Neuro-developmental delay (NDD) is when a child's reflexes and nervous system are underdeveloped or immature at a given stage of child development. Neurodevelopmental delays account for delayed skill development surrounding speech, social, emotional, behavioral, motor, and cognitive delays. NDD might affect the child's psychological and physical well-being, resulting in chronic disease and disabilities throughout adulthood. This review sought to investigate the implication of early diagnosis and intervention of NDD in children. In this regard, this research opted for a systematic meta-analysis that used keywords and Boolean operators to search through main databases, including the Web of Science, JStor, PsychINFO, Science Direct, Cochrane, Scopus, and ASSIA. The result identified that telehealth interventions improved the management of NDD in children. Also, the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) model was determined to improve the quality of life for NDD children. Another model was LEAP (Learning Experience and Alternative Program for Preschoolers and Their Parents) and Leap (Learning, engaging, and Playing), which improved behavioral, education, and social interventions in NDD children. The study identified that technology could revolutionize NDD interventions in children, possibly improving the quality of life. The parent-children relationship was shown to enhance the management of this condition; thus, it is recommended as one of the best ways to intervene in the management of NDD. Most importantly, the integration of machine learning algorithms and technology can create models; while this may not be significant in the treatment of childhood NDD but instead might be ideal in improving the quality of life for NDD children. Moreover, their social and communication skills along with academic achievements will improve. The study proposes further research in order to understand the different types of NDDs and their intervention strategies to help the researchers identify the most accurate models to improve the conditions and support the parents and guardians in the management.

Introduction Verbal communication relies on the ability to speak and understand language. Speech is only one part of language; language can also be expressed through gestures, writing, and other nonverbal means. Speech and language disorders are impairments in the ability to produce and comprehend language, including problems with mouth movements and vocalization. There is a scarcity of literature on this topic in Saudi Arabia; therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of speech delay in children aged less than seven years in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional self-reported descriptive study was conducted from May 2023 to June 2023 among parents of children less than seven years of age in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Simple convenience sampling was implemented. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was designed and presented to the parents of children less than seven years of age. Categorical data were presented as frequencies and percentages. The analysis included a chi-squared test and a Fisher’s exact test. Results A total of 617 participants were included in the study. The majority of children were between 1 and 3 years of age (223, 36.1%) and were male (336, 54.5%). Around 45.5% of the respondents reported that their children may have a speech delay. Children aged >3 to 5 years had a significantly higher prevalence of speech delay (112, 53.1%). Additionally, there was a significant difference in speech delay prevalence between male (170, 50.6%) and female (111, 39.5%, p = 0.006) children. A family history of a developmental communication disorder was significantly associated with speech delay (p < 0.001). Children with speech delay were more likely to have hearing issues (19, 70.4%) and motor issues (19, 70.4%). Moreover, autism spectrum disorder in the child was significantly associated with speech delay (p < 0.001). Conclusions The study found that children aged 3 to 5 years had a significantly higher prevalence of speech delay than younger children. There was a significant difference in speech delay prevalence between male and female children. Children with speech delays were more likely to suffer hearing and motor issues. Speech delay was significantly associated with a family history of a developmental communication problem.

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common cause of knee pain. This condition can restrict daily activities by trying to avoid activities that aggravate their pain. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PFP and knee pain and its associated factors among Saudi young adults. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia. A validated translated Arabic questionnaire was used. Data was collected through an online self-administered questionnaire. Saudi young adults of both genders aged between (18 to 40 years) were included. The mean ±SD was described for continuous variables, whereas categorical variables were reported using frequencies and percentages. The chi-square test was used for descriptive analysis. A total of 1558 subjects were enrolled in the current study. About 663 (42.6%) were males and 895 (57.4%) were females. Of the total participants, 718 (46%) were within the age group of 18 to 25. The overall prevalence of PFP among the current study participant was found to be 30.3%. The prevalence of PFP among males was found to be 31.4% and the prevalence of PFP among females was found to be 29.5%. The overall prevalence of knee pain among study participants was found to be 13.2% as 205 of the participants reported knee pain. The prevalence of knee pain among males was found to be 14% and the prevalence of knee pain among females was found to be 12.3%. The multivariate analysis included the following variables: age, gender, and marital status. The following factors predicted higher rate of PFP: being 18 to 25 years old (p-value < 0.001, odds ratio = 1), being 26 to 35 years old (p-value = 0.001, odds ratio = 1.689). The prevalence of PFP and knee pains was found to be relatively high in Saudi Arabia. Age less than 40 years old was found to be associated with a higher prevalence of PFP and knee pain when compared to other age groups.

