Insight into prevalence, etiology, and modalities of pediatric chronic dialysis: a comprehensive nationwide analysis.

Background: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and etiology of kidney failure (KF) among children below 15 years of age receiving chronic dialysis in Saudi Arabia and describe their dialysis modalities.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 8 August 2022, encompassing all 23 pediatric dialysis centers in Saudi Arabia. Data gathered comprised patient demographics, causes of KF, and the dialysis methods employed.

The outcome of rituximab in treating steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome.: Histopathology and immunosuppressive drugs as predicting factors.

Objectives: To present our experience of treating steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) in children with repeated doses of rituximab (RTX) with a relatively long follow-up, and to discuss the role of the histopathology type and previous immune-suppressor (IS) drugs on the outcome of these patients.

Methods: The patients included in this prospective study were children with SDNS who were in remission on a high-dose steroid or with additional IS drugs. All patients underwent renal biopsy before RTX treatment.

Factors That Influence Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Multicenter Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has a high mortality rate and continues to be a global threat, which warrants the identification of all mortality risk factors in critically ill patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter cohort study conducted in five hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We enrolled patients with confirmed SARS-COV-2 infection admitted to any of the intensive care units from the five hospitals between March 2020 and July 2020, corresponding to the peak of recorded COVID-19 cases in the KSA.

Digital Health for Supporting Precision Medicine in Pediatric Endocrine Disorders: Opportunities for Improved Patient Care.

Digitalization of healthcare delivery is rapidly fostering development of precision medicine. Multiple digital technologies, known as telehealth or eHealth tools, are guiding individualized diagnosis and treatment for patients, and can contribute significantly to the objectives of precision medicine. From a basis of "one-size-fits-all" healthcare, precision medicine provides a paradigm shift to deliver a more nuanced and personalized approach.

Blood pressure standards for pre-school children in Saudi Arabia.

The prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in children is increasing. Early detection of HTN in childhood may prevent the occurrence of complications in adult age. Blood pressure (BP) varies between populations according to ethnic and environmental factors.

Diagnosis and management of growth disorders in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: Current procedures and key recommendations for best practice.

Diagnosis and management of growth disorders comprises an important area of pediatric practice. Current procedures in the different stages of the identification, referral, investigation, and treatment of growth disorders in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been summarized. Evidence-based procedures, relating specifically to height screening for identification of short stature, auxological criteria for patient referral from primary to secondary pediatric care, and general and endocrine investigations and diagnosis have been discussed and outlined.

The LMS and Z scale growth reference for Saudi school-age children and adolescents.

Background/aim: To establish L, M, and S parameters and z score reference for the assessment of nutrition and growth of Saudi school-age children and adolescents.

Subjects And Methods: Data from the original cross-sectional study were reanalyzed. The L, M, and S parameters and z scores were calculated for weight, height and body mass index for school-age children and adolescents.

Growth reference for Saudi preschool children: LMS parameters and percentiles.

Background: Previous growth charts for Saudi children have not included detailed tables and parameters needed for research and incorporation in electronic records.

Objectives: The objective of this report is to publish the L, M, and S parameters and percentiles as well as the corresponding growth charts for Saudi preschool children.

Design: Community-based survey and measurement of growth parameters in a sample selected by a multistage probability procedure.

Prevalence of selected congenital anomalies in Saudi children: a community-based study.

Background And Objectives: Limited data are available on the prevalence of congenital anomalies based on a community survey in Middle East countries. The prevalence of congenital anomalies is expected to be high in these countries because of the high consanguinity rate and high maternal age. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to establish the prevalence of congenital anomalies in Saudi Arab children.

Growth hormone therapy and treatment outcomes: current clinical practice of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Over the last 20 years, recombinant human growth hormone (somatropin) has been the cornerstone of managing children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Although both international and national guidelines for growth hormone (GH) therapy exist, there is currently no consensus on the optimal use of GH therapy in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The goals of GH therapy are to normalize height during childhood, attain normal adult height and correct metabolic abnormalities related to GHD.

Regional prevalence of short stature in Saudi school-age children and adolescents.

Objective: To assess the magnitude of regional difference in prevalence of short stature in Saudi children and adolescents.

Subjects And Methods: A representative sample from three different regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (North, Southwest, and Center) was used to calculate the prevalence of short stature (standard deviation score less than -2) in children 5 to 17 years of age.

Results: There were 9018 children and adolescents from 5 to 17 years of age (3366, 2825, and 2827 in the Northern, Southwestern and Central regions, resp.

Regional variation in prevalence of overweight and obesity in Saudi children and adolescents.

Background/aims: There are limited data on regional variation of overweight and obesity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the aim of this report is to explore the magnitude of these variation in order to focus preventive programs to regional needs.

