Neurological Manifestations and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with COVID-19 in the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia.

COVID-19 patients also present with rheumatological problems, cardiac problems, and even neurological manifestations. However, the data are still insufficient at present to fill the gaps in our understanding of the neurological presentations of COVID-19. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to reveal the various neurological manifestations of patients with COVID-19 and to find the association between neurological manifestations and the clinical outcome. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Abha, in the Aseer region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, among COVID-19 patients aged 18 years or older who were admitted with the neurological manifestations of COVID-19 to the Aseer Central Hospital and Heart Center Hospital Abha. Non-probability convenient sampling was used. All the information was gathered by the principal investigator using a questionnaire including sociodemographic information, disease characteristics of COVID-19, neurological manifestations, and other complications. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 16.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A total of 55 patients were included in the present study. About half of the patients were admitted to the ICU, and 18 (62.1%) patients died after 1 month of follow-up. Patients aged over 60 years had a 75% mortality rate. About 66.66% of patients with pre-existing neurological disorders died. Statistically significant associations were found between neurological symptoms such as cranial nerve symptoms and a poor outcome. A statistically significant difference was also found between laboratory parameters such as the absolute neutrophil count (ANC), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), total cholesterol (TC), creatinine, urea, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level and the outcome. A statistically significant difference was also found between the use of medications such as antiplatelets, anticoagulants, and statins at the baseline and after a 1-month follow-up. Neurological symptoms and complications are not uncommon among COVID-19 patients. Most of these patients had poor outcomes. Further studies are required to provide more data and knowledge about this issue, including the possible risk factors and the long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19.

Fatigue and Cognitive Decline Associated With Depressive Symptoms Among Community-Dwelling Adults.

To investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in community-dwelling Saudi adults aged ≥50 years and the associated risk factors. Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) was dichotomized as depressive symptoms when the participants scored ≥10. Risk factors included age, sex, body mass index, education, employment, marital status, number of chronic diseases and medications, fatigue severity scale (FSS), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Among the 206 participants, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 17.48%. The number of chronic diseases, medications, and fatigue symptoms were significantly higher in those with depressive symptoms, whereas cognitive functions were significantly lower. Fatigue symptoms and cognitive functions were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. The cut-off scores for risk factors were ≥42 (FSS) and ≤23 (MoCA scale). Fatigue and cognitive impairments were the only risk factors that distinguished participants with and without depressive symptoms.

The Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test is associated with both history of falls and fear of falling among community adults aged 50 years and older.

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence has examined the association between balance and mobility measures with risk of fall. AIM: To determine the prevalence and balance measures associated with falls and fear of falling among community adults aged 50 years and older. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 50 years, living in Saudi Arabia. The participants were asked to report any history of falls in the past 12 months and fear of falling using the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES-I). Balance/mobility measures included the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Functional Reach Test (FRT), 10-m walk test (10-MWT), 6-min walk test (6-MWT), and Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5XSST). RESULTS: Two hundred and six participants, including 96 women, were included. The prevalence of falls was 12.6%, and the 5XSST was the only balance measure significantly associated with falls (OR 1.17, 95% CI [1.03, 1.33], p = 0.019) with a cutoff score of 13.93 s or more, a sensitivity of 0.73, and a specificity of 0.58. An increase in 5XSST time was associated with an increase in FES-I score, while a decrease in other balance measures (10-MWT, TUG, FRT, and 6-MWT) was associated with an increase in FES-I scores. CONCLUSION: Adults living in Saudi Arabia had a low prevalence of falls. The 5XSST was the only significant balance/mobility measure that distinguished fallers from non-fallers.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Arabic Version of the Mini-BESTest among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Saudi Arabia.

Backgrounds: The Mini-BESTest is a clinical assessment of balance impairment; however, the translation and psychometric properties in the Arabic-speaking population have not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to translate into Arabic and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Mini-BESTest in Saudi community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This is a cross-sectional transcultural adaptation and validation study. A total of 144 community-dwelling older adults were enrolled (mean age = 66.2 ± 6.2 years). The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Mini-BESTest from English to Arabic was performed using standardized guidelines. Test−retest reliability was examined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with one week between test and retest. The internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity of the Mini-BESTest was assessed using balance such as Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I). Results: The Arabic version of the Mini-BESTest showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). The scale shows excellent test−retest reliability (ICC = 0.99, 95% CI, 0.98−0.99) and excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.93, 95% CI, 0.70−0.97), which is indicative of the measure's stability and repeatability. Mini-BESTest total scores showed an excellent inter-rater agreement. There was a significant correlation between total score of the Mini-BESTest and BBS (r = 0.72; p < 0.001). Mini-BESTest had a moderate association with FES-I. Conclusion: The Arabic version of the Mini-BESTest is a reliable and valid test for assessing balance in older adults. More research is needed to confirm the test's reliability and validity in a specific population, such as those with neurological problems.