Benign Breast Disease in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Analytical Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction The most frequent reason for visiting breast clinics is benign breast disease (BBD), which accounts for 90% of all breast-related presentations globally. It is widespread among women of childbearing age, peaking between the ages of 30 and 50. However, owing to the lack of studies on BBD compared with breast cancer in Saudi Arabia, this study aimed to assess the common patterns of BBD and factors associated with the frequency of fibroadenoma (FA) occurrence. Methodology A retrospective analytical study was carried out at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from May to August 2022. The sample was all patients who attended the breast and endocrine unit from January 2015 to December 2020. Results This study included 222 of 367 patients who had BBD. Of them, 42.3% were aged 31-45 years, with a mean age of 36.71 ± 12.48 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.45 ± 6.69 kg/m2, and the mean tumor size was 4.22 ± 4.9 mm. Conclusion Fibroadenoma among BBD types is the most common lesion in the studied population. This study established the baseline pattern of BBD in a specialized hospital in Makkah.

Public awareness of the neurological manifestation of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess awareness of the neurological manifestation of COVID-19 on the Saudi population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted using a Google Form survey to obtain responses randomly from the Saudi population between February and March 2021 using social media. RESULTS: A total of 831 participants completed the questionnaire. The distribution of the identified isolated neurological manifestations of COVOD-19 infections by participants' age was assessed among the respondents. Loss of smell (88.9%), loss of taste (86.8%), and headache (72.6%) were the most identified first manifestations among all the age groups, while stroke (13.4%) was the least identified for all ages with no statistical significance (p>0.05 for all). Regarding COVID-19 related neurological symptoms, the same was reported: loss of smell, taste, and headache were the most identified symptoms among all the age groups, while stroke was the least identified for all ages with no statistical significance (p>0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that awareness of COVID-19's neurological symptoms could help detect an atypical case, which can help in early intervention and its medical treatment. Moreover, the study also suggested conducting educational programs that emphasize the early identification of neurological symptoms of COVID-19.

Prevalence of Noise-Induced Tinnitus in Adults Aged 15 to 25 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Tinnitus is a common complaint in the general population. Subjective tinnitus is defined as a conscious perception of sound with nonexistent external stimuli. Its exact pathophysiology remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of noise-induced tinnitus among adults aged 15-25 years in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Study design Convenience sampling was used for participant recruitment using an online survey that was distributed online between February and April 2022. The participants performed audiometric hearing tests provided by the investigators. Hearing tests were performed at frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz. The test was considered normal if the achieved thresholds were 25 dB HL or less in at least four of the tested frequencies. Those with normal results were asked to fill out a survey inquiring about their demographic information, presence of tinnitus, and tinnitus functional index. Results We included 119 young adults aged 15-25 years. Regarding tinnitus prevalence, 27 (22.7%) adults reported the development of tinnitus after exposure to loud noise, 39 (32.8%) had tinnitus of unknown cause, and 53 (44.5%) had no tinnitus. Regarding the continuity of sound, it was continuous in 14.8% of noise-induced tinnitus, compared to 38.5% of the other group, with a statistical significance of (P=.037). Conclusion The current study revealed high prevalence of tinnitus, which was also suggested by the literature. Several triggers are purportedly related to the development of tinnitus. Constant exposure to loud noise is considered a significant risk factor for tinnitus. Young adults require proper education about the causes of tinnitus and other hearing abnormalities. More importantly, methods to protect and maintain their ear health.