ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the clinical profile of patients with syncope and the usefulness of various tests to reach a diagnosis of syncope and its etiology. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, observational study that enrolled 90 consecutive patients (aged ≥ 12 years) who presented with syncope. Detailed information was obtained from each enrolled patient on history and physical examination. All patients underwent electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiographic examination. Other specific tests were also performed based on the findings from medical history, physical examination, ECG, and echocardiography findings. RESULTS: Among 90 patients with syncope, 45% were males, and age distribution showed a bimodal distribution with two peaks. A total of 67% and 5% of patients had past history of syncope and injury due to syncope, respectively. Of the patients, 38% underwent Holter monitoring, 79 (87%) underwent head-up tilt table test (HUTT) test, 8% underwent treadmill test, 36% underwent CT/MRI of the brain, 25% underwent electroencephalography, 40% underwent carotid sinus massage, 7% underwent coronary angiography, 3% underwent electrophysiological study, and 3% of patients underwent carotid Doppler ultrasound. The commonly noted syncope was vasovagal/neutrally mediated syncope (68%). However, the etiology of syncope could not be determined in six (7%) patients. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that the initial evaluation of patients with syncope should focus on history, physical examination, and ECG examination. Information obtained from such basic evaluations should be used to guide the selection of further high yield tests to reduce the cost of evaluation and for appropriate workup for the diagnosis of syncope.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Coronary Artery Disease are on the rise in the general population and is the leading cause of death in both men and women. The impact of CAD is underappreciated in younger women when compared to men. Women have unique risk factors for CAD and postmenopausal women are at higher risk of developing CAD when compared to normal menstruating women. AIM: The aim of our study was to find out the difference in oxidative stress levels between obese postmenopausal women and normal menstruating women, also to compare the same in normal weight postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty one normal and 29 obese postmenopausal women with age more than 45 years who visited obstetrics and gynaecology outpatient department for general clinical evaluation at a tertiary care centre were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Thirty normal menstruating women were compared. Anthropometric measurements were recorded and the body mass index was calculated. Serum Malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase was measured using a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in mean MDA levels in postmenopausal women (1.477 ± 0.359) when compared to normal menstruating women (0.666 ± 0.302) (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in mean SOD levels in postmenopausal women (2.836 ± 0.899) when compared to normal menstruating women (2.986 ± 0.686) (p > 0.05). Also, there was a significant increase between mean MDA levels in obese postmenopausal women (2.48 ± 0.52) when compared to normal weight postmenopausal women (1.65 ± 0.36) (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference between mean SOD levels in obese postmenopausal women (1.36 ± 0.96) and normal weight postmenopausal women (2.56 ± 1.03) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The oxidative stress was higher in obese postmenopausal women when compared to normal weight postmenopausal women and normal menstruating women.
