ABSTRACT
The study was aimed at identifying the association between two major risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), namely, type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia has a ocumented causative relation with CAD, but the major risk associated with diabetes may be due to the associated hyperlipidemia. Lipid profiles of 30 patients with type 2 diabetes were taken and a detailed clinical workup done, including estimation of the body mass index (BMI). The study revealed that dyslipidemia is very common in type 2 diabetics and the most common abnormality seen was increased serum triglyceride levels (73.3%). The next common abnormality was decreased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and increased serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, both seen in 66.7% patients respectively. A high total serum cholesterol levels was seen in 46.7% patients. Forty percent of the patients examined were on the overweight side, 16.7% being overtly obese. Thus the study, despite having small number of patients, clearly shows the association between type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia, which may influence the mechanism by which type 2 diabetes is associated with increased CAD risk.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Body Mass Index , Coronary Artery Disease/physiopathology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/etiology , Female , Hospitals, Teaching , Humans , Hyperlipidemias/complications , Lipids/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Assessment , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices among health care workers on needle stick injuries. METHODS: A 15-item questionnaire was administered to seventy health care workers including nurses and paramedical staffs from different departments of Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital to measure knowledge, attitude and practices on needle stick injuries. RESULTS: Results showed that 4% and 61% of health care workers, respectively, were unaware of the fact that hepatitis B and hepatitis C can be transmitted by needle-stick injuries. 52 subjects (74%) had a history of needle-stick injuries and only 21% reported the injuries to the hospital authority. Only 23% were in the habit of using gloves for phlebotomy procedures all the time. 79% were of the impression that needle should be recapped after use. Only 66% were aware of Universal Precaution Guidelines. 16 subjects (23%) were negative for HBsAg, Anti-HCV and Anti-HIV and 54 subjects (77%) do not know about their immune status. 42 subjects (60%) had been vaccinated against hepatitis B, while 28 subjects (40%) were not vaccinated against hepatitis B. Only 6 subjects (14%) had been tested for Anti-HBs antibody after hepatitis B vaccination. CONCLUSION: The survey revealed that knowledge of health care workers about the risk associated with needle-stick injuries and use of preventive measures was inadequate. A standing order procedure (SOP) should be formulated regarding needle-stick injuries in all the health institutions. It should outline precautions to be taken when dealing with blood and body fluids. It should also contain reporting of all needle-stick injuries. Health care workers should be made aware of hazards, preventive measures and post-exposure prophylaxis to needle-stick injuries. A hospital-wide hepatitis immunization programme should also be started.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Needlestick Injuries/complications , Occupational Diseases/etiology , Personnel, Hospital , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
A total of 8,172 persons constituting 98.6% of the total Secretariate Population of Bangladesh were screened for elevated blood pressure. One thousand and ninety cases (13.3%) showed diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or above. Those with diastolic blood pressure of 95 or above constituted 3.7% of the population. More than two-thirds of the latter group (71.6%) remained undetected indicating that vast majority of our hypertensive population remains undiagnosed and untreated. It is recommended that the misconception regarding symptomatic hypertenson should be removed by adequate emphasis on the preventive value of the control of hypertension on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complication. A plea has also been made for a large-scale survey to determine the extent of the problem in Bangladesh.