Saudi Arabian Men Research Articles

Awareness and prevalence of self-reported benign prostatic hyperplasia: a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent condition in older men, causing significant morbidity. Despite recent progress, essential concerns of the disease remain under-researched. This study aims to assess knowledge and estimate self-reported prevalence of BPH in Saudi Arabian men. Understanding BPH prevalence in Saudi Arabia is essential for healthcare planning, resource allocation, public awareness, early detection, intervention, research, and addressing regional variations. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2022 using a validated questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate statistical methods assessed knowledge of BPH among 559 adult Saudi men (mean age: 47.2 years) and its association with demographic variables. The self-reported prevalence rate of BPH for Saudi Arabian men was 12.0%. Most adults (74.2%) were aware that BPH is a risk factor for prostate cancer and 75% were aware of the increased risk of BPH in older people. Furthermore, 44.5% of participants associated nocturia with BPH, while 76.6% related urinary tract infection (UTI) with BPH. The study demonstrated a significant association between BPH awareness and marital status (p = 0.02), level of education (p = 0.02), and employment status (p = 0.04). While men in Saudi Arabia generally had sufficient knowledge about BPH, there was a knowledge gap regarding certain risk factors like obesity and cardiac diseases. To address this, an educational program should be developed for both the general population and those at high risk of BPH.

Spontaneous cholecystocutaneous fistula secondary to xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: a case report

BackgroundXanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, a rare variant of cholecystitis, may infrequently be complicated by spontaneous cholecystocutaneous fistula.Case presentationWe report the case of a 75-year-old Saudi Arabian man who presented with “a painful area of redness” (cellulitis) over his right upper abdomen. Abdominal computed tomography revealed multiple collections, which were drained surgically. A discharging sinus was identified, and a fistulogram revealed cholecystocutaneous fistula during his follow-up visit. The patient underwent laparoscopic management and recovered uneventfully. Final histopathological evaluation confirmed acute-on-chronic xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis .ConclusionsAlthough rare, surgeons should consider cholecystocutaneous fistula in the differential diagnosis of anterior abdominal wall abscesses, particularly in patients with concurrent or background symptoms of gallbladder disease. We report the first case of laparoscopic management for cholecystocutaneous fistula in Saudi Arabia.

ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING DIABETIC CENTER IN AL-MADINAH

Background: Diabetes affects approximately 442 million people globally, with the majority living in low- and middle-income nations. Diabetes affects 34.1% of Saudi Arabian men and 27.6% of Saudi Arabian women. More than 400 natural diabetic therapies have been reported around the world. In Saudi Arabia, 45% of individuals use medicinal plants. The goal of our study was to see how often diabetic patients in Al-diabetic Madinahs centers used supplementary medicine. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in the city of Al-Madinah. In 2020, all adult diabetic patients of both genders who visited the diabetic center in Al-Madinah were included. EPI Info was used to compute the sample size, which was 384. Results: In this study, 362 diabetic patients were enrolled, with 193 (53.3%) of them being female and the remainder being male. The participants ranged in age from 30 to 85 years old, with a mean age of 45.25±12.47 years. Saudi citizens made up the vast bulk of the 332 participants (91.7% ). Herbal medicine was not widely used in the previous year, with only 53 people (14.6%) claiming to have used it. Many different types of herbs were utilized, , with Cinnamon 21(39.6%) being the most popular. Patients who utilized herbs based on a friends recommendation made up 54.7 % of the sample, while those who got them from a traditional healer made up 11.3 %. Surprisingly, 73.6 % of herb users did not tell their doctor they were using herbs. More than 88.7% of the patients said they would like to use herbs again. When the use of herbs was evaluated in relation to patient demographic features and disease status, there were no statistically significant associations between age, sex, nationality, location of residence, patient education, blood sugar control, diabetes mellitus duration, and herb use. Conclusion: Herbal medicine was not commonly used by diabetes individuals in our study. Cinnamon was the most often used spice among people who utilized it. Saudi nationality and the absence of complications were found to be strong predictors of diabetes patients usage of supplementary medicines. The government and health-care professionals should be aware of the potential benefits and hazards of herbal medication in diabetic patients. Patients with diabetes should be informed about the risks and advantages of herbal therapy.

