Correntional study of the health-related quality of life, chronic obstructive airway disease in Northern India, New Delhi

Background: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) defines chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as “a disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. Due to progressive airflow limitation, the patients become increasingly symptomatic leading to worsening in their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Objective of present study was to examine that correlation of health related quality of life with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Methods: One hundred twenty consecutive stable COPD patients (diagnosed as per GOLD guidelines), without any co-morbid conditions (diabetes, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension) were recruited in this study after intuitional ethical clearance and informed consents. The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using Hindi SGRQ-C. Forced expiratory volume in first one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC% and reversibility were measured using Spirolab III (Medical International Research USA, Inc.). The descriptive and the Pearson’s correlation coefficient were done in data treatment with SPSS version 20.Results: The component of SGRQ scores were as follows: Symptom score: 31.27±14.6 (range 2.3-64); Activity score: 59.01±23.08) (range 0-100); Impact score 42.19±22.25 (range 0-88.8) and the total score was = 45.34±17.96 (range 1.1.-88.6). There were significant negative correlations between all the parameters of SGRQ and FEV1% predicted (i.e. with lower FEV1% parameters of SGRQ will be high).Conclusions: Indian patients with COPD show significantly reduced HRQOL as measured by disease specific questionnaire SGRQ, similar to COPD patients in other countries. In our study, only FEV1 % predicted was significantly correlated with HRQOL, all other measures including GOLD staging were not significantly associated with HRQOL.

Metrondazole-induced neurotoxicity.

A 50 year old male with history of prolonged intake of metronidazole for treatment of liver abscess developed acute ataxia, disorientation, distal symmetrical sensory and proximal motor neuropathy. Patients being treated with metronidazole particularly those on high doses for prolonged period should be monitored for neurotoxicity.

Emergency treatment with ketoconazole in disseminated intravascular coagulation due to metastatic prostatic carcinoma.

We report the use of ketoconazole to control disseminated intravascular coagulation due to prostatic carcinoma. Clinical improvement in the condition of the patient was noted in 48 hours and coagulation profile became normal in 10 days.

Ocular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.

One hundred and seven patients of definite rheumatoid arthritis were screened for the presence of ocular manifestations of which 21 (19.63%) were observed to have ocular changes. Of these keratoconjunctivitis sicca in 19 (17.7%) patients and episcleritis in one (0.93%) were attributable to rheumatoid arthritis. Bilateral retinal haemorrhage in one patient was due to grade 3 hypertensive retinopathy. Absence of posterior subcapsular cataract in 106 (99.06%) patients who did not receive corticosteroids supports the hypothesis that steroids are the aetiologic agents and not rheumatoid arthritis.