RESUMO
Introduction Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) have a tremendous impact on working people and are becoming a serious problem in the modern society. The healthcare system is regarded as having one of the most physically demanding jobs, and the risk of musculoskeletal injuries is high. Irrespective of their age, healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide frequently experience shoulder and neck pain. In our study, we sought to understand what initiates shoulder and neck pain, such as stress or environmental factors, and what causes shoulder and neck discomfort among Saudi Arabian healthcare professionals. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from 2022 to 2023, assessing shoulder and neck pain among healthcare workers in the central region of Saudi Arabia. An online survey was used, with 409 participants aged 20 or older. The questionnaire included socio-demographic data, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) questionnaire to measure shoulder pain and disability, neck Bournemouth questionnaire (NBQ) to assess neck pain, and quadruple visual analogue scale (QVAS) to measure the intensity of pain. Results Of the 409 HCWs, 56% were males, and 56.5% belonged to the age group of 20-30 years. The prevalence of high-intensity pain based on QVAS criteria was 29.3%. The mean percentage of neck pain (32.3%) was slightly higher than shoulder pain (31.8%). There was a significant association between the level of pain intensity in terms of the total score of NBQ, SPADI score, and its dimensions. It is interesting to know that HCWs with associated chronic diseases had higher scores in all three questionnaires (NBQ, SPADI, and QVAS). Conclusion High-intensity musculoskeletal pain was relatively high among HCWs. It was found that neck pain affected HCWs more than shoulder pain. Furthermore, an increased pain intensity in the shoulder and neck was more frequently seen in HCWs with chronic diseases. More studies are needed to determine the causes and risk factors for neck and shoulder pain to help improve the healthcare system and patient care.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are regarded as a unique group due to the distinct immunological condition that pregnancy produces, which makes pregnant women more susceptible to respiratory infections like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its consequences. During pregnancy, many viral infections have been recognized to increase the risk of adverse obstetrical outcomes such as preterm delivery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 infection on preterm birth in pregnant women in the Al-Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in Saudi Arabia between December 2019 to October 2021. The target subjects were pregnant women with live singleton gestations who underwent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for COVID-19 infection during their delivery hospitalization. Data gathered included patient demographic information, clinical characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes. Data were analyzed using R version 4.1.1 (R Core Team (2021); R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). RESULTS: A total of 381 pregnant women were included. The median maternal age of women was 31.0 years (IQR: 27.0, 35.0) and the median BMI value was 30.5 kg/m2 (IQR: 26.9, 34.8). The most common comorbidities were diabetes (7.1%) and asthma (4.5%). A known history of preterm birth was prevalent among 2.9%. Of the participants, 13.6% had a prenatal COVID-19 infection, of whom 57.7% had their infections resolved. The prevalence of positive PCR testing was 13.6%. Preterm birth occurred in 46 women (12.1%, 95%CI 9.1-15.9). Preterm birth was significantly associated with having a maternal age of ≥35 years, having high frequencies of parity, and having a past history of preterm birth, as well as having a history of hypertension and diabetes. Preterm birth was not significantly associated with having a confirmed COVID-19 infection at delivery. CONCLUSION: It was shown that preterm birth is evident among women with COVID-19 infection. Preterm birth is significantly associated with old age, multiparity, and a history of preterm delivery. Preterm birth is not significantly associated with having a confirmed COVID-19 infection at delivery. More research regarding infection-related adverse effects is advised and should be highlighted.
RESUMO
Introduction An inguinal hernia is the most common type of hernia. It might manifest as a groin bulge, lump, or enlarged scrotum. Swelling may be uncomfortable and painful and even cause intestinal obstruction. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of inguinal hernia among athletes in Saudi Arabia. Subject and methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted among Saudi Arabian athletes. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among athletes using an online survey through different Saudi Olympic Training and Fitness Centers throughout the kingdom. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic characteristics (i.e. age, gender, etc.), risk factors, and complications of inguinal hernia. Results Of the 594 athletes, 55.6% were females and 57.6% were aged between 18 and 24 years. The most common type of sport was running (31%). The most common risk factor for inguinal hernia was previous abdominal surgery (57.5%). The prevalence of inguinal hernia among Saudi athletes was 12.3%. Being older in age and being male were the independent significant predictors associated with increased risk for inguinal hernia, whereas weightlifting was the independent significant factor of decreased risk for inguinal hernia. Conclusion The prevalence of inguinal hernia among athletes was 12.3%. Older male athletes were most likely at a greater risk to suffer from inguinal hernia as compared to the rest of the athletes. Further research is needed to extract more data about the prevalence of inguinal hernia among Saudi Arabian athletes and determine its risk factors.
