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[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20315.].
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PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of keratoconus (KC) on quality of life and assess visual performance via the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25) in the Saudi population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using the NEI-VFQ-25 to evaluate the vision-related quality of life among previously diagnosed KC patients. An online questionnaire was used to distribute the validated survey through various social media networks. The data were extracted, reviewed, coded, and then analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). RESULTS: A total of 429 patients completed the questionnaire. The overall score of NEI-VFQ-25 was 58.6 (SD: 18.0). The visual performance was worse in females than males (with a score of 55.1), especially in patients aged less than 30 years. Visual function improved with the use of low-vision aids (spectacles and contact lenses) compared with those who did not use them. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms the functional impairment in patients with KC, especially in females, patients aged less than 30 years, and those with no low-vision aids. Moreover, it suggests a significant role of these vision aids (spectacles and contact lenses) in improving the quality of life in patients with KC.
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Background In this study, we aimed to assess ophthalmologists' experience with teleophthalmology during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the central region of Saudi Arabia. In addition, we evaluated their satisfaction level and explored their satisfaction determinants. Methodology We conducted an online survey for ophthalmologists who participated in the virtual ophthalmology clinic during COVID-19 between November 2020 and September 2021. The survey was used to evaluate ophthalmologists' experience with teleophthalmology during the pandemic. Ophthalmologists were asked to measure their satisfaction with equipment and technical issues, communication, and clinical assessment, and to provide an overall program evaluation. Data were analyzed via frequency measures (e.g., numbers, percentages, mean, and standard deviation). Results Out of the 113 ophthalmologists who were invited to participate in our study, 71 completed the survey. In total, 23 (32.4%) participants were general ophthalmologists, 15 (21.1%) were subspecialists in the cornea, 16 (22.5%) were subspecialists in glaucoma, one (1.4%) was a subspecialist in neuro-ophthalmology, seven (9.9%) were subspecialists in pediatric ophthalmology, eight (11.3%) were subspecialists in the retina, and one (1.4%) participant was a subspecialist in oculoplastic. Overall, 56.3% of the respondents were satisfied with teleophthalmology. Ophthalmologists who subspecialized in the retina demonstrated higher levels of satisfaction than other subspecialties. The most common challenge reported by ophthalmologists in the virtual consultation was the lack of adequate equipment to evaluate the patients (53.5%), followed by technical issues (43.7%) and the patients' lack of experience in using virtual consultation services (38%). Overall satisfaction score was the highest among ophthalmologists who reported providing at least five video consultations before the survey. Conclusions The findings from our study suggest that the subspeciality of ophthalmologists and the number of video consultations conducted by ophthalmologists are important determinants in their level of satisfaction with teleophthalmology. The majority of the respondents were satisfied with the virtual clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current pandemic could pave the way for the future use of telemedicine in ophthalmology if virtual eye examinations become standardized.
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Introduction The benefits of vaccination outweigh its risks as it protects approximately two to three million individuals from infectious diseases annually. With the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, new vaccines have been developed. However, it is crucial to follow and recognize the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. Previous studies have shown a relationship between ABO blood groups and coronavirus. Some vaccination side effects, such as muscle pain at the injection site and fatigue, may impair an individual's ability to perform tasks that require fine motor skills, such as those performed by a general surgeon. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the association between ABO blood groups and the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines among general surgeons in Saudi Arabia. Method A cross-sectional online survey-based study regarding the side effects following COVID-19 vaccination was conducted among Saudi and non-Saudi general surgeons working in public and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia who had received one or two doses of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Results A total of 612 surgeons responded. Approximately, 74.7% of the respondents reported side effects after receiving vaccines. Tiredness was the most commonly reported side effect of the vaccine, followed by severe local pain at the site of injection. Approximately, 16.2% of the participants started showing side effects 12 hours after receiving the vaccine. There was a significant relationship between the type of vaccine administered and the appearance of side effects (p = 0.004). The rate of appearance of side effects was higher in participants who received the Pfizer vaccine. However, there was no significant relationship between the appearance of side effects and age, gender, blood group, number of doses, and past history of COVID-19 infection (p > 0.05). Of the total participants, 256 (41.8%) stated that the side effects of the vaccine affected their work performance. Moreover, there was no significant difference in side effects, symptoms appearing after vaccination, the onset of symptoms, and duration of symptoms between the participants who received one dose and those who received two doses of the vaccine. In addition, there was no significant relationship between the severity of side effects and age, past history of COVID-19 infection, number of doses, and blood type (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant relationship between the severity of side effects and gender and type of vaccine (p = 0.000 and 0.004, respectively). A high percentage of females and those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine stated that their side effects affected their work performance. Conclusion Three-quarters of the participants reported side effects after the COVID-19 vaccination, which affected the work performance of 41% of participating general surgeons. There was no significant relationship between the appearance of symptoms and age, gender, blood group, number of doses, and past history of COVID-19 infection. However, there was a significant relationship between the severity of side effects and gender and type of vaccination. Future large-scale studies are recommended to further evaluate the implication of ABO blood type on COVID-19.
