RESUMEN
Previous studies have found an association between maternal smoking and an increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring. However, the prevalence of maternal smoking, secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure during pregnancy, and ADHD in children within the Saudi Arabian context is not well-documented. OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence of maternal smoking and SHS exposure during pregnancy among mothers of children diagnosed with ADHD and investigate exposure to smoking as a predictor of ADHD subtypes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023, using an online questionnaire. The study included 217 parents of children aged 4-17 years diagnosed with ADHD and without a family history of the disorder. Data on sociodemographic determinants, academic achievement, ADHD types, and maternal smoking habits during pregnancy were collected. RESULTS: Among the mothers surveyed, 6.4% reported smoking during pregnancy, while 41% were exposed to SHS. The study found a predominance of the combined subtype of ADHD among the children. Logistic regression analysis revealed that families with monthly income <10 000 SR were 2.6 times more likely to have a child with inattentive or hyperactive ADHD (P < 0.03). Male gender was associated with a 46% reduced likelihood of these subtypes (P < 0.03). SHS smoking and active exposure to smoking during pregnancy did not show any significant effect on ADHD. CONCLUSION: The study found that child gender and family income were significantly associated with the distribution of ADHD subtypes, while maternal smoking and SHS exposure during pregnancy did not show a significant association. The high prevalence of SHS exposure emphasizes the need for increased public health awareness and interventions to promote smoke-free environments during pregnancy.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: BMI has been reported to be a major risk factor for the increased burden of several diseases. This study explores the burden of cancer linked to high body mass index (BMI) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and assesses the correlation with Socio-demographic Index (SDI). METHOD: Using Global burden of disease (GBD) 2019 data, the authors quantified cancer burden through mortality, DALYs, age standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) across sexes, countries, cancer types, and years. Spearman's correlation tested ASMR against SDI. The authors estimated 95% uncertainty limits (UIs) for population attribution fraction (PAFs). RESULTS: Between 1990 and 2019, all six GCC countries showed increased number of the overall cancer-related deaths (398.73% in Bahrain to 1404.25% in United Arab Emirates), and DALYs (347.38% in Kuwait, to 1479.35% in United Arab Emirates) reflecting significant increasing in deaths, and burden cancer attributed to high BMI. In 2019, across GCC countries, pancreatic, uterine, and kidney cancer accounted for 87.91% of the total attributable deaths associated with high BMI in females, whereas in male, colon and rectum cancer alone accounted for 26% of all attributable deaths associated with high BMI. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the significant impact of high BMI on cancer burden in GCC countries. Moreover, the study identifies specific cancers, such as pancreatic, uterine, and kidney cancer in females, and colon and rectum cancer in males, as major contributors to attributable deaths, urging targeted prevention strategies at reducing weight and encouraging physical activity could greatly lessen the impact of diseases in the GCC countries.