Despite the success of childhood immunization in reducing vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine hesitancy is now a global health threat to this achievement. The current COVID-19 pandemic may change the picture of vaccine hesitancy toward childhood immunizations, which could influence the mothers’ intention to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. To measure the prevalence and related factors of vaccine hesitancy towards childhood immunization during the era of COVID-19 along with the prevalence of mothers’ intention to vaccinate their children the future COVID-19 and its association with childhood vaccine hesitancy. Cross sectional study was conducted among 270 Saudi mothers attending outpatient clinics at King Abdullah University Hospital (KAAUH) in Riyadh by purposive sampling technique. Data were collected from January to February 2021 using SAGE Group standardized questionnaire. Although most mothers strongly agree on the importance of the vaccine (79%), almost one-fourth of mothers were hesitant towards childhood immunization (24.31%). Similar percentage of mothers’ intended to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 in the next 6 months was reported (24%). Vaccine hesitancy was found to be a significant predictor of mothers’ intention. Mothers’ education level was significantly associated with being hesitant towards childhood immunization as well as the intention to accept the future COVID-19 vaccine (p < 0.05). Main reason that was highly significantly associated with being hesitant is the concerns about the side effect (50%). The present study reported a considerable percentage of mothers who are hesitant towards childhood immunization which predicts their intension to vaccinate towards COVID19 and is associated with the level of education.

Saudi Arabia has an alarmingly high incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its associated risk factors. To effectively assess CVD risk, it is essential to develop tailored models for diverse regions and ethnicities using local population variables. No CVD risk prediction model has been locally developed. This study aims to develop the first 10-year CVD risk prediction model for Saudi adults aged 18 to 75 years. The electronic health records of Saudi male and female patients aged 18 to 75 years, who were seen in primary care settings between 2002 and 2019, were reviewed retrospectively via the Integrated Clinical Information System (ICIS) database (from January 2002 to February 2019). The Cox regression model was used to identify the risk factors and develop the CVD risk prediction model. Overall, 451 patients were included in this study, with a mean follow-up of 12.05 years. Thirty-five (7.7%) patients developed a CVD event. The following risk factors were included: fasting blood sugar (FBS) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), heart failure, antihyperlipidemic therapy, antithrombotic therapy, and antihypertension therapy. The Bayesian information criterion (BIC) score was 314.4. This is the first prediction model developed in Saudi Arabia and the second in any Arab country after the Omani study. We assume that our CVD predication model will have the potential to be used widely after the validation study.

Purpose Adult separation anxiety disorder (ASAD) is thought to be prevalent and debilitating, yet many aspects of its epidemiology remain unclear. We aimed to investigate prevalence, course, correlates, comorbidity, impairment, and treatment of ASAD in Saudi Arabia. Methods The study analyzed a subset of 1793 participants from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey; a nationally representative household sample of Saudi citizens. The survey used the CIDI 3.0 to produce prevalence estimates of ASAD and other common DSM-IV mental disorders. Cross tabulations, survival analysis and logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results The lifetime and 12-month prevalence of ASAD were 7.6% and 3.8%, respectively. Over half (51.7%) of participants with lifetime ASAD had onset in adulthood, and 50.5% of those with lifetime ASAD also had 12-month ASAD. Lifetime ASAD was significantly associated with being female (OR = 2.1), not being married (ORs = 2.2–3.2), having low education (OR = 0.4), and maladaptive family functioning (ORs = 3.6–6.7). Primary lifetime ASAD was a strong predictor of subsequent other mental disorders (ORs = 1.1–6.5). Further, mood, impulse, and substance use disorders were significantly associated with subsequent first onset of ASAD (ORs = 2.15-3.0). ASAD was severely impairing in the presence (59.0%) or absence (56.2%) of 12-month comorbidity. Among those with lifetime ASAD, only 26.1% reported treatment for a mental health condition. Conclusion ASAD is prevalent, with a persistent course and associated impairment, as well as substantial comorbidity and limited treatment in Saudi Arabia. Increasing awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment of ASAD may help reduce its burden.