There have been no nationwide studies of patient opinions regarding telehealth in Saudi Arabia to identify the factors that might influence patients' perceptions and satisfaction. This was a prospective cross-sectional study of adults in the general population who last engaged with a healthcare practitioner via a virtual appointment. The participants were recruited by convenience sampling across Saudi Arabia between November 2023 and January 2024, completing a questionnaire that gathered data on (i) basic demographic and virtual consultation information and (ii) telehealth service delivery and technology based on the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire. Of the 916 participants, 53.7% were female, with a mean age of 47.2 (14.1) years. Nearly half attended primary care appointments, with the remainder attending a range of hospital specialties. Over 90% preferred having a virtual appointment over an in-person visit. About half had telephone consultations, while about a third had video calls through hospital-provided platforms; >90% found virtual appointments useful and convenient, easy to use, effective, reliable, and produced a favorable clinical interaction; and 97.4% were satisfied with their remote consultation experience despite the technical interruptions. The individuals who were less happy with their virtual consultation were significantly younger, lived in urban areas, attended specialty clinics, were seen by a psychologist, preferred in-person appointments, and had consultations by telephone. These data provide momentum to continue with and expand telehealth, especially through video calls, supported by educational initiatives.
(1) Background: Bone bruises in acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are closely linked to the occurrence of simultaneous meniscal and cartilage damage. Despite the frequent occurrence of associated injuries including bone bruises, meniscus, and cartilage damage in patients with ACL injuries, a systematic review of the relationships between the presence of bone bruises and the extent of meniscus and cartilage injuries has yet to be conducted. (2) Methods: Multiple comprehensive databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, were searched for studies that evaluated the relationship between bone bruises and meniscus or cartilage injuries following ACL injuries. Study selection, data extraction, and meta-analysis were performed. The Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) was used for quality assessments, and Review Manager 5.3 was used for data analysis. (3) Results: Data were extracted from 22 studies encompassing a total of 2891 patients with ACL injuries. Among the included studies, six studies investigated the relationships between bone bruises and medial meniscus (MM) or lateral meniscus (LM) injuries, while three studies investigated the relationships between bone bruises and cartilage injuries. There were no significant correlations between the presence of bone bruises and MM injuries (relative risk (RR) = 1.32; p = 0.61). A quantitative analysis indicated that individuals with bone bruises had a 2.71-fold higher likelihood of sustaining LM injuries than those without bone bruises (RR = 2.71; p = 0.0003). The analysis confirmed a significant relationship between bone bruises and cartilage injuries (RR = 6.18; p = 0.003). (4) Conclusions: Bone bruises occur most frequently in the lateral compartment. Bone bruises resulting from ACL injuries are related to accompanying LM injuries and cartilage injuries. Knowing these associations and the frequency of injuries may allow orthopedic surgeons to promptly address ACL-related meniscus and cartilage injuries on MRI results and in future clinical practice.
Background. The significance of concomitant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in the context of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the severity of TR before and after TAVR with regard to short- and long-term survival and to analyze the influencing factors. Methods. In our retrospective analysis, TR before and after TAVR was examined and patients were classified into groups accordingly. Special attention was paid to patients with post-interventional changes in TR. Mortality after TAVR was considered the primary endpoint of the analysis and major complications according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 (VARC3) were compared. Moreover, biomarkers and risk factors for worsening or improvement of TR through TAVR were analyzed. Results. Among 775 patients who underwent TAVR in our center between January 2009 and December 2019, 686 patients (89%) featured low- and 89 patients (11%) high-grade TR. High-grade pre-TAVR TR was associated with worse short- (30-day), mid- (2-year) and long-term survival up to 8 years. Even though in nearly half of the patients with high-grade TR the regurgitation improved within seven days after TAVR (n = 42/89), this did not result in a survival benefit for this subgroup. On the other hand, a worsening of low-grade TR was seen in more than 10% of the patients (n = 73/686), which was also associated with a worse prognosis. Predictors of worsening of TR after TAVR were adipositas, impaired right ventricular function and the presence of mild TR. Age, atrial fibrillation, COPD, impaired renal function and elevated cardiac biomarkers were risk factors for mortality after TAVR independent from the grade of TR. Conclusions. Not only pre-interventional, but also post-TAVR high-grade TR is associated with a worse prognosis after TAVR. TAVR can change concomitant tricuspid regurgitation, but improvement does not have any impact on short- and long-term survival. Worsening of TR after TAVR is possible and impairs the prognosis.
