ABSTRACT
The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a life-threatening respiratory disease with a high case fatality rate; however, its risk factors remain unclear. We aimed to explore the influence of demographic factors, clinical manifestations and underlying comorbidities on mortality in MERS-CoV patients. Retrospective chart reviews were performed to identify all laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-COV infection in Saudi Arabia that were reported to the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia between 23 April 2014 and 7 June 2016. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the effect of sex, age, clinical presentation and comorbidities on mortality from MERS-CoV. A total of 281 confirmed MERS-CoV cases were identified: 167 (59.4%) patients were male and 55 (20%) died. Mortality predominantly occurred among Saudi nationals and older patients and was significantly associated with respiratory failure and shortness of breath. Of the 281 confirmed cases, 160 (56.9%) involved comorbidities, wherein diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, end-stage renal disease and chronic kidney disease were significantly associated with mortality from MERS-CoV and two or three comorbidities significantly affected the fatality rates from MERS-CoV. The findings of this study show that old age and the existence of underlying comorbidities significantly increase mortality from MERS-CoV.
ABSTRACT
Introduction Medication non-adherence is an important cause of treatment failure among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Depression is a common neuropsychiatric disorder associated with SLE. The aims of this study are to assess the prevalence of both medication non-adherence and depressed mood among Saudi patients with SLE by using validated tools and to explore the impact of both depressive symptoms and disease activity on medication non-adherence. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatients with SLE. Medication non-adherence was assessed by using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and the severity of depressed mood was evaluated with the Beck's Depression Inventory. Disease activity was measured using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify the multivariate predictors of medication non-adherence. Results Out of 140 patients, 134 (95.7%) were females with a mean (±SD) age of 35.6 (±11.3) years and a disease duration of 8.8 (±6.7) years. Medication non-adherence and depressed mood were detected in 62.1% and 35% of the patients, respectively. A moderate or severe depressed mood was significantly associated with medication non-adherence ( p = 0.04). There was a significant correlation between disease activity and the severity of depressed mood ( r = 0.31, p = 0.003). Disease activity did not correlate with medication non-adherence. Logistic regression demonstrated that moderate-to-severe depressed mood increased the probability of medication non-adherence (OR 2.62; 1.02-6.71). Conclusion Medication non-adherence and depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among Saudi SLE patients. Routine screening could facilitate the early detection and management of depression and medication adherence.
