Patient Self-reported quality of life assessment in Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome measure to assess the diabetic care and is increasingly replacing the traditional indicators of health. AIM: The aim is to evaluate the QoL in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) using a third generation individualized QoL instrument like an audit of diabetes-dependent QoL (ADDQoL) questionnaire and to determine the predictors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited from a tertiary care hospital by convenience sampling. Sociodemographic and other relevant details were collected from the study patients, and ADDQoL questionnaire were administered to them. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients were included in the study among which 66% of patients had uncontrolled type 2 DM as suggested by their glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values. The mean QoL score was 0.07 (0.91) and diabetes-dependent QoL was -1.33 (0.58). Approximately 38% were associated with poor health-related QoL with a mean average weighted impact score of -0.51 (0.51). Most frequently affected life domain was the freedom to eat. A positive correlation was observed between QoL and gender, age, domicile, education status, occupation, family structure, duration of type 2 DM, HbA1c, insulin treatment, and the presence of comorbidities. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the impact of type 2 DM on QoL. Improving QoL of type 2 diabetic patients is important and knowledge of these preventable risk factors help to implement strategies to better management of type 2 DM and ultimately improve therapeutic outcome.

Factors Contributing to Development and Reversal of LVH: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) often reflects as a physiological adaptation to chronic pressure overload. It has been identified as a strong independent risk factor of all-cause mortality and adverse cardiac events. Since not all subjects with hypertension develop LVH, understanding the clinical factors contributing to the development of LVH and the appropriate diagnostic and treatment strategies may help clinicians in conducting more definitive evaluation and managing the disease effectively. AIM: To assess the incidence of LVH in hypertensive subjects and the factors influencing its development and reversal. The study also evaluated the most effective diagnostic technique and therapy that could improve the disease symptoms and prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prospective study, conducted at Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara (JSS) Medical College JSS University, Mysore, India, included 50 patients with hypertension. Detailed history of the recruited subjects was collected from patient records and through physical examination. Demographic and clinical characteristics such as age, gender, BMI, and stage of hypertension (stage I HTN and stage II HTN) were also obtained. Funduscopic examination was done for all patients for evidence of hypertensive retinopathy. Echocardiography (ECHO), electrocardiography (ECG), and chest X-Ray were used for detection of LVH. The patients were reviewed after six months and reassessment of LVH was carried out. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software and R 3.2 package. RESULTS: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were found to be more effective in the treatment of LVH when compared to calcium channel blockers and beta blockers. ECHO was found to be the best method to diagnose LVH. In patients with stage I HTN, 47.1% had normal LVM. Around 53% of the subjects with stage I HTN and all with stage II HTN had abnormal LVM. Retinal changes were noted in 96.2% of abnormal LVM patients and 50% of normal LVM patients. A positive association between BMI and LVH (OR: 1.39) was also noted. CONCLUSION: BMI may positively influence LVH regression. The presence of retinopathy, in addition to LVH, suggests an increased chance of regression with anti-hypertensive treatment.

Effect of high dose of steroid on plateletcount in acute stage of dengue Fever with thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Dengue infection is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease in the world and an estimated 50 million dengue infections reported annually. The pathogenesis of Thrombocytopenia in dengue fever (DF) is not clearly understood. Increased peripheral destruction of antibody coated platelets and acute bone marrow suppression were strongly suspected as the possible mechanism. This often leads to life threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and Dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Steroids are used in the treatment of Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura to increase the platelet count which is mediated by auto antibodies .This hypothesis would support the use of steroids in dengue fever. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to test whether an intravenous high dose dexamethasone was efficacious in increasing the platelet count in acute stage of dengue fever with thrombocytopenia. METHODS: During the study period between June 2010 - 2011 in JSS Hospital Mysore, 127 patients were screened for dengue fever with thrombocytopenia (<50000/cumm) and 61patients were randomly allocated, 30 to the study group and 31 to the control group, in an open labeled study. The study group received intravenous dexamethasone 8mg initially followed by 4 mg every 8 h thereafter for 4 days and IV fluids whenever required. The control Group received only IV fluids and antipyretics whenever it was indicated. The daily measurement of platelet count was carried out in all patients from the day of enrolment to the fourth day of post treatment. RESULTS: The baseline data (age, sex, and the mean duration of the illness, Hb%, haematocrit, and platelets) were similar in both the groups. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics showed a significant linear association of the mean platelet counts with the days in either group. The mean platelet counts increased steadily in both the groups from days 1 to 4: day1 (0.687), day2 (0.34), day3 (0.530) and day4 (0.844). There was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that at a high dose dexamethasone regimen was not effective in achieving a higher rise in the platelet count in the acute stage of dengue fever.