BACKGROUND: Preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) has been introduced as a new melanoma marker and potential target for immunotherapy. While PRAME immunohistochemistry (IHC) is well documented in surgical pathology, similar data in cytology are limited. Metastatic melanoma is frequently diagnosed via cytology samples in which IHC plays an important role. We aimed to accordingly evaluate the performance of PRAME IHC in diagnosing metastatic melanoma in cytology samples relative to other commonly used melanoma markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 156 archival cytology cases, of which 93 were melanoma cases and 63 nonmelanoma cases (controls). All cases underwent PRAME IHC staining on cell blocks. Nuclear staining of PRAME was evaluated using a quantitative and qualitative scale. Other melanocytic IHC stain results (SOX10, S-100, Melan-A, and HMB45) were also documented. RESULTS: PRAME was detected in tumor cells in 86% of melanoma cases, which was significantly lower than SOX10 (100%) (p < .01), and similar to HMB45 (84%) and Melan-A (82%). S-100 had the lowest sensitivity of 71%. In comparison to other types of melanomas, spindle cell melanoma exhibited higher negativity for PRAME IHC (4/10 = 40%). PRAME was also expressed in some nonmelanocytic malignancies including carcinoma (5/22 = 23%), sarcoma (5/15 = 33%), and hematologic malignancies (1/9 = 11%). Overall, PRAME showed a sensitivity of 86%, specificity of 82%, positive predictive value of 70%, and negative predictive value of 92% for metastatic melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: PRAME is a useful marker for the diagnosis of melanoma in cytology material, but it is less sensitive than SOX10. PRAME is also expressed in other nonmelanocytic tumors which limits its specificity.
(1) Background: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of bone bruises in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and the location of the bruises relative to the tibia and femur. Understanding the relative positions of these bone bruises could enhance our comprehension of the knee loading patterns that occur during an ACL injury. (2) Methods: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies that evaluated the presence of bone bruises following ACL injuries. Study selection, data extraction, and a systematic review were performed. (3) Results: Bone bruises were observed in 3207 cases (82.8%) at the lateral tibia plateau (LTP), 1608 cases (41.5%) at the medial tibia plateau (MTP), 2765 cases (71.4%) at the lateral femoral condyle (LFC), and 1257 cases (32.4%) at the medial femoral condyle (MFC). Of the 30 studies, 11 were able to assess the anterior to posterior direction. The posterior LTP and center LFC were the most common areas of bone bruises. Among the 30 studies, 14 documented bone bruises across all four sites (LTP, MTP, LFC, and MFC). The most common pattern was bone bruises appearing at the LTP and LFC. (4) Conclusions: The most frequently observed pattern of bone bruises was restricted to the lateral aspects of both the tibia and femur. In cases where bone bruises were present on both the lateral and medial sides, those on the lateral side exhibited greater severity. The positioning of bone bruises along the front-back axis indicated a forward shift of the tibia in relation to the femur during ACL injuries.
