The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Injuries Among Pilgrims During the 2023 Hajj Season: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage, brings together over two million pilgrims in the city of Makkah to participate in a series of rituals. Given the physically demanding nature of the Hajj, pilgrims are susceptible to musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries and exhaustion. MSK pain and injuries are frequent occurrences among pilgrims, necessitating an assessment of the scope of this issue. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of MSK injuries among pilgrims during the 2023 Hajj season. Methods This is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study that was conducted in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, during the 2023 Hajj season. Results A total of 463 pilgrims were included in the analysis. The most frequently reported types of injuries were muscular injuries (169, 45.4%), primarily characterized by pain (99, 58.6%), muscle spasms (55, 32.5%), and muscle tears (eight, 4.7%). The second most commonly reported MSK injury was bony injuries (97, 26.1%), which included fractures, followed by 79 cases (21.2%) of joint injuries, predominantly featuring pain (69, 87.3%) and joint prolapse (10, 12.7%). Notably, 27 pilgrims (7.3%) suffered from ligament injuries, including tears. Regarding the mechanisms or causes of these MSK injuries, the most frequently reported factors were fatigue (206, 55.4%), falls (76, 20.4%), crowding (34, 9.1%), accidents (30, 8.1%), and the use of wheelchairs (14, 3.8%). Additionally, it is noteworthy that muscular injuries were more prevalent among all age groups, particularly among young-aged pilgrims, while joint injuries were more common among elderly pilgrims. Conclusion MSK injuries are prevalent among pilgrims, with muscular injuries being the most frequently encountered. This underscores a noteworthy public health concern that necessitates attention from the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia.

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.