Background: Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The relationship between demographic factors and dyslipidemia in Saudi Arabia is not completely explored. Objectives: This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the lipid profile, determine the proportion and identify significant demographic determinants of dyslipidemia among patients who have undergone lipid profile analysis in a university multispecialty clinic. Methods: The results of lipid profile examination of 1,541 King Faisal University clinic patients from 1 April, 2014 to 7 March, 2016 were compiled and subjected to descriptive and analytical statistics using STATA MP version 14. Multivariable logistic regression model using Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was fitted to analyze the independent predictors of dyslipidemia. Results: The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, and hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia were 13.8%, 17.0%, 40.0% 12.85%, respectively. Logistic regression revealed that in comparison with those who were 20 years old and below, those who were between the age of 40-49 years were 4.5 times more likely to have hypercholesterolemia and 3.5 times more likely to have hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia. Similarly, those who were 30-39 years old were 4.3 times and 3 times more likely to have hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia, respectively. The same stage group was 3 times more likely to develop hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia. Females were 1.4 times more like to have hypercholesterolemia; non-Saudis were nearly twice as likely to develop hypertriglyceridemia than Saudis. Conclusion: Hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia was the most prevalent form of dyslipidemia. Age, gender and nationality were significant determinants of specific types of dyslipidemia.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli is the most common cause of urinary tract infections, resulting in about 150 million reported annual cases. With multidrug resistance on the rise and the need for global and region surveillance, this investigation looks at the UPEC isolates collected for a 3-year period, with a view of ascertaining their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and associated virulence determinants. The identification of bacteria isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) production was determined with a Vitek 2 Compact Automated System (BioMerieux, Marcy L’Etoile, France). ESBLs were confirmed by the combined disc test (CDT) and basic biochemical test. The isolates were distributed into A (11%), B1 (6%), B2 (62.4%), and D (20.6%). Resistance to the penicillin group was high, between 88% and 100%. Additionally, resistance was high to cephalosporins (100%) in 2017 and 2018. The isolates were all sensitive to tigecycline, while resistance against imipenem and meropenem was low, at 4–12% in 2017 and 2018 and 0% in 2019. The results also showed that ESBL isolates were seen in 2017 and 2018. They were confirmed positive to CTX/CLA (88.5%) and CAZ/CLA (85%). By 2019, the number of resistant isolates reduced, showing only 4% ESBL isolates. Two virulence genes, fimH (46%) and papE/F (15%), were detected among the isolates by PCR. In conclusion, this study found that phylogroups B2 and D carried the most virulence genes as well as MDR and ESBL characteristics, suggesting the UPEC strains to be extraintestinal pathogens responsible for UTIs.

Background: Hypertension is one of the major killers around the world resulting in 7.6 million deaths and 92 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per year (Lawes et al., 2001). Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been studied as nonpharmacological modalities of lowering blood pressure. However, the evidence about the different modalities of MBIs is still unclear. Purpose: The aim of this review is to identify the evidence about the effect of different MBIs on lowering blood pressure among different populations including hypertensive patients and healthy individuals. Methods: Pubmed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Ovid) and EBSCO databases were systematically used to search by using the keywords “(mindfulness) AND (blood pressure)”. All trials published from 1989 to July 2021 that reported the effect of MBIs on blood pressure as primary or secondary outcomes were included. Trials that did not report their results in English were excluded. Titles and abstracts were first screened for eligibility. Eligible studies were then fully reviewed and summarized. Results: A total of 53 research articles were included in this review with 3947 participants. They include patients with hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, cancer, stress, diabetes, pregnancy and healthy individuals. Articles were classified and sorted according to the modality of MBI used for better comparison. Conclusion: MBI modalities that are instructor guided and include breathing and/or physical exercises might result in a significant reduction of BP, especially among patients with HTN and/or anxiety. This effect could be complemented by other pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

While the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health has made seasonal influenza vaccination available for several years, there remains a scarcity of vaccination coverage reports outside of the capital city. Understanding factors that affect vaccine uptake is important in developing strategies to improve coverage. This analytic cross-sectional study utilized data from 1377 adult residents randomly selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure from the three administrative sectors of Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Estimates of influenza vaccine coverage were determined for various demographic groups. Logistic regression was applied to determine the associations among the respondents’ awareness on influenza vaccination services, their confidence on the influenza vaccine efficacy and safety and their vaccination status. The estimated influenza vaccination coverage was 44.15% (95% CI = 41.55; 46.79). The proportion of residents who received the influenza vaccine differed between demographic groups. Al Ahsa residents who were aware that influenza vaccine is available and those who were aware that it is available for free were 2.7 and 6.3 times more likely to be immunized ( p < .001) compared to those who were unaware. Residents who were confident that it is effective in preventing influenza and its complications were 3.6 times more like to be vaccinated while those who were confident that the vaccine is safe were 4.5 times more likely to be immunized ( p < .001). Seasonal influenza coverage in Al Ahsa remains low despite the availability of free immunization in the government health facilities. Awareness about vaccine availability and confidence in vaccine efficacy and safety were important determinants of vaccination status.

Objective: To determine the association between the perceptions on obesity of Saudi university students and their Physical Activity (PA) as measured by Metabolic Equivalents (METs) Score. Methods:This study utilized an analytical cross-sectional design. The level of perception on obesity was determined based on the responses to the Obesity Health Belief Model questionnaire while the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to measure the students’ activity levels. Students with METs scores of less than 600 were classified as inactive. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using Epi Info version 7. Results: Majority (75.54%) of participants had a high level of perception of the seriousness of obesity. Only half of the participants had a high level of the perception of susceptibility towards becoming obese. Although most (93.53%) of the students had a high level of perception of the benefits of physical activity on obesity prevention, 98.2% had a moderate to high perception of the barriers to engage in physical activity. The prevalence of physical inactivity was 44.6% (95% CI: 38.67 - 50.66%) and was higher among female (51.71%) than male (24.66%) students. There was a positive linear relationship between the university students’ perception of obesity and their level of physical activity with a β coefficient = 72.6 (p value = 0.0003). Conclusion: Saudi university students have a high perception of the seriousness of obesity and the benefits of physical activity towards obesity prevention; however, only half of them believe that they are susceptible to becoming obese. The students’ perceptions of obesity influence their physical activity.