The influence of institutions on early-stage entrepreneurial activity: a comparison between men and women in Saudi Arabia

PurposeTo date, insufficient research has been conducted on gender differences in entrepreneurial activity among entrepreneurs in developing countries. This study aims to analyse the influences of formal and informal institutional factors on entrepreneurial activity among men and women in the context of Saudi Arabia.Design/methodology/approachThis research involves a quantitative analysis of recently collected primary data. Hypotheses are formulated and tested using the Mann–Whitney U test and a binomial logistic regression analysis. Also, the present study draws on institutional economics as a framework to explore how formal and informal institutional factors influence whether Saudi Arabian men and women become entrepreneurs.FindingsThe results revealed that compared to the effects of formal institutional factors, the effects of informal institutional factors are more reliable predictors of women’s entrepreneurship behaviour. Specifically, women are more likely than men to be stereotyped and more likely to benefit from networking.Practical implicationsRegarding policy implications, this study suggests several checks for different institutions to increase entrepreneurship among each gender.Originality/valueThe findings presented here advance entrepreneurial research by empirically examining factors that influence men’s and women’s desires to become entrepreneurs in a fast-growing emerging economy. The findings show a substantial shift in the institutional environment and indicate an extremely collectivist society. This study provides a basis for future studies on factors within the institutional environment and their impacts on whether men and women become entrepreneurs in Eastern nations. Regarding policy implications, this study suggests several ways for different institutions to increase entrepreneurship among each gender.

Estimation of stature from lower limb anthropometry: new formulae derived from contemporary Arabian males

ABSTRACT There is an international paucity of studies assessing the utilization of anthropometric techniques for lower limbs apart from the feet in order to formulate mathematical legally admissible models to estimate stature. Additionally, Arabs in the Arabian Peninsula or Southwest Asian countries lack such studies. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between lower limb anthropometric parameters and stature in Saudi Arabian men and develop regression equations to estimate stature from these parameters. Furthermore, it aimed to explore the utility of new breadth parameters which have not been explored to date in living subjects. The stature and six lower limb dimensions of 100 right- handed Saudi men (aged 18–24 years) were measured bilaterally. The results showed the presence of asymmetry only in tibial lengths. There was a significant positive correlation between the parameters used and stature (p < 0.01), and it was the highest for the tibial length. Predictive accuracy of the developed models ranged from ±2.90 to 5.94 cm. Adding breadth measurements may improve the accuracy of the equations. This study establishes a lower-limb based forensic standard to estimate stature in commingled bodies of Saudi men.

Lower urinary tract symptoms and feeling of incomplete emptying in Saudi Arabian men and its correlation with postvoid residual urine.

Purpose:This study was conducted to assess the clinical value of postvoid residual (PVR) urine measurement and associate it with the feeling of incomplete emptying in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.Methods:Two hundred men were surveyed in the King Fahd Hospital of the University. Patients who had previous urological surgery and patients who are currently on urology treatment were excluded. Information from the remaining 181 patients was analyzed. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) sheets were filed, and then, the PVR was measured.Results:Data from IPSS sheets were evaluated: 45 patients (24.8%) were characterized as experiencing no symptoms (Score: 0 and 1), 87 (48%) as mild-to-moderate symptoms (Score: 2 and 3), and 49 (27%) as severe symptoms (Score: 4 and 5). The PVR measurement showed no statistical difference in all three categories (being 10, 13, and 12, respectively). Feeling of incomplete emptying despite little PVR was frequently observed.Conclusion:The study concluded that the feeling of incomplete emptying was poorly correlated with PVR urine volume measurement. This feeling was significantly associated with worsening of both voiding and storage symptoms.

Maintenance Dose of Vitamin D: How Much Is Enough?

