ABSTRACT
Introduction: COVID-19 impacted lives of people globally, especially with chronic conditions like Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Since its emergence and increase, pandemic restrictions were imposed in Pakistan too to counter infection and prevent spread. This situation posed challenges for T1DM children causing significant lifestyle changes, psychosocial distress, difficult medication access, monitoring, and physician follow-up. This study was planned to see how restrictions and adjustments in health care affected T1DM children by comparing glycemic control prior to and following pandemic. Objective(s): To evaluate impact of COVID-19 on glycemic control of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Method(s): A 2 point observational cross sectional study was done in 139 T1DM children 10-18 years enrolled in pediatric endocrine clinic of Aga Khan University with disease duration >6 months. Demographics, clinic visits (pre and during pandemic) last HbA1c value before and last value during pandemic were recorded in structured questionnaire at 2 time points (Post pandemic face to face interview between Feb and April 2022 at follow up visit, pre pandemic data from hospital medical records between Sep 2019 and Feb 2020). Paired t-test was used to compare HbA1c values and number of clinic visits before and after. Result(s): Out of 139 patients, 45% were male, 55% females. Mean age was 13.7 years. Mean HbA1c value increased from 8.7% during 6 months preceding pandemic restrictions to 9.5% during pandemic and difference was statistically significant (p-value 0.002) using paired T test. Mean clinic visits reduced from 3 visits/year pre-COVID to 1 visit/year during pandemic. This difference was also statistically significant (p value 0.000). Conclusion(s): This study demonstrates significantly negative impact of pandemic on glycemic control of children with T1DM, a chronic condition requiring regular monitoring and follow-up. Barriers in continuity of healthcare due to restrictions reflected by less clinic visits during pandemic highlights importance of telemedicine services as well.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine association of T2DM with depression, Covid-19, hypertension, junk food, weight, age, physical activity, smoking, family history, education and income. Study Design: Cross-sectional, multicenter study Duration and Place of Study: Family Health Clinic, Mehmoodabad, Ahmad Medical Centre, FB Area Karachi, Al-khidmat Hospital North Karachi, Rafah-E-Aam Hospital FB Area Karachi, from 1st November 2020 to 30th April 2021. Methodology: Pre-tested, researcher administered questionnaire was used through medics and paramedics. Information was collected from general patients and care givers. Non-diabetics and non-hypertensives were tested/checked on the spot. Results: Mean age of the participants was 35 years with minimum 18 and maximum 70 years. Males were 279 (95%). In males 30 (11%) were diabetic and in females 7 (47%) were diabetic. 168 (57%) of the participants got above matric education. Lowincome group consisted of 271 (92%) participants. Diabetes was present in 37 (13%). Forty six percent diabetics were diagnosed incidentally. Most (24;65%) were diagnosed by general practitioner, six (16%) by Family Physician, four (11%) by specialist and one (3%) by self. Conclusions: General practitioners play a pivotal role in diagnosing and managing diabetes mellitus. To reduce the burden of diabetes in Pakistan, modifiable risk factors like low education and high inflation have to be addressed. More over marriages between first cousins need to be discouraged.
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Introduction: Pakistan has high prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, especially bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find the impact of COVID-19 on chronic respiratory disease in Pakistan. Material and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital Lahore during January 2021 to July 2021. Before and after the COVID-19 period were defined by a predetermined set of criteria in the form of a questionnaire. Results: The data was collected from 314 respondents. According to the respondents, the survey also queried about the presence of respiratory comorbidities in patients who had tested positive for COVID 19. COPD was mentioned as a comorbidity by more than a third of those who responded, and several others, including bronchial asthma, ILD, and tuberculosis (TB), were also mentioned by many respondents. Conclusion: It is concluded that because of the lockout's efficacy and the widespread use of masks outside the facility, the air was probably rather clean. As a result, both the number of people visiting an asthma outpatient clinic and the number of people being admitted to the hospital with acute severe asthma dropped.
ABSTRACT
Emergence of any pandemic raises serious concerns toward the psychological well-being of an individual and overall society. Although, the magnitude and intensity of the novelwellb coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are not precisely known yet, however, this pandemic has predominantly reshaped the global scenario. Scholars have begun to unfold the reality of this traumatic situation, but empirical research that focuses on the identification of key factors that could have a notable impact on mental wellbeing of the general population is limited. To fill this gap, this research endeavors to analyze the impact of fear of getting infected and social isolation on mental well-being during the pandemic. In addition, psychological resilience is used as a moderator between social isolation and mental well-being. A total of 714 responses were received through an online survey from university students across all provinces of Pakistan. The findings demonstrate that people who fear of being infected tend to engage in social isolation, and social isolation brings negative repercussions toward mental well-being. Interestingly, the study findings reveal that psychological resilience could mitigate the negative impact of social isolation on mental well-being. This study calls for creating and promoting awareness concerning psychological resilience in order to cope with the psychological challenges during this COVID-19 pandemic.
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Objectives 1. To calculate the mortality rate of COVID 19 at our centre. 2. To study age and sex distribution of COVID 19 deaths. 3. To study the duration of hospital stay with mortality. 4. To study the comorbidities associated with mortality. Methods: This is a retrospective analytical study of COVID 19 deaths which have occurred from April 2020 to January 2021. Death records of patients who were Confirmed positive cases of COVID 19 infection by Antigen positivity or RT PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or CBNAAT were analysed based on the total number of admissions, total deaths, age and gender distribution;duration of hospital stay, co-morbidities. Results: There were 763 deaths in our study. Total admissions were 5762. Mortality rate was 13.2%. Out of these 481 were males and 282 females. The mean age of death was in the group of 60-70 years with a median age of 64.8 years. 221 patients had ≥ 3 comorbidities, 162 had ≥ 2 comorbidities. 172 had single comorbidities and 208 no comorbidities. Conclusions: COVID 19 affects people of all age groups and gender. It neither spares people with comorbidities nor those without any comorbidities. There is no specific therapy for its treatment. Hence Vaccination, and use of masks, social distancing and sanitization are the policies which will help in the long run. © 2021 Journal of Association of Physicians of India. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced the notion of the “new normal” in daily life through profoundly influencing the way we used to live, study and work. During these unprecedented times, the rapid transition from traditional face-to-face learning to online learning has been viewed as a paradigm shift in higher education. Drawing impetus from the self-determination theoretical framework, the present study aims to examine the impact of the online learning climate on student's engagement. It also hypothesizes the mediating role of basic psychological needs on the nexus between online learning and students’ engagement. Total 689 students taking online classes in ten (five publics and five private) universities of Pakistan responded to the web-based survey. The present study findings do not support the direct influence of the online learning climate on student engagement, nevertheless, this relationship was mediated by students’ perceptions concerning the extent to which their basic psychological needs were satisfied/ dissatisfied. This study theoretically and empirically contributes to both the psychology and higher education literature, pertaining to the developing field of online learning. The practical implications from this study inform policy-makers in academia to reflect on the students’ psychological needs within virtual teaching environment. © 2021 Universidad de País Vasco