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Introduction Air pollution is a critical public health issue associated with various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The lungs and heart are the organs most affected by air pollution, and damage to these organs is strongly associated with inhaled particulate matter produced by burning fossil fuels. Household and ambient air pollution have been closely linked to lower respiratory infections, with ambient air pollution alone estimated to be responsible for millions of deaths globally each year. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the general public knowledge attitude and practice regarding air pollution and cardiopulmonary morbidity in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods The study was conducted in Saudi Arabia using a self-administered questionnaire distributed through popular social media apps. A snowball sampling technique was used, including only Saudi citizens aged 18 or older. The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions derived from a comprehensive literature review on the subject matter. Questions were validated through face validity, pilot testing, and Cronbach's alpha reliability measurement. The questionnaire included questions on demographic data, knowledge of air pollution, the relationship between air pollution and cardiopulmonary diseases, and attitudes and practices toward lowering exposure to air pollution. Results The study included 649 participants, with a mean age of 32.11 ± 13.47 years, and over half were females (54.7%). Most participants were aware of outdoor and indoor air pollution, but only a tiny percentage recognized cooking as a primary indoor source of pollution. However, the majority believed that indoor pollution could contribute to outdoor pollution. Participants associated air pollution with cardiopulmonary diseases, mainly secondhand tobacco smoke and outdoor air pollution caused by factories and industrial facilities. Knowledge and practice levels varied, with older individuals, females, and those in non-health-related occupations having higher levels of knowledge. Positive attitudes, particularly believing that moving to a less polluted area improves health, were associated with better knowledge. Females exhibited better air pollution-related practices, and there was a positive correlation between knowledge and practice scores. Conclusion The study highlighted the need for targeted public health campaigns to improve awareness and promote healthier practices, particularly among young adults, to mitigate the potential health impacts of air pollution, especially cardiopulmonary health.
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BACKGROUND: Acute patellar dislocation is a common knee injury in adolescents and adults that is associated with a high incidence of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) injuries. The aim of this network meta-analysis was to compare the different operative and non-operative protocols for the management of primary patellar dislocation (PPD). METHODS: We searched Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL databases. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared operative and non-operative protocols for adolescent or adult patients with acute traumatic PPD. We sought to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of each management protocol by considering the results of Kujala score, Tegner activity score, redislocation rate, and subluxation rate. The effectiveness of the different management protocols was measured through frequentist network meta-analysis, using the Netmeta statistical package in R software. All treatment protocols were ranked using the netrank function, yielding P scores. RESULTS: A total of 10 RCTs were deemed eligible. As per P-scores, open MPFL repair yielded the highest effectiveness with respect to Kujala score (P=0.81) and lowest odds for redislocation (P=0.14) whereas arthroscopic MPFL repair yielded the highest effectiveness with respect to Tegner activity score (P=0.85) and lowest odds for subluxation (P=0.21). Arthroscopic MPFL repair showed a significant reduction in redislocation and subluxation rate. CONCLUSION: This network meta-analysis demonstrated arthroscopic MPFL repair is the most effective treatment protocol for the management of acute primary patellar dislocation.