BackgroundCoronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to increased CAD risk factors in Saudi Arabia, research on more feasible and predictive biomarkers is needed. We aimed to evaluate glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as a predictor of CAD in low-risk profile non-diabetic patients living in the Al Qassim region of Saudi Arabia.MethodsThirty-eight patients with no history of CAD were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. They provided demographic data, and their HbA1c estimation followed the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program parameters. All patients underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for evaluation of chest pain. The extent of coronary artery stenosis (CAS) was quantified as percentage for each patient based on plaques detected in CCTA.ResultsMean blood pressure of the patients was (91.2 ± 11.9 mmHg), BMI (28.3 ± 5.8 kg/m2), serum cholesterol level (174 ± 33.1 mg/dl), and HbA1c levels (mean 5.7 ± 0.45, median 5.7 and range 4.7–6.4%). Eighteen patients showed no CAS (47.4%), 12 showed minimal stenosis (31.6%), 3 showed mild stenosis (7.9%), 3 showed moderate stenosis (7.9%) and 2 showed severe stenosis (5.3%). A moderate correlation was detected between HbA1c and CAS percentages (r = 0.47, p < 0.05) as well as between HbA1c and the number of affected coronary vessels (r = 0.53, p < 0.001).ConclusionGlycated hemoglobin can be used as a predictive biomarker for CAD in non-diabetic low-risk patients.
Among adolescents, mental health issues (i.e., stress and depressive symptoms) negatively affect sleep. We assessed whether the association between mental health and sleep varied between genders among Saudi adolescents. A total of 2206 school students (grades 7-12) from 40 randomly selected schools in four cities of Al-Qassim province in Saudi Arabia participated in this cross-sectional study. The survey assessed demography, lifestyle, sleep (12-item Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale), depression (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21)) and stress (10-item Perceived Stress Scale). Adjusted associations with sleep were tested with linear and logistic regressions. Of the sample, 55% were girls, and their average sleep score was lower than that of the boys (58.7 vs. 63.4, p < 0.001 ). Girls had worse mental health than boys; the proportion of girls with both severe stress and severe depressive symptoms was three times higher than that of the boys (12% vs. 4%, p < 0.001 ). For both boys and girls, those with severe depressive symptoms only or both severe depressive symptoms and severe stress had significantly lower sleep scores than those who had neither of the two conditions (reference group). On the other hand, among those who had severe stress only, the sleep score was significantly lower for the girls ( p = 0.002 ) than for the boys ( p = 0.19 ). Overall, girls had a significantly lower sleep score and worse mental health than boys. The association between mental health and sleep significantly differed between the sexes. Severe stress was negatively associated with sleep in girls but not in boys.
Objectives: To determine the factors associated with the development of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), hospital stay and mortality, and early versus late MRSA infection. Methods: Cases (n=44) were intensive care unit (ICU) patients admitted to King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia between 2015 and 2019 who developed MRSA during their hospital stay. Controls (n=48) were patients from the same place and period who did not develop MRSA. Data were abstracted from hospital records. Results: Admission with sepsis (case: 46% vs. control: 2%, p <0.001) and having at least one comorbid condition (case: 95% vs. control: 46%, p <0.001) were significantly associated with the development of MRSA. Age (mean ± SD: case: 65±18, control: 64±18, p =0.7) and gender (% male, case: 52%, control: 56%, p =0.70) were not associated with the development of MRSA. Approximately 73% of all MRSA cases developed within the first 2 weeks of admission. Among the early cases, 44% died during their ICU stay; the corresponding percentage among the late cases was 42% ( p =0.69). There was no difference between early and late MRSA cases in terms of non-sepsis admissions (50% vs. 67%, p =0.32) or comorbid status (at least one: 97% vs. 92%, p =0.17). Conclusion: Sepsis and comorbid conditions were significant risk factors for MRSA development among hospital patients.
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