Dataset Information

Incidence and severity of keratoconus in Asir province, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To assess the incidence and associated signs and symptoms of patients with keratoconus in Asir Province, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

125 new keratoconus patients (51 male, 74 female; mean age 18.5 (SD 3.8) years; range 8--28 years) were recruited from referrals to the department of ophthalmology, Asir Central Hospital, over a 1 year period. Age, visual acuity, and keratometry were recorded along with clinical signs and symptoms.

Results

The incidence of keratoconus in Asir Province is 20 cases per 100,000 population. Also, the disease severity is high, as indicated by an early mean age (17.7 (3.6) years) with advanced stage keratoconus. Visual acuity, with either spectacles or rigid contact lenses, was 6/12 or better in 98% of eyes measured. Just over half (56%) of patients had atopic ocular disease. 16% of patients had a positive family history of the disease and 16% had atopic dermatitis (eczema and/or vitiligo).

Conclusion

The incidence and severity of keratoconus in Asir Province, Saudi Arabia, is high with an early onset and more rapid progress to the severe disease stage at a young age. This might reflect the influence of genetic and/or environmental factor(s) in the aetiology of keratoconus.

SUBMITTER: Assiri AA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1772915 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundThere is paucity in the literature regarding gallbladder cancer in Saudi Arabia, possibly because it is not among the top 10 cancers diagnosed nationwide according to the Saudi Cancer Registry. Moreover, national or regional data on gallbladder cancer in Saudi Arabia have not been analyzed. The purpose of this study was to describe the presentation, disease stage, histology, and survival rates for gallbladder cancer in Saudi patients at a single institution between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017.Materials and methodsThis was a retrospective study of 76 patients who presented to our hospital between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017, with established diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma. The diagnosis was made either histopathologically following simple laparoscopic cholecystectomy or biopsy from metastatic liver lesion in patients with gallbladder mass, or the high suspicion of gallbladder carcinoma based on incidental radiological findings. Presentation, disease stage, histology, and treatment modalities were analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency distributions. Survival rates were analyzed and presented using Kaplan-Meier curves.ResultsBased on initial analyses the disease was more frequent among women (62.0%) than men (39.0%). Surgical resection was attempted in 40.8% patients. The average age at presentation and diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma was 62.4 years. The disease had two peaks, one at 51.0 years and the other between 66.0 and 70.0 years. The median survival time for the overall at-risk patients was only 1.0 year, while for stage IVB patients was 7.2 months. Adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS) was the most common histopathology type (75.0%), with most patients presenting with stage IVB disease (75.0%). Gallbladder carcinoma was incidentally detected in 42.1%, including three cases (3.9%) diagnosed at our hospital.ConclusionsGallbladder cancer is a rare type of cancer in Saudi Arabia, and most patients are treated surgically, despite being mostly diagnosed at the advanced stage of the disease.