Prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction: a Saudi national survey.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) is a global health problem affecting millions of women worldwide and comprises a broad range of clinical dysfunctions such as urinary incontinence (UI), fecal incontinence (FI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP) vaginal laxity (VL), vaginal wind (VW), and overactive bladder (OAB). This study aims to estimate the prevalence of PFD among Saudi women attending primary health care centers (PHCCs) across 13 regions of Saudi Arabia and their characteristics along with associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,289 non-pregnant women. The probability population proportional sampling technique was employed followed by a convenient sampling technique to recruit eligible women. Types of PFD were assessed using a self-administered electronic questionnaire. Pelvic Floor Distress Index (PFDI-20) was used to assess the primary study outcomes (FI, VL, POP, VW, and OAB). A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify independent associated factors for PFD. RESULTS: The findings showed that 830 women (36.3%) had any type of UI. Stress UI affected726 (31.7%) women, whilst 525 women (22.9%) had urge UI. VL occurred in 505 women (22.1%), whilst POP occurred in 536 women (23.4%). VW occurred in 733 participants and (32%) 1238 women (54.1%) had OAB. The multivariate analysis suggested that region, location, parity, and assisted birth were significantly associated with UI, VL, FI and PFD (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: PFD is a common condition among Saudi women. UI, VL, VW, OAB, POP and FI increased consistently among urban women with increased age, greater parity, assisted birth, and post-menopausal status.

Association of vitamin D deficiency to the risk of preeclampsia in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D levels have shown significant geographical distribution, therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate its relationship to a specific geographic area with a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency to the important maternal manifestation of preeclampsia. This study established the association of vitamin D deficiency to preeclampsia among women of reproductive age. METHODS: It is a retrospective case-control study done to measure serum vitamin D levels in pregnant women receiving care at the King Fahad Medical City Riyadh with preeclampsia (n=100) and normal pregnancy (controls, n=200) from 2012 to 2014. Odds of developing preeclampsia with vitamin D deficiency were calculated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean serum vitamin D level was 25.35?ng/ml in controls and 15.95?ng/ml in pre-eclampsia women. Comparing to those who had a serum vitamin D level of <50ng/ml, the odds ratio of developing preeclampsia in women with vitamin D deficiency was 4.2 (95% CI=1.23-14.35) while adjusting for age, BMI and duration of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of developing preeclampsia might increase by up to 4-fold in women with vitamin D deficiency. Since preeclampsia could lead to maternal and neonatal complications, vitamin D could be added during pregnancy to decrease these adverse consequences.