Muhammad Sohail Halim

Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey About Lipid-Management Practices Among Cardiologists in Pakistan: Assessment of Adherence to Published Treatment Guidelines

OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to assess how closely cardiologists in Pakistan followed published recommendations for lipid management and to identify the factors associated with such behavior. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was delivered in person between September and December 2007 to all cardiologists practicing in 4 major cities in Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and Peshawar). A standard questionnaire was used to obtain information from cardiologists. Adherence to the guidelines established by the 2004 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III was computed based on answers to 14 questions; each correct answer (ie, the answer that followed the guidelines) was assigned 1 point, for a maximum cumulative score of 14. Multivariable linear regression was performed to determine the factors independently associated with guideline knowledge. RESULTS A total of 295 cardiologists were approached; 239 consented to participate (overall response rate, 81.0%). The median score was 9 out of a maximum of 14 (interquartile range, 8-11). There were important points of divergence from practice recommendations, including suboptimal targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (< or = 70 mg/dL was the target used by only 16.7% of respondents [40/239]), undertreatment of revascularized patients (31.4% [75/239]), cessation of statin therapy once LDL-C targets were achieved (20.9% [50/239]), and use of different treatment thresholds for patients aged >65 years (41.8% [100/239]) and female patients (46.4% [111/239]). In the adjusted analysis, experienced physicians, interventional cardiologists, and those who pursued continuing medical education activities (journals and conferences) had higher scores (P = 0.005, P = 0.041, P = 0.008, and P = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION We found important self-reported departures from recommended lipid-management guidelines among cardiologists in Pakistan.

Quality of Life after Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a group of disorders characterized by the inflammation of mucosa of the nasal passages and paranasal sinuses. It includes chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps, CRS without polyps and Allergic Fungal Sinusitis (AFS). This debilitating disease causes negative impact on quality of life (QOL) of patients. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the mainstay of surgical treatment for patients and improves QOL of patients. This subjective assessment of QOL can be measured by disease specific questionnaires. SNOT-22 questionnaire is widely used and validated questionnaire for this purpose. Prospective study was done on 54 patients. Data were collected using SNOT-22 questionnaire and filled in pre-operative period then in post-operative follow-up visits on 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th months. Paired sample t-test was used to compare pre-operative and post-operative SNOT scores and multivariate generalized linear model was used to estimate regression parameters for SNOT scores in CRS with polyp and AFS in comparison of CRS without polyps. Out of 54 patients, 59.3% were males, mean age was 35.98, 29.6% were in CRS without polyp group, 44.4% and 25.9% were in CRS with polyps and AFS group. Recurrence occurred in 7.4%, revision surgery required in 3.7% while 22.2% had history of asthma. Paired sample t-test showed statistical significant reduction in post-operative SNOT scores. Linear model results showed SNOT scores in CRS with polyp group was significantly reduced. Thus FESS provides significant improvement in QOL of patients in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis in a patient with keloid over ear lobule.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem with predominance in resource-poor countries. Extrapulmonary TB constitutes approximately 10% of the cases and can present as different forms depending on the route of entry. Cutaneous TB is a small subset of the extrapulmonary TB. Cutaneous TB can either be of primary origin or secondary origin or it can be a part of a systemic infection. TB verrucosa cutis (TBVC) is the exogenous reinfection of TB in a previously sensitised patient. Routine cultures do not have a high yield in TBVC due to the paucibacillary nature of the organism. Here we are presenting a rare case of a patient who developed in a keloid over the right ear lobule following ear piercing. This has only been presented once in the previous literature and for the first time in the head and neck region.