Epidemiological characteristics of fall injuries and their related outcome in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A descriptive study from a Level-I trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Falls are the leading cause of admissions for trauma emergency in Saudi Arabia. However, the scarcity of evidence of what the burden of falls is locally limits the understanding of the underlying risk factors and hinders planning of effective prevention. The objective of this study was to describe patients' characteristics and health outcomes after hospital admissions as a result of a fall injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using a trauma registry from a level-I trauma center in Riyadh. All patients admitted as a result of a fall between 2001 and 2018 were included (n = 4825). Variables included were demographics, mechanism of fall, length of hospital stay, surgery, intensive care unit admission, intubation rate, and severity of the injury. For continuous variables, means and standard deviations were calculated, whereas, frequencies and proportions were used to describe categorical. RESULTS: Majority of the patients (63.6%) were male and about 39% of the sample were children. The most common mechanism of falls was standing (52.6%) followed by slipping (23.0%). Overall, limb fractures were the most common injury (73.3%). While upper limb fractures were more common in children (44.5%; P < 0.01), lower limb fractures were more prevalent among the older patients (70.2%; P < 0.01). Fall injuries in the elderly were significantly associated with higher mortality (3.5%; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the significant burden fall injuries impose on population health. Prevention programs may use these findings to guide and tailor interventions for specific age groups. Furthermore, this study underlines the need for a national recording system for injuries to guide policymakers in evidence-based decisions.

Relationship of media exposure to substance use among adolescents in Saudi Arabia: Results from a national study.

BACKGROUND: With limited social options, young Saudis are increasingly relying on media for entertainment. The media impact has been greatest among the younger generation, which constitutes half of the population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Therefore, this study aims to examine the association between exposure to varied types of media and substance use among adolescents in the KSA and explores whether these associations differ by gender. METHODS: Data were obtained from a national cross-sectional survey of school students aged ten to 19 years (N = 12121). A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess exposure to three types of media: television, the Internet and video games with the use of legal substances such as cigarette/shisha smoking, solvents sniffing and misuse of medications, and illegal substances, such as alcohol, marijuana and other illicit drugs. RESULTS: Logistic regression analyses revealed that the odds of using tobacco, legal and illegal substances were higher for students who were watching television, surfing the Internet, or playing video games for more than two hours compared with their peers who watched less than two hours (P < 0.05). For males, results showed the heavy and light use of the Internet were both significantly associated with smoking. Whereas for females, only excessive use of the Internet was associated with smoking. CONCLUSION: Despite the conservative nature of the Saudi society, findings showed a significant association between tobacco or substance use and media exposure among adolescents. This suggests increased attention to the growing role media might play in shaping adolescents health risk behaviors in the KSA.

Long-term disabilities after traumatic head injury (THI): a retrospective analysis from a large level-I trauma center in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic head injuries (THI) are a critical public health problem worldwide, with more than 10 million individuals affected every year. In Saudi Arabia (SA), the burden of THI is unknown even though injury is the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability. Therefore, we aim to estimate the prevalence of long-term of disabilities among survivors of THI treated at a large level-I trauma center in Riyadh. METHODS: The study included 258 patients, who were hospitalized due to a non-fatal THI between years 2005-2014. Patients (age = 16-60 years) were contacted via the phone and information about their Activity of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL) was ascertained. Univariate analyses were performed to examine patients' characteristics and to estimate the prevalence of any disability. Logistic regression was used to evaluate independent predictors of long-term disability. RESULTS: Respondents were relatively young (mean age = 24.8; SD = 9.8), predominantly males (92.7%) and the majority sustained THI following traffic crashes (91.4%). The average time since the injury was 6.8 years (range = 3-12, SD = 2.6). Close to third of the sample (32.5%) reported at least some limitations in ADL or IADL. Regression analysis suggests that a one-unit increase in Revised Trauma Scale (RTS) was associated with 31% lower odds of disability adjusting for other covariates. While responders with a below high school education were 4.7 times more likely to report a disability than those with at least a college degree (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: THI was associated with significant limitations in various aspects of everyday life. The magnitude and impact of THI in Saudi Arabia requires public health measures to prevent these injuries and to improve their health outcomes. Advocates may use these findings to educate the public about secondary and tertiary prevention and elicit support from policymakers to facilitate interventions toward reducing THI's associated disabilities.