BackgroundPeptic ulcer disease is a multifactorial health problem, and its prevalence and risk factors have changed considerably within the past century.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of peptic ulcer among the population of Arar city and to identify risk factors for peptic ulcer and to estimate their relative impact on ulcer incidence.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out on the population of Arar city, Northern Saudi Arabia from November 01, 2016 to April 30, 2017. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16, using descriptive statistics, prevalence, and Chi-square test.ResultsTotal prevalence of peptic ulcer among the studied respondents was thus: 21.9% had peptic ulcer; 16.2% gastric ulcer and 5.6% duodenal ulcer. In 19.7% of the cases, the pain was severe, 92.4% reported that pain was precipitated by certain food. In addition to heartburn, 78.8% reported loss of appetite, 71.2% indigestion, 66.7% regurgitation, 59.1% nausea and vomiting and 42.4% with chest pain. Regarding the risk factors, coffee drinking came in first place (81.8%) followed by physical stress in 77.3%, spicy food in 57.6%, prolonged use of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in 33.3% and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in 24.2%. A further 22.7% reported melena as a complication while only 10.6% reported hematemesis.ConclusionThis is the first population-based study in Arar, Northern Saudi Arabia reporting point prevalence of peptic ulcer disease. The rate of 16.2% for gastric ulcer and 5.6% for duodenal ulcers are substantially high. Coffee drinking, physical stress, spicy food, prolonged use of NSAID and H. pylori infection were the reported risk factors. Population-based endoscopic studies are recommended.

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) affects as many as one-third of reproductive-aged women. Women with AUB may experience pain, embarrassment and inconvenience that can have a significant impact on their lives. This study was carried out aiming to assess the pattern and possible causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in reproductive aged women in Arar city, Northern Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study was conducted at Maternal and Child Hospital of Arar City, during the period from 1/5/2017 to 30/7/2017. Data collected by personal interview with cases and filling a pre-designed online questionnaire. Collected data was coded and analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS, version 16). Descriptive statistics for the quantitative and qualitative variables were used. Results: In our study 100 women were included, with mean age 30.5±6.9, mean age of menarche was 13.1 (±1.8) and 52% of them had regular menses. Pattern of bleeding was menorrhagia in 52%. The cause of bleeding was dysfunctional uterine bleeding in 59% of cases, Intrauterine device complications in14%, Uterine fibroid in 12% of cases and contraceptive pills complications in 15%. Only 13% of them treated surgically while 87.0% treated medically. Conclusion: The most common cause of abnormal uterine bleeding was endometrial hyperplasia (in 59%), and the contraceptive pills complications comes in the second place (in 15%), then the Intrauterine device complications (in 14%) and the uterine fibroid (in 12%). Health education sittings is recommended to increase the public awareness about the causes and importance of seeking medical care during AUB attacks specially in premenopausal period.