Endurance training improves heart rate on-kinetics in women with subclinical hypothyroidism: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of endurance training on heart rate (HR) on-kinetics in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH). METHODS: Eighteen women were randomly assigned to trained group (TG) or control group (CG). Both groups performed three tests at 50 W in a cycle ergometer for 6 min. HR kinetics was obtained during the tests and the mean response time (MRT), which is equivalent to the time taken to reach 63% of the HR at steady state, was extracted. The TG was then submitted to 12 weeks of endurance training (50 min, 3x/week, intensity between 70 and 85% of the maximum HR predicted for the age). Statistical analysis was performed by the mixed analysis of variance. RESULTS: At baseline, TG and CG were similar for TSH (7.7 ± 3.1 vs. 6.9 ± 3.3 mUI/L, p = 0.602, respectively) and FT4 (12.31 ± 1.51 vs. 12.20 ± 1.89 pmol/L, p = 0.889, respectively). After adjustment for body mass index and age, interactions between moment (baseline or after 12 weeks) and group (trained or control) were only significant for MRT (TG: 39.6 ± 10 to 28.9 ± 8.4 s, CG: 53.6 ± 20.3 to 55 ± 19.7 s, p = 0.001) and physical activity level (CG: 7.3 ± 0.7 to 8 ± 0.9, CG: 6.8 ± 0.8 in both moments, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The preliminary results suggest that 12 weeks of endurance training improve HR on-kinetics and physical activity level in SH.

Audit of diabetes mellitus among patients attending an employee health clinic at a tertiary care centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical practices in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as a basis for establishing a guideline that focuses on risk factors and complications. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective audit of the medical records of 450 patients (aged 20-65 years) diagnosed with T2DM attending an employee health clinic at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) during the period from 1 January to 1 July 2016. All patients requiring emergency treatment were excluded. A checklist of demographic variables, co-morbidities, clinical examinations, and laboratory investigations was used for collecting data. RESULTS: In total, 303 (67.3%) were women and 312 (69.3%) were Saudis. Forty-five (10%) patients were not receiving current treatment for diabetes and body mass index was not calculated for 117 (26%). Retinal and neurological examinations were not performed in 363 (80.7%) and 109 (24.2%) patients, respectively. Cardiovascular and peripheral vascular system examinations were not conducted for 112 (24.9%) and 114 (25.3%) patients, respectively. For laboratory investigations, 2-h glucose tolerance tests and vitamin B12 tests were not performed for 473 (97.1%) and 436 (96.9%) patients, respectively. Moreover, TSH/T4 and eGFR tests were not performed for 220 (48.9%) and 135 patients (30%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that current clinical practice for management of T2DM patients is not comprehensive and that the quality of healthcare should be improved with continuous checking of patient records.

Type-D personality: a predictor of quality of life and coronary heart disease.

The present study examined the association oftype-D personality (and its components) with quality of life in cardiac patients compared with healthy people. A sample of 80 patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and 70 healthy people aged 45-60 years completed the WHO quality of life brief questionnaire and the 14-item type-D personality scale. A significantly higher percentage of the MI group scored positive for type-D personality compared with healthy individuals (71% versus 33%). Significantly more MI patients had low quality of life scores than did healthy individuals (64% versus 20%). Regression analysis showed that higher scores on type-D personality had a negative impact on quality of life in MI patients and that the social inhibition component had a greater impact than negative affectivity. Psychological assessment for type-D personality may be helpful in developing health care plans.

Type-D personality: a predictor of quality of life and coronary heart disease

The present study examined the association of type - D personality [and its components] with quality of life in cardiac patients compared with healthy people. A sample of 80 patients with myocardial infarction [Ml] and 70 healthy people aged 45-60 years completed the WHO quality of life brief questionnaire and the 14-item type-D personality scale. A significantly higher percentage of the Ml group scored positive for type-D personality compared with healthy individuals [71% versus 33%]. Significantly more Ml patients had low quality of life scores than did healthy individuals [64% versus 20%]. Regression analysis showed that higher scores on type-D personality had a negative impact on quality of life in Ml patients and that the social inhibition component had a greater impact than negative affectivity. Psychological assessment for type-D personality may be helpful in developing health care plans