Patterns of Inpatient Admissions during Hajj: Clinical conditions, length of stay and patient outcomes at an advanced care centre in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe inpatient clinical conditions at an advanced care facility in Saudi Arabia during the annual Hajj pilgrimage and to determine factors correlating with length of stay (LOS). METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at the King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and included all inpatients admitted during the annual Hajj pilgrimage between August and October 2015. Demographic, administrative and clinical data were collected from patient charts and analysed. RESULTS: A total of 296 inpatients were included in the study, of which the majority were male (73.6%) and ≥55 years old (77%). Walk-in admissions occurred less frequently than referrals (38.9% versus 61.1%). Most patients (41.6%) were admitted during the peak Hajj period (the 8-13th days of Dhu al-Hijjah). Acute coronary syndrome was the most prevalent provisional diagnosis (65.2%). In terms of outcomes, 89.2% of the inpatients were discharged in a stable condition, with 37.5% discharged within ≤24 hours of admission. However, 39.9% required admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Overall, LOS was significantly associated with various factors, including the mode of admission, admission period, admitting department, number of comorbidities and ICU admission (P <0.050 each). CONCLUSION: Most of admissions were referrals, and the main Hajj period witnessed the majority of admissions. The vast majority of inpatients eventually discharged in a stable condition. Determinants of the length of hospital stay were the mode of admission, admission period, admitting department, number of comorbidities and ICU admission.

Comparison of two approaches to lateral nasal osteotomy in Saudi patients

BACKGROUND: Nasal deformity is an abnormality in the appearance of the nose due to either congenital defect or trauma. In traumatic cases, patients often present with combined functional and cosmetic complaints. Therefore, otolaryngologists take into account both breathing and aesthetic nasal issues. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the changes in the nasal dorsum and base; compare breathing and aesthetic satisfaction scores between two approaches to lateral nasal osteotomy: low-to-low and low-to-high. DESIGN: Comparative observational; data gathered retrospectively and prospectively. SETTING: Head and Neck and Skull Base Center, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who received hump reduction rhinoplasty from 2013 to 2016 met the inclusion criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The differences in dorsal (DW) and ventral (VW) widths with a fixed interpupillary distance (IPD). Satisfaction scores for both cosmetic perspective and breathing functionality. RESULTS: We included 46 patients; 28 patients underwent low-to-low osteotomy and 18 patients underwent low-to-high osteotomy. With both approaches, there were statistically decreases from preoperative to postoperative ratios of VW/IPD and DW/IPD. However, differences in DW/IPD ratio and VW/IPD ratio (pre- versus post-op) were significantly higher in the low-to-low group (P < .0001). All showed breathing satisfaction postoperatively regardless of the operative approach. Patients with a low satisfaction level for aesthetic sensibility (neutral and dissatisfied) underwent low-to-high osteotomy. CONCLUSION: Both types of osteotomy showed a satisfactory outcome in both objective and subjective measures. However, low-to-low osteotomy was superior in pre- to post-operative differences in DW/IPD and VW/IPD ratios. LIMITATIONS: Sampling was by convenience. The study was conducted in a single tertiary center and was a small sample.

Pattern of Venous Thrombosis in Cancer Patients: Frequency and Survival Effect; Single Center Experience.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. This investigation was undertaken to investigate the natural history of VTE in the oncology center in a tertiary care hospital. We did a retrospective study on cancer patients who presented to King Abdullah Medical city in Holly capital; a tertiary care hospital; from May 2011 to June 2013. Follow up period was calculated from time of VTE diagnosis till the last clinical visit or till patient death. Among 1,678 cancer patients, 132 (7.87 %) were diagnosed with VTE. The median patient age was 53.5 years, with female to male ratio 1.3/1. Thirty one patients (23.5 %) were diagnosed with VTE and cancer simultaneously, seventy four patients (56.1 %) were on chemotherapy and twenty eight patients (21.2 %) were on best supportive care.VTE were symptomatic in 110 patients (83.3 %) and asymptomatic in 22 patients (16.7 %). Lower limbs were the commonest site (42.4 %) with the highest incidence in patients with advanced stages (93 %). Forty nine (37 %) patients were receiving LMWH as prophylaxis. Median survival in months for patients with VTE prophylaxis versus without prophylactic, and asymptomatic versus symptomatic were (12.6 vs 6.3; p 0.12 and 9.8 vs 12.4; p 0.885, respectively). There is underutilization of thromboprophylaxis in our region, which needs more effort to reduce VTE burden. Also we need large prospective studies to clarify the impact of VTE symptoms and presentation on patient's survival.

