Objectives:To assess the proportion and grades of retinopathy and its risk factors in diabetes type 2 patients.Materials and Methods:This was a cross-sectional study of 401 type 2 diabetic patients. A questionnaire and checklist were used to collect the data. Retinopathy was diagnosed and graded by fundus photographs and slit lamp examination. The duration of diabetes, age of patients, age at onset of diabetes, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c level, blood pressure, and complications were noted.Results:The mean age of male and female patients was 54.93 and 54.25 years; 57.6% were males. The mean age of onset and mean duration of diabetes were 43.91 and 13.4 years, respectively. The proportion of retinopathy was 36.4%. Grades of retinopathy were: Mild 57.5%, moderate 19.9%, severe nonproliferative 11%, and proliferative retinopathy 11.6%; 7.2% of patients had maculopathy. Retinopathy was significantly associated with older age, younger age at onset, longer duration of disease, poorly controlled blood sugar, hypertension, insulin use; the presence of neuropathy and nephropathy appeared as a significant risk. Younger age at onset, longer duration, and insulin use appeared as the strongest predictors for diabetic retinopathy.Conclusions:More than a third (36.4%) of the diabetic patients attending a diabetic center had retinopathy. The control of the risk factors may reduce both prevalence and consequences of retinopathy.

No abstract

Objectives: The present study analyzed in-hospital first-time stroke mortality in southwestern Saudi Arabia over one-year to assess the in-hospital stroke case fatality rate, mortality rate and explore the factors associated with in-hospital stroke mortality. Study Design: Hospital based follow-up study. Methods: First-time stroke patients admitted to all hospitals in Asser region over one-year period (January through December 2016) were included in the study. Data about personal characteristics, pre-stroke history and clinical criteria, on admission clinical criteria, in-hospital complications and survival status were collected. The last reported Aseer region population was used to calculate age and sex stroke mortality rate per 100,000 population/year. Hazard ratios (HR) and concomitant 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed using multivariate Cox regression survival analysis. Kaplan-Meier curve survival analysis for stroke patients were plotted. Results: A total of 121 in-hospital deaths out of 1249 first-time stroke patients giving an overall case fatality rate (CFR) of 9.7%. Non-significant difference with gender and age were observed in CFR. Overall, in-hospital stroke mortality rate was 5.58 per 100,000/year. Males and elders showed a significantly higher mortality rates. Multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed pre-stroke smoking (HR = 2.36), pre-stroke hypertension (HR = 1.77), post-stroke disturbed consciousness (HR = 6.86), poor mobility (HR = 2.60) and developing pulmonary embolism (HR = 2.63) as significant predictors of in-hospital stroke mortality. Conclusions: In Southwestern Saudi Arabia, the in-hospital stroke mortality rate is higher in men and increases with aging. The prognosis of acute stroke could be improved by smoking cessation, better control of hypertension and prevention of in hospital complication particularly pulmonary embolism.

Background: Social media are increasingly being used by young adults worldwide. The question is whether they can be successfully incorporated into health programmes to promote physical activity. Aims: To measure the effect of a WhatsApp-based intervention for promoting physical activity among female college students in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This randomized control trial from November 2019 to January 2020 included 110 students. The intervention group received a brief orientation on exercise and up to 4 physical activity promotion messages per week via WhatsApp for 10 weeks. The messages were obtained from the websites of the US Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization (WHO). Physical activity was assessed at baseline and at 10-weeks’ follow-up using the WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: The 2 groups were similar in sociodemographic and baseline physical activity levels. Postintervention data analysis revealed significant improvement in the proportion of participants with moderate-intensity physical activity in the work and recreation domains. Compared with the control group, mean metabolic equivalents/week of the intervention group improved significantly. The mean difference in total physical activity before and after intervention was significant in all domains and in all categories of activity. The proportion of participants who met the WHO criteria for minimum physical activity per week increased from 69.8% to 90.5% after intervention. Conclusion: Social-network-based interventions improve physical activity and may be incorporated into youth-targeted health programmes.

Improving stroke-related knowledge may advance stroke prevention and reduce pretreatment delay and disabilities. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among a representative sample of primary healthcare adult patients between January-May 2016 and used a validated Arabic questionnaire to evaluate the participants' awareness about stroke. Results: The study involved 1472 adults. Only 63.6% and 43.7% of participants correctly recognized thrombosis and hemorrhage as types of stroke. Commonly identified risk factors were hypertension)55.8%(, dyslipidemia)45.8%(, and smoking)41.9%(. Sudden severe headache)54.1%(, dizziness)51.0%(, and difficulty in speaking)44.3%(were the most frequently recognized symptoms. The most frequently reported correct responses to stroke were contacting a doctor)73.0%(, going to the hospital)67.2%(, and calling an ambulance)52.4%(. Improper responses to stroke)ignoring the condition or self-prescription(were noted in 18.8% of participants. Logistic regression revealed that physicians, nurses, friends and relatives as a source of knowledge were significantly associated with a lower insufficient knowledge of stroke symptoms and risk factors. On the other hand, women, persons above 40 years old, and married persons were significantly more prone to have insufficient knowledge about a proper response to stroke. Conclusion: Our study revealed a notable deficit of knowledge about warning symptoms, risk factors, and proper response to stroke. Health education strategies to improve stroke awareness are required and could potentially prevent and improve the outcome of stroke.