RESUMEN
Background: Pregabalin is a well-tolerated medication that is commonly used in the treatment of chronic pain, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and generalized anxiety disorders. A variety of pregabalin-related cardiac side effects have been described in the literature and first-degree AV block is a well-known consequence. We aimed to investigate whether pregabalin prolongs the PR interval or not.Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Shorsh Military General Teaching Hospital, Iraq. A total of 80 patients, who had a multitude of cervical and lumbosacral radiculopathies were enrolled consecutively, from November 1, 2017, to January 31, 2019. Forty patients who were receiving pregabalin (the treatment group) were age-matched and gender-matched with another group of 40 patients who hadn’t been prescribed pregabalin (the control group). A single 12-lead ECG was done in all patients and the PR interval was calculated; a value of >0.20 second is considered a prolongation in the PR interval and defines first-degree AV block.Results: Thirteen patients (32%; 7 males and 6 females) demonstrated a prolongation in the PR interval in the pregabalin arm while the PR interval was prolonged in 5 patients only in the control group (12%; 2 males and 3 females). There was no statistical difference between the maximum PR prolongation in both groups (p-value=0.13; 95% CI, -0.0121 to 0.0317).Conclusions: This study hasn’t found a statistically significant prolongation in the PR interval among patients taking oral pregabalin monotherapy. Whether this observation is clinically significant or not, it needs further analytic studies to uncover its importance.
RESUMEN
Background: In elderly people, falls have been recognized as one of the major causes of disability and potentially preventable mortality. Authors analyzed the incidence of falls in elderly diabetic people who have been receiving insulin therapy versus those on oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHGAs).Methods: This observational study was conducted at the department of neurology of Shorsh military general teaching hospital and its outpatients’ department, Iraq, from April 1st to September 30st, 2016. A total of 100 diabetic patients older than 65 years of age, who had a history of one or more falls, were included in the study. The duration of diabetes, mode of its treatment, and its complications all were analyzed in addition to the risk factors for falls.Results: Females (n=57) outnumbered males (n=43) and the mean age of the patients was (71.2±3.6) years. Increasing patient’s age, long-standing diabetes, poor glycaemic control, insulin therapy, and polypharmacy (of 3 and more antidiabetic agents) were significantly and statistically encountered and associated parameters for the risk of falls. The presence of additional risk factors for falls (e.g., previous stroke, alcoholism, cardiac dysrhythmia, and osteoarthrosis) augmented this risk.Conclusions: Diabetes and its treatment render older people more liable for falls. The longer duration of the disease and the higher patients’ age (which were the commonest risks) are irreversible and non-correctable parameters for falls. Further analytic studies are required to unveil the role of each risk factor authors have detected.