Coronary artery disease; frequency of risk factors among healthy male paramedical staff

To determine the frequency of risk factors of coronary artery disease [CAD] in healthy male paramedical staff of our hospital. Descriptive study. Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi, from January 2009 to June 2009. Three Sixty Three [363] healthy male paramedical staff members were studied. Patients with heart disease, chronic liver and kidney diseases were excluded. Presence of hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia, physical activity, a family history of [CAD] and medication was documented. Fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, uric acid levels were done. Body mass index and waist circumference were measured and Waist to Hip ratio calculated. Data was analysed using SPSS-20. Ten year risk was calculated using Heart Score software. Mean age of subjects was 31.85 +/- 8.10 years. Maximum number of patients [152, 41.9%] aged between 31 to 40 years. Smoking was documented in 76 [20.9%], hypertension in 26 [7.2%], diabetes in 27 [7.4%] and a family history of premature CAD was recorded in 26 [7.2%] persons. Eighty [22.01%] patients were overweight [BMI = 25-29.9] while 26 [7.2%] were obese [BMI >30]. Waist circumference > 94 cm was found in 79 [21.8%]. High cholesterol [>200 mg/dl] was documented in 33 [9.1%], high LDL[>100 mg/dl] in 68 [18.7%], low HDL in 92 [25.4%] and high triglycerides [>150 mg /dl] in 116[32%] persons. Dyslipidemia, obesity, smoking, hypertension and diabetes were most frequent risk factors. Public awareness to control risk factors can reduce the prevalence of CAD

Metabolic syndrome in acute coronary syndrome

To determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome in male patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome. A descriptive study. Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi, from October 2007 to September 2008. Male patients with acute coronary syndrome [ACS] were included. Patients having angioplasty [PCI], coronary artery bypass surgery in the past and other co-morbid diseases were excluded. All patients were assessed for the presence of five components of metabolic syndrome including hypertension, HDL-Cholesterol and triglycerides, glucose intolerance and abdominal obesity. Systolic, diastolic blood pressures, waist circumference [WC] and body mass index [BMI] were measured. ECG, cardiac enzymes, fasting glucose and lipid profile were also done. A total of 135 male patients of ACS were studied with a mean age of 54.26 +/- 11 years. Metabolic syndrome [MS] was present in 55 [40.7%] patients. MS with all five components was documented in 4 [7.27%] while MS with four and three components was seen in 23 [41.81%] and 28 [50.90%] patients respectively. Only 24 [43.63%] patients with MS had diabetes mellitus, remaining 31[56.36%] were non diabetic. Frequencies of diabetes, hypertension and family history of CAD were significantly higher [p<0.05] in patients with metabolic syndrome as compared to patients with normal metabolic status. Metabolic syndrome is fairly common and important risk factor in patients of IHD. Other risk factors like smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension and diabetes were also frequently found. Public awareness to control the risk factors can reduce the prevalence of CAD in our country

Frequency of risk factors in male patients with acute coronary syndrome

To determine the frequency of risk factors in male patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome. Observational study. Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institution of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi, from October 2007 to September 2008. Male patients with acute coronary syndrome were included in this study. Patients having angioplasty [PCI], coronary artery bypass surgery, chronic liver and kidney diseases were excluded. Presence of diabetes, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, physical activity, stress, a family history of coronary artery disease [CAD] and medication was hypertension, dyslipidemia, physical activity, stress, a family history of coronary artery disease [CAD] and medication was documented. Blood pressure, ECG, cardiac enzymes, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and echocardiography were done within 24 hours of admission. Body mass index and waist circumference were measured. Data was analysed using SPSS-15. a total of 135 male patients of ACS were studied having mean age of 54.26 +/- 11.60 years. Maximum number of patients aged between 51 to 60 years, [n= 41, 31.9%]. STEMI [ST-elevation myocardial infarction] was diagnosed in 96 [71.1%] patients, non-STEMI in 12 [8.9%] while 27 [20%] patients were having unstable angina. Smoking was documented in 60 [44%] patients, hypertension in 50 [37%], diabetes in 34 [25.2%] and a family history of premature CAD obese [BMI >/= 30]. Waist circumference > 90 cm was found in 86 [63.6%] subjects. Sixty four [47.4%] patients were active frequent combinations, observed in 24 [17.9%] subjects. Dyslipidemia, smoking, hypertension and diabetes were most frequent risk factors. Public awareness to control risk factors can reduce the prevalence of CAD