BackgroundIt is still unclear the ideal vitamin D dosage once the deficiency and insufficiency is treated. Once deficiency was corrected we prospectively treated patients with 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 to check whether this dosage is enough to keep them above the 30 ng/mL of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25[OH]D).MethodsOne hundred and thirty-five Saudi Arabian men and women treatment naïve for the vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were part of this study. History and clinical examination were done to rule out any metabolic bone disease. Weight and height was taken to calculate the body mass index (BMI). Patients who were vitamin D deficient (≥30 ng/mL), a standard treatment of 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly for 3 months, a blood test for the vitamin D levels at the end of 3 months, maintenance dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 for 3 months and a third blood sample after 3 months.ResultsThe data for 128 patients was available for analysis. The average age was 44.95±12.97 years with the mean BMI of 29.60±2.59 kg/m2. The baseline 25(OH)D level was 13.16±3.30 ng/mL. The increase in the level of 25(OH)D on 50,000 IU weekly was significant from 13.16±3.3 ng/mL to 36.97±4.67 ng/mL (P<0.001) and then 2,000 IU daily for next 3 months, the level of 25(OH)D dropped top 20.38±5.42 ng/mL (P<0.001).ConclusionsOur study indicates that the maintenance dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin D is not enough for patients to keep the 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/mL.

Demographics and sexual characteristics of sex-enhancing medication users: Study of a web-based cross-sectional sample of sexually active men

ObjectivesTo evaluate the frequency of sex-enhancing medications (S-EM) use and to investigate the demographics and sexual characteristics of the S-EM users amongst a Saudi Arabian male population. Subjects and methodsA cross-sectional sample of 1176 Saudi Arabian men was recruited using a web-based survey between 1 January and 1 April 2015. The survey included multiple open and closed questions to assess the frequency of S-EM use; and demographics, clinical, and sexual characteristics of S-EM users, as well as their perceptions of S-EM. ResultsAmongst the participants, 1008 were sexually active and included in the data analysis. Of the sexually active participants, 402 (39.9%) reported S-EM use in the form of herbal or phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors at some time in their lives. Comparing S-EM users with S-EM non-users, the S-EM users had a number of demographic and sexual characteristics including: higher education level, higher income, smoking, more than one sexual partner, longer sexual activity duration, higher frequency of sexual intercourse, and lower sexual satisfaction level. Most of the S-EM users (82.1%) bought S-EM without a medical prescription and 62.5% had used them recreationally. In all, 52% of respondents used S-EM to treat ED and 69% of those who used it recreationally reported enhancement of erection with S-EM usage. ConclusionsDemographic and sexual characteristics of S-EM users and the attitude of the users towards the S-EM were identified amongst a Saudi Arabian male population.

Reduced Fertility in Saudi Arabian Men with Low Vitamin D Levels

A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been found in Saudi Arabia, which can be directly attributed to inadequate exposure of sunlight largely due to religious practices and lifestyle. The poor dietary intake of vitamin D further adds to this problem. Various researchers have proved vitamin D deficiency to be linked with increased incidences of cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, scientists have found an association of vitamin D deficiency with reduced testosterone levels. This can be attributed to increasing incidences of male infertility in Saudi Arabia. The rising incidences of infertility in Saudi males can be attributed to their decreasing vitamin D levels. Taking adequate measures to overcome the vitamin D deficiency can improve their sexual vigor.

A 5-year analysis of semen parameters in Saudi Arabian men attending infertility clinics.

ObjectiveTo evaluate semen parameters in infertile Saudi Arabian men.MethodsIn this retrospective study, semen analysis and other clinical data were extracted from medical records of men attending an infertility clinic. Patients were stratified according to smoking status and presence or absence of varicocele.ResultsThe study included 425 patients. Nonsmokers (n = 322) had significantly higher serum testosterone and sperm motility than smokers (n = 194). Serum testosterone, semen volume, motility, morphology, sperm/ejaculation and sperm count were significantly higher in patients without varicocele (n = 328) than in those with varicocele (n = 188).ConclusionsIn this study, smoking and the presence of varicocele had negative effects on semen parameters in infertile men.

A Comparative Review of Animal Models of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was initially isolated from a Saudi Arabian man with fatal pneumonia. Since the original case in 2012, MERS-CoV infections have been reported in >1500 humans, and the case fatality rate is currently 35%. This lineage C betacoronavirus has been reported to cause a wide range of disease severity in humans, ranging from asymptomatic to progressive fatal pneumonia that may be accompanied by renal or multiorgan failure. Although the clinical presentation of human MERS-CoV infection has been documented, many facets of this emerging disease are still unknown and could be studied with animal models. Several animal models of MERS-CoV have been developed, including New Zealand white rabbits, transduced or transgenic mice that express human dipeptidyl peptidase 4, rhesus macaques, and common marmosets. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on human MERS-CoV infections, the probable origin of MERS-CoV, and the available animal models of MERS-CoV infection. Evaluation of the benefits and limitations of these models will aid in appropriate model selection for studying viral pathogenesis and transmission, as well as for testing vaccines and antivirals against MERS-CoV.

Framingham Risk Scores for coronary heart disease in a cohort of Saudi Arabian men and women with spinal cord injury.

People with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). This study aimed at predicting CHD risk in a cohort of Saudi patients with SCI in comparison with patients without SCI and to correlate different demographic and clinical factors with Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in SCI patients. The study was conducted at the rehabilitation and the main hospitals of King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; on sixty patients with SCI and sixty controls of age ≥20years. FRS was calculated on a web-based calculator. For the SCI group, sub-groups were made for statistical analysis based on gender, cigarette smoking, neurological level and completeness of injury. The mean FRS for the SCI group (2±7.9) was significantly higher (P<0.001) than the control group (-2.24±3.4). The 10-year risk of developing CHD was low in 90% of the SCI group and 100% of the controls. The age, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and serum total cholesterol had a positive correlation to FRS in SCI patients and females had a significantly higher mean FRS than males (P=0.03). There was no significant relation of resultant FRS with time since SCI, smoking history and neurological level or completeness of injury. Our sample of Saudi patients with SCI had a higher FRS as compared to controls, however, majority had a low risk of developing CHD in next 10years. The age, SBP and total cholesterol surfaced as positive predictors of CHD in SCI patients. Time since SCI, smoking, and neurological level or completeness of injury did not influence the resultant FRS and thus the development of CHD.

Naegeli–Franceschetti–Jadassohn Syndrome in a Saudi Arabian Family

In the course of applying to become a soldier, a 23-year-old Saudi Arabian man was found to have no fingerprints. Further medical examination has been carried out for the young man and for the rest of family members including two sisters, mother, and brothers except the father who had died sometime previously. Subsequent medical investigations suggested that he and his two brothers displayed most of the features of the Naegeli-Franceschetti-Jadassohn (NFJ) syndrome. These features included skin changes with hypo- and hyperpigmentation, hypohidrosis, dystrophy of the nails, diffuse thickening of the palms and feet, a lack of fingerprints (dermatoglyphics), and atrophic changes in the skin of the face; there were also dental anomalies. A typical feature of the Naegeli-Franceschetti-Jadassohn syndrome was found in a Saudi Arabian family. The aim of this study was to present this rare condition affecting a Saudi Arabian family and review the current literature on the subject.

Narratives of Participation, Identity, and Positionality: Two Cases of Saudi Learners of English in the United States

This article reports a study that investigated how two Saudi Arabian men negotiated their positionality vis‐à‐vis a host community in the United States and how they engaged in different discursive practices in order to achieve fuller participation in the various worlds that became important to them. The study takes data from a larger research project that looked at the narrated experiences of nine adult learners enrolled in an intensive English program in the United States. Data were collected over a 6‐month period using ethnographic data collection tools such as classroom observations, individual interviews, and student‐designed second language (L2) photo narratives. The article focuses on the processes by which two language learners of a particularly politicized and racialized cultural group (Muslims of Arab descent) were able to renegotiate their peripherality through their ongoing interactions as “novices” in new L2 “expert” communities (Lave &amp; Wenger, 1991). Although the two cases diverge in critical ways, the findings show not only how post‐9/11 discourses served as powerfully marginalizing structures, but also how the learners actively managed those structures in their bids for fuller participation in L2 communities.

