Background: Metformin is commonly prescribed to manage polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of childbearing age and is associated with high prevalence rates of depression and anxiety. Objective: This study’s objective was to determine the impact of prescribed metformin on depression and anxiety levels of patients with PCOS. Methods: This prospective, multi-center, cohort study examined the impact of prescribed metformin on the depression and anxiety of women with PCOS in four gynecology clinics in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The women had recently been prescribed metformin along with lifestyle modifications, such as diet and exercise, and were compared to another group of women with PCOS who were prescribed lifestyle modifications only. Depression and anxiety were assessed at baseline and three months later using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale, respectively. Health-related quality of life was measured using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the impact of metformin on depression and anxiety. Results: Eighty-six women participated in the study: 53 were prescribed metformin with lifestyle modifications, and 33 were prescribed lifestyle modifications only. The women on metformin had 70% lower odds of having major depression (PHQ-9≥ 10) (OR=0.302, P=0.045); however, no significant effect of metformin on anxiety (GAD-7≥ 10) was found. Conclusion: Metformin may have a role in the management of depression symptoms among patients with PCOS; however, its potential antidepressant effect should be further examined in randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Background: Trust is pivotal for a productive relationship between patients and healthcare providers and is positively correlated with multiple clinical and humanistic outcomes. However, the impact of trust in healthcare providers on different domains of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among diabetic patients has not been studied in detail. Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the association between the physical, mental or psychological, social, and environmental domains of HRQoL with the patients’ trust in their primary care physicians while controlling for several sociodemographic and clinical factors. The study was conducted among a sample of diabetic patients. Patients and Methods: This study had a prospective questionnaire-based, multi-center, cross-sectional design. The patients were recruited from three public hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Patients’ experiences and trust in their primary care physicians were assessed using the Health Care Relationship Trust (HCR-Trust) scale. HRQoL was assessed using the Arabic version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Multiple linear regression was conducted to assess the relationship between HCR-Trust and the WHOQOL-BREF physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains controlling for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, health literacy, sex, education, annual income, nationality, and illness duration. Results: Three hundred and sixty-four patients participated in the study. The scores in all four domains of WHOQOL-BREF were positively associated with HCR-Trust scores of the diabetic patients. Additionally, the scores in the physical (β = − 10.26; 95% CI: − 13.77 to − 6.74; P < 0.0001) and psychological (β = − 3.91; 95% CI: − 7.44 to − 0.38; P < 0.0001) domains were negatively associated with female gender. Furthermore, the physical domain score was negatively associated with the duration of illness (β = − 0.26; 95% CI: − 0.506 to − 0.02; P = 0.032). The environmental domain score was positively associated with annual income (β = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.05 to 3.56; P = 0.030). Other patient characteristics, such as age and education, were not associated with the scores of any of the WHOQOL-BREF domains. Conclusion: Patient trust in healthcare providers is positively associated with different domains of HRQoL. Therefore, building and maintaining trust with patients is important to achieve favorable treatment outcomes.

Ace inhibitor-induced angioedema, characterized by sudden-onset swelling of the mucous membrane, skin, or both, is a rare occurrence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Because of its safety and efficacy, perindopril is a commonly prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Here we describe the clinical manifestations, management, and outcome of perindopril-induced angioedema of the lips and tongue in a 65-year-old Saudi man. A 65-year-old Saudi Arab man presented to an emergency department with lip and tongue swelling and dysphagia. There were no systemic symptoms and no past history of a similar event. He had been consuming perindopril 5 mg and amlodipine 5 mg for the last 3 weeks: brand name, Coveram, from the company Servier (Ireland) Industries Ltd.; one tablet of Coveram contains 3.395 mg perindopril corresponding to 5 mg perindopril arginine and 6.935 mg amlodipine besilate corresponding to 5 mg amlodipine. A physical examination revealed considerable swelling of his lips and tongue. Examinations of other systems, including his cardiovascular and respiratory systems, revealed unremarkable findings. All laboratory parameters were also normal. Electrocardiography demonstrated sinus rhythm, a normal P axis, and V-rate of 50–99. A clinical diagnosis of perindopril-induced angioedema was made, and perindopril was discontinued. The angioedema resolved completely after the administration of antihistamines and corticosteroids. Angioedema caused by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors is an uncommon occurrence in Saudi Arabia. The findings from this case are expected to raise awareness about this condition among clinicians in this country.

Attitude, knowledge and experience of hospital pharmacists with pharmacovigilance in a region in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study