Impact of body mass index on clinico-pathological parameters and outcome in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and clinicopathological parameters of metastatic prostate cancer (MPC) and its impact on survival. METHOD: During the study period, 71 MPC patients were eligible. Patients with BMI<25.0kg/m(2) were categorized as level I and patients with BMI⩾25.0kg/m(2) were categorized as level II. Demographic features and survival rates were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional models. RESULTS: 31 patients belonged to level I while the rest belonged to level II with insignificant higher median follow-up duration in level II; p=0.5. In terms of age, metastasis, serum level of albumin, prostatic specific antigen, alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and Gleason score, there was no significant difference between the two levels. The cumulative survival probability in the 12th, 24th and 36th month in level I vs; level II was; 86.7%, 68.7%, 64.1% vs; 74.4%, 67.7%, 55.1%, respectively with 7 patients dead in level I compared to 14 patients dead in level II denoting a higher PC-specific death rate in the level II group. In univariate and multivariate analysis, poor prognosis was associated with increasing AKP (HR=1.0005, 95% CI, p=0.03; HR=1.001, 95% CI, p=0.03) respectively, while better prognosis was associated with no visceral metastasis (HR=0.09, 95% CI, p=0.000; HR=0.04, 95% CI, p=0.000) and increasing albumin levels (HR=0.17, 95% CI, p=0.000; HR=0.15, 95% CI, p=0.000) respectively. In multivariate analysis only, patients belonging to level I were associated with better prognosis (HR=0.17, 95% CI, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: BMI is dependent on prognostic factors in patients with MPC.

End-of-life palliative chemotherapy: where do we stand?

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the use of palliative chemotherapy (PCT) and possible associated factors at the end of life. METHOD: The study includes all advanced non hematological cancer patients who died in the King Abdullah Medical City during the period from January 2011 to April 2014. Demographic and disease features were registered. RESULTS: 420 patients were included in the study, median age 62 years (range 17-108); 52% female and 48% male. 87.4% of patients were Saudis and 12.6% non Saudis. 124 (29.5%) patients received PCT at the last month before death (LM-PCT): 21.8%, 22.6% and 55.6% within one, two and four weeks of death, respectively. Place of death (critical care vs. regular ward) and mode of admission (ER vs. OPD vs. Transferred) had a strong association with LM-PCT (p<0.0001, ϕ=0.35) and (p<0.0001, V=0.43), respectively. There was a gradual increase in the number of patients receiving LM-PCT from January 2011 to April 2014; 15.3%, 28.2%, 37.1% and 19.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In our center; at the end of life, there is a gradual increase in the number of patients receiving chemotherapy which significantly increased cancer patients' odds without clear predictive factors associated with its use, which calls into question the benefits of PCT in terminally ill cancer patients.

Prognostic value of mammographic breast density in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Breast density is a modifiable trait linked with breast cancer predisposition. However, the relation between mammographic breast density and survival outcome is not yet clarified. The present study aims to study the prognostic value of mammographic density in patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. In this observational study, breast cancer patients with metastatic disease at diagnosis were enrolled. Two-view mammograms were performed at diagnosis, and breast density was quantitatively assessed. Progression-free survival (PFS) was correlated with breast density and other prognostic variables in univariate and multivariate analyses. PFS, stratified by different prognostic factors, was assessed in low compared to high density patients to check for possible differential survival outcome in patients' subgroups. Among the sixty enrolled patients, median PFS in low density patients was significantly better than those with high density (18.4 months, 95 % CI 14.88-22.15 vs. 9.3 months, 95 % CI 8.51-13.60, respectively, p = 0.002). Significant correlation of breast density with PFS persisted after adjustment by body mass index (p = 0.003) and after multivariate analysis incorporating other prognostic variables (HR 6.16, 95 % CI (2.17-17.48), p = 0.001). PFS was better in low density patients older than 40 years at diagnosis (p = 0.001), with HER2-negative disease (p = 0.015), hormonal receptor-positive phenotype (p = 0.020), patients with single site of metastasis (p = 0.006), and patients with bone-only metastases (p = 0.042). Breast density assessed at the time of diagnosis was significantly correlated with PFS of metastatic breast cancer patients. Survival outcome is improved in certain patients' subgroups with low breast density.

Phase II study of low-dose fixed-rate infusion of gemcitabine combined with cisplatin and dexamethasone in resistant non-Hodgkin lymphoma and correlation with Bcl-2 and MDR expression.

This study aims to assess the efficacy of low-dose fixed-rate infusion of gemcitabine, cisplatin and dexamethasone in resistant non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients in addition to evaluating the prognostic value of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and multidrug resistant (MDR) expression in this cohort of patients. Patients with relapsed/refractory NHL following at least two chemotherapy regimens were enrolled. They received gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 in fixed infusion rate of 10 mg/m2/min, cisplatin 35 mg/m2 in days 1, 15 and dexamethasone 20 mg days 1-4, 15-18 every 28 day. Response to treatment, time to disease progression (TTP) and 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed together with their association with Bcl-2, MDR expression and other prognostic variables. Overall response to treatment was 32% (14% complete response). Median TTP and 1-year PFS were 2 months and 31.3%, respectively. Predictors of response to treatment were early stage [odd ratio (OR)=4.6, 95% CI 1.3-16.4], low/low intermediate International Prognostic Index (IPI) (OR=6.2, 95% CI 1.2-31.7), negative/low Bcl-2 expression (OR=6.2, 95% CI 1.2-31.7) and negative/low MDR expression (OR=18, 95% CI 1.4-28.9). However, IPI status lost its value in multivariate analysis. TTP and 1-year PFS were significantly associated with Bcl-2 expression (p=0.04), tumor status before enrollment (relapse vs. refractory, p<0.0001) and tumor stage (p<0.000). In multivariate analysis, clinical stage was the only predictor of TTP and 1-year PFS. Fixed-rate gemcitabine infusion with cisplatin and dexamethasone had reasonable activity in resistant NHL. Clinical stage, Bcl-2 and MDR expressions were predictors of response to treatment, while only clinical stage was associated with TTP and 1-year PFS.