Background: This study aimed to determine the rate of telemedicine (TM) use and the levels of awareness, knowledge, attitude, and skills of TM among primary healthcare (PHC) providers. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 104 PHC providers were subjected to a validated AKAS scale via Survey Monkey. The tool consists of 4 parameters that users can respond to using a 4-point Likert scale to assess their awareness (12 statements), knowledge (11 statements), attitude (11 statements), and skills (13 statements) on TM. Total and percentage mean scores (PMS) were calculated for each parameter. Participants were categorized in each parameter into three categories: low (≤ 49% score), average (50-70% score), and high (≥ 71% score) levels. The association of AKAS levels with personal characteristics and TM use was investigated. The significance was set at p<0.05. Results: One-half of participants (51%) reported current use of TM, and two-thirds (63.5%) reported a high level of AKAS, with a PMS of 72.9±14.7, 95% CI: 70.1-75.7. There were significant associations between the following: years of experience and levels of knowledge (Χ2LT = 6.77, p= 0.009) and skills (Χ2LT = 4.85, p = 0.028), respectively; and total household income and levels of skills (Χ2LT = 6.91, p= 0.009). The rate of TM use was significantly associated with awareness levels (Χ2LT = 6.14, p = 0.013). Lack of training ranked as the first barrier (45.5%), followed by connection problems and tools' unavailability (35.1% each). The participants recommended providing TM training (41.1%) and stabilization of connection and networking signals (30.1%). Conclusion: Despite their high level of TM awareness, the rate of TM use by PHC providers is less than satisfactory. Establishing standardized TM training and supporting the network signals are recommended. A large-scale study on the impact of TM integration with PHC services is necessary.
The present study focused on evaluating the proximate analysis, mineral composition, and in vitro anti-giardial activity of Pimpinella anisum seed extracts, which are aromatic plants with a long history of usage in folk and conventional medicine, as well as pharmaceutical manufacturing. Standard methods were used to determine the proximate analysis of the powdered plant sample, including dry matter, ash, fat, protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. The mineral contents of Pimpinella anisum seed were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), revealing that the plant has a high fiber content (42.62%) followed by carbohydrates (38.79%). The seeds were also found to be a rich source of minerals, with notable amounts of Rubidium, Magnesium, and Calcium. The extracts showed a high mortality percentage compared to Metronidazole, with the chloroform extract exhibiting higher anti-giardial activity (78.71%) than the ethanolic extract (75.29%) at a concentration of 500â ppm. These findings support the traditional use of Anise in treating gastrointestinal issues and as a natural supplement. Further studies are needed to isolate the active ingredients and understand their mechanism of action.
Pimpinella , Plant Oils , Pimpinella/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Seeds , Minerals , Nutritive Value , Carbohydrates
BACKGROUND: TAVI indications expand not only to low-risk patients but also to patients with a more complex anatomy and comorbidities. Transfemoral retrograde access is recognized as the first preferred approach according to the current guidelines. However, this approach is not suitable in up to 10-15% of patients, for whom an alternative non-femoral access route is required. CASE PRESENTATION: An 83-year-old male patient with known aortic isthmus stenosis presented with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Computed tomography revealed a subtotal isthmus stenosis, directly after left subclavian artery origin, with many collaterals extending toward the axillary and subclavian arteries. Duplex ultrasound verified the proximal diameter of the left brachial artery to be 5.5 mm. A successful surgical cutdown trans-brachial TAVI with an Evolut prosthetic valve with a size of 29 mm was performed. On the fourth postoperative day, the patient was discharged, and the three-month follow-up was uneventful. CONCLUSION: In patients with aortic isthmus stenosis, the brachial artery could be a feasible alternative, as a less invasive access site, which can be determined after careful assessment of the vessel diameter. More data are required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this access route and to achieve more technical improvements to increase operator familiarity with it.
In the setting of healthcare, the use of hand sanitizers and antiseptics for hand hygiene is of paramount importance to avoid transfer of pathogenic microorganism through hand and skin contact. There is an increasing interest in the incorporation of essential oils in hand sanitizer's formula to avoid the adverse effect of conventional hand sanitizers on health. This study aimed to detect the chemical constituents of citrus peel essential oils and study their antimicrobial activity compared with commercial hand sanitizers. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the hydrodistillated essential oils of peels of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), lime (Citrus aurantifolia), and orange (Citrus sinensis) were carried out using gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. The disc diffusion method was used to screen the antibacterial activity of the essential oils against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans compared with a 78% alcohol-based commercial hand sanitizer. The antimicrobial testing results were statistically analyzed. The highest yield percentage of the obtained essential oils was 1.09% obtained by orange oil. The GC-MS analysis indicated that monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons occupied the largest portion of the chemical composition of the three essential oils with D-limonene as the most predominant component. All essential oils showed activity against all tested organisms. Lime essential oil showed comparable antimicrobial activity relative to the commercial 78% alcohol hand sanitizer. In conclusion, essential oils obtained from citrus fruit peel represent a rich source of compounds possessing antimicrobial properties and could be an alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents.
