Background and objective Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In light of the COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in late 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed mass immunization to enhance the population's immunity against the virus. However, certain concerns have been raised about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines among patients with autoimmune disorders, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS). Further research is required to address these concerns and to gain deeper insights into the possible complications of COVID-19 vaccines among MS patients. This study aimed to assess the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines among MS patients. Methods An observational cross-sectional study was conducted between May and November 2023 at the National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All MS patients enrolled in our local registry system and provided phone numbers were included in the study. A total of 208 MS patients were surveyed via phone interviews, and data were collected regarding their demographics, MS history, COVID-19 history, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, and their exposure to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). All results were analyzed using Stata software. Statistical significance was set at a CI of 95% and a p-value <0.05. Results In our cohort, 128 (61.5%) patients had received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 68 (32.7%) had received two doses; four patients (2.0%) had received only one dose, five (2.4%) had not received the vaccine, and the number of doses was unknown for the remaining three patients (1.4%). The BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech was the most commonly administered (n=136 patients, 66.0%), followed byChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (n=47 patients, 22.8%), and mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine from Moderna (n=5 patients, 2.4%). Of note, 139 patients (69.5%) reported experiencing adverse events after receiving the vaccine, and the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca was significantly associated with higher rates of side effects, in 87.8% of the patients. Conclusion A sizable proportion of MS patients experienced self-limiting side effects from exposure to the COVID-19 vaccine. The rates and incidence of side effects were similar to those encountered in the general population. None of the adverse effects recorded in our population of MS patients were serious or life-threatening. We recommend that physicians encourage patients with MS who have never received COVID-19 vaccination to get promptly vaccinated as the risks of COVID-19 infection far outweigh the minor risks associated with COVID-19 vaccination.
Introduction Lifestyle-related factors including dietary intake can significantly increase the chances of developing migraine. Some components of food items are thought to induce the release of vasoactive substances leading to the dilation of blood vessels, which in turn results in migraine episodes. This research aimed to assess the prevalence of migraine and examine the relation of the headache to the dietary patterns of female students and employees of King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS) - Jeddah experiencing migraine attacks as well as to assess the relationship between the migraine attacks and the available dietary items served at the food outlets within the campus. Methods Two questionnaires were developed for this study. The first questionnaire was a short survey asking about the characteristics of headaches. This survey aimed to estimate the prevalence of migraine among female students and employees in KSAU-HS. Of the participants who filled the first questionnaire, those who met the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICDH-III) criteria for migraine were given a second questionnaire to further understand the characteristics of their migraine headaches and to assess lifestyle and diet-related aggravating factors. Results The final sample size for the calculated prevalence was 410; 352 were students and 58 were faculty members. It has been found that 165 (40.24%) participants of the KSAU-HS female population met the criteria for migraine. Two (2.2%) reported an association between chocolate consumption and headaches and seven (7.8%) reported a significant association between caffeine and headaches. No specific association was perceived by the respondents between migraine attacks and the following food items: citrus fruits, pickles, cheese, and dairy products. Conclusion Our study revealed that the widespread trends for excessive consumption of coffee and caffeinated beverages at food outlets within the educational institution are occult triggers for headache attacks in a significant portion of students with migraine. The recent shift in dietary habits in our community for excessive consumption of coffee and other tyramine-rich food items has negative consequences on productivity and the economy. Our results can be conceivably extrapolated to reflect the effect of dietary habits on other streams of society, including companies, firms, schools, and workplaces that are driven by the new dietary trends.
