Objective: Vitamin D (VD) deficiency is a worldwide health problem. VD plays a crucial role in calcium homeostasis, phosphorus metabolism and bone health. Still much remain to understand the effect of VD deficiency on bone mass. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between VD levels and bone mass density (BMD) among college-age Saudi females. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 460 females with a median age of 21 years, were enrolled, completed a comprehensive, structured questionnaire which was validated by experienced endocrinologist, a dietician, and a statistician. Body mass indexes (BMI) were calculated, and BMD was estimated through quantitative ultrasound to ankle. Serum VD, calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, and alkaline phosphatase were measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay technique. Results: VD deficiency reached up to 83.3% (66.9% insufficiency and 16.4% deficiency). Lower than normal BMD was detected in 18.3% of subjects, with only 1.1% having a non-age-matched high risk for osteoporosis. The significant independent predictors of Z-score were age of menarche, menstrual irregularities, dairy products consumption, physical activity, BMI, alkaline phosphatase, and history of previous VD supplementation. Conclusion: VD deficiency and low BMD are highly prevalent among college-age Saudi females. Low BMD is not linked to serum level of VD but to its previous use as a supplementation. Early lifestyle changes, attention to gynecological problems, and prevention of VD deficiency are all needed to support BMD among these girls. Keywords: vitamin D, osteoporosis, Z-score, Saudi females, bone mass density
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common problem in women at fertile age. A prospective study was conducted to clarify the pathophysiological responses during an application of insulin sensitizer, metformin and weight reduction therapy at the Gynecology Center in Ohud hospital, in AL-Madinah AL-Munawarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Twenty healthy women served as controls and 180 PCOS women divided into three groups participated in the study. First group was treated with Clomid citrate 100mg/day from the 2nd day of menses to the 6th day plus gonadotrophin from day three to the 13th. Group II was treated as group I plus 850mg metformin twice a day and group III was treated as group I plus weight reduction. Clinical symptoms, menstrual pattern, hirsutism, blood glucose, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin, hormonal, and lipid profiles were assessed pre- and post treatment. Insulin resistance was calculated.PCOS women had significantly higher values than the healthy women in most of the measurements. Metformin and weight reduction therapy resulted in a significant decrease in the fasting insulin, glucose/insulin ratio and HOMA-IR. Metformin and weight reduction therapy resulted in a significant decrease in the lipid parameters, testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, SHBG, and prolactin levels. HOMA-IR was significantly higher in women with PCOS. HOMA-IR was positively correlated with testosterone, estradiol, TG, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol parameters, and negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol and FSH levels.Metformin therapy and weight reduction had favorable influences on the basic metabolic and hormonal profiles in women with PCOS and that metformin and lifestyle modification (weight reduction via diet restriction or exercise) resulted in a significantly greater weight loss than hormonal therapy alone. Metformin and weight reduction therapy decreased also hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance.
To assist healthcare providers in evidence-based clinical decision-making for the management of overweight and obese adults in Saudi Arabia.The Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia assembled an expert Saudi panel to produce this clinical practice guideline in 2015. In collaboration with the methodological working group from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, which describes both the strength of recommendation and the quality of evidence After identifying 11 questions, corresponding recommendations were agreed upon as guidance for the management of overweight and obese adults. These included strong recommendations in support of lifestyle interventions rather than usual care alone, individualized counseling interventions rather than generic educational pamphlets, physical activity rather than no physical activity, and physical activity in addition to diet rather than diet alone. Metformin and orlistat were suggested as conditional recommendations for the management of overweight and obesity in adults. Bariatric surgery was recommended, conditionally, for the management of obese adults (body mass index of ≥40 or ≥35 kg/m2 with comorbidities). The current guideline includes recommendation for the non-pharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical management of overweight and obese adults. In addition, the panel recommends conducting research priorities regarding lifestyle interventions and economic analysis of drug therapy within the Saudi context, as well as long term benefits and harms of bariatric surgery.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts have been made to underline its discourse and identify factors contributing to its severe forms. Clinically, many physicians depended on subjective criteria to determine its severe forms, which varied significantly between practices. However, they did not rely on objective laboratory findings. This study aimed to present a novel and objective laboratory-based indicator to predict mortality among COVID-19 patients. The study included 249 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to the ICU, of which 80 did not survive. The COVID-19 Mortality Prediction (CoMPred) indicator was developed by including the age and the following lab investigations: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), D-Dimer, PT, aPTT, ESR, CRP, and urea levels. A CoMPred score of 7.5 or higher carries a sensitivity of 81.10% in predicting mortality, i.e., a patient with a CoMPred score of 7.5 or higher has an 81.10% chance of dying. The CoMPred indicator score directly correlates with mortality, i.e., the higher the score, the higher the possibility of the patient dying. In conclusion, the CoMPred indicator is an objective tool that is affordable and widely available, will assist physicians, and limit the burden on clinical decisions on an unpredicted course of COVID-19 in patients.
