RESUMEN
Background/aims Most countries have gone through lockdowns to varying degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the spread of the disease. The successive pandemic waves have impacted the health system, imposing restrictions set by the government. This changed people's daily life routines and they felt more socially isolated, which in turn had an impact on their mental health. Some factors were linked to the severity and outcome of COVID-19 on patients. One of these factors was smoking. This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and impact of lockdown on smoking habits, as well as the changes in attitudes, behavior, and the rate of consumption before and after the government restrictions in the general population of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 921 participants from the general population of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via an online questionnaire. A structured self-response questionnaire was given to the participants after institutional research ethical approval was obtained for the study. Results A total of 921 participants from the smoker population of Saudi Arabia were included in the study. The majority of participants were male (72.9%), and more than half were aged between 18 and 34 years (53.7%). Single individuals had a higher prevalence of increased smoking and a lower rate of quitting compared to married individuals. Participants with higher education levels were more likely to continue smoking at the same rate. While 40.5% of participants reported no change in their smoking rate during the pandemic, 15.4% reported a decrease, 39.0% reported an increase, and 5.1% reported quitting smoking. Participants who reported feeling more stressed during the pandemic had a higher prevalence of increased smoking. The majority of participants believed that smoking increased the risk of COVID-19 infection. Conclusion The study highlights the need for targeted smoking cessation interventions and support services during the pandemic, considering demographic factors, living arrangements, and psychological impact. Efforts should be made to raise awareness about the negative health consequences of smoking during the pandemic and provide resources for stress management and alternative coping strategies. These findings have important implications for public health interventions and policies in Saudi Arabia.
RESUMEN
Background/aims Colorectal cancer cases are on the rise in developing countries, necessitating dependable detection tests. Moreover, medical procedures have become increasingly burdensome for both patients and healthcare professionals. This study aims to delve deeper into the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) as a potential solution. Settings and design The research took place at the Gastroenterology Specialized Clinic (Human Clinic) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study gathered results from colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy, histopathology, and FOBT screening. Essential variables linked to colorectal cancer, including gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic diseases, hemoglobin (Hgb), body mass index (BMI), and medication usage, were documented to evaluate their potential predictive significance for positive outcomes. Methods and materials In line with the study aims, inclusion criteria covered Saudi adults aged 18 and above, experiencing lower GI symptoms, with colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, FOBT, and histopathological results. The resultant sample size was 72 patients. Non-Saudi individuals, symptoms-free patients, and those below 18 years were excluded. This retrospective analysis spanned from September 2021 to September 2022. For statistical analysis, after the data rationality was checked, parametric or non-parametric tests were used. P ≤ 0.05 was set as the significant level. Results Among the 72 patients, ranging in age from 18 to 80 (mean 42.94), males (57) outnumbered females (15). The average BMI was 27.56, with one-third of patients classified as overweight or obese. A majority of 47 (65.2%) exhibited normal Hgb levels while only five (7%) had abnormal levels. Results from colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy and FOBT displayed statistical similarity between positive and negative outcomes. Additionally, the notable prevalence of positive results compared to negative ones underscores the resemblance between FOBT and colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy findings. Conclusion Chronic illness, constitutional symptoms, BMI, and Hgb did not display a significant predictive value, However, the group with GI symptoms exhibited a strong prediction for favorable colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy and histology outcomes. Additional research is necessary to validate these observed patterns.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: A common bariatric procedure known as gastric sleeve surgery can cause significant weight loss and co-morbid condition alleviation. However, patients could experience persistent problems such as gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal/neural, and psychiatric disorders after surgery. This study aims to identify the most prevalent chronic symptoms following sleeve gastrectomy among a sample of Saudi patients and the impact these symptoms have on patients' lives. METHODOLOGY: Patients who underwent gastric sleeve surgery at the Ensan Clinic, a facility specializing in gastroenterology, were the subjects of this retrospective cohort analysis. The study population consisted of patients who underwent gastric sleeve surgery, showed up for follow-up after the procedure, and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data collection sheet is divided into seven sections. Sociodemographic information was required in the first section, gastric sleeve surgery information in the second, vital signs in the third, lab results in the fourth, past medical history in the fifth, current treatments in the sixth, and postoperative complications and chronic symptoms in the seventh and final sections. RESULTS: In 117 patients, the study evaluated the effects of gastric sleeve surgery. Participants had an average age of 40.21 years, and 61.5% were female. Regarding persistent symptoms after surgery, a sizable percentage of patients mentioned digestive issues such as GERD (44.4%), dyspepsia (60.7%), vomiting (23.1%), nausea (39.3%), and abdominal distention (45.3%). A total of 34.2% of patients reported experiencing anxiety, compared to 11.1% who said they had depression or 2.6% who said they had social issues. A few patients reported experiencing neurological or musculoskeletal issues, including exhaustion (7.7%), faintness (5.1%), back or joint discomfort (7.7%), and shortness of breath (8.5%). CONCLUSION: After undergoing gastric sleeve surgery, a sizable proportion of patients complained of various chronic symptoms and nutritional inadequacies, primarily gastrointestinal problems and musculoskeletal/neurological issues. The study's findings show a connection between these symptoms and surgery.
