Community-Based Seroprevelance of SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction  The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major global concern. Due to the number of asymptomatic cases that go untested, the actual proportion of those who have been infected is likely to be higher than the reported prevalence. Thus, investigating the exact proportion of those who developed antibodies against the virus through serological surveys is crucial to identify the immune status of the population and direct public health decisions accordingly. Objectives The aim of this study is to estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the community and to describe the epidemiological characteristics of the discovered cases. Methods Between July and October 2020, a cross-sectional sero-survey was conducted including a total of 15,873 serum samples collected from seven regions within the kingdom. Using a multistage convenient sampling, people were invited to participate in an interviewer-administrated questionnaire. Afterward, blood samples were collected and seroprevalence was determined using the SARS-CoV-2 virus IgG/IgM antibody detection kits (ELISA). A p-value of <0.05 and 95% CI were used to report the significance. Results The overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the sample was 17.0%, and Makkah region constituted the highest number of reactive cases (33.3%). There was a significant association between all comorbidities and having symptoms except for diabetes. In addition, age, education, nationality, and region were all significant predeterminants of sero-result. Also, contact with a confirmed or suspected case increased the risk of being seropositive by nearly 1.5 times. Conclusion This study estimated the national seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia to be 17%. At the time of this study, most of the population did not have the SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies. This suggests that the population is still below the threshold of herd immunity and emphasizes the importance of mass vaccination programs and abiding by recommended prevention precautions.

The Association Between Psychological Disorders and Physical Activity Among Saudi Women at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University.

Introduction Psychological disorders are one of the leading causes of disability globally. Evidence suggests the positive role of physical activity on physical and mental health in various countries. However, a limited number of studies have been done in Saudi Arabia to investigate the association between physical activity and psychological health, especially among women. Objectives The objective of the study was to identify the prevalence of depression, stress, anxiety, and physical activity as well as examine the association between depression, anxiety, stress, and social support in relation to physical activity among Saudi women at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU). Methods A total of 712 Saudi students and staff from PNU, with a mean (SD) age of 20.59(5.30), voluntarily completed an electronic-based questionnaire, which included three validated scales in the Arabic language: The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21), Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), and Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) social support. Results The results of this cross-sectional study showed that the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were 24%, 31%, and 22.1%, respectively. Levels of physical activity were not associated with psychological disorders while sedentary time was strongly correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress (p<0.001). Emotional support, affectionate support, and positive social interaction were negatively correlated with depression (p<0.05). Conclusion The findings indicate that stress, depression, and anxiety were relatively common among Saudi females, especially among young ages, and that social support was a significant protective factor of depression. Community-based psychological health prevention programs and social support groups are needed to address these issues. The second major finding was that 51% of the participants were insufficiently active and 61% were having a sedentary lifestyle. Depression, anxiety, and stress scores are strongly correlated with sedentary time, which highlights the need for establishing a national policy that encourages active living and discourages sedentary behavior.

Demographic Variations of MERS-CoV Infection among Suspected and Confirmed Cases: An Epidemiological Analysis of Laboratory-Based Data from Riyadh Regional Laboratory.

Introduction. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus was first recognized in September 2012 in Saudi Arabia. The clinical presentations of MERS and non-MERS SARI are often similar. Therefore, the identification of suspected cases that may have higher chances of being diagnosed as cases of MERS-CoV is essential. However, the real challenge is to flag these patients through some demographic markers. The nature of these markers has not previously been investigated in Saudi Arabia, and hence, this study aims to identify them. METHODS: It was a surveillance system-based study, for which data from a total of 23,646 suspected patients in Riyadh and Al Qassim regions were analyzed from January 2017 until December 2017 to estimate the prevalence of MERS-CoV among suspected cases and to determine potential demographic risk factors related to the confirmation of the diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 23,646 suspected cases, 119 (0.5%) were confirmed by laboratory results. These confirmed cases (67.2% of which were males) had a mean age of 43.23 years (SD ± 22.8). Around 42.2% of the confirmed cases were aged between 41 and 60 years and about 47% of confirmed cases had their suspected specimen tested in the summer. The study identified three significant and independent predictors for confirmation of the disease: an age between 41 and 60 years, male gender, and summer season admission. CONCLUSION: The study provides evidence that the MERS-CoV epidemic in the subject regions has specific characteristics that might help future plans for the prevention and management of such a contagious disease. Future studies should aim to confirm such findings in other regions of Saudi Arabia as well and explore potential preventable risk factors.

A finite and stable exponential growth-adjusted indirect cost of cancer associated with discounted years of life lost in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The risk of getting cancer before full life expectancy and mortalities per year are on the rise in Saudi Arabia. Yet, evidence of economic burden of cancer in the country remains largely unknown. In order to provide evidence, we attempted to estimate the economic burden in terms of indirect cost associated with premature cancer deaths among the active or potentially economically active population aged 15-60 years in Saudi Arabia. METHOD: Within the framework of the World Health Organization guide of identifying the economic consequences of disease and injury, our method employs cost-of-illness approach. This approach is based on a macroeconomic model that estimates the indirect cost of cancer in terms of total non-health gross domestic product resource loss associated with a disease. We used epidemiological, health system, and macroeconomic data for our estimation. We discounted the net loss at 3% and computed an extension of the loss with a finite and stable upper limit proxied by non-health gross domestic product per capita. We carried out separate analyses for male and female. We conducted sensitivity analyses to account for uncertainties of epidemiological and economic factors on the robustness of the estimated economic burden. We varied the proportion of total cancer deaths, discount rate, and value of health expenditure per capita by ±20%. We further determined which of these factors or parameters had the greatest uncertainty or variation on the net present value total non-health gross domestic product resource loss per Capita. RESULTS: Our results indicate the indirect cost associated with cancer deaths among Saudi population aged 15-60 years to be Int$ 2.57 billion of which Int$ 1.46 billion (57%) was accounted for by females. The total indirect loss of cancer deaths increased by 8% to Int$ 2.77 billion when the loss is allowed to grow with a finite and stable upper limit proxied by non-health gross domestic product per capita over the discounted years of life lost per a death among female and male respectively. Much of the uncertainty in the determination of the value of the loss was accounted for by the proportion of total cancer deaths and discount rate, while health expenditure per capita was responsible for the least variability. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal evidence of indirect cost associated with cancer premature deaths in Saudi Arabia. In order to develop cancer control actions, the results of this study can inform health system policymakers not only of the extent of the enormous economic burden but also drawing attention to epidemiological and economic factors that explain the variability of the burden.