Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40413548›Full record

ReviewJournal of health, population, and nutrition2025

The trends of mortality, aetiologies and risk factors of lower respiratory infections in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2021: results from the global burden of disease study 2021.

Majed Ramadan, Rbab Bajunaid, Jood Abdulhafeez Alansari, Hala Yusef, Rawiah A Alsiary

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Majed RamadanPopulation Health Research Section, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, P.O.BOX 9515, Jeddah, 21423, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0001-9838-2155
Rbab BajunaidMinistry of National Guard - Health Affairs, Jeddah, 26326, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0001-6085-6060
Jood Abdulhafeez AlansariTeaching Assistant in Basic Science Department, College of Sciences and Health Professions, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Hala YusefMedical Lab Specialist, Umm al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Rawiah A AlsiaryCell therapy and cance Research department King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard - Health Affairs, P.O.Box 9515, Jeddah, 21423, Saudi Arabia. alsiaryr@kaimrc.edu.sa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLower respiratory tract infections (LRIs) are the fourth leading cause of death globally, affecting all age groups and leading to over 2 million deaths annually. Saudi Arabia faces a significant burden from LRIs, affecting more than 15% of the population each year. This study aims to provide an overview of LRI mortality, etiologies, and risk factors in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2021.

methodData on LRI mortality in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the 2021 edition of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Result Tool. The analysis encompassed mortality rates across all age groups, with particular emphasis on children under five and adults over 70. Four primary etiologies influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) were examined, alongside 14 associated risk factors.

resultsThe total LRI deaths in Saudi Arabia decreased by 6% from 1990 to 2021, with a significant reduction observed among children under five years old (96%). In contrast, LRI mortality among adults over 70 increased by 16% during the same period. The age-standardized mortality rate decreased by 47%, with significant reductions in deaths associated with pneumococcus and RSV. However, risk factors, such as smoking and ambient particulate matter pollution, showed minimal declines or even increased mortality rates in older adults.

conclusionOver the past three decades, Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in reducing LRI mortality, particularly among children under five. However, the increasing mortality rates among the elderly highlight the need for targeted interventions to address their unique vulnerabilities. Continued investment in public health infrastructure, vaccination coverage, and environmental health initiatives is essential for further reducing the burden of LRIs in Saudi Arabia.

Indexed as

Respiratory Tract InfectionsAdolescentAdultAgedChildChild, PreschoolFemaleGlobal Burden of DiseaseHaemophilus InfectionsHumansInfantInfant, NewbornInfluenza, HumanMaleMiddle AgedMortalityAnd Saudi ArabiaBurdenLower respiratory infectionMortality

Identifiers

PMID40413548
PMCPMC12102968

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.