The consequences of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare systems worldwide are undeniably disrupting regularly provided care for non-COVID-19 patients. Since the start of the pandemic, medical services in Saudi Arabia have adapted to the situation by providing medical care through virtual clinics. This article aims to evaluate patient satisfaction with virtual clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients who had experience with the virtual clinics of Unaizah College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was sent to all participants who visited the virtual clinic between May 2020 and July 2020. The questionnaire included demographic data and 16 statements to assess patient satisfaction with the virtual clinic experience. A total of 123 participants completed the questionnaire. Their mean age was 33 ± 12 years; 61% were females and 39% were males. Most of the participants were from the Qassim region (77.2%), while 22.8% were from other regions in Saudi Arabia. Dermatology clinics were the most frequently visited virtual clinics, followed by psychiatry clinics. Most of the participants were satisfied with the virtual clinics, with average scores greater than three for most of the components of the questionnaire. The participants showed considerable satisfaction for virtual clinics in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the service was relatively new to them. Future additional efforts will be needed to support clinically appropriate and acceptable virtual visits combined with in-person visits after the pandemic.

Objective This study investigates the prevalence and risk of thyroid disturbances in pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes mellitus (DM) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a tertiary hospital setting in Riyadh, SA. This research's findings may help identify potential risk factors associated with thyroid disturbances during pregnancy and facilitate early diagnosis for at-risk pregnant women. Subjects and methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at an endocrinology clinic between October 2018 and December 2021 to evaluate the electronic records of pregnant women with DM or GDM who had documented normal thyroid function before pregnancy. Results Three hundred ninety-six files that met the selection criteria were deeply investigated and analyzed. The analysis showed that 378 (95.5%) patients were of Saudi nationality, and the mean age in years ± SD for the selected patients was 34.23 ± 5.468. The prevalence of obesity was 63.7%, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 32.78 ± 6.78 kg/m2. The patients in this study were categorized into three groups based on their type of DM: 57 were diagnosed with type 1 DM (14.4%), 120 with type 2 DM (30.3%), and 219 with GDM (55.3%). The study identified 43 patients (10.85%) with subclinical hypothyroidism and 74 (18.69%) with hypothyroidism. Among the remaining patients, thyroid function was within the normal range for 264 (66.67%). The study also identified eight patients (2.02%) with subclinical hyperthyroidism and seven (1.77%) with hyperthyroidism. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was reported at 33.4%, with most of the dysfunction observed in the GDM group (20.7%). By comparison, the type 1 DM and type 2 DM groups presented a lower prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, accounting for only 4.1% and 8.6%, respectively. Conclusions Hypothyroidism, both clinical and subclinical, is more prevalent among patients with GDM than individuals with type 1 and type 2 DM. Research suggests a greater risk of developing hypothyroidism in patients with an increased BMI and among those older during pregnancy.

Background: Hypertension imposes a significant public health burden. An increased awareness of hypertension complications within a population can positively impact patient care and prevent complications. This study seeks to assess the awareness of hypertension complications among the population of Bisha in Saudi Arabia in 2020. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020. A validated self-administered online-based questionnaire was sent to a sample of the adult population of Bisha to measure their awareness of hypertension complications. Results: Almost three-quarters of the population (72.2%) were aware of hypertension complications. The awareness level was significantly higher among male participants (p < 0.001), those aged 31–40 years, those who were married, those working as police officers or in civilian jobs, those living in urban areas (p = 0.04), those with a university-level education (p = 0.03), those with a medium family income (SAR 5000–14,999) (p = 0.001), and those with a history of hospitalization because of causes other than hypertension (p = 0.05). Marital status was independently predictive of awareness (B = 0.851, Wald test = 12.179, p = 0.000) among the respondents. Conclusion: The study concludes that the awareness of hypertension complications among the Bisha population in Saudi Arabia was deemed acceptable. Factors such as marital status, age, gender, a family history of hypertension, the duration of hypertension, and medication adherence positively influenced this awareness and served as predictors of hypertensive awareness. The findings highlight the importance of health authorities in ensuring the widespread awareness of hypertension complications, particularly among hypertensive individuals.