Computer literacy of physicians among the hospitals of Makkah region.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A confidential inquiry by the Directorate General of Health Affairs, Makkah region, Saudi Arabia, found physicians in different hospitals were reluctant to enter patients' related information in electronic medical record systems. One of the major issues raised was that they didn't have the required computer literacy. Our aim, therefore, was to conduct a survey to highlight the computer literacy among the physicians of Makkah region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was performed from May to July 2009. A structured questionnaire of four A4 size paper was distributed among the physicians of the Makkah region working in seven different hospitals. The questionnaire contained questions on background knowledge of computers, i.e., (a) basic computer vocabulary knowledge (BCVK) (10 questions), (b) basic computer skills (BCS) (22 questions), (c) basic communication and internet skills (BCIS) (12 questions). RESULTS: Response rate of 368, i.e., 81.6% of sample size (n = 451) was attained. The maximum response came from King Abdul Aziz Hospital (Taif), i.e., 79%. Overall BCVK, BCS and BCIS were the highest among the physicians of Alnoor Specialist Hospital, i.e., 71.3%, 91.4%, 87.7%, respectively. All the hospitals had a satisfactory level of BCVK, but levels of BCS and BCIS were above satisfactory except King Abdul Aziz Hospital (Jeddah) that showed a satisfactory level in BCIS. CONCLUSION: Majority of the physicians had a good or an excellent level of computer background knowledge that gave a prediction toward the issues of their non-promising attitude and beliefs about electronic data entry.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites among Patients of Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients of a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A total of 12,054 samples received from the outpatient as well as inpatient departments from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2009 in Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Stool examinations were performed by direct method and concentrated Techniques for all patients. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of intestinal parasites was 6.2% (740 cases). Majority of patients were infected by Entamoeba histolytica (4.7%) followed by Giardia lamblia (1.3%), while Ankylostoma duodenal (0.02%) exhibited the minimum prevalence. Parasitic infections were more frequent in non-Saudis than Saudis patients (7.1% vs. 5.8%; p<0.05). There was no significant difference between males and females regarding parasitic infections, with a female:male ratio of 1:1.08. There was a higher prevalence in patients under five years of age (9.1%), followed by patients aged 5-14 years (7.5%). CONCLUSION: The notable finding from this study is the high prevalence of E. histolytica. Overall, parasitic infections were more prevalent in patients under five years of age and in non-Saudi nationals.

Predictors of asthma severity during the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

INTRODUCTION: The annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) is one of the largest gatherings in the world and thus its participants are exposed to various communicable and noncommunicable diseases. This provides an opportunity to study travel epidemiology. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to estimate the predictors of asthma severity during the Hajj. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study cohort was recruited from patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) of the King Abdul Aziz Hospital, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, between December 3 and 18, 2008 (5-20 Dhul-Hijjah 1429 H). We included newly diagnosed and previously documented cases presenting with asthma symptoms. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected and the risk factors were assessed. The severity of asthma exacerbation was measured according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software. RESULTS: The study involved 58 subjects, including 38 women (65.5%). There were 27 subjects (46.6%) with mild asthma attack, 18 (31%) with moderate asthma attack, and no cases with life-threatening asthma. Insignificantly increased risk of severe asthma attack was observed in the following groups: women, people aged 46-60 years, pilgrims (hajis) who did not belong to a hajj group, non-hajis, illiterates, and nonsmokers - the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 3.7 (0.7-18.5), 1.7 (0.5-6.3), 2.4 (0.7-8.5), 5.1 (0.6-44.1), 2.3 (0.7-9.1), and 2.0 (0.4-10.4), respectively. Forty-six subjects (79.3%) had a history of allergy to components of smoke, detergents, dust, animal dander, and perfumes, while only 5 patients (8.6%) had drug allergy. High risk of severe asthma was observed in subjects with a history of drug allergy, as well as in obese subjects and those who often presented to the ED - OR (95% CI) was 6.5 (0.9-43.9), 18.0 (4.0-80.7), and 3.1 (0.8-11.5), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Higher risk of severe asthma attack was observed in women, people aged 46-60 years, hajis who did not belong to a hajj group, non-hajis, illiterates, nonsmokers, obese patients, and those who often presented to the ED within the previous 12 months due to asthma exacerbation.