COMMUNITY SURVEY OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN SAUDI-ARABIA - RESULTS OF THE PILOT-STUDY IN AGRABIAH

A pilot study of the Agrabiah area in Al-Khobar was undertaken to fiel d test study methodologies and identify possible limitations and const raints to a planned community survey for neurological disorders in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The survey used a pre-tested questi onnaire administered by trained personnel to all subjects living withi n 50 blocks randomly selected from the 198 inhabited ones in the area. Subjects with abnormal responses on screening were then evaluated by neurologists using specific guidelines and criteria to establish the d iagnosis of neurological disease. One thousand four hundred and eighty -five subjects (98.3% of all eligible subjects) were screened: 227 (15 %) had abnormal responses. Of the 202 subsequently evaluated by neurol ogists, 178 had definite neurological disease. The overall crude preva lence rate (PR) per 100 population for neurological morbidity was 120. 5 (95% confidence limits [CL] 103.5 to 136.5). Headache syndromes (PR 99.7, CL 83 to 114.7) were common. The other common disorders were sei zures (PR 10.2, CL 5.1 to 15.3), peripheral nerve disorders (PR 2.7), and stroke (PR 2.0). Mental retardation and cerebral palsy were the ma in pediatric problems with PRs of 1.4 and 0.7 respectively. Our result s show that a community survey for neurological disorders is feasible in Saudi Arabia and the modified questionnaire was a good screening in strument (sensitivity 94.7%, specificity 96.8%). However, the findings on the pattern and prevalence of neurological disorders need to be vi ewed with caution, particularly against the background of the scope of the study and the small number of subjects assessed. Cultural practic es, local time and social events, and climatic conditions significantl y affected community participation and the coverage achieved by the st udy. These factors should be considered when planning community survey s in Saudi Arabia and other environments with similar sociocultural se ttings.