Alnuwaysir Nawaf, Alturki Haifa, Almalki Basem, Bin Amer Lujain, Alotaibi Reem
Department of Community Health Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
J Multimorb Comorb. 2025 Aug 19;15:26335565251367587. doi: 10.1177/26335565251367587. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.
BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity, defined as the coexistence of two or more chronic diseases in a single individual, is a growing public health challenge globally and particularly in Saudi Arabia. AIMS: This narrative review aims to synthesize existing literature on multimorbidity in Saudi Arabia by examining its prevalence, identifying gender-based differences, and highlighting the most commonly associated chronic diseases. METHODS: A structured search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and institutional databases, including Scopus and Web of Science, for English-language studies on multimorbidity in Saudi Arabia published between 2015 and 2025. Boolean operators were applied, and reference lists were screened to ensure comprehensive coverage while minimizing duplication. A total of 17 studies were included, and data were extracted on study design, population, sample size, multimorbidity prevalence, and gender-specific findings. These were analyzed thematically to identify patterns, disparities in gender, and disease clusters. RESULTS: Multimorbidity prevalence in Saudi Arabia ranged from 7.1% to 77.6%, with notably higher rates among women, especially in older age groups. Among the five studies that reported disease-specific patterns, diabetes mellitus was the most frequently cited chronic condition, ranking first in three studies. Other frequently reported conditions included hypertension and dyslipidemia, though their ranking varied across studies. CONCLUSION: This review highlights the evolving landscape of multimorbidity in Saudi Arabia. Findings call for gender-sensitive, integrated care models that address the clustering of chronic conditions. To address persistent gaps, future research should prioritize mental health integration, early-onset multimorbidity, and ensuring better representation of rural populations. Policymakers should invest in national screening programs, strengthen data systems, and embed equity into care delivery in line with Vision 2030 reforms.
背景:多病共存定义为个体同时存在两种或更多种慢性病,这是全球尤其是沙特阿拉伯日益严峻的公共卫生挑战。 目的:本叙述性综述旨在通过研究沙特阿拉伯多病共存的患病率、确定基于性别的差异并突出最常见的相关慢性病,综合现有关于该国多病共存的文献。 方法:利用PubMed、谷歌学术以及包括Scopus和科学网在内的机构数据库进行结构化检索,查找2015年至2025年间发表的关于沙特阿拉伯多病共存的英文研究。应用布尔运算符,并筛选参考文献列表以确保全面覆盖同时尽量减少重复。共纳入17项研究,并提取了有关研究设计、人群、样本量、多病共存患病率以及特定性别的研究结果的数据。对这些数据进行主题分析,以确定模式、性别差异和疾病集群。 结果:沙特阿拉伯的多病共存患病率在7.1%至77.6%之间,女性患病率明显更高,尤其是在老年人群体中。在五项报告了疾病特定模式的研究中,糖尿病是最常被提及的慢性病,在三项研究中排名第一。其他经常报告的疾病包括高血压和血脂异常,不过它们在不同研究中的排名有所不同。 结论:本综述突出了沙特阿拉伯多病共存情况的不断变化。研究结果呼吁建立对性别敏感的综合护理模式,以应对慢性病的聚集。为解决持续存在的差距,未来研究应优先考虑心理健康整合、早发性多病共存以及确保农村人口有更好的代表性。政策制定者应投资于国家筛查项目,加强数据系统,并根据2030年愿景改革将公平性纳入医疗服务提供之中。
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