RESUMEN
Background Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal condition that affects individuals worldwide, causing difficulties in daily tasks and social interactions. It can be categorized based on chronicity, with acute, subacute, and chronic forms. The causes of backache vary among patients and can include inflammatory conditions, radiculopathy, pregnancy, trauma, osteoporosis, nerve root compression, cancer, plexopathy, infection, and other spinal diseases. Aim The aim is to investigate the association between COVID-19 infection and LBP between all Saudi adults and foreign adults who had positive COVID-19 tests in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia over the period from March 2023 to August 2023. Participants were selected by using a convenience sampling method, a sample (n=500) of individuals. The structured questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographic variables and COVID-related features. All the statistical calculations were performed using the SPSS software (by IBM) version 29.0.0. Results 482 participants completed the questionnaire. Out of 482 participants, the majority were females with a number of 372 (77.2%) aged between 20 and 29 years (38.4%). Out of the remaining participants, 110 (22.8%) were males. Most of the participants with a number of 301 (62.4%) were from the Hasa province. This was followed by Qatif (79, 16.4%), Dammam (56, 11.6%), Jubail (25, 5.2%), and others (21, 4.4%). The study revealed that 10.1% of participants reported experiencing back pain. The duration of backaches varied among respondents, with 122 (25.3%) experiencing them from a day to a week, 28 (5.8%) enduring them for six weeks, and 65 (13.5%) reporting a duration of six to 12 weeks. The majority, comprising 267 (55.4%) respondents, were uncertain about the period of their backaches. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection among the participants was 357 (74.1%), and 477 (99.0%) had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Approximately 44.4% of the participants experienced back pain, and out of those, 28.2% reported having pain during quarantine. Among the individuals with back pain, 24.7% attributed it to COVID-19. Conclusion This study highlights the significant correlation between back pain and COVID-19, even after the resolution of other symptoms. It underscores the importance of further research into the long-term effects and mechanisms of this association. The findings emphasize the need for healthcare professionals to consider back pain as a potential aspect of the post-COVID-19 symptom profile, ensuring comprehensive care for affected individuals.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Tinea pedis, commonly known as athlete's foot, is a fungal infection affecting the skin of the feet, primarily between the toes. Despite being a common condition, there may be gaps in knowledge and practices regarding its transmission, risk factors, and treatment options among the general population. METHODS: This study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The study involved 2371 adult population in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was distributed online through social media means. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). RESULTS: A significant portion (66.1%) of respondents reported not examining their feet regularly. The majority (80.7%) of the respondents reported regular use of nail scissors as the common practice. The results further revealed that the majority of respondents (71.7%) were not aware of tinea pedis. Similarly, a large proportion (77.3%) of respondents were unaware of the risk factors associated with tinea pedis. However, among those aware, the most recognized risk factor was diabetes mellitus (82.3%), followed by peripheral arterial disease (37.1%), and immunocompromised conditions like HIV (31.3%). There was a significant association (p = 0.001) between regular foot examination practices and awareness of tinea pedis. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, there is low awareness regarding tinea pedis among the Saudi Arabian population. Only a small proportion demonstrated good knowledge of the condition and its symptoms. However, there is a relatively higher awareness of specific risk factors such as diabetes mellitus and peripheral arterial disease. Hence, it is imperative to enhance education and awareness campaigns to address the gaps in understanding tinea pedis, its associated risk factors, and symptoms, particularly among individuals engaged in physical activities and those who regularly wear sports shoes.
RESUMEN
Introduction Verbal communication relies on the ability to speak and understand language. Speech is only one part of language; language can also be expressed through gestures, writing, and other nonverbal means. Speech and language disorders are impairments in the ability to produce and comprehend language, including problems with mouth movements and vocalization. There is a scarcity of literature on this topic in Saudi Arabia; therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of speech delay in children aged less than seven years in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional self-reported descriptive study was conducted from May 2023 to June 2023 among parents of children less than seven years of age in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Simple convenience sampling was implemented. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was designed and presented to the parents of children less than seven years of age. Categorical data were presented as frequencies and percentages. The analysis included a chi-squared test and a Fisher's exact test. Results A total of 617 participants were included in the study. The majority of children were between 1 and 3 years of age (223, 36.1%) and were male (336, 54.5%). Around 45.5% of the respondents reported that their children may have a speech delay. Children aged >3 to 5 years had a significantly higher prevalence of speech delay (112, 53.1%). Additionally, there was a significant difference in speech delay prevalence between male (170, 50.6%) and female (111, 39.5%, p = 0.006) children. A family history of a developmental communication disorder was significantly associated with speech delay (p < 0.001). Children with speech delay were more likely to have hearing issues (19, 70.4%) and motor issues (19, 70.4%). Moreover, autism spectrum disorder in the child was significantly associated with speech delay (p < 0.001). Conclusions The study found that children aged 3 to 5 years had a significantly higher prevalence of speech delay than younger children. There was a significant difference in speech delay prevalence between male and female children. Children with speech delays were more likely to suffer hearing and motor issues. Speech delay was significantly associated with a family history of a developmental communication problem.
