This cross-sectional study aimed at estimating prevalence, awareness, treatment, control, and predictors of hypertension among Saudi adult population. Multistage stratified sampling was used to select 4758 adult participants. Three blood pressure measurements using an automatic sphygmomanometer, sociodemographics, and antihypertensive modalities were obtained. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 25.5%. Only 44.7% of hypertensives were aware, 71.8% of them received pharmacotherapy, and only 37.0% were controlled. Awareness was significantly associated with gender, age, geographical location, occupation, and comorbidity. Applying drug treatment was significantly more among older patients, but control was significantly higher among younger patients and patients with higher level of physical activity. Significant predictors of hypertension included male gender, urbanization, low education, low physical activity, obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. In conclusion prevalence is high, but awareness, treatment, and control levels are low indicating a need to develop a national program for prevention, early detection, and control of hypertension.

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We prospectively studied 266 patients with indwelling double-pigtail ureteral stents to determine the incidence of stent colonization and associated bacteriuria. A urine culture was obtained just prior to stent insertion and was repeated at the time of its removal. The stent itself was also cultured. Of the 237 evaluable patients, 71 (29.9%) developed bacteriuria. Of the 237 stents, 161 (67.9%) became colonized with microorganisms. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common pathogen isolated from the urine and the stents. Stents in female patients had a higher rate of colonization than those used in males (74.4% v 66.5%). The longer the duration of stenting, the higher was the rate of colonization (58.6% for stents left for < 1 month v 75.1% for those left for > 3 months). The rate of colonization according to catheter type was as follows: C-flex 55.5%, silicone 62.6%, urethane 100%, and Urosoft 56%. Long-term ureteric stenting is associated with a high rate of bacteriuria and stent colonization. The duration of stenting and the type of stent influence the results. We recommend that patients with double-J ureteral stents who could be at risk from bacteremia be covered by appropriate antibiotics, and the stents should be kept indwelling for the shortest possible time. If a patient with a stent develops symptomatic infection, an antibiotic should be started that covers the Pseudomonas species.

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Background:Stress and its psychological manifestations are currently a major source of concern. Medical education poses challenging and potentially threatening demands for students throughout the world.Objectives:To determine the prevalence and factors associated with perceived stress in medical students in the College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Materials and Methods:This was a cross-sectional study on all medical students of batches 9, 10, and 11, which constituted all the enrolled students. Data were collected using a questionnaire based on the Kessler10 psychological distress instrument with a total score ranging from 10 to 50 points in addition to some sociodemographic characteristics. Appropriate statistical test procedures were used to study the magnitude of stress and its risk factors.Results:Mean stress score of the eighty participants was 26.03 ± 9.7. Students with severe stress constituted 33.8%, and 30% were well. Severe stress was significantly associated with female gender and junior level. Nervousness, feeling hopeless, feeling restless, and depressed were the most important factors affecting students’ stress scores. Factor analysis revealed three hidden factors for stress in this group, namely, depression, nervousness, and age.Conclusion:Stress in medical students is prevalent and significantly associated with the female gender and the junior level. Implementation of coping programs is necessary.