Setting And Design: Community-based multistage random sample of representative cohort from each region.

Prevalence of short stature in Saudi children and adolescents.

Background And Objective: Data on stature in Saudi children and adolescents are limited. The objective of this report was to establish the national prevalence of short stature in Saudi children and adolescents.

Design And Setting: Community-based, cross-sectional study conducted over 2 years (2004, 2005)

Patients And Methods: The national data set of the Saudi reference was used to calculate the stature for age for children and adolescents 5 to 18 years of age.

The prevalence of neurological disorders in Saudi children: a community-based study.

There are limited data on the pattern and prevalence of pediatric chronic neurologic conditions in the region. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of these disorders in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A multistage probability sampling design was used to select a random sample of Saudi households representative of the Saudi population.

Prevalence of malnutrition in Saudi children: a community-based study.

Background And Objective: There is no published information on the prevalence of malnutrition in Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence data.

Methods: The prevalence of nutritional indicators in the form of underweight, stunting, and wasting in a national sample of children younger than 5 years of age was calculated using the new WHO standards as reference.

Regional disparity in prevalence of malnutrition in Saudi children.

Objective: To evaluate the regional difference in the prevalence of malnutrition in Saudi children.

Methods: Data for this study were collected over 2 years (2004 and 2005). A cross-sectional representative sample of the Saudi population of healthy children below 5 years of age was used to calculate the prevalence of malnutrition.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Saudi children and adolescents.

Background And Objective: There is limited information on overweight and obesity in Saudi children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to establish the national prevalence of overweight and obesity in Saudi children and adolescents.

Methods: The 2005 Saudi reference data set was used to calculate the body mass index (BMI) for children aged 5 to 18 years.

Effects of education of the head of the household on the prevalence of malnutrition in children.

Objective: To explore the effect of the educational level of the head of household on the prevalence of malnutrition in Saudi children.

Methods: The study was conducted over 2 years in 2004 and 2005 in all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The design consisted of a stratified multistage probability random sampling of the population of the KSA.

Pattern of sex differences in growth of Saudi children and adolescents.

Background: Although variations in growth between boys and girls have been reported, detailed descriptions according to age and growth parameters are not available.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the pattern and magnitude of differences in growth between boys and girls according to age that justify separate growth charts.

Methods: The data set was based on a cross-sectional representative sample of the Saudi population of healthy children and adolescents from birth to 19 years of age.

Regional variations in the growth of Saudi children and adolescents.

Background And Objectives: No previous study has provided a detailed description of regional variations of growth within the various regions of Saudi Arabia. Thus, we sought to demonstrate differences in growth of children and adolescents in different regions.

Subjects And Methods: The 2005 Saudi reference was based on a cross-sectional representative sample of the Saudi population of healthy children and adolescents from birth to 18 years of age.

Body mass index in Saudi Arabian children and adolescents: a national reference and comparison with international standards.

Background And Objectives: Because there are no reference standards for body mass index (BMI) in Saudi children, we established BMI reference percentiles for normal Saudi Arabian children and adolescents and compared them with international standards.

Subjects And Methods: Data from a stratified multistage probability sample were collected from the 13 health regions in Saudi Arabia, as part of a nationwide health profile survey of Saudi Arabian children and adolescents conducted to establish normal physical growth references. Selected households were visited by a trained team.

Age related reference ranges of heart rate for Saudi children and adolescents.

Objective: To evaluate the resting heart rate to define reference values for healthy Saudi children and adolescents.

Methods: To establish representative heart rate (HR) reference values for Saudi Arabian children and adolescents, a sample of children, and adolescents was selected by multi-stage probability sampling of the Saudi population from birth to 20 years of age. The selected sample represents Saudi children from the whole country.

Liver size in Saudi children and adolescents.

Background/aim: To examine the liver size in Saudi children and adolescents.

Methods: A large sample of children was selected from the general population by multistage random probability sampling for the assessment of physical growth. A random subsample of children-newborns to 18 years old-was taken from this larger sample for this study.

Blood pressure standards for Saudi children and adolescents.

Background And Objectives: Blood pressure levels may vary in children because of genetic, ethnic and socioeconomic factors. To date, there have been no large national studies in Saudi Arabia on blood pressure in children.Therefore, we sought to establish representative blood pressure reference centiles for Saudi Arabian children and adolescents.

Pattern of celiac disease in infants and children.

This study involved all children with celiac disease admitted and seen in the Paediatric Gastroenterology Clinic at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) over a 10-year period. In the first year, we identified 62 cases with celiac disease. Their mean age at presentation, introduction to cereals in the diet, and onset of symptoms were 6.