RESUMEN
Introduction Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders worldwide. There is still debate about the pathophysiology of IBS. Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain and alternating bowel movements, but the severity differs among the patients, which affects their quality of life. Our main aim in this study is to find the impact of work hours on the quality of life of adult employees with irritable bowel syndrome in Saudi Arabia. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered survey including employees over 18 years old in Saudi Arabia. The survey was designed in three different parts. The first part is demographics and personal information, The second concentrates on IBS using the Rome-IV criteria while the third part reviewed the participant's quality of life by utilizing the quality-of-life scale (QOLS). Results The total number of participants was 1800; most of the population were females (954; 53%) and there were 846 (47%) males. The study showed that 27.11% were diagnosed with IBS. Furthermore, the result revealed significant differences between working hours, with employees who work more than nine hours (33.7%) being more affected by IBS than others. Nevertheless, significant independent risk factors for IBS were QOLS (OR = 0.988; 95% CI (0.981, 0.995), p = .001), being an employee in free business (OR = 1.755; 95% CI (1.134, 2.714) p = .012), working between 6 and 9 hours (OR = 0.623; 95% CI (0.404, 0.961), p = .032). Conclusion The impact of work hours on adult employees with IBS in Saudi Arabia has been noticed; the results showed that the prevalence of IBS among females is higher; employees working more than nine hours with a medium to sedentary work nature are more vulnerable to developing IBS. We suggest that IBS patients should address their needs to their employers.
RESUMEN
Background A fecal occult blood test is an established way to detect blood in stool samples. However, this diagnostic test is prone to false positives and false negatives, not to mention misuse and misinterpretation of results. In this study, we aimed to compare relevant findings among three diagnostic tests: a fecal occult blood test, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and histopathology. Methods This study used a retrospective analysis of 74 patients' electronic medical records from September 2021 to September 2022 at the Human Clinic and Gastroenterology Specialized Clinic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Symptomatic adult Saudi patients who underwent a fecal occult blood test, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and histopathology were included in the study. Results A total of 74 patients with a mean age of 43.76 ± 15.1 years were analyzed. More than half of the patients were men (63.5%). Eighteen (18) individuals tested positive through a fecal occult blood test, and 49 individuals showed a positive finding under esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Furthermore, statistical analyses revealed a significant correlation between fecal occult blood test outcomes and histopathological outcomes (p = 0.001). Conclusion A significant proportion of the sample population presented a false negative result under the fecal occult blood test. This emphasizes the importance of confirmatory endoscopic procedures and subsequent histopathology in the diagnosis of abnormalities in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Health care professionals are utilizing Twitter to communicate, develop disease surveillance systems, and mine health-related information. The immediate users of this health information is the general public, including patients. This necessitates the validation of health-related tweets by health care professionals to ensure they are evidence based and to avoid the use of noncredible information as a basis for critical decisions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related tweets on Twitter for validity (evidence based) and to create awareness in the community regarding the importance of evidence-based health-related tweets. METHODS: All tweets containing health-related information in the Arabic language posted April 1-5, 2015, were mined from Twitter. The tweets were classified based on popularity, activity, interaction, and frequency to obtain 25 Twitter accounts (8 physician accounts, 10 nonofficial health institute accounts, 4 dietitian accounts, and 3 government institute accounts) and 625 tweets. These tweets were evaluated by 3 American Board-certified medical consultants and a score was generated (true/false) and interobserver agreement was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 625 health-related Arabic-language tweets were identified from 8 physician accounts, 10 nonofficial health institute accounts, 4 dietician accounts, and 3 government institute accounts. The reviewers labeled 320 (51.2%) tweets as false and 305 (48.8%) tweets as true. Comparative analysis of tweets by account type showed 60 of 75 (80%) tweets by government institutes, 124 of 201 (61.7%) tweets by physicians, and 42 of 101 (41.6%) tweets by dieticians were true. The interobserver agreement was moderate (range 0.78-0.22). More than half of the health-related tweets (169/248, 68.1%) from nonofficial health institutes and dietician accounts (59/101, 58.4%) were false. Tweets by the physicians were more likely to be rated "true" compared to other groups (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately half of the medical tweets from professional accounts on Twitter were found to be false based on expert review. Furthermore, most of the evidence-based health-related tweets are posted by government institutes and physicians.
