Dataset Information

Coronavirus and co-infections: A Saudi Arabian perspective.

ABSTRACT: Mortality due to infectious diseases continues to rise globally, despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and supportive care. This is evident with the occurrence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, instigated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Saudi Arabia, an eminent country within the Arab region, has had significant impact during global pandemics, concomitant with the fact that millions of Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimages every year. Herein, we discuss the significance of SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, as well as the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia with particular reference to global transmission and/or emergence of new variants due to genetic mixing of different strains. Furthermore, we also discuss the role of Saudi Arabia with reference to novel emerging infectious diseases and re-emerging infections, such as Ebola, zika, and monkeypox, as well as in the context on coinfections. Future strategies to limit the spread of viral infections and the pivotal role of Saudi Arabia, are deliberated upon.

SUBMITTER: Alharbi AM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10382925 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Coronavirus and co-infections: A Saudi Arabian perspective.

Alharbi Ahmad M AM

Saudi journal of biological sciences 20230713 9

Mortality due to infectious diseases continues to rise globally, despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and supportive care. This is evident with the occurrence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, instigated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Saudi Arabia, an eminent country within the Arab region, has had significant impact during global pandemics, concomitant with the fact that millions of Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimages every year. ...[more]

PMID: 37520787

Similar Datasets

Project description:Background and objectivesThe mental and physical functioning of an individual is partly determined by their health-related quality of life (HRQOL), which is a multifaceted component. Women who have recently given birth must have a good quality of life to provide proper care and development for their infant. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between postpartum depression (PPD) and HRQOL in Saudi Arabian women and to identify potential risk factors that could influence them.MethodsThis study comprised 253 mothers aged 1-24 weeks postpartum from several health centers in Saudi Arabia, recruited by random purposive sampling. The study's questionnaire featured three sections: the first section had demographic information; the second and third sections contained the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scale and the HRQOL scale (SF-12), respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi square analyses, independent samples t-tests and binary logistic regression analysis using IBM SPSS 25.ResultsResults of current study indicate that 59.68% of the patients exhibited probable post-partum depression symptoms. Participants who were depressed had significantly lower mental component (MCS) and physical component scores than participants who were in good health. When compared to non-smokers, smokers have a 21-fold higher risk of developing depression. Similar to this, mothers who worked had a 3.98 times higher risk of depression, and patients with a history of depression had a 3.6 times higher chance of getting PPD. The probability of developing PPD was also significantly higher in those who lived outside the Riyadh region, had given birth more than twice before this time, and had experienced undesired pregnancies.ConclusionOur study demonstrated an inverse correlation between postpartum depression and health-related quality of life scores. Treatment for depression, particularly among mothers, is crucial for improving their quality of life and, as a result, creating a favorable environment for the development of newborn babies.

Project description:IntroductionDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of preventable blindness in Saudi Arabia. With a prevalence of up to 40% of patients with diabetes, DR constitutes a significant public health burden on the country. Saudi Arabia has not yet established a national screening program for DR. Mounting evidence shows that Artificial intelligence (AI)-based DR screening programs are slowly becoming superior to traditional screening, with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating research into this topic as well as changing the outlook of the public toward it. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the perception and acceptance of AI in DR screening among eye care professionals in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study using a self-administered online-based questionnaire was distributed by email through the registry of the Saudi Commission For Health Specialties (SCFHS). 309 ophthalmologists and physicians involved in diabetic eye care in Saudi Arabia participated in the study. Data analysis was done by SPSS, and a value of p < 0.05 was considered significant for statistical purposes.Results54% of participants rated their level of AI knowledge as above average and 63% believed that AI and telemedicine are interchangeable. 66% believed that AI would decrease the workforce of physicians. 79% expected clinical efficiency to increase with AI. Around 50% of participants expected AI to be implemented in the next 5 years.DiscussionMost participants reported good knowledge about AI. Physicians with more clinical experience and those who used e-health apps in clinical practice regarded their AI knowledge as higher than their peers. Perceived knowledge was strongly related to acceptance of the benefits of AI-based DR screening. In general, there was a positive attitude toward AI-based DR screening. However, concerns related to the labor market and data confidentiality were evident. There should be further education and awareness about the topic.

Project description:The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented circumstance that has never previously occurred. This has caused the Saudi Arabian people to recognize the necessity of preventive measures and explore alternative systems, such as using natural products (NPs), for treating their infection. Therefore, the specific objectives of this study were to explore the factors that influence the selection of NPs for COVID-19 management and to know the outcome of using NPs in COVID-19 infection management. This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia between February and April 2022. The validated pretested questionnaire was distributed among different regions of the country via a purposive snowball sampling procedure. Both descriptive statistics and stepwise regression analyses were carried out to evaluate the parameters related to the use of medicinal plants for the prevention of COVID-19 and the treatment of respiratory symptoms during the pandemic. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Of the 677 participants, 65% reported using NPs for themselves or family members during COVID-19. Utilizing NPs is always given priority by a significant (p < 0.001) percentage of survey respondents. Further, a highly significant (p < 0.001) percentage of participants felt that using NPs reduced their COVID-19 symptoms without having any remarkable (p < 0.001) adverse effects. Family and friends (59%) were the most frequent sources of information about utilizing NPs, followed by personal experience (41%). Honey (62.7%) and ginger (53.8%) were the most utilized NP among participants. Moreover, black seeds, garlic and turmeric were used by 40.5%, 37.7% and 26.3% of the surveyors, respectively. Those who used NPs before COVID-19 were 72.9% more likely to use them during COVID-19. NPs are more likely to be used by 75% of people who live in the central part of the country and whose families prefer it. This is true even if other factors are considered, such as the practice of using NPs along with traditional therapies and the fact that some participants' families prefer it. Our findings show that NPs were commonly used to treat COVID-19 infection among Saudi Arabian residents. Close friends and family members mainly encouraged the use of NPs. Overall, the use of NPs was high among those who participated in our study; such practices are strongly impacted by society. It is essential to promote extensive studies to improve the recognition and accessibility of these products. Authorities should also educate the people about the benefits and risks of using commonly used NPs, especially those reported in this study.

Dataset Information

Coronavirus and co-infections: A Saudi Arabian perspective.

Publications

Coronavirus and co-infections: A Saudi Arabian perspective.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets