Annals of Saudi Medicine最新文献

Background: Since the occurrence of coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19), the global community has witnessed its exponential spread with devastating outcomes within the general population and specifically within hemodialysis patients.

Objectives: Compare the state of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among hemodialysis patients and staff.

Design: Cross-sectional study with a prospective follow-up period.

Setting: Hemodialysis centers in Madinah region.

Patients and methods: We prospectively tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dialysis patients using dialysis centers staff as controls. The participants were tested on four occasions when feasible for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We also analyzed factors that might be associated with seropositivity.

Main outcome measures: SARS-CoV-2 positivity using immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels SAMPLE SIZE: 830 participants, 677 patients and 153 dialysis centers staff as controls.

Results: Of the total participants, 325 (257 patients and 68 staff) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, for a prevalence of 38.0% and 44.4% among patients and staff, respectively (P=.1379). Participants with a history of COVID-19 or related symptoms were more likely to have positive IgG (P<.0001). Surprisingly, positivity was also center-dependent. In a multivariable logistic regression, a history of infection and related symptoms contributed significantly to developing immunity.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody among hemodialysis patients and previously asymptomatic staff suggested past asymptomatic infection. Some centers showed more immunity effects than others.

Limitations: Unable to collect four samples for each participant; limited to one urban center.

Conflict of interest: None.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is mainly a disease of the elderly in the Western world, but its characteristics are changing globally. Iraq does not have a well established CRC screening program. Understanding trends of CRC incidence, fatality and the clinical features of CRC patients is vital to the design of effective public health measures; public awareness, screening, diagnosis and treatment strategies to meet the future demands.

Objectives: Determine trends in demography, incidence proportion, mortality, topography (primary tumor site) and morphology (histology) over two decades.

Design: Registry-based study SETTING: Iraqi National Cancer Registry (INCR) database PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected and analyzed data from CRC patients obtained from the INCR to calculate incidence and mortality proportion per 100 000 population for the period from 2000 to 2019. In addition to estimation, data were examined by anatomic location and morphological type.

Main outcome measures: Change in the incidence and mortality proportion, topography and morphology of CRC over 20 years.

Sample size: 20 880 CRC patients ranging in age from 14-80 years.

Results: The overall (males and females) CRC incidence proportion (CIP) increased from 2.28 to 6.18 per 100 000 population in 2000 and 2019, respectively, with an annual percentage change (APC) of 5.11%. The incidence proportion (IP) of CRC in patients from 20 to <50 years rose from 1.46 in 2000 to 4.36 per 100 000 population in 2019, which is an APC of 5.6%. The IP in patients older than 50 years rose from 12.7 to 40.59 per 100 000 population in 2000 and 2019, respectively, with an APC of 5.98%. The percentage of all CRC cases to all total malignancies in Iraq grew from 3.69% in 2000 to 6.5% in 2019. The CRC mortality proportion increased from 1.25 to 1.77 per 100 000 populations in 2010 and 2019, respectively, reflecting an APC of 3.54%. Anatomically, colon (C18) tumor represented 59.2% and 65.7% in 2000 and 2019, respectively. Rectal (C20) tumors were 37.2% in 2000 down to 31.4% in 2019, while rectosigmoid junction tumor (C19) were 3.6% in 2000 dropping to 2% in 2019.

Conclusions: CRC in Iraq is still a disease of the elderly and is rising in incidence and mortality in all age groups. This necessitates reconsidering health policy regarding CRC; public awareness, screening and management strategies to accommodate for these alarming changes.

Limitations: Data about stages, grades and molecular characterisations are not available in the INCR.

Conflict of interest: None.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to various medical conditions such as bone loss, decreased mineralization, endocrine disorders, and central nervous system disorders, including epilepsy. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among patients with epilepsy (PWE). However, the specific association between vitamin D levels and age in PWE is unclear.

Objectives: Identify the relation between vitamin D level and age in PWE and evaluate factors that may play a role in seizure control.

Design: Retrospective analytical medical record review SETTING: Outpatient epilepsy research clinic in Saudi Arabia PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2016 and April 2020, we selected eligible PWE aged older than 14 years whose vita-min D levels were recorded at least once after reviewing 1550 patient electronic files. We analyzed data on serum vitamin D level by age and other factors, vitamin D supplement use, seizure classification, and conducted a multivariate logistic regression to assess associations with seizure control.

