The adherence to asthma medication for hospitalized children with asthma: A cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

AIM: The aim of the study was to assess adherence to asthma controller therapy and factors that influence asthma control and to determine the association between asthma knowledge of the caregiver and asthma control among admitted children with asthma. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2022 and May 2023 in a tertiary care hospital. Children with a diagnosis of asthma aged 2-14 years, who were admitted to the hospital with an exacerbation of asthma were identified. METHODS: Caregivers of the admitted children were interviewed using the Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire and Pediatric Inhaler Adherence Questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Demographic and clinical data were described using descriptive analyses, where mean and standard deviation were used for normally distributed continuous variables, median and interquartile range (IQR), if otherwise. A P < 0.05 was set as a cutoff for statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 144 caregivers completed the survey. Median score for parents' knowledge of asthma was 64%, with an IQR of 59-67. Both mother's and father's educational levels were associated with a good level of knowledge: odds ratio (OR) = 2.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-5.6, and OR = 5.33, 95% CI = 2.23-12.7, respectively. Median adherence to metered dose inhaler (MDI) was 4 (IQR = 2-6). Children who had been admitted to the general ward in the last 6 months were three times more likely to be nonadherent to MDI (OR = 3.03, 95% CI = 1.18-7.82). Forty-three percent of children who were nonadherent to MDI were less likely to have their asthma controlled (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.17-1.06). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that a low level of knowledge among caregivers of asthma patients is linked to inadequate adherence to asthma controller therapy. As medication adherence is crucial for achieving desirable asthma control and improving the quality of life for this population, efforts need to be made to enhance the knowledge level of parents of children with asthma.

Descriptive Study and Surgical Management Among Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma Patients Admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City From 2000 to 2017: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histologic type of breast carcinoma. The etiology of ILC is unknown; however, many contributing risk factors have been suggested. Treatment of ILC can be divided into local and systemic. Our objectives were to assess the clinical presentations, risk factors, radiological findings, pathological types, and surgical options for patients with ILC treated at the national guard hospital. Identify the factors associated with metastasis and recurrence. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study at a tertiary care center in Riyadh. All adult patients aged 16 years and above, from different nationalities, and both genders, were diagnosed with ILC from 2000 to 2017 and followed up at KAMC. The sampling technique was a non-probability consecutive technique. Among 1066 patients identified, 91 patients were diagnosed with ILC over seventeen years study period. RESULTS: The median age at the primary diagnosis was 50. On the clinical examination, 63 (71%) cases were found to have palpable masses which was the most suspicious finding. On radiology, the most encountered finding was speculated masses which were seen in 76 (84%). Regarding the pathology, unilateral breast cancer was seen in 82 while bilateral breast cancer was found only in eight. For the biopsy, a core needle biopsy was the most commonly used in 83 (91%) patients. The most documented surgery for ILC patients was a modified radical mastectomy. Metastasis in different organs was identified with the musculoskeletal system being the commonest site. Different significant variables were compared between patients with or without metastasis. Skin changes, post-operative invasion, estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors were significantly associated with metastasis. Patients with metastasis were less likely to have conservative surgery. Regarding the Recurrence and five years survival, out of 62 cases, 10 had recurrence within five years, which was more prevalent in patients who had fine needle aspiration, excisional biopsy, and nulliparous patients. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to exclusively describe ILC in Saudi Arabia. The results of this current study are highly important, as these results provide baseline data of ILC in the capital city of Saudi Arabia.

The Management and Outcome of Stroke Patients Admitted on Weekdays Compared to Weekends at the King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background and Purpose: Stroke is an unexpected medical emergency that can result in significant disability. The weekend effect suggests that individuals with acute medical problems are not treated the same way on weekends as they are on weekdays. There is no previous published study about weekend effect on stroke patients from Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was an IRB approved, retrospective, cohort study. All stroke patients admitted between January 2017 and December 2018 were included. Ten standards of care were chosen to assess compliance with standardized care. Seven measures were chosen for acute management of stroke. Results: A total of 731 patients were included, 68.5% were males; 493 (67%) were admitted during weekdays and 238 (33%) on weekends. There was no difference for age (P = .32), gender (P = .32), nationality (P = .62), stroke subtype (P = .27) and stroke severity (P = .69) on weekday or weekend admission. In two-third patients, more than 70% of stroke orders were utilized, with no difference in thrombolysis rate (P = .81). There was no difference in recurrent stroke (P = .86), mortality or discharge disposition (P = .34) between the patients. The patients admitted during weekdays had less complications (38 vs 46%; P = .04). Conclusions: There was no difference in the quality of care provided to stroke patients admitted during weekdays or weekends. There was no difference in the use of acute intervention on weekends and weekdays. Patients had similar outcomes and discharge disposition whether admitted on weekdays or weekends, except that those admitted on weekends had a significantly greater overall number of complications.

