ABSTRACT
Background: As our age increases, different pathophysiological changes occur, which leads to geriatric syndromes in the elderly. Along with other bodily changes, psychological changes and dementia start emerging that affects day-to-day activities of the elderly people. These symptoms often get undetected due to lack of care or awareness among the geriatric population or their caregivers. Aim and Objectives: This study aims to measure the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and onset of dementia among the geriatric population in a rural area of West Bengal. Materials and Methods: An observational, descriptive, community-based, and cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing persons aged 60 years and above residing in Banspole village during the months of April–May, 2022, using General Health Questionnaire-12 and dementia assessment by rapid test questionnaire. The data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: A total of 104 respondents were interviewed (62.5% male and 37.5% female). Most commonly found comorbidity was hypertension (48.08%), followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (26.92%) and hypothyroidism (25.97%). Significant psychological morbidity was found in 49 (47.11%) persons, whereas, different levels of dementia was found in 72 (69.23%) participants. Significant associations were found between psychiatric morbidity with age and socioeconomic status, and dementia with age and marital status. Significance level was at P < 0.05. Conclusion: As it can be seen that in psychiatric morbidity is present in almost half of the participants, and dementia in almost 70% participants, but most of the times, these get undetected or overlooked. Early detection and management are the need of the hour, as these conditions causes huge economic burden on the caregivers, as well as on the government concerned.
ABSTRACT
Background: The increase in worldwide life expectancy among the elderly is contributing to an increase in cognitive impairment (CI). A more complicated etiology makes CI an essential clinical concern for elderly patients with depression. Ageing populations as a result of demographic change have accelerated the development of certain geriatric conditions, including CI and depression. Aims and Objectives: The objective was to identify the prevalence and contributing factors of CI and depression in the elderly rural community. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and community-based study was conducted in rural field practice area of Medical College, Kolkata, among 133 geriatric people during time period of March–June, 2022. The prevalence of CI was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale and depression was assessed using the geriatric depression scale. Data were analyzed in SPSS software version 16. Results: Mean age of the participants was 65.68 (±6.03) years. The prevalence of CI was 86.5%, with a mean MMSE score of 19.27 ± 4.34, and the depression was 77.5% and 7.07 ± 3.39. Conclusion: Almost two-third of the geriatric population is suffering from depression and CI. To handle the issue of CI, depression, and its resulting effects, new and modified geriatric health policies are very much needed.
ABSTRACT
Background: The re-emerging Monkeypox disease is spreading worldwide, thus if prevention measures are not followed or awareness is not raised, chaos could result. Aims and Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the awareness and preventive measures of Monkeypox among medical students in a tertiary care hospital of Kolkata. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 weeks, among final year MBBS students of Medical College Kolkata. Convenience sampling was done. Minimum sample size calculated was 110. A pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured, and self-administered questionnaire which was face and content validated by experts used as the study tool in this study. Questionnaire was answered while keeping their identities confidential. Data were collected and entered in a coded manner in MS Excel. Using SPSS version 25, tabulation, the necessary tables, and diagrams were created. The Institutional Ethics Committee of the Medical College in Kolkata was consulted for ethical approval. Results: The students lacked sufficient information. Majority of them responded well when asked about the disease’s cause, incubation period, natural host signs and symptoms, mode of transmission, preventive measures, and treatment, but it was clear that they were unsure about identification of a suspected, probable, or confirmed case and definitive diagnosis. Conclusion: The present study reported that the students had limited knowledge about Monkeypox disease.
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 pandemic quickly became significantly major cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality over the next years till date in an unforeseen manner. Aims and Objectives: Our study aims at unfolding the sociodemographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics of this disease, based on a metropolitan dedicated tertiary care hospital of India. Materials and Methods: Along with patient particulars, we recorded sociodemographic data, presenting symptoms, vital parameters, and blood parameters based on a pre-designed questionnaire, followed by complication analysis for 101 patients. Written consent was taken from each of the respondent before the interview and ethical approval was taken from Institution Ethics Committee (IEC) of Medical College and Hospital. [(Ref No. MC/KOL/IEC/Non-Spon/842/11/2020), Date- 5/11/2020]. Results: This study justified the trend of already available data such as median age of presentation (40–69 years), higher urban population (85.1%), higher rate of infection in health-care professionals (12.9%), and in patients with poor socioeconomic status. It revealed increased community transmission (74.3% with no definitive exposure), higher number of symptomatic cases admission (89.1%) with most common symptoms being fever (46%), shortness of breath (45%), sore throat (32%), and cough (26%). Hypertension (48%) and diabetes (34%) were major comorbidities in patients who were also proportionally more symptomatic and experienced more adverse effects compared to non-comorbid patients. A major chunk of the patients (46.53%) required some form of oxygen support for their treatment. Most common adverse effect was disseminated intravascular coagulation (23.76%) among which 67.74% had one or more comorbidities. We also reported slightly higher number of deaths (6.9%) compared to what other similar studies found. Conclusion: History of probable exposure was not a sole risk factor of acquiring infection, that is, community transmission was evident. Healthcare professionals were at high risk of getting infected, persons with comorbidity are at the highest risk of developing symptoms as well as complications.