Introduction: Third-hand smoke refers to pollutants that linger on surfaces and in the environment well after smoking has stopped. These substances can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. These persistent toxins, which settle on walls, furniture, and clothing, are linked to serious health issues such as asthma, reproductive system disorders, postpartum depression, and sleep disturbances in children. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional research design to assess the perceptions of Qassim University medical students regarding third-hand smoke. The study included 377 participants, with data collected through an electronic, self-administered Beliefs About Third-Hand Smoke (BATHS) questionnaire. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 27. Results: The results show that majority of respondents believe that lingering air can harm the health of infants and children (78.6%). Almost two-thirds (74.6%) also believe that these particles are absorbed into furniture and walls, while a majority (62%) think that the particles can persist in a room for several weeks. Females demonstrated slightly higher median overall belief scores (33) compared with males (32), with a P value of 0.09. Smokers had a lower median persistent belief score (13) compared with nonsmokers (15); this difference was statistically significant with a P value of 0.041, suggesting that smokers may be less convinced about the persistence of smoke particles. Conclusion: The study found strong awareness among medical students about the persistence and health risks of third-hand smoke. The majority of the students understood that standard ventilation cannot fully eliminate smoke particles, which can linger on surfaces and pose health risks. However, smokers were less concerned about this persistence, and perceptions varied by gender. The findings suggest a need for targeted educational programs to improve understanding of third-hand smoke among both medical students and the general population.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a major global public health challenge; however, data from sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Sudan, remain scarce. This study investigated the prevalence of cognitive impairment and the factors associated with it among adults in East Gezira, central Sudan. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2025. Using multistage stratified random sampling, 336 adults aged ≥ 18 years were recruited. Cognitive status was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with a score of < 26 indicating cognitive impairment. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scales, respectively. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with cognitive impairment. Results: Of the 336 adults, 227 (67.6%) were men and 109 (32.4%) were women. Their median (interquartile range) age and body mass index were 42.0 (30.0‒55.0) years and 22.6 (19.3‒27.0) kg/m², respectively. The overall prevalence of cognitive impairment (MoCA score < 26) was 73.5%. The prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe cognitive impairment was 51.5%, 21.7%, and 0.3%, respectively. In multivariate binary analysis, factors independently associated with cognitive impairment were older age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.004– 1.05), low education level (AOR: 5.22; 95% CI: 2.70– 10.09), unemployment (AOR: 2.46; 95% CI: 1.03– 5.91), and depression (AOR: 2.98; 95% CI: 1.30– 6.83). Conclusion: The prevalence of cognitive impairment in this central Sudan community is remarkably high. Age, low education, unemployment, and depression are significant risk factors. These findings underscore the urgent need for public health interventions to detect and manage cognitive impairment early in this population.

Alpha-blockers are widely used in medical expulsive therapy (MET) for ureteral stones; however, the current evidence regarding their comparative effectiveness remains inconsistent. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different alpha-blockers in facilitating ureteral stone passage and identify factors influencing treatment outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2010 and 2025. We searched multiple databases for studies comparing alpha-blockers with control interventions or other alpha-blockers for ureteral stones ≤10 mm. Primary outcome was stone expulsion rate; secondary outcomes included time to expulsion, pain episodes, analgesic use, and adverse events. We performed subgroup analyses by alpha-blocker type, stone size, location, and treatment duration. Network meta-analysis assessed comparative effectiveness between agents. Twenty-nine RCTs with a total of 4,256 patients were included. Alpha-blockers significantly increased stone expulsion rates compared to controls (70.9% vs. 56.5%; RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.20–1.32; Number Needed to Treat (NNT) = 7) and reduced expulsion time by approximately three-days. Efficacy was greatest for distal ureteral stones (RR 1.52; Number Needed to Treat (NNT) = 4) and stones 5–10 mm (RR 1.35; NNT = 6). Network meta-analysis revealed efficacy ranking favoring at first terazosin, followed by doxazosin then, silodosin then, tamsulosin then, alfuzosin and last the least effective was naftopidil. Alpha-blockers significantly reduced pain episodes and analgesic requirements. Adverse events were infrequent (Number Needed to Harm (NNH) = 38), with retrograde ejaculation being most common with silodosin. Alpha-blockers significantly improve the stone expulsion rates and reduce expulsion time, especially for distal ureteral stones 5–10 mm in size. While tamsulosin remains the most studied agent, our network meta-analysis suggests terazosin and doxazosin may offer superior efficacy. The favorable risk-benefit profile supports routine use of alpha-blockers for appropriately selected patients with ureteral stones.