centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The survey included questions on demographic data, type of diabetes, medications used, comorbidities, medication compliance, and daily habits before and after the lockdown, and those assessing patients’ psychological parameters during the past month by using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Data analysis was performed using SPSS program version 26. ResultsTotally, 394 patients participated. All of them had type 2 diabetes, and 37.6% had only one comorbidity. Antidiabetic monotherapy was used in 76.4% of the patients, while combination therapy was used in 23.6%. The compliance score before the lockdown was significantly higher (18.49 ± 3.05) than that after it (17.40 ± 3.25) (p-value <0.001). The average psychological assessment score was 9.78 ± 4.14 (range 8–35). Male participants and smokers had a significantly better psychological status than female participants (p-value = 0.002) and non-smokers (p value < 0.001), respectively. ConclusionsThe patients’ levels of compliance with medications and healthy lifestyle habits were significantly reduced after the lockdown. These findings highlight the need for healthcare professionals to encourage diabetes patients to adhere to healthy lifestyle habits and use telemedicine during lockdowns to ensure optimal blood glucose control and reduce the incidence of complications.

COVID-19 pandemic effects on diabetic patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a recently emerged global catastrophe costing thousands of lives and making millions of people sick all over the world. This study aimed to assess the COVID-19 effects on diabetic patients and to explore its effects on follow-up visits, medication refills, and psychological impacts on diabetic adults and adolescent patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, 234 adult/adolescent male and female diabetic patients, with Saudi or non-Saudi residency, were randomly enrolled. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection in 2020. Results: Majority of the participants were female (67.9%), and in the age group of 46-65 years (59%). About 53.4% of the participants reported that they had received guidance about self-management of diabetes from governmental or nongovernmental organizations during the COVID-19 lockdown and the major source of guidance was physicians (70.5%). Only 49.6% of the participants monitored their blood glucose regularly during the lockdown, once or twice per day (44.8%, 28.4%, respectively) and 70.5% did not face any difficulties in finding the monitoring accessories. Regarding the impact of the lockdown on the follow-up visits, 152 participants (65%) pre-scheduled their follow-up visits with their physicians. Of the total participants, 57.7% feared that they would contract COVID-19 infection more than non-diabetic people and 23.5% reported disturbances in their sleep cycles that happened many times. Conclusion: Many patients reported a change in their lifestyle and eating habits, which may predispose them to difficulties in their glycemic control.

The use of decorative braces in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE:To assess the practice of using orthodontic brackets as tooth decorations among dental offices and patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The study was a cross-sectional survey using 2 questionnaires. The first included 14 doctor questions where 300 dental offices in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia were contacted by phone. The second questionnaire included 22 patient questions where 50 patients who currently have or have had decorative braces answered the questions online.RESULTS:Out of 250 dental offices that responded, 91 offices (36.4%) answered “yes” to offering decorative braces. Most dentists use metal brackets (96.3%) on both the upper and lower arches (98.8%) and ligate a wire (83.8%) using colored elastomeric ligatures. Out of 50 patients who answered the patient questions, 28 patients (56%) were females and the mean age was 19.84 years (±2.32). 37 (74%) patients reported that their decorative braces were not placed by dentists and mostly by over the counter glue. Finally, 62% reported they were not satisfied, and 84% said they would not recommend getting decorative braces to their family and friends.CONCLUSION:Our results indicate that the use of decorative braces is prevalent, and most are not being placed by dentist. As healthcare providers, we are obliged to educate the public of potential harm that can result when decorative braces are used, to hopefully limit the spread of this unfortunate practice.

Pediatric COVID-19 Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Clinical, Laboratory and Radiological Aspects

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical manifestations along with the laboratory and radiographic findings in the local pediatric population in order to better understand the novel corona virus and its implications on the pediatric age group. Method: The Pediatric Coronavirus in Saudi Arabia (PERSONA) study, a retrospective cohort, was conducted at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to analyse the clinical, laboratory and radiological findings of pediatric patients confirmed to have the novel coronavirus through PCR for COVID-19 taken via nasopharyngeal swabs from March 1, 2020 to May 13, 2020. Result: Approximately 54% (13/24) were male and 46% (11/24) were female. Patients ages ranged from 13 days to 17 years with an average of about 8.4 years and a standard deviation of 5.87 years. Leucopoenia was present in 4/22 patients, while 75% had normal white blood cell counts. Neutropenia was evident in 25% (6/22) of patients while 83.3% (20/22) of patients exhibited normal lymphocyte counts. Eosinopenia was the striking finding in 75% (18/22) of those in the study while only four (16.7%) of the COVID-19 patients showed normal eosinophil counts. Conclusion: Eosinopenia may be a sign of less severe infection in children and therefore should be further studied. More research is needed in the region to better understand the implications of the novel corona virus and whether disease course and burden differs across nations and from adults to pediatrics. What’s Known on this Subject: The novel corona virus first emerged in Wuhan in December 2019. This virus is spread by respiratory droplets and initially infects the respiratory system. Most studies done to present day have been on the effect of the virus in adults. What this Study Adds: This study explores the effect of COVID-19 on children in Saudi Arabia and whether their clinical, laboratory and radiological features are similar to children in China. This study will help to better understand the disease course in this age group.