RESUMEN
Background Headache disorders, particularly migraines, significantly impact public health globally. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report highlights migraines as the second leading cause of disability worldwide, especially among women under 50. Hormonal changes, particularly estrogen, play a role in primary headaches like migraines, and this connection becomes important during pregnancy due to physiological changes. Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia to assess the characteristics of the headaches and explore their influencing factors. The study initiated the data collection process across various regions of Saudi Arabia from February 2023 to July 2023. Participants included pregnant women aged 18 or above residing in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through an online self-administered survey with multiple-choice questions. Descriptive analysis and Pearson Chi-Square tests were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, USA). Results A study surveyed 411 pregnant women to investigate the characteristics of headaches during pregnancy. The majority of participants were Saudi nationals 381 (92.7%) and 242 (58.9%) aged 18-30 and 357 (86.9%) resided in urban areas. Around 72 (17.5%) reported having chronic diseases. Results showed that 246 (59.9%) of pregnant women were diagnosed with headaches before pregnancy, with migraines being the most common type by 145 (35.3%). Headache frequency increased during pregnancy for 171 (41.6%) of participants, and the majority 275 (66.9%) experienced headaches lasting 0-3 hours. Nausea 219 (53.3%) and holo-cranial pain 112 (27.3%) were common accompanying symptoms. Conclusion This study provides valuable insights into the burden of headaches among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the importance of improved healthcare practices and educational initiatives to effectively address this issue.
RESUMEN
Background The patient-physician relationship is changing, and patients are taking more responsibility in their decision-making. Many patients use the Internet as an important source of information regarding their health. Physician-rating websites provide essential information about the quality of care from patients' perspectives. However, choosing the appropriate healthcare provider is still complicated for any patient. Many patients find choosing a surgeon stressful because they cannot change the treating surgeon once the surgery is underway. Understanding a patient's preferences in choosing the right surgeon is essential to forming a patient-surgeon relationship and shaping practice. Nevertheless, little is known about the factors influencing patients' choices for elective surgeries in the Qassim region. Objectives This study aims to explore factors and the most common manners patients use to reach their appropriate surgeon in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among target people over 18 years old in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia, using a snowball sample study from October 2022 to February 2023. The data were collected online using Google Forms using a self-administered, valid Arabic questionnaire distributed to respondents via WhatsApp, Twitter, and Telegram. The questionnaire consists of two sections: participants' sociodemographic status, including age, gender, nationality, residence, occupation, and monthly income; and a section to evaluate factors influencing patient decision-making when choosing a surgeon for elective surgery. Results The factors that were significantly associated with elective surgery were: gender of the doctor (adjOR = 1.62, 99% CI: 1.29-2.04); age (adjOR = 1.31, 99% CI: 1.13-1.53); gender of the study patient (adjOR = 1.64, 99% CI: 1.28-2.10); nationality (adjOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.26-0.88); and employment (adjOR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.79-0.99). Conclusions The cultural background in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plays a significant role in influencing gender in the choice of the surgeon for elective surgery. Recommendations from friends and family members play a less significant role in the choice of the surgeon for elective surgery. Patients in employment and pensioners seem to have a significant preference in the choice of surgeon for elective surgery.
RESUMEN
Status epilepticus is a neurological emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality with fatal outcomes if not treated well. The goal of this study was to compare the intramuscular and intravenous treatment of individuals with status epilepticus. A search was performed on Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for articles published in the English language in peer-reviewed publications up to March 1, 2023. Studies were included if the treatment of status epileptics was compared either directly or indirectly between intramuscular and intravenous methods. In addition, relevant papers were manually screened for in the reference lists of the included studies. Non-duplicate articles were identified. Finally, five articles were included in the analysis, of which four were randomized controlled trials and one was a retrospective cohort study. The intramuscular midazolam group's time until the first seizure stopped was significantly shorter than the intravenous diazepam group's time (7.8 versus 11.2 minutes, respectively; p = 0.047). Moreover, the percentage of patients admitted was significantly lower in the intramuscular group than in the intravenous group (p = 0.01), but the lengths of stay in the intensive care unit and the hospital did not differ significantly between the groups. Regarding seizure recurrence, the intramuscular group had fewer incidences of recurrent seizures. Finally, there were no appreciable differences in safety outcomes between the two treatment arms. During the analysis, different outcomes reported after the use of intramuscular and intravenous treatments in managing patients with status epilepticus were categorized. This categorization led to a clear view of the efficacy and safety of intramuscular versus intravenous treatments in managing status epilepticus patients. The information at hand indicates that intramuscular therapy is just as successful as intravenous therapy in treating people with status epilepticus. The availability, adverse effect profile, logistics of administration, cost, and whether it is included in hospital formularies are some of the factors to be taken into consideration when choosing the drug administration technique.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: It has been estimated that 30% of diabetic people experience dermatological problems. Fungal infections are the most frequent cause of these lesions. While tinea infections in non-diabetic individuals rarely cause symptoms, in diabetes patients, they can create fistulas and entry sites that can result in catastrophic bacterial infections. AIM: This research paper aims to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with tinea pedis among diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The research paper incorporated a cross-sectional study approach with the involvement of a questionnaire-based response aimed at all Saudi inhabitants with diabetes mellitus (DM) who conceded to be part of the study. This research was carried out from March 22, 2023, to May 22, 2023, spanning for three months. The participants who satisfied our requirements provided data using computerized Google Forms for data collection; no nominative information disseminated via social media platforms was visible. The three components of the questionnaire address diabetic information, tinea pedis infections, and foot care. RESULTS: A total of 295 people with diabetes case were involved in the study. Among them, 149 (50.5%) were males, and their ages stretched from 16 to above 60 years, with a mean age of 49.5 ± 12.9 years old. A total of 194 (65.8%) of the study patients had type II DM. Of 134 (45.4%) were diagnosed with diabetes for more than 10 years. Exact 152 (52%) of the study diabetic patients were diagnosed with tinea pedis. Only patients' BMI showed a significant association with having tinea pedis as 47 of overweight diabetics were diagnosed with tinea pedis versus 47 of obese patients and only five patients of others who were underweight (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: This research concluded that almost 50% of patients with diabetes were suffering from obesity and were earlier diagnosed with tinea pedis and poor glycemic control irrespective of reported good diabetic foot care.