Rajesh Venkataraman

IMPACT OF DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES ON BLOOD PRESSURE AND GLYCEMIC CONTROL

Objective: This study was designed to analyse the impact of demographic variables on blood pressure and glycaemic levels in patients with diabetes and hypertension. Methods: A community-based prospective observational study was conducted over a span of six months in the rural villages of Nagamangala Taluk, Mandya Dist, Karnataka. Results: Among 320 subjects, 285 patients had been enrolled in the study. The demographic variable such as age was found to be significantly correlated with random blood sugar and blood pressure level. Whereas gender was significantly correlated to the RBS level, while negatively correlated to blood pressure level. Even though the economic status was not significant, educational status was significant to both RBS and blood pressure level. Conclusion: This inquest portrayed that educational stature brings out an immense reverberation on glycemic and blood pressure control apart from other demographic variables. So this study confers an insight that, strategies for educating patients especially in rural areas thereby making them aware of long-term complications leads to augment overall health outcome.

Influence of Clinical Variables to Cognitive Function in Diabetic Patients

The objective of the research was to investigate the cognitive effects of clinical variables associated with health care in diabetes management in their course over time. The results of the studies show that diabetes and its complications along with socio demographic factors impart a significant impairment in cognitive domains. Thus far no long term large prospective study has specifically examined for the possible effect modification of cognition in diabetic patients in India. With Diabetes becoming an emerging threat and a burden to the countrys economy it is vital that screening for cognitive dysfunction; be made as an integral part of the assessment process for subjects with diabetes mellitus. Evidence of significant decrease in cognitive functioning of diabetic patients with regard to Age, Gender and social habits paves way for need of a remarkable change in diabetes management. Future studies should aim to employ longitudinal designs to clarify more carefully the relationship between diabetes and cognitive function and better identify risk factors for developing cognitive dysfunction. The study carried out on 500 diabetic patients of various socio demographic characteristics over a period of eighteen months with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE scale). The research carried to investigate the cognitive effects of clinical variables associated with health care in diabetes management in their course over time. The results of the studies show that diabetes and its complications along with clinical variables factors impart a significant impairment in cognitive domains.

ASSESSMENT OF LIFESTYLE-RELATED RISK FACTORS CONTRIBUTING FOR CHRONIC NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASE IN PATIENTS VISITING RURAL TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Chronic Non-communicable diseases remain an area of high public health concern especially in developing countries where growing middle class and ever changing lifestyle have led to the rapid increase in the burden of non-communicable disease. The study aimed to assess various lifestyle and behavioral risk factors contributing for non-communicable chronic disease in patients visiting rural tertiary care hospital. A total of 152 patients were selected and analyzed in the study out of which 49 (32.22%) were female and 102 (67.78%) were male. The average age of the male patients were found to be 61.79years (SD±9.28) and females were 57.1years (SD±10.3). Majority of patients were from lower socioeconomic and educational status. Various risk factors contributing for chronic non-communicable disease that are identified in the study were advance age i.e. > 40years 142 (93.42%), genetically risk factor 46 (30.26%), poor income status 120 (78.95%), occupational exposure to dust, smoke and irritants 111 (73.03%), high body mass index (BMI)75 (49.34%), stress 110 (72.37%), inadequate sleep 5 (3.29%), smoking habit 69 (45.4%), Alcohol consuming habit 63 (41.48%), lack of physical activity 59 (38.81%), rare fruit consuming habit 72 (47.37%) and less vegetable consumption i.e. ≤ 1/day were 32 (21.05%). Study concluded that substantially high levels of the various lifestyle and behavioral related risk factors such as poor socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol consumption, high BMI or obesity, stress etc, were significantly associated in patients with chronic disease.