Outcome of radiofrequency catheter ablation as a non-pharmacological therapy for idiopathic ventricular tachycardia

To determine the outcome of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation [RFCA] as a non-pharmacological curative therapy for idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia [VT] and to identify procedure-related complications. Descriptive study. The Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi, from February 2001 to October 2008. Ninety eight consecutive patients with idiopathic VT, resistant to drug therapy, who underwent Electrophysiology Studies [EPS] radiofrequency catheter ablation were enrolled. Clinical and electrophysiological variables were recorded and a descriptive analysis was done. Out of the 98 patients, 79 were males [80.6%]. The mean age was 33.29 +/- 11.93 years. Modes of presentation were sustained VT, Repetitive Monomorphic VT [RMVT], Non-sustained VT [NSVT] and Ventricular Premature Beats [VPBs]. Right Ventricular Outflow Tract [RVOT] VT was found in 37 patients, 37 had Idiopathic Left Ventricular Tachycardia [ILVT], 20 had Left Ventricular Outflow Tract [LVOT] VT, and Inflow Right Ventricular Tachycardia [IRVT] was found in 7 patients. Other sites of origin of VT were infrequent. Eight patients had dual morphologies of VT. Atrioventricular Nodal Re-entry Tachycardia [AVNRT] was found in 8 patients. RFCA was successful in abolishing inducible VT in 88 patients. One patient developed complete AV block requiring a permanent pacemaker. Results of this study confirm a high degree of success and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation as curative therapy for idiopathic ventricular tachycardia

Falciparum malaria-a review of 120 cases

Malaria affects an estimated 300 million people and causes more than a million deaths per year worldwide. Falciparum malaria has high mortality as it causes complications like cerebral malaria, renal failure and algid malaria. Increasing resistance to Chloroquine in P.falciparum has further aggravated the problem. This study comprising of 120 cases of falciparum malaria, [exclusively males], was conducted at CMH, Multan, to evaluate seasonal variation, modes of presentation, complications and response to various drugs in troops stationed at Multan, DG Khan, Muzaffargarh and adjoining area of Baluchistan. Fever was present in 100% cases, chills in 62%, vomiting in 31%, headache in 30% and diarrhea in 7% patients. Anemia was present in 13% patients, jaundice in 11%, signs of meningism in 1.6%. One patient had pulmonary edema while another one developed black water fever. Resistance to Chloroquine was observed in 33%, Fansidar in 37%, Quinine in 3%. Incidence of falciparum malaria was significantly higher among troops during the months of August to November. Quinine was the most effective drug against P. falciparum

Falciparum Malaria - a review of 120 cases

Malaria affects an estimated 300 million people and causes more than a million deaths per year worldwide. Falciparum malaria has high mortality as it causes complications like cerebral malaria, renal failure and algid malaria. Increasing resistance to Chloroquine in P.falciparum has further aggravated the problem. This study comprising of 120 cases of falciparum malaria, [exclusively males], was conducted at CMH, Multan, to evaluate seasonal variation, modes of presentation, complications and response to various drugs in troops stationed at Multan, DG Khan, Muzaffargarh and adjoining area of Baluchistan. Fever was present in 100% cases, chills in 62%, vomiting in 31%, headache in 30% and diarrhea in 7% patients. Anemia was present in 13% patients, jaundice in 11%, signs of meningism in 1.6%. One patient had pulmonary edema while another one developed black water fever. Resistance to Chloroquine was observed in 33%, Fansidar in 37%, Quinine in 3%. Incidence of falciparum malaria was significantly higher among troops during the months of August to November. Quinine was the most effective drug against P. falciparum