ABSTRACT
Background: Anemia is defined as a decrease in the hemoglobin concentration of blood, which accordingly decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells such that they are unable to meet the body's physiological requirements. Numerous reports have specified that anemia customarily occurs in patients with diabetes with renal insufficiency whereas limited studies have described the occurrence of anemia in people with diabetes prior to indication of renal impairment. Other studies have similarly recognized anemia as a risk factor for the need for renal replacement treatment in diabetes. Understanding the pathogenesis of anemia allied with diabetes can lead to the development of interventions to optimize results in these patients
Purpose: The purpose of this study was consequently to determine the pervasiveness of anemia among patients with type 2 diabetes
Materials and Methods: A total of 50 [25 with type 2 diabetes and 25 controls] participants were enlisted for the current study. Participants' blood samples were analyzed for fasting blood glucose, full blood count and renal function tests among others. The pervasiveness of anemia was then determined statistically
Results: A high incidence of anemia was perceived in the cases. Of the patients with diabetes, 85% had a hemoglobin concentration that was significantly less [males 10.88 +/- 1.78 and females 10.32 +/- 1.52] compared to that of controls [males 14.16 +/- 1.82 and females 12.49 +/- 1.11]. A significantly increased fasting blood glucose, urea, sodium, potassium, and calcium ions were observed in the cases [8.02 +/- 1.28, 5.21 +/- 2.01, 141.08 +/- 7.01, 4.84 +/- 0.49 and 1.51 +/- 0.28 respectively] as compared to the controls [4.57 +/- 0.52, 3.61 +/- 2.09, 134.86 +/- 6.75, 4.38 +/- 0.61 and 1.31 +/- 0.31 respectively]. Finally, a significant association between hemoglobin concentration and fasting blood glucose was also observed in the cases
Conclusions: The findings suggest that a high incidence of anemia is likely to occur in patients with poorly controlled diabetes and in patients with diabetes and renal insufficiency
ABSTRACT
Background: Worldwide, more than one billion people are affected by hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss [NIHL] is reported among the most prevalent occupational diseases. However, little is known about the current level of knowledge and attitude towards NIHL among general population
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes of adult population in Albaha Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concerning the factors that contribute to Noise-induced hearing loss [NIHL] and the use of hearing protection
Methods: A 16-item self-administrated questionnaire was used to measure the knowledge, habits, attitudes, and perception of NIHL and each participant's use of hearing protection. The questionnaire included multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank format questions. The questionnaire was divided into two sections: 1] demographic information, including age, sex, college major, and prior coursework regarding hearing in noise; 2] knowledge of hearing, the auditory mechanism, and noise-induced hearing impairment
Results: we received 296 valid responses. Fifty-nine percentage were male, 37% percentage were students, 21% were soldiers and 17% were teachers. Only 19% said that hearing loss cannot be cured and 53% knew that it can happen at any age. Interestingly, 94% never wore an ear plug before
Conclusion: Our study showed low percentage of correct answers about causes and protective measures against hearing loss. Future health care program should consider initiatives and public health campaigns to improve the public's knowledge and attitude
ABSTRACT
Background: Subsyndromal delirium [SSD] is a frequent condition and has been commonly described as an intermediate stage between delirium and normal cognition. However, the true frequency of SSD and its impact on clinically relevant outcomes in the intensive care unit [ICU] remains unclear
Aim of the study: To evaluate the significance of SSD on adverse clinical outcomes especially mortality and length of hospital stay
Methods: A systematic search was performed in the scientific database particularly MEDLINE [2000-2017], EMBASE [2000- 2017], Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL [2000-2017], Google Scholar, and individual journals to identify publications that evaluated SSD in ICU patients
Results: The search yielded five studies involving 2453 patients. SSD was detected in 849 patients [34.6%]. Three studies evaluated only surgical patients. Three studies used the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist [ICDSC] and two used the Confusion Assessment Method [CAM] score to diagnose SSD. The meta-analysis showed an increased hospital length of stay [LOS] in SSD patients [0.29 [95% CI 0.11-0.48], p = 0.002; I [2] = 33%]. Hospital mortality was described in two studies but it was not significant [hazard ratio 0.93 [0.58-1.43], p = 0.88 and [4 [1.0-6.9] vs 9 [3.6-20.4], p = 0.05]. The use of antipsychotics in SSD patients to prevent delirium was evaluated in one study but it did not modify ICU LOS [6.2 [4-8] vs 7 [4-9] days, p = 0.63 and 2 [2-3] vs 3 [2-3] days, p = 0.517] or mortality [9 [25.8%] vs 7 [20.4%], p = 0.51]
Conclusion: Subsyndromal Delirium is a common and adverse condition that is manifested in almost one-third of ICU patients. According to our findings, SSD has increased the length of hospital stay only with low impact on the other outcomes. Nevertheless, studies on a bigger sample size and larger scale are needed for a better understanding of the relevance of SSD in ICU patients as well as its treatment