National study of reproductive tract infections among high risk groups of Lahore and Karachi

To estimate the prevalence of reproductive tract infections [RTIs] among the Female Sex Workers [FSWs], Male Sex Workers [MSWs], Injecting Drug Users [IDUs] and truck drivers. Cross-sectional. Lahore and Karachi, from March to August, 2004. Four hundred FSWs, 400 MSWs, 200 eunuchs, 400 IDUs and 400 truck drivers were interviewed and examined. Biological testing included PCR and ELISA. The mean prevalence of syphilis was 17.7% [95% CI: 15.1-20.3%]. Genital gonorrhoea was found among 0.8-12.3% of subjects with mean of 4.5% [95% CI: 0.8-5.2%]. Genital chlamydia was seen in 0.2-11% individuals with mean of 2.6% [95% CI: 2.1-3.1%]. Trichomonas was present in 19.3% FSWs of Lahore and 5.52% FSWs of Karachi. Only 0.8% truckers in Lahore had trichomonas. In Lahore, 47.6% FSWs and in Karachi, 27.4% FSWs were positive for bacterial vaginosis. A vast majority of IDUs, 91.8% in Lahore and 87% in Karachi were hepatitis C positive. The prevalence of syphilis is very high among all high-risk groups; particularly so among eunuchs [60.2% in Karachi and 32.3% in Lahore]. Such a high levels of RTIs indicate a serious threat for HIV epidemic because of socially transmitted infection

Interactive observational evaluation of risk factors in acute myocardial infarction

Interactions of known risk factors were studied in patients presenting to Coronary Care unit Sir Ganga Ram Hospital who survived first attack of acute myocardial infarction. The objectives of this study were to find out the frequency and significance of known risk factors in our patient population. Relative importance of risk factors and significance of various combinations of risk factors were studied. Multiple objectives were achieved by an observational design, in which risk factors were compared statistically within the sample. Hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and obesity were considered as risk factors individually as well as on interaction amongst themselves, when combined in the same patient they were highly significant. In a sample of 138 patients with a mean age of 52.4 years [STD. 11.95], other risk factors considered were diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking and stress. The conclusion was that amongst these seven risk factors, only one patient had no risk factor and again one had all seven risk factors while the majority had two, three or four risk factors. This study shows distribution of risk factors in surviving first attack myocardial infarction patients only. The known risk factors in our population were similar to studies elsewhere like Framingham Heart study. We suggest that clinicians must treat and eliminate all risk factors, in particular hypercholesterolemia and obesity