Awareness and prevalence of self-reported benign prostatic hyperplasia: a cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia

BackgroundBenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent condition in older men, causing significant morbidity. Despite recent progress, essential concerns of the disease remain under-researched. This study aims to assess knowledge and estimate self-reported prevalence of BPH in Saudi Arabian men. Understanding BPH prevalence in Saudi Arabia is essential for healthcare planning, resource allocation, public awareness, early detection, intervention, research, and addressing regional variations.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2022 using a validated questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate statistical methods assessed knowledge of BPH among 559 adult Saudi men (mean age: 47.2 years) and its association with demographic variables.ResultsThe self-reported prevalence rate of BPH for Saudi Arabian men was 12.0%. Most adults (74.2%) were aware that BPH is a risk factor for prostate cancer and 75% were aware of the increased risk of BPH in older people. Furthermore, 44.5% of participants associated nocturia with BPH, while 76.6% related urinary tract infection (UTI) with BPH. The study demonstrated a significant association between BPH awareness and marital status (p = 0.02), level of education (p = 0.02), and employment status (p = 0.04).ConclusionWhile men in Saudi Arabia generally had sufficient knowledge about BPH, there was a knowledge gap regarding certain risk factors like obesity and cardiac diseases. To address this, an educational program should be developed for both the general population and those at high risk of BPH

COVID-19 Vaccines and Restrictions: Concerns and Opinions among Individuals in Saudi Arabia

(1) Background: Recent studies in Saudi Arabia have indicated that a small proportion of the population is hesitant to receive COVID-19 vaccines due to uncertainty about their safety. The objective of this study was therefore to examine concerns about COVID-19 vaccines in Saudi Arabia; (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed Saudi residents aged 14 years and older. The online questionnaire consisted of the following sections: (1) demographics; (2) knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines and sources of information; (3) COVID-19 vaccines worry scale; and (4) opinions about restrictions placed on unvaccinated individuals in Saudi Arabia. An adjusted regression model was computed to examine the relationships between demographic factors and worry about COVID-19 vaccines. All analyses were stratified by age, with those aged 19 years and above considered adults and those aged younger than 19 years considered as adolescents; (3) Results: A total of 1002 respondents completed the survey. Of the study sample, 870 were aged ≥19 years and 132 were aged <19 years. Of the adults in the study sample, 52% either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “I am worried about the potential side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations in children”. Among adults, females demonstrated higher levels of worry about COVID-19 vaccines than males (β = 1.142; p = 0.004) in the adjusted analyses. A high percentage of the participants either disagreed or strongly disagreed with allowing unvaccinated individuals to enter malls, schools, universities or to live freely without restrictions; (4) Conclusions: A high proportion of individuals in Saudi Arabia are concerned about possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, and many believe that unvaccinated individuals should not be restricted from participating in public life. It is therefore crucial to provide easily accessible information on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in order to accelerate vaccination and minimize hesitancy regarding any future vaccinations that may be necessary