Perception on the Relationship between Cancer and Usage of Tobacco and Alcohol in Hail, Saudi Arabia

Hepatobiliary Cancers in Saudi Arabia From 2000 to 2025

Hepatobiliary cancers present a significant challenge to global health. Saudi Arabia and adjacent Gulf nations experience considerable impacts from these cancers. Numerous risk factors have contributed to the increasing prevalence of these cancers. The primary cases are linked to several factors, including hepatitis viral infection, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, obesity or being overweight, liver cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hemochromatosis, aflatoxins, anabolic steroids, and genetic predisposition. Data regarding hepatobiliary cancers is scarcely obtained from Saudi Arabia. This research aims to clarify the epidemiology and risk factors linked to hepatobiliary cancers in Saudi Arabia. Our investigation revealed a lack of studies that collectively examine hepatocellular cancers in Saudi Arabia, highlighting a distinctive element of the current review. To determine the incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and other epidemiological metrics of hepatobiliary cancer in Saudi Arabia, a search was conducted using Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, and relevant public databases that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. An electronic search was conducted using various keywords related to hepatobiliary cancer in Saudi Arabia. In summary, hepatobiliary cancers exhibit significant prevalence in Saudi Arabia, especially liver cancer. Commonly recognized risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus encompass tobacco and alcohol consumption, obesity or overweight status, and viral hepatitis.

Predictors of poor outcomes among patients of acute methanol intoxication with particular reference to Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score

Methanol intoxication is a global problem with serious morbidities and mortalities. Apart from the lifelong disabilities experienced by methanol intoxication survivors, mortality rates of up to 44% of exposed patients have been reported. The aim of the current study was to outline the early findings that could be utilized as effective in-hospital outcome predictors among cases of methanol exposure. Furthermore, the role of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was evaluated as an early in-hospital outcome indicator among patients presented with acute methanol intoxication. A multicenter study including 37 patients diagnosed with acute methanol intoxication and referred to three major poison control centers in Saudi Arabia during the past 3 years (January 1, 2018-January 1, 2021) was conducted. Data including demographics, exposure history, presenting complaints, clinical findings, and laboratory investigation were collected. The patients were scored on Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Poison Severity Score (PSS), and SOFA score on admission. Out of the presented patients, 83.8% were alcoholic men. No deaths have been reported, and 51.4% were discharged with unfavorable outcomes, including 29.7% suffered optic neuropathy and blindness, 18.9% showed acute renal impairment, and 10.8% were complicated with respiratory failure. The diastolic blood pressure, anion gap, visual acuity, number of hemodialysis sessions, PSS, duration of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay, and SOFA score were all significant organ failure predictors (P < 0.05). However, only the SOFA score showed the best significant prediction on multivariate analysis, with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.10 (0.04-0.17) and P = 0.003. At a cutoff of greater than 4.5, the SOFA score could significantly predict unfavorable outcomes with area under curve (AUC) = 0.955, accuracy 89.2%, specificity 94.4%, and sensitivity 84.2%. Early identification of methanol exposed patients at risk is critical and lifesaving. The SOFA score is a substantially useful and early inclusive unfavorable outcome predictor.

Trends in Current Tobacco Use, Smoking Rates and Quit Attempts among Saudi Population during Periods of 17 Years (1996-2012): Narrative Review Article

BACKGROUND

In this study, we investigated the causes behind increase trends in smoking and extent of tobacco use in Saudi Arabia. We also explored the issues related to and its impact tobacco control research and policy in the Kingdom.

METHODS

Data were collected from various published articles, public data based such as WHO, Geneva and CDC Atlanta. Data were also obtained from surveys conducted by various institutions under The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) for high school students and Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) for medical student. Tobacco importation data and death rates were estimated by various International Organizations.

RESULTS

Tobacco importation in Saudi Arabia increased from 1996 to 2012. The proportion of smokers in the KSA almost doubled especially in males from 21% in 1996 to 37% in 2012. Mortality attributable to tobacco in the KSA was estimated to account for 280, 000 premature deaths over the same period (without accounting for smuggled tobacco). The economic burden of tobacco consumption over the last 10 years (2001-2010) in the KSA was 20.5 billion US dollars (based on 2011 prices). Anti-tobacco measures in KSA have been reinforced by the enactment of anti-tobacco laws and collaboration among different government agencies and ministries.

CONCLUSION

If effective tobacco control strategies are not enacted, serious consequences, increasing premature mortality rates among them, will continue to threaten the KSA.