Neck circumference and cardio- metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Only few studies about neck circumference (NC) as a measure of cardio metabolic syndrome available from India. Study was conducted to establish an association between neck circumference and cardio metabolic syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in South India. NCEP: ATPIII 2001 guideline was used for diagnosis of Cardio-metabolic syndrome among subjects. Neck circumference was measured and it was correlated with Cardio-metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: Mean neck circumference was found to be 36.5 cms. Cardio-metabolic syndrome was present in 272 participants, of which 100 were females and 172 males. Among females 82(82%) had neck circumference >34cms, 18(18%) had <34cms and among males 117(68%)had NC >37cms and 55(32%) had NC<37cms. All individual parameter of cardio metabolic risk factor, i.e., BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, FBS, HDL & TG except waist/hip ratio were correlating with abnormal neck circumference when compared with those with normal neck circumference. CONCLUSION: Neck circumference with metabolic syndrome correlated better among females than males. Men with NC >37 cm and women with NC >34 cm are more prone for cardio metabolic syndrome and require additional evaluation. Measurement of NC is a simple, time saving, and least invasive measurement tool.

Peripheral insensate neuropathy-is height a risk factor?

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral insensate neuropathy is one of the most commonest and the earliest forms of peripheral neuropathy. It is one of the leading causes of the disability in working population who are at risk. METHODS: A study was conducted in Kasturba medical college (Manipal university) in the year 2009-12, which included examination of 818 people of more than 30yrs of age by random sampling method who were attending the outpatient clinic. A monofilament was used to determine the peripheral insensate neuropathy, which was defined by the presence of one or more insensate areas. RESULTS: In our study , the prevalence of peripheral insensate neuropathy was 16.2 % ( p-0.0001), among which 9.7% were males and 7.5% were females. The males were 1.27 times significantly at a higher risk than the females , even after a height adjustment to the gender difference in height. As the height increased, the prevalence of peripheral insensate neuropathy increased, irrespective of the diabetic and hypertensive statuses. The risk of the peripheral insensate neuropathy increases at a height of >167 cm in males and at a height of >159 cm in females. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that body height is an important and an independent risk factor for peripheral insensate neuropathy, irrespective of co morbidities. Height as a marker, helps the health care professionals in identifying the people who are at risk for peripheral insensate neuropathy.