Bijesh Yadav

High dietary diversity is associated with obesity in Sri Lankan adults: an evaluation of three dietary scores

BackgroundDietary diversity is recognized as a key element of a high quality diet. However, diets that offer a greater variety of energy-dense foods could increase food intake and body weight. The aim of this study was to explore association of diet diversity with obesity in Sri Lankan adults.MethodsSix hundred adults aged > 18 years were randomly selected by using multi-stage stratified sample. Dietary intake assessment was undertaken by a 24 hour dietary recall. Three dietary scores, Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), Dietary Diversity Score with Portions (DDSP) and Food Variety Score (FVS) were calculated. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg.m-2 is defined as obese and Asian waist circumference cut-offs were used diagnosed abdominal obesity.ResultsMean of DDS for men and women were 6.23 and 6.50 (p=0.06), while DDSP was 3.26 and 3.17 respectively (p=0.24). FVS values were significantly different between men and women 9.55 and 10.24 (p=0.002). Dietary diversity among Sri Lankan adults was significantly associated with gender, residency, ethnicity, education level but not with diabetes status. As dietary scores increased, the percentage consumption was increased in most of food groups except starches. Obese and abdominal obese adults had the highest DDS compared to non obese groups (p<0.05). With increased dietary diversity the level of BMI, waist circumference and energy consumption was significantly increased in this population.ConclusionOur data suggests that dietary diversity is positively associated with several socio-demographic characteristics and obesity among Sri Lankan adults. Although high dietary diversity is widely recommended, public health messages should emphasize to improve dietary diversity in selective food items.

Clinical profile of non-traumatic acute abdominal pain presenting to an adult emergency department

Background: Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons for presenting to the emergency depatment (ED) and the etiology is varied. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in a large ED of a tertiary care center in India. All patients older than 15 years and presenting with non-traumatic abdominal pain to the ED from May 2012 to October 2012 were recruited and the demographic characteristics, diagnosis and outcome were analyzed. Results: The study cohort included 264 patients over a 6 month period. More than half (55.6%) were aged between 15 and 40 years. There was a male predominance (56.8%). Majority of the patients (76.9%) presented with abdominal pain of less than 72 hour duration. The pain was sudden in onset in 54.9% of patients. Dull type was the most common character of pain (36%) followed by colicky type (22.3%). The most common site of pain was the lower abdomen (45.8%). Upper abdominal pain was seen in 26.9% and the pain was generalized in 27.3% of patients. The common causes were uretericcolic (16.3%), urinary tract infection (12.5%), acute pancreatitis (11%), acute appendicitis (10.6%) and acute gastritis (8%). More than half (51.9%) discharged from ED and 37% of cases were managed by the emergency physicians. Surgical intervention was required in 25.8% of patients. The mortality rate was 2.3%. Conclusions: Abdominal pain is a common ED symptom and clinicians must consider multiple diagnoses, especially those that require immediate intervention to limit morbidity and mortality.

Oral decontamination techniques and ventilator-associated pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the major nosocomial infections in the intensive care unit (ICU), contributing to increased mortality and morbidity. Studies have shown that oral decontamination through the use of mechanical and pharmacological agents significantly reduces the incidence of VAP, but oral care practices in ICUs are not consistent. A double-blind randomised controlled trial was undertaken in the medical ICU of a tertiary care centre in India, to assess the efficacy of a toothbrush-based oral care technique in reducing incidence of VAP. Tooth-brushing with concurrent suctioning technique was not proved to be superior to mouth-swabbing. The greatest risk factor for developing VAP was the number of ventilator days (length of time on a ventilator). There was a statistical association between gender and presence of antibiotics with VAP.

DOWRY DEMAND and HARASSMENT: PREVALENCE and RISK FACTORS in India

The practice of dowry is widespread in India and refers to the payment of cash/gifts by the brides family to the bridegrooms family before marriage. Though prohibited by law, dowry is widely practised, and often contributes to severe injuries and even death of young brides. This study examined the prevalence and risk factors for dowry demand and dowry harassment and its psychosocial correlates across different social strata in India, and also by husband and mother-in-law characteristics. In a cross-sectional survey of 9938 women in rural, urban and urban non-slum sites across India conducted in 1998-99, dowry demand was found to be significantly higher (p<0.001) in the urban non-slum and rural areas (26% and 23% respectively) than in urban slum areas (18%). Overall, 17% of grooms families were not satisfied with the dowry, this being higher in rural areas (21%) than in urban slum and non-slum areas (about 14% in both). The overall prevalence of dowry harassment among this group of women was 13.3%. Mothers-in-law who had themselves experienced dowry demand were 14 (95% CI 5.0-40.4) and 5 (95% CI 1.3-18.9) times more likely to demand and harass daughters-in-law over dowry, respectively. Another significant risk factor for dowry-related harassment was mother-in laws status in the family. Interventions related to modifiable risk factors, such as increased social support at the community level, should help reduce dowry harassment.

Role of emergency ultrasound screening in the management of acute pyelonephritis in emergency department: A large observational study from a tertiary care center of South India

Background: Role of emergency ultrasound screening (EUS) in the evaluation of all patients with clinically suspected acute pyelonephritis (APN) in the emergency department (ED) remains unclear. The aim of the study was to describe the frequency of abnormal EUS findings in APN presenting to ED and ascertain the laboratory abnormalities associated with significant abnormal findings to identify the subgroup of patients who will benefit from EUS in ED. Methodology: In this retrospective study, electronic medical records were searched to identify all adult patients who underwent EUS screening from ED for initial clinical diagnosis of APN over 1 year. The EUS findings were categorized into normal, major abnormalities (hydronephrosis, renal abscess, and emphysematous pyelonephritis), and mild abnormalities (cysts, calculi, and renal edema). Results: A total of 1218 patients with initial clinically diagnosed APN underwent EUS. Nearly 49% had a normal EUS while 51% had at least one major or minor abnormality. The frequency of hydroureteronephrosis, renal calculi emphysematous changes, and renal abscess was 19.1%, 8.9%, 2.1%, and 1.9%, respectively. Only 72 (5.9%) patients required emergency percutaneous nephrostomy or drainage of an abscess. Among these patients, EUS was able to identify a major abnormality in sixty (83.3%) patients. Male gender, presence of diabetes mellitus, peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count >10,000 cells/cumm, serum creatinine >1.4 mg%, and urine WBC count >100 cells/hpf were found to independently predict the presence of an abnormality on an EUS. Conclusion: A large proportion of APN patients have only normal or minor abnormalities and do not need additional screening and intervention.

Profile of deliberate self-harm patients presenting to emergency department: a retrospective study

Background: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is a major under-recognized epidemic in the low- and middle-income countries. This is a large retrospective study form the Emergency Department (ED) of Tertiary Care Center of South India to describe the clinicodemographic features of DSH cases. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at ED of Christian Medical College, Vellore, India from January 01, 2011 to December 31, 2013. All cases of DSH were included in the study. The demographic details, mode of DSH and clinical outcome were extracted from the electronic medical record. Descriptive statistics are presented. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. For all tests, a two-sided P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Total of 1228 patients were admitted to ED for DSH during the study period. Male and female occurred in equal ratio. More than half of the cases occurred among age group below 30 years. Consumption of pesticides (agricultural chemicals) was the single most common mode of DSH (46%), especially among men, followed by medication overdose (29.8%). Consumption of plant poison and tablet overdose was higher among women. Overall mortality due to DSH was low (1.5%) in our study. Conclusion: DSH is under-recognized major public health problem in low-middle income countries like India. Most cases occur among young and productive age group and in equal frequencies among men and women. Timely and the appropriate institution of treatment can decrease the morbidity and mortality due to DSH remarkably.

INCIDENCE OF, AND RISK FACTORS FOR, MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN AGED 5–7 YEARS IN SOUTH INDIA

Protein-energy malnutrition is a major health problem contributing to the burden of disease in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of, and risk factors for, malnutrition among school-going children in south India. A total of 2496 children aged 5-7 years from rural and urban areas of south India were recruited in 1982 and followed up for malnutrition over a period of 9 years. Their body heights and weights were measured every six months and socio-demographic factors such as mothers education and fathers education and relevant household characteristics and hygiene practices collected. Body mass index and height-for-age z-scores were used to determine childrens levels of underweight and stunting, respectively, classified as normal, mild/moderate or severe. Risk factor analysis was done for pre-pubertal ages only using Generalized Estimating Equations with cumulative odds assumption. There was a significant difference between male and female children in the incidence of severe underweight and stunting (6.4% and 4.2% respectively). Children in households with no separate kitchen had 1.3 (1.0-1.6) times higher odds of being severely underweight (p=0.044) compared with those with a kitchen. Children without a toilet facility had significantly higher odds of severe underweight compared with those who did. Children with illiterate parents had higher odds of severe stunting than those with literate parents. In conclusion, the prevalence of malnutrition among these south Indian children has not changed over the years, and the incidence of severe malnutrition was highest in children when they were at pubertal age. The risk factors for stunting were mostly poverty-related, and those for underweight were mostly hygiene-related. Adolescent children in south India should be screened periodically at school for malnutrition and provided with nutritional intervention if necessary.

COST OF INTENSIVE CARE IN INDIA.

OBJECTIVES The majority of patients in India access private sector providers for curative medical services. However, there is scanty information on the cost of treatment of critically ill patients in this setting. The study evaluates the cost and extent of financial subsidy required for patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in India. METHODS Data on direct medical, direct nonmedical, and indirect cost were prospectively collected from critically ill patients admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital in India. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) amount was obtained from the next-of-kin following admission and the actual cost paid by the family at discharge was recorded. RESULTS The main diagnoses (n = 499) were infection (26 percent) and poisoning (21 percent). The mean APACHE-II score was 13.9 (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 13.3-14.5); 86 percent were ventilated. ICU stay was 7.8 days (95 percent CI, 7.3-8.3). Hospital mortality was 27.9 percent. Direct medical cost accounted for 77 percent (US

Effectiveness of treatment regimens for Typhoid fever in the nalidixic acid-resistant S. typhi (NARST) era in South India

2164) of the total treatment cost (US

Head to head comparison of adverse effects and efficacy between high dose deflazacort and high dose prednisolone in systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective cohort study:

2818). Indirect cost and direct nonmedical cost contributed to 19 percent (US