Assessing the Impact of Alopecia on Quality of Life, Depression, and Self-Esteem in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives The objective of this study is to assess the effects of alopecia on quality of life, depression, and self-esteem in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods We made a questionnaire that included sociodemographic data, type of alopecia, medical aid sought, and whether they benefited from it or not. The study uses the Dermatology Life Quality Index, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and a single-item self-esteem scale to assess the quality of life, depression, and self-esteem, respectively. Results The questionnaire was completed by 403 individuals in total, and after applying the exclusion criteria (only Saudis, from the Eastern Province), 231 participants were included in this study. Of the participants, 49.4% had hereditary baldness and only 9.5% benefited from treatment. Of the patients, 52.4% had higher levels of depression, and 18.2% had an effect on their life. Patients with a moderate or greater effect on their lives had a significant relationship with hereditary baldness. Younger age, being female, being married, having lower income, and having hereditary baldness were significantly associated with higher depression levels (p = <0.05). The study found that as age increased, depression levels decreased and self-esteem scores increased. Depression was linked to lower quality of life, while self-esteem was linked to both lower quality of life and higher depression levels. These factors are interrelated, with age influencing their relationship. Conclusions The results of the study highlight the significant occurrence of depression and decreased quality of life among patients who have alopecia, particularly those with hereditary baldness. It is crucial to provide psychological assistance and counseling to enhance their mental health and overall wellness.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Population in Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia Regarding Dengue Fever and Its Prevention Measures: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

In previous studies, there was an apparent lack of health education about dengue fever (DF) among the Saudi population. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) about dengue fever among the Jazan region population, which is one of the most prevalent diseases in the region in Saudi Arabia (KSA). This was a cross-sectional and community-based study. The adult population was divided into governorates according to the regions that were close to each other, and then a convenient stratum was selected from each region. Next, random sampling was applied. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Exclusion criteria were young people (<18 years old) and health workers. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, the Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression. Of the 392 participants in this cross-sectional study, 59.18% were male, 76.28% were aged 18-35 years, 72.96% had a university degree, and 63% had a monthly income of less than SAR 5000 (USD1 = 3.76). The scores (mean ± SD) for KAP regarding DF among the responders were 22.77 ± 7.9, 22.68 ± 7.24, and 25.62 ± 9.4, respectively. KAP constructs were positively correlated according to the Pearson's coefficient. In multiple linear regression analysis, males were favorably and substantially linked with attitude score (ß = 2.76, p = 0.001) and negatively associated with practice score (ß = -2.45, p = 0.023). No-degree participants scored lower on knowledge (ß = -2.78, p = 0.003). There is potential for more research in Saudi Arabia to increase the generalizability to reduce the impact of dengue epidemics.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 mortality in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics for 224 of in-hospital coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality cases. This study's clinical implications provide insight into the significant death indicators among COVID-19 patients and the outbreak burden on the healthcare system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: A multi-center retrospective cross-sectional study conducted among all COVID-19 mortality cases admitted to 15 Armed Forces hospitals across KSA, from March to July 2020. Demographic data, clinical presentations, laboratory investigations, and complications of COVID-19 mortality cases were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age was 69.66±14.68 years, and 142 (63.4%) of the cases were male. Overall, 30% of the COVID-19 mortalities occurred in the first 24 hours of hospital admission, while 50% occurred on day 10. The most prevalent comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (DM, 73.7%), followed by hypertension (HTN, 69.6%). Logistic regression for risk factors in all mortality cases revealed that direct mortality cases from COVID-19 were more likely to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (odds ratio [OR]: 1.75, confidence intervel [CI: 0.89-3.43]; p=0.102) and acute kidney injury (OR: 1.01, CI: [0.54-1.90]; p=0.960). CONCLUSION: Aging, male gender and the high prevalence of the underlying diseases such as, DM and HTN were a significant death indicators among COVID-19 mortality cases in KSA. Increases in serum ferritin, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and D-dimer levels can be used as indicators of disease progression.