RESUMO
Background: Previous researches on the association between the use of social media and depression have yielded conflicting results. As some studies reported that social media use may reduce depression, whereas other studies observed that frequent use of social media may be associated with depressive symptoms
Objectives: To assess the relation between overuse of social media and depression as well as identifying other risk factors related to depression among medical students
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional, comparative study was carried out among a representative random sample of male and female medical students in King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. Anonymous self-administrated questionnaire was utilized for data collection. It consists of socio- demographic characteristics, details of social media use and PHQ-9 instrument to assess depression among the participants. Data were collected through sending the questionnaire online through a specific WhatsApp group for the students
Results: Out of 297 students invited to participate in the study, 239 responded by completing the questionnaire giving a response rate of 80.5%. Their age ranged between 19 and 26 years with a mean +/- SD of 21.4 +/- 1.5 years. Depression was reported among 67.4% of them, based on PHQ-9 instrument; it was mild among 41.8% and severe among 9.6% of the participants. Depression was more reported among female than male students [74.1% versus 63.6%], p=0.034. The highest age was reported among students with no depression [22.1 +/- 1.3 years] whereas the lowest age was observed among those with moderate depression [21.3 +/- 1.7 years], p=0.018. Histories of having family problems [p<0.001], financial problems [p=0.001], study problems [p<0.001], physical or emotional abuse [p<0.001], psychiatric problems [p=0.007] and family history of depression [p=0.047] were significantly associated with depression and its severity among the participants
Conclusion: Depression is a common hidden health problem among medical students in Saudi Arabia. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was not significantly associated with pattern of using social media
RESUMO
Objective: To identify frequency, causes and outcomes of hospitalisations among adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]
Methods: A record-based retrospective study was conducted at Aseer Central Hospital for a period of four and half years from January 2012 to June 2016. The study includes adult SLE patients who were diagnosed according to the 1997 SLE criteria
Results: A total of 155 patients [8 males and 147 females] with 251 hospital admissions were included. The average admission rate for all cases was about 2.0 +/- 1.0 times. The most commonly recorded causes of admissions were SLE nephritis flare [33.9%], and infections [16.3%]. Mortality rate for SLE patients is almost 7.7% and the recorded main causes of death were pulmonary hemorrhage [33.3%], sepsis [25%], bilateral massive pulmonary oedema and pneumonia [8.3% for each]
Conclusion: Almost half of adult SLE patients are frequently hospitalized. Female patients and those with associated chronic co-morbidity have more frequent admissions. Consequences of SLE remain the most frequently recorded causes for hospital admission. Pulmonary complications are the main cause for death. Therefore, prompt and aggressive management of pulmonary consequences could markedly reduce disease mortality. Adopting preventive measures such as using prophylactic antibiotics and pneumococcal vaccination, early in the disease course, should be accentuated