Performance of hospital blood transfusion committees in Tehran [2005-2006]

Hospital blood transfusion committees supervise blood transfusion in hospitals. These committees could save time and cost by prevention of blood loss. This study was conducted to assess the performance of hospital blood transfusion committees in Tehran in 2005-2006. In this retrospective study, 46 reports from 13 hospitals [9 community and 4 private] being sent to Tehran Blood Transfusion Center in 2005-2006 were assessed. All reports were assessed from the perspective of duties entrusted by Iranian Ministry of Health. These duties were classified as [1] report of blood transfusion complications, [2] statistical report of blood transfusions, [3] statistical report of blood orders from different wards of hospitals, [4] report of blood transfusion indications, [5] report of educational programs, and [6] assessment of personnel problems and equipment of blood banks. Report of blood transfusion complications [77%] and report of blood transfusion indications [23%] were the most and the least reported duties, respectively. The most and the least relative frequencies for all hospitals, community, and private hospitals were 23%-77%, 33%-78% and 0%-75%, respectively. Committee reports in community hospitals were better than private ones, though the difference was not statistically significant [p>0.05]. Cross match to transfusion ratio was considerable only in one hospital [3.05]. This study showed that reports of hospital blood transfusion committees in Tehran in 2005-2006 are in a relatively poor condition. This condition in private hospitals was worse than community ones. More focus on reports of blood transfusion indications seems to be necessary. Since cross match to transfusion ratio is an important performance indicator for hospitals, it should receive a higher level of attention of hospital committees

[Body mass index in veterans exposed to chemical warfare agents with chronic bronchiolitis]

One of the leading risk factors for various diseases is obesity, a nutritional burden and an independent factor which increases mortality. Patients with chronic bronchiolitis due to mustard gas have low levels of physical activity, owing to respiratory problems, and comorbidities like psychological disorders. The aim of this study was to assess obesity in veterans exposed to chemical warfare agents. In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 434 veterans exposed chemical warfare agents, admitted to the chest of clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital during 2006 were studied. Patients were divided into three age groups as follows: 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 years. Respiratory symptoms, including dyspnea, cough, sleep fragmentation and bloody sputum, pulmonary function and body mass index [BMI] were assessed in subjects. Mean BMI was 26.4 +/- 3.9 kg/m2 in patients, 26.3 +/- 4.1 kg/m2 in 30-39, 26.3 +/- 3.9 kg/m2 in the 40-49, and 27.1 +/- 3.9 kg/m2 in 50-59 year olds. In addition, 32.9%, 35.9%, 32.9% and 17.6% of patients had normal weight, and 54.7%, 61.3%, 64.8% and 82.4% were overweight or obese in all patients, 30-39, 40-49 and 50-59 age groups. BMI was not correlated with the severity of cough, sleep fragmentation, dyspnea, the presence of bloody sputum and respiratory volumes. The prevalence of obesity and overweight in was veterans exposed to chemical warfare agent seems to be higher than in the normal population. Given the importance of obesity, there should be more focus on balancing weight in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases; in this regard, such patients will benefit greatly from collaboration between nutritionists, endocrinologists, pulmonologists and psychologists