Proteomics in Blood Analysis: A Systematic Review of Applications for Early Disease Detection in Saudi Arabian Healthcare Settings

Abstract

Proteomics, the large-scale study of proteins, has emerged as a powerful tool for early disease detection and personalized medicine. Blood-based proteomics, in particular, holds great promise for the development of minimally invasive biomarkers for a wide range of diseases. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current evidence on the applications of proteomics in blood analysis for early disease detection in Saudi Arabian healthcare settings. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for studies published between 2010 and 2023. The search terms included "proteomics," "blood," "early detection," and "Saudi Arabia." The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 10 case-control studies, 3 cohort studies, and 2 cross-sectional studies. The findings suggest that blood-based proteomics has been applied to the early detection of various diseases in Saudi Arabia, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders. However, the majority of the studies were small-scale and exploratory, with limited validation and clinical translation. The review highlights the need for larger, well-designed studies to validate the clinical utility of blood-based proteomic biomarkers in Saudi Arabian healthcare settings, as well as the establishment of standardized protocols and guidelines for the application of proteomics in clinical practice.