Coronary heart disease and coronary risk factor prevalence in rural Rajasthan.

To determine the prevalence of coronary risk factors and coronary heart disease (CHD) in rural Rajasthan, 1150 randomly selected individuals in a cluster of villages in central Rajasthan have been studied. These included 805 men and 345 women. The prevalence of various coronary risk factors in the whole group were: Smoking 488 (42.4%); Diabetes (history): 5(0.4%); Alcohol intake: 146 (12.7%); Sedentary lifestyle: 797 (69.3%); Stressful life events: 48 (4.2%); Hypertension (BP > or = 140/90) 152 (13.2%); obesity (BMI > or = 27 Kg/M2): 194 (10.9%); and Truncal obesity (waist:hip > or = 0.93): 20.8%. The overall prevalence of CHD was 46.1/1000. Patients with CHD had a higher prevalence of male sex (67.9 vs 51.5%); educated persons (30.2 vs 28.8%); businessmen (13.2 vs 10.2%); smoking (47.2 vs 40.5%); sedentary lifestyle (75.5 vs 62.3%); stressful life events (7.5 vs 4.8%); and hypertension (26.4 vs 14.8%). On the other hand, persons without CHD had higher prevalence of alcohol intake (10.8 vs 7.5%); regular prayers (23.1 vs 22.6%); physically active lifestyle (37.7 vs 24.5%); obesity (13.6 vs 6.9%), and truncal obesity (21.0 vs 20.0%). The following risk factors emerged significant on statistical analysis (Odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals): male sex (1.99, 1.04 to 3.7); hypertension (2.04, 1.01 to 4.09); male smokers (1.80, 1.28 to 4.09); and sedentary lifestyle (1.86, 1.01 to 3.59). This study shows a low prevalence of CHD in rural population which is however more than previously reported studies from India.

Awareness of cholesterol as coronary risk factor among general practitioners at Jaipur.

Widespread information about preventive measures has decreased incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in developing countries. However this trend is not seen in India. Cholesterol and other lipoproteins play important role in CAD. In order to assess whether this information has reached General Practitioners (GP's) and their action regarding the recommendations of the US National Cholesterol Education Programme (NCEP), G.P.'s were assessed with the help of a questionnaire. The response rate to the questionnaire was 78.4% of the total G.P.'s of the city. The findings of the study were compared to the NCEP guidelines. Results indicate that, "Ideal", "High" and cholesterol levels dietary needing precautionary measures intervention (ie. 198.2 +/- 13 mg/dl, 256.1 +/- 32 mg/dl and 247.9 +/- 26 mg/dl respectively) were similar to the NCEP guidelines. Levels where therapy is recommended (ie 293.9 +/- 34 mg/dl) is significantly more than NCEP guidelines. Though 77.1% of doctors were aware of protective effect of HDL cholesterol (ie 51.1 +/- 6 mg/dl), routine measurement of lipid profile was undertaken by only 57.1% doctors with mean age of recommendation being 34.1 +/- 11.6. Routine dietary advice and cholesterol estimation was done in 71.4% patients with CAD and 67.3% of patients with hypertension and diabetes. Analysis of action taken falls short of the NCEP recommendations and indicates a need for intensive training of the G.P.s.

Unilateral ataxia following herpes zoster of spinal C4 segment.

Focal lesions of central nervous system are extremely rare following cutaneous herpes zoster. A 55 year old male developed cerebellar speech, right sided ataxia and intention tremor, three weeks after herpes zoster of right spinal C4 segment. Clinical examination and investigations confirmed a focal vascular lesion in the midbrain suggestive of granulomatous angiitis which can cause focal neurological defect after herpes zoster.