Quality of life among multiple Sclerosis patients

MS is one of the progressive and chronic demyelinative disorders involving active members of society. The study of quality of life in these patients could decrease relieve some disabilities and promotes residual abilities to maximal levels. Regarding relatively high prevalence of MS in Mazandaran province, this study was designed to measure the quality of life in Multiple sclerosis patients living in Mazandaran Province. In this discriptive study, the community of research included members of Mazandaran Multiple Sclerosis Association [MMSA]. The census sampling method was used. The volunteers [101 patients] were assessed from october 2005 to March 2006. Assessment tool for data collection was standard questionnaire SF-36. This questionnaire consists of 36 questions and its validity has already been determined in many countries including Iran and it has high reliability [alpha chronbach 0.77-0.90]. Clinical manifestations and the severity of the disease were evaluated with history and physical examination taken by Neurologist and using EDSS criteria. The results showed that 76% of the patients were females and 26% were males. The age range was 18-60 years [mean age 33.27 +/- 8.31]. The emergence of disease was at age 12-54 years [mean age 27.12 +/- 8.03]. About%7 of the patients had positive family history of multiple sclerosis. The mean score [based on 100] of general health, physical health, mental health, vivacity, social health, and physical pain were, respectively, 41.34 +/- 10.22, 54.75 +/- 30.25, 53.25 +/- 22.03, 54.75 +/- 24.44, 56.62 +/- 20.96, and 35.75 +/- 31.68.. In this study, the quality of life was relatively good in all aspects. This may be due to mildness of disease in majority of the patients, low age at time of disease emergence and shorter duration of disease

[Hypertension screening in truck drivers]

Introduction: hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Truck drivers are more exposed to hypertension due to sedentary life style and consequent obesity, improper food, job stress and high prevalence of cigarette smoking

Materials and Methods: in this study, after completing a questionnaire by interview, the blood pressures of 122 members of union of truck drivers of Sari, Northern Iran, were measured in two separate occasions. Measurement of blood pressure in all drivers was performed from right arm by using a digital automatic OMRON sphygmomanometer. In order to measure correctly, guidelines of American Heart Association were noted. Analyze of data was performed by SPSS software and descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and Pearson correlation were used

Results: analyze of data showed that most of truck drivers [59.1%] were overweight and 14.8% of them were obese. Mean of BMI was 25.5 [standard deviation 4.65]. Around 48.3% were smoker, 61.5% didn't have physical activity and 36.9% had hypertension, which was mostly mild to moderate. Mean systolic blood pressure was 135.08 [standard deviation 17.44] and mean diastolic blood pressure was 82.86 [standard deviation 8.16]. Seventy seven percent of hypertensive patients were not aware of their problem. Statistical tests showed that there was a significant correlation between job history, BMI and hypertension

Conclusion: regarding high incidence of hypertension in truck drivers, it seems that similar studies must be done in other long-distance drivers, such as bus drivers, and their blood pressures must be assessed at least once a year