Managing hot flushes in menopausal women: a review

Hot flushes during menopause are distressing for women and result in poor quality of life. Purpose of the current review was to evaluate the available treatment modalities that should be utilised for the management of hot flushes. Menopause refers to last menses of women life and can be declared after amenorrhea of 12 months. Vasomotor symptoms including hot flushes and night sweats are common after menopause, affecting almost 50 - 85% women older than 45 years. The mean increment in core body and skin temperature is 0.5 degree C and 0.25 - 3 degree C during a hot flush attack. Low level of estrogen during menopause and its association in triggering episodes of hot flushes, is still under debate. The most accepted hypothesis is a narrowing of the thermoneutral zone [TNZ] triggered by estrogen fluctuations. Although, hormone replacement therapy [HRT] remains the standard treatment for the alleviation of such symptoms, incidence of life threatening side effects restrained medical professionals from its use. Complications associated with the use of HRT can be avoided by appropriate evaluation of patients before initiating therapy. Several guidelines have also recommended HRT [estrogen and progesterone] to be safe for up to a period of seven years. Both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments are used for the management of hot flushes. Since hot flushes are the least appreciated and neglected complication of menopause, current review provides detailed information on its background, pathophysiology and management, and emphasises the need of its treatment

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Asia: a systematic review of population-based studies

Chronic kidney disease [CKD] is an asymptomatic disease associated with high morbidity and life-threatening complications that lead to decreased life expectancy. Worldwide prevalence of CKD is escalating at an alarming rate. Large population-based representative surveys have been reported in Western countries to estimate the prevalence of the disease. However, there is paucity of data as far as developing nations are concerned. Asia is the world's largest continent accommodating maximum number of under-developed and developing countries with an unclear picture of prevalence of CKD. Current review attempts to give an insight to the prevalence of CKD in this region by combining population-based surveys. This review will assist in estimating the burden of CKD in Asia, so that appropriate control measures could be designed