Temporal trends in the incidence and demographics of cancers, communicable diseases, and non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia over the last decade

Herzallah, Hatem K.; Antonisamy, Belavendra R.; Shafee, Mohammed H.; Al-Otaibi, Sultan T.

Incidence of communicable diseases. The incidence rates (per 100,000 population) and trends in the ASR of hepatitis B, dengue fever, measles, chickenpox, and brucellosis for the period 2003-2016 are shown in Table 2 and (Table 3 and Figure 3A ). The prevalence of diabetes further increased to 34.7% among men and 28.6% among women in 2010-2017. [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] The prevalence of HTN also increased from 11.4% to 28.6% in men and from 11.4% to 23.9% in women from 1970-1979 to 2000-2009 (Table 3 and Figure 3B ). 13, 16, 17 The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (elevated serum cholesterol level) increased from 9% to 18.6% in men and from 11% to 19.7% in women during the same period (Table 3 and Figure 3C ). 11, 18 However, the prevalence of chronic pulmonary diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema decreased from 17.2% among both men and women in 1990-1999 to 5.8% in 2000-2009 and further decreased to 3.5% among men and 1.0% among women in 2010-2017 (Table 3 and Figure 3D ). [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] The prevalence of CAD was 6.6% in men and 4.4% in women. 19 The prevalence of obesity was increased from 22% in 1990-1993 to 36% in 2005 ( Figure 3E ). 20 The prevalence of obesity was 24.1% in males and 14% in females. 21 In Buraydah and Unaiza, the male obesity was found to be 34.3% and female obesity was 17.3%. 22 In Tabuk, male obesity was 18.1%. 23 The prevalence of obesity among Saudi children was found to be 9.3%. 24 In Jeddah, moderately obese was 10.7% and severely obese was 7.9%. 25 In Aseer, the prevalence of obesity was 23.2%. 26 Discussion. Saudi Arabia, with a population of 31.5 million people (in 2015), spends 7.25% of its 10 The present study assessed the trends in the incidence rate of 5 most common cancers, communicable diseases, and non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia. Our data showed that breast cancer was the most common cancer among Saudi Arabian women. This finding highlights the very low rate of breast cancer screening and the need to intensify breast cancer screening in Saudi Arabia. In the United States (US), literate women are more likely to undergo a mammography. 27 However, the rate of mammography is only 6.7% in Saudi Arabia compared with 72.4% in the US. 8, 28 Therefore, women empowerment is imperative for achieving the national goals of health education. Knowledge about breast cancer and its screening is still very poor among Saudi women. Therefore, awareness programs regarding the importance of breast cancer screening should be initiated more aggressively among Saudi Arabian women. The median age for colorectal cancer was 60 years for men and 55 years for women during 1994-2000 in Saudi Arabia and was 68 years for men and 72 years for women during 2004-2010 in the US. 7,29 Therfore, it is recommended to begin screening of colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia at the age of 40 years and it may be strictly implemented. 28 The incidences of cancer in Saudi Arabia have reached a plateau recently, at least for colorectal cancer and the data supports this for the years 2010-2014. The increase in the number of reported cases of colorectal cancer in the last 5 years is merely due to an increase in the size of the population, but not an increase in the incidence rate which has fluctuated between 9-10/100,0000 and this is different from the rate in the 1990's.