In the context of reducing the global emissions of greenhouse gases, hydrogen (H2) has become an attractive alternative to substitute the current fossil fuels. However, its properties, seasonal fluctuations, and the lack of extended energy stability made it extremely difficult to be economically and safely stored for a long term in recent years. Therefore, this paper investigated the potential of shale gas reservoirs (rich and low clay-rich silica minerals) to store hydrogen upon demand. Density functional theory molecular simulation was employed to explore hydrogen adsorption on the silica-kaolinite interface, and the physisorption of hydrogen on the shale surface is revealed. This is supported by low adsorption energies on different adsorption configurations (0.01 to -0.21 eV), and the lack of charge transfer showed by Bader charge analysis. Moreover, the experimental investigation was employed to consider the temperature (50-100 °C) and pressure (up to 20 bar) impact on hydrogen uptake on Midra shale, specifically palygorskite (100%), which is rich in silicate clay minerals (58.83% SiO2). The results showed that these formations do not chemically or physically maintain hydrogen; hence, hydrogen can be reversibly stored. The results highlight the potential of shale gas reservoirs to store hydrogen as no hydrogen is adsorbed on the shale surface, so there will be no hydrogen loss and no adverse effect on the shale's structural integrity, and it can be safely stored in shale reservoirs and recovered upon demand.
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and prion disease, are characterized by the conversion of normally soluble proteins or peptides into aggregated amyloidal fibrils. These diseases result in the permanent loss of specific types of neurons, making them incurable and devastating. Research on animal models of memory problems mentioned in this article contributes to our knowledge of brain health and functionality. Neurodegenerative disorders, which often lead to cognitive impairment and dementia, are becoming more prevalent as global life expectancy increases. These diseases cause severe neurological impairment and neuronal death, making them highly debilitating. Exploring and understanding these complex diseases offer significant insights into the fundamental processes essential for maintaining brain health. Exploring the intricate mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases not only holds promise for potential treatments but also enhances our understanding of fundamental brain health and functionality. By unraveling the complexities of these disorders, researchers can pave the way for advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, improving the lives of individuals affected by neurodegenerative diseases.
Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement is a minimally-invasive alternative treatment for right ventricular outflow tract dysfunction and has been rapidly evolving over the past years. Heart valve prostheses currently available still have major limitations. Therefore, one of the significant challenges for the future is the roll out of transcatheter tissue engineered pulmonary valve replacement to more patients. In the present study, biodegradable poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanofiber scaffolds in the form of a 3D leaflet matrix were successfully seeded with human endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs), human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs (hMSCs), and porcine MSCs (pMSCs) for three weeks for the generation of 3D tissue-engineered tri-leaflet valved stent grafts. The cell adhesion, proliferation, and distribution of these 3D heart leaflets was analyzed using fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All cell lineages were able to increase the overgrown leaflet area within the three-week timeframe. While hMSCs showed a consistent growth rate over the course of three weeks, ECFSs showed almost no increase between days 7 and 14 until a growth spurt appeared between days 14 and 21. More than 90% of heart valve leaflets were covered with cells after the full three-week culturing cycle in nearly all leaflet areas, regardless of which cell type was used. This study shows that seeded biodegradable PCL nanofiber scaffolds incorporated in nitinol or biodegradable stents will offer a new therapeutic option in the future.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells , Polyesters , Humans , Animals , Swine , Polyesters/pharmacology , Tissue Engineering , Tissue Scaffolds , Stents
