ABSTRACT
Background & Objectives:Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. The disease occurs with higher frequency among families. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and type of familial MS among patients with definite MS registered in the Isfahan Society for MS. Methods: A cross sectional study was performed on 3911 MS patients in Isfahan. All patients had a diagnosis of definite MS. Demographic characteristics, medical history, signs and symptoms at onset, course of disease, having a relative with MS, degree and type of relationship were recorded. Results: Familial MS was found in 11% of patients, with 57. 7% having a first degree relative with MS. Mean age of patients with familial MS was 36.9±10.4 years, with higher rates among women (female to male ratio 2.6). Highest rate for familial MS was observed in sister-sister relations, and brother-sister relation. Lowest rate was observed in father-son relation. Conclusions: Familial MS is more common among sisters while father-son relationship has the lowest association. Female to male ratio is 2.6 in familial MS which shows higher rates of males relative to general population.
ABSTRACT
Today there are abounding collected data in cases of various diseases in medical sciences. Physicians can access new findings about diseases and procedures in dealing with them by probing these data. This study was performed to predict stroke incidence. This study was carried out in Esfahan Al-Zahra and Mashhad Ghaem hospitals during 2010-2011. Information on 807 healthy and sick subjects was collected using a standard checklist that contains 50 risk factors for stroke such as history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking and alcohol consumption. For analyzing data we used data mining techniques, K-nearest neighbor and C4.5 decision tree using WEKA. The accuracy of the C4.5 decision tree algorithm and K-nearest neighbor in predicting stroke was 95.42% and 94.18%, respectively. The two algorithms, C4.5 decision tree algorithm and K-nearest neighbor, can be used in order to predict stroke in high risk groups
Subject(s)
Humans , Predictive Value of Tests , Data Mining , Decision Trees , Stroke/diagnosis , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
To determine the impact of gender and place of residence on cardiovascular disease [CVD] events and related risk factors. In a prospective cohort study, 6323 participants free of CVD [3255 women], with age of more than 35 years from 3 cities [Isfahan, Najafabad, and Arak] and their rural districts in central Iran were followed-up from 2001 to 2007. This study was carried out at the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Endpoints were defined as fatal- and nonfatal myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, unstable angina and stroke that constituted CVD events. Subjects in the rural area had significantly better risk factor profile in terms of most CVD risk factors in both genders, but it was reverse for low density lipoprotein [LDL]-cholesterol in both genders, and smoking in men. Except for smoking, men had an overall better risk factor profile compared to women. The age and risk factors adjusted hazard ratio of living in rural area was 0.71 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51-0.99] for men, and 0.63 [95% CI: 0.44-0.91] for women. The age of CVD occurrence was similar in men and women, and in rural and urban areas. Hypertension was the strongest predictor of these events except for rural men showing that high LDL-cholesterol was the strongest risk factor. The findings in this study documented differences in CVD risk factors affecting the occurrence of CVD events according to gender and place of residence. Such differences should be taken into account in future preventive public health strategies for CVD prevention.
ABSTRACT
Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death worldwide. In patients with a history of MI, the risk of second myocardial infarction increases five-fold. This study aimed to investigate lifestyle habits, modifiable risk factors and medications in patients with coronary artery disease, as part of the first phase of Healthy Lifestyle for Cardiac Patients [HLCP] Project. In a cross-sectional study, patients with a definitive diagnosis of coronary artery disease during the past 6-12 months were studied. A questionnaire was filled to collect demographic details, past medical history, and all current medications. Blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, blood glucose and lipid profile were measured. Data was entered in SPSS 11 and analyzed via Student's t-test, chi square test and prevalence study. P values less than 0.05 were considered as significant. Of 427 patients, 41.5% were women. Mean blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], triglycerides and body mass index were higher in women, while total cholesterol, height and weight were higher in men. Mean 6- to 12-month cardiology visits were 6.34 and 6.88 for men and women, respectively. Despite these visits, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and high LDL-C was 19.1%, 18.4% and 88.6%, respectively. In addition to the considerable prevalence of modifiable risk factors, consumption of medications for secondary prevention and control of these factors were not sufficient; ACE-inhibitors and anti-platelet medications were used more frequently in men, while the use of other cardiac medications was higher in women [P<0.05]. Neither men nor women had optimal control of modifiable risk factors, and medications were not taken in adequate amounts by either men or women. We recommend that patients be given proper education to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, reduce risk factors and improve medication after discharge and in visits