Main outcome measures: Relationships between vitamin D levels and age and factors that might affect seizure control.

Sample size: 524 patients RESULTS: The prevalence of low serum vitamin D levels was high (86.8%). The median vitamin D level in all patients was low (38 nmol/L), and was lower in young PWE than in adult PWE (P<.01). Only 146 patients received vitamin D supplements. High vitamin D levels were associated with a 40% seizure reduction.

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is underestimated in PWE in Saudi Arabia, and is more prevalent among young adults and patients on polytherapy than in other PWE. Patients with high vitamin D levels had good seizure control compared with those with low levels. The effect of vitamin D supplements on seizure control should be further investigated in randomized control trials.

Limitations: Retrospective study and no categorization by presence of supplementation.

Conflict of interest: None.

Background: Few clinical studies have addressed nutritional risk assessment in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Objectives: Assess the nutritional risk status of the critically ill COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU, and compare the nutritional risk screening tools.

Design: Medical record review SETTING: Tertiary critical care unit PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included adult (age >18 years) PCR-confirmed critically ill COVID-19 pneumonia cases admitted to the ICU between August 2020 and September 2021. Scoring systems were used to assess COVID-19 severity and nutritional status (mNUTRIC: modified Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill, NRS2002: Nutritional Risk Screening 2002). The 30-day mortality prediction performance of nutritional scores and survival comparisons between clinical and demographic factors were assessed.

Main outcome measures: Compare the nutrition risk tools SAMPLE SIZE: 281 patients with a mean (SD) age of 64.3 (13.3) years; 143 (50.8%) were 65 years and older.

Results: The mean mNUTRIC score of the cases was 3.81 (1.66) and the mean NRS-2002 score was 3.21 (0.84.), and 101 (35.9%) were at high risk of malnutrition according to the mNUTRIC score and 229 (81.4%) according to the NRS 2002 score. In cases at high risk of malnutrition by the mNUTRIC score there was a greater need for invasive mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, and renal replacement therapy (P<.001 for all comparisons). The mNUTRIC score was superior to the NRS-2002 score in estimating 30-day mortality. In patients who died within 30 days, the mNUTRIC score and NRS-2002 score on the day of hospitalization were significantly higher (P<.001), and the proportion of patients with NRS-2002 score ≥3 and mNUTRIC score ≥5 was significantly higher in the non-surviving group (P<.001). In addition, patients with a high risk of malnutrition had a shorter survival time. The mNUTRIC score was an independent and important prognostic factor for 30-day mortality, and patients with an mNUTRIC score ≥5 had a 6.26-fold risk for 30-day mortality in the multivariate Cox regression.

Conclusion: One third of critical COVID-19 pneumonia cases hospitalized in the ICU due to acute respiratory failure have a high risk of malnutrition, and a high mNUTRIC score is associated with increased mortality.

Limitations: Single center retrospective study.

Conflict of interest: None.

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the thyroid has been a reliable and cost-effective method for diagnosing thyroid disorders. Since FNAC results are usually operator dependent, there is a compelling need to explore FNAC accuracy among Omanis.

Objective: Describe cytological features of FNAC and assess FNAC accuracy compared to the postsurgical histopathology report.

Design: Retrospective diagnostic accuracy study SETTING: Tertiary care center.

Patients and methods: Our study included adult Omani adult patients with thyroid nodules who underwent FNAC from 2014 to 2017 and had final pathology results for patients who underwent thyroid surgery. The results were classified according to the UK Royal college of Pathologists 'Thy' categories. Accuracy of FNAC was calculated by determining false and true positive and negative results based on histopathology findings.

Main outcome measures: FNAC accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) compared to the postsurgical histopathology.

Sample size: 867 patients with 1359 ultrasound guided FNACs of thyroid nodule; 137 underwent surgery.

Results: The mean age of the 867 patients was 43.7 (13.3) years, with a median of 42 years, and 87.8% were females. Out of 1359 FNACs, 1001 (73.7%) were benign (Thy2), 119 (8.8%) were atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (Thy3a), 31 (2.3%) were follicular neoplasm or suspicious for a follicular neoplasm (Thy3f), 52 (3.8%) were suspicious for malignancy (Thy4), 55 (4%) were malignant (Thy5), 101 (7.4%) as Unsatisfactory (Thy1). Only 137 patients underwent thyroid surgery, and the FNAC reports were compared with their final histopathology reports. The sensitivity, specificity and total accuracy of FNAC were 80.2%, 98.9% and 89.9%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values of FNAC were 98.6% and 84.3%, respectively.

Conclusion: Our study findings confirmed that FNAC of the thyroid is a sensitive, specific, and accurate initial tool for the diagnosis of thyroid lesions. Most of the FNACs were benign with a very low malignancy rate. Due to the minimal chance of false negative results and the slow-growing nature of thyroid malignancy, it is important that patients with benign FNAC should have periodic clinical and radiological follow-up.

Limitations: Retrospective design and single-center study, and thyroid nodule size unavailable.

Conflict of interest: None.

Background: The rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) infection and immunogenicity of a single dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine at 16 weeks post-vaccination among young and healthy participants remains unclear in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: Assess the rate of subsequent infection and immunogenicity of a single dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine at 16 weeks post-vaccination in a sample of healthy and young participants.

Design: Cross-sectional study SETTING: Academic teaching hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Healthy participants 18-50 years of age, who received one dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine and had no history of SARS CoV-2 infection were recruited, and blood samples were obtained 16 weeks after vaccination to assess immunogenicity using a commercially available kit.

Main outcome measures: The rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection within 16 weeks post-vaccination.

Sample size: 385 participants with median (IQR) age of 34 (29-38) years.

Results: Eleven (2.8%) participants acquired polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed infection within 16 weeks after a single dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine (mean [SD] 42.5 [28] days post-vaccination). No hospital or intensive care unit admissions occurred among the subjects in this sample. Females were significantly over-represented in PCR-confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with 10 of 11 infections occurring in females (P=.006). Antibody response against anti-spike IgG were detectable in 92.7% of subjects at 16 weeks' post-vaccination. The median anti-spike IgG level after vaccination was 273.1 (IQR 107-1052 AU/mL). However, the anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibody demonstrated a sensitivity of only 20%.

Conclusion: A single dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine in healthy and young individuals was associated with a low, single-digit rate of PCR-confirmed infection, most of which were mild.

Limitations: Small sample size and single-center.

Conflict of interest: None.

Background: Stroke mortality and related functional disability have been declining over the last two decades, but stroke continues to represent the second leading cause of cardiovascular death worldwide and the number one cause for acquired long-term disability.

Objectives: Assess short- and long-term health outcomes after acute ischemic stroke and analyze factors associated with poor survival and functional outcomes.

Design: Retrospective and survival analysis SETTING: Inpatient unit at a tertiary care referral hospital.

Patients and methods: All patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke from 1 January 2017 to 31 August 2018 were included in the study. Functional status was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Other demographic and clinical variables were obtained from medical records. Data were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression, Cox proportional hazards, and the Kaplan-Meier method. Long-term follow-up data, including mortality and mRS was collected by follow-up phone call.

Main outcome measures: Functional dependency and factors associated with mortality.

Sample size and characteristics: 110 with mean age of 67.0 (14.7) years; 59 patients (53.6%) were males.

Results: Hypertension (75.5%), diabetes mellitus (54.6%), and dyslipidemia (29.1%) were common. Sixty-five patients (59.1%) had mRS >2 upon discharge including 18 patients (16.4%) who died during the hospital stay. The cumulative mortality rate was 25.4% (28/110) at 12 months and 30.0% (33/110) at 24 months. Twenty-nine stroke survivors (29/70, 41.4%) remained physically dependent (mRS >2) at the end of follow-up. Old age, atrial fibrillation, history of prior stroke, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral arterial disease were associated with increased mortality and functional dependence.

Conclusions: Patients in Oman with acute ischemic stroke tend to have a high comorbidity burden, and their functional dependency and mortality are higher compared to patients from developed countries. Therefore, evidence-based measures such as establishing stroke units are essential to improve the health outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Limitations: Retrospective at single center.

Conflict of interest: None.