Abstract Purpose The study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the sedentary behavior questionnaire (SBQ). Methods A total of 624 university students (273 males; 351 females, mean age = 20.8 years) were recruited from Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. For criterion and constructive validity ( n = 352), the Arabic SBQ was compared with total sitting time from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form (IPAQ-LF). For concurrent validity, the English and Arabic SBQ versions were given concurrently to bilingual university students ( n = 122) once. For test–retest reliability, the Arabic SBQ was given twice to participants ( n = 150) at a one-week interval. Results Sitting time of IPAQ-SF (7 th question: sitting time on weekdays) and IPAQ-LF (21 st question: sitting time on weekdays and 22 nd question: sitting time on weekends) correlated significantly with total sitting time/week of the Arabic SBQ ( r = 0.29, p = 0.003; r = 0.14, p = 0.02, respectively). Motorized transportation measured with the IPAQ-LF correlated significantly with time spent driving in a car, bus, or train from the Arabic SBQ on weekdays and weekends ( r = 0.53, p < 0.001; r = 0.44 p < 0.001, respectively). The total sitting time of the Arabic SBQ was inversely correlated with BMI ( r = -0.18, p = 0.001). The correlations between the Arabic and the English SBQ versions ranged from 0.25–0.96; p < 0.001 on weekdays and 0.50–0.90; p < 0.001 on weekends. Moderate to good reliability was also found between test and retest for all SBQ items and total score during weekdays (0.72 to 0.8), and weekends (0.64 to 0.87), with exception of the 7 th item "play musical instrument", ICC = 0.46). Mean difference of test–retest of the Arabic SBQ was not significantly different from zero for the total sitting time of the Arabic SBQ (t = -0.715, P = 0.476). Conclusion The Arabic SBQ had satisfactory levels of reliability, with total sitting time of the Arabic SBQ correlating significantly with sitting times derived from IPAQ-SF, IPAQ-LF, and the English SBQ versions. Hence, the Arabic SBQ can be used as a tool to measure sedentary behavior among adult Arabs aged between 18 to 30 years old in future epidemiologic and clinical practice.
There is an increasing requirement for new therapeutic approaches to address lung inflammation caused by COVID-19. Recent evidence suggests that statins may reduce mortality in patients with respiratory infections. This study aimed to investigate the impact of statin use on COVID-19 outcomes among hospitalized patients at Ohud Hospital and King Salman Medical City (KSMC) in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 547 patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses admitted between March 2020 and December 2022. Patients were classified into statin and non-statin users based on statin administration during hospitalization. Logistic regression analyses-including univariate, multivariate, and predictive stepwise models-were employed to assess associations between statin use and clinical factors. Among the 547 patients, 200 (36.5%) were prescribed statins upon admission. Statin users were predominantly men and older. The presence of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels ≥ 100 mg/dL, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and advanced age were identified as strong predictors of statin use, with odds ratios (ORs) of 11.1, 3.8, and 3.1, respectively. Furthermore, the odds of receiving statins were significantly higher in male patients, individuals with hypertension, those with HbA1c levels ≥ 8%, and patients with positive cultures and sensitivity results. Statin use was associated with an 18%% reduction in the risk of mortality, with an adjusted OR of 0.80 (95% CI, 0.30-2.32), and a 7% reduction in the risk of hospital stay > 10 days, although these findings did not reach statistical significance. Among patients with COVID-19, LDL ≥ 100 mg/dl, CVD, and patients older than 60 years were identified as strong predictors for statin prescription.
Consumption of performance enhancing agents (PEAs) has a wide range of negative health consequences, but knowledge of these consequences among gym users of PEAs in Saudi Arabia is not well understood.Identify the knowledge, awareness, beliefs and attitudes of gym users about negative health consequences of using PEAs, and the relationship between these factors and use of these agents.Cross-sectional study.Five gyms in Madinah city, Saudi Arabia.Convenience sampling was used to recruit gym users. An electronic self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data.Level of knowledge about the negative health consequences of PEAs among gym users.About 70% of 316 participants had used one or more of PEAs over the last six months. Of those, about 68.4% used protein powder supplements and 48.1% used energy drinks. Participants who believed that protein powder supplements (c2=52.3, P < .01) and energy drinks (c2=35.2, P < .01) had health hazards used these agents less often than others during the six months preceding data collection. Participants who had less knowledge about the negative health consequences were more likely to use protein powder supplement (t=2.38, P=.018). On the other hand, those who were more knowledgeable about the negative health consequences of insulin, were more likely to use insulin (t=2.45, P=.015).Misuse of PEAs is widespread among gym users in Saudi Arabia. Improving the level of knowledge and awareness of possible serious health consequences would hopefully lead to reduced PEA consumption.The temporal sequence of cause and effect could not be determined in a cross sectional study. Convenience sampling in a single city limited the generalizability of the findings to all regions of Saudi Arabia.
Background: Coronary heart disease is highly prevalent and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to assess the major risk factors and their predictor score for coronary heart diseases in diabetic patients. Methods: The present study was conducted in al-Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Using a cross-sectional case control study, 262 outpatient diabetics and 264 matched control subjects were examined for the risk factors and risk predictor scores for ischemic heart disease. The mean age of the patient and control groups was 49.61 ± 12.93 years and 48.39 ± 11.60 years, respectively. Results: Diabetic patients had significantly higher positive family history of diabetes, but no significant difference regarding their family history of hypertension. There was a significantly higher body mass index (33.67 kg/m 2 ), glycosylated hemoglobin (7.26%), significantly higher cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride in diabetics compared to control. Diabetic patients had higher risk for developing coronary heart disease with a mean risk score of 6.07 while the control subject risk score was -6.81. However, females showed significantly higher risk for coronary heart diseases than did males. Conclusion: Our study replicates the known fact of higher risk in diabetes, but higher risk of coronary heart disease in female diabetics compared with male diabetics. Keywords: coronary heart disease, risk factors, diabetes mellitus
