RESUMO
Background Epidemiological studies indicate that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of developing autoimmune and chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and, therefore, is prevalent in patients with RA. Additionally, vitamin D insufficiency is associated with significant disease activity in patients with RA. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi patients with RA and determine whether there is an association between low vitamin D levels and RA disease activity. Methodology This cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted from October 2022 to November 2022 on patients who attended the rheumatology clinic at King Salman bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Medina, Saudi Arabia. Patients aged ≥18 years, diagnosed with RA, and not on vitamin D supplements were included. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Disease activity was measured using the disease activity score index of a 28-joint count using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR). Results In total, 103 patients were included, with 79 patients being women (76.7%) and 24 being men (23.3%). The vitamin D level ranged from 5.13 to 94 ng/mL, with a median of 24. Of the studied cases, 42.7% had insufficient vitamin D levels, 22.3% had a deficiency, and 15.5% had severe deficiency. There were statistically significant correlations between the median vitamin D level and C-reactive protein (CRP), the number of swollen joints, and DAS. A lower median vitamin D level was detected among cases with positive CRP, swollen joints >5, and higher disease activity. Conclusions Patients with RA in Saudi Arabia were more likely to have low vitamin D levels. Moreover, vitamin D deficiency was linked to disease activity. Therefore, the measurement of vitamin D levels in patients with RA is essential, and vitamin D supplements might be important to improve disease outcomes and prognoses.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Diabetes technologies are hardware, devices, and software that are used by people with diabetes to manage their condition, from lifestyle interventions to the monitoring of blood glucose levels. The development of these technologies is advancing, but their use in Saudi Arabia is under-researched. OBJECTIVES: To appraise the awareness of using new technological options in managing patients with diabetes and to assess the patients' satisfaction while using them. METHOD: This was an e-questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The targeted population of the study was patients with diabetes in Saudi Arabia. A total of 452 respondents participated in a survey in the period between 2020 and 2021. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and Chi-squared tests. RESULTS: Some 69% of participants were aware of the new technologies used in managing diabetes. There were discrepancies between the awareness and the use of new technologies. Several causes of non-use were identified; the main cause was high cost, as reported by more than half of non-users (53.2%). Other causes included non-availability and difficulty of use. Mobile health applications had the highest use rate (13.5%) among new technologies; patients reported using them mostly for blood glucose monitoring, physical activity, and nutritional programs. Patients' satisfaction was higher for modern technologies than for conventional methods. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that awareness of the new technologies used in managing diabetes was higher than their use. Moreover, the use of modern technologies improved the satisfaction of patients.
