The role of Caesarean section in childhood asthma

@#Objective: As indicated by previous studies, children born via Caesarean section may have an increased risk of developing asthma compared with those born via vaginal delivery. The aim of this study is to assess the association between a Caesarean section and the risk of childhood asthma. Methods: This was a case-control study carried out in Basrah, Iraq including 952 children aged 3-12 years. Four hundred and seven asthmatic cases and a control group of 545 age-matched non-asthmatic children were enrolled. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between asthma and birth via Caesarean section. Results: The mean age of the children was 6.7±2.5 years. Two-hundred eighty-three children (29.7%) were delivered via Caesarean section. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that delivery via Caesarean section was found to be an independent significant risk factor for asthma (OR=3.37; 95% CI=1.76-6.46; p<0.001). In addition, many other risk factors were found to be significant predictors of asthma, including bottlefeeding (OR=27.29; 95% CI=13.54-54.99; p<0.001) and low birth weight (OR=16.7; 95% CI=6.97-37.49; p<0.001). Conclusion: Caesarean section is significantly associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma.

Quality of life and its determinants in people with epilepsy in Basrah, Iraq

The objective of this study was to assess the quality of life [QOL] in people with epilepsy and to evaluate various factors affecting their QOL. A total of 116 patients with epilepsy and a control group of 116 apparently healthy persons were included in this case-control study which was conducted at the neurology outpatient clinic of Basrah General Hospital, Iraq. An interview was performed with the use of a special questionnaire, which included data pertaining to socio-demographic characteristics, and clinical characteristics [for patients with epilepsy only]. The QOL was assessed with the use of a Short Form [SF-36] health survey. Epileptic patients showed lower overall QOL scores as compared to controls. In the univariate analysis, patients who were older, from rural areas, and with low education and income levels had lower overall QOL scores. Frequent seizures as well as increased duration of epilepsy were also significant factors associated with reduction in QOL scores. In the multivariate regression analysis, age, educational level, income and frequency of seizures were significant determinants of QOL. Certain socio-demographic factors as well as clinical factors were crucial in determining QOL in epilepsy patients. Recognition of these factors will lead health professionals to develop different strategies to improve the QOL of those patients

Hearing loss in Iraqi divers

Ear problems, particularly hearing loss, in divers are well known and documented all over the world. Studies showed that they form the most common health problems among divers. However, it seems that this problem has never been investigated in the Iraqi divers population. This cross-sectional comparative study is an attempt aims to contribute to the better understanding of the extent and impact of the problem among the local divers and to relate certain risk factors associated with diving. One hundred and eleven divers and 222 non-divers were interviewed regarding this problem and examined audiometerically. Results showed that 45% of the studied divers complained of some sort of ear problems. In a considerable number of them the problem is serious. Audiometer ically, about 50.5% of divers have some degree of hearing loss. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of hearing loss in divers as compared to non-divers. Furthermore, hearing loss problem among divers was more severe than in non-divers and it was mostly bilateral. High frequencies are the ones affected more. The role of certain proposed risk factors was studied with few conclusive findings; these are the association between hearing loss and underwater blast, maximum depth, duration of profession and underwater diving accidents. Further studies and regular check-ups are strongly recommended

effects of diving on pulmonary function

Diving as an occupation has its specific healtli problems. Respiratory system is one of the systems that can be affected by environmental changes associated ivith diving as increased hydrostatic pressure, increased breathing gas density, and increased partial pressure of gases e.g. oxygen and carbon dioxide. To determine the effects of diving on pulmonary function and the extent of this problem among Iraqi divers. One hundred and twenty divers tvitli 240 non-divers military personnel were interviewed according to special questionnaire and spirometry ivas performed for each of them. The values of all studied pulmonary function tests were found to be lower in divers as compared with non-divers [FEV[1], FVC, FEV[1]%, F[50], F[25], MVV and MEF] with highly significant differences, except FET which was significantly higher in divers than in non-divers. These changes gave the features of obstructive airway disease. Divers are at risk of some pulmonary function changes. The pattern of these changes is consistent with small airways obstruction and they could be related mostly to their diving activities. Other factors cannot be excluded. Further studies on such occupational group are recommended

Haematological changes among divers

Diving as a job, exposes individuals to a variety of environmental stresses not often encountered in other types of activities. These stresses lead to changes in many organ systems in the body of divers including haemopoietic system. No previous study was carried out in Iraq to examine the changes in haematological parameters among divers and the association between the diving environmental factors and these changes. This is a cross-sectional comparative study with a practical component. Eighty divers and 160 non-divers from the Iraqi Navy Force were included. Twenty-five divers were exposed to 2.5 ATA [Absolute Atmosphere] pressure for 15 minutes in a hyper baric chamber. All the studied haematological parameters, which were evaluated, including WBC count, RBC count, Hb concentration, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, platelet count, MPV, and ESR were found to be different in divers as compared to non-divers. The MCV, PCV, MCH, platelet count, were significantly lower in divers. While Hb, and MCHC values were lower in divers but without a statistical significant difference, In addition, the mean RBC count, MPV, and ESR were significantly higher in divers. While WBC count was not significantly higher in divers. The study confirmed the previous findings of other studies, which indicate that diving has an effect on the haemopoietic system. The need to introduce haematological investigations as part of the pre employment check-up of divers, as -well as periodic investigations of divers are recommended

Cardiovascular risk factors among college students

Cardiovascular diseases [CVD] are the leading causes of death worldwide. Their incidence particularly coronary heart diseases [CHD] are increasing among young adult. Few data exist on the prevalence of risk factors in young adult college students. To determine the prevalence of CVD risk factors among young adult college students. Two Hundred and thirty-two questionnaires covering socio-economic aspects, physical activity, diet, smoking, personality, and parental history of CHD death were reviewed. In addition, clinical examination, biochemical analysis of lipid profile were done. All were students asymptomatic for CVD, 36 [15.5%] were smokers, 92 [39.6%] consumed mostly fatty diet, 17 [7.3%] were obese. 22 [9.5%] were physically inactive, 24 [10.3%] had positive parental history of CHD death, 49 [21.1%] had type A personality, 5 [2.2%] had diabetes mellitus, 13 [5.6%] had systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg, and 20 [8.6%] had diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg. The prevalence of smoking and physical inactivity was significantly higher among men than women. While obesity and parental history of CHD death were significantly more prevalent among older age group [> 30years] than in younger age group [<30 years]. High serum cholesterol level was prevalent in 17 [7.3%], low level of HDL-C in12 [5.2%], high levels of LDL-C in 11 [4.7%], and high triglycerides level in5 [2.2]. Low level of apo A was prevalent in 28 [16.2%] of men and 9 [15.3%] of women, while high level of apo B was prevalent in 12 [6.9%] of men compared to 2 [3.4%] of women. The prevalence of abnormal levels of HDLC, TC/DL and LDL/HDL ratios were significantly higher among older age group [>/= 30years] than in younger subjects [<30 years]. No significant difference in the prevalence of lipid risk factors was noted between men and women. Many CVD risk factors were prevalent among apparently healthy young college students. Those young adult people may be more at risk from subsequent CVD than was expected