Prevalence and Association of Elevated Liver Transaminases in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

BackgroundThis study investigated the prevalence and association of liver transaminases in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis retrospective, cross-sectional study was carried out on 211 T2DM patients at KAUH in 2017, and the Research Ethics Committee of KAUH approved this study. The data were analyzed on SPSS 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). The association of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with several risk factors was computed by the chi-square test. The odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was also calculated.ResultsThe mean age of study participants was 60 ± 13.43 years; 143 (67.8%) were female while 68 (32.2%) were male. Serum AST levels were elevated in 6.16% (10.3% in males, 4.2% in females). Elevated ALT levels were found in 7.58% (11.8% in males, 5.6% in females) (Table 2). The probability of rising AST levels increased with age (OR = 2.59 for patients aged 46-65) and with male gender (OR = 2.65, CI: 0.84-8.12). Additionally, the probability of rising ALT levels increased with male gender (OR = 2.25, CI: 0.80-6.27), low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C) (OR = 2.11, CI: 0.73-6.04), and triglycerides (TG) (OR = 2.08, CI: 0.739-5.87). No statistically noteworthy association was observed between elevated levels of AST and ALT with gender, age, body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), TG, total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, smoking, or hypertension.ConclusionHigher ALT and AST levels were found in T2DM patients but with no statistically significant link between elevated levels and gender, age, BMI, HbA1c, TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, smoking, or hypertension.

Barriers of Restorative Care among Dental Patients in Jeddah: A Cross-sectional Analytical Survey.

Introduction:The epidemiological data in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia indicate that there has been increased prevalence of dental caries and increased treatment needs, with negligible rates of restorative care among the population. The restorative treatments done among the population are very limited. There are no published reports that systematically document the barriers of restorative care among the residents of Jeddah.Aim:This present paper is a humble attempt toward the study of barriers of restorative care and systematic documentation of the dental patients in a private dental school in Jeddah.Materials and Methods:The methodology adopted by the study is the preparation of a questionnaire after validation and analyzing the responses from the sample of the universe of dental patients in Jeddah. The questionnaire broadly included (1) fear of consulting a dentist, (2) dental anxiety/fear to receive dental care, (3)cost of dental treatment, (4) fee for restoration, (5) pain, and (6) experience of a dentist (fear that a student may treat them). The completed questionnaire of 22 questions was proofread by a group of general dentists to check for clarity and meaning of the statements. After the changes, the questionnaire was distributed to 275 patients. The analysis of the data in the study was done by the SPSS version 23. Chi-square was calculated for the analyses of all the independent variables.Results:41.4% of people have fear to visit a dentist. Hence, this is one of the barriers of restoration. Nearly 50% have responded that restorative treatment is painful. In addition, the experience of the dentist has an impact on the respondents getting treatments in the dental clinic. 76% of the respondents have a fear when a student who has lesser experience will be treating them in the dental clinic.Conclusion:Dentists have to distinguish between perceived barriers and the real barriers to choosing restorative treatments.

Growth characteristics in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Objectives:To evaluate the growth parameters in congenital adrenal hyperplasia patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Methods:This is a descriptive retrospective study over the period of 5 years. Data analysis was using Statistical Package for Social Science. The study included 90 participants in which 61 were girls and 29 were boys aged 0 to 18 years . They were evaluated in Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between January 2012 and January 2017.Results:A total of 90 subjects, of which 67.8% were females and 32.2% were males. Subjects who were underweight constituted 19.1% of the population, while those who were obese were estimated up to 17.6% of the population. Of the children, 25.7% were suffering from short stature and 74.3% had normal height. Approximately 11.8% of the children who suffered from short stature also suffered from hypothyroidism. Mid-parental height of those who suffered from short stature is 159.8 cm.Conclusion:This study showed a significant effect of congenital adrenal hyperplasia on both height, weight, and body mass index. Risk factors includes glucocorticoids dosage, compliance to treatment, and regular follow up. Personalized treatment approach should be followed with all patients diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia as well as close monitoring and targeted therapy.

Regulation of Lipocalin-2 oncogene and its impact on gene polymorphisms on breast cancer patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:To identify the impact of Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) gene polymorphisms on breast cancer patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Methods:It is a case control study in which blood samples of participants from Medical Reference Clinics and King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia have been taken between 2014 and 2016. This study recruited 128 participants (50% control, 50% patients) and used Tetra-Primer amplification-refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method for the detection of missense SNP (rs11556770). The study measured LCN2 plasma protein expression by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.Results:The results have shown that 100% of the genotypes were normal allele (G/G). In contrast, the plasma level of LCN2 was considerably elevated among patients as compared to control (p=0.001), and higher in invasive ductal carcinoma patients (p=0.001). The LCN2 protein expression in plasma level was significantly elevated among patients, particularly who demonstrated invasive ductal carcinoma.Conclusion:There is no significant relationship between breast cancer patients and LCN2 gene polymorphisms (rs11556770).