ABSTRACT
The unhealthy effects of indoor air pollution by cooking fuels is great concern for good respiratory health. Present study was conducted to study and compare the effects of two major fuels used in developing countries like India, Kerosene and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in rural women of Amritsar, India. Methods: Study was conducted on 800 rural women out of which 400 using Kerosene as cooking fuel and rest 400 using LPG. Subjects of chronic and recent respiratory illness even if treated were excluded Ventilatory functions of lungs were done on computerized spirometer, MED-SPIRER. Results: There was statistically significant decline in FEV1 in Kerosene using women (0.98±0.47) when compared with LPG using women (1.86±0.37). Other parameters FEV3, PEFR, FEF 25-75%, FEF2-12, FEF 25%, FEF 50% FEF 75% and MVV showed similar significant decline in women using Kerosene as fuel. Conclusion: There is significant decline in ventilator function od lungs in women using Kerosene as cooking fuel, which is still used in developing country like India. Reduced values indicate small airway obstruction.
ABSTRACT
Background: Olfactory dysfunctions albeit commonly studied in research study are rarely tested in clinical practice and commonly overlooked in elderly. With ageing, rate of decline in olfactory and cognitive functions increases. Diabetic patients are more prone to develop these olfactory and cognitive dysfunctions. Elderly diabetic patients with olfactory dysfunction were found to have increased incidence of cognitive impairment as compared to patients without olfactory dysfunction. So olfactory function testing can be used as screening tool to detect cognitive impairment at earliest and can halt the progression of cognitive impairment by appropriate measures. Methods: A cross-sectional study done on 200 elderly diabetic patients. Olfactory dysfunctions were detected by open essence test and cognitive testing was done with MMSE. Patients with psychosis, apparent dementia, any nasal disease were excluded. Results: Out of 200 patients total number of patients with MMSE <23, 24-26 and >26 were 19, 51 and 150 with average Open Essence (OE) score 6.05±, 6.74±0.92 and 8.5±0.54 respectively indicating that patients with lower OE score were found to have lower MMSE score. Conclusion: With ageing, olfactory as well as cognitive dysfunction increases. Diabetes accelerates these processes substantially. Olfactory dysfunction precedes the development of cognitive impairment. So elderly patients with diabetes should be screened for olfactory functions so that proper measures could be taken to decrease the incidence or severity of cognitive dysfunction.