ABSTRACT
Introduction Amblyopia is an abnormal development of usually one eye, leading to permanent decreased vision in the affected eye if not treated early. The condition is primarily caused by strabismus, cataract, anisometropic refractive error, or genetic factors and can manifest from birth to seven years of age, with a worldwide prevalence of 1.75%. This study examines parental knowledge of amblyopia in an effort to improve its early detection and intervention. Improving awareness can have a direct impact by lowering the incidence of untreated amblyopia and its related visual impairment. This study can also help healthcare professionals understand how to communicate with parents about amblyopia more effectively. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study included 417 parent participants from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, selected through random sampling while ensuring representation from various governorates. The data was collected using an online questionnaire distributed by different social media platforms (Twitter, WhatsApp, and Telegram) to the parents of all governorates, and the sample was selected randomly. It was meticulously cleaned using Excel and analyzed with IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Our results showed a predominant understanding of amblyopia as "poor vision in one or both eyes" (19.1%) as well as the role of eye movement or brain-eye coordination in the condition. Only 51.3% of parents were aware of lazy eye. Notably, the internet and doctors were the primary sources of information about amblyopia. Only 8.9% of the participants were aware that amblyopia cannot be treated after 10 years of age. Understanding the causes of amblyopia mainly included genetic factors and refractive errors. Sociodemographic factors such as gender, educational level, family history of eye disease, and having a child with a lazy eye significantly influenced the parents' awareness levels of amblyopia. Conclusion Our study underscores the need for targeted educational initiatives to improve the knowledge and awareness of amblyopia among parents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. By addressing misconceptions, enhancing access to accurate information, and fostering a deeper understanding of amblyopia and its management, we can work toward ensuring timely diagnosis and appropriate interventions, ultimately reducing the prevalence and impact of amblyopia in the community.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is the most common abdominal surgical emergency and up to our knowledge no previous studies have been conducted in Saudi Arabia particularly at Qassim region and this study aimed to determine a total and direct bilirubin as a predictor of acute complicated appendicitis. METHODS: Observational retrospective study that included patients admitted under the general surgery department with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis at King Saud Hospital, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia. Data on age, gender, BMI, diabetes mellitus, total and direct bilirubin, AST, ALT, sodium, and WBCs levels were obtained. RESULT: Among the overall study population of 158 patients, the age median [IQR] was 24.5 [19-31], males were 99 (62.7%), and complicated appendicitis was 33 (20.9%). The multivariable analysis revealed that both elevated total and direct bilirubin are associated with complicated appendicitis (aOR = 3.79, 95% CI: 1.67-8.48, P = 0.001) and (aOR = 4.74, 95% CI: 2.07-10.86, P < 0.001) respectively. A receiver operating characteristic curve showed the best cutoff value of total and direct bilirubin as ≥ 15 µmol/L and ≥ 5 µmol/L respectively, with a sensitivity of 57.6%, and specificity of 73.6% for elevated total bilirubin, and a sensitivity of 54.6%, and specificity of 80% for elevated direct bilirubin. CONCLUSION: Elevated total and direct bilirubin are associated with acute complicated appendicitis in this setting. However, it should be supportive factor for acute complicated appendicitis and not considered as standalone diagnostic test.