Introduction YouTube, the world's largest video platform, hosts thousands of educational surgical videos that many trainees rely on to enhance their understanding and proficiency in various surgical procedures. Consequently, a crucial inquiry arises regarding the trustworthiness of these videos as a valuable resource for these trainees. In this article, we address this question by focusing on one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the field of urology and assessing the effectiveness of these videos as an educational tool for urology trainees (ST3+: Specialty Training Year 3 and above). Methodology We conducted a comprehensive search on YouTube for all videos related to 'Testicular Exploration'. After applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified a total of nine eligible videos for analysis. These videos were assessed using the LAParoscopic Surgery Video Educational GuidelineS (LAP-VEGaS) scoring system, which categorized them into two distinct groups. The first group, known as the 'high-quality group', included videos that scored 11 points or higher according to the LAP-VEGaS scoring criteria. The second group, termed the 'low-quality group', consisted of videos that scored less than 11 points using the LAP-VEGaS scoring tool. Additionally, we collected data on various metrics, such as video view counts, duration, likes and dislikes counts, comments count, like ratio, view ratio, and power index, and performed a comparative analysis between the two aforementioned groups. Results Between April 2013 and September 2023, the selected videos exhibited an average total view count of 95,546±138,000. The videos had an average duration of 6.35±2.26 minutes. Furthermore, the mean values for both likes and dislikes were 461.55±581 and 2.89±2.86, respectively. In contrast, the mean like ratio, view ratio, and power index were 0.98±0.0112, 176,00±13,100, and 173.80±131, respectively. The mean LAP-VEGaS scores for videos related to testicular exploration were 9.94±2.05. It is noteworthy that the first group had a statistically higher number of dislikes; however, the view count, comments count, likes count, and view ratio were statistically lower in the same group. Conclusion Videos related to testicular exploration on YouTube exhibit notably low quality and do not serve as a valuable resource for urology trainees. Key factors such as video duration, total view count, and viewer interactions (including likes, dislikes, and comments) should not be relied upon as indicators of educational video quality. Consequently, it is advisable for urology trainees to refrain from using YouTube as a primary source for learning about testicular exploration. Instead, they should seek guidance and support from experienced senior colleagues, educational supervisors, or consultants to explore more reliable sources of information for this surgical procedure.
Endocarditis , Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation , Mitral Valve Insufficiency , Humans , Mitral Valve/diagnostic imaging , Mitral Valve/surgery , Treatment Outcome , Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation/adverse effects , Mitral Valve Insufficiency/diagnostic imaging , Mitral Valve Insufficiency/surgery
Background: Pericardial cysts are rare and represent the third most common cystic mass of the mediastinum. The majority are asymptomatic and detected as incidental findings; however, they can be symptomatic and associated with life-threatening complications such as bronchial compression, congestive heart failure, cardiac tamponade, or even sudden death. Case summary: We present a rare case of a haemorrhagic pericardial cyst with subtotal compression of the right side of the heart. A symptomatic male patient was referred due to progressive dyspnoea, signs of congestive heart failure for four months, and a transthoracic echocardiogram showing subtotal compression of the right heart side; the diagnosis was confirmed with thoracic computer tomography imaging and was removed surgically. Discussion: Pericardial cysts are asymptomatic and benign in the majority of cases; however, they can be associated with life-threatening complications. Thus, regular follow-up is recommended, and in a minority of cases, minimal invasive intervention or surgery could be imperative.
Mevacor/Poly(vinyl acetate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) drug carrier systems (MVR/VAC-HEMA) containing different Mevacor (MVR) contents were prepared in one pot by free radical copolymerization of vinyl acetate with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate using an LED lamp light in the presence of camphorquinone as a photoinitiator and Mevacor as a drug filler. The prepared material was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, DSC, SEM and XRD methods. Different parameters influencing the efficiency in the Mecvacor-water solubility and the drug delivery of this system, such as the swelling capacity of the carrier, the amount of Mevacor loaded and the pH medium have been widely investigated. The results obtained revealed that the Mevacor particles were uniformly dispersed in their molecular state in the copolymer matrix forming a solid solution; the cell toxicity of the virgin poly(vinyl acetate-co-2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) (VAC-HEMA) and MVR/VAC-HEMA drug carrier system exhibited no significant effect on their viability when between 0.25 and 2.00 wt% was loaded in these materials; the average swelling capacity of VAC-HEMA material in water was found to be 45.16 wt%, which was practically unaffected by the pH medium and the solubility of MVR deduced from the release process reached more than 22 and 37 times that of the powder dissolved directly in pH 1 and 7 media, respectively. The in vitro MVR release kinetic study revealed that the MVR/VAC-HEMA system containing 0.5 wt% MVR exhibited the best performance in the short gastrointestinal transit (GITT), while that containing 2.0 wt% is for the long transit as they were able to considerably reduce the minimum release of this drug in the stomach (pH1).