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INTRODUCTION: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is among the common prevalent diseases in Saudi Arabia. It is associated with several complications that sometimes necessitate surgical procedures. Those patients can also have a lower quality of life (QoL) due to several reasons. Our aim in this study is to highlight the association between sociodemographic data, clinical data, and SCD-related surgeries in patients with their QoL. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using a validated Arabic version of the World Health Organization QoL-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire distributed in electronic form. Male and female Arabic speakers (18+ years old) of Saudi origin were included in this study; those who did not meet these criteria were excluded. RESULTS: We distributed 309 questionnaires to the targeted subjects; however, only 204 met our inclusion criteria. Our findings revealed 135 female respondents and 69 male respondents. Interestingly, splenectomy was not significantly associated with a difference in all aspects of QoL in SCD patients. However, the data showed significantly lower respective mean scores for physical health (p=0.002 & p=0.022) and overall QoL (p=0.024 & p=0.042) for those who underwent cholecystectomy and hip arthroplasty. In contrast, shoulder arthroplasty appeared to be associated with significantly lower mean scores for physical health (T=-2.597; p=0.010) and the environmental aspect of QoL (T=-2.016; p=0.045). CONCLUSION: Cholecystectomy, hip arthroplasty, and shoulder arthroplasty were significantly associated with lower QoL in SCD patients.
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BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is among the prevalent chronic diseases in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. To our knowledge, there is no published research that reports the reasons for hospitalization in the Eastern Province of the country. Therefore, this study aimed to fill this gap. DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study that was conducted in the period from January 2018 to December 2019. Patients with sickle cell disease who were admitted and treated in the hospital were included in this study. Patients' sociodemographic data and reasons for hospitalization were collected and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences, version 21 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: There were 103 SCD patients, and the age range was from 18 to 62 years old. The majority of the patients were males (56.3%) and were in the younger age group (≤30 years old; 60.2%). The results showed that the most frequent cause of admission was a vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) (n=94, 91.3%), followed by acute chest syndrome (ACS) (n=32, 31.1%), and then by hemolytic crisis (27 of the cases; 26.2%). However, we found that a higher number of hip avascular necrosis (AVN) cases were statistically significant in relation to the higher number of hospital admissions (p<0.05), whereas other reasons were not found to have a statistically significant association. CONCLUSION: The most frequent cause of admission was VOC episodes, followed by ACS, and then by hemolytic crises. Also, a higher number of hip AVN episodes were statistically significant with the higher number of hospital admissions.
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Diaphragmatic rupture is an uncommon injury after blunt abdominal trauma. The diaphragmatic defect may not be obvious in imaging studies immediately after the initial injury. Patients may have delayed presentation when the diaphragmatic defect enlarges and allows abdominal content to herniate into the thoracic cavity. Here, we present the case of a 30-year-old man who presented with the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath at rest for two days duration. He reported having shortness of breath for the last five years, but he attributed it to his smoking. The shortness of breath was associated with cough productive and vague abdominal pain. The patient had an unremarkable relevant medical history. He reported having a motor vehicle accident five years ago that was severe but he did not sustain any significant injuries or fractures. Upon examination, the patient appeared in respiratory distress. Respiratory examination revealed diminished air entry on the left hemithorax and the abdominal examination revealed increased generalized tenderness with increased bowel sounds. The patient underwent a thoracic computed tomography scan, which unexpectedly demonstrated a huge left-sided diaphragmatic defect with bowel loops observed to occupy the left hemithorax completely. The patient was stabilized and shifted to emergency laparotomy during which the hernia content was reduced and the defect was closed with a mesh. The patient reported the resolution of his symptoms after the surgery. Intensive chest physiotherapy exercises were performed. After six months of follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic with no active complaints. The diaphragmatic hernia may have delayed presentations after several years of blunt abdominal trauma. The case highlighted the importance of initial imaging studies after blunt trauma may not identify the diaphragmatic defect.