Dengue fever disease is affected by many scoioeconomic and enviromental factors throughout endemic areas globally. These factors contribute to increase the incidence of endemic dengue endemic in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and spatial patterns of dengue fever cases in Jeddah, and to determine if there is an association between dengue fever and the following environmental factors: temperature, humidity, land cover, climate, rainfall, epicenter of reproduction, and socioeconomic factors. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah in 2020. The study included all reported suspected and confirmed dengue cases. The sample size was 1458 cases. Data were obtained from the Dengue Active Surveillance System and the confirmed cases were geo-distributed in areas by QGIS. All significant variables were included in the logistic regression table. The majority (61.9 %) were suspected cases and 38.1 % confirmed cases. The majority of the cases were male. The highest spatial distribution was in the middle of Jeddah and the lowest in the south. The highest temporal distribution for confirmed cases was in June, and for suspected cases in December. Age, gender, occupation, and area were all significantly associated with the dengue reported cases. Most all the enviromental factors were not statistically significant. The study showed three clusters of dengue fever and infection concentrated in the middle and east of Jeddah. The lack of investigation in the environmental factors regarding the dengue distribution and its impact on the population area has to be taken seriously and dengue intervention programs should be implemented to reduce the endemic dengue in Jeddah.

Viral hepatitis stands accountable for approximately 1.34 million deaths worldwide, with the number of fatalities steadily growing with time. This is partly due to the various genotypes of hepatitis C virus and having no vaccination developed yet. However, a paradigm shift in the epidemiology of hepatitis C was notable due to the emergence of direct-acting antiviral drugs. Nevertheless, related literature in the Saudi context still requires further investigations to improve strategies and interventions targeting HCV in Saudi Arabia. This study was conducted to estimate the lifetime prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HVC) in Riyadh, KSA, and assess factors associated with HCV that include demographics and co-morbidities. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare facility, located in Riyadh. The patients' database was searched for data regarding hepatitis C screening and treatment in a time window from 2017 to 2022. The study sample was composed of all individuals screened for or diagnosed with hepatitis C infection in the previously mentioned settings. Our sample included a total of 16,690 participants, 929 of which had positive test results (5.6%; 95% CI: 5.2-5.9%), with the rate being significantly higher in post-COVID-19 years due to a decreased number of tests performed. Positive test results were associated with male gender (43.4%), chronic kidney disease (11.8%), diabetes mellitus (34.9%), and hypertension (35%). Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were obtained, with male gender (aOR: 2.47), widowed (aOR: 7.8) or divorced (aOR: 2.07) marital status, diabetes mellitus (aOR: 1.97), and hypertension (aOR: 2.87). Singles were found to be at lower risk of infection (aOR: 0.38). For each additional year of the study window, the odds of infection increased by 1.18. Between 2017 and 2022, The HCV RNA positive cases were estimated to be 5.6%. Several risk factors were identified, including male gender, being widowed or divorced, and having diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. These results underline several opportunities to improve public health efforts and clinical practice in Saudi Arabia. That will further enhance the agenda targeting the burden of HCV in the country. Not applicable.

Cancer remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with its associated physical, emotional, and financial burdens contributing to widespread fear among individuals without a cancer diagnosis. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify predictors of fear of cancer (carcinophobia) among the non-cancer population in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered survey. The Arabic version of the Fear of Cancer Scale (FOCS) was used to assess cancer-related fear. A total of 413 participants from all five regions of Saudi Arabia were surveyed over a two-month period. The prevalence of high cancer fear was 7.75% (95% CI: 5.17–10.33%). Fear levels ranged from 5.2 to 10.4% across demographic groups. Age and income were significantly associated with cancer fear (p < .05). Older individuals were significantly less likely to report fear, while higher income was associated with a 3.6-fold increase in the odds of reporting fear. The study highlights the substantial prevalence of cancer-related fear in the population in Saudi Arabia and identifies critical predictors that may inform targeted public health strategies. Addressing psychological barriers such as carcinophobia is essential for promoting early detection and preventive healthcare behaviors. The findings suggest the need for culturally tailored cancer education and intervention programs to reduce fear and encourage proactive health management in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Increasing evidence shows that hyperglycemia-induced glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity that usually accompany diabetes development damage the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria of the hepatocytes in diabetic patients. Clinical studies highlighted the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus, comorbidities, and medications with liver function. The objective of this study is to explore the association between liver function tests’ abnormalities and comorbidities, medications, and other risk factors in type 2 diabetes patients registered in the Best-Care system of the Saudi Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study employing a chart of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We drew a simple random sample of 523 T2DM patients who had a liver function test from the Best-Care database of the Ministry. We applied various statistical analyses, including Student’s independent t-test, Pearson’s chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, and odd ratios, to measure associations between different variables and liver function tests’ abnormalities.Results: About 35% of patients included in this study showed an abnormal level of gamma-glutamyl transferase and prothrombin time. Abnormalities of serum albumin, prothrombin time, and total serum protein tests were significantly associated with age (P < 0.05). Gamma-glutamyl transferase test abnormalities were significantly associated with gender (P < 0.05). The study found associations between several comorbidities and the abnormalities of liver function tests. These tests include the total bilirubin, albumin, total serum protein, gamma-glutamyl trans, international normalized ratio, and alanine aminotransferase. The associations were at significant levels (P < 0.05). Liraglutide was significantly associated with aspartate aminotransferase (OR = 14.40, 95% CI = 2.8, 73.2), while allopurinol was significantly associated with international normalized ratios (OR = 24.67, 95% CI = 2.95, 206.58) and total serum protein (OR = 5.44, 95% CI = 1.43, 20.83).Discussion: This study is the first to examine the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and liver function tests’ abnormalities in Saudi Arabia. Although the results have a limited generalizability due to inherent biases, the findings align with similar studies in other populations. The study stresses the need to monitor liver functions, especially of T2DM patients who suffer from other conditions.

Respiratory diseases are a significant occupational health issue for agricultural workers, especially those exposed to high levels of pesticides in date palm farming; a culturally and socially important crop in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of physician-attended respiratory conditions, examine the relationship between farmers’ demographics, pesticides use, and safety measures practiced among date farmers in Riyadh and Al-Qassim regions. Additionally, elicit farmers’ needs to minimize the effect of using pesticides on their health. Sixty-five male date farmers from Riyadh and Al-Qassim participated in a cross-sectional survey with a mixed methods design. Data were collected via one-line self-administered validated questionnaire covering demographics, pesticide use, safety practices, and respiratory health hazards. Statistical analyses identified significant associations between pesticide exposure and respiratory outcomes, while descriptive content analysis of the open-ended responses provided further insight into the quantitative findings. Breathing difficulties while handling pesticides were reported by 33.85% of participants, and 30.77% reported respiratory symptoms or dizziness during or after spraying; 13.85% reported doctor visits for serious respiratory issues. Physician-attended respiratory conditions were significantly associated with pesticide type (p = 0.040) and experiencing respiratory symptoms when using pesticides (p < 0.001). Quantitative data complimented the qualitative information, as the descriptive content analysis revealed existing knowledge gaps, inadequate training, and insufficient precautions. This study provides an assessment of occupational health experience from a group of farmers. The results indicate a strong link between pesticide exposure and physician-attended respiratory conditions among farmers, revealing significant gaps in occupational safety training and health protections. This underscores the urgent need for policy interventions to protect the occupational health of agricultural workers in Saudi Arabia.