Aim Post-COVID-19 syndrome is defined as continuous symptoms related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which can persist for several weeks or months. Previous studies identified risk factors associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome, including female sex, hypertension, and allergic respiratory diseases. This study aims to investigate the frequency of this syndrome among Arabic patients. Subject and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2022. The study included 520 Arabic patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, who were asked about possible symptoms persisting for ≥28 days. Results Twenty-five percent (25%) of the included patients developed post-COVID-19 syndrome. The most common recorded symptoms were cough (32%), anosmia (32%), fatigue (28%), headache (19%), muscle pain (19%), and shortness of breath (17%). It was found that female sex, hospitalization due to initial COVID-19 infection, and the presence of chronic diseases were significant risk factors for developing post-COVID-19 syndrome. Conclusion The study recorded post-COVID-19 syndrome among 25% of Arabic participants. Initial COVID-19 hospitalization, initial symptomatic COVID-19, and female sex were significant risk factors for developing post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Background: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is described as one of the main issues in any hospital. In Saudi Arabia, the ministry of health applied new telemedicine technology to serve patients by using the mobile application, including the Sehha application and 937 medical call center. The main aim of this study is to determine the role of different telemedicine services in changing the intention users’ intentions for visiting the emergency departments in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during August 2020 to May 2021 among 319 patients using two telemedicine services in Saudi Arabia, including the medical call center and Sehha smartphone application. The primary endpoint of this study was to determine the number of patients intended to visit ER before and after contacting one of the two telemedicine services and the frequency of people who changed their opinion to visit an ED. Results: This study analyzed the data from 319 patients who completed the survey provided by the Saudi Ministry of Health concerning information related to their health status and ED visits. Among patients that had the intention to visit the ED ( N = 159), 53 of them did not go to EDs after using telemedicine services ( p < 0.01). Regarding the medical call center and Sehha application, 9.6% and 24.4%, respectively, of the patients who used these telemedicine services changed their minds concerning visiting ED after taking the medical advice ( p < 0.01). Conclusions: The implemented telemedicine services in Saudi Arabia, namely the Sehha application and medical call center, could reduce those intended to visit ED and consequently reduce the overload of EDs by providing medical advice to patients concerning their minor medical issues.

Job satisfaction is determined as the measure to know the individuals’ feelings toward their work. The working conditions that can affect satisfaction and performance of the call center agents have received particular concern. This study aimed to determine the role of remote call center working on agents’ satisfaction compared to onsite workers. A cross-section study was conducted between December 2020 and April 2021 that include 124 agents working in a governmental medical call center in Saudi Arabia. Each agent was receiving a questionnaire that investigates his/her satisfaction with the job nature, supervisor support, job autonomy, job productivity, and performance. Seventy-seven physicians working onsite were compared to forty-seven physicians remotely working in the medical call center. The mean age of the physicians included was 43.17 ± 8.4 years, and most of them were male (>70%), married (>85%), and family medicine specialists (>50%). The mean years of experience in the medical field of the physicians included was 16.87 ± 8.07 years, and the mean years of experience in the medical call center was 1.44 ± .97 years. Onsite agents were more satisfied concerning job nature, supervisor support, productivity, and performance compared to remote agents (70.82 vs 53.47%, 63.38 vs 55.05%, and 66.51 vs 56.03%, respectively). However, onsite agents were less satisfied regarding job autonomy than remote physicians (46.81 vs 53.19%, P-value = .128). Overall, general satisfaction was more seen in physicians working onsite as opposed to remote workers in the medical call center in Saudi Arabia (64.90 vs 54.25%, P-value < .01).

Introduction: Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medication described as a prodrug, which cannot exert the antiplatelet effect until being biotransformed to the active metabolite. It is commonly used to reduce the risk of blood coagulation in patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome, or ischemic stroke. Area covered: We reviewed published articles in PubMed and Google Scholar that focused on the mutations of CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2B6, and CYP1A2 genes related to clopidogrel clinical efficacy and safety. Expert opinion: Based on current pharmacogenetic studies, patients carrying CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*3, CYP2C9*3, and CYP2B6*5 alleles may not respond to clopidogrel due to poor platelet inhibition efficacy revealed among them. In contrast, carriers of CYP2C19*17, CYP3A4*1G, and CYP1A2*1C alleles showed a more significant antiplatelet effect in clopidogrel users and expected to have a protective role as a genetic factor against cardiovascular events. Genotyping for either CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2B6, or CYP1A2 variants is not recommended when considering clopidogrel treatment for patients, as some trials showed specific non-genetic factors (e.g. age and diabetes) that could affect clopidogrel responsiveness. Instead, platelets inhibition tests could be used as predictors of the clinical efficacy of clopidogrel treatment. Other P2Y12 receptor inhibitors should be considered as alternative medications.