RESUMEN
Background Thrombocytopenia is the most prevalent hematological condition in neonates that develops in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This set of illnesses is caused by either decreased platelet production due to placental insufficiency, increased platelet breakdown (consumption), or a combination of the two causes. Based on platelet count, it is defined as mild, moderate, or severe thrombocytopenia, with early and late onset. Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of thrombocytopenia and the factors that contribute to it in newborns hospitalized in the neonatal critical care unit at the Maternity and Children Hospital in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methods This descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out at the NICU of the Maternity and Children Hospital in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, over the span of one year (August 2022 to August 2023) among hospitalized neonates with thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia is defined as a platelet count of 150,000 or less. These patients were monitored until they recovered or died. Results The inclusion criteria were met by a total of 242 newborns with thrombocytopenia. Half of the neonates (57%) were full-term, with Apgar scores greater than 5 at the first (84%) and fifth (93%) minutes, respectively. The great majority of individuals (84%) experienced early-onset thrombocytopenia of mild severity (62%) and were asymptomatic (93%). The majority of the cases resolved spontaneously, with only 21% requiring platelet transfusion. There was a significant relationship discovered between gestational age and the severity of thrombocytopenia, with very preterm infants having moderate to severe thrombocytopenia, as well as birth weight (p=0.001). Furthermore, neonates with severe thrombocytopenia had a considerably higher mortality rate (p=0.001). Conclusion The mortality and morbidity of newborns with perinatal risk for neonatal thrombocytopenia can be reduced with timely detection of the cause and development of thrombocytopenia, as well as adequate and early care.
RESUMEN
Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common upper gastrointestinal disorder characterized by heartburn and acid regurgitation. A higher incidence is found in Arab countries. Untreated GERD has a negative impact on individuals that interfere with daily activities and impaired quality of life. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of GERD and associated risk factors in the Eastern region, Saudi Arabia. Material & Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 1517 healthy participants from the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia from May to August 2021. The sample was randomly collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of questions related to sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics as risk factors for GERD. The existence of GERD was assessed by using GERD Questionnaire (GerdQ) for diagnosing GERD, when the score is 8 or more. Results A total of 1517 participants were included in the study: 58.8% male, 41.2% female; 9% of whom were pregnant. The age of participants ranged from 18 to 58 with a mean age of 27.5 ± 11.4 years old. The existence of GERD was 20.6% among the total participants, in which their GerdQ scores were 3-7 (68.9%), 8-10 (22.1%), and 8-11 (8.5%). The higher risk groups of having GERD were pregnant women, smoker, being male, regular usage of analgesia, soft drinks, and having a family history of GERD. Conclusion This study showed the prevalence of GERD among the general population of the Eastern region, Saudi Arabia was 20.6%. Several sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics were associated with the disease. Further studies are needed to explore the role of psychological factors in developing GERD.
