ABSTRACT
Objective: to investigate the clinical and angiographic characteristics of coronary artery ectasia [CAE] and its relation with the inflammatory marker, HsCRP
Study Design: an observational study
Place and Duration of Study: rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi, from April 2015 till November 2016
Methodology: eighty-one patients with CAE and 57 age matched patients with stenotic coronary artery disease [CAD], but without CAE, were included in the study. Clinical, angiographic, and laboratory data were documented. Chi-square test was used to compare coronary risk factors between two groups. T test was used to compare means between the groups. Analysis of variance was used to analyse HsCRP levels among various types of ectasia. Correlation analysis was used to study association of ectasia with different risk factors
Results: males were predominant in both with and without CAE. Hypertension, smoking and obesity were significantly more common among CAE patients than those without [60.5% vs. 52.6%, 56.8% vs. 43.9% and 80.2% vs. 14%, respectively]. Diabetes was much less in CAE group [32.1% vs. 42.1%]. HsCRP was higher in patients with CAE than those without and was significantly higher in patients with more extensive ectasia. Majority [65.4%] of CAE patients had significant CAD; whereas, only 7.4% had isolated CAE. Most common artery involved was RCA [70.4% of total] and most common pattern was single ectatic vessel
Conclusion: obesity and smoking predispose to CAE, along with male sex and hypertension. While diabetes is negatively associated with CAE. HsCRP levels tend to be higher in ectasia patients, especially those with severe forms. Finally, CAE has a predilection for RCA
ABSTRACT
To determine the frequency of Low Birth Weight amongst neonates born in different socio-economic groups. It was a cross-sectional study conducted in different public and private sector hospitals of Rawalpindi during 2008. A total of 288 neonates were included in the study. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to interview the 288 mothers selected through stratified sampling technique. Demographic characteristic, socio-economic status and different risk factors for low birth weight were explored. Overall frequency of low birth weight was 19%, which was highest amongst the low socio-economic group. In low social class, the low birth weight was 10% [r -0.65, P=0.001]; in middle social class, it was 6% [r -0.57, P=0.01] and in uppersocial class, it was 3% [r-0.48, P=0.03]. The findings of our study strengthens the evidence provided by other studies that the low birth weight is effected by the social class and highest among the low socio-economic group