The association between lichen planus (LP) with subsequent hematometra and acute urinary retention (AUR) is quite rare, and few cases reported that association. In such cases, if the patient is left untreated, then possible kidney injury and bladder wall rupture may arise from that retention. In this case, we reported a patient who is known to have a background history of long-standing LP that presented with a history and features suggestive of AUR and was found to be caused by hematometra on an ultrasound scan.
A biodegradable polysaccharide-based inhibitor is grafted with polyacrylamide (PAM) for oilfields' sweet corrosion. The green properties of agar and PAM were incorporated to synthesize an agar-grafted-PAM (AGGPAM) inhibitor. Electrochemical tests of Tafel and AC impedance, were used to determine the corrosion rate of carbon steel (C-steel) and protection efficiency in CO2-saturated 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The surface morphology was characterized using FESEM coupled with EDX. Results demonstrated the promising performance of AGGPAM in improving steel resistivity, achieving 85% efficiency at 500 mg L-1 and reducing the corrosion rate from 33 to 4.9 mils per year at 25 °C. The electrochemical tests classified AGGPAM as a mixed-type inhibitor, yet with a larger potential to inhibit the cathodic hydrogen evolution. Kinetics study at a temperature of 50 °C revealed a deteriorated AGGPAM inhibition attributed to electrolyte diffusion through the weakly adsorbed AGGPAM film. Nevertheless, the AGGPAM-inhibited solution exhibited a corrosion rate of 26.7 mils per year at 50 °C, which is still lower than that of blank at 25 °C. The steel resistance was diminished from 1436 to 355 Ω cm2 at 50 °C. Implementing AGGPAM coating reduced the steel corrosion rate to 9.6 mils per year, achieving 71% efficiency. AGGPAM inhibitor toxicity was evaluated using ADMETlab, which predicted negligible hazardous impacts. Lastly, potentiostatic testing of steel with AGGPAM at an applied potential of 50 mV illustrated surface protection and decreased current over a prolonged time. Herein, the experimental investigation revealed the promising capabilities of AGGPAM as an efficient corrosion inhibitor in oilfields.
BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma affects about 20% of Qatar's population. The impact of asthma on COVID-19 outcomes is controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of asthma on COVID-19 outcomes and the predictors of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality in a cohort of asthma patients infected by COVID-19. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with asthma infected with COVID-19, who were recruited from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the main healthcare system in Qatar. Patients were matched to a control group of non-asthmatic COVID-19 patients (1:2) based on sex, age, and other comorbidities. RESULTS: Between March and August 2020, 616 patients with asthma met the inclusion criteria. The need for hospitalization among patients with asthma was independently associated with older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for 10 years, 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-1.54; p = 0.001) and hypertension (aOR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.43-3.93; p = 0.001) but not with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), long-acting beta2 agonists, montelukast, or tiotropium. Patients with asthma required less hospitalization for COVID-19 than non-asthmatic patients (28.2% vs. 37.3%, respectively; aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.77-0.90; p < 0.001). However, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) was comparable between both groups (3.3% vs. 2.2%; aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 0.78-3.43; p = 0.193). No difference in mortality rate was observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In Qatar, adult patients with asthma do not appear to be at higher risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization or ICU admission compared to the general adult COVID-19-infected population. Older age and hypertension were the only significant predictors of COVID-19-related hospitalization among patients with asthma. Further larger studies are required to confirm such an association.
