ABSTRACT
Background: Young adults with hypertension have a higher lifetime risk of cardiovascular diseases. Global evidence suggests a significant role of diet and lifestyle risk factors on hypertension among the young adult (aged 18-39 years) hypertensive population. Aim: The purpose of this study was to look for the association of diet and lifestyle risk factors with young adult hypertensives. Results: This study reports the prevalence of young adult hypertension based on a national representative sample based on the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) data and the association of behavioral risk factors with young adult hypertension. The survey adopted a two-stage stratified random sampling. The outcome variable was hypertension, whereas the exposure variables were various diet and lifestyle factors. The prevalence of young adult hypertension in India was 12.4% among men and 8.2% among women. Sikkim had the highest prevalence among both sexes. Lower prevalence was seen in the states of Delhi and Kerala. Marital status, body mass index, eating meat, alcohol intake, and taking coffee or tobacco 30 min before BP measurement were found to be associated factors that put both the sexes at risk of developing hypertension. The wealth index was concluded as a risk factor only in men while the level of education came out to be a risk factor only in females. Conclusion: This study is the first from India which gives a recent estimate of prevalence of young adult hypertension by state and individual level characteristics in addition to national level estimates for India.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: India has >135 million obese individuals at present. Body mass index (BMI) has been used to assess obesity until recent times. Later, studies have shown that central body fat (BF) measurements as a reliable predictor of metabolic diseases. Hence, normal-weight obesity (NWO) is defined. Those with a normal range of BMI but increased fat percentage are found to be having metabolic syndromes at a very early life. The young adult group is specifically focused on the study with diet and physical activity as potential determinants; as an intervention at the right time can prevent the development of many noncommunicable diseases. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of obesity and its determinants with special reference to NWO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors on a sample of 269 young adults. Using Harpenden skinfold calipers, BF percentage was calculated based on Jackson and Pollock and Siri's equation. Binary logistic regression was also applied appropriately. RESULTS: The proportion of obesity was 42.01%, and that of NWO was 16.1%. Sex, high protein diet, number of restaurant visits, less homemade tiffin intake, heavy physical activity, alcohol intake were found to be significantly associated with obesity. Intake of fish, physical activity, protein diet, day-time sleep were found to be significantly associated with NWO. CONCLUSION: The study emphasizes the need for including BF percentage in addition to BMI in regular clinical practice. It may help in preventive and promotive efforts.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: India experienced pandemic phase of H1N1 in May 2009 to December 2010. The postpandemic phase went on from January 2011 to December 2014. As per the WHO, all countries should immunize their health-care workers as a first priority to protect the essential health infrastructure. AIMS: The aim of the study is to assess the level of awareness and acceptance of influenza vaccine among physicians and also the perception of physicians regarding H1N1 infection. This study also examined time of vaccine administration in relation with efficacy concerns based on literature. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A vaccination campaign was conducted for all health-care workers of Seth GSMC and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, in the month of July 2017 based on which a cross-sectional observational study was conducted among the physicians of the same institute. METHODS: After ethical clearance, a prevalidated pretested survey based on a pilot survey of 20 physicians was distributed among physicians, which was based on the awareness and acceptance of H1N1 vaccination among physicians and perception of H1N1 infection. Effective sample size was 272. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were generated for the survey responses. All the continuous variables were reported as mean, median, and range. Categorical variables were reported as tables and pie charts. P < 0.05 was taken as significant. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 21. RESULTS: The overall vaccine compliance was 29.8%. This study has found that area of work, deficiency in knowledge about adverse effect of vaccine, misconceptions regarding vaccine, and concerns about efficacy and duration of vaccine are the important factors which lead to decreased vaccine compliance. Furthermore, it is found during the study that timing of vaccination was not given due importance as considering the epidemiological pattern. CONCLUSIONS: More emphasis should be given to education sessions and counseling of physicians regarding H1N1 vaccination and oseltamivir therapy. At administrative level, more focus should be given on timing of vaccination and other logistics. Vaccine campaigns should be conducted ideally 1 month before expected rise in cases. Quadrivalent vaccine would be more appropriate over trivalent based on epidemiology of infection in India.
