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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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OBJECTIVES: To assess prevalence and perception of sleep paralysis and its relationship with socioeconomic determinants, and risk factors in a cross-sectional sample of Saudi general population from Al-Ahsa city. METHODS: A cross-sectional sampling survey was conducted during 2020 to 2021. The targets were aged above 18 and belonged to Al-Ahsa. Patients were sent self-reported anonymous questionnaires to complete. RESULTS: A total of 524 participants, whose ages ranged from 18 to 60 years, were analyzed. Among 85.7% of participants aged 55 years and over, compared to 65.8% of those who were aged under 35, 379 (72.3%) respondents were females. Moreover, 438 (83.6%) participants were university graduates, 271 (51.7%) were students and 40.8% had psychological disorders including anxiety (25.2%) and depression (5.7%). Family history of sleep paralysis was reported by 369 (70.4%) participants. A total of 97.5% study participants were aware of sleep paralysis. CONCLUSION: Sleep paralysis is a common occurrence in people residing in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A considerable number of the society held wrong beliefs regarding sleep paralysis. Therefore, raising public of identity of sleep paralysis is crucial. We recommend applying the study in other cities within Saudi Arabia to identify common risk factors and perceptions among the society.
