Gouty Arthritis Across Ages: Understanding Disease Patterns and Predictors.

Introduction Gout, a chronic inflammatory joint disease, is increasingly prevalent worldwide, mainly affecting men, young females, and post-menopausal women. This study aims to investigate gout epidemiology in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, addressing the dearth of localized data on prevalence, risk factors, and management practices. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted at King Fahad Hospital, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, covering 116 patients from March 2016 to November 2017. Data encompassed demographics, clinical presentations, and biochemical markers relevant to gout. Results Among 116 patients, 41 (35.3%) were diagnosed with gout, with males exhibiting a significantly higher prevalence than females (43.9% vs. 24%). Significant associations were found between gout prevalence and residency, occupational status, education level, clinical presentations (podagra, arthralgia/arthritis), and biochemical markers. Conclusion This study enriches global knowledge by providing localized insights into gout's epidemiology and highlighting demographic influences and clinical presentations specific to the Saudi context. The findings underscore the importance of tailored approaches in gout management, considering regional variations in prevalence, risk factors, and clinical manifestations.

A Holistic View of Psoriasis: Examining Its Association With Dyslipidemia and Obesity in a Decade-Long Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Psoriasis is a multifaceted inflammatory condition with systemic implications, impacting not only the skin but also various organs and overall health. It is associated with mood disorders, malignancy, infections, and components of metabolic syndrome, including diabetes, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and obesity. The coexistence of psoriasis with obesity poses additional challenges, as obesity worsens psoriasis severity and reduces treatment effectiveness. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to further understand the associations between psoriasis, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Our systematic review of six studies revealed significant links between psoriasis and both dyslipidemia and obesity. Individuals with psoriasis exhibited a 1.40-fold higher likelihood of dyslipidemia (odds ratio (OR) 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24-1.58) and a 1.37-fold higher likelihood of obesity (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.23-1.53) compared to those without psoriasis. These findings emphasize the systemic nature of psoriasis and its implications for metabolic health. In conclusion, this review underscores the importance of holistic management for psoriasis patients. Further research is warranted to explore underlying mechanisms and develop targeted therapeutic strategies. These findings contribute valuable insights to promote the overall well-being of individuals with psoriasis.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Infection-Associated Dyslipidemia in the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: H. pylori-associated dyslipidemia has been reported to be a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary heart diseases. We aimed to investigate the association of the H. pylori infection with dyslipidemia. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was undertaken to evaluate H. pylori-associated dyslipidemia, where H. pylori-positive individuals were treated as the case group (n = 260) while H. pylori-negative individuals were considered as the control group (n = 250). The mean ± SD of the age of the patients included (n = 510) was 44.01 ± 13.58 years. Study subjects with a total cholesterol level of >5.17 mmol/L and/or a triglyceride level of >1.69 mmol/L and/or an LDL-C level of >2.59 mmol/L and/or an HDL-C level of <1 mmol/L in males and/or an HDL-C level of <1.3 mmol/L in females were defined as dyslipidemia. Descriptive (mean, standard deviation, median, and IQR) and inferential (t-test, chi-square test, and logistic regression) statistical analyses were undertaken using the R-base/R-studio (v-4.0.2)/tidyverse package. Univariate and bivariate logistic regressions were executed to calculate the crude and adjusted odds ratio along with the p-value. A p-value of <0.05 was the cut-off for statistical significance. We used ggplot2 for data visualization. RESULTS: The differences in overall mean ± SD (H. pylori positive vs. negative) of the cholesterol (5.22 ± 1.0 vs. 5.49 ± 0.85, p < 0.01), triglyceride (1.66 ± 0.75 vs. 1.29 ± 0.71, p < 0.001), LDL-C (3.43 ± 0.74 vs. 3.26 ± 0.81, p < 0.05), and HDL-C (1.15 ± 0.30 vs. 1.30 ± 0.25, p < 0.001) levels were statistically significant. The cholesterol and LDL-C levels in ages >60, age = 30-60, in females, and LDL-C levels in males were not significantly different for the H. pylori-positive and -negative groups. The proportion (H. pylori positive vs. negative) of hypercholesterolemia (190/59.9% vs. 127/40% p < 0.01), hypertriglyceridemia (136/68% vs. 64/32% p < 0.001), high LDL-cholesterolemia levels (234/53% vs. 201/46% p < 0.01), and low HDL-cholesterolemia levels (149/71% vs. 60/28.7% p < 0.01) were statistically significant. The odds of having hypercholesterolemia (AOR: 2.64, 95%CI: 1.824-3.848, p < 0.001), hypertriglyceridemia (AOR: 3.24, 95%CI: 2.227-4.757, p < 0.001), an increased LDL-C level (AOR: 2.174, 95%CI: 1.309-3.684, p < 0.01), and a decreased HDL-C level (AOR: 4.2, 95%CI: 2.937-6.321, p < 0.001) were 2.64, 3.24, 2.17, and 4.2 times higher in the H. pylori-infected individuals as compared with the H. pylori-uninfected group. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that an enhanced risk of dyslipidemia is associated with the H. pylori infection, which can aggrandize the atherosclerosis process. The evaluation of temporal variation in the lipid profile in H. pylori-infected individuals is recommended for the effective management of H. pylori-infected patients.

