Research Studies
Economic Implications of Osteoporosis-Related Femoral Fractures in Saudi Arabian Society.
Published in Calcified Tissue Int. Dec. 2007
Bubshait D, Sadat-Ali M.
College of Medicine, King Faisal University, 40071, AlKhobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia.
PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of proximal femoral fractures due to osteopenia and osteoporosis in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia and to estimate the cost of management of osteoporosis-related femoral fractures. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of all patients admitted to the orthopaedic department of the King Fahd Hospital of the University, AlKhobar between January 2001 and December 2006. There were 63 patients admitted to the hospital with osteoporosis-related fractures and 43 sustained proximal femoral fractures. The cost of management of these patients from admission to discharge was analyzed. A verbal survey was carried with all the hospitals in the eastern province to establish the prevalence of osteoporosis-related femoral fractures for a 12 month period. RESULTS: There were 23 male and 20 female patients with average age of 72.11 years and the hospital stay was for 760 days. The cost of managing these patients was SR2.09 million (US$557,333.00) at the rate of SR48,712 (US$12,989.90) per patient. The survey of all hospitals in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia showed that 984 proximal femoral fractures occurred in a population of 164,121. The estimated cost was SR48 million (US$12.78 million) annually. On a national basis, with a population of 1,461,401 Saudis aged 50 years or more, 8,768 would suffer femoral fractures yearly at a cost of SR4.27 billion (US$1.14 billion). CONCLUSION: This study raises serious economic concerns. The annual cost of management of osteoporosis-related proximal femoral fractures in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia is US$12.78 million. As the Saudi Arabian population is aging and the number of elderly patients is bound to increase, with an accompanying increase in fractures, the impact on health care budgets will be tremendous.
Sickle cell anaemia: is it a cause for secondary osteoporosis?
Published in West Afr J Med. 2007 Apr-Jun;26(2):134-7.
Sadat-Ali M, Al Elq AH.
Department of Orthpaedic Surgery, King Fahd University Hospital, Al-Khobar, Saudi Araia. drsadat@hotmail.com
OBJECTIVE: The risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia i s patients with sickle cell anaemia is not well established. This prospective study was conducted to assess the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in sickle cell anaemia. METHODS: Consecutive adult sickle cell anaemia patients who were treated at the department of orthopaedic surgery of King Fahd University Hospital, AIKhobar, SaudiArabia, between April and July 2006, were the subjects of study. After a verbal consent to participate in the study, patients age and sex were documented and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Blood was extracted for haematological and biochemistry which also included haemoglobin electrophoresis. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurement was done using dual energy x-rayabsorbtiometry (DEXA) at the lumbar spine and the upper femur. Osteopenia and osteoporosis was diagnosed as per the WHO criteria. RESULTS: The results of 36 patients were analyzed. There were 23 males and 13 females. The average age in males was 34.21+/-6.35 years, and females was 35.38+/-5.40 years. Eighty-two percent of males and 76% of the females were either osteopenic or osteoporotic. The prevalence of osteoporosis in males was highest at lumbar spine (P= 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study finds the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis is quite high among Saudi adult SCA patients. Physicians should be aware of the risk of osteoporosis in sickle cell patients and every effort should be made to treat them adequately and prevent osteoporosis related fractures.
Bone mineral density in beta-thalassemic Lebanese children
Authors: A. Yazigi, G. Maalouf, A. Inati-Khoriati, H. Tamim, C. Saab
Abstract: The authors measured the BMD of Lebanese beta-thalassemic children before institution of a balanced transfusion-chelation regimen, in comparison with that of healthy controls, and studied its correlation with various demographic and biological parameters. The article concludes that Lebanese beta-thalassemic children have a significantly lower BMD than their healthy counterparts, due, in part, to their slower physical development.
To read the full article, click here (PDF, 68.3 KB)Research
Age-associated changes in quantitative ultrasonometry (QUS) of the os calcis in Lebanese women - assessment of a Lebanese reference population
Authors: J. Wehbe, C. Cortbaoui, R.M. Chidiac, A. Nehme, R. Melki, F. Bedran, P. Atallah, C. Cooper, P. Hadji, G. Maalouf
Abstract: This study is aimed to assess age changes in QUS in a large sample of Lebanese women to determine a Lebanese reference population. The study found that the age-related female, Lebanese reference curve was significantly different from the American and the European reference curves used by the manufacturer.
To read the full article, click here (PDF, 181.2 KB)
Preliminary Summary on Amputation and Amputees (with graphs) (PDF, 164.6 KB)
(Establishment of an injury programme in Lebanon)
