ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: School children are exposed to various social, environmental, nutritional and cultural changes which will influence their lifestyle and can impose behavioral change. This study was formulated to assess the lifestyle factors influencing the academic performance among secondary school students in an urban area of south India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among secondary school students of grade 8, 9 and 10 in public and private schools of an urban area. Data was collected using a pre-designed, pretested, questionnaire. Demographic data and socio-economic status was assessed. Lifestyle assessment included the dietary habits, physical activity, tobacco and other substance use and anthropometric measurements. Academic performance was assessed by attendance, past annual examination grades. Results were expressed in percentages and analysis was done using Chi-square test and Fischer exact test. RESULTS: Study participants included were 613. Overall prevalence of tobacco use 14.0%. Skipping breakfast was associated with poor performance (p=0.002) among public school students. Private school students' academic performance was significantly associated with the BMI (p=0.03). Prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity was 70.5, 5.0 and 5.5% respectively. Physical activity didn't show any significant influence on academic performance (p=0.69, 0.76). CONCLUSION: Academic performance of secondary school students is influenced by various factors including, regularity of attendance, socio-economic status, skipping breakfast and consumption of tobacco and other substances. Study establishes the need for proper motivation and reinforcement of safe healthy lifestyle practices to achieve complete academic excellence.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Globally 220 countries and territories are affected and cases of COVID-19 have increased by 8% resulting in 3.6 million new cases. The most common symptoms include fever, cough, loss of taste or smell, headache and mortality rate was uncertain. The objective of this study is to know the clinical profile and outcomes of COVID-19 positive patients. METHODOLOGY: A Cross-Sectional Study was conducted for 2 months (October-December 2020) among 727 COVID 19 positive patients residing in the field practice area of 4 health centers. Details regarding medical history, exposure history, underlying co-morbidities, symptoms, signs clinical features and outcomes (i.e, cured, mortality, and length of stay) were obtained. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 41 ± 17 years, 59.28% were males, 40.71% were females. A significant association was found between age, family history of disease, co-morbid disease, medication history, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, type of symptoms, isolation type, treatment given with outcomes (P < 0.05). Subjects with previous history of medication (HR, 2.749; 95% CI 1.0774-7.015), and those who had symptoms (HR, 3.6446; 95% CI1.0280-12.921) were associated with increased risk of death as compared to others. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 positive was found in 56% of patients, they were less severe and improved with medication and deaths were found in 3.85% of patients. Fever was noted in only 15.72% of patients, gastrointestinal symptoms in 1.22% and respiratory symptoms in 14.74% of patients. Participants with older age were significantly associated with complications and those with co-morbidities were significantly associated with death on multinominal logistic analysis.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is increasing its share of burden to the health-related problems in developing countries such as India. Urban slum residents constitute the "vulnerable population" who lack the basic health amenities. Lack of effective screening for primary prevention has been one of the reasons for the rising burden. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 adults aged between 30 and 60 years residing in a settled slum of Rukmini Nagar area of Belagavi city, Karnataka. Data were collected after taking written informed consent from each participant using a pretested questionnaire that included demographic information and details of the risk factors. Risk of developing diabetes was assessed by using Indian Diabetes Risk Score. Results are expressed as proportions, and analysis was done using Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 44.3 ± 8.7 years. The proportion of low, moderate, and high risk of developing diabetes mellitus was 7%, 63%, and 30%, respectively. The prevalence of newly diagnosed cases was 10.25%. Moreover, 57.1% of them with positive family history were in the high risk category; 76.9% of the sedentary workers were at higher risk; overweight and obese individuals had higher proportion of the high and moderate risk (P < 0.0001). Correlation coefficient (R) was 0.782, and coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.61. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that advancing age, low physical activity, family history, overweight, and obesity were the prominent factors that predicted the risk of diabetes in the near future. Hence, focused interventions for urban slum dwellers are imperative and draw special attention.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for 60% of all deaths and 47% of burden of diseases which is progressively increasing in rural population in terms of absolute numbers. Biological risk factors contribute significantly to the cardiovascular burden. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess the biological risk factors among adults residing in rural area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study conducted among 980 adults aged between 20 and 60 years residing in rural area of Belagavi district, India. World Health Organization-STEPS-based predesigned questionnaire was used for data collection by house-to-house visit after obtaining written informed consent. Sociodemographic variables and biological risk factors which included hypertension, self-reported diabetes mellitus, overweight, and obesity were assessed. Statistical analysis was done using Pearson's Chi-square test and P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: In the present study, 48.8% were men and 51.2% were women. Prevalence of hypertension was 26.6%, self-reported diabetes mellitus 6.3%, overweight 26.7%, and obesity was 7.0%. Men had higher prevalence of hypertension and overweight, whereas women had higher prevalence of diabetes and obesity. A significant gender difference was noted with the biological risk factors for CAD (P < 0.05). Advancing age, lesser education, and retirement from the job were the contributors for the increasing prevalence of these risk factors (P < 0.05); however, the socioeconomic status did not show any influence (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Biological risk factors, which included hypertension, diabetes, and overweight, were observed in a significantly higher proportion among men, whereas women were more obese with a significant higher proportion. Advancing age, lesser education, and retirement from the job were the contributors for the increasing prevalence of these risk factors.