Exercise during pregnancy helps to promote health benefits for both the mother and fetus. One of the concerns among Saudi pregnant women is physical inactivity. The objective of this study was to assess females' knowledge, beliefs, and practices toward exercise during pregnancy in Saudi Arabia. Also, we investigated the most common barriers to exercising during pregnancy. The study was a cross-sectional study that included all Saudi females aged 18 years and above and excluded non-Saudi females and those aged less than 18 years. A self-administered survey was distributed on social media platforms. The collected data were coded and analyzed using SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). A total of 1207 participants were enrolled in the study. In regards to general knowledge and awareness levels, 1002 (83%) participants had a high level of knowledge and awareness, and 205 (17%) had a low level of knowledge and awareness. Exercise during pregnancy is essential was agreed on by 853 (70.7%) participants. The most reported sources of information on prenatal exercise were found to be websites, as reported by 56.7% of the participants. About 42.4% of the participants were sometimes exercising during pregnancy. The most common type of antenatal exercise was found to be walking, as mentioned by 83.5% of the participants. The most commonly reported barrier to practicing antenatal exercises was found to be fatigue, as reported by 53.9% of the participants, and lack of time. Age was found to be significantly associated with the level of beliefs, awareness, and knowledge regarding antenatal care. A statistically significant association was found between marital status and level of beliefs, awareness, and knowledge regarding antenatal care with married participants tending to be having a higher level of knowledge and awareness compared to other groups. Occupation and level of beliefs, awareness, and knowledge regarding antenatal care were found to be significantly associated. We found good general knowledge and awareness levels regarding exercise during pregnancy. Beliefs toward exercise during pregnancy were below average. Future studies on how to promote regular exercise during pregnancy are recommended.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) microvascular complications can impair corneal sensitivity and lacrimal gland functioning, leading to dry eye disease (DED). Hence, this study aimed to measure the prevalence and severity of DED symptoms, and the related risk factors, among the Saudi diabetic population. Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, survey-based study which targeted Saudi adults (20 years and older) previously diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 DM. It was conducted in eight primary healthcare centers (PCHs) scattered around eight different provinces of Saudi Arabia (SA). The prevalence and severity of DED were measured by the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Results: The total study population was 389 subjects, of which 182 (46.8%) were males and 207 (53.2%) were females. The overall prevalence of DED was 51.7%. Among those, 20.3% of patients had mild dryness, 11.1% had moderate dryness, and 20.3% had severe dryness. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of 6.5% or higher proved to be an independent risk factor for the development of DED symptoms, 3.6-folds higher for HbA1c levels of 6.5% to 9% (AOR=3.573; p=0.001), and 2.3-folds higher for HbA1c levels higher than 9% (AOR=2.293; p=0.013). The long duration of diabetes did not show a significant association with manifesting DED symptoms (p=0.263). Conclusion: Half of the diabetic population complained of DED symptoms, compared to one-third of the previously studied general Saudi population. Patients with mild to moderate HbA1c elevation were more likely to report DED symptoms than those with severe elevation, which could be related to impaired corneal sensation. Therefore, a routine ophthalmological examination is recommended.

A hemolytic uremic syndrome is an uncommon but severe condition brought on by an overactive alternative complement system, typically involving a hereditary component. It will be crucial to comprehend the epidemiology of hemolytic uremic syndrome as research advances toward bettering its diagnosis and treatment. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the incidence and prevalence estimates of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) internationally. A thorough literature search was conducted using PubMed, Springer, Cochrane Library for Systematic Reviews, and Embase databases between 2012 and 2023 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 recommendations. A further source of data was the PubMed Central search engine. To make sure that the evaluation included just the studies that were the most pertinent, a population, interventions, comparators, and outcomes (PICO) eligibility criterion was also used. Eight articles were included in this review. HUS had an annual crude incidence of 0.66 per 100,000 people and a standard annual incidence of 0.57 per 100,000 people. Females were more likely than males to develop HUS, but only marginally more frequently. Patients under 20 years old were the age group where HUS was most common. HUS had an average cost of $21,500 per patient, which was more expensive than the country's overall inpatient average cost for the same period. This is due to patients requiring supportive care, antibiotics, plasma exchange, plasma infusion, and renal replacement therapy, and it could take multiple courses of treatment before they improve. It was concluded that several variables, including the region, the age group affected, and the frequency of the underlying bacterial infection, determine the prevalence and incidence of HUS. HUS is often more common in children than adults and is more common in some nations. Overall, HUS is an uncommon disorder that can have significant repercussions for people who have it. For better results and fewer consequences, HUS must be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.