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Pattern of Referral of Sick Pilgrims from Omani Medical Mission During Hajj 2019 (1440 H)

Received: 25 September 2022     Accepted: 11 November 2022     Published: 25 May 2023
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Abstract

Background: Annually, in the month of Dhul hijjah, over 2 million Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Hajj is the biggest mass gathering globally, which creates a significant influence on Hajjes' health. The Omani medical mission is the official delegation from the Omani government to Saudi Arabia to serve the Omani hajjees regarding their health Sduring Hajj 1440 H. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Omani Medical missions in Makkah, Madinah, Mina, and Arafat. Data was collected via a predesigned form. All Omani pilgrims presenting to the mission who were referred to local hospitals were included. Results: The total number of cases was 5000, of which 106 (2.1%) were referred to local hospitals (21.2 per 1000 hajjees). The most common causes of referral were cardiovascular diseases (23.6%), followed by gastrointestinal disease (17.9%) and trauma (16.9%). Males comprised 60.1%. Their mean age was 47.3 years (SD ±11.27), with the highest referrals in the 51-60 years age group (30%). Over half (55.7%) had co-morbidities. Patients' mean time to reach the clinic was 8.87 min (SD ±6.41), with 65% arriving in 5 min or less. The mean time needed to reach the hospital by ambulance was 11.39 min (SD ±6.6), with 36% arriving within 5 min. Of the referrals, 42% were admitted into hospital. Hospitalization was significantly higher among patients with chest pain (P-value < 0.0057), diabetics (P-value < 0.0001), and patients with Heart Disease (P-value = 0.013). Conclusions: The most common causes for referral of Hajjees from the Omani Medical Mission were cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disease, and trauma. This information should assist the Omani government in planning their medical services in hajj season in future years.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20231103.11
Page(s) 43-55
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hajj, Oman, Pilgrims, Referral, Omani

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ahmad Obaid al Mashaykhi, Randa Nooh, Sami Said Almudarra, Abdulaziz Saad Almutari, Naif Saud Albudayri, et al. (2023). Pattern of Referral of Sick Pilgrims from Omani Medical Mission During Hajj 2019 (1440 H). Science Journal of Public Health, 11(3), 43-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231103.11

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    ACS Style

    Ahmad Obaid al Mashaykhi; Randa Nooh; Sami Said Almudarra; Abdulaziz Saad Almutari; Naif Saud Albudayri, et al. Pattern of Referral of Sick Pilgrims from Omani Medical Mission During Hajj 2019 (1440 H). Sci. J. Public Health 2023, 11(3), 43-55. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20231103.11

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    AMA Style

    Ahmad Obaid al Mashaykhi, Randa Nooh, Sami Said Almudarra, Abdulaziz Saad Almutari, Naif Saud Albudayri, et al. Pattern of Referral of Sick Pilgrims from Omani Medical Mission During Hajj 2019 (1440 H). Sci J Public Health. 2023;11(3):43-55. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20231103.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20231103.11,
      author = {Ahmad Obaid al Mashaykhi and Randa Nooh and Sami Said Almudarra and Abdulaziz Saad Almutari and Naif Saud Albudayri and Khalid Masoud Alghamdi},
      title = {Pattern of Referral of Sick Pilgrims from Omani Medical Mission During Hajj 2019 (1440 H)},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {11},
      number = {3},
      pages = {43-55},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20231103.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231103.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20231103.11},
      abstract = {Background: Annually, in the month of Dhul hijjah, over 2 million Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Hajj is the biggest mass gathering globally, which creates a significant influence on Hajjes' health. The Omani medical mission is the official delegation from the Omani government to Saudi Arabia to serve the Omani hajjees regarding their health Sduring Hajj 1440 H. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Omani Medical missions in Makkah, Madinah, Mina, and Arafat. Data was collected via a predesigned form. All Omani pilgrims presenting to the mission who were referred to local hospitals were included. Results: The total number of cases was 5000, of which 106 (2.1%) were referred to local hospitals (21.2 per 1000 hajjees). The most common causes of referral were cardiovascular diseases (23.6%), followed by gastrointestinal disease (17.9%) and trauma (16.9%). Males comprised 60.1%. Their mean age was 47.3 years (SD ±11.27), with the highest referrals in the 51-60 years age group (30%). Over half (55.7%) had co-morbidities. Patients' mean time to reach the clinic was 8.87 min (SD ±6.41), with 65% arriving in 5 min or less. The mean time needed to reach the hospital by ambulance was 11.39 min (SD ±6.6), with 36% arriving within 5 min. Of the referrals, 42% were admitted into hospital. Hospitalization was significantly higher among patients with chest pain (P-value < 0.0057), diabetics (P-value < 0.0001), and patients with Heart Disease (P-value = 0.013). Conclusions: The most common causes for referral of Hajjees from the Omani Medical Mission were cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disease, and trauma. This information should assist the Omani government in planning their medical services in hajj season in future years.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Pattern of Referral of Sick Pilgrims from Omani Medical Mission During Hajj 2019 (1440 H)
    AU  - Ahmad Obaid al Mashaykhi
    AU  - Randa Nooh
    AU  - Sami Said Almudarra
    AU  - Abdulaziz Saad Almutari
    AU  - Naif Saud Albudayri
    AU  - Khalid Masoud Alghamdi
    Y1  - 2023/05/25
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231103.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20231103.11
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 43
    EP  - 55
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20231103.11
    AB  - Background: Annually, in the month of Dhul hijjah, over 2 million Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Hajj is the biggest mass gathering globally, which creates a significant influence on Hajjes' health. The Omani medical mission is the official delegation from the Omani government to Saudi Arabia to serve the Omani hajjees regarding their health Sduring Hajj 1440 H. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Omani Medical missions in Makkah, Madinah, Mina, and Arafat. Data was collected via a predesigned form. All Omani pilgrims presenting to the mission who were referred to local hospitals were included. Results: The total number of cases was 5000, of which 106 (2.1%) were referred to local hospitals (21.2 per 1000 hajjees). The most common causes of referral were cardiovascular diseases (23.6%), followed by gastrointestinal disease (17.9%) and trauma (16.9%). Males comprised 60.1%. Their mean age was 47.3 years (SD ±11.27), with the highest referrals in the 51-60 years age group (30%). Over half (55.7%) had co-morbidities. Patients' mean time to reach the clinic was 8.87 min (SD ±6.41), with 65% arriving in 5 min or less. The mean time needed to reach the hospital by ambulance was 11.39 min (SD ±6.6), with 36% arriving within 5 min. Of the referrals, 42% were admitted into hospital. Hospitalization was significantly higher among patients with chest pain (P-value < 0.0057), diabetics (P-value < 0.0001), and patients with Heart Disease (P-value = 0.013). Conclusions: The most common causes for referral of Hajjees from the Omani Medical Mission were cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disease, and trauma. This information should assist the Omani government in planning their medical services in hajj season in future years.
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Directorate of Disease Surveillance and Control, Ministry of Health, North Sharqiya, Sultanate of Oman

  • Field Epidemiology Training Program, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • CDC Gulf Country Council, Riyadh, Kindgdom of Saudi Arabia

  • Field Epidemiology Training Program, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • Department of Communicable Disease, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • Department of Communicable Disease, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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