Risk Factors of Microvascular Complications Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients Using Cox Proportional Hazards Models: A Cohort Study in Tabuk Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: The burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is high in Saudi Arabia, but data related to its complications are limited. This study aimed to determine the incidence of microvascular complications caused by T2D and evaluate the impact of the associated risk factors. Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at two military hospitals in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Data on the socio-demographics, glycaemic profile, blood lipid indices, duration of T2D, and associated microvascular complications were collected from electronic health records and medical files. Descriptive statistics and Cox proportional hazards models were used for data analysis. Results: This study included 1563 T2D patients. The incidence of microvascular complications was 34.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 32.0-36.6). Retinopathy was the most common complication (incidence=20.0%; 95% CI, 18.0-22.0%), while nephropathy was the least common complication (incidence=12.2%; 95% CI, 10.6-13.8%). Advanced age (≥65 years) showed the highest risk of retinopathy (Hazard ratios [HR], 2.86; 95% CI, 2.56-3.21), neuropathy (HR, 2.70; 95% CI, 2.40-3.05), and nephropathy (HR, 2.37; 95% CI, 2.12-2.64) compared with their counterparts. After adjusting for potential confounders, the study found that the significant risk factors for microvascular complications were longer duration (≥10 years) of T2D (HR, 5.3; 95% CI, 5.1-5.6), uncontrolled hypertension (HR, 3.9; 95% CI, 3.3-4.2), poor glycaemic control (HR, 4.6; 95% CI, 4.3-5.1), obesity (HR, 2.3; 95% CI, 2.2-2.6), and dyslipidaemia (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.0). Conclusion: Given the high burden of microvascular complications in military healthcare facilities in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, a context-specific accessible public health program focusing on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, and consumption of a healthy diet, as well as the early diagnosis and management of diabetes, needs to be developed and implemented.

Investigating the incidence and risk factors of hypertension: A multicentre retrospective cohort study in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major global health concern affecting approximately 1.13 billion people worldwide, with most of them residing in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of different stages of hypertension and its associated modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors among patients in military-setting hospitals in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at two hospitals in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The data were collected from hospital electronic records from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. The blood pressure levels of patients from the last three separate medical visits were recorded. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: The study included 884 hypertensive patients. The incidences of stage of elevated BP, stage 1, stage 2, and hypertension crisis were 60.0, 29.5, 7.0, and 3.5 cases per 1000 persons. Multivariate analysis indicated that progression from the stage of elevated blood pressure to hypertension crisis was significantly associated with advanced age (odds ratio [OR] = 3.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.99-8.42), male sex (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 0.57-5.92), and a positive family history of hypertension (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.23-3.09). Other key determinants of the development of stage of elevated blood pressure to hypertension crisis were current smoking status (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.23-4.76), and physical inactivity (OR = 6.48, 95% CI: 2.46-9.14). CONCLUSION: The incidence stage of elevated blood pressure was high among the patients investigated at armed forces hospitals in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The logistic regression model proposed in the present study can be used to predict the development of different stages of hypertension. Age, sex, marital status, family history, smoking status, and physical activity play an important role in the development of hypertension. Better strategies to improve awareness, screening, treatment, and management of hypertension are required in Saudi Arabia.

Psychological impact of home isolation on children aged 6-14 years during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia 2020.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of home isolation on feelings and behaviors of children aged 6-14 years during COVID-19 pandemic in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2020 in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. A snowball sampling was applied, parents with children aged 6-14 years participated in this survey (N=361). questionnaires were distributed electronically. RESULTS: Four out of ten children reported severe psychological impact on feelings (41.3%), while a majority of the children demonstrated mild psychological impact on behavior (74.8%). Age was associated with risk of psychological impact on behavior (OR: 7.24, 95% CI: 1.35-16.18). Being male was associated with risk of psychological impact on feelings (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 0.67-6.43), and behavior (OR: 3.50, 95% CI: 0.42-6.00). Living in a small house or without an outside play area was associated with risk of psychological impact on feelings and behaviors. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that children experienced mild-to-severe psychological impact on behaviors and feelings during home isolation during COVID-19 pandemic. Priority should be given to boys, older age, children of low-income families, living in small houses and those without outside play areas.