Comment on Wahl et al.: A global representation of vitamin D status in healthy populations

Dear Editor, With great interest, I read the paper by Wahl et al. [1]. I was surprised, however, that the color code in the map on vitamin D status in adults is yellow (25OHD 50–74 nmol/L) for Saudi Arabia. We [2] and others [3, 4] have shown that moderately severe vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in many countries of the Arabian Peninsula, including Saudi Arabia. It is important to highlight that the reference quoted for Saudi Arabia [5] refers to a study on reference intervals of biochemical bone turnover markers. In that study, the authors excluded women whose serum 25OHD levels were <50 nmol/L. Please refer to page 805 of that publication, where under study design the authors wrote “Women who are... vitamin D-deficient with serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels being <50 nmol/L were also excluded.” In fact, in another publication by the same group [6], mean (SD) 25OHD level in 1,172 Saudi Arabian women (age 50.9± 12.6 years; range 20–79 years) was 35.8±26.9 nmol/L. In the 501 premenopausal women (age 39.7±7.8 years), 25OHD was 43.0±30.5 nmol/L, and in the 671 postmenopausal women (age 58.7±7.5 years), 25OHDwas 33.3±24.9 nmol/L. The same group has also published their data on Saudi Arabian men [7], where 25OHD level in 834 men (age 42.1±13.9 years; range 20–74 years) was 29.0±16.1 nmol/L. I propose that the levels published in the latter two papers be used for Saudi Arabia in the revised version of the map, thus changing the color code from yellow to orange (25OHD 25–49 nmol/L)!

A Saudi Family Making End-of-Life Decisions in the PICU

In this “Ethics Rounds,” physicians must decide how far to go in respecting the wishes of a Saudi Arabian man whose infant is dying in the PICU. The man requests an approach to end-of-life decisions that is deeply rooted in both Saudi culture and the tenets of Islamic bioethics but at odds with prevailing US law and bioethics. We asked 3 physicians with expertise in cross-cultural issues to comment on the issues raised by this case. Dr Aasim Padela is an emergency medicine physician and a fellow in the Program on Medicine & Religion at The University of Chicago. Dr Sadath Sayeed is a neonatologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and on faculty in the Division of Medical Ethics at Harvard Medical School. Dr Maryam Naim is a pediatric intensivist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. ### Case Representation A 2-month-old boy was found unresponsive in his crib after his mother heard him choke shortly after feeding. His parents drove him to the emergency department, where he was apneic and pulseless. He had return of spontaneous circulation after 30 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and was transferred to the PICU. On physical examination, the infant has intermittent respiratory effort over the ventilator, no withdrawal from painful stimuli, and no pupillary response to light. Over the next few days, his neurologic examination remained limited to intermittent seizures and irregular respiratory effort. There are no other signs of brainstem function on serial examination. The parents are young and had recently emigrated from Saudi Arabia. The mother is wearing a full black burqa exposing only her face. She speaks no English. The father is wearing a tee shirt and jeans and speaks fluent English. A meeting is scheduled with both parents, the neurologists, social workers, PICU team, and an Arabic interpreter to discuss the prognosis and plans. Before … Address correspondence to John D. Lantos, MD, Children’s Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64105. E-mail: jlantos{at}cmh.edu

Influence of vitamin D levels on bone mineral density and osteoporosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:The effects of vitamin D on bone mass remain to be understood. This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the influence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels on bone mineral density (BMD) among Saudi nationals.DESIGN AND SETTING:Cross-sectional study carried out at university hospital from 1 February 2008 to 31 May 2008.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:Healthy Saudi men and women in the peak bone mass (PBM) age group and those aged ≥50 years were recruited from the outpatient department of King Fahd University Hospital, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, between February 1, 2008, and May 31, 2008. Patient age and sex were documented, and body mass index was calculated. Hematological, biochemical, and serum 25OHD tests were performed. BMD was determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry of the upper femur and lumbar spine. Patients were divided into three groups, based on their 25OHD level.RESULTS:Data from 400 patients were analyzed. Among individuals with a normal 25OHD level, 50% of women and 7% of men in the PBM age group and 26.4% of women and 49.2% of men aged ≥50 years had low bone mass. In patients with 25OHD insufficiency, 84.2% of women and 88.9% of men in the PBM age group and 83.3% of women and 80% of men aged ≥50 years had low bone mass. Results for patients with 25OHD deficiency revealed that none of the men and women in the PBM age group or ≥50 years old had normal BMD. Significant positive correlations between 25OHD level and BMD and significant negative correlations with parathyroid hormone were shown in most of the groups.CONCLUSIONS:This study showed that the vitamin D level significantly influences BMD reading among Saudi individuals. Evaluation and treatment of hypovitaminosis D should be considered during management of low bone mass.