Outcomes of flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy in patients with stridor: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care pediatric center in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Successful evaluation of a patient with stridor requires a thorough history and physical examination followed by a flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy (FFL), which provides visualization of the upper airway. OBJECTIVES: Estimate the prevalence of causes of stridor in children who underwent FFL and compare different age groups. Find any significant associations between symptoms and laryngoscopic findings. Identify patients who needed further evaluation using direct laryngobronchoscopy (DLB). DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional. SETTING: Tertiary care center in Riyadh. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included all pediatric patients aged 1 month to 14 years who underwent fiberoptic laryngoscopy for stridor evaluation from January 2015 to January 2018 (37 months). Patients older than the age of 14 years, and patients with a workable diagnosis with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, choanal atresia, or laryngotracheo-bronchitis (croup) were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Findings of FFL. SAMPLE SIZE: 217 pediatric patients. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) age of the patients was 5 (8) months. Laryngomalacia was the most common diagnosis (n=149, 69%) followed by laryngopharyngeal reflux (n=42, 19%). Subglottic stenosis was the most common finding in patients who underwent DLB for further evaluation (n=19, 49%). Laryngomalacia was more frequent in children ≤12 months of age (83% vs 43% in children >12 months, P<.001). Vocal cord paralysis was more common in children >12 months of age (27% vs 9%, P<.001). FFL was effective in finding the diagnosis in 178 (82%) patients; only 39 (18%) patients needed further assessment using DLB. CONCLUSION: FFL is an effective and important tool for evaluating patients with stridor. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design and single-centered. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: None.

The prevalence of complications of pneumonia among adults admitted to a tertiary care center in Riyadh from 2010-2017.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia, the commonest lower respiratory tract infection, can result in respiratory and non-respiratory complications. Few studies have reported on the prevalence of many complications. OBJECTIVES: Identify the prevalence of 18 complications of pneumonia and compare complication rates by age group and type of pneu.monia. Identify most prevalent comorbidities, the effect of the number of comorbidities on the presence of complications, and the association between specific comorbidities and specific complications. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional prevalence study. SETTING: Tertiary care center in Riyadh. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The target population were patients aged 17 years and older, of different nationalities and both genders, diagnosed with pneumonia during the period of 2010 to 2017. Selection was by stratified sampling by year of admission. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complications of pneumonia. SAMPLE SIZE: 800. RESULTS: Complications were observed in 427 patients (53.4%). The complications were respiratory in 258 patients (32%), sepsis and septic shock in 186 (23%), cardiac in 125 (16%), neurological in 5 (0.6%), and cholestatic jaundice in 2 (0.3%). Pleural effusion was the commonest complication, observed in 230 patients. There was a significant difference (P less than .001) between the complication rates in older patients compared to younger (60% as compared to 41%). For the type of pneumonia, there was a significant difference (P less than .001) between community-acquired pneumonia and hospital-acquired pneumonia in the presence of complications (OR=2.41, 95% CI for OR=1.66, 3.49). The number of comorbidities was significantly associated with the presence of complications (P=.001) for those with multiple comorbidities (46% for patients with no comorbid illnesses versus 68% in patients with three or more comorbidities). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Saudi Arabia needs to establish better prevention and intervention programs, especially for the high-risk groups identified in this study: older patients, patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia and patients with two or more comorbidities. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design and single-centered. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Alport's syndrome with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis lesion - Pattern to recognize.

The association between Alport's syndrome (AS) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in the same patient is complex and rarely reported. We report a case of a 42-year-old male presenting with proteinuria, microscopic hematuria, elevated serum creatinine and hypertension with unremarkable physical examination apart from obesity. The renal biopsy showed well-established FSGS pattern of injury with mild interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, while the electron microscopic examination demonstrated glomerular basement membranes (GBM) changes compatible with AS. AS can be complicated by segmental glomerular scarring, which can mimic primary FSGS, while familial FSGS can result from mutations in collagen IV network of the GBM. This overlap can complicate histopathological interpretation of renal biopsy, which should be accompanied by mutational analysis for accurate diagnosis and proper therapeutic intervention.