Community-acquired Pneumonia among Elderly Patients Admitted to the Department of Medicine in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Community-acquired pneumonia is an acute infection of lung tissue in an immunocompetent patient who have not recently been hospitalized or has been hospitalized for less than 48 hours and acquired it in the community. It continues to have a substantial effect on the elderly, who are impacted more often and severely than younger groups. It is the third most common hospital diagnosis in adults over the age of 65 years, and the sixth major cause of mortality in developed nations. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of community-acquired pneumonia among elderly patients admitted to the Department of Medicine in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Medicine in a tertiary care centre where data were collected from 1 December 2021 and 1 December 2022 after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 465/2079/80). Data on community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly was collected from the hospital records. Convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 385 patients, community-acquired pneumonia was seen in 14 (3.64%) (1.77-5.51, 95% Confidence Interval) with a mean age of 70.57±10.21 years. Conclusions: The prevalence of community-acquired pneumonia among elderly patients was found to be lower compared to other studies conducted in similar settings. Keywords: elderly; pneumonia; prevalence; tertiary care center.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis among Diabetic Patients Admitted in the Department of Medicine of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Diabetic ketoacidosis is one of the most severe acute complications of diabetes mellitus characterised by hyperglycemia, hyperketonemia, and metabolic acidosis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis can decrease severity, hospital stay, and possible mortality. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis among diabetic patients admitted to the department of medicine of a tertiary care centre. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care centre. Data from 1 March 2022 to 1 December 2022 were collected between 1 January 2023 and 1 February 2023 from the hospital records. The ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee of the same institute (Reference number: 466/2079/80). All the diabetic patients admitted to the Department of Medicine during our study duration were enrolled for the study. Diabetic patients who left against medical advice and those with incomplete data were excluded from the study. Data were collected from the medical record section. Convenience sampling method was done. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 200 diabetic patients, the prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis was 7 (3.5%) (3.47-3.53, 95% Confidence Interval) among which 1 (14.29%) patients had type I diabetes mellitus and 6 (85.71%) had type II diabetes mellitus patients and the mean HbA1C level was 9.77%. Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis among diabetes mellitus patients admitted to the department of medicine of a tertiary care centre was found to be higher than in other studies done in similar settings. Keywords: diabetes mellitus; diabetic complications; diabetic ketoacidosis; Nepal.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease among Patients Admitted to the Department of Medicine in a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a prevalent respiratory condition with permanent and progressively decreasing airflow limitation. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes more than 3 million deaths per year globally, making it the third leading cause of death globally. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among patients admitted to the Department of Medicine in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Medicine of a tertiary care centre. Data from 1 January 2022 to 30 December 2022 were collected between 15 June 2023 to 30 June 2023 from the hospital records and reviewed. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee. All the patients admitted to the Department of Medicine during the study period were included in the study. The patients with incomplete medical records were excluded from the study. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 280 patients, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was found in 68 (24.29%) (19.27-29.31, 95% Confidence Interval) with a mean age of 70.62±10.39 years and a mean pack year of 16.72±7.67. Conclusions: The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among patients admitted to the Department of Medicine was similar to the other studies done in similar settings. Keywords: COPD; inpatients; prevalence; tertiary hospital.