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy Saudi Arabian men: relationship to bone mineral density, parathyroid hormone, bone turnover markers, and lifestyle factors

In this cross-sectional study, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency [serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <50 nmol/L] was 87.8% among Saudi Arabian men. There was a linear inverse relationship between serum 25(OH)D and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, but without a threshold of 25(OH)D at which intact PTH values plateaued. Vitamin D insufficiency and/or deficiency has now reached epidemic proportions and has been linked to low bone mineral density (BMD), some lifestyle factors, and obesity in adults. This relationship is not well documented in Saudi Arabian men. This study examines the relationship between vitamin D status, intact parathyroid hormone (intact PTH), and lifestyle factors among Saudi Arabian men. This cross-sectional study involved 834 men aged 20-74 years living in Jeddah area who were randomly selected and medically examined. Men had their BMD (lumbar spine (L1-L4) and neck femur), 25(OH)D, intact PTH, and other parameters measured according to detailed inclusion criteria. Deficiency (25(OH)D<50 nmol/L) and insufficiency (≥50-75 nmol/L) were present in 87.8% and 9.7%, respectively. Deficiency was common among older and obese men with no education and sedentary lifestyle sampled during summer and spring. Serum 25(OH)D showed an inverse linear relationship with intact PTH, but there was no threshold of serum 25(OH)D at which PTH levels plateaued. There was a positive correlation between BMD values at both lumbar spine (L1-L4) (P < 0.023) and neck femur (P < 0.036) and serum 25(OH)D levels, respectively. Functionally significant vitamin D deficiency affects BMD and bone turnover markers among Saudi Arabian men and is largely attributed to older age, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, no education, poor exposure to sunlight, smoking, and poor dietary vitamin D supplementation. The data suggest that an increase in PTH cannot be used as a marker for vitamin D deficiency.

Are We Missing Osteoporosis-Related Vertebral Fractures in Men?

Study DesignRetrospective study.PurposeTo assess the prevalence of osteoporosis related spinal fractures among Saudi Arabian males.Overview of LiteratureVertebral fractures are the most common complication of osteoporosis and is the first sign in both sexes and only 25 to 30% of radiographically observed vertebral deformities are recognized.MethodsWe analyzed the chest radiographs of consecutive Saudi Arabian men ≥ 50 years and who visited the emergency room of King Fahd University Hospital, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia for a period of 12 months between November 1, 2007 and October 31, 2008. The site and type of fractures were classified as per the semi-quantitative technique. The other data retrieved from the medical records of patients included medications and clinical investigations for osteoporosis.ResultsNine hundred seventy chest radiographs were performed during the study period and 876 radiographs could be analyzed. One hundred fifteen patients (13.1%) had 157 fractures. The mean age was 67.85 ± 10.1 years. There was more than one fracture in 21 patients (18.2%). The majority of fractures (n = 102, 64.9%) were observed in thoracic spine. Seventy-one (45.2%) fractures were classified as mild, 54 (34.4%) were moderate and 32 (20.4%) were severe. For 26 (22.6%) patients, the report of the radiologist highlighted the fracture.ConclusionsSaudi Arabian males with osteoporosis continue to be missed despite the high prevalence osteoporosis leading to vertebral fractures. We believe it is important for physicians to identify vertebral fractures early and treat then appropriately before an extremity fracture occurs with high mortality.

The Journey of One Saudi Arabian Man's Costume from Dhahran to Leiden

The Journey of One Saudi Arabian Man's Costume from Dhahran to Leiden