Epidemiological Mapping of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Infections in Saudi Arabia: A Descriptive and Observational Study

Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease affecting people worldwide. An epidemiological observational population-cohort study was conducted based on comprehensive research on CL incidence in Saudi and non-Saudi residents. Data on CL incidences were recorded by the Ministry of Health between January 2020 and December 2022. The chi-square test was used to analyze the data and determine CL incident rates in age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) and gender between Saudi and non-Saudi residents in Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study found that between 2020 and 2022, there were 2280 cases of CL in KSA, 1367 cases in males and 913 cases in females. 64.26% of Saudi nationals were male patients and 12.91% were females. The frequency of CL was greater (87.09%) among non-Saudi residents than among Saudi nationals, with a statistically significant difference (P0.001) between the two groups. The ASIRs for CL were higher in patients aged between 15 and 45. This study revealed variations in CL incident rates among the 13 administrative regions; Al-Qassem, followed by Aseer, Ha'il, and Al-Madinah, showed higher rates than other regions. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions and public health strategies to reduce the burden on CL, particularly among non-Saudi residents.