The Impact of Diabetes Mellitus Duration and Complications on Health-Related Quality of Life Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Khamis Mushit City, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:  Diabetes mellitus is one of the most significant public health problems in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of disease duration and disease complications on health-related quality of life among type 2 diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 380 adult diabetic type 2 patients at a tertiary hospital in the city of Khamis Mushit in Saudi Arabia. The participants were asked to complete a pre-validated health status questionnaire (SF-36) consisting of 36 questions measuring eight domains of health, with each domain providing a score from 0 to 100. Demographic and clinical variables were collected using a diabetes type 2 specification form designed to be used in conjunction with the health status questionnaire. The clinical data included variables such as duration of diabetes, co-morbidities, and treatment modality. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), with differences tested using various statistical tests. Spearman correlation was done between the score and continuous variables, such as age and BMI. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Most of the participants (40%) were recently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (less than one year ago) and 29.5% of the participants were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus within one to five years. The percentage of those with complications was 39.2%, which was mainly diabetic foot (43.4%) followed by nephropathy (29.5%). 46.8% of the participants were admitted due to conditions related to diabetes mellitus. Dietary modifications were prescribed in 38.4% of the participants, 19.5% used non-insulin medications only, 22.6% were on insulin, and 19.5% were using oral medications and insulin. The relationship between diabetes mellitus complications and quality of life domains revealed no significant difference in most of the domains except physical function and general health, which were lower with complicated diabetes melitus. Similarly, the relation between diabetes mellitus duration and quality of life domains was also not significant in all domains except physical function, which was low with a duration of more than 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Understandably, the complications associated with diabetes melitus resulted in low quality of life - in terms of physical function and general health - due to the organ-dysfunction associated with poor glycaemic control. Similarly, disease duration greater than 10 years resulted in impaired physical functioning.

Prevalence of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Among Diabetic Mellitus Patients in Saudi Arabia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a burgeoning global health concern, closely associated with the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to comprehensively evaluate the prevalence of NAFLD in DM patients in Saudi Arabia, a country undergoing rapid socioeconomic changes. Our multifaceted search strategy identified four high-quality studies conducted between 2003 and 2022, covering hospital and community settings. The aggregate prevalence rate of NAFLD in DM patients was notably high, ranging from 47.8% to 72.8%. However, substantial heterogeneity (I² = 90.6%) was observed, indicating variability attributed to diverse study characteristics. The uniform application of ultrasound for diagnosis was noteworthy but raised concerns regarding sensitivity. This analysis underscores the urgency of public health measures for early detection and management of NAFLD in DM-prone populations in Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence, Predictors and Point of View Toward Self-Medication Among Residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Irrational Self-Medication (SM) practice leads to incorrect diagnosis and is a risk factor for disease exacerbation and serious health consequences. Hence Responsible SM is vital for better health outcomes. In the present community-based study we explored the SM practice during the last 3 months, frequency, outcome, medications used, reasons influencing SM, source of the drug, and information. Data were analyzed using SPSS; chi-square test was performed to indicate significance, Odds ratio, Pearson correlation, univariant and multivariant regression analysis were performed to find out factors and predictors of SM. A total of 611 residents completed the survey. SM was practiced by 52.9% of participants during the last 3 months, with a frequency of one to two times. Headache (64.8%), pain (35.4%), fever/flu (31.4%), cold & cough (21.9%) and dysmenorrhea (20.9%) were illnesses managed using pain killers (75.9%), multivitamins (25.5%), anti-pyretic (24.7%) and herbal medicines (18.5%). Minor illness (67.9%), earlier experience (33.9%) and shortness of time to attend healthcare facilities (18.8%) were the reasons for practicing SM. Distance to healthcare and routine physical activity have significantly influenced the SM practice. Residents stated that inappropriate SM would lead to negative outcomes, including drug side effects (70%), Interaction (34.2%), poor treatment outcome (32.6%) and return of symptoms (26.5%). Interestingly, two-thirds of participants (68.9%) have recommended SM in case of minor illnesses only, 85.3% of respondents have expressed their desire to learn more about appropriate SM, and 76.6% are willing to return their leftover or unused medications to drug take-back centers.

Mental health awareness among adult attendees of Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region family and community center.

AIM OF STUDY: To assess mental health literacy among Saudi adults attending the Ahad Rufaidah extension of Armed Forces Hospitals, Southern Region, 2017. METHODOLOGY: Following a cross-sectional descriptive study design, 400 adult Saudi attendants of the Armed Forces Hospitals, Southern Region - Ahad Rufaidah extension were included in this study. An anonymous interview validated questionnaire was utilized for data collection. It included variables related to participants' personal characteristics, knowledge assessment, and attitude regarding mental illness. RESULTS: More than half of participants (55.3%) had poor knowledge regarding mental health, while 44.8% had satisfactory knowledge. Only 3.6% of participants had a positive attitude toward mentally ill persons, 43% were indifferent toward them, while 53.4% had a negative attitude toward them. Participants' attitudes toward mental health differed significantly according to their knowledge grades (P < 0.001), with the majority of those with positive attitudes having satisfactory knowledge (93.5%) and most of those who had negative attitudes had poor knowledge (66.8%). Participants' knowledge grades differed significantly according to their gender, with more satisfactory knowledge grades among males than females (50.8% and 22.4%, respectively, P < 0.001) and educational level, with more satisfactory knowledge grades among more educated participants (P = 0.002). Participants' attitudes toward mentally ill persons differed significantly according to their gender (P = 0.013) and their educational level, with the highest percentage of positive attitude among university-educated participants (35.3%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is widespread mental health illiteracy among attendants in the Ahad Rufaidah extension of Armed Forces Hospitals, Southern Region. Their attitude toward mentally ill persons is rarely positive but largely negative or indifferent.