Accuracy of body mass index compared to whole-body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in diagnosing obesity in adults in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major health concern that requires accurate diagnosis and management. Body mass index (BMI) commonly used to diagnose obesity, has limitations in accurately assessing body fat. Body fat percentage (BF%) from whole-body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans is gaining popularity as a more accurate method in diagnosing obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 319 adult patients who underwent whole-body DEXA scans in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia from May 2016 to December 2021 were recruited from three medical centers, where data for whole-body DEXA were available. Body fat percent was obtained from the whole-body DEXA scan reports and were compared to BMI to evaluate prevalence of obesity. Data was extracted by reviewing patients' records using a structured data collection tool. BMI was defined using WHO criteria, and diagnostic performance was assessed by estimating specificity, sensitivity, likelihood ratios, and predictive values, and by constructing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for BMI to detect obesity by age group. RESULTS: The gender-specific BF% cutoff points revealed a higher prevalence of obesity than BMI cutoff points. BMI misclassified 40.6% of participants, and optimal cutoff points yielding highest area under the curve were 24 kg/m2 and 24.3 kg/m2 for males and females, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the importance of using accurate and comprehensive diagnostic tools such as whole-body DEXA scans to assess obesity.

The Epidemiology, Associated Factors and Bacterial Profile of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Pregnant Women: A Retrospective Chart Review Study in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is the presence of significant amounts of bacteria within the urinary tract in the absence of urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms, resulting in negative neonatal and pregnancy consequences. This study determined the prevalence, bacteriology patterns, and associated factors with ASB among pregnant women in both primary and hospital levels of care in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective chart review study included pregnant women between 18 and 50 years who performed the screening urine culture test during their first antenatal visit between 2017 and 2021, without UTI symptoms. The collected data involved the demographic, medical, and obstetric characteristics, and urine culture results. T-tests and chi-squared tests were used for bivariate associations followed by binary logistic regression models. Results: ASB was positive among 03.42% of the 6471 pregnant women included in the study. Logistic regression revealed that the risk of positive ASB increased in pregnant women in the first and second trimesters (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.41-2.93 and OR= 1.50, 95% CI = 1.03-2.19, respectively), as well as pregnant women with a history of previous UTI (OR = 2.98, 95% CI = 2.14-4.15). The predominant organism isolates were E. coli, followed by GBS, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis. Conclusion: With limited data on ASB among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia, findings from the current study could help decision-makers in the country assess the epidemiological characteristics of the condition. Further study is recommended to investigate the susceptibility patterns of commonly prescribed antibiotics with different uropathogens to guide the clinicians who deal with these cases. Additionally, a large national study across the other regions in the kingdom is suggested to calculate the prevalence of ASB in Saudi Arabia.

Patient Trust in Primary Care Physicians: A Mixed Methods Study of Persons with Diabetes at University- Based Clinics in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Background: The establishment of patient trust in physicians is becoming increasingly valuable. Trust can be fundamental to successful patient care, favorable patient outcomes and improved financial savings for healthcare organizations. This study aims to explore patients' perceptions of trust in physicians, determine factors that play a role in this relationship, and to identify ways to improve patient trust. Methods: The study was conducted via a mixed-method design using semi-structured in-depth interviews until data saturation was reached (n=24), followed by a cross sectional survey of consecutive sampling until the number of participants (n=256) exceeded the required sample size. Adult patients with diabetes, aged 18-65, attending internal medicine (IM) or family medicine (FM) clinics of King Fahd Hospital of the University, Saudi Arabia were included in the interviews and surveys. Patients' interview transcripts were analyzed into trust dimensions resulting in a 51-item scale. Quality function deployment (QFD) was used to define the highest priority patient requirements. Overall satisfaction was calculated as a satisfaction percent, and factors related to satisfaction were tested using independent samples t-test and ANOVA. Results: Significant domains for establishing patient trust in physicians were the perceived physician's competency level, comprehensiveness of care, morals, personal traits, and establishing continuity of care. The trust score ranged from 42.0% to 100% with an average of 90.4%. There was no difference between the FM and IM setting, nor between the sociodemographic factors and the patients' satisfaction level. No statistically significant results were found between diabetes type, years of diagnoses, achieving the target HbA1c with patients' satisfaction level and trust. Patients reporting hypo or hyperglycemic symptoms had lower levels of satisfaction than those who did not. Conclusion: Persons with diabetes were more trustful of primary care physicians if they displayed satisfactory communication skills, experience, and a caring attitude.

Seroprevalence of rubella virus among pregnant women: A 4-year registered-based study from family medicine and obstetric clinics in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine rubella virus infectivity and immune status in pregnant females who visited the family medicine and obstetrics clinics at a large hospital in Saudi Arabia, and to identify the possible predictors of rubella susceptibility. METHODS: This registered-based, cross-sectional study included pregnant, aged between 18 and 50 years old, who presented for the first antenatal visit between 2017 and 2020. Data on sociodemographic, antenatal characteristics and serological results were collected. Chi-Squared or Fisher's Exact test and t tests were used for bivariate analysis followed by the multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 4328 pregnant were included in the study. Seroprevalence of rubella immunity was 76.41%. Positive rubella IgM antibody was identified in 1.21% of those who performed the test (17/1409). Odds of susceptibility were decreased with an increase in age (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.95-0.97) and in non-Saudis' (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.36-0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 24% of pregnant were susceptible to rubella virus infections in this study. Screening females of child-bearing age and reimmunisation of susceptible cases before pregnancy are suggested. Further studies to investigate the impact of applying this policy in premarital screening are recommended.