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INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a significant health concern, often leading to fragility fractures and severely impacting the quality of life in post-menopausal women. Studies evaluating the effects of osteoporosis and resultant fractures on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Saudi women are lacking. This study aimed to assess the relationship between osteoporosis and fracture and physical, psychological, social, and environmental HRQoL domains in post-menopausal Saudi women. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study conducted in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, 158 post-menopausal Saudi women completed HRQoL surveys using the validated Arabic WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Data on socioeconomics, comorbidities, and fracture history were gathered. Descriptive statistics delineated sample characteristics. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc tests identified differences in HRQoL across socioeconomic and clinical categories. Multivariate regression analyses determined factors independently related to HRQoL. RESULTS: Of 158 women surveyed, 39% had a history of osteoporotic fracture. Foot (35%), hand (31%), and vertebral (10%) fractures were the most frequent. Women over 70 had significantly lower physical HRQoL than those aged 45-55 (p<0.001). Unemployed and lower-income women showed poorer HRQoL across domains (p<0.01). Vertebral and hand fractures were negatively related to physical and psychological health (p<0.05). Chronic diseases like hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis reduced HRQoL (p<0.01). In regression analyses, older age, vertebral fracture, physical inactivity, long-term hormone therapy, and unemployment emerged as determinants of poorer HRQoL (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Osteoporosis and resultant fragility fractures, especially in vertebral and hand bones, led to substantial impairments in physical, social, psychological, and environmental HRQoL in Saudi women. Modifiable risk factors like physical inactivity and long-term hormone use also affected HRQoL. Targeted screening and multidomain interventions for disadvantaged women with osteoporosis are warranted to improve functioning and quality of life.
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Background: Nutritional rickets remains a significant concern in certain countries, with increasing prevalence attributed to factors such as limited sunlight exposure and undernourishment. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with rickets due to nutritional deficiency in children from Jazan Province, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using descriptive data from medical records at a tertiary hospital in Jazan Province. Records of patients diagnosed with rickets between January 2010 and December 2020 were analyzed. Symptomatic rickets cases from pediatric clinics were included, and diagnoses were based on biochemical and clinical tests. Risk factors were assessed using patient medical records. Data were analyzed using percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Results: The study included 84 patients with rickets (53 females and 31 males), primarily between 11-18 years old. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 21.21. The most common risk factor was nutritional deficiencies, including vitamin D deficiency or calcium deficiency, with 75 patients reporting a family history of vitamin D deficiency. The children had limited sunlight exposure and low levels of calcium and vitamin D. Malnutrition was identified as the highest risk factor for rickets in the study population. Conclusion: Nutritional rickets appears to be prevalent in the Jazan Province, emphasizing the need for government organizations to address this preventable disease. Adequate sun exposure and recommended dietary vitamin D intake are crucial to prevent rickets, as this study detected inadequate levels of calcium and vitamin D in children. National studies are required to further identify risk factors and develop appropriate strategies.
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BACKGROUND: Adolescents frequently self-report pain, according to epidemiological research. The knee is one of the sites wherein pain is most commonly reported. Musculoskeletal disorders play a significant role in the prolonged disability experienced by individuals, leading to substantial global personal, societal, and economic burdens. Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a clinical knee pain commonly affecting adolescents. This study aimed to estimate the frequency of knee pain in Saudi adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to November 2022 and included 676 adolescents aged 10 to 18 years. The participants were questioned regarding their demographics, school habits, and the impact of these factors on back pain, musculoskeletal pain in the past 12 months, as well as quality-of-life scale and knee pain symptoms. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, with frequencies and percentages presented for categorical variables. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare means between groups, while the chi-squared test was used to compare categorical variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 676 adolescents participated in the study, with 57.5% females and 42.5% males. Among the participants, 68.8% were aged between 15 and 18 years. The prevalence of knee pain was notably higher among females (26%) compared to males (19.2%). Age and BMI were identified as significant predictors of knee pain. A significant association was also found between BMI classification and knee stiffness (p-value = 0.008). Furthermore, a significant difference was observed between adolescents who engaged in physical activities during leisure time and those who experienced difficulty bending (p-value = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights a high prevalence of knee pain among Saudi adolescents, emphasizing the need for increased awareness about its risk factors. Preventive measures, including conservative approaches and lifestyle/activity modifications, can effectively mitigate adolescent knee pain.
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BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is a common medical condition that entails a stretch or sprain of the ACL, which is present in the knee joint. The incidence of ACL injury in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to be 31.4%. Prevention training programs (PTPs) can be used to reduce ACL injuries sustained during physical activity, as they primarily focus on improving strength, balance, and lower limb biomechanics and reducing landing impact. This study aimed to assess Saudi athletes' awareness of ACL injury PTPs. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey in the form of a self-administered questionnaire in the Arabic language was carried out from 22 December 2022 to 7 March 2023 and included 1169 Saudi athletes. Statistical analyses were performed on the collected data using frequency and percentages. Binary logistic regression was used for the adjusted analysis and determining associations between athletes playing high- and low-risk sports. RESULTS: Overall, 52% of participants were female athletes, and 48% were male athletes. The western region of the country had the highest response rate (28.9%). The most common sport played was football at 36.6%. Most participants (70.97%) reported that their information on ACL injury was taken by their coaches. When assessing whether participants were familiar with the concept of an ACL injury PTP, the majority of the participants answered no, representing 971 (662 high-risk, 309 low-risk), compared to those who answered yes, representing only 198 (167 high-risk, 31 low-risk), with a statistically significant difference (adjusted OR: 2.106; 95% confidence interval: 1.544-2.873; p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In general, the level of awareness of ACL injury PTPs among Saudi athletes was poor.
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BACKGROUND: Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that initiated early vaccination programs despite the global challenges concerning the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. Massive vaccination campaigns have been undertaken in the country; however, negative perception and hesitancy toward vaccines may exist which could reduce public response to vaccination. Further, studies evaluating the current perception and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines are scarce. Thus, this study aims to assess the community attitudes and perceptions toward COVID-19 vaccines in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective study using an online questionnaire was conducted among the public in Jazan, the southern region of Saudi Arabia. General and demographic data were collected, and perception and attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated. RESULTS: Most participants in this study were female (67%) with a median age of 23 years. The majority held a bachelor's degree, and they trusted the Saudi healthcare system. Our survey showed that 67% of the study participants had positive perceptions toward COVID-19 vaccines, a finding that is significantly associated with receiving the influenza vaccine in the past, the existence of trust on the current healthcare system and holding positive beliefs toward the effectiveness of the current COVID-19 vaccines in reducing the risk of infection, complication, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of the public in Jazan who believed in the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness is not inferior from similar international reports. Thus, national awareness programs toward the effectiveness of the vaccine could be enhanced to accelerate vaccination coverage. Further, nationwide surveys are warranted to include larger populations from different communities to assess the overall perception toward COVID-19 vaccines in the whole country.
