ABSTRACT
Background: Emergence of hypothyroidism as a public health issue apart from a common clinical entity, has gained much attention nowadays. The non-specific features of hypothyroidism lead to incorrect diagnoses, inadequate treatment and complications in the future. The present study was designed to unravel the effects of hypothyroidism on physiological parameters and to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. This study was done to assess the effects of hypothyroidism on pulse rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in 60 hypothyroid patients of 18-45 years age, both males and females, who were either newly detected or on treatment for less than 6 months. Patients with history of other systemic diseases, pregnancy and hyperthyroidism were excluded. After obtaining written consent from the patients, clinical examination was done.Results: Student t-test and ANOVA were used for analysis. Physiological parameters like pulse rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate had variations in the patients and there were changes with age, gender and BMI even though they were not significant. These changes were attributed to increased arterial wall thickness and endothelial dysfunction in blood vessels.Conclusions: The patients showed changes in cardiovascular and respiratory profiles. The variations in systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significant with increase in age. Physiological parameters had variations with gender and BMI also. This proves the cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity in newly detected hypothyroidism, which emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in them.
ABSTRACT
Background: Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a mushrooming problem and accounts for majority of deaths. Paradoxically the population of Kerala is increasingly susceptible to NCDs despite having good access to health care. Doctors work in highly stressful conditions and often adopt sedentary lifestyles thereby forming a subset of the NCD prone population. The objective of this study was to assess the health status of the doctors which would provide an insight into their health and level of awareness regarding the role of lifestyle in prevention of NCDs.Methods: Sixty five doctors participated in this Cross-Sectional Observational study conducted at a CME in Kerala. After obtaining Institutional Ethical clearance, demographic profile was collected, and fat levels were estimated using body composition analyzer (OMRON-HBF375). The results were tabulated using Microsoft Office Excel, analyzed using SPSS version 20.Results: On classifying the study group based on BMI, only 34 were normal, 26 were Overweight, and 4 were Obese. Gender wise distribution of body fat revealed only 4 had normal body fat composition. The study also showed that as age advances the amount of total and visceral fat shows a significant upward trend in males.Conclusions: BMI alone cannot be used as a predictor of health status. Body Fat percentage analysis should be included in routine screening programs. Men have a tendency to develop visceral adiposity with age. Females depend more on fat as primary source and hence females will respond better to a properly programmed exercise regime and men to a well guided diet program with exercise.
ABSTRACT
Background: Adipose tissue mainly visceral fat is said to be harmful and acts as a harbinger of metabolic disorders. A changing trend is seen in the recent decades with decreasing incidence of metabolic disorders in men even though visceral fat is said to be higher in them. Sex hormones may influence the deposition pattern of adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to observe effects of age on visceral fat and to know if the difference in gender pattern of fat distribution is maintained throughout life or disappears after menopause.Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Thrissur on 385 apparently healthy subjects using Omron body composition analyser. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.0 version. The tests employed were NOVA, independent samples t-test.Results: In each age group, men had significantly higher visceral fat than females. As age increased, visceral fat increased significantly in both genders. In each group, except for younger age groups, VF levels were equal in men and women.Conclusions: Visceral fat is higher in men and this difference is seen in all age groups. As age increases, visceral fat levels also increased in men and women. The distribution of visceral fat is such that a greater number of men have high to very high levels at a younger age group, a feature observed in women only in the peri and post-menopausal age. Adoption of an active lifestyle coupled with healthy diet